Jaina climbed off Kalec's lap and lay on the bed beside him. She stretched her arms over her head, arching her back then sank into the bedding with a hum. His eyes followed the curves of her body and she smiled smugly to herself. Kalec's hand trailed over her stomach then up her side. His thumb swiped over her breast, the rest of his long fingers curling around her ribs.
He pulled her back against his chest and buried his face against her shoulder. "I like working magic with you." His arms wound around her waist.
"Is that what that was?" She wrapped her fingers around his hands and arms, holding him tightly to her. Jaina suspected there might be more though. His grip was still tight against her.
He growled and playfully nipped her shoulder. "Yes."
She could feel Kalec's smug smile against her skin and laughed. Turning in the secure circle of his arms, she tucked herself close to his body, her forehead resting against his chest, returning the embrace. She settled against him, listening to the sound of his heart.
"I love you," she told him. She eased a hand over his shoulder then down his back.
His arms tightened around her as he bent his head to kiss her hair. "I love you as well," he said. She felt tension begin to leave his body as the deep, purr-like rumble began in his chest.
Jaina enjoyed that her beloved was a safe space. She needed to wear no diplomatic mask and could simply be for once. What he was dealing with, what all dragons were dealing with, was a heavy burden, but she could be his safe place as well. He needed it as much as she did. They'd hidden and withheld from one another out of fear but they were working on it. It filled her with hope that she might have a true home once more and he might be part of it.
There was still much they did not know about one another, though. He was from a culture different from the ones in which she'd grown up. It was fair to say he knew more about hers. Jaina had been curious about the dragons once she'd come to know them, but they were still somewhat pushed him onto his back then lay atop him, her chin pillowed on her crossed arms. He watched her, one eyebrow arched. Gentle hands came up to caress her back once she'd settled.
"How often do dragons take partners from the younger races?" she asked. Jaina had wondered but earlier hadn't been a good time to ask.
Her question seemed to catch him off guard and he made an interrogatory noise. "What brought that up?"
"Curiosity." She smiled at him and shrugged.
He accepted that with a shrug. "Not often. It's become more frequent recently. This last half of the millennium has seen far more as dragons have come into contact with you more frequently on good terms. I don't have exact numbers." His hands moved to her hair, nimble fingers untangling the knots he'd made.
"I imagine our relative level of civilization rising has helped somewhat."
"Somewhat, but there were few during the height of the Highborne."
"Oh?"
"Mhm. Aside from an isolationist history, you might have noticed that we dragons are somewhat... prideful." The gentle fingers paused on her shoulders.
"Some are. You're one of the most humble beings I know." She tapped a finger against his chest.
He chuckled. "I am an unusual dragon and even I have my moments of pride, Jaina. You may not like them when they appear."
She kissed his chest. "I nearly drowned a city out of wrath and I know I have some pride in my abilities. I think as long as we're avoiding committing war crimes we'll be fine." The dark humor of the statement didn't make it any less true.
"Hmm," he mused pensively until she tapped a finger against his chest again. "Well, I have given you fair warning that I am not without the chief sin of my people even if I am the odd goose."
"Odd duck," she corrected gently.
"Odd duck. Ducks are odder than geese?" His hands stopped.
Jaina shrugged. "I didn't come up with the idiom."
"Fair." He chuckled, his fingers resuming their gentle combing. "In any case the Highborne were also prideful. There isn't much room for a relationship when both parties are convinced they're the more advanced and more perfect race."
"The elves thought they were more advanced?"
"They did. Because they had a vast, sprawling and visible empire while we lived more broadly, and had no cities of which they were aware. And because they lived on the shores of the Well and thought themselves Azeroth's true masters of the arcane while we of the blue flight couldn't possibly be anywhere near as talented." He frowned. "And we don't look like they do. My sire was not fond of the elves. He said he always felt as if he was being treated like a beast."
"I admit when I was younger, much younger, I thought dragons were clever beasts. Some of the stories my caretakers and parents told painted them, painted you, as such. Clever or evil or both, but ultimately bestial." She dropped a gentle kiss to his chest. "And for that I am sorry."
"You shouldn't be," he said, drawing her head up with a gentle finger under her chin. "You were young and the young only have the stories of their parents, not their own experiences. Young dragons are told-" he stopped, eyes closing in a suddenly pained expression. "Young dragons were told the younger races were hardly more than children or possibly clever animals. Untrained, undisciplined, brief savages."
"Did you think such things when you were young?"
