Shareis pulled her close and embraced her. Her heart raced as Shareis pressed her warm flesh against her, providing a sense of closeness she didn’t know was possible. After a lingering kiss, Shareis pulled her into bed. They nestled under the covers and continued their loving embrace.
She instinctively lifted her head as Shareis began kissing her neck. Niv was certain Shareis could hear her heartbeat. Shareis ran her fingers along the chain of the Amulet of Balance, then circled her fingertip around the outline of her cleavage. She lowered the blanket and exposed her breasts.
Self-conscious doubt took firm hold as Shareis gazed silently at her chest. “Say something.”
“You are stunning, Niv.”
She quickly stifled a nervous chuckle. “I was worried you thought something was wrong.”
Shareis lightly touched her. “I’m sorry. I… I just couldn’t speak for a moment.”
Her love dragged her fingers across her breast. She moved closer, beckoning Shareis to adopt a firmer touch. Shareis teased her with a string of soft kisses along her cleavage, then stiffened her tongue and caressed her nipple. A soft moan escaped her mouth.
Shareis gently eased her onto her back and moved on top of her, then leaned down and resumed kissing her neck. Shareis’s nipples grazed her abdomen as she worked her way back down to her breasts.
Shareis reached her navel and stopped. She had never seen a look so intense in her love’s eyes. “You are intoxicating, Niv.” She took a ragged breath. “But I am going too fast.”
She shook her head. “No, you’re doing fine. I… I love it.”
“I’m nervous,” Shareis admitted. “I know that sounds strange.”
“Not to me,” she replied. “I am nervous, too. But you have done this before, haven’t you?”
“Not with a human, and not with someone I love so much.”
She motioned for Shareis. “Come here.”
Shareis kissed a quick path between her breasts and laid on top of her. “Why are you grinning?”
“You are usually the strong one,” she replied. “You always know what to do. So cool, calm, and collected. And now we’re both nervous.”
They both chucked. Shareis’s hand drifted to her stomach. “We’ll cancel each other out, then.”
The fear eased, but the tension remained. Shareis put her hand on her thigh, then her fingers danced across her mound. “Every woman is unique. We all liked to be touched differently.”
“We do?” she asked.
“Mm-hmm.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
Shareis’s hand froze. “You don’t know what you like?”
“I’ve never been touched.”
Shareis laid her hand on her inner thigh and guided her legs apart. “Then we’ll learn together.”
Shareis rested her palm on her mound and ran her fingers between her legs. Her pelvis arched to greet Shareis’s tender touch. Each beat of her heart surged throughout her body. Sweat beaded on her skin to cool the fire that flared within her. She didn’t think it possible to ache like this.
She closed her eyes and savored each moment her lover’s fingers glided across her flesh. There was no need for words – her body involuntarily demonstrated her approval. Her hips rocked to Shareis’s perfect rhythm. Soft moans became urgent cries as the tension within her built to an intolerable level. Her thighs quivered under the strain.
She had no choice but to relinquish control of her senses to the outpouring of energy that had welled inside her. Shareis held her tightly as her body jerked with each wave of pleasure. Her muscles relaxed, and her wits gradually returned. Her chest flushed bright red and her skin was soaked in sweat.
She finally gathered the energy to speak. “That was…”
Shareis giggled. “Awful?”
“Awfully good. It was like…” Her heart raced while she struggled with how to relate her experience.
Shareis slipped two of her fingers in her mouth and sucked on them, then flashed a sly smile at her. “I have an idea.”
She finally caught her breath. “Is it always this good?”
“It gets better.”
She tossed her head back and laughed. “I’ll die.”
Shareis climbed on top of her and kissed her. “But you’ll die a happy woman.”
“I want to do that for you, love,” she said.
Shareis sat up and straddled her and wiped the sweat from her brow. “Who said I was done with you?”
“You heard the part about me dying, right?”
Shareis smiled and rolled her eyes, then flopped beside her. “Fair enough. A short break.”
