Night Elves 2: Dangerous Obsession
Page 17
Sensing Mato’s presence, Eristta welcomed him, merging their awareness, becoming the trinity they were always fated to be. Electric sensations fueled their joined bodies, and with the waters urging them on, Eristta released her hold on reality, letting her orgasm consume her.
Her quim quivered with her release, and Red Claw bellowed, his own orgasm taking hold like the storm that crashed overhead. He bucked wildly, his cock spasming as his seed spilled into his beloved. Color lanced through the daerie currents in a palpable wave, causing the pool to explode against its banks in a shower of misty spray that nearly reached the tops of the ash and oak that shielded it.
Eristta could only hang on to Red Claw’s shoulders and wait for the sensations to pass. Her breath rasped out as her heart thrummed a wild rhythm. In four strides, Red Claw walked them across the now serene pool and laid her on the smooth, crystalline sand, joining her there.
They both lay on their backs, Eristta’s head on her shaman’s broad chest, his hands cupping her into him. The rain had ceased, the sun set, and the sky above them was studded with diamond-white stars and misty clouds. Eristta reached for Red Claw’s hand. Their fingers intertwined, feeling perfectly at home within each other’s grasp.
“Next time you share a vision with me, love, you have my word that I will listen,” Eristta murmured, her lips parting in a slow grin.
Red Claw growled and squeezed her ass. “My next vision will likely be of my attempts to command you, wastelakapi, and your ability to wrap me around your finger like a shiny wasichu’s ring.”
Eristta laughed, and Red Claw drank in the beauty of the sound he’d not heard for many long moons. “We need no ring, shaman, to declare our bond.” Slipping free of his arms, Eristta sat up and pulled him with her. With her face glowing in the silver moonlight, she grasped his arms and turned them over, exposing the inside tender flesh of her own as she did so. “Look. Elf and terran. Bonded as surely as if we were of one blood.”
On the inside of both their forearms twined a matching variegated blue vine studded with the ancient symbols of the dragon and bear. The tattoos pulsed slivery-blue. Seeking each other. Desiring, yearning.
Red Claw smiled and breathed deep, drawing in the essence of his elfin bride. Her power, pure. Her heart, true. “Today we enter the world as one.”
Cupping his strong jaw, Eristta leaned in and placed a kiss at the corner of his mouth. “Tonight we have changed the course of our destiny, and have forged a new path between two worlds.”
The truth of Eristta’s words brought them to their feet and they clasped each other in a tight embrace.
Red Claw shifted a hand through Eristta’s silken hair, relishing the feel of his new bride. “We have decisions to make, wife.”
“Not tonight, we do not,” Eristta replied, her hand moving to stroke Red Claw’s cock from base to tip. “Tonight is ours. We worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”
Chapter Nineteen
“To think, only a week past you were still my little sister, un-bonded and headstrong.”
Serosen’s teasing words fell on deaf ears. Eristta feigned an annoyed glare before going back to stroking Red Claw’s biceps as they reclined on the lush summer plain beneath the ancient oak that graced Tee’amon’s outer bailey.
Red Claw brushed Eristta’s slender hip, letting his hand come to rest on her keffa silk draped thigh. “She is still headstrong, brother. I do not think even a beating would stay her stubborn ways.”
“A beating, you say?” Eristta raised arched brows, her body stiffening at the challenge.
With a grin, Red Claw leaned in to brush her lips lightly. Instantly Eristta melted into his arms.
Serosen cleared his throat and took his wife’s hand.
“Oh, leave them be, Serosen. Your discomfort means nothing in the face of love,” Selena chided, her face glowing. She observed the pair through thick lashes and chuckled. “Sister, you have chosen well.”
Eristta wrapped the shaman tighter in her embrace and sighed. “I know.”
“Took her long enough!”
They all groaned at Darous’s approach. The firewhit insinuated himself between Red Claw and Eristta, landing on his mistress’s slender shoulder and picking at Red Claw’s arm that was draped there. “I told her from the very beginning to go after her heart.”
Swinging her hair, Eristta effectively buried the minute pear-skinned man, muffling his words. “False, false, Darous. The time for subterfuge is long past.” She pulled her midnight tresses way from the firewhit, releasing him from his familiar bondage. “Now, tell us, what happened to you after opening your doorway?”
They’d spent the past few days recovering at Tee’amon. There had been multiple wounds to heal, scars to treat, fears to ease and horrors to erase. Healers had arrived from all corners of Tir na n-Og to give aid, and amazingly, the main body of their force had survived—thanks to Eylnnie’an. The dragon had remained on the battlefield, destroying golems until there were none left to kill.
