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"Now?" Lynn Mercar asked as Lucanis swept her into an elegant dip, his hand a familiar pressure on her waist.
He grinned in response, staying silent as the clapping died down and he pulled her back into his arms with a rustle of velvet and silk. The final haunting notes of the song echoed through the room as their dance concluded, and the thousands of tiny conjured purple flames seemed to glow brighter in response, as though enchanted to react to the music. For a moment there was silence, and then the room burst into murmurs and more applause.
The first dance at a Crow Ball was, without exception, reserved for the First Talon, and Lynn knew Caterina would have eyes on them, ensuring they followed protocol.
"Now," Lucanis agreed, and he gave the musicians the signal to resume the music.
The dance floor exploded into a flurry of movement as other couples rushed to join them, Crows swirling around them in a murderous flock of dazzling jewellery, intricate outfits, and hairstyles which were obnoxiously ornate. She caught sight of Viago abandoning a champagne glass with a suspicious scowl as Teia pulled him determinedly to the dance floor. Beyond them Illario hung in the shadows with a smile fixed on his face, several ambitious Crows loitering around him hopefully - he may have been a traitor Crow, but he was still a Dellamorte.
It was the perfect cover for a tactical retreat.
Finding moments alone was difficult under normal circumstances - Lucanis' duties as the First Crow and her status as Hero of the Veilguard kept them busy most days until late. But it became almost impossible on the nights when Caterina held one of her Crow Balls. The sheer number of people she invited, not to mention the security arrangements, made stealing time alone difficult.
…But not impossible.
And they had made an art of slipping away undetected.
It drove Caterina wild, but Lucanis was not a fan of public events, and Lynn suspected he privately enjoyed thwarting his grandmother's attempts to make him a public figure. Besides which, their stolen evenings had become some of her favourites. Quiet nights spent alone together on rooftops, exploring the canals, or even sequestered in a dark corner of the Dellamorte Estate.
They slipped from the dance floor in a casual unhurried manner, his hand on the small of her back as they nodded at familiar faces and smiled politely. Both equally determined to escape from the pomp and ceremony that came with being The First Talon. Lynn saw Caterina watching them with a frown, and she flashed her a dazzling smile and leaned close to Lucanis, pressing her lips to his ear.
"Your grandmother is watching us!"
He laughed and curled an arm around her waist, pulling her closer as they slipped from the room. "Then let's give her something to stew on!"
Lynn grinned as the moment they were out of the ballroom Lucanis took her hand and they ran laughing down a hallway, ducked down a servants staircase and made their way to the kitchen. The staff only glanced up at them and hid their smiles as they continued working, pretending not to notice as Lucanis took her into the wine cellar, and guided her to a hidden door which emptied out into the catacombs beneath the mansion.
The music of the Crow Ball fell away, muffling and distorting as Lucanis and Rook slipped into the echoey lower catacombs of Dellamorte Villa. Neither spoke, but the feel of his hand around hers was reassuringly warm and familiar as he guided her away from the glamour and glitz of the ball and into the familiar darkness of their usual escape route. The only sounds were their soft footfalls, the scrape of leather on stone, and the rustling of Rook's skirts as they brushed the narrow hallways that smelled of dust and old bones.
"We're going to hear about this tomorrow," Lucanis whispered, his voice husky in the darkness. "You know the last time we vanished, Caterina tried to have us followed. I had to knock the poor man out while you were getting changed."
Rook grinned, her smile a gleam of teeth in the darkness and she squeezed his hand. "Lucky the spy didn't find us a little later into the evening. They would have had quite a shock."
He laughed and dragged his thumb across her palm. "You're incorrigible, mi amor."
She hummed her agreement and quickened her pace as silvery moonlight broke the darkness ahead and they emerged into clean night air—cooler than the catacombs but still too hot and sticky for her liking. The sky stretched endlessly above them, a velvety blanket of glittering stars, and the music from the ball was a distant tune on the breeze. The manicured lawns and gardens of Dellamorte estate stretched around them, and Lucanis sighed happily and stretched his arms above his head as though he had been freed from a terrible weight.
