His questing fingers found her wetness, stroking in quick circles over the little nub at her opening, alternating with little strokes over the nub and deep, hard thrusts with his fingers, opening her up and winding her higher and higher—
Not to be outdone, Ella reached for him, pushing past silk and cotton to gather him hot and heavy in her palm.
She squeezed and stroked him in turn, and he cursed into her neck, his fangs scraping against the skin and making sparks burst behind her eyes, his hips moving closer as if he couldn’t bear to lose contact with her skin, even for a moment.
Their mouths met in a messy, feral kiss, and then he plucked her off the table and whirled her around, bending her over the wooden surface. She clenched in anticipation, rubbing her slick thighs together.
Her eyes met his in the mirror as she plucked at her nipples, and she smirked when he swore aloud, replacing her hands with his, kneading and caressing and pinching in pleasure-pain until she was twisting against him, grinding her bottom against his hips and pushing her breasts further into his hands, clawing at the backs of his hands as she forced him to tighten his grip on her flesh, hoping for a release from this desperate lust that had gripped her—
When he sank into her from behind, they both groaned in relief.
Their joining was fast and feral, a race to completion that had him panting in he neck, clutching her hips in one clawed hand in a bruisngly hard grip.
When they were finished, he nearly collapsed on top of her, crushing her flat against the wooden table. Despite the uncomfortable position, they both lay still, still clinging to each other, linked in the most intimate parts of themselves, and she felt connected to him, almost as if she was a part of him—or he was a part of her.
A long moment later, Ella realized that Ryu’s fingers on her waist were caressing the skin on her back in tiny, little sweeps, as if he didn’t even know he was doing it. The gentleness of his touch made her eyes swim.
She laid her head down on the wood of her table, her eyes slipping shut with his breath on her neck.
When she opened her eyes again, they were in her bed, and she was held close in his arms, and he was murmuring to her in Elvish.
The words were too low for her to hear, and she wasn’t fluent in the language, but she heard enough to understand the one phrase that she took with her as she drifted off into sleep again.
I’ll take care of you, sweetheart.
~
The next day, when Ella woke up, she was alone.
She dressed and got ready to face the day, ignoring the ache in her hips and the new, red bruises and marks on her fair skin.
Looking at herself in the mirror brought to mind the lustful activities she and Ryu had partaken in the night before, and she couldn’t think of that now.
A few minutes later, she obeyed the rumbling of her stomach, and left for the dining room.
As Ella entered the main hall for breakfast, her gaze swept across the familiar faces seated at the table. Ryu, Mizuki, Hiroshi, Nitya, and Kenji were engrossed in their morning meal, their conversations mixing with the clicking of chopsticks. Ella took a deep breath, determined to keep—whatever it was she was doing with Ryu—hidden, a secret locked within her heart.
Casually, Ella approached the table, offering a warm smile as she took her seat next to Ryu.
Just as the group settled into a comfortable rhythm of conversation, a messenger clad in the Twilight Court’s regal attire stepped into the hall. His arrival caught the attention of everyone at the table, causing a brief pause in their exchanges. He made his way toward Ryu, holding a sealed scroll in his hands.
“Lord Ogumi Ryu,” the messenger announced, his voice carrying a tone of formality. “The Darkwalker council requests your presence, along with Ella of Strayhaven, in one of the main meeting halls.”
Ryu’s brow furrowed in confusion, mirroring Ella’s own internal turmoil. What could the Darkwalker council want with them? The weight of uncertainty settled upon them both, intertwining their thoughts and emotions.
Mizuki leaned forward, her eyes filled with concern. “Ryu, what's going on? Why would the council want to meet with you and Ella?”
Ryu sighed softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “I'm not sure, Mizuki-chan. We'll find out soon enough.”
As they finished their breakfast in silence, a mixture of curiosity and trepidation hung in the air. The group rose from the table, each lost in their own thoughts as they made their way to the designated meeting hall.
Ella’s palms grew damp with nervous perspiration, her steps faltering ever so slightly.
Hiroshi, walking beside her, leaned in and whispered, “Stay strong, Ella. We'll get through whatever awaits us.”
Ella offered her new friend a grateful nod, appreciating his support amidst the unknown. She couldn’t deny the flutter of anxiety within her, but she clung to the hope that Ryu’s presence would guide them both through whatever challenges lay ahead.
The large doors of the meeting hall loomed before them, their ornate carvings a testament to the grandeur of the Twilight Court.
