The woman who stood before Taris was someone different. While, yesterday, Aera held her head high, her back straight and her shoulders back, this woman was hunched, her head down, her wet hair clinging to her face. Her hands hung at her sides and there was dark coloring on her left wrist from where Kentaro had gripped her. She lifted her eyes to Taris and they were watered and sad, the left one red, her cheek swollen and bruised. 
It was the form of a woman who had given up. 

Aera had been losing her grip on her husband for a long time, and had tried desperately to keep hold of him, a fight that took up a lot of energy. Now, she acknowledged that she'd lost, and looked defeated and exhausted.
"Taris." Her voice was cracked. Beyond that, she didn't know what to say. But, judging by the look on his face, his eyes running over her visible bruising, she didn't have to say anything else. 

She took a step toward him. Before her heel touched the ground he was standing in front of her, his hands out like he was afraid she'd break. His red eyes were on her face as he gently put a hand to her cheek, inspecting her. "Let me heal this." His fingers began to shimmer slightly.
"No."
His eyes moved to hers. "Why?"
She frowned and brushed her hand away, moving her head back. "I'm not supposed to be out." Was all she said. It wasn't an excuse to leave. She was only pointing out that he'd know, if she bore no evidence.
His arms raised in slight hesitation and he pulled her toward him, gently, feeling her slight resistance, before she relaxed and went into his embrace. 

In his arms, what was left of her strength melted. Her body pressed against his, his strong arms wrapped around her, her head nestled against his shoulder, her lips against his neck. Aera shivered and shook her head, her lips trailing over his flesh, causing his hairs to stand on end. "I give up." She said, smelling him. "I'm not fighting anymore. Not for a love that isn't there. Not for affection I'll never get." Her head raised and she looked at him, his eyes on her. "Not against something that feels so right."

It flashed across his face, that emotion, recognition, desire, before Aera pressed her lips to his again, closing her eyes. A shudder went through them both. Her tongue parted his lips and she breathed in. Taris groaned and pushed her back. "Aera..." The muscles in his jaw flexed. "You're upset." He looked her up and down with naked hunger in his eyes. His words sounded forced. "I don't want you to regret anything."

The woman blinked, brushing her arms from his grasp. "I only regret one thing." She said, stepping up to him again. "And it has nothing to do with what I want now." She took him again in a kiss, her hands running through his hair, her nails brushing his scalp. He moaned, his gentlemanly manners dissolving as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. Her lips left his lips and went to his jaw, where she left a trail of kisses up toward his ear. "Please..." She whispered, her teeth gently biting at his ear lobe.