by Willow Sova
Faeron looked up at the mighty crossbow looming high above them. A horrified expression, one in remembrance of nightmarish things, crawled over him.
A memory I’m sure he’d soon forget, Medlinya thought.
One evening, a fortnight ago, the princess had unleashed the giant arrow to zoom with a thunderous groan and slice through the mattress, spurting downy cotton wadding into flight while splintering the stone lounge into rubble.
“Imagine what will happen if you choose to do me harm,” she had reminded him then. “I’m the maker and master of this lethal instrument. Only I can pluck its string and release the arrow to sing through the air.” She had looked up with pride at her creation while circling her reluctant lover. When she walked a full circle around the young elf, she stopped before him and leered into his eyes. “This fine weapon knows only loyalty to me and death to my foes. Which are you, Faeron? Friend or foe?”
“F-f-friend, my Princess,” he replied, his gaze averted. But Medlinya would not allow it; she thrust his chin up with the point of the dagger and glared at him.
“That’s my obedient elfling, now—” she broke off, nose crinkling in disgust as she looked down at his trousers. The tan velvet bled darker about his loins where he made water in his breeches. Her snicker rolled into throaty laughter. “We shall get along swimmingly, my dear.” The princess smirked while tracing his soiled groin with her blade. “Though I had hoped to wet your trousers more with passion than with fear. But that’ll come in due time.” She sauntered toward the ruins and turned to face him, biting off the shoulder straps of her crimson gown with the teeth of her dagger until it puddled around her feet. The dark magic runes embroidered with gilded thread throughout glittered under the candlelight, and her pale body stood like a statue on a pedestal of red and gold. The monstrous chaise had transformed to its former state behind her, and she had fallen back, reclining on the overstuffed pillows, and spread her thighs to expose that pink-fleshed gap. On one knee she had rested her wrist, dangling the dagger from her fingertips before tossing it to the tiled floor with a clank. Her almond-shaped eyes had beaded to dark blue slits as she commanded Faeron, “Now let me have a taste of your dragon.”
Eyeing the elf from where she lay, the princess could sense the memory of that night was still terrifyingly fresh for her dutiful elf. Nocked and ready for release on a whim, the keen-edged arrow pointed toward him. As he stared up at it, his arms turned to gooseflesh, and there was a slight tremor in his hands. Keep them fearful, and they’ll remain faithful, that’s what I say. Fortitude-wise, this one’s the runt of the litter. A weakling from start to finish.
“Shall we have another play of it? A round of dragon-mounts-the-maiden?” With a wanton smile, the princess rolled over on her belly and peered into the towering looking glass at the head of her chaise, glancing scintillating stars of many colors as the elf shifted into his dragon. That’s my faithful Faeron. I’m not finished with you yet.
CHAPTER 14
WATERFALLS
Songs of robins and mockingbirds echoed through the willows while Sparrow bathed near the waterfalls, listening, the memories of last night still with her. To her pleasure, the water was warm. Wisps of lavender roses wafted about as she lathered her breasts and belly with one of the fragrant soaps Thalion had gifted her. Each was a small sphere of lilac freckled with flakes of rose petals that was buttery smooth and smelled divine. He loved the fragrance on her, saying as much last evening while they spooned under the brilliance of Dragonfire. While nuzzling her tousled hair, he had whispered his wish to inhale the floral scent on every inch of her. I’ll make sure not to disappoint him, she thought, sliding frothy fingers toward her sensitive place to wash. If only it were his fingers touching me there.
After gently tossing the soap onto the bank, Sparrow waded to deeper waters and dove in to drench her hair. When she broke the surface, her nipples tightened with the pass of a delicate breeze. The memory of awakening to Thalion blowing on them after suckling them emerged.
She smiled to herself.
I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. So why am I also frightened?
Happiness had been an elusive creature to her, for most of her life. Yet, for once, it seemed she had found it. But will I always have it? Mother had a flicker of joy once… but then cruel humans destroyed it. The girl now understood the depth of her mother’s sorrow. When Erynion was murdered, her spirit had shattered like a pane of glass losing fragments to the wind… until nothing was left. Only an irreparable emptiness.
Was I fated to find you, Thalion?
