Kaid's head was full of the dark clouds that swirled the evening sky above him, the kind of dark night that everyone around him seemed to enjoy but him. The darkness that resided was numbed, and had been so this past month. The nightmares came and went, as usual, but was always bearable with Jessamine around. Kaid, against his inner thoughts, did what Esthero predicted, and had reached out to Mara. Her world was just as silenced as his own, having gone into hiding for now, with no word from Lungor for their next directives. Perhaps she still believed them to be the ones barking orders.

But, Mara was well, same as her son. Kaid found some peace in that. Her failure the past month may actually prove beneficial for everyone, especially her.

Payne had even accepted his failure, and took accountability for it that fateful day. His excuse was a lack of time, which was true as the meeting was rather unplanned and spontaneous. However, Payne did not lose anything in that fight other than his own pride. He didn't lose a friend, he wasn't punished afterward for failure to do his duty. Instead, he was off still working behind the scenes in Lungor, wondering what their response to the attack would be. Jessamine merely dismissed him, because nobody wanted him around. In reality, there was no accountability held except the questioning of his worth. Overtime, that could prove costly.

Kaid held the letter in his hand tightly, tucking it between his inner arm and his sleeve to conceal it. Six times. He wrote different variations of this letter six times, five of them ending up ash in the library fireplace, the last in his hand. What he asked for was tremendous, but even the sun breaking through dark clouds could appear like a bombardment. Something needed to be done, and he wasn't sure who to trust.

Jessamine had promised, but Kaid knew she would take that promise back. What Kaid planned to do, with the right tools and assistance, could reverse all the hard work Jessamine had put into this entire year. Kaid didn't know if he could wait. He knew he should tell her: what and where he believed the source of all his pain and trauma that unraveled took place. Everyone around him was in great spirits. Everyone except him. There would be long moments where he would forget all about it, where happiness and joy felt real. But it was like a dream. This reality was becoming a dream, and his nightmare a reality. He had to prevent all of this before it fully transformed. This could stop his nightmare from coming true. He could prevent him from hurting her, or her hurting him.

Kaid walked into Cole Greene's mailroom, seeing him about finishing up for the day. He knew he had arrived late, but he figured nobody would be here at this hour of the day. He was correct. Kaid gently slid the letter across, knowing Cole Greene knew what to do with it and whom to send it to. Cole Greene, their own Sender, had a twin brother of same power and constitution residing with the Confederacy. Any urgent information that was given to him to be delivered instantly over the past year had grown compromised. Kaid knew that Jessamine preferred the safer method of sending letters via naval mail. She was correct in doing so. But the wedding with Christine's family, the Arillian meeting...the Southern Isles, it was how the Confederacy were one step ahead, ready for their moment.

Kaid was about to leave, knowing he wouldn't receive a response until hopefully tomorrow. But he heard Cole clear his throat, the guttural sound almost cut off by a sense of surprise.

"Are you sure you want to send this? This...depending on the reader, is borderline treasonous," Cole explained, holding the letter. He didn't need to open it to read its contents. That seemed to be where he and his twin brother differed. Kaid knew Cole spoke the words out of worry, but he had nothing to worry about.

"Good thing the reader won't consider it such," Kaid answered, "I need this done. And I can do it with, or without, any assistance." He just wondered if his friend would help him. He knew she had a lot more to lose than Kaid. But, that place had done them both irreparable harm, and still continued to harm them. What better destiny than to rip that place apart, together?

"I sure hope you know what you're doing," Cole scoffed, curling the letter into his fist like a ball. And when he unclenched his palm, the letter was gone, sent across the continent away from this dark palace towards the evening desert.

Kaid sure didn't know what he was doing. No answer felt completely right. Every choice held a consequence he couldn't quite predict. He felt as hopeless as Jessamine had the night before meeting Bashir. Everything could go right, or extremely wrong. Kaid knew what he wanted, what he needed to have happen. Yet, he felt guilt upon knowing what words resided in that letter. Rejection wasn't an option. It couldn't be. No knowledge or books could prepare him for this, only instinct. Instinct was the only thing that kept him alive in Caladin for thirty years. Perhaps he needed to learn to trust it again.

