Chapter 34

They were all prepared for combat! Elvira had even considered using her power if things got out of hand. However, she was saving such an irreversible action for moments before death.

Those warlock riders they had assumed were coming to attack them took a right turn long before getting closer to them and rode in another direction in the vast wheat fields.

"Why are they leaving?" asked Elvira, perplexed.

"They don't see us as a threat because they are only after the one they have orders to assassinate," said Wivior.

"And they knew where he was!" said Quinn, clenching her teeth. "They must be tracking him with witchcraft."

"We need to follow these assassins. They already know where the doctor has fled off to. Come to the horses." Quinn lifted her arm, and their parked carriage appeared before them. She instantly got engaged in removing the reins from a horse attached to the carriage. "Free the other one," she ordered Ezra.

"Uh, Quinn," began Wivior. "I think it's too dangerous to follow those assassins." His nervous gaze fell upon Elvira. "They might seriously hurt someone."

"What?" Quinn's face scrunched up. "I have seen you raid a warlock village, slay beasts, capture spirits from the darkest forests, and now..." She rolled her eyes. "You sound like a sissy," Her eyes landed on Elvira, and she immediately looked away with half a smile.

That woman was crazier than her initial impression of her. She had the guts to follow warlock assassins! Hell, not even Elvira herself would have ever even thought about going after a bunch of killers of her species. 

"I see. You have a human lover to protect now," Quinn remarked angrily.

"Yes. She is my responsibility now. And I'll do anything to keep her safe," Wivior calmly replied to the brutality of her tone. Was he afraid of hurting her in the process? It was still hard to believe that he could care that much about her.

"I understand your infinite love, but she is dying. If you don't follow those warlocks now, we won't find Dr. Oliver for God knows how long. It's the lesser evil," said Quinn, shaking her head.

"Come," Wivior said to Elvira, taking a horse from Ezra. "We need to follow them. Jump on." 

Elvira took his hand and got on the horse without a word. Quinn and Ezra mounted the other one and made their horse gallop at the speed of the wind. They disappeared in a matter of seconds.

"I am about to do the same thing, so hold me tightly," Wivior spoke lovingly to her.

Elvira put her arms around his waist tightly. His abdomen was hard and strong like she had imagined and seen in her sensual dreams. She pressed her cheek against his back and closed her eyes. As the horse picked up the pace, a powerful gust of wind blew her hair. Undoubtedly, following warlock assassins was a mad move and fraught with danger, but she trusted Wivior. Clinging to him made her feel incredibly safe, and for a moment, she imagined what it would feel like to have him as her man for real. Probably protected, loved, and valued!

Lost in the pleasant feeling of being loved by someone like Wivior, a voice startled her. "Elvira!" She opened her eyes and saw houses and streets in front of her. How they got there so fast was beyond her! How did the wizards track those warlocks from a long distance? No wonder she was never supposed to teleport near them.

Wivior coughed. "It's okay to let go of me now if you want to. However, I wouldn't mind staying like this forever, but I think we need to get off this horse for now."

"Huh!" Her arms were still around his stomach. She retracted them immediately upon realization.

Wivior dismounted the horse and helped her get down from it by grabbing her waist. His platonic touch aroused emotions of excitement in her and an indescribable craving for more of it. While in his arms, she inhaled his scent. It was a sweet combination of sandalwood and some citrus fruit. He wore colognes daily and experimented with different ones, but that one she had smelled many times. It was her favorite as well.

"Ezra and I can go look for those assassins," spoke Quinn. She was so lost in her moment with Wivior that she hadn't noticed their presence. "And you can stay here and look after your woman."

"No." Wivior shook his head. "You have done so much for me, Quinn. As much as you like to chase danger and kick it where it hurts, I would like to look for them and the doctor in your stead. Stay here with Elvira. It will be enough to know that you're here with her. It's my responsibility to go after those assassins, not yours."

"Sure. Go ahead!" Quinn agreed immediately.

"Now, don't think I don't trust you," began Wivior. "But please, while you're staying here with Elvira, just try to fight all your instincts of finding any trouble and focus on keeping both of you alive till we return."

Wivior and Ezra burst into laughter when Quinn folded her arms and looked genuinely offended.

 "Mock all you want. I can stay calm for some time, even for longer periods. You have been too busy romancing women to spend enough time with me to notice a change!" said Quinn, rolling her eyes.

Elvira tried to join in their light moment with her fake laugh, but her inside voice was screaming and begging Wivior not to leave with an aggressive wizardess who had taken an oath to butcher Elvira's entire bloodline.

Before leaving, Wivior stopped near Elvira, took both her hands into his, gazed deep into her eyes, and then moved his mouth close to her ear. His breath fell on her neck like electricity. 

He whispered these words softly in her ear: "It feels like a punishment to leave you for even a second. I think I have already fallen in love with you." She felt strangely exhilarated and looked at him in shock. Could he be feeling all that he had said?

