Elle panted heavily as she ran. She knew Elias would pursue her, though she felt she now had the advantage being a small mouse in the dense underbrush. He'd have difficulty recapturing her, or so she thought. She was unaware of Elias' transformation and how he now trailed her in the form of a black viper.

She hopped over a fallen tree and burrowed herself under the trunk to catch her breath.

"Here mousy, mousy~" she heard Elias' call rather smoothly as slid along the ground, flicking his tongue in and out. "I can smell you~"

Elle held her paws over her mouth to keep herself quiet and prayed Elias was bluffing.

"If you come out I'll make it worth your while. You're from another world, aren't you? Well, I may not be as talented as my brother, but I could arrange to open the portal and send you home. Just help me kill Mathias!"

"What happened to wanting to do me in all by your own hand?" Mias' voice broke the tension in the air as he appeared from the tree line with Leadbury and Ares.

"Speak of the devil," Elias chuckled and transformed back. "So I've been caught?"

"You truly are a bothersome brother Elias, which is why I've decided I will return to the main estate. No doubt you've been preparing Father and our brothers for my arrival, so I'll accept your invitation without you needing to take hostages."

"Oh? You'd willingly enter the viper pit?" He flicked his forked tongue out again before it morphed back to normal.

"If it means settling things so I can live my life as I chose to, then yes."

Elias' face twisted into a distorted smile. "Splendid!"

Mias kept his eyes on Elias as he drifted back into the tree line.

"It's a promise, dear brother. Cross me, and you'll regret it." He grinned before disappearing into darkness.

"…Well that was anti climactic," Leadbury commented as he walked over to the fallen tree and nudged it over to reveal Elle's hiding place. "You can come out now."

"Elle!" Mias rushed over to Leadbury's side and looked down to see her covering her head and trembling uncontrollably in a pile of leafs. "Elle, it's me."

Elle lifted up her head and her eyes filled with liquid relief. "Mias…!"

"He's gone. It's alright now." He lowered his hand for her to crawl into, and she did. Mias enclosed his over hand over her gently and held her against his cheek. "You're alright."

Leadbury and Ares exchanged glances, both animals finding it a bit weird to see a man's affection displayed to a mouse.

"Is… Abernos okay?" Elle asked after some of her tears had stopped.

Mias seemed a bit offended that she asked after Abernos first, but he'd forgive her. Any time spent with Elias was surely traumatic and the last thing he wanted to do was add to her discontent. "He's fine."

"Thank god…"

"If any thanks need be given, it is I who should receive them," Leadbury interrupted.

Elle peered over Mias' thumb at the ghoul. "What—W-Who are you?"

"Galfridus Leadbury," he grinned.

"He's a ghoul I summoned to track Elias down," Mias explained as he stood.

"Oh, well thank you Mr. Leadbury," Elle wiped away the last of her tears.

"Just 'Leadbury' is fine," he informed her.

Once their introduction to one another had concluded, Mias climbed back onto Ares, still managing to hold Elle in one hand, and set the steed's direction for home.


"Look, if you're going to face him, please consider our offer. We may be banished, but all Stag await the day when the Dormaeus threat is eliminated and our forests can be free from their shadow," Berenos said with the utmost sincerity.

"I never asked for your help Berenos," Mias retorted as he examined the rolled out a map of the Dormaeus main estate spread across the dining table.

Since returning back to the manor, Mias hadn't slept. He had been planning his duel with Elias quite meticulously. Berenos and Abernos, who needed to return Eris, also presented their own course of action he could take: allowing the Stag to assist in dismantling the Dormaeus.

"What if he does kill you?" Abernos asked.

"He won't."

"But what if he does? You really think you can kill him before he kills you?"

"It's come to that, so yes, I've made peace with my decision. This stupid feud is endangering Elle and it's high time I end it once and for all."

"Y-Yeah, but he's had time to set all sorts of booby traps and who knows what else!"

"Calm down Abernos," Berenos instructed. "He has a point though. You're one man Mathias. Granted, you're a very powerful man, but Elias may not be your only enemy. You have eight other brothers vying for your position, correct?"

