I turned and shook Zenda awake, and her sapphire eyes went as wide as saucers when she learned of the situation. We both pulled on clothes and rushed out of the tavern, and we followed the flow of bodies streaming in the direction of the library.
There was a bucket line of villagers from the town well, but the sloshes of liquid did little to combat the ferocious blaze eating away at the log building. I raked my hands through my hair as I stared at the flames, and it seemed like any potential leads contained within were lost to the fire.
“What do we do, Bash?” Zenda asked in a defeated tone.
“What if the only full version of the spell was contained inside?”
“I’m going to fix it.” I pressed my lips into a thin line.
The crowd of villagers all cried out in despair as they watched their beloved new library go up in flames, but no one was dumb enough to rush into the fire. The heat of the blaze washed over us like a massive bonfire, and soon a hush fell over the people.
I set my chin at a determined angle as I decided what to do next, but the choice seemed obvious. The library may be too far
gone right now, but I could always change that with a wave of my will power.
Chime.
Zenda and I were on horseback at the top of a ridge, and the rooftops of Wyndvale were barely visible through the trees on the side of the hill before us. We only had a few hours before the library would catch fire, but I knew that was plenty of time to save the books.
“I have bad news,” I said to the beautiful Zaborian as we continued to ride toward Wyndvale. “If we don’t do something to stop it, there’s going to be a fire in the library tonight.”
“What do you mean?” Zenda frowned as she whipped her head to face me. “Did you have a premonition?”
“Something like that.” I pressed my lips together. “But if we want to save the books, we need to get to the library before the sun goes down.”
“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Zenda said, and she tapped her heels against her mare’s flanks.
The horse lunged forward at a faster pace, and Goliath quickly matched her speed. We passed by the barren wildflower meadow
and the lumberjack as he returned to town with his harvest, but this time, I didn’t slow down to chat with him. The trees swept past us as we ran up the rocky road toward Wyndvale, and our faces were flushed from the wind when we finally reached the small mountain village.
Our horses’ hooves clomped in the muddy street winding through the town, but we didn’t stop until we arrived at the library.
Zenda didn’t question how I knew which building it was, and she quickly lashed her horse to the pole outside before she darted up the steps. I had to hurry to catch up to her, but the atmosphere of the library hit me all at once as soon as I entered the space.
The smell of old paper and dust tickled my nose, but Zenda inhaled eagerly with a bright smile. The shelves were so tall they blocked out the light of the sconces on the walls, but there was a table near the door full of candles. A small desk was situated on the other side of the entrance, and a mousy old woman with small half-moon glasses at the end of her nose sat behind it.
“May I help you find something?” the librarian asked in a curious voice.
“We’re looking for anything on the topic of magic,” Zenda said instantly, and she didn’t hesitate to head into the stacks as soon as
the librarian gave her directions.
I grabbed a candle and lit it before I followed the Zaborian historian through the rows of shelves, and I held the flame above her head to illuminate the books she was scanning over. I knew it was best to stay out of her way when she was on the hunt for a specific volume, but I was enjoying watching her eyes twinkle with delight.
Zenda’s entire demeanor had relaxed the moment we’d stepped into the library, and it was clear to anyone with eyes how comfortable she felt when she was surrounded by books. The intelligent Zaborian had spent the majority of her life within the confines of the greatest library in the world, but she didn’t act haughty or superior to the cramped log cabin style collection.
Books were books, and she obviously loved every single one of them.
“Do you realize how smart our children are going to be?” I asked in a low voice as I followed her into another row.
“I hope so,” the Zaborian breathed and flashed me a loving smile. “With my brains and your brawn, they’ll be unstoppable.”
“Indeed,” I chuckled.
“I’m surprised by how many volumes they managed to acquire,” the Zaborian said as she turned her attention back to the shelves. “I wouldn’t have expected such a variety in this small of a town.”
“I guess it just goes to show how much Wyndvale is thriving,” I said. “But Bastianville’s library will be even bigger.”
