35. Kaiya
We raced toward the ruins, and by grace or luck, we didn”t run into any more creatures on the way. If I could get Jaiel situated in a safe place, perhaps I could repeat what I”d done earlier to help his charisma.
I stopped us on a small hill in front of what looked like a normal town … except at least three times taller, completely abandoned, and in an advanced state of ruin.
The map had a note about it being ”Giant Ruins,” but I”d thought that referred to the size of the village”s ruins … not the actual size of the dwellings or the people they once housed!
There was no time to think more about it, though, as Jaiel had gone completely limp in front of me. Gritting my teeth, I led us into the dark ruins of the village, weaving between the massive stone buildings.
We needed to get as far and high as possible. At the very least, it would allow me to keep a better eye on our surroundings.
We passed structure after structure, all in various states of collapse and disrepair. Finally, we reached a home in the center of the town with all its walls intact and its giant stone door cracked open enough for the fleirals to squeeze through.
I hopped off Jax, secured Jaiel, and stepped inside.
For a moment, I removed my ring and entered the Korra Realm to scan the interior of the building. It was empty of life save for a few tiny, still korras, like grass or other plants.
Thank the gods.
Sliding my ring back on, I pulled both fleirals inside and dragged Jaiel off Jax.
He moaned a little as he hit the ground, then opened a single pitch-black eye and staggered to his feet.
”Whoa, whoa —” I dashed to his side. ”Lean on me.”
He slumped onto my shoulder, and I half-carried him further into the dark room. We got to a hearth as tall as a horse, illuminated by moonlight through a paneless window. I let him slump to the ground next to it.
Forsaken hells. His skin was still ice cold, but he was wet with sweat.
”Princess —” His eyes flicked open, then closed, and his head lolled to the side. I winced at how ragged his breath had gotten.
This was as safe as we were going to get.
It was now or never.
Closing my eyes, I slipped off my ring once more and reached out for his korra. It was much easier to find now that I knew what I was looking for.
The charisma and monster were still thrashing against each other, and Jaiel”s korra was struggling under the relentless abuse, the essences dimming as I watched.
He was dying …
My touch earlier had helped bolster his charisma, but it was already back to its previous size as the shadow creature raged on.
A vice-like grip on my forearm snapped me out of the Korra Realm, and I opened my eyes to see Jaiel staring sightlessly ahead, eyes dark glowing pools inches from mine.
”Please, don”t take her …” he whispered. Then his entire body began to shake.
”Jaiel — come on, stay with me,” I pleaded, panic flooding me.
This had better work.
Swallowing, I reached across our bond and touched his charisma essence. Again, the charisma grew, expanding through the bond and into me. I ignored the strange sensation of bouncing heat popping into my chest and stayed focused on him.
Jaiel”s charisma pulsed and grew, flowing into and over the monster as it lashed out against the rising tide. Slowly, ever so slowly, it enveloped the thrashing shadow until finally the beast stilled.
Jaiel”s body relaxed in my arms.
Thank the gods!
I stole a glance at the bond between us and gasped. What had once been as thin as a hair was now nearly as thick as my wrist.
Fuck! He was not going to like that when he woke up.
If he woke up.
No. I couldn”t think that way.
A low groan made my heart flip, and I opened my eyes to meet Jaiel”s angry gaze, eerily pulsing between black and white. With each heartbeat, the glow slowed until finally his eyes settled to a soft, glowing white.
Jaiel shifted, and I registered for the first time just how close we were …
Something in my chest surged forward, the popping heat pulsing and expanding until it felt as though my insides were turning into lava.
I let out a low, throaty moan.
”Princess.” His voice was more intense than normal — the sound deeper, more compelling. ”What did you do?”
I licked my lips, heart racing as his gaze fanned the fire raging within me.
”I just —”
His eyes slipped closed, and he groaned as a burst of fire spread to my core in a quick blast, then retreated.
Gasping, my eyes dropped to his lips. ”Fuck, you asshole. What”s happening to me?”
He leaned close, Fae features sharp, gaze hooded. ”Is that charisma I sense flowing through you, Princess? You — reached through our bond?! Again?”
The rumble of his voice sent spirals of heat through me, and I nodded. ”I had no other choice.”
He let out a strangled groan. ”You strengthened our bond? Hells! I can … I can feel you …” The sound of his voice, less human than I”d ever heard, sent a strange shard of pleasure through me, making me lick my lips and squeeze my thighs together.
Something about him called to me, pulling me closer.
Those glowing blue eyes dropped to my chest, and for a moment I wondered if he could see the heat inside me like I could him.
His jaw tightened, and he reached his hand out, pressing his palm to my sternum. ”Does it burn?”
Tingles spread from where his fingers touched, and I fought the urge to lean in and press my chest against his.
He clenched his jaw and repeated the question. ”Does. It. Burn?”
As though it heard him, the fire surged through my body, making my pussy clench and my legs go weak.
”Yes,” I breathed, holding back a moan. ”Like fire burning on the inside. But —” It was a storm twisting and writhing inside me, burning away my thoughts. Hungry for release. Pushing me closer to him with every breath.
I stared at his lips, desperate for a taste as I writhed against him, needing more.
He groaned at the contact, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
How did he live this way?
Our breaths came out in heavy pants, but still he refused to make a move.
Fine. My body knew what we needed.
Reaching down, I grabbed his hands and pressed them into my sides, sighing at the touch.
He froze for a moment, but then his fingers were digging into my hips, pulling me closer. The heat of his palms sending shivers through my belly.
Bright white eyes stared up at me, full of barely restrained desire — and a hint of the monster.
”Please,” I said, not even caring how breathy and desperate I sounded.
His gaze dropped to my lips, and he winced, gripping me tighter. ”Fuck, Princess. You don”t want me. This isn”t you. I want to, but you —”
He was wrong. I”d wanted him before this.
I stopped listening, though — the heat in my chest was too much to resist. It pushed out, desperate for freedom, and I moaned softly as bright light flooded from my mouth up to his.
His pupils dilated as he inhaled it, and when he looked down at me again, it was with a sense of wonder.
”What the —? Are you using charisma on me? How is that even possible?”
I moaned and pressed myself against him. ”We can discuss that later,” I murmured, bringing my lips close to his.
He tensed and turned his head to the side, while his palms dragged my hips closer.
He didn”t want to kiss. That was fine. His body was firm and smooth beneath my fingertips as I slipped my hands beneath his shirt and popped it open, tossing it away.
His firm chest was warm against my breasts and my nipples pebbled as he leaned in, causing a delicious pressure against them. I couldn”t help the breathy moan that slipped past my lips.
Tracing the divots beside his hip bones, I pushed past the waistband of his pants, desperate for more silky skin.
”You”d better be sure about this, Princess,” he groaned.
He pulled me into his arms, my legs wrapped around his waist, and I nodded. I”d wanted this for days now.
It had filled my dreams and haunted my thoughts. I”d tried to deny it, but with the charisma burning in me, it all became painfully clear.
”I need you, Jaiel Kierstall.”