She felt him just a breath before he spoke, like chill that preceded misfortune. His voice was different than she remembered, but the inflection, his words, and that sensation that caused a shiver to run up her spine had not changed in over 10,000 years.
Naila visibly stiffened, eyes widening before she quickly struggled to put a neutral mask in place. Lyra knew she still had nightmares about that night, of those dark eyes that burned like smoldering coals. Today he wore a smile, but to Naila that made him seem all the more menacing.
Lyra continued to stare out over the crowd, absently swirling the wine in her glass as if nothing were amiss. How easily one could hide the truth, for inside she felt in equal parts fear and exaltation. He knew of course, but it was to be expected.
"I knew you were here, somewhere just beyond what I could see." Lyra said softly, turning to search the man's dark eyes. There seemed a thousand things she wished to say, to ask, but as was her nature Lyrielle let them all fade to smoke and she smiled.
"It is indeed a fine day, Em'bra." It had been millennia since she had spoken that word which meant only him, could describe only him. She looked out to the crowd, her eyes following the queen of ice for a time before she settled on Talon once more, "Will we dance tonight as we used to?"
It was disconcerting how easily she fell into her old ways, but when near this man Lyrielle felt like she were waking from a dream. She felt more like herself than she had in the seasons since her escape from the prison that held her for centuries. Lyra thought she should be concerned about that, but Lyrielle simply didn't care.
"We were shattered, you know... It hurt." Her worlds trailed off, and though they were playful there was an edge to them that made her smile shrink. She didn't say it, but she put some of the blame on him for her current weakened state. There was anger there, but more there was loss.
