34. Chapter Thirty Four

The steam curls into the air from the two small pools of water. The teal water glows faintly, spilling from the larger pool into the smaller one, until it dribbles down the mountain in a small stream. A sense of peace and calm fills the air as tiny fireflies dance, flicking in between the trees.

"The caves are just another two hundred feet up the path," Nero points out where the lichen continues to glow illuminating up the mountain.

"This is all so–" I inhale, the scent of minerals and pine filling my nostrils. "–magical."

I shed my pack, my boots, and overdress on the ground. I'll wash it later. Lemon scampers from my overskirt pocket and dips his paws into the water before curling up at the edge of the steaming pool and closing his eyes. Without a single care for the men behind me, I follow suit, undressing down to my chemise before submerging myself to my neck. All I care about is getting some warmth back into my cold body. My feet barely touch the rocky bottom, but the warm water soothes my aching muscles. The white muslin gown clings to my body and I slowly move to the other side and settle on a naturally formed rock bench.

Aramis watches me from the shore as he slowly removes his layers down to his undergarment and slips below the water. The semi-translucent water comes up to his chest. Nero follows behind, causing the water to rise and spill into the next pool as his weight displaces it.

"So, what now?" Aramis asks, his eyes meeting mine. He doesn't touch me but I can feel the need to gravitate in his direction.

"We should get rest for the night, then explore the caves in the morning," I reply, keeping that heady gaze upon me. I glance up at the moon cresting above us and sigh, hoping the Goddess is watching over us now that Kela is no longer here to guide us. "One of them has to have the answers we seek."

"Sybil, what do we do if we dinna find them?" asks Nero, concerned. He sinks further into the water and groans in delight at the warmth.

"We meet up with the council." Aramis glances towards Nero, eyebrow lifted for confirmation. "We can't go home yet."

Nero grunts his agreement, lips pursing as he stares up at the sky. We continue enjoying the warmth of the hot spring in silence until water splashes behind us as Nero pulls out of the pool. "Right ye two. I'm going to find a nice place to rest, deep, deep within that cave," he says, pointing to the smaller of the two caves. "Deep enough to not hear a single thing if ye get me," he adds, and I can see Aramis roll his eyes. "Yer majesty wake me when yer ready so we can take turns on lookout."

Once Nero disappears within the cave, I close my eyes trying to ground myself as the bubbling warm water caresses my skin. When I open my eyes again I see Aramis watching me intently as he moves through the water to sit next to me.

"Merry solstice," he whispers, his fingers entwining in mine under the water. "I know it's not the solstice you've imagined, but I'm happy to be spending it with you."

"Merry solstice." I smile at him, and tug our moving hands closer to me, so that we're inches apart. With everything that has happened in the past few weeks, I forgot that the holiday was so close. It feels like eons ago that I was preparing for Bolide.

The moon illuminates his figure, giving him an unearthly glow making me gasp at how beautiful he is.

"It's the first solstice I haven"t spent alone in years." I lift my hand and trace the outline of the moon"s reflection in the water. "When I was younger, my parents and I would stay up late drinking milk tea and eating dried fruit biscuits while we came up with outlandish stories. After they died–"

The words fall away as I consider all my losses. I stare into the water, tears pooling in my eyes as I wonder what my parents would think of me now. I am not the successful healer they wanted me to be, and even though I had made their dream my own for many years, I am not sure it is still what I want. The replica of the moon shatters as I break the water's surface, unable to suddenly take the stillness offered. I back away from Aramis wide-eyed without explanation, looking for a place of solitude. I need to breathe, and I need the space to think. My movement quickly takes me to a quiet rock edge where I can take my time to sort out my thoughts. Turning away and resting my forearms on the rim of the pool, I take a deep breath and sigh.

"I lost my mother when I was young too, you know." Aramis moves quietly in the water until he settles next to me, the movement of the water gently pushing his body against mine. "Sybil?" Aramis turns his attention on me–that beautiful, thorough gaze. "What can I do for you? How can I help?"

I smile, appreciating his offer. "It's just taking me a moment to adapt to all these changes" I say, unable to better explain my inner turmoil. "My whole life I've only ever wanted to be a healer, make my parents proud, but I now realize that maybe I just wanted to help people." Aramis's fingers gently brush my arm, his gaze full of unspoken understanding. "And I don't have to be a healer to do that. I can still do that. Freeing the shifters is my way of helping, my purpose."

A smile appears on his lips as he says, "you are such a marvel, Sybil Vandeleur." I move a few inches closer to him, cup his cheek and brush a kiss of thanks on his forehead.

