Night had fallen by the time the meeting concluded. Moira left the tent before anyone could stop her. When she emerged, she found the camp alight with activity. Bonfires had been built towards the center of the camp and the scent of cooking food filled the air. People were dancing before the fires, while others lounged on felled logs and sipped their drinks.

"I told you I'd arranged for a celebration," Dagen said, appearing beside her. The firelight reflected off his pale countenance with a golden glow. "Would you care to join me?" He offered her an arm.

"I need to check on a few of my soldiers first," Moira answered brusquely, not looking at him.

She set off towards the tents belonging to her own people, aware of Dagen's gaze following her. She heard the growing din of voices when Lir and Malachi joined him. Lir moved on to the bonfires, while Malachi and Dagen became locked in conversation. Moira paid them no mind, spotting Samson and Bellamy up ahead. Kalian sat on a crate in between them, a hollow look in his eyes.

Moira nodded to the two men and they left quietly, but flashed worried glances at their friend. Kalian didn't look up, even when Moira sat down beside him. "What happened?" She asked.

"That man..." Kalian whispered. "He was there. He was the one who..."

"This must be the Kalian Deirdre I've heard so much about," Dagen called, striding over to them with Malachi on his heels. "A far cry from your beloved Damian, isn't he, Moira? Far too pretty. Unnaturally so, even."

Kalian lifted his gaze to Dagen's. Moira's blood froze at the sight. There was nothing but icy rage in his features. A threat and a promise. Kalian didn't care who Dagen was. Only what he had done. He would make the General suffer.

Dagen recognized that. A cruel grin blossomed on his lips. "Let's leave this poor soul to his brooding. There's a party going on, after all." Dagen once more offered Moira his arm.

"I will stay, thank you," Moira replied.

"Deirdre doesn't need you to play nursemaid, Commander," Malachi scoffed.

Kalian straightened, his shoulders tensing. "Indeed he doesn't," Dagen agreed. "Why don't you spend some time with real men?" Moira narrowed her eyes, recognizing the emphasis he'd placed on the words. What was Dagen insinuating? "Come along." He reached for her.

Kalian's hand lashed out faster than Moira could track. He caught Dagen by the wrist and rose, those terrible and beautiful shadows lining the planes of his face. "She said she would stay," he growled. "She doesn't have to go anywhere if she doesn't want to. Especially not with the likes of you."

"Well, well, well. Your little lap dog can bite after all," Dagen murmured, still smirking.

"Kalian," Moira warned.

He released the General, but the dark look in his eyes didn't fade. "A word of advice, General," Kalian spat. "She doesn't take nicely to uninvited contact. Just ask Malachi. I suggest you treat her with the respect she deserves."

"Or else?" Dagen prompted.

"That's not for me to decide." His lips curved into a wicked grin. "My turn comes later." He spun on his heel and stormed away, leaving Moira alone with Malachi and Dagen.

"Your new bed warmer seems a little touchy," Dagen said, all hints of laughter gone from his voice. "I suggest you get him under control before you lose control entirely."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Dagen gave no response. He walked away, with Malachi trailing behind. Moira waited until they were out of sight before chasing after Kalian. She found him waiting near the tent that had been erected for her. Surprisingly, it was on the outskirts of the camp. Usually it was in the center, whether she was in her own camp or visiting another.

It was a slight. But why is Dagen slighting me? She wondered. What has Malachi been telling him? Obviously something about Kalian, but what?

Moira shoved her thoughts aside as she reached Kalian. "Tell me what's going on," she demanded, though her tone wasn't unkind.

Kalian's shoulders rose and fell with uneven breaths. He faced her, cold angry light raging within his blue eyes. "That man took everything from me," he spat. "And now he's trying to take you too. I can't bear it." He grabbed her by the shoulders, peering into her eyes. "Do you hear me? It can't happen again. I can't lose you too. I can't. I..." He lowered his head, closing his eyes.

"You aren't going to lose me," Moira said, cupping his face in her hands. "Nothing could take me away from you." Guilt flooded his features, though his eyes remained closed and he did not speak. "Kalian." Moira licked her lips and swallowed hard. "He will not take me from you. He can't." She stepped closer to him, heart pounding against her sternum. "I...I love you."

Kalian fell still as his breath caught. Slowly, he opened eyes and met her gaze. Raw emotions shone within them, though she couldn't quite tell what they were. Kalian lifted his hands to her face. He touched her gently, running his thumbs over her cheeks. Moira hooked her arms around his neck, excitement fluttering through her stomach.

