He was so sweet to her. Apple thought that's what she loved most about him; he was gentle by means of nature, not just afraid to hurt her. He was tender. Kind. He lit a fire in her that had nothing to do with lust and just made her want to… be better. Try harder. Smile more.

Dante was curious, but cautious. Apple wasn't surprised there were questions, especially around the finality of the oath.

It means that unlike ties like alliances or even marriages, that can be dissolved by word of the monarch, this oath goes beyond our law. When one of the pair die, there is no other Sword for the Chosen, and no other Chosen for the Sword. She sucked in a deep breath, keeping his gaze. Yes, but the same is said for me. Your actions represent my will, my life is in your grasp.

A soft exhale.

You would be one of the most important, closest figures in my life, she held her breath, gaze dropping to her fidgeting paws for just a single fleeting second before returning to his emerald orbs, Comparable to a mate. But not always! Siblings, friends, a child protecting their parent; the trust is the basis of the relationship, and it's not one made lightly.

Did she trust him so? Irrevocably.

You've joined our kingdom, played with my kids, patrolled borders that aren't firm, hunted, everything. You opened up a world of possibilities for me that I thought had been lost. You've taken me to bed. You are… so important to me. The light of my life, my gem in the sand. You do so much, for me, and I see it. I see you. And I want to show you what you mean to me. I want to grow together.

Apple barely noticed that she hadn't extracted them from the water before delving into the topic at hand. Their gazes locked. She could see the uncertainty in him, the pressure of it, hear the flutter in his breath; was she wrong to offer now? He was still new in her life, but Apple believed that someones true colors couldn't be hidden for long. If he had wanted her hurt, he could've done it a million times over in a million different ways.

He would die for her, he said. For the kids. For the kingdom.

He didn't sound as shaky as he looked.

'I see you too, mi girasol. The way you reach toward the sun, desperate to shed your winter coat and properly bloom. Your future is so bright.' But here, he looked away. Was he scared, too? It often seemed like they were two sides of the same coin, didn't it? Apple blinked, unwavering, patient.
He asked for time, and Apple dipped her head before he'd even finished the sentence. She knew it was a heavy ask of him, one that would change their lives, their futures.

He looked back to her, and she smiled. He wanted to say yes, he said, but he wanted to be sure. He wanted both of them to be sure.
Apple didn't need to think on it anymore. She wanted him to share her life; her den, her bed, her family, her kingdom, her secrets. She wanted the excuse to garden with him in the warm summer evenings, to fish with him on warm days and deliver the meals fresh to the citizens of their home.

Take as much time as you need, my sweet shadow, and don't think you have to say yes. We can still figure out what we mean to each other in different ways. It does not need to be this.

She touched her muzzle against his.

Do you want the day alone? I was going to go mark the borders a bit.

He could join her, or he could remain here, nearer the den. Sparrow was with the kids, but an extra guardian was never amiss either.

Dante was easy to be around. Be open with. Somewhere along the way he had wormed past her walls and found a way to make her feel comfortable in her own home again. Gave her back some semblance of control she'd been grasping blindly for.
It wasn't Sparrow, who she owed for being with those kids when she couldn't stand to look at them another moment. It wasn't Honoka, who had left her very home to guide them safely here and would always be welcome to return. It wasn't Ruya, who had convinced her to keep on living and saved her life through injury, infection and hopelessness.
It wasn't even Apricot, who had been there to pick up all her shattered pieces and helped lift her to higher esteem, offered her anything she could ever want, stood by her without a question or complaint.

It was Dante. Soft words, softer heart, even less willing to speak of her past than she was. As protective as her brother with a better understanding of how trauma shut down certain parts of you, how to soothe her fears. They were two damaged peas in this warped pod of a world just trying to figure it out.
Apple wanted to do that together.
She wanted to do everything together. Learn, cry, grow, laugh, play, fuck, cuddle, live, all of it. Harmony was her highest hope, where everyone was happy and free.

Apple giggled as he pulled himself from the water, playfully indignant, even giving a soft squeal as he sent water flying her way. She jumped after him, but he was already gone! How rude - she grinned, shaking her own pelt out.

Oh, I dunno, you seemed so excited, are you sure you even need company?

Well, he was getting it anyway -- she didn't even wait for him to joke back, just jumped from the water and loped after him.

Apple brushed affectionately along Dante's side as she caught up, just shooting him a smug flash of a grin as she fell into step beside him.

The moment shifted, and her teal orbs moved to meet his gaze with a confused frown. Apricot? Why would she need to speak with him? She was the Queen. This decision did not concern him, other than when the time came to officiate the moment. And… her littermate wouldn't stand in the way of her happiness, at any rate.
I don't need permission, if that's what you mean, she tipped her head, but Dante mentioned that he didn't think the King liked him. Her brother had been a little tense lately, but that had been before the shadow joined her side. The Dusk shook her head, offering a brief, apologetic smile.

If you have the pleasure of meeting other Dusk's, you'll find I am the nice trusting easy-going one, believe it or not. Many are slow to trust even without reasons like Apricot does for protecting me. We're a bloodline known for being… rough around the edges. It's not you.
Perhaps he would believe her. She felt… more like herself, with him. Not the scared ghost she'd been in the last months. Years?
Her ear pressed back.
She wanted Dante to know, especially now, here, that he was trusted. That even if he said no, being her Sword was just… a bonus. A title to flaunt about before others. She still trusted him, wanted to grow closer with him, believed he would hold her secrets close to his heart.
I was kidnapped and held hostage for over a year. They were trying to turn wolves against their own kind. Plum and I had gone off on our own, and Apricot didn't find me until I was free again. I think he struggles with guilt for not being there, and he's trying to make up for it. We came here to build a place safe for us and our family, our friends. But trouble only followed me… I tried to find some independence, went out on my own… came back beat to shit. Ended up with the whelps. So much chaos he never got an explanation for and accepts all the same.

Her throat constricted, the ripple of tension running down to her chest and gripping like some great snake. It was as close to an explanation anyone had been given.
She knew her brother deserved one, too.