Chapter 201: Emberfall (post Lucius)

Two weeks had passed since everything that had happened in Emberfall and somehow, despite it all, Willow had never been happier.

She had not thought to imagine this... a life.

She had had so much anger in her that she had let out on everyone around her.

Sometimes, when she thought about everything that had happened, it felt almost unreal.

Somehow, along the way, she had found forgiveness from Ayla and Alistair, someone that made her feel seen.

And even though she thought about her father these past few weeks and wondered how he was faring in the Northern territory, she had no compunction to return.

They had chosen different paths and she was glad for hers.

She pushed open the door to Alistair’s study with a letter in her hand.

"We got a letter from Ares."

Alistair was standing by the large desk, his back to her and at the sound of her voice, he jolted.

"What? Are you okay?" Willow asked.

"Yes, yes... of course I am." He turned to her. "What is it? What did Ares send?"

"I haven’t opened it yet." She lifted the letter slightly. "I was just bringing it to you."

She took a few steps closer, her eyes searching his face.

"Are you sure you are okay?"

"Why wouldn’t I be when you are by my side?"

He stepped forward and caught her around the waist, pulling her into him as his mouth found the curve of her neck.

"Alistair." She tapped his arm playfully.

He kissed her neck again and Willow laughed and pushed lightly against his chest.

"Read the letter."

"Later." Alistair mumbled.

"Now." She held it out to him.

He sighed dramatically before finally taking it.

"Fine."

He broke the seal and unfolded the paper, his eyes moving across the page.

Willow noticed his jaw tighten.

"What is it?" She asked.

He looked up, folding the paper.

"Apparently, Miranda did not return with them. Ares thinks she is lurking somewhere around here and we are to find her."

"Miranda did not..." Willow’s brow furrowed. "Why would he need us to find Miranda? And why would she not have returned with them? What are we missing?"

"The note does not say." Alistair shrugged.

"If Ares thinks we should find her, then there is a plausible reason. We should dispatch some of the guards." Willow suggested.

"We will, when we have the time." Alistair set the folded letter on the desk.

"What do you mean when we have the time?" Willow’s eyebrows narrowed.

Alistair rubbed his face.

"Emberfall is still in ruins, my love. Look around you. We need to fix things here first. Miranda can wait."

Willow stared at him for a moment then she took a step away from him.

"No, she can’t" she said, folding her arms across her chest. "I am sure whatever it is that Ares needs her for is important. You seem to be forgetting that it is possible this whole pack is yours because of everything that happened."

Alistair’s jaw tightened at this.

"Alistair, what is wrong? You have been strange for days now and I do not understand it."

"Not strange, baby." he smiled. "Just tired. I will send the men out for Miranda."

Willow continued staring at him.

"Come on." He reached for her hands. "I am sorry. I have just been going through the ledgers and it is overwhelming. Do you have any idea how much work we need to do?"

Willow glanced around at the mountain of paperwork on the table.

"I knew it would be difficult." Alistair looked around the room. "I just didn’t realize it would be this difficult."

Willow’s expression softened.

He had barely rested since taking control of Emberfall. Every day, there was something new.

"I know." She let her arms drop. "I’m sorry too."

"It is nothing." He opened his arms. "Come here and give me a hug. I need one of those."

Willow smiled despite herself and stepped back into his embrace.

He buried his face in her neck, and took a deep breath.

Willow giggled when his nose brushed her skin.

"Alistair."

"What?"

"That tickles."

"You are beautiful," he said. "More beautiful and your hair... the blonde of it suits you."

"You sound like you are just seeing me for the first time." Willow smiled.

"Every day I see you, every day I look at you is the first for me, Willow... goddess, even your name is beautiful."

He kissed her neck and Willow laughed again.

Alistair proceeded to trail kisses upward until his mouth found hers.

Willow’s fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt then slowly worked their way up until they tangled in his hair.

There was something desperate in the way he kissed her...a hunger that went deeper than want.

Alistair reached behind him and swept the materials off the desk. Several papers fluttered to the floor.

Willow gasped between kisses.

"Alistair." she chided.

"I don’t care."

He lifted her, setting her down on the edge of the wood, stepping between her legs so she wrapped them around his waist.

Alistair’s hand slid up her thigh, over her hip, beneath the hem of her dress, and Willow gasped against his mouth as his fingers pressed into her skin.

She squirmed, a moan escaping her which he swallowed with his mouth.

She reached for his shirt and undid the buttons one by one, her knuckles brushing the skin beneath.

She slid her hands up his back, nails raking lightly, then around to his chest.

Her hand stopped when something caught her attention.

She pulled back to look.

"What is this?" she asked, tracing the edges of the scar.

Alistair looked down at the mark on his chest a .

"From the battle."

"Oh." Willow’s fingers moved over the scar again. Then she bent her head and pressed her lips to it.

"Must have hurt." she murmured.

"You have no idea." he grinned, his hand coming up to cup her jaw as he drew her mouth back to his.