Lunar Rising

Ch.21 Honeybee

Chapter 21

The long night was never-ending. Eryx lay awake, staring at the canopy of Meera's bed, wondering what shapes and stories she saw when she couldn't sleep at night. The ocean breeze was too warm and the scent of all the flowers in the room tickled his nose, making his head feel hazy.

Beside him, Meera lay, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moonlight. Her delicate features were illuminated by the soft lunar beams, creating a celestial aura around her. Eryx couldn't help but marvel at her beauty – her hand gracefully positioned beside her face, fingers slightly curled, and dense, dark lashes casting a shadow against the gentle curve of her cheeks. Her lips were slightly parted, and her brows rested in a state of relaxation.

Eryx's eyes lingered on Meera, absorbing every detail of her beauty like the silent night. A sense of awe and admiration welled up within him, causing his chest to tighten. In the dark of the night, he found himself unable to resist likening her to the silvery moonlight. To him, Meera was as real as the moon, yet just like the celestial orb, she possessed an otherworldly quality– a living, breathing embodiment of a celestial dream.

As the night wore on and fatigue settled into Eryx's bones, a heavy weariness draped over him like a weighted blanket. The gentle lull of the ocean breeze and the intoxicating scent of Jasmin and peaches in the room conspired to coax him into the embrace of sleep. The struggle between drowsiness and wakefulness intensified as the longing for rest tugged at him.

Eryx, however, found himself torn between the desire to succumb to sleep and the irresistible urge to keep his eyes open. The need to gaze at Meera, even in the realm of dreams, held him in its tight grip. His eyelids, heavy with weariness, threatened to close, but an internal battle raged within him.

With each passing moment, the struggle became more pronounced. Eryx's body yearned for slumber, yet his heart insisted on remaining vigilant, fixated on the captivating sight of Meera in the moonlit serenity. The silvery glow continued to weave its magic around her, casting a spell that compelled Eryx to resist the pull of sleep. Eryx had never seen anything quite like that, not even in the woods past the mountains of Voreios.

In the end, despite his reluctance, Eryx's eyes gradually surrendered to the weight of exhaustion, closing in a final, blissful surrender to the dreams that awaited him. The image of Meera, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, lingered in his mind, creating a dreamscape where he felt her moved beside him place her small hand over his beating heart.

_______________

As the first light of dawn gently filtered into the room, Meera stirred from her peaceful slumber. A contented smile graced her lips as she inhaled deeply, detecting a lingering fragrance that enveloped her. The sheets cradling her were soaked with the unmistakable scent of pine and cedarwood, a subtle and comforting reminder of Eryx's presence.

In the quiet moments before full wakefulness, Meera's subconscious mind danced with the essence of Eryx's scent. A smile played on her lips as she basked in the warmth and familiarity it brought.

As Meera slowly opened her eyes, she found herself nestled in the soft cocoon of her own bed, the morning light casting a gentle glow around her. The smile, born from the delightful remnants of Eryx's presence, lingered as she relished the lingering traces of his scent on the sheets.

In the gentle embrace of the morning light, Meera's consciousness unfolded like the petals of a delicate flower. As she reached out, her hand instinctively sought the side of the bed where her husband had lain. The touch sparked a symphony in her heart, the realization of the change in their relationship echoing through her being. Her heart fluttered with the weight of the title, and a soft smile played on her lips.