She turned on her side and held Shareis, then put her hand on her stomach. “I don’t know where to start.”
Shareis grabbed her hand and pulled it to her face. “You start up here.”
She kissed her, then worked her way to Shareis’s neck. Hers was the most attractive neck she had ever seen. So graceful, slender, and yet strong. Even Shareis’s most vulnerable spot radiated strength. Her tongue caught a hint of salt in the sweat that dripped to the nape of her neck. Its pleasing taste enticed her to continue down her chest.
Shareis’s breasts stood proudly as she arched her back, demanding her attention. A gentle kiss only forced Shareis upwards, encouraging Niv to take her nipple in her mouth. Shareis sighed as it hardened between her lips. A final, teasing lick produced an audible moan.
Shareis’s powerful abdominal muscles flinched as she ran her hand to her navel. She marveled at her flawless skin and the perfect shape of her stomach and hips.
“I wish I looked half as good as you,” she said.
“You are beautiful,” Shareis replied.
“You’re biased.”
“And I’m right.”
Shareis took her hand and put it between her legs. She traced meandering circles, exploring her lover’s body in detail.
“You’re a tease,” Shareis said.
“I don’t mean to be.”
Shareis took a firmer grip and showed her how she liked to be stroked. “A little more pressure.”
She did as Shareis asked, delighting in the delicate and unique texture of her body. She followed the rhythm dictated by Shareis’s hips.
Shareis’s breathing quickened. “You can go inside.”
She started rubbing lower but was hesitant to oblige. Shareis took her finger and pushed on her knuckle, moving her inside her body. “Like that.”
Shareis’s body writhed, setting a faster rhythm. She was surprised by the warmth and wetness Shareis’s body provided in response. Shareis’s breath became a pant, and her deeper strokes elicited subtle moans that rekindled her own desires. Her body tensed, her legs stiffened, and she let out a cry.
Shareis held Niv as she reached her peak, a process that lasted much longer than her own. She wasn’t sure when to stop, so she kept going after her tension subsided. Shareis grabbed her hand and pulled it away.
“I’m sorry, I—”
Shareis shook her head. “No, no, don’t be.”
“Was it awful?” she asked with a grin.
“The best I’ve ever had.”
“How?” she asked. “I am inexperienced.”
Shareis touched her face. “Because you are my love, Niv. I have never felt this way about anyone. Ever.” She closed her eyes and exhaled. “I have never been this happy.”
She laid her head on Shareis’s chest. “Nor have I.”
Shareis played with a lock of Niv’s hair. “Give yourself some credit. You did well.”
“I had a good teacher. I really enjoyed that.”
Shareis positioned her face between Niv’s legs. “It’s just as much fun to give as it is to receive.”
Chapter 65
Niv’leana.
“Yes?” Niv replied.
No one was present except Shareis sleeping beside her. Her love stirred then turned away from her. She sat upright and listened.
Who was that?
She coul
d have sworn it was Maeva’s voice.
It must have been a dream.
The covers had been pulled down enough to expose Shareis’s torso. She stared at her lover’s back, admiring the graceful curve of her shoulder blades. She bit her lip as a hint of their combined scent stirred pleasant memories. It was tempting to curl up and cuddle, but she was wide awake. Niv crept out of bed, slipped on her clothes, then walked outside.
The sun rose behind her and cast deep red, orange, and purplish hues on the snowfield. The smell of smoke hung in the air, a grim reminder of the devastation wrought by Vorea on Lahara. The cold, silent landscape demanded her introspection.
Rather than focus on the upcoming ritual, her thoughts centered around her night of lovemaking with Shareis. She thought it odd her upcoming dangerous mission stirred no anxiety. Instead of fear, her mind filled with flashes of intimate moments, sounds, and sensations she experienced with Shareis.
