We scampered out with Sage whining.

  “Two months. Two whole months.”

  Ilya grinned. “Actually, it is going to be more. Don’t forget the off days and the time you take to sleep.”

  “You don’t mean…”

  “Father said you need to charge it all the way.” Ilya laughed.

  “This is not fair.” Sage began again and I walked away.

  I needed to find Saha. She needed to know that her duchy was losing its autonomy. It was going to be a difficult conversation but I needed to be had. I steeled myself and took a step towards the stairs. As if out of magic, the elf appeared in front of me and stood in front of me imperiously, blocking my way.

  Grek who had been following stepped in front and bowed. “Lord Sylvari.”

  “I have come to discuss my terms of service.” Sylvari announced.

  Grek looked at me for an answer.

  I shrugged. “Serve the empire. Serve father.”

  The elf looked at me and smiled. “You grace, my service to the empire stands apart from my service to you. You have bested and I am honor bound.”

  Grek stumbled. Sylvari had used the words ‘your grace’ as an honorific. The term ‘your grace’ was used for dukes and duchesses. I was not a duke. And although, I had been sent here to become the new Voss family head, that did not mean that I was destined to be the duke. To try and claim the duchy was fraught with peril. You had to face the old duke. Stand face to face against old spirit. Look at him in the eyes and vanquish him. Many had tried. All of them had failed.

  This elf lord thought that I could vanquish the old spirit. That was not a given. I might have been a reaper in my past life but my body was not like the one in dark waters. In the dark waters, I could meld. I could swim. I could hide. And in a sudden flurry, I could strike. Here I was... solid. Even to hunt those damned larvae, I had to run up stairs after stairs. I had to plow through people. And the fight itself, that had should have been over in seconds had almost ended up with a damned escaping. The whole episode had been humbling.

  And even if the elf was right. Even if I claimed these lands, I wasn’t going to end up as the duke of the Voss Mountain Range. Father had just taken away the autonomy of the range. That meant that the mountain range wasn’t going to have a duke anytime soon. The range, was for now an imperial property. A land under the immediate oversight of the emperor and his office. And as soon as Sage charged the imperial throne, an imperial chancellor was going to walk in and start taking control of the civilian structures. While the imperial army would start enforcing martial control. And only when the damned were gone and the beast wave was dispersed would the emperor decide what to do with these lands. Give them back to be run by the nobility or give them to the imperial senate to run.

  All of that left me in a difficult position. No, I wasn’t annoyed about losing a title I never really had, I was wondering how to respond to the long eared snob. I couldn’t just say, I am not going to be a duke. That would raise questions. And the emperor’s orders were to be kept a secret for now. The whole thing was perplexing. Why did these people care about titles so much?

  Thankfully, Grek had understood my thoughts and was engaged in a back and forth with the elf. He was a really good mouth.

  “I thought you would have cleaned your face by now elf lord.” Grek responded to something that elf had said.

  “Lady Voss has painted my face herself. I would keep the sign of her grace’s favor on my face for everyone to see.” The elf said haughtily.

  Grek shook his head. “As a sign of shame or as a sign of honor?”

  “That is for the beholder to discern.” The elf smiled sharply.

  I gave on the talking. “Elf lord. Do you have stones?”

  The elf blinked rapidly. “Yes?”

  “I need your stones.” I nodded.

  The elf looked at me with cooling eyes. His jaw tightened and his long fingers curled up into fists. The tall lanky elf’s ear turned red and for a minute it looked like he was going to lunge at me, and start swinging his scrawny arms. What was wrong with this man? He really like doing the talking but as soon I did the talking back, he got upset.

  Grek cleared his throat. “My lord Sylvari. His highness doesn’t mean your stones. He is not even aware of the game of lords. The emperor did tell you that his highness was only two and half months old.”

  Sylvari leaned back and his expressions calmed. “That’s good. Otherwise…”

  Sylvari shook his head and then his look changed to one of incredulity. “Wait, the emperor was telling the truth? I got bested by a baby?”

  Grek narrowed his eyes and his voice gained an edge. “The emperor’s words are never untrue, my lord.”

  Sylvari waved his hands. “Apologise punisher. I just can’t believe that...”

  “You got bested by a new Truechild. And yes he now wants you to gather pebbles.” Grek continued.

  “Mouth.” I said in a warning tone.

  Grek gave me a short bow and turn back to Sylvari with a smile. “His highness wants mana stones. The kind that the wall of service is made off.”

  “Better.” I added.

  “Mana stones. Sure. But why?” Sylvari looked at me.

  “To hunt the damned.” I smiled.”

  Sylvari jumped back. Grek flinched. Ilya who was walking to me made a clicking noise with her tongue.

  “Voss, stop showing your lower teeth. That is not how people smile.” Ilya held out a sword to me and explained. “This is a basic mana iron blade. It’s not much but it will channel your cold and ice through it.”

