He stripped Laurel naked first, pulling off her heavy winter clothing followed by the thinner tunic and leggings underneath. He tried to keep his eyes politely averted, but it was impossible when he reached the point where he needed to slide her into the sleeping bag. He tried not to notice her pink nipples, perky and hard from the cold, and the soft heave of her breasts with each movement of her chest.
Zoria was a little more difficult to undress. Her winter clothes came off easily enough, but she wore tight valkyrie battle clothing underneath it. The garments were stretchy, and it took him a few seconds to figure out how to pull the upper half loose from the lower half. She was shivering and moved an arm to cover her breasts as they became exposed to the cold air.
He slid her into the sleeping bag alongside Laurel and stuffed their clothing into the cracks left in the space between their bodies. The bag had a hood of cloth, almost like the hood of a cloak, and he pulled it up to cover all of their heads except their mouths and noses.
“I need you to take a turn,” said Cadrian. “I… can’t keep this up.”
“I haven’t entered Jessa’s sanctum yet,” said Hal.
“You can do that later. We need to create as much warmth as we can while we still have the strength to do it.”
“I don’t have any ruby essence left,” said Hal.
“I know,” said Cadrian.
He understood her implication, along with what would need to happen. A dozen excuses as to why they should try something else flitted through his head. None of them had enough substance to justify putting Laurel and Zoria’s lives at risk.
“I’ll take care of you quickly,” said Cadrian. “Just with my touch. You can just lean back. Enjoy it, if you can.”
“You need to restore your essence, too,” said Hal. “Shouldn’t we…?”
Shouldn’t we have real sex? Would I even be able to manage it, with her?
“There’s too much of a risk of us getting sweaty,” said Cadrian. “Besides, I need to double back to the site of the avalanche to look for my gear. We’re still doomed if we don’t have the tent, so we should make it as much of a priority as anything else.”
Hal nodded slowly. Cadrian released the spell and left her Ruby Trance. Almost immediately, he felt the temperature drop by a significant amount, the chill pushing in to fill the cave in the fireball’s wake.
Cadrian walked over to him. It was dark in the cave, but there was just enough light trickling in through the cave’s entrance from the clear, starlit winter night for him to make out her face and features.
She looked younger than the master Hal remembered. She looked more like Elyse, rather than Cadrian. Hal found it weird that he could think of them as separate women in his mind. They were the same. Cadrian was responsible for both the good and the bad each had done.
She made eye contact with him as she lowered herself to her knees. Hal felt a rush of arousal, and it stirred an unnecessary conflict within him. As callous and counterproductive to their situation it was, a small part of him had been hoping that he wouldn’t be able to find her attractive, not now that he knew the truth.
He started pulling down his fur outerwear before Cadrian could, not wanting to give her too much control over the situation. He would do whatever it took to keep the cave warm. Laurel and Zoria were worth his effort, if that’s even how he’d classify what was needed for what he was about to do.
Cadrian’s eyes locked onto his manhood as he pulled it loose from his trousers. It was so cold in the cave, and when she reached out and set her fingertips on his shaft, they seemed to pulse with heat. Hal took a slow, somewhat ragged breath as he felt his old master begin to pleasure his cock.
It felt good, probably better than it should have. Since discovering the truth about Cadrian, Hal had spent so much time and energy hating her. It all felt empty when placed up against the sensation of her fingers and hand. She was on her knees in front of him. The woman who had killed his family. And he was letting her perform.
Cadrian wasn’t wasting time. She started using both hands, caressing and fondling every inch of him. There was something firm and insistent about her movements, along with the way she looked at him. Her eyes stayed on his cock most of the time, but occasionally she’d glance up to make eye contact, her expression the same one she’d use to judge his efforts during their old training sessions.
She waited until his cock was as hard as it was going to get, and then drew closer still. She brought her mouth in close, watching him with her eyes, as though giving him a chance to deny her from going further, if he wasn’t comfortable with it. It annoyed Hal. He reached a hand out, set it on the back of her head, and pressed his erection into her lips.
