In the Melkvey household, tradition wasn't limited to laughter and cheerful reunions. As night deepened, a different kind of intimacy unfolded, one where rest would not come easily.
In the quiet of their chambers, Rossweise's lips traced the intricate dragon markings on Leon's chest with a feather-light touch, as if she could read the story of his recent battles and the emotions churning within him through the feel of his skin. Their eyes met in the dim light—his, dark pools of earth and storm; hers, silver mirrors of moonlight—both brimming with a longing that had built over months of separation, a floodgate neither had the will nor desire to restrain.
Tonight, there were no elaborate games, no playful experiments. The need was simpler, more fundamental. Both of them wanted to be utterly present, to feel nothing but the reality of the other.
One might have expected a reunion after such a long and dangerous absence to be frantic, fervent, perhaps even tinged with a frantic desperation. But what transpired was a profound, honest intimacy, a slow and deliberate reacquaintance that culminated in them holding each other as if they were the only anchors in a turbulent world.
Leon's hands, scarred and calloused from countless battles, moved over Rossweise's impossibly soft, smooth skin—a contrast that never failed to stir her. She adored this feeling. Only a man as wild, fierce, and fundamentally untamed as he could truly match her own immense power and status as the Silver Dragon Queen. He was not a subject to be dominated, but an equal to be met.
And Leon was not merely indulging her. He had his own needs, his own passions, and he was not shy about issuing commands that Rossweise, in these private moments, was compelled to obey. Sometimes, he would deliberately act contrary to her expectations, keeping her off-balance, ensuring the dynamic between them never grew stale.
Over their seven years of marriage, Rossweise had come to a simple, inescapable truth: she could never fully conquer this man. His spirit was as untamable as the lightning he wielded. And yet, she found she didn't dislike it. In fact, she cherished it. Leon possessed an innate skill for navigating the fine line between submission and dominance, a dance that both satisfied her deepest desires and captivated her completely, keeping her heart eternally enthralled and unable to imagine escape.
Outside, a heavy rain began to fall, its steady rhythm providing a natural cadence for their night. It wasn't until the first hints of dawn tinged the sky and the rain softened into a gentle patter that the physically and emotionally spent couple finally stilled.
They lay side by side in the aftermath, the air thick with the scent of rain and their shared warmth. Rossweise held the edge of the silk blanket over her chest, her face still flushed from their final, shared peak. Her eyes remained closed, her teeth lightly worrying her lower lip, as if savoring the last echoes of sensation.
Suddenly, Leon leaned over and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. His hand came up to brush away the silver strands of hair stuck to her damp cheek, tucking them gently behind her ear.
"You've worked hard, Rossweise," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep and spent passion.
No woman, not even a Dragon Queen, could remain unmoved by those words spoken in such a moment. The physical exhaustion seemed to melt away, replaced by a deep, soothing warmth that spread from her heart. She nestled closer into the crook of his arm, feigning a coyness that was both rare and utterly charming on her.
"You always say I've worked hard," she whispered back, "yet you never hold back in the moment. You really don't know how to cherish me properly."
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. "Your tail was practically thumping against the mattress earlier. You can't blame a man for being encouraged."
"Shut up!" she retorted, though her protest was muffled against his skin, devoid of any real anger.
Leon's arm tightened around her shoulders, his thumb absently stroking the delicate curve of her ear.
As the post-storm silence settled deeply over the sanctuary, Rossweise took a few more moments to let her breathing even out before shifting the mood. It was time for serious matters.
"Are you absolutely certain it was Shadow who rescued Elizabeth in the Flaming Valley?" she asked, her voice now clear and analytical.
Leon's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a grim focus. He nodded against the pillow. "I'm certain. Elizabeth called him 'Lord Shadow,' and the power he displayed... he incapacitated my entire Lionheart team in an instant, without me sensing a thing. His strength is on a level I've never encountered. It's... unfathomable."
Rossweise considered this. "But he didn't attack you directly. That means he wasn't completely confident he could defeat you—not yet, at least."
