14. Tease
14
Tease
Talon
“ H ow about there?” Nidori asked, pointing to an area to our left. “It’s got a nice thick canopy.”
Kaine folded his arms, a slight frown on his face, but started heading over.
“Don’t think it's a good spot?” I asked him.
“Well, since you’re asking, no. Much too exposed.”
“Where do you suggest?”
He took us on a little more until he found a spot he liked. I didn’t know how it was different from the last place, but I wasn’t going to argue. I was exhausted.
We set up camp for the night, Nidori forming a den of sorts in a giant cedar, complete with a blanket of vines and moss to cover the entrance. It was little wonder Kaine wanted her; as long as she could grow plants, he was safe from the sun.
I set up a fire, much to Nidori’s fascination.
“Isn’t that dangerous?” she asked as I arranged the kindling.
“Not if you do it right,” I replied. “Haven’t you ever lit a fire before? ”
She dropped her gaze, her long ears twitching. “Are you crazy? Why on earth would I light a fire? I’m not a psycho.” She gave a nervous laugh.
“Not even to cook? Or to keep warm?”
“We don’t cook.” Nidori lifted one tiny shoulder. “And it’s always warm in the western reach.”
“Wait, so sprites don’t use fires at all, then?” I asked again, shocked.
“Oh, no. That’s strictly forbidden. Why risk the whole grove?” she said. “I got—I mean, you would get in big, big trouble if you were found lighting a fire.”
She edged closer to the kindling.
“So, um, how do you make it actually stay lit? It, um, seems like it would be hard.”
I laughed. “Not for an enferni.” I snapped my fingers, summoning a tiny flame.
Nidori stared at it, eyes wide. I brought it down to the kindling and summoned more until the dry twigs and sticks caught fire.
“Wow,” she said, staring at the flames.
I put my hand out, guiding her backwards a bit. “Don’t get too close.”
“So, it is dangerous? Even for you?”
I scratched the back of my neck. “Fire is always dangerous. You can’t get complacent. You have to be responsible to make sure it doesn’t get out of control.”
“It’s so pretty.” She sighed, staring into the flames.
I decided it would be best for everyone if I went over fire safety with her. “…and when you’re done, always pour water on it, or cover it with sand or dirt. Otherwise, it might stay burning and re-ignite.”
She nodded, staring at the flames. I wasn’t one-hundred-percent sure she’d listened .
I put down my heavy pack and rolled my shoulders, trying to loosen the ache that had settled into my bones. Taking off my gauntlets and chest plate, I attached them to my pack, in case we needed to make a quick getaway. I scrubbed the dust and specks of mud from my armour, polishing it so it shone again. Then I pulled the scrub brush from my pack and brushed off my boots. Next, it was my cloak’s turn.
Kaine watched lazily from the corner. “You missed a spot.”
I held the cloak up to the light, trying to see. I thought I’d actually got all the mud off. He chuckled and I blushed.
“Nothing wrong with wanting things clean,” I said.
He shrugged. “It’s a waste of time, mate. It’s just going to get dirty again tomorrow.”
“Sure, but at least it’s nice now.” How did I explain the satisfaction of having everything clean, neatly laid out, ready for the next day?
I stood, stretching, and started towards the perimeter.
“What are you doing?” asked Nidori, sitting forward and tilting her head.
“Just going to do a loop of the camp. Helps to know the area, in case we have to make a quick exit.”
“Ah,” she said, beaming. “Very diligent of you.”
We settled in, pulling out some food and having some dinner. Nidori had grown some nuts. I was enjoying cracking the shells open one by one. I hadn’t camped with people in a long time. At least Nidori was delightful. Kaine was unsettling. He had vanished again. Perhaps one of these times, he wouldn’t come back. Or maybe he was here, invisible, just watching me.
“Can you tell us a story, Talon?” asked Nidori, coming over. She stuck her tongue out and grabbed my pants, vaulting herself up to sit on my lap .
I tensed, unsure of how to react. It was so rare that people touched me—not an accidental brush or shove, but just touched me because they wanted to. She had changed into an outfit made from twisting vines and moss. It clung to her generous curves, accenting her miniature figure. With her this close, I could get a really good look at her. She was beautiful, really, with creamy skin and forest green eyes. Her hair, in varying shades of brown, was made of wild curls and decorated with beads and flowers. The most non-human thing about her—besides her size and wings—was her long, goat-like ears. They looked soft and delicate, sticking out adorably from under her thick hair.
