A few weeks passed, and the beginning of the Epiphanie Festival was only a few days away. The festival started with a huge parade down the main street next to the docks. The whole city was bustling with excitement, and decorations covered buildings and city streets. Cordelia has been so busy with preparations and running the apothecary that she and Lyonis hadn't had the opportunity to meet again. Cordelia hadn't seen or heard from him since their dinner together.
She couldn't help but feel a bit hurt and embarrassed. The morning after their dinner, Cordelia re-lived all the moments from the night before in her head and couldn't help but feel ashamed of her actions. She had been so shameless and emotional. She was sure Lyonis was no longer interested. She sighed, feeling discouraged and disappointed. Gabrielle looked over at her as she brought another basket down from the storage room. They had finished making the charms for the festival and were busy prepping them to hand out over the next few days. The baskets lined the wall of the apothecary along the floor. Each one was filled to the brim with small bouquets of dried flowers.
"That's the last one, Madame." Gabrielle wiped her brow with the back of her sleeve before placing her hands on her hips. "There's more this year. Hopefully, we have enough."
Cordelia nodded and wiped her hands on her apron. She was finishing up putting together gifts of her own. Six wooden boxes lined the counter, each wrapped with a different colored bow. She stacked them on top of one another before placing them all under the counter. Tomorrow, she and Gabrielle would start handing out the charms to people in the city. During the festival, many of the shops in the city were only open for the first half of the day, closing during the later part of the day so they could enjoy the festivities. Cordelia usually kept the apothecary open full-time, but with Gabrielle getting married, Cordelia decided to close the apothecary early during this year's festival.
"Madame. Is there anything else you need from me today? Mauve needed me to swing by the cafe to make some last-minute wedding preparations." Gabrielle leaned against the counter. She yawned, exhausted from the endless work of the last month.
"No, Gabrielle. That will be all. Actually…" Cordelia smiled at her, "Take the whole month off, dear. You've earned it."
"Madame, I couldn't! The apothecary will be so busy this month! Who will help you pass out the bouquets?!"
"I'm sure I can manage. Let me know if you or Mauve need anything for the wedding. I'll see you next week." Cordelia walked around the counter and gave her apprentice a hug. "I'm so proud of you. I can't wait to see you at the wedding." Gabrielle hugged her back and sniffled into Cordelia's dress.
"Thank you, Madame. I won't be far. If you need anything, you know where to find me." Gabrielle scurried out the front door, waving to Cordelia until she was out of sight.
…
Night had fallen, and Cordelia finished cleaning up the apothecary. She was about to head upstairs when she heard a knock at the door. She turned around and walked to the door, thinking it was someone who had an emergency. She opened the door to see Lyonis standing there. He was dressed in simple formal attire. His deep maroon coat jacket had gold thread and buttons. His dark grey tailored pants were pressed smooth, and he wore shiny black boots. He held her basket in his hand.
"Good evening, Cordelia." He smiled sheepishly at her. She crossed her arms and leaned against the threshold of the door. She thought he was tired of her, and yet here he was.
"You're late…."
He chuckled, "I know… I apologize."
"I thought you'd grown tired of me." Cordelia stared at him, unsure why she was suddenly so hostile towards him. Maybe it was because he hurt her feelings by staying away.
"Never… Did you miss me?" Lyonis took a step towards her. He was clean-shaven, and his usual unkempt hair was carefully styled. "May I come in?"
He looked around. People around had stopped to stare at them. Cordelia noticed. She nodded and stepped inside. Lyonis followed behind her. As soon as he stepped inside, she flicked her wrist, the door locked behind them, and the curtain swished closed.
"Have you eaten dinner yet?" Cordelia peeked over her shoulder to look at Lyonis, who was eyeballing the charms that lined the floor in baskets.
"No. I was hoping you would join me for dinner." Lyonis went to sit down at one of the benches at the counter. Cordelia kept walking towards the back door, opening it.
