Earth's Touch (Her Elementals Book 1), page 5
If Flint insisted on watching, I’d give him something to think about, and then, if I felt brave enough, I’d ask him about establishing a special arrangement between us, one that left us both satisfied.
Stabbing the sword into the ground, I sort of faced him and began to unbutton the loose fighting shirt I only wore for training. I fingered the buttons slowly and deliberately, taking my time to unhook each button. My hand slid up my bare shoulder and pushed the material from my back, leaving me in only a tight, cropped bodice that pushed my breasts up so high they looked like they might spill from the tight material.
I loosened my leather pants and shimmied my way out of them, bending over just right to give Flint a clear view of my ass as I detached each leg. All that covered me now were snug-fitted black underwear and my bodice. Should I be caught dressed like this, I’d be scolded greatly, but it would be a rare occurrence for anyone to come to check on me. They all knew this was my private time for meditating, training, or whatever, which Flint clearly ignored.
The feeling in the air from Flint’s direction changed from rage to primal lust. How I knew this was beyond me, but his emotions were so strong they permeated the very oxygen I breathed. I licked my lips to taste them and moaned a little.
I picked up my sword again, lowered back into my offensive position, then began my solo training as Saul had taught me. I swung the sword above my head, stepped forward two steps, jabbed, then retreated with the sword stabbing behind me.
It was more like a dance than any kind of combat training. I danced across the meadow, my arms synchronized with my feet, while the sword became an extension of my body. I sliced through the air, twisting and turning, rising and falling. Cool air whispered past me, and darkness kissed my bare skin. I became entranced with my movements, as I often did, and the world and all those in it faded away. It was only me and the earth.
I loved these rare moments because it's when I felt most connected with the shifter magic within me. It roared awake and spoke of ancient things in a language I didn’t understand. Accompanied by those foreign words, four symbols would often flash through my mind, but I never recognized them. One day I would, and when that time came, I truly believed the world would change.
I chuckled to myself at these fanciful thoughts as if I could have such an impact, but they were fun to entertain nevertheless.
My sword clashed with something hard, snapping me back to reality. I gasped for air and waited for my vision to focus. Flint came into view. He no longer wore a shirt, exposing a muscular chest much bigger and broader than Drew’s.
He stepped back, taking his sword with him. “You looked like you could use someone to train with.”
“Did I?” I glanced down at my nearly nude body. “Wearing this?”
He kept his intense blue eyes on mine. “I hadn’t noticed. Did you change?”
I huffed and averted my gaze to look anywhere but at him. “I like to be alone when I train here.”
“Is that because you feel you’re not as strong as others and need to practice more? Because if that’s the case, I can help you get better.”
Heated anger fueled the flames already burning within me. “I do it alone because no one can match me.”
A smile teased the corners of his full, delicious mouth. “Care to prove it?”
I lifted my chin and prepared to give him a lecture about who I was, a fact he seemed to have forgotten. I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone. “I am Princess Avani, daughter to King Ferlyn, ruler of—”
Flint spun around with his sword held high and sliced it toward me. I just barely lifted mine to stop its motion before it cut me in half.
“Less talking,” he growled, then circled his sword around mine and jerked upward. The weapon came loose from my hands and flew to the side.
I gasped in surprise but didn’t have time to scold him before he swung at me again. What the hell? I dove to the ground in a summersault toward my sword and came back to my feet with it firmly in my hands. A firestorm erupted inside me. I’d teach him a lesson for trying to silence me.
He lifted his sword with both hands, legs spread wide, and grinned. “That’s more like it.”
I bolted toward him as if I’d attack him from the front, but at the last second, I spun and sidestepped to swing the blade at his back. He easily blocked it, moving faster than humanly possible.
“How did you do that?” I asked.
“Years of practice. I have many skills I’ve perfected.” He licked his lips.
“Is that so?” I swung my blade with half-strength.