"The experiences of our past shape us into who we are today." Aramis whispers and takes the opportunity to intertwine our bodies. Before I know it, my arms are wrapped around his neck, his hands braced protectively against my waist. "I believe in you. I don't know what our future holds, but I vow I will be at your side every step of the way."

He pauses, as if holding something back, unspoken words lingering in his gaze. I shake my head to clear the thoughts as I hug him tight before lifting my gaze up at the stars, breathing slowly. They twinkle brightly between the tree branches, a living celestial dance. Letting out a sigh, I slip through Aramis' embrace and dunk under the water, letting its soothing touch caress my body. I surface moments later when my lungs begin to burn, gasping for air.

As I stand in the water, a cool wisp of air brushes against my body, my nipples becoming taunt at its touch. I don't need to look at Aramis to know that it"s his winds caressing me. I turn around to see Aramis' steady gaze slowly travel down the length of my body, from the crown of my head down below the water"s surface. His gaze is as hungry as a starved man when he slowly approaches me. Heat coils in my gut as I step backwards, the stone wall of the springs hitting the back of my legs.

"I think you need some help cleaning up, my pomme sucrée." Aramis' voice is a deep rumble as he lifts my hand out of the water, gently massaging in between each finger before kissing my palm. The touch sends sparks down my body as Aramis sends a wind up my arms. Goddess help me, my nipples harden more. A small whimper bursts from my lips, but I desperately shut myself up. I can do this.

"Thanks, but I can clean myself." I weakly protest, darting my tongue out to lick my lips. Aramis' touch turns to a gentle caress as he pulls me closer to him.

"Oh really? Because you missed a spot, here." Aramis trails a finger up my arm, then over to circle around my right breast. I gasp at the light touch.

"Oh?"

"And here." He kisses at the hollow of my neck. I exhale long breaths, trying to engage my core. My legs tremble but I shall not falter.

"And you, Aramis?" I manage, as I look him in the eyes. "What about you?" I lift my other arm to try and get an edge on him, but he grabs my wrist pinning both arms against the rock edge. His body presses into me, and all of his hardness molds into my softness. I tilt my hips up–just to drive him as wild as he's driving me crazy. He groans, returning the favor as his body presses back against mine.

Aramis' blue eyes pierce into mine. "You are going to drive me past my restraint," Aramis growls.

Good.I grin at him salaciously, and Aramis leans down to kiss me, but it"s savage. He nips my mouth and I open, kissing him just as hard. Our tongues dance together, eliciting groans from both of us. Aramis sucks my tongue and I cry out, grinding my body against him.

"Sybil darling," Aramis growls in my ear. "You little minx. Put your hands on the pool's edge and don't let go."

I laugh in delight at how tortured he looks. Aramis looks the way I feel; insane with desire. The unfinished business between us is slowly driving me mad.

"Why?"

"Don't you know?" Aramis sends a torturous wind across my breasts, and I groan. "You need tending to. Now, do as I ask." I obey, my hands gripping the edge of the stone. He begins his ministrations, gently cleaning my skin and hair free of glowing goo and lichen powder. His touch lingers everywhere on my body. My thin gown clings to my body under the water, the slight luminescent glow leaving not much to the imagination.

"Do you want your reward for being an obedient, good girl?" Aramis brushes a chaste kiss against my lips.

The prince has completely surprised me. As much as a logical part of my mind screams to take caution with how fast things are moving between us every fiber of my being acts as if it belongs to him, is drawn to him. With his every touch, my magic sings in my veins. Is this what love is like? Or is there something magical and intoxicating about these cerulean, luminescent hot springs?

"Oh, I get a prize?" I lean into the kiss, grinning as I completely give in. "Something better than a kiss?"

"You want this reward." Aramis promises. I hum in agreement as Aramis presses me against the pool's edge. His hands lift my legs around his waist, and we're aligned perfectly. Aramis groans as our bodies press together, and then moves his hands up, sliding a hand behind my head and crushes his lips to mine. I wrap my arms around his neck, clinging to him. Aramis' other hand trails lazy, slow, tantalizing circles down my chemise until it reaches my waist. He kisses down to my earlobe, nuzzling against the side of my neck. I writhe against him, my skin buzzing and sensitive between the lapping waters and his caress and I gasp. I need more. So much more.

"Aramis," I plead as he pauses and pulls back, eyes roving my face. The side of his lips curling up as our bodies shift and he slides a leg between mine. I push down on his leg, just to chase the sensations of pleasure building inside me.

