25. Aurel
I slither through the dense forest, my serpentine body moving silently over fallen leaves and twisted roots. Vera walks beside me, her hand occasionally brushing against my arm. The touch sends warmth through my entire being, reminding me that this is real—she chose me, despite everything.
"There's a valley ahead," I say, gesturing through the trees. "Isolated. Protected by natural barriers. No one will find us there."
Vera's eyes light up with interest. "Show me."
We emerge from the forest onto a ridge overlooking a hidden valley. A crystalline lake sparkles below, surrounded by ancient trees. Magic shimmers in the air—old protective spells that will keep others away.
"It's perfect," Vera breathes, her fingers intertwining with mine.
"I found it centuries ago," I admit. "Before... everything. I never thought I'd share it with anyone."
She turns to me, a slight smirk on her face. "And now?"
"Now I can't imagine being here without you." I pull her closer, my tail coiling protectively around her legs. "We can build a home here. Just us."
"No more dark elves," she says.
"No more prisons."
"No more fighting."
I press my forehead to hers, breathing in her scent. "Just peace."
"And us," she adds softly.
"And us," I agree, kissing her gently. The valley stretches before us, promising sanctuary and solitude. After centuries of darkness and decades of manipulation, I've finally found what I never knew I needed—not just freedom, but love.
I gather branches and leaves while Vera creates magical barriers around our chosen spot near the lake. My serpentine body proves useful, reaching high branches that would be difficult for others to access. The shelter takes shape quickly under our combined efforts.
"This reminds me of ancient ceremonies," I say, arranging the branches into a dome-like structure. "My people used to build temporary shelters for mating rituals."
Vera pauses her spell-weaving, interest sparking in her eyes. "Tell me about these ceremonies."
"They were private affairs, just the two mates under the stars." My hands work steadily as I speak. "No witnesses needed except the ancient powers themselves."
"Like us now?" There's a hint of excitement in her voice.
I nod, finishing the shelter's frame. "Yes, though traditionally there would be more preparation time."
"We don't need elaborate preparations," Vera says, completing the magical barrier with a flourish. "We just need each other."
The sun sets as we finish our work. I coil my lower body, creating a comfortable space for us both within the shelter. Vera's magic illuminates the interior with a soft glow.
"In the old traditions," I say, taking her hands in mine, "we would exchange vows under the stars."
Vera steps closer, her eyes reflecting the magical light. "Then let's make our vows."
The night embraces us like a lover's touch, stars scattered across the dark canvas above. My serpentine body coils beneath me as I sit across from Vera, our magic intertwining in the air between us. The protective dome I built earlier shields us from prying eyes, though we're already far from any civilization.
"You're beautiful," I whisper, unable to contain my awe. The transformation is striking – gone is the frail slave I first encountered. Before me sits a goddess incarnate, her skin glowing with vitality, her previously limp hair now cascading in thick waves down her back. Even her lips seem fuller, more sensual.
"I can feel your magic," she says, reaching out to trace the scales on my arm. "It's different now. Stronger."
"As is yours." I catch her hand, bringing it to my lips. "You've come into your true power. The Purna blood in your veins has awakened fully."
Her eyes meet mine, and I see the same fierce determination that drew me to her, but now tempered with wisdom and strength. The dark circles that once shadowed her eyes have vanished, leaving only clear, luminous skin in their wake.
"Do you remember," she asks, her fingers trailing down my chest, "when you first came to me in my dreams?"
"I remember thinking you were just a means to an end." My voice catches. "I was a fool."
"You were." She smiles, the expression transforming her face. "But now you're mine."
The magic between us pulses stronger, responding to our emotions. Her hair floats slightly in the magical current, and I reach out to run my fingers through it.
"Are you ready to begin the ceremony?" I ask, my heart racing with anticipation.
I close my eyes, letting the ancient words flow from my lips in a low, rhythmic chant. The syllables feel familiar yet strange after centuries of disuse. My serpentine body coils instinctively, creating a protective circle around us both.
"Take my hand," I whisper between verses. "Let your magic flow freely."
Vera's fingers intertwine with mine, her touch electric. The air around us thickens with power as I continue the chant, my voice growing stronger with each word.
"Bound by blood, bound by soul," I intone in the ancient tongue. "Two paths merge into one."
Magic surges between us, invisible cords of power wrapping around our joined hands. I feel Vera's essence reaching out to mine, her Purna powers unfurling like flower petals in the morning sun.
"I feel you," she breathes, her voice filled with wonder.
The connection deepens as I continue the chant. Her joy floods through our bond, pure and unfiltered, washing away centuries of darkness and pain. My own magic responds, coiling around hers in an intimate dance.
