The journey back was silent. The soldiers parted before us like the sea opening before a ship, bowing deeply before the man who had killed ten Archdemons single-handedly and before the winged woman who seemed to be his salvation descended straight from heaven. But as soon as we crossed the threshold of my tent...
I approached her. The skin under my fingers was soft and cool, incredibly alive compared to everything I had touched today. She closed her eyes as she felt my hand on her face, leaning into my palm.
"Alexander..."
She began to remove the pieces of my armor.
I slipped a hand under her thin tunic, feeling the heat of her bare skin against my palm. Fuck, she was burning underneath.
