Chapter 10

The next morning, Yelzin led her to the far reaches of what he called his ‘territory'. He had one last thing to show her, and Irina was eager for the distraction.

The plasma storms seemed to be nearing their end, though the information channel had still been blocked when they had checked last night.

Last night…

The evening had been tense, the hut silent as they both tried to think of something to say. But there were no words, just a sense of unease permeating every inch of the space. Even as she lay in the nest with Yelzin, it had felt strained, nothing like the easy sleep of the past couple of weeks .

Irina had the familiar rumbling of hunger, but wasn't eager to feed. The thought of another blood-induced romp with Yelzin was not… unappealing, though after the difficult conversation last night, she wasn't eager to lead him on further.

The hike had worn Irina out, though she still refused to let Yelzin carry her, no matter how many times he asked.

The uphill trek was worth the sore muscles as they came out to a small clearing, and a spectacular view of the hills beyond. Dark green peaks rolled in the distance as they sat atop the overlook, enjoying the peace of the day.

Even with the anxious silence, Yelzin took her hand, the simple gesture warming her after the tension of the evening.

Suddenly, a flash of light followed by a loud clap of thunder jolted Irina from her reverie, and she looked at Yelzin with wide eyes. There had been a few small sprinkles of rain since she'd been on Strine, but she'd never heard thunder like that.

Rain fell, a drizzle that almost immediately turned into a downpour, and Yelzin stood, helping Irina up.

"We need to get to shelter. This could be a powerful storm. I would fly us back, but…"

Yeah, Irina imagined his wings wouldn't do so well in a deluge this strong.

Yelzin pulled her through the woods, though they were both already soaked to the bone. A few minutes later and they stood outside the mouth of a cave, Irina glancing at him with her brow quirked .

"It is safe, little one. I have been here before," he said, taking her hand in his. "Come."

Yelzin pulled her inside and Irina clung to him, unable to see much in the cave's dimness. A glow up ahead urged them along and slowly her eyes adjusted. There were beautiful crystals embedded in the cave walls, emitting an otherworldly glow of reds and oranges as their footsteps echoed deep into the cavern. The air smelled of must and earth.

The cave was cooler than outside, and Irina's damp jumpsuit chilled her.

"How long do you think the storm will last?"

"It is impossible to say. Hopefully not long."

Poor Yelzin, he looked like a wet dog as he stood in front of her, clearly uncomfortable. A fire would be nice, though all the wood outside was soaked and Irina had no interest in going back out there.

She sat on the cold stone floor, wrapping her arms around her knees and pulling them to her chest, unable to quell the thought that this was her punishment for breaking Yelzin's heart. Spending one of her last days on Strine shivering in a musty old cave was what she deserved. Irina closed her eyes and tried to ignore her misery, the soft drips of water echoing in her ears.

Eventually her jumpsuit dried despite the damp air, along with Yelzin's fur. The wind howled at the mouth of the cave as the storm continued to rage outside, night approaching fast.

Irina's stomach growled in earnest and she couldn't ignore how Yelzin glanced her way each time.

He was puttering about the cave when she spoke, lounging as much as one could on a cold stone floor.

"I… probably need to feed again, soon."

Yelzin's whole body froze before turning to face her, an unreadable emotion in his eyes.

"Of course, Irina. I can accommodate that, though the storm does not appear to be letting up." He looked around the cave, gathering his words. "I will leave some here for you, but I think it would be best if I were away while you consumed it."

Irina had known it was coming. He'd said so after the first time she'd fed, and with the uncomfortable conversation from last night, she had little doubt he'd try this.

"Where will you go? We're in a cave, Yelzin."

The thought of being alone in the darkness without him was far worse than anything that could happen between them.

"I will wait outside."

Irina rolled her eyes and stood up with a groan, stiff from laying on the hard floor. She padded over to him, having removed her bulky boots long ago, and looked him in the eye.

"You can't leave me here alone, plus it's still storming. I think we can control ourselves, don't you? "

Though she said the words, she didn't fully believe them. But was there really a better option? Irina would not make him sit outside in the downpour, just because they couldn't control their blood frenzied libidos.

