Like some great weight lifted from his soul, the spirit had gone. Wordlessly, and without pain, it left him. The dark magic and the anger had abandoned him. There was a part that missed the power, the sensation that it had given. It was as if he had been brought back to his younger days, when his own fury and lust for vengeance ruled. Diplomacy did not matter then. He was free from the binds of responsibility in those days, not a care in the world to hold him back. Those times were on his mind as he flew from the Throat, Ember perched proudly upon his back. There was no question of where he was headed. Near the Endless she had said. And where else would his heart take him? Even clouded by all the tumultuous changes and undermined with doubt, the golden would still go to her.

The blanket of shimmering blue laid out wide across the land. Matching sets of gold eyes both fell on the water, though Ember's were much more enthralled than Leander's. The young eagle had never seen the sea before, and her heart thrummed away excitedly, claws scraping his neck as she shifted around for a better view. It did not take long for either of them to spot the ink form rooted against the sand. Adjusting his wings, the charger began his descent to the shore, aiming to land a short distance from the lady. He would land with a thud on the beach, feet sinking in with the weight of his form as he went to her.

"Faelene." He said her name over the sea breeze as he approached. Flaxen locks flew wildly about his hide, far too thick to be lazy in such a place. The palomino stopped a short length before her, gazing carefully towards her deep chrome eyes. What would she think of him now? He could only wonder how his behavior had affected her thoughts of him, and the new title of Sultan was likely no help. Ember decidedly spread her ochre wings and leapt from his back, gliding down to land closer to the water's edge. She had been learning much about the basics of flight, but was not yet ready to climb to his own heights. The fowl danced around the remnants of the waves, sometimes dipping her sharp beak down to inspect the water.

"I am sorry for our last meeting. I was not well then." He began gently, regret washing over his features. There was nothing he could do to change the way he had been. Memories of the pegasus spy still haunted his memories. The Demon had gone, but the guilt would never leave.

Hesitance was a constant in their relationship it seemed. A reminder of their positions, and one that often made it's way back into their meetings. Amber eyes watched as she stood, so slow to look at him, as if she was afraid of what she'd see. He could only wonder how difficult it had been for her to see him change. She was the only one who seemed to notice the ice in his eyes and on his wings, and surely she was the one most disturbed by it. A short distance away, he could hear Ember's faint shuffling and the occasional curious squawk. At least there was one that would not be leaving his side. Then again, the wise newcomer Aitheria certainly had been quick to pledge her loyalty to him and no other. He fought to hold back his distraught gaze, pulling his sights from the ebon to the ground. How could his heart be pulled in so many directions and not break?

"Have you been alright? I assume things are okay in the Basin." Especially now that Psyche and that traitor are back. He added mentally, the sharpness to his expression probably vague in the pale moonlight. He could care for Faelene as much as his heart would allow, but even that would not erase the hatred he felt for those she allowed to lead her. Often times he wondered how she could stay with them, with that dark bitch, when she herself did not agree with their motives. Over and over again the question would play through his mind; Why couldn't she leave the North, and come to the Throat with him? Even outside of the Throat would be fine, for Kri seemed eager to lose his aid in leading, and would hurl the herd in to defeat if left solely to her own temper. There was no use in asking, Leander had realized. Not when he knew the answer would only put them farther apart. Suddenly, her midnight form was turning towards him, and the golden raised his crown to meet her gaze.

"Ember's mother? How did you meet her? Was she alright?" Concern fell into his chords as he rattled off one question after another. How did Faelene meet the little eagle's mother? His thoughts shifted back to the burning tree, and of Ember's small form crying out into the night. There was no doubt in his mind to save her, even with the demon's presence within him. The hair had only just started to grow back over his pelt, hiding parts of the raw pink patches that dotted his front.

Blond hairs shifted in the dull moon rays as he nodded in understanding. It was good to hear that she was wary of the snake. Who in their right mind wouldn't be? The Bazilisk was a traitor, not he himself, as Kri's General would have the herd think. Looking fondly across Faelene's dark hide, he was reminded that the black troop leader had been the one who had hurt her in battle. He ground his teeth at the thought. Bastard. A part of him wanted to run back across the sands and tear the ignorant fool's throat out. At least it would give him some satisfaction. For now, he would have to do with the support of his friends, and Faelene's most of all. Drawing a step closer to the fae, he raised his crown and stared out across the rolling waves. He could not hold his pain back from her any longer. "I am no longer Sultan of the Throat. Kri's temper was too much for me to try and reason with. She would not consider anything I had to say; she rules by her own whims. For all the loyalty I gave them, I received nothing. And they call me a traitor." In the cover of darkness, a few hot tears slid out from ivory ringed eyes and down golden cheeks. He turned his head away from her, not wanting to let her see. There was no shame in his heart, just disappointment and shock. And hope, underneath all of the pain.

Her velvet lips touched his cheek, a comfort despite how difficult their relationship was. Pointed limbs shifted to press his face into the soft of her own neck. The faint wetness of his tears would likely dampen her skin, even if she couldn't see him cry. He grimaced at the knowledge, hoping she would not think him weak. It did not seem like something Faelene would judge him as flawed for. It was almost as though she saw no faults within him, despite the fact that he had been a part of the group who had forced her from her home. How could she be so open hearted? Maybe she deserved the title of LionHeart more than he.

His shadowed love continued, her voice explaining that the eagle she had met was but a spirit. Ember had managed to catch herself a crab by the shore, and was happily cracking away at its tough shell. For the moment, he was glad that they shared no thoughts or language. It would be too painful for the young bird to learn of her mother's death. The will of the Gods, she said. At that, the golden lion had to fight from pinning his ears flat to his skull. The only God he had encountered with the Sun God, and if any of the other deities were are moronic, he felt no need to give them his prayers. "Thank you for telling me. I am glad Ember's mother is at peace now." He replied softly, ignoring the irritation he felt at her mention of the God's will.

The warmth of her body pressed closer to him, the stroke of her touch running down his neck. A sigh escaped his lips at the comfort, letting his eyes close in hopes for the moment not to end. It was something he often did, when they had the chance to be so close. But the silence was broken by her sweet voice, and gold eyes flashed back to the shifting tide. How could he answer such a question? Surely, she must want to hear him say that it was her that he loved more than anything. But would it be true for him to tell her so? Thoughts of Aitheria, Svetlana, Lynx, Ember, all flashed through his mind. They had all been there for him in his time of need, to give him strength when everything else seemed to want him to crumble. Turning his gentle gaze back down to her silver, he answered. "I would be wrong to place any of my loves above the other, though each love is unique in its own way. I love my friends, who stood with me in the face of great adversity. I love Ember, she has filled a part of my soul. And I love you, Faelene."


[ooc: I wasn't quite sure if Faelene asked him what he loved the most out loud, or if that was just a thought (it was in quotations but not colored xD). If she was just thinking that, let me know and I will edit this! <3]