Not too long ago, the Captain Commander thought he had the world in the palm of his hand. Nevermere had realized itself as the greatest military power Terra Nova had ever known. His niece was pregnant, happily married, and Hadrian himself would soon wed the woman he’d at one time thought far beyond his reach. But now…everything had fallen to pieces.

Kennet’s rejection came by letter. This was the final cold slap of indignity that magnified all the other losses. What burned him most was that she wasn’t entirely wrong: Nevermere needed them both—their whole selves—and their marriage would only serve as a distraction. That didn’t make it hurt any less.

In a time of such uncertainty, Hadrian had set his sights on the one last steady mark on the horizon: Alys Delaney. Their prior estrangement made it improbable that this should be the case. But Alys was the only one, it seemed, who was with him in this fight instead of looking on from on high. That wasn’t laying blame for Nevermere’s military failures at his feet. And if he ever needed a sister in arms, it was now. And maybe, just maybe, he could return the favor.

Alys had become something of a spectacle—one of awe and wonder but also fear and suspicion. He assumed her apparent seclusion was of her own design. Hadrian knew people were liable to fear what they didn’t stand—and truth be told he didn’t entirely understand her himself. But instead of being repulsed, Hadrian was drawn to her power.
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After finding out her hiding place, Hadrian went and wrapped on her door, exhaustion etched in every line of his aging features. When the door opened, Alys stood on the other side of it, the harshness softened. The same roguish smirk that had come so easily when he was still the dashing captain at sea reappeared like a long-awaited sun.

“I think at this point, both of us had better learn to expect the unexpected, don’t you?” Hadrian’s eyes flickered from her to the contents of them room and back again. “Can I come in?”

It was his smile the made the knots in her stomach untie. Surely with that grin, one she hadn’t personally seen given to her in quite some time. Maybe this was exactly the kind of visit she needed to set her back into a normal flow… at least for when she was allowed to venture back out. “Yes, I suppose you are right. It’s just… been a long couple of days.” Had it really only been a small handful of days since the ball?

He looked into the room, and she didn’t hide it from him. Pushing the door further open, she pointed with her head into the room, welcoming him within the room. She glanced at a few areas that looked clearly more lived in recently than normal. “Excuse the… well overall state.” She shut them within the room with a solid click of the door. Maybe if she just tried to stick to the basics… “drink?” She asked, looking back to him with a small smile on her face.

Not like she really needed another reason to start the drinking this early in the day but… it seemed to be something they did within one another’s offices when they were visiting.

Hadrian entered when invited, his eyes traveling over the contents of the room with a raised eyebrow and the same faintly mischievous smile. Alys may have been reclusive, but she'd certainly been busy doing...well, whatever it is this was. The smell, however, was divine and immediately soothing to the commander's frayed nerves.

At the offer of a drink, Hadrian turned his attention back to Alys. The commander had never turned down a drink in his life, so he nodded. "Be generous now," He joked, stepping further into the room. "You've certainly been...busy."

Alys had already collected two glasses and she felt her mouth turn into a full smile. “Have I ever not shared a healthy amount of drink with you?” She looked up, feeling as if this visit for her was going to be better for her well-being than she had ever thought before. She didn’t bother with a simple pour, instead she poured the drinks healthy and 2/3 of the way. Just enough that it wouldn’t spill as she walked over to him and offered him one.

“The word you are looking for is: stir-crazy. Or is that considered two?” She would gently clink the bottom of her glass to his. “But yes, I had… to keep myself busy.” A small admission that she had been keeping herself away and possibly not because she wanted to.

Hadrian chuckled. She wasn’t wrong. Though to be fair, Hadrian was of the opinion there were few things in life not made better by a few drops of whiskey. Or more. He took the glass from her and immediately took a sip.

“Had to?” Hadrian raised an eyebrow, smirk enduring, “So this isn’t a seclusion of your own design?”

A soft snort, one more sounding of breath than anything else left her, her eyes lingering on the fire where she could still see the edges of the broken vial. She took a slip of the whiskey, letting it burn down her throat for a moment before she took a deep breath. “Not… exactly.” She murmured, taking another drink as she stood at his side.

“How have things been? Is… it as scandalous as we joked? Worse?”

Hadrian's brow pinched together in confusion for a moment before relaxing. He was, of course, curious as to the nature of Alys's confinement, but had enough good sense left not to push the matter. He wasn't here to interrogate her. He was here as a friend. Well...yes, friend.

He laughed, clearing a space on the sofa to sit, clearing enough for two if Alys cared to sit, making himself at home with an exhausted sigh. "Oh, there's plenty of scandals to go around, I'm afraid. As far as your particular scandal..." He smirked, "It would be easier if I could answer questions. Because in the absence of answers, there are rumors instead. Some even asking if you're a man." His eyes trailed down Alys's body pointedly before returning her gaze to her face.

"I assured them that that's not the case."

Alys stood for a moment, turning the glass in her hand as she watched the liquid until she was watching Hadrian clear not only a space for himself but for her… or she assumed for her as there was a larger than needed spot. She knew he was teasing, and she even laughed a little when he said that some have asked if she was a man. “I guess they missed the aftershow, as I was on full display for the whole kingdom.” She took a long drink and moved to sit beside him.

She heated as his gaze slid over her and she let out another breathy laugh. “Well, glad you could testify on my behalf that I am indeed a woman.” Or well, perhaps just visually. But he surely knew the female anatomy enough that he wasn’t lacking in expertise. “Rumors will have to be what is believed for now.” She sounded almost a touch sad, tossing back more of her drink.

