15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Aliya

A liya rolled over, groaning. The elven beds, with their cushy moss mattresses, were more comfortable than she expected. She reached above her head, arched her back, and stretched, opening her eyes.

Light streamed through the sheet of vines covering the bedroom window.

Golden sunlight.

The sun was up.

Crap. Invisible steel bands tightened around her chest until it burned. She had an appointment with Lady Cressida at dawn. Way to hammer home her stellar first impression.

Throwing on the tunic and skirt she purchased yesterday at the market, she slipped into her shoes and ran out the door.

Lady Cressida glanced up from where she was eating her breakfast as Aliya sprinted into the clearing.

"I'm so sorry I'm late. I slept in." Aliya rushed up, trying to bring her ragged breathing under control.

The older woman set her fork down, folded her hands in her lap and fixed Aliya with a flat stare. "Yes, I see."

Aliya took a deep breath. "Please forgive me. It won't happen again."

Cressida narrowed her eyes. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

Aliya bit her lower lip, resisting the urge to shift her weight from side to side. Now what? Her stomach growled.

After a few tense heartbeats, the other woman sighed. "Oh, for heaven's sake, child. Sit down and eat some breakfast before you pass out."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Aliya pulled out the other chair. The ever-present citrus the elves favored overflowed the table. Grabbing a dragon fruit, she spooned a mouthful of the tangy pulp into her mouth.

Lady Cressida ate another strawberry. "So, young lady, tell me what you know of your magic."

"My magic?" Aliya swallowed. What kind of question was that? She rested her hand on her chest, below her collarbone. "I feel my power here . But it doesn't respond like spellcraft should. No matter how many times I say the right words, nothing happens." Cressida had warned her no more falsehoods, and lies of omission probably counted, too. "Or it goes rogue and does something else entirely."

"The right words?"

"The incantations. You know…" She waved her hand in a vague gesture. "The ones written in the spell books?"

Cressida threw her head back and burst out laughing.

Wow. Aliya's ribs squeezed tight around a warming sensation in her gut that quickly spread to her face. Even her laugh was refined and graceful.

After three or four breaths, the elf brushed a tear away with her finger. "Who said you needed a spellbook? A human?"

Heat flooded Aliya's face as she studied the ground at her feet. Where was a magically created chasm when she wanted one? "Well, yes."

"Oh." Lady Cressida's expression turned somber. "I suppose that explains why you're so untrained." Her voice dropped, as if speaking to herself. "Idiots. Those who are clueless about a topic shouldn't be teaching it."

Aliya crossed her ankles under the chair and shifted her weight.

Cressida's gaze narrowed in on her. "Child, lesson number one. Magic comes in two varieties: natural and human."

Aliya frowned, quirking one of her eyebrows up.

"Natural magic arises from nature and responds to the mage's desires or intent. When the spellcasting is complete, the power returns to the environment. Human magic is an abomination. Human wizards use enchantments and certain ingredient combinations to excise magic in its pure form, twist and contort it to the desired effect, then the energy is destroyed."

Aliya blinked. "As in, forever?"

Cressida nodded. "The world is fortunate few humans are born who're skilled in sorcery."

"Is that why none of the spells in the grimoire would work for me?"

"You're not one of them," Cressida said as she fixed Aliya with a pointed stare.

Aliya let out a sigh as a weight lifted off her back. "So, mine is the natural type?"

"Does your power generally do what you ask, without any particular words?"

Cressida's voice sounded just a little too patient. Aliya bit back her retort and thought back to her most recent magical attempts. "Yes, though not like I expect or want. It tends to overreact or kind of…" she pantomimed a bomb with her fingers, "explodes."

"Tell me."

"Well, this one time, I snuck down to the kitchen to find some tuna for one of the castle cats, but I ended up spilling hot grease all over the floor..." Her voice drifted off as her throat dried.

"And?" Cressida prompted.

"I used magic to clean up the mess, but it turned the cat's fur purple for a month. This other time, when I was younger and didn't want to go to bed, I wanted to make it so it would be daylight all the time. Every time someone tried to blow out the candles in my room for the next week, they'd throw sparks. My comforter even caught fire."

