Page 63 of Elemental Affections

The mess tent was clearing out, Dae picking at the last scraps on her plate as she mentally sorted her plans for the next day. Zhenya had already left, mumbling about an old friend or lab partner having come by with the resupply from Talihn. Dae wasn’t sure, preoccupied with her own work coupled with exhaustion. She was tired enough that even the uncertainties around her relationship with Ezzyn had gone quiet.

The scrape of a chair being pulled back jolted her from her thoughts. Ezzyn sat next to her, a glass of wine in his hand. He set his plate, sparsely filled and most of it winter fruit, on the table.

“You’re just getting in?” she said. He’d still been out checking the town’s wards when she’d finished her administrative work.

Ezzyn gave a tired nod. “I still need to discuss the northern well with Gaz and the others.” He indicated Garethe and one of the Rhellian water mages coming toward them.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Dae tried to smile, ending up smothering a yawn partway through. “See you—”

“Will you come by tonight?” He didn’t look at her as he spoke, his quiet words hidden behind the wineglass he brought to his lips. “I’m in the house at the northeast edge. Third out from the well.”

Dae gathered up her plate and bag. Briefly, their eyes met before she moved to walk away. “Yes.”

The word was as soft as his own, near inaudible amongst the sounds of Garethe and the other mage arriving and their normal volume greetings. Yet Ezzyn’s shoulders relaxed, a flash of relief there and gone again on his face.

Excusing herself to the others, Dae went back to her temporary housing to wait. Zhenya was out, a short note only saying that she’d be back late. Dae availed herself of the tiny bathing accommodations, the cold water ensuring she was quick. With most magic diverted to the wards and efforts to keep the rest of the town unscathed, amenities were on tight rations. She could’ve attempted to manipulate the water toward something like warmth, but the knowledge of two more weeks of long days ahead lent her restraint.

She’d brought a single contraceptive potion along for the trip, unsure if it was presumptuous or a laughable underestimation. After less than a full day of the trip, she didn’t know if she’d manage to summon the energy for it to be a problem. Perhaps a longer-term method was in order, but that was a problem for her future self to contemplate.

After swallowing the potion, shuddering at the astringent taste of her cheaper alternative to the fancy vials Ezzyn had provided, Dae stole out to the house where Ezzyn was staying. It went smoother than she’d expected, the night shift centered more on monitoring the warded perimeter than keeping track of the mages inside. She had a moment of dithering over whether to leave a note for Zhenya but ultimately did not. It was easier this way. No awkward questions, no physical evidence they’d have to ignore tomorrow.

She barely managed a soft tap on Ezzyn’s door before it opened and he pulled her in.

A single lamp was the cabin’s sole illumination. It kept so much in shadow, Dae’s eyes slow to adjust.

Ezzyn didn’t let her go. Herded her back against the door, mouth descending. Kissed her with a fervor that belied the weariness she’d seen. She answered with her own desire, all thought of questions and answers and important conversations driven from her mind. As they shed clothing and her hands caressed his back, she felt a leanness that hadn’t been there the last time, and it only made her hold on to him tighter. She let him draw her to the bed, opened her legs to him, and welcomed his heat.

Rarely did his mouth leave her. If it was not on her lips, then he kissed her neck, muffled his groans against the top of her shoulder. He brought them to climax twice before slumping beside her on the bed, arms wrapping around her to keep her close to his chest. She rested her head against him, the steadiness of his breathing a comfort.

“I’m sorry, Anadae. I couldn’t … Ican’t.Den’olm is too important. I have to—”

“Ezzyn.” Dae stroked his cheek. He quieted, leaning into her touch, eyes closed. “I’m here. We’re here. We’ll figure out the rest once we’re back at Sylveren. Now … now is all that matters.”

It wasn’t what she’d planned to say, but here in the dark, Eylle’s poison barely contained outside the door, there was nothing left. He still wanted her. That was enough.

He lifted his chin for another kiss. Nudged her onto her stomach so he could cover her from behind. Demanded and gave without words, his lips opening only to give her another searing kiss. Touched her with something akin to desperation, as if she would disappear.

She didn’t know how to reassure him with words. Didn’t try beyond her first calm statement.

I’m here and I’m real and I’m with you,she told him with her body.We’re not giving up.

Eventually, they fell asleep, limbs intertwined.

Dae woke early in the morning to an empty bed and an empty house.

When she arrived at the field tent, Ezzyn was already inside.

“Are you ready to start the isolation enchantments?” he asked, eyes fixed on a crude map of the town divided into various sectors. Dirt crusted the outer edge of his hands, and a water stain was fading from the hem of his cloak. How many hours had he already been at work while he left her to sleep?

Dae took all of it in, noted the bruises under his eyes, which were stark against his pale skin. She set down her bag and pulled out the schedule she’d finished drafting over a meager breakfast. “Yes.”

His finger grazed hers as he accepted the paper, lips twitching as if he wanted to say more. He didn’t. Merely gave the schedule a glance and marked his approval before sending her to find Professor Kuri and then meet him in the field.

Chapter 23

Hedidn’taskherto come to him again. It might have bothered her, except that by the third day in Den’olm, she was exhausted, often skimping on dinner if it meant that many more minutes saved for sleep. Zhenya and she managed a few words morning and night before seeking their respective beds or stumbling out the door. They never mentioned each other’s absences on the first night of the trip, and soon after, the sheer amount of work drove such trifling thoughts from Dae’s mind.

Their two weeks went in a flash, and, at least for Dae, it felt as if precious little progress was made. She crouched at the edge of a tainted patch of ground, digging in her bag for her notes to record the last measurements for this experiment-in-progress. The soil had already been purified once with fire, rows of wards sticking up like planting stakes at staggered intervals, each testing her enchantments for delayed release ice spells.

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