"I was curious, but it was the curiosity children have for exotic animals. My mother was the first one who spoke to me of the younger races as anything but fleeting animals of little consequence."
"Because she went abroad?"
He nodded. "She did not paint what I would consider flattering pictures; the Ancient Highborne were the ones who drew Sargeras after all. But she considered that at least a few of the younger races were rising to be competent at the whole civilization thing. Father was a harder sell. I think it was because he and Irigosa were so different in age. Father experienced life before the Night Elf civilization began, while mother walked the streets of the burgeoning human and dwarf kingdoms." He smiled at her gently. "It's a long-winded way to say we are somewhat usual, but there are other pairs like us."
"Living less prominently I expect." She snorted a laugh.
"A bit. I'm unaware of anyone else in my flight, but the blue flight has been small and insular. Given the Nexus war, well-" He broke off with a shake of his head. "Suffice it to sat relations haven't been easy. I know Alexstrasza and Nozdormu don't mind if their dragons choose mates among non-dragons. Ysera is less pleased with such pairings but allows them. Black dragons, or at least as I have known them, take whatever lovers they feel like taking. I get the sense it has always been the case they're rather... practical when it comes to mating. Earthy. Unfortunately for everyone it's a manipulation tool now."
"I've always found it somewhat sad that something so good would be used as a weapon."
"It is. Maybe Wrathion will have a chance to enjoy himself and find someone without feeling the need to make it a manipulation."
"He really hurt Anduin," Jaina said. She had a rather horrible thought and tried to push it away. Kalec noticed and tapped his fingers on her shoulder blades.
"What?"
"I had a rather... awful thought," she admitted.
"Tell me?"
"You might think less of me."
"I can only promise to listen and try to understand. Or was it just angry?"
"No." Jaina shook her head. "No. I thought that perhaps it was a good experience for Anduin. I don't like that he was hurt by a friend, but it happens. And I would rather it be with someone he's more casually acquainted with, like Wrathion, than someone he's closer to. Or by family. Still, it's awful."
Kalec rumbled thoughtfully as he tapped his fingers on her shoulders again. "I don't think it is awful. You didn't want Anduin to be hurt, correct?"
"Never!"
"Exactly. The young prince was hurt by someone he considered a friend. It is an unpleasant situation but you think perhaps a life lesson can come of it. You didn't wish for him to be hurt but I fail to see how looking at what good might be found is a bad thing."
"It hits close to home," she admitted. "I'm changing the topic."
He smiled and curled the lone golden lock around his fingers. "Of course."
"You said your father had had many mates in his life but your mother was the only prime consort. I've heard the term before in reference to Krasus. I can make guesses but what is the difference? What does it mean among dragons?"
His smile became more gentle and the look in his eyes far away. "It's the title you give he or she who is your First in Love. It is the consort you have a deeper mutual bond with as long as you both live. Your Prime is home in a way others are not. If you have a Prime then they are always considered first. Most of your children will- most were with your Prime, though there might be nest agreements with other dragons. Among the Aspects, the Prime Consorts also played functional roles within the flight. Nozdormu leads the Bronze flight, but it could be argued that Soridormi runs it." He grinned at the last with a cheeky edge. Jaina wondered if it was a joke of some sort among dragons.
"It's like being married is among humans?"
"Somewhat."
"I know Alexstrasza had many consorts but it's more common than your queen?"
Kalec nodded. "It's considered normal to have many mates, or to only have one. Or none. We're dragons and we do as we wish," he concluded with a lofty toss of his head and a superior sniff. She giggled.
"But being more serious, if you have interest in a dragon who already has a Prime Consort you're effectively courting both dragons. Depending on what all parties agree to, what individuals may get out of the arrangement might be the same or very different. Sometimes being a consort isn't about mating or children at all."
"I would image there is an issue of jealousy," Jaina said, frowning as she thought.
He shrugged. "Certainly there can be, but it's part of working out relationships." His hands stilled once again. "Does it bother you? I know the customs of humans are very different."
"Academically I don't mind. It seems you have allowed yourselves space to fall in and out of love and relationships over long lives. It's all normal for you, but I don't know if most humans could handle the jealousy." She smiled somewhat ruefully.
"Who a given dragon might be mating with isn't something we care about. If it doesn't involve you or your prime consort it's not your business. That at least is fairly universal among the flights." He sighed. "Most of the youngers races who find this out assume it's a giant orgy. It's actually very... rational? Practical? If you love someone you pursue a relationship."
Jaina shrugged. "A lot of our customs are about procreation and securing a specific bloodline, so other people tend to think it's their business." She rolled her eyes.
