Razi
As Frigga’s twenty-first birthday neared, Thorneheart Manor became the town spectacle. It was exceptionally busy with the extra tradespeople that had been hired on to ensure that the home was ready to host all the town’s most important people for an evening of glamour and luxury. Every member of the Thorneheart staff had extra duties on top of their usual chores: Noel freshened the florals, Gertrude ensured the carpets were all freshly cleaned, Stephan hired tradespeople to polish every surface, and Doris was in charge of getting the siblings’ wardrobe in line which in Frigga’s case was an ordeal the aunt had started planning months ago. The dozen or so other staff members also made sure that light fixtures were freshly wiped, paintings hung perfectly straight, and the stone tiles sparkled to the point of frivolousness. Sapphire Thorneheart always had high standards after all, and her expectations for her Heir Apparent’s official debut into adulthood were even higher.
Razi was in charge of appetizers and desserts, which meant she’d had to plan ahead for weeks. It was critical she get her task just right as several guests had dietary restrictions to be mindful of; assistance had been solicited from Marceline Cromwell’s staff to make sure there were plenty of appropriate options for her’s and the guard captain’s families, both of whom kept a strict religious diet as well as ensuring there were plenty of options for everyone else too. The choicest wines the local tavern had available had been brought in that morning in shocking quantities and Razi was once again reminded how wealthy the family was. She was tempted to try and pillage a bottle for herself, but thought better of it. She wasn’t a wine drinker anyway.
Neither was Frigga. In fact, most of the items the kitchen had been tasked to prepare would not be something Frigga would have ever picked. She didn’t have expensive taste, but it was apparent the party had little to do with what the birthday girl actually wanted. It had Lady Thorneheart written all over the imported cheeses and king crab cake hors d’ouvres.
Why was it too much to just ask their kids what they wanted? Why did a party meant to celebrate them have to be some kind of display of wealth and power? Because, obviously, the party wasn’t for Frigga. It was for the coven’s Heir Apparent to fortify her future position as leader, to intimidate detractors, and to attract a suitable mate which sickened Razi to think about.
The day before the party saw Razi finishing some preparations in the kitchens. She was putting the final touches on some tarts she’d made from scratch with so much butter she may have nearly bought the town’s entire stock. Worth it. And while she tried to keep her attention on her task, Razi couldn’t keep herself from overhearing Doris and Noel’s gossiping.
“You know, I bet Wade Morganson’ll give it a try,” Doris whispered to Noel. “He’s been single for so long, ever since he arrived! I bet he’s been waiting for this.”
Noel giggled, her eyes trained on the fish she was in the process of deboning. She was a younger woman who primarily worked alongside Razi in the kitchens. While Razi was dark, Noel was fair, almost as fair as Frigga, though her skin was even-toned and her black hair was always tied back in a neat bun and covered with a bonnet to keep it out of her face “I don’ think the man knows what he’s signin’ up for then, might be out of his depth.”
“Or Marcus?”
“You think? Frigga doesn’t seem to be his type, if you know what I mean.”
“Everyone knows what you mean, Noel. Boy’s more feminine than Miss Thorneheart most of the time.”
“Tha’s true, but think of what a wonderful match it’d be.”
“Would be beautiful children, no doubt.”
That comment sent Razi’s blood pressure through the roof and she nearly dropped the stack of bowls she was putting away. Nearly, she caught herself but not before earning the other women’s attention. “Doris, don’t you 'av something better t’ do than flap your crusty lips?” The bite in Razi’s tone was accidental, surprising even herself. She didn’t apologize for it, though, couldn’t be bothered to feel sorry as she put the oversized bowl back into its spot in the cupboard.
Doris’ eyes narrowed and she smiled conspiratorially. “You’re not even a little curious, Wood?” She asked as a thinly-veiled taunt.
Razi rolled her eyes. “It’s jus’ a party, Doris, it’s not like Miss Thorneheart’s gettin’ married tomorrow.”
Doris and Noel exchanged a knowing look. “Maybe not tomorrow,” Doris wandered over to the tea cabinet as Noel slowly went back to her fish. “But I might’ve heard,” Doris said with soured innocence, “that Lady Thorneheart was talking to the dressmaker in town and ordered some premium fabric. Angela said it was the nicest they had available, didn’t she?”
