ELMIRYN________________________

Elmiryn had originally wanted Quincy to take her clothes off for what she intended, just to get a good look at all those delightful things that so few had witnessed. The idea only just came to her. It was a basic human desire, to fulfill one’s wants, and being a creature of many wants, the warrior couldn’t help but traipse her thoughts along the old avenues of promiscuity. It had been days since she had last been with Nyx, and it seemed like it would be days until they could be together like that again. This drove the woman crazy.

So she told herself to want others was natural, and if she ignored the fact that Quincy got on her nerves half the time, she found it was easy to fantasize. But when time came to bring up her brilliant idea, her gaze happened on Nyx, and without warning the woman suddenly felt robbed of her tongue. A nettled feeling entered her chest, and the others gazed at her curiously. Opting to stall for time, the woman held up a hand.

“Just one sec. Let me get what I need.” Then after a thought, she added. “I promise it won’t do anything bad!”

The curious looks turned to wary ones as Elmiryn turned and ventured into the shadows of the black trees.

Since she had colored herself in different lights, the warrior had been continually fascinated by the way her glow seemed to die upon the dark nature around her. It colored the ground, and it colored the dark mauve leaves, but the tree bark was a void of all light, tricking her mind into thinking the trees were doorways to another place.

Another place, than the Other Place. Hah!

But her humor quickly faded as she set to work, carefully extracting the color from deep within the trees’ wood. They wafted through the air, and collected into a ball of light as they mixed. Remembering Bronislav’s anger, Elmiryn tried to spread her harvesting to leave each tree with what she thought was enough light. Blues, greens, yellows, and oranges…So many colors.

Ah. There was red.

In her studies as a youth, Elmiryn had learned that red was the lowest spectrum of light. That was why astronomers and theater halls used enchanted embers to emit a soft glow. She thought it was funny that a color meant to represent romantic passion was actually the weakest of its ilk.

Just goes to show you how dim love is, she thought with a roll of her eyes.

Back at the Lycan village, Elmiryn had decided to let her relationship with Nyx stand on its own, without design or criticism. As if to spare herself from deepening questions, she’d just think of making love to Nyx instead. Even if it left her wanting, the warrior was better accustomed to sexual frustration than matters of the heart. Elmiryn had no real wish of being monogamous, and the Ailuran didn’t seem to have any expectation for her to be.

…So then why did that fact bother her?

And why am I getting nervous whenever I act like myself? It’s getting annoying! If Nyx really understands as much as she says she does, then what’s the big deal? This is what I do!

Elmiryn’s fist clenched tight, and the light on her skin pulsed. The color she was extracting from a tree flowed a little too quickly, and she hurriedly pushed some of it back.

She shook her head as she chastised herself. What am I doing? This isn’t the time to sit whining about my love life.

And with a stiff nod, the warrior drew the ball of light she had collected and returned to the others. Nyx was staring at her feet, preoccupied. Stanislav busied himself with inspecting the area. Hakeem now wore his chainmail shirt again, as well as a new pair of impromptu shorts which had been fashioned from the scraps his wife had collected from Bronislav’s rags. It made her wonder why Nyx still lacked clothing. Then the woman wondered why she was wondering about something so wonderful to begin with.

Quincy stared as the redhead approached, her eyes lingering momentarily on the orb of light Elmiryn held. Her arms crossed high over her chest. “It’s almost unfathomable how strange you’ve become since we’ve met,” the wizard muttered.

Elmiryn quirked an eyebrow as she extracted Quincy’s favorite color: Green.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I mean…that.” Quincy pointed as Elmiryn approached with the light in her hands. “This thing you do, where you mess with the elements–and not the normal elements, but the elements of elements! Minerals, gases, soul energy, light…When I first met you, the sword was your only weapon! But now…?”

Elmiryn shook her head. “My sword will always be my weapon. This fae stuff is just useful because of where we are! Here, hold out your arm. I’m going to test this.”

“This isn’t permanent, is it?”

The warrior smiled wickedly. “We’ll just have to see now won’t we?” And before the other woman could stop her, Elmiryn smeared the green light all down Quincy’s arm.

She laughed as the wizard squealed, and held up the green orb of light. “Here, just take it! You can spread it yourself! I wanted to make sure it would go on right.”