"Parentage isn't usually in question among dragons. You can tell if two dragons are closely related or not by their scent. Reds are best at it and can remember bloodlines well."
"I guess tales where the heir is suddenly revealed aren't so much of a theme in dragon stories," she asked wryly.
He laughed. "It was something I found baffling as a young drake. My older sister had to explain humans couldn't tell such things by scent. Scent is one way we tell one another apart after all. It's normal."
"Can you tell among humans?" she asked, curious.
"I can. It's how I can identify Vereesa's twins for example. I am absolutely cheating." He grinned and winked. "But don't tell her."
She covered a giggle with a hand. "Of course not."
"It helps until you learn how to tell people from the younger races apart," he admitted.
"How-" Jaina blinked. "Surely you wouldn't confuse Tyrande with me?"
"We're not that bad," he laughed. "But between you and Modera? A youngster who isn't familiar with humans might make a mistake. I know humans find dragons hard to tell apart in our natural forms."
"Fair," she admitted. "And you can distinguish bloodlines? That's fascinating."
"Yes but it's a matter of comparing what's at hand. Varian and Anduin have the same family scent for example, but I don't think I would be able to discern their other relatives unless they were standing there, too. I have a better memory for dragons, limited as it might be." He frowned. "There was a story my mother told me. A blue dragon went hidden among the humans to investigate their new useage of the Arcane. The dragon wasn't aware that it wasn't common knowledge that the heir of one of the lords wasn't related to him or his wife. We know now it's considered highly improper to ever state such things."
Jaina blinked. "I think I read about that. There was a minor succession conflict in Strom after the elves began to teach human mages and they pushed back the trolls together."
Kalec winced. "Not our finest or most subtle moment."
Jaina shook her head with a little laugh. "No." She sighed long and with regret. "Anduin's going to be roped into a marriage contract sooner or later because he's the heir of Stormwind. I know Varian will work with him to find a future queen he likes at least a little. I felt like a pawn on a game board when I was younger and of marriageable age. Varian's said he felt some of that as well. If he asks for my opinion I know we'd both like to spare Anduin the feeling of being prized livestock." Jaina rested her chin against his chest.
"Did Arthas taking an interest help?"
Jaina's lips twisted to one side as she considered the question. "Yes and no. It was considered by both our families to be a suitable match so they allowed it to progress at the pace he and I saw fit. I was young and in love. I felt relieved it wasn't something I had to be concerned about anymore. The part I disliked were the intrusive questions about when we would wed, when we would start having children, was I already pregnant, was I going to try to secure the marriage with an heir and so on." She rolled her eyes. "They never said anything directly to me but the court of Lorderon could be vicious and the Lords Council of Kul Tiras was full of sailors who didn't really value tact."
"Arthas courting me also meant that more girls were flung into his way to try and stop our relationship. More were flung at my brother Derek too, because Arthas was potentially out of play. Kul Tiras is smaller than Lordaeron was but we have many resources, the navy is respected and the merchant fleet is something even the goblins envy."
"Were men 'flung' at you?"
Jaina rolled her eyes again. "No. Human customs don't work that way. Well, not in Kul Tiras or Lordaeron for that matter. For the most part humans are an unfortunately patriarchal society where the bloodline that counts is the male parent. Unless they need to dispute or claim something. If blood was so important than the mother is never in question, but of course that's rarely considered." Jaina snorted. "Some kingdoms are better than others, Stormwind is a bit better, but It's all silly nonsense."
She shook her head. "No, they did not throw pretty men at my feet to woo me away. I was the lesser choice in most eyes being both female and the younger Proudmoore. When Arthas was interested there were no other young lordlings who could compete with him by rank and power. At least among humans." Kael'thas had approached her as well. He'd been a dear and respected friend and he had the power and rank to match Arthas, but she'd not loved him as she'd loved Arthas.
"I think we're still learning one another, Kalec. I don't know I could be that unselfish if a pretty lady dragon approached you."
Kalec's arms wrapped around her shoulders as he held her close, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Selfishly I want you all to myself, too." He nuzzled her temple. "I'm not looking. It's accepted by dragons but not compulsory. I don't think it would be healthy for us anyway. We're still trying to figure things out." Kalec traced light kisses over her eyes and brow.
She turned towards the gentle affection. "I like where we're going."
"Me too," he agreed with an easy smile. "Do I need to worry about competition from lords looking to marry off a son to a powerful lady?" he asked. She got the sense he was only half joking.
