The thought elicited a sigh as he departed the Citadel to find the fae. For as badly as he hoped Heliger was right and he had more than a chance in the Terran sun with Isadora, a sense of dread remained firmly planted in his heart. Hope wasn't inherently dangerous as long as expectations were tempered, but he'd experienced the heartache of disappointment so many times his current enthusiasm seemed foolish.
He simply couldn't endure another letdown—and seeing Isadora again only amplified the sensation.
Traveling in mist, he reached the beach in quick time, easily locating the spot east of the southern gate bridge she’d mentioned in her message. There, he reformed near the tide rushing across the sandy shore only to realize the fae seemed to be absent.
There was no scent to follow, which seemed strange until he recalled Isadora's claim of knowing how to mix a magic potion to mask it.
She was obviously putting her knowledge to good use, explaining why not even the vampires had spotted her over the past three days—a comforting thought.
Perhaps he should've put more faith in Isadora's ability to protect herself, at least where it concerned hiding. It would also be nice to talk with her without suspending his respiration for prolonged periods, and thankfully, all it took was a visual scan of the beach to spot her standing several yards away.
She didn't seem to realize he was there, her back turned while gazing out over the ocean as if deep in thought. Such distraction offered a moment to take in the details of her form, and he didn't resist. From her chestnut hair pulled back in a ponytail with strands caught in the breeze, his gaze drifted downward across the curves concealed by her tank top and over the jeans hugging her ass. She's painfully beautiful.
In the absence of her scent, his focus shifted to physical desire, which was hammering at him mercilessly. With it came that sense of hope he'd tried and failed to contain, serving as a potent reminder of what was at stake.
And what he may never have.
Deep down, possessive instincts clamored at the thought. The possibility of never claiming Isadora as his lover stabbed like a knife, and yet he was acutely aware of the need for caution. So what was the proper course of action to take? How did one proceed when there were no viable options?
In speaking her name to get her attention, Mathias had the foreboding feeling he was soon to find out.
— TWENTY-TWO —
Isadora had never truly understood the words sexual frustration, or why some of her friends seemed so annoyed by it.
But after spending three days away from Mathias, she felt like a fucking expert.
Ever since arriving in Sutrelle, her newfound interest in physical activities had driven her up a wall, and if she'd known imagining such intimacies would make her so … restless, she never would've parted ways with him.
Despite knowing it was the right choice for the tasks at hand, keeping a distance from the vampire long enough to perform a significant cultivation was one of the most difficult things she’d ever done. He continually haunted her thoughts, stoking her newfound desires, and her only distraction was exploring the world he called home.
Thankfully, the ploy worked well enough, and Sutrelle was a beautiful place. With a vast mountain range, oceans on all sides, friendly people, and an unexpected array of wildlife—including griffins!—Isadora was truly glad she'd agreed to help the world recover.
She was also surprised to find there weren't as many vampires as expected, or at least, their population rivaled that of the humans and elves. Most resided in the Citadel, while the mortals had established a few settlements, the biggest being Seaside, a town at the foot of the southern gate bridge connecting to Georgia.
But most remarkably, a tour of the town revealed there wasn't a single person present who felt threatened by their immortal neighbors, nor was blood a demand instead of freely given. Residents even considered The Five their de facto leaders, and from what Isadora gathered after listening in on various conversations, Mathias had the final say in many affairs. He's like some kind of vampire king.
The thought didn't make her any less anxious to see him again, and as the sunset painted the sky in deep purple tones, her only question was how to break the ice once he arrived.
Sadly, the more Isadora considered the situation, the less she knew how to proceed. There were so many ways things could go wrong, and no way to know how Mathias would react to her news. He'd spent so much time trying to convince her he was dangerous that it was easy to imagine him rebuking the notion of being her mate, and even if he didn't, he'd certainly resist drinking her blood to learn if they had a link—saying he wasn't already aware of one.
Either way, she couldn't blame him for worrying over losing control. The issue would’ve concerned her as well had he not released her in the ruin while operating on instinct alone. Still, it was doubtful the encounter had eased his uncertainty, so she'd researched a means of proving the danger was truly minimal—and as luck had it, there was a magical method in her spell book that would do nicely.
But how should she approach him with the information? Was caution warranted? Should she flirt to make her point? Or just spit it out and hope for the best?
The questions were too complicated to easily answer, leaving her tied up in knots. Even getting dressed had been a chore. She'd packed several garments for her visit to Sutrelle—not that cultivation required clothing, and was actually easiest to achieve in the nude. So she'd spent the better part of her stay au naturel, but that definitely wasn't the right way to greet a male she knew would make a suitable mate.
At least, not until he knew the facts.
Sadly, all of her clothing options ranged from too cute to too scant, which wouldn't do. Isadora didn't want Mathias thinking anything was out of the ordinary, and finally decided on a pair of jeans and a powder blue tank top just to keep things simple.
Still, the longer she waited for Mathias to arrive, the worse her worries got, leaving her staring out over the ocean in between sporadic bouts of pacing until his voice caught her by surprise.
