While Iyana had been practicing her magic with Altair, Emmeric was sparing with Talon to ensure he could still fight while fulfilling his duties as Kanaliza. It would be terribly embarrassing to be fighting amid a battle, only to pause or stutter when Iyana needed him and then be run through with an enemy’s sword. At least he’d die in ecstasy. It’d be like having your heart go out during sex. Yeah, it would fucking suck to be dead, but what a way to go.
So Emmeric trained hard, practicing in different scenarios—Iyana connecting to him while mid-fight, or conscripting Talon to sneak up on him after the connection was established. Iyana was getting better at controlling her magic as well. She now was able to produce fire and air, and slightly manipulate earth and water, although those elements were more difficult for her. That bright light she used against the bandit continued to evade her entirely, and the intensity of everything was still low, even when she pulled from Emmeric. Altair was becoming more and more frustrated as the days wore on and her progress wasn’t where he wanted it to be. Altair blew up on her after one particularly difficult practice session where the star asked Iyana to control both air and fire at the same time and she failed to do so, almost singeing her eyebrows off in the process. Emmeric could see her curling in upon herself, taking the verbal beating from Altair (how do you expect to beat Uther if you can’t even do this simple fucking task), which wasn’t fair to her. Emmeric had stepped between them, telling Altair to go cool off. There was a split second where Emmeric had seen his imminent death in the star’s intense golden eyes, but thenhe’d huffed and walked away. Iyana said she was fine and shrugged off any attempts of comfort or talking through what had happened. She took a few minutes to breathe and meditate, then followed Altair’s path. Sounds that were most definitely not yelling—or angry, or fearful—soon reached the rest of the group, who busied themselves with anything else to block out Iyana’s screams of pleasure.
Jealousy was Emmeric’s ever-present companion. He had given up pretending Iyana meant nothing to him, but only in his own mind. It was something he would never tell her because she was so obviously trapped in Altair’s orbit. Emmeric did not want to be the other man, or try to convince her to be with him over another; it wasn’t his style. She either wanted him or she didn’t, and at the moment she didn’t, so he would tuck those feelings for her away. Of course, it didn’t help that he continued to dream of her. Dreams which always seemed so real while he was in them. Ever since dreaming about lying on the knoll, the settings would always shift—they’d be on a horse, in a house, in the woods, or any number of other places—but the theme was the same. It would begin with Emmeric and Iyana living a normal, mundane life, simply happy to be in each other’s presence. Things would escalate with kissing and touching, but inevitably Iyana would either shove him away or leave. Only the dream on the grassy hill had ended in fire. He searched for a hidden meaning but hadn’t been able to find any other than his subconscious wanting to torture him.
Talon and Kaz were the bright spots in his days. While Tal was his best friend, they didn’t often get to spend time together like this. Sure, they usually worked the same shifts and would go out to a tavern after, but this was the most free time they’d had in forever. He knew they were on a life changing, world saving mission, one which could kill him at any time. Nevertheless, the stress of living in Athusia and working for Uther and Zane dripped off his shoulders the further away they traveled. They sparred, wrestled, and joked around during the day; reminiscing at night, telling Kaz about their childhood years.
Kaz continued to flirt with Emmeric, and while he was uncomfortable at first, soon he leaned into it. Talon and Altair weren’t giving her the type of attention she craved—Talon, for obvious reasons, and Altair because she annoyed him. The latter brought Emmeric an inordinate amount of happiness, and he definitely goaded her into doing it more. She continued to try to sway Iyana over to her side either for athreesome with Altair or because ‘you never know until you try.’ Emmeric started to flirt back (because why not, he wasn’t taken), teasing her or giving small touches to her arm while they rode. Nothing beyond that had happened, though. He wasn’t sure if he wanted it to progress or not; in his heart, it still felt like a betrayal to Iyana. However, he continued to remind himself she wasn’t his, and he wasn’t hers, leaving him free to do whatever orwhomever he pleased.
They eventually arrived at a small town a couple days’ ride out from the library. Snow dusted the ground, a permanent chill in the air. Altair had finally convinced Iyana to wear shoes again when the snow had stopped melting during the day and now stuck to the ground. She grumbled about it, her stubbornness taking charge, but Emmeric knew her feet were freezing—he could feel the pain in his own toes.
The town was picture-perfect, as if someone had plucked it out of a winter solstice painting. Quaint, brown homes with front doors in various shades of red, green, and blue lined the cobblestone streets, reminiscent of gingerbread houses. Rounded windows glowing from within hinted at warm apple cider and fairy tales being told in front of a fireplace. Smoke puffed out of brick chimneys on sloped, ice-covered roofs. Pine trees with snowy boughs littered the streets throughout the village, adding a lovely, crisp scent to the air. Emmeric thought he’d be content if he lived here.