Quincy blinked at her. “I can…take it?” Elmiryn raised an eyebrow and shoved the orb at her. The other woman let out a gasp as her hands held the light to her chest. “This is amazing!” the wizard breathed.

“Actually, I’m pretty sure us holding the light isn’t a fae thing. I think we could always do it. I just needed my power to get the light out to begin with.” The warrior started to give everyone their colors.

When everyone was ready, she nodded in satisfaction. “Looks good!”

“What are you talking about?” Nyx despaired as she stared down at her yellow skin. “I look like a fruit!”

“Mmm…looks like something I could eat,” Elmiryn purred.

The girl sputtered and the warrior ducked as Quincy swung her staff at her.

“Knock it off!” the brunette snapped. She was glowing entirely in green light.

Elmiryn just laughed. “You’re all so sensitive!”

“I’m sick of your perversions, is what I am!” the other woman huffed. “I’m surprised you didn’t try for something more!”

I almost did… Elmiryn thought with a sober grin. Her eyes trailed to Nyx again, and she took a breath.

The Ailuran may have complained that she looked like a fruit, but to Elmiryn, the girl looked nothing short of brilliant. Her slim taut body radiated warmth, and it reminded the warrior of the suns in the sky. And given the warmth she’d felt whilst nestled in the youth’s bosom, Elmiryn was ready to bet that the Ailuran held a shard of Ortus in her heart. How else would the girl feel so amazing? What was more–with her beauty naked and free, the warrior found her mind burning with thoughts of Nyx in passionate throes. Her throat tightened. Her sex pulsed.

Elmiryn grinned ruefully and knuckled her eyes. Gods, I need to get laid…

Hakeem spoke. “Now we’re all dressed, so to speak. Is this really enough for us to slip by?” His skin was colored in a soft blue.

“Aesutan was said to have done this, so I don’t see how we can’t,” the warrior said with a shrug. “I mean, how many humans come here and think to disguise themselves in light, anyhow?”

“Appearance-wise, we might just make the cut,” Quincy murmured. “But there’s one thing we’re forgetting.”

Elmiryn blinked. “What’s that?”

“Our scent!” Nyx cried out, her eyebrows going high.

Quincy snapped her fingers with a tilt of her head. “Exactly.”

“Oooh…” Elmiryn nodded slowly. “That’s right. Aesutan didn’t just look different, he smelled different too. From his time with the Lycans.”

“His orgy with them, to be precise,” Lacertli chipped in. “Their musk was powerful.”

Nyx blushed through her lemony glow. “But sir, I’m the only non-human here besides Stanislav!”

“Aye. This is true.”

The Ailuran stared, aghast.

“Well, Nyx. You heard the god,” Elmiryn’s hands made as if to drop her pants when Quincy whacked her on the head with her staff. The redhead clutched it with both hands. “Ow! I was JOKING, wizard! Fuck!”

“Look,” Quincy said as she ignored Elmiryn’s raging. “I simply will not do Nyx to get past those spirits!”

“I wouldn’t let you even if you wanted to!” Nyx snapped, her blush deepening. “Can we talk about something else? Please?”

Hakeem’s deep voice followed this request smoothly. “Lacertli, if I may?” The lizard-god looked at the Fanaean, and he continued. “May Stanislav not help us in some way?”

Lacertli flashed a reptilian smile. “Aye. He may.”

Nyx fixed the god with a scandalized look. “Sir, why didn’t you say that to begin with??”

“Because you didn’t ask,” was the short reply.

“Stanislav?” Quincy called.

The young leshy spirit had ventured some back the way they had come, his strange hands poking at the dirt like he were meaning to plant seeds in these places. At the sound of his name, his leafy head popped up, and he came waddling back.

“Yes?” He asked mildly.

“Can you douse us in some scent or fragrance that would mask our human odor?”

“Hey, hey,” Elmiryn interjected. “I don’t have an odor. I have a scintillating musk.”

“Is that what that stench is?” Quincy returned.

Before the warrior could shoot off a come back, Stanislav spoke. “Oh, yes! If you wish it, I can make you smell quite sweet! But it might be a bit much for your noses. This scent is quite strong. Are you sure you still want it?”