She settled down, getting comfortable and looking up at me, her green eyes glowing. I felt a swelling in my chest. She looked perfectly at ease, looking up at me as she rested against my torso.
“What kind of story?” I asked.
She crossed her arms. “I don’t know. I’m so curious about… everything. Life, proper life out here. Like, what kind of stories did you get told growing up?”
I scratched my chin. “My mother would start the old stories the same way.” I switched into my native language. “ Listen, listen, listen, you children of sows. I will not repeat my words, so listen, lest you want to become the rabbit in the snare. ” I chucked . “ It roughly translates to, listen, listen, listen, you rascals, I’m only going to say this once, so pay attention. This may be the one thing that saves your ass in the future.”
Nidori nodded, face serious.
“Classic.” A bored voice came from above us. It seemed Kaine was listening from somewhere up in the trees. “ Been a while since I heard that ,” he said in enfernal but with an accent I’d never heard before.
I ignored him—he hadn’t really asked a question, and I was talking to Nidori .
“So, listen, listen, listen…” I began, just as my mother had.
“ There was once a daughter of Mirilith who was called Thina. As with all Mirilith’s children, she was not quite mortal. But she fell in love with a mortal and begged her mother to change her lifespan to match her partner’s. Reluctantly, Mirilith agreed. She granted Thina her wish of true mortality. Thina was overjoyed, but her mother gave her one gift before she left. It was a crimson flame, encased in a simple glass orb.
‘This is my protection for you,’ said Mirilith. ‘But I hope you never have to use it. Stay safe, treasure of my heart.’
So, Thina went to live among mortals. Mirilith watched her daughter become vulnerable to time, disease, and death.
Though Thina was happy with her partner, the other mortals viewed her with suspicion. They called her a devil, a witch, and shunned her.
One dry summer, a spark lit a terrible fire in the forest. It burned bright and high, hungrily devouring everything in its path. It burned through the village where Thina lived, so fast, most did not get a chance to escape. Thina’s partner perished in the blaze, but she and her children emerged unharmed. Despite her own loss, the villagers blamed Thina for the inferno. They dragged her to the centre of the ruined village, intending to hang her. But as Thina’s heart pounded and hands grabbed her, the orb burned brighter and brighter until it burst. Fire flashed above Thina’s head and unleashed Mirilith’s fury within her. She tore apart the villagers with her bare hands. But the fire latched on to her, consuming her mind. She wasn’t strong enough to fight its call and transformed into a feral shell of her former self. Mirilith came too late, and all she found in the remains of the village were Thina’s two children, crying for their mother and father. She picked up the infants and took them back to Hell. But the shadow of Mirilith's fury lingered in their bloodline, a gift and a curse they could not shake.
I stopped, and Nidori looked up at me, frowning .
“That wasn’t a happy ending,” she said.
I shook my head.
“No. It isn’t meant to be. It’s a warning.”
“A warning for what? Letting your children go out exploring?”
“It’s supposed to scare off enferni from ever using their birthright,” Kaine said from above us. “Any of Mirilith’s direct descendants can choose to use her fury. Most don’t.”
“It’s not really a choice,” I snapped. “It triggers during moments of extreme peril. Life or death.”
“Settle down,” said Kaine, and I could see his foot swinging from a branch above. “It’s kind of a waste of a warning if it’s not a choice, then. What, is it supposed to make you feel bad for saving your own neck?”
“He’s got a point,” said Nidori. “Maybe it’s more of a history than a moral guide? Did your mom say?”
“She died when I was little. Never clarified.”
“Oh. I’m sorry, Talon.” Nidori’s face fell.
I shrugged, not wanting her to be sad for me. “It was a long time ago,” I said gently. “Besides, I was taken in by a Paladin, Hulm. He became my new family. And I’ve spent my whole life since then trying to protect other people from what happened to me.”
She smiled at me, but the underlying sadness in her eyes remained.
“That is a noble but impossible goal,” Kaine said, hopping down from the tree to settle across from the fire. “You paladins love making goals like that. Save everyone. Fix the world. Defend against evil every day till you die. You’re kind of setting yourself up for failure, you know.”
I shrugged. “The point isn’t to meet the goal, or be perfect, but to always try. ”
Nidori yawned. “That’s a bit better. Otherwise, I’d be surprised if everyone doesn’t just give up and get depressed.”
