There were few cities that Katherine hated more than Orgrimmar and at this very moment she couldn't really remember which ones those were. Orgrimmar was the city that had taken her daughter away, twice. First into Windrunner's clutches and then again, washed away for some maddening reason. She still couldn't quite believe that Jaina had voluntarily fought and nearly died for the Horde.

The Horde had taken so much from Katherine. Her husband, her eldest son, and her daughter. And now, even though she had Jaina back, she ... did not.

Her emotions remained a whirlpool. Seeing Jaina again, alive, hurt but alive had alleviated the tight, bitter knot inside her chest. But kissing Sylvanas like that.

Her first action. Instinctual and desperate. Katherine didn't know what to think, and nothing she could come up with was all that kind.

Sylvanas hadn't even allowed an Alliance healer to look at Jaina before whisking her away to gods knew where, a fact that grated on Katherine very nearly more than anything else. That manipulating bitch, pulling that bullshit with Jaina on patrol; she had to have researched, had to have known the effect that would have on Katherine and the rest of Kul Tiras. And it had indeed affected her, which only shook her more.

But while the Horde healer looked at Jaina, Katherine was left with little to do but wait. If nothing else it could be an opportunity to get the pulse of the city after the attack. She could learn as much from what people didn't say, as what they did. It was, surprisingly, not that much different from Boralus or Stormwind. Merchants hawked their wares and bargained with shoppers, and there were stalls that looked as though they'd been lifted straight from an Alliance town.

There was even a vendor selling sausages on sticks, and Katherine walked over to investigate. For reasons entirely unknown to Katherine, Jaina had a taste for the disgusting things.

"Ah! Lady Proudmoore! A looker just like your daughter!" The goblin running the stall flashed her a grin with white teeth. "Lookin' for some meat?"

"Ah... no thank you. I was just..."

"Proudmoore the younger loves goblin meat, sometimes she's shovin' four whole sausages into her mouth!" He seemed to ignore the expression on Katherine's face as she contemplated dragging him to her ship just to keelhaul him. "She's even got the Warchief into it! But don't tell anyone I said so, that's a state secret."

He produced one of the sausages, "Come on! It's on the house! Lady Jaina saved all our asses an' she an' her family get ta stuff their faces for life."

"Indeed, she did almost die for us." A young looking Forsaken man stepped up to the stall, holding up two fingers, one of which was completely missing skin and muscle. He adjusted a monocle over his left eye. "Though she would do anything for the Alliance as well. We see it every day."

Interesting. This might make it worth trying to eat one of these monstrosities, so Katherine took the offered meat stick. "Jaina has always had a big heart."

"And she exhibits it frequently, as the Lady of Orgrimmar."

"Among other things," The vendor muttered, leering in the direction of the Hold.

The Forsaken chuckled. "Well. She does get spirited up into the upper stories quite frequently." Bowing his head to Katherine, he paid for his food. "A pleasure meeting you, Lord Admiral."

"...The same," Katherine murmured.

Sylvanas had said nothing about the kiss upon her return, and Jaina hadn't had the strength or desire to resist when Sylvanas picked her up and carried her back into Orgrimmar. She'd put up with Minuial scolding her and her friends and family parading through. Jaina could recall a few them; Anduin in particular, at her side, and even Go'el. She lost count of the people holding her hand, though her mother seemed to be hovering constantly.

She struggled to answer their questions, but she was losing the ability to even understand what was being said to her. With adrenaline no longer keeping her going the past several days were catching up to her all at once. She hadn't slept since before the battle; losing consciousness after drowning probably didn't count. And there were just so many of them...

As if through a fog, she heard Sylvanas speaking. "You need to leave."

"I'm not leaving," Katherine said, eyes still focused on Jaina. Jaina blinked slowly, staring up at her mother as her mind tried to remember why she was even here.

"Yes," Sylvanas said, her eyes on Jaina and something not unlike concern etched into her features. "You are. All of you. Get out."

Everyone, even Greymane, filtered out quickly, except her mother. Katherine stared down at her daughter, at the hand that Sylvanas put over Jaina's, before she stood. "This isn't over, Windrunner."

