by Eric Vall
The bag was enchanted with its own storage space inside, so I liked to refer to it as my Mary Poppins bag. Right now, it was stuffed full of the treasures I’d found in the tunnels, but since it was a magic satchel, I simply had to reach in, focus on what I wanted, and pull out the rope. Then I stored the bag away with a grin and peered back into the sinkhole.
“Okay, I’m going to toss some rope down, climb up the best you can. If you can’t do it, let the others climb ahead of you. We can pull you up once we have everyone else.”
“Yes, Lord Evan!” someone replied from the depths of the sinkhole.
I tossed the rope into the hole, secured our end to an exposed post from a run down house, and gripped the rope tightly for good measure.
“Okay, we’re ready up here!” I called down.
A moment later, I felt tension in the rope and then heard the sound of feet as they scraped across the side of the sinkhole.
It was a slow process, and to get all eight members of the guild took nearly an hour, but we finally pulled the last member out, and we all let out a collective sigh.
“I’m sure you’re all tired and hungry,” I said as I looked around, “but we need to head back to the center of the city. You can take the day to rest tomorrow and continue to secure the area later.”
The guild members stood from where most had collapsed onto the ground after they climbed out of the hole.
“I’ll fly ahead and let the city know everyone is fine,” Ravi informed me.
“Thanks, I’m sure everyone is about ready to panic,” I said with a small laugh.
Ravi gave a short giggle before she vanished in a column of blue fire and shifted into her phoenix form. Then she took off back toward the center of the city in a blue blur.
“Sorry we caused you so much trouble, Lord Evan,” one of the guild members said to me. Her hair was a pale brown and cut short, and her soft brown eyes were bloodshot due to exhaustion. She was also covered in dirt and dust from the sinkhole, and her clothes were torn in several places.
“Don’t apologize, this wasn’t anyone’s fault,” I reassured her. “I’m just glad everyone is okay.”
She smiled softly and turned back to her comrades. Then we began the trek back toward the city. The trip took longer than usual with so many people, and the darkness that obscured most of the guild members’ vision didn’t help much. The human guild members tripped and stumbled over loose stones and branches from trees, but eventually, I summoned my flames to my hands just to prevent us from stopping any longer.
Nearly an hour later, we finally reached the walls around the main portion of Hatra. The gates opened, and we all slipped inside to find Ruslan, Ravi, and Daya waiting to greet us.
“I’m glad everyone is alright,” Ruslan said with a relieved smile. “We started to grow worried when we saw Ravi come back alone.”
“Is everyone still fit for duty?” Daya asked Laika.
“Yes, but they will rest tomorrow,” the wolf Demi-Human responded with a nod.
Daya bowed her head respectfully. “Of course, Guild Leader.”
Alyona looked ready to pass out on her feet, and I smiled as she blinked rapidly to keep her eyes open.
“I’ll take the princess to bed,” I said. “I’ll see the rest of you tomorrow.”
Then I wrapped an arm around Alyona’s waist, and she leaned against my side.
“Thanks for coming to rescue us,” my lover murmured sleepily.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked her as we walked toward our rooms at the temporary palace.
“I’m fine, just tired,” Alyona replied, but her voice trembled. “I was so worried when the sinkhole appeared. I thought for sure they had been killed.”
“Hey, everything was fine in the end,” I said soothingly as I squeezed her. “You should have come to get me as soon as the sinkhole happened, we could have gotten everyone out a lot sooner.”
“I couldn’t just abandon them,” Alyona argued with a frown. “They needed help, what if something had come for them while Laika and I were gone? I would have never forgiven myself!”
“I know, and I’m sure they appreciated you for staying at their sides,” I said, “I was just worried about the two of you. When Ravi told me your group hadn’t come back from the outskirts, I thought the two of you were dead.”
“Oh, Evan,” Alyona looked up at me with wide amethyst eyes, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think about how that might seem to you. I feel terrible!”
