Summary: After Azura’s assassins make an attempt on Kenna’s life, Diavolos demonstrates his love for Kenna and begs her to be safe.
As Kenna changed into a fresh nightgown, she noticed the large bruise that was already blossoming on her left arm, her only souvenir from Azura’s assassins. The healer had already sent word to her that Raydan, though hurt, was going to be okay. Kenna was relieved that things had turned out okay, but she still felt keyed up from the encounter. She surveyed her room in the glow of the fireplace; the servants had made quick work of the clean up and her room looked like it had been completely undisturbed, save for the rug that had been removed where the assassins had lain.
Kenna climbed back onto her bed and sat atop the sheets, propped against the pillows as she closed her eyes and replayed the night’s events. Although she didn’t exactly enjoy a visit from Azura’s ridiculously named assassins, Kenna had to give the empress credit–it had been a good tactical move. Kenna knew the war was coming, but how many more of these little battles would she have to fight? She’d been lucky Raydan had warned her because if he hadn’t … well, she didn’t want to think about the alternative.
Her bedroom door banged open, hitting the stone wall with a crack as Diavolos burst in, clad only in a pair of pants.
“Gods, Diavolos!” Kenna exclaimed, her heart racing. “Was that really necessary?”
“Jackson said you were attacked,” Diavolos said, grabbing the door with one hand and slamming it shut behind him. “Are you okay?”
“Aside from having my second surprise visit in one night, yes, I’m fine,” Kenna said. Diavolos quickly crossed the room and stood beside her bed, examining her.
“What’s wrong with your arm?” he asked, leaning closer to see it.
“It’s nothing, I’m fine,” Kenna insisted.
“You’re not fine, you were attacked!” he shouted.
“Why are you yelling at me?” Kenna demanded, annoyed.
“Are there more of them?” Diavolos asked, ignoring her question.
“No, but Jackson’s men are doing a thorough sweep of the castle to be sure.”
“How did this happen?” Diavolos demanded, his voice still too loud.
“It just did!” Kenna yelled back. “Things happen!”
“Not to you, they don’t!” Diavolos shouted. “You could have died!”
“But I didn’t! I’m fine!”
Diavolos glared at her for a moment and Kenna met his steely gaze as the terse seconds ticked away between them. Then he suddenly leaned over and kissed her, his lips desperate and insistent against hers. Kenna’s annoyance faded away and she returned his kiss
When they finally broke their embrace, Diavolos kept his forehead pressed against hers, his eyes closed.
“One of the guards told me there’d been an attack, and … I panicked,” he said quietly. “I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”
“I’m right here,” Kenna said gently. “I’m fine.” She scooted over on her bed and gestured for Diavolos to sit beside her. He did so, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close to him.
“Does your arm hurt?” he asked.
“It’s a little sore, but it’s okay,” Kenna said. “Hazard of the job. As you well know,” she added, reaching over to trace a jagged scar across his ribs.
“I should’ve been here,” Diavolos said. “I could’ve helped you.”
“Or you’d be the one spending the night in the infirmary instead of Raydan,” Kenna countered. “Besides, we agreed to keep this,” she said, gesturing between them, “quiet. Although I’m not sure if that’s even an option anymore considering the way you crashed into here like a raging bull,” she added with a smile as she poked him in the stomach.
“Kenna, you’re the one who wanted to keep it quiet. And if you still want to, I’ll respect that, but I personally don’t care who knows. I love you and I want to be with you in whatever way you’ll have me.”
Kenna looked up at Diavolos to find him watching her, his face serious in the firelight. She brushed her fingertips against his jaw, her eyes dropping down to his full lips before she looked him in the eyes again.
“I love you, too,” she said.
He kissed her again, much more gently than before. Kenna deepened the kiss, curling her hand around the back of his neck, his hair brushing her fingers. She sat up and faced him, straddling his lap. Diavolos wrapped his arms around her as he pulled her tightly to him. While they kissed, Kenna began to slowly rock her hips against his. Diavolos groaned softly and let his strong hands wander across her body. He pulled down one of the thin straps of her nightgown, kissing her shoulder where the strap had been. Kenna slid her arm out of it and then the other one, letting the white silk fall in a heap around her waist. She pressed her chest against his, relishing the feel of his bare skin against hers as she rocked her hips harder against him, much more assertively now. Kenna could feel how stiff he was through the thin fabric of his pants and she pulled up her nightgown until her hips were free. Diavolos reached for the nightgown and tugged it over her head, tossing it aside as Kenna reached down between them, loosening the ties on his pants. He kissed her as she took him in both of her hands and guided him inside of her.
“Gods, Kenna,” Diavolos growled as she slid up and down his length. He mouthed her breasts, his tongue and teeth seemingly everywhere as she let her head fall backwards, her dark hair a waterfall. She rose and fell atop him as he pushed up into her, over and over again, his hands grasping at her skin as they moved together in a steady, unhurried rhythm. The air around them was warm, although whether it was from the fire or from their union, Kenna couldn’t be completely sure.
When she came she cried out his name and clutched him tightly, her nails scrawling red lines across his shoulders as every nerve in her body came undone, pulsing in an explosion of overwhelming pleasure. She felt Diavolos come within her, warm and thrusting as he groaned into the curve of her throat, her skin absorbing his every kiss, his every sound. Kenna collapsed against him and Diavolos put his palms flat on her back, his touch gentle as his hands rose and fell with the depth of each breath she took. She could feel his heart hammering in his chest, that drumbeat that told Kenna he belonged to her.
After several minutes of unmoving silence, he spoke.
“Kenna,” Diavolos said quietly.
“Hmm?”
“I could never forgive myself if anything ever happened to you,” he said. “Your life means more to me than my own, and I … just please be careful. I know this war is far from over and if anything–”
He stopped speaking abruptly. Kenna sat up and looked at him and was surprised to see the tear that fell from his eye. She’d never seen him cry before, but he held her gaze, letting the tear drift down his cheek. Kenna brushed it away with her fingertips and kissed the salty trail it had left behind before she kissed his trembling lips.
“Stay here with me,” she whispered.
“Only if you promise to do the same,” he said as he brushed her hair back from her forehead, his eyes flickering towards the darkening bruise on her left arm.
“I’m right here,” she said. “I promise.”