He easily met it.
And so began our dance across the grassy meadow. At first, I could easily match his moves, but then he winked at me and picked up his pace. I staggered back, fighting more defensively now. One wrong move and his blade would cut into my skin. Frustration took over, and my movements became sloppy until I was just randomly swishing my sword through the air to keep him from hitting me.
“Stop being careless,” he growled.
“I’m not trying to be!” I darted across the meadow away from the weapon in his hand. “You’re too fast.”
He shook his head and stopped. “You’ve lost your connection to the earth. Reground yourself, then focus on me. I’ll only give you a moment before I come at you full force.”
My heart skipped a beat. “My connection?”
“Talk later. Fight now.”
I inhaled a great breath, both fear and excitement releasing more adrenaline into my system. He knows about me. I don’t know how but he knew I could draw power into me from outside elements. I couldn’t wait to ask him questions but now wasn’t the time, especially with how he was staring at me like he might ravish me or punish me. Hell, I’d take either from him right now.
Closing my eyes, I dug deep into my consciousness and found the sun’s light still lingering within my veins. I then focused on my feet on the ground and felt the familiar, faint hum of the earth's strength and power. With a single thought, I ordered it into my body. It surged forth, even stronger than before, filling my mind, heart, and muscles.
My eyes snapped open.
I don’t know what Flint saw, but his eyes widened in surprise, then his expression darkened. “Much better.”
Our dance resumed, but this time I could match him blow for blow. I kept my eyes on him, only letting my gaze shift briefly when I had to spin or duck. In doing so, I felt a connection growing between us, a sort of trust that often formed between soldiers. I’d heard Saul talk about it before but had never experienced it until now.
Exhilaration overwhelmed me as our movements became so synchronized that there could never be a winner or loser. But then, something else began to happen. The connection grew stronger, more heated, and more intense until sweat ran down the sides of my face. This new heat wasn’t from exerting myself either.
Flint stopped abruptly, panting for breath, and tossed his weapon to the side. “Good. Now let’s see how you fight with no weapons.”
I wiped at the sweat and nodded through my own breathless panting. It made me feel good to know he was just as out of breath as me, but I wasn’t going to suggest we take a break, especially not after he ordered me to fight him weaponless. The idea of placing my hands on him, wrestling his body with my own, had me running toward him before I could take my next breath.
I punched at him, but he dodged my blow, took hold of my arm, and spun me around so fast that my back slammed into his front. His forearm came around my throat. “Don’t waste time punching if you can go straight for the jugular. A quick death is the best kind for both parties.”
I stomped on his foot, then threw my body forward hard. He flipped over me, something I probably wouldn’t have been able to accomplish had we been closer to the same height. He crashed to the ground, air exploding from his chest in a short wheezing sound. I scrambled on top of him and pressed my forearm into his throat until air wheezed past his lips... lips I suddenly couldn’t stop staring at.
I shouldn’t have gotten this close to him. Feeling his bare, hardened stomach between my legs, his hands beginning to slide up my thighs, had me thinking more about doing something else other than fighting. My mouth fell open at the line of heat his touch left in their wake.
Without warning, he bucked upward and rotated his hips. I lost my balance and toppled to the ground with him on top of me. He pinned my hands to the ground and somehow managed to position himself between my open legs. In what might’ve been a wrestling move, at least that’s what I told myself, I lifted my pelvis so I could wrap my legs around his waist. I squeezed with all my might but doing this made me aware of his rock-hard member pressing on that sensitive spot at the apex of my thighs with only a thin slip of material separating us.
I gasped at the wave of pleasure that shot through me so forcefully that I couldn’t help but grind against him to feel more of it. I tried to disguise it by contracting my thighs even tighter around his waist, but this man wasn’t an idiot. He knew what made me feel good. He thrust his hips into me, smirking as I rode another wave of pleasure.