"No, mother, I suspect not." Sylvanas's smile was the only thing Jaina could focus on as her mother turned on her heel and marched out.

Without the noise and crowding to keep her awake Jaina found herself fading fast. The last thing she could remember was Sylvanas depositing Varian on the bed and slipping in beside her. She curled into her wife's arms as she drifted off, and was too miserable and exhausted to be self-conscious about it. She hurt, and Sylvanas was soft and cool against her aches. That was all there was to it.

She wasn't alone when she woke up. Sylvanas was there, studying her and Jaina blinked tiredly. This didn't make sense. Sylvanas didn't care for anyone but herself. Even her caring for the Horde was more self-serving than not. But she was still here in bed with Jaina, looking calmly at her.

"Thank you," Jaina said.

"Thank you? That's what you choose to say to me?" Sylvanas sounded amused, and Jaina glowered at her.

"I mean. For still being here."

"I was just making sure you lived through the night." When Sylvanas slipped out of her arms and the bed, Jaina could feel her absence like a piece of herself was missing.

And that scared the hell out of her. Fighting back something like a panic attack, Jaina forced herself to reason that she was still feeling vulnerable after her ordeal. "I was only mostly dead."

She started to sit up but Sylvanas was there, pushing her back down. "Rest."

Sighing, Jaina glowered again, though her expression softened. "I also wanted to thank you for Kul Tiras. For helping there. It was not your place and yet you still went."

"It was your place," Sylvanas replied. "But you could not go, so I went in your stead."

"Simple as that?"

Something flashed across Sylvana's face. "Yes. I suppose."

"I don't believe you."

"You don't have to. Boralus is relatively intact, Orgrimmar was saved. We will all be licking our wounds for some time, but we survived." Her eyes narrowed to bloody points as she stared hard at Jaina. "You survived."

Had her presumed death really rattled Sylvanas this much? Jaina wanted to dig into that, apply pressure to this new weak point of Sylvanas's; but if she did that, she'd have to analyze her own feelings. About the way Sylvanas looked at her. About her desperate need to get back to Orgrimmar. It had been for the Compact, she told herself. To prevent war.

It had nothing to do with Sylvanas.

"Yes… well. What are we going to do about that?"

Sylvanas' lips twitched. "About your survival?"

"About retaliating."

"Retaliate? Against whom?" Sylvanas raised one long eyebrow. "The Old Gods? Azshara? For the former we barely know where to start, and the latter is probably fortifying her positions as we speak. Thunder Bluff, Boralus and Stormwind all suffered significant damage and Ironforge is half buried. I'm told the Exodar exploded. To add insult to injury, Naga made away with numerous artifacts in Suramar, as well."

"So you're saying we're in no position to strike back," Jaina guessed, before blinking "The Exodar what?:

"Exploded, please keep up dear." Sylvana's lips twitched into a smile. "But not a retreat, not a capitulation."

"Regrouping," Jaina agreed, setting aside the Exodar thing for the moment and watching as Sylvanas stepped back. She bit her lip, then asked the Warchief of the Horde, "May I have some water?"

"Yes." Sylvanas nodded once, and disappeared from the room. No mocking statements about conjuring with magic, not even a cruel ghost of a smile.

It made Jaina's head spin and she laid her head back on the pillow, partly dislodging Varian, who'd been trying to sleep on her face all night.

"You look awful."

Jaina opened her eyes at the sound of Vereesa's voice, unsure if she'd passed out or not and how much time might have passed. She turned her head and stared at the woman, who was sitting on a chair next to the bed. For some reason, Sylvanas hadn't killed her.

A glass of water was on the table near her, too. "Was that glass here when you got here?"

"Yes, why?"

"No reason." Jaina started to sit up, but Vereesa was on her feet in an instant and pushing her back down. Jaina protested, trying to slap her hand away. Varian, delighted at the new game, reached out from his position beside Jaina's head to join in loyally batting at Vereesa's fingers. "I'm not an invalid!"

