Page 26 of A Dance of Water

She swallowed thickly.

The sound of liquid pouring into a cup diverted her attention. She turned to Bastian, who was tipping the metal pot over a teacup. It clinked softly as he set it down on a small plate and used the long spoon to give it a few stirs before pressing it into her palms.

"Careful, it’s hot. You don’t want to burn yourself." Bastian eyed Az, where he was doing everything in his power not to touch her.

The teacup was hot, and she balanced it on her outstretched leg so she would not burn her palms.

"Ah, ah," Bastian teased. He tipped her chin up. "What do we say?"

Her lower lip jutted out. "T-thank you." It was a routine she knew well. The vampire was ever one for manners, disparate with most of his companions…

Reddened eyes burned into her skin, and he pulled away, repeated the same thing with another cup, and handed it off to Az with a small grin before finally pouring a cup of the melted chocolate and cream for himself.

It was quiet in the alcove, save for the steady drip of water in the library’s pools and the constant fall of the rain. Luella had the urge to make inane conversations about the weather. She bit back a giggle and brought the rim of the teacup up to her lips, hissing when the hot liquid nearly scorched her mouth.

She held it away from her face, coughing as her tongue burned.

Bastian chuckled. "I did warn you."

Warm, large fingers gripped her wrist.

Luella looked to Az at her side. The demon had moved slightly closer, and he held her wrist delicately. Gently, he took the teacup from her and brought it up to his mouth, lips pursing as he blew small puffs of cold air over the steaming liquid to cool it for her.

She floundered, lips parting then snapping shut. She wouldn’t thank him.

The steady drizzle of the rain grew heavier.

Az brought the teacup up to his mouth and took a sip, amber eyes holding her captive and forcing her to still as he hummed with satisfaction, deeming it a good enough temperature for her as he pressed it back into her hands.

All without speaking.

Thunder shook the castle walls.

Luella brought the teacup to her lips. No longer was it the melted chocolate and cream she had gotten a taste of from her first sip, but now it held the faintest traces of even more heady and potent sugary chocolate. Her lips wrapped around the rim, and she sighed at the rush of flavor. Not too hot. Not too cold. With underlying notes of Az.

A soft sound of pleasure fell from her lips.

Az grew stiff beside her, and Bastian spluttered around his own sip of hot chocolate.

But they still did not break that careful silence.

Az, she knew, was most likely too fearful to speak lest he say the wrong thing.

But Bastian… Was the vampire not speaking to uphold her wish to be a mere buffer between her and the demon? Whatever the reason was, she was so,sograteful to him in that moment. For staying silent, for the steady pressure of his palm against her waist, and the scent of bergamot that baked into her skin, mingling with rich chocolate and sugar on her other side.

She was grateful for their silence and the sweet liquid on her tongue.

However, Luella could not stop herself from noticing the distance between her and Az, both in body and emotion. He wasrealms away, even though his thigh now brushed hers where he had moved slightly toward her.

The rain grew thicker. Heavier. Turning to small pebbles of ice as it fell from the thick mass of white clouds.

She was so wrapped up in them and their scents and missing Az that she did not catch the charged look Bastian and Az shared. Gritted jaws and clenched teeth and glances above.

Bastian’s fingers continued to stroke over the side of her waist, and Az pressed even closer to her side. Her eyelids grew heavy, and the teacup teetered from her limp fingers.

Luella’s ill nights of rest finally got the best of her, and she found herself nodding off, nestled within a library and coated in the scents of them, chocolate still lingering on her lips.

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