Disclaimer-I own nothing. Holly Black owns Val and Ravus. sighs

Val let her fingers wander over the familiar greenish skin of Ravus's neck. She pressed her face into his shoulder and held on tight to him. He clutched her small form close to his large one. He still marveled at how she could do that so willingly, without being afraid or disgusted at what he was. A troll. Children were taught to fear creatures like him, not nestle up close to them and trust them. Val was like a gift to him. He treasured every moment they had together and wished for more. He loved her deeply. Like all fey he let his emotions take over, only one at a time, though. This one was love. Love for her and for her loving him. He wanted to keep her safe always, to keep her happy, to keep her with him. He wanted her forever, not a day less. Nothing else in his life had ever been more important than her. He felt complete. Whole.

Val tried to suppress a yawn. She felt her eyelids slowly slipping closed as she lay there next to Ravus on his palette-esque bed. She smiled as he ran his long slender fingers through her short hair. She'd kept it short lately, in a pixie cut, though she knew she didn't look anything like a pixie. Ravus had commented on it. He'd said he liked it short. Growing it out would take too long and it was so stereotype. He liked her as Val, the unique, insane human. She'd laughed when he'd said this.

Ravus pulled a thick blanket over them and Val clung on tighter to him. He rubbed her back in long, soothing strokes. She twined her fingers into his long shaggy black hair, memorizing for probably the thousandth time the texture and feeling. She found that she liked him more when he wasn't glamoured. She admired his natural beauty. The first time she'd seen him she was surprised. She thought that trolls were supposed to be old and ugly and vicious and mean. But Ravus was far from that. He was loving and kind and handsome in his own way, the way Val loved.

She let her hands trace Ravus's face lightly. She went over the slant of his cheek bone, the hollows under his eyes, his angular nose; she ran a finger over one of his incisors. He pulled her hand down to let it rest on his chest, leaning down to put his lips close to her ear, caressing her skin lightly.

"Sleep," he breathed seductively.

Val smiled. She found it hard to resist the persuasiveness of his voice. But she would have one thing in return. She turned and brought her lips to his. He gently returned the kiss, breathing in the familiar scent of her which he loved. The slight sting of fangs made her lips tingle a bit. She liked the way it felt, sharp but sweet, like the burning sweetness of peppermint in your mouth as you sucked on it. Except this was so much better than a small piece of red and white striped candy. She closed her eyes as she pulled away.

"Good night, Ravus," she whispered.

"Good night, Val," he said back softly. "Sweetest of dreams." He held her as she slipped under into unconsciousness.