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Manon knew she shouldn’t be here. She knew she should have left right after the ceremony instead of staying for the reception… and the after party. She had been actively avoiding this exact situation for over a year.
But now, reclined back on a sofa, lazily swirling her glass of dark liquor, Manon couldn’t take her eyes off the other woman.
Elide was on the other side of the room, sitting with Aelin and Lyssandra. Aelin was in the middle, sprawled out like a cat, with her head in Elide’s lap and her feet in Lyssandra’s. Elide’s long fingers idly twirling Aelin’s golden hair. She had that soft smile on her face while Aelin regaled them with some story, no doubt.
“So, fun party.” Dorian dropped down beside her, his own glass in hand.
Manon clinked her glass against his before bringing it to her lips and swallowing the whole thing. She leaned forward and grabbed the decanter and poured herself another glass. Threw that back and went for thirds.
“Geez, Manon. One of those nights?”
“You could say that.” Manon’s stare never faltering.
“Ah, yes,” Dorian dropped his voice to a whisper, “forbidden love.”
Manon leveled a glare in his direction. “Don’t.”
His hands went up in surrender. “Sorry, sorry.” He sat his glass down on the side table.
“Seriously though. Just because we,” he motioned between the two of them, “didn’t work out, it doesn’t mean I don’t want you to be happy.”
Manon shook her head, a chuckle falling from her lips. She redirected her attention to Dorian. Her shoulders slightly loosening the tension they had been holding.
“We didn’t work out because it turns out you are only interested in those who possess the same body parts as you.”
Dorian threw an arm around Manon’s shoulders, pulling her in for a rough hug. He was one of the only people she allowed to touch her with such familiarity. “The same could be said for you.” He waged his eye brows up and down.
Manon pushed out of his grasp and reclined back. “I don’t discriminate. Clearly.” She motioned between the two of them.
“Touché.” Dorian raised his glass, Manon clinking them together again before tossing back another glass.
Dorian stood up. “Well, I’m off to join the party. Come join us. Or… continue with your brooding.” He gave her an exaggerated bow before walking back to the others.
+++++
An hour later, it had turned into a full on party. Everyone bringing the others up to date on their lives, their kingdoms. Layers of clothing lost to the oppressive heat of the fire place and the massive amount of drinks consumed.
Well, almost everyone.
Only two people noticed Elide quietly drifting out of the door and back into the main room.
+++++
This is a bad idea, Manon. A really REALLY bad idea. Manon inhaled sharply. Fuck it. She threw back another glass. Liquid courage and all that.
With everyone’s attention drawn to Lysandra, who was currently trying (and failing), to imitate Dorian in a game of Charades, Manon slipped from the room.
She gently shut the door behind her and looked around. It took a minute for her eyes to adjust to the dark entry room. A slight movement out of the corner of her eye had her silently walking towards the balcony on the far end of the room.
Leaning against the door frame, Manon watched Elide quietly.
Elide was leaning over the balcony, her forearms propping her body up on the stone railing. Her head was angled up toward the night sky. Her onyx hair was pulled over one shoulder, leaving her skin bare where her dress dipped low in the back. Her alabaster skin practically glowed in the moonlight.
Elide had fought Aelin nail and tooth over that dress. For the first time, Manon was glad that Aelin got her way. Though why she was out here without a cloak was beyond her. The winter air was crisp and had a bite to it.
Elide’s eyes bring closed, Manon took a minute to take her in. It had been months since they’d been in the same room, let alone this close to each other.
+++++
Elide slid out of the heated room. As much as she loved her friends, her family, they could be a bit much. After years of relative solitude, she valued the peace and quiet of a still night.
She found herself out on the balcony, arms crossed over each other on the railing and her head tilted back, eyes closed as if bathing in the moonlight. She inhaled the crisp winter air and leaned in to the bitter cold on her skin.
The hairs on her arms stiffened and a faint buzz electrified her body, but not from the cold.
“Manon.”
It had always been like this with them - Elide stuck in Manon’s orbit (though Manon thought it the other way around). Elide could picture the smirk on Manon’s lips as she pushed off the wall and took a place beside her.
Elide didn’t need to open her eyes to know that Manon stood facing her. She could feel Manon’s eyes sliding over her skin just as much as she could any physical touch.
They stood in silence for what felt like ages. Finally, Manon turned to look out over the snow covered fields surrounding Orynth. Without Manon’s gaze trained on her, Elide opened her eyes and and pushed up. She brought her hands down, laying them flat on the stone railing - the side of her hand brushing up against Manon’s. Elide’s eyes fluttered shut at the contact.
“Manon,” Elide breathed out her name. “I…”
Manon’s hand closed over Elides, holding it in place. “Don’t.” Her hand gently squeezing Elide’s. “Let this be enough for tonight.”