She opened her mouth to accept him, and he nearly gasped with pleasure. The contrast from the cold cave to Cadrian’s hot, wet mouth was absolutely wild. She instantly began bobbing her head in a practiced rhythm, lips and mouth working in tandem to speed the dirty deed along.
This is what I have to do, for the people I love? Enjoy something that I know I should hate?
He was moving too, pumping his hips forward to push deeper into her mouth. It felt good, and he couldn’t stop himself. Where was the line for that kind of temptation? Would he remember how good Cadrian’s lips felt against his cock? Or the way she could wrap her tongue up and around his shaft? Would it have a pull on him, to resort to this again later on, even if it wasn’t strictly necessary?
He let the pleasure clear his mind. He watched Cadrian while she sucked. Her eyes flicked up to his for a moment, and again, he felt her gaze pulling him back into his old role as her willing pupil. That wasn’t who he was anymore, but knowing that didn’t make the intensity of her gaze any easier to meet.
She was dangerous. But she was more than just that, so much more. Hal hated her, but bizarrely, the lewd act was rekindling the respect for her he’d once felt. Cadrian pulled his cock loose of her mouth for a moment, carefully licking him with tongue, teasing his shaft until he was ready to burst.
Hal groaned and pulled at her head, shifting her mouth back into position. She took the hint, closing her lips around his hard cock just as he erupted. Pleasure pulsed through him like a church bell tolling out the hour, and he felt her sucking down every drop of his seed.
The pleasure was followed by guilt, along with a heavy regret for the way things had gone. They were pointless emotions, and Hal focused on the cold of the cave to distract himself from them. He dressed his lower half and pulled his heartgem loose from his shirt. He could feel the ruby essence he’d just put into it, and it was a significant amount.
CHAPTER 43
“I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold a fire spell for as long as you,” said Hal. “Especially if I have to enter Ruby Ascension in order to make my magic more efficient.”
“You don’t necessarily have to,” said Cadrian. “Here.”
There was a boulder along the inner wall of the cave, a smooth rock that probably had once been at the bottom of a river. She rolled it into the center of the room and gestured to it.
“A rock?” asked Hal.
“A heatsink,” said Cadrian. “Cast a few smaller fire spells on it. Carefully.”
She said the last word with a knowing edge, and Hal almost smiled.
“Alright,” he said. “Let’s give this a try.”
He was a little worried. Ruby Ascension felt like, well, playing with fire. If he messed up within the confines of the tiny cave, the consequences could be dire. He remembered what Cadrian had said about control, and about learning to let go of his emotions. He was in a good state of mind to make the attempt, all things considered.
He stood with his back to Zoria and Laurel, not wanting to risk even a glancing blow in their direction with one of his spells. It was easier for him to enter Ruby Ascension than it had been, and he could feel his abilities expanding as red hues took over his vision. The fire was already dancing around his hands and fingers, anticipating what he was about to do.
Hal pressed his hands against the rock. It was freezing cold, and his teeth began to chatter on reflex.
“Do it slowly,” said Cadrian. “If you warm it up too fast, any moisture trapped inside will expand and potentially cause it to shatter.”
Hal nodded, though her words sounded far off, as though coming from across a chasm, or from outside a dream. He slowly began to cast a fire spell, not one of the ones he’d named and practiced, but more of a vague transfer of heat and flame.
The rock heated up. It reached a temperature on par with what would have been normal back in southern Krestia’s Cradle, and then passed beyond it. It began to glow, first orange, and then deep red, hot enough to burn him if not for the shielding that came with being in Ruby Ascension.
Hal stopped when he felt the stone begin to hum slightly from the intensity of the heat. He pulled his hands back and forced himself to release from Ruby Ascension. Instantly, he felt the results of his efforts. The cave was significantly warmer, almost hot enough to make his heavy clothes uncomfortable.
