—Nerys—
The door clicked shut behind her.
Silence filled the space like water in a cracked bowl.
Nerys leaned her back against the door and exhaled, slow and heavy.
Her room in Skyreach was smaller than she expected.
Not grand. Not ornate.
Just still.
The walls were smooth stone, brushed with faint lavender light. A small balcony overlooked the edge of the clouds, where stars blinked in the sky below, not above.
She crossed to the bed and sat down, unstrapping her boots, her belt, the wrappings still tight around her ribs.
It didn't hurt as much anymore.
But it ached.
The kind of ache that wasn't all physical.
She lay back, arms sprawled at her sides, staring at the crystal-lined ceiling.
She could feel them.
Solene and Seraphyne.
Together.
Safe. Warm.
And part of her wanted to be angry.
She had loved Solene first.
She had bled for her.
But even now, that bitterness felt hollow.
Because she'd seen them together.
And in a way she hated and understood at the same time—
They fit.
She pressed her hands to her face, dragging her palms down slowly. "Gods, I'm tired."
She sat up again, crossed to the balcony, and leaned out over the edge.
The clouds below swirled slowly, catching the starlight like a frozen sea. The wind here wasn't harsh. It hummed. Almost sang.
"Is this what peace feels like?" she whispered.
It scared her more than war ever had.
Nerys had always known what to do when blades were drawn.
But what did she do now?
When no one was swinging?
When no one needed saving?
She turned back inside, letting the breeze curl behind her.
No answers came.
Just a quiet space and a sword she didn't yet know where to point next.
But for the first time—
She wasn't running either.
And that was something.
---
—Part II—
Solene & Seraphyne—
The sky had long turned to velvet, the clouds below lit faintly by the glow of Skyreach's magic.
Inside the quiet of Solene's room, wrapped in soft furs and silence, two bodies lay close—warm skin against warm skin, breath shared between them like a secret neither wanted to break.
Solene held Seraphyne loosely, forehead resting against hers, eyes half-lidded and dazed from the weight of safety.
It still didn't feel real.
But when Seraphyne shifted slightly, one arm draped across Solene's shoulder, the quiet gasp that left her lips made it very real.
Solene looked into her eyes—and Seraphyne saw it.
The hunger.
But not just for touch.
For connection.
For her.
Seraphyne's cheeks colored again, the blush creeping slowly down her neck. She didn't flinch, didn't pull back.
She trusted her.
Solene's hand wandered lower, fingers tracing the gentle curves of Seraphyne's waist, the arch of her hip. Her touch was slow, reverent—like she was learning a language through skin.
But when her hand paused—
She didn't press further.
She didn't push.
Instead, she pulled Seraphyne tighter, arms wrapping around her waist and holding her close.
Not with restraint.
With love.
"I could," Solene whispered, lips brushing Seraphyne's temple. "But I won't. Not unless you ask."
Seraphyne exhaled shakily, burying her face against Solene's neck.
"I don't want to say no," she murmured. "But I want to stay here. Like this. With you. Just like this."
Solene nodded, her voice soft. "Then we stay."
They settled deeper into the blankets, hearts slowing, touch lingering—not for what came next, but for what already was.
For once, there was no heat demanding more.
There was just love.
And the promise of tomorrow.
Together.
—Part III—
Nyxara—
The stars above Skyreach pulsed like slow-moving fireflies, scattered across the dome of the sky she'd shaped long ago. Inside her private chamber—vast, quiet, filled with soft-glowing crystals and an ever-burning hearth—Nyxara reclined on a chaise made of silken furs.
She swirled a cup of wine between her fingers, its surface reflecting flickers of the lives now sleeping within her sanctuary.
Four souls. Four flames.
But only one of them made her chest feel tight.
She reached out with her senses, brushing against Solene's energy—not invading, just... aware. It flickered with heat and softness. Two heartbeats close together. Breathing slow. Familiar. Intimate.
Nyxara's brow arched slightly.
Curious.
Her fingers hovered just above the viewing crystal on her table. One gesture—just one—would let her see everything.
She could feel it. The warmth between them. The taste of budding desire curled under devotion. The echo of a gasp. A hand lingering on skin.
And for a moment, she wanted to watch.
Not out of lust.
But longing.
She hadn't felt touch in decades. Hadn't been chosen in longer.
But as the temptation built, her hand froze.
She sighed.
Then lowered it.
"No," she said softly. "That belongs to them."
She leaned back, set the wine aside, and let her eyes drift closed. For all her power, her grace, her ageless allure—
Loneliness still knew her name.
With a wave of her fingers, the room dimmed to moonlight.
And as she sank deeper into her furs, Nyxara let herself slip into dreams she'd never dare speak aloud.
And satisfied herself slipping her fingers down into her wet folds and letting out a gentle moan...
---
The sky over Skyreach was painted in soft peach and silver, clouds rolling below like an endless sea.
Nerys woke alone.
Her room was quiet, bathed in cool light. The bed—though plush and luxurious—felt too big. Too empty.
She sat up slowly, rubbing sleep from her eyes. The ache in her ribs had dulled, but the ache in her chest lingered.
She didn't hate Seraphyne.
She didn't regret staying behind.
But the absence beside her… stung.
She'd always imagined being the one Solene woke up next to.
And now that she wasn't—what she wanted wasn't unclear anymore.
Next time, she thought. I won't wait.
---
Seraphyne woke to warmth.
Fur blankets tangled around her waist. Solene's arm draped lazily across her ribs. Their legs intertwined. Breath warm on her neck. The steady beat of someone else's heart thudding against her back.
She smiled before her eyes even opened.
So this is what peace feels like.
Solene stirred behind her, groaning softly.
"Still here?" she murmured.
"Still yours," Seraphyne said, half-teasing, half-true.
They shifted, facing each other.
And kissed.
Soft. Familiar. Morning-slow.
Solene's fingers brushed Seraphyne's cheek. "Let's go train before Nyxara gets impatient."
"She's probably already watching us."
Solene laughed. "Let her."
---
They arrived in the training courtyard—open sky above, cloud-swept winds around them.
Nyxara stood in the center, wearing a flowing robe cut high at the leg, tail lazily swaying behind her as she examined a scroll she didn't need to read.
Nerys and Lira were already there. Lira looked half awake but determined. Nerys stood with her arms crossed, jaw tight.
The moment Nyxara saw Seraphyne and Solene approaching—arm in arm, hair tousled, lips just slightly swollen—her grin was immediate and wicked.
"Oh good," Nyxara said with a mock yawn. "You did survive the night."
Solene blinked. "Uh… yeah?"
Nyxara's grin widened. "Had a better time than my fingers, I hope."
Lira choked on her drink. Nerys rolled her eyes so hard her neck cracked.
Seraphyne flushed violently. "Are we training, or are you just here to be impossible?"
Nyxara tilted her head. "I can multitask."
She turned to the group and clapped her hands once, sharp and bright.
"Alright, my little strays," she said, stepping onto the cloud-swept arena. "Today we begin two things: rebuilding your strength and tearing down your excuses. You'll hate me before lunch. But by the end of this week, you'll be able to gut a Bladeling in under five seconds."
Solene raised a brow. "Four if they're Alden."
Nyxara winked. "There's my girl."
The wind howled around them like applause.
And training began.