“Alyona, it’s okay.” I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her smooth forehead. “Once I saw the two of you, I was fine. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, it was just a freak thing, and you were unfortunate enough to witness it.”
We reached the palace and slipped inside. Then I followed Alyona up to her room. We passed through her door, and I tucked her black forelocks behind her ears before I pressed a kiss to her lips.
I could feel her smile through the kiss, and I chuckled before I pulled away.
“I love you, Evan,” she murmured as she blinked up at me. “I’m sorry I worried you. I won’t let that happen again. I can at least send a message next time.”
I kissed her again. “I love you, too. A message would be fine. Just let me know you’re okay. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to either of you.”
“Nor I you,” the princess replied as she grabbed my hand and pressed it to her cheek.
I ran my thumb over the curve of her cheekbone. “But it’s late, and I’m sure you’re exhausted. Get some sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay,” she replied in a tired voice, but then a small smile came to her face. “You can tell me all about your adventures in the tunnels tomorrow!”
“Of course,” I chuckled. “Daya is probably talking to Laika about it now, so it’s only fair I tell you.”
Alyona giggled and pulled away from me. Then she slipped behind her privacy curtain to change into a night dress and stepped out a few minutes later.
The dress she was wearing was a sheer lavender color, and I could see her milky skin through it. I swallowed thickly as my eyes trailed across her body, and I could feel my arousal tent my trousers.
“Goodnight, Evan.” Alyona gave me a coy smile.
I shook my head and cleared my throat. “Goodnight, Alyona. I’ll see you in the morning.”
We both stood in silence for a few seconds before I took a deep breath and stepped back.
“Wait,” Alyona called out and grabbed my hand. “You can stay here tonight, if you’d like.”
I smirked. “Princess, are you trying to get me into bed?”
“What if I am?” she replied with a sly grin. “Would you say no?”
“Of course not,” I stepped closer and grabbed Alyona by her waist, “I was just making sure.”
I pressed a kiss to her lips, and her arms wound around my neck as she pulled me closer. Then we collapsed onto her bed, and Alyona giggled as I pulled the blankets over the top of us and kissed her deeply.
It had been a long day … but I was never too tired to please my future wife.
“You seem a bit excited today,” Alyona whispered as I trailed kisses down her neck.
I suddenly remembered the previous interruptions with Ravi, and I let out a huff.
“Don’t ask,” I said as I captured her lips in another kiss. “If anyone knocks on the door, we are going to ignore it.”
Alyona laughed again. “Deal.”
I kissed along her neck and down her chest, and I growled when the fabric of her dress interrupted me. I pulled Alyona up into a sitting position and ripped her dress over her head. I tossed it somewhere off to the side of the room, and then I continued to kiss along her skin and smirked when I could feel her sharp intake of breath.
“You okay?” I asked as she let out another moan.
“I’m perfect,” she gasped out when I kissed a particularly sensitive spot.
I grinned against her pale skin, and one
of my hands trailed along her thin frame and massaged her right breast. Then I moved my head down and kissed along her sensitive skin, and her head fell back as she bit her lip in pleasure.
“Evan,” she panted when I rolled my tongue over her pert nipples.
My left hand moved between us and slid between her thighs, and her body jerked in surprise as I slipped a finger inside her. I pulled away from her breast and pressed my face into Alyona’s neck as I held back a moan of my own.
“Gods,” Alyona moaned as I pulled my finger out and pushed back inside her.
She moved her hips forward in an attempt to gain more friction, but I tugged my finger out quickly and used my weight to push her down against the bed.
I kissed her deeply, and my hand rubbed against her wet lips. Then two of my fingers slipped inside while my thumb flicked against her swollen clit.
My kiss captured her loud moan, and I grinned wickedly. Then I pulled my finger away and pulled out of our kiss. Our eyes met, and I kissed my way down her body until I was between her thighs. Her breathing became erratic as I lowered my head to her velvet lips and moved my tongue between them, and my hands wrapped around her thighs as she bucked her hips beneath me. Then I pulled her legs apart and continued my ministrations against her.
