Chapter 6

Vedrac

After my storm had fled in a panic, the guards assumed I'd done something to her and shocked me before shoving me in solitary confinement. They'd been informed pretty quickly that I hadn't done anything wrong and shouldn't be punished. But they left me languishing there for the rest of the day and night anyway. No bed and no food. I'd caught two rats the day before, but after months of deprivation it wasn't enough. Hunger gnawed at me, along with worry for my mate. The pain in her eyes plagued me. Solitary had been meant as a punishment, but I'd found it quiet. It would have been peaceful if not for the thoughts of my storm and how desperately I wanted to make her feel better. I wanted to tear the prison apart to find her and hold her. I'd pushed it too far.

I wanted to respect her need for space, but I couldn't leave things as they were. Tiredness caught up to me and I let it win. I fell quickly and hard into sleep. I slept like I hadn't in years. Safe and secure in this box. I hadn't realized how tired I was until I had the chance to rest properly. Dreams of her pain tormented me. I took control of my dreams and let myself search for her energy.

I felt her quickly and let myself float towards the storm. She'd run away from me, so I held back. I had to let her invite me in this time. The storm raged. It was angry now. Tumultuous. The parasite taking control. The storm noticed me. My love must have been asleep too, her consciousness untethered. I whispered across the distance between us.

"Let me help you."

The parasite growled. It was vicious, but it was born of love. Love for others and herself. I could see now it was like an overzealous guard dog. Heather walked out of the center of the storm towards me.

"What is this?"

"It's a dream, love."

"Just a dream?"

"It's real too. But in a dream."

She reached out towards me, emboldened that this wasn't the normal day-to-day wakefulness that she understood. The parasite growled again. Heather froze.

"He has power, love. But that doesn't mean he is right."

"I don't know how to stop feeding him."

"Come to me."

Heather stepped forward again. The parasite tried to lurch at me, snapping with dark, dripping jaws. I held out a hand, and it grabbed on. Heather gasped.

"No, no!"

"It's okay. Let me help you."

She nodded. I let the anxious, fearful energy dig in deep. Then I began to drink it up. The energy flowed into me. There was so much of it. It was beautiful. Even twisted with fear Heather was delicious. I drank until I felt the energy start to weaken and change. A taste of lemons and cinnamon. A taste that was all Heather. It was hard, but I stopped and pulled back from the parasite.

"Oh."

I looked back at Heather. She seemed shocked.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. Yes, I think I am."

We both glanced at the parasite, which had now turned to a swirl of lavender energy, drifting to join the rest.

"Is it gone for good?"

"No, love. But for now its power is more in balance with everything else."

"Do you have it now? The anxiety?"

"Yes. But it doesn't feel like that to me. It comes from a place of caring deeply, and that is what I have broken it down into."

I looked at my storm, her face relaxed and smiling. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Before I could say another word, she reached up and pulled me down into a passionate kiss. As her lips touched mine, I felt aflame. For the first time in a century I wasn't cold. I was almost alive, and I wanted to envelop her. Her tongue pushed gently into my mouth and we kissed deeply, letting the longing build. Our bodies pressed together like they had been molded for each other. She pulled away and looked deep into my eyes.

"Your tongue isn't quite… human?"

"No. Part of the ritual involved a snake, and so I took on some of those attributes. Do you dislike it?"

"No. I like it. I want it all over me. Let's make this a dream to remember."

I laughed at her boldness. It had gotten so suffocated beneath her anxiety. My cock was already hard at her words.

"Remember, this is also real."

"Gods, I hope so."

She tugged at my robe and I let her pull it off me. She took a moment to look me up and down before grinning. My cock twitched, and I reciprocated by helping her out of her lemon dress. She was a vision. Long red hair cascaded over pale skin. She stood so confidently in front of me, letting me admire her perfect curves. Round breasts pulled my gaze in, and I grazed a finger over them and was rewarded with a gasp. I wanted to do this right. To make our union a slow, glorious thing. But I was overwhelmed. I hadn't felt arousal in such a long time. It was so strong I thought I might lose control.

Her hand drifted down my body and a shiver ran up my spine. A single finger traced a path down the raised scales dotted around my cock.

"They are so smooth."

I had no words. I reached around the back of her neck and pulled her close to me again. Our lips attacked each other and our bodies pressed together. I reached around her and held her so tight I was worried I might hurt her and pulled away again.

"I need you, Heather. Gods, I need you and I'm not sure I can stay in control of myself."

"Then don't."

I growled and dropped to my knees. It wasn't the right time and stopping now was going to be one of the hardest things I'd ever done.

"My love. You still think this is just a dream, don't you?"

"It is."

I sighed.

"When you are awake we will do this for real. I don't want there to be any questions hanging over you about whether you really wanted this."

"I do want this, Vedrac."

My nose was full of her smell. I wanted to taste her so badly. I leaned forward and flicked out my long, forked tongue. I dragged it along her opening. She tasted of need and honey. She moaned and bucked into my face, but I moved away.

"When you are awake, if you still want me. Then I will finish that."

She pouted down at me. It was the hardest thing I had ever done, but I let my consciousness drift away, back into the small gray room I lay in. My cock was rock solid and screaming for attention. I grabbed it and furiously began pumping it with my hand. I let my mind drift and imagined my storm riding me, moaning my name. I wondered if she was touching herself and thinking of me.