Chapter 31

Evera picked the broken branch off the ground and thrust it into William’s hands for the twelfth time that day.

“Again!”

The young man stepped forward and swung his arms at her command. Wood thudded against wood, sending small splinters through the air. Evera felt uncomfortable fighting slowly. She was taking him lightly, making it much easier on him than what was to come. She could see his every movement before he made it.

When his shoulder moved back to add force into his strike, she stepped once  to the side and blocked, her hand raising her branch smoothly. Tired of toying with him, she swiped his wooden 'sword' away. The thing bounced away on the ground and Evera brought her branch to his neck in victory.

“If you wish to be any better I advise you to put forth effort.”

“You have had years of training—”

“Get off the tree—”

“And I have just started—”

“Close range combat. Now!”

William barely missed the Fae’s hand as it reached for his arm. His fingers reacted and caught her wrist. He held it up in front of her face, trying to say his piece.

“We have been going at it for quite some time. May we both rest now?”

Evera frowned. She was naturally impatient and his lack of severe focus was unlike any she had seen in Morag. With a heated passion, she ran up and kicked off the nearest tree, flipping over and twisting his arm to release his grip. Before he could mutter a low curse, she had him by the throat, her hand gripping but not strangling.

“The Unseelies train harder and stronger than any Human soldier.” She released her hold on his neck by throwing him back. “The discipline that is required of us...” She glared at William who was rubbing at his collar. The angered woman sighed and shook away her focus, letting her mind lighten a small amount.

“I... am sorry.” Though her apology sounded arrogant, she meant the words. She had little experience in compassion therefore did not know how to give it. A great many before her had hardened William enough for him not to be dismayed. And though the woman truly loved him, she was unable to express her heart's unmuttered words.

Evera leaned against the tree and slid to the ground. Today was a day for rest but even still, she had been training William in preparation for another attack. She taught him steps and movements, challenging him to at least make her fall. Thus far, he had been unsuccessful.

“Do not ask forgiveness. I am the one who is not able to swing a stick correctly.” William demonstrated by flicking his arm with an invisible sword. The brunette laughed softly at his attempts of humor as he sat beside her.

“If you had been in Morag, you would have been beaten for your lack of skill,” Evera spoke, brushing a fallen strand of curling hair away from her face. She looked up as a bird flew by their resting ground. The sky was begining to darken. She could see the rolling clouds turn purple as the blue turned to shades of peach and pink. It saddened her spirit to have her words of violence spoken so naturally, especially in such a tranquil place such as the forest.

“Is it truly that bad?” William’s brows raised innocently. Her green eyes searched his rugged face. She could tell him of all the horrors that happened in the night. She could speak of the rough handling and the insulting remarks but she imagined he had worse stories to tell.

“Not for the Unseelies who train hard and fight harder. They are bestowed with silver jewels and great parties. They have the Unseelie fortunes and they earn their riches.” Her hands clasped together in a storytelling fashion. Her words carried her away to the lighter times of her life. William could see the dancing in her eyes.

“What are Faerie parties like?”

“I have not attended too many as to find out. I was not in those ranks.”

“I am sorry.” William was confused when Evera let out a soft laugh at his remark and stood.

“Why should you be? I was not in the lower class either. I was contented to be placed in between. From time to time, I would ruin a perfect routine or fall when fighting to gain loss in my teachers’ eyes. I did not wish to be a warrior.”

Evera rambled on about Morag, making William hang on every word. She told him of her days in the stable and the Ownah festivals. She explained the Unseelie ways, talking about passion and desires. Absently, the young Fae walked over to Taipa and began to brush her mane, imagining she was back in the underground stables; the only place in Morag where Evera felt at peace.

“We were taught to not fear the dark, but embrace it. Use its power of hiding and lose yourself. When hidden, you become one with your true need.”

Evera had not noticed the young man sneak behind her until he placed his hand on her lower back. His palm was warm against her bare skin, sending a shiver through her drawn in wings.

“Have you ever felt true need William?” Evera turned and faced him. She lifted her eyes to his, searching for her answer.

“I suppose it depends upon what true need means to you.” His hand came up to caress her cheek but instead pulled her close for a light kiss. The kiss was brief and lasted no longer than a flutter of a wing but the effects lingered long after their lips tore apart.