Cressida nodded. "So, you know the basics. Subtlety I can teach. Finesse, you'll gain with practice. And patience."

Aliya bit her lower lip. "Patience?" This was going to be harder than she expected.

The older elf stood, grabbed the other half of Aliya's dragon fruit and cut it in two before walking to the center of the clearing. Setting one piece down, she came back to the table. Meeting Aliya's gaze, she gestured. "Blow that up with your magic."

She glanced at Cressida. "Are you sure? The last time someone tried to teach me, I destroyed their safe house."

The air turned heavy, popping Aliya's ears. The other woman nodded. "I have shielded us. You will do no harm here."

"Okay…" If she said so… Aliya reached inside and gathered the kernel of light in her core, drawing it out to her fingertips. She flicked her fingers at the target.

A loud boom reverberated through the area, rattling her teeth. A fountain of sparks burst forth much like the fireworks they used to ignite for her father's birthday as a child. They crashed against an invisible cylinder shield a few paces from each side of the target that absorbed the energy from Aliya's spell like a dry sponge. Thirty heartbeats later, as the blaze burned itself out, the smoke cleared.

The mossy carpet sat untouched. No trace remained of the target.

Aliya's jaw dropped. No one had ever been able to contain her power before, much less make it look so easy.

Lady Cressida nodded. "Excellent." She set the second piece of dragon fruit down in the same spot. "Now, do it again, but this time, instead of throwing all your ability at the problem, section out the tiniest thread and direct it to do your bidding. The object is small, the task will only require a tiny amount of magic."

Aliya examined the light inside her. Smaller? She poked at the luminous bit of power with a mental finger, pinching out a miniscule portion. It twinkled at her like one of Elessan's stars. She smiled at the thought before flicking the tendril of energy toward the target.

The last of the fruit vaporized in a purple cloud of smoke. She gagged on the smell of rotten eggs.

"Too much." Cressida snapped her fingers. An orange appeared where the dragon fruit had been. "Again. Use less."

Aliya frowned. "I'm not certain I can."

Lady Cressida crossed her arms, waiting.

Aliya sighed. This was going to be a long day.

Aliya stumbled through the door and collapsed with her back against the nearest wall.

Elessan glanced up from his scroll as he popped a strawberry into his mouth. "Aliya? What's wrong?"

She pulled her knees up and rested her forehead on them. "I am so sore. I've never been so exhausted in my life."

"Lady Cressida put you through a workout, huh?"

"No, not physically," she mumbled. "Magically. But I still ache everywhere."

"Did you learn anything?"

She laughed once, the sound cutting through the room making her wince. "Yes. A bit of magic is much easier to control than a larger amount." Digging deep, she summoned the barest thread of power. Three phosphorescent butterflies danced above her fingers before she released them. She smiled—no pink glitter or unexpected explosions manifested this time.

Elessan nodded. "Excellent." He shifted on the bench, placing both feet on the floor. "Come here."

Aliya stared at the ten paces between them.

So far away… It would be too unladylike to crawl. She frowned. Trying to keep her sigh silent, she braced her hands on the ground and heaved herself onto her feet.

Her legs trembled as she made her way to him. She sat and leaned back against his shins.

"Tilt your head down," he murmured. When she did, he spread his knees. Brushing her tresses over her shoulder, he pushed his thumbs into the tense muscles where her neck met her shoulders, massaging them.

Oh, gods… She groaned in pleasure as every nerve in her body turned its attention to his ministrations. Heat pooled in her core.

She tensed. "Wait, where's Zadé?"

"She left some time ago," Elessan said. His voice was as soothing as the massage. "Something about finding a drink stronger than strawberry wine."

His hands moved to the base of her skull. Her scalp tingled with each stroke. His breath brushed over the fine hairs on her skin. Aliya's fatigue evaporated.

She tilted her head back, urging his fingers to spread deeper into her hair.

"Wow, El…" She sounded breathy. "Don't stop."

He made a noise deep in the back of his throat and shifted his weight. "Aliya."

She cracked her lids open, peeking at him from under her lashes. His heavy-lidded gaze zeroed-in on her mouth. She swallowed.

His breathing deepened.

Shifting carefully to not dislodge his fingers, she turned until she faced him. Bracing a hand on each of his thighs, she pushed herself to her knees, face-to-face with him.