Kaid rubbed his sore temple as he walked back to the palace and back to his room. He figured he would still have dinner with Jessamine, even though he didn't feel quite that hungry. He wasn't quite sure how he could look her in those blue eyes and admit how lost he was feeling. Even though she could make him feel so quite at home, doubt had crept in and it wasn't going anywhere. It remained a disease inside his mind. Once Kaid got his answer, then it would be fine. If Mara had lied about Jessamine, then there was no harm. If Jessamine had lied...

He didn't want to entertain such a painful thought.

The first thing he noticed when entering his room was the note on the bed, a single sheet of paper with Jessamine's delicate handwriting:

Rooftop terrace. Wear something nice but warm. Bring nothing but your lovely presence.

Signed, with love, from his Empress. Kaid didn't exactly know what this was about, but he supposed it might be a good distraction for the evening. Even he had to admit thinking about it all was taking a toll, and he'd welcome whatever this could offer. Kaid changed his simple robes into a more elegant kaftan, brick red with brown trim to match his eyes and skin. He figured an additional layer would assist in the colder weather, although he wondered if Jessamine had other methods tonight to warm each other up.

The rooftop terrace was hardly used, up until recently. It had been mostly a station for the guards to keep watch, given the higher elevation and view of the grounds. Christine had possessed it in her vision to turn it around, add some furniture and greenery, mostly just to have a beautiful place to watch the sunset. Sometimes when Jessamine awoke before dawn, she liked to watch the sunrise with a cup of tea. Kaid had been up there before since the alteration, finding it comfortable, but not as warm and inviting as his own space in the library. This was more of a space for the ladies to enjoy on their own time.

However, when he walked up the lengthy steps, enough to put him slightly out of breath, he could hear the softness of laughter and whispered words. Candles and lights were strewn around, placing the terrace in some kind of aura, a light amongst this darkness. He could smell evidence of freshly roasted chicken, perhaps even a chocolate pie residing next to it. Whatever the occasion was, Kaid wasn't made aware of it at all. When he walked into view, he noticed the bodies of all his acquaintances and friends, turning to gaze at him with warm smiles and excitement. It was as if they were all waiting for him, and only him.

"What's all this about?" Kaid asked, seeing the place more decorated than usual, rose petals all over the floor, small gifts residing besides the table of food. His eyes gazed at Jessamine, who's hurricane eyes held a warm softness that burned at his own soul. She looked lovely, hair braided with slight jewels, wearing a dark red dress herself. Lately, she wasn't one to dress up unless necessary for the occasion. This occasion seemed to fit that criteria.

Whatever the occasion was.

"Happy birthday!" Jessamine and the girls, Christine and Kassandra shouted, surprising Kaid.

He was stunned. He didn't even know his birthday, nor did he care for it given he's never had one before. But somehow they knew, and they felt the need to throw him a party for it, albeit small. It wasn't anything like Jessamine's had been, thank the Divines. Kaid felt unworthy of such a thing, almost ashamed they put all this effort for him. Yet their smiling faces were echoes of the happiness Kaid had bestowed upon them.

Even Cadize and Kiev were there, in good spirits.

"I...is this all for me?" Kaid asked, still frozen in place.

"Of course, silly," Jessamine walked over, placing a soft kiss on his lips, "happy birthday."

"Thirty-nine! How's it feel to be an old man, huh?!" Christine laughed.

"I'm not that old!" Kaid retorted playfully, soon smiling, "You guys didn't have to do this...I...I didn't even know this was my birthday or, you know...something worth celebrating."

"Theoretically, it's tomorrow. But given we are all having a girl's weekend, Jessamine wanted to do something special for you tonight. She's been planning this for weeks," Kassandra grinned, as if she had assisted and kept this hidden from him as well. She mostly likely had. Perhaps if Kaid had been more aware of his own surroundings, not lost in the black cloud above his head, he would have noticed something was off. He never could have predicted something like this, though.

Jessamine slid her hand down Kaid's, gliding across the softness of his inner arm like a snake traversing down a spine, before her hand met his, intertwining gently. He squeezed it tightly, not sure how to show his appreciation other than the dumbstruck look still on his face. A birthday. Thirty-nine years was all it took for his first one, the first one he could remember. Perhaps his mother had celebrated such with him, on a much miniscule scale. Kaid wasn't sure how to feel, other than slightly embarrassed, at celebrating a day meant to highlight himself. His humility wouldn't let him, so his friends had to do so instead.