“E-Evan,” she moaned, and her legs tightened around my head.
Her hands ran through my hair as her pleasure built up inside her, and I slipped my finger back into her pussy to help her tip over the edge.
Soon enough, she let out a scream of ecstasy that I was sure would wake up anyone nearby, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. Her thighs trembled as her orgasm ran through her, and her hands fisted into my hair and nearly pulled fistfuls of it out.
I pulled away from her with a grin, and she panted heavily under me. My cock was pressed painful against my trousers, and Alyona’s eyes wandered down to the bulge hungrily. She swallowed thickly before she sat up. Her naked body glistened with sweat, and her eyes were nearly black with how wide her pupils were blown with lust.
“Do you need any help, Lord Evan?” she purred.
My cock grew impossibly harder as she spoke.
“If you wouldn’t mind,” I responded with a smirk.
Alyona’s hands reached for the strings of the trousers, and she slowly untied the sloppy bow.
“It would be my pleasure,” she said, and her voice was as smooth as silk.
She pulled down my pants slowly and erotically, and her amethyst eyes remained locked with my own. My cock was finally freed from its confinement, and she pulled into a deep kiss. My mouth still tasted like her, and I groaned into the kiss while I pressed her back down onto the mattress. I quickly pinned her body beneath mine with my arms on either side of her before I slid my aching cock inside her.
I nearly groaned in relief as her velvet walls surrounded me.
“Fuck, Alyona,” I whispered in a strange voice into her ear.
Alyona let out a whine as I began to thrust slowly into her. One of my hands brushed her dark forelocks from her face, and I grinned down at her. Her amethyst eyes were closed in pleasure, and her mouth hung open slightly as she panted below me. Then I dipped down to kiss her deeply, and her hands wrapped around the back of my neck.
I could feel my climax as it began to build, and my thrusts became erratic and fast. Then Alyona’s grip around my neck tightened, and I could feel her walls begin to spasm.
“Evan!” she gasped out as she finally reached her orgasm, and she shuddered around me.
“Fuck,” I moaned as her orgasm tipped me over the edge.
I spilt my seed deep inside her womb and let my body collapse on top of her. She giggled slightly, and I rolled over and pulled out from her. The room reeked of sex, and I smiled in satisfaction.
“Well,” Alyona rolled over on top of me, “we should be resting after our eventful day, but that was a welcome distraction.”
I rolled my hips, and my cock rose in interest as her naked body writhed on my chest.
“Want to be distracted again?” I winked.
“I don’t know if--” Alyona began, but she cut herself off as I kissed along her stomach. “Okay, maybe one more distraction wouldn’t hurt.”
I smiled against her skin and pressed her back down into the mattress again.
Chapter 7
I overslept the next morning, thanks to all the excitement of the previous night, and when I awoke, I was alone in Alyona’s room. She must have already started her day, so I vaulted from the bed, got dressed, and all but ran to the library. I was supposed to meet with my group to continue the exploration of the tunnels, and I was the last to arrive. The dryad sisters were already working to untangle the third passage from its thorny barrier, and Cal and Daya sat along the floor while Nike leaned against the wall beside them.
“Morning,” I greeted everyone. “Sorry I’m late. How’s it going?”
“No worries, I heard about the sinkhole last night, I’m glad everyone is okay,” Nike answered from his spot against the wall, and then he turned his attention to the dryads. “They were already down here by the time I arrived. They seemed to be really focused, so I didn’t want to disturb them, but I would assume they’ll be done shortly.”
I looked over to the sisters and nodded in agreement. “You’re right. The gap is almost big enough for us to crawl through.”
“Do you think we’ll find any more monsters down there today?” Cal asked as he stood from his spot next to Daya. He stretched his limbs, and I heard a few of his joints give loud pops.