"And not one of them compare to me ior/i Elias. The one who's the main threat is my father. He's made Elias dance around like a puppet for years, as he once tried to do with me. I'd bet money he's the one orchestrating this get together. He's just using Elias to get to me."

"And we thought our father was mean," Abernos joked, only to earn a glare from Berenos.

"What I can't figure out is why all of this was set into motion after I brought Elle here," Mias folded his hands together in front of his chin. "There's fate, coincidence, and then there's purpose. I'm beginning to wonder how many of my actions were executed by my own will… It just seems too… perfect in a way."

"Thinking you may have opened Pandora's box?" Berenos asked.

"Hmm," Mias leaned his forehead against his fingers and groaned. "I'm too tired to think…"

"So go get some sleep. Abby and I will show ourselves out."

"Say 'hi' to Elle for me when she wakes up!" Abernos said merrily as he left with Berenos.

Mias heaved a quick sigh, glanced over the papers, and decided it would be best to take a break from strategizing. He rose from his chair and made his way upstairs. Instead of going to his own bedchambers, he went to Elle's. Poor thing had fallen asleep on the ride back and had been asleep ever since.

He opened the door a crack and saw Leadbury curled up on the floor at the foot of her bed. Elle herself had transformed back to her human form and was still nestled against her pillow contently. Mias smiled in relief. He had feared her encounter with Elias would cause more nightmares, but there she was sleeping soundly like she hadn't a care in the world. How he longed to have that sort of solace someday.

He stepped into her room quietly and nudged Leadbury's leg.

The ghoul's eyes slit open and he looked up at Mias, curious as to why his sleep had been disturbed.

Mias motioned with his hands for him to leave.

Leadbury groaned and got up onto his feet before lumbering out of the room to find a new place to curl up.

Mias kicked off his boots and crawled onto the open side of the bed.

Elle's eyes opened when she felt the mattress shift. She didn't need to roll over to know that it was Mias looking to cozy up to her. She was tempted to kick him out, but she still felt far too exhausted and to be honest, a little scared that Elias would return to torment her. But if Mias was going to sleep next to her, those fears would be lessened. She hated to admit it, but she was "safe" with him.

Mias spooned himself against her, wrapping an arm protectively over her waist to hold her against his chest. His nose brushed against the back of her head and he inhaled the pleasant scent of her honey colored hair. It was a soothing scent.

Elle was tempted to say something, but revealing she was awake would have consequences, so she kept her eyes and mouth shut while Mias drifted off to sleep with her held prisoner in his arms.


Once Mias was deep into slumber, Elle carefully wormed herself out of his arms. While she knew cuddling was the least threatening of intimacies he could do to her, Elle still didn't feel comfortable with him pressing "things" so close to her person. What scared her more was the fact she was becoming used to such things and not minded them as much as she used to. Granted, she'd been with Mias for over a month now so it was reasonable to assume she'd learn to familiarize with him but that wasn't the problem. They could grow to be the dearest of friends, but the fact remained he had abducted her and was holding her prisoner as a perspective sex slave. Well, maybe not so much a 'slave', but what if she did give in to him? What sort of perversions would she awaken?

These were the questions keeping Elle from falling asleep. She knew she was beginning to accept Mias and yes, she had opened her mind up a bit to the possibility of remaining by his side, but there was no way they could have an even somewhat normal relationship given the groundwork. She reminded herself constantly that she had her principles to uphold and should she show any lenience, she'd lose what dignity she'd manage to retain from Mias' dark grasp.

Elle rolled herself over to be face to face with Mias after deciding his breath was more tolerable than the touch of his hips against hers. Even with the shadow marks around his eyes, Elle could make out dark circles to indicate his fatigue. She wondered if all his worry lay in the decision of whether or not to slay his brother. He seemed to be plagued by his thoughts as his expression remained tense even in sleep.

"Is there anything I can do…?" Elle thought as she touched the odd tuft of hair that stuck up from Mias' hairline. "If he falters, he'll be killed… but if he kills Elias… would that really bring him any peace? Could I care for someone who killed their own brother? Blimey, why do I even want to care about him? I'm not that good a person… Just because he's handsome and romantically tragic doesn't mean I should give a damn."