“I’m afraid I don’t have many answers myself… nor could I answer them if I did.” She looked up at him, letting out a long breath. “I need to ask you something. I have no real right asking you… but,” she turned in her seat to face him better. “Please don’t ask anyone else about me, or entertain the talk with others about my ability. I don’t mind us talking about it, but it… needs to stay here. Please, Hadrian.”

Hadrian, even in the din of the ballroom, had very much not missed the after-show. He sighed, joining her in downing a good bit of whiskey. He had his own situation to lament, though the source of his heartache was far different than Alys’s, and was happy to drown his sorrows for the time being.

Hadrian’s eyebrow raised when Alys spoke. It hadn’t hit Hadrian that there was a secret to be kept—not now that everything seemed to him to be out in the open. He opened his mouth to protest but then had the good sense to shut it and nod.

“You have my word.” Hadrian meant it. Perhaps he hadn’t understood before, but Alys’s tone reinforced it was a matter to be taken seriously.

“The king told me he’d be sending Sabine to investigate the nature of your curse. I did ask him, I thought…it’d be an advantage in the war to come.” It wasn’t quite an apology, for Hadrian didn’t know he had anything to apologize for. When he told the king, he assumed correctly that the royal knew. And that was that.

Hadrian paused, sipping his whiskey, before he asked, “Hopefully Sabine will give you some answers. Has…has the king mentioned it?”

The ‘thank you’ went unsaid, but the way her face eased and the faint smile pulled at the corner of her lips said it all the same. She hadn’t known what Cassian would say to try and bury her show, and the mention of the prior kings witch made a seed of jealousy take root in her gut. It was quickly pushed aside, it had been her idea to keep Sabine as council. Why not consult with her about her curse. She almost laughed. “Never, in the time I have had her, have I ever thought it a curse.” Her hand brushing her chest as if to point at the beast within.

“She’s just… always there. But you don’t need to explain why you asked.” She found herself comfortable in the seat beside him, sipping some of the whiskey at hand. “I would try and reach for anything to give us an advantage. The Eldouirs… any threat really… we want to have the better hand.” And for that, she didn’t need to tell Hadrian he was forgiven, she didn’t fault him for asking. When he asked about if Cassian had told her about Sabine… she shot him a small look, tighter lipped than usual and those dark eyes looking at him from the corners. “Not quite.”

Because she had been here. Waiting, staying low. As she had been instructed. “I don’t think I can stay in here much longer… I’m restless.” She whispered, just between them. “I feel like… a coil is tightly wound in me and I can’t release it. Not in here.” She was good for small bouts of being in her office. In and out, she liked the potions and what she had learned there. Reading had become another fast favorite. But now that she lived there… she craved the training, the people, company.

Grabbing the bottle from the table in front of them, she offered to fill his glass before hers. “It seems we have become quite the drinking… buddies?” She tilted her head as if trying to figure out if that label worked, brows pinching slightly in thought as she took a sip of the glass. “How have you been?” She asked, genuine as she settled in beside him, her arm pressed to his.

“Not quite.”

Hadrian raised an eyebrow. The increased tension was slight but visible. Once again, Hadrian was tempted to press the matter, but he decided to let it go. His gaze remained on her, soft and silver like the sky after a storm.

“Buddies?” Hadrian scoffed with a hearty chuckle, “I should like to think we’re beyond ‘buddies’ at this point, Lady Delaney.” He teased, struck that it was not too long ago that the teasing title had left his lips directed at another. A change would come over his face—a touch of sadness, an ounce of regret.

“Oh…” Hadrian sighed, shaking his head, “Restless too, I suppose. Though for different reasons.” He took a sip of his whiskey thoughtfully. “Life at sea was much simpler. One does miss it from time to time. But…” He shrugged, “We soldiers soldier on, don’t we?” He smiled at her with clear affection.

Alys felt her own laugh match his, and yet Lady Delaney seemed to make them both fall a little. Even though she was a Delaney, it was the reminder of the one who gave her that name, who gave her two beautiful children, the one who had put a wedge between Hadrian and Alys and yet brought them together as well. Her hand moved, wrapping his forearm and giving him a small squeeze. Acknowledging the feeling and making sure he knew that he wasn’t alone in it.

“Beyond buddies… I don’t think I have a title for that then,” she smiled, trying to help them skip over the title she wouldn’t be rid of, especially as she was sure she wouldn’t be re-marrying in this lifetime.

“Restless is restless, regardless of the why,” though her eyes seemed to linger a long moment on him. Encouraging him to share if he dared, giving him a pause in her words before she answered him. “Soldier on we do. No matter the wins or losses, we push forward,” she could think of all the times she wanted to just stop. Wanted to give up and throw in the towel, yet the blade and Nevermere called her back. Pushed her on. She swirled her glass as she sank back a bit, her head laying against the backrest of the lounge. “There was a time, you know,” she felt herself laughing just a bit and a smile spreading on her lips, “when I had hoped to serve on your ship. Before I was done with mandated training, I was convinced.”

“You and Logan were quite the teenage crush, all the girls seemed to have one of the two of you, or the both of you, within their day dreams.” She gave another chuckle before she was drinking again. “Such simple times.”

Hadrian snorted, finishing his whiskey and pouring another. It felt good to sink into the warm embrace of the liquor. It had long been his shelter from hardship, and it did not fail him now. With every sip, he could feel Kennet receding into the background of his mind.

Hadrian smirked, shaking his head. It would have been news to Logan that he could be found in anyone’s daydreams. Hadrian, on the other hand, knew full well he’d had the young ladies of Nevermere twisted around his finger—though it had clearly not done him any good in the end. He contemplated Alys for a moment, a crooked smile still slung across his features.

“Oh yeah?” Hadrian asked with a raised eyebrow, “And which one of those girls were you?”