As much as I wanted him to continue, it pissed me off that he thought he had so much power over me. Using all the strength I could summon, I jerked my hands free, gripped his shoulders, and pushed upward while rotating my body. My sudden moves took him off guard, and he lost his hold.
I squirmed away from him, scowling. “You’re cheating.”
“Am I?” He returned to his feet, his bulging cock straining the leather of his pants. If it grew any more, I feared it would burst through.
I charged him again, this time intent on choking him out. Our bodies collided, and once again, we tumbled to the ground. For the first few moments, we were in a legitimate wrestling match, with each of us trying to gain the upper hand.
Flint attempted to return to his feet, but I managed to straddle his one knee. I tried to push him back, but he’d suddenly become an immovable bolder. The strain of pushing into his chest created friction between my legs, where his thigh pressed hard into my panties. I rocked against him, trying to pretend once again that I wasn’t enjoying the sensation growing between my legs while I continued to try and push him over.
He eventually toppled backward, with me landing on top of him, a knee on each side of his hips. He moved to grab me, but I gripped his wrists and twisted his arms back to the ground, where I held them tightly to his side. He probably could’ve bucked me off, but he held still.
“Now what?” he asked, his eyes burning with such desire that my lips parted open.
I lowered my pelvis, stopping only when I felt the head of his cock begging to break free from its clothed prison. I slowly moved my hips back and forth, letting his member tease the folds of my pussy. He moaned and arched his back. The deep, guttural sound had me pressing hard, moving faster. The material between us grew wet, making it so I slid better against him.
Before I realized what I was doing, my hands had released his and found their way to my own body, where they rubbed up my bare stomach and to my breasts. The pressure between my legs grew, and the heat intensified until I thought I might explode.
His hands slid to my hips, and he pressed me down further onto him. He helped my hips rock back and forth. His head lifted to watch me better. “That’s it, beauty. Keep going. Get your release.”
His words, his fingers digging into my bare flesh, his cock repeatedly sliding over that special spot between my legs, had me gasping for breath. I tossed my head back, eyes closed and moans growing in intensity until my body could no longer contain the pressure. It exploded through me, sending wave after wave of pure bliss to every nerve ending. The sensation was so powerful I didn’t think I could contain it. In fact, I swore I could feel it leaving my body.
Eventually, the waves slowed, and my hitched breaths turned into light laughter at how good I felt. I opened my eyes, my gaze meeting his, but my body stilled at his expression. He was smiling, sort of, but the action didn’t match this moment, nor did the look in his eyes, which were brimming with tears.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, fear and embarrassment replacing my earlier pleasure. Maybe I’d done something wrong.
“Absolutely nothing,” he breathed, then he turned his head to the side.
I followed his gaze. All around us, flowers had sprouted from the ground in full bloom. I gasped in shock, more like horror, as I’d never seen magic like this. “What is this?”
He looked back at me. “It’s wonderful.”
I shook my head and stood, feeling the blood drain from my face. “How is this wonderful?” I stepped out of the circle of flowers and away from Flint. “This isn’t right.”
He sat up, his expression turning serious. “Avani, we need to talk.”
That was the last thing I wanted to do. Too many emotions, too much information in a short amount of time. I needed time to process. I gathered my clothing and sword while he continued to plead with me.
“I can’t,” I snapped, then turned before he could protest further and ran into the darkness and away from Flint, who made me feel and do things that shouldn’t be possible.
Chapter
Six
~ FLINT ~
I stared into the darkness where Avani had disappeared, my heart racing. It couldn’t be. My Lilly returned to me. To us.
My gaze dropped to the flowers all around me, and my mouth fell open in wonderment. Only my true fated mate could make something like this happen. There was no other explanation, which meant the magic we’d performed on the day of her death had finally brought her back. But why now? Why had it taken so long? So many lives could’ve been spared if only our magic had worked more quickly. Now I feared it may be too late.