Cadrian was standing near the cave’s exit, and she gave a slow nod of approval. She had the lantern in her hand. Hal raised an eyebrow.
“Are you going somewhere?” he asked.
“Back to the site of the avalanche,” she said. “We can’t afford to let it snow again before we recover the tent.”
Hal frowned. “It’s the middle of the night. Visibility is going to be low, and the temperature will be even lower.”
“We both have our parts to play,” said Cadrian. “It’s a risk, but we won’t get another chance to take it. Clouds are already forming in the sky.”
She left without saying anything further, and Hal didn’t try to stop her. He turned his attention back to the heat rock, briefly holding his hands over it. It gave off as much heat as a campfire, though he knew that it would start to cool long before a normal fire started to die.
He made sure that Laurel and Zoria were close enough to it to receive the benefits of the warmth, and then took a seat on one side of it. He fished around in his pockets until he found the memory crystal and held it in front of him.
I need to know if we’re getting close. Because if we aren’t…
Hal frowned. He didn’t want to think about what would happen if their journey had been for nothing. He reached his awareness out, finding Jessa’s sanctum and letting his consciousness slide into it.
It was quiet and peaceful inside, and the blue ambience of the crystalline realm had a calming effect on him. Jessa was inside the crystal coffin structure he’d seen her in on first entering her sanctum, and her eyes were closed.
“Hey…” Hal said, quietly. “Sorry to wake you. I need advice.”
Jessa took a moment to stir. There was something very cute about watching her wake up, her eyes flitting open only reluctantly, after a few tries.
“Halrin,” she muttered. “What is it?”
“My friends and I have run into trouble,” said Hal. “In the current world, the northern reaches of this land are frozen and uninhabitable. We aren’t sure how much further we can press forward without our supplies running low.”
Jessa let out a sigh. She didn’t say anything for several long seconds.
“She’s protecting it,” she whispered. “I made a deal with her, long ago.”
“Who?” asked Hal. “And what is she protecting?”
“The Pale Lady,” muttered Jessa. “She guards the border of what was once Eklidia. Keeps the evidence of the Great Upheaval hidden. Keeps the lift crystals frozen and safe from tampering.”
“Are you saying that we need to speak with this… Pale Lady, if we wish to find a way to bring the Upper Realm back to the surface? Didn’t you say that you knew how it could be done?”
“She’ll… call you,” muttered Jessa. “If you’ve entered the border of the everlasting winter, you are already close. She’ll sense you and bring you to the Eternal Palace. You must either convince her to relinquish control of the region or kill her.”
Hal frowned. She sounded half awake, and it made her words seem implausible, almost like she was speaking in metaphor.
“Too… tired,” whispered Jessa. “Leave me to my sleep.”
It wasn’t a request as much as a command. Hal felt as though someone had yanked on a cord protruding from the back of his skull. His head snapped back as he reentered his body in the real world, almost tipping him over.
The heat rock had cooled, but not enough for him to need to replenish it with his magic. Overall, the cave seemed significantly warmer than it had a few minutes ago. Hal made his way over to Zoria and knelt down beside her to inspect her condition.
Her breathing was strong, and her face felt warm. She let out an annoyed sigh as he shook her shoulder, reminding him a little of Jessa. He moved on to see how Laurel was doing. She also seemed mostly recovered, and her eyes flitted open as his hand touched her cheek.
“Halrin,” Laurel said, her voice small.
“Hey,” said Hal. “How are you feeling?”
“Cold,” she said. “What… happened?”
“An avalanche,” said Hal. “Surprise attack from Tessianna. We’re all safe, though, and we’re sheltering in a cave until we can collect all of our scattered supplies.”
“You took off my clothes,” said Laurel.
Hal chuckled and scratched his head. “I guess I did. Cadrian said it would help you warm up faster.”
“I’m still cold.” Her eyes settled on his, and there was a tiny, mischievous smile on her face, one that made her dimples show, but only just barely. “Will you help warm me up?”
