Page 24 of An Arrow to the Heart

The scent of him enveloped her as she continued to grind her hips into his, the heat between them coating her skin in sweat.

He brought both of his hands to her back as he held her tightly, steadying her and he began to send powerful thrusts into her, meeting her increasing rhythm.

Her head fell back and she cried out as her orgasm took her, her clamping walls contracting against his cock, sending him over the edge too as he joined her in euphoria spilling his hot seed deep within her.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

-Sylvie-

The thundering banging on the old wooden front door oscillated through the silence like an impatient storm demanding entry. Sylvie jolted awake instantly from where she slept nestled on the floor, having fallen asleep in Ardál’s arms under the pile of furs and blankets they’d buried themselves in, after what was probably the best sex she’d ever had. She’d never allowed a man to take control like that and she’d never been so brazen in her own desires before.

The door pounded again and snapped her back into reality. She grabbed one of the furs, awkwardly wrapping it around herself in preparation for whatever was waiting for her beyond the door. She peeked out the front window and her heart sank into her stomach as she saw Ortolf, if he was here like this, something was desperately wrong. Her immediate thoughts went to Valeska so she hurriedly unlocked the door.

“Is August here?” he said, launching into the cottage before she’d even got the door open fully, his gaze darting around the space, eyes searching. He didn’t say anything about Ardál now rousing from his sleep, still on the floor, clearly naked. It wouldn’t take a genius to see what was obviously going on. But Ortolf paid no heed to it, glancing over him and their combined state of undress. He was solely focused on looking for August.

This was serious.

“What’s going on?” she asked hesitantly, not sure if she was ready for the answer.

“August is missing,” Ortolf said sombrely.

In response, Ardál shot up, pulling on his trousers, not caring about who saw him in his nakedness, as he asked, “what?” his eyebrows drawn together with genuine concern.

“He didn’t come home last night after the festival. Liselotte came to us in a panic just this morning asking after him. No one recalls having seen him after the stalls closed,” he paused, before quietly adding, “we had hoped that perhaps he’d be with you. He’s fond of you both.”

“No.”

It was all Sylvie could muster to say. She’d spent the entire day with him yesterday and he’d been his usual self.

Oh Gods, what if something has happened to him? She couldn’t bear the thought. She hadn’t seen him after that either. Bile began to rise within her.

“Did you see him after the stalls? Or on your way home? You left before me,” she began asking of Ardál, who just shook his head, now pulling on his boots. He’d somehow got dressed in the time. He grabbed his crutch as he said to Ortolf, “I’ll help you look, where’s next?”

“We’ve just started going door to door. I ran out here first praying that he’d be here.”

“How can I help?” Sylvie added.

“Liselotte could use some support, she’s beside herself. Valeska is with her but you know as well as I do that Valeska isn’t the best at that sort of thing. Last I saw Liselotte was near hypoventilation.”

“I can help with that.”

Without another word Ortolf and Ardál slipped out the front gate, Phelan staying close at Ardál’s heel with similar determination, heading to the nearby farms. Sick with worry, Sylvie got herself dressed and packed a bag of everything she could think of so she would be prepared for any eventuality.

“I should be out there, looking for him,” said Liselotte, her face gaunt with worry, eyes red from relentless tears. Valeska was beside her, hand on her back, rubbing it gently to offer comfort. Every abled body in Wyrmwind was out searching for August, in pairs it had been decided for safety reasons.

“Here,” Sylvie said softly, handing the woman a stiff drink. “You need to be here, so that when they find him they can bring him straight to you.”

Liselotte shakingly nodded before bringing the glass of dark liquid to her mouth. Of course Sylvie had added valerian root and Hypericum perforatum to the brandy in hopes of calming the poor woman..

“I’m sure he’s fine, Lise, he’s a good lad with a sensible head on him,” Sylvie added, trying her best to sound reassuring.

“Maybe he just got carried away with something,” Valeska added. Though Sylvie wasn’t sure how that would offer the mother any less worry. Regardless, Liselotte started to visibly calm a little as she sank into the chair and sipped at her drink.

Taking the opportunity, Valeska and Sylvie made their way to the kitchens to prepare food for the search party.

“I really hope nothing bad has befallen the boy,” said Valeska quietly ensuring Liselotte wouldn’t hear as she gathered the ingredients to make a loaf of bread.

“I know, I can’t even begin to imagine.”