Chapter 5 （Elaine）More Than Friends
Chapter 5 (Elaine )
More Than Friends
I opened my eyes and quickly shut them back, the light coming from the window too intense for me. My head was spinning as I tried to recall what had happened.
? A suave voice resonated. “Elaine. Can you hear me?”
? I recognized Mitra’s voice. My voice was raspy when I spoke, “Yes.”
? “Can you open your eyes?”
? “The light. It’s too strong. It hurts.”
? I heard some movements and then the sound of the blinds being closed. “There. Can you try again?” he asked.
? Slowly, I opened my eyes and realized I could see fine in the darkened room. Mitra’s lips were just inches from mine, a grin on his face as he stared at me.
? “Finally, I thought I’d never see those beautiful eyes again.”
? I tried to recall what had happened again but couldn’t. I pushed back on my elbows. My body felt heavy and sluggish. Sitting in my bed felt like the biggest effort I had ever made.
? “What happened?” I asked, my voice almost a whisper.
? Mitra grabbed my hand and helped me sit in the bed properly, squeezing it affectionately.
? “You passed out when we burst into the king’s room.”
? The memories rushed back. The air in the castle was heavy with dark magic. A powerful hex sealed the throne room, and I had to drain the mana from Oswald and Mitra to break through, leaving me defenseless. I could still picture the vampire beside the king, his red eyes glowing with evil, and how he attacked me unbeknownst to everyone. I remember the dark feeling, so strong, so thick, striking at me when I had no mana to defend myself.
? “Oh my gosh! The king,” I shouted, panic filling me as I tried to get up the bed.
? “Woah! Slow down!” said Mitra, pushing me down. “I know you’re concerned about the king, but he is fine. You should be concerned about you.”
? I looked at him, puzzled. “What? Why?”
? He shook his head in discouragement. “Do you have any idea how much time you were gone?”
? I froze, trying to figure out what day and time we were. It was sunny outside, and my room was facing east, so it was likely morning.
? “I have slept through the night?” I suggested.
? “More like ten days.”
? “Ten days?” I couldn’t believe it.
? Mitra nodded and brought my hand, which he was still holding, to his lips, kissing my skin softly. He explained, “When you fell in the throne’s room, everyone was concerned. The king ordered Oswald and me to bring you to your room and the guards to provide us with everything we needed to nurse you back to health.”
His voice was filled with sadness as he recalled the events. “We tried everything we could think of, but nothing worked. I was scared that you’d never wake up,” he confessed. “I’ve never been so terrified in my life. ” His eyes reflected an incredible sadness as he spoke.
I couldn’t even begin to understand how it would be never to see Mitra again. He had done so much for me. He had always been there. With him, I could be myself and show my vulnerability. Yet, I felt safe. I needed him in my life and didn’t know how I’d do without him.
He hesitated, his voice trembling. “I thought you were important to me, but when I thought I would lose you, I realized you were even more important than I imagined. I . . .” He paused, his emotions threatening to spill. His Adam’s apple rolled down his throat as he swallowed his saliva. Deeply, he breathed, “I love you, Elaine.”
His words surprised me, but my heart knew what my brain didn’t yet. “I love you too,” I replied .
He smiled affectionately, and I realized I’d never seen his eyes shine so intensely. He gently caught my chin with his hand and sealed his lips to mine. A warm wave of magic filled the room as I surrendered to the moment’s tenderness.
When we broke the kiss, I was breathless, basking in a pleasant feeling. Mitra had always been my best friend. I was ready to let him in my life in a way I never imagined possible. I couldn’t wait to see where these newfound feelings would take me. But as I pondered about the future, I came back to the present and remembered Mitra said Oswald had helped him bring me here when I fell unconscious. “Where is Oswald?”
“He’s back at the tower. The duties never stop. But I stayed by your side all the time. I couldn’t bring myself to leave you.”
I whispered, “Thank you for taking care of me.”
Mitra stared into my soul, and a magical tension sparked around us. “It was only natural,” he whispered back.
Mitra kissed me again, his tongue dancing with mine as my heart beat to the rhythm of shared affection.
I appreciated Mitra’s presence and was grateful to have him with me. I enjoyed how he made me feel, cared about me, and how my heart beat faster when he was near.
“Do you know what happened to you?” he asked.
I thought for a moment, enjoying the soft brush of his thumb on top of my hand. Seeing I didn’t answer anything, he asked, “Was it only because of the exhaustion from the spell you had cast?”
I shook my head, suddenly remembering. “It was Dreven.”
Mitra frowned. “The vampire from the throne room?”
I nodded. “Yes. The vile vampire had been subtle, but he used dark magic on the king and I.”
Mitra pinched his lips. “Are you sure? He stayed with the king for several days before leaving. The king didn’t get harmed.”
I insisted, “You know how my jewels allow me to be much more sensitive to variations in magic than you, right?”
Mitra nodded, and I continued, “I saw it immediately when we entered the throne room. The vampire used the opportunity that my mana was depleted to attack me without anyone noticing.”
The elf balled his fists. “That bastard. I didn’t have mana either. It was too easy for him. We were defenseless.”
The gravity of Mitra’s words echoed in my head. “If you say the vampire stayed with the king for several days, then there’s no way of knowing how badly the king has been contaminated by dark magic.”
Mitra squeezed my hand. “Relax. We’ll find out.”
I calmed at his words. “Yes, we need to go and reverse whatever spell Dreven has cast on the king.”
