CHAPTER 57

"HAKKEN, come here." Sollel motioned Hakken— who was guarding his lady with his back on her— to join her in the stream to clean themselves. "Let me see your wound again. I'll clean it. We have to make sure that it won't fester."

"No, my lady—"

"Hakken," Sollel's voice became strict and firm. "Come. Here."

Hakken couldn't decline his lady's strict voice that he turned around and face his lady in the stream. Hakken gulped twice seeing his lady's back on him. She was naked, and the water was only reaching her waist. He could see a flame shape on her back, like a birthmark or something similar.

And looking at it, his lady looked so sexy that he couldn't move for a second.

"Hakken, come here, please..."

Hakken, who didn't like to see his lady plead, followed his lady's order and went to the stream with her. His lady was naked while he was fully clothed, minus his bag and weapons.

Sollel submerged her body in the stream, making sure that the water will cover her chest before facing Hakken. And Sollel could only sigh when she saw Hakken.

"Really, Hakken?"

Hakken couldn't look straight at his lady because if he did, he'll see her chest that was barely being hidden by the water. "Um... This is fine, my lady."

Sollel clicked her tongue. "Take off your clothes and I'll dry them later for you."

His lady's sounded as if she'll burn his clothes if he didn't take it off, so he did. In the stream. Then he washed it and put it on the large stone near him.

Hakken honestly didn't know what to do— no, he did know what to do— but he was stopping himself from doing it because they were both naked and his lady might not like it.

"Come closer." Sollel ordered Hakken again.

Controlling his breathing, he moved closer to his lady until they were only inches apart— too close that he could feel the warm water around his lady. But all the naughty thoughts in his head disappeared when he saw how his lady held his arm and cleaned his wound, as if she was afraid to hurt him.

The expression on Hakken's face softened as he watched his lady took care of him. It felt nice to be taken care of by his beloved queen. Hakken felt really lucky.

Being with his lady and traveling with him was already lucky, but to be this close to her... To be able to hug her and kissed her, he was a blessed man indeed. Everything he did, every struggle he overcomes and every pain he endured all those years were worth it.

His beloved queen was worth it.

"It's starting to fester," Sollel who was oblivious to Hakken's thought sighed heavily. "Are you hurting right now?"

"It's not so bad."

Up close, Hakken saw how the lava-like liquid in Sollel's eyes swirled, as if showing her anger. "Those damn flowers! I should've burned all of them!"

Hakken couldn't help smiling seeing his lady so angry for him again. "You already did, my lady. Some might survive, but I'm very sure you already burned the one who tried to chew my arm."

Sollel clicked her tongue again before she went back to carefully clean Hakken's wound. She only stopped when she felt Hakken's lips on her temple.

"I'll be fine, my lady. Stop worrying." Hakken was trying to cheer his lady. "Dying doesn't really matter to a descendant of Sappher. I can always come back."

Sollel sighed and glared at Hakken. "I told you that once you're mine, you can beg, shout and scream, but I am not letting you go. That means I'm not letting you die even if you want to. I am not going to wait for you to reincarnate and reach a mature age to see you again. I am not as patient as you! We still have lots of things to so, Hakken! And you are not going to die on me, understand?!"

Hakken blinked at his lady before a smile appeared on his lips. "Yes, my lady. All yours."

Somehow, Sollel felt relieved, but still worried. "We have to reach Gatria fast. She can heal you for sure."

But she'll be weak once we reached her. Hakken thought, but he didn't voice it put. He didn't want to see his lady so worried.

"My lady?"

Sollel raised her head and stared straight into Hakken's eyes. "Hmm?"

To answer Sollel's 'hmm', Hakken dipped his head and placed a soft kiss on Sollel's lips. It was soft, yet firm and unwavering. It lasted for a few seconds before Sollel's hand wrapped around Hakken's neck and Hakken's arm wrapped around Sollel's waist.

Hakken hoisted his lady up, her breast pressing against his chest, making him groan inside his lady's mouth as their lips moved to taste and explore each other. This time, Hakken was not satisfied with just exploring his lady's mouth, his lips started traveling down, from her lips, to her chin, down to her neck.

Soft murmurs of moans escaped Sollel's lips as she felt Hakken's lips trailing down her neck. She knew they were getting carried away by the kiss and the moment and being alone, but Sollel didn't really care. She wanted to let this man who loves her dearly, and patiently waited for her to be happy and she knew without being conceited that she was one of his happiness.

So, instead of pushing Hakken away to give their body space, Sollel cradled Hakken's head and pushed it down to her chest.

A moan Sollel couldn't contain escaped her lips and her body arched when she felt Hakken's tongue around her areola and lapping her nipple.

Sollel's body was on fire that she couldn't control her blood of flame, it started making the water around her boil.

