Having stopped at Rosenbriar, a Fae village north of Amethystia, for the night, Dante wondered Seraphina's whereabouts as he walked through the village after his confrontation with Lysander. There were Faeries in their full-size forms and in their mini form. Some were walking and some flying about. There were also other species such as Elves, Dwarves, and human folk as well. It did not surprise him that Crystal Forest was a mecca for other species.
While the Elovaisus Forest has visitors from other species all the time, other species did not live amongst them. They were just visitors passing through. When Lady Crystobelle elected Elvish Lords, it was so she could protect different parts of the forest in order to maintain as well as capitalize upon her lands. Each Lord governed the town or village according to Lady Crystobelle and her High Council Of Justice's laws, but the Lords themselves did not have any actual power in the Elvish Council. His High Council position was to make certain all the villages were run correctly. Now, his High Council position would be still of that, but he would also travel around Tempest Elysium as Lady Crystobelle's political representative and enforcer.
Dante saw Seraphina in the tavern of the inn. During the day, the tavern served more like a restaurant much like the Elvish inns did in Elovaisus Forest. He knew some of his men were within the establishment, but he steeled himself against their prying eyes as he approached the healer. Her honey eyes immediately found his in the crowd. Her nut brown hair hangs down, framing and hiding her face. It cannot hide those eyes though. She smiled at him as he stopped in front of her table.
"Care to join me?"
Her question brought a smile to his face as he nodded his head then proceeded to sit down across from her. He placed the parcels further down the table against the wall so it would not inhibit anyone passing by.
Before they could start a conversation, a full-size Fae lady glided over with wings shaped like moth wings. A river of gold cascades down her back and her clear blue eyes sparkled as she gazes down at him. Most men of any species would melt at her enchanting presence and most would continue to do so, but he was not most men. Perhaps, it was because he had been around for hundreds of years that he had become immune to feminine wiles. Seasoned and matured by age, he could tell a quality wine now instead of just drinking it for the mere act of doing so.
"It is on the house," the lady told him with a coy smile.
Two other Faeries were quick to deposit a tray of food and a tankard of drink before him. Although accustomed to this treatment due to his position, he still felt a bit embarrassed by the attention he received because of it. He accepted the gracious offer with a half-smile and the enchanting Fae lady returned it with pleasure before she moved to leave.
"If there is anything you need, please feel free to call upon us without hesitation."
The lady then glanced over at Seraphina as if she just realized that another person was there. The beautiful Fae assessed Seraphina's appearance then curled her lip in disgust and distaste before she glided off with her head held high.
Although blushing at the treatment received, Seraphina offered him a sheepish smile. "Well, we both know who she is pleased with. She just adores you."
Seraphina's eyes gaze at the tray of abundant food. Dante smirked, noticing that her eyes linger on the soup and the pastry. Before she could protest, he moved the soup to her side of the table and then the pastry.
When she opened her mouth to actually protest, he shook his head. "I am not going to eat this by myself, Seraphina. What else do you desire?"
"I-I am not hungry. I just ate," she weakly countered as she first looked longing at the soup in front of her. She bit her bottom lip as her eyes gazed over the tray then sighed in defeat as her stomach growled. "Perhaps the roll and the grapes," she whispered and then her eyes glanced toward the tankard. "And some drink?"
He cannot help but grin at her expense. He swiftly gave her the roll of bread and the grapes before he poured some of his drink into her empty mug. Seraphina flushed in embarrassment, but he paid no attention to the eyes he knew are watching them.
They were midway through their meal when he caught Seraphina glancing over at the parcels upon the table. Too curious for her own good, her eyes met his and silently asked him the question with them.
"They are for you," he revealed to her and her eyes went wide.
"But you already bought me clothing for the journey," she argued with the shake of her head.
He quickly grabbed her chin to prevent her physical denial. "It is my responsibility to take care of you."
The rosiness of her cheeks seemed to burn brighter at his touch. Her eyes melted a bit and she drew a breath in as if to steady herself. He bit his lip as he realized his action was a bit intimate as well as his words, but he refused to take them back.
"I am not a child anymore, Dante," Seraphina whispered, becoming slightly guarded and stubborn.
His eyes swept across her face and momentarily dipped to her neck, shoulders, and chest before returning to her eyes. He remembered Lady Crystobelle telling him the same truth weeks earlier.
"I am not. I know you feel like I need your protection and you feel like I am your responsibility since you found me when I was a child-"
"It does not matter how old you are, little warrior," he chuckled then watches the indignation flash across her face. He liked it when she showed a bit of anger, because it showed her backbone -- that inner strength that he knew she had. "They are weapons for you. I did tell you that I am going to train you, did I not?"
Once again, the excitement and curiosity won out as Seraphina glanced at the parcels, but he could see she was fighting an internal battle. He swept his thumb against the bottom of her lip, causing her to gasp then melt into a groan. He had to bite down on his own lip to stop himself from getting to his feet and just stealing her breath away with a kiss. He refrained, dropping his hand away from her chin. It was a reflex reaction from her and he was not going to take advantage of her.
"Eat, Seraphina," he rasped.
The tightness in his trousers was something he was familiar with, but he was currently satisfied by the layers of garments he had on and his armor. Protect her, not ravish her, he reminded himself repeatedly in his mind for the thousandth time.
"If you wish for repayment," he finally broke through the awkward silence as he fixed her with look stormy with intensity. "Train hard, little warrior. Practice. Earn the gifts by how well you wield them, because the greatest gift you can give me in return is knowing you can indeed take care of yourself. Perhaps, one day you can return the favor and protect me as we all have one another's back as warriors."
A flicker of understanding shimmered in her honeyed eyes and she offered him a small smile. Her eyes once again looked over at the parcels and he loved her enthusiasm.
"When can I-"
"After you eat," he said in amusement. "Eat and then you can unwrap everything upstairs."
Dante did not have to tell her twice, because she immediately continued to eat the rest of her meal. Briefly, he wondered if the mug and the pastry she had been finishing was all she was going to consume today before he found her. He already knew the answer, because she was paid so little for her services as a healer. He knew her reasoning behind it was because she needed little to live. She grew her own garden of fruits and vegetables. Lady Crystobelle always supplied her with meat from the hunts.
Now that she was out of The Great Willow Tree, the earnings she saved were probably dwindling. He, his warriors, and Lady Crystobelle always paid for her services in full, but the others took her for granted and paid her poorly. He sighed, knowing he needed to make certain she cared for and not because she was a child. No matter her age, she would always be still his responsibility, but it went beyond the scope of duty, respect, and honor.
That deep emotion bubbled to the surface, but he stomped it down as he knew it was something that could never come forth between them. There was no sense of allowing it to emerge. He feared it would not be reigned in if he allowed it to take root. He would protect her even if it was from himself.