Kalian pressed his lips to hers and Moira let her eyes drift shut. She threaded her fingers through the ends of his hair, nudging her lips against his. Kalian yielded to her demand, slanting his head at another angle and deepening the kiss. Moira made a small sound, pushing herself up to the tips of her toes.

Kalian's gentle touch turned wild and claiming. He caught her by the hip with one hand and guided her closer. His other hand held her by the back of the neck, tipping her head up. He broke away from her lips and dragged kisses across her jaw. Moira was left breathless, a delighted grin on her face. Warmth pooled low in her stomach as Kalian trailed kisses down her neck. He shifted to her throat and she felt the barest scrape of his teeth.

Moira took a step back, pulling him along with her. Kalian's gaze darted to her tent, then to her. "Are you sure?" He asked, his voice little more than a husky growl.

Moira nodded, tilting his head so she could kiss his jaw. Kalian obliged her for a moment, then slipped his hands behind her thighs and lifted her legs to his hips. Moira held onto him as he carried her into the tent. She didn't let go, even when they bumped into a table and Kalian set her on top of it. She unclasped the buckles on his leather shirt while he returned his attention to her neck.

One of his hands lingered on her waist and tingles spread through her from that point of contact. Moira's heart raced as she tugged his leathers off, then his undershirt. Her hands met his warm, bare skin and Kalian made a pleased sound. His hand shifted to the buckles on her own leathers. Moira hauled her lips to his as he unfastened them and cast the clothing aside.

☽◦༻◦☽◦༺◦☽

Kalian matched Moira's energy as he eased her onto her back. Her legs remained wrapped around his waist, while her hands were fisted in his hair. Kalian kissed the corner of her mouth, then planted kisses down the length of her throat. Moira arched her neck, granting him further access.

"You're sure about this?" He asked again, before tracing the divot of her collarbone with his tongue. Moira shivered as she nodded. "I want to hear you say yes. We can't take this back. I want you to be sure."

"I am sure," she answered.

"This is what you want?"

"Yes."

Her breath hitched as Kalian brushed kisses to her sternum. He rested his palm on her stomach, then pushed it up to her breast. Moira gasped with pleasure and Kalian let his magic surface, using it to cast a shield over their tent. No sounds would come in or out, and no one would be able to enter. They would be uninterrupted for as long as they pleased.

Kalian shifted his kisses to the curve of her breast and let his tongue follow the trail his lips left. Moira clutched at his hair, bowing her back with a whimper. Heat spread through his veins and every inch of his body went taut. Kalian kissed his way down onto her stomach. He gripped her beneath the leg, pulling her hips harder against his own. He ground against her, coaxing a soft moan from Moira's lips.

"Kalian," she breathed.

He continued pressing kisses to the soft almond skin of her stomach while unlacing her pants. Moira's hands left his hair and dug into his shoulders. He flared his wings slightly, preventing her from bumping into them.

He would do anything to have her touch his wings, especially right now. A relentless ache spread through him at the thought, but it couldn't happen. He knew it couldn't. It would spell disaster. He shouldn't even be here. He needed to put an end to this. He'd said nothing would happen before Dagen was dead, and when Moira learned the truth...

She moaned again and all thoughts eddied from his brain. Kalian slid her pants off and unlaced his own. Moira sat up and began kissing his neck, still gripping him by the shoulders. She pressed herself close to him, until there was barely an inch of space between their bodies. Kalian sighed as she kissed the crook of his neck, then lowered her lips to the hollow of his throat.

He kicked his pants aside and Moira perched on the very edge of the table. She spread her legs wider, hooking them around his hips. Kalian braced one hand on the table and splayed the other on the small of her back. He buried his face in Moira's neck, breathing in her scent: caramel, cloves, and crackling fires. Moira kissed his jaw as he thrust into her.

Soft moans escaped them both. Moira rested her forehead against Kalian's cheek and he rocked into her at a slow, steady pace. She leaned back, lifting her hips slightly. Kalian shuddered as her body tightened around him. Moira moaned next to his ear. Kalian supported her with one arm, tilting her back a little further.

He made his next strokes harder and was unable to suppress a strangled groan. Moira panted breathlessly, her chest heaving against his. Kalian plied his tongue up the length of her throat and her head fell back. Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks. Heat simmered through his body as Moira moaned again, rolling her hips into his. Kalian echoed the sound, trembling with pleasure.

"Moira," he rasped. She moaned in response. Kalian captured her lips in another starved kiss. He continued thrusting into her, drawing pleased sounds from them both with every movement.