“Oh, I’m sure of it.” Zenda giggled, but then her eyes brightened as she honed in on one book. “This is it.”
“You found the book by Lord Havers?” I raised my eyebrows.
“No,” Zenda laughed. “I just meant, this is the beginning of the section on magic.”
I turned to help her scan over the titles on the book bindings, and I was surprised to see the name of my shapeshifting wizard friend listed as an author on multiple volumes.
“Is this the infamous Ako Gray who accompanied you in the search for the Duke of Edinburg?” Zenda asked in a curious tone as though she could read my thoughts.
“The one and the same,” I confirmed. “He’s the court wizard of Arginold Hold, but it looks like he’s been pretty busy committing
things to the page. He’s traveled all over the world, so I’m curious what all he’s learned.”
“I was going to say we should take all of the books on magic,”
Zenda said. “But after seeing how many are here, I wouldn’t want to remove so much of their inventory.”
“We wouldn’t be able to store or carry that many books anyway,” I agreed. “We’ll just have to find the ones with the information we need.”
“That could take some time,” Zenda admitted. “I’ll have to skim over every book.”
“I don’t think whoever plans on starting the fire would do so while we were still inside,” I said.
“You think it’s arson?” Zenda’s eyebrows rose. “I assumed it would be accidental in some way.”
“It’s no coincidence the library is threatened as soon as we reach Wyndvale,” I pointed out. “But if we get what we need before that can happen, then I think we can prevent the fire altogether.”
“Why don’t you stand watch while I start combing through these volumes,” Zenda suggested. “See if our shadow friend is lurking around outside the building.”
“That’s a good idea.” I nodded. “I’ll check on you soon.”
I made a lap around the outside row of books, and I peered out the two windows that broke up the lines of shelves. There was nothing but forest and other buildings on the other side of the glass, but looks could be deceiving.
After I ensured there was no one else in the library, I circled around the outside of the building.
I peered into the shadows of the trees on the edge of the village behind the library, but I didn’t see any movements or signs of our stalker. If the Goddess of Death was following us, then I was confident she had been the one to start the fire. She’d somehow learned of the purpose of our quest, and she’d attempted to thwart us without facing us directly.
Nameless squawked at me from the roof of the library, and I held my hand over my eyes to block out the sun as I looked up at him. He flapped his wings and lowered himself to the ground in front of me, and he followed me like a puppy dog as I made another circuit around the building.
I noticed a few people further down the street froze when they spotted the dragon at my side, and several turned and went in the
other direction as fast as they could. I hadn’t had the chance to talk to the mayor yet, or I would have warned him of the dragon’s presence in his town, but I knew the worst that could happen was the big lizard eliciting fear in the townspeople.
Nameless was harmless as long as he wasn’t threatened. Or hungry.
The dragon returned to the roof of the library when I went back inside, and it took me a little while to find the historian among the stacks of books. She sat on the floor with a pile of literature beside her, and her eyebrows were creased in concentration as she scanned the page in front of her.
“Find anything?” I asked.
“Nothing yet,” she sighed. “I’m not going to give up, though.”
“Everything is quiet outside,” I reported. “Nameless is watching over us from the rooftop.”
“I’m sure he will alert you if he sees anything out of the ordinary,” Zenda said. “He’s a good dragon.”
“Yeah, I think he’s just happy to be on another adventure.” I grinned.
“Has he said anything to you recently?” Zenda asked.
“Not really.” I shrugged. “When he does, it’s just a few words. I know he is capable of communicating with me, but he rarely resorts to actual words to do so.”
Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind us, and I turned to see the elderly librarian shuffling into our current row. She peered at us shrewdly, but she didn’t say anything until she was only a couple of steps away from me.
“I would be happy to help you locate something,” she offered in a soft voice. “Most people take the book they want with them to read in the comfort of their own homes.”
