#whatarefrogz

“You’re right. What kind of hero lets the people most important to him die? At least,” he continues with a rueful smile, “the stupid ring let me see you again, didn’t it?”

“I don’t want to see you.”

“Ouch. Stomp on a dying man’s heart a little harder why don’t you?”

“I don’t want to see you. Not like this. It’s not your time.”

“Maybe not, but except for you, life’s had a bad habit of dealing me shitty hands.” At the small flicker of a smile that breaks through your scowl, Nyx grins, “That’s the smile I’d die to see.”

“Still don’t want to see you, Nyx,” you huff, “if this is what it means.”

“It’s all prophecy and if I gotta be sacrificed for the greater good,” he shrugs before letting out a dry laugh, “Then…I guess that’s what it’s gotta be.”

“Don’t be such a drama queen.”

“You love me all the more for it.”

“I do.” When Nyx grins at that, it only furthers your resolve. “And you, you love me so you’re going to get your ass up and get the hell back into your body or wherever it is you came from. You owe me that.”

“I’m sor—”

“Don’t. There was nothing you could’ve done.”

Nyx doesn’t look convinced, but he knows better than to argue with you when your face is set in that defiant way he finds adorable. He stands up and faces you, pulls you in close by the hips until his forehead pressed against yours.

“I love you,” he whispers.

You can taste the words on your lips, the softness of it reflected in his storm-grey eyes. You lean in for one last kiss. It has to be the last one. As much as you’d love to spend the rest of eternity with him, it’s not time. Not when there are people he loves and people who love him still out there.

The kiss is chaste, a gentle press of his lips against yours, but even so, you find yourself clinging on to the lapels of his uniform as if you’d crumble if you let go. Even after all these years, there is nothing quite like kissing Nyx Ulric.

Therewas no way the King would let his first-born to be wed away. Sheplayed an important role as an ambassador, some even said that shewas the beacon of the new dawn.

Liannastood still with an empty plate in her hands. The cakes were supposedto taste heavenly, yet she felt like she had just poured ash into hermouth.

“Ishould be happy for her,” she muttered to herself. As much as itpained for her to be there at the engagement party, she had to bethere for her sister and to represent the Lucis Caelums. She had tosmile as if she was thrilled to see her younger sister to be engaged.

Ifthere was one thing she was good at− it was the fake smile she hadplastered across her face. It became a ghost in the instant she wasleft alone, as she was then. She stared at her father from theshadows of the ballroom. The king was cheerfully chatting withTenebraen representatives and completely unaware of his daughter’sglare.

Therewas no sign of Ravus.

Allnight she had been stealing glances at the silver haired man, feelingthe pain churning inside her shattered heart. The words still ranginside her head whenever she thought about the past.

Wasshe a fool? Did he just toy with her back then?

Herhand clasped the fabrics over her chest. She still remembered hisscent, his touch and his warmth against her body. Was it all just alie?

“YourHighness!”

Liannasnapped from her thoughts and almost dropped the plate in her hand.The smile that had left her lips returned instantly as she turnedaround to see a waiter addressing to her.

“ShallI take your plate, Your Highness?”

Theprincess nodded meekly and noticed how the silver haired princeslipped to the balcony not far from her. She didn’t have to excuseherself as she walked past the waiter.

Thiswas her chance. She needed to know thetruth.

Theair was cool outside and it calmed down Lianna’s glowing cheeks.

Ravuswas leaning against the railing, moonlight reflecting from his whitehair. He was a somewhat sad sight; his pale eyes searched longinglyfor something that wasn’t there.

“Ravus,”Lianna spoke, holding her breath back. She knew she was about to diveinto something that couldn’t be easily escaped from. Her heartraced from grief and anger.

Theprince of Tenebrae didn’t turn around; he sighed into the distance.

“Lianna.”

Theway he said her name−  it still made her skin crawl. His voice waslike a drug she wanted to get rid of, but was always entranced tohear more. She felt breathless, just as she had thought.

Finally,he turned around, looking irritated to be interrupted. Lianna couldonly guess that this wasn’t the first interruption during theevening. It surely wouldn’t be the last one either. She opened andclosed her mouth, unable to form a proper sentence.

Whyis it so hard?

“Whatdo you want?” Ravus spoke coldly, he had to. It was the only way.Even after all this time, a stinging pain poked his chestunexpectedly. He thought it would be easy, but it wasn’t.

“Justtell me,” Lianna managed to say in hushed tone, “tell me why?”

Hisface was like a book written in ancient, unreadable language. Therewas no way to know what went behind that cold mask he conjured up.The pair of blue eyes probed every inch of Lianna’s face, as iftrying to find a weakness.

“Ithought you were more clever than that,” he answered bluntly.

Itmade fury boil inside the princess and she narrowed her eyes. Thecheerful smile she wore as her own mask was long gone. “Did youknow… about this?” she gasped.

Thehurt in her undertone was evident. It cut the scarred wounds inRavus’ heart. He wasn’t going to give in; this was his life now.It was the life his mother and Regis had long ago planned. He had tolet go before it would be too hard.

“It’snot my problem if your father didn’t brief you.”

“Whyare you like this?” Lianna asked. She wanted to scream, to summonher weapon and attack. She needed to know if Ravus had played gameswith her feelings and the thought tore the remnants of her heartapart.

Ravusnever had the chance to answer. Selene ran through the balcony door,only to find her future husband and her sister in the middle of aquarrel.

“Sis,I was looking for you.” Selene huffed and glanced at Ravus quickly,but it was far from friendly. “You better stay away from Lianna,you’ve done enough.”

Ravuscursed the day he was engaged to her. Selene didn’t even know allthe details− but she knew enough to build even more hatred towardshim.

Liannanodded curtly towards Ravus and walked over to her little sister. Shedidn’t look back, she didn’t want to see the pieces of her brokenheart all over the balcony.

“Thatis exactly why,”Gladio murmured into her ear in a rather playful tone, sendingshivers down her spine.

“Isthis how you greet me?” Lianna exhaled heavily, her eyes flutteringas she leaned her head against his shoulder. Her body screamed formore, no matter how well she smothered her impure desires.

Someonecould always burst through the door and need her or him. There couldalways be another emergency mission to pull the two apart for days,weeks… months.

Hisarm around her waist tightened. “I missed you,” he hummed softly.

Thesmile on Lianna’s face widened. “I missed you too.”

Gladio’snose brushed gently the skin of her neck, sending another wave ofshivers. His hand moved slowly, his calloused fingers lifting the hemof her shirt. Another weak exhale escaped Lianna’s parted lips.

“Gladio…we— we can’t.”

Hepaused, but didn’t let go of her. He could never let her go, notafter everything that had happened. “I know,” he murmured with a slightly thick tone.

Liannaslowly turned around. She was relieved to see the man she loved to have returned unharmed. “Thank you…”

Gladioleaned his forehead against hers, but he was smiling.

“Canwe stay like this for a while?”