If there was one thing in this world Angela knew it was fabric. Razi glowered and watched as Doris poured boiling water into the waiting bone china teapot on the silver tray destined for Frigga’s room. She replaced the kettle back onto a cold element before she crossed the kitchen to where Razi was slumping against a countertop. “Speaking of, how’s Angie been Raz? Seen her lately?” The woman’s condescension told Razi she already knew the answer. Maybe if the woman wasn’t so freakishly tall so that she literally looked down on everyone, her tone wouldn’t automatically take on that affect but it really didn’t help that she was so presumptuous.
“Doris, I’m gon’ need you to mind your own fuckin' business for once,” Razi bristled. Doris was fishing for juicy details, but Razi would be damned if she would help in the woman’s quest to sniff out scandal. Not that she needed help. Doris always paid attention so if there was even a hint that a scandal might be brewing, she’d put pieces together that hadn’t even formed yet.
She chuckled, her rosy cheeks dimpling as she wrapped a finger around a stray brunette lock. “Oh, you seeing someone else, Wood? Angie was complaining she hasn’t seen you in weeks!”
“Nope.”
“Been putting extra hours into that project of yours, huh?”
“Jus’ doing my job.”
“Looking for a promotion?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m sure. There’s only so many ways us common folk can climb the ladder, save for cozying up to the boss and her family.”
The woman’s eyes bored holes into Razi who kept her own locked on the clock opposite but not registering its hands. Razi hated being the centre of this kind of attention, like she was a character in some book to be read and speculated on. “Dor, I don’ know wha’ you’re trying t’ say, but if you’re gonna say somethin’, spit it out.”
The woman shrugged and returned to the tray where her teapot steeped. “I’m not sayin’ anything,” she sighed, “just looking out for Miss Thorneheart. Besides you, I’m the one that spends the most time with her, after all.”
Razi rolled her eyes. “Yeah, brand new news, Dor. ‘Avent been informed of tha’ at all by everyone. Nope. Not at all.” She levelled an unimpressed glare at Doris. “Jus’ don’ make shit up that’ll get to Gert. I don’ want ‘er thinking poorly o’ me ‘cause you got bored.”
“I’m sure Lady Thorneheart would be very interested in who her niece is spending time with though, don’t you think?”
Razi’s blood cooled and she bristled, “Don’ even fuckin’ joke ‘bout tha’.” At Doris’ raised brow, Razi did her best to reel back her reaction and cleared her throat. “I’m doin’ my job, tha’s it. Whatever you think’s goin’ on ain’t.”
Doris shrugged and started to leave with a fresh pot of tea on her tray before pausing abruptly at the door. She tossed an accusatory “Which reminds me: Miss Thorneheart has asked for her walk this afternoon at the usual time” over her shoulder before leaving the kitchen and Razi to stew.
When the door shut behind Doris, Razi glanced to see Noel still busy with her own task, her eyes politely trained away. Razi sighed. “Y’don’t ‘av t’ pretend you didn’ ‘ear tha,” she reassured.
Noel let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank the gods because it was killing me.”
Razi snickered. “I swear, Dor’s gon’ get my fist one o’ these days if she keeps flappin’ ‘er mouth.” She then turned back to her task, putting the freshly cleaned kitchenware away. After that was done, Razi took mental stock of what she’d pack for the afternoon’s excursion. She’d planned it for weeks and was basically ready already. All that was left to do was clean herself up.
“Are you showing Miss Thorneheart your project?” Noel’s question snapped Razi out of her checklist.
“Yeah, figured she could use some cheerin’ up.”
Noel grimaced and looked up at the ceiling. “I saw her about half an hour ago, helped Doris with some parcels. She seemed as put together as always, but I’d surely be stressed if I were surrounded by that many tomes and family trees.” She then turned her eyes to Razi and smiled warmly. “It was mighty sweet of you to do that for her.”
Razi shrugged. “It wasn’t just for her, not really,” she lied. Noel shook her head with a knowing smile and resumed her task as Razi looked back outside. It was a perfect day for what she had planned, not a cloud for leagues. Perfect weather for the perfect gift for the perfect… Razi stopped the thought there, but a soft thrill shot through her limbs and into her chest. Butterflies? Really? Wasn’t she a bit beyond being nervous over something as simple as a gift, especially a gift Frigga would definitely love? It wasn’t like Razi was proposing, so why was she so nervous?
