Three months ago

   I guess this is what they call the euphoric phase of a relationship. 

   I don't want to call it a relationship, given the circumstances, but something about it feels too real. Too honest, and too persistent to ignore. 

   I guess the contract would do that to me. 

   A nervous thrill ran through me like electricity when I knocked on his bedroom door and slipped inside. He was in the armchair, sitting sideways with his legs over one of the arms as he held a book open in his lap. 

   "Hey," he says, snapping it shut as he looked over to me. He paused, opening it back up and flipping through the pages. "Dammit." I snort and walk over in front of him. 

   "Hey," I reply through a grin. "You always do that."

   "Leave me alone." He sets the book to the side- which now had a bookmark sticking out from an end. I reach into my inner coat pocket and pull out a red pansy. 

   "Milady." I offer it to him through a bow. He rolls his eyes, but accepts it as he got up.

   "Where did you even get this?" he asks, twirling it between his fingers. 

   "A thank you, Adrian would be nice." I freeze as he reaches up and puts it behind my ear. "I nicked it. Nicked it from outside," I say, the words tumbling from my mouth. He hums, tilting his head to the side. 

   "You cut your hair."

   "Might've, yeah. Any plans on cutting yours?"

   "Hell, no." I smile.

   "Right." I draw in a breath to say something more, but Alaric clamps a hand over my mouth. I nearly jump, and I prod at his hand, but he holds fast. When I looked over at his face, I saw his eyes were trained on the door, watching the gap underneath it. When I looked down at his side, I saw the slight shift of his wings beneath his clothes. 

   Slowly, he released me, but his gaze was unwavering. His ears gave a tiny twitch as he strained his hearing. 

   "You heard someone," I said when he relaxed, voice dropping. He nods, and crosses his arms. 

   "I swear I heard footsteps," he whispered, "just leave from in front of the door. But I never heard them come."

   "I'm sure it was just by chance." He paused, gaze now at his feet.

   "No. I would hear these things." We fell uncomfortably silent. I squeeze his shoulder. 

   "We weren't being loud enough to be heard, I don't think."

   "Maybe." He was slow to answer. "But we should be careful, still." I swallow. 

   "Agreed."

❊