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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Really?” Maria asked, staring at the small, oddly shaped, but rather equine looking beasts standing before them. “They’re tiny.”

Zepharos tied the last of their gear to the animals, securing it to the fitted harnesses each wore around their padded saddles. “Do not let the Lamallians’ diminutive stature fool you. They are powerful creatures capable of carrying many times their weight with little effort.”

“You’re kidding. I mean, how?”

“A genetic trick of fate, I suppose. Their joints are particularly robust, and their bones have an unusual amount of metal in them, their digestive systems extracting trace amounts from their food and water throughout their lives. It accumulates in their bones, making the older ones near indestructible. And their muscles are dense and strong. So much so that only the most powerful predators even attempt to take them. For one, they can withstand an enormous amount of abuse while under attack. For another, even if one should fall, few creatures possess the jaw strength to make a meal of them.”

Maria ran her hand over the animal’s faintly speckled hide, feeling the musculature rippling beneath it. It was a solid hunk of a creature, that much was obvious, but she’d never have guessed just now much so if Zepharos hadn’t told her. As with much on this world, looks could be deceiving.

“And we’re riding them too?”

“When we feel the need, yes, though we will walk with them mostly. But they can more than handle our weight in addition to their loads. It will help us cover a lot more ground in a shorter time, which will be of great benefit, given our situation.”

“Okay then. So that’s it. I guess we’re out of here,” she said, feeling a little sad at leaving the first place that had felt like a comfortable home since she’d arrived on this world. They’d already said their goodbyes to the others, all that remained was the path ahead. Or so she thought.

“Not quite yet. We are waiting for Adzus.”

“Why? We already said goodbye when we made our rounds.”

Zepharos shook his head. “That was the formal farewell to the village, but knowing we may very well fall under aerial scrutiny if trackers are indeed as close as Heydar said, Adzus and his hunters have offered to travel with us a ways to mask our movements from any observation from above. So far as any will be able to tell, it is just another Oraku hunting party, the same as any other day.”

“They’re going to be a diversion.”

“More of a moving camouflage. We will be safe ensconced in their ranks. And when they turn back, we will be a long way from here. It protects both us as well as the village. Ah, here they come now.”

Adzus and his band of hunters came striding up to the pair, ready for a long outing. The hunter looked Zepharos up and down as he prepared to give up everything he called home, sizing up the former playboy with new regard .

“You have changed, Zepharos,” he said with an approving nod. “Let us hope this is a lasting one.”

“Nice to see you too, Adzus. And thank you again for doing this.”

“It is our pleasure. Plus, it will be nice hunting in a different area for a change, though the season is not quite right to head that direction.”

“But a change of scenery can be refreshing.”

“That it can.” He turned to Maria, a kind, protective look in his hunter’s gaze. “And you, Maria. You are now a welcome part of the Oraku, and I hope one day you are free to return.”

“Thank you. It means a lot to me.”

“You are a powerful woman. Do not fail to remind this one of that,” he said, glancing at Zepharos with a wry grin. “Now, no more delay. We depart at once.”

And that was that. No pomp, no fanfare, just a group of hunters and their disguised companions making their way out of the village outskirts, heading off into the unknown.

At least, unknown for Maria. Zepharos had an idea of the direction he would take her, but it would be a long and flexible journey.

Their destination was up in the air, all the better for their safety.

And so they walked, endless possibilities stretching before them.

They crossed several smaller streams, eventually arriving at a larger river. It was a little muddy, but not excessively so.

“It is on the decline,” Adzus noted. “There were storms, but their waters are lessening. It is safe to cross.”

Maria had no reason to doubt the man. He’d been hunting these lands longer than she’d been alive.

One by one they entered the water, using long branches to help brace themselves against the current until it was finally time to swim.

The animals made quick time across, decent swimmers despite the dense muscles and bones, it seemed.

The rest of the group required a bit more work, but they all made it across without incident .

From there they hiked through the tall grasses that bordered the river, moving quietly, on the hunt and ready for prey even as they provided cover for the two travelers.

Zepharos looked up, noting the ships high above circling the region in lazy arcs.

There was no way to tell if any of them were trackers or if these were just regular ships on their way to some other city.

It made no difference. The die had been cast, and they were committed to this path.

It was later in the day than Maria had expected when the hunters declared it was time to part ways.

But as they casually spent the entire day together, each and every hunter was of the same mindset.

They liked this woman and wanted to see her safe.

And their own wayward son had stepped up to the challenge in a way they would never have expected of him.

As a result, with their leader’s blessing, naturally, they’d stayed with the couple far longer than anticipated and would be sleeping in the wild tonight as there was no way they’d make it back before dark.

As true outdoorsmen, they didn’t seem to mind one bit.

“Thank you all,” Maria said as the hunters took their leave.

“It is our pleasure to have spent this time making your acquaintance,” Adzus replied, bowing low, his hand on his chest. “I hope to see you again, someday. Until that happy occurrence, travel safe, and live well.”

He nodded once to Zepharos, a look of approval on his face, then turned and walked away, the group of hunters melting into the forest so fast it was almost uncanny. Zepharos took Maria by the hand, gazing into her eyes.

“Well, it’s just us again. Do you need a break?”

“No, I’m feeling good. Great, actually. I think whatever Heydar did is already kicking in.”

“I’d hoped for as much. The runes will make this much easier on you from here on out. And who knows? Perhaps they will enhance other things.” He bent down and kissed her lovingly, then turned and led them deeper into the woods.

They trekked until it was dark, hauling their supplies high into the trees to free up the animals for the night, the pair left to roam as they were social creatures lovingly raised among the Oraku and would instinctively return come morning.

