Chapter 520: The Life He Chose
This entire time, the apparition of Zedya floating next to him had felt so vague and distant, it was hard to feel drawn to the visions of their future that she presented. He felt like he was watching a play on a stage, but the people he watched were only actors, and toward the end of the vision of the battle she presented, they had become little more than puppets. It wasn’t really him, and it wasn’t her either.
Now that Zedya had pushed even further, however, fully immersing herself in this space between life and darkness, he finally glimpsed the woman he’d given his heart to. The woman that he would give anything for and that he wanted to offer a lifetime of companionship to.
"Zedya, my wife," he said, licking his lips and speaking with a voice that had grown hoarse and strained. His body felt weak and frail, lacking the strength it should to protect and hold his love close, and he had no warmth to offer her even as he wrapped his large, furry arms around her. But even if he lacked warmth, there was still plenty of him left that he wanted to give to her, to share with her, now and forever after.
"It doesn’t matter where we are," he said, licking his lips again and tasting a strange metallic sweetness when he did. The taste reminded him of the kiss they’d shared after they spoke their vows, but somehow it was... softer. More delicate. It evaporated from his tongue like spun sugar as soon as he licked it, leaving him wanting more. More of her taste, more of her touch, and much, much more of her time.
"It’s enough if I’m here with you," he said, his voice gaining strength as a pale amethyst flame, resembling a reflection of Zedya’s eyes, began to glitter in the depths of his soft, brown eyes. "It would be enough to have time with you all to myself," he said, reaching up to caress her cheek, wiping away the faintly pink tears that spilled from her eyes.
Around them, the faintest of illusory walls shimmered into existence, holding back the darkness of the void as they transformed into a simple, familiar room. Cold stone walls, a neatly made bed with crisply folded sheets, a single dresser, and a desk were enough to make it clear that it was the room of a soldier, one who had spent a lifetime in service to his Lady rather than building a life for himself.
"Just you," Lennart said, reaching out with trembling hands to unlace the corset that trapped Zedya in her dark wedding dress. His hands shook and his fingers fumbled with the laces before he turned a sharp claw on them, cutting his way through the laces as the amethyst flames of desire within his eyes grew brighter.
"Anywhere, anything, as long as we’re together..." he said in a voice that grew deeper, husky with hunger and desire.
"Oh Lenny, my dearest Lenny," Zedya said softly, cupping his face with one hand and drawing his lips toward hers. Their lips brushed against each other for less than a breath before she redirected his face, placing her bleeding wrist before his lips and squeezing out several drops of intoxicatingly sweet, deep crimson blood.