"Well, let's eat! We've been starving up here waiting for you," Kiev rolled his eyes slightly, moving to start serving everyone a small plate.

Jessamine squeezed his hand one more time, raising on her toes to place a soft kiss on his cheek before whispering in his ear, "You're not old, dearest. I love you."

The next hour was full of eating, drinking, and dramatic retelling of everyone meeting Kaid for the first time. Christine went on and on about how horrible he looked, until she worked her magic of course and turned him into a proper gentleman. But despite his appearance, she said the greatest thing about Kaid that she learned from their first meeting was how polite and kind he was. Kassandra teased how awestruck Kaid had been when they had met, and she wasn't quite sure if it was the overwhelming sight of the Vitross palace interior and exterior...or Jessamine. Cadize bragged time and time again about how Kaid had saved Payne from learning only one sentence from a book. Kiev even bragged how Kaid was the most determined man he had ever met, and perhaps most humble as well.

The evening had dwindled after the food and overdose of wine had kicked in. Cadize and Kiev had left, knowing they both had work to do tomorrow and didn't want to spend the entire evening up here. Kassandra and Christine did their best to hold on for parts of the evening, the four of them entertained in a board game of krass. But Christine had a little too much wine and was beginning to drift to sleep every time she closed her eyes. With Kassandra's assistance, they both left to enjoy the evening in slumber.

Jessamine sat in Kaid's lap, mostly to keep each other warm as she kept a bottle of wine flowing, refilling their glasses often. Finally, she had found a wine Kaid seemed to enjoy. Although he was only drinking it now because it made his stomach warm amidst the cold, and he did like the way it made him feel: numb. This party and everything about it almost felt like an erase of his pain and inner turmoil. Maybe it was. Kaid wouldn't know if it healed the wound or simply numbed it until tomorrow, but the night was still young.

"Mm...let's open gifts," she whispered, getting off his thigh gently to gather the various bundles of bags and presents wrapped in delicate paper. On her way over, Jessamine turned down the music playing to a quieter volume. Arilla had gifted her with a machine capable of playing music, a new investment of course. Kaid didn't quite understand the new technology, a flat round disk capable of echoing such sounds. Jessamine was rather fascinated about it, and he wondered if she'd make music of her own with piano. The day she did, he'd play it endlessly.

"Gifts? You've spoiled me enough already," Kaid shook his head, still in disbelief this entire evening was just for him.

"Like you would do any less on my own birthday," she retorted, seeing him agree. Even if she had a big celebration of a party, much to her own dislike, he too would spend the day spoiling her. Birthdays were a celebration of life, of creation. And even if neither of their lives really started until the day they were forced upon each other, birthdays were merely reminders of their incredible existence. And Kaid's existence was the most rare, exotic, and intoxicating creation the Divines could have ever made. The endless seas Jessamine loved, nor the stars in the skies, couldn't even compare to a singular curly black strand of hair on his head.

Kaid Al-Yami was poetry. Often shunned or cast aside, it didn't remove the beauty of his mystery. His words communicated love before ever being understood. Just a taste of his emotions and power only had Jessamine thirsty for more. Poetry was just character put into words, a language anyone could understand if only they were willing to try. Jessamine had pushed herself away from attempting such for years. But with Kaid so much like poetry, all it took was one verse to completely fall in love with such literature. It would take a thousand or more verses to fall completely out of it.

"Wonder who these kaftans could be from," Jessamine smiled, moving back to sit across his leg as she handed him the bundle of clothes.

Kaid took them gently, pulling the small note away to read them as Jessamine unraveled the wrapping paper softly:

Kaid, I made these inspired by my imprisonment in Uhkhtar, and from your daring rescue. I learned that is from where you originated from and felt compelled to really be in touch with the culture I learned briefly about. Don't worry, I bought most materials from the couple you usually buy them from to not put them out of business. Your love and compassion for others is stitched in all of us like needles and fabric. Never let it unravel. Happy Birthday, from Chrstine and Kassandra.

"That is sweet of them, but I'm afraid I am running out of room in my closet," Kaid laughed, blushing slightly at the contents of the letter as Jessamine showed him the first delicately designed kaftan. It was absolutely stunning, fit for royalty, yet someone like him in Uhkhtar would look anything but such.