  I took it and nodded. “Thank you.”

  Ilya turned to Sylvari. “Voss doesn’t know what your game is. And he doesn’t need to know. Not when damned are attacking the range.”

  The elf straightened. “I see your grace. I will just have to impose on his grace’s hospitality until he figures out how I can serve him. You won’t begrudge me and my men some rest and respite from the cold, will you?”

  Ilya grimaced.

  I was getting bored of all this talking. I waved my hand. “Fine. Just don’t make me punch you.”

  And began walking past the stunned elf only to be stopped again. This time by the advisor.

  “Your highness. A moment.” The advisor began walking with me. “Is it true?”

  I looked at the old man. How had he come to know of all the developments so soon? I didn’t need to answer. The old man learned everything from my silence.

  The old man sighed defeated. “We tried. We tried so much.” He looked up at me with a pleading look “Your highness, a small request. Keep the Voss family alive. Perform the favorites ceremony with our young lady. Don’t let the family fall to obscurity. Please, don’t scorn us. We have given everything we have for the empire.”

  I stopped and put a hand on the advisor’s shoulder. “Calm. Serve Saha. I will make everything well again.”

  I left the advisor behind and started climbing stairs.

  “You... did well there.” Ilya said after sometime.

  Ilya and Grek were keping pace with me. Grek because he was my body guard and Ilya because her suites were just opposite mine.

  Ilya continued. “I mean, the way you speak. Or you don’t speak. I didn’t think you could calm a man’s nerves like that. But, now you have promised a servant of your favorite employment for life. That means you will have to pay him a salary.”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  I looked at Ilya cluelessly.

  “Do you even have money brother?”

  I stumbled.

  Ilya snorted. “You have a lot to learn little brother.”

  Money. Now this was a new problem. Why couldn’t the world be as simple as dark waters. You hunted, you took essence and you lived. Grumbling in my mind I climbed staircase after staircase and finally reached the twelfth floor. We needed a better way to come and go.

  “Here.” Ilya threw a pouch my way. “These are fortress tokens. It will let you travel to your floor when you are inside the fortress buildings.”

  What? Tokens? How long had she had something like this? All that climbing. Walking. Running. Couldn’t we have used these earlier? I looked at the pouch in my hand and back at Ilya.

  Ilya grinned. “So, Sage was right. Your expression do change.”

  Expressions. Expressions? I was going to show her my expressions.

  Ilya reached past me and knocked on my door.

  The door flew open and Saha rushed out. “Voss!”

  In blur of hair and wind Saha lifted up my tunic to check on one of my wounds. She moved to another and then checked a third. I grabbed her and pulled her to me to make her stop.

  She threw her hands around me and muttered. “Thank the blessed mana. You are healed.”

  I nodded and gave a smiling Ilya a flat look.

  Saha just then noted Ilya and stiffened in my arms. She bowed. “Dutchess.”

  Ilya raised her hand. “Oh, stop that. I am his big sister. That means I am Ilya to you.”

  Saha smiled and nodded. “Thank you. My lady. Please call me Saha. Would you like to come in?”

  Ilya shook her head. “No. I just came to bring you, your lost little puppy back. He got surrounded by lords and politicians and looked lost and confused.”

  Saha closed her eyes for a long moment and looked at me. “I should have been there.”

  Ilya took a step back. “You both have a lot to talk about.” Ilya tuned around and began walking to her suites with a chuckle “And when you are done maybe you can see if you can increase your record to forty seconds?”

  Saha looked at Ilya confused.

  Ilya tunred around with a grin. “You know before you pass out.”

  Meaning dawned and Saha look turned to a blush.

  Saha turned to me and in whisper asked. “You were counting?”

  Ilya answered through her open her door. “Oh yes he’s been counting. He like you looking at you when you are in your bliss. So he counts how long he can keep you there.”

  “How can she hear us?” Saha asked with widening eyes.

  “Wind magic.” Ilya response reached us as if she was standing in front of us.

  Saha pulled me in by my tunic and shut the door behind me. I watched her pace for a few minutes and she turned to me.

  Before she could say anything I raised a hand and said. “I have some bad news.”

  I told her about the emperor’s decision and the role I was going to play in taking of the control crystal. I didn’t hide anything. I loved her. Ceremony or not, she was my favorite. I saw Saha’s shoulder droop and her head lower. I expected her to shout. Curse me. Curse the emperor. Instead she closed her eyes and apologized.

  “I am sorry my lord. Other Truechilds have received duchies and we couldn’t even give you that. We Vosses let our pride get in the way of our future.”

  I scooted close to Saha and hugged her. “I don’t need a duchy. I don’t even understand what a duchy does. All I want is you and a place to live in.”