Or is this some ephemeral dream from which I’ll awake?
He accepted her for who she was and brought her light and joy. Could it be he truly loves me? In her heart, she tried denying the possibility, convinced he wielded some Elvish bewitchment to woo her, just as Geoffrey had used his masculine charm.
Though, in the end, Sparrow was no more persuaded. It was she who yearned for him to bed her that first night they made love. Restless for want of him, she was unable to sleep that night. But were my desires my own or ones he magically inspired? While awake, she had dreamt of his touch prickling her skin, his mouth devouring her lips, her falling asleep in his muscular embrace. And so much more.
Yes, so much more. Bewitchment or not, Thalion’s filled a void long left empty. And now I can’t imagine my life without him. And that’s what frightens me.
“Eeeeek!” Her heart thundered in her throat. Something circling under the water startled her. She was caught in the eye of a small cyclone as it whirled around and grazed her legs, slick as an eel, making several passes. Another shriek and Sparrow nearly toppled into the lagoon, but instinct possessed her to clasp the sinuous neck of the creature emerging between her thighs. A lazuli-crowned head breached the water, and rivulets dripped down its flaxen-scaled form. “Thalion!” she squealed. In a heartbeat, she was atop his dragon.
The beast continued to swim, keeping her above water, and slithered up and down, sliding her back and forth, her sex riding every scaly bump along the ridge of his spine unleashing spasm after spasm and a flood of warmth in the walls of her cunny. His groans vibrated up her thighs, then to that sensual spot. She could not contain her excitement from these new sensations. Feeling tremors within her core and weakening of her limbs, she fastened her legs and arms around his withers. This response delighted the dragon further, apparent by his moans intensifying, buzzing her flesh near numbness.
Sparrow surmised he was relishing the occasion. Though his face was obscured from sight, she knew the beast was laughing by the gusts venting from his nostrils and metallic trills singing from his throat. The creature bucked and flung her into the air. He then whirled about, and she plopped onto his belly. A snort and a whistle sang from his nose. She narrowed her eyes and drew in closer, discerning those reptilian lips quirked into a grin.
“Why you naughty little—” was all she could say before he bucked again. He bounced her naked body up and down, making her gasp whenever she flew up, only to thump onto his belly again. Over and again, the beast tossed her toward the sky, whickering with amusement. Oh yes! Thalion is thoroughly enjoying this!
After a final jounce, Sparrow flumped on his tummy, breathless from laughter. She dismounted the dragon as he slowly stood up and wrapped his wings around her. A shimmer of lights in shades of the rainbow stung her eyes as he shifted into his elven form.
“Seems I found a way,” said Thalion, smiling over her mouth after kissing her.
“A way to what?”
“To make your bosom bounce most enthusiastically, just as Oriel did last night.” He beamed with a sensual naughtiness.
“That was your mischievous dragon’s doing, not yours,” she replied, pinching her lips to muffle a chuckle.
“But we are one and the same.”
Sparrow felt his arousal on her belly under the water and hugged his neck to draw him closer. His pupils were tiny black moons encircled by wispy clouds of lazuli and violet,
revealing his desire. With a bump against his loins, she made a silent request. The need to straddle him, to be skin on skin with him, and him inside her, was a hunger she needed to sate.
The elf smiled, cupping her breasts, and swirled his thumbs over the rosy flesh until each delicate bud bloomed, bringing a current of wet heat to her core and weakness to her knees. He skimmed over her buttocks and fondled them while he moaned. After clasping a hand to each thigh, he hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Parting his lips with a kiss, she twirled her tongue lithely about his own and grabbed his cock and sank into him.
“Tsk, tsk, Thalion! How your standards have fallen!” The voice pierced the air like a vixen’s scream. Sparrow shuddered, clutching him tighter, and he reciprocated while lowering into the lagoon. Their eyes darted through the churning boughs, in search of a face. “I see you prefer sheathing your dagger in a half-blood these days,” the voice called out again. This time, they spotted the figure wending through the willows, dressed in a long, hooded tunic of maroon brocade embossed with thorny silver vines and mounted on Mystic, a menacing, black-faced, blue roan courser. A sleek platinum mane framed that pallid face.