Yelzin gave a short, uncomfortable bark.

"I suppose you are correct. The worst of my mating urge has passed, though you are still not accustomed to the emotions my blood gives you."

That was an understatement.

The last time he had fed her, she made him fuck her in his nest, couldn't imagine going another minute without his touch. But no, she could do better this time. She had to do better. Another bout of blood frenzied sex would just hurt Yelzin even further.

"I trust you," Irina said as she pressed her palms to his chest.

He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, lips curled into another fanged smirk.

"I am so glad that you do."

This was a bad idea.

When Irina settled herself on top of Yelzin, she had a strange look on her face, a too-large grin that bared her teeth. He knew what she wanted, the way she yearned for him, the way she looked at him with glazed eyes even before she tasted a drop of his blood. Irina clutched at his shoulders, trembling from the anticipation.

This was definitely a bad idea.

A bad idea, but Yelzin vowed to control himself, no matter what.

After they mated in the tree last night, soft and sweet and nothing like the blood-induced frenzy he was used to, his heart had soared. But just as quickly, Irina had dashed his hopes.

Did Yelzin want to leave Strine? Of course not. The thought terrified him to his core. While some Strinee were well traveled, he knew none personally, most preferring the comfort of their quiet lives in the forests and plains.

But for Irina, he would do anything. He would fly on a shuttle and live on Earth if it meant staying with her. He would leave it all behind, his hut and his art, if he could keep her by his side.

But it wasn't meant to be, so Yelzin needed to be strong for the both of them. Irina still was not used to the effects of his blood, would undoubtedly react the same way she did last time.

If they were to mate again, Yelzin wanted to be certain it was because Irina wanted to stay, and after last night, he had little hope of that happening.

"Yelzin?" she asked, her voice a cracked whisper.

He could do this.

With one clawed hand resting on her hip, he brought his other wrist to his mouth, tearing through the flesh with one quick movement. Irina immediately stiffened, pressing herself harder down on his lap as she eagerly awaited his blood.

The sharp bite of pain was nothing compared to the flames that overwhelmed his body. Yelzin held his wrist out to her, and she pulled it towards her soft lips, drinking him in with a gulp.

Sticky blood ran down her chin, her eyes closed in ecstasy. Yelzin could feel the blood leaving his body and entering hers, setting every nerve on edge, his ears flicking with disquiet.

Irina twitched against him and he tensed every muscle, grinding his teeth in a desperate attempt to retain control. The scent of metal and musk filled the cave, Irina's gulping swallows showing none of the reluctance from the first time she fed on him.

Irina pulled back from his wrist with a loud gasp. Without dropping her eyes from his, she ran her wet tongue up the length of the wound, making Yelzin's entire body throb with need. Her eyes were wide, pupils so dilated almost none of the beautiful brown showed. A flick of her tongue across her bloodied lips, and then she was pressing them to Yelzin's.

Unsurprised, he pushed her away, one hand pressed against her shoulder and the other still gripping her waist, like he couldn't decide whether he wanted her at arm's length or to envelop her completely. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself in close, gazing at him with a look of frenzy.

"Please, Yelzin, I need you. "

She tried to roll her hips against him, but he held her steady, the words tearing a hole straight through his heart.

"No. Not like this," Yelzin growled as he pulled her flush to his chest, caging her with a tight hug.

She let out a gasp of surprise, such a small sound, and yet it set every one of his nerves aflame. Wings ensconced her small body and though she tried to squirm against him, he did not allow it.

"Tell me about your home, little one," he whispered in her ear, her chest heaving against his.

Anything to distract her from the blood coursing through her, the need between her thighs. Anything to distract himself.

"Home?" Her voice was a hoarse croak, and he knew she was desperately trying to maintain her composure.

"Yes, home."

Irina took a big gulp of air, blood still dripping from her chin and onto Yelzin's fur. She pressed her cheek against his chest.

"I-I was born on Earth, though I got out of there as soon as I was able. I moved to a space station, Astrenius, when I was sixteen."

"Space station?"

Of course, Yelzin knew what a space station was. Just because the Strinee preferred simplicity, didn't mean they were simple. Still, he wanted Irina to keep talking.