Sollel wanted to ask for more when she felt Hakken's tongue left her nipples and his mouth kissed her ear before he whispered.

"If you continued making the water boil, you're going to cook me to death, my lady."

Those words made Sollel snapped out of her arousal and she looked around. Indeed, the water around them was boiling and if she didn't stop it, it'll hurt Hakken.

Taking deep breaths, Sollel breathe in and out deeply until her blood flame calmed down and the water went back to the way it was earlier— warm.

And feeling the water getting back to normal, Hakken dipped his head again and put his lady whole areola and nipple in her mouth.

Another moan escaped Sollel's lips and unbeknownst to her, her arousal was boiling the water around her again, making Hakken stopped and just kissed Sollel's lips until the water returned back to normal.

"Why'd you stop?" Sollel shamelessly wanted more of that pleasure.

"Because you're going to cook me alive, my lady." Hakken smiled and placed three sweet kisses on Sollel's lips. "Though I really wanted taste you so bad, but your skin is literally hot."

Sollel wanted to scold her blood of flame, but it was only reacting to her emotion and what she was feeling. And her arousal was making it excited, enough to make it burst.

Sollel sighed and rested her forehead on Hakken's shoulder. She didn't want this opportunity to slip— an opportunity to make her Hakken happy. His love and loyalty moved her that she was more than willing to give him everything she have.

Why wouldn't she? She may not know the whole story, she was maybe being kept in the dark, but she knew Hakken was not standing beside her now because of luck. It was because of his loyalty, fidelity, perseverance and sacrifices.

Who wouldn't want a man like that?

A man who was only loyal to her. A man whose eyes were always trained on her. A man who did everything he could for her. Who wouldn't treasure a man like that?

A man like that deserves everything she could offer and more.

He deserved her affection, her attention, her heart, her body, even her soul.

Sollel breathe out softly and whispered over Hakken's ear. "You don't have a blood of flame, if I touched you, it'll be fine, right?"

Hakken was speechless and became even more so, as if he had lost his ability to speak when he felt his lady's hand caressing his abdomen.

"Our elders," Sollel positioned her lips over Hakken's ear and whispered lustrously. "They taught us a lot of things about copulation and procreating so we could produce an excellent heir or heiress someday. Unfortunately," Sollel's hand travelled down to Hakken's bare and ripped thighs, "it was not put into used because there was no man worthy in my eyes. Every male who tried to woo me was weak, useless and treacherous.

"I thought I would not find a worthy man. A man who I can be proud of. A man who I want to stay by my side. A man whom I want to own. Then... I met you."

Sollel licked Hakken's ear as her hand slowly inched closer to his raging member.

"I should offer a thanks to the deities for finally meeting the man worthy of my hand's attention and affection." With that, Sollel's hand finally cupped Hakken's length and Hakken felt like his head spun. "You should offer your thanks too."

"Yes..." Hakken was breathing heavily, nearly panting as her hand continued caressing him.

A soft caress. An affectionate touch. With a firm grip and hold as she moved her hand to a rhythm she made in her head. A rhythm that was making Hakken pant and his whole face was exporting an arousal Sollel hadn't seen before.

"You're very handsome, my lord." Sollel whispered before she pressed her lips against Hakken's and her hand continued to move and deliver pleasure.

Hakken didn't want to, but his release was coming fast. He was holding it in, stopping himself, but his lady was merciless — her hand in particular.

Upon his release, Hakken buried his face in his lady's neck, still breathing hard and panting.

"Why... Why did you do that?" Hakken couldn't help asking when his mind became clear again. "I know your 'like' is not similar to mine, so I'm confused, my lady. To be this intimate with me... Please don't tease me too much. I might crumble and perish if you get tired of me and cast me away after your curiosity fades away."

"You're always so silly, Hakken." Sollel cupped Hakken's face and she stared deep into his eyes. "I admit, our 'like' is very different. It started differently too.  But don't belittle my affection just because it didn't transcend time and death like yours. You're the only man whom I accepted in my life, Hakken. The only man I wanted to kiss and touch and tease. The only man who can make me worry so much. The only man who I wanted to be intimate with to.

"If you think that my affection for you is shallow just because I only felt it recently, then you have to stay with me, Hakken. I will show you how deep I feel for you. I may not be able to make up for the three lifetimes I missed, but I can show you how much you mean to me for three lifetimes and more. I'm from a long-live race. I have all the time in the world to show you and prove to you that my feelings are real and will not waver."

Hakken was overwhelmed that all he could say was, "My lady..."

Sollel placed a kiss on Hakken's lips and when she pulled away, she looked at Hakken, her face serious. "We still have a lot of things to do, Hakken. So you better not die on me."

Hakken nodded and smiled. "For my lady, I'll live."

"Good." Sollel finally smiled and turned her attention on her and Hakken's cleaned and wet clothes on top of the stone.