"Open yourself to me," I murmur between verses. "Let the ancient magic bind us."
Her power flows into me like warm honey, sweet and intoxicating. I can feel her heart beating in time with mine, our magical essences becoming impossibly entangled.
"Is this... normal?" she asks, her voice trembling with emotion.
"No," I admit, maintaining the rhythm of the chant. "This is something else entirely."
The ancient magic pulses one final time, then settles into a warm glow around us. I open my eyes to find Vera's gaze already fixed on me, her expression filled with wonder. The frail slave girl I once manipulated is gone, replaced by a powerful witch whose very presence commands respect.
"Your eyes," she whispers, reaching up to touch my face. "They're different now."
"How so?"
"They're softer. Peaceful." Her thumb traces my cheekbone. "I never thought I'd see you look at peace."
I catch her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "I never thought I'd find it." The bitterness that once consumed me has melted away, replaced by something I'd forgotten existed – contentment.
"Does this mean you're officially mine now?" A playful smile tugs at her lips.
"I've been yours since the moment you forgave me." I pull her closer, my tail coiling protectively around her. "The ceremony just makes it official."
She leans into me, her magic humming in harmony with mine. "And what does being yours mean?"
"It means you're stuck with a reformed manipulator who'd burn the world down to keep you safe."
"Reformed?" She raises an eyebrow. "That remains to be seen."
"You doubt me?"
"Never again." She kisses me softly. "But I do enjoy watching you try to prove yourself."
I growl playfully, nipping at her lower lip. "Then I'll spend eternity doing just that."
The cool night air of the valley caresses my serpentine scales as I unsheathe my cock. The moonlight dances across her skin, casting an ethereal glow that makes her seem almost otherworldly. I am struck, yet again, by the sheer beauty and power that radiates from her.
"You're breathtaking," I murmur, my voice a low rumble in the quiet night.
She smiles, her eyes locked onto mine as she closes the distance between us. "Show me what comes next, Aurel."
My tail coils reflexively beneath me, providing a stable platform as I guide her onto my lap. "I want you to ride me," I command, my hands instinctively seeking out the supple curves of her body.
Vera grins, her eyes alight with mischief and desire. She grinds her body against mine, the friction sending jolts of pleasure through us both. "Like this?" she teases, her movements deliberate and maddeningly slow.
I can barely contain the groan that builds in my chest, my hands tugging at the straps of her dress. "Yes, but let's not leave you overdressed for the occasion."
She chuckles, a sultry sound that seems to resonate with the magic that surrounds us. The fabric of her dress falls away, revealing the exquisite form beneath. My breath catches in my throat as I take in the sight of her, naked and unashamed. "I'll never tire of seeing you like this."
Vera leans in, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispers, "Then don't keep me waiting."
In one fluid motion, I align myself with her entrance and slowly begin to slide inside. The feeling of her warmth enveloping me is almost too much to bear, and I have to fight the urge to thrust deep and hard right from the start.
Vera moans, her fingers digging into my shoulders as she adjusts to my girth. "Aurel," she breathes, her voice filled with a mixture of pleasure and reverence.
"I've got you," I assure her, my hands gripping her hips as she starts to move.
She grins at me, her body moving with a slow, deliberate rhythm that threatens to unravel my sanity. Each roll of her hips sends waves of pleasure coursing through me, and I bite my lip to keep from growling in sheer ecstasy.
"Vera," I manage to say, my voice strained with the effort of holding back. "You're driving me mad."
She chuckles, the sound vibrating against my chest. "Good," she says, her voice filled with playful wickedness. "I want you to feel just a fraction of the chaos you've caused in my life."
I can't help but smile at her retort, even as my hands itch to touch her, to guide her movements and claim her completely. She takes pity on me, grabbing my hands and placing them on her waist. It's an invitation I'm all too eager to accept.
My fingers dig into her soft flesh as she rides me, her breasts bouncing with each motion. I can't tear my eyes away from the sight of her—hair wild, eyes alight with desire, skin aglow with the power of her magic. She's a vision of beauty and strength, and she's all mine.
"Aurel," she breathes, her voice a mere whisper carried away by the wind. "I need more."
In response, I thrust upward, meeting her rhythm and eliciting a moan that seems to echo through the entire valley. Our magic swirls around us, a tangible force that amplifies our pleasure and binds us together in ways that go beyond the physical.
"I'm going to fuck you like this," I growl, my tail coiling tighter around her. "Every day. For the rest of my life."
"Yes," she agrees, her eyes locking onto mine. "My darling mate."
There's no need for words after that. Our bodies speak a language all their own, a dance as old as time that culminates in a explosion of sensation that leaves us both gasping for air. I feel her shatter around me, her inner walls clenching as she rides out her orgasm. It's too much for me to handle, and with a final, powerful thrust, I join her in blissful release.
