14. Elowen

14

ELOWEN

I can't stop thinking about what happened with Aldric. My body still tingles from his touch, the memory of his lips making me ache for him. The way he pinned me against that wall, his strength overwhelming yet exhilarating... I've never felt anything like it.

But what does it mean? We were sparring one minute, and the next... Gods, I can still taste him. I never knew it could feel like that.

It was supposed to get him out of my system… But now I am dying for another taste. It's like I'm an addict, ready to go back and beg for more.

Fuck. I wanted to get rid of the attraction. Not make it worse.

But I can't deny the attraction I feel. It's been building for weeks, simmering beneath the surface of our tense training sessions. I just never expected it to explode like this.

And I can't help but wonder if Aldric feels the same. Was this a one time thing for him? Or is he itching to drag me beneath him, to bury himself deep in me until I can't claw him out.

It shouldn't turn me on. But fuck, it does.

And what's worse is I want him to take more. To make my body bend to his. I want to be stretched around him, to be sore for days…

I want his bite.

I've heard the other women talk. The vrakken bite can be euphoric — if they so choose — heightening every pleasure until you are floating in it. It's supposed to be intense, and gods help me, I want that.

I want to know that Aldric's venom is filling my veins just like his cock is filling my tight pussy. I want to know that he's drunk on my blood the way I am drunk on his godsdamned body.

But we're in the middle of preparing for war. Is this really the time to be exploring... whatever this is between us? And what about the others? How would they react if they knew?

I pace my small room, unable to settle. I skipped training this morning, which I never have before. Not that Aldric came to seek me out.

But I know his scent is clinging to me. And I wouldn't be able to look at him without every vrakken there smelling the desire on me.

I can't keep this bottled up anymore. My heart's racing as I approach Selene's quarters, my palms sweaty. I need to talk to someone about what happened with Aldric, and she's the only one I trust completely.

I knock softly, and Selene opens the door, her amber eyes warm and welcoming. "Elowen? What's wrong?"

"I... Can we talk?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

She ushers me inside, concern etched on her face. We sit on her bed, and I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

"It's about Aldric," I start, my cheeks flushing. "We... something happened between us."

Selene's eyebrows raise, but she doesn't interrupt. I spill everything - the intense sparring session, the kiss, the passionate encounter that followed.

"I don't know what to do, Selene. It was incredible, but now I'm so confused. I guess I thought I would just get him out of my system…"

Selene takes my hand, her touch comforting. "And now it feels like more."

I nod. "I'm not looking for more. Not now. Not during…" I wave my hand in the air as I trial off. She knows what I mean.

"I get it," she says softly. "There was attraction there and you acted on it. It's war, and no one is wanting to take a mate then. It's dangerous." The word mate sent a jolt through my system, but I said nothing.

"You want my advice?"

I nod, even though we both know she'd give it either way.

"Don't think so hard about it." I open my mouth but she shakes her head. "I know it's easier said than done. But focus on what's important. Don't let him distract you from your training. And if you find more than one way to get your cardio in…" She winks at me. "Take it."

"It was supposed to be a one time thing," I mutter.

Selene holds her hand up in defense. "I'm just saying don't force anything. Train. Fight. Fuck." Her pale skin turns pink at the word, reminding that she was once not part of such a vulgar world. "Let the rest fall into place."

The next morning, I wake before dawn, my body always aching from my lack of rest. I managed a solo training session without running into Aldric. I needed to clear my head, and I've finally got myself focused.

For the most part… Sometimes, the memory of his hands holding me up, firm and gripping me, start to creep in…

But I push those thoughts aside. I can't let my confusion about our encounter distract me from why I'm really here.

Throwing on my training clothes, I head to the sparring grounds. The base is quiet, most still asleep. Perfect. I need this time alone to center myself.

I begin with stretches, feeling the pull in my muscles. Then I move to the practice dummies, my fists flying as I imagine dark elf faces. Each punch is fueled by memories of what they did to my family, to me.

"You're up early."

I whirl around to see Nikolai watching me, his expression unreadable.

"Couldn't sleep," I mutter, turning back to the dummy.

He nods, stepping closer. "Your form has improved. But you're telegraphing your moves too much. Here."

Without warning, he throws a punch. I barely dodge in time.

"See? You tensed before moving. In a real fight, that split second could cost you everything."

For the next hour, Nikolai drills me relentlessly. By the time others start trickling in for morning training, I'm drenched in sweat, but feeling more focused than I have in days.

As Aldric arrives to oversee training, our eyes meet briefly. My heart races, but I force myself to look away. I'm here to become a warrior, to fight the dark elves. I can't let anything - or anyone - distract me from that goal.

Throughout the day, I throw myself into every exercise with renewed determination. When Jessa knocks me down during a sparring match, I get right back up, ignoring the bruises forming on my ribs. When my arms shake from holding a heavy sword, I grit my teeth and keep swinging.

By nightfall, every muscle in my body screams in protest. But as I collapse onto my bed, exhausted, I feel a sense of grim satisfaction. I'm getting stronger, faster, better. And no matter what happens between Aldric and me, I won't let it derail my purpose.

Tomorrow, I'll wake up and do it all over again. Because I have to be ready. The dark elves are coming, and when they do, I'll be prepared to face them.

I can't help but replay my conversations with Selene and Jessa in my mind. They've both been with vrakken men, experienced the intensity and passion firsthand. And it's clear they see right through me when it comes to Aldric.

Maybe they are right, though. Jessa encouraged me to go after what I wanted. And fuck, I am glad I did.

Selene said the same thing. Focus on the things that matter. Don't give up other things just because I feel like I should. There is so little to enjoy now. Why not find happiness where I can?

Their words echo in my mind as I lie awake, staring at the ceiling. No matter how hard I try to focus on training, on preparing for the coming war, my thoughts always circle back to Aldric. The memory of his touch, his kiss, the way he made me feel... it's burned into my very soul.

I close my eyes, remembering the heat of his body against mine, the flash of desire in his silver eyes. My heart races, and I know sleep will elude me tonight. Aldric has awakened something in me, a hunger I never knew existed. And now that I've had a taste, I'm not sure I can ever go back.