Page 20 of Shadows of Air and Earth (Remnant Archives)

I saw nothing, aside from the faint outline of Riley’s wide shoulders, and the slightest hue of his wavy green hair that even now, my traitorous fingers ached to run through.

The thick fog was everywhere, and my lungs burned from my sorry attempt to keep the seductive fragrance of the anthousai from compelling me into their revelry.

Oxygen deprived, my sword arm shook, straining to hold my blade and the slick of sweat coating my palms made my grip even more challenging.

All made worse by their creepy as fucking Faerie nursery song of doom.

Between us, as a half naked shield, Remnant Dark faced the nymphs head on.

"You've had your fun, now it's time to return to your circle," the general called out.

The hard edge of her tone made me shiver, flashbacks of the night of The Wailing suddenly dominant in my mind.

This was no longer the fae that talked to birds and shadows, nor was it the one that our world honored with its elements, this was the fae of death…

one that was at the center of all my night terrors for the past six months.

Ignoring the eerie allure of laughter and the tension in the air, I focused on Riley's strong silhouette, my scimitar raised out to the side, mirroring his powerful stance.

Poised and ready, a warrior through and through, I had yet to see someone match his savage ways on the battlefield aside from Remnant Dark.

A curse, a harsh breath, then we moved. A slow dance along the open clearing. Closing my eyes, I felt them both like I did the energy of the earth, the flow of their bodies, the hiss of Riley’s steel slashing outward, mine following simultaneously with it.

The sharp cry when my blade made contact with a solid being brought a satisfied smile to my face, but the moment was brief and my slight pause fatal.

The cord between us grew taut, the leather groaning, and I slid towards Riley blindly just seconds before I heard his soft grunt and the tearing clothing.

My blood froze at his sharp inhale. I didn’t need to see through the thick fog to know Ri had been hit, and it was more than just a graze.

Furious, my sight caught the curvy shape of willowy legs peeking through the mist, and I reacted.

Sweeping low, my scimitar whistled, my weakened state forgotten as I put power into my slice, cutting clearly through the retreating nymph that dared to harm my air elemental.

My air elemental …fucking goddess, my chest tightening from an aching heart. How was I ever going to walk away from him once he explained his past?

Hot blood sprayed across my face, and I grinned ferally, latching onto the euphoric satisfaction of my vengeance rather than my impending loss of the fae I loved. The nymph's following scream was shrill and I relished the sound—anything was better than their singing.

Crumbling at my feet, the anthousai writhed on the ground, her legs cut cleanly from her body, she wept and pleaded for help.

Raising my blade high to end her pathetic existence, bright yellow eyes snapped up to meet my fury, and I forgot not to breathe.

Sweet scented pheromones enveloped me in a cloud, and every part of my body spasmed to a tension driven stall, seized by the anthousai’s power.

Panting, I fought against the invisible restraint but it only served to drown me more in the haze of her wonderful scent.

"Xi," she whispered sweetly, "oh Xi, heal me, don't let me die. You don't really want to kill me. All you need to do is cut the cord and heal me." Her silver barked lip quivered as her green body crawled towards me, and I found myself drawn towards her, entranced.

Through hooded eyes, my resolve wavered. I didn't want to kill her, did I? I could try to heal her mangled body after all. It was my secondary power. I could heal.

"Cut the cord Xi, heal me please…heal me terrella.

Please." Leaning in, deeply inhaling her lilac and berry scent, I collected the tears that spilled from the crinkles of her silver bark.

The wetness spreading across my fingertips was euphoric.

Cooling yet warm, it was a whispered caress with promises of love.

I heard a faint roar and someone shouting my name between the nymph’s pleas, but it was something that I could not be bothered with.

She was the most important thing in this world and she needed me.

For once in my life someone needed me. Flipping my blade, I cut the leather in one fluid downward stroke and placed my hand on the being, willing my power to heal her.

A soft encouraging laugh, "Well done, terrella.

" The anthousai cooed, sitting up, her legs regenerating before me.

I looked up at her, sudden clarity of what I had done hitting me in a torrent of panic before her scent engulfed me again, pulling me back under her seductive spell.

"Your power doesn't work here sweet, beautiful Xi Chin and now you are mine. "

"You—you healed yourself," I slurred, fighting the haze pulling me under. My tone more reverent than accusing.

Crushing me into her lush green skin, the contact sent warm tingling throughout my entire body, the brush of her fingers to draw back my hair searing me with her sadistic love.

"Oh beautiful Xi, of course I can heal. Now I am going to take you away from here. Keep you safe, make sure you are loved and cared for. Wouldn’t you like that, my sweet, sweet terrella?

" She stroked my head, pulling me easily to my feet, and lacing our fingers intimately together.

"But—"

Her lips pressed against mine, swallowing my protesting words, and I fell into her touch.

It didn’t matter any more, not when her lips, smooth and hard, like polished wood nuzzled mine.

A long tongue licked along the seam of my mouth and I inhaled again, desperately eager for more of her floral scent that would spiral me into exhilarating pleasure.

I craved to reciprocate, to give back what she has so selflessly gifted me, my need bordering on desperation.

Lunging for her mouth I met her seeking tongue with my own, pressing myself closer to this bewitching creature who I needed more of—so badly needed more of.

I whimpered when she pulled away but she simply laughed, walking backwards, naked hips swaying, drawing me into the mist where others waited. As one they began to dance around us, laughing and twirling, circling like the sirens of the woods that they were.

"Oh how lovely, Clarissa," one crooned.

"She's perfect, worth the loss of our sister to obtain," giggled another and I groaned, veering into her stroking touch.

I needed more.

"Please," I whispered, not knowing what I was begging for but knowing only they could give it to me.

"And ever so willing," purred another, "You were right Elaie, this one is perfect for us. Won't you dance with us, my love?"

Different hands pulled me, touching me everywhere.

Guiding me into a sway and then a heady rhythm.

My body burned, sweat soaked my skin, and my core throbbed, wanting more than just seductive touches and sweet whispers.

Laughter rang in my ears and the last bit of warning in the back of my mind disappeared as I threw my head back and joined their taunting giggles.

Expelled from my mind, the last of my inhibitions disappeared like the precious air that I no longer needed, forgetting why it was so very precious to begin with.