#epithymi

𝗒𝗈𝗎    𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾    𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽    𝗈𝖿    𝗁𝖾𝗋    𝖺𝖽𝖽𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇    𝗍𝗈    𝗍𝗁𝖾    𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗒.    like    you    had    told    your    brother    before,    you    were    just    happy    to    have    another    intelligent    woman    in    the    family.    perhaps    not    in    the    way    that    you    had    initally    thought,    but    you    were    glad    that    anthony    had    found    someone    who    was    not    afraid    to    challenge    him.    and    she    was    excellent    rider    too.    now    in    aubrey    hall    after    their    six    month    honeymoon,    it    is    time    to    perhaps    ask    her    to    ride    with    you.    you    have    already    promised    that    you’d    take    care    for    her    and    that    she    would    not    fall    again.    it    was    not    raining,    and    sun    was    shinning,    you    would    be    completely    alright.    you    find    her    after    breakfast,    already    dressed,    and    a    smile    covering    your    face,    ❝    lady    bridgerton,    ❞    you    do    not    courtesy    or    anything,    but    the    soft    tease    is    hidden    under    everything,    ❝    i    was    wondering,    since    the    sun    is    shinning,    if    we    could    take    a    ride    together.    we    have    more    than    suitable    horses,    and    my    brother    told    me    that    you    are    an    experienced    rider.    that    you    enjoy    them    too.    ❞

          ‘ diana! ‘ he called her name like a song, jogging for a moment to loop his arm through hers as he fell into step with her. things were still-- hectic, but he was taking this one moment to distance himself from family drama and focus on--  well, to focus on something he wanted. ‘ i was wondering if you might have a moment to let me pick your brain. help out your new stepson? ‘ the last part was thrown in with teasing levity, a way to lighten the mood for both of them. 

Eyes gleamed in the dim lighting of her bedroom. Not that it hinders his senses from adapting, marking out her shape against the center of the mattress. The slight flush that slithers along her skin, from her chest to her nerve endings. 

It’s like a living masterpiece and he’s enamored by the way her legs are crossed over each other, how her chest flushed and rapid, up and down while her appearance maintains the calm her excitement tries to refuse. He grins and takes the proffered hand cuffs near her foot. 

𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐔𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐈𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐃, ❝ I suppose that would depend on what it is they're saying, Alina. ❞ It was only after Aleksander spoke that the Darkling looked up at her.

❝ I know you are new at court, in this palace, but lies abound upon many lips with the nobility. The royalty. Rumors that spread with the intent to harm--or to cast doubt. ❞

He stepped closer to her. ❝ Whatever they're saying now is more than likely such a case. ❞

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐆𝐀𝐙𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄, sighing briefly. ❝ And I have kept that promise, even if you don’t believe that. ❞ Anger roots deep inside of him. He doesn’t have the desire to fight with her, but he will not let her talk back to him like this, when she doesn’t understand the story. The entire problem that has raged for centuries. 

❝ I promised to do what was necessary for the good of Ravka, Zoya. And I have. Even if you think differently now, you will learn in time. ❞