"Aliya," he whispered again, rubbing the back of her head, encouraging her to lean forward.

She did, her eyes focused on his lips. As they parted, she closed her eyes.

He tasted like strawberries. He groaned deep in the back of his throat as her hands slid up his legs and around his waist.

His fingers paused in her hair, tense.

Aliya's stomach hardened as her thoughts skidded to a halt. She'd done something wrong or misread the situation somehow. Her heartbeat thrashed past her ears as the heat he'd stoked in her blood cooled.

His eyes remained shut, and he seemed to be holding back.

She moved her lips against his. "Don't stop, El, please?"

In answer, he pulled her closer, skimming his left hand down to her lower back. Pulling her blouse up so his fingers rested on skin, he caressed her. Her muscles tightened as he worked back and forth, coaxing the small fire inside her to roaring flames.

She pressed herself against him, breathing hard. Her heart hammered in her ribcage. Sliding her arms under his shirt, she dragged her nails lightly up his spine. His skin was so soft.

He arched his back, breaking their kiss with a groan as his head tilted back. With a jerk, he yanked his tunic over his head and dropped it to the floor. A heartbeat later, he was back, kissing the tender region beneath her jaw. He worked his way over to her ear. She shuddered and froze as he kissed the sensitive area behind it.

Her blood chilled. She was married, even if it was involuntary and non-consummated. The penalty for adultery would be death, for both her and Elessan.

"Don't stop, Aliya," he said, his voice deep with something that may have been amusement.

If Malkov caught her, she'd be dead, anyway. He wouldn't bother going through with something as high profile as a trial.

Flinging the king from her mind, she ran her nails over the lean muscles of Elessan's back, as she'd wanted to do ever since the night of the full moon in the clearing several weeks ago. The ridges and valleys rippled and twitched beneath her fingertips.

Elessan sucked hard on her earlobe, running his teeth over it.

Pleasure stabbed straight from her core to where his mouth met her skin. She bucked in his arms and gasped.

His lips moved against her jaw. "You like that?"

She nodded. He did it again. Gods. Her fingers dug into his biceps.

He tugged the neck of her blouse down to expose one shoulder, tracing her collarbone with his tongue. She moaned. Heat bloomed and her skin pulsed in time to her racing heartbeat.

Elessan pulled back, tilting her head forward. She opened her eyes. "Before we go any further, I need to ask. Have you ever done this?"

She bit her bottom lip, still swollen from his kiss. His gaze zeroed in on her mouth for several heartbeats before tearing away to meet her eyes.

"No," she said, "but—" She dragged her nails lightly down his chest, mapping his muscles. His abs twitched as she strayed lower, pausing at the waistline of his pants.

With a groan, he caught both hands, placing them over his heart. He held them until she met his eyes again.

"Are you sure you want to do this? Now, with me?"

She licked her lips and nodded. "Yes, El. More than anything. I've wanted you since…" She swallowed. "Well, the night of the full moon."

He exhaled and gave her a soft smile. "Then come with me." Pulling her to her feet, he led her to the bedroom.

Drawing the curtain across the doorway behind them, he coaxed her to a stop. "Can you light the candle on the nightstand?"

She turned away from him to face the taper. "Sure." Calling the tiniest wisp of magic, Aliya snapped her fingers. A warm flickering glow lit the room.

She took a deep breath as pride burst through her. Perhaps she could learn to control it, after all.

She tried to turn, but he pressed against her, sliding one arm over her abdomen to hold her in place.

"Not yet," he whispered in her ear. His breath tickled the fine hairs on her neck, making her heart skip a beat. "We only go as fast, and as far as you want. Okay?"

Aliya nodded, but she had no intention of stopping him—she wanted it all.

His hand slid under her tunic. His finger traced lazy circles around her belly button.

Leaning her head back against him, she moaned.

"Raise your arms over your head." He gathered the hem of her shirt. Being sure to go slow enough to give her time to object, he swept his hands up her waist, the sides of her ribs, and her arms. Aliya's skin erupted with goosebumps wherever he touched. Her blouse floated to the ground, leaving her upper torso exposed to the afternoon air.

