Page 13 of Wings of Desire

The sensitivity of every thread of my body being enveloped by him makes it impossible to keep quiet, and drool pools between his fingers. Xakiras licks the side of my ear with his long navy tongue playfully. “I am going to paint your insides, sweetotoki.”

His thrusts speed up until he begins to grunt and his cock twitches inside me. Xakira’s body halts its motions as a forceful jet of his cum shoots inside me in hot ropes. The numbing agent quickly takes effect, bringing relief as a cooling sensation replaces the pain, and he withdraws.

“Beautiful,” he says, brushing my sweaty hair from my face.

I breathe in, trying to catch my breath, smiling at him, perfectly sated. “Holy shit...that was amazing.”

Xakiras smiles back at me, letting my body fall limp against him, his arms wrapping gently around me in a hug. We fall into a blissful silence, watching as the forest comes back to life around us. Sated and fully comfortable with his body, I could really get used to being with him.

At our door

My body feels weightless, a sensation I can hardly create words for. My very being feels contented and blissfully calm. Echo’s body is draped over mine. Her breathing is steady and peaceful as she sleeps. Her breathing has evened out into a slumber. I yearn to take her again, to lose myself in her, but she’s so exhausted that I can’t bring myself to disturb her.

My fingers softly thread through her hair, savoring the way the silky strands slip between them and her soft, contented sounds she makes in her sleep in response. The snap of a twig pulls me from my thoughts, and I glance towards the noise on high alert. We are too exposed, but I stay still, waiting.

Another twig snaps, and I hold my breath. Grabbing hold of Echo immediately as the sound of an arrow zings through the air in our direction. I scoop her into my arms and over my shoulder. It jostles her enough that I hear her grunt in confusion. My sword is missing—I left it in the cabin.

“Vittar!” I shout, knowing I have no choice but to retrieve it.

An arrow hurtles toward us, and Echo lets out a blood-curdling scream. Clutching her tightly around the back of her thighs, I take off running. The Sagath shriek in battle cries, echoing in the trees.

“Sagath are here. Echo, stay close; do you understand?” I slam open the door just as another arrow flies past us, grazing her arm as it whizzes by.

“Fuck!” she screams, and the metallic scent of her blood permeates the small cabin. The blood drips onto my skin, but there’s no time to look at it. I snatch up my scabbard from the ground and her shirt, flinging it to her.

I curse my fate as anArcanil. In this moment the added protection of magick would be a blessing—though I’ve never felt I needed it before with an entire hunting party around me. Venturing alone into theAmae’silwas reckless and I should have never attempted it.

I swear under my breath, whirling around until we face the door once more. “Echo, I do not have time to tend to your wound. The Sagath are bloodthirsty creatures that will tear your limbs from your body to consume while violating you in every possible way. Do not scream; do you hear me? Stay silent and cling to me.”

Echo’s sobs intensify, but I feel the faint nod of her head against my chest. “I’ll try.”

“There is no trying,otoki; you must.”

Brandishing my sword, I hold steadfast at the door, knowing they will be waiting just outside it. How many will come for us? At least ten is my best guess.

We must leave this cabin though, leaving through the front is far riskier than I’d like. There are windows, but with my size I wouldn’t fit through them.

I hesitate, swallowing down my fear to the pit of my stomach. We will do what we must.

With a swift kick, I burst through the door and bolt for the nearest tree limb. The Sagath are perched on a tree across from us, weapons at the ready. I dive just in time, narrowly escaping a hail of arrows. Their high-pitched battle cries echo throughthe forest as I zig-zag haphazardly through the trees. My heart is pounding in my chest as I clutch Echo tightly to me, worried for her safety. Fatigue gnaws at my muscles, but I push harder, praying to find a safe refuge. We’re still a hundred clicks from the deadly sanctuary ofAmae’sil. I shoot upward further into the treetops, hoping that I can outpace our pursuers.

I hear them encroaching behind us, pressing me further into the forest and likely into an ambush. They’re faster, more agile and deadlier than I am. Swiveling my head to glance behind us, I try counting their numbers. There are three of them trailing us closely, confirming my suspicion that this is an ambush.

I quickly turn my head and catch sight of two more Sagath who I suspected were waiting. They aim an arrow, pull back the quiver, and release it just as I dive. Weaving through the trees, I fear being overrun as their yells grow in number. My heart leaps with joy as I spot my hunting party waiting for me. Kivaris flicks his wrist and red flames barrel out of his fingertips, licking up our sides, forcing me to roll away to safety.

“Xakiras, there you are!” He yells.

My heart swells with intense gratitude as my rescuers arrive, but the relief is fleeting. Just as hope surges in my chest, I spot them—three more Sagath warriors lurking behind my party. They are poised and ready to attack, knocking their arrows to barrage us.

“Behind you!”

Clutching Echo tighter, I halt my position in the air.

Our magick user, Kivaris turns; the flames explode, and before I have a moment to do much more than watch, pain lances through my body. My shoulder sears in pain, but I dare not glance at the arrows wound, knowing what I might see when I do.

“Oh, my god!” Echo screams clutching to my chest with fear in her eyes. I can’t stop moving. Her safety is my utmost priority.

Echo can’t be left alone in the trees; she is too frail with no wings to escape. The only option is for her to remain on the ground where they would likely not search for her. I dive, ignoring the scent of my blood and the sting of my aching body. Sagath are close behind, their lumbering bodies are far too loud giving away their location to me. Once on the ground, Echo should have the ability to hide with ease in the shrubbery.

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