Deep down, buried in the darkest parts of herself, she'd felt the stirring of the woman she was once upon a time. And yet, the voice that would have - should have - found the fae woman as Brayden degraded her there at the table had been nothing more than a distant and drowned-out cry of indignation, swept away almost entirely by the storm of her past that had refused to relent in any sense. She'd felt the weak, smoldering remains of the defiant spirit which had once been capable of becoming a hot flame when she'd needed it trying to spark itself back to life as his cold eyes had stared at her with that haughty expression, and yet the way he'd looked over her had been like cold, icy water drenching those barely glowing embers. Yes, of course she'd known that any self-respecting woman would have easily stood up, taken one of those water glasses that had been sitting on the table, and promptly poured every drop of it over his head to bring down his arrogance a notch or so without so much as second thought on what the consequences might be. The thought had been there within those weak stirring she'd felt, but those memories she'd wanted so desperately to forget had subdued her completely in that moment, entwined tightly with the utter shock at discovering the identity of the guy she'd been figuratively shoved into a room with. Had her mother known, Lani was entirely certain that tonight would have simply been another quiet Friday evening in Dupont Circle with her honey-blonde companion. The two women would have sat there contentedly on the couch in their living room and indulged themselves with popcorn or perhaps even ice cream as they laughed at some corny romance comedy movie Ellie had been told about. How blissful such a night would have been in comparison... Instead, her evening had been nothing but some nightmarish downward spiral of a roller coaster with uncertainty and nervousness having been the only high points, the blue-eyed blonde laden with regret and dismay as found herself incapable of defending herself against him.

Perhaps it was in understanding that she should have easily managed something as seemingly simple as speaking up for her own honor that has the fae woman far from upset at Andras as his words, sharp and unrelenting, snap out at her. In the end, she only had herself to blame for how tonight had gone.

The fae man's tenor tones growl into the darkness, a glimmer of annoyance flashing within his hazel depths where the flames threatened to consume anything they touched, and Lani is unable to answer him. It went without saying that it really shouldn't matter what Brayden thought, of her or the fact that she was far from being successful in life to the same degree that he clearly was, but she was very much confident that the man would have threatened to make some sort of scene should she have managed some sort of weak courage. Something in the fae woman believed with near certainty that he wasn't above such things, would have dared to draw the attention of those other diners and staff to the blue-eyed blonde in some way, just so that he could make her out to be foolish should she even think to protest or act out against him. If he was every bit the person that Lani remembered, he would be more than inclined to manipulate those around them in some sort of fashion where it would have been all too like that afternoon when she'd seen Andras in the bistro five days ago. The women would have clustered closer to one another, whispering amongst themselves as they might have cast judging glances her way all while the men would have raised a brow in disapproval or disgust. There would have been murmurs far too easily heard by Lani's delicately pointed fae ears, and the absolute last thing she had been inclined to consider doing was drink in an effort to dull those heightened senses of hers. She wouldn't have had even the smallest sliver of hope at coping with this likely possibility, this much the fae woman knew perfectly well. Being publicly embarrassed once had been more than enough to last the rest of her impossibly long lifetime. And, when Lani was only just the hollowed shell of who she'd been three years ago, there was no chance that she would have been able to survive a second occurrence under an even less desirable circumstance than the first. The fae woman hadn't been capable of anything beyond daring to consider her chances at fabricating some sort of excuse that might serve as her only escape route... but even that would prove to be an impossibility with the sudden and unexpected appearance of the fae man she'd all but managed to push away from her thoughts since the dinner they'd shared in the eastern district of the city and the morning that had followed, Lani having awakened sober within the covers of his bed. And, just like that evening several days ago, it was once again Andras who had to save the fae woman tonight when it should have been something she should have been able to manage on her own.

So surprised by the way his tenor tones had seemed jealous as he asked after why it was that she'd been out with another man that when those large, leathered wings erupt so suddenly from the fae man's powerful shoulders, it was practically a miracle that Lani didn't even gasp in alarm, only jumping slightly to show he'd startled her.