And yet she did. She knew she did. A part of her had become enamored with Mias the instant he first kissed her. It wasn't love, but it was definitely curiosity. Why had he chosen her when there were super models and porn stars who'd make better companions? How'd he know she'd be the challenge he was hungering for? It didn't make a lick of sense. …But who said it had to? Mysteries were what made life interesting. Were she looking at her situation from the prospective of a woman reading a book, she'd be eagerly reading each page in wonder for what would happen next. Elle just never thought she'd find herself the heroine of such a tale. She had no idea what she'd do next.

She knew Mias wouldn't let her come with him to the estate. It was far too dangerous. But she couldn't just sit here and wait. What if he did get himself and the Stag brothers killed? Then what would happen to her? There was so much uncertainty and fear building up inside her, she'd neglected to notice she was clinging to Mias for comfort.

"If you let anything bad happen to me… I'll make you regret ever laying eyes on me…" she whispered.

"Is that so?" Mias whispered back.

Elle didn't seem surprised that he responded.

"A little difficult to take you seriously when you're trembling so, my dear."

Elle noticed that she was trembling as she clung to him. "I'm scared… I… I don't want to be killed… I haven't done anything wrong… And it's your fault. You pulled me into all this and you don't seem bothered by it at all…"

"Have you no faith in me?" He asked, looking her in the eyes. "If it calms you, I do have arrangements in case of the unforeseeable, but rest assured such measures are simply precautionary and hardly worth my effort because I don't plan on losing to Elias a second time."

"I'll admit your confidence is somewhat reassuring… but it isn't just Elias you'll be facing, right…?"

"Oh?" Mias grinned. "Are you actually concerned about me?"

"If you die, I'll die. It's self preservation. Nothing more," she said, though her reddened cheeks proved her words weren't entirely truthful. "Y-You're simply the lesser of two evils."

"I'm not the 'lesser' in anything Elle," he said smugly.

"Stop it!" Elle said seriously, causing Mias' smile to fade. "If you had any heart at all, you'd know this isn't the time for petty jokes..."

Mias said nothing and kept his expression calm.

"I'm genuinely feeling helpless… there's nothing I can do to be of use in this situation… It's quite infuriating you know…"

"You wish to do something useful for me…?"

"If you say 'sex', I'll—" Elle stopped mid sentence when she noticed his unwavering serious expression.

"Give me a reason to come home," he said quietly as he moved closer to her. "That's something only you can do."

"I-I'm not going to run off again if that's what you mean…"

"Don't play ignorant Elle, it doesn't suit you," he propped himself up on all fours and loomed over her. "You know very well what I mean."

"I told you to stop it…" she tilted her head to the side to avoid making eye contact with him.

"You desire my comfort, do you not? I assure you I can make all your thoughts disappear if you allow me to… Besides, I can't sleep so well either with so much pressing on my mind so it solves both our problems you see."

"I… I can't do that… I have morals… principles…!"

"To hell with your principles," Mias said before claiming her lips in a firm kiss.

Elle was dumbfounded.

"You're a clever girl. You know your body alone won't satisfy me. So why torture yourself denying what you want?"

"…I'll hate myself come morning," she sighed, giving her consent by wrapping her arms around Mias' neck.

"We'll see about that," he chuckled and kissed her once more, this time more passionately.

Elle ran her fingers up into his dark hair and scrunched her hands full of the black strands. There was no use in playing hard to get once she'd already given in, so she decided she'd make it worth her while by doing things as she saw fit. She wouldn't let him 'own' her with this and if he didn't like it, he'd just have to send her home and never bother her again. An incredible long shot, but it was in the realm of possibility.

Unfortunately for her, Mias was only further motivated to have her actively participating. He hadn't expected her to be quite so willing, but the pleasant surprise only heightened his growing desire to show her what she'd been missing out on all this time. He already felt a small degree of satisfaction having her final consent to his advances, but it wasn't nearly enough to deliver him from a month of built up lust.

He desired her, yes, but there was oddly something more he yearned for than just to hear her cry in name. Elle was worthy enough to remain his companion outside of the bed sheets and he was determined to make her feel the same. Never had a woman caused him so much trouble, but at the same time made him think about someone other than himself. He needed her to fill the void he created when he surrendered some of his self-love in order to love another. At this point, her body would never be enough. Like a devil, he wanted her heart and soul, but that was something he knew he couldn't get by force alone. She'd have to give them to him of her own free will. An act that was a thousand times more difficult than offering him her body. It was a start though.

