Chapter Six: Eva

After the picnic, Eva expected to meet Nathan again pretty soon, still exultant from the feelings that had arisen, except time was not on their side.

First of all, Nathan was called into the fae realm again to establish another connection. Then Eva needed to concoct a complicated potion that took her about eight tries to get perfect, meaning she was locked in the tower for almost two days straight. Neither the professors nor Morgryn wanted her to leave the tower, so they also needed an excuse as to why she was missing her lessons. At least she was allowed back into her dorm room to sleep.

Then, of course, there was yet another mission or two, or three, for Nathan. From what Eva understood, navigating the Unseelie Court and its capricious members was a complex task – but each person they collected led them to their own connections, slowly spreading the word that Morgryn had been freed and wanted to return things to normal, which inevitably meant that sooner or later, the people they didn't want to find out about this, would.

Morgryn certainly seemed to think so. "It's expected that despite my current allies' efforts to remain discreet, there will be traitors in their circles, and we should assume that a movement is in effect to try and denounce my words, though they'll have a hard time, considering not that many supported my absence. But there's not much to be done if they ambush you in the night and hold you for ransom."

"And your fellow Unseelie would rather see you imprisoned than killed?" Eva asked. "That's almost charitable of them."

Morgryn displayed a twisted smile at Eva's words. She examined her latest potion, a Potion of Flaying, moderately concerned about it. It seemed Morgryn had started her with easy recipes and then required more questionable ones.

"They didn't do it out of love for me. They saw I was the only one who'd be able and willing to put things right again. The others just tend to follow. There aren't many who wish to lead."

She glanced at the purple fae, still not completely at ease in his presence. She also didn't much like the fact that the fae's missions ensured that Nathan remained firmly out of reach.

She really, really wanted to follow things up with him. Only that didn't seem like it would be happening anytime soon. Stupid fae realm, and its stupid Unseelie Court.

As she mixed a potion once more in Morgryn's study, she got to witness a meeting between Morgryn and some recently recruited Unseelie fae known as Renath, who seemed to be an expert in the intrigues of the court.

"The cat's out of the bag now," Renath, a dark-skinned, white-haired waif of a creature, informed Morgryn. Renath had one of those reedy, thin voices that grated on Eva's nerves. "Aelund has already gone to inspect your prison when he heard nothing from the Guardian he'd left there. They know you've escaped. They also know what you'd try to do if you escaped. So, right now, Aelund is consolidating the people he trusts and ousting those whom he feels are more likely to align with you."

"Give me a rundown," Morgryn ordered, and Eva stepped back from her hissing potion, waving her hand against the acrid smoke it produced.

"Uh…" Renath said, slightly bothered by the fumes. "Your master potioneer, I presume?"

"She's made some perfect concoctions," Morgryn purred. "She was behind the Flay Potion."

"Oh…" He now examined Eva with more interest. "Perhaps I'll borrow her some time."

"A rundown of the alliances, if you please," Morgryn demanded. "How much support do you think Aelund can muster?"

At this, Renath made a sour face. "Honestly, it's not looking good for him. Most of the old guard are anxious to see the damage being done to the realm, aside from a few bootlickers who prefer just to curry favor with whoever is wearing the Unseelie crown. Some of the youth who supported him last time have turned against him, but the rest are still going through a rebellious phase because of the riches they're accumulating from the deals."

Morgryn sighed. "I almost admire their gumption. Six hundred years ago, we'd have welcomed them with open arms."

"Times change," Renath said wryly. "The world is not the same as it was then. It's more sensitive to the magic we use these days. Already, the entire Maradian Swamp has merged into the human world. It killed most of the fae who were living there."

Eva listened with interest as they continued to lament about different places that were being affected by the wayward magic to the point where she mismeasured the amount of magic she put into the tincture she was making. It hissed ominously before turning a deep black, which was not supposed to happen.

"Crap," she cursed.