We collapse onto the soft grass, our bodies slick with sweat and intertwined in a way that feels both foreign and utterly right. Vera's head rests on my chest, her breathing gradually slowing to match my own.
As we lie there under the starlit sky, I can't help but marvel at the turn my life has taken. I've gone from a solitary prisoner, consumed by hatred and revenge, to a man who would do anything for the woman in his arms. It's a transformation I never saw coming, but one I welcome with open arms.
"I love you, Vera," I murmur, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
She looks up at me, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. "I love you too, Aurel. More than I ever thought possible."
The scent hits me first—pine and clove, ancient and powerful. My serpentine body coils protectively as I sense them approaching our valley home. Fourteen of them, their magic rippling through the air like a storm front.
"Vera," I call out, moving to the entrance. "We have company."
She emerges from our dwelling just as they materialize at the edge of our protective barriers. Fourteen women, their presence commanding respect even from an ancient being like myself. Their leader, Czana, stands at the front, her silver-streaked hair moving in an invisible wind.
"Sister," Czana addresses Vera, completely ignoring me. "We've come to welcome you properly into our fold."
My tail twitches, muscles tensing. The power radiating from them is unlike anything I've encountered—pure, untamed, distinctly female.
"The entire coven," Czana continues, gesturing to her sisters. "We rarely gather in such numbers, but for you..." Her eyes finally flick to me, dismissive. "We made an exception."
"What do you want?" I demand, moving closer to Vera.
One of the sisters, a tall woman with flame-red hair, laughs softly. "The naga speaks as if he has any say in this matter."
"We're here for our sister," Czana says, her voice gentle but firm. "Vera, you belong with us. Your power calls to ours. Surely you feel it?"
I feel Vera stiffen beside me, and my heart clenches. The air grows thick with competing magics—their pine and clove mixing with our combined essence.
"Come," Czana extends her hand. "Let us show you who you truly are."
My muscles tense as Czana steps forward, her silver-streaked hair catching the moonlight. The air crackles with competing magics, but her expression softens unexpectedly.
"We've discussed this among ourselves," she says, gesturing to her sisters. "Your power is unique, Vera. We need someone like you in our coven."
The red-haired witch nods. "Your connection to nature magic through your naga mate is... unprecedented."
My tail coils tighter around our protective circle, but Czana raises her hand in a peaceful gesture.
"We're willing to make an exception," she continues. "Your naga can stay with you. Your bond with him seems to enhance your abilities rather than diminish them."
"What's the catch?" I growl, unable to keep the suspicion from my voice.
The witch with flame-colored hair laughs. "Always so defensive, serpent. There is no catch. We simply ask that Vera join our sisterhood and learn our ways. You may remain her mate, her protector, her... whatever you are to each other."
Vera's hand finds mine, squeezing gently. "You're saying I can have both? My heritage and Aurel?"
"Yes," Czana confirms. "Though some of our mysteries must remain between sisters only, you may keep your bond with him. We're not here to separate you. We're here to complete you."
I feel Vera's magic pulse with interest and longing. She's always wanted to know more about her heritage, and now she can have that without sacrificing what we've built together.
I watch Vera's face carefully, noting the way her eyes light up at Czana's words. The hope radiating from her is almost tangible, mixing with her magic in waves that make my scales tingle. My tail coils tighter around our protective circle, an instinctive response to my growing unease.
"Your power calls to theirs," I murmur, keeping my voice low enough that only Vera can hear. "I can feel it."
She turns to me, her expression a mixture of excitement and concern. "Aurel?"
I force myself to stay still, fighting against the urge to wrap her in my coils and take her far from here. These witches don't know about our mating bond - can't know how deeply we're connected. But their magic... it pulls at her in a way that makes my blood run cold.
"What happens when she joins your coven?" I ask Czana, unable to keep the edge from my voice. "What exactly does this... sisterhood entail?"
The red-haired witch steps forward. "Worried we'll steal her away, serpent?"
"Answer the question."
Czana's lips curve into a knowing smile that sets my teeth on edge. "The bond between sisters is sacred and ancient. It transcends all other connections."
My heart clenches at her words. Transcends all other connections? I study Vera again, seeing the wonder in her eyes as she looks at these powerful women. Would their bond override ours? Could it break what we've built?
"It's her birthright," Czana continues, her voice soft but firm. "Surely you wouldn't deny her that?"
The curse that binds us pulses beneath my skin, a constant reminder of our connection. But as I watch Vera's face light up with possibility, I wonder if even that would be enough to keep us together against the pull of her heritage.