Private Tales On swift wings..

[Lorelei]

Lori didn't need his help to stand, and so she stood on her own and gave him a dry smirk and a roll of her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself." she murmured as she dusted herself off and stretched, still avoiding looking at him for too long.

She couldn't help but notice how suddenly cold she felt, and she folded her arms tightly, clearing her throat as she turned to get a better look at their surroundings. "We should go back. Who knows how many of them there are.. We need to put out the warning in case they're gathering force to move against us.." she huffed.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

A sparkle in his hazel eyes as he watched her. He just wanted to pull her to him. Hold her against her chest and press his lips to her own. Explore that mouth of...

Fuk.

Head shook slightly. His wings shuddered as he pulled them tightly against his back. "We need to see how many there are. If we can locate their base of operations."

They needed more intel. And a way to track the rebel group in case they moved. And he still wasn't sure why they were attacked. Had they been recognized or were they shooting at anyone who got too close to their territory.

Stooping to get his sword, he slide it back in its scabbard between his wings.

"We'll have to stick to the ground," he grumbled, already not liking the idea.

 

[Lorelei]

"And if we run into them again?" she asked, whipping back around to face him with a look of incredulity. She realised at once who she was challenging, and though her frown remained, her mouth shut tight and she huffed.

"General." she rumbled and dropped her gaze with a singular nod in understanding before turning to start making her way through the thick copse of trees.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

"Lori," he rumbled and reached forward, trying to snag her elbow before she could completely turn away. Trying to turn her back toward him. So he could look down into her eyes. Her face.

Gods that face.

And the fire in her eyes. He knew it would burn him alive. And he was more than up for the challenge. "Don't do that," he began. "You don't have to," gods this was hard. In that moment he looked like a little boy. He rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. As quickly as he tried to stop her, he released her.

"I won't have an ash arrows in me if we run into them again. We'll be ready. But I'd prefer if we scouted and remained unseen. So please save the sassing for after we're done." He went to step around her to take the lead.

 

[Lorelei]

The indignance on her face lasted only a moment as she found herself staring up at him, whatever quip she'd been about to throw at him dying on her tongue as he spoke, silenced by his reprimand. She swallowed and nodded with a light frown as he stepped around her.

Lori turned to walk after him in silence, her cheeks burning and her gaze avoiding the wings in front of her.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

It was hard for him to forget about her presence behind him. Hard for him not to want to take her hand. To turn around. To put his arms around her. Burrs his head against her neck for that scent. His hands curled into fists at his sides for a moment. his golden-green gaze trying to focus on the woods around them.

Turning toward a small copse of trees he paused and pointed slightly ahead.

"There," he whispered and pointed until Lori saw as well. "See it?" A small curl grey of smoke ahead through the trees. Hopefully it would be their rebel camp.

 

[Lorelei]

Lori followed in his footsteps, trying to hide their tracks as best she could. She stopped suddenly as Sid whispered, her head snapping up to look at him and then to follow his pointed finger toward the smoke. She couldn't see it until she was up close to him and standing up onto her tiptoes, but she nodded.

"So we'll skirt around, try to figure out their numbers, then head back?" she asked quietly, and altered their path slightly as she continued ahead of him. Her senses were on high alert, her ears attuned to every creak of branches and whisper of leaves. Silent. Too silent.

She had wandered into some open space when she heard the snap from above, her foot snagging on something that didn't belong. She pushed a hand out toward him as she turned in panic. "Wai-AAAAAAaaa!"
The net that she'd stood on was yanked upward, capturing her and pulling her up high into the tree canopy. Makeshift alarms had been tied into the ropes, dangling like bells and making a racket to alert whomever had set the trap to its success.

Lori flailed in the net, the ragged rope burning into her skin. No, the iron rings were burning into her skin. She tried to stand herself up, though failed to get her footing and wound up a tangle of limbs and useless wings as she hacked at the thick ropes "Ah .Fuck. Shit...Shit. Fuck."

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

Sid stepped forward on instinct, his arms reaching forward. The ground and Lori snapped up in front of him even as he stepped back and felt his other foot get caught in the netting.