Frigga
Frigga was nervous. It wasn’t as if Frigga was being put in a dog show, being put on display and inspected by a panel of judges, but it certainly felt that way. With the party so near, she hadn’t managed to escape outside as much this week and this was her last chance to see Razi before it. It was unexpected to have an afternoon to herself so close to the event, but after she’d nearly exploded at Leland during lunch for accidentally dropping a few crayons on the floor, her aunt had allowed her the afternoon. It would lift her spirits and soothe tension after all. While Frigga was genuinely looking forward to seeing everyone and dancing with her friends, the event was crucial to her coven’s future. She needed to be the exact representation of Thorneheart perfection and the symbol of her coven’s potential for the city’s officials, the picture her aunt had raised her to be. No pressure or anything.
Doris returned with fresh tea as Frigga was doing a final review of her birthday jewelry; Sapphire ordered the entire ensemble for the party nearly two months ago and the last alterations to her gown were made last week. The fabric was brought in from Valons, a city in the north of Ozelea that specialized in silks and other expensive fabrics, and the jewelry was a gift that Theodore had imported from the south. She would be a vision of her aunt’s design, perfectly appropriate and entirely tasteful. Frigga had no real objection to any of the selections, she knew the cut and hue would all precisely flatter her best features and bring attention to her best assets. Sapphire’s choices were always heralded as the epitome of taste and timeless style, so Frigga was more than sure that every detail, every pearl and sequin, had been intricately considered.
They weren’t choices she would have made for herself.
Doris placed Frigga’s teacup on the side table next to her. “Miss, Razi Wood has been requested as you asked.”
Frigga smiled and her chest warmed but she kept looking over the jewelry laid out before her on the antique walnut vanity. “Thank you. Do you know if her time will be limited today? I know everyone is busy and I wouldn’t want to take her away for too long if she’s needed.”
“No, Miss. She’s available for the rest of her workday. You can have her as long as your heart desires.”
Frigga’s brow quirked at her phrasing and she glanced at Doris in the mirror. She knew her attendant well by now and servants were always the best possible source of information because they saw everything. The possibility that Razi would leak her secrets had concerned Frigga early on; would she pass on details of their conversations to other staff members? Or sell them to the city’s press for an exclusive scoop? How would that affect Frigga’s respectability? They’d had incredibly personal conversations early on and it wouldn’t do to have the staff know about her feelings for certain professors at school or her distaste for the majority of her aunt’s decor decisions. She would especially not feel comfortable with the staff hearing about how she dreaded the next few months, knowing she was terrified of being married to a man for the family’s sake, or knowing how young she’d been when she discovered her attractions. She should have been more guarded, but Razi was just so easy to talk to and she’d only realized later how honest she’d been. Against her better judgement, Frigga had given her trust to the woman almost instantly. However, Razi had kept her confidence, hadn’t given Frigga a single reason to regret the indiscretion. Razi had a distaste for gossips and nosiness in general which had been an enormous relief to discover.
Doris, on the other hand, was perceptive, presumptuous, and eager to share her observations to anyone with an ear. She’d already put some pieces together and Razi had mentioned the woman had been asking more intrusive questions than usual by way of warning, but Frigga could play that game too if she wanted. After all, the Heir Apparent to the Thorneheart household shouldn’t be tolerating such rumour-spreading. “Thank you. How are your own tasks coming along? Nearly complete, I expect? My dress needed airing out, last thing I heard.”
Her attendant shuffled. “O-of course Miss. There’s still a few items to take care of, but nothing that won’t be easily accomplished by tonight.”
Smiling, Frigga looked at her attendant in the mirror. “Would you mind checking in on Leland for a bit? I’d like some time to review these. Come back in forty minutes, I’ll need help getting ready for my walk.”
“Yes, Miss.” Doris nodded, curtseyed and left the room shutting the door behind her.
She finally had a moment to herself, she hadn’t had one all day. Ever since she’d sat for breakfast there someone was asking for her opinion on something or her aunt had her in meetings and lessons. Sapphire had run her through the families with painstaking thoroughness, and Frigga could now list the coven’s families’ trees by heart, including the trees of those that had married into families from other countries. The preparation had been nonstop for a week, and she was done with it all.
