Ghost Leopard

Dorian Havilliard smiled to himself when he heard the familiar flap of wings and the resounding croak coming from his balcony. Giddy because he was prepared for the arrival, the King opened the doors with a spring in his step and a matching grin to boot.

"Good afternoon," he greeted charmingly as Abraxos bobbed his head in greeting, the iron teeth in his mouth glinting in the wake of the setting sun. Still trying to get used to petting the beast, Dorian held out his open palm and let the wyvern step into the touch, his smile turning caring as Abraxos stroked himself against his hand.

When Manon dropped down and stepped next to Dorian, the King took his hand back and faced her. "Hi, I asked the cook to prepare something special for tonight."

Manon nodded once before waving to Abraxos who sniffed at her in what looked like concern before taking off. Dorian didn't think much of it, especially as his attention fell on the scratches on the marble floor. Pointedly ignoring the marks, Dorian concentrated on Manon as she spoke. "You always have something 'special' planned."

The young man chuckled as they stepped inside his rooms. "Not all the time, but either way, this time it's different. I promise." The little look she sent him spoke volumes, but Dorian didn't mind it too much as he noted the bag in her hand. "Do you need to use the bathing room?" She usually would whenever she came back from the mountain.

"I'm fine."

Dorian frowned. The tone in her voice said otherwise. "Are you okay?" He asked in concern, stepping closer.

She met his eyes, but her expression was controlled. "Just tired."

Dorian was so surprised that she admitted to an ailment, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Instinctively, he reached for her waist. "What happe-"

She cried out. A small sound, barely noticeable, but the King's heart jumped and he almost fell back. When Manon looked away with a cringe and placed a tentative hand on her side, he spoke up.

"I'm sorry, are you hurt, love?"

Slowly, the witch straightened and from the look on her face, he wondered if she was actually liable to pass out. "It's nothing." Nothing? His frown spoke for him, for she added, "it was a bad hunt."

Paying rapt attention to her now, Dorian brought over the most comfortable couch in the room, urging her toward it. "Sit, tell me about it."

There was a huff, but Manon followed through and Dorian did not like at all the way she gingerly sat down. As he contemplated calling a healer, she spoke. "We usually let the wyverns hunt the elk at the valley close to the mountain. After a number of the elk were down, we all flew to collect the spoils." She shook her head, as if remembering shamed her. "A ghost leopard had been watching us and stalked up to where I was with the twins. Since I was still strapped to Abraxos I couldn't move when it attacked."

Dorian's eyes were wide. "A ghost leopard? But-but how exactly did it happen?" Ghost leopards were notoriously good killers; the fact that Manon was sitting in front of him was a feat in itself.

"Abraxos is the smallest and I…'show' against the scenery. I'm not very good when it comes to stealth." No, because wherever she went she brought attention to herself, even if she didn't mean to.

"You said you were still strapped to Abraxos."

Manon let out a breath, but it was careful and unnatural. "Abraxos noticed the leopard at the same time I did and was able to move out of the way some, but the cat still got me on the side. It's just a scratch."

Knowing it was a complete understatement, Dorian let her know. "From where I'm standing it doesn't seem like 'just a scratch."

The witch shifted her head uncaringly. "It will heal."

"Let me see."

Manon actually growled, something Dorian hadn't heard from her in months. If it had been months ago, the King would have backed off, letting her have her space-assuming she would take care of herself. But things were different, and their relationship had changed over time. "You can't expect me not to be worried," he muttered softly, sitting next to her, but making sure not to touch anything.

The Blackbeak Matron blinked and Dorian prepared himself for rejection. As the silence stretched out for a bit too long they both spoke up.

"Alright," she said.

"It's fine," he said.

Oh.

The blue-eyed man wasted no time in letting her take back what she said, looking at her covered stomach. "Your left side, right?"

The witch was stiff, but she nodded which was a good sign. Daringly, he went for the side of her tunic, lifting up the shirt to reveal a string of white bandages surrounding the span of her waist, continuing almost to her chest from the looks of it. Three large blots of blue were on her left side in the shape of some nasty sharp claws.

Dorian let himself show complete bewilderment. "How did you even fly here?"

Manon lowered her shirt slowly. "I've had worse."

The King shook his head, feeling as though he should say something-do something. "Forget the garden," he snapped to himself, "we're having dinner here and I'm getting you a healer."

Manon raised a pretty eyebrow. "Garden?"

He would make sure the healer checked her over, give her ointments or teas for the pain and he would get her fresh sheets and help her bathe if she needed it…and maybe also make her eat dinner in bed and insist she stay tomorrow-also in bed.

"Dorian."

Having a makeshift plan in his head, the mentioned one looked up. "Forget about it, you can stay here or on the bed while I get a healer, alright?" He had planned a whole event in the gardens of his castle with special firefly lights and fresh flowers and her favorite food-all that romantic stuff he had been dying to do with her since he could remember.

But her health came first.

"You underestimate a witch's natural healing abilities," she told him, going so far as to stand back up.

"No, no, sit down."

"Dorian."

His face was torn as he went back to her. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

Manon's eyes narrowed marginally as she placed her hands on either side of his hips. "I don't need a healer," she whispered as her lips brushed his chin.

Dorian thought about it. "Let's make a deal." A roll of the eyes as she backed off, but that didn't stop the King from continuing. "No healer, but you stay here for at least two nights."

"Hm."

"What?"

"Asterin told me you would say that."

Of course she did, he thought.

Stepping close, Dorian kissed her cheek and felt a pleased shiver when she let him. "Deal?"

Manon looked at him for a while as he thumbed her braid between his fingers, wanting it loose so he could properly run his hands through the soft locks. "Fine."

The smile he gave her was so wide his cheeks began to hurt. The kiss that followed was even better.

Though I said this would be the last update before EoS release, I've decided to post one more one-shot tomorrow, 5th of September, to bring this series to an even twenty chapters. Though this series as is will end, I will make a new one as soon as I get the inspiration too after I read EoS (think two-three weeks, maybe less.) As such, we will have a split set of one-shots. These 20 made prior to EoS and an indefinite number made after EoS as a separate series.

I hope you review and let me know what you think about this one-shot and all the others. I love feedback as you must know already.

purpleglasseswrites – I've been avoiding tumblr just for that, I haven't read a single spoiler and plan to keep it that way until the release. I can't promise anything, but I'm pretty sure I'll continue this series after I read EoS.

Guest – "Way better?" This review made me nervous as well as the "enjoyed this a little more" from purpleglasseswrites. You are both scaring me.

Luu96 – Good, it was a pleasure to write ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Horseleap (Guest) - I'm glad to see you are enjoying yourself. I get really happy when returnees review again.

Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites. We're almost done.

PS: Remember to check back tomorrow for the last chapter of Ice and Magic!