“We’re visiting Wyndvale,” I said. “We haven’t stopped at the inn to get a room yet, but I was going to ask if it’s okay if we take a few of the books with us.”
“That’s fine.” The librarian folded her hands in front of her as she nodded. “Mr. Worthy will likely return them for you as well.”
“I’m so sorry,” Zenda said from her spot on the floor. “I just need some more time to find what I’m looking for. It’s hard to explain exactly what that is, so it’s more a process of trial and error.”
“I see.” The librarian pursed her lips together, and she turned back toward her desk without another word.
I flashed Zenda an amused smile as the elderly lady disappeared behind the shelves, but then I left her to her reading once more. I took up a seat on the stoop leading into the library, and I watched the people walking by. Many of them smiled and waved at me as they passed, but none of them went out of their way to speak to me.
That was okay with me since I wanted to stay focused on my guarding duties, and my gaze constantly scanned over my surroundings. The sounds of chickens and goats met my ears from deeper in the town, and the laughter of children rang out like a song.
Aromas of meals being cooked wafted into my nose, and my stomach growled. We would have to get something to eat as soon as we were done at the library, but we would have plenty of time to relax once we found the book we needed.
Zenda summoned me sooner than I expected, and she excitedly pointed to a page of a book she held cradled in her arms. I peered over her shoulder and read the text out loud.
“Many magic users claim an effective memory spell, but none come close to the clarity contained within Lord Havers’ books.” I flashed Zenda a hopeful smile before I continued down the page.
“Not only did I learn the properties of magic necessary for the spell, but I also discovered the broader scope of his works.”
“This was written by Ako Gray,” Zenda said in an excited whisper. “He studied Lord Havers’ books, which means he must know where to find them!”
“So, there’s not a copy of the original text here?” I asked.
“Unfortunately not,” Zenda confirmed. “But Master Gray would have had to read the original text in order to summarize it. He has to be able to help us.”
“Next stop, Arginold Hold,” I said with a decisive nod. “What should we do with these books?”
“I’ll help the librarian reshelve them,” Zenda said. “But what’s going to happen to the library when we leave? Is it still going to catch on fire?”
“I’m not going to let that happen,” I assured the historian. “I’m fairly certain our shadow stalker is the arsonist, so if we leave, then they may follow us without starting the fire.”
“You think Wyndvale will be safer if we leave?” Zenda’s eyebrows drew together into a concerned frown. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to these nice people.”
“I’ll make sure they’re safe,” I said. “It’s my job to protect them.”
“Alright, well, I want to take a couple of these books written by Master Gray,” Zenda said as she started to rifle through her piles. “I would like to get to know him better before we arrive in Arginold Hold.”
“Smart.” I grinned. “He’s going to be so happy to see us.”
“I didn’t get much of a chance to speak with him at your surprise party,” Zenda said in a disappointed tone. “I’m looking forward to having a quieter atmosphere for our next discussion.”
“I’m sure he’d love to let you pick his brain,” I said, and I held open my arms while she stacked her chosen volumes on them. “He’s one of the smartest men I’ve ever met, but he knows this well, and he has no issue showing his confident side.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” the Zaborian teased with a wink.
The librarian came over to check on us a few moments later, and Zenda explained that she’d found what she was looking for. The two ladies worked together to put the remaining books back on the shelves, and I carried the stack of texts the blue-skinned historian had chosen outside to our horses.
We still hadn’t gotten a room for the night, so I had to finagle the hardback volumes into the packs hanging over our horses’
rumps. Once everything was put away, I rejoined the two women inside, and I helped them with the last few books before Zenda and I left.
Nameless chirped as he swooped down over my head, and I flashed the shiny dragon a broad smile. He followed us down the street toward the inn, and he caught more than one astonished look from the townspeople walking around us. No one seemed scared or alarmed, and I wondered how well known the dragon’s presence was. It was probably common knowledge that the God of Time had a lightning-breathing familiar by his side, but it was hard to keep something so large and eye-catching a secret for long.