  Saha looked at me and smiled slightly. “Then a cave in the mountains would do?”

  “My lady, I wouldn’t care. But something tells me you would.” I replied.

  Saha leaned into me. “I don’t want to say that I would. But I would.”

  I put my arms around Saha and pulled her to me. “Tell me how to make everything well. I will do it.”

  Saha looked at me and kissed my lips. “Thank you.”

  “I mean it.”

  Saha turned to me and kissed me again. This time the kiss lasted longer. It became harder. Her hands began to roam around my body. One of my hands moved up to her breast. Saha closed the gap in between us and pressed her body to mine.

  I needed to stop. Oh but having her in my arms felt so nice. No, I needed to say my part.

  “Saha.” I said in a soft whisper.

  “Take off your trousers.” Saha whispered back.

  I cleared my throat. “Saha.”

  She reached for my belt and I stopped her.

  “Saha the way we smell, excites everyone around us when we Truechild’s and makes them lose control. That is me worry my lady. That your desires are not natural.”

  Saha turned to me. “This again?”

  “Yes.”

  “Don’t the way I smell arouse you too.” Saha asked.

  I stopped. “Yes. But its different. You are imprinted on me. That is based on mana. I like the way your mana smells, the way it feels on your skin, and the way it hums in your voice.”

  “So, how is it any different from the way you smell?”

  “It’s mana. It is understandable. Not this pheramonic alchemy.”

  Saha smiled at me and closed the gap between us. “I like the way you smell.” Saha moved to my neck and took in a deep breath. She moved to the other side and took another breath. She moved closer and licked me.

  The feeling of her breath and her tongue made me shiver in pleasure.

  “Or, do you not like that I breathe in your scent?”

  Was she jesting? I just looked at her.

  Saha reached down and took off her top. “Or do you not like the way I smell?”

  “Saha.”

  Saha looked at me impatiently. “My lord. I have lost a lot today. Is it too much to ask for you to take my mind of things? “

  Suddenly, my hesitance felt wrong. My leaned closer to her and took in a deep breath. My body’s reaction to her was immediate. I loved the way she smelled. My body cried out to let everything go and take her. Make her mine. But I held myself back. I was not just a Truechild. I was a hunter. I did not let pain and emotions guide me.

  Saha saw the need in my eyes and moved. Those beautiful mounds bounced and my eyes drifted down to the pale cloth holding her chest down. I almost my train of thought.

  This was not like before. Saha had turned the mage lights off earlier. In just the fire light, we had touched each other and observed each other. But it was in the dark shadows. Now the light illuminated her perfect ivory skin. Her smooth back. Her scintillating spine and that long neck.

  Saha turned her back to me. “Would you help me with the ties, my lord?”

  I looked down the ties to the silk cloth holding her breast in place. With a slow hesitant touch I ran my finger down her neck. Marveling at the difference between my marble white finger and her bone white skin.

  Saha sighed at my touch and took in a deep breath. Her barely covered chest arching prettily. “Its getting hard to breathe, my lord. Please undo my knot.”

  I touched the ties and started to pull. At the same time Saha moved and somehow the silk cloth fluttered down from my hand. My breath caught in my lungs. Saha turned around half way giving me a good look at one of her breast. And smiled.

  “Like what you see?” Saha asked.

  “Saha. We need to.”

  “Voss. I need you to understand something.” Saha’s voice gained a stern edge.

  I straightened and looked at her. “Yes, my lady?”

  Saha looked me in the eyes and began. “Voss, I am going to take your trousers off. Then I am going to take your member and rub it all over my face. I am going to suck it, your stones and swallow your seed. And then I am going to do it again.” She steeped closer to me. So close that I could feel the heat radiating off of her. She continued in a lusty growl “And yes, that is because I like the way you smell. But I want that. You are the man of dreams, made for me by a god, and I am going to enjoy you as much as I can.”

  I reached up and took one of her breasts in my hand. I couldn’t help it. I wanted her and she was so close. She wanted me too.

  “I see hunger in your eyes, my lord. Want something?” Saha voice was husky now.

  I growled.

  Saha undid the straps on her waist. Her long skirt fell to the floor. Leaving her beautiful body exposed. I leaned down to kiss her. She giggled and twirled away. I reached out, she giggled and danced away. I liked that. I liked her laugh. The way her hair swayed and the way her round breast bounced. But I was getting frustrated. I wanted kiss her. I wanted to touch her. I wanted her.

  Saha moved to a sofa and stopped. “My lord, you don’t like talking. So, don’t. Show me how you feel.” She sat down on the chair and opened her legs for me. And with a shy smile she asked me “How do I look?”