Elide nodded, interlacing their fingers.
Time stood still on the balcony. The only movement the up and down motion of their chests breathing in time with each other. The silence saying more than any words could. Both their gazes fixed on some far off point.
A boisterous laugh echoed out from inside, breaking the spell.
“When do you leave?” Elide whispered into the night.
“Tonight.” Manon felt Elide’s fingers tighten around her own.
A shiver went down Elide’s spine, strong enough that Manon could feel it.
“Manon, we can’t keep doing this…”
Manon pulled her hand back, suddenly. She couldn’t do this again. Couldn’t put herself out there again.
“This was a mistake Elide.” She pushed off the railing, taking a long stride back towards the door.
“Manon, please!” Elide turned, her hand shooting out to grab Manon’s.
Manon’s eyes slammed shut and she audibly exhaled. She didn’t turn to face Elide, but she didn’t pull away either.
“Please, Manon.” Her name a prayer on the other woman’s lips. “Please. I am begging you don’t do this again. Don’t shut me out. Don’t leave.” A sob tearing through Elide’s lips at the last word.
For a split second Manon’s heart and brain fought. Her heart winning when Elide’s grip loosened as she tripped over a raised tile. Manon turned, pulling Elide up and into her arms. Elide immediately wrapped her own around Manon’s waist and buried her face into the taller woman’s chest.
Manon’s arms infinitesimally tightened around Elide before dropping to her side.
She honed her voice into neutrality, “Do you need me to help you inside?” She knew that Yrene had been working on Elide’s ankle to reverse the years of damage, but that it would likely be a lot longer until the pain went completely away.
Elide nodded into Manon’s chest. Manon shifted Elide off her and slid an arm around her waist. Manon tried to direct her towards the door leading back into the lounge, but Elide pulled the opposite way, towards the main door.
Manon quirked an eyebrow up.
“Just take me back to my room. I don’t need their sympathy right now.”
Despite her brain raging at her to just get Elide back to others and leave, she understood. She knew what it was like to be in pain, to be feeling something so intensely you didn’t want others seeing it.
So she walked Elide out of Rowan and Aelin’s rooms and down to the guest wing.
+++++
Elide had never used her injury as an excuse. Never used it to garner sympathy or help. But when she had jutted forward to catch Manon’s arm, her bad foot nicked a raised tile.
Elide may have grossly over exaggerated how it affected her. It had the desired effect though - Manon had caught her, bringing their bodies into contact. Elide had thrown her arms around her before the witch could protest.
Elide’s body was still buzzing from the contact as Manon opened the door to the suite.
“Just take me to the bedroom. I don’t want to have to get up again and irritate it more.”
Manon tensed up.
Elide knew this was a gamble. She needed Manon to stick around long enough to hear her out. So, she hobbled along… on her perfectly fine foot.
“Okay,” Manon said with a bit more bite in her tone than Elide was used to hearing from her.
Once Manon had gotten Elide up into her bed, she turned to leave. “Do you need me to send Irene down here? Or… Lorcan? I’m sure he’d love to retire for the evening.”
“No,”
Manon turned and strode towards the door.
Elide saw her opening and took it.
“He won’t be staying in here tonight… or ever again.”
Manon stopped cold in her tracks.
Elide allowed the words to hang in the air for a few moments.
“We haven’t shared a bed in months.”
Elide could see the deep breath Manon took in and held - shoulders tight with tension.
“And why is that?” Manon said quietly. Too quietly.
“He’s leaving to head back to Doranelle in the morning. Alone.”
Manon turned slowly. Her white hair catching in the moonlight that streamed in through the windows.
“Again I ask you… why?”
Elide slid off the side of the bed with ease. It didn’t go unnoticed by Manon that her foot was suddenly better.
”His priorities changed.” Elide offered.
Manon was in front of Elide faster than she could blink. Their chests touching with every inhale.
Manon leaned in, her mouth hovering over Elide’s ear.
”And where do your priorities lie, witchling?”
Elide shivered. Her hand snaked around Manon’s neck, pulling her hair slightly to bring Manon’s head back. Their eyes boring into the other’s.
”Here.” Elide’s hand came to rest over Manon’s heart. “Always here.”
Manon closed her eyes briefly. When they opened, their golden hue was blazing. Feral.
“I sincerely hope that foot is healed.” Manon’s arms snaked around Elide, backing her up until her knees hit the bed.
“Completely healed,” Elide whispered.
Manon’s lips crashed into Elide’s. Their bodies and souls colliding.
+++++
From just outside the door to Elide’s suite, Lorcan smiled, knowingly. Raised a glass to the woman he loved, and the woman she loved. He went quietly from the castle and left Elirea for the last time.