Their little moment
Once they returned to their lair, the Mayfairs finally allowed themselves a moment to breathe. The tension of the evening slowly melted into the quiet safety of their underground refuge. Lady DeathBreeze paused before a mirror, adjusting the striking white strand that framed the front of her dark hair. Satisfied, she turned away and slipped back into Nommz’s waiting arms.
“We are safe now,” she whispered softly into his ear, her voice filled with relief. A playful nibble followed, her fangs flashing briefly as she grinned. Her joy rooted in the knowledge that her community had found a measure of security, she felt at peace, something she craved and felt she was lacking for a short eternity.
Nommz laughed under his breath and lifted her effortlessly, his hands settling beneath her as he pulled her closer. His posture, usually guarded, softened with the ease of someone finally allowed to rest. DeathBreeze wrapped her arms around his shoulders, smiling warmly to the partner she cherished. It was a familiar closeness between them, but the past month had weighed heavily on her, and moments like this had been far too rare.
“What’s the next step?” he asked, leaning close as his lips brushed along her neck.
DeathBreeze’s eyes drifted closed for a moment, savoring the quiet intimacy. “We keep building our deadly oasis,” she murmured. “We will grow strong enough to stand as a clan on our own… free to honor Nexyra and Tharos as we see fit.” Her voice grew more animated as her thoughts carried her forward. She was passionate about her faith and beliefs. The countless months she spent studying every single detail had scared her mind with clear devotion.
“We will revive the DeathWardens,” she declared with a bright, almost feverish smile. The ancient devotees of their gods had nearly faded into myth, yet she spoke of them as though their return was inevitable. “I want our underground halls to be magnificent. A garden of poisonous flowers… shadows and beauty intertwined. I want to feel the breath of death itself brush against my skin for eternity, Nommz…” Her tone slipped toward delirious excitement before she added quickly, almost as an afterthought, “And another pet snake.”
Nommz stopped her with a kiss, long, passionate, and certain. It was his quiet way of grounding her when her mind raced too far ahead. Lady DeathBreeze melted into it, her fingers brushing gently along his face. She would never say it aloud often, but if her immortal heart could still beat, it would beat for him.
One ring,
Two rings were heard,
The sudden buzzing of her phone shattered the fragile calm of the moment. Trouble always seemed to arrive when peace finally settled. With a reluctant sigh, DeathBreeze eased away from Nommz and reached for the device. The screen glowed in the dim light of their lair.
A message from a daughter.
Another from a son.
And then a third—news of a granddaughter in grave danger.
Her expression darkened as the weight of the messages sank in.
“What is going on…?” she murmured into the quiet room.