She tried to writhe against him, but he continued to restrain her, brushing a clawed hand through her hair as she groaned .

With another gulp of air, she answered.

"The Coalition has built many of them. They're structures placed in orbit that house workers and supplies, kind of like an extra large ship. The space stations have weapons to protect Coalition space."

She spoke through gritted teeth, the growl in her voice driving Yelzin to near madness. He squeezed her even tighter as she struggled against him.

"Tell me more. What is your home like now? Do you still live on the space station?"

"There's nothing more to tell! Please, just let me go. I can't be this close to you."

Irina was frantic, her voice pitched high as she pushed against him.

Yelzin weighed his options, not wishing to hurt her in a struggle, and released her with a huff.

Irina stumbled out of his lap, stepping a few feet back as he looked up at her. The distance made things… a bit more bearable, but only just. He tried to give her a reassuring smile until he noticed the glimmer in her eyes, the devilish grin curling her rosy lips.

Oh, no.

With a jolt, Irina turned and ran into the darkness of the cave and Yelzin's eyes widened. His heart beat furiously, thumping in his chest like a drum of thunder as he saw her fade into the distance. Every nerve hummed with electricity, the thrill of the chase boiling his blood as he stood.

Yelzin pressed a palm to the cool cave wall, desperate to ground himself, but it was futile. He scented Irina in the distance, and between the eagerness to keep her safe and the lust pounding through his body, he couldn't resist. Not this time.

Before he could stop himself, he tore off into the darkness after her.

Irina was surprisingly quick, even without her boots. The cave system was not extensive, but still, there were multiple passages and offshoots, and Yelzin's mind was not as clear as it could be.

A ringing laugh echoed through the dark cave, setting all of his fur on end. His cock throbbed, waking up from its usual slumber as the blood frenzy coursed through him, Irina's giggle urging him on.

Yelzin would do anything to plunge into her, to feel her warmth, her muscles clenching against his cock as he split her in two.

Dizziness overwhelmed him and he tried to take a deep breath, but Irina's scent only inflamed him further. Yes, her scent of sweet musk was in the air, driving him to insanity.

Focus, he needed to focus, needed to get to her before she hurt herself. Stay in control .

Yelzin followed her scent, clenching every muscle as he tried to slow his pace. They would not mate, not now, not like this. He could control himself.

Her scent grew stronger until he stumbled around a corner to discover her trapped, backed into a wall with that same devilish grin. Yelzin's eyesight grayed as he tried to stay focused, though the chase had amplified the arousal already coursing through his body.

What did Yelzin want to do? He wanted to throw her against the cave wall and rip her clothes off with his claws. He wanted to bite her slender neck and taste her, sweet and metallic against his fangs, as blood dripped down her breasts and stomach.

Only when he had his fill would he pick her up and fuck her the way she wanted to be fucked, the way she craved. He wanted to be deep inside her when he came, holding her in place as the barbs came out, letting his seed drip onto the cave floor.

"Fuck me, Yelzin. Please… I need you," Irina whimpered as he stalked over to her, the grin replaced with a desperate frown.

He hovered over her, fully blocking her in with his palms pressed on either side of her head, careful not to make contact.

"Yelzin…"

It took every modicum of strength to get the words out with the way her husky voice burned him. "No. The next time we mate will be because you want to stay."

Irina cried a moan, a sound Yelzin longed to hear in the throes of passion. She pressed her hands to his chest, fingertips like flaming knives digging into his flesh.

"Please. "

She was begging, her eyes glimmering with desperation as she looked up at him.

With a swift movement, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to the ground with him, cushioning her with his body. His wings fully enclosed her, trapping her against his chest as she tried to squirm away.

"It will be alright, little one, it will pass."

"Yelzin, please!" Irina cried, and he felt warm tears dampen his fur.

His coos echoed through the small chamber as he rocked her slowly.

The struggle was over, sobs turning to whimpers, until there was quiet, lust exchanged for exhaustion. Arousal still pulsed through Yelzin as sleep evaded him, the pleasant pressure of the human against his chest enough to keep the embers burning.