"Fuck," he echoed her as he was dragged suddenly upward, hanging upside down and below Lori captured in the net, his boot caught. Nothing burning him though. "This is...embarrassing," he grumbled. And he was spinning in circles. Teeth grit and he unsheathed his sword.

No one was coming yet.

"Lori...can you please stop moving so much." He reached with one hand, going to grab the ropes so he could try to untangle his boot so he could drop and figure out a way to get her out and down.

"Shit," he growled as the rope burned against his hand and he let go. "It'll be....okay," he breathed as he realized he had quite the view of her ass above him.

 

[Lorelei]

She had damn near chopped into his foot before realising that he'd been snared by the net too. She'd likely have laughed at his predicament if hers wasn't entirely worse. Her wings caught in the web of rope, and she let out a cry of pain as she felt the iron burn into her flesh like brands.

It was everywhere, and it was difficult to hold still when every second the metal pressed against her skin was torture. She tried desperately not to scream, but she growled out a plea for him to hurry.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

He felt it then. A trickle of her pain through he knew the bond that was forming. It only confirmed his suspicions. And it was like nothing he'd ever felt before. Enough of a feeling to make him refocus.

Away from her beautiful arse.

Reaching up, he twisted his foot and undid the bootstraps enough so that one moment he was stuck with her and the next he fell to the ground in heap. Sans one shoe. Hearing a roar behind him, he stood, getting his sword out to meet an incoming fury.

His sword sliced across her abdomen as he spun to meet a cwn. The wolf snapping its feral jaws. The trees were too close together for him to fly into the air. He dodged right as teeth barely missed his shoulder and wings, then he pulled a dagger from his belt and threw it at the rope that held Lori and the net aloft. He took a step to position himself beneath her should it slice through the rope successfully. Even as the cwn turned for another attack.

 

[Lorelei]

Lori's energy was rapidly depleting. Pain was.. everywhere. The very presence of Iron alone was enough to cause her head to pound and her ears to scream as it attacked her senses. She couldn't keep still, and it was only making the bells and chimes attached to the net ring out even more. She supposed, that was the idea.

She couldn't help but crying out, bleating in panic, fearing there would be no reprieve from this, that her skin would continue to burn until there was nothing left of it. Until the iron was in her blood and it killed her slowly and painfully.

"Sid.." she pled, and then stumbled onto her back. Iron seared into her wings and she let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a scream. She flailed and writhed, unable to get herself back upright, and then suddenly the ground was rushing up to meet her and she gasped at the sensation of free falling.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

He caught her with one strong arm, wrapping around her torso and cradling her to his chest. Her cries of pain and the agony she felt trickling through to him nearly shattered him.

Enough.

He’d had enough.

Even as the cwn managed to wrap its jaws into his thigh. The shadows of the glen stretched eerily and then eclipsed everyone. There was a yelp of a dog in the sudden black void. More cries and screams.

There was a slide of sword along the burning net around Lori. She’d feel herself tugged free, then cocooned around arms and wings. Very slowly, the pitch black would melt back into the natural shadows and what was left were shriveled bodies of rebels.

 

[Lorelei]

Her body writhed in his arms, trying to kick free the net that felt like biting vipers coiling around her. She growled, cursing through gritted teeth as she felt her energy dwindle and panic set in. Her body jolted as something bit into Sid's thigh, her breathing laboured and her eyes wide as she looked up at him through the net.

And then shadow. She murmured his name again, a tremor in her voice as the darkness crept in. One last snarl of pain broke from her throat as she felt the net pull free, and she didn't hesitate to grip tightly to the male holding her, her head burying into the crook of his neck as darkness engulfed them and she listened to the strangled cries of the fae creatures dropping dead around them.

"Is it over?" she whispered after a moment of quiet, her eyes squeezed tight shut as she shivered uncontrollably.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

His eyes were golds and greens twisted in shadows. His breathing labored. He knew he was on the verge of losing control. Of letting his shadows run wild. They wanted to. They craved death and vengeance. They begged to be fed.