Except she wasn’t because three minutes after Doris left her Stephan brought in more documents to review along with her aunt’s note with tomorrow’s updated rough schedule. Breakfast, an hour-long review of etiquette and expectations, then into the bath to start getting ready, a process that would apparently require several hours. Frigga fought the urge to toss the note over her shoulder onto the floor or out the window and throw a tantrum. She rubbed at the tension headache blooming in her temples instead and placed the paper beside the jewelry. Just a few more minutes and she’d be free for the afternoon.
Doris returned five minutes to 2:00 and helped her ready, finding Frigga something practical for getting friendly with nature. They’d learned Frigga’s first week in the house to not put her in white for her walks, especially after Frigga had slipped in the pond her second day out, though even then it had taken Razi’s intervention. Today’s adventuring dress was dark brown with small embroidered green foliage stitched into the hem and a grey short sleeved blouse under it. Her hair was pinned out of the way with a single curl left tastefully loose, and Doris left out her boots to bring downstairs. Once drawing tools were gathered in the small leather satchel she’d designated for these afternoons, Frigga grabbed her shoes and rushed to the back veranda.
Razi was already there, a wicker basket resting on her arm, and Frigga’s gait sped up to match her racing pulse. The servant looked out on the property, a forearm leaning on the railing affording Frigga a chance to properly appreciate her back and shoulders. She was in her usual worker’s attire, a sleeveless grey shirt, multi-pocketed black canvas breeches tucked into well-worn boots, and her keys securely fastened to a loop at her waist. Razi was physically strong and Frigga would never complain about that, but what she loved the most about Razi was that she was straightforward and consistent, an aura of stability always emanated off the woman like the soothing ebb of the tides. The world around Frigga was all about the unsaid and appeasing everyone else’s expectations, but with Razi the world was simple. Frigga didn’t need to please her, not because Razi was employed by the estate but because the woman didn’t require decorum or putting on of airs. Frigga could be herself and, more astonishingly, felt comfortable doing so. Razi was everything Frigga longed to have, and here it was in the form of a friend.
Well, not a friend. Razi probably just saw her as a silly girl with a silly crush, because there was no doubt in Frigga’s mind that the woman had picked up on her infatuation. But if she could resolutely determine that Razi had feelings towards her beyond that of her feelings towards Angela or Daphne or whoever else, Frigga decided a week prior that she would follow through. It was so hard to tell if Razi’s flirtatious affect towards her was inconsequential entertainment or genuine fondness and, not for the first time, Frigga regretted not picking up psychic work.
She stepped onto the veranda and finally gained Razi’s attention. The woman’s grin was natural and boyish and perfect, and it instantly evaporated a sizeable chunk of Frigga’s stress. “Good afternoon, Miss Frigga! A vision as always.”
Frigga’s exhaustion weighed down her smile, but she smiled her first genuine smile of the day all the same. “Thanks for making time for me today,” she sighed as she sat on the stool next to the door. “I know it must be hectic.”
Razi knelt to lace Frigga’s polished brown leather boots. “I was sort of expectin’ it, so I made sure to mind th’ time. You mus’ be pretty stressed, huh?”
Frigga savoured Razi’s strong hands working at her ankles, blinking sleepily. “I almost yelled at Leland over something stupid earlier.”
Razi hummed as she finished the first shoe. “So… I’ve a surprise for you,” Razi said as she started the second shoe. Was that self-consciousness present in her statement? Worry? Frigga eyed Razi suspiciously; had she ever seen this handsome woman nervous? All Frigga wanted was to escape the aristocratic minutiae and menial decorum of the morning; peace and quiet, please and thank you. The absolute last thing she wanted was some sort of overwhelming surprise, she’d been looking forward to just basking in the sun next to Razi and quietly watching the woman carve for the afternoon. But Razi’s peculiar behaviour had Frigga’s curiosity whirring.
Razi finished the second foot and helped Frigga up from her chair, offering a sculpted arm. “Shall we?”
Frigga was officially suspicious, but she took it and pressed into Razi’s side as they set off. “Am I about to be kidnapped?” She asked.
Razi grinned, hiking the wicker basket back up on her hip. “Maybe, who’s t’ say, Princess? You’d fetch a decent ransom, no doubt.”
They set off, and Razi was drawing out their walk. Frigga sensed she had something on her mind. She seemed…tense? Whatever this surprise was, Razi seemed to be worried about it, or maybe it was Frigga’s reaction to the surprise was what concerned her?