"You are, actually." Sylvanas leaned on the door frame, halo'd by the light behind her in the hallway. She gave Jaina a considering look, folding her arms.. "You drained yourself so thoroughly that you didn't just tap into your magical reserves. You drew from your life force, too."

"I did what?" Jaina looked at Vereesa for confirmation.

The youngest Windrunner nodded, glancing at her sister out of the corner of her eyes. "That's what Kalecgos said. Khadgar agreed, as did several Alliance and Horde mages. The Focusing Iris allowed you to dig past your reserves of magic once they were exhausted. They're pretty sure that was the only reason the shield didn't fail."

Jaina's throat bobbed, and she looked at her hands. Using life force was typically something that Warlocks did. And Death Knights. "So what does that mean?"

"It means you rest. It means I've assigned Minuial as your personal healer for the next several weeks, as she is one of the most powerful we have."

"It also means she has graciously allowed me to hang around and make sure you actually rest," Vereesa said, eyes glinting.

"I meant magically. Long term," Jaina whispered, staring at the two of them like they'd both gone mad. They must have. They were almost getting along. Maybe that meant Jaina actually was dead. "Did I somehow tap into fel?"

The bed dipped as Sylvanas sat on the edge of it, reaching out to twirl her finger into Jaina's witch's lock. She lifted the hair so that Jaina could see the last of her gold had turned to silver. Her voice was surprisingly gentle. "This, for starters."

"Oh." Jaina blinked back tears, the realization hitting her like a punch to the gut, as though the Jaina Proudmoore of before was now well and truly dead. She didn't bother to ask anything else or even seek out clarification. That could come later, perhaps from Minuial.

"... Are you hungry?" Vereesa asked.

Jaina shook her head, though that reminded her of something. "Ihz. The courier. She was the one that found me. I borrowed some herbs for a mana potion and I promised I'd compensate her."

"No, you're eating," Vereesa insisted, getting up and leaving the bedroom to find some food.

"Ihz…" Sylvanas mused, then nodded slowly. "Ah yes, I remember her. Good in a crisis. Not one for pleasantries. An irritating habit of making herself slightly too useful to kill, which I see hasn't changed."

"Please don't murder her," Jaina deadpanned.

Sylvanas shook her head. "On the contrary, I would like to personally deliver the payment and thank her for returning you to us."

Jaina's eyes widened. "That would be worse."

Giving her an amused smile, Sylvanas replied, "It would only give her a little fright."

"Sylvanas, please."

"As you wish." Sylvanas cupped Jaina's cheek, stroking her thumb along a too-sharp cheekbone.

That was… disconcertingly easy. Jaina studied Sylvanas's face, if only because she had nowhere else to look. "Your hand is cold."

"You've never complained before," Sylvanas purred.

"Well I…" Heat rushed to Jaina's cheeks but she couldn't move her eyes away from Sylvanas's. She lifted her head, pushing herself up by the elbows only for Sylvanas's free hand to rest on her chest and stop her upward movement. Jaina huffed, and slid her hand up Sylvanas's arm and to the back of her neck.

Jaina still felt like a drowned rat, the vast chasm where her power should be threatening to swallow her. She didn't want Sylvanas to leave. So she clung to her, just a little bit, just by tangling her fingers in the hair at the base of Sylvanas's neck. What did it mean, wanting Sylvanas to stay, to keep her close.

To be comforted by her.

To want her and be wanted by her.

Oh gods but Jaina didn't want that to mean what she thought it meant.

Jaina flicked her tongue out, wetting her lips, her other hand lifting to Sylvanas's right ear. She stroked her fingers along the outer edge, watching closely as Sylvanas tilted her head into the touch, eyes flickering. It was beautiful and tender and vulnerable and a desire welled up inside Jaina to kiss her, with no expectation of sex or want or need. Just kiss her...

If Jaina had the energy, she would have gotten out of bed and fled then and there, to be anywhere in Orgrimmar but here. If Jaina had the energy, she could have resisted when Sylvanas pushed her down, removing her hand from her neck and ear.

"Rest."

"Stay."