"I have plenty of room in mine," Jessamine smiled, "besides, it's great to have an extensive wardrobe. As good as you look wearing black, I do like it when you spread your wings a bit and wear something a bit more colorful. Like tonight, we are even matching. That was something I didn't plan for."

"Mhm, so you didn't have this kaftan hung delicately to be the first one I saw when glancing at my closet...?"

"Darling, I don't plan that far in advance," she laughed, "I've never been that much of a strategizer, I mostly improvise. Perhaps red just seemed to speak to you tonight. Not every coincidence has divine intervention laced with explanation. I'd never play with you like I was some kind of god, even if you worship me as such."

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"Maybe everything feels like such because of your divine nature alone," he retorted, seeing her already flushed cheeks from the wine blush even more.

"One cannot perceive things and time the same way the gods can," Jessamine spoke, deepening her voice to mock that of a proud masculine god. Of course, it only made the two of them laugh. It was mere coincidence and nothing more.

Kaid pulled the next batch of gifts, which seemed several books of medicinal value. It was most certainly from Cadize, who probably had books he had studied for years no longer of interest to him. So he figured Kaid would be a safe bet to give these books to. Kaid knew that Cadize probably didn't know what to give him, but it was the thought that counted. Cadize knew he loved to read, so any amount of books would do. Kaid was grateful he had even made his way to the party tonight.

The next batch of books made Jessamine smile nervously, which caused Kaid to glance at her gently. Just the way she withheld a smirk made it painfully obvious these were from her. Kaid was about to say something smart before reading the spine of the book.

"Fifth volume of the Zyghur Empires. Where'd you find this!? I heard there was only one copy in the entire Continent?" Kaid asked, looking at her bewildered. He had to open it and peel through the pages gently to make sure it was legit, and sure enough, it was real. Real and in his hands.

"And I scourged that entire Continent for it," she answered proudly, her cheeks burning at how astounded he looked, "to be fair, I got lucky. The Lungor palace library is full of books waiting to be read. When I learned of its location, along with a few others I knew were missing in your little collection, Vrah was more than inclined to send them over. So, you can partially consider this a gift from him. But, I did the dirty work in tracking them down."

"This is unbelievably amazing, my love-SHIT you even found the original annotated volume on the Annals of Seclusion?! You're fucking unbelievable!" He had practically shouted, not realizing how loud he was from being slightly buzzed from the wine. Jessamine was in absolute delight, not realizing how finding books for him would make him this happy. She couldn't even say much before feeling him pull her close by the arm, lips meshing into hers. She could feel the wild, childish grin on his lips, which only enhanced her own smile.

"That's only part of your gift. I have three," she whispered, pecking his lips once more before having to pull herself back, unless she got too lost in his lips.

"Three?!" he shouted once more, causing her to place her hand over his lips, feeling the vibration of his silenced words as she laughed again.

"Shh!" she shushed him, "you are so fucking adorable when you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk," he insisted as she finally pulled her hand away, "three surprising gifts is enough to sober me up anyways."

"Not drunk, my ass," she rolled her eyes, but her smile remained as she reached for a small box to hand him, "gift number two."

Kaid pried the box from her hand gently, feeling her fingers tangle in the back of his neck, almost nervously. She seemed almost a bit concerned about whether he'd like the gift or not. Kaid was not a very materialistic man, so wanting to gift him things outside of affection she felt could be challenging. But, she felt this was something he'd hold on to forever, if he wished. The box contained a clock, much rather a small clock attached to a bright gold bracelet.

"I figured the man who can control and commune with time should always know what time it is," she whispered, "it's called a watch, a new and rather expensive invention. But no price can be put on time. The second I heard about it I knew I wanted to buy you one. And, it's specifically made, just for you."

Kaid pulled the watch out gently, glancing at the backing of it to see an engraved portion: So long as time exists, so will my love for you. Always.

"Jess...I can't-" his voice wavered slightly and she immediately took the watch from him.

"Here, let's see how it looks on you," she ignored his emotional plea, not wanting him to get swallowed up in it now. She unclasped the connection before grabbing his left wrist gently, placing it within her lap before connecting it all together. She made sure his wrist had enough room to breath, but also tight enough that the watch wouldn't come off amidst a chaotic fight. Kaid could feel the slightest vibration of the clock hands, moving softly with each second. It mirrored the way he could feel her heartbeat when curled up against him.

