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The rays of the Treviso sunrise glittered along the canals, golden brushed velvet in the quiet of the morning. Ava de Riva hung her legs off the edge of the roof, feet swinging back and forth, alone with her thoughts for the first time in a long time, nothing except birdsong for company.
Shifting slightly, she peered over the side of the building, watching as merchants began to prepare for market. The scent of sizzling meat and eggs barely reached where she sat high above it all, but it left her stomach grumbling in response. Her favorite flower merchant fluffed the bouquets, each stem carefully chosen for its meaning, scent, appearance. An obvious stop she’d have to make before midday, when most of the best blooms would be gone.
Perhaps she could see if Cafe Pietra had any of Lucanis’ favorite blend available to bring home as well.
A light breeze ruffled her hair, soft locks brushing her cheek before she tucked it behind a pointed ear, mind wandering as her violet eyes watched the shifting shadows. Nearly a year had passed since Elgar’nan and Ghila’nain were defeated and while not everything was perfect, at least majority of the chaos had settled, a tense peace balancing on the edge of a dagger. It wouldn’t last, it never did, but for now, Treviso was safe.
Lucanis was safe.
And that’d have to be enough.
The slightest pressure to the roof tiles hinted she was no longer alone, but there was only one person who’d be able to find her in this place. Lucanis settled beside her quietly, dark eyes on the sun as it finally crested the horizon. They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, shoulders brushing whenever one of them moved, gazes watching as the golden rays lit every darkened shadow of Treviso. Bringing light back to the jewel of Antiva, chasing the horrors away with each brightening section of the sky.
“You’re awake early this morning.” Lucanis stated in that quiet, contemplative way of his, a question unspoken lingering in the following silence: Are you alright?
Ava slipped her hand into his, the strength of his grip and the warmth of his skin as real as the chocolate of his eyes as he glanced at her, as real as the twitch in his lips when he spied her own smile. “I needed to be first to see what sort of things were for sale today.” When she bumped her shoulder into his, he swayed with her, and her grin widened. “Besides, I missed this.”
Lucanis knew exactly what she meant.
“We can spend more time together, whenever you’d like.” He traced circles on the back of her hand with a thumb, the motion comforting. Everything about Lucanis was a comfort to her.
“Viago will come searching for us eventually.” Resting her head against his shoulder, Ava’s violet eyes turned to the sunrise again, watching as the sky turned from golden orange to pink to blue, a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors. A sigh slipped past her lips, knowing the next part of their lives was finally beginning: one weighted with a different type of responsibility, the future of the Antivan Crows hanging in the balance.
The silver lining amidst it all was no matter how difficult or heavy things became, she had Lucanis by her side.
A sentiment he shared.
Shifting closer, Lucanis pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, lips lingering against her hair, the scent of coffee and leather filling her nose as they sat there, the love they shared as bright as an early morning Treviso sunrise. And for a brief moment, they weren’t the First Talon and Rook, but were Lucanis and Ava, surnames be damned. His mouth shifted to brush against the shell of her ear before he pulled away, leaving her breathless at the sweetness of his touch.
She tilted her head slightly to gaze up into his eyes, finding nothing but adoration aimed at her. “The Fifth Talon will wait if he knows what’s good for him.”
“I could poison him.” At the slight alarm on Lucanis’ face, she giggled. “Not enough to kill him, of course. But to teach him a lesson.”
“He’ll never trust you again.”
“Small price to pay if it means more time with you.”
Lucanis chuckled, pressing a kiss directly to the tip of her nose. “Remind me not to get in your way when it comes to a good time.”
Ava tucked her head into his neck, lips hovering mere centimeters from his skin. “You’re safe, as long as you join me once in a while.”
Lucanis squeezed her fingers gently, and she felt his response before he spoke, her lips forming each word as they rested against the curve of his throat. “For you, always.”