Sylvanas straightened, expression unreadable and tense, before she stood and shook her head. "I've duties to attend to."

Watching her leave, Jaina couldn't tell if she was relieved or disappointed.

The wall had been shattered by a great force, but already workers were beginning repairs, scaffolding in place. Vereesa thought they'd be done within a fortnight at this rate, which was pretty impressive considering it required Horde and Alliance workers coordinating. Really, the entirety of Stromgarde was proof positive that both factions would work and even live together. It was good to think about, at least, rather than worrying about Jaina. At least her friend had seemed to be doing better before she'd left for Stromgarde. Over a week of bed rest helped.

She turned, looking down into the city and marveled at it. While it wasn't as large as Stormwind, it had grown considerably since the first time she'd seen it.

A familiar figure on a white horse weaved through the streets and crowds of people, and Vereesa caught herself making her hair presentable.

"I would say you missed an incredible battle, but by all accounts you were more needed in Kul Tiras." Cenengel slid off her horse and approached, putting her hand on Vereesa's shoulder and smiling at her. "And don't try to apologize. We go where we're needed."

Vereesa nodded, then gestured to the wall. "What happened here?"

"Whale."

She looked back at the damage. "Whale?"

Cenengel nodded. "They threw a whale at the wall."

"A whale."

"A white whale. A big one!"

"A whale," Vereesa repeated again. Why that was somehow more incredible than the leviathan that she and her sisters had defeated was beyond her, but she couldn't wrap her mind around the mental image. "They threw the whale."

Cenengel nodded, her hand leaving Vereesa's shoulder. Vereesa immediately missed the contact. It wasn't betraying Jaina to be attracted to someone else, was it? It wasn't like she was leaving her to her fate with Sylvanas.

Though when she put it that way it really did kind of feel like a betrayal.

"Vereesa?"

"I'm sorry. I'm just trying to picture a flying whale." Vereesa realized Cenengel was staring at her, and heat rose to her face. Hoping to distract herself from where her mind had been going, she pulled a vial out of one of her pouches. Moving on. "I picked up the elixir you said you needed when I was in Dalaran last night."

Cenengel's emerald eyes lit up, seeming to bring out her freckles-much to Vereesa's combined delight and dismay. "Thank you. It helps me be more … me."

Double-checking the label, Vereesa handed it over, trying to ignore it when her fingers brushed Cenengel's skin. "Is that the right one?"

"Yes." Cenengel slipped the vial into a compartment on her belt. "I wonder if there are more permanent magics available. I've always been too nervous to check."

"You, nervous?" Vereesa asked, tilting her head and looking the tough woman up and down. "I'm having a hard time picturing you scared of anything."

"The elixirs work, I don't know if other magics would, so..." She tapped her fists on her chest, grinning broadly. "Now how long are you staying?"

Vereesa snapped her eyes from Cene's chest to her face and those freckles. "A few weeks unless something comes up."

Cenengel looked so happy that Vereesa forgot all about flying whales and her concerns about Sylvanas. "Then it's a good thing I have that extra room in my home."

"You don't have-" Vereesa was interrupted when Cenengel's arms wrapped around her. She felt like she was being swallowed whole by a warm and comforting blanket.

"I know, my friend. But I want to." Cenengel pulled away, smiling. Then she picked Vereesa up like she was made of straw and put her on her horse. "But first, there's something I need to show you."

Cenengel climbed on behind her and Vereesa stiffened. "You taking that armor off?"

"What was that?"

"Where are you taking me?" Vereesa forced herself to relax against Cenengel and kept her expression bored and neutral as they rode. No one really paid them any mind and Vereesa reasoned it wasn't embarrassing. She hadn't had anyone do anything romantic for her since Rhonin died. It was … nice.

"A nice present for you." Cenengel said, voice too soft and breath too warm against Vereesa's ear.

"You don't have to do this either."

"Do what?"

"Treat me like some kind of lady."

Cene's smiled, her left hand sliding across Vereesa's waist and resting on her stomach. "But you are one."

"I'm just going to have to prove you wrong some day."