Mias kicked the blankets off for he was getting far too hot to remain covered. He took the opportunity to rid himself of his body of clothing. His trousers had become especially confining so liberation from them was quite welcomed. Within a matter of seconds he was completely nude and set on having Elle join him. He slid his hands up her nightgown and pulled it off once Elle raised her arms up. He tossed the pesky clothing aside and buried his head against her neck, nipping and kissing rather tamely. He didn't want to scare her off by being too aggressive, but playing 'nice' wasn't exactly his forte either.

Elle placed her hands on Mias' shoulders and slowly ran her fingertips down his chest. His muscles weren't just for show; his skin was firm and unyielding to the pressure of her hands. He had thick, dark body hair, but it wasn't as course as Elle thought it'd be. For instance, the hairs running down the center of his abs were rather smooth to the touch. He was so well kept in fact that Elle began to feel a bit self conscious about her stomach not being as tight.

Thankfully Mias wasn't giving her time to think about such things. His hands were eager to explore her curves as well. He started at her stomach, lightly tickling below her belly button with his left hand as his right ventured upward and grasped her breast slowly.

Elle reacted promptly with a quick, "Mn!"

Mias grinned and kneaded his fingers into the soft flesh, coaxing out another light moan from Elle's lips. He was quite pleased with her response and continued massaging her breast while he planted kisses on the other he had neglected to touch.

His talents seemed limitless, Elle thought as she returned to running her fingers through his hair, partly because she didn't know what else to do with him at this point.

"Elle…" Mias lifted his head up a few moments later and locked eyes with her. "I love you…"

Elle let her hands fall from his hair and stared up at him. Why did he have to say that? She'd already agreed to sleep with him, so those words had no power to sway her decision. That wasn't something she wanted to hear from him right now. She felt weak enough as it was. She didn't want her heart to be toyed with as well.

"I love you," he repeated in a huskier tone of voice as he placed his hands on either side of her and lowered his hips in between her legs.

"Don't…" Elle said quietly, referring of course to saying 'I love you'.

Her words fell in deaf ears. The only thing Mias' hearing had tuned to were the wordless moans and sensual noises. He'd been quite patient with her until now and at last he'd finally take the next step to making her his. Beyond want, he needed her to be his. This peculiar connection he had with her would undoubted be deepened by physical bonding. It was simple fact that sex as far as humans were concerned, was about intimacy. Her heart wouldn't waver for the Stag or any other if his existence became all the more important to her. It had to. He wouldn't allow it to do anything else.

He kissed her gently at first, then firmer as his body readied its position. His tongue glided past his parted lips and wiggled its way into Elle's mouth after a few licks to be let in.

"Mm!" Elle felt her head being pushed into her pillow as he deepened the most intimate of kisses. To be honest, the serpentine like movements of his tongue were a bit off putting given recent events, but nevertheless it felt… incredible.

With Elle contently distracted, Mias snuck a hand down under her buttocks and tilted her hips upward just enough to create the ideal angle. He held her thigh and pressed himself into her, gradually enough to savor it, but swift enough to not pain her with slowness.

"MMFF!" Elle gasped with their mouths still connected.

Mias felt every muscle within her contract and tighten. Experience told him he was best off waiting until she had relaxed once again, but it was paining him to have to restrain himself.

"Aahh!" She cried when their lips finally parted.

"Relax…" Mias exhaled the command, though he too wanted to break his collected expression and moan loudly. He wasn't even moving and yet the tightening of her abdominal muscles was driving him crazy.

"Okay…" She said quietly before taking a deep breath. She reached her arms up around Mias' neck, subconsciously wanting him to comfort her as her body adjusted.

Mias obliged. He cradled her cheeks in his hands and kissed ever inch of her face slowly. A part of him was still bewildered such a moment was reality and not his wishful thinking. Should he say something more to her? Words of comfort? Encouragement? Praise? Such things came easy to him with other women, but this was Elle! He wanted her to seek this activity again. Experience meant nothing unless Elle was like those other women. And she wasn't.

