Chapter 56 Morning kisses
Lilith woke slowly. Warm. Comfortable. Confused about why the bed felt different. Then she remembered. Cain’s chambers. Cain’s bed. Cain’s arms wrapped around her from behind. Oh.
“You’re awake,” Cain murmured against her neck. “I can feel your breathing change.”
“How long have you been awake?”
“An hour. Maybe more.” Cain’s arms tightened. “Didn’t want to move. Didn’t want to risk waking you. Didn’t want this to end.”
Lilith turned in her arms. Faced her. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Cain’s smile was soft. Vulnerable. Nothing like the fierce warrior. “Sleep well?”
“Better than I have in weeks.”
“Good.” Cain brushed her hair out of her face. “Any regrets?”
“Stop asking that.”
“Can’t help it. My brain won’t shut off.” But she was smiling. “Though I’ll admit, waking up with you here is…” She stopped. “It’s good. Really good.”
“Just good?”
“Perfect. Terrifying. Everything I didn’t know I needed.” Cain kissed her forehead. “Better?”
“Much.”
They lay there. Just existing. Morning light filtering through windows. No urgency. No pressure. Just them.
“We should get up,” Cain said finally. “Breakfast. Warriors will notice if I’m late.”
“Let them notice.”
“Brave words.” Cain’s smile was amused. “You realise they’re going to know exactly what happened, where you were. What we did.”
“So?”
“So you’re okay with that? With everyone knowing?”
“Are you?”
Cain considered. “Yes. Actually. I don’t want to hide this. Hide you. If we’re doing this, even temporarily, even with all the complications, I want to be honest about it.”
“Then we’re honest.” Lilith kissed her. Soft. Sweet. “Now get up. I’m starving.”
“Demanding this morning.”
“You made me work hard last night.”
Cain’s laugh was surprised. Delighted. “Did I?”
“Very hard.” Lilith sat up. Looked around for her clothes. “Where—”
“Floor. Everywhere. We were kind of frantic.”
“We were.” Lilith found her shirt. Cain’s actually. Put it on. It was huge. “This works.”
Cain’s expression went dark. Hungry. “You’re wearing my shirt.”
“I am.”
“That’s…” Cain stopped. “That does things to me. Seeing you in my clothes. In my chambers. In my bed.”
“Good things?”
“Very good things.” Cain pulled her back down. Kissed her thoroughly. “But we really do need to go. Before I keep you here all day.”
“Would that be so bad?”
“No. But my warriors would stage an intervention.” Cain stood. Started dressing. “Come on. Let’s face the chaos.”
The dining hall went quiet when they entered. Everyone stared. At Lilith wearing Cain’s shirt. At Cain looking more relaxed than anyone had seen her in years. At them walking in together. Then someone started clapping. Slowly. Others joined. Within seconds, the entire hall was applauding. Cheering. Celebrating.
“FINALLY!” one warrior shouted. “We were wondering when you’d make a move, Prince!”
“Took you long enough!” another called.
Cain’s face went red. “Everyone shut up and eat!”
But she was smiling. Really smiling. Open and genuine and happy.
They sat at the head table. Warriors immediately swarmed with questions.
“Is it official?”
“Are you together?”
“Does this mean she’s staying?”
“Everyone BACK OFF,” Cain ordered. “Give us space. Now.”
They retreated. Reluctantly. Still grinning.
“Sorry,” Cain said to Lilith. “They’re…”
“Happy for you.” Lilith squeezed her hand. “It’s sweet.”
“It’s invasive.”
“It’s both.” Lilith started eating. “But I don’t mind. Let them be happy.”
Cain looked at her. Really looked at her. “You’re okay with this? With everyone knowing?
“Yes. Are you?”
“Yes.” Cain’s smile was soft. “More than okay. I’ve spent centuries keeping everyone at distance. It’s…” She stopped. “It’s nice. Having someone to be close to. Having people celebrate instead of judge.”
They ate in comfortable silence. Warriors giving them space but clearly delighted.
After breakfast, Cain stood. “I have council meetings today. Boring territory disputes. But tonight…” She looked at Lilith. “Tonight, would you want to…”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t finish the question.”
“Don’t care. Answer is yes.” Lilith grinned. “Whatever you were going to ask. Yes.”
Cain’s laugh was bright. “Dangerous words.”
“You like dangerous.”
“I do.” Cain leaned down. Kissed her in front of everyone. Not long. Not inappropriate. Just claiming. “Tonight then. I’ll find you after meetings.”
She left. Warriors watching. Approving.
Sera appeared beside Lilith immediately. “So. That happened.”
“You slept with her.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“And it was perfect. Intense. Everything.” Lilith smiled. “I’m happy. Genuinely happy.”
“Good. You deserve happy.” Sera paused. “But you know this makes everything more complicated, right? With Azrael. With choosing. With all of it.”
“I know.” Lilith’s smile faded slightly. “But I have nine more days here. Nine days before I have to think about any of that. So for now, I’m just going to be happy. Figure out the rest later.”
“That’s very mature of you.”
“That’s very avoidant of me. But I’m okay with that.” Lilith stood. “Come on. Let’s explore the city. I want to see more of this place. Understand it better.”
They spent the day wandering. Markets. Forges. Training grounds. Warriors greeting Lilith differently now. With respect. With acceptance. With approval.
By evening, Lilith understood something. She didn’t just care about Cain. She cared about this place. These people. This kingdom built on fire and honesty and strength. And leaving in nine days was going to hurt.
Cain found her at sunset. On the tower. Looking out at the volcanoes.
“Hey,” she said softly.
“Hey.” Lilith turned. “How were meetings?”
“Boring. Long. Made worse by knowing you were out here.” Cain moved beside her. “What are you thinking about?”
“How much I like it here. How much I’m going to miss this when I leave.”
Cain was quiet for a moment. “Nine days.”
“Nine days.”
“Then you go to the next kingdom. Then the next. Then eventually…” She stopped. “Eventually you choose.”
“I don’t want to think about that yet.”
“Me neither.” Cain took her hand. “So we don’t. We have nine days. We use them. Make them count. And when you leave…” She stopped. “When you leave, we figure out what comes next.”
“What if there’s no good answer?”
“Then we make a bad one work.” Cain pulled her close. “But that’s future us’s problem. Present us just gets to be together.”
“I like present us.”
“Me too.” Cain kissed her. “Now come on. I promised you tonight. And I keep my promises.”
They went back to Cain’s chambers. Spent the night tangled together. Learning each other. Building memories.
Nine days left. Nine days before reality intruded. Nine days before impossible choices. But tonight, they had each other and that was enough.