Iyana sighed. “I wish I had my sketchbook.”
“You sketch?” Talon asked.
She nodded. “Well, I used to. Before…” Iyana waved her hand in the air to indicate a general ‘all of this nonsense.’
“Why didn’t you say so sooner, astalle?” Altair magicked a bound sketchbook and a stick of charcoal into his hand, passing it forward to Iyana. She squealed.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
Altair chuckled, and Iyana immediately flipped to the first page, beginning to draw the sleepy village before them.
They found the only inn in town, a small thing with less than ten rooms. The inside was cozy, with a fire burning in a large hearth. The smell of apples and cinnamon enticed Emmeric’s nose, making his mouth water. They procured three rooms—it was all they had available—and soon the group was sitting around a table, eating a hearty soup and drinking mulled cider. It was amazing to relax inthe warmth of a building instead of huddling within a bedroll. This town was too far removed from Athusia to have heard that this particular group of people was wanted for treason. As long as they acted normally, it wouldn’t be an issue. They’d told the innkeeper that Prince Zane had sent them to gather knowledge on the northernmost villages and to do a census. The crown wanted to extend aid to all of their outlying villages. The innkeeper and his wife were pleased to hear this news and provided a detailed list of how many lived within the town. Emmeric felt guilty for lying to these nice people, but it was better than being locked in the stables waiting for the empire to retrieve and execute them. Still, they couldn’t linger and would need to leave within the next day or two.
After several hours of eating, drinking, and light conversation, Talon stood, stretching his arms over his head. “Well, I’m gonna head up.” That was Emmeric’s cue to also stand, as they’d be sharing a room. Kaz’s hand wrapped around his wrist.
“Actually, red, I was gonna steal grumps,” Kaz said.Oh, okay.He flicked his gaze to Talon, silently asking for permission.
Tal laughed. “Fine with me. A room to myself soundsdivine.” He threw Emmeric a wink. “I haven’t had that luxury since I was fifteen.”
Emmeric flipped him off. Talon laughed harder. “Love you, Em,” he called over his shoulder, walking to his room.
“Love you, Tal,” Emmeric grumbled.
Kaz intertwined her fingers in his. “Have a good night, you two,” she sang to Altair and Iyana, dragging Emmeric out of his chair. Out of its own volition, his vision sought out Iyana. Altair had her firmly tucked into his side, his arm around her shoulders, but something akin to hurt was in her caramel brown eyes. Emmeric felt the urge to stop Kaz, apologize, and assure Iyana it meant nothing.Shewas the one he wanted, and he was hers. But Kaz kept urging him away from the table, and he went willingly, tearing his gaze from Iyana.
Kaz was smiling coyly at him, and he found himself answering her grin with one of his own.Forget Iyana,he told himself.Enjoy the night.
They stumbled into the room, Emmeric falling into the door as it closed. He’d drunk more cider than he realized, and a pleasant buzz danced towards his fingertips. Then Kaz’s lips were on his, and he kissed her with the passion of a man who hadn’t been kissed in months—which, Emmeric admitted, was true. Her plush,full lips were just as kissable as he thought they’d be when he first saw her. Kaz’s hands were in his hair, tugging him towards her, her tongue asking for more of him. Weaving his fingers into her braids, he pulled her head away with one hand, the other going to her throat. Her deep brown eyes sparkled with amusement and lust.
“I’m in control here,” Emmeric practically growled.
“Yes, sir.” Kaz gave a mocking salute with two fingers, then giggled. He crashed into her again, parting her lips with his tongue. A moan escaped both of them, and he greedily devoured the noise. Her fingers played with the hem of his shirt, and he backed off just enough to tear it off. Kaz’s tunic quickly followed. He stroked his fingertips up her sides, grazing her perfect little breasts. She shivered under the ghost of his touch. Stalking towards her, he backed her up until her knees hit the edge of the bed. Kaz sat, and, unlacing his breeches, she smiled up at him, biting her lower lip. Emmeric groaned at the sight, tightening his grip in her hair. His pants came off, freeing his cock, eager to be touched by someone other than himself.
“Oh, honey,” Kaz crooned, “I’min control here.” And Emmeric soon learned that was absolutely the truth.
Afterwards, they lay side by side on the bed, spent, satisfied, and sticky. Emmeric tucked Kaz into his side, drawing lazy circles over her hip. Her hand played idly with the hair on his chest.
“Listen,” Kaz said hesitantly, “this doesn’t mean anything.”
Emmeric looked down at her, furrowing his brow. “Sure, that’s fine.”
“I didn’t want you to think I wantedmore, especially since you’re pining after Iyana.”
“What?” Was he really that obvious?