"Mias…" He heard his name said softly against his ear. Elle's tight grip on him lessened a bit and he finally felt her relax.

At last. He took her lips back into a kiss and cautiously arched his hips forward. She released another sensual moan and wrapped her legs up around his waist, giving him the freedom to thrust without fear they'd become disconnected in the excitement.

Whether it was due to his fatigue or personal restraint remained unclear to even Mias himself, but he took things slow at first. He'd waited so long for this opportunity, he wasn't about to rush through it like he might have when he was younger. No, he paced himself. The first time with any woman was one that should be savored, Elle especially.

Elle, meanwhile, had successfully forgotten about everything but this moment. She clung to him as she had many times before, desiring the comfort and security only he could offer her. Her breaths were heavy and close together, and a feverish blush colored her entire body. She was hot and sweaty and could nothing about it, nor did she want to. Heaven help her, all she wanted was Mias.


The sun's angle in the sky put the time around noon when Elle finally woke up. She felt groggy, sore, and in need of a hot shower. Off to her left, her bed partner slept on with a smug smile on his face, the likes of which irked Elle somewhat. He didn't need to be that satisfied, she thought while her cheeks turned red.

"Well now you've gone and done it Elle," she scolded herself as she turned onto her right side to face away from Mias. It didn't matter how many times he made her grateful she was born a woman last night, the fact that Elle had betrayed her own principles wasn't sitting well with her. She did find some solace in the fact she finally satisfied her curiosity about having relations with him, but feared Mias was the kind of man women would easily become addicted to sexually. He knew his way around her body better than Elle knew herself in fact. It scared her to think how easily she yielded to him with the mere touch of his fingers.

Elle heaved a quiet sigh as she forced herself upright. Moving hurt, but she was growing restless. She stumbled out of bed, chalking a point to Mias for disrupting her ability to walk, and made her way to the bathroom to clean up. She conducted her bathroom business all in good time and finally felt better after a long soak in the tub.

As she combed out her hair while looking in the mirror, a sudden and dreadful thought came to mind. She dropped her comb and immediately started counting on her fingers the number of days since she started her last menstrual cycle. She didn't know if Mias had some sort of contraceptive magic, so she had to assume there hadn't been any protection against pregnancy.

"Phew," she heaved a sigh of relief when she determined the timing wouldn't line up with her cycle. She picked up her comb and finished with her hair before leaving the bathroom to get dressed.

"Mm, what a wonderful sight to awaken too~," Mias said smoothly as he eyed her coming into the room.

"Shit," Elle cursed. She was hoping he would still be asleep and she could dress herself without being subjected to perverted commentary.

Mias stretched his arms out before tucking them behind his head for added support. "How are you feeling?"

"Well enough," she responded, a bit surprised he asked after her well being first. "I don't appreciate all these bruises you put all over me though."

He chuckled. "Simple love bites my dear."

Elle rolled her eyes as she donned her undergarments.

Mias sat up and ran a hand through his hair. Even his disheveled appearance was handsome, perhaps even more so because of how primal he presented himself.

"…So…" Elle asked quietly as she selected a dress from her wardrobe. "What now…?"

"Round Two?"

She glared over at him. "Last night was a one time deal. Besides, you got what you want and I'm mad I gave in so easily."

"Is that so?" He smirked.

"Look Mias, I haven't forgotten you've kidnapped me. Before you subject me to anything truly perverted, I'd appreciate it if you sent me home now."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because I finally slept with you; because my life is in danger due to your family feud; because it's the decent thing to do; pick the one that suits you and return me to my world!"

"Heh, I have no desire to return you to your world Elle," he grinned as he stood and approached her, "You're mine."

"The hell I am!" She argued.

"You are," he put his hands around her waist and stole a kiss from her lips.

SMACK!

Elle slapped him as hard as she could across the cheek. "Get over yourself! If you won't send me home, fine! But you'll never get in between my legs again so there!"

Mias was stunned.

Elle finished putting on her light green dress and stormed out of the room. For once, she felt like she had the upper hand against him and had won. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.


"You're overestimating how far your confidence can take you Elias," Lord Dormaeus commented as he swirled a bit of wine in his goblet.