“It’s very possible, so we need to be sure we’re all on guard, I don’t want anyone getting hurt today,” I replied. “We had enough surprises yesterday. I should be able to protect us in case of a cave in, but we need to be cautious. Just because I can save us doesn’t mean we should intentionally put ourselves in harm’s way.”
Nike nodded, and Cal gave a thumbs up.
“Of course, Lord Evan,” Daya responded as she inclined her head. “We don’t need any other delays. With Laika’s group taking the day to rest, we already risk falling behind our schedule.”
I clicked my tongue. “We’ll be fine. We gave ourselves plenty of time to finish. I can always complete the outskirts alone, too. It would be faster and less risky for the others.”
“As you wish,” Daya intoned with a nod.
“Oh come on, lighten up, Daya.” Cal grinned. “We might find more monsters, but on the other hand, we might find more treasure!”
He showcased the silver dagger on his hip, the one I’d given him yesterday, to emphasize his point.
“I’m kind of with the kid on this one,” I chuckled as I rubbed my hands together, and visions of growing my hoard cycled through my head. “I’m excited to see what we’ll find.”
Just then, there was a collective sigh from the dryads as they finished up their work.
“Okay,” Trina turned to us, “all done.”
Her sisters stepped back and leaned against the sides of the tunnel opening. Then they slowly slid down the walls and sat on the floor.
“We will wait here for you to finish.” Polina waved a tired hand at us as we passed by, and she leaned her head against Marina, who had her eyes closed.
“Thanks for your help. We’ll see you in a couple of hours.” I returned the wave as I passed the two sisters while Trina collapsed on the other side of Marina and placed her head on her shoulder.
As we stepped into the darkness of Tunnel C, I noticed small torches jutted out along the sides of this tunnel, so I summoned my flames and lit the torches on either side. They caught quickly and burned bright enough to illuminate the path for about twenty feet before more torches were set up.
“Look Nike, you’ll be able to see easily down this one,” I laughed, and he rolled his eyes.
“Make fun all you want, but these torches will come in handy,” he said. “They can show us which way we came from if we come to another split in the path. If we run into too many s
plits in the trail, we could get lost. These torches could save our lives.”
I glanced at Daya and Cal, who both gave Nike unimpressed looks before they turned back to me. Then Cal rolled his eyes dramatically, and I smirked.
“I don’t think a torch will save our lives, Lord Nikolaus, if anything, they will draw the attention of things that lurk here,” Daya cautiously warned us as she narrowed her eyes toward the flames.
“We’ll be fine,” I assured her. “We’re here to find any dangers to the city. If there is anything down this tunnel, it’s only a matter of time until it finds us or we find it. If fire draws it out, that makes our job easier.”
Daya held her tongue, but still looked irritated when Cal nudged her with an elbow.
“Come on, Daya. Evan’s right. I mean, I lured that mole creature out yesterday, and everything worked out fine!”
Daya turned her head to look at Cal with a raised brow. “You were nearly a snack for that monster.”
“I was fine,” the snake argued, “Evan was a badass and saved me.”
“Lord Evan,” Daya corrected, “and we all saved you.”
“You two were there, no offense,” Cal said to Nike, who shrugged, “but Lord Evan was the one who found me, and he killed the monster.”
Their argument continued as we walked, and Nike and I eventually drew ahead and tried our best to tune them out.
“I wonder if they are always like this,” Nike mused as we walked.
I looked back to see Cal laugh at Daya’s annoyed expression.
“I would guess so, since Cal really knows how to get under her skin,” I replied.
“He’s young. I think all teenagers know how to get under the skin of those who hold authority over them.”
“That’s very true,” I laughed. “I don’t know how my aunt raised me alone. I was a nightmare of a teenager.”
“As was I.” Nike grinned, and the flickering of the torches along the wall cast his face into stark relief. “There were times I was sure my father was ready to kill me or, at the very least, renounce me as his heir. Unfortunately for him, I was chosen by the Sword of Light when I was two, and Aine’s authority surpassed my father’s, so there was no threat he could actually go through with.”