The two women set off towards the east end of the property, not an area Frigga frequented. It was mostly a grassy field with common plants that could be found elsewhere easily enough. She wondered why it hadn’t been developed into something already but she’d been too busy since her return to bring it up to her aunt. Except when they turned the corner, there was not a field but a tall lattice wood fence, covered in ivy and climbing flowers, besetting an iron gate and a stone pathway leading into… the plants were so thick it obscured the view through the fence but, from their place outside, Frigga saw a whole garden laid just beyond the entrance.
Frigga stared, her mouth open, words evaporating. What was this? Was this real? She tested her grip on Razi’s arm and, yes, she was pretty sure this was real, though how Frigga had no idea.
Anything she could imagine was here; dozens of rose bushes in any colour she wanted, a large vegetable garden with all sorts planted and a greenhouse just beyond. Apple and cherry trees bordered the far side. There was a fountain and lighting fixtures, small nooks a person or two might hide, and even a mossy area for lunching with partial shade from a willow, Frigga’s favourite tree. Some of the pathways were dirt and gravel, others were white cobblestone, and some of the walkway entrances were decorated with lattice arches covered with vines and hanging florals. It was all precisely laid out, but not in a way that felt contrived or intentionally designed, the garden seemed to have merely grown up from the ground into what was a representation of the perfect balance between wild and cultivated.
Frigga lost track of how long it was before she was finally capable of speaking a single word, and Razi hadn’t offered any sort of explanation. She let go of her escort’s arm to walk through a narrow walkway, and grazed a nearby iron bench with an index, her eyes fixed down the pathway. “I don't understand,” she said, flabbergasted.
“You deserve somethin’ for your birthday you actually enjoy. Tha’s all,” Razi answered with no hint of irony or teasing that Frigga could ascertain.
Frigga wrapped her arms around herself. All that work for such a silly reason? For Frigga’s enjoyment? “How…How did you do this? How did you even get permission?”
“The boss’s all for it, actually. She knows you got a passion for it, an’ she thinks it’ll be good t’ ‘av private access t’ some ingredients. Even promised t’ start an apiary next year. ‘Ad a couple’a favours called in from the Honeywoods’ staff too. But-”
“When did you have the time, Raz?”
“I got my ways."
Frigga rounded on Razi, frowning as her cheeks warmed and eyes tingled. “I’m serious, this must have been so much work. You already work too much!”
Razi looked back at her with her easygoing smile and said, as straightforwardly as could be,“Being ‘round you don’t feel like work, Frigga.”
Razi was just standing there like this was no big deal, but this had to have been unreasonably difficult. Even if others had helped, obviously they’d have had to, coordinating and executing this massive project was too much to accomplish in a month? Maybe? Frigga couldn’t fathom this sort of project could take any less time than that. And it was all for her, hundreds of hours, most of it physically exhausting.
She needed to tell Razi, there was no denying it now.
The servant caught up to Frigga and hoisted the basket up again. She gestured back towards the main picnic area. “How ‘bout we go find a place t’ sit?”
Frigga caught Razi up in an embrace, and Razi set the basket down on the bench beside them to return it. Frigga had yearned for this. She’d thought about it all day every day since their first meeting and even more often than that after the lights went out at night. She’d known from the beginning where this was going to end up, but Frigga had also thought that Razi was just indulging her like she indulged all her flings. But Razi had spent all this time, dozens if not hundreds of hours putting an extravagant gift together for her just because Frigga’s birthday party wasn’t what she’d have preferred?
Razi’s arms around her waist were firm, her embrace warm, and as Frigga leaned her head on the woman’s chest, she heard the woman’s heart beat. It was fast. Her breathing was fast. Razi perched her chin on Frigga’s head which made the shorter woman giggle. Her cheeks grew even warmer and her stomach twisted into a knot. “Happy birthday, Miss Frigga,” said Razi softly. She sounded so tender, so genuine, but that “Miss” ruined it.
Frigga shifted to look up at her dryly. “I’ve told you a thousand times, just Frigga. Unbelievable.”
Razi released her and put her hands on her hips feigning insult. “Now, I’ve done quite enough for you, Princess. Permanently maimed puttin’ in those rose bushes, I’ll 'av you know. Scarred for life, now.”
Frigga looked to her toned arms and captured one of Razi’s hands to inspect. She found they had definitely seen abuse over the years she’d been working here, though nothing fresh. Certainly not maimed. She didn’t let go but instead traced over the faded lines and old scarring she found. She’d been curious about these hands and about the story behind each scar since the first night they met. They were so calloused, so strong.