Jaina shook her head "No. When Arthas broke it off with me I was not of a mind to find someone else and the others were... surprised. As I was. I threw myself into my studies and we briefly reunited," she sighed. "Then Lordaeron fell, the world was upended by war again, and I had the audacity to go found a city. And then I was too old." She traced random designs over his chest with an idle finger. "Arthas' shadow had an effect on me long after he was gone," she admitted. "I tried to put it behind me as best I could."
"But?"
She winced. It was a double edged sword to have someone who cared be so insightful. "But sometimes, when things are very dark, I wonder if I was somehow flawed."
"He was the flawed one, Jaina. Look at what he chose. It was his choice. He had every opportunity and form of wealth a human could wish for. He was heir to a powerful kingdom, he had resources and friendship and love. He chose to give up those things when he took up Frostmourne and the Frozen Throne."
She nodded. "Intellectually I know." She nuzzled against his chest. "After he was killed... I finally got to say good bye. I got some closure. But this past year has been hard. I've been reevaluating much of what I believed. If I could be so, so very wrong about peace, what else might I have been wrong about?"
"Do you think you're wrong still? About peace?" he asked. His fingers stroked through her hair once more.
"I don't know anymore, Kalec." She tucked her arms against his chest, curling closer. She was so damn exhausted. "I don't know. I'm so tired of being ignored and fighting to be heard. I'm so tired of bending and taking what scraps I can find. I'm so tired of being pitied and being avoided." She was also feared. Part of her liked that, but it also made her life so much more difficult. "I'm tired of the distance around me. I feel... Perhaps I should be telling the mind-healer this."
"I shared my pain with you and it has helped. Besides, you can also tell her. I'm here to listen too, if you like."
"I feel isolated. Many of my closest friends died. My entire city was turned to dust. No one has known how to react so they step away. They pity from a distance. I nearly drowned Orgrimmar. I led the Council when we purged the Horde mages from Dalaran. They fear me too."
"And so they step back," Kalec concluded.
"I've pushed people away, too. The circle grew wider and I felt worse. Smaller. Voiceless. "
He held her more tightly. "Am I listening enough to you, dear heart?" he asked, concerned.
"You do. I fear I have not listened well enough to you." She kissed his chest. "I feel I may have taken it for granted and used it unwisely. You've always given me space. I deeply and truly appreciate you haven't demanded things of me. But when I have been given space I've wallowed. It has just increased the emptiness. I know now I filled the space with rage."
"No more," he said, gently tilting her head up with a finger. "Don't dwell. We both know we hid and we're moving forward. I ask this of you, love."
She nodded. "Still, what do you need? I want to give back to you. I want to see you happy. It would make me happy."
"A couple things come to mind," he said after a contemplative moment. Both hands reached up and gently ran through her hair. He watched it cascade out of his fingers then met her eyes.
"Your hair reminds me of sunlight on snow at the end of winter just before spring. The blizzards are over and we can soar through the skies without worry. The adults play- They used to play in the snow with the hatchlings." He let out a melancholy sigh then continued. "I wanted you to know it reminds me of happy times with the chill of snow underfoot and the warmth of the sun on my wings. It's not deathknight hair as you said earlier."
Kalec smiled as he wrapped the lone gold lock around a finger. "Like the first flowers appearing in the snow. Defiant color and life against the sleeping cold of winter. I'm not saying the original color wasn't lovely, it was, but this? This doesn't make you closer to being like Arthas. You are not like him and you're not undead. It would make me happy if you would try to remember how I think rather than feeling like you've been cursed."
She blinked at him, at his fervent tone and the deep thought he'd obviously given to her hair. She'd forgotten she'd even voiced the closely held opinion aloud. Jaina dropped her eyes and considered his words. Had she thought it made her like Arthas? Perhaps she had. Kalec had brought him up to stop her from drowning Orgrimmar. Others had whispered things about how she was following Arthas in appearance as well as behavior. She'd tried to ignore it. Maybe she'd not ignored them as well as she'd thought.
Her hair had always been something remarked upon. Even as a small child, how "pretty" she was had been the first thing adults commented on; not the book tucked under her arm or the ink stains on her fingers, or even that the golden locks were the same as her mother's. They'd told her she was pretty and had waxed poetic about her hair. When she'd been involved in Arthas it was known, and gushed over in hushed excited voices within her hearing, that they would produce more beautiful golden-haired children.
Then Arthas's hair had turned dead white. And then, far later, hers had as well. Except for the remaining defiant streak.