"I look forward to that." Cenengel fell silent for a moment, before asking. "How is Lady Proudmoore?"

Vereesa frowned, running her fingers through the horse's mane. "She's doing better. She's recovered enough to be ambulatory, anyway. I figured it was time for me to leave."

"You don't sound too happy about that," Cene noted. For some reason Vereesa could feel Cene's hand more now.

"I just worry. She's one of my best friends. We've been through so much together, but …" Vereesa shook her head, unsure of how to voice what she felt.

"What she's going through for all of us is not something you can go through with her."

Sinking back against Cenengel, Vereesa nodded. "Yes…but I think she's had more life in her lately than she did for a very long time before."

The arm tightened around her as Cenengel replied, "I think I can understand. While Stromgarde fell before I was born, I know what it's like to feel alive again after a great loss."

"What was his name? Or hers."

"Ondine. Her name was Ondine and I lost her in Northrend. I'll tell you about her sometime."

They moved on to lighter topics after that, Cenengel updating Vereesa on Stromgarde's status before they finally arrived at a stone building with barred windows. Cenengel slipped off and wisely let Vereesa hop down on her own.

Vereesa looked at the building curiously. "My present is in there? I think you're skipping several stages of courtship."

She got a blush out of Cenengel and a bit of stammering before the warrior cleared her throat. "We captured someone during the attack."

Oh. Now Vereesa's interest was definitely piqued. "You got me a prisoner."

"Naga," Cenengel said, eyes flashing. "She's proved difficult to interrogate."

"Give me an hour," Vereesa said, expression hardening. "Then you can buy me dinner and I'll tell you all about it."

Just because Jaina was ambulatory again didn't mean she could get far. To be fair, Jaina had made it about halfway down the stairs before Tyra and Kalira had caught her about to fall and bodily carried her back into the residence. They'd at least given her the dignity of putting her in the living area and not telling Sylvanas. She sat on the couch, stretched out and about as comfortable as one could be without being in bed.

Though Sylvanas probably already knew. She knew everything that happened in her city.

Jaina pinched her brow, and contemplated trying to make her way back to the bedroom. She was feeling weary again already, the words in her book all kind of running together. She didn't want to sleep yet, though. What she really wanted to do was talk to someone. Just not Sylvanas.

Perhaps she could get a magical message to Minuial or Lissibeth to convince them into paying her a visit, or see if Enda wanted to discuss what she should wear at an upcoming event. Mundane, not all that important things, but it was all she had the energy for.

There was a knock at the door, and she gestured vaguely while calling out. "Come in."

If it was someone trying to harm her, they wouldn't have knocked; and her shadows would never have let them get this close regardless. But when she saw the figure in the hallway, tall and wide-shouldered and green, she took back her desire to have company.

"Go'el," she said, gripping her book too tightly.

"Jaina." He nodded his head at her, taking her in with worry in his eyes.

"This isn't fair," she said. "Catching me when I can't go anywhere."

"It's the best chance I had to get to talk to you," he replied. "And see how you're doing."

A smile tugged at Jaina's lips, and she pointed at a chair. "Sit, you're just going to tower over me otherwise."

"Thank you." Go'el took a seat in front of his captive audience, shifting uncomfortably in it. Jaina studied him, closing her book and folding her hand on top of it in her lap.

Jaina opened her mouth, then closed it. Then she exhaled and tried to make words happen. "I wanted to thank you anyway. For showing up the way you did. Even though it was for Orgrimmar, it felt… good having you at my side again."

"It wasn't just for Orgrimmar," he said, shaking his head. "It was for you too. I have spent so long trying to heal Azeroth that I have neglected those closest to me."

That was not what Jaina wanted to hear, precisely because of the water that started to fill her eyes. She blamed it on her exhaustion. "Go'el…" Jaina shook her head, and held up her hand before he could speak. "I don't deserve that. Not after the way I've treated you."

"You were hurting, Jaina. And you were right about some of it. You were right that Garrosh was my responsibility."

She nodded, picking at her nails. "I'm glad you talked me down. And I have.. other regrets."

