“Are you sure, my love?” he whispered. “We can stay a little longer. Dorinda did say that the forest would sleep for a while if we couldn’t return immediately. If we want to spend a little time here, we can.”
Diana leaned into his touch and shook her head, a smile on her lips. “No. I think I’m ready. I’ve been living here for a long time, never really happy and just going through the motions. It’s well past time for me to realize that this isn’t home for me anymore. You’re my home, and we need to be with Arx and in our forest. It needs us. I realize all the connections I made with the forest and those living in it have become my family too. Time to go home to them.”
“You are wise, uxorem.”
“You’re a good ati, just as I said you would be,” Raskyuil interrupted as he lumbered forward.
He placed an unlit cigar between his teeth, his long green tail tucking around him. Diana looked pointedly at it and his smile widened around it.
“Since when did you start smoking cigars?” she teased.
“A couple months ago on the road, I was offered one in trade and discovered that I like them,” he said with a chuckle. “Proves that the human world does have some decent things worth keeping.”
Diana laughed. “Well, if a cigar does it for you, then whatever it takes.” Her smile died as she considered him seriously. “Are you sure you won’t come home with us?”
Raskyuil glanced at Silvas for a length of time before shaking his head. “Nah. My time is done in the Eternal Forest. I think I’m going to keep exploring this world, maybe starting a family or a clan of my own like they did in the ancient days.”
Stepping forward, Diana wrapped her arms around him. “I hate that we are just brought back together and I’m not going to see you again. I owe you so much. I don’t even know how it is that you managed to show up in New Orleans when we did.”
“I was there for a few months, just after it went to ground. I knew you were looking for Cacus but I wasn’t sure what it was. With my previous experience I stuck around and tried to help the vampires shore up defenses and get into a training drill. I figured Selvans here would show up sooner or later. You surprised me, though. I never expected to see you showing up for war when you had your slice of peace and quiet.”
“I guess I am a little harder to get rid of, and quiet just doesn’t seem to work out for me. Probably a good thing too, considering all the craziness that everything seems to get up to in the Eternal Forest.”
His grin widened as he lit his cigar and nodded thoughtfully. “I’m glad to hear that you are going back. Maybe someday our paths will cross again.” His eyes slid back over to Silvas and he inclined his head with respect. “Take care of your mate—and don’t lose her again.”
“Never,” Silvas swore, his arm looping around her protectively.
Raskyuil nodded, lit his cigar, puffed on it a few times, and ambled away, leaving Diana alone with Silvas in front of the headstones. Diana stared after him, her lips drawn into a thin line.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?”
Silvas didn’t answer immediately, but his breath brushed over her in a sigh. “I think he will be eventually. He has a lot of anger to work through, much of it my fault, though he has struggled with his own demons for a long time. The Eternal Forest has been a hard place for many generations, and it has been especially unkind to the recent generations among the mortals who never knew the beauty of it before. I hope he finds the happiness and peace he needs here.” He placed a kiss on her head. “I found it, after all. I have to have hope that those who mean the most to me will as well.”
Diana nodded and leaned into him as they walked away. They followed the edge of the forest. She recognized every step of this path. She had walked this path for years that led between the cemetery and her cabin. Tipping her head back, her eyes trailed over the trees studded with tiny green leaves. As she expected, over half of the trees were dead. She knew that the only way of restoring the forest was to bring the Eternal Forest back to life.
“Do you think there’s a chance of the forest getting better again?” she asked. “Cacus did so much damage. And that was with your forest already in decline. What if there’s no way to bring it back to life?”
He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “I wouldn’t worry about that. We will definitely be able to restore the forest.”
“How?” she asked, her brow drawing down in confusion.
“Like this,” he whispered.
Drawing her into a small cluster of trees, he spread his cloak over the ground and slowly, reverently took her off her clothes. His hands stroked and explored, sliding beneath the base of her tail and making her shiver. Her new form had erogenous zones that she had never imagined—around her tail and along her ears. Silvas zeroed in on them and used them against her until she was squirming beneath him.
“What does this have to do with the forest?” she gasped, as another shiver raced through her while he ran his textured tongue against her ear.
“You will see,” he murmured.
Stretching her out on the cloak, he covered her, his mouth and hands caressing her until she was so primed that he slipped into her with ease. Their bodies twisted together, tails slipping and knotting together as they met with eager thrusts. When he flipped her onto her hands and knees, she moaned at the loss of his cock. He didn’t leave her wanting for long. He pulled her tail to the side and wrapped it around his arm, encouraging her to grip his forearm tightly as he thrust, his pace gradually increasing until they were outright rutting.
Diana’s claws dug into the cloak, tearing holes into it as his claws clung to her sides, his hips slapping against hers until they surged to completion. Her scream of pleasure rose in accompaniment with his loud roar. The trees above them rattled like applause as they sank to the ground together in a sweaty heap.