Chaz Worthy again greeted me with a tight embrace when we entered the inn, and he set us up in his best room once more. The stablehand brought up our stuff, and we bathed off the road grime.
This time, I made a lap around the perimeter of the town to check for our shadow friend before we headed toward the tavern. I glanced up as Nameless landed on the roof of the bar, and I sent a silent plea for him to watch our backs before I stepped inside.
We ordered some food and drinks, but our meal was often interrupted by the friendly townspeople. Chaz and his wife joined us during this run-through as well, and I waved the mayor over as soon as he walked in. I wished I could spend the rest of the night socializing with the residents of Wyndvale, but I was worried that I might be causing more harm than good by leading my stalker into their midst.
“We’ll be leaving tonight,” I announced.
“Very well,” Zenda said with a dip of her head.
“But I’ll let you take a nap at the inn first if you want,” I offered with a warm smile. “I know it’s going to be harder to ride while we’re sleepy.”
“Why so soon, Great One?” Adorno sounded alarmed. “You’ve only just arrived. Have we done something to offend you?”
“Not at all,” I hurriedly assured the leader of the small mountain village. “I have powerful enemies on my tail, and I would hate to have anything bad happen to my people because of it. I must lead them away where they can’t hurt anyone.”
Adorno seemed mollified by my words, and he settled back into an entertaining conversation about some recent town antics. I
didn’t drink as much as I had during my first run-through since I wanted to be sharp when we hit the road. I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes with a goddess following me, and I wanted to make sure we led her away from Wyndvale before she could start the fire at the library.
I let Zenda nap in the inn while I stood watch from the porch, but the shadows were quiet and still until the moon began to rise over the treetops. I waited until I had the horses packed and ready to go before I shook the Zaborian beauty awake, and we hit the road a short while later. I could feel the tiredness in my body, but I pushed onward. I needed to draw our stalker away from Wyndvale, and I wasn’t going to stop for a break until I knew our shadow friend was following us.
When I saw the flicker of movement in the trees to my right, I let out a sigh of relief.
The Wyndvale library was safe.
Now, I just had to deal with our follower while we made our way to Arginold Hold, and I contemplated different ways to draw them out of the shadows and confront them once and for all. I could set a trap with magic of some kind, or even a simple snare made
from rope, but it would be hard to set everything up without our stalker seeing us do it.
There were other ways to draw our shadow friend out of hiding, but perhaps it was better to let them think they’d avoided detection for the moment. It would be hard to learn anything about my enemy if they ran away, and as long as they were following me, then they weren’t doing anything to my family or friends back in Bastianville.
The moon was settling toward the western horizon when we finally took a break, and I had Zenda and Nameless stay close to the tent while I stole a few hours of sleep. We made sure to eat as much as we could before we left again, but I made a new save point as we got back on the road to Arginold Hold.
After hours of riding, the sun came up once more, and the path ahead was illuminated in radiant sunrays. Zenda’s sapphire eyes sparkled in the light, and the bright smile she flashed me only added to her radiance. While I hadn’t gotten very much sleep, I was feeling strong, and I was ready to face whatever the day had in store for us.
“Do you think there’s anyone still watching Bastianville?”
Zenda asked out of the blue. “I know there’s only one person
following us, but it could be possible to leave someone behind to keep an eye on the rest of the family as well.”
“That’s a good point,” I said. “I’ll blip back the next time we stop to check on everything.”
“I would hate for anything to happen to them while you were occupied with my hunch.” Zenda pressed her lips together into a thin line.
“It’s more than a hunch,” I reminded her. “You’ve found multiple mentions of the spell, and I’m convinced we will find what we’re looking for in Arginold Hold.”
“Do you really think Master Gray will help us?” Zenda flashed me a worried frown.
“Of course,” I laughed. “What are friends for?”