Though nothing physically had changed, she felt different. The cold bit just a little harder, the shadows cast by the sun seemed richer, and the love she felt for Shareis was immeasurably deeper. The world was the same daunting place it was yesterday, but her newfound emotional connection gave her an additional ounce of bravery to save it from Vorea’s terrible rule.
She returned to her hut, removed her cloak, then sat on the edge of the bed. Inside her temporary refuge, her thoughts returned to the ritual. She had memorized the incantations and studied the steps in detail, yet she felt hopelessly unprepared. The more she pondered the event, the more she began to worry. She popped her fingers, hoping to ease some of the tension.
A warm, familiar hand rested on her shoulder. Warm breath touched her neck. “Good morning, love.”
She nestled Shareis’s hand with her cheek. “Good morning.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. Well… no.”
Shareis brushed her hair with her fingers. “What’s wrong?”
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Nothing, now.”
“You never have to keep anything from me. Proctors value truth above all.”
She wasn’t lying, but she wasn’t telling the truth. “I was fine until I came back in here.” She looked at Shareis. “I walked outside to clear my head but could think of nothing but you and the wonderful time we had together last night. I’m sure I was wearing a big goofy grin on my face. And then I returned and thought of the ritual. I could die, Shareis.”
“I will do everything in my power to prevent that.”
“I know.” She stood paced around the room. “And that helps a lot. But I am scared. Not of dying, but of being without you.”
Shareis walked behind her and encased her in a loving embrace. “I believe we die when we have nothing left in this life to do. And I know I have a lot still to accomplish. I can’t do it without you. I foresee a long, happy life for us.”
“I remember I asked you back in Lahara if Proctors were clairvoyant. You never really answered me.”
“Every living thing can glimpse the future. You do so with your notebook.”
She had been so busy with her studies she had forgotten to write in her journal. She reached for it on the nightstand but paused before she picked it up. “I… I am not sure I want to know the future.”
“There is a time for divination,” Shareis replied. “I have looked in the clouds for answers and cast runes to see a hint of the fates. But there comes a time when you must make your own future.”
She kissed Shareis. “You are wise beyond your years.”
“I am older than you, Niv.”
She shook her head in disbelief that she didn’t know such an important fact about Shareis. “I’m ashamed to ask, how old are you?”
“Thirty-two,” she replied.
She chuckled. “Then maybe you aren’t wise beyond your years.”
Shareis raised an eyebrow. For a split second she feared she had offended her, but a grin soon emerged.
Frasie burst into the room. “Nivvy! Shareis!”
Shareis made no effort hide herself.
“Wow,” Frasie said.
“Wow?” she asked. “That’s my girlfriend you are ogling.”
Frasie looked away. “No, I wasn’t ogling her.” She waved away Niv’s concerns. “I don’t really think of women that way, you know? Not that there’s anything wrong with being attracted to women. Not at all. I mean, if I were into women I would find Shareis beautiful.” Frasie approached Shareis. “That is possibly the most beautiful pair of breasts I’ve ever seen.”
Niv stood in stunned silence as her best friend admired her lover’s body.
Shareis smiled. “Thank you, Frasie.”
“I wish mine looked like that.” Frasie pushed up her cleavage. “When the creator was passing out breasts I must have been in the outhouse.” She pointed at her. “I mean even Nivvy’s are bigger than mine.”
Niv rubbed her forehead. “Really, Frasie?”
Frasie shrugged. “Really! I mean, I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.”
“I think we should institute a new rule. From now on, knock first.”
Frasie’s jaw dropped. “Nivvy! I have never, ever, never, not once knocked on your door.”
“Yes, well, things have changed. Shareis values her privacy.”
Shareis shook her head.
“No way Shareis is shy. Now Nivvy is shy, but here you are standing naked in front of me and you don’t seem to care.”
“I don’t, but we are making Niv uncomfortable.”
“I’m sorry, Nivvy. Oh, Shareis, I need a nickname for you. You see, I give everyone I’m close to a nickname. It’s sort of a rule of mine. If Nivvy gets her knock rule, I get to call you something special.”
