Chapter 75

~Kamari~

I found myself prolonging the inevitable. I knew I couldn't run from talking with Calea. I needed to, but for now, Ignis had my attention. "I want to fly, like my father does."

My heart skips a beat, and my hands stop moving. I was working on Ignis' silky hair, turning it into an elegant updo. I clear my throat. "Oh? But you can't shift yet–"

"Yes, I can," she says as she looks over her shoulder at me. I want to roam the skies like my father does." I notice her gaze out the window, her eyes full of wanderlust. I finish her hair. "Were you not going to tell me you could shift?"

Ignis turns around, "I happened not too long ago, and, you seemed so sad, I didn't want to make it worse."

Those words couldn't couldn't have hurt me more. My whelps shouldn't have to worry about me at all. They noticed I was having a hard time. I try so hard not to let them see it. As it was, my whelps were changing and growing, and I couldn't press pause. If Ignis wanted to fly into the skies as her brother did with the seas, I wouldn't stop her. I cup her face between my hands, "My beautiful girl," I press my forehead against hers, "then you shall fly," my voice is soft, settling into something I can't change for her. 

"I can leave now," she had grown a little past my waist. So fast, just like Ryuu. I wear a bittersweet smile. "Yes." Good goddess, don't show her you're scared and that you feel like clinging to her. I watch her shift in front of me. A gorgeous black wyvern like Nye, her scales shimmered, and she crawls forward to me, nuzzles my leg, and makes that little chittering sound. Ignis looks past me and makes a playful growl. I turn to see Nye in the doorway.

"Finally." He smiles with pride and walks over to Ignis. He crouches down to her, "You are ready to soar, little one." Ignis chitters, her tail whipping around. Nye walks with her to the wide open window. I take a long breath in and exhale. I watch her leap onto the window seal. Nye places his forehead against hers. "You will come home when you are stronger." His voice is soft but stern. Make your first kill count."

With that, Ignis takes off into the blue skies, and I watch until I can't see her anymore. I feel Nye's arm wrap around my waist. "Ignis will make it. You do not need to be worried for her." I place my hands on the window seal, leaning against it. "Yeah, I know. I can't stop the feeling."

"Hm," Nye's hum is husky as he turns me towards him, "Perhaps," he lifts my chin to look into those icy blue eyes that send chills down my spine, "because you're bleeding." My brows flinch, and I look down, but I see no blood. Nye backs me into the wall, his hands slipping under my dress, caressing my inner thighs apart. "I know your scent, Kamari," the bass of his voice makes my lower abdomen twinge, and when he gently inserts two fingers inside me, my breath hitches. Nye holds my gaze, a smirk on his face as he indulges in my reaction. 

And when he pulls his fingers out, I whimper at their absence, but when I look down at his fingers, I see red. "Oh, good goddess." I didn't know how long I had been in heat, which wasn't normal. I usually felt the gnawing urge to maul my husbands, but I didn't. But I could see the haze in Nye's gaze. He's ready to pounce on me. I place a hand on his cheek, "Would it kill you to wait."

His eyes darken, "Must I?" The gruff in his voice lets me know he is already holding back. "For now. I'll be in heat for a while." I wrap my arms around his neck, "Please?"

Nye lets out a restrained growl, "I won't hesitate to burn those who try to touch you. Darling, I'm holding back, but I'm not pretending I don't want to see those eyes glow and challenge me so I can claim you the right way." His lips brush against mine, "Kadea's hell, you bring me to knees sometimes, and I hate it." He growls out, and I can't help but smile at him. "You never mean hate." I nuzzle my nose against him, "Neither do I."

Nye chuckles darkly, "Didn't I tell you not to deny me the foreplay Darling?" A smile pulls at my lips as I playfully shove him. "Oh, I remember," I walk towards the door, then look over my shoulder, and in a sultry voice, I say," Don't worry, I'll let you indulge when I am ready." 

