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“It’s alright. This is Sairi. These waters are home to her and her fanmi.”
Daliah looked up at me, flabbergasted. “There’s more?”
I laughed. “She’s only the first wonder. Now, come.”
I scooped Daliah into my arms and waded into the water. Sairi cooed, still singing as water shot out of her blow hole. When I reached her, I placed Daliah on her back before using her fin to hoist myself up.
“Wait!” Daliah turned to me, panic eclipsing the silver of her eyes. “Where are we—”
“Trust me, Lightheart. It’ll be fine. There’s a wonder I want you to see.”
Her eyes misted. She reached a palm to my cheek, caressing it. I snuggled the side of my face in her palm. For a moment, we remained that way.
“Are you two done?”
I barked out a laugh. Sairi wasn’t the most sentimental of whales.
“Yes Sairi. We can go now.”
“To the Isle?”
“To the Isle.”
Sairi took off. Daliah shrieked, and I relished the sound. Sairi rushed through the waves, stirring their depths. It wasn’t long before Daliah and I were drenched. Sairi launched into the air, then dove, taking us under with her. The river beneath the surface was a wonder I could never put into coherent thought. From the reefs to the endless underwater life, each time I was taken below life beneath the surface left me in awe.
After several hòrs of leaping and diving, we reached the center point of the Isles. We floated in front of an unexplainable stretch of land that existed to separate the water as it expanded from a river into a sea. Sairi swam to one of the small islands. I leapt off, carrying Daliah with me. Sairi made a clicking sound before blinking up at me.
“Shall I remain close by? Or will you be awhile?”
“Go. Enjoy your new little one. When we’re done, I will fly the Ayèlla of Sèlie back home. Thank you, my friend.”
Sairi clucked my way in endearment, then leapt into the air, twirled and dove into the sea. The waters rippled for a bit, then settled into peaceable quiet.
I turned to Daliah and found her brimming with a joy she hadn’t carried since arriving at the tower. I wasn’t sure what exactly the Sky Watchers bribed her to do. Even with her persistent attempts at handing me over to them, I hadn’t figured it out. In recent wèks she hadn’t made a move to deceive me again. I wondered if our time together was changing her mind.
I’d fallen in love with sharing all our meals together, teasing the other whenever we had a chance. She stumbled into my life and fit in perfectly. I’d once ridiculed Domenents for having their hearts stolen by the batting lashes of the faeretheth. Now, in Daliah’s presence, I wanted no future without her in it.
“Zhèmson,” Daliah choked out. “I’ve wanted this very experience since I was a child. I’d even given up on the dream. Until now… Thank you.” Tears welled in her eyes, pinching my chest. “Thank you for showing me all of this. For bringing me here. Listening to me. For caring… gods.”
I reached out with my wings, wrapping them around her slight frame, pulling her to me. I brought my forehead to hers. Sòlight fell around us like a shower of starlight.
“My Lightheart. You have been rain in my wilderness. Rivers in my desert. It is my honor, my joy, to shower you with everything you deserve. The Alpha saw fit to bless me by bringing you to my tower. For a long time, I searched for something. Anything. I didn’t realize this whole time, all I needed was you.”
I lifted Daliah’s chin with a finger. As the sòlight caressed our bodies beneath its canopy, I tipped my head and kissed her.
Daliah’s body melted into mine. She lifted her hands to my chest, clinging to my tunic. She parted her lips for me, letting my tongue push in and start exploring. Angling our heads for purchase, I lost restraint. First kissing her gently, then devouring her as though the cosms were about to burn.
She tasted like lavender and spice. Like cool rain and mist. Like divine freedom and hope. The further our breaths intertwined, the deeper I fell for her. She was proud, and arrogant, and conniving. But burn it all if those weren’t the very things that made me want to bow my wings and worship her the way she deserved.
I gripped her hair, branding her mouth. Feverish, hungry, demanding, I devoured her like she was an oasis of water in a wasteland. I couldn’t get enough. She pressed herself into me, igniting a fire that had gone dormant long ago. She moaned against my mouth. I swept her up into my arms, losing myself in her ecstasy.
“Daliah,” I groaned against her lips.
“Zhèmson.” she purred, kissing my jawline. Then my cheek. Then she reached up and kissed the winged flare of my ear before teasingly nibbling it. I gasped with pleasure, squeezing her bottom. I brought my lips to her neck, losing myself in her pleasure.
Rotting hells.
If we kept this up, I wouldn’t be able to stop. Mustering every measure of self-control I had left, I pulled back, putting her down. I locked my arms around her, bringing my forehead to hers. We both panted, unable to talk for a few moments.
