death incarnate & night triumphant

Andras would have nightmares for the rest of his existence, the picture of Lani's lifeless body strewn across that raised altar, the sound of her beating heart all but vanished from this world. The man would remember it, every detail, even the blood of those two faerie's he had murdered even when they had beg for mercy trying to explain that they were not the ones behind his mate's demise. Still, the High Lord did not regret his choice. If he could have a do over, he would have drawn out their miserable existences a touch longer, just so that he might relish in their pain longer. Perhaps if Andras had been thinking logically, he might have tortured a name out of the pair of them but Lani had been his priority, as she would remain for the rest of his immortal life. Andras could no longer deny he wouldn't... couldn't be separated from her, though she may hate him for what he had done, the man would make sure she lived out a comfortable life. She would want for nothing - if she ever woke up.

And it was that moment he could hear the shift in her breathing, his haunted eyes tracing her features as her eyes very slowly open. She was unnaturally still and Andras has the urge to reach out to her mind, to listen to her thoughts as he watches the utter confusion dance across her face as she takes in the sound of everything. The weak smile that he tosses her way is practically a grimace as he lifts his weary body from that chair, his massive wings draped behind him as he moves to the side of the bed, the man kneeling before her as he reaches for her hand and he's entirely unaware of the flinch that so seems to coat Lani's emotions, Andras far too caught up in his own to notice. He can't help but stroke the back of her hand with his thumb, her soft skin against his almost enough to wash away that gate to his grief and his relief. He chokes out her name, his voice broken and ragged as he explains what happens, his voice hoarse and tired; gaze wavering as he meets her gaze with his own dark hazel eyes.

Her first words were not at all what he expected, though he can't help but relish in the relief that courses through him as her voice coats his ears. The Fae truly thought he would never hear the sound of her voice again, gaze into those baby blue eyes, smell that floral and sunshine scent of her. Closing his eyes, he takes a moment before he responds, his gaze flickering open only to rest on her confused expression. "I'm not sure you're mentally prepared for this discussion, Lani," he states quietly, though he didn't mean it as an insult, he wasn't entirely aware of how completely he had broken her in their last conversation. It is then that he tells her he changed her, the utter surprise that breaks over her face as she stops breathing entirely. Andras waits as patiently as he can as Lani reaches her fingers up to caress the delicate points of her ears. The High Lord is almost certain she's about to fall into shock as he begins to scent the panic that seems to overtake her, the woman quite literally plunging into all of her emotions at once. He's heart breaks for her as she attempts to grasp the situation at hand and it is then that she pulls her hand away from him. Releasing it, his own feels cold at the loss of her before he drops his arms to his side.

Andras listens to her heartbeat, the same heartbeat that she has her hand resting over now, his gaze lingering on those delicate fingers and it's then that it hits him that Lani had never looked more fragile than she did at this moment. Though he knew that wasn't the case, the woman was stronger, faster, could hear a whisper from the other side of his lodge, she was designed to be a predator now. Still, Andras couldn't help but know that he was responsible for this, that if she broke it was because of him and there would be no one else to blame. She may hate him for his decisions and yet, he wouldn't change what he had done to save her. The man is entirely drawn from his thoughts as her voice touches his ears, the fury that coats her words has the man watching her carefully, his eyes wary as he takes her in. As her words trail off, he has an urge to reach across the bed to hold her hand again and yet, he doesn't, knowing it would be unwelcome in this moment, instead he softens those dark hazel eyes, the understanding washing over him, "Lani, you are a newborn Fae, your emotions are high and your senses are overwhelming you right now. You need to calm down. A faerie temper tantrum is rather terrifying and I don't think my bedroom could handle such a thing," he offers another weak smile, attempting to lighten the mood. "I promise I will explain everything but I really need you to calm yourself." He was still a man, a man that would never learn that telling a female to 'calm down' was something that would never bode well for the male race.

Andras Steinhello darling