He doesn't hesitate to reach for her, his strong and calloused hands grasping her wrist perhaps a little tighter than they would have in any other situation, and yet the fae woman allows for Andras to pull her towards the alley. There is an initial hesitancy, all too able to recall what had happened the last time she'd dared to step into such shadows, but it was as fleeting as the cool night breeze that sweeps through the empty street. She hadn't sensed anything, and despite the wrath that enfolded the fae man in every sense, Lani knows that he would have also sensed the presence of someone or something else. They slip into the shadows and out of view from any that might have been nearby, although she had a feeling that there wasn't a soul wandering this relatively private part of the northern district at this hour. He makes quick work of the tattered remains which had once been his shirt and it is now that the fae woman can see those shadows even more so, their dark shapes dancing with a sort of lethal grace like unearthly smoke across sun-kissed skin and toned muscle. Barely a moment slips by, the ripped fabric falling into a heap at about the same moment that his predatory stare locks fiercely onto surprised baby blues. In another moment, he's upon her, the warmth of his closeness chasing away the cold of the wall against her back, and as she attempts to begin offering him an explanation only to be met with his fury, tenor tones heavy upon the word 'need'... Again, her senses are struck with a wave of jealousy, something that Lani would have never thought someone like Andras would feel..."The only 'need' was because I told my mother I would, and I keep my promises", she answers honestly once more, her gaze beginning to steady about the fae man. What was it that he'd expected her to say? It's hardly a moment after she'd answered him that the fury in his haze seems to intensify beneath the jealousy when his next words answer that puzzlement, causing her eyes to widen in utter shock. Those shadows seem to swirl like oil on water beneath his words, bleeding down his arm and intertwining with elegantly curled blonde locks, the sensation altogether unusual and almost... cold beneath their effortless movements. Perhaps others might have been fearful, sought to wriggle out from where the fae man had her completely pinned... but Lani knows that they would not hurt her, he wouldn't allow them to. As furious as Andras was, regardless of the jealousy that rolled off his towering frame once more and burned within his gaze, the fae woman knows without even the smallest inkling of doubt that the very last thing he would ever do was hurt her - even now.

She does not attempt to shrink away from him, even as the sound of the bricks cracking reaches her delicately pointed ears. She can almost feel those pieces as the fall to the ground and scatter around their feet. Instead, there is a sudden shift within the fae woman, and her baby blues steady upon burning hazel, fierce and certain.

His tenor tones almost seem to challenge her explanation, and her gaze sharpens as that familiar boldness seems to rise suddenly. And, as he goes on to repeat words he's spoken once before, a soft snarl there in his voice, but Lani does not so much as flinch as she keeps her gaze locked with his, even when those large leathered wings practically encircle them as they'd done once before."I know you care, that's why I'm telling you his name even though it doesn't matter", she replies determinedly, her own words level as she continues looking into his hazel depths, watching the fae man stiffen as she confesses to him that he had been the only one she'd ever thought of in the past three years. She places a hand gently over his chest then, feeling the fury in him falter for a moment, his eyes searching her face as if wanting to see every word there in her eyes of clear summer skies. Her gaze softens, and it is as her next words both spoken and unspoken find Andras that all fury and jealousy which had only moments ago gripped him heavily dissipates entirely. He murmurs to her now, midnight tenor tones demanding, and to them, she concedes without the slightest hesitation."There's only ever been you, Andras... You, and you alone", she murmurs quietly back, feeling that surge of love and... desire wrap around her in that moment, though still she holds onto that boldness, baby blues steady as she dares him to ask that she prove her words to be true. Sensitive ears hear the scraping of brick as his hands turn into fists as though it would ground him. Then, he ushers that one word... the only word she needed him to say. Lani crosses that small fraction of distance that had barely existed between them, pressing her petite frame against his. With her gaze still entirely locked upon his own, the hand that had been resting over his chest moves up to his shoulder oh, so slowly before slipping around the back of his neck, all while the back of her other hand brushes fleetingly against his chest as it slowly descends down the contour of his abdomen, slender fingertips tracing each ripple in his toned torso. She lifts blush-colored lips up to his, that kiss entirely soft and affectionate before being immediately followed by another. The second presses stronger into him, and as he'd done to her before, the fae woman nips his lower lip, knowing that he would understand exactly what she sought. Lani deepens that third kiss even more so now as Andras grants her tongue the entrance it nearly demanded, her heart beginning to race under the passion that seemed to rise in every part of her. A soft moan from her is lost on his lips as she kisses deeply, longingly, before pulling away breathlessly so that glittering baby blue can meet dark hazel.

Slender fingers that had been brushing against his abdomen now begin to tease the waist of his pants, dark lashes blinking slowly up at Andras, baby blue eyes bright with a near perfect fusion of passion and boldness, their lips hardly a breath away."Believe me now?", she whispers to him now as she stares into his gaze, searching and expectant.