CHAPTER 26
Vita
"I HAVE SOMETHING TO show you," Vita said with a bashful grin.
A cool breeze licked the bare skin of her neck and face as she strolled through the empty park arm in arm with Verian. She'd caught him after his guard shift and asked him to escort her to Parcum Unera, hoping the dark night would provide them with some privacy.
The full moon reflected in the calm pool, reminding her of the moment in the rose garden with Renatus, which seemed so long ago. The babble of fountains echoed as lilac scented the late summer air.
"Oh?" Verian asked as they stopped in front of the temple, brow quirked in amusement.
Massive oak trees surrounded them on all sides, towering over the marble temple standing before them. Four matching pillars carved from single blocks of stone marked the entryway, holding up the frieze and triangular tympanum. The night made it too dim to see the details, but Vita recalled the scenes of Unera in all her heavenly glory, memories from her past spent in Shadowholde.
The Parcum was close to Mariana's old home and was a place she had frequented when she was young. It had been a pleasant escape when she needed time alone.
With a mischievous smirk, she pulled him into the temple, stepping up to the colossal statue of Unera. The light of the moon just barely passed through, but the darkness vanished with a flick of her wrist.
Verian gasped when the flames appeared, his surprise turning to a smile when he saw her deft control. She regaled him with her skills for a minute before extinguishing the flames with a wave.
He clapped, pure delight on his face. "That's wonderful, sweet girl. I've never seen you control your magic like that."
He'd been on the receiving end of one or two of her surges, thankfully nothing too violent.
"I've been practicing," she said with a shy smile.
There was a long silence, an awkward tension filling the space that Vita wasn't used to, as if neither of them knew what to say. She sat down in front of the altar, her back against the cool stone as Verian followed suit. The moon gleamed in through the temple's entrance, bathing them in its otherworldly glow.
"You are enjoying your time at the palace?" he asked, his voice a cracked whisper.
He didn't look at her as he spoke, just gazed out at the glimmering pool beyond the temple walls.
"I am," she said, taking a big gulp of air. She wanted to tell him the truth, was tired of withholding things. They were friends, and friends could trust each other. "I quite enjoy Renatus."
Now his brows furrowed, but it seemed to be concern etching his face and not anger. "Are you… with him ? "
With him? Vita wasn't even sure she could answer that if she wanted to, but she gave him a response. The one she knew he was implying.
"We've been… intimate."
Heat flushed her face as she tried to imagine explaining to him exactly what the High Consul had done to her.
He softened his gaze, unclenching his jaw as he observed her. "Have you had sex with him?"
Here they were speaking candidly about sex again as if it were the weather. Though it was embarrassing, the experience titillated her, sharing her most intimate moments with her closest friend. A dual feeling she'd gotten quite used to as of late.
"No," she answered quietly. "But he's done just about everything else to me."
Verian's eyes widened for a split second before that stoic soldier's stare returned. "He hasn't bitten you?"
If she was flushed before, she was certain she was bright red now. As red as…
"No. He's, uh, consumed my blood. But not by biting me. He cleaned a wound on my hand. And, well…"
She waited for him to comprehend, the moment of understanding clear by the way he flicked his eyes to her lower half. At least he wasn't grimacing, which was the reaction she had expected from the confession of such an act.
"Oh," was all he could manage, sweat beading on his brow. His tongue flicked over his lips as he cleared his throat, trying to find words. "You've enjoyed what you've done with him?"
Vita couldn't help but smile, though heat still burned her cheeks. "I have, yes."
It was tempting to look away, but no, she wanted to understand what he was thinking. If he hated her for what she'd done, Gods, she didn't know how she would cope.
"Well, good." He turned away, as if the glittering pool was the most interesting thing in the world. "As long as you are… happy. "
Happy? A strange thought, but yes, she was, at least in some small way. Confused, certainly, but content all the same. Though Renatus had still been distant, Aurora's conversation had reassured her. She just needed to be patient.
"You're not upset, are you?" She placed a delicate hand on his arm.
Verian tensed at the touch, but turned to meet her gaze once more. "Upset? Sweet girl, I could never be upset with you. You have made your choice, and I will respect that."
The words made her chest clench. Her choice ?
Vita narrowed her eyes. "What choice did I make, Ver?"
"The High Consul, of course." He looked like he wanted to say more, but his lips stayed stubbornly sealed.
"I wasn't aware there were other options."