"People have always commented on my hair. I've heard every compliment and metaphor you could think of since I was a small child. They never started a conversation about my schoolwork, or my interests, or my magic; always how pretty I was or was going to be and what lovely golden hair I had." She found his eyes and watched him intently. "This is the first you've commented on my hair since I asked you what had happened to it."
He looked concerned. "Should I have?"
"No," she shook her head. "No, it was nice to be interacted with as a mage first, for once. To be considered based on my accomplishments and not an appearance I inherited. I like how I look, but I'm more than that." She bit her lower lip and looked down. "I did wonder if you truly desired me because my appearance came up so seldom."
"I think I have aptly proven my stance on that. If you have remaining doubts I will reassure you quite fully," he told her with studied solemnity. His wandering hands,, ghosted down her sides to cup her rear and squeeze ever so slightly.
"So you have." Jaina's laugh was more of a giggle."I didn't mind the comments all the time though. My mother's hair was the same color. Something we shared." She sighed. "And I did love it. I miss it."
"It's still you and still the same, though it's a different color," he said. He frowned then looked at her speculatively. "Perhaps I am viewing this from a unique perspective. This is me," he said, gesturing to his body. "I wasn't born in this shape, but this is me. In some ways it might be more truly me." He lifted a hand and the bones and skin swiftly transformed. Five, long pale fingers shifted into three agile toes covered in iridescent blue scales and tipped in deceptively delicate-looking ice-white claws. "This is also me. It looks different but I haven't changed." Kalec shifted the hand back to match his humanoid form and flexed the fingers.
"Both are me just shaped differently." He used the hand he'd shifted to gently brush her hair behind her ear. She leaned into the gentle touch. "You are the same soul even if you look a little different. Am I making sense?"
"You are," she said. "I hadn't thought in those terms before."
"You still look like your mother you know," he said. "What I noticed first was you have the same smile."
Jaina ducked her head, smiling. "Thank you." She cleared her throat. "But we were discussing what I can do for you. What do you need?"
"I would like to teach. And learn. And live. I was offered quarters here before, but I wanted to live in Coldarra. I think, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to be here. Maybe a lab space of my own. And I would like to live in Dalaran if not with you. The Nexus has become... Painful. Lonely."
"Stay with me," she said then kissed up his jawline. "We'll set up a lab so you have your own space for research or building or whatever you'd like. I liked coming home to you last night. I liked being able to slip into bed with you and be held and talk about whatever comes to mind. I liked working on the hearthstone with you." She dropped her eyes and bit her lip as she traced little circles on his skin again. "And I really like the sex." She met his eyes.
Kalec chuckled, eyes glittering in mirth. "Do you now?"
"Don't laugh at me when I am both flattering you and making a vulnerable admission," she joked.
Kalec's chuckle turned deep. He rolled them so she was on her back under him. He grinned down at her, his long hair falling on either side of his face. "I like the sex too." He claimed her lips in a fierce kiss. "And the cuddling." Another kiss, this one longer. "And the magic. You have no idea what a turn on it is when I see you working out complex spells."
"I think I have some idea," she said finding one of his hands and lacing their fingers together. "Watching you cast, it has been an effort not to proposition you and see just how clever these long fingers are." She arched up to kiss him. "And your lips featured often in my fantasy,"
"Did they?" he asked, intrigued. "I hope I have lived up to your expectations."
"My current dataset is fairly small still." She nipped at his jaw and he growled. He slid one of his knees up to part her legs. "I need more data, but early indications project you exceed my expectations." She gasped as his free hand slipped between her legs, slick with her own building arousal and from their earlier encounter. moaned as he touched her.
"I've begun a fascinating exploration project," he said, somehow managing to keep his voice conversational.
"Oh?"
"Mmhm." He trailed feather-light touches over her thighs. "It's an unexpected subject of study for me, but I find myself entirely captivated."
"It sounds like it might take some time to make a complete survey."
"I imagine it will, though I am becoming familiar with the territory." He grinned impishly, wagging his eyebrows. "The natives are welcoming."
He was so absurdly silly, Jaina fell into a fit of helpless laughter. Grinning, Kalec leaned down to kiss her neck and jaw as she continued to giggle. Eventually her mirth settled into a comfortable simmering heat.
Jaina drew his attention with gentle fingers on his chin then kissed him. She caressed his cheek with her thumb. "I love you."
Though she'd said it before his face still lit with joy. "I love you." And though he'd said it before she still felt a giddy flutter in her heart. He leaned down to kiss her and while there was laughter, few words were spoken for a long while.