“My name cannot be easily shortened,” Shareis replied.
Frasie patted Shareis on the shoulder. “I’ll think about it and let you know. Oh, I came in here to tell you Dailen wants to see us.” She rubbed her hands together. “Hopefully he’ll have breakfast.”
“We’ll be there shortly.” After Frasie left, Shareis chuckled. “She’s in rare form this morning.”
“Yes. She seems to be back to her normal self.”
Shareis slipped on her chemise. “I should get dressed. If you want, you may go ahead without me. I will be there soon.”
“Are you afraid I’ll be embarrassed if we arrive together?” she asked.
“I am not certain. I do not wish to cause any undue awkwardness with the others.”
“They know we slept in the same room, Shareis.” She took her hand. “Besides, you cannot embarrass me. I am proud to have you by my side.”
When they arrived at Dailen’s home they found Frasie, Farius, and Aiden eating bread and cheese. Frasie held up a piece of fruit. “I was right, Nivvy. Breakfast!”
“Did you invite Narelle and Olivia?” Shareis asked.
“Not yet,” Dailen replied. “I wanted to speak with all of you alone.”
Frasie bolted from the sofa. “Oh, you can trust Olivia,” she said with a full mouth. “I’ll go get her.”
Shareis stopped her.
Frasie frowned and swallowed her bite of food. “Now listen, Shareis, you didn’t spend as much time with Olivia as I did. I promise you, she’s nice.”
“She is friends with Narelle,” Shareis replied.
“Yea, and?”
“We don’t know either of them. It would be better if they aren’t part of this meeting.”
Frasie looked at them one by one, sighed, then marched back to her seat.
“I’m sure they’re fine people,” Dailen said. “But we must discuss something of great urgency.”
Olivia rushed inside the building. “The ghouls are back,” she said between breaths. “They’re marching up the hill!”
Chapter 66
Niv and her companions approached the edge of the hill. She shook at the sight of thousands of undead slowly marching toward them. The ghouls formed a seemingl
y impenetrable line of death.
Aiden drew his sword. “How will we fight so many of them?”
“I can slow them down for a short while,” Farius said.
“Save your magic, Farius,” Dailen replied. He motioned to either side of him, pointing out dozens of Den’tari near the precipice. Niv was certain they weren’t there before he spoke. “My people will erect a barrier to purchase the time Niv needs to complete the ritual.”
“Narelle and I will help,” Olivia said. “Skilla are quite adept at wards.”
“Where is Narelle?” Farius asked.
Olivia looked around. “She was with me before I came to get you.”
The other Den’tari men and women raised their arms and cast a golden barrier above them that surrounded the encampment. Its translucent, shimmering energy encompassed half the hillside.
Dailen pointed to her hut. “We must go, now.”
“We will assist in your defense,” Farius said.
Shareis put her hand on her shoulder. “Be careful.”
She held her hands. “I want you to know—”
“Go save the world, Niv,” Shareis interrupted. “We’ll protect you.”
She kissed her, then looked at the others. Her mind filled so many words that they formed a lump in her throat.
Dailen tugged on her arm. “Let’s go.”
Before she reached the building, she glanced a final time at Shareis. She swallowed hard and entered the hut.
She took off her shoes and laid in bed on top of the covers. Dailen took her hand. “I must help the others. Fight well, Niv’leana.”
“You too, Dailen. Thank you.”
He nodded, then left the room.
She nestled against the soft blanket and closed her eyes. She had become adept at calming her mind, so sweeping away the thoughts of the physical world was now a trivial matter. Her perceptions melted into the dark ether with each descending step into her deep trance.
She appeared in a cold, dark, endless room, devoid of sound or sensation. The chilly floor offered no pressure on her bare feet. After a few moments, a small hand touched her wrist.
She saw the same young boy she had previously encountered, who she now knew as the avatar of the Amulet of Balance. He wiped his red, swollen eyes with his handkerchief. “Are you ready?”
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