"Now, please don't end up kissing in the middle of the street," Quinn complained. "He might seem charming to you, but think about others."

"Quinn, let them kiss if they want to," said Ezra. "You know Wivior doesn't care about that. I would also love to kiss my woman before leaving her to accomplish a dangerous mission. Lovers need to show their affection before parting. A kiss is the perfect way to do that."

Elvira stuttered in confusion. However, when Wivior's flirtatiously shy gaze landed on her, she felt tempted to act on it. His friends saw them as lovers, and they had only behaved distantly. So maybe not because she wanted to, not for herself, only to prove their fake relationship. It was better to kiss him.

"Not that I wouldn't love to kiss my lady," began Wivior while Elvira was finding the perfect guilt-free excuse to kiss him, "But my lady here is timid and totally against such lavish public display of affections. I admire her and respect her boundaries and morals. So, I don't think we'll be kissing right now."

The sheer respect in his words was impressive. Any other man she knew would have taken that chance to take advantage of her. She looked at his handsome face, and now the desire in her heart for him had somehow multiplied. He was just like a flame she was dying to come close to, but she would turn into ashes if not careful.

Elvira stood on her toes and planted several kisses on his lips. Those kisses weren't close to the passionate kiss they had shared at dawn, but they were sweet enough to leave anyone wanting more.

"Wow, that was something!" Wivior said, licking his lips.

"I guess she is okay with a public display of affection now," he added.

"Quite a show you two put up," said Quinn, clapping rudely. "The surrounding audience seems to be entertained by it."

Elvira looked around and saw that a few men were laughing at them, and others were giving them mixed looks of anger and discomfort. However, she wasn't concerned about what anyone thought about them. The only opinion that she cared about was Wivior and his alone.

"Go to a tavern," said Ezra. "Wivior and I will join you there when we find something."

Ezra walked away, but Wivior stood there, suggestively staring at Elvira. If his eyes could speak, they would reveal an instant of love-making between the two of them.

"Wivior!" called Ezra.

"Huh?" Wivior responded while looking away.

"Come along. You'll have plenty of time to spend with her later!"

"Sure, let's go," said Wivior, halfheartedly. He walked away with Ezra after passing a mischievous grin at Elvira. 

A coy smile appeared on her face as she saw him walk away. Maybe something could happen between them. She wanted it to happen now. Her smile disappeared when her eyes noticed Quinn's unamused and intimidating face.

"Now that your lover is gone. Let's find the tavern and wait inside," said Quinn.

Elvira nodded and followed her. She didn't want to make that wizardess mad because she was even scarier than Everard.

Quinn had the gait and confidence of a predator. Her company was so intimidating that Elvira struggled to decide if she should match her pace or not. She chose to walk in her shadow to avoid looking at her angry face.

Suddenly, Quinn halted. "That swine!"

"What?" Elvira asked.

"One assassin is right in front of us," said Quinn.

Elvira looked here and there at the busy street but didn't see him. "Where?"

"Quiet," Quinn spoke through gritted teeth. "Lower your volume, or he might hear us. Look at the face of the man next to those children playing in the right corner."

Elvira looked again and spotted him. He was the one who looked the most dangerous when she saw the assassins back at the wheat fields. She couldn't get a good look at their faces because they were standing so far away, but one of them had a unique look about him: big and muscular, with red hair in a rare shade, he was a giant.

"I see him. Let's go and find the men," Elvira spoke in a hushed voice.

"We'll lose him if we do that. We have to follow him!" Quinn spoke with a pinch of madness.

"All by ourselves? Wivior told us not to do anything and to wait at the tavern. We can't..." Elvira shut her mouth when Quinn glared at her.

"Wivior didn't know that we would find him here. You can stay here, and I'll go after him by myself." Quinn walked away without another word.

Elvira didn't want to go with her, but what if she and Quinn got themselves trapped or killed after getting separated? She could always use her powers in extreme situations. So, she followed the wizardess.

They followed the warlock while keeping a distance for some time. He was only strolling through the marketplace and didn't stop once to do anything. It felt fairly easy until he entered a shady and empty alley. It looked exactly like the kind of place where all illegal things happened.

"Quinn," said Elvira, choking on a grim feeling. "I don't think we should follow him there. It could be a trap."

"I think you are right. Let's wait for him here." Quinn finally listened to her.

"Oh no, please continue following. I was enjoying it quite a lot." A voice came from that alley, but they couldn't see anyone. They looked up to see if the person was in the buildings.

"Turn around. I am behind you ladies," said the man.

They instantly turned around and saw the warlock they were following in front of them. Up close, he appeared even larger and more intimidating.

"I have been followed many times, but I must say that none of my followers have been as beautiful as you two. Your effort has turned me on." A big, evil smirk spread on his devilish face.