Elias stood near his father's side, his face expressionless.

The middle aged man heaved a sigh, "How I hoped Mathias would rejoin us, but he's always been the rebellious one. Heh, your mother took the last bit of her spirit and put it into that boy."

"If I may Father, why have you summoned me? It can't be to critique my confidence."

"No, but it occurred to me you've been trying to assassinate Mathias for quite some time now with no success. If you want to claim the role as my heir, I can't have you failing this time."

"It will not happen."

"So you've said before!" He laughed mockingly. "You lack the will to kill those of your own blood. Your hatred makes you passionate, but it restrains your potential."

"Then allow me to prove my conviction," Elias smiled coldly.

Lord Dormaeus grinned and snapped his fingers, sparking green flames.

A puff of smoke appeared before him and as the cloud dissipated, a young boy with dark hair and dark eyes dropped to his knee in respect. "You summoned me Father?"

"Zacharias, my youngest son," Lord Dormaeus grinned. "Kindly assist your brother Elias."

Zacharias nodded and rose to his feet. He turned to Elias and smiled. Being the youngest, he had few opportunities to be of use so he was delighted to have been summoned. "How may I be of use Brother?"

Without answering, Elias drew a dagger in each hand and slashed his brother's throat open.

Poor Zacharias fell to the floor, bled out in moments, and died.

Covered in his blood, Elias turned back towards his Father. "Shall I slaughter the rest of my brothers to prove myself?"

Lord Dormaeus chuckled, "Very well."


Mias grabbed his chest suddenly and his eyes widened. He felt a cold chill run down his spine and it succeeded in making him shiver.

"What's wrong?" Leadbury asked. They had been in the middle of lunch when the sudden sensation struck the sorcerer.

"The spell linking me to my brother Zacharias broke..."

"Spells do break," Leadbury said.

"No, it's… a life connection spell I attached to all my brothers in order to keep tabs on them… it only breaks when you die…"

Leadbury stood silent.

"Oh Zacharias…" Mias laid his head into his hand. "He was just 13… He got his eye markings just a few months ago…"

"Do you know who killed him?"

"…I fear it was Elias," Mias clenched his fists and slammed them onto the table. "DAMN IT! I should have…! Why did I think they'd be safe under the safe roof as him?!"

Leadbury pushed the platter of food set before him aside and approached Mias' side. "Your orders?"

Mias took a deep breath, "We're going to the Dormaeus estate immediately. Go tell those Stag Brothers… I'll accept their assistance… Tell them to rescue my broth—AH!"

"Mias?!" Leadbury caught him as he collapsed over him, screaming and holding his head like he was in intense pain.

"They're all…! They've all been…!" Mias slowly removed his hands. His sclera were red and bloody tears ran down his cheeks. "All of them… Tobias… Josias… Euodias… Jeremias… Urias… Zedekias… Adonias…"

Leadbury said nothing. There was nothing he could say.

Mias regained his composure, though with bleeding eyes he didn't look well. He slowly left the dining hall and wandered through the corridors toward the front door.

Elle was out in the fields with Ares and Eris, brushing out their coats and manes. "He's unbelievable, right?"

Eris snorted and nodded her head a bit as Elle braided her mane for her.

"I guess men are the same no matter what world you're in," she sighed.

Ares stepped behind Elle and laid his head on her shoulder.

Elle smiled and patted his muzzle. "'Cept you Ares, you'd make a fine gentleman."

The black horse grinned and looked toward Eris.

The mare haughtily turned her head to the side.

Elle laughed as Ares cried into her shoulder. "It's okay Ares. She'll come around."

Ares hoped she would. He perked his ears forward and lifted his head up. He whinnied and trotted over to the figure approaching them.

"Now what does he want?" Elle asked Eris as she tied off the braid.

Ares whinnied in a concerned fashion and kept trying to get Mias' attention by nipping at his clothes. The stallion knew something was wrong.

"Mias…?" Elle turned and caught the man as he collapsed at her feet and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I need a moment to be weak…" He muttered. "Please…"

For Mias to humble himself must have meant something happened. Elle set aside her contempt for the man and sunk down onto her knees. She allowed Mias to cling to her and held him protectively until his tears stopped.


Chapters 26 - 28