When he finally pulled back, his breath mingled with hers, his cheeks flushed and his grip on her soft but lingering.
When he finally pulled back, his breath mingled with hers, his cheeks flushed and his grip on her soft but lingering.
“Should we... maybe find the others?” he added, his eyes darting around the magical venue.
“Should we... maybe find the others?” he added, his eyes darting around the magical venue.
“I... uh, I’ve tried my best to match your beauty.” he said, voice gentle and a soft smile on his lips. “But I fear I’m doomed to eternally fail.”
“I... uh, I’ve tried my best to match your beauty.” he said, voice gentle and a soft smile on his lips. “But I fear I’m doomed to eternally fail.”
Kael turned, offering his hand as Beth stepped into the Fade. As she did, he felt all unease vanish, every sense drawn to her.
She looked breathtaking.
@bethanyderiva.bsky.social
Kael turned, offering his hand as Beth stepped into the Fade. As she did, he felt all unease vanish, every sense drawn to her.
She looked breathtaking.
@bethanyderiva.bsky.social
But as the scene unfolded before him, his fears unraveled. Bellara had spoken of such wonders, of magic’s gentler side, and now, she was about to live a dream of her own. He smiled.
But as the scene unfolded before him, his fears unraveled. Bellara had spoken of such wonders, of magic’s gentler side, and now, she was about to live a dream of her own. He smiled.
Of course I'll go. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Of course I'll go. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
His mind briefly flickered with memories, but he buried it quickly, focusing back on Beth as she spoke about her role in the Crows.
His mind briefly flickered with memories, but he buried it quickly, focusing back on Beth as she spoke about her role in the Crows.
He exhaled, steadier now, as unease gave away to something new. “I’m okay. And… I can’t wait to see what’s next. It’s my first opera.” His eyes glimmered with something almost boyish.
He exhaled, steadier now, as unease gave away to something new. “I’m okay. And… I can’t wait to see what’s next. It’s my first opera.” His eyes glimmered with something almost boyish.
“I- yeah,” he admitted, voice softer than usual. “I’m just… not used to this.” His lips twitched in a self-conscious smile.
“I- yeah,” he admitted, voice softer than usual. “I’m just… not used to this.” His lips twitched in a self-conscious smile.
Yet, with Beth beside him, he steadied, adjusting his coat. His grip on their arm tightened slightly, as if grounding himself.
“It’s… impressive.” he muttered.
Yet, with Beth beside him, he steadied, adjusting his coat. His grip on their arm tightened slightly, as if grounding himself.
“It’s… impressive.” he muttered.
Kael stepped into the opera house, Beth on his arm, and for the first time in years, he felt truly out of place. His usual stern composure wavered as his sharp gaze swept over the gilded moldings and the cascading chandeliers that bathed everything in golden light.
Kael stepped into the opera house, Beth on his arm, and for the first time in years, he felt truly out of place. His usual stern composure wavered as his sharp gaze swept over the gilded moldings and the cascading chandeliers that bathed everything in golden light.
He offered his arm with quiet elegance, his voice warm but still a little unsure. “Of course.” he said gently. "Let us go."
He offered his arm with quiet elegance, his voice warm but still a little unsure. “Of course.” he said gently. "Let us go."
As they rushed off, he straightened his coat, taking a steadying breath.
As they rushed off, he straightened his coat, taking a steadying breath.