"Exactly," Leon agreed. He let out a long, weary sigh. "But he's completely figured out my weaknesses. My reliance on lightning magic, my preferred close-quarters combat style—he's developed counters for all of it. If it weren't for the six-winged dragonhawk's timely intervention, I would have been consumed by that volcano." There was no ego in his admission, only a stark assessment of the facts.
The battle in the Flaming Valley had been a tactical defeat, no matter how one spun it. On the surface, Leon had destroyed the Flame Demon, but as he openly admitted, without the dragonhawk's aid, it would have been impossible in that specific environment. The Flame Demon's ability to resurrect endlessly using the valley's geothermal energy, combined with its newfound aerial dominance, exploited Leon's two greatest vulnerabilities: prolonged sieges and aerial combat.
It was clear Shadow had studied him meticulously. Any future confrontation would be fraught with uncertainty.
"Shadow's advantage was largely environmental," Rossweise analyzed, her mind sharp and strategic. "Only a primordial entity like the Flame Demon could muster fire potent enough to challenge dragonfire—not even Constantine could achieve that. And to cultivate such a creature required the unique, concentrated power of the Flaming Valley itself. There is no other place on the Samael continent with the necessary resources."
"In other words," Leon concluded, "they can't easily create another one."
"Precisely. So, regarding your dragonfire, I don't believe you need to be overly concerned. It can still serve as a powerful trump card in future battles."
Leon nodded, absorbing her logic. "You're right. Since the enemy has deconstructed my old methods, I'll need to build new ones. I need to learn, to adapt."
"Good."
"But the fundamental issue remains... flight." Leon stared up at the ornate ceiling, his voice heavy with frustration. "Back in the Dragon Slayer Corps, when we fought other Dragon Kings, their pride and temper always brought them to the ground for a direct fight. And we had plenty of anti-air artillery in the upper halls. Aerial combat was never a primary concern." He paused, the memory of his recent powerlessness stark in his mind. "But this time... a manufactured, winged monster with no pride to wound, no temper to exploit, had me completely cornered using air superiority alone. It's not just this battle. Remember when Noah and I chased the dragonhawk that stole the Jade Dew Dragon Fruit? If Shirley hadn't arrived in time, we might have failed then, too."
He closed his eyes, a rare admission of failure passing his lips. "This shortcoming has been obvious for a long time, but I was too arrogant, too reliant on raw power to address it... This loss... it wasn't undeserved."
Leon rarely conceded any ground to an opponent, but this time, he had to acknowledge that Shadow had outmaneuvered him completely. His previous one-dimensional approach of overwhelming force had made him predictable, an easy puzzle for a meticulous planner like Shadow to solve.
He exhaled deeply, the sound laden with uncharacteristic gloom, and fell into a troubled silence.
Rossweise, sensing his profound frustration, shifted beside him, her voice softening from its analytical tone back to one of gentle support. "The situation isn't as dire as you think. Even without innate flight, the six-winged dragonhawk has proven its loyalty. It's a resource, an ally. So, aside from developing new personal techniques, you should also consider strategies that involve cooperation with it."
Her tone then turned deliberately light, teasing. "Or with me. After all, I am perfectly capable of carrying you."
The comment broke through his somber mood, pulling a soft, genuine chuckle from him. The tension in his shoulders eased. He cradled the back of her head, drawing her fully into his embrace, and pressed another tender kiss to her forehead.
"I feel conflicted," he admitted, his voice low.
"How so?"
"I want to keep you safe, to shield you from dangerous battles. But at the same time, I know the strength you possess, and I want you fighting at my side. I know that as the Dragon Queen, you can't—and shouldn't—always stay behind me."
Rossweise laughed, a soft, melodic sound in the quiet room. "It's the eternal struggle, isn't it? Balancing your role as a protective husband with your duty as a fellow warrior."
Leon nodded, the truth of her words resonating deeply. "It is."
"I've told you this many times, Leon," she said, her silver eyes holding his with unwavering certainty.
"I am willing to face any danger alongside you. I don't want to keep repeating myself. The next time Shadow moves, we face him together. That is what it means to be partners. As husband and wife, we're supposed to share everything... including the fight."