Nightmare

Dorian awoke to a shifting next to him, so persistent that even when he felt like he needed to sleep for a week he still opened his eyes. It was still nighttime, thank the gods, as the young King breathed out. Panting confused him, especially since it originated from the spot next to him.

"Witchling?"

It was indeed Manon, breathing heavily, her hands up on her face, her legs brushing his in what he understood was an attempt to drive something away. He knew well enough what was going on and in response, Dorian shifted closer. While keeping his eyes on her hands in case she lashed out, the King ignored the ache in his muscles as he raised a hand to touch at her.

When it was clear that the witch was too in her head to possibly attack him, Dorian rubbed at his face to clear his eyesight. "Hey, Manon." He yawned as he sat up, rubbing her hair in a way he knew annoyed her before trying to shake her. When neither of those things worked, he figured he had to be a little more forceful.

Leaning down, he took her against his chest. "Hey, wake up, it's just a dream."

But she was stiff and shaking, causing the King to raise his eyebrows. Her heart seemed like it would burst out of her chest and the little noise she let out caused a shiver to go down his spine.

This was no ordinary nightmare.

Wide awake now, Dorian stroked her back with one hand while the other he used to go for the hands on her face. "Manon, wake up."

It took him a bit of coaxing but she finally did wake, going stiff with a gasp. Even her breathing stilled.

Giving her time to gather her bearings, Dorian kept stroking her back, slower this time. "You're okay, witchling. It's just a dream," he whispered into her hair, a slight teasing tone attached to it.

Only the sound of the wind could be heard, ruffling the trees and making a branch scratch at the only window in the small room.

Manon growled and Dorian let out a yelp as he was pushed off the small cot, falling right on his ass on the cold floor. "Hey, what the hell? That hurt."

But she wasn't looking at him as the witch sat up, her eyes going to the window. Dorian huffed, peeved as he said, "it's just the wind." He rubbed his backside. "You didn't have to push me off the bed."

After making sure there truly was no threat, those pretty eyes finally turned to him. "You didn't have to stay."

He stood up, flinching at the freezing temperature on his bare feet. Despite his magic, Dorian was only immune to self-inflicted cold, not nature's. "Well, you didn't kick me out."

The half roll of the eyes she gave him was short of adorable, and the King fought the attraction with a driving force. "Move over."

A silvery eyebrow came up. "What?"

"I'm still staying the night here, move over."

The tone of voice didn't sit well with Manon, who bared her iron teeth at him. "Do I look like someone you can just order around?"

But Dorian was sleepy and grumpy and at this point he didn't care what she thought as he pushed her over and went under the warm sheets. The outrage on her face was almost comical. "How dare-"

"It's cold," he cut in, "and your bed is warm." So let's stop talking, and lie back down, he pleaded with his eyes.

It seemed to work since the witch pursed her lips in disapproval, but didn't push him out of the bed again. Dorian lay down-already feeling comfortable despite the fact that there was a bloodthirsty Witch-Queen glaring at him. With a smirk since she was looking, the King signaled at himself in an effort to get her to lie on his chest.

Scoffing, Manon smacked his hand away before lying down next to him, facing away, showing distance despite them being next to each other. Dorian tried to bury the disappointment by turning it into something else. "What was the nightmare about?"

He watched her shoulders stiffen. "Didn't you want to sleep?"

Impossible, this witch was impossible. "We can never have a normal conversation, can we?" He asked with a chuckle she did not reciprocate.

"If you want someone to talk pleasantries with, you are in the wrong room."

"What do witches dream about?" There was a rumble in response and Dorian bit at his bottom lip to keep the smile on his face from growing. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."

"I dream of eating out your heart," she hissed, but all Dorian could think about was how he would enjoy eating her out-her hand shot out for his neck, the iron nails scratching over his jugular.

"Naughty princeling," she muttered in a voice that traveled all the way down his pants. She had caught the scent of his arousal. "What do you dream about?"

She had turned to him and his eyes immediately fixated on her mouth, those full lips drawing him in, distracting from whatever she asked. Dorian watched, entranced, as Manon slowly touched over his stomach, raising her head so she hovered above him.

Brushing his lips with hers…

The witch let out an amused breath as she drew back. "Do not think for a second, that you are in control." Surprised at the move, Dorian couldn't even speak as she lay back down in the same position as before. "Go to sleep, princeling."

Dorian let out a brisk laugh, though he kept his voice low so as not to disturb others. "I see how this is," he said with a nod. "Alright, goodnight witching."

She didn't answer, not that he expected her to.

Because of the rejection from earlier however, Dorian waited until her body relaxed and her breathing evened out before he made his own move. When he was sure she was deep asleep, the King took a painstakingly long time to maneuver her around while being extremely careful not to wake her, just so he could have her against his chest in a hug he smiled widely at.

Welcome everyone to a new series starting our favorite little duo. I figured doing a parallel to Ice and Magic's first chapter was the best way to start off this new series. I'm happy with how EoS gave us more to work with in terms of this couple despite the hate that it's continually garnered. Either way, congrats, we're canon!

I hope you enjoy!

PS: I got close to canon a few times, didn't I? ;]