Sleep rarely came so quickly and smoothly. She had slept the entire night away, dreaming only of warmth, and Veleria was in an uncharacteristically chipper mood as a result. As such, when she woke, she sat up and yawned loudly, happily, as she stretched her arms above her head. A smile overtook her while she surveyed the room, though she chuckled quietly to herself upon seeing Adrian curled up on his own bed.
“You old drunk, what are you still doing in bed?” She sighed playfully, hopping up and out of her sheets. Veleria went over to him, giving Adrian a soft push on his shoulder. The man merely rolled over, looking Veleria directly in the eyes.
“Will you join me?” He asked her, and Veleria blinked in response.
“Uh, Adrian, I don’t think…”
“Not like that. I just want to hold you.”
The sincerity in his eyes scared her. With some hesitation, she sat down beside him and then laid on her side, facing away from him. He wrapped both arms around her so as to hold her against his chest. Adrian buried his face in her hair.
“You know,” he started, “I have a daughter.”
“Oh…” Veleria stared at her hands.
“She’ll be nine this year. Her mother won’t let me see her anymore. She doesn’t want her to know what her father really is.” One of his hands closed around her shoulder. It was completely dwarfed. He pulled her against him. “Veleria, what that man said about you…If it’s true, then you will never know peace. Even if I used every artifact in the vault at my disposal, I would…I would lose you.”
“Come on, what are you even saying…”
It was too early. She wasn’t ready for this. With him, she didn’t know if she ever would. She wanted to run.
“I’m saying I’m scared.”
A direct confession. She let down what defenses she had. She no longer wanted to run. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his. There was warmth in her chest.
Adrian sighed, “I see…You really do have that effect. Whenever I use the mask I end up feeling drained. But, like this…”
“You used the mask? And what do you mean by ‘whenever’?” Veleria turned her head somewhat, though in this position she couldn’t see behind her.
“I…I lied. The Mask of Many Faces chooses its wearer, and I have worn it for every important mission I’ve undertaken since it chose me.” She could feel his nose against the nape of her neck. “I tried to kill that Caed guy, but I hesitated and he was able to shake me off. Honestly, I needed to know if Alk’Hath knew you were still alive.”
Veleria frowned. He did that for her? What was he, a madman? According to him, the mask only changed his features based on perception. How the hell did he think he could go toe to toe with a mage?
“Adrian, what the fu—“
He squeezed her. She coughed, then paused as she felt his breath down her neck.
“So long as he wasn’t lying, and I don’t think he was, then Alk’Hath is still none the wiser.” His voice was more of a whisper. "Do you still think it wise for us to go to Cromwell? If even I can feel this…Source power of yours.”
Veleria didn’t hesitate, “I have to meet him. He’s the only one who can help me.”
“There can be others. He’s old and insanely powerful, but that doesn’t mean he…”
Adrian moved her onto her back and hovered above her. She didn’t even flinch. Looking at her now, her eyes twin suns, there was no leverage between the two of them. The decision was made.
“I will walk there myself if I must. Are you still with me, Adrian?”
The man squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, he leaned down to plant a kiss on Veleria’s forehead.
“Once we cross the Ashvale border we’ll be in Cromwell’s range. We’ll be safe there.” He said, climbing over her and off the bed.
Veleria grinned, smacking a fist into her palm.
“Let’s do this, then.”