But it was Lori's whispered voice that brought him back. Made some of the shadows in his eyes start to ease back. Not entirely gone.

A shaky breath inward and he'd slowly set her to her feet as he very purposefully didn't make eye contact with her. Because he knew. She'd see him as a monster.

They always did. Something the Autumn King liked to remind him of.

"Are you okay?" He rumbled, his shadowed eyes closed and his head bowed. Knowing what carnage lay around them.

 

[Lorelei]

Angry red burns scored her visible skin, even her cheek had pressed into one of the iron rings. But right now, the relief was greater than the lasting pain and so she could deal with it. Her chest rose and fell with every rapid breath, and she was reluctant to let go of him as he set her down onto her feet.

The iron and her panic had drained her energy, and for a moment she wasn't entirely sure that her legs would hold her. Her brow knit as she stared around at those fallen fae that peppered the forest floor, his voice dragging her attention back to him, and her head tilted at the way he bowed his head rather than look at her.

Lori's hand reached hesitantly to his face, and if he allowed her to she'd tilt his chin to draw his gaze back to her, hoping he'd open his eyes to see the sincerity on her face as she spoke.

"I will be now.."

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

He felt her fingers smooth along his stubble and dark skin. It was the sound of her voice that drew his eyes open. Even though he knew they were still twisted in shadow. But he needed to see her. His shoulders were slumped. A wary look on his face.

His hands tightened on her waist. He’d set her down but had never let her go. But he was prepared to release her quickly as if he knew she could burn him as easily as those iron chains.

A low growl left the back of his throat as he saw the burn on her cheek. But he didn’t move or say anything. He stayed still as if preparing for a blow.

 

[Lorelei]

She could do little to stop the quiet gasp that she drew in at the sight of the shadow in his eyes. Her hand recoiled only slightly, but slowly found its place on his cheek once more as she studied him. It was concern, rather than fear in her stare, and the moment was so quiet that she could hear every breath he took - and the throaty growl he made sent a tremor spider-walking up her spine.

There was so much she wanted to say, wanted to ask him, but the way that he seemed to be waiting for her to shrink away from him only had her pressing closer. She gave no warning of the kiss she forced against his lips. It was pure awe and every ounce of gratitude she felt for what he'd done..Whatever he'd done. And it was assurance that whatever shame he appeared to feel in himself, that she felt anything but fear.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

Every movement made him wince. Prepared for her to run. To recoil in fear. In distaste. It took him a moment to break the shock of what she next did. Her warm lips pressing against his mouth. With great care, he gathered her closer within his strong arms. Still suspicious that any movement on his part would make this all an illusion.

His mouth moved, claiming her own back.

A piece of him he hadn't even realized was broken or missing something seemed to mend just a little bit as he held her close. As he glimpsed into her feelings, mixing with his own. He broke the kiss and pulled back for a light press of his lips against her forehead. One arm released her, his fingers brushing just beneath the healing burn on her cheek.

"Lori...," he breathed.

There were so many things he wanted to tell her. But they couldn't stay here. He had to deal with the rebel camp. But he never wanted to let her go. He didn't want to move away from her. Not yet.

 

[Lorelei]

Gods what the fuck was happening? Her eyes closed as she felt his lips on her forehead, the brush of his fingertips on her cheek, the breath that spilled from him as he spoke her name. Her senses had always been keen but in that moment she felt hypersensitive to him and the thought of him letting her go right now was sure to cause her pain.

Her body thrummed with a strange energy, her mind felt as though it'd opened. Fuck her very heart felt like it'd been split in two in the best possible way. Something simply clicked, and though she knew he was handsome and knew that salty, leathery, smoky scent that was him, right now she breathed it in like a drug that went straight to her head with a dizzying effect. And when she looked up at him? He was beautiful, and for once she was speechless.

Even the way her own name sounded coming from him now just sounded right. She stared at him, her heart rattling erratically against her ribs. She swallowed, breaking her focus on his eyes only to scan their surroundings once more..

