Chapter Nine
Vulf
Mate. Mate. Mate.
Mine. My mate.
Terra’s warmth feels second nature now, like she’d always been here, snuggling into me with her naked body. She’s so warm. Not like Azuran, who runs cold, sometimes like crystal to the touch, all firm, faceted angles.
Terra is plush and malleable. Her warmth seeps into me, her curves snug against my fur, right antler tucked under my arm. I can smell us on her, Azuran’s scent like fresh mountain air and my rainy one, lingering.
My mate.
We couldn’t tell her that yet. We’d been lucky so far, not scaring her away. Thank the elements Azuran is the brazen motherfucker he is, for if he hadn’t started things up when he did, I’d still be dying under her scrutiny.
Fuck, the noises she’d made while drinking my seed…those sounds are branded in my memory for life.
I’m not sure how long we lay like that. Azuran returns in a crisp suit that cuts low on the neckline and hugs his muscular form, carrying a tray of meat and cheese that I know he’d arranged himself.
In our early years, I used to wonder why he didn’t have a team of professional staff under his employ, being the air god of Aeros.
Eventually, I came to understand the isolating factor of being an only.
The only godchild of the air elementals still living. The only were-rainwolf in existence. And now, the only known Vitalis. What a trio we made.
“What did you mean, that I’m as rare as a rainwolf?” Terra asks sleepily. Her heavy-lidded gaze follows Azuran into the room as he sets the tray down on the drink cart and rolls it to the bed.
Unsure if she would appreciate my closeness now that sexy playtime was over, I loosen my grip and attempt to put a sliver of space between us. Terra’s dainty fist clasps my scruff and holds firm. My heart pitter-patters like rain on the quartz skylight.
“Whoever snuck you into the human realm cared for you very much.” Azuran brings a cheese cube to Terra’s mouth, which she accepts, lips lingering around his fingers beyond what’s necessary. “You’re the first Vitalis in Eldrunna since the tragic forest fire.”
“Are you fucking sure?” Her tone is incredulous, but her hand drifts to her antler. She stares at the mirror like it owes her an explanation. A fair accusation. “I’m human. I’ve always been human.”
Azuran scoffs. “You’ve never been something so ordinary.”
“Sure,” Terra says wryly. She runs her fingers through my fur absently, and it’s taking all my concentration not to turn into a simpering pup. “I don’t usually accept platitudes from dudes who are in love with me as truth.”
Azuran’s eyes shine. He concedes with a nod and places another cube of cheese on her tongue, offering me a piece, which I accept.
“Say you are human,” I offer. She leans closer, and my heart races. “Humans aren’t native to Eldrunna, but portals have been popping up over the past few centuries.”
“Oh, yeah?”
The hope in her voice eggs me on. I nod with enthusiasm.
“True,” Azuran drawls. “But what of the antlers? The Vitalin markings?”
Terra’s upper lip slips between her teeth as she regards us with a wary look. Her hand has found purchase in my chest fur, but she still opens her orgasmic mouth for another bite of cheese.
“Okay,” she says as she chews. “But what the fuck is Eldrunna?”
“Eldrunna is home.” Azuran pauses, feeding her another bite of cheese, “A neighboring realm to the one you know. We were not always separated into four territories. Rage and disrespect for the earth leaked from the human world into ours, bringing forth the Age of Elementals.”
“Oh.” Terra’s eyes roll to the ceiling. She tilts her head side to side. “That checks out.”
“Would you like to see our world?” Azuran hedges, popping a piece of blueberry cheese into my mouth and licking his fingers. “The place your ancestors hailed from?”
“Theoretically,” Terra adds with a glare. She sighs. “Fuck it. I’m down for an adventure.”