  I looked down below. Saha had shaved for me. And she was stunning. Her wide legs revealed ivory white skin reddening to pink. Her insides glistened in the light. Inviting me to play. I moved to her. I knelt down to her eye level and looked deep into her eyes. Letting ever look into my eyes. Letting her understand how I felt. What she meant to me. What I felt for her. How mush I needed her.

  Her breath caught in her throat and she pulled me to her. I kissed her deep and hungrily. I broke the kiss and licked her lips, her chin, her neck and kept going to down. Down to her cleavage. To her soft mounds and to her nipples. I kissed them. Sucked them.

  Saha clawed at my back. Pulling at my tunic and in frustrated huff almost tore it off me. She ran her fingernails down my torso and started undoing my belt. She looked hungrily at me. “I love your body.”

  We kissed our tongue’s twirling around each other. My hands roamed around Saha’s body. Her hand reached down and wrapped around my manhood. She moved up and down, stroking me and tugged. Pulling me in between her legs.

  I broke our kiss and looked at Saha. Her need filled eyes looked back at me. Trying to understand my hesitance.

  “What?” She asked in a heavy breath

  “Not like this.”

  She looked at me clueless for a second and then arched her back when I leaned down a bit one of her nipples. I tugged in between my teeth while my other hand massaged her other breast. I changed the breast and continued

  Saha moved her hand. Trying to reach her sex to touch it. I grabbed her hand and stopped her. I kissed it and moved back to her body. Kissing and licking the side of her breast and under them. I breathed in her scent and my hands tightened around her thighs. I moved down. To her belly button. I licked it. Twirled my tongue around it and moved lower. To the smooth skin just shaved. I liked it. I could smell the scent front her sex. I looked down and saw her nub. I licked the skin just above. Saha’s legs twitched in anticipation. I decided to tease her just a bit move. I licked her to the left and then slowly on the right. All the time I reveled in her scent. My fingers on her inner thighs were soaked with her arousal. And I wanted to taste her.

  I looked at Saha. Her wide aroused eyes were looking at me. Her hips twitched upwards for me to continue.

  “My lady, you wanted to see how I felt? Watch me.”

  I licked her. Saha moaned and arched her back. My hands lifted her legs up. Getting her legs out of the way. And I licked. Up and down. On the sides. On her nub. And then inside her.

  “Voss. Aah! Voss.” Saha cried out and then shouted. “I need you on top of me.”

  I wanted to enjoy playing with her sex some more but this was not about me. She needed me to make her feel loved and special. So. I gave her nub one last flick with my tongue and got off my knees.

  Saha squirmed and with heavy breaths took all of me in. Her fingers roamed up down my abs, my pecks and my sides. I stood there as she took in my naked body. It should have felt strange and awkward. But, it felt right. I wanted to think more about that and I would have only if Saha didn’t take me in her mouth. Her head moved back and forth twice and then she rolled her tongue on my tip sending a shiver of pleasure. I curled my toes as she went lower and lower. Her tongue rolling all around my shaft. The waves of pleasure stopped and I opened my eyes. Looking down I saw her licking my length with deep heavy breaths.

  I moved away from her mouth and said. “Part your legs.”

  Saha looked up at me with a hungry smile. And then reclined back on the sofa. She put one leg on the armrest and then the other. Her eyes roamed my body once again and she whispered. “You are beautiful.”

  I looked down at her parted legs. Her ivory white folds and her glistening pink flesh. I shook my head. “No, you are beautiful.”

  Saha reached down and tugged me towards her. I stepped closer and Saha slid me in.

  Saha gasped. A moan of pleasure escaped my mouth. Then we moved together. Closing the gap in between us with very stroke. I took her hands in one of mine and held her arms above her head. Her scent hit me and my thrust became faster. She wrapped her legs around my hips pulling me deeper and deeper.

  I lowered my head and looked at my woman. She was so close and so was I. Being like this in this bright light made me feel so naked. And looking at Saha, her naked flesh and desire on display made me revel in the sensations. I liked being like this with her. I Liked the way she looked at me.

  Saha legs tightened around me. I reached out and turned her head back to me. “Look at me. I want to see you in bliss.”

  “D… Don’t stop… for me. Take me… Voss.” Saha said in between pants.

  My hips sped up at her words. “Are you… sure?”

  “Yes. Watch… me.”

  I didn’t last long. I tried but I couldn’t hold on. Saha began to shake. Her eyes rolled back and her whole body trembled. Waves of pleasure made her cry out with the intensity of our lovemaking. And then with a look of bliss she went taught like a pulled string. With a handful of more thrust I cried out in pleasure and collapsed on top of her.

  “Hold me… Don’t let me go.” Saha said in between pants.

  Saha trembled and twitched under me. I put my arms around her and held her to me.

  “Never.” I growled and added. “I love you.”

  Saha turned her head to look at me with a blissful smile. “I love you too.”

  I picked her up from the chair and took her to my bed.