Elessan pulled her hair aside and pressed his lips to her neck. "So beautiful." He brought one finger from each hand, tracing her collarbone down to her cleavage. Her nipples tightened. His fingers drifted downward, caressing the sensitive undersides of her breasts before splaying across her stomach. They came to rest at the waistline of her skirt.

She shifted, spreading her legs a little farther apart and tilted her hips forward, encouraging him to dip below the fabric.

Aliya almost cried out when he pulled away.

"Not yet," he said. "Lay on the bed face-down for me?"

She raised an eyebrow. He couldn't be serious…

He chuckled at whatever he saw on her face. "Do you trust me?"

She frowned but did as he asked. Bracing herself on the soft mossy mattress with her elbows, she gazed back at him from under heavy lids.

He dug in his bag and extracted a jar. "This is liniment oil. Between training and," he paused, "tonight's activities, I suspect you'll be quite sore tomorrow. This should help."

Resting her head on her arms like a pillow, she relaxed as he poured a measure of the rub into his palm. He straddled her. Rubbing his hands together to warm the liquid, he rubbed it over her back.

She groaned and closed her eyes.

"Don't you fall asleep on me," he teased, grazing the lower side of her breasts with his fingernails.

She quivered as her core pulsed with heat. "Trust me, there is zero chance of that happening."

He chuckled. The sound was deep, sensual. "Excellent." His lips nibbled her neck as he caressed her skin, working the ointment in. Goosebumps that had nothing to do with the temperature of the room broke out across her body.

His fingers dipped beneath her waist, exploring the crease where her legs met her hips.

She squirmed and groaned.

His breath tickled her ear as his weight lifted off her. "Roll over, sweetheart."

Finally.

She turned to face him.

Elessan's pupils dilated, his mouth cracked open as his gaze traveled from her toes to the tip of her head. "You are so beautiful."

Heat flooded her face, and she resisted the urge to cover herself. "Look who's talking," she said, watching as the candlelight danced across his face.

She reached up, running her fingers through his silken hair. "So soft," she whispered.

He groaned, lowering his face to hers. His tongue grazed her lips, requesting entrance.

She deepened the kiss. Their tongues sparred back and forth. The smell of pine trees after a rainstorm invaded her senses. By the gods, he was an excellent kisser.

Aliya dropped her hands to pet the skin at his waist, his abs. Lower. She stumbled with the knot to his trousers. Giving up, she slid a hand underneath the waistline of the pants.

He pulled back, out of reach. "Not yet. Unless you want this to end early." He threw her a slow grin. "I'm not quite finished sampling you."

Aliya's entire focus zoomed in on the sensation of his touch as her muscles tightened and back arched.

"El…"

He stared at her, his gaze burrowing into hers, as husky as his voice. "I like it when you call me that."

She blinked, her thoughts foggy. "What?"

He blew, with the same care used to coax the small flame into fire the first night they met. The cool air brought a full-body shiver and fanned the flames in her core.

A thin layer of sweat broke out on her skin, and she groaned. He kissed lower, and lower. Until her world contracted to the brush of his lips and teeth. His fingers untied the string holding up her skirt.

"Don't stop," she breathed.

He peeked at her with a wicked grin. And pulled away with a tsk of his tongue. "I almost forgot…we need more oil." Flipping her hem up, he rubbed some into her ankle, working up one leg, then the other.

Pressure built inside her. She squirmed, trying to find relief. He held her thighs down, relentless in his ministrations.

His thumbs stroked her inner thighs. She threw her head back. "El…"

He paused.

She glanced down at him.

He smiled at her, the same mischievous grin on his face. When he was certain he had her attention, he ducked his head under her skirt.

Her world exploded.

Aliya blinked, groggy. She lay on her side, head resting on Elessan's shoulder, her right hand spread across his chest.

"Good evening." His satisfied tone brought the memories rushing back.

Heat flooded her face. They were still half naked, and her skirt wasn't properly arranged at all.

He shifted, his fingers on one hand running up and down her arm. "How do you feel?"

She took stock of her body. "Amazing. A little sore." And embarrassed.

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his torso. He raised his finger and traced her pointed ear. "You were incredible."

She was? She thought she'd just laid there while he and that wicked oil…

He laughed at the expression on her face. "I've wanted to do that to you for a long time now."

