every bait and switch was a work of art
Safrin’s gaze remained on the pendants for a long moment, her expression caught somewhere between memory and mourning. The soft ripple of Sah’s voice drew her eyes slowly back to his, and though she did not smile, something in her gaze eased—just enough to soften the unspoken weight between them. "There’s nothing I need," she said gently, her voice like starlight stretched thin across silence. "Not right now.”
She stepped closer, until the hem of her gown brushed against his knees, until the air shimmered faintly with the heat of closeness and not power. One hand lifted to rest, briefly, against the crown of his head—a benediction, a quiet tether between them. "Just keep them safe," she whispered. "That is more than enough."
The starlight behind her began to dim, threads of her presence already loosening from the cold air. As she withdrew her hand, the frost glittered in her wake. "When you are ready to begin the second amulet," she added, her voice returning to something steadier, more certain, "come and find me."
And with that, Safrin vanished once more into the hush of snow and dawn.
~FIN
She stepped closer, until the hem of her gown brushed against his knees, until the air shimmered faintly with the heat of closeness and not power. One hand lifted to rest, briefly, against the crown of his head—a benediction, a quiet tether between them. "Just keep them safe," she whispered. "That is more than enough."
The starlight behind her began to dim, threads of her presence already loosening from the cold air. As she withdrew her hand, the frost glittered in her wake. "When you are ready to begin the second amulet," she added, her voice returning to something steadier, more certain, "come and find me."
And with that, Safrin vanished once more into the hush of snow and dawn.
~FIN
you're the one prize i'd cheat to win
