Despite the chill that hung in the air and colored those fair-skinned cheeks ever so slightly, that soft touch of the fae king's hand wrapped around her own that just seemed to fit so perfectly was more than enough to chase way the cold that tried to brush against the young woman's frame so that she might shiver beneath its subtle caress as they walked along that paved pathway. There was so much about the man that had her so taken by him that she could hardly keep his name from finding her thoughts and her sleep, summoning those memories and those images, those fantasies that she hardly even knew where to begin... Looking back on that first night, she could remember having seen that faint glimmer of something more hidden behind that fierce, piercing stare that he had fixed her with. Behind that devilish grin, midnight tenor tones holding in them no warmth as they purred down to her with a note that should have been enough to send her cowering away from him and into the bushes had it not been for the pure fright that had fastened her into place like a ship's anchor, there had been the faintest whisper of hesitation. He could have done things to her that night that she would never have lived to tell the tale of, but he hadn't. All this time since they've known one another, been in each other's lives, she could remember seeing that light. She knew now, as she walked with him through the winter world she loved as much as her own, that she'd been right to see a being behind that mask that had suggested deadly intentions that had only been driven to act as he did because of her poor choice when that slender finger tapped that shutter button. She'd known then that she had been wrong to do what she did, but as time went on and she saw the changes in him, she couldn't help thinking now that there had been a reason behind that fearsome approach and the crushing of her camera than she could ever begin to understand, and she wanted to know what that reason was. Surely it had been something from his past that had been such an intense catalyst that he had looked upon her almost like he'd thought of ending her then and there, and surely it was something that drove him to such an act of fierce defensiveness. So many times, she'd wanted to be brave and ask him, yet each and every time that she could feel that question bubbling to the surface, she was thrust into something new that she saw in him that stole away her curiosities. One day, she would ask. But not today.

Ever since that night, she'd only seen more and more of him. And the more she discovered about him, the more she felt herself wanting to know. He'd gone from being a large and intimidating figure of the dark to someone that was unlike anyone she'd ever met. When that moment had faded and fear shifted into curiosity as he led her from that clearing, her defiance returning to her perhaps when it shouldn't have, she'd seen amusement in those predatory hazels. Then, when he'd found her wandering the sparsely lit streets of the city and guided her home, she'd seen a man whose smile was charming and wicked, though not in a menacing way but rather in a way that suggested him to be clever, like from the very beginning he knew what he could do to her. That afternoon when they'd bumped into each other at Dorian's mansion for tea, he'd shown her that night that he could be almost playful, teasing her as he seemed to bring that blush to her cheeks out of some sort of masculine delight. She'd seen him for a man of proper upbringing when he'd offered her arm like she'd seen in the movies, noted those gentlemanly gestures he'd given her throughout their time together, and she found each one to only be more endearing than the next. What had gone from feeling unusual and rising to those cheeks that gentle blush had now become something that felt so natural for her. There was no hesitation in taking that arm when he offered it, and she'd even found herself enjoying it more and more until she felt herself hoping that he might just. As time progressed, she could see so much more in those hazel depths that had been nothing but shadows before. Concern, warmth, delight... desire. All these things slowly showed themselves to her when those baby blue eyes would search the gaze of the man that had unknowingly stolen her heart. And his touch... Hands that were so strong that they could effortlessly crush a metal device, and yet, they could be so soft and gentle as he cleaned her wound that first night and as they brushed against her skin when he'd pinned her beneath him on the bad the day after he'd saved her life and in the steamy waters of the hotsprings... Little by little, day by day, she only came to know more of the fae man she hadn't ever imagined finding, watched as he slowly seemed to let her in a little more. She'd tried to fight those feelings at first, determined to tell herself, there was nothing more than friendship there behind those hazel eyes, told herself that she was only imagining the desire that seemed to flicker across his gaze. Now, she couldn't fight them. Now, she knew what it was that was beginning to grow in her heart for him and while she was certain he would never feel the same, she protected it from all the doubt, the fear that he would tell her the things she didn't want to hear. She just wanted to live in that fantasy world for as long as she could before it would all come crashing down around her.