"There are too many people out due to the festival. I'd rather stay in." She stepped over the threshold and turned to look back at him. Lyonis watched her, his amber eyes following her movements. "Would you like to eat here? I was just about to make dinner."
"You sure?" He stepped off the stool and walked toward her.
Cordelia nodded. "You can leave if you want. I'm not a very good cook." She turned away from him and walked up the steps. She heard him follow her, and she took a deep breath.
…
Lyonis had been busy. In the weeks leading up to the festival, businesses and government officials were scrambling to lock down deals and submit paperwork before everything closed down for the festival. They bothered him incessantly the last few weeks, and it had left him with very little free time. He had kept trying to get away, but Agis was on him like a hawk. Even Theodora wouldn't let him sneak away. He tried to finish everything as soon as possible and stayed up late into the night, hovering over paperwork.
The big parade, marking the start of the festival, was in two days, and things slowed down significantly for him. He had filed away most of the necessary paperwork and had everything ready for an easy transition after the festival was over.
That day he had to meet with the Grand Duke of Ville Marais, who was hosting an extravagant party for important figureheads around the city. Lyonis had been invited, and while he didn't want to go, he couldn't refuse. He was there as the face of Gresas, and declining wouldn't have been good for business. Fortunately, after making an appearance, he was able to sneak out, and after swinging by the Inn to grab Cordelia's basket, he made his way to her apothecary. Hoping to catch her before she closed for the night.
The apothecary's sign that hung from the balcony had been flipped to closed, and the thin linen curtain that covered the window was drawn closed. But the light was still on inside, and he could see Cordelia's graceful form cast shadows over the curtain as she walked around.
He knocked on the door.
…
He hadn't anticipated Cordelia to invite him inside, let alone upstairs. She glanced back at him as she climbed the stairs in front of him. He watched each step she took. He could feel his heart thump heavily in his chest. It had been a few weeks, but the memory of her clinging to him, her lips against his, felt fresh in his mind. He wanted to reach out and wrap her up in his embrace.
The last time he climbed these stairs, he was carrying her in his arms. The worry he had felt for her at that time had also made his heart pound. This time it was different. This time she was healthy, awake, and bright. She climbed the steps gracefully, and she lifted the hem of her dress as she made her way up the wooden steps. She climbed up the last step and walked to the door of her living quarters before pushing it open. She took a step and disappeared inside. Light flooded out from the door into the landing.
Lyonis stood there for a second, pausing and gathering himself. He promised himself to tread carefully.
"Are you coming?" Cordelia's voice called out from inside the door. He followed her voice and stepped inside. Cordelia watched him with large inviting eyes as he entered the open room. She placed two cups and a kettle on the table, dropping a tea bag in each before pouring hot water over them.
"Make yourself comfortable." She smiled at him, setting a jar of honey and a spoon on the table.
Lyonis walked over to the table and removed his jacket, and hung it on the back of his chair before sitting down. The long-sleeved cream-colored silk shirt he wore was fastened to the top. He undid the top two buttons and breathed a sigh of relief before opening the jar of honey and placing a heavy spoonful from it into his teacup. He felt almost too big for the space.
...
Her living quarters weren't very big and Lyonis's powerful precense easily commanded the space. She watched as he looked around the room, taking in the contents of her home and the trinkets that hung from the ceiling.
"I'm not a very good cook… I hope you don't mind something simple." Cordelia pulled a loaf of bread, some cheese, grapes, and a jar of tomato jam from her shelves. She began placing it on a tray, cutting thick slices of bread, and placing them on the hearth near the fire to toast them.
"Not at all. But couldn't you use magic to cook?" Lyonis asked. She could feel his eyes on her back as she worked quickly, placing the ingredients in a careful arrangement on the wooden tray.