"Not yet," he says, tugging at the back of my head until I arch towards him. The cool air brushing against my chest as it breaches the surface. He leans forward and flicks his tongue against one sensitive pebbled nipple before turning and giving attention to the other. Hands travel further towards my core, gently stroking me. A moan escapes my lips as I arch further into his touch. His whisper is a rumble against my skin. "I want the moment I finally take you to be perfect, Sybil, because that's what you deserve. Not here in the middle of nowhere. I want you splayed in front of me on the softest of beds worthy of you," Aramis whispers like a prayer but despite his promise, the wicked grin on his lips tells me he is not ready to let me go. His fingers stroke my core with newfound intensity and I flex my hips a bit more, grinding against his touch as pleasure keeps rising within me. Aramis groans, flicking a tongue in a tantalizing circle around my nipple. "You are so beautiful when you lose control," he says as our lips crash back together and I realize I have never felt more in tune with my body or more alive.

"Oh Aramis," I cry as his fingers slide inside.

"That's it Sybil, let go my love," and as those words leave his lips, the crescendo reaches its peak and I fall into a sea of pleasure that washes over me, wave after wave. I hold onto Aramis even after my heartbeat returns to his normal rhythm, scared of what my body will feel like away from his warmth now that he's imprinted on my soul.

Aramis moves a wet strand of hair from my forehead and I start blushing when he gently kisses my cheek. "You stunning creature," he says with adoration and I hide my gaze from him. "Let's get out of here before we get a cold." As I nod in agreement, Aramis pulls himself out of the water. My eyes rove his muscular body and the way his undergarments cling to his wet skin. He swipes my cloak off our pile of bags before holding it out to me.

"Thank you," I accept gratefully, wrapping it around my body as the chill air immediately seeps into my skin, gooseflesh prickling my body.

"Here, let me carry you so you don't get your boots wet." Aramis says as he sweeps me off my feet. I lay my head in the crook of his neck, inhaling his deep rich scent. The warmth of his body radiates into mine. My skin radiates with sensation everywhere that it touches him. When we reach the cave's entrance, Aramis sets me down on the ground near a fire. Nero must have predicted our needs, he even brought my bag in and set up my sleeping roll. The stone is warm from the fire's radiation.

"Where will you sleep?" I ask meekly, rubbing my hands together before the flames.

"Sleep will be a long time coming for me." Aramis stares out the opening of the tunnel to the forest beyond while adjusting his pants. "Nero and I need to talk, then one of us will stand guard while the other comes to warm up and sleep here by the fire. Don't fret, we will return soon. Make yourself comfortable." He kisses my brow gently before crushing my body to his. As soon as he lets go, he turns and walks out the entrance. I immediately feel the weight of his absence. I can't get over how my body yearns and calls to him. The loss of his physical touch around me hurts. I temper my yearning with the practical settings surrounding me.

I peel my wet chemise from my body and pull a fresh clean one from my bag as I lay the other to dry.

What is happening between Aramis and I? There is now a sense of safety and content building within me when I'm in his presence. Mine, I think again and the word rings true.

The flames crackle and pop cheerfully, casting shadows that dance on the wall in the cave. It is a deep one and I can't see the end of it from where Nero has set up the fire. He seems reassured that it is safe. Are there creatures that live in the mountains of Shadowvale like we have in Kallistar? Do these creatures steal naughty children out of their beds at night? I shiver at the memory of the night stories my parents told me to ensure I was a good child. Then I sigh, sad at the thought of their loss once more.

I roll onto my back staring at the stone ceiling. Lichen and luminescent mushrooms grow in the cracks and crevices like a star filled sky. A muffled whumph sounds from outside of the cave mouth. I perk my ears in with listening as the expansion of the cave grows, a glittering light in the distance enticing me.

"Hello?" I call out as I roll onto my stomach. Nothing but the crisp night air and sound of crickets chirping replies.

Another whumph precedes the sound of pebbles hitting the ground, and my curiosity has officially gotten the best of me. I glance at the front of the cave, hoping for a line of vision that shows me the two males who have quickly become lines of comfort to me.

"Aramis? Nero? Is that you?" I call out as I stare at the peaceful night. Lemon starts hissing, the fur on his neck and back standing on end as he runs further into the tunnel. I step behind the fire and scoop him up into my arms, as I scramble for my dagger.

Another whumph andthen snow starts falling in clumps before the cave entrance, obscuring the opening within seconds and extinguishing the fire. I clutch Lemon tightly against me as he squirms with discomfort. The cave immediately descends into darkness, and I begin to fall.

I scream.