She was defiant, unable to play the same games with her best friend as she did with Renatus. They'd been dancing around this for long enough and after everything that had happened, she was ready for it all to be out in the open.
No more secrets.
Verian was silent, though his eyes flicked to her lips more than once. Fine. If he would do nothing about it, then she would.
Without warning, Vita wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing their lips together in a quick kiss. She pulled away for a moment, taking in his reaction.
Wide-eyed shock transformed into a knowing smile, and without hesitation, he cupped her cheek and brought her back to him.
The scent of mint enveloped them, his soft lips melting the remaining tension away. His fingers tangled in her hair, his other arm circling her waist and sliding her closer. A sensation of calm washed over her, as if all was right with the world. She was safe, treasured. It was obvious in the way he brushed her hair and gripped her waist, ran his tongue over her tender lips and whimpered into her mouth.
That familiar weightless sensation—the one she also felt around Renatus—was upon her, like she could float right up and touch the glowing moon itself .
When she pulled away again, his brows furrowed in question, chest heaving in and out. Electricity flashed between them as the goddess looked on.
Silently, Vita unlatched his breastplate and spaulders, still dressed in his guard uniform. Her hands shook, the years of anticipation bubbling over in barely contained excitement.
Verian took over, removing his armor and then eyeing her seriously.
"Are you certain this is what you want? I'm not sure there's any going back if we do this." His voice cracked with emotion, with years of longing spread through a lifetime of friendship.
"I do want this, Ver. I want you. I don't just want to be friends anymore." She paused, so many thoughts going through her mind even as the pulse of desire overwhelmed her. "But I… still want to be with him. Renatus. I don't want to make a choice."
A smile pulled at Verian's lips, making her heart flutter once again. "I would never ask that of you. If you are comfortable with… more than one partner, then so am I. I want you to be happy."
Light filled her chest, like she was a star sparkling in the night sky. She grasped his face, kissing him firmly, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, practically pulling her onto his lap.
It was all too perfect. All those times she had wanted to kiss him, coming down to this moment, this perfect moment, the world fading to oblivion. Verian nibbled at her lower lip, gentle at first, then more resolutely as the raw, all-consuming flames burned through them both.
His fingers tangled into her hair, slowly lowering her until her head rested on one of the prayer pillows. She giggled, grasping his tunic and pulling him down on top of her. She couldn't imagine another moment without him, apart from the person she trusted most.
Verian bit his lip as he hiked up her dress, his fingers grazing up the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. He paused at her clit, circling his fingers firmly, a spark of lust shooting through her limbs. With a gasp, she arched her back as he worked her sensitive nerves, pausing his motion only to slide his fingers up and down her slit, her arousal wetting her undergarments.
" Verian ," she breathed, her body relaxing into his touch.
"Yes, sweet girl?" he asked with a devious smile.
"I need you. Now ."
He grinned, unlacing his pants as quickly as his lithe fingers could work.
Where Renatus was ice, Verian was flames, every touch burning her with hedonistic desire. He slid her undergarments off and she could wait no longer, tugging him down to meet her, to envelop her, to encompass her with his boundless presence.
Their lips were one as he entered her, her cunt slick with the want and need of years.
"Oh, Vita ," he murmured into her mouth, letting his cock work its way in, holding still for a few moments as he settled himself fully inside of her. "Gods, you are utter perfection."
Her heart swelled at the words, at the expression of adoration on his face, at the sensation of him filling her. A divine connection, as if the Gods themselves decreed it. At least that was how it felt as Verian began to build up his thrusts, spreading her legs wide so she could take every inch of him.
The fire was building within as he plunged into her over and over again. Their lips parted, and she grasped at his ass, pulling him into her in time with his thrusts.
"Vita, I—," he started, but a moan caught in his throat and his words faded away.
She didn't have time to think about what he'd wanted to say, letting out her own cries as he hit the perfect spot again and again. Their lips tangled and their tongues danced, the temple reverberating with whimpers and moans. His rhythm was hard, fast, growing erratic as tension coiled in her stomach.
Suddenly, he groaned, pushing up without removing himself, his thrusts turning slow and shallow. It was a moment before Vita understood, the warmth of his seed spilling into her, coating her insides with its sticky heat. She let out a deep sigh, mirrored by Verian's a moment later as he pulled out .
"I am so sorry," he muttered, his voice breathless and his eyes wide. "I think I've been building that up for so long that I got a bit overeager."
She barked a laugh. "Ver, don't be sorry. I enjoyed it, truly."
