Page 28 of A Dance of Water

Bastian gritted his teeth and pulled away from his mind, so slowly he knew the demon would never be aware. He was entirely capable of entering a mind without alerting anyone to his presence, but he just loved to toy with the Princess and let her know that he was stealing into her head. So, he always made himself known.

Azgorath continued to stroke his fingers through her white hair, unbeknownst to the thief who had just come to steal a glance at his thoughts.

He watched the demon—Azgorath loved her, that much was clear. It did not take Mind magic to come to that conclusion.

Bastian told the truth: "I think it is much more possible for her to forgive you than me or the others."

"As I thought…" Azgorath nodded once, short and jerky.

The demon and the vampire stared down at the fae Princess, watching her twitching face and roving eyes as they saw things behind her lids that they were not privy to.

Bastian let his Mind magic seep into the air once more, curling down to where she lay, nestled on his chest. His thumb pressed against the side of her temple, and a frown was etched into his thick lips at the slight crease between her brows. He hated that she worried even in sleep.

He let his Mind magic be known. He would not hide anything from her any longer—unless it was truly for her own good. His thoughts quickly paused on the looming Winter Solstice, but he centered his focus back on her.

Darkness filled his vision, and he breathed a soft noise of confusion.

Azgorath’s concern fell against the vampire’s ears, but he was too wrapped up in her.

He could not get to her. His Mind magic was not working…

"What?" Bastian asked softly, once more allowing his magic to crack open the barrier of her mind and allow him entry.

But he saw nothing—wasdenied. He had never been denied before.

Except…

He suddenly remembered when he had visited her room when she was asleep, that strange limbo period before her hair had changed and her eyes had grown to be blue. He had entered her mind, then, but had seen nothing but the faint image of her, asleep even in dreams.

And this was far worse than that. This was utter nothing. Utter darkness.

He grew fearful.

Bastian wrapped his hands around her slim shoulders and shook her awake with a vengeance, barely registering the soft hit Azgorath landed on his arm from his rough treatment of her.

"Wake up, Luella.Wake up." Bastian leaned down over her face as he waited for her eyes to open.

"What is wrong with you?" the demon hissed.

The line between Luella’s brows grew deeper, and her limbs stretched, then settled, her neck tilting to the side, white strands of hair tickling against her cheeks as she shifted between him and Azgorath. Her eyelids finally drifted open, and the heavy sigh of relief that left his lungs made him weary.

Bastian wrapped both arms around her and bundled her closely to his chest, pressing a hand on the back of her head to tuck her face against him. "You’re okay, you’re okay," he repeated.

Luella groggily pulled away from him, blinking up at him with drowsy blue eyes. Gods, she was so pretty.

"What’s… the matter…?" she asked, fatigue making her pale skin even paler. The shadows under her eyes were dark, and her veins were stark against the pale tint of her features.

Bastian shook his head. He didn’t know what had come over him. But the sight of her, unmoving, with darkness the only thing greeting him when he reached out with his magic… He shivered. "Nothing," he said. She gave him a heavy look, so he asserted again with a soft, "Nothing."

Her mouth cracked open with a wide yawn, and he watched her pretty pink tongue. "Okay," she murmured sleepily, nestling back into him, her thigh still hooked over his leg and Azgorath’s hand still tangled in her hair.

"Wait, pet. Let’s get you into your bed. You may be tired now, but you won’t be thanking yourself when you wake up sore."

Azgorath breathed her in, giving a slight nod from where his head was buried in her nape.

Luella gave a soft sound of agreement. He figured it was the best he would get with her narcotized state.

"But I won’t sleep as well." Her little fingers gripped his shirt.

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