by A. J. Macey
“Aw! You won a spelling bee and the rune drawing contest at your primary school?” He glared at me, but he couldn't hide his blush. “You’re a cute little closet nerd!”
“That’s it,” he growled, running and tackling me onto the bed, then tickling me as I squealed and laughed, trying to get away. When he finally let me get in a breath, I tapped a finger on his bottom lip and smiled.
“I like how much you smile when you’re here.”
“You make me smile all the time,” he disagreed, trying to pull a serious face and failing.
“It’s not the same,” I said softly, kissing him slowly as if we had all the time in the world. I’d missed moments like this with all the stress in our lives. “Were you homesick?”
“Yeah. You’ve met Mom now, so you know how sweet she is. Being around her just makes me feel at ease. She’s always got me, never pressured me to be more social or more of anything.”
“Do we pressure you?”
“No, Sweets. You guys are the only other exception,” he promised, pulling me in for another kiss that quickly heated up. I was glad he’d locked the door when we came in. I’d worried about sleeping in a strange place, but I knew when Kye was done with me, I’d sleep like a baby.
Kyelerian
“Keep quiet, or someone will know what we’re up to,” she whispered, my dick immediately coming to life at her sultry tone.
She maneuvered us around, so she was on top, and I groaned as she slid down my body, her hands unbuttoning my pants and pulling them down. She didn’t hesitate, wrapping her plump lips around my cock the moment it popped free of its confinement. The wet heat of her mouth was amazing, and I realized she was right. Reaching over, I grabbed a pillow and pressed it to my face, buffering the noises I couldn’t hold back as she swallowed me down and teased me with her tongue.
All the stress of our situation melted away, and at that moment, she was all that mattered. Her little moans and whimpers as she teased me had me already wanting to explode. I panted with the effort of holding back my orgasm, letting the pillow fall away as I looked down the length of my body, needing to see her. My sexy witch looked up at me from under her lashes, pure hunger in her eyes.
“Sweets, you’re killing me. I’ve never seen anything so sexy in my life,” I said quietly, my voice husky as I fought the waves of pleasure coursing through me. Heat unfurled in my stomach, building slowly as she smirked around me.
“Oh, really?” she teased after moving her mouth off of me, her lips puffy and glistening. That right there was enough to make me retract my statement, but then she crawled off me and slowly stripped out of her clothes. My eyes stayed glued to her, and as each new section of her skin was bared, my dick throbbed, precum leaking out as I held back from throwing her on the bed and fucking her until she screamed.
She was gorgeous. The shy smile she tried to hide was perfectly Aris, but the way she shimmied and teased her hands over her skin had her slowly building confidence shining through… that was even sexier. Never did I think I’d be lucky enough to find someone this perfect, but Aris really did check all of my boxes. She was soft and curvy but toned. Her hair hung in soft waves around her shoulders, and her pretty gray eyes were hooded. She wanted this as badly as I did, which made it even better. I stripped off my shirt before reaching for her, pulling her on top of me and adjusting us, so I was sitting back against the headboard. She straddled my lap, but before she could go further, I leaned forward and caught one pink nipple between my lips, teasing her with my teeth softly, then soothing the slight sting with my tongue. She writhed her hips and moaned softly, clearly trying to hold back the noise. When I moved to the other, my hands kneading the perfectly round globes of her ass, she started to get louder. I captured her lips again, nibbling on her bottom lip as I pulled away.
“Quiet, remember?” I teased, but she just rolled her eyes and adjusted herself over me, sinking down in one swift movement that had us both gasping. Her head fell back as she caught her breath, her face showing pure bliss. Fuck, she’s perfect.
When she rocked her hips, chasing her own orgasm, I had to bite my lip and watch. She was so relaxed, babbling my name under her breath. She made me feel like a god, like I was the most important person in her world, and that was one of the biggest reasons I loved her.