The ancient fae beings looked at her. Morgryn examined the failed potion. "Hmm… this does not look like a Potion of Screaming Nightmares," he said, scooping some of the mixture into a vial. "However, this doesn't appear to be a complete failure either. You've made something new, clever girl." He sniffed it. His eyes widened, and he sealed the vial with a cork. "Be careful with this one. Try not to smash it," he said, handing it to her.

"Do you want me to clear out the cauldron?"

"Hmm… let's collect the rest of it. There's enough for four vials here."

Obediently, she filled four vials with the potion before asking, "So what exactly did I create?"

"I believe you created something highly infectious and corrosive," he replied. "Maybe even viral. Either way, it may be quite a powerful weapon. I recommend not drinking it but potentially splashing it over someone or something you're not particularly fond of."

Damn. The black potion seemed as viscous as tar when she swirled it in the vial. At that point, Morgryn rummaged through the tower and brought a belt to Eva.

"Here. These pockets can hold vials. A good potioneer should wear something like this. It's subtly enchanted," he said, grinning. "It has a perception filter so that people will not notice you're wearing it. It's durable also." He gave her the belt, and Renath let out a little gasp.

"Isn't that Master Borgonoth's belt?"

"Indeed it is," Morgryn said. "It seems we have found someone suitable to continue his legacy."

"But… she's human," Renath hissed, but Morgryn simply smiled.

"He told me to pass it on to the one I believed would be worthy of it. He didn't specify whether it had to be Unseelie or human."

Renath shook his head. "As long as he doesn't come crawling out of the grave to smite you."

They continued their discussion, and Eva decided she was done with potion-making for the day. She slid two vials of this new potion into the belt, enjoying the sturdy leather design. (Was it leather? It might be the tanned hide of some weird fae creature.) She left the fae to their own devices but went to check with Z'Hana as to whether the belt was what Morgryn claimed it to be.

It seemed to be, thank goodness. Still, one couldn't be too careful when it came to the fae.

With no lessons remaining, all that was left for Eva was a quick catch-up with her brother before retreating into her room and sending messages Harriet's way.

Harriet: You've been missing your lessons way too much… girl, we have to meet up soon

Eva: I'm popular, it seems. And I'm being paid to skip classes. Win-win, I'd say.

Harriet: How's it going with my cousin? Is he being an asshole to you yet?

Eva: He's a busy asshole. They keep sending him on random missions in the fae realm.

Harriet: Isn't that really dangerous?

Eva: Yep, but they're making him use his charm to recruit people. It's all pretty boring. I thought there'd be more drama and intrigue.

She finished up messaging with Harriet and let out a small sigh, glancing at the near-empty vial of Animal Sense potion. She needed to whip up another batch soon. Hopefully, Professor Valgrur would give her permission to do that.

With nothing better to do, she studied, and then, out of curiosity, she took out one of the vials of the black potion she'd made earlier. She found a slightly wilted apple and put it in a bowl. Hopefully, pouring a single drop of potion wouldn't explode. She raised the vial over the apple and carefully poured a drop on it.

Immediately, the apple began to hiss and shrivel, turning gray and spreading to the bowl, which started to corrode.

"Shit!" She hastily grabbed the bowl and placed it in her mini cauldron, then rushed to the potion room, where they had proper drainage for dangerous substances. By the time she made it there, the apple had melted into the bowl, which had melted into the cauldron, which, thankfully, did not appear to suffer any corrosion.

The classroom was empty, and Professor Valgrur was nowhere to be seen as Eva went to dispose of the substance in the enchanted basin. Considering some of the accidents that happened in class, the basin was probably the best investment the academy had made.

Luckily, she had a spare bowl but no spare apple. Returning to the dorm room, she paused upon seeing a note taped to the front door.

To Eva.

She didn't recognize the handwriting, but out of curiosity, she pulled it off the door before entering her room.

With the door closed and the cauldron back in its corner, she tore open the envelope to find a card with a cheery-looking gray bear on the cover and a short but sweet message inside.

Heya. It's been a while since we saw each other. I promised you another date. If you remember how to reach the south dormitories, go to the door with the rose stuck on the front. Any time you want, but the sooner, the better.