“Enough with your insults, Medlinya!” Thalion boomed.
“Oh, I’ve only just begun,” she said, spurring her horse closer to the bank with a few quick jabs of her heels. “It appears your new lady was about to break in her wild stud.” A raspy whicker from her fearsome mount matched the wicked grin the princess shot at Sparrow. “How I’ve seen this violet-eyed stallion give many an elven lady an exciting ride over the years,” she jeered, gyrating in the saddle. “By all means, continue. I could use the entertainment.”
“I wouldn’t give you the pleasure, so why don’t you leave us alone,” he demanded. In synchrony with her own, his heart pounded. Though Sparrow sensed in Thalion more fury than fear.
“Alone? To do what? To sully our race with your disgusting coupling with this mongrel?” Medlinya cackled at her own words while the blue roan cheered her on with a stream of stomps and snorts.
Sparrow fumed and hatched a clever retort, but Thalion chimed in first, “Leave her be! Your quarrel is with me! She’s done you no harm!”
“Such a tryst may spell disaster for our kind. I wouldn’t call that harmless.” The princess wheeled Mystic around with a brusque yank of the reins. A smear of scarlet streaked the courser’s blue flank where a spur had pricked her mount one too many times.
That’s blood! Poor creature! The sight of it made her stomach roil.
“I doubt concern for our race has brought you here. So what has?”
His chest flexed, solid as carved marble against Sparrow’s skin.
The princess offered a nonchalant shrug and replied, “I heard rumors about the realm you were courting a new lady and thought I’d confirm them for myself.” Her eyes flashed with contempt at the girl. “I see how you’ve swapped your stately princess for a trollop.” Medlinya followed with a dramatic sigh. “Can’t say I’m impressed.”
A trollop?
Fists clenched, Sparrow lurched forward, ready to protest, but the elf hushed her with a tightening embrace. She whipped about to face him, but he only gave a subtle shake of his head and whispered, “Please. It’s best you say nothing.”
The princess snickered. “Very wise of you, Thalion. I’ve taught you well.” Then leering down with icy blue eyes, Medlinya mocked, “Yes, love. You ought to mind his words and your own, lest you cross me beyond return.”
Though only a stone’s throw in distance from her, Sparrow sensed the hatred raging behind those eyes. Their coldness penetrated her sternum until she lost her breath. A formidable force riveted her as she tried pulling away, but they were locked, unbroken from that hateful stare.
Thalion caught her wincing and asked, “What’s wrong?” Yet the only reply Sparrow could offer was to fasten her arms and legs around him. Her hold was relentless and needy. Her tongue refused to form words; it only served to choke her.
Please, help me! she thought and was all she could muster. As if in answer, the elf swept her away from those cold eyes. A gasp broke her silence, leaving her wheezing long until her breath returned, unhindered.
Shrill laughter battered the trees as the amused princess rode off, the clopping footfalls of her courser fading in the brush. Once the dark twin was gone, Sparrow pulled away and waded through the sun-dappled water toward the mossy bank where her clothes lay.
“What are you doing?”
“I should’ve asked myself that question long before falling in deeper with you.” With downcast eyes, she faced away from him. It cut her to speak those words. But it would pain me more if Thalion were lost to me forever. Sparrow focused on her reflection on the water, near still as a looking glass, until her twin rippled away under a featherlight breeze. So it seems this was all a dream to be shattered as well.
“What do you mean?” Thalion stirred up foamy waves as he sloshed toward her.
“What a waste of beauty on that one. She has a wicked heart,” the girl replied in a daze, not realizing she spoke aloud.
“I find no beauty in her. Only a dark spirit lives within her.” The warm dampness of his taut belly brushed against her breasts when he drew her in.
“Yes, I saw what lurks behind those eyes.” An eerie thought overwhelmed her as she looked into those blue-lilac eyes shaded by dark lashes. I couldn’t bear losing him, those vivid flames dying out. I fear Medlinya has ill intentions. The songbirds and roar of the falls were all drowned out by a sense of foreboding. “She’s rife with nefarious will, and that scares me. Clearly, it’s us she seeks to sunder. Perchance more than that, I fear.”