Elmiryn sidled up to Nyx. Out of the corner of her mouth, she murmured, “Hey, you know I’m still up for trying that other idea–”

“That sounds great, Stanislav,” Nyx said loudly. She spared a quick glare before going to the nature spirit.

The warrior pouted after her. Something told me I shouldn’t have made that into a joke earlier…now Nyx is cross with me!

Dragging her feet some, the woman stopped next to the others. “So what are you going to do?” She asked the leshy.

“This!”

Stanislav took a deep breath, his small chest expanding. Then when his face had turned a darker hue, he exhaled in a great rush of air.

Elmiryn’s nose filled with a sweet, deep scent. It was familiar, but so potent she had to sort her memories just to name it. Then her eyes fluttered.

“That’s…jasmine?” The air seemed to turn warm around her, and her skin flushed. She grinned. “Mmm, I like that!”

Hakeem let out an appreciative sound, and Quincy smiled at him.

“There! Have I done well?” Stanislav asked, rubbing his hands together.

Lacertli chuckled as he peered into Nyx’s smiling face. “Aye. Thou hast done well, Stanislav.” He nodded at the leshy.“These braves can take things from here. Thou shalt find a safe place to hide until this matter is dealt with. Thou art still too young to face such a threat as they face.”

The nature spirit gave a bow. “Then I wish you all the best of luck! Goodbye, and thank you!” And with a quick turn, he vanished amongst the trees, his vine-like arms swinging along the branches.

Elmiryn watched him go, her eyes at half-mast. Her breathing had turned steady. Her hands, which had started their usual shaking from withdrawal, seemed to calm at her sides. “What was he talking about? This scent isn’t so bad.”

“No, it isn’t,” Quincy murmured. Her eyes were glazed. “I actually quite like it!”

The warrior looked to Nyx next. The girls eyes were closed and she stood swaying on the spot. “Nyx?”

When she touched the girl’s arm, the Ailuran gave a start and looked at her. Elmiryn’s breath caught as their eyes met. “Nyx…”

“Yes?” Was the whispered reply.

“Are you all right?”

“I feel fine. A little dozy, I suppose.”

The warrior frowned when she realized their speech had slowed. “O-kay. Maybe Stanislav was right about–” She broke off when she saw Quincy and Hakeem in arms, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. She blinked, mouth open. “Uh…”

“Elmiryn?”

Elmiryn turned her head just in time to see Lacertli slip off the Ailuran’s shoulder. She stared after him as he scuttled into the brush. “Hey, where are you–?”

“Elmiryn!”

Her eyes snapped onto Nyx’s. The girl’s eyes stared past the warrior at Quincy and Hakeem. “M-Maybe we should go…”

“Why?” The warrior followed where she was looking and gave a start.

Now Hakeem had Quincy up against a tree, her legs wrapped around him, his hands on her jerkin. He was loosening the ties, freeing her breasts…

Elmiryn’s eyes popped. “Woah!” Then she grinned slowly. “Wow! Those two are completely gone!”

She felt Nyx’s hand pull at her. “Elle, come on!”

The warrior pouted at her. “Aw, but–” her voice stopped as she took in Nyx’s earnest face and her perky bosom, all pressed up as her arms squeezed close to her body. With effort, she focused her eyes back on the girl’s face. “Kitten, somehow I don’t think they care where we are.”

“But I do!” was the desperate reply, and Elmiryn let the girl lead her away, to a place apart.

When they stopped, Nyx fell to her knees, her breathing deep and shaky. The warrior swallowed as she took in the sight of the girl’s naked body curled and glowing like a work of art. Smooth. Gracious. Vulnerable.

“It’s the scent…” Elmiryn panted, feeling the pit of her stomach tighten along with her throat. “That’s what Stanislav was trying to tell us!”

“I know!” Nyx said in a breathy whine.

“How long do you think this effect lasts?”

“I–I don’t know!”

They both gave a start as Quincy’s cry carried through the trees, high and passionate. Elmiryn’s eyes widened. “Damn! Who on Halward’s plane would have thought we’d be here like this?”

When Nyx didn’t respond, the warrior turned to look at her, and her breathing hitched.

With her hands, the youth touched her breasts, slowly kneading them, her breath coming in uneven gasps past her lips. Her dark nipples perked as her fingers brushed them, her palms pushing at the soft flesh. Elmiryn went to stand over her, her mouth suddenly dry, and the Ailuran looked up, her eyes lidded. With a slow hand, she reached up and pulled the redhead down with her, and the older woman knelt, her throat moving in a tight swallow.