Nathan.

Her heart leaped with excitement. Finally. It took him long enough!

Eva: I got your message.

She figured she'd give him fair warning. She appreciated that he wanted to take things slow, but a part of her pictured turning up at his door, then charging at him when he cracked it open only to have them tumble together into bed amid a glorious mess of kisses and touching.

A wicked idea came to her then, and she tucked the last dregs of the Animal Sense potion into her fancy new belt. By late in the afternoon, most students had filtered out to the dining hall or gone out to the grounds or surrounding villages. She, in the meantime, was heading out to hopefully have some fun and adventure at Nathan's place.

The blue rose-studded door contrasted with the other uniform doors, and she knocked nervously.

Nathan opened the door, beaming upon seeing Eva. He gestured dramatically for her to enter. "Come in."

Once inside, Eva gasped. "What?"

Nathan had spruced up the single room, making it look far more homey. On the desk where a student might usually have a laptop, he had a box of chocolates and some flowers in a vase. There were snacks artfully arranged throughout, and he'd rearranged the chairs and covered them with sheets, making a blanket fort of sorts so that they might sit underneath and watch a movie on his laptop. He also had a bottle of wine.

"Oh!" she said, impressed. "You've put some effort in here."

"Only the best for you," he said with a grin. "I didn't have as much time as I wanted to arrange more… you deserve a proper date, after all. But I hope this is suitably romantic."

"Oh, it is," she assured him, beaming at the flowers and the blanket fort. He invited her into it, and she made herself comfortable with the pillows and cushions he'd placed in there. Nathan offered her a chocolate and a glass of wine, which she gracefully accepted, and after she took off her belt and shoes, they settled into the space. He'd made it quite roomy, but because he was so big, he had to make sure he didn't pull anything down while setting up the laptop.

"For today's entertainment," he declared, "we have some great options: romance, comedy, horror… or something neither of us have watched but have always wanted to."

"Maybe… something light? I think I've had enough drama for now."

They settled on some cutesy animated film about witches and a werewolf pack banding together to save the world. Honestly, she didn't pay much attention to the movie when it was running, instead letting her attention drift to Nathan as she sipped her wine or chewed a piece of chocolate.

Though they were in the blanket fort, he'd gone to great lengths to give her enough personal space, but she didn't want that space. She wanted to be closer to Nathan. She wanted to continue what had begun at the picnic but didn't know how to broach it without sounding ridiculously horny, which she was, but still.

She liked his green eyes, his beautiful soft smile, and how his strong shoulders melded perfectly into his arms and triceps. He definitely seemed like the kind of man who could protect her, and it stirred something primal within her.

The movie kept playing; the werewolves were doing their thing during the full moon, and she offered a chocolate to Nathan, smiling flirtatiously. "I can't eat all of these myself. I need someone to share them with…"

He took the candy with his teeth, and she felt the whisper of his lips on her fingers. His eyes twinkled mischievously as he chewed and swallowed before offering her a piece in return. She… may have been a little less subtle in the way she took it, making sure her lips brushed his fingers, keeping eye contact the whole time.

He raised one eyebrow in a silent question, and she decided to move her wine glass out of the way. He did the same. The movie kept playing, but the air crackled between them like a mini storm that had been brewing for weeks.

"I really did intend for this to just be a lovely movie night," he said, his voice low and husky. "But if you keep staring at me like that, I might just have to change my plans."

"I want you to change those plans," she finally managed, feeling bold. "I've waited long enough."

"Hm." He took his sweet time closing the distance between them, ignoring the howling in the movie. He took her cheek in his hand, delicate and smooth, and leaned in to kiss her. Her anticipation and excitement overtook her, and she greedily reached for him. He chuckled against her lips. "My, my, you are impatient."

