61 Smoke, Mist and Stars (2/2)

”No…” Nikolai cleared his throat, trying to regain control of his voice. ”No. I'm fine.”

She eyed him uncertainly, clearly not believing a word he said.

Her eyes shone with pain at the sight of him.

He broke at the compassion radiating from her.

Nikolai shook, tears streaming down his cheeks uncontrollably. Elya hesitated for a moment, her face twitching at his loss of composure, but she leaned down to hug him, enveloping him in a steel embrace.

She carried the aroma of war and flowers.

Blood, sweat and roses.

This tenderness wasn't the way he'd wanted it, but maybe it was the way it was meant to be.

”I didn't think I'd see you again.” Nikolai muttered quietly once his crying subsided. ”Sorry.” Wiping the remnant tears from his face, Nikolai sniffed and took a deep breath. His hands still trembled slightly, whether from Stardust or relief at seeing her again, he wasn't sure but he leaned into her armoured shoulder, grimacing at the cold steel digging into his forehead.

”I wasn't sure either.” Like velvet her voice caressed him. ”But there was no way I would let you get away this easily. There's a wedding I need you for.”

Nikolai looked up, the retort for her comment dying on his lips.

Elya's stare bound him.

He saw stars in her eyes.

Bright flashes of light reflecting from deep within, filled with anger, fear and love.

At least he hoped it was love.

”I waited.” The words slipped from his lips unbidden. ”I knew you'd come.” Actually he hadn't, but the moment carried him away.

She drew a sharp breath, her gaze wavering and a soft blush rising on her fair skin. Nikolai swallowed, spellbound by her appearance. Even though she was cloaked in scarred steel, all he could see was someone irreplaceable. He felt the urge to tell her but before he could say anything she'd gripped his shirt tightly. His body shuddered at the intensity in her eyes, a bestial ferocity he'd only seen when she fought. Stunned, he absent-mindedly reached up to brush an errant strand of hair that fell across her eyes. Instead he froze when she pressed her lips against his.

The faint taste of iron flooded his mouth. She'd obviously hurt herself during the fight.

His lips were cracked. Hers weren't. Somehow the slight rasp as their lips crossed set his heart racing.

Her silver hair fell across his face. It smelled of ash and roses.

There were a hundred things wrong with the moment, from the stunned onlookers to the broken flagstones or the iron collar binding his neck. Yet somehow it was perfect and Nikolai lost himself in her arms, a part of him wondering how his first kiss with Elya occurred here.

In this hall.

In this city.

He had no idea how long the kiss lasted. It felt both like an eternity and an infinitesimal moment, but a dry cough snapped them apart. Nikolai cast a dark glare at Chen's innocent look.

”So how was it?” The Thunder Lancer grinned and Nikolai had the urge to hurl fire at his annoying friend.

”That is none of your business Captain.” Elya cleared her throat and averted her eyes.

Still a little dazed Nikolai ran his tongue across the inside of his mouth, mind swirling with thoughts of his fiancée's tender lips and he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

”We should really do something about that missing tooth.”

The fist descended inhumanly fast and this time, Nikolai had no idea where the stars came from.