“I am,” said Hal. “See the rock in the center of the room?”
“No, I mean… get in the sleeping bag,” she said. “Warm me up with your body heat.”
She spoke the words in a tired, almost lazy voice, but there was something in her gaze that told Hal that she knew exactly what she was asking for. If he took off his clothes and climbed into the sleeping bag with her, things could happen. One thing in particular.
“Are you sure?” asked Hal. “It might not be the best idea, given your situation. And what the future might hold.”
“You’d just be warming me up,” she said. “I think it’s fine, given the circumstances.”
There was a fondness in the way she looked at him that made Hal reluctant to question her excuse any further. And it was an excuse, one that would let her have what she wanted without thinking too much about the consequences. It was cold, and she needed to be warmed up. And if something happened while he was in the sleeping bag with her, their naked bodies pressed together, it could be forgiven in the grand scheme of things.
Hal stripped his clothes off faster than he’d been intending to. He was already aroused by the time he crouched down on the cold stone to make room in the sleeping bag next to her, despite his earlier tryst with Cadrian. It was so warm inside, and he saw Laurel’s naked breasts as she lifted the edge of it to help him in.
“We can’t let you get too cold,” said Hal. His cock slid across Laurel’s breasts and stomach as he wriggled into the bag.
“No, we can’t,” said Laurel. “Bad things would happen if we did.”
“Very bad things,” said Hal.
He let his arms wrap around her. If there’d been any doubts in his mind regarding her intentions, they vanished as he felt her hands slide through his hair. He kissed her and felt passion that he hadn’t realized he’d been suppressing burst forth.
He still had his heartgem on, of course, and he could feel it storing and saving the essence of the emotion for later. He kissed Laurel’s neck, grinding his shaft against her soft, naked flesh. The sleeping bag was small and limiting, and he knew he’d have to get a little creative with his movements.
Hal slid further down Laurel’s thighs, lifting her hips to a better angle as he rose back up. The tip of his cock was pressing against her tight hole. He saw her bite her lip as he pushed forward a little, barely
penetrating her.
“Are you feeling warmer?” he whispered, letting his lips graze across hers in a light kiss.
Laurel gave a small, almost shy nod. Hal pushed further into her, enjoying the sound of her exhaling, as though he was forcing the breath out of her with his shaft.
She kissed him, and there was a hunger and passion in it that he knew all too well. Hal embraced her tightly, letting his cock slide halfway in. He knew that he should take it slow. Moving too fast would get the both of them sweaty, which could pose problems. But it was extremely hard to keep himself in check.
Hal started thrusting, his hands running over Laurel’s small breasts as he moved. The sleeping bag was limiting, and it made his movements more like grinding with penetration than real sex. He didn’t care and could tell she didn’t either. They would take whatever they could get.
Laurel looked at him, and they made eye contact for several lustful, passionate seconds. He felt himself wondering what their next excuse would be. Could they go on like this, even after events had played out, and she took on the responsibilities of being a Maxim’s daughter? Would Hal become her dirty little secret, the boy she snuck off with behind the backs of her guards and suitors?
“This won’t be the last time,” Hal whispered, giving voice to his thoughts.
“Hal…” said Laurel. Her fingers dug into his shoulder. Hal thrust into her a little harder, as though punctuating his point.
“And next time won’t be the last time,” he said.
He kissed her, and he felt her kissing him back with real emotion and need.
“You love it,” he whispered. “The thrill of it.”
“Oh, by Mystra!” said Laurel, her voice strained with passion. “Halrin!”
“Say it,” he whispered. “I want to hear you tell me that you love it.”
He began thrusting faster, the idea of trying to go slow and avoid getting sweaty nearly forgotten. The sleeping bag made rustling noises as they moved inside of it, and Laurel was letting out tiny, passionate squeals. He started to doubt she’d reply, when he heard her whisper words into his ear.
Eternal Palace (Sexcraft Chronicles Book 4) Page 23
