Kai Drakon's Arc

Chapter 8 of 30

Over two years passed. The vampire case closed. Kai kept his promise and walked Azure home each night, ate at her table each morning, and slept under her roof more often than not. Summer burned off. The fields turned gold, then brown. By fall he knew the shape of her days as well as his own. One evening he followed her down the stone steps into her cavern. Jewels caught the lamp along the walls. Clay pots lined the entry, some full of dried peppers, some empty. The tunnel narrowed toward the back where her bed sat against the rock. Azure kicked off her boots and climbed onto the quilt. She patted the space beside her. Kai shrugged off his jacket, hung it on a peg, and lay down. She fit against his chest. Her tail curled over his knee. His own tail draped off the mattress. He stroked her hair. The strands slid black between his fingers. "Cold out," she said. "Colder tomorrow." "Peppers are in. Last of them." "I saw the jars." She was quiet a while. He could feel her breath through his shirt. "You haven't left," she said. "No." "I keep waiting for it." His hand stopped in her hair. He had known this was under everything. He had seen it in her face each morning when he pulled his boots on, even if he was only going to the tavern for bread. "Azure. Sit up." She sat up. Her horns caught the lamplight. Her eyes were steady on him. "I've been thinking about it since summer," Kai said. "I want to stop keeping a room at the tavern. I want to live here. With you. If you'll have me." Her tail went still. "For how long," she said. "For good." "Say the rest." He sat up too. He took her hand. It was warm and rough at the knuckles from her work. "I want to marry you," he said. "I don't have a ring yet. I wanted to ask you first." She looked down at their hands. Her cheeks went red the same way they had the night at the bar. Her tail thumped the quilt once. "Yes," she said. "Yes?" "Yes. Move your things tomorrow." He laughed. She pressed her forehead to his. Her horns clicked against his horns. "I'll get you a ring-no-I’ll make you one.” he said. "Don’t forget yourself." She giggled. "Of course.” He chuckled. He cupped her cheek and kissed her firmly. A sealed promise to love her with everything he is. She hummed against his lips. After a long kiss, she laid back down against him. She wrapped her arms around his waist. The lamp burned low against the jeweled wall. Outside, the fall wind moved over the mouth of the cavern and did not reach them. He had told her he was staying. Now he had told her the rest. Tomorrow he would carry his pack down these steps for the last time. He was excited to make their rings.