My orgasm tears through me violently. I scream out for him, but it’s swallowed by his kiss. Hot ropes of my cum cover his hand. He strokes me through my climax until he’s milked me dry. Slowly, he unwraps his fingers from my cock and brings his hand to his mouth. Zephyr’s eyes stay on me as he licks my release from his hand.
“Fuck,” I pant, watching as he cleans himself with his tongue. I cup his face and pull him in for another deep kiss when he’s done, tasting myself on his tongue. I could stay like this for hours, but we need to head back soon before they send someone to look for us. Our private moment quickly comes to an end, and I hate the fact I couldn’t get him off.
I plan to tonight, though.
Reluctantly, I break away from him and tuck myself back into my pants. “We need to assess our losses. Get the injured to healers.” We also need food, but all I can offer my people is rice for right now. Even that is in short supply.
Still with a glazed look in his eyes, Zephyr nods and pulls back. “Fine. I need to go back and check on Finnick.”
My body tenses. “Finnick?”
“Yes. He was with me in the fight.”
“That little shit. I told him to stay put.”
Zephyr cracks a smile. “Don’t get too mad at him. He helped. Brought out the people of the forest to fight alongside us. He’s staying with a woman now?—”
“A woman?” I ask. “Oneof our soldiers?”
Zephyr shakes his head. “No. Not one I recognize. Strangest woman I’ve seen. Odd clothes and fought the Nephilim with a pan.”
I frown. “A pan?” Curious. This strange woman intrigues me. I want to see her for myself. “Will you take me to her?”
Zephyr doesn’t seem surprised by my request and nods. He motions me to follow, and I fall in step behind him. We settle into a comfortable silence, and my mind races with today’s victory. But even with the battle won, we have an entire war ahead of us. I can’t help but wonder if my people are ready for what is coming.
Am I?
Chapter 7
Evangeline
Something soft and delicate caresses my face. For a moment, I’m transported back to a time when I was a little girl, cuddling in bed with all my stuffed animals. Early in the morning, before Daddy had to leave for work, he would always come into my room and gently run his fingers along my face until I woke up. He’d flash a smile reserved only for me and kiss my forehead. Then, just before he’d leave, he’d place a glass of chocolate milk on my desk, next to my bed, because he knew it was my favorite.
The sensation shifts suddenly, no longer a simple touch but an incessant buzzing and the feeling of something crawling on my face, like the persistent hum of a fly. Eyes still closed, I swipe at it, expecting to shoo away the nuisance, but my hand collides with something solid. Definitely not an insect.
A startled gasp escapes me as my eyes fly open, and I find myself staring up at two unfamiliar faces. My mind struggles to make sense of what I am seeing. One of themis impossibly small—no bigger than my hand—with iridescent green wings that shimmer in the light. His wide, curious eyes examine me as if I were some strange specimen under a magnifying glass.
“She’s awake!” he cries, punching the air in excitement.
“Back up, my little love, let the woman breathe. You were right to come get me. She may need my attention,” the woman says. She has beautiful red hair, braided back away from her face. Though her face is youthful, she carries fine lines that hint she’s older than she appears. Peeking through her flaming hair are two pointed ears.
I scream.
The small green person screams too.
“Finnick, stop. You’re scaring her,” the woman chastises, and the small green person—Finnick, apparently—closes his mouth but doesn’t look happy about it. It is a testament to how much shit I’ve seen today that I don’t find a six-inch flying person odd. Better him than one of those creatures from earlier. At least I can step on him if he threatens to kill me.
“Maybe she was saying hi to us. I was just trying to be nice,” he pouts.
“Hmm, you do have a point.” The woman rubs her chin, as if actually considering his strange observation.
I struggle to push myself off the…ground? Why am I on the ground? I scramble back until my back hits the tree, staring at these strange people. No, not people. What did The Guardian call them? Fae? Hopefully not the murderous type like that giant creature was.
Everything comes back to me at once. Leaving GrymHollow. The Guardian bringing me here, only to leave me alone to face those horrid creatures. I had nothing to defend myself! Nothing but the pots and pans in my suitcase. As far as weapons went, they were shitty but heavy. Getting hit with one of those things isn’t pleasant. I would know. I have dropped one too many pans on my toes, and that pain could bring a grown man to tears.
“Those creatures,” I blurt, head swiveling around to make sure we aren’t about to be attacked. “Where did they go?” More importantly, are they coming back?
The woman reaches for my hand, her fingers trembling with hesitation. Instinctively, I recoil, pressing myself against the rough bark of the tree as if it could swallow me whole. Instead of looking insulted, the woman only offers me a kind smile, folding her hands together in front of her.
