Her smile was a balm to his anxious soul. To see her hurt made his heart ache, and while he of course wanted what any good potential mate wanted for her, he couldn't stand the thought that she was torturing herself over a past he was sure she'd change if she could. How long had she suffered, waiting, confused? He wished he could've met her sooner, spared her the pain, soothed it quicker, anything.

He still didn't expect her to shift forward, lean down, and kiss him.

The red-and-gold Stormhorse kissed her back and lifted a leg to wrap around the back of her neck and pull her deeper into it, to hold her close, to let her know she was loved. No matter her past, he still saw their futures intertwined.

Kaphiri listened more with the patience and understanding of a saint. She didn't deserve a man so good and devoted, but she wanted to deserve him. Oh so badly. And as she bent down to kiss him, he pulled her in with all the passion in the world. Then kissed her fully back, embracing her in all the love and adoration that he ever had for her. It took her completely by surprise, but she adored it all the same. It was the most euphoric thing, to be loved back and embraced by a man like him. Almost instantly Amrei had put the past behind her, no longer worrying about what might have been. If Azrael wanted her to be in his life, he would have showed back up. Now it was time for her to move on, and Kaphiri had finally given her the way out.