But not everything. There were things she'd done in the war that she didn't regret and things she'd wished she'd done, that she really should be ashamed of thinking. "If one good thing has come from the compact, its the two sides seeing each other as living, breathing beings."

Go'el tilted his head, staying silent and letting Jaina collect her thoughts.

"It became too easy to see each other as monsters. I…" Jaina shifted on the couch, leaning her head back against the pillow behind her. "I lost my way. I lost myself. I went so far from those days when we thought we could keep the peace and work together."

"I know."

She lifted her head again. There was no judgement in Go'el's eyes, no hatred. Sadness, yes, and hope. Jaina realized that she'd forgiven him; though when, she couldn't say. He blurred as her tears spilled over. "I tried so hard, Go'el. I tried so hard and my hand got slapped away again and again and again." Jaina wiped at her eyes. "I still wake up, sometimes. Expecting another war. Afraid that everything I've sacrificed these last years was for nothing. To have my hand slapped away again. To have to kill these people. I don't want..."

Go'el got up, and knelt next to the couch, taking her hand. "If you have that fear, Jaina, that must mean you have hope again."

Jaina looked at him, then at their hands, before forcing herself to sit up and lean in, putting her other hand around his shoulders. She buried her face into his chest and cried.

Sylvanas found Jaina in the kitchen when she came home, the sun almost gone behind the mountains. Leaning on the doorframe, she folded her arms and watched her in silence. Jaina looked much better than even just a few days ago, and was using magic to help herself cook. Perhaps whatever she and Thrall had discussed that day had helped her, or Minuial's latest healing session. Or both, perhaps.

Regardless, Sylvanas wasn't entirely ready to let Jaina resume her normal routine, though she knew she wouldn't be able to keep her in the residency any longer. She just … did not want any more harm to befall her. There had been relapses over the course of Jaina's recovery; Sylvanas was being cautious, not irrational. And Vereesa had made her promise to take care of her.

Listening to her sister wasn't high on Sylvanas' list of priorities, but in this case their desires were the same.

Jaina hadn't noticed her presence yet; Sylvanas had let herself become one with the shadows, if only to observe her wife. Jaina was humming to herself as cookware floated about. Bacon sizzled in a pan several inches above a magical fire and Sylvanas felt a sudden longing for a taste she could barely remember.

Banishing the thought, Sylvanas went perfectly still when Jaina turned around. Her smile was dangerously infectious, and reminded Sylvanas of how close she'd come to freeing her in the days after she'd returned to Orgrimmar.

No, freeing was the wrong word. Releasing her from her obligations to the Horde, though that might just be semantics. There were political considerations, in the cold light of day, that would have made it difficult; but not impossible, in the wake of her willing sacrifice. Jaina Proudmoore had intended to die for the Horde. She'd given them enough, that had to be enough. The Alliance would certainly agree with that sentiment; and most of the Horde was too honorable to openly disagree, at least. It could have been done. It might have weakened the treaty-but the gesture might just as easily have strengthened it.

If asked, Sylvanas considered that possibility too nebulous to risk the current, functional peace on mere hope. But even she couldn't lie to herself that boldly. Sylvanas had to admit, at least to herself, that she didn't want to risk Jaina leaving. She wanted to keep her around.

As much as it pained her to admit it, Sylvanas had become dependent on Jaina's presence in her life.

She left the kitchen and snuck back outside, seeking air she didn't need to breathe, needing time and distance from that smile and those dimples and the choking fear of not being alone.

When Sylvanas returned a few hours later, the lingering smells of Jaina's dinner still wafted through the residence. She didn't mask her movements as she shed her armor, finding her wife at the desk in the bedroom.

"I'm resting," Jaina said, anticipating her rebuke, and Sylvanas tried not to smile.

"If that's the best you can do." She moved to the bed, sitting on it and leaning back on both hands while crossing her legs. Jaina looked at her out of the corner of her eyes and this time Sylvanas allowed a predatory smile to spread across her face.

"I was losing my mind, so I wanted to actually do some work," Jaina snapped, swiveling in her chair and giving Sylvanas a hard look.