Thalion framed her face within his hands and said, “She’ll never tear me away from you, Sparrow. Never.” Wet locks clung to her forehead. The elf swept them aside before kissing her there. When he withdrew from her, she sensed his eyes beseeching her, wishing for some reassurance. “I hope Medlinya hasn’t sown doubt about me in your heart. She painted me unjustly.”
“I’m not as gullible as she may think,” she tried reassuring him. Why Thalion had not found love, she had wondered more than once. He’s one of the gentlest souls I’ve ever known. Yet they condemn him for his shifter’s nature? But if Aeweniel’s elven ladies bore only a fraction of Medlinya’s cruel temperament, then she understood how that could have come to pass. “You’ve lived many lifetimes over mine. I had no illusions you were without a healthy dose of lovers.”
The elf shook his head and gripped her shoulders, unwilling to let her go. Nor were his eyes, as they remained fixed on her when he said, “Yet not one ever blossomed into love as it has with you. You’re like no other, Sparrow. Your beauty within is boundless. Every day I drench myself in it, and I’m happier than I was the day before. More euphoric than I’ve ever been.”
The sting of tears threatened to reveal her turmoil. If I go, I’ll lose Thalion for a time. But if I stay, perchance I’ll lose him forever. Like my mother lost Erynion. She ached at the thought of a life without him. Breathing in his gentle spirit had lifted her from darkness. I can’t ask Thalion to leave Aeweniel, knowing he’d be less than he is now, without his magic, without his dragon. I can’t ask that of him. The choice was clearer, though no less heart-wrenching, and she resolved then to tell him what had to be. “And I’ve never known true bliss as when I’m with you, but—” The words were bile on the tongue, sickening her.
“But what?” Concern colored his voice, and he hunched down to meet her eyes when she looked away.
No. I must look at him when I speak these words. And so she did. “Maybe she was right, and elves should be with their own kind. My mother and Erynion, see the fate they suffered, and now your brother and Evelyn. I should’ve tempered my passion. What was I thinking?”
“That’s nonsense.” Thalion gave her a brusque shake as though waking her from a nightmare. Sparrow knew he meant no harm by the gesture and sensed his desperation. “Venom runs through Medl
inya’s veins. Her words are poisonous. They only serve to further her motives. You must believe me on this.”
“As for that, I have no doubt. But I’ve put you in danger. And if death befell you, I couldn’t live with myself. I must leave Aeweniel and go back home.” But I have no home, she remembered. Where will I go? That matters not. I’ll find my way, so long as he’s safer here without me. “I’m sorry, Thalion. I must leave—”
Sparrow broke off from saying more, wishing to conceal her welling tears. She spun around to reach for her rose brocade gown, its silver-embossed lilies adorned with tiny mother-of-pearl beads twinkling like stars under the sunlight. But her fingers barely touched silk before Thalion whisked her by the waist and thrust into her.
“If you leave, then my demise is most certain,” he declared through clenched teeth, nostrils flaring. His countenance was severe, almost frightening the girl. Then Sparrow saw his eyes blanching to a dull blue-grey, glinting with tears, and her heart plunged upon seeing the anguish in them… in him.
“I can’t stay,” she cried. “I couldn’t bear—” Thalion consumed her lips with a fiery kiss, his tongue dancing about her own like a flame wrestling to catch more kindling, refusing to succumb to the embers. Her knees melted beneath her, and all she could do was surrender to him. The elf swept her up and waded closer toward a sinewy sycamore, its mossy, emerald train trailing down the trunk and over the steep bank where it disappeared into the silvered water. There, he set her between two burly buttresses with her feet dangling in the water, her back slightly aslant against the tree. Though in the lagoon, he remained swallowed up, navel-deep. His fingers bit into her hips as he leaned in and stole another kiss. Warm and ravenous, his tongue mingled with hers. And a warmth of a different kind trickled to her cunny while their tongues frolicked. She broke away, gasping, when he teased her delicate folds with slick strokes and circles. “Oh, Thalion, p-please, please…”
“Ah, Sparrow. How your desire for me flows. Don’t deny me your sweetness, sweet lady.” A sultry smile spread over his full lips, and his eyelids went heavy as though he were drifting into a trance inspired by mystical herbs. “I know what you want without you even speaking it, my love.”