You Can't Hide...

[Emilian Sota]

"That woman had no right to write that about them," Emilian said, rereading the first section. He remembered how it had been when people had started finding out about him, but he knew it was going to be worse for Dare and Michael, he knew they didn't want a lot of people knowing, but everyone that read the column would know, and those that didn't would soon enough.

[Adara Snow]

Adara nodded solemnly, her gaze dropping to the motions of her fingers against Emilian's chest. "It is an invasion of privacy beyond the norm," she agreed softly. "And she took it too far with her incorrect assumptions about the level of their relationship." The last time she and Emilian had spoken of Michael and Dare, Emilian had assured her that the boys' relationship was not as physical as hers and Emilian's.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian raised his eyebrows and looked at Adara, "Last time they were here Dare all but told me they've been that far." He remembered catching them downstairs, and the following conversation about starting on the couch and other things. "But telling everyone that they're together isn't right, they should have been able to tell who they wanted." That, in his opinion, was taking it too far, the rest was inconsequential in his book.

[Adara Snow]

"Oh," Adara said, blinking again. She had a flash of Emilian's description of how such things were done, then set the matter aside for his next words. "They should have," she agreed, "but they were not given the choice, and so we can only support them." But Emilian was leaving. The bottom seemed to drop from her heart. Adara chewed her lip a moment. "I will do whatever I can to help."

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian sensed a change in Adara and looked down at her, then he closed the paper, holding his place with a finger, and wrapped his arms around her. He wished he could be there for her, and for them, but he knew it was useless to wish and hope, so he tried not to, though it was very hard. "I imagine they'll need a lot of it," he said, instead of acknowledging that he was going to be gone.

[Adara Snow]

Adara closed her eyes, letting herself concentrate on the strength of Emilian's arms around her and taking strength for herself. She didn't acknowledge the future, either. It was unstoppable, it was for the best. Her hand smoothed against Emilian's chest, silent thanks for his support. I love you, she thought, turning her head to press a kiss against the smooth underside of his jaw. "You said that Dare is coming today?" she asked softly. She would much prefer to spend her last days with Emilian in his bed.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian nodded, "Just to drop off your portrait, I've already told him he won't be welcomed for very long." He knew that they could get Dare to leave, it wouldn't be that hard, especially if Michael came, too. "I wanted to see your reaction to it, though," he said, running a hand over her back.

[Adara Snow]

Adara let herself be soothed and distracted, and her lips curved as she looked up at Emilian. "I am certain that I will like it," she said. Any token, any visual reminder, would be welcome. She would love it. Adara was so distracted by the thought of being alone with Emilian that she paid no attention to the idea of Dare knowing he wouldn't be welcomed for very long.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian kept up the smooth motion of his hand, his other arm remaining lightly wrapped around her, the paper still in his hand. His mind went back to hers and how she had looked in it, he smiled as he remembered putting it delicately at the top of his trunk, wrapped in a soft cloak to keep it from being damaged on the way, an extra precaution even with the spells in place over it.

[Adara Snow]

Adara could not determine the reasoning for the look in Emilian's eyes, but she recognized it all the same. He was letting himself show emotion more and more, in his own subtle way. Her lips curved, and she stretched herself against him, twining both arms behind his neck as she brought her lips to his.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian ignored the alarm telling him the front door had opened for a few long seconds, though he kept an ear out for the door at the bottom of the stairs, which never came. Either way, he eventually forced himself to pull back, looking down at her with slightly hazy eyes. "He's here." He almost yelled to just tell Dare to leave it, but he thought that he should at least pretend hospitality.

[Adara Snow]

Adara's brows rose when Emilian's words finally filtered into her mind. Her lips curved into a silent O, then she turned to gather her clothing from where it was scattered across the floor, her lip trapped between her teeth. Adara had not forgotten Michael's reaction the last time he'd walked in on them, and even if Michael wasn't with Dare, she had no desire for any sort of repeat.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian watched her for a few seconds, then lay the paper out on the table to read as he dressed. He smirked at the knowledge that Dru had left Chase, though it froze when he saw the name Blackwood. Wasn't Dare's name Blackwood? And Silver the little prat that had been with Adara that day? His eyes narrowed as he went on, only to harden more when he saw Adara mentioned.

[Adara Snow]

Adara had taken her clothes to the bedroom to dress. When she emerged a short time later, her hair had been straightened a bit as well, and her hands were smoothing against the front of her skirt. She could feel the blush in her cheeks, but all thoughts of herself were quickly smothered by the look in Emilian's eyes. "Emilian?" she called softly, slipping up beside him. Her gaze dropped to the paper, finding that comment regarding herself. "What does it mean, when the cat's away?" she asked. She knew that the implication must be something unkind, but could put together nothing more.

[Emilian Sota]

"When the cat's away the mice will play," Emilian said, finishing out the phrase, his eyes flashing angrily as he did. "She's saying that while I'm gone you're going to go off with someone else," he explained, glaring down at it, the previous revelation of Silver and Dare being brothers all but forgotten in face of the woman trying to mess with their relationship.