Unable to hold back any longer, I thrust my hips up to meet hers. Her legs were shaking, and white-hot pleasure was coursing through me. The buildup wasn’t slow any longer, my hunger so strong, I could barely hold back. Reaching between us, I teased my fingers over her clit, giving her the relief she needed while her movements stilled. Moments later, she cried out, the noise so loud, I know someone heard us, but I was too far gone to care. Instead, I fucked her hard and fast, prolonging her orgasm as I chased my own. She felt so good around me, it didn’t take long, my release spurting out of me with such force, my vision blurred for a moment, and I swore I saw stars. She collapsed onto my chest, her heart beating frantically as I rubbed my hand lazily down her back. We both relaxed in our post-orgasmic bliss, letting ourselves have a moment of just us.
“I love you, Kye,” she whispered, kissing my stomach before her breathing evened out. I smiled softly and rolled us to the side, settling her on top of the sheet before pulling away and grabbing my shirt to clean us up. I’d wash it tomorrow, but for now, there was nowhere else I wanted to be.
November 24th
Sunday Afternoon
Kyelerian
Staring down the heaping plate of pasta in front of me, I let out a happy sigh. Mom was the best cook, something I’d clearly forgotten while I was at school. She wasn’t holding back either; she served up more French toast and bacon than we could eat, packing up the rest for ‘the road,’ as she called it. I had a feeling she’d pack Torryn’s fancy bag with even more by the time we left.
“I thought we could relax and watch some Boos and Brews or something today?” I offered, the others looking relieved. We hadn’t had a day to just relax and enjoy ourselves in a while.
“Oh, good! I had a new Hex Mix recipe I wanted to try!” Mom said excitedly, and I held back a laugh as Xan clutched his stomach. The poor guy had been force-fed by my pushy mom twice today already and was clearly feeling it.
“I love Hex Mix!” Aris squealed excitedly, scooping up the last bite of her pasta. “Can I help? I always wanted to learn how to cook.” Mom looked like she’d been offered everything she’d ever dreamed of. If it made me swoon a little that my girl was so sweet, well, nobody needed to know that.
“I’d love that!” Mom agreed, already up and washing the empty plates and pulling out ingredients. Aris kissed Drayce on the cheek before scurrying off to help. My chest warmed at the sight of her laughing and working side-by-side with Mom. The others wandered off, leaving me with Drayce.
“This whole thing makes me want to take Aris home,” Drayce laughed, looking just as happy to see her getting along with my family.
“Hey, guys?” Xan hissed, the tone making me jump up from my chair and joining him by the window. “Look at that red cart and the black trolley.”
“What about them?” Torryn asked, leaning in to look through the shades as well.
Xan glanced up at him, his mouth set in a thin line and worry creasing his brows. “When we walked by earlier, they weren’t there, but I’ve checked outside a couple times, just to be safe. Those carts parked, and there’s been someone in them every time, but the person changes. However, the cart never moves. I think we’re being watched.”
“Hold on,” Torryn mumbled, closing his eyes and whispering an unfamiliar incantation. A few moments later, the window reflected the inside of a cart, two men dressed in dark clothes. The part that stood out was a folder in one’s hands with a council insignia on the front.
“Well, that’s pretty condemning,” I mumbled as Torryn waved his hand, and the image disappeared. “Do we tell Aris and head out tonight?”
“I think it’s time to listen to that note,” Torry
n answered cryptically, then looked over at Aris and winced. “How about we tell her after snack time?”
“Good plan. She won’t get much more of this stress-free downtime for a while,” Xan said sadly. I leaned over and squeezed his shoulder, knowing this was hardest on him. His parents lived and breathed the council who was chasing us down.
“Time to strategize, guys. Come on, I’ve got maps upstairs.”
November 24th
Sunday Evening
Aris
“Everyone ready? It's almost time,” Kye's dad asked, glancing around the space at us. I nodded, not trusting myself to open my mouth, in case my churning stomach decided to bring lunch and the little I had at dinner back up for a reappearance.
“Be safe,” Lyra whispered, hugging her son tightly before kissing his stubble covered cheek. Her eyes were tear-filled as she smiled up at him, her gaze turning from him only to land on me. “Oh, Aris, do take care of these boys, will you? Don't let Kye get into too much trouble now.”