"Lets go.." she breathed, reluctantly letting go of him and turning to make her way carefully away from the site.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

It was almost painful when she stepped away. His fingers clutched at air for a moment before dropping to his sides. He’d never felt this vulnerable before. Unraveled.

And damn, his brothers would be making fun of him right now. Then again, he knew Lorcan understood. Understood what he knew this was.

Lori was his mate.

His.

One stride took him to her side. A light touch at her elbow. “Will you stay here?” He asked. It wasn’t a command. It was a question. Almost a plea.

He wanted her to be safe.

His gaze turned to look through the trees toward the tents down the hill. He wanted to end this.

 

[Lorelei]

The touch to her elbow was like a spark and she turned to him, her wild eyes filled with the frantic thoughts that swirled in her mind. She stared at him, her throat aching and her mouth dry. She felt everything. She felt too much.

Stay?

Her brow furrowed with instinctual defiance, but it softened as she realised where the request had come from. "Sid, there wasn't much point in me coming along to just stay back and watch.." she said softly.

"I'm fine, I can fight.." she assured, lifting a hand to place on his chest, his heart beating against her palm. Whether they cared for one another or not, they were soldiers and they had duties, and now wasn't the time to let whatever this was to get in the way of that.

She wanted this to end. She wanted to slaughter every last one of those creatures who'd subjected them both to ash and iron.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

“I know. I,” he looked down at her. His fingers wrapped around her wrist. Anchoring her to him. Her desire marched his own. And as much as it scared him to think of her getting hurt again, he knew he wouldn't be able to change her mind. Not this time. And he’d be lying if he said her warrior’s instinct didn’t light something in his veins.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he rumbled and released her. Stepping around her to lead the way. Scooping up his sword, he suddenly moved. A blur of muscle and might as he entered the rebel camp. Sword swinging to catch those coming out to meet them.

 

[Lorelei]

Lori was merciless. She would not spare one ounce of consideration for the rebel scum, not whilst they still wielded such weapons against their own kind. They had raided towns, slaughtered innocent people and run others out of their homes. They had hurt her. They had hurt him.

Her blades did not discriminate. They sliced clean through whatever came at her, slicing through satyr, shuck, puca and all manner of fae. It felt wrong to be killing her own kind, but where her heart and soul splintered, there was only rage in her mind and that was what carried her forward.

If she was tiring, she didn't show it. She fought until sweat and blood glistened on her skin and wisps of blonde hair stuck to her face. She watched his back, he watched hers, and though claws and weapons bit into her skin every now and then, her adrenaline prevented her from feeling much.

 

[Sidereal Penumbra]

Any not wise or fast enough to run, fell at their feet. Until only the sound of their heavy breathing and the wind rustling through the flaps of tents and camp pots and pans filled the space. Reaching up, his fingers flicked some of the warm blood off his face before his hazel eyes fell to Lori.

He was in front of her in two swift strides. Sword sheathed. The hand that had just cut through rebels, hewn wings from bodies and plunged his blade like butter into chests, very gently tilted her chin up toward his face. Cupping the sides of her face his fingers brushed dirt and blood away that splattered across her skin.

"Are you okay?" Voice rumbled deep in his chest as he searched her for any injuries.

It wasn't that he didn't trust she couldn't handle herself. He just couldn't quiet this growing roar of instinct to protect her. And gods, when she held that sword. Looked like an avenging fury. It took everything in him not to take her right here and now.

 

[Lorelei]

Whatever injuries she had weren't bad enough to register with her right now, and so she nodded as she stared up at him, breathing hard from exertion, her bloody blades still clutched in her palms. "Fine.." she breathed back.

Lori's brow furrowed as emotions and urges that weren't her own flooded her mind and caused her chest to tighten. This couldn't be happening. She'd told herself she'd been imagining it, but the way he was looking at her.. She searched his face, his eyes, her own glistening.

He was her mate, and that fact was becoming more and more difficult to deny. Lori didn't need a mate. She could look after herself.

"This wasn't supposed to happen." she whispered subconsciously as she dropped her weapons to the ground,