He chuckled softly. “First, you’re going to let me take care of you. We’ll ensure you’re eating and doing okay before you go on another rampage.”
I blushed at his words, realizing he was right. I tried to get out of bed and fell, unable to bear my weight. Mitra caught me in his arms just in time. Snuggled up against the warmth of his body, I had to admit I needed him. “All right, go ahead. Take care of me.”
The elf inhaled deeply, and his words echoed in his chest, against which I was still cuddled. “With pleasure. ”
He walked the castle’s corridors, and I closed my eyes. His manly scent surrounded me in a pleasant embrace, and the sound of his heart beating through his chest was comforting.
My heart quickened as Mitra led me to the royal bath. It was a large room with a massive bath in the center, raised on gray stones.
“Er . . . Mitra?” I asked, unsure what the elf had in mind.
His cheeks flushed slightly despite his chocolate skin, and he quickly replied, “Don’t worry. I’ll leave the room. I want you to wash up. I’ll pour a restorative potion into the water.”
I smiled, relieved, and kissed his neck as he sat me down on the edge of the bath. “Thank you.”
Mitra tucked a displaced hair lock behind my ear as he eyed me. His words were full of determination as he mentioned, “I’ll always be there for you.”
Deep down, I knew he was telling the truth.
I waited for him to run the bath, the scent filling the room. He reached out and helped me to my feet, and I noticed, delightfully, that I could stand. My embedded jewels were working to absorb the ambient mana quietly and restore my body, but the bath with the restorative potion would speed up the process significantly.
Mitra’s eyes were filled with concern. “Will you be okay?” I nodded, and he added, “I’ll stay behind the door.”
I removed my clothes and stepped into the hot water when he was out. A soothing feeling overcame me, and I let out a sigh as I sat against the inner rim of the bath, inhaling the pleasant scent of lavender. Flower petals floated on the water, and I had fun pushing them with magical currents into the water.
I could feel my strength returning rapidly and my magic recovering. It was like a warmth ran through my body, and a sweet pleasure gripped me. I’d never felt anything like it and wondered if I should give in to it.
Mitra suddenly opened the door. “Did you call me?”
He was holding clean clothes and froze when he spotted me in the bath. My breasts broke through the surface of the water, revealing themselves. I felt a sudden boldness rather than shyness. I wanted him to see me and appreciate my effect on him.
He stammered, “I . . . I thought you’d called me.”
He turned and laid the clothes on the edge of the bath farther away.
“I brought clean clothes. I’m going out now.”
“No. Stay.” The words came out without my thinking. I wanted him with me. I’d known him for so long, my confidant. Since I’d tasted his lips, a flame had been kindled in me. I wanted to feel his body against mine. I wanted to discover his secrets and satisfy his desires.
He turned, surprised. “Are you certain?”
I’d only realized it now, but I’d never been so sure of anything. I rose to my knees, stepping out of the water from the waist up, and his stare shifted to my breast. I knew exactly what I was doing. I tugged on his hand, bringing his lips to mine. His kiss was warm, and his hand settled on my hip, gently caressing my skin.
His eyes were ablaze with desire as we broke the kiss.
“Join me,” I whispered seductively.
He only hesitated a moment before removing his clothes. I devoured his naked body with my eyes and discovered magical symbols tattooed on his chest down to his stomach, stopping just short of his erection. I bit my nail, flattered by the effect I held over him.
He entered the water, and my body found him instinctively. Nothing mattered but Mitra and I, his magic mingling with mine as we kissed.
“Turn around, I’ll wash your back,” he ordered.
I felt his body embrace mine as he delicately washed my back with a sponge, his member pressing deliciously against my center, a warmth growing inside me.
It was just too tempting, and I thrust my hips, gliding his cock inside me—just what I needed. Mitra’s breath was hot against my neck as he moaned.
He let go of the sponge, and his hand grasped my breast as he moved into the water. Bathing in this perfect moment, I let myself go as pleasure rose inside me, taking me higher and higher. My moans mingled with those of the elf behind me as his hands roamed my body, never letting go, pushing deeper inside me. When I shook with pleasure and cried out in ecstasy, he finally relinquished to pleasure. Mitra kissed my shoulder, his breath still quick as he came down.
“I didn’t expect this,” he breathed softly.
I turned to him, embracing his body again and placing a kiss on his lips. “Me neither.”
He wore the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen. “I rather enjoyed it.”
I giggled. “Hmm, me too.”
He took my breast in his hand again, my nipples still hard and sensitive, and I moaned as he pinched one. Mitra inhaled deeply. “You’re so perfect,” he murmured before kissing me again.
I sighed into our kiss, surrendering to the sweetness of the moment.
“I love you so much,” he confessed again when we broke the kiss, and my heart jumped.
I kissed him in response. No words were needed to express how I felt.
Years devoted to my work alone had kept me from seeing what my heart knew, and now that I’d let down my walls, I never wanted to go back. Being a Grand Wizard didn’t mean living a life of reclusive solitude.
We emerged from the bath after recovering from this moment of intimacy.
Mitra spent the rest of the day with me, and I enjoyed our new bond. It had happened suddenly, but it felt so natural.
Everyone in the tower was reassured to see me in good health, and Oswald met me as soon as I entered the room, hugging me. Mitra wanted me to have a full day off before resuming my duties as a Grand Wizard. We discussed everything and anything with the other mages.
As the day drew to a close, I received an official invitation from the king for a meeting the following day. Mitra quickly thanked Mathias so we could spend the rest of the evening alone. I smiled, letting the dark elf take care of me again.