“I can’t,” she said.
“We have only this night,” he said, his cock rocking her.
She was ashamed for liking what he was doing to her. She more than liked it. She wanted more.
“Xavier,” she said.
“Again,” he said, escalating his movements.
“Oh Xavier, I’ve never felt such intense pleasure.” He was ripping into her, causing her to have multiple orgasms.
He finally pulled out of her and released his fluid on her stomach. She took in a long breath.
“If you want, I can sleep in another room,” he said, retracting his wings.
“Please stay with me. I don’t want to be alone,” she said, feeling the oncoming of tears. She didn’t think she could ever face Eldrich again.
Xavier lied next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“I’ll stay with you all night.”
She closed her eyes and let sleep take her.
Morning came and Lela sat at the table, sipping broth. Zel and Xavier stood on the other side of the table staring at her.
“You can have more,” Zel said with a smile.
“Yes, yes, we have plenty,” Xavier said.
For goodness sake, the situation couldn’t have been more uncomfortable. No matter, Zel was alive and free to live her life with Xavier outside of this dreadful tower.
“We’re eternally grateful. If you ever need anything from us, we’ll be there,” Zel said.
What Lela needed was to go home to Eldrich.
“I wish you nothing but joy,” Lela said. And she meant it.
Zel kissed Xavier on the cheek, her eyes sparkling.
“Are you ready to go?” Xavier asked Lela.
“No, but I will go just the same.”
“You will have the day to gather your thoughts,” Zel said. “And when the sun goes down, you and Eldrich will be together and all will be well, I’m sure of it.”
“I hope so.” Lela knew that all would not be well between her and Eldrich and that she had probably lost him forever.
Zel went to the window and flung open the shutters. “Oh, it’s a glorious day. The air smells wonderful!”
“May I pick you up?” Xavier asked.
“Go ahead,” Lela said, standing.
He scooped her up and walked to the window.
“I shall return to you soon,” he said to Zel.
Zel clapped and grinned as if she was a little girl having just been given a doll.
Lela was jealous of Xavier and Zel. They were in love and free.
In the next second, Xavier went out the window with her in his arms. Down they fell.
“We’ll die,” she yelled.
“Hold on tight,” he said.
Down, down they continued to fall.
And just when she thought they would surely hit the ground, he spread his wings and flew high into the air.
“Did you mean to scare me?” she asked.
“Maybe a little,” he said.
“You’re a funny, funny man.”
“I may never see you again. I wanted to give you one more thrill.” He winked.
She flushed and said nothing more.
Moments later, they were back in Barmoth. She looked down at the familiar forest and could see the riverbank on which she had first met Xavier.
“Leave me in the place we met,” she said.
He nodded and descended.
Once they were standing on the ground, he took her hand and placed it on the cross on his chest.
“I’m not ashamed of it,” he said.
“What will you and Zel do now?” she asked.
“I’m going to marry her. She will become the princess of the Kingdom of the Lost. And I will love her for all eternity.”
His words crushed her. Not because she wished he meant them for her but because her thoughts were on Eldrich.
“He will forgive you,” he said, kissing her hand.
Tears streamed down her face. “I don’t think he will.”
“Have faith in your love.”
“Thank you for bringing me home.”
“Thank you for saving her…for helping me,” he said.
“Goodbye,” she said.
“Until we meet again,” he said and took flight.
Lela closed the door behind her and slid to the floor. She wanted to find Eldrich’s resting place and wake him even if it meant risking her life. She wanted to hug him, kiss him, and tell him she loved him and that she needed his forgiveness.
If he refused her, she’d go back to her father with a shattered heart. There were so many things she didn’t know about the world and despite what she had learned in the past few weeks, she felt like an infant learning how to walk. No matter, she knew she loved Eldrich with all her soul. And she couldn’t stand the thought of him rejecting her.
She lit a few sconces around the house and then sat down on the steps. The sun set and she remained on the steps, her throat threatening to close, sweat trickling down her upper back.
“What are you doing here?” Eldrich asked.
Lela looked at him and started immediately crying. “Forgive me.”
“You shouldn’t have come here,” he said, his eyes cold and empty.
“Do you still love me?” she asked.
He turned her from her.
“If you tell me you no longer love me, I will leave and never bother you again.”
The seconds passed. Please tell me you love me. Hate me for what I did. But tell me you love me.
“Do you know how painful it was to know you were with him…letting him touch you, kiss you, my heart is broken.”
“Zel was going to die if I didn’t lie with him,” Lela said, putting her hand on his back. “Imagine how you’d feel if I died.”
He stepped forward. “You should have let her die!”
“You can’t mean that.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Eldrich, please, I love you.”
“Answer me. You owe me the truth.”
“I thought of you.”
“I hunted last night,” he said, facing her. “I killed last night.”
“I don’t want to hear this.”
“And do you think I care what you want? I no longer care about you.”
“I’ll leave,” she said, making for the door.
He grabbed her hand and brought her close to him. “I still love you. Damn my soul, I love you.”
