Glass Petals

The humid air carried the heavy scent of orchids, their soft petals open wide to release their various perfumes. Leliana reached out a pale hand to cup a delicate blue flower, her eyes closing as she inhaled the scent.

She felt a warm presence at her back and released the flower, her eyes flickering open to look up at the man who had approached her. "Caleb," she said, smiling, and gave his cheek a gentle caress. "Come to enjoy the flowers?"

He grabbed her wrist, pressing a rough kiss to her palm before moving her hand away. "Not today, Leliana. I've come for something else." There was an edge to his voice, a hardness to the set of his jaw. His eyes, normally a gentle blue-green, were dark.

Leliana jerked her hand from his grasp, rubbing her wrist where he'd grabbed her, realizing he'd squeezed so hard it would leave a bruise. She frowned and peered at him again, golden eyes narrowing. "You can't have it, Caleb. You know that."

"I have orders."

"Damn your orders!" She whirled around, once more facing her orchids, her fists clenching at her side. "Get out. You cannot have what it is you seek."

"Leliana," he growled, his voice a warning. "I will have to take it by force if you will not hand it over."

She straightened her spine, squaring her shoulders, and Caleb mentally cursed his superiors for forcing him to antagonize this woman. He knew how dangerous she could be, and he had just put her into an offensive stance. "I dare you to try, Caleb Thorne." She turned, her eyes flashing with anger. "You will have to kill me to get it."