Tugging Keshiema's hand, Dásos pointed out an overgrown trail, "We'll follow this stream to find Asmoday later."

  Nodding, Keshiema committed the trailhead to memory. "Sounds good," she yawned. Training left her exhausted and starving. Leaning on Dásos for support, she told herself she could eat and nap soon. "Can we go back to Life first?" She asked when her stomach growled.

  Spinning her around, he caught her against his chest, "How about a shortcut?"

  "Have your powers fully recovered?" She asked, her brow creased, concern twinkling in her frosty blue eyes.

  Softly kissing the tips of her fingers, he smiled coyly, "Don't worry, Little Sparrow, I'm fine. A little teleport won't hurt me."

  'He's doing it again,' she thought. 'Avoiding direct answers, walking around the truth.' She shook her head, refusing to accept it. "That's not what I asked, Day."

  A shadow passed through his eyes. Dásos knew it was his own fault, but the fractured trust still hurt. "I'm sorry, Kesh, there was no intent for deception. I've been able to spend a significant amount of time in Ethera since we've come here, my powers are fully recovered."

  The straight answer came as music to her ears. Leaning into him, she let Dásos teleport them back to the cove. Taking her hand, he led them through the waterfall into Ethera where he had already set up a cozy picnic, complete with pillows and blankets.

  "I'm sorry, Keshiema," Dásos said as he climbed the ancient oak tree. "I should have known your spiritual core was causing your instability." He gathered a handful of acorns and jumped down, landing on the balls of his feet. 'The knowledge is there," he tried to find the words to explain himself. "It's just buried with a plethora of other things. I should've meditated in it, tried to remember."

  She put her finger over his lips while taking an acorn from him, "Nonsense. You hardly knew there was an issue." She ate the fruit, quickly swallowing it to get past the bitter taste.

  "Mmm," he hummed, taking her hand away from his face, "do you have any idea how divine your scent is?" A light kiss on her wrist summoned a blush and bright pink tones. His mouth watered as he remembered the taste of her blood.

  Taking a deep breath, she summoned every ounce of calm she could command before wrapping her arms over his shoulders. "Care for another taste?" She asked, tilting her head to expose her neck.

  "Only if you go first," Dásos chuckled softly, kissing her neck and fighting the desire to bite. Their power was far too imbalanced, he needed her to make the first move.

  His earthy scent enveloped her, calmed her, filling her with a sense of inner peace, taming her inner turmoil. Her jaw ached in a familiar way as her teeth turned sharp. "Are you sure?" She asked, preparing herself for rejection.

  His chest rose and fell as he took in her intoxicating aroma, "Little Sparrow, I've never, in all my existence, been more sure of anything."

  An ancient instinct took over, releasing her from complicated thought, from the pull of her unstable soul. Her teeth sank into his neck, and the taste of time and stardust consumed her as dark green swirls danced around them. Moaning in ecstasy, he lifted her face to his and kissed her deeply.

  Breaking away, Keshiema gently pulled Dásos to her neck. Expecting a sharp pain, she gasped as a wave of pleasure wracked her entire being and her aura exploded outward to join his. He kissed her neck as both of their wounds sealed themselves in the presence of her unrestrained aura.

  The small amount of blood satisfied one desire while stoking the flames of another. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, running a hand through his hair as their mouths connected again.

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  "Tell me stop," he huffed, placing his forehead on hers, "please."

  Keshiema leaned back, throwing off his balance, and causing him to fall forward. Twisting around, he caught the brunt of the fall, letting her land on top of him. "I can't," she whispered, pulling him back to her and rolling over so he was on top.

  He leaned in, her body cradling his in perfect design. Craving his touch, she slipped her hand under his shirt as she caressed his back, and as soon as she wished he would return the favor, his own hand slid up, finding purchase on her supple chest.

  "More," she begged between passion-filled kisses. He complied by slowly working his way down and cutting her belt with his claw.

  He paused. Although he sensed her desire deep within ever fiber of his being, he wanted her permission, needing it with a desperation he had never felt before.

  Feeling the hesitation mixed with his lustful hunger, she whispered in his ear, "I need you, Dásos."

  "If you change your mind at any point," he started.

  "You'll know," she cut him off. She nibbled his ear, "but I'll say it aloud, just so you're sure."

  ***

  The sun hung low in the sky when a cool breeze jolted Keshiema awake. Unwrapping herself from Dásos's gentle hold, careful not to wake him, she rolled over. Before they fell asleep, he had summoned her a new set of clothes. As she picked up the small bundle, another gust of wind blew through the clearing.

  Kneeling next to Dásos, she pulled the blanket over his chest and lightly kissed his forehead. The memory of the moment they shared had her blushing brightly. Clutching her blanket to her chest she left to bathe under the waterfall.

  As she washed her body, she reminisced on the intimate moments. She sighed softly, enjoying the faint echoes of pleasure, her body reacting to the memories.

  What Dásos gave her was more than passion and lust. He gave her a part of his heart and soul, and in return she did the same. She finally found where she belonged, and that was in his arms. He was the home she had longed for for so long.

  Her mouth watered when she thought of the taste of his blood, and the power it sent coursing through her. She felt his presence even now, and knew he was still asleep. When they were together she could sense what he wanted before he spoke, and the way he acted on her desires told her he felt the connection too.

  Maybe that was why she had no doubts about her choice. Her heart was at peace.

  ***

  Sitting under the first stars of twilight, Keshiema brushed and braided her hair. A snake slithered past her, no doubt on the way to its den, reminding her she needed to meet with Asmoday. Her list of tasks and responsibilities never ended. Brief respites were apparently too much to ask for.

  Turning toward the waterfall, she contemplated waking Dásos to guide her, wanting to spend her time with him rather than another. 'He looked so tired,' she thought. 'But I shouldn't go alone, either.' She had grown far too used to constantly having a guard. Playing with her hands, she contemplated her options.

  Bats circled overhead, calling to each other as they hunted. "Umm, little bats?" she called softly, "can one of you send a message for me?" A lone brown bat landed on a branch above her, squawking loudly to get her attention. "Oh, thank you," she saluted the adorable creature. "Would you ask Cresil to meet me here? I need a body guard to leave my cove." The winged mammal smiled and took flight, squeaking rapidly as it disappeared into the distance.

  In no time at all, the little bat returned, with Cresil in town not far behind and deeply out of breath. Stopping just short of the clearing. "Not...fair," he wheezed, "you...have...wings." As lazy as he was, that hardly meant he was unfit; after a short minute, he straightened and entered the sanctuary, freezing as he took in the enchanted wonder.

  And before him, his friend, like kin, practically a daughter to him, sitting perched before the waterfall, looked different. As he approached her, he sensed another presence, a powerful aura lingered around her. In her eyes, he found something he had wished to see for so long: true self-confidence, acceptance, calming the storm of emotions he usually found there.

  He wanted to be angry with the Primordial, who's scent still lingered around her, but the way she held herself, relaxed, finally at peace, refused to let him. Her "innocence," as the humans so oddly put it, could not last forever. She was an adult, and had been for a rather long while.

  So, as he greeted his young friend, the once sad and lost child turned strong self-dependant warrior, he smiled warmly, kindly, reassuringly. He would never allow her to think he was ashamed of her.