She didn’t realise how close she was to my experience last week. I was quiet, contemplating the nagai event, and then my meeting with Kaine. My eyes flicked to where he sat across the fire, leaning back, eyes closed.
“What was Hell like?” Nidori asked suddenly.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I was born here, and my parents didn’t talk about it.”
“I can tell you about it, Nidori,” said Kaine smugly. “It’s hot, dry, and quite barren. Scarred so much, nothing really grows. I remember the first time I visited here. I could taste the water in the air. Plants and food were everywhere. I took every chance I could to come over.”
He must be much older than he looked, if he’d seen Hell. Lydes had sealed it off just over three hundred years ago.
We sat around the fire for a bit, and Nidori got out a flute and played a tune. She kept it up until she started yawning and couldn’t stop.
“Bedtime,” she said, rubbing her eyes and jumping up from my lap, fluttering into the air.
She stopped and knelt at the base of a tree, bowing her head and murmuring what seemed like a prayer. I couldn’t make out the words, and it seemed rude to try and eavesdrop, so I set up my bedroll. It would have to get a lot colder than this before I needed a blanket.
“Good night, boys!” said Nidori, and we both returned the sentiment before she fluttered to the tree she’d hollowed out for Kaine and made herself cozy on a ledge. I heard a gentle humming coming from the nest. Kaine crossed over to his tree shelter, climbing inside.
I settled into the smooth tree root I had adopted as my seat, letting the fire burn low. It was quiet for a while, the stillness of the night settling over the clearing .
I wasn’t ready to sleep yet. What was I going to do? Nidori seemed happy… but she didn’t know the true danger she was in.
Looking over to their spot, I found Kaine’s blue eyes glittering at me from the dark. His face from earlier burst into my head—his cold, commanding eyes taking me in.
My breath caught again at his attention. He seemed to have been waiting for me to look, because he rose, stretching luxuriously. His loose shirt was half-unbuttoned, and the deep V allowed me a glimpse of his sculpted chest. I stared hungrily, lust stirring in my blood, my tail curling in response. I felt like I should look away, but I didn’t have the willpower.
Another story from my childhood stirred in my memory, of a s’vara—an angel of death. Its charm will lure you so deep you drown, and be grateful as the water seeps into your lungs.
I used to wonder what would make someone grateful to drown, but as I watched him approach, I was starting to understand. The mindless, irresistible lust he summoned within me—I wanted to surrender to it. Submit to it. Lose my mind. Shred my own dignity.
He sauntered close, eyes hooded. I kept his gaze, but my breaths felt shallow and fluttery as he took a seat beside me, taking a swig from a flask. He was the enemy. The monster I was trying to protect Nidori from. Yet it was hard to remember that right now, with him so close.
“She’s fast asleep, bless her,” he said.
“We worked hard tonight. Well, Nidori and I did.”
He gave a dry chuckle, smiling in a way that made my toes curl. I brought my tail around myself and sat on it, not trusting it to stay still with Kaine so close. It had a bad habit of responding before I could stop it.
He took another sip. “Want some?” he asked, lazily offering me the drink .
I took it and sniffed it; hard liquor. I hadn’t drunk before, and even though I could now, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
He sensed my hesitation. “Talon, dear, you have the unfortunate manner of someone who has denied themselves every fucking pleasure they ever wanted.” He swept his arm around the peaceful clearing. “Look around. It’s a beautiful night. We’re alive and free. Enjoy it.”
I glanced sideways at him, then took a small sip and coughed as the liquid burned my throat. He laughed, a beautiful sound, and despite the burning in my nose, it was worth it to hear that. I mean, I wanted him to trust me, right? If I was going to free Nidori?
“That. Tasted like shit, ” I said, handing the flask back to him, ignoring his smirk.
He took a long swig and offered it to me again. I hesitated, and he lifted my hand, placing the flask in it and patting my arm.
I took another sip, slower this time. We sat, staring at the fire, passing the flask back and forth. A pleasant buzz started to settle over me, and the tenseness in my stomach loosened. The faint sounds of the forest at night were very soothing—the chirp of crickets and the occasional flutter of wings or owl’s call.
Kaine shifted, our legs touching, and my stomach flipped. I froze, the slight contact all I could think about. The experience was like tipping a cup to find only a single drop left. The logical part of me demanded I move away, to protect myself from getting hurt, but I didn’t want to. Ugh. Why was I so filthy?
“I thought I should clear the air,” Kaine said, his shoulder nudging mine. “I didn’t want our past… dalliance affecting anything.”
