Samantha Cassidy

There was something about the way that Troy held her that seemed to awaken the Faerie Queen. For days - she wasn't sure quite how long it had been that she'd been holed up in the apartment - all she'd seen was darkness. The darkness had started the instant that that fire had started on Aiden's body. It had amplified as she had walked back to the Ark, completely engulfing her once she'd told Raven and Tobi what had happened. It had buried her alive with Raven's harsh words - though she had deserved them. Not even Dorian was able to bring her out of that darkness even though he had tried and tried over again. But Troy... Troy had seemed to reach right into that dark place and had taken hold of her. And suddenly, there was some sort of light. It brought out that lighthearted smile to the girl's features. It was so remarkably easy to lean into his side and let her heartbeat settle.

But that didn't explain her next course of action. It didn't explain how she moved so effortlessly to put her hand on his cheek. She watched the way that his eyes seemed to immediately widen in surprise, and that should have been her first indication to pull back and bolt. But no, her body had seemed to seize control over her brain and she had pressed herself up and her lips to his. She wanted nothing more than to feel his arms wrap all around her and kiss him until she didn't feel anything at all. But no, instead she felt his fingers on her cheek as he pulled back and away from her. Her cheeks flushed almost instantaneously with embarrassment as she dropped her gaze away from him. Oh, what a terrible way to introduce him to her monarchy. God, he wouldn't want to join her after this. Not only was she terrible, but now she was a terrible queen.

His words, however, had her looking back up to him. "I won't resent you," Samantha said very quietly, though she was sure even as she said it that she couldn't guarantee that. Still, she wanted to kiss him so desperately. But was that fair to him to use him to forget her pain. "I could never resent you, Troy. You're amazing... I..." She leaned into his touch as she closed her eyes, considering his words. He was right, even if she wanted to pull herself in and kiss him. Maybe there would be a time when she wouldn't ache so much over Aiden and she could let herself. But tonight was not that night. Instead, she leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "Thank you." She said softly before she moved to wrap her arms around him in a tight hug. "I... I don't know if you have somewhere to be tonight, but Dorian won't be home until morning and... I don't want to be alone.." She looked up at Troy almost sheepishly. "Will you stay? Please?"