Darius hesitated and then he placed his hand on the small of her back and pressed his nose in the crook of her neck.She smelled like herbs and the faint trace of lavender soap. He pulled her closer, ignoring the steel belt pressing awkwardly into his side.
Serena pulled back slightly, her fingers finding the offending clasp. With a soft clink, she unclasped the belt and let it fall to the floor beside them. A few stray braids had fallen into her face during the hug, and she tucked them back behind her ear. She exhaled slowly and relaxed into a kneeling position.
"Would you run away if you could?" Serena asked.
Darius pulled one of his knees up and rested an elbow on it, his head falling into his palm.
"Maybe," he said with a laugh, his chest felt lighter than it did in the last few hours. "I have not thought about it. Run away and do what? Become a rogue?"