"It's beautiful," Kaid exhaled with a slight shake, wondering what he had done to deserve this woman. The woman who could make him feel the fiery passion of an explosion, and the sharp chill of ice all together in one strike. A woman who smiled so rarely without him, yet it was a smile that could make anyone's day. She was blistering hot sand amidst ocean waves, and all he wanted to do was lay there and sink into it until she overcame him.

"A watch made of gold for a heart of gold," she smiled, taking his hand to hold, loving the way the gold watch shined under the dimming lights.

"Jess, I don't know what to say," Kaid shook his head, holding her hand tightly.

"Then don't say anything," she replied, her thumb brushing over his knuckles, "you don't need to express anything to me, nor thank me for any of this. I'd treat you like this every day if I could, because I know you'd do the same. But I don't need flashy gifts. The greatest gift you gave me, which I gave you, was seeing that smile on your face." Just the innocence on his face, like a child experiencing a birthday full of splendor for the first time. Truly, she knew he felt that way because he had never experienced that before.

"It's not fair, I didn't give you anything like this for your birthday," he laughed softly, pulling her closer.

"Mm, there's always the next one. All I had wanted was you, and perhaps one dance and I got more than I asked for," she shrugged, not bothered in the slightest, "or...our first year anniversary is coming up. I mean, not a year since we've been together but...since the first day we met. Besides, we weren't exactly together at that time of my birthday. I wish I had been a bit braver in sharing my feelings prior. I just...didn't know if you felt the same way."

"To be fair, we almost kissed that night, if it hadn't been for Payne."

"That's right, we almost did. Still, it worked out in the end," she nodded, kissing his lips gently and sweetly, tasting the wine on his tongue, "but, I did want you for my birthday, in more ways than one. Perhaps I needed to be taught patience. An Empress can get whatever she wants with a snap of her fingers, but with you, I didn't want to rush into the danger of falling in love with you. Only thing was, I knew by then I had already been smitten."

"I would have given you a hell of a birthday night...although, I wouldn't know as much then as I do now," he whispered back, laughing against her lips before kissing her once more, getting drunk off her own taste.

"You've been a quick learner."

"You've been an even better teacher," he retorted, nipping at her bottom lip gently enough to hear her soft moan. It was a sound he'd never grow tired of, each one sounding so different from the last, but always just as powerful.

"Are you ready for gift number three?" she whispered breathlessly, shifting slightly in his lap to straddle gently, her hand leaving his to move between them, finger tracing the outline forming underneath the silk, "There's a rule, though, to this gift."

He shivered at her touch, feeling the heat rush to his core in a burst he couldn't control or hold back, "And what rule is that?"

"Your hands will remain at your side until I say so," her lips curved into a smirk, hearing him release a shaky breath.

"That's all?" he asked, not wanting to admit it already sounded a bit challenging.

"That's all..." she nodded, seeing the curiosity and eagerness in his eyes, his pupils dilating merely at the sight of her. Gods, she loved this man and would cherish and adore him until the day she perished.

Kaid glanced around, as if worried someone would see or hear them. Yet, they were at the highest point in the palace, with one way in and out which was secured by two guards. And he was pretty sure Jessamine had told them to not enter unless under dire circumstances. So the chance of being caught in a rather embarrassing erotic moment was minimal, very minimal. Kaid shifted slightly as he felt her undo the buttons around his groin, not bothering with his belt. It was another thing Jessamine knew about Kaid all too well:

For some reason, clothed sex between them was much more attractive and alluring then it probably should be. Kaid just loved the idea that clothes didn't need to restrict them, should the neediness arrive. And arrive, it had.

Jessamine pried the fly slightly to let his shaft breathe, her hand immediately assisting in exposing it to the cold Vitross evening air. But she didn't wait a second for the already semi-erect shaft to catch a cold, her lips already pressing close to place soft, sweet kisses on his tip. She loved the taste of him, loved feeling the thickness of him grow with every kiss, pump, or lick of his underside.

Kaid's hand moved away from his thigh, her free hand immediately catching his wrist as she pulled away slightly. Her eyes showed clear defiance to him, questioning what he was doing and why he thought he could break the rule already. But his brown eyes clearly showed some amusement, his hand holding one of the cushion's of the sofa to toss at her feet.

"I don't want you enjoying your little getaway weekend with bruised knees," he remarked, his voice already hoarse and slightly shaky from her stimulation.

