Chapter Five
I n the waning light of the evening, Orobas leads me to what must be a near halfway point between our villages, before taking a right and heading directly into the dense forest.
Now I know what you are thinking.
Wandering into the woods in the falling light, in an area you don’t know well, isn’t smart, right?
That’s where you would actually be wrong. A witch can use their trisense to track magickal signatures, and if close enough to family, actually have a vague sense of their directions. It’s all about mixing magicks when learning and casting together. Anyways, any witch would feel more comfortable in the woods surrounded by the elements that call to us most.
But I’m not just a witch.
Elves can also feel portals to the fae realm.
And there just so happens to be a portal not far from the direction we are heading.
Not that I have any interest at all in running to Mommy Dearest . I made that mistake once right after my father died and nearly got stuck in that blasted realm. Thankfully some merchant seemed to think I was nothing more than a ten-year-old Earthen magickal that had stupidly wandered in and happily shooed me back through to my Aunt’s terrified arms.
Aunt Olive was the closest thing to a true mother I would ever have. As sad as that realization may be, it was no less true. My elvish mother wanted nothing to do with something as impure as a halfling. Why in the world she and my father ever–
Ok, so let’s just move our line of thinking somewhere else. No one wants to imagine anything their parents ever got up to.
I can’t suppress the small shudder from the direction of my thoughts, but thankfully Orobas doesn’t notice as he continues to lead me through the thicket. I do not want to have to explain that reaction or what caused it. I don’t care how old you are or how open you are about your sexuality, you still don’t want to think about your mom and dad fucking.
When we finally make it through the dense brush and come out into a more open area, the surroundings have me a bit perplexed. I could have sworn I knew these woods thoroughly. Gods know I’ve let myself get lost in them enough. But I had never seen this tiny clearing and had I not known the area was not mountainous, I could have easily mistaken the view from atop this escarpment as the cliffside to a gorge.
While I may not be a star-gazing expert, I can absolutely see how this location will be perfect.
Although I am still not convinced I will be spending much time staring at space when I keep finding myself mesmerized by the sight of the man in front of me. There is plenty of open sky and a terrific view from just over the trees in front of us. We should be able to see plenty of stars tonight.
“So… what do you think?” He asks as he gestures around at the space.
“I think the open view in front of us should give us plenty of stars to see.” I move over to the rather large blanket spread out on the cleared forest floor and pause. “Uhm... Which direction do we need to face to see the meteor shower?” I ask as I turn my head and look around for some indication that would make me look less ignorant of astrology. As if there would be a flashing arrow pointing and saying ‘ Here you moron!’
Orobas chuckles and ducks his head sheepishly.
“Hm, yeah. So we would need to be facing that way.” He doesn’t make eye contact as he points in the direction we just came from. The direction that is completely obscured by the forest.
“Right. So how are we supposed to see the meteor shower then?” Even as the words leave my mouth, my heart rate picks up and my palms get sweaty. Orobas clears his throat and moves closer.
“Well, this is a secret spot. Actually, it’s surrounded by an enormous interconnected set of bramble, blackberry, and forsythia bushes. I found it by accident and the only way here is through that small path we just took. So, it’s very... very ... private.”
He reaches a finger out and traces it down my shoulder, but I don’t move. I’m nearly positive I don’t breathe. I feel like a tiny rabbit. I feel like his prey.
My thoughts war between thrill and fear.
Should I stay? Should I give my heart even more fully than I already have, knowing it will only be broken in the end?
When he brings his hand back up and moves it to place his palm directly over my heart, my gaze never leaves his face.
Instead of making the moment sexual, Orobas surprises me. He closes his eyes and sighs. Simply leaving his hand where it is. Feeling the strong thump of my pulse against his palm. Taking comfort in the piece of me that is wholly his.
His .
That is what I am.
No amount of fighting against my feelings will stop what has already happened. I am his. From the moment those sandy eyes ensnared mine for the first time.
Ever so gently, I grab his wrist and move his hand up to cup my cheek, nuzzling against his rough palm. Every fiber of my being settles into the rightness of this very moment, and I let out a soft sigh.
Orobas sweeps me up into his arms and cradles me, the sudden motion causing me to giggle, which he returns with a wicked smile.
With movements so slow they are nearly indiscernible, he lays us down on the blanket and presses our lips together in a gentle but mind-melting kiss.
This kiss erases all those that came before it. This kiss is everything.
I feel his heart. His love. His passion. His desire.
In this kiss, I feel everything that is yet to be said between us.
The kiss lasts an eternity, and yet mere minutes all at once.
And in this kiss... I know that I will never be able to let go.
Not without a fight.