Stiffly, she whispered, “Nyx…I don’t need some weird scent to tell me how much I want you. How much I’ve been wanting you.”

The girl fixed the woman with a shy look. “Kiss me, then…” she breathed.

And Elmiryn did, her lips crashing against Nyx’s, her heart doing a somersault in her chest as she fumbled to undo her belt, the girl’s hands helping her. Soon, with the hated belt gone, the redhead pressed forward so that her partner was under her.

Is this real? she wondered as her lips moved against her lover’s. Or is this all just Stanislav’s magic?

Their tongues met, and Elmiryn groaned, her hips grinding into Nyx’s as the girl’s taste filled her mouth. All the while the scent of jasmine swirled in her senses. Her hands snaked between them, and she marveled at how soft Nyx’s breasts were. Her fingers squeezed and the girl’s back arched into her.

Why do I care? Elmiryn wondered as she broke their kiss and let her mouth lay a wet trail to the girl’s neck. This is wonderful. This is just what I wanted. She smiled as she felt the girl whimper in her throat–that precious birthplace of Words and Meaning.

No. This is everything I wanted. This is who I am.

In a quick roll, the woman kicked her boots off with her feet whilst her hands moved to slip off her pants. Nyx, with an air of impatience, helped by grabbing her pant legs and giving a strong yank. Elmiryn laughed.

And Nyx DOES understand. Look at her. Look at US.

Tugging off the last bit of clothing–the scarf Elmiryn had been using for her chest–the process was complete. Now the warrior’s skin, in all her desire, was free to feel Nyx.

And gods, to feel her!

Elmiryn moaned when the girl straddled her and leaned down for a kiss. Their nipples brushed, making the redhead shiver in pleasure. The tight pit in her stomach was near unbearable now. She wanted Nyx. All of her sweet flesh that burned and trembled at her touch. The bright sunny glow that dressed her skin mixed with the colors on the woman’s to blend and create odd designs as their hands roamed.

The warrior hugged the girl as she sat them up, and Nyx’s legs wrapped around her waist. She could feel her sex rub against the girl’s and she sighed.

This was bliss. This was one of the greatest pleasures in life. What was wrong with wanting this? What was wrong in keeping love simple? It was all Elmiryn ever wanted. For her life to be simple. Straightforward.

Who cares if this isn’t real?

But as soon as the thought hit her, the warrior’s lips and hands stilled.

…This…isn’t real?

Her eyes flew open.

Nyx stopped at her partner’s hesitance, her foggy eyes blinking as she pulled back. “Elle? What is it?” She asked breathlessly.

“We shouldn’t do this…” Elmiryn murmured, her face drawn up in tense conflict.

What the hell am I saying?

“I–I mean…” Her voice trailed and she looked at Nyx, at a loss. “I don’t know. I don’t know about this, Nyx.”

The Ailuran frowned and held the woman’s face. “What don’t you know about?”

Elmiryn couldn’t look into her eyes at first. Her chest had become tight, and for entirely different reasons than before. But when Nyx kissed her cheek, the woman’s face turned just enough to catch the girl’s eye. The Ailuran’s gaze had cleared some, and in her eyes’ tawny depths was concern.

“Elle, talk to me,” she pleaded.

“This isn’t us, is it?” The woman answered quietly. The tension in her chest pulled down until she felt it sit heavy in her abdomen. “This…craziness. It’s all just from Stanislav’s scent. And when it goes? What will this mean? Nothing. Absolutely nothing, because neither of us were in our right minds.” She bowed her head. “I thought I’d be okay with that. But I’m not. I’m just…I’m not, Nyx. What if you regret it? Where will that put us then? I mean–Fuck, I don’t know what I mean…”

Elmiryn scowled and turned her face once more.

Damn it. I’ve ruined everything. When did I get so twisted up about things like this? It all could’ve been so easy!

Nyx pulled her into a hug. The warrior blinked, but let her arms encircle the girl. Even in her anxiety, she felt a stirring at their bodies so close together. The Ailuran felt warm. Soft.

“Jasmines…” the girl murmured. “That’s what the scent reminds me of. Jasmines.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s very nice, isn’t it?”