"Hard to lose something you never had to begin with."

Jaina shook her head. "Sylvanas Windrunner, Warchief of the Horde and Banshee Queen, actual twelve year old."

Sylvanas gestured with her hand before holding it out. She wouldn't admit it to Jaina, but she wanted her close. Wanted physical contact. Was greedy for it and for the heat of Jaina's skin. "Come to me."

She watched Jaina's reaction, the flush on her face, the way her body had started to move before her mind clearly caught up and she got up and walked with dignity rather than rush. It told Sylvanas everything she wanted to know and probably a few things she didn't want to think about.

Once Jaina took her hand, she pulled her closer and fell back onto the bed, pulling Jaina with her. Jaina lay stiffly on top of her and Sylvanas started to rub her back in slow circles and teasing caresses of her fingers. Relaxing, Jaina turned her head, resting her ear against Sylvanas's chest.

"Just what are you expecting to hear?" Sylvanas asked, her other hand threading through Jaina's loose hair.

"You do actually have a heartbeat," Jaina said, and Sylvanas stilled.

"Sort of," Jaina continued, shifting her shoulders like she was encouraging Sylvanas to resume her stroking.

"Explain." Sylvanas kept her hands still. She was dead, no matter what she felt inside when Jaina was nearby.

Sighing, Jaina lifted her head and stared down into Sylvanas's ember eyes. "There's energy. A constant low hum that pulses on occasion. I don't know if it's the magics that preserved your body or a side effect of the banshee within, but it's there. Like a heartbeat."

She touched Sylvanas's face. "I can't tell you when I first noticed it. Maybe it's because of proximity, or my attunement to magic in general."

Sylvanas pulled away, inching back up the bed and leaving Jaina at the foot of it. Jaina narrowed her eyes, then crawled towards her, the front of her nightgown dangling off of her chest and giving Sylvanas a fantastic view. She started to slide her hand down Jaina's side when Jaina caught her hand by the wrist, straddled her, and pinned her arm over her head.

Eyes shrunk to points of sharp red light, Sylvanas rolled her hips under Jaina, eliciting a low gasp from her. Jaina leaned her head down, silver hair like a curtain around their faces, and kissed her.

Sylvanas kissed her back, unhurried and indulgent, slowly undoing the ties of Jaina's nightgown.

Once Jaina was freed of the cloth, the gown fluttering to the ground at the side of the bed, Sylvanas rolled them over. She pressed down on top of her, leg slipped between Jaina's and Jaina's hands now the ones being pinned. Sylvanas continued to kiss her, tongue flicking out to tease her lips as she drew her free hand down the center of Jaina's chest.

Jaina was still exhausted, she knew. Weakened from her ordeal. They could go slow, it was no skin off her back to be considerate of her consort's needs. Sylvanas didn't really care as long as she got what she wanted.

She almost believed that she wasn't lying to herself.

She broke the kiss, freeing Jaina only so that she could shed her own clothing. She still stared at Jaina with unfiltered desire, eyes flickering from her face to her breasts, then to her throat and back again. "I told you once that I'd have you on your back."

Jaina struggled to find her breath, staring at Sylvanas as she removed her clothing, moving in a languid, lazy manner. As if they had all the time in the world, as if doing so wasn't taunting Jaina and making her stomach do somersaults. And gods, the way Sylvanas was looking at her would have woken flames inside Jaina if there wasn't already a bonfire burning.

"Look at you," Sylvanas murmured. "You've been waiting for this victory dance for weeks, haven't you."

There was something in Sylvanas's tone that reverberated throughout Jaina's body, and she wondered if she was actually well enough for the shagging that was sure to come. She didn't really care.

Kneeling between Jaina's legs, Sylvanas lifted the left one, turning her head and kissing Jaina's heel. She licked there, and when Jaina shivered she bit down gently. Too gently. And her fingers that stroked the back of Jaina's calf were too gentle, the touch on her thighs as Sylvanas leaned down. Her lips brushed the sensitive skin near Jaina's pelvis and she moved up, kissing Jaina's stomach. Jaina stared down at her as Sylvanas pressed her lips against her breast before using her tongue to slowly pull the nipple into her mouth.