He undid his collar chain and shrugged off the ornate dress coat that had held him prisoner for most of the evening, then carefully folded the fabric in half and draped it over the bough of a nearby tree. Rook hid a smile and turned away. Lucanis, for all his complaints about dressing up for balls, looked splendid in his Crow finery, and she knew he enjoyed dressing up. She glanced down at her own outfit - an elaborate layered dress of velvet and brocade with far too many layers, and far too many special panels for hiding weapons.
It was a Crow dress for a Crow, and she did not think she would ever feel comfortable in such outfits. The air shifted around her as Lucanis stepped close, his movements silent as his hands found the fastenings for her skirts and began to undo them - strong clever fingers undoing buttons and unlacing garments far faster than she could have managed herself. It was as though her whole body heaved a sigh of relief as he loosened her corset.
"It's almost a pity to take that off," he teased as she began stripping off the heavy velvet fabric. "You look good in Crow colours."
"Not a chance!" she retorted quickly and Lucanis laughed huskily and turned to focus on his own outfit.
It didn't take him long to rid himself of the cravat and vest, and he returned to her side quickly enough - helping her with the heavy layers of velvet and silk until she was standing in a simple silken shift. The dark fabric gleamed in the moonlight and she left the hated dress laying in a heap on the ground - her appreciation of the fabric not strong enough to overcome the torture of wearing the horrid thing. Finally, she kicked off her heels and sighed with relief as her stockinged feet touched the grass.
It felt good.
"I feel like swimming," Lynn declared as Lucanis stepped up behind her and slid his hands around her waist.
He snickered. "I can throw you into the canal if you like?"
Lynn playfully wriggled free and pointed at a neighbouring property where she could see several fountains and a large pool lit by magic orbs. "Or we can swim there."
Lucanis was silent for a beat. "I think our neighbours may object to us breaking in to swim in their pool. Especially seeing as that particular estate belongs to House Cantori."
“Perfect!” Her grin widened marginally. "Teia and Viago are at the ball with their entourage - they'll never even know we were there." She took his arm and pulled him in the direction of the pool. "Come on - it'll be fun."
He looked at her dubiously, but allowed himself to be dragged in that direction. "You are a terrible influence."
"Ah yes, because you're such an innocent upstanding Crow." She poked her tongue out and laced her fingers with his. "Come on, life isn't fun without a little risk."
He grumbled under his breath but Lynn thought it was just for show as he followed her across the gardens towards Teia's large estate. It didn't take long for him to take the lead either, his eyes bright and alert as he scanned the darkness for any sign of guards and security and subtly eased her into the shadows. She hid her smile, always amused at how quickly he fell into assassin mode whenever they snuck off somewhere together.
The estate appeared completely empty - though every window in the large house was magically lit. Although she didn't know the Fifth and Seventh Talons well, it seemed typical of Teia and Viago to ensure their estate shone brightly and was not forgotten beside the splendour of House Dellamorte. She was certain however, that even if someone was home, they would avoid any kind of confrontation with the First Talon - even if he was found swimming in their pool.
Lucanis led her through a small orchard filled with flowering trees, and then to an ancient looking brick wall that evidently separated the two estates. He hesitated for only a moment, and then led her through some bushes that covered an old wooden gate.
She traced her fingers over the moss covered wood. "I feel like I'm about to enter an enchanted wonderland!"
"Or commit trespass on the Seventh Talon's estate?" Lucanis replied dryly.
Lynn laughed and pushed the gate open, the hinges creaking softly as she revealed a garden which was definitely not an enchanted wonderland. The garden instead screamed Viago. Mushrooms, fungi, poisonous looking plants, pungent flowers, and rare herbs grew in painfully ordered lines. There was not a leaf out of place, as though the foliage itself feared the wrath of the Fifth Talon if they grew outside of their allocated plot.