Elmiryn’s frown twitched and she rested her chin on the girl’s shoulder. “I guess.”

Nyx laughed, making the warrior sit up again in surprise. Her lover pulled back just enough so that she could see the smile on her face. “What else can you smell?”

This question confused the older woman. She blinked as she gave a quick whiff. “I can smell…the grass? The dirt? The trees?”

“Could you smell those things before?”

“Huh?” Elmiryn’s eyes squinted.

Nyx rolled her eyes and gave the woman’s shoulders a small shake. “Go on! Could you smell these things before?”

The warrior’s frown deepened as she thought. “I…” she blinked, and slowly shook her head. “No.”

Nyx giggled, “Neither could I!”

“All I could smell was jasmine,” Elmiryn mumbled. Her eyes widened, and a grin appeared on her face. “All I could smell was jasmine!”

Nyx reached around and tugged at the woman’s hair tie. Her red locks spilled free over her back, and the girl sighed as she ran a hand through it. “You wanna know what I can sense now?”

“What’s that?”

The Ailuran gently pulled forth a lock of hair and pressed it to her nose. Breathing in deep, she giggled. “Your scintillating musk!”

It took a moment for the joke to sink, and when it did, neither of them could stop laughing. Then, with sudden passion, Nyx kissed Elmiryn, her hands tangling in the woman’s hair. Their tongues fought one another, fast and furious, and when they broke for air, the girl gripped the redhead’s hair and forced her head back.

Panting into her open mouth, she hissed, “And for the record, Elmiryn, I never regret anything when it comes to you!”

That did it.

With a growl, Elmiryn pulled Nyx off of her, their bodies spinning so that she was yet again on top. The girl raised herself onto her elbows, her eyes bright with lust as the woman dipped down to suckle at her right breast. She could feel the girl’s skin raise in gooseflesh beneath her fingertips, and her lips quirked upward as the girl arched into her mouth. Holding Nyx’s body to her with one arm, the woman placed her other on the ground for support as she shifted her leg between the Ailuran’s. When her pelvis was against the girl’s the woman ground into her, and her body seized with the explosive pleasure her clitoris felt. It speared down her thighs, up to her breasts, and into her mind.

Nyx seemed similarly possessed, as her grip on the woman’s hip and hair tightened.

“Elle, oh gods!”

Elmiryn couldn’t bring herself to speak, her passion stealing her breath away as she rocked her hips into the girl’s, again and again, the pleasure and elation she felt building within her. She straightened, gasping, and Nyx lay back, her head rocking into the ground as their sexes met and their essence mixed, wet and warm and singular. She moaned, her hands planting at either side of Nyx’s head as she ground into her, shuddering, her eyes rolling into her head.

This is…amazing.

She gave a small cry as Nyx began to match the woman’s rhythm, and she shifted back as the girl turned to her side, her body propped by one elbow, her hair spilling into her warm eyes. Now they both worked into one another, a synchronized match. Elmiryn watched, fascinated, as the girl’s teeth bared, and fangs showed. When she blinked next, her eyes were slitted. For a split second, the woman paused, wondering if it were really still Nyx, but when the girl spoke again, the doubt fled her mind.

“Don’t stop!” she bit out, her features tight. “Please!”

And Elmiryn listened, her eyes closing as she gave into the steady sensations that made her groan with pleasure. They went like that for a time, lost in one another.

Then without thinking, the warrior moaned and whispered, “Halward, help me!” before her climax rocked through her, hard and rolling. She rode the waves of pleasure, her hips still moving, her lips spreading in a delirious smile, and within a few moments, she heard Nyx follow, the girl’s body seizing as her orgasm came.

Spent, the woman laid back onto the ground. She chuckled out, “Nyx…you are heaven.”

Nyx only laughed.

Their legs remained tangled as they lay there, trying to recollect themselves. Elmiryn wiped the sweat from her brow. “Hey…”

“Hmmm?” Nyx sounded sleepy.

“Do you think the others are done?”

They heard a deep groan, followed by a cry of passion.

“M-Maybe we should wait here a moment…” Nyx stammered.

Elmiryn sat up, a leering grin on her face. “Why just sit and wait?”

Nyx sat up as well, her eyebrows raised as a smile spread her lips.