“You got it,” I forced out through the lump in my throat that had formed at her teary smile. The signature burn of the urge to cry built as I hugged her. “I'm so sorry for this. I never meant to bring this kind of trouble to anyone.”
“Shh,” she shushed softly, rubbing my back as I choked back a sob. “There's no need to apologize. We don’t regret helping, and we're certainly not afraid of some council.” The tone of her voice made it apparent she saw the mighty council as a group of insolent children, bringing me to giggle through the tears that finally started to slow.
“Lyra, it's time,” Gabriel urged, coming up behind his wife.
Stepping back, I took a deep, steadying breath. We can do this. We can totally escape from under the noses of the council for a second time.
Oh, my broomsticks, I'm going to hurl when all this is over.
“Let's line up. We still have the two lanterns, but this time let's all stay together so we can see each other,” Torryn directed quickly, picking up his lantern. I fiddled with mine, clutching it in a sweaty palm as I stood between Xan and Caspian, Tor in the front of the line with Kye between him and Xan, me, Caspian, and Drayce bringing up the end of the row. “Thank you for everything you've done for us.” All of us echoed the sentiment as Tor lit his lantern, and we disappeared from their view. I lit mine as well, in case we became separated during our escape.
“We're ready,” Kye told his parents. With bittersweet smiles, his mom and dad shifted out of the way of the group and our quiet familiars and opened the door.
“Nellie! Come on in, sweetie!” Kye's mom called out as she walked into their small garden area outside of the fence. “Time for bed, Nellie!”
As she called their family dog, we walked out in a line, heading straight for the tree line. All of us held our breath as we did so, watching Nellie dart to the fence. We hadn't gone more than a few feet into the tree line when we heard a shout. Turning back, I gasped, letting go of Xan's hand as he and Torryn caught Kye, who was trying to run back to the house. Scrambling before they could possibly get too far, I made sure we all had our hands touching, so we stayed invisible.
Kye's parents were surrounded by council enforcers, each dwarfing Lyra's petite figure. One of the men wearing the official council colors held a staff, the crystal on the end, pulsating a dangerous red color, pointed toward his parents.
“Shh, we need to hear what they’re saying,” Torryn hissed, struggling to keep Kye hidden. At the reminder, Kye settled, his barely restrained anger radiating off of him in waves as we watched.
“Mr. and Mrs. Tanan, you are found in contempt of the council by hiding fugitives. We are placing you under arrest, and you will be transported—” the main enforcer’s booming voice was loud in the forest, cut off suddenly when Kye’s father cut in.
“What fugitives? You can check our house, but we clearly don’t have anyone here,” he tried to argue. The enforcer closest to him punched him in the stomach. A muffled groan reached us as we watched him fall to the ground, Kye’s mom crouching next to him. Kye once again tugged against Xan and Torryn, but neither of them gave him any leeway to move.
“Go to Miss Tabel’s, Nellie,” I heard Lyra call out as they were secured with magical bindings and forced to stand.
I watched in horror as the head enforcer punched Gabriel once more with a ground out explanation about interrupting a court official before turning to walk back to the road where there was a row of royal carts waiting. As if he knew Kye wanted to come back to help, his dad looked toward the tree line and gave the smallest headshake. Only then did Kye finally settle, a defeated and stricken expression morphing his face from fury to heartbreak. All I wanted to do at that moment was wrap him up in my arms, but I couldn’t.
“We have to move before they start searching. They’ll know we haven’t gone too far,” Xan stated quietly.
“Stay together, and we’ll move as quickly as we can for as long as we can,” Torryn directed, snaking our line back to our original direction and taking off at a steady jog. With one last look, I watched Kye’s parents get shut into the jail cart before losing the visual between the trees.
I’d like nothing more than to give the entire council a case of witches’ warts. Then their appearance would match their morals.
November 25th
Monday Midday
Drayce
The sun started to peek over the trees, the fog hovering throughout the evergreens softening the orangey-red light. As we walked, our breath puffed out in front of us, the weather of the night slowly growing colder despite the rising sun. Torryn finally called us to make camp.