Once we stopped for a midday meal, I used my fast travel amulets to return to Bastianville, and I materialized directly in front of a flour-covered Akina. Her wide metallic eyes and flushed cheeks alerted me something was amiss, but she immediately flashed me a wide smile as soon as she realized it was me.
“You scared me,” the desert warrior admitted. “I didn’t realize wearing the amulet would mean you popping into existence when I
was least expecting it. I tossed my flour bowl into the air.”
“If there was a way to let you know ahead of time, I would do it,” I chuckled.
I helped the baking woman clean up the mess in the kitchen before I went to check on the others, but I didn’t want to leave Zenda alone in the woods for long. She had Nameless to watch her back, but there was no telling what our shadow friend would do once I wasn’t around.
Mahini was in the nursery with both babies, and the coos and gurgles brought a smile to my face. I kissed everyone in greeting, and I discussed household topics for a moment before I continued.
Then I found Elissa with a clipboard and a list down the street from our castle, and I gave her a quizzical look as I approached.
“I’m overseeing the addition of new housing,” the beautiful redhead explained after she’d pressed a kiss against my lips. “Our army continues to grow, and Riondale needs someplace for the new recruits to live.”
“That’s awesome.” I grinned, but then I remembered the purpose of my visit. “Has there been any reports of suspicious activity outside the walls?”
“Nothing.” Elissa shrugged. “Why?”
“Someone has been following me across the countryside,” I said. “I am pretty sure it’s the Goddess of Death, but I wanted to check in just in case there were more people watching Bastianville.”
“I haven’t heard anything,” Elissa said. “But I’ll speak to Riondale about increasing patrols. We won’t let anyone inside the walls who aren’t properly vetted and searched. I got this, don’t worry.”
“I know you can handle it,” I said with a loving smile. “I’m lucky to have you by my side to help take care of our people.”
“They’re looking to you to keep them safe, but even a god can’t be everywhere at once.” Elissa rubbed my upper arm affectionately.
“Besides, I would be bored out of my mind without tasks to occupy myself. Being a new mother means I jump at any chance to get out of the house and talk to actual adults.”
“You’re an amazing mother,” I assured her. “Make sure you take some time to yourself to rest and relax. It’ll be good for the baby if you take good care of your own body and mind.”
“I’ll do that.” Elissa grinned. “I wouldn’t want you to worry about either one of us.”
A short while later, I returned to the road where Zenda and Nameless waited, and we headed toward Arginold Hold once more. I knew it would take us a few days of travel to reach the northern stronghold, and while I wanted to get there as soon as possible, I knew it wouldn’t help if I pushed us to the breaking point. I set a decent, steady pace, and my beautiful lover and I were able to chat while we rode.
We still rode until after the sun had set before we stopped to make camp, and I built a fire while Zenda took care of the horses.
Once our meal was cooking and the tent was pitched, we sat on a log to watch the crackling flames. I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds of the forest, and except for the chirp of insects and calls of birds, I didn’t hear anything.
Was our follower still out there?
I peered into the shadows beyond the light of the fire, but it was hard to see into the darkness. I thought I spotted a brief gleam of green eyes reflecting the flames, but it disappeared an instant later. They were definitely still watching us, but they were doing a better job of remaining undetected. Maybe I could do something that would cause her to come out of the shadows, and I decided to put on a show for our audience.
“This is pretty romantic,” I said to the blue-skinned beauty at my side as I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
Zenda tilted her head up to give me access to her lips, and I cradled her cheek in my hand while I brushed my mouth against hers. The kiss was soft and tender, but I left a dangling promise for more to come. Zenda’s eyes were closed when I finally pulled back, but her desire was plain to see when she opened them again.
“You are such a good kisser,” the Zaborian reported.
“That’s not all I’m good at,” I reminded her in a teasing tone.
We kissed again, but before she could pull away from my embrace, I picked her up and pulled her onto my lap. Her groin pressed against my crotch, and I could already feel my body responding to her warm presence. I stroked her back while our kiss deepened, and soon, we were both breathing in ragged gasps.