"What? Tormenting me with sex?"

He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Was it so terrible? I recall several moans and being told not to stop." His smile was pure male satisfaction. He ran his fingers down her jaw line, her neck, over her collarbone and drew circles on her bicep in time to his words. "Over, and over."

The embers of the internal fire she'd thought extinguished roared back to life. She gasped. "No, you were unbelievable. I had no idea…" His fingers continued tracing tantalizing patterns on her skin.

Aliya wriggled out of her skirt and flipped up to straddle him.

He blinked and groaned at the sight of her naked.

She caught his wrists before he could reach for her and pinned them over his head. "Those devilish hands can stay up there for the time being." When she was certain he wasn't going to move, she flashed him her own wicked smile. "Now it's my turn to try to make you squirm."

The next morning, Elessan rolled over in bed and stretched, enjoying the rare freedom to be lazy. When on the road, he always arose early—and who wouldn't, when the only option was sleeping on the hard ground?

He took a deep breath and smiled. The room still smelled like Aliya, even though she'd left for her lesson with Lady Cressida almost an hour ago. He wanted to lay here all day replaying last night.

Biting his upper lip, he sighed. He could actually stay here all day. While the moon elves tolerated his presence as a member of Aliya's group and would do so for the length of her apprenticeship, he was far from welcome. No one would care if he wiled the day away in bed—they'd be quite happy not to interact with him at all.

He couldn't linger in Filathas too long, anyway, without risking his mission and drawing the attention of the sun elf king. What would Aliya do when he left? He wouldn't have her cutting her training short to follow him. He couldn't imagine purposefully hurting her by disappearing, though. Nor would his mother stand for his actions, if she ever found out.

Knock, knock.

"Elessan? Elessan Svialto?"

He frowned as a bolt of energy jolted through his muscles, wiping away the events of the morning like an ethereal cobweb.

What was she doing here? Jumping out of bed, he threw on his trousers and stumbled over something on the floor but didn't bother to look to see what it was.

"Tsara?" Elessan crossed the living room in three long steps and drew the ivy strands covering the door aside.

Tsara Enorathil, princess of the sun elves, beamed at him as she sauntered inside. She perched on a bench and grabbed a strawberry from the abandoned tray.

"Imagine my surprise when my best spy goes incommunicado for two weeks, even cutting off our conversation in Westcliff, only to scry me five days ago to say he needs strings pulled so he can enter Filathas. But, of course, he won't tell me why."

"Tsara, I—"

She pointed the half-eaten berry at him. "Save it, Svialto. I haven't told my father about your lack of reports, so he thinks this is just another boring diplomatic meeting. But I can't keep covering for you. What gives?"

A mound of cloth caught her attention. She picked it up, raised an eyebrow, and held his shirt out to him. "I know it's been a long time, but I never thought I'd see the day where you left your things lying about."

Heat flooded his face. At least his skin was dark enough she likely wouldn't notice. He reached for the fabric, but she pulled it out of his reach with an admiring appraisal of his torso.

"Well, um…" He snatched the tunic from her fingers and yanked it over his head. Sitting on the bench on the other side of the fruit tray, he shrugged, selecting a berry of his own.

"Elessan, this isn't like you at all. What's going on?"

"I'm sorry about my lack of reports. Things have been—" he swallowed— "interesting lately."

"Interesting in a ‘I should probably report what's going on to my superiors, like I'm supposed to' kind of way?" She crossed her arms. "We are at war, you know."

Valek. He studied his shoes. "No, nothing like that. This is personal."

"Personal? It's not your mother. She's still living her quiet little life, awaiting word from you."

Ouch. He winced. Yeah, it'd been a while since he'd contacted her.

"There must be a girl," Tsara said, her eyes sparkling.

He flinched again.

"Wait. It is a girl?" The princess laughed. "No way! You?" Her eyes went round as she took in his rumpled shirt and her eyes did another scan of the room. "Oh…" She craned her neck. "Is she still here? Did I interrupt something exciting?"

"Tsara." Thank Abaddon Aliya had left so early. He waved his hand in front of Tsara's face to regain her attention. "Nothing so sensational. Enough about me. Maybe we should go talk elsewhere?" If Tsara realized who he was here with, she'd package Aliya up and deliver her to the sun elf king without a second thought.