I came to my feet, snatching a white daisy as I went. I had to find them, my brothers. They had to know, but how could I leave Lilly, er... Avani? She was Avani now, I reminded myself, and I had to refer to her as such.
Buttoning up my shirt, I inhaled deeply. The scent of her filled my nostrils, a sweet aroma I hoped would never leave me. Pain lanced my heart at the thought of losing her again. This time we’d do things differently. Be smarter. Be stronger. Work together.
I groaned and headed toward the castle. Working with my brothers again after so many years would be difficult. The pain and suffering we’d endured at Lilly’s passing had changed us in ways that hadn’t been all positive. The scars on our hearts ran deep, so profoundly I feared a couple of us would never recover.
Instead of going to Avani’s room, I turned down the hall and walked toward the south entrance, where the guards did their rounds, patrolling the outer wall.
I opened the door. Several of them jumped to their feet, one of them was Drew, the acting commander, while Saul was away. I held no authority over them, but, like others, they probably sensed my ancient power, something I usually tried to mask, but that was the last thing on my mind.
“Do you need something?” Drew asked.
“I have to leave for a few hours. I need someone to guard Avani’s room tonight. She’s been sleepwalking again.”
Drew’s face lifted. “I will be happy to take the post.”
I shook my head vehemently, remembering the words he’d whispered to her. I didn’t want him anywhere near her. “Anyone but you.”
“But I am the most skilled—”
“Which makes you the most important person to stay out here protecting everyone in Loreen, as Saul and the King ordered you to do.” I glanced around, my gaze settling on a more plump soldier who hadn’t bothered to stand at my arrival. He may not have even noticed by how his focus was entirely devoted to the meaty drumstick in his hands.
I pointed at the soldier. “I want him.”
Drew’s nose scrunched upward in disgust. “Lotis? Are you sure?”
“Lotis,” I called.
He glanced in my direction, a sliver of meat hanging from his lips. At the sight of me, his eyes widened. He jumped to his feet and wiped his face with the back of his hand.
“Come here,” I ordered.
He staggered toward me nervously. “Yes, sir?”
“I need you to stand guard outside the Princess’s doorway the rest of the night. I’ll be back before dawn to relieve you.”
His eyes shifted to Drew for confirmation. Drew nodded glumly.
“The Princess might try to leave her room, but don’t let her. She’s been sleepwalking and might harm herself. Do you understand?”
He nodded and swallowed hard.
For my last command, I stepped close to him so he could see the fire in my eyes. “And if you or anyone else touches her,” my gaze darted briefly to Drew, “I promise you will feel my wrath.”
He sucked in a hitched breath. “I’ll keep her safe. I swear it.”
“Good.” I stepped back, then glanced upward into the night sky.
Time to find Bayu, my only brother who still spoke to me.
It took me nearly an hour to complete the spell needed to transport me to the cave at the top of Leashire mountain, thirty miles from the castle. It had been so long since I’d used powerful magic that when my feet touched down on the cave’s stony surface, I vomited all over. I cursed and scolded myself for my weakness. Now that my mate had returned, I’d better practice more. My magic would indeed be needed for what was coming.
After a long swig from a jar of stale water, I lit a few torches and used one to light up the path to the rear of the cave that was deeper than it was wide. As far as I knew, no one knew of this place. Just to get here, someone would have to scale a cliff hundreds of feet high. This made it the perfect place for me to stash my most valuable items.
The cave walls narrowed the further I traveled into the dark, rock corridor. I might’ve been cold this high up and this far into the mountain, but I still felt the heat of Avani’s touch. This made me move faster because all I wanted was to return to her, but touching her again, her touching me, might be difficult based on how she’d reacted when she saw what we’d done. It had been so long since their people had seen real magic beyond shifting that it was often frowned upon when they did see it as if only an evil witch could still conjure magic. Avani would need some convincing that it wasn’t bad and, most importantly, that I wasn’t bad.