"Yes…" She turned around and placed the tray on the table in front of him, "but it doesn't taste quite as good as when it's prepared by hand." She pulled a chair out and sat down across from him at the small table. She flicked her wrist, and the slices of warm, toasted bread flew from the hearth to land on the table in front of her.
She pulled the cup of tea over to her and lifted it to her lips, taking a small sip. She reached over and grabbed a grape, pulling it off the vine and placing it in her mouth. The sun-ripened sweetness flooded her mouth. Lyonis watched her carefully, and she nodded towards the food, encouraging him to eat. He leaned over and grabbed some bread, spreading the jam and cheese on it before taking a bite.
"What kept you? Were you busy?" She grabbed another grape and bit into it. Lyonis nodded and sat back in his chair, closing his eyes, inhaling deeply.
"Yes. I've been in the company of stuffy businessmen and government officials the last few weeks. They were relentless and wanted all the paperwork and details ironed out before the festival started - like greedy sharks. I attended events and dinners almost every night. I really hate politics. It is exhausting." He opened one eye and glanced over at her. "I would've much rather have spent my time with you…. I'm sorry for making you wait on me."
Cordelia shrugged and tried to seem indifferent. But inside, she couldn't help but feel relieved. He wasn't ignoring her purposefully, and that made her feel better.
"Where's Benoni?" Lyonis looked around her room. She noticed his eyes lingered on her unkempt bed.
Cordelia paused for a moment and closed her eyes. She reached out for her familiar and found his presence in the storage room.
'Don't worry. I won't bother you… But I'll be here if he tries anything funny. Call if you need me.' His voice filled her head, and she smiled. He had been more relaxed ever since she returned that night a few weeks ago. He had been concerned, and seeing her come home drunk, he was worried the man was trying to take advantage of her. He was prepared to scare him off. But after seeing Lyonis's quick exit and having a chat with Cordelia after the fact, he had relaxed to the idea a little bit. He still didn't like Lyonis, but he trusted Cordelia.
'Thanks, Beni. I think I can handle it. You can leave if you want.' Cordelia responded to him, and she felt Beni's consciousness fade from hers. Cordelia opened her eyes and looked at Lyonis, whose amber eyes hadn't moved from her.
"He's in the storage room downstairs. He doesn't plan on making an appearance tonight." She watched as relief made Lyonis's shoulders relax a bit.
"I really don't think he likes me." He grabbed another piece of bread and spread some more cheese and tomato jam on it before handing it to Cordelia. "You haven't eaten anything but grapes. Here."
She took the piece of toast from him and took a bite. "He is wary of strangers. He really only likes Gabrielle. He only tolerates me." She smiled.
"Can you… speak with him? It seemed like you shared some sort of unsaid communication…." Lyonis watched her take another bite. He poured more hot water from the kettle into his cup and then filled hers.
Cordelia nodded, chewing her food. She swallowed before speaking, "Beni is my familiar. We share a bond that lets us communicate telepathically. We don't really speak with words but with emotions and intentions. He can understand what I'm saying, thinking… feeling, and vis versa."
"Is he a… pet? Is he actually a cat?" Lyonis chose his words carefully. She laughed.
"Yes… and no. To everyone else, he appears as my pet. He chose the form of a cat because it is easy for him to blend in. But he's more than that…." She thought about explaining more but stopped herself. Beni would not appreciate her sharing his secrets with a stranger. "We have been together for a very long time. He acts more as my protector. We share one mind. Our energies are linked by our bond. He can tell if I am in trouble or need assistance despite any distance between us."
"Is he listening to us now?" Cordelia could tell that Lyonis was wary of her cat. She laughed.
"He is being respectful. He could if he wanted. But he's not at the moment. We can 'turn off' the telepathy if we choose; not all our thoughts are shared."
Lyonis nodded as if he understood. He grabbed a grape and placed it in his mouth. She watched as the fruit disappeared behind his lips. It suddenly felt warm in the room as she remembered the salty taste of his skin and the softness of his lips.