That left their own bedding for the night, and Maria was in for a surprise.

“A hammock?”

“Not just any hammock. It’s a very robust design used by hunter groups on long outings. It keeps them safely off the ground, and while this area is typically free of predators, it also keeps us out of sight on the off chance there is a ground search.”

“So, a hammock,” she repeated with a chuckle. “Don’t worry, your description was great, but we have these back home, ya know.”

“Oh. Uh, well, I suppose you know how to set it up as well.”

“Hey, I’m not stepping on toes here. You are more than welcome to rig it. Just make sure it’s really secure. I want to put it to the test later.”

The way she looked at him ignited a fire in his belly and a bulge in his trousers. Zepharos quickly pulled the large hammock from its pack. “I’ll get right on it,” he said with a sexy grin and a fair bit of urgency in his voice.

Once it was rigged, however, he slowed his roll and ensured his woman had a delicious and satisfying meal.

It had been a long day, and though her runes were now working to help with the exertion, he still wanted to make very certain she had all the energy she required.

After all, he intended to help her test out the hammock in any way she was so inclined.

As it turned out, she had quite a few interesting ideas in mind.

They started out cuddling, holding one another close and simply enjoying the feel of each other’s warmth. That led to other things soon enough, and they were more than eager to indulge their primal needs.

Zepharos rolled on top of her, the hammock anchored at four corners instead of just two central points, making the platform far more stable.

Stable enough to allow his mass to shift like that, the material swaying slightly as he slid down her body, kissing her neck, her breasts, her belly, until he hovered just above her clit, his hot breath making her arch her back with want.

But he wasn’t done teasing her yet, edging her just a moment more kissing her inner thighs while his hands roamed softly over her belly and up to her nipples, gently squeezing them as his mouth moved almost painfully close to her most sensitive bits.

Finally, just as she wondered if she could take it any longer, he lowered his mouth to her straining clit, his tongue swirling in firm circles, his lips pressing against her as he sucked softly, pulling even more blood flow into her already swollen nub sending jolts of buzzing pleasure down her legs with a shudder.

A new sensation quickly joined the party, the feeling of his fingers caressing her lips, coating themselves with her juices as he parted them, his tongue darting lower to savor her taste.

“Yesss,” she groaned as he pressed them forward, his thick digits sliding in just right, pushing firmly against that rough patch in the front, her G-spot already engorged with arousal.

She moaned louder, his own low rumbling groans adding to the moment, both with the vibrations that ran through her clit as well as the sexy way he sounded as he savored her taste, her ecstasy.

He was one of those men who truly enjoyed bringing their partner pleasure.

Prided himself on it, even. And he was sure as hell putting on a show of it tonight.

His fingers rippled inside her as he suckled her clit, coaxing the first orgasm out of her like a baby latched onto its bottle. Maria’s body tensed as it flashed through her, her pussy convulsing on his fingers, pulling him deeper. But she wanted something else inside her.

“I want your cock,” she groaned, grabbing him by the hair and pulling him up her body, one hand guiding his rigid erection between her slick lips. “Come here, you.”

They both shuddered as he penetrated her, quickly falling into a familiar rhythm, his length churning steadily as his lips met hers, the pair savoring her juices with delight as their passion compounded.

This was good, but Maria wanted more. She locked a foot around his leg and rolled.

Zepharos went with it, letting her mount him on top, riding the way that hit that spot just right.

His hands moved up her sides, savoring her supple skin before sliding to her breasts, nipples jutting out hard and alive, waiting for his touch.

He squeezed both at once, her pussy trembling as the sensation shot through it like a live wire. She’d been sensitive before, but what was this?

Fuck it, who cares ? she thought, riding him harder, faster, feeling him bottoming out against her cervix, but not in a painful way.

She was on top, she was the one controlling the pressure, and the way it was hitting right now?

It was unlike anything she’d ever felt before.

Sometimes it would be uncomfortable that deep, but this?

It was as if she was drawing him into her very soul, her pussy gripping him hard as her climax rose like a tidal wave.

She felt his cock twitch hard, his own orgasm on the brink. A second later neither could hold back any longer.

“Yes!” he groaned, his abs going hard as rock as he came.

Maria’s hearing went sharp, then muffled as the wave of hot cum exploded inside her, her pussy convulsing hard, clutching his cock tighter than she thought possible as she nearly blacked out from the pleasure slamming through her from head to toe.

This was different. More intense than she’d ever imagined, as if she could feel a hint of his sensations as well as her own as they rode wave after wave of orgasmic bliss until they simply couldn’t anymore.

Maria slumped over, her body a wet noodle of delight. She felt strong hands grab her fast and hard.

“What?” she mumbled, her senses still fuzzy.

She opened her eyes and realized Zepharos had caught her before she accidentally rolled off the hammock. She chuckled and kissed his neck.

“I guess we’ll need to work a bit more on how to do it in a hammock.”

He kissed the top of her head, holding her close. “I will gladly partake in your experiments as many times as you desire.”

“I desire a lot.”

“As do I.”

“I know,” she said, happy and safe in his arms.

Her runes were positively buzzing, her entire body awash in sensation.

It was as if this epic orgasm had flipped a switch, and somehow all of them were fully functional in an instant.

The sensation was almost overwhelming. Whatever that enhancing water they had both imbibed had done to her, she was very much enjoying the results.

Had she had her wits about her, she might have noticed the faint glow emanating from the rune on her chest. Her Infala, completed, healed, and, apparently, awakening.

And as she lay there in Zepharos’s arms, he too felt a twinge in his own Infala. Just a hint, the slightest sensation, but perhaps his Infala, so recently hurt and left cold, had not gone silent after all.