The young woman smiled, resting her head on his forehead while looking at the very lips she had just kissed. Her hands pulled at the ends of his shirt to release it from his waist band. She lifted the shirt over his head and leaned in once more, this time whispering to his lips.

“You shirt needs to be tended to.” She grinned at his disappointment as she walked back to the river. It was true, his shirt was filthy but it could have waited. She knew he was not ready for the feral Fae form and she did not want to risk anything after all that has happened. Even still, she wished he would run after her.

William stared at her as she walked away. The ignored mare snorted and stomped in place as the young man settle down at the tree next to her. The Fae was forever teasing him, taunting him. She pushed his limitations, daring him to fight back.

Maybe I should. What if it is exactly what she had wants? He tried to push the thoughts aside. Bringing his sack for a softer resting place for his head, he lied down on the patchy earth. Beneath him, a rock poked at his side. He threw the stone to the bushes but found the grass to be uncomfortable, tickling his back and sides. Still bare-chested, he rose to his feet.

He needed his shirt back.

The light of the moon danced in the waters, silhouetting brown curls and a thin figure. A black dress swayed as the girl paced the bank of the stream. The wind blew gentle nightly wind, hardly fluttering the hair but strong enough to accentuate the curve beneath her skirt. A scene of this kind would have been sought out by artists, taking in the beauty for artwork yet to be made.

The young woman felt her face again. Her skin felt so cold yet the sun left kisses of red which burned to the touch. The world above ground was a mystery and but even so, she admired and dreamed of these trees rather than stay hidden in caves.

The filth of the green shirt came off easily in the small river. The muddy waters drifted away leaving nothing but damp cloth. Evera felt the ripples of the brook run through her hands. It was still warm from the beating summer day. The water sheltered her skin from the night’s chill until she pulled away out of the stream.

With disregard for all the pain from the past days, she began to unlace the back of her top and untie her skirt. Her bare body shivered as she placed one foot into the stream and then another. Soon she was submerged in the water. Her hair floating with the light current as her head laid back, half below the surface.

Here, it was quiet. She couldn’t hear the crackle of the fire that lay yards away. The distant cries of birds had muted along with the chirps of insects and the rustling of creatures in the bushes. She heard nothing but the slow rush of the water around her. Her Necklace given powers had dulled, once again she felt normal. So when she opened her eyes, she felt the normal shock seeing William sitting on the shore.

“Willi—” Her bare foot slipped on the smooth and algae covered rocks. Her head fell under but she quickly recovered, choking stream water from her mouth. William could not help but laugh at the scene. He climbed into the water to steady her, all while chuckling.

Evera regained her footing before he had gotten close enough. The stream came only to her waist but being of the Unseelie kind, she had no intention of hiding her bare self, especially in front of William.

“Aren’t you cold," asked the man, fully aware of the answer.

“No,” Evera replied. Time remained quiet while she fought for anything to say. Usually the one able to make her sentences dance before others, the young woman had run out of wit. She was tensed and tired and her mind was slowing down. “Your shirt is drying on the branch right there.”

“Yes, I see.” William smiled, the moonlight twinkling in his eyes. Evera wished she could feel as much as Humans. Fae feel muted emotions though still real. Evera smiled as she made her way closer to the bare-chested man. If this was only a taste of Human sensations, she was not sure her heart could take the raw and unsuppressed love.

Water dripped and splashed from her arms as she raised them to William’s neck. The distance closed and lips collided.

Evera drew him closer, making sure he shared his body heat. Rough hands stroked smooth skin while long fingers ran through red hair. Kisses came in erratic amounts and lengths. The Fae could feel her wings tremble beneath her shoulders. They were not threatening to appear but rather urging her for full loss of inhibition.

All the emotion from the past few weeks went into this shared craving. The fear and sorrow was replaced with pleasure and lust. A small sigh of desire from Evera encouraged William to intensify his need for her skin. The man brought them out of the waters and laid her on the shore.

Waves and wind stirred the air as lovers became one. No longer did the urgency of the impending war plague their minds. Instead, their passion took them over. Emotional and physical boundaries were thrown away as the lovers shared the night together in ecstasy and love.