The flames of arousal still flickered through her, though her breath was returning to normal. Not quite the ending she was looking for, but it was worth it for the way he gazed down at her with pure rapture.
When she moved to sit up, he shook his head. "Oh, I'm not done with you, sweet girl."
With narrowed eyes, she laid back down, and in an instant, he was on her. His hot tongue ran across her entrance, still dripping with his own seed, and the arousal burned ever brighter as he plunged two fingers in, curling them in just the right way to send electric tremors through her body.
She let out a surprised moan, loud enough for others to hear if any were in the Parcum's boundaries. Somehow, she enjoyed the idea of someone watching them, of seeing this act of unadulterated adoration. Verian's tongue caressed her clit as he worked her insides, sage eyes glued to her, scrutinizing every reaction.
Each flick of his tongue and curl of his fingers brought her closer to climax, and she wondered exactly how he'd gotten so good at this.
Already near her peak, Vita came apart around him with a final extended groan, writhing against his fingers and tongue.
"I didn't think you could be more beautiful until now. Gods, I've been wanting to see this for so long," he murmured as her core tensed and relaxed, enduring aftershocks as his fingers refused to cease.
"Enough," she finally gasped, overstimulated by the pulsing of pleasure that wouldn't end.
With a laugh, he removed his fingers, taking his time to lick every drop off of them. She had been aware he was no virgin, but this went beyond her expectations. He knew exactly what he was doing as he sucked the sticky wetness off his fingers, his eyes piercing her with an unexpected intensity .
When clean, he grabbed more of the prayer pillows scattered about the temple and made a makeshift bed. He lay beside her and planted a chaste kiss on her lips, the taste of his salty seed still present, mixing with her own sweet musk.
"That is not how I imagined our first time would go," he said sheepishly, though a smile graced his handsome face as he leaned over her.
"You've been imagining it for quite some time, hm?" she asked playfully, eyelids heavy as Verian pulled her close.
"I have. Though the temple to the fertility goddess was not the location I had in mind." He planted another sweet kiss on her forehead. "You're still taking your herbs, yes?"
Now it was Vita's turn to chuckle. "Of course I am."
Though her activities with men had been greatly diminished in the last couple of years, she took them diligently, the thought of caring for a child more disturbing than anything else she could imagine. Even with a man as considerate and sweet as Verian.
The silent temple hummed with tired energy, its two inhabitants letting their eyes close as sleep called to them.
Dawn approached, the temple filled with the pale blue light of morning. Vita startled awake, her entire body aching from a night spent on the hard floor, birdsong echoing off the marble walls.
Morning.
Panic gripped her as she realized she'd been gone all night. Apparently, she really was free to come and go as she pleased, though the thought of no one looking for her made her stomach clench. She shook Verian awake and helped him with the armor that had been shed the night before .
They said a quick goodbye, complete with an innocent kiss, Verian rushing to his post. A bit awkward, but not uncomfortable, and she smiled as she watched him hurry away. The burbling of the fountain filled her ears as she made her way through the park, still save for a few birds flitting about.
The walk back to the palace was peaceful, Shadowholde still waking from its slumber, though her stomach twisted in knots. Why had Renatus not come for her? Not that she particularly wanted him to find her tangled with Verian. Even so, it was not a pleasant feeling.
To be forgotten.
A servant let her in through the heavy front doors and she made her way quietly to her room. Sleep still called to her, a night spent on a marble floor not conducive to rest.
A rumble of laughter stopped her in her tracks, louder than any she'd ever heard as it echoed through the empty hallway. Who the Hells was that?
Curiosity got the better of her and she followed the noise to a parlor, the cozy hearth burning as two figures sat talking on a couch. Aurora and…
An elven man, his shoulder-length brown hair pulled back so only wisps brushed across his face. Strings of bones dangled from his pointed ears, tanned skin accentuating the warm glow of his tawny eyes. He wore a dark jacket lined with fur and a grin that lit up the room.
"There she is," Aurora said with a smile, and the man rose and approached.
"Hello there, Vita," he said, his voice so deep it rumbled through the space.
Even more shocking than the timbre of his voice was his physical presence. He was by far the largest person she'd ever seen, solid arms and legs framing a massive chest. Before Vita could react, the man wrapped his arms around her, physically lifting her into the air in a crushing hug. He laughed as he placed her back on the ground, cupping her cheek with an enormous hand.
"I'm so glad to meet you."