A rush of intensity raced down his spine as the gentle caress of her breath against his skin threatened to bring all the memories of their time together cascading into the forefront of his mind. He longed to grab her, to pull her against him and kiss her as he had so long ago. He closed his eyes for half a second as he savored the vision before letting it slip away. Control over such fantasies was how he had stayed alive, how he had kept their secret for so long. When he opened them again, she was still there, still, so close he could smell the aroma of the flowers she had just touched clinging to her skin the way he wished he could. He could sense her hesitation to pull away as she invariably fought the same battles against the past as he.
Outwardly, the only indication of his spiraling thoughts was the purposeful blink which, as the result of intense practice, looked much like a modest aversion of the eyes that often is the result of the proximity of such a beautiful woman. The corners of his eyes crinkled a little as the hint of an understanding smile passed over his lips.
The wolves may have always been at her door, but he'd always been there, in the shadows, fighting to fend them off. That she didn't know this meant he had done his job perfectly. Magnus knew that true power wasn't in showy demonstrations or boisterous talk...true power was exerting your will over others in such a way that they never knew it was anything other than their own desires. True power was pulling the strings so that you, and the people you love, were safe against all odds.
[color=#7CD98A]"I would expect nothing less. You have never been one to shy away from the hard choices or the difficult paths. I know you won't back down, Lara. I just want to be there to help fend off any daggers aimed at your back, to crush any threats to the ones you hold dear. In that endeavor, I will be relentless." [/color]
He'd been watching her children, too. Moving unseen and often across many lands to check on them, to keep them safe from threats they didn't know existed. Promises to companions were secondary, her concern and devotion existed by virtue of who she was at her very core. The children were hers...and she was his. He'd always protect his family.
Outwardly, the only indication of his spiraling thoughts was the purposeful blink which, as the result of intense practice, looked much like a modest aversion of the eyes that often is the result of the proximity of such a beautiful woman. The corners of his eyes crinkled a little as the hint of an understanding smile passed over his lips.
The wolves may have always been at her door, but he'd always been there, in the shadows, fighting to fend them off. That she didn't know this meant he had done his job perfectly. Magnus knew that true power wasn't in showy demonstrations or boisterous talk...true power was exerting your will over others in such a way that they never knew it was anything other than their own desires. True power was pulling the strings so that you, and the people you love, were safe against all odds.
[color=#7CD98A]"I would expect nothing less. You have never been one to shy away from the hard choices or the difficult paths. I know you won't back down, Lara. I just want to be there to help fend off any daggers aimed at your back, to crush any threats to the ones you hold dear. In that endeavor, I will be relentless." [/color]
He'd been watching her children, too. Moving unseen and often across many lands to check on them, to keep them safe from threats they didn't know existed. Promises to companions were secondary, her concern and devotion existed by virtue of who she was at her very core. The children were hers...and she was his. He'd always protect his family.
01-19-2023, 01:10 PM