And so precious.
“You seem fine to me,” she replied, her volume barely above a whisper. She hesitated, her voice catching in her chest, but she wouldn’t let the knot in her throat stop her from saying, “but I’ll kiss them better if you’d like.”
Razi didn’t reply, and Frigga heard her stop breathing. Frigga’s heart was already skipping every other beat, but it started to calm as she continued looking over Razi’s hand. She loved Razi’s hands, not because they were strong but because of the woman they belonged to, but they were so unlike her own. Frigga hadn’t done a single day of hard labour in her life and her hands reflected that; soft, well-manicured, and stained with ink.
Before she could register what she was doing, Frigga slowly lifted Razi’s hand to her lips and placed a lingering kiss on her knuckles. She didn’t really know what she was doing, but she didn’t care to stop herself either. Seeing all of the astonishing work Razi had put into this gift filled Frigga with a boldness she’d never felt before. She took a breath, loosened her hold on Razi’s hand though her lips remained at her knuckles, and smiled. “Thank you, Razi. You worked so hard to put this together. I love it so much.”
She expected the hand to retreat followed with a slick remark or sarcastic quip. It didn’t come. Instead, Razi’s hand went to Frigga’s chin, a single finger tucked under it, and there was hungry silence. It wasn’t the same silence they had been comfortable in on those breezy afternoons, easy and natural, but one heavy with uncertainty and intention. Frigga looked up and met Razi’s brown eyes. Their lips were inches from each other. Everything about this was a grave breach of protocol. A simple touch, a lingering look, an afternoon alone; Frigga couldn’t ignore what was happening. She’d begged the universe for her freedom, and in Razi’s eyes Frigga saw someone who was free, freedom incarnate, but holding back. Was this woman the universe’s answer?
The woman was looking into Frigga’s eyes, but then she wasn’t. Her gaze slid down to Frigga’s lips and she licked her own but Razi wouldn’t close the gap. She held no respect for etiquette and social customs, she didn’t care about class and status, but Frigga did so Razi wouldn’t narrow the gap. Frigga wished she would do it, wished the woman could do it. But she couldn’t, no matter how much she clearly wanted to.
So Frigga did it instead. She pulled the taller woman down and kissed her. Instantly Razi’s hands cupped the sides of her face and their bodies brushed together. She devoured Frigga’s lips feverishly and Frigga lost herself in the woman’s touch. Her rough, tender hands and her cheeks, her bold lips that tasted of honey and mint, the beating of her heart in her chest, to Frigga, everything the world could conceivably be was right here and she clung to it for dear life. She’d waited so long, ached for her for so long, spent too many nights apart from this incredible woman. Finally, finally she could touch her, hold her, kiss her.
It was a fleeting moment that felt like forever and when they parted, neither moved away, instead breathing each other’s air. Their shared world had shifted and Frigga knew there was no going back to how things were before. “Was that alright?” she asked, her voice a whisper.
Razi chuckled incredulously and pressed her forehead to Frigga’s. “Fuck, I adore you,” she murmured as she went back in for more, stealing any hope of reply as well as her breath.
Razi led Frigga to the mossy patch under the willow tree and set a blanket down. They spent the entire afternoon in the garden and indulged in the treats Razi had put together; Frigga’s cheeks hurt from smiling by its end. They didn’t talk about meetings or parties for the rest of the afternoon, and Razi whittled a very rough owl as they chatted. The brief reprieve restored Frigga’s sanity and for a few heartbeats the world was just this place, just the two of them, which had been her actual birthday wish.
Frigga’s hand was firmly clasped in Razi’s as they walked back to the veranda. It was much later than they usually came back, the sun had begun to set and the hallway to the back veranda was free from prying eyes. Frigga’s heart sank, her time with Razi was always too short, but she took her final chance; she climbed the few steps of the porch stair and placed one final kiss on Razi’s lips. “I don’t know how to thank you enough, Razi,” she whispered as she threw her arms around the woman’s shoulders in a hug.
Razi’s smile outshone the sunset, full and natural without a hint of irony or sarcasm. She brushed a finger down Frigga’s arm. “Already ‘av, Beautiful. ‘Av a good night.”
Frigga and Razi stealing an intimate moment in the garden.