Rolling over, she laughed and cuddled into Silvas’s arms. “That was wonderful, as usual. I am still not sure what that has to do with trees, though.”
“Don’t you?” he grinned mysteriously and tipped his head to the sky. “Look up.”
Diana turned her head to stare at the trees above them. Tears pricked at her eyes as she looked up at them. Trees that had been black and withered moments before leaned down toward them, flush with life, tiny green buds along the branches.
“We bring life,” he whispered. “That is the balance that you bring to me, uxorem. Together, we sustain the forest.”
At a loss for anything to say worthy of the moment, she clung to her mate, burrowing into his arms. They lay there for a time until his head tilted down, his lips trailing against her cheek. “Are you ready to go home?”
A smile pulled at her lips, and she blinked back tears of happiness. Home. “Yes. Home sounds perfect right about now.”
Epilogue
Turan stepped through the small courtyard of the palace, a smile on her face as she watched her beloved son sit on a cushioned couch with his mate. Arx had fully recovered after the first two years, its form reshaping to leave the hidden courtyard where they currently sat open. It was their sanctuary, their escape when they needed a quiet moment away.
Turan chuckled. Selvans and his uxorem were much beloved in their forest. It was no wonder that they needed to escape to their private place so often. Within the first five years, their love went far to restore the health and vitality of the Eternal Forest. For that alone, they were honored. Her son did not take it personally that his mate received the greatest share of honor. All adored their ati, the queen and mother of their woods. They sought her blessings in all things, and when she brought forth a new being, a silvanae, the first daughter born in thousands of years among a species dominated by males, the entire forest celebrated.
She lingered at the edge of the garden, watching as the small silvanae, Aeliana, crouched to track a butterfly that fluttered from flower to flower. She chased it over to the fountain, the water catching the sunlight that the trees allowed in with their parted
limbs. A serpentine tail coiled in the basin as Dorinda, her dearest daughter, reclined in the water, her eyes trailing after the little one.
Turan’s heart warmed at the familial vision. They were so happy together, even with the merciless way Dorinda and Selvans regularly teased one another. The lucomo was currently ignoring the way his sister splashed water in his direction as he dragged his nose against his mate’s cheek, his body close to hers. He never seemed to stop touching his uxorem, which was exactly how it should be, in her opinion. She silently congratulated herself.
True, she had a few small foul-ups—and really, it should have happened centuries ago—but she had been around in the cosmos long enough to know that everything always happened for a reason when it did. Even her choice to get involved when she did was part of the Fates’ great weave. Not even the gods saw all of their plan, nor could they truly control it. Selvans and his Diana were yet another pair whose lives were woven together as a force within the coming changes.
Although chaos tipped the scales throughout the world, it still made her happy to know that she had a helping hand in the work of fate. She had assisted with Charu and his bride, and now Selvans had his own mate. Idly, she entertained herself imagining what gods might fall next. Her smile widened mischievously. Even the gods were powerless against the influence of the goddess of love.
Aeliana stood, her small tail rising in the air behind her with curiosity as her soft ears tipped toward the forest. Raising her hand, she squealed with laughter.
“Mommy, Daddy, look!”
Diana chuckled and pushed her mate’s greedy hands away as she stood. Walking over to her daughter, she crouched low. “What do you see, sweetie?”
“Over there, in the trees… Look!”
Diana squinted into the trees, but then her eyes widened with a gasp.
“Dorinda, Silvas… Look! I can’t believe it. It is a family of monokerata. A stallion, a mare, and two foals!”
Selvans stepped behind his mate, his hands slipping around her to hold her close as they watched the monokeratas, the unicorns, step among the trees. Turan touched her chest, her own heart brimming with awe at the sight. They had not only restored the forest but had begun to restore the monokerata once again.
Dorinda blinked back her tears. “Our world thrives and is once again full of spirits. The Eternal Forest lives”
In the human world…
Raskyuil clenched his cigar in his teeth as he squinted across the landscape. In the distance, there appeared to be a piecemeal settlement. He would stop in for a few hours. He needed to refuel his motorcycle and pick up some more supplies. In recent years, more and more settlements welcomed a mixture of beings. He appreciated not standing out so much in a homogenous crowd, but he was often bigger than most males and intimidated the larger share of females. He shrugged and lit his cigar.
He had plenty to barter for trade credits. Enough for supplies, and perhaps a bit of company if he could find someone sturdy who could take a rough ride. Fragile females were definitely off the table. A grin split his face as he kicked back his kickstand once more, turning toward the ramshackle town.
The local residents had best prepare themselves. He was no typical male… He was a dangerous monster.
** Spinoff series Dangerous Monsters will be coming February 2021, starting with Raskyuil’s story. **
Glossary of Terms
Aelves: an older spelling of the word “elves.”