I glanced at him, realising that was a bad idea too late. This close, I could see his long lashes and how perfectly smooth his skin was. My gaze dropped down to his pink lips, and I looked away quickly. Shit, what had he said? I cast my mind back, willing myself to focus .
“Is that an apology?” I managed to ask, distracted by the images “dalliance” brought to mind.
“Gods, no. I’d do it all over again, darling. But I did want you to know I’ve decided you’re more useful to me unstabbed .” He rested his hand on my leg, his thumb rubbing my knee. “For now.”
My tail tried to swish but it was too firmly trapped, thankfully, and despite the heat rushing to my dick, I was wearing enough layers to hide that. My reaction was very inappropriate to what was probably a very normal, casual touch. Shame filled me, magnifying my arousal. And the idea that he might have noticed, watching me with that cool gaze… fuck.
I struggled to come up with a reply, trying to act normal, to not let him see how much he was affecting me. Surely he’d move his hand soon.
“Just… my ribs would appreciate a heads up when you change your mind,” I managed to say.
He laughed and moved his hand. But instead of removing it, he slid it up to my thigh as he shifted back. My breathing sped up.
Fuck. All I could imagine was his hand moving the rest of the way up. My cock twitched, hardening to a full erection, and I wanted nothing more than his gorgeous face over mine as his slender fingers wrapped around my shaft—
The desire was so strong, it frightened me.
I coughed and shifted to the side, readjusting my wings and putting an honourable amount of space between us. Get it together, Talon , I told myself . Stop being a perv. But I wanted to feel like a perv with him. To kneel in front of him, panting, out of control. My nails dug into my leg as I tried to snap myself out of it .
Amusement touched Kaine’s smile, and he closed the distance between us. He leaned over and trailed his fingers over my chest. He stopped over the spot he’d stabbed me, tracing the scab.
My heart was pounding. This close, I could smell his scent. It reminded me of a forest coated in frost, with a hint of blood and roses. I felt frozen. Any thought of moving away was laughable. It was all I could do to stay still and keep my thoughts coherent. Or even remotely approaching decent. I didn’t know what the alcohol was doing, but he seemed more magnetic than before.
Or perhaps it was just him. S’vara . My angel of death.
“I can feel it. You healed it, right? But I left a mark?” His voice was soft, his fingers brushing the fabric. He leaned forward, over me, his face close to mine. I could see the pale firelight dancing off his silver curls and the curve of his sculpted lips, the sight taking my breath away.
What had he said? He had been talking about the stab wound.
“S-sometimes they don’t heal right.” Would he figure out I kept it unhealed on purpose? Shit, would he figure out that I kept it because I liked it? The thought was terrifying and thrilling at the same time.
“Can I see?” he asked, his eyes hooded again as they locked on to mine. He moved, not waiting for a reply as he slid onto my lap. His hand untucked my shirt as he settled, his legs straddling me. A heady breath escaped me as I gazed up at him, and my dick jerked, rising to meet him as he settled on top of it. We had officially moved out of territory I could chalk up to casual friendliness. This was intimate. But… there was no way he was attracted to me. I was far from desirable, which meant he must be toying with me.
Fear swirled in my stomach. He looked down at me as if I was a mouse caught in his claws. Right now, it didn’t matter that I was easily twice his size. I was prey .
I stammered something as I met his gaze. I was spellbound, captive by his touch, and it was terrifying.
Perhaps what I’d said was assent, because he undid my shirt and slipped his cool hands onto my chest. My stomach dipped with nerves as I was exposed. His touch felt like lightning on my skin as his fingers tangled through my hair. He found the mark, a thin, crescent-shaped line between two ribs. His gaze was still locked on mine, and it all felt so… good. He gave me a coy smile, and I let out a whine as I automatically leaned towards him. How embarrassing. Fuck.
I didn’t care if he was just playing with me, luring me into deep waters. He was here, sitting on my cock, hands running over my bare skin, looking at me in a way no one did. Like he wanted me.
Before I knew what I was doing, I reached up, resting my hands on him and pulling him closer. His frame felt almost delicate against my hulking figure. My breaths were coming hot and heavy, my body temperature soaring from hot to scorching. My thumb stroked down the smooth dip just above his hips, my fingers settling on the edge of his backside. He had summoned something feral inside me, a beast that roared at me, demanding I go further, rip off his clothes and lose control. Demanding I fuck him, feel his slender frame twisting beneath me and hear his moans as I came inside of him.