She flicked her wrist, and the window in the front of her room slid open, letting in a gentle and cool breeze. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed and ashamed of her actions the last time they were together.
"I want to… apologize for the other night. I feel like I may have acted out of line. I was shameless. It was unbecoming of me." Cordelia looked into the white cup she held in her hands. The pinkish gold liquid swirled around, and light reflected off its surface. She felt a little silly for apologizing, but the thought of her shameless actions weighed on her. Lyonis probably thought she was careless and easy.
She heard him laugh and looked up to see him pinching the bridge of his nose. His amber eyes met hers, and a soft smile spread over his face. She wondered what he was thinking.
"Why are you laughing? I'm being serious." She felt slightly irritated he had laughed at her when she was being vulnerable with her feelings.
Lyonis grabbed a grape in his hands and rolled it in his fingers. He kept looking at her, "Cordelia… You are always one step ahead of me. I was about to apologize to you for the very same thing. I shouldn't have encouraged you to drink like that… I thought you would've been irate with me." He placed the grape in his mouth and chewed. He pointed at the toast she held in her hands; she had only taken a few bites of it, "There is no way you acted out of line. I enjoyed seeing you act so comfortably with me. Eat."
"I wasn't angry with you… I enjoyed our evening, Lyonis. I found myself… wishing it had lasted longer." Cordelia averted her eyes from him. His unrelenting gaze was making her feel hot. Her voice was quiet, and she took another bite of her toast.
"You have no idea how hard it was to walk away from you…." Lyonis reached over and cupped her chin, rubbing the corner of her lip with his thumb before pulling away. "You have been plaguing my mind ever since." He placed his thumb in his mouth, sucking the jam he had just wiped off her face. The sudden intimate touch sent a lovely shiver down her spine.
Cordelia couldn't help but stand up as if she were trying to run away from the welcoming feeling. It was exhilarating and frightening. She collected the kettle and went to go fill it with more water from the sink. She didn't need to fill it by hand. She could've used magic, but she suddenly felt too close to him, too aware of his presence next to hers. His sudden touch made her skin tingle as if electricity shot through her. It was intoxicating, and she felt blood suddenly rush to her head.
Her back was facing him, but she could feel his amber eyes on her. She tried to slow her racing heart, taking a few slow breaths. The feeling was making her head spin, having him in her home, so close… She didn't know what to make of it, so she tried to run away from it, to act normal. She placed the kettle by the fire to let the flames warm it naturally.
"Would you like anything else to eat, Lyonis? I have some dried meat, and I could make you some eggs if you…." She walked over to reach up to grab the provisions from off a shelf. She heard Lyonis stand from his chair and step up behind her. She could feel his body hover behind hers. She pretended to ignore it by reaching for a container that was high on the shelf.
He reached his hand up and gently touched her elbow, letting his fingers run up the length of her arm before slipping under the palm of her hand. He laced his fingers through hers and brought her hand down away from the shelf.
"Cordelia…." He whispered her name into the nap of her neck, and the heat of his breath brushed her skin. She felt goosebumps and a wave of pleasure wash over her from her navel. A small gasp left her lips, and she could feel him smile at the sound. She resisted the urge to turn around and press her lips against him. She wanted to run her fingers through his perfectly styled hair and mess it up. She wanted to pull him close to her, hear him whisper her name in her ear, over and over.
She felt like maybe he wanted the same thing. His tender touches, and little whispers and closeness fueled the heat between them. But her skin ran cold and she felt her heart drop - men were interested in her… until they saw her body that was covered in scars. She wished to avoid the heartbreak of rejection, especially since she was so passionately drawn to him.
"Lyonis… I need to tell you something." She could feel him pause, listening to her. She took a deep breath and steadied her heart. "I… am not beautiful. My body… it's scarred and damaged."
"Hmm…" She could feel him behind her. He shifted his weight ever so slightly, creating space between them, "Like the scar around your neck?"