After talking my way out of Nye's grasp, I had him come with me to find Calea and made him swear he wouldn't chase her down like prey. I used my heat cycle as a threat this time. He halts, "You would dare deny me because of a witch?"

With a smug grin, I place my hand on my hip," Well, until you learn to behave, I must. I can't say I trust you, but I do know how much you want me right now," I lean forward, "And I'd be a fool not to use it against you to make you think twice."

I watch as his Jaw tenses, he shakes his head with a repressed smile, "Just wait until I get my hands on you," his voice is gravely and suggestIve at the dark desires to come. When I finally find Calea, I hear a loud crash; I pick up my pace, and my heart pounds in my chest as I shove open the door, only to find a vast dress broken. I look to Calea, whose face is beet red, her hair disheveled, and then my gaze goes to my son, who looks curiously at the broken dresser.

"Hm. I think a boulder would have been Sturdy," Ryuu says, and I wear a pressed Smile. Then I look at Nye, who has a stupid grin on his face. "Don't tell your father about mating with the witch," then Nye assesses the broken dresser. The ground is much better; it's the only thing that won't break."

Oh, good goddess. Not a mating lesson from Nye. 

I clear my throat. "Calea, may I speak–Whoa!" She pulls me out of the room. "Yes, goddess, yes," she says in a shaky voice, leading me away from Nye and Ryuu. I wasn't a stranger to Calea's reserved nature, but he wasn't exactly shy with Ryuu—not shy at all.

When Calea stops, her face stays red. "I am so sorry," she says, covering her face, then swallows hard. I had no idea it would break…"

I snort laughter, "Calea, please. Trust me, fooling around is nothing to me; I've seen a lot. Please, you don't have to be sorry for it." I take her hands, and her breath comes quickly, "I-I'm not used to his–um…" Calea stalls for the lack of words. 

"Passion?" I find one for her, something we'll round. Calea nods, "Yes. Is this awkward? I shouldn't be talking to you about this…" Calea had no one else to talk to about this, and even though I am his mother, maybe it's wise to send her off with useful information. But I start by saying something else. "Ryuu, you told me he's leaving and taking you with him."

Calea stalls, a slight frown on her face, and the air between us grows silent. "I'm sorry," I sigh. "I shouldn't have put you in so many situations you were in. I can't image what you went through, this place has a hold on me," I lock eyes with her, feeling a ache in my heart, "but it is doesn't need to latch to you. You've done so much, Calea, and I feel awful asking for your help now. But, if you say no, I'll find another way."

She shudders a breath as if a weight has lifted off her, "Kamari, I chose to stay through it all because of you. I don't think it was ever the land I was attached to. It was always you." Her hands grip mine, " I will come back to see you, but I do think this is better for me. But whatever you need help with now, I will do my best. Ryuu hasn't exactly given a so-called "date" in which we'd be leaving so, until then. I'll be happy to assist you." My resolve gives why, and I pull her into a tight hug. "There's no way In Kadea's hell this is goodbye," I hold on to that statement for dear life as I hug her tight. 

Calea chuckles bittersweetly, "Of course not; I wouldn't dream of it." As we part, we wipe tears and snort from our faces, "Ugh, you've made me a crying mess, Kamari." Calea sniffles and sighs, "So, what is it that you need my help with?"

I regain my composure before taking on the new subject, "I have a Hearthstone of this land. I need a barrier, and Mael has agreed to help me by building one of his own, but we fear it might not be strong enough without some magic within it. Can you help?" Calea double-blinks and wears a meek smile. "Yes, I can see what we can do," for a moment. Everything feels better, a weight melting off my shoulders, and then Calea double-takes over my shoulders, and her face pales.

I roll my eyes, knowing who it was. I turn around. "Nye, didn't I tell?" I stop mid-sentence when I see gray eyes. "Oh no…" I place my body in front of Calea.

"Koa."