The princess gestured toward the door. "Very well. Have you seen the gardens they have here? They're just a five minute walk to the east."

Minutes later, Tsara led him through the flawlessly maintained landscape which even he had to admit was quite stunning. Plots of sand broke up the space between mounds of greenery and flowers. Cultivated waterfalls added a pleasing background noise to drown out the sound of their whispers. Best of all, the area was empty of any who would overhear.

She guided him over to a grass-covered hillock backed by a wall of willows. Sitting down, she crossed her legs and patted the ground in front of her. He joined her, knee-to-knee.

She leaned forward. "So, tell me, what's the situation in the human lands?"

Complicated, in more ways than she'd ever imagine. "Are you heading straight back home once you leave?"

"Yes, but I brought my scrying mirror. Father will receive any info you give me by the end of the day."

This was perfect. Talking to her directly would afford him time to linger here with Aliya. "It's still early in the season," he said, "but the farmers are concerned the devastating fires in the southern region last fall may have burned too hot and damaged the soil. If that's the case, the whole country will be facing a grain shortage come harvest. What food they do produce will be diverted to the army, leaving the people to starve. I'm sure your father can make use of that.

"I also procured a map back at the house detailing recent troop movements and supply lanes. It includes where I think they'll shift everything should the famine hit. I'll give it to you when we get back to my room."

The princess nodded; her intense gaze drilled into his as she filed the information away.

"Speaking of trade routes," Elessan continued, "the human king deeded Taldea Pass into Baron Larimar's estate. Part of the bride price for his marriage."

Her expression turned hungry as she leaned forward. "We heard rumors of some upset with Malkov's wedding. What happened?"

He opened his mouth and closed it. How much could he share without betraying Aliya's confidence? He blinked and shifted his attention to the grass. This newfound loyalty to her complicated things.

"Elessan?" Tsara's voice cut through his thoughts.

Shaking his head, he swallowed. "Sorry, yes. The king's intended was…magically inclined."

Her eyes widened as she sat back. "Ohh…"

He nodded. "She objected to losing her life, so she fled."

The princess crossed her arms. "Well, good for her, though it's a pity you didn't inform us about this before. We may have been able to use it somehow. I'll never understand why the humans don't do something about the monster sitting on their throne."

A spike of indignation flared in his chest. "The Mage Undergound has been spreading false rumors in a misguided attempt to sew chaos in the realm. I had to sort through that mess, and it's taken time. Besides, I don't think their king's proclivities are as well-known among their people as they appear to be with our kind."

"Really?"

"Aliya was surprised."

Tsara's gaze turned predatory. "What?"

He backpedaled, "I mean, I'm sure his bride was. Otherwise, she wouldn't have run, right?"

She put her hands on her hips. "Spill it, Svialto."

Valek. That was well done. Sleep with the girl one day, betray her the next. He sighed, dropping his shoulders. "She's here."

"Here?"

He winced as the exclamation cut through the quiet atmosphere of the gardens.

Tsara flinched and lowered her voice. Leaning forward, she whispered, "The human queen is here? Why?" Her expression relaxed as she jerked her head back. "Cressida's new apprentice."

Elessan nodded. As Lady Brightleaf's student, Aliya at least had a degree of protection from Tsara's ambitions. He hoped. The sun elves wouldn't want to risk a fight with the moon elves on the eve of their victory over the humans. "For what it's worth, I think if she had any control over her magic at the time, she would've killed the king."

But Tsara wasn't paying attention. "If she's here, we can use that. Their queen will make an excellent hostage."

No! He grabbed her shoulder, forcing her gaze back to him. "Or a valuable ally. Lady Cressida agrees."

Tsara shrugged and leaned back, out of his reach. "Perhaps. But Cress isn't royalty. The final decision isn't hers to make." She stood.

He scrambled to his feet. "Wait. Where are you going?"

"I need to scry with my father. My mirror's in my room, you can escort me there. And on the way, we can pick up that supply map you mentioned." She caught his hand, trapping his fingers in hers and swinging it back and forth like they were kids again as they left the garden.