Lucanis surveyed the garden with interest. "Don't touch anything," he cautioned her. "I'm pretty sure everything here is deadly."
“Noted.”
She grinned and continued on, dragging Lucanis along with her as she made a beeline for the sound of trickling water and the soft glow of the fountains and pools. The garden led to a plush lawn, and beyond it stretched her target - the water throwing shifting patterns of lights onto the statues and walls around the pool. Lynn increased her pace - eager to feel the cool water on her skin after their trek through the warm Treviso night.
"This is going to be heavenly!"
She didn't hesitate as she hurried ahead of Lucanis, stripping off her under dress and small clothes eagerly, completely unabashed by her nakedness as she danced across the tiles and dove into the glowing water without a moment's hesitation - a trail of discarded clothing in her wake. The water closed about her naked form in a cool rush, and she took several long strokes beneath the water before she swam to the surface and turned to see where Lucanis was. He watched her with a smile, winding his way through the garden towards the pool and removing his own clothes with far less haste.
Lynn grinned and swam towards him, revelling in the cool water after the hot night air. Growing up in Minrathous had meant learning to swim in the sea near the port. Swimming to escape the heat had been normal. It wasn't uncommon to see people shucking off their clothes at the end of a long summer day or during the night for a quick dip in the water. Lucanis evidently felt differently, and he dawdled around the edge of the pool, fidgeting with his cufflinks and casting suspicious glances at Teia's mansion.
Lynn swam languidly alongside him as he paced, watching as he waged some kind of internal struggle with himself. Was it because he didn't like the idea of swimming naked? Or was it because they were on another Crow's property?
Perhaps, she thought with amusement, he just didn't like being without his knives…
"Getting cold feet?" Lynn teased as Lucanis removed his shirt with painful slowness, his fingers lingering on each button as though committing them to memory.
"No," he said unconvincingly, “I'm just not as casual with public nakedness as you.”
She grinned and floated on her back, her rosy tipped breasts pebbling in the cool air. “A pity too, I quite like the sight of you naked. You should be naked far more often. All the time, in fact. ”
“I'm not sure the other Talons would agree with you,” Lucanis retorted archly, though he unbuttoned his shirt a little faster. “Viago would definitely not approve of such a cavalier attitude towards exposing one's skin to potential toxins.”
“Mmm, but he'd probably enjoy the view. Teia definitely would!” Lynn made a show of playfully leering at Lucanis as he opened his shirt and revealed his chest.
Lucanis flushed and pulled his shirt off, tossing it to the side and starting on his trousers. Lynn didn't say anything else, she just floated in the cool water amongst the reflected stars and watched him greedily. His chest was lean and perfectly muscled, his waist slim and athletic, and his shoulders broad. He looked firm and strong, the kind of man who would catch you if you fell.
And boy had she fallen.
Hard.
Some days she couldn't believe that Lucanis had fallen for her too. The memories of those early days where they had danced around each other nervously made her smile: the flutters of nervous feelings and shivers of desire, the thrill of meeting his eyes and seeing something warm and happy in their depths, and the late nights of coffee and shared chats.
Moments when it seemed they were the only two people in the universe.
She sank beneath the water, holding her breath and watching the faint silhouette of Lucanis looming above her in the pool. He stripped off and moved to the edge of the water, his blurred outline rippling as he sat down and his feet broke the surface. Lynn surfaced and sucked in a deep breath, blinking water out of her eyes as she moved to him at the edge of the pool, nudging her way between his legs with an impish smile.
“I can't believe the Demon of Vyrantium is shy,” she murmured and reached for him, settling her hands on his waist to coax him in. “It's cute!”
“Shy?” Lucanis looked insulted and leaned towards her, his hair falling around his face as he lowered himself into the water. “I am not shy!”
