The night had calmed down and the silence was as soft as a veil over the room. Only two presences filled the space now: Strax and Scarlet.
She was lying next to him, her hair flowing over the pillow like a cascade of dark fire. Strax held her hand - as soft and cold as cut jade - in silent reverence. With his other hand, he gently caressed her cheek, his fingers gliding over the soft skin as if they were touching living porcelain.
"We have a lot to do..." he murmured, a quiet smile playing on his lips.
In response, he slid his index finger to her lower lip, pressing it lightly, as if studying the velvety texture with fascination. The simple touch made her body react on instinct, a familiar spark igniting inside her. It wasn't the first time they'd been like this - far from it - but there was something about Scarlet that always made everything seem new. Intense.