She grunted in return, hurling herself onto him and pulling him down with her, thirsting for that complete body contact. He had one leg wedged between her thighs, and he supported himself with both arms, lifting her off the ground with the sheer strength of his body. She clung to him, delighted by his strength, before he lowered those arms and ground fiercely against her, sending a shockwave of pleasure through her. The entire area between her legs felt like it was on fire, and it sent zaps of arousal with every press of his leg.

She feared he might want to stop, but she didn't. She'd waited long enough. She'd had nothing but her own thoughts and vague, longing phone messages for company. His lips crashed into hers, their bodies pressed close, and things grew heated, too heated for clothes.

They'd managed to keep the fort intact up till then, but it wouldn't last much longer. She tugged at his shirt, offended that it covered his gorgeous body, but he stopped her as she'd feared.

"Eva… if we keep going, you know what will happen. We can still take our time –"

"To hell with that," she snarled in response, tugging even more viciously at his shirt. "You think you can leave me feeling like that at the picnic and then not want to feel it again? Oh no. I'm done waiting."

His green eyes went dark, the pupils fully blown. "I see," he said and, without further ado, allowed her to take the shirt off. He started to remove her clothes as well.

"Then you won't mind if I take your shirt off. I want to see you."

She purred, stretching out to let him wrest off her garments until she was down to just her bra and underwear. He wasted no time removing his pants. Both of them were stripped down, and the bulge in his boxers made her very much want to see what he was packing down there. It looked… sizeable.

He noticed where her attention had drifted, and he grinned wickedly. She fought half-heartedly against him as he pushed her down, only to slather her with kisses and press his lips against the pulse point in her neck, with one hand going to her breast. In a tangle of limbs and a hazy desire for kisses, she wrapped her legs around him to feel his hardness against her pelvis.

"Damn, girl," he murmured against her lips. "You're not shy about what you want, are you?"

"And you're taking your sweet time," she growled in response, grinning. A little playful fighting ensued just because she wanted to be overpowered, to feel his strength. He did as obliged, pinning her down, wresting off her underwear in a fine sweep, before tugging down his and almost finishing the deed, except, instead, he rested on top of her and ground himself against her in a teasing motion.

She moaned, her cheeks flushed and the rest of her body flushing as well from the intimacy. The moan turned into one of frustration when he pulled away, half leaving the fort and tugging a part of the carefully constructed support away as he reached for something. That something turned out to be a condom box, one of which he removed and took his time to place on, allowing her to admire his physique. The condom now coating his length seemed well-filled. Then he smashed against her, eyes flashing in mad desire, unleashing a growl like the bear he could transform into.

Her senses lit up like wildfire when he finally entered her, and though a part of her really wished she'd taken the Animal Sense potion, the other part was deeply satisfied that this one was only them with their natural emotions, well, perhaps, aside from a pleasant buzz from the wine, but nothing like what she used to do in her blackout drunk nights. Both of them were very much here and present, focusing on one another, fighting to drive one another to ecstasy.

Pieces of memories returned, but she soon realized she didn't need them because this would be enough to fuel her for months.

The blanket fort collapsed in a final, fluffy whimper, and they rolled and tangled in the duvets and pillows before emerging hot and sweaty for a bit of cooler air, neither willing to let the other one go. She clung to him and encouraged every thrust with gasps and moans, bracing herself to feel each one deeper, excited by the growing, roiling sensation that brewed within. She chased that sensation, her voice, like a conductor, letting him know when he fell short and when he got her just right. Sometimes, it was clumsy; sometimes, they giggled for no reason, and sometimes, things were so unbelievably hot that her mind had trouble processing it all.

With the friction of the sheets and his body, that roiling sensation grew to a bursting point before it rippled out through her body, slamming against every nerve and flooding her brain in sheer bliss. He followed shortly afterward with one last hard thrust before slowing, then stopping, and drinking in the climax with her. Neither wanted to move for some time. When they did, it was with a renewed sense of intimacy, wanting to be close, to touch, to grin and giggle.

They both went to clean themselves up, respectful and quiet about it, before eyes glittering in anticipation, he offered her another glass of wine. "We still have a whole evening to go, Eva. And I very much look forward to spending all of it with you."