Jessamine seemed to see this as an exception to the rule breaking, rising slightly to let him place the pillow under her knees, although she still held a dominating look in her eyes, "Maybe I wanted to show up with bruised knees...mere battle scars of a beautiful victory."

Kaid scoffed a laugh at that, which immediately turned into a deep exhale of a groan as her lips eagerly enveloped him. She moaned gently in response, her own pitch the opposite of his own, always teasing, mocking, encouraging more sounds to escape his lips. Kaid had been shy about his noises in the beginning, but Jessamine had always been encouraging in letting him know she wanted them, that she craved them. Whenever she missed him in such a way, all she had to do was remember the sounds of his out of breath moans, each holding its own deepeness and surprise. But nothing was as good as hearing it from his lips every single time.

"Fuck Jess..." he whispered, his hands clenching the fabric of the sofa besides his thighs. Kaid was one to study literature to enhance his knowledge, but Jessamine was a woman who studied his body, learning every tick and tock of his undoing. The minute she found a sensitive part, she remembered it, and certainly used it whenever she pleased. Her lips pulled away briefly to catch her breath, his cock now standing erect on its own, which pleased her as she began to kiss the underside where she could feel the slightest of veins bulge.

"You're doing great, darling," she whispered against him, her free hand resting on his thigh to give a reassuring touch, her nails tracing patterns into the fabric. Her ocean eyes would always remain on him unless closed to encase him with her lips, the eye contact alone always spreading a familiar warmth into Kaid's core. Everything about her just made falling into ecstasy so much easier: her moans sending vibrations, the devilish smile in her eyes, or the grip of her newly painted nails against his shaft.

Jessamine kissed along the side before taking him again in her mouth, this time enveloping his thickness fully with ease, letting her tongue brush underneath his tip with each bob. She could feel him unravel with each movement back and forth, how she'd allow her free hand to hold him at the base, securing him as she pleased him. His moans grew louder, only encouraging her as she let her throat encase him, pulling back the second she felt the sudden reflex.

Kaid's temptation immediately went against him, wanting to tangle his fingers through her sandy auburn hair, to guide her and caress her with his love. And his hand moved there, but not before Jessamine caught his wrist again, shoving it away.

"No," she exhaled sharply, clearing any excess saliva from her pink swollen lips.

"But-" Kaid retorted before feeling both her hands grip his shaft tightly, one hand encasing the tip with her palm, edging him with the friction, "s-shit Jess. I fucking..."

"Hate me, I know," she answered for him, the widest of smirks on her lips as she continued to torment his sensitive tip, feeling the throbbing in her hands, the building up of his release, and the shake of his legs between her.

His hand moved back, moving them behind his torso to not be tempted before she slowed her movements, becoming more gentle as she pumped him with two delicate hands.

"I could never, ever, hate you, Jessamine," he exhaled shakily, his stomach rising and falling more rapidly, Jessamine able to clearly see and feel his pleasure building.

"You'll eat those words...eventually, just not tonight," she teased, enveloping him with her mouth once more, moaning sweetly at his reaction. There was nothing more powerful than the feeling of him shaking beneath her, of feeling how utterly helpless he could be without her, as if his sole pleasure was built around her. And it was. Jessamine would never deny him such pleasure, she would give this man whatever he asked for, except in moments like this when it was on her terms. Kaid knew, deep down, the rewards outlasted any of his temptations.

"Babe, fuck, I'm so close," he warned her, although he knew she probably could already assume such. She had mastered him completely. If Kaid's body was a book, she knew more than just the table of contents, or even the index alone. She knew every word, every sentence, every meaning, and every punctuation inside. She knew what his heart spoke of, what his mind craved before his body could imagine it, and most of all, she loved him. Love was not always delicate. It sometimes called for a passion so aggressive in defense, or to do heinous acts in terms of offense.

Jessamine would do anything for this man: love, hate, kill, save, lie, believe...and most of all, die for him.

Her movements increased, yet her hands worked in tandem with her lips and tongue, still sucking and kissing him before she felt him drive closer to that edge. Kaid's moans increased before a guttural groan finally left, the initial part of his release merely leaking rather than the usual explosion. Yet a few gentle pumps of her hands eased him into that, being careful not to overstimulate him or dampen such pleasure. Just his ecstasy filled face, eyes closed, sweat dripping down his neck, was enough pleasure for Jessamine to experience. Even though by now she could feel the wetness between her thighs whenever she clenched them amidst pleasuring him.