I took a shaky breath, reining in my thoughts. Losing control was the last thing I needed, no matter how much I craved it.
“Mmm,” he said, settling so he was pressed against my chest. I could feel his breath, cool against my skin. He was so close now, his lips inches from mine. My cock was throbbing with need, and his hand was still trailing along my chest. He was waiting, regarding me with a smirk, eyebrow raised as if in a dare.
I was terrified. Of losing control. Of the possibility of this all being a tease. Of him stabbing me again .
Still, I leaned closer, addicted to the way he was looking at me. He smiled as my lips grazed his. I exhaled deeply, trembling as his invitation hovered in the air between us. I only hesitated for another second before I kissed him. I closed my eyes, fingers digging into his hips, pulling him closer as our lips locked together. Fuck, I was desperate for this. Needed this. His hand came up, caressing my face. Everything else seemed to fall away; there was nothing but his body against me, his soft lips meeting mine. I started the kiss slowly, carefully, but he pressed in, demanding something much more intense. I shivered as his sharp fangs brushed against my lip. My tongue throbbed, pushing against his lips.
Kaine
This was stupidly easy. He’d taken the bait.
My free hand slid to my dagger, ready to unsheathe it, but I didn’t do anything with it yet. I could feel his strong form under my legs, the girth of his erection sending a throb of pleasure through me. He was hot and wet, and I opened my mouth, letting our tongues glide together. My dagger slipped loose, and I tore my thoughts away from the kiss. Now was my chance. His guard was down, and all it would take was one deep slash to his throat. Cut both arteries and the windpipe, and no healing could mend that fast enough. Not to mention that I’d be sapping his energy through his blood at the same time.
I broke off the kiss, sitting back and examining him. His eyes were glassy and unfocused, a slight crease of worry on them as he looked up at me. His lips were soft and kiss-plumped, and his face flushed.
He looked so needy.
Desperate .
My stomach fluttered as I wondered what I could make him do when he was like this. I tightened my grip on his face, tilting it up so I could look at him better. Instead of fighting me, he bent at my touch, eager for me to guide him. I cast my mind back, putting the pieces together, trying to figure out why I’d finally found a beast who wanted to submit.
Humiliation . Any wounded pride from submitting to someone weaker was what Talon wanted, because this fuckboy loved shame.
Shit.
My heart pounded in my chest as the possibilities ran through my mind. But knowing I wanted this changed the game. I needed to recalculate my plan.
“You know,” I whispered, and his eyes flicked down, his expression closing off as if he were bracing for something. “You’re adorable when you’re all flustered. I’ll have to do that more often.”
He suddenly stiffened under me. Shit, he’d noticed the dagger I’d forgotten to sheathe. I smiled, turning it over in my hand and trying to think of a plausible reason I’d have it out. Besides gutting him, of course. A tempting thought entered my brain.
I brought it up to his chest, cutting a thin line along his collarbone. His eyelids fluttered, and I felt his cock twitch beneath me as a fresh line of blood welled from the shallow wound. I breathed in his scent and the spicy tang of Mirilith’s fervour. I traced my finger along the nick, bringing it up to my lips. I slipped my finger into my mouth, and Talon let out an involuntary whimper. Fuck, he had it bad. He was perfect.
The blood brought a rush to my head, and the way Talon was looking at me made it even more potent. I needed to go before this went too far.
“Good night, darling,” I said with a wink. “Sweet dreams. ”
I pulled myself off of him, the night air cold as I left his burning skin. I kept my steps light, feeling his eyes on me as I sauntered back to my shelter. Stepping inside, I lay back and ran my fingers through my hair, trailing them up one of my horns.
I could hear him moving around out there. Eventually, he stood, walking out of the clearing. Probably going to deal with the raging hard-on I’d left him with. My own cock pulsed at the thought, and I tried to push it away. But I couldn’t get it out of my mind. He’d be alone, in the woods, freeing that large dick I had felt beneath me. He’d never even have to know I was there. Actually, he’d probably love it as much as I would if I found him like that.
But see, this was a problem.
I was supposed to be in control here. And Talon’s large, innocent eyes were dangerously close to making me veer completely off plan. I ran my hands through my hair again. He’d escaped his fate tonight, but despite the new revelation, I was going to have to kill him. Soon. Before he killed me. But that sounded like a problem for tomorrow.