“You’re…we -” Gin whispered breathlessly as he showered her neck with kisses. Goosebumps swarmed over her skin as he nibbled at her ear.
“Yes, we can,” he whispered, sending a delicious shudder down her spine. “Your goddess has given us an amazing gift.” Overcome, Sath held her, crushing her against his chest and reveling in the way that their bodies fit together. She seemed enormous to him now—perfect. Her hands, he discovered, were the same size as his as he stretched out her arm and took her hand in his.
“Sath?” she whispered.
“Yes?”
“I don’t…I mean…I’ve never…” Gin bit her lip.
Sath pulled away from her suddenly. “You’ve never been with a male?” he said, his teal eyes wide.
“No.” Gin’s face flushed as she looked down at her feet. Sath gently tilted her face back up until her eyes met his.
“You never…I just assumed that you and Taeben…”
“No.” Gin cut him off before he could finish the sentence. “At least not that I remember. He took a lot of liberties with me, Sath, but as far as I know, not that one.” She turned her back to him, rubbing the back of her neck before he saw her eyes fill with tears of shame. “You assumed that, and yet you want me anyway?”
“Gin, of course I do,” Sath said, exhaling with relief. “You want me, though you know that I have been with Anni.”
“Aye, and I suppose that is why Mother made the potion for you and not me,” she said quietly. “She knew that I would worry about how I compared to her if she had made me Qatu.” Sath gazed at her, still amazed that he didn’t have to lift her to look her in the eye.
“Of course she didn’t,” Sath said. “I think she made me a wood elf to make sure I did not hurt you when—I mean if we—because she knew that was the one race on Orana that you don’t fear.” He stroked her cheek as he stared in wonder. “There are no barriers between us now, Gin.”
She glanced around them. “I don’t think we should go to La’al Drygyr just yet, Sath,” she said. “If there is another inn on this road—a real one this time, not a trap—and it is safe for us to stay there, then -”
Sath didn’t wait for her to finish her sentence. He looked ahead of them on the path and thought that he spotted a building; just before he dashed off in that direction, he grabbed her hand. Gin followed him, anxiety creeping up into her chest as she ran. The building soon came into view, gleaming against the wilderness. The polished wood shined in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the tree canopy. She let go of his hand looked with amazement at the sign hanging above the door—the words above the entrance were written in Eldyr, but there was a leaf etched into the door. It was a safe house for those from the Great Forest, left from the Forest War. Had they come all the way here to hide? “Gin?”
“Sath, I -” she whispered. “I mean I want to but—we are Guardians, and have been given a task that will ensure peace here and at home. That duty is sacred -”
Sath returned to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to him. His lips brushed her ear. “We are also sacred, Gin. This. . .change, my body, is Sephine’s work, Gin. Is there anything more sacred to you than her will and her work?” Gin shook her head as she walked to the building. She traced the lines that made up the leaf on the wooden boards with her fingers. Sath joined her, careful not to touch her. “Gin, I don’t want to do anything to…I mean…” He reached up and moved her hair off the back of her neck and planted a soft kiss there. She turned toward him quickly and responded with a deep kiss. Sath wrapped himself around her, his need answering hers. This time her soft lips traced their way down the side of his neck. “Gin…dear spirits…are you sure?” Gin murmured affirmatively and continued tracing a path down to his collarbone with her lips. He gathered her up, staggering a bit at the weight of her in his new arms. Gin giggled at him.
“I can walk, you know,” she whispered, and then leaped out of his arms. They peeked in the building to find that it was an open structure, mainly used for storage, but it had makeshift living space in one of the corners. A wooden bed stood to the left, and in the back was a hearth and a tattered looking rug. There was no sign that anyone had been there for a long time. She grabbed his hand and pulled him through the door, slamming it behind them. “Now then, Sath, I love you, you know that. And though I will admit that this new outfit of yours is—more convenient, I want you to know that I love YOU, not what you are on the outside, all right? You are my best friend and you are my protector, and I trust you with my life, I really do. Now I trust you with my heart and soul and—the rest of me, as well.” Sath held his breath a moment before he spoke.
“I will not let you down,” Sath whispered as he pulled her to him. He gently pushed her against the wall and ran his hands over her body, amazed at how her skin felt. Gin sighed softly, and Sath looked at her, worry written all over his face. “This is wrong, this is the Qatu way. Oh—I don’t think I know how to do this in this body. I mean…” He grumbled as he turned her back around to face him.
“Over there,” she said as she crossed the room and sat down on the bed.