Ati: an Etruscan word that means “mother” but was applied to refer to queens. Notably used as a title of the goddesses Uni and Turan.
Aquilo: Roman name for the Greek Boreas, the god of the north wind. He dwells on the Hyperborean Mountains, the northernmost on Earth in Greco-Roman myth, beyond which existed the garden of Apollon, Hyperborea.
Cacus: also called Cacu among the Etruscans. In Roman myth, he was a monstrous being who was said to breathe fire and ate human flesh, who was defeated by cattle. By the time of Dante’s Inferno, he was depicted as a centaur with serpents on his back and a fire-breathing dragon on his shoulder who guarded thieves. There is a classical sculpture with Cacus in the form of a centaur that I took as most direct inspiration for this book.
Crocotta: a mythic beast that was described by Roman explorers who entered Asia. Said to have been inspired by hyenas.
Domus: Roman term applying to a small, single-family home.
Dryads: spirits of the woods.
Eru: the Etruscan name for Eros, or Cupid.
Faun: a goat-legged and horned spirit of the woods and fields.
Freyr: the god who rules the realm of the elves in Nordic and Germanic lore.
Furiae: Roman name for the Erinyes, or Furies. Spirits of punishment for those who violate oaths or create crimes against nature (i.e., slaying of blood kin and spouses).
Goblins: small fey creatures that inhabit wild places who tend to be mischievous that show up in various parts of European lore.
Hamadryad: the spirit or soul of a tree.
Ichor: a fluid that flows like blood, usually a word ascribed to the “blood” of immortal beings and gods.
Lucomo: a Romanized word from the Etruscan word for king, luchume.
Monokerata: or hippos monokereta, as it was called, is the Roman origin of the medieval unicorn. Described as large horses or giant asses, they were another mythical fauna that was said to occupy India. They were entirely white except for the head, and had a tricolor horn of white, black at the center, and a red tip. Their horns when made into cups that gave prevention against health issues such as epilepsy, convulsions, and even poison.
Nymph: a collective term for a spirit (all female in myth) associated with natural bodies of fresh and salt water, trees, and mountains. They are typically benevolent but can be jealous and selfish, not above using trickery. They are often highly sexual spirits who were known for seducing herders and travelers, and lovers of gods. I built on this to give them a lust for the sexual energy they inspire but largely harmless in their nature.
Naiad: a nymph of freshwater. They are protectors of fresh water supplies, guardians of the young, and protectors providing clean water.
Oreads: Roman form of the Greek Oreads. Nymphs of the mountain. Oreads made a significant part of the hunting party of goddess Artemis.
Pegaeae: a type of naiad that is associated with natural springs. They are typically associated with restoring people to health and sometimes with prophetic powers. For the purposes of this book, I have extended it to purification, but this is not uncommon in the ancient world as several sacred springs were associated with purification, notably at Delphi.
Silvanus: the god of the woods. Silvani in plural.
Turan: Etruscan goddess of love, beauty, and passage of souls to the next world. Comparable generally to Aphrodite and Venus.
Twergs: a more ancient spelling for dwarves.
Usil: (Sol roman) Etruscan name for the god of the sun.
Uxorem: An Etruscan word that means “wife,” it is used here interchangeably with mate.
Vinculum marcam: literally Latin for “bond mark.” It is the fragment of the soul through bonding to one’s mate that can be visibly seen on the flesh like a small upraised stone.
Wyrm: a draconic creature that resembles a giant serpent, sometimes depicted with wings.
About the Author
S.J. Sanders is a writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy Romance. With a love of all things alien and monster she is fascinated with concepts of far off worlds, as well as the lore and legends of various cultures. When not writing, she loves reading, sculpting, painting and travel (especially to exotic destinations). Although born and raised in Alaska, she currently as a resident of Florida with her family, her maine coon, Bella, and pet bearded dragon, Lex.
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Other Works by S.J. Sanders
The Mate Index
First Contact
The VaDorok
Hearts of Indesh (Valentine Novella)
The Edoka’s Destiny
The Vori’s Mate
Eliza’s Miracle (Novella)
A Kiss on Kaidava
The Vori’s Secret
A Mate for Oigr (Halloween Novella)
Heart of the Agraak
A Gift for Medif
The Arobi’s Queen
Monsterly Yours
The Orc Wife
The Troll Bride
The Accidental Werewolf’s Mate
Sci-Fi Fairytales
Red: A Dystopian World Alien Romance
Ragoru Beginnings Romance
White: Emala’s Story
Huntress
Dark Spirits
Havoc of Souls
The Mirror (also part of Mischief Matchmakers)
Forest of Spirits
Shadowed Dreams Erotica
The Lantern
Serpent of the Abyss
Argurma Salvager
Broken Earth
Forest of Spirits Page 33