None of us spoke, all lost in our own world. Not even Aris was jabbering away, her cheeks and nose, bright pink from the chill. Falling into our tasks, Xan, Caspian, and I went to collect firewood while Aris, Torryn, and Kye secured the campsite. We were quiet as we gathered various sticks and small logs. I wasn’t sure about the others, but I was too busy shivering and wanting to get around the fire to make idle chit-chat.
Once we had returned and the fire was built, conversation started to pick up. Aris was talking with Caspian and Kye while Xan and Torryn talked among themselves on the other side of the fire. Whatever they were discussing must have been a sobering topic since they both were scowling and huddling close together to not be overheard. Another gust of icy air blew through, all of us momentarily stunned by the chilling breeze. The familiars started to move from where they were eating outside our circle.
As the others went back to talking, my eyes tracked the animals. What are you little guys up to? I found myself asking silently, partially worried they could get lost in the woods. Getting up, I excused myself with the lie of having to go to the bathroom and followed after them. Every so often, they would look back, Petunia snorting happily as I walked along with their cluster.
“What are these?” Crouching, I looked over the bushes she had stopped by. There were several oddly colored leaves splashed on the branches. She squealed when I started for the greenish-blue ones, so I shifted my hand to the red ones. This time, she watched me intently with her pudgy face, the look almost giving a thoughtful feel to her silence. Plucking the leaf, I sniffed it, noting a subtle spicy scent. “Do you want me to do something with this?”
Another happy snort was my answer. Different uses flitted through my mind at a rapid speed. It didn’t look like any ingredient I had used for portions or salves, and it wouldn’t do much of anything for the fire or any kind of use for clothing repair or medicinal uses I was aware of. Eventually, I came up with an answer. I brought it to my mouth and imitated eating—another snort.
“Alright then, here goes nothing,” I murmured to myself before taking a bite. It had an interesting flavor, not like dirt or nature but cinnamon and spice. As I chewed, I felt my body start to warm, the chill of the air no longer becoming unbearable. “Holy shit, Petunia, you’re such a bright little piggy,” I cooed, patting her on the head. Plucking as many of the leaves off the bu
sh as I could, I turned to look for the other familiars.
They all carried some red leaves, but Mr. Stripes, Coral, and Ruby also held large, thick green leaves. I waited and watched as they walked back toward camp in a staggered formation, so they wouldn’t step on the leaves. The others’ voices filled the air as we got closer, all looking to me when we returned.
“You needed the animals to go take a piss?” Caspian asked with a head tilt.
“No, I didn’t actually have to go. I noticed them moving toward the forest, and I wanted to make sure they didn’t get lost.”
“What are they carrying?” Aris questioned, leaning forward to take the leaf from Mr. Stripes’ hands.
“Here, eat one.” I held out one of the warming leaves. Kye looked at me like I was insane but took it.
“What’s it do? Because I swear to the Gods and Goddesses, if you are going to play a prank or hex me, I will rune you into next week,” he threatened.
“Just eat it.”
With one more glare, Kye took a tiny bite. I knew when he felt the warming properties—his eyes blew out wide, and he stuffed the rest of the leaf into his mouth. The others watched with curious expressions as I handed a leaf to each. Following suit, the group ate theirs.
“Holy hellsticks,” Aris exclaimed with glee. “I’m not cold!”
“How’d you find these?” Torryn asked, looking at the familiars with a wave of his hand. “And what’s with the giant leaves?” As if Coral and Ruby understood his gesture, they walked over toward the gaps between the tents. Holding up one of the leaves, it created a barrier against the wind. “That’s genius, Ruby,” Torryn breathed with wide eyes. Getting up, he and Xan got to work tying the leaves to the tent poles.
“Seems like the familiars are more than just a show of power as we’ve been taught over the years,” I stated, sinking down next to Caspian when all the leaves were secured. “Petunia used different noises to communicate what she wanted me to do with the leaf while the others collected a nice pile, including the big ones. While they’ve always been well-behaved, I don’t think I have ever seen them communicate that way with each other or with us.”