Chapter 14

Noora

Her head rose and fell with every breath he took, soft goosebumps covering her skin as his hand drove through the strands of her hair. Their legs were tangled, intertwined so thoroughly she didn’t know where she started and he ended.

“I’m glad you came,” Lukas murmured against her temple, pressing a small kiss there.

Noora didn’t say anything, not ready to reveal her thoughts. She knew it was a bad idea to come back to the barn. She knew she should not forgive Lukas for the things he said but she craved more the loving touch of someone, than the loneliness that would come if she did the right thing.

She tried not to glance over to the broken window, or the discarded stool Kai sat upon, only a few days ago. Noora had told Lukas that she had to flee from a pack of wolves and therefore break through the window, explaining the dried drops of blood on the ground.

“I don’t know what I would do without you,” he murmured, his lips dragging along her cheek, placing soft little kisses against her skin.

His hand slipped from her hair and onto her neck, his other arm enclosing her safely. She tilted her head giving him more access, a soft sigh leaving her lips as he found the right spot.

She pushed at his chest until he lay flat on the ground, with her straddling his hips. Her hair fell in a white curtain around them, shielding them from any danger.

Their lips met in a feverish kiss, full of teeth and tongue, she nipped at his bottom lip until she could taste his blood. His hands tightened on her hips moving her body slowly, torturously against his.

She let go of his lips and let her hands travel over his tan skin, the tight muscles of his abdomen flexing under her touch as she kissed a trail down his neck.

Lukas ground beneath her, tilting his hips to meet her better, she pushed his hands off of her, to go in her own rhythm.

“Don’t. Move.”

Lukas looked at her, surprised, his eyes narrowing slightly but when she tilted her hips the right way he let her do it.

Their lips met again and again, tongues dancing hungrily as the heat built up inside her.

She did not care to make it good for him today. It was about her.

She arched her back slightly, growing hotter and hotter, her hair falling over her back and sticking to her skin.

“Just like that,” Lukas groaned and Noora quickly put a hand on his mouth. “Don’t talk.”

Before he could protest she gave him the satisfaction of kissing him again.

Suddenly his body grew different beneath hers. He was less bulky and more lithe, his skin pale. His short-cropped hair turned to long strands under her grip, and the tight coil inside her grew intensely.

Noora closed her eyes to enhance the picture she had beneath her, driving herself closer to the edge with every movement.

“Fuck, yes.”

She ground against him faster and harder until she burst around him, her thighs shaking with the enormous force that stuck its talons into her, making her dizzy.

She felt him shudder beneath her and she rolled off him, laying on her back. Not opening her eyes. Rather she let them stay closed, bathing in the feeling of after, soft waves still crashing in her abdomen. A heavy arm spread over her stomach and soft snores reached her ears a moment later.

She let herself calm down, her skin slick with sweat as she finally opened her eyes to look at Lukas. He was fast asleep and she knew he would stay in that state for a few hours.

Her hands slipped under his arm and gently placed it off of her, so she could get dressed.

The moon stood high in the sky and she knew that soon enough the sun would rise, taking up the place of the glaring white face.

A soft breeze drew through the night air, seemingly whispering her name. With one last look at Lukas, she closed the barn doors behind her, knowing she would never see this place again. To her surprise, it felt more like a weight was finally lifted from her, binds that were holding her tight to this place finally loosened, until they fell off.

She took her time as she travelled through the dried forest, catching herself multiple times watching out for snow-coloured fur.

But she never found it.

It was better this way, the last thing she needed right now was another mouth to fill, especially a wolf’s mouth.

The forest remained silent, her steps as light as feathers to not disrupt any slumbering dragons.

To her luck, or maybe it was skill, she did not run past a pack of angry wolves or giant bears.

She reached the town fairly quickly, the vessel placed in the center of the court the market usually was built on.

The windows were all closed, shutters drawn over to keep any demons out, or may keep them in.

She walked over to the giant vessel, the small opening allowing a glimpse of all the letters already nestled inside.

She wondered who wrote their names onto those small pieces of parchment, willing to risk their lives for gold.

Maybe someone had an ill aunt they needed to care for, bills that needed to be paid, and mouths to be fed.

She drew out the crumpled note, clutching onto the parchment with dear life. Her gaze flew upwards to her only companion, the moon glaring angrily down at her.

“I may not be worthy of many things,” her voice was a whisper in the night, “but I want you to keep in mind that I am doing this for her and solemnly for her. So please, if there is someone listening, give me some strength. Just this one time.”

She stared at her name, scribbled down on the paper. Stared until the vowels looked funny and the consonants grew dreary. Before she could decide against it, she threw the note inside, sealing her fate in the hands of the royal family.

Without looking back she left the courtyard, the way to the orphanage as quick as a hunt.

Maybe this was her last time climbing up the ivy that grew on the walls of the orphanage, the last time she drew off her boots silently. She eyed her bed for a moment before she turned around, slipped under the duvet, and pulled the small body of her treasure against her.

Lulva stirred slightly.

“You’re cold,” she mumbled.

“I came from outside,” Noora whispered back, instantly calm at the familiar smell.

“Did you visit the pretty boy? How is his wound?”

Noora stiffened, surprised that she remembered Kai.

“No, I went to see Lukas. Sleep now, Freckles, you need it if you want to grow as tall as me.”

“I don’t want to be as tall as you, I want to be taller.”

Noora chuckled quietly, softly brushing through Freckle’s hair.

“Well, then you need even more sleep.” She kissed the girl’s temple.

“Goodnight, kaikua’ana.”

Noora stiffened again as she drew the girl closer.

“Goodnight, little sister.”