33. Arrick

Chapter thirty-three

Arrick

I watch Yera and Patti for a long time. They exchange stories like lost friends finally reconnecting after years apart.

Yera's skin glows in the dull sprite light, and her eyes are lit with curiosity—my second favorite expression, I decide. Her curls bounce back and forth as she sways her hands to emphasize a story.

It feels like slow motion, basking in my lovely human and taking in every inch, every freckle.

"I wish we could find a way to move back and forth between both places."

"Can't you?" Patti asks.

"I don't imagine so. As far as I know, nothing is moving seamlessly between your world and mine."

That exchange snaps me out of my daydreams and returns me to the conversation.

"Just because it's not happening now doesn't mean it can't happen." Patti takes a big bite of some smoked fish and goes on. "There have been humans and creatures alike that could move back and forth. You need the right cause." He pauses, looking for a better word, all the while slapping his hand back and forth to rid them of crumbs. "The right pull, I guess, to justify both planes needing you."

Of course, she needs a pull and anchor for each realm, a feat not easily accomplished but possible . I shoot to my feet. The heavy chair tips over and crashes to the ground with a thud . Onlookers gawk at my display, but I don't care. It all makes sense now. The plan materializes in my mind.

"Everything okay?" Patti's voice is wry with amusement.

"Yes, it is now." I look to Yera and hope she listens to my reeling, chaotic thoughts. "Thank you, Patti, for so much more than you can even know." I walk over to our server and assure that we get charged for the entire meal and that they are compensated generously, and then I walk back to the table, frantic to get this plan moving.

"Everything is on us, old friend. Stay and enjoy your meal, but we need to go."

Patti gives me a knowing grin and nods his appreciation, saluting as Yera and I gather our things strung across chair backs. "Keep in touch. I'm rather curious about how this is all going to shake out," Patti calls out as we move toward the doors.

Yera knows my thoughts. She knows my intention. Our minds swirl together, feeding off one another. Once she knows the general outline of my plan, her brilliant mind starts filling in the cracks and refining the details .

We have meetings with sprites, gnomes, and fairies for the next few hours.

Our room is like a revolving door, constantly welcoming creatures with diverse magic and insight.

Dawn breaks over the mountains, bathing our room with warm morning light, just in time for our last guest to leave, shutting the door silently behind them.

Yera flops back on the bed and stares at the ceiling—dazed. I know she's tired. Her eyes are rounded with dark circles, and our last conversation was peppered with her soft yawns. Before I can even turn to tuck her into my arms, I hear her soft, even breathing.

I pause next to her for a long moment, taking in her scent and the small sounds she makes in her sleep, still trying to drink in every inch of her just in case the plan…well, doesn't work.

We sleep for a few hours, rising just before midday. I wake her with gentle kisses on the back of her head and neck. When her perfect ass starts to press and writhe into my growing erection, I roll her over and claim her. It is fast, heated, and thorough.

We briefly linger in each other's arms before I see Yera grow anxious.

In the thrill of possibly figuring out how we can have it both ways and the realization that we get to see Mariana today—the thing she has longed for since we first met—there is still another lost. I won't bring that up now. There is such an electric presence in the air that I don't want to quell just yet.

Yera and I dress quickly and walk down to the front desk. I inform the Fae behind the counter about our temporary absence but ask them to keep our room reserved.

Some pastries and coffee are still laid out, and we throw some into our mouths like starving travelers .

We decide walking to the woods on the edge of town to port would be best. I need more concentration to move both of us.

She keeps her hand twined with mine as we walk. The need to take her hand and brush it over my lips is an impulse I can't deny myself, but she doesn't seem to mind. I kiss her knuckles at least five times before leaving town. She never protests, just smiles and leans her body closer.

Porting this time seems easier on her, at least. I'm so used to that it's practically second nature at this point. Sure, it's violent and sometimes can seem like your soul is separating from your body, but now that it's our lifeline, I welcome it wholeheartedly.

Yera's head spins momentarily, and I can see her consciousness trying to catch up with her vision. She holds me tight, gaining her composure before her head swivels, and she takes in our surroundings.

The ground is mossy off-trail and saturated to the point that it makes squelching noises as we walk. Better than the clay path. That, from the looks of it, has already claimed someone's boot for its own.

No wonder the town needs more supplies. A horse and carriage wouldn't make it ten feet.

I try to imagine our experience had we been rained on the entire time, but I can't. I see us and what happened, and nothing makes me happier than picturing Yera stuck in the creek bed and knowing what comes next.

We round the corner and find a cobbled path leading to a stone-and-mortar house. The house is surrounded by fruit trees and small gardens placed precisely for optimal growth for that particular crop.

The stone chimney rises high above the two-story building. Ivy crawls up the side, making the rich green stand out starkly against the gray smoke billowing from it. Someone's home, at least. That's a good sign.

I can sense Yera's nerves tighten; her thoughts are a jumbled mess of emotion, and I squeeze her hand and caress her mind as best I can, given the circumstances.

We slowly walk up the stone steps to the arched, rough-cut door, stained cobalt blue.

My hand reaches up to knock, but before I can, the door flies open, and another woman stands before us.

She is very tall for a human, with long black hair, tawny skin, and eyes the dark green of the forest.

She stares at me wide-eyed before swinging her gaze to Yera. Her face softens as she stares at my lovely human. I can feel Yera's emotions build, and tears fall from her and her friend's cheeks.

Before another moment passes, Yera is in Mariana's arms, the two locking in an impenetrable embrace.

Behind them, a massive Ogre rounds the corner. I give Soren a nod, and he nods and smirks at me knowingly. He gestures for us to enter, and I press my hand to the small of Yera's back.

"Let's go inside. I think it's going to rain again."

Yera reluctantly releases Mariana. The two smile and give each other a soft laugh before Mariana grabs Yera's hand and leads her inside.

I follow, watching the two friends stride giddily into the farmhouse, hand-in-hand.

A feeling of love, appreciation, and longing sweeps over me, followed by a soft caress. Yera's mind touches mine, gently and lovingly. I step into the vaulted entrance and shut the blue door behind me.