“Isadora?”
Gasping, she spun around to spy the vampire standing ten feet away—and somehow, he seemed more handsome than she recalled. Whether it was his intense, silver gaze, or the fact that he hadn't shaved, her heart fluttered just taking in his visage.
As for clothing, he'd taken the practical route as well, wearing a simple white button down and black slacks. The garments weren't form fitting, but still outlined his muscular physique well enough to paint a picture she personally enjoyed, and the mere sight was more frustrating than expected.
She'd never interacted with a male who'd captured her interests before, and keeping him in the dark over the matter instead of acting on instinct felt unnatural, even pointless.
But considering the inherent oddity of their relationship, she opted to be careful for now, and thankfully didn’t have to search for an alternative subject.
Instead, Mathias curiously asked, “Are you wearing the potion that masks your scent?”
“I am, though it only lasts a few hours at a time. But I have plenty left, and I can make more.”
Enlightened, the vampire nodded, lips parting as if ready to comment further. But at the last moment, something down the beach captured her attention, and it was the biggest reason she'd wanted Mathias to join her at that particular spot.
Wasting no time, she rushed over to grab his hand with the words, “Oh, come quick, she's here!”
The announcement put a confused look in his silver eyes, yet he allowed her to pull him along, moving several meters down the beach before coming to an abrupt stop and pointing with the words, “There, look!”
Glancing back, she watched Mathias follow the direction with his eyes to a spot only ten meters away where, emerging from the surf rushing around their feet, was the largest sea turtle she'd ever encountered.
With vibrant orange markings upon her shell and crown, the animal was nine feet long from head to tail, crawling over t
he sand in search of a suitable spot to nest.
Releasing Mathias' hand, Isadora approached the reptile to crouch at her side and announce, “She's looking for a place to lay her eggs, and there's quite a few!”
Stunned, the vampire stared at the animal, remarking, “I had no idea sea turtles could get so big.”
“No? I mean I'm three centuries old, and she's the biggest I've ever seen, but you're five thousand!”
Smirking, he countered, “That doesn't mean I've spent much time with wildlife.”
With a giggle, she decided that point was fair enough, then waved him in closer with the words, “Come say hello!”
Hesitating, Mathias admitted, “I'm not sure I should bother her.”
“You won't,” Isadora explained. “Normally, your presence would make her seek another spot, but I'm here, and she trusts me. So come give her a pat!”
After another moment of deliberation, Mathias must've decided she was right because he finally did just that. Getting within arm's reach, he crouched to place a palm against the turtle's head—which was big enough for two hands.
In response, the animal raised it against his palm, eyes closing as if enjoying the contact. It was an endearing sight, though Isadora's heart didn't lurch until she realized the reaction put a smile on Mathias' face.
It wasn't the first time he'd shown off the handsome expression, but it seemed even more alluring now, making it difficult to keep her mind on the present. So when the turtle returned her attention to the surf and snagged some seaweed washing up with the water, Isadora didn't hesitate to use it as a distraction.
“That's not food, silly!” Tugging the weeds away, she giggled and added, “You like crab and jellyfish, remember?”
Following up her playful reprimand with a kiss to the reptile's snout, she sat back and asked Mathias, “Isn't she beautiful?”
Glancing up at the vampire, her grin faded in realizing he was watching her with a studious light in his silver eyes.
“She certainly is,” he replied softly.
Somehow, she didn't think he was actually referring to the turtle, heat blooming in her cheeks as the swarm of butterflies in her stomach went wild. The most handsome man she’d ever met was now gazing at her as if she was the only thing worth beholding, scrambling her thoughts until she nearly leaned over to kiss him.
She even had to question her reason for hesitating, unable to recall why giving into her urges would be a bad idea.
Thankfully, her forgetfulness offered Mathias enough time to clear his throat and return them both to the present by stating, “But I trust sitting on a beach talking to turtles isn't all you've been doing for the past three days.”
“Huh?” she asked dumbly, uncertain why he was talking about turtles until she looked down to see the one sitting between them again. “Oh! No, of course not. I just found her yesterday and was amazed by her size. But I have been checking on her because the water temperature is colder than what she needs, and these animals are endangered in Sutrelle. Sadly, without warmer sand, all her offspring will be male, too, meaning … ”
Realizing she was rambling, Isadora looked up to make sure Mathias wasn't bored by all the details. Yet he seemed to be hanging on every word, so she drew out in conclusion, “You know, that's not good for procreation.”
“No, that wouldn't be helpful, and I hope your efforts give them a chance.” With that said, he waved a hand in her direction and added, “But I'm more curious about your needs.”
She blinked. “My needs?”
Nodding, he pointed out, “You've been here for three days now, and no one's heard a word until you summoned me here. So … how have you been?”
The question sounded awkward, as if coming from a man who wanted to pass off an air of neutrality to hide genuine concern, and she grinned.
“Why? You weren't worried, were you?”
Proving she'd nailed it, he rolled his eyes and chided, “Isadora … .”