She turned around to stare at him, and touched her neck. "How do you…."
"I noticed it when I had to tear your dress out in the wetlands… I didn't mean to see, but…. It couldn't be helped."
She nodded, knowing that it wasn't something that could be easily missed. She sighed and closed her eyes, "It's not just my neck… I have scars all over. It's… not something most people wish to see. I wanted to let you know before…." Her voice trailed off, and she looked down at the floor. "I'm also… not very good. It's been a long time…."
The last time she was intimate with another person had been far before she had arrived in Ville Marais, and it wasn't what she would consider a good experience. Actually, it was quite the opposite. The memory made her shiver; sadness and shame pricked her heart.
Lyonis leaned back from her and turned around, walking over to where his coat hung on the wooden chair. Cordelia felt her heart sink and figured he would leave. Not that she could blame him. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she stuffed them down. But instead of picking up his coat, he started undoing the buttons of his sleeves, and in one swift motion, he pulled his shirt off from over his head, exposing his back to her. Her eyes grew wide, and she felt the tears that she had tried to stop fall down her cheeks.
Lyonis's bare muscular back had deep tracks of scarring crisscrossing across his dark tan skin as if he had been whipped countless times. She could feel the scars on her own back ache at the sight of his. The length of one side of his stomach was knotted as if something had taken a chunk out of his side. It looked like it had been a life-threatening and painful injury. He set his shirt down on top of his coat before turning to face her again. The front of his body had similar scarring; healed gashes, stab wounds, and old scars from poorly sutured stitches decorated his lean and chiseled body.
"You're not the only one with scars, Cordelia." Her eyes met his amber ones. They were filled with empathy and compassion. He smiled softly at her before concern pressed his eyebrows together. "Why are you crying, love?" He walked up and cupped her face in his hands. She reached up to caress his face.
She shook her head. She had no words. She had been so worried, and yet, now, she couldn't help but feel like they were the same. Made of the same stardust, beings that had been subjected to the cruelty of their fellow men. She wanted to stop the tears but couldn't. She wanted to kiss him and take away the pain from his past. Lyonis rubbed the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.
"What happened to you?" She looked down the front of his chest, which was so close she could feel the warmth from his body reach hers. Her fingers traced the scarring along his chest. He inhaled abruptly at her touch. She pulled away, worried she had hurt him, "I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?"
He laughed quietly. A deep laugh that, in their close proximity, felt alluring. He grabbed the ribbon that kept her braid neatly held together and pulled it, letting it gently unravel, freeing her locks. He ran his fingers through it, letting it fall around her shoulders.
"I'm in so much pain, Cordelia. You're killing me." His calm voice had a hint of sarcasm, and she glared at him.
"I thought I hurt you! Don't kid about that." She smacked his chest, but he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, gently placing a small kiss on her knuckles.
"I'm not kidding…." He leaned in to whisper in her ear, trapping her against the kitchen counter in between his arms. The closeness of his body and face to hers made her heart thump wildly in her chest, blood rushed to her head, and she felt light-headed. He whispered again, this time letting his lips brush against her ear. "I feel like I'm going crazy. My heart is pounding out of my chest."
He placed one of her hands on his bare chest. She could feel his heart beat hard and fast under her palm. His mana drew hers in like a magnet, and she couldn't help but get swept away in his feelings. She could feel a billowing heat radiate inside him like a storm was growing. His want for her was so intense it was like needing water after walking through a dry desert or searching for warmth in the bitter cold. His want felt akin to needing air to breathe - as if he would perish without her.
"Let me kiss you, Cordelia… Please." His voice was pained as if he were a dam breaking under the pressure of rising waters.
Cordelia opened her eyes and stared into his. The yellow, orange hues in his eyes burned for her. She reached up and touched his face. He leaned into her palm, wrapping his hand around hers. She leaned forward as she pulled him closer to her, placing her lips softly against his.