Chapter 52

Acelan awoke by the fire, his thoughts in a mess. For a moment he thought he saw his sister sitting next to him but it was only the fire playing tricks on his eyes. It was most likely late, most of the dancers were talking or up on the dais, he laughed when he saw Mara trying to teach Nahun and Naosis how to dance and, by the look of it, they were having fun.

Sitting up, the phantom pain of the thorns came back to him and he looked down and saw thin, pink scars along his wrists and ankles. Shivering, he walked around and found Karma lying just outside the Nest, staring out into the night, tears falling down her cheeks. "I thought you'd come out here..." His voice sounded loud and awkward in his ears and he sighed, sitting down beside her.

"I'm sorry." Karma whispered, "I know I didn't kill our baby, but I'm sorry anyway."

Acelan took her in his arms, "You don't need to be."

Karma nodded, "You're right, I don't…but still."

"I know." He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead, "we couldn't stop fate."

"We could always try again…"Karma whispered, "I can't always be childless."

Acelan was surprised at this change of attitude but nodded, "That's true." Karma giggled and the dancer watched as his lover ran off back into the Nest, the firelight dancing off her skin. As he followed her, she hooked her melos about his neck and pulled him up gently to dais. Letting the melos slide from his neck to his torso, she let her body mold to his, pressing up against him, as he placed his hands on her waist. "I love you." He whispered, lips brushing against the soft skin of her neck.

Karma giggled and closed her eyes, letting Acelan guide her in the dance.

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At the Court, she stopped him as he went to enter her chambers. "Wait here." She whispered, and he nodded as she shut the door. He leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest.
Finally, Karma reopened the door and Acelan was surprised at her somewhat seductive appearance: Her black hair was tousled and she wore only a thin, white nightgown, the fabric clinging to her curves and, as he walked inside, the fire in the hearth casting deep shadows across her face and body. Few candles were also lit, offering meager light to the room, making her eyes glow as she lost herself in his embrace.
"You like it?" she asked.
Acelan chuckled and plucked a feather from one of his wings and traced it along her jawbone, "You didn't need all this to tell me." He whispered, his lips lingering at the skin of her ear, tangling his fingers in her hair, as she kissed him passionately, smiling as she worked at the laces of his shirt, giggling as he picked her up and lay her on a large blanket by the hearth, pausing to look into her eyes, his own heavy with an emotion both knew all too well…

Passion.

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Acelan watched her sleep under a large blanket, his eyes sliding over her like warm honey. He knew she was beautiful. The way her curves molded next to his body, lit only by moonlight, the way her skin wept as they lay near the hearth, her dark hair falling across her small breasts. She clutched his feather in long fingers and he tucked damp strands of hair from her forehead, his fingertips lingering on her cheek.

The half-phoenix knew she was beautiful, so real, and his to keep.