Zenda swept her fingers through the brown tendrils of my hair, and she held me firmly as she pressed her body against mine.
“I want you,” I breathed in her ear. “Right here, right now.”
“What about our shadow friend?” the Zaborian whispered as she cast a furtive glance into the shadows. “Won’t they see?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “Who cares?”
“What if they attack while we’re in a… vulnerable position?”
Zenda bit her bottom lip, but I could see how much she wanted me in her sapphire gaze.
“I can handle it,” I promised her. “You think I’m any less deadly when I’m naked?”
“No,” Zenda giggled, and she began to pull on my clothes. “But you can prove it if you want.”
“I’ll prove a lot more than that,” I said, and I pulled my shirt over my head.
Zenda’s lips twisted into a seductive smile as she untied the lashes holding her turquoise robes on her body, and the thin fabric fell from her pale blue shoulders like water cascading down a fall.
The beautiful Zaborian fit into our natural surroundings like she was a mythical forest creature herself, but here she was, in the flesh, surrendering herself to me.
I was one lucky god.
The intelligent scholar would seem to be demure and modest to the outside eye, but I knew she had a wild side hidden beneath her silk robes. Her curly green hair was growing longer with each
passing day, and now it was long enough to run my fingers through it. I clung to her as intensely as she did me, and I could feel both our body temperatures rising as our kiss continued to deepen.
“Should we escape into the tent?” Zenda whispered in my ear when we finally came up for air.
“I’m fine here.” I grinned. “But I understand if you’re uncomfortable with that.”
Zenda pondered my offer for a moment, and while a purple-tinged blush darkened her cheeks, an amused smile stretched her lips. She looked around the firelit clearing like she would find unexpected companions, but there was nothing except the horses and dragon on the other side of the fire. I knew what she was looking for, or rather, who, but I wasn’t worried about having an audience.
“Let’s put on a good show,” the Zaborian finally said with a mischievous smirk. “Show her what she’s missing.”
My body instantly responded to her words, and the blue-skinned beauty picked up on the increased stiffness in my pants.
The idea of her being willing to make love in front of someone aroused me in unexpected ways, and I realized how much she must trust me to protect her.
“Take these off,” Zenda commanded as she tugged at the waist of my pants. “I want to see you.”
I undid my pants, but I had to lift my hips to wiggle them off my body. The feeling of dirt against my butt had me grabbing my discarded shirt to use as a barrier between me and the ground.
When I turned my attention back to the beautiful Zaborian, she’d removed the pants of her robes, and her hands roamed over her pale blue flesh.
I watched as she caressed herself, and I licked my lips as every muscle in my body wanted to devour her from head to toe. I pulled her back onto my lap, and I let my mouth and hands do whatever they wanted. I trailed my fingers along the skin of her back, and I licked and sucked on her breasts, neck, and shoulders.
Zenda shivered in my arms, but her skin was warm to the touch, so I knew it wasn’t caused by an external chill. She clung to my shoulders like she would be washed out to sea if she let go, and we rode the waves of desire coursing through us until we couldn’t bear it any longer.
“I need you,” the beautiful Zaborian breathed. “Now.”
I didn’t need to be told twice, so I lifted her hips and repositioned her on top of my cock. I could feel her bare lower lips sliding open around my mushroom cap, and we both inhaled sharply as she slid down my shaft. Once I was buried deep inside her, she rolled her hips from side to side.
“Yesss,” Zenda moaned as her eyelids fluttered. “Just like that.”
“You feel so tight,” I murmured and gripped her firmly in my arms.
“I can feel every inch of you,” Zenda said, and she arched her back as she drove her hips downward.
I planted my feet firmly in the ground as I lifted my own hips to meet hers, and she gasped as the motion caused her to erupt into a bone-rattling orgasm. Her entire body shook with pleasure, and her eyes rolled back in her head. I wiggled around to elongate the sensation, and she let out a ragged breath.
