Ch 41: The Little Human Moments

Astasha came out of a deep sleep.

She couldn't remember the last time she had slept that peacefully. Did she have to open her eyes? She didn’t want to, not just yet anyway. Waking up meant facing reality again and it had been too perfect of a fantasy to leave it now.

She felt an arm wrapped around her, and a gaze upon her, along with the sensation of deep affection flowing into her. Perhaps the fantasy wasn’t over just yet after all.

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open to find Calder watching her, a small smile upon his lips.

"Hello, beautiful."

She couldn't help but smile back at him. "Well hello, handsome."

He brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her gently before going back to watching her.

"What?" She asked playfully.

He shook his head. "I was just thinking about the fact that this was the first time I've gotten to actually sleep next to you undisturbed, to wake up and see your gorgeous face without anything happening."

Astasha blushed. "Don't get too used to it." She teased.

He rolled on top of her, pinning her down. "Oh, I think I will."

He kissed her again and her hands tangled in his hair.

She could feel his passion rising along with her own but it was abruptly cut off by the door being flung open.

"Oh for fucks sake, you've had all night for this!" Talib was covering his eyes standing in the doorway.

Astasha gasped and tugged the covers over herself while Cal yelled over his shoulder. "What the hell Talib!"

“It’s not my fault! I’m just the messenger! Errant's called a meeting in his private study and sent me to get you two. You've been locked in here forever!"

"Well fucking knock next time! Just, get out so we can get dressed!" yelled Cal.

Astasha could see the smirk on Talib's face as he blindly backed out of the room. "I swear if I have to come back in here, I'll drag you both out naked!"

Calder threw a pillow at the door as it closed behind his Captain.

As the shock wore off, Astasha found herself laughing, truly genuinely laughing, and suddenly Cal was laughing with her. As awkward as it had been, it had been the closest thing to a normal everyday human situation she had ever had. In that moment, they weren't a Prince and sorceress forbidden to be together, plagued by demons and nightmares; they were simply a couple who had been barged in on by a friend.

Their laughter subsided and Astasha sighed. "I guess we should probably get out of bed then."

Cal buried his face in her hair, wrapping himself around her, and groaned. "Can't we just hide in here forever?"

She ran her fingers through his messy hair. "We could try, but I don't think Talib was joking when he said he would drag us out naked."

He groaned again and pushed himself up. "He definitely was not joking." He scrunched his face and then kissed her.

Every time he did, Astasha's stomach would flutter, like it was the first time his lips had met hers over and over. She never wanted it to stop feeling that way.

Calder stood up from the bed and her eyes ran over his glorious body. She would keep him locked in that room all to herself if she truly could.

He looked over and winked at her, taking her breath away. "You're drooling my love."

It was her turn to playfully throw a pillow before she forced herself out of the bed as well.

They silently helped each other dress, the moment almost as intimate as it had been undressing one another. At last, Calder reached for her sash and wrapped it around her waist, his hands pulling her to him after he had finished tying it. He kissed her passionately and fiercely, kindling the fire between them.

Stepping back, she knew he had forced himself to stop before their passion could rage out of control and drag them back to the bed.

"This is for you." He said as he placed a golden key into Astasha's palm.

She raised an eyebrow as she looked from it to him.

"It's the key to this room. It's yours now. I spoke with my father already and he agreed you should have somewhere you feel safe. Only he, Talib, Errant, and now Norelle know about it."

"Cal... this is, I can't possibly take your mother's room as my own."

He closed her hand around the key, wrapping his own around hers. "She would have wanted you to have it. I can have Talib help me bring some of your clothes and items from your room in the Magic Ward. You don't have to move in here completely, I just wanted you to know you had somewhere with only good memories that you could go."

She didn't know why she was on the verge of tears but she simply shook them away and leaned up to kiss the man who cared far too much for her.

"Thank you."

"We should get going before Talib has a meltdown." He said tucking her hair behind her ear. She nodded and he took her hand in his, leading her to the door.

Once outside, she locked it with the little key and tucked it safely into one of the pouches on her sash.

Talib was waiting, his foot tapping impatiently on the stone floor.

"You're lucky you're like a brother to me." He grumbled under his breath to Calder.

Cal responded by throwing him a glare.

Astasha walked hand in hand with Calder towards the Magic Wing. Talib leaned into the Prince in an attempt at subtlety. "Although, I can't blame you for not wanting to leave. She's definitely a looker."

Astasha blushed fiercely as Calder's glare deepened. "Don't go getting any funny ideas Talib."

Talib threw his hands up. "I wouldn't dream of it! But I'm just saying..." Cal jabbed his fist into his Captain's arm. "Hey! What? Nothing wrong with complimenting your taste in women."

Laughing, Tasha put a reassuring hand on Calder's arm, her eyes on his friend. "Thank you for the compliment, Captain."

He winked back at her. "Any time my Lady. And call me Talib. I think we're well past formalities at this point."

Cal just shook his head and wrapped his arm protectively around Astasha's waist, but she couldn't help but smile. She was glad that Calder had a friend like Talib by his side, relieved that he had been with him through the five years she could not. If anything happened to her, at least he had someone who would help him through whatever hardships he would face.

"Tell me, Talib, how did you come to be Calder's Captain?"

"Well, I was orphaned when I was young and the King took me in as a stable boy. I had no one really, until one day, a snot-nosed, scraggly-haired boy convinced me to help him escape his tutors on horseback." There was a sly grin on the guard's face as he reminisced.

"Snot-nosed?" Retorted Calder.

"Aye! Snot-nosed and hell-bent on dragging my well-to-do ass into trouble!"

"As I recall, I only asked for you to give me a steed, you chose to follow me!"

"Only because I knew you couldn't handle going out on your own!"

Astasha chuckled at their banter. "So you two were trouble-makers from the get-go then?"

Calder leaned down to whisper in her ear. "More like he knew exactly how to get me into trouble."

"Anyhow..." exclaimed Talib. "I followed his highness to make sure he didn't get himself hurt and a gang of bandits surrounded us. I managed to protect the Prince single-handedly until help arrived." Talib's chest puffed out but Calder snorted a laugh.

"He swung a big stick around and yelled curses. The bandits were too busy laughing to notice the soldiers until it was too late."

"It was enough for the King to suggest I begin training with the Guard. Calder, undoubtedly aware of my bravery, clung to my side from that moment on, for protection I’m sure.”

"Father noticed Talib here followed me wherever I went, so when we came of age, he let me chose my Captain. I felt too bad for him not to give him the title." It was Calder's turn to carry a sly smile.

It was wonderful hearing stories of Calder's childhood, of his memories growing up. She had heard some from him during their visits before his journey, but there was something about the way he was around Talib, something about how light hearted he seemed. Astasha could listen to the two of them forever, and truly hoped she would have more opportunities to do so. It was like slipping into a glimpse of a normal life, steeling a glance of what they could have had had they been born to a different destiny.

She could tell Talib wanted to retort, but before he could, the trio found themselves at a set of doors, Errant standing in front of them waiting.

"Ah, good, you're here. The others are waiting for us. I think it's time we start laying out the pieces of the puzzle so we can figure out what this bigger picture might be."


**Author’s Note** *Good morning beautiful people! I hope everyone is well and enjoying the book thus far! I do have to say, I think this is one of my favorite chapters to write. It was a lot of fun delving into these relationships without all the turmoil and chaos around them. I wanted to let you all know that I have recently put in my notice at my job to focus on being a stay-at-home mom and as such, should have a more consistent update schedule once that happens. I’ll let you all know what days I will be publishing on once I have it worked out! Until then, keep checking in and blessed be!*