Many fled into the forests, and Eylnnie’an let them go, not wanting to destroy any more of Tir na n-Og in their pursuit. Without Garethan, they were a leaderless force—for now.
Darous sighed dramatically. “The claw worked like a charm. I opened my doorway, only to be sucked inside!” Darous harrumphed and crossed his arms, giving Red Claw an annoyed glare. “I then proceeded to lose the claw in my attempt to avoid capture in that strange place and of course, the doorway closed behind me in an instant. You could have warned me of that, shaman.”
Red Claw’s brows knitted. “And well I would have, firewhit, if it had ever occurred before.”
Darous raised both hands. “Of course! It stands to reason it would happen to me!”
Eristta rolled her eyes and pushed Darous’s hands down to his side. “Strange things have happened to all of us as of late, Darous. I’m sorry to say it is not unique to you.”
“Well,” Darous replied, pushing a shining strand of golden hair behind one tiny ear. “After that I experienced a small moment of panic, as you can well imagine. That world…” He shivered and his gaze cut to Red Claw. “Strange things happen there, shaman. Great beasts roar through the sky, and everything smells of metal! Even from the woods, I could smell it. I thought I would never get back.” His head swiveled back to Eristta. “But then I felt you.” He paused, his breath coming fast. “And then him.”
They all knew whom Darous meant. The name they were all loath to bring up. “And I was able to track the energy to the doorway. And what I saw…I had to do something.”
Eristta drew her fingertip down Darous’s cheek. “You have done so much, firewhit. None of us would be here without your assistance.”
A chorus of gratitude filled the small space beneath the giant oak and Darous sat straighter. “Well, of course I’d do anything to maintain our world, our bond.”
His last words were a murmur, but everyone heard them. Selena leaned forward, her own gaze shining with otherworldly light. There have been many words written and spoken pertaining to bonding, firewhit. What know you of this?
Darous’s face paled, but he did not shrink from the Phoenix’s stare. “I know that the war is not over.” His voice strengthened as his amber gaze swept those assembled. “I know that the reprieve you seek is only temporary. It is only now that our true test begins.”
A roar overhead shattered the weight of Darous’s words and all eyes turned skyward. “She is so beautiful.” Eristta’s heart sang with each pulse of Eylnnie’an’s powerful wings. “Tell us again, Darous, the prophecy,” Eristta whispered, her spirit soaring with the dragon as she completed a wide arc around the palace proper.
The firewhit lifted free of Eristta’s shoulder and hovered in the center of the circle of friends. “Call to ancient powers three. One of fire—” His shining gaze rested on Selena. “One of air—” Then to Eristta, her eyes closed as she traveled the currents with Eylnnie’an. “And one of the eternal sea. Bonded they will shatter that which
ties all worlds to the void.”
“The eternal sea,” Serosen said softly, his arm wrapped tightly around his wife and unborn child. “Two are known and two are bonded. Not only with the ancient powers that honor them, but with their soul mates.”
Red Claw clasped Eristta’s hand, drawing his love’s attention back to the circle. Her violet eyes opened, silver glinting in their striking depths. “So there is to be a third before we can defeat Garethan,” she whispered. “What happens if the third does not agree to the bonding?”
Gazes met, but none held an answer.
“We will be watching,” Red Claw stated. “Our eyes will be on the waters that brush our shores, and those of my home world.” He withdrew an eagle feather from the pouch at his waist and whispered sacred words. The feather glowed, and the fibers vibrated in his grasp. Find her. Remind her of her destiny.
Red Claw’s spirit words were whispered, but all heard, and all gave their own blessings. None questioned the shaman’s assumption that the third would be a woman. And that her destiny awaited her.
Standing, the shaman released the feather. It hung suspended for a brief instant before shooting up into the air. Like an arrow, it leveled off, then spiraled out of sight.
Seeking destiny.
About the author:
Romantica writer, reading enthusiast, and obsessive webmistress, Nelissa Donovan has always had an insatiable curiosity for all things mystical and supernatural. It’s not unusual for her to whip out a set of tarot cards on a dark, stormy night and poke around in the playground of the paranormal. Fortunately, Nelissa is grounded by a strong passion for her family, friends and work, and floats back to reality long enough to pen her wickedly virile elves, magic-wielding heroines, luscious cowboys and naughty nymphs.
Nelissa welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at P.O. Box 787, Hudson, Ohio 44236-0787.
Also by Nelissa Donovan:
Night Elves: Wicked Pleasures
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