Pure torture, that's what it was.

It was not just about the physical effects of the blood. If that were the case, controlling oneself would be much simpler. No, for Strinee, blood sharing was one of the most intimate acts. It was unnecessary for survival, as all Strinee fed off lesser species that roamed the forests.

No, for a species who did not know romantic love, blood sharing was the only way they experienced companionship, belonging. And even with other Strinee, that ended with mating and leaving, like it always did.

As Yelzin held Irina, he thought of how different things could be if she stayed. The life they could build. His earthworks seemed to fascinate her, and he could imagine creating more beautiful art together. Sleeping together in his nest every night. Taking her to the Strinee cities, which he was certain would shock her after the simplicity of his hut. They could even barter for a console there, something he knew Irina was itching to get her fingers on.

Foolish to let hope creep in, but Yelzin could not help it.

His stomach grumbled, having not fed for sometime himself, distracted by spending every moment with Irina. He would be fine, though. Nothing compared to what he had just been through, was still enduring as she snored lightly against him.

Absentmindedly, he wondered about this masturbating Irina had spoken of, but he wasn't certain how he was supposed to do it. Besides, positioning would be quite difficult with her laying on top of him, blocking access to his aching cock.

Yelzin moved his arm, ever so gently, so that he could lap up the sticky blood from the wound on his wrist, saliva suppressing the flow. It did little to satiate the hunger that burned through his entire body, but it was something. He longed to lick the blood from where it pooled on her chin, where it stained her lips, but held himself back.

That would only lead to one thing.

After many hours of hushed silence, dozing in and out of sleep, Irina stirred against his chest. She blinked her eyes open and turned to face him, the glazed lust replaced with her beautiful dark stare. Her chest heaved with unknown emotion and before he could stop her, she kissed him on the lips, pressing her palms against his cheeks.

"Irina," he murmured, the stir of arousal still not fully abated.

She pulled back, though her hands did not leave his face.

"I feel better. Thank you for stopping me."

Her cheeks flushed bright pink, such a beautiful color, like the blooms of a yetolla flower.

"Of course, dear one," Yelzin said, enjoying the way Irina's lips curled at his words.

He meant it, the dear one. She was more precious to him than any he had called his mate. Strinee females were cherished in their own way, but with Irina, he felt the pulsing burn of adoration beating through his chest every time he looked at her, every time they spoke, every time he thought of her.

With Irina, he felt whole, as if he had found something he had been missing his entire life. Friendship, companionship, love.

Yelzin wanted to protect Irina, take care of her, but it went deeper than that. He wanted to spend every moment with her, to learn every detail about her life and who she was.

He had showed her what it could be like here, that there was space for her in his home, and he had seen the way that ever present pain seemed to fade from her eyes. It was not completely gone, but abated from when she first crash landed in his forest .

Irina sighed deeply, such a lovely sound, and gave him a quick peck on his snout.

"Thank you, Yelzin."

The way she purred his name made all of his fur stand on end and it took everything in his power to not ravage her right there. But no, the sounds from the cave entrance had quieted. The storm was ending.

It was time to go home.

Irina couldn't tell if the silence was strained or comfortable as they ambled back to Yelzin's hut. The scent of petrichor filled the misty air, large droplets dripping from the enormous trees as if it were still drizzling.

She recoiled at the memory of her words, her actions, running through the cave and begging Yelzin to fuck her. Anticipation still bubbled under her skin, the vigor from his blood not quite abating the lust that still burned through her.

Irina was grateful he had stopped them. Despite the ecstasy the blood frenzy could provide, it would just make it even more difficult to leave.

Yelzin took her hand, smiling down at her as they approached his hut. Her heart raced, hoping whatever time she had left would be more pleasant than the strain of the past day. Even with the knowledge that they would soon be parted.

The hut was exactly as they had left it, though a bit damp. It was morning; they had been away for almost a full day. The sun shone through the leaves, dappled light covering the woods around them.

As they entered the hut, Irina heard a distinct beeping noise, and she turned to Yelzin in question. His red eyes were wide, chest heaving.

"What is it?" she asked.

"The information channel. There is a message."