She said nothing, although the proud look on her face spoke for her as his eyes opened. She was so confident and cocky, Kaid absolutely loved that about her. She had this kind of confidence so intimidating yet endearing, because he knew it would never be used against him. Not in a moment like this, anyway. Kaid felt his racing heart slow, his hands eventually moving as she rose from her knees. As he was about to thank her, he felt her lips on his, tasting himself across her tongue.

"Happy birthday, my love," she whispered against him, slowly letting herself straddle his hips once more, remaining gentle in her touch. It was then that he knew the night was far from over.

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Kaid glared at the night sky, the stars now brighter than the dimming candlelight around them. He couldn't sleep, nor did he want to at this moment. He felt as though he danced and slept in heaven above, upon the softness of clouds, with Jessamine right next to him. He swore the stars burned brighter on nights like this, spotlights for each and every one to shine upon Jessamine, particularly her freckles. When he glanced his head to the side, he saw Jessamine, still wide awake although clear drowsiness filled her eyes. But those eyes also held a warm haze about them, feeling about as high and drunk on love as he was.

But, he could swear there were words on the tip of her tongue. Her eyes blinked, as if she had droned off into a deep thought before realizing he was looking at her. A faint blush warmed her cheeks, the hand resting across his chest to his other hand squeezing his warm skin gently.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" she asked sheepishly, wondering if she looked silly if he did, and she merely laid there saying nothing.

"No," he smiled in return, "but you look like you had a bit of an epiphany about something."

"Hm, and I'm considered the mind reader," she hummed within her reply, acting like a child who had just been caught.

"Care to share? I like to think the best thoughts are the ones we have, right before we fall asleep. If sleep is just a small hint of death, then that last thought is akin to whatever touches our mind in the afterlife. Every night, it's you."

"I'm afraid it will sound childish compared to the poetry that just escaped your lips," she laughed softly, just loud enough above the breeze, "alright, I'll enlighten you. But don't you dare laugh."

She took a long pause to actually get to that epiphany. Whether it was because she was slightly embarrassed, or she wanted to really gather her thoughts, it was seemingly important to her. Very important.

"Marriage. The very thought of it used to disgust me, and even just a mention of it seemed to make my blood boil. I used to wonder if that's all life was to be made of. I used to close any romance novel that even hinted at such an ending. I always heard my parents rant and rave about how wonderful marriage was as an institution. But, who wants to live in such an establishment? They wished for me to find someone just bearable enough to live with. But that's not love. Love is finding someone you can't imagine living without. That's what marriage really is, what it should be. I didn't realize that until you..." she paused, glancing at him as her lips turned into a smile, "the idea of it isn't as unbearable when I attach it with thoughts of you."

"Why would I laugh at such a thought?" he asked, finding those words to be rather endearing. He knew very well what that word was associated with in her life. It wasn't anything positive. But fuck, just the very idea she was even considering marriage with him...not only was that forbidden, but also very tempting.

"Marriage can be just an imprisoning of an idea for a man, too," she shrugged slightly.

"We were already imprisoned once already. No harm in jumping into it willingly, together," he replied, seeing her cheeks swell with a smile that wouldn't fade, "one day, Jessamine. I promise."

She leaned to kiss his cheek, letting her hand that was on his grab it gently to raise up. Her eyes glanced at the watch, seeing how late in the evening, or rather morning, it was. Witching hour, how appropriate.

"You should get some sleep, you have a whole weekend of shopping, drinking, and gossiping to enjoy," he whispered, letting his arm fall to wrap around her tenderly.

"I'd much rather stay awake up here with you," she yawned, burying her head against the nape of his neck, "but there can't be a future if I continue to hold onto this present, soon to become the past. Goodnight, Kaid."

"Goodnight, my love," he replied, his eyes moving back up to the stars. There would be no sleep tonight indeed. Maybe he should take her advice, maybe the only way forward was to merely let go. Kaid never wanted to feel imprisoned again, never wanted Jessamine to fear such a fate again, so he knew what had to be done. His head was so clear now, just like the starry night above him. There would be no more storms, no more nights filled with terror. When Caladin was eradicated, only Kaid would remain, he'd merely become the storm that he feared to swallow him whole.