Lynn grinned and met him halfway, pulling him into a kiss as he sank into the softly glowing water. She sighed happily as his lips found hers, her hands tightening in his waist. The kiss was soft and warm, filled with affection and love, and the low sound of hunger he made in the back of his throat sent a thrill through her.
He slipped the rest of the way in and scooped her close, their kiss deepening as Lynn wound her arms around his neck. The water swirled about them as they moved deeper and Lucanis slid a hand down her thigh, his fingers tracing a ticklish pattern on her skin before he cupped her ass - grinding her against him.
Lynn gasped as he broke the kiss to nip playfully along her neck, his cock pressing insistently against her belly, already hard and warm. She whimpered as Lucanis flashed her a devilish smile and disappeared beneath the water, a trail of bubbles breaking the surface as his mouth moved over her body. He drew one nipple into his mouth, his tongue circling the tip and then sucking gently.
He finished lavishing attention on one breast and then moved to the other to give it similar treatment. Lynn arched her back, biting her lip to stifle her cries as he squeezed her ass and slipped a hand between her legs, his thumb making small circles on her clit. Lucanis surfaced briefly for air, his eyes gleaming with wicked pinpricks of violet light before he vanished back beneath the water with a determined smirk.
She swore softly and gasped as he buried his face between her legs, his tongue like hot velvet as he lapped at her gently. His thumb slid to the side and his tongue flicked higher, circling her clit before he sucked oh-so-gently. The warmth kindling in her belly flickered into a white hot pleasure and Lynn sank beneath the water with a burbling moan, everything forgotten—even her need to breathe—as the ecstasy rolled through her.
Lucanis caught her in his arms and lifted her back to the surface with a chuckle. “Breathe, mi amor. Remember to breathe!”
Lynn shot him an accusatory glare. “You did that on purpose!”
“Perhaps,” he purred. “Do you still think I'm shy?”
His hand slid between her legs once more and she melted, happily following his lead when he pushed her against the side of the pool and moved between her legs.
“Definietly not shy!” Lynn gasped as he positioned the tip of his cock at her entrance and slowly pushed inside.
Lucanis chuckled and claimed her mouth in a fiery kiss as he began to fuck her, his movements slow and careful in the glowing water. She moved with him, winding her legs around his waist and rolling her hips to meet each of his thrusts. Pulsing warmth built in her core and spread through her body in waves of pleasure, the delicious tension building to a crescendo as her orgasm crashed over her.
Lynn whimpered and moaned as she came, her cries muffled as Lucanis kissed her over and over, his own release following close on the heels of hers. They held each other afterwards, floating quietly in the glowing pool, listening to the faint sounds of the Crow ball they had escaped. They had probably been missed by now, but the party would carry on without them, and right now Lynn couldn't seem to care what anyone else might think.
She nuzzled close to Lucanis and trailed kisses around his collarbone, smiling when his flesh prickled with goosebumps at her feathery touch. He retaliated by lightly running his finger down her spine - the tickling sensation making her shiver with delight. Lucanis chuckled huskily and lifted his head to glance around - no doubt ensuring their tryst had gone unobserved.
“Caterina will be angry with us for sneaking away again, won't she?” Lynn asked, following his gaze as he stared very hard at a shrubbery as it rustled.
A rabbit darted out and he relaxed.
He nodded, and one corner of his mouth lifted in a wry smile. “She will.”
“And Teia and Viago will probably be home soon, won't they?”
Lucanis nodded again, and his smile widened further. “They will.”
She thought he looked like he relished the idea of being caught - a far cry from the hesitance he had shown earlier. Apparently her teasing about him being shy had struck a nerve, and her mild mannered Crow was now embracing his rebellious steak.
“We should go, shouldn't we?” Lynn murmured reluctantly.
He gave her a tight squeeze and nuzzled her neck. “We should.”
Neither of them made any move to leave though, and when Lucanis’ hands began to move purposefully over her body again, Lynn responded with delight.
It was, she thought, the most magical stolen night they had experienced yet.
It was unforgettable.