Sylvanas's tongue was cold at first, which only heightened the sensation. And when the jolt ran through Jaina and she arced into Sylvanas's face, Jaina felt fingers between her legs, exploring gently, stroking at her folds and kindling heat lightning under her skin.

Jaina wrapped one arm around Sylvanas. The deliberate slowness of Sylvanas's touches did more than just make her burn hotter, it caused a tightness in Jaina's chest. But she knew this wasn't anything emotional. She knew that all this was was a desperate need for physical comfort after a near death experience.

Sylvanas lifted her head and pushed a finger inside her as she watched Jaina's face. Jaina tried to keep her eyes open, but they closed against her will as pleasure rippled through her.

She moved her finger as though she were trying not to overwork Jaina, but all that did was make her desperate for more. Jaina opened her eyes, studying the way Sylvanas was watching the bobbing of her throat and rasped, "I know what you want to do. I want you to. Please..."

Right hand dragging from Jaina's breast to her throat, Sylvanas closed her hand around it. Every word sent pleasure cracking up Jaina's spine like a whip. "I want to hear you gasp. Moan. Whine. I want your body at my command."

Not waiting for Jaina's affirmative, Sylvanas squeezed. It wasn't hard, and Jaina had just enough air to gasp; but that lightning returned, shooting through her limbs and down to her core. Sylvanas's eyes grew more fiery when Jaina involuntarily clenched around her finger, letting out a high pitched whine.

It was Sylvanas who groaned next, adding a second finger, her thumb moving over Jaina's clit as she held her pinned by the throat. Everything that Sylvanas did was unhurried, measured. It was impossible for Jaina to do anything but react as the intensity built, her hips jerking as Sylvanas drew out a second powerful orgasm, only to bring her back down and then up again. If she'd had the air and the energy she would have screamed her lover's name. But more than anything in this moment Jaina wanted Sylvanas to kiss her.

Then Sylvanas did, letting go of her throat and cupping her cheek as she found Jaina's lips with her hungry mouth. Tears falling from the corners of her eyes, Jaina wrapped one arm around Sylvanas's shoulders, the other snaking between them to find Sylvanas as wet as she was. As always, she nearly came out of the moment wanting to understand how that worked.

Sylvanas shuddered on top of her, the kiss deepening as Jaina ran a finger in a circle between Sylvanas's legs, and she forgot her questions. Wherever they touched she knew had to burn Sylvanas, her skin warm as it drew from Jaina's heat. Jaina loved that feeling and she could hear the thrum of Sylvanas's energy all around her.

She didn't let Sylvanas break the kiss as they moved their fingers in time to each other. Jaina's body writhed against Sylvanas's and to her surprise Sylvanas shuddered, body undulating as she moaned into her mouth, kissing Jaina more insistently with every passing moment.

Eager. Eager. That's what Jaina was. Eager to kiss Sylvanas, eager to taste her, eager to use and be used by her. But she wasn't using Sylvanas right now, and Sylvanas wasn't using her. This was something different, something that caused the tension in her chest to grow, something that almost made the tears return, something that made the loneliness shrivel up as warmth flooded her chest.

Jaina felt Sylvanas come, Sylvanas going suddenly still save for tremors and spasms that ran through her and when she whispered Jaina's name with a tired, weary tenderness Jaina felt herself shatter.

She didn't move, she couldn't move, so she lay there, holding Sylvanas as Sylvanas slid an arm underneath her and rolled them onto their sides. Sylvanas pressed her face into Jaina's chest, forehead against her heart.

"Can you still feel it?" Sylvanas asked, whatever mask she'd been wearing having fallen away.

Not trusting her voice, Jaina nodded, beginning to trace patterns in Sylvanas's back with the tips of her fingers.

She wondered who she'd become, and what any of this meant. She wondered at words that were too complicated to say anywhere but between the thighs.

But mostly, Jaina wondered if Sylvanas understood what that single word, that single utterance of her name, had done to her.