“Sorry!” she rushed out with a snicker, deciding not to tease him further if only because it was important to finally reveal the truth.
And yet, she hesitated. Several meters down the shore was a fisherman's pier from which several humans and elves now headed in their direction. Perhaps the group wouldn't intrude, but they'd likely come within earshot, and she didn't want rumors circulating before they'd even figured things out.
So she stood with the words, “I've been fine, but … I need to talk to you alone, Mathias, and there's a group of people nearby who might overhear.”
Standing with her, the vampire offered a curious look, though he proved aware of their unwitting company by remarking, “I know, I can hear them.”
“Really? I didn't know vampires could hear that well.”
“We don't, but our senses are tuned to blood, and their combined heartbeats are like a drum.”
Though the comment made sense, it also served as a reminder that he would know when her own heart was racing—and she was fairly certain it'd been going at top speed since he'd arrived.
Still, if he thought anything was off, he didn't bring it up, inquiring instead, “So where would you like to go?”
Again, her heart thudded, but discretion was a lost cause. He'd soon know the reason for her frantic pulse, and she was too eager to concern herself with hiding it any longer.
All that mattered now was answering his question, and hoping he'd react well to the news.
— TWENTY-THREE —
“I've been staying in a mountain grove about five miles west of the Citadel. It's just south of a waterfall near a high griffin nest and … oh! Why didn't you tell me Sutrelle was home to griffins! I've never seen them before!”
Isadora sounded excitedly awed to have discovered the animals, and it wasn't surprising to learn she'd never encountered them. Griffins were hard to find outside of Sutrelle, and he regretted missing Isadora's discovery—if her reaction to the large sea turtle was any indication, she'd likely squealed with delight at the sight of the winged beasts.
So a tour of the Citadel's rookery might be in order, but that came later. Now, he was too focused on Isadora's desire to speak in private to consider it.
And the prospect filled him with both eagerness and dread.
Since his arrival at the beach, the fae's heart had drummed as if auditioning to be in a marching band. The excited reaction reminded him of the suspicion that she'd lied about her arousal to get them both through a tense situation.
So was she about to admit that lie? The way she regarded him now made it seem plausible—Isadora wasn't a woman harboring casual interest. No, her eyes glittered with too much intrigue for that to be the case, and the only comfort he found was the concern so clearly etched into her face.
If she was truly about to confess, that concern hopefully meant she was aware of the problems.
Still, it was a bad idea to get ahead of himself—despite his suspicion, it was hard to imagine this gorgeous fae ever considering him suitable.
So instead of getting carried away imagining the possibility, he focused on the present situation.
“Very well,” he started, offering his hand with the words, “shall we?”
Smiling, Isadora refused, explaining, “Actually, I have my own transport this time, that is, saying you don't mind getting wet.”
“Getting wet?”
Motioning at the ocean, she stated, “Green fae can travel through natural bodies of water. So all we have to do is take a dip!”
Interesting. Mathias hadn’t known she was capable of such a thing, and found her means of reaching the grove preferable to traveling in mist after his difficulty feeding over the past three days. Without eating, a vampire could easily go into bloodlust by expending too much energy, making it a better idea to conserve his strength rather than take a risk.
So he agreed by directing, “Then lead the way.”
Smiling brightly, the fae took his hand and drew him to the water's edge. The tide spattered around their
ankles on the way, then their knees, getting higher each time it rushed by. But Isadora didn't stop moving until the sand was no longer beneath their feet, leaving them both adrift with their hands still clasped together.
That's when she sucked in a breath and dove under, offering a gentle tug to his arm. So Mathias followed suit, submerging himself beneath the waves to find Isadora pulling herself in and wrapping her arms around him.
Were he not submersed in roiling waters, the contact of their bodies would've caused him to groan. But only a few air bubbles emerged as he carefully wrapped his arms around her, thinking it would take a few moments to reach their destination.
Yet, as a slight tingle rushed through him, the water current grew still, even peaceful. There was no turbulence above, only a gentle sway, and Isadora released him to swim for the surface.
Moving with her, their heads breached the waterline simultaneously, and indeed, the scenery had changed. Instead of a beach, they were now at the center of a pond in a lush grove of trees. Wildflowers littered the ground, a few petals drifting overhead in the breeze while several fireflies dotted the area with lazy, yellow lights.
If such was the result of Isadora's efforts, he could only imagine how Sutrelle might look in another week. Yet the most surprising part of her natural dwelling wasn't the colorful fauna, or the song of birds chirping in the trees.
Instead, curled up in a ball several meters from the pond was not one, but two high griffins.
Though Mathias was accustomed to the creatures, he had to admire these. With silver feathers and white fur, they weren't entirely dissimilar from the average variety as both possessed the same diets and even socialized with ease.
But high griffins were bigger, stronger, and much more aggressive.
The behavior made them next to impossible to tame for use as mounts, meaning most were nothing short of wild, spending their days combing the mountains for food. But this pair chirped playfully in spying Isadora emerging from the pond to greet them with a kiss on the beaks—an endearing sight.
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