Using her flame essence, she dried it before she returned to bathing. Hakken also took a bath and cleaned himself, well, only after his hands had enough cleaning his lady who let him roam his hands on her body freely. 

♕♕♕

NOW CLEANED AND FRESH, Hakken and Sollel went back to their campsite and let Zassia and then Grath took turns bathing. While waiting for the two, Hakken and Sollel were sitting side by side, Sollel's head was on Hakken's shoulder, resting.

"Hakken...?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"Could you tell me when were you first born?" Sollel was curious since Saphhers had the arcane ritual of rebirth.

"I'm one of the first generations of descendants of Sappher," Hakken answered. "And I'm the only remaining one who was born from the old time. Most of them already choose eternal death after their beloved past away. They couldn't bear the pain of losing their love ones."

That was sweet and sad at the same time. "And you... How did you survive all these years? All these lifetimes?"

"My life became monotonous," Hakken reached for his lady's hand to caress her fingers and palm. "So I choose to rest for a while and left an order to my trusted aide to resurrect me only when Azitera has changed. I was resurrected before Sappher decided to wage war on Yther and that's when I saw you and fell.

Hakken took a deep breath. "My father at that time didn't take it kindly when he found out so he imprisoned me to keep me away. When I learned about what happened to Yther, it was already too late. When I went to your kingdom and heard of your death, that's when I understood the gravity of my feelings for you because I couldn't bear it. At that time, I finally understood why most descendant of Sappher chose eternal death when their beloved dies. It was excruciating."

Sollel watched as emotion played on Hakken's face as if he was reminiscing what happened. "Hakken..."

"Though unlike other descendant of Sapphers, I didn't give up," Hakken continued. "I scoured the land, looking for you. If you're really dead like they said, then I want to see your body... Your grave... Anything to prove that you really are dead. But nothing... Then I heard rumors from the elves that the queens of Yther are still alive, bur imprisoned. I heard from other races who hated what humans did, but couldn't fight because they lack in numbers and they'll be annihilated. I went to talk to them and when I was sure that you're still alive, the happiness I felt was surreal.

"You don't even know me, but I was happy to know that you're still in Azitera. That I can still see you even if I was just far away. When I went to Ashmire, I only wanted to look out for you as you travel. I wanted to just watch you from afar, but... You choose me to be your hunter. Me." Hakken smiled so affectionately that it made Sollel's heartbeat quickened.

"You caught my attention," Sollel's confessed. She liked seeing happiness in Hakken's face. "You were very handsome and imposing and just, I don't know, dependable looking."

Hakken's smile widened. "Handsome?"

Sollel nodded and admitted. "I like your face very much."

Hakken chuckled at that. "Just my face?"

"Body too." Sollel admitted. "And your fighting prowess. And more that I don't want to say because your head might grow big."

Hakken laughed before he looked earnestly at Sollel. "My lady, we, the descendants of Sappher only falls in love once in all our lifetimes. Even if I die, after my resurrection, I will still love you just the same. When I told you that I'm yours, I meant it. Because there is no me, if there was no you. So between us, it should be you who should be more careful because if you die, I will die with you. I would rather choose eternal death, than to live a life without you in it."

Sollel felt every word that came out from Hakken's mouth that a lone tear fell from her eyes. "You're not going to die. I will not let you. After Gatria healed you, I will find a way to bind your life force to mine, so you'll live longer like me. Aenwyn knows something about it so we have to get her out of her prison fast."

Hearing his lady planned for their future, hearing that he was part of her plan moving forward, an overwhelming emotion took him over and a tear fell from his eyes, a tear that his lady softly wiped away.

"Don't die on me, Hakken." Sollel said, this time it was not an order, more like a plea. "Promise me that."

Hakken didn't, rather, he stayed silent.

Sollel blows a loud breath. "It's just poison, Gatria will heal it. So you have to hold out and endure. Do it for me, Hakken. Because if you died and leave me, even if you resurrected, I will not forgive you. You are not leaving me. I don't care if you'll still love me the same after rebirth. I want the Hakken now. I want you. So dying is not an option, you understand?"

Hakken nodded, smiling at his lady. "Sollel..."

Hearing her name from Hakken's lips surprised Sollel a little before she answered. "Yes?"

"Thank you for completing me."

Sollel had always been a strong, independent woman. She was feared by many men, intimidated by her strength. Only Hakken dared to teased her, sweet talk her, hold her, kissed her, touch her and love her for who she was. 

And Sollel couldn't help becoming enamored by him. Who wouldn't be, really?  Hakken was just so adorable.

"Hakken?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"I wonder if you still haven't changed your mind."

"About what?"

"About marrying me..." Sollel smiled when she saw how Hakken froze, as if he had turned into a stone. "You still want to marry me, right?"

CECELIB | C.C.