Midnight tenor tones fall from his lips, that smile etching into those handsome features that soften the young woman's own smile, that flush still lingering on those cheeks, her heart fluttering again in her chest as he seems to insist on her beauty and the light that finds his eyes tells her all the more that he was being genuine and honest. When had he not been with her? There is curiosity that finds those hazel eyes now and he asks her about the boys in her past. She gives a light shake of her head as her gaze remains upon his own."The closest thing I ever had to a real relationship was with this boy from my high school named Brayden, but he never called me beautiful... I was just Lani. I've always been Lani and nothing more", she answers gently, though for only a fleeting moment there is a sadness in her voice tinged with that longing she knew resonated from those feelings she held for the fae man. He was the first to call her beautiful aside from her parents, and he wasn't even hers... She pushes those feelings away as far as they would go â€" which of course was never far â€" and as they appear on that crest, he teases her gently after a chuckle falls smoothly from his own lips, encouraging another gentle smile from the blue-eyed blonde."It's hard not to be when I get to see a whole new world and be a part of it for at least a little while", she says warmly up to Andras, though she is able to save herself from saying more than that. And getting to share it with you makes it that much more wonderful... There is only a fleeting pause between them before he remarks on the wardrobe he'd gifted her so generously, giving a casual shrug as though it were nothing, and perhaps for him it really was nothing. And then that word, that title... Friend. She ignores that pang that she feels, brushing it aside as she reminds himself that she was nothing more than that. Then, only to encourage that tug of war between her feelings and her logical thought, he gives her a wicked smile as he implies that he'd only purchased what she'd wanted to see her in and the color finds her cheeks even more so. What else was in that closet that she hadn't found?

Offering him a sweet smile as he murmurs down to her, she is happy to follow him with her hand in his through those first streets. As they move through the city and she watches as Andras is greeted by the fae folk passing them by, she almost feels timid as she presses lightly into him. What did they think of a human in their quiet little village full of lights and music during this beautiful and bright festival? Few even seemed to pay her any mind which was better in her opinion as opposed to being cast sideways glances of uncertainty or criticism. However, it is still hard for her not to wonder what they would think of Andras being in the company of a human. She was sure that they were entirely aware she wasn't fae, and though it didn't seem like the fae children hardly minded, what of the adults and elders that talked and laughed and sang amongst themselves? As she allows for her gaze to take in all that they could, that flicker of sadness finding her, she doesn't realize that those hazel eyes had lingered on her so closely that he'd noticed even that fleeting feeling. She turns to meet his gaze as she notes those furrowed brows and he whispers quietly into her ear then. She gives him an apologetic smile in wordless reply."I'm fine. I was just thinking of how warm Somnia is, and how it reminds me of home. I wish the rest of the world could be like this", she murmurs softly before her smile shifts into something bright and warm once more."But that's what makes Somnia so wonderful. I'm so happy that you wanted to share it with me, Andras. I really am...", she whispers softly back to him, leaning into him a little deeper as those baby blues look into those familiar hazel eyes. If only he knew just how much it had meant to her, how much this day meant to her... The moment is gone when he asks her what she would like to do, and at her reply he smiles gently, mentioning that he had a few vendors in mind that she might like. She eagerly walks beside him as they move deeper into the heart of the village, hardly noticing his glance wander to that gift she held before they find those stands.

The aromas made her mouth water as those baby blues widened in delight at all the beautifully put together foods. He reaches for something from the baked goods, something that looked almost like a cookie of sorts and as he pays the gentleman tending the stand, he grins as he tells her to try it and she doesn't hesitate as she takes it gently from him as he takes a piece for himself. When she bites into her, those taste buds are alive at the buttery sweetness and her eyes are nearly glowing as she has to tell herself to savor it. She ushers a soft "mmm" as she looks up at him, finishing the rest of the treat and almost remorseful that there was none left. His teasing words have that bright and soft laughter tumbling from blush-colored lips as her baby blue eyes sparkle beneath the happiness and humor that dances so freely within them."I think it might be too late", she replies sweetly as they move to the next stand, this one stocked with what appeared to be more savory things. The fae king points then to a skewer that looked a lot like a kabob and when he explains that this was something only made once a year, and when he takes a bite she can see the delight in his eyes that seemed to force a groan of what she could only guess was bliss as he takes a bite. He laughs next as he goes on to say that he could eat them to the point of being sick and Beylani is already anxious to try it herself. When he hands her the bamboo stick and she takes a bite, it melts in her mouth and bursts with so many flavors from the spices that it almost makes her even more hungry."This is amazing! I've never tasted anything like it! I can definitely see why it's your favorite", she says excitedly like a child that had taken her first taste of ice cream, eagerly eating half of the kabob before handing it back to Andras so that he could finish it. She certainly didn't want to seem rude. When she does, she can see his gaze shifting down to the gift and he inquiries about it, bringing an impish smile to her lips."You'll have to wait and see", she teases him sweetly. It is then that as they continue to walk along the stands of various baked goods and cooked meats, she can hear music growing louder and louder. They come around a corner, and she's not sure if this was the heart of Somnia or not, but it reminded her of a city square where fae people were playing instruments and dancing, some of them children as they giggled and chased one another as the adults and elders danced in pairs together. The sound of those unusual instruments was so beautiful, so bright and pure that she could practically feel her slender frame moving gently with the melody, baby blue eyes so full of light as she stood there with Andras."Do you dance?", she asks as she looked back up to him then, eyes glittering as they reflect all the bliss resonating from within her heart and soul.