Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m a romantic at heart (well, I mean, obviously), so I decided to write something on a whim.

There are #spoilers if you haven’t read all the way up through #sonata yet, as this takes place in the second half, from Score’s perspective.

For the rest of you? Enjoy.

I’m eighteen.

The thought surprised me. Of course I’d noticed my birthday drawing closer as the months passed, but, given the past two days of my life, I was surprised the thought bubbled up at all.

I rolled onto my side, my rapid heart in my ears as my bare arm slid along Lyra’s abdomen.

She was still asleep. I half-expected it—since surrendering to our match, it almost seemed like she needed to recharge from the time she’d spent denying our connection.

A sigh slipped from her lips, and she ducked her head closer to me, nuzzling my chest with her nose.

I’m eighteen, and I’ve peaked.

The thought was more amused than critical. But in all my wild, curious imaginings, I couldn’t envision anything more sublime than my current reality.

A burst of desire made my stomach flip. I followed my impulse, bringing my lips to the crook of her neck, inhaling the heady sweetness of my match. Lyra smelled like honeyed wine, rose water, and— deeper than those fragrances— something tangible and crisp that I couldn’t pinpoint, but knew in my gut was the scent of kindness.

I let my fingers wander until they twined into hers, slipping against her palm with a fit as sure as any glove.

It was this movement that finally woke her.

She blinked, then a sigh that was closer to a moan fell from her. She pulled back— not enough to escape my embrace, just enough to stare at me— her eyes shifting from a sleepy, hazy gray to an in-love pink.

Peaked.

My lips parted, perhaps to wish her good morning, or to ask her how she’d slept, or to even tell her I loved her— but instead, I lay, mouth agape, wondering how exactly I was fortunate enough that this was my destiny.

“Hi,” she said, fighting her bright grin by biting her lip.

My stomach jumped in response, desire knotting it again. I grunted, pulling her face in mine, kissing her as ardently as I felt. Her hand slid to my neck, her fingers catching the ends of my hair. It was a little long for my taste right now, and the locks curled wantonly between her fingertips.

She broke from me, kissing squarely on my chin, giggling. “You need a haircut.”

I groaned, “I love you.”

She pulled away, focusing on my eyes with those brilliant pink orbs, her lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. “I was talking about your hair, Score.”

I pressed my forehead to hers. “That doesn’t change the fact that I love you.”

She hummed, a blush rising to her cheeks, looking half-pleased and half-embarrassed by the statement. 

“By the time we get out of here, you’re going to really need an expert hair dresser to fix the mess I’ve made,” she said.

My brows raised, and a wave of insecurity washed over me. “Do I need to figure out how to cut it myself, then? Is this— am I not— do I look—“

She laughed, grappling my shoulders and tugging me down to her. She cut my words from me with a kiss, her hands bouncing down my naked shoulders towards my waist.

I broke away, “You don’t have—“

She placed one hand over my lips, silencing me. She smiled serenely, staring at my shaggy hair and running her free hand through it. “Your hair still looks amazing, despite how much I’ve butchered it. I think that every time you trust me to cut it. It’s like your hair flips into the most attractive possible swoosh and swoop for whatever I’ve done to it.”

“Siren genetics,” I said, my rational brain answering before I could stifle it. “Our bodies will try to hide every defect. Siren physicians had to look closely at their charges before—“ I cut myself off, frowning. Talking about the transgressions of our species was a sure way to sour Lyra’s mood.

She remained undaunted by my hesitation. “Before they stole the magic at the Source,” she finished. She looked a little thoughtful, “I suppose they couldn’t just hum their aches and pains away back then.”

I shook my head, “No. Until then, they relied on the Chanters to work as healers for our people.”

She grinned, leaning back on her palms. “So they weren’t simply musicians and poets.”

My heart squeezed. It was so rare to see her smiling when she thought of the sirens. “Not until they were afforded that luxury. When alteration rendered their craft obsolete.”

She grabbed my palm in hers, staring at the lines like a mystic about to read my future. “I wish I could heal.”

“You can,” I protested, “a simple hum can—“

“That doesn’t heal, Score. Not, really. Not without hurting the Realm. I wish I could fix things.”

My jaw tensed. Until Lyra was free, neither of us could really, truly be happy. Despite every evidence of the contrary.

“We will fix things,” I told her, slipping out of bed and grabbing my jeans. “I have to get to work.”

I haven’t peaked after all.

The thought was a spark, igniting a fire in my mind. Did I have any leads? Not at the moment. But the more I read, the more I learned, the more I experimented, the more likely I’d find the solution. Every spell had a counter, if you were clever enough to find it.

I slipped my tee over my head, taking a hard step forward, but she caught my wrist.

I turned to her, surprised that she’d stopped me.

“I have to get back to my research,” I said.

“And you will,” she agreed. She slid off the bed, keeping her hand on my wrist, as if afraid I would flee if she loosed her grip. She stared up at me, unflinchingly naked, her hair cascading over her breasts, the lines of her collar bones elegant. Her half-lidded eyes were so sexy and bewitching, I wondered if I could possibly tear myself away despite my convictions.

She traced my lips with her fingertips, “Even if you don’t find the way, Score… that doesn’t change how I feel. I love you.”

I bent to her, catching her mouth on mine, tasting her, smelling her, my heart swollen and bursting with gratitude and love and affection for this creature in front of me.

I hadn’t peaked. But it could only get better, carving a life out with Lyra. Navigating the future with her. Growing older with her, watching cities rise and fall, exploring the worlds, being with her. Having children— god, children. A family.

No, I haven’t peaked at all.

We had nowhere to go but up.