“Oh, oh, oh!” A line creased Zenda’s thin eyebrows as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth.
“Does that feel good?” I asked in a husky voice as she slowly caught her breath and came back to reality.
“Amazing,” Zenda breathed, and her sapphire eyes sparkled with emotion when her gaze met mine. “I want to make you feel good like that.”
“There’s no rush,” I chuckled. “I enjoy watching you squirm.”
“I enjoy everything about you,” Zenda countered with a wink, and before I could respond, she began to move up and down my slick cock. Her love juices coated my shaft, but I could still feel her internal muscles flexing around my girth.
Zenda increased her pace bit by bit until she was bouncing up and down so fast my thighs were clapping against her ass, and the slapping sounds added a percussive element to the soundtrack of her moans and cries. I lost myself in my senses as I enjoyed the moment, and I almost forgot there could be someone watching from the shadows.
I hoped they liked the show.
“Good girl,” I complimented as Zenda continued to ride me like an out of control stallion, and I grasped her hips in both hands to guide her movements. “Fuck me harder.”
“You… Feel… So… Good!” Zenda gasped out as her sapphire eyes went unfocused once more.
I could feel the muscles in her lower half stiffening as another climax hit her like a freight train, and she froze like a deer in headlights as the sensations washed over her. I couldn’t help myself, though, and I ground myself so deep inside her I could feel the texture of her cervix against my tip. This sent Zenda over the edge into the abyss of bliss, and she jerked like she was having a seizure.
“Yes! Yes!” Zenda’s voice grew louder and louder with each repetition. “More!”
I felt myself nearing the edge, and I didn’t want to shorten our pleasurable experience, so I lifted her up by the knees as I rose to my feet. Zenda instantly grabbed onto the back of my neck to hold her upper body against me, and she giggled as I walked her over to the closest tree.
Then I placed her on her feet before I spun her around, and the blue-skinned beauty wiggled her ass as she planted her hands on the trunk of the tree. I gripped her cheeks until I could see the moist opening between them, and I thrust forward to bury myself to the hilt in one swift motion.
“Ooh!” Zenda let out a guttural groan as I plunged deep inside her. “Mmm… Yes, Bash!”
The beautiful Zaborian was being loud enough for the entire forest to hear her, so I was certain our shadow friend had picked up on our shenanigans, but I wasn’t about to tell her to be quieter. Her sounds were like music to my ears, and every gasp encouraged me to fuck her harder.
Zenda arched her back, and I reached around her neck with one hand. I put a small amount of pressure on her throat, and I felt her melt in my hand. The immediate submission filled my blood with fire, and I growled as I slammed in and out of her tight pussy.
“Don’t stop,” Zenda begged as she began to shake again.
I did as she commanded, and a moment later, I could feel the walls of her tunnel tightening around my shaft like an oiled fist. I held onto my self-control for as long as I could, but I could feel the tingling in my balls. Once her shivering ceased, I was ready to get my own, and I spun her around to face me.
I braced one arm between the tree and her back as I lifted her leg up with the other, and I was back inside her warm entrance an instant later. I thrust in and out until her juices were dripping down both of our thighs, and I claimed her lips as the sensations overwhelmed me.
Our tongues danced as my entire body went numb, and the next thing I knew, I was spurting out load after load into her welcoming pussy. Zenda twitched as each additional motion sent her into orgasmic shivers, and we rested our foreheads together as we caught our breath.
“You’re amazing,” Zenda panted.
“That’s just because you’re so fucking sexy,” I countered, and I finally looked up at our surroundings.
My eyes immediately locked with the emerald gaze of the Goddess of Death as she stood in the middle of our campsite, and the lust in her eyes was clear as day. While her sudden presence inside the ring of light was surprising, it confirmed all my suspicions.
The Goddess of Death was the one following us.
The God of Time was never wrong.