"You love him." He said and Cidas eyes flew wide, mouth falling open.
"Oi now that's a jump!" She protested but Presca just smiled way too confidently.
"I've seen the look before, admittedly not usually directed at Vander, he's always been too flighty, too all over the place for most people to get enough time with him to appreciate the guy he really is but you've met Cristoff…" He chuckled and Cida smiled faintly. Cristoff was handsome, sexy, built and as sweet natured as the day was long. Even she'd seen women and some men look longingly at the Lunar Slayer in her short visits to the guild.
Presca chuckled. "Yep, you've seen alright, those looks Cristoff gets, because people just fall for the guy, not that I blame anyone, hell, I prefer women in my bed but if Cris told me I was his mate? I'd have jumped into those big arms of his without a look back."
Cida laughed, she'd had the same thought when he'd held her, cuddled her after healing a nasty gash in her side that had shown up one morning after they had returned from the island and "kitty" had taken over and gone prowling around the Pradesh estate...or Gods knew where really, she rarely had memories of what she did in that form. Cristoff had been so kind, soft soothing words as he'd helped Vander clean her up and had healed her injuries as she'd buried her face in his shirt embarrassed and hurting until his magic had healed it all away.
She'd sat on the beach with him that night, both loved moon bathing, and talked about the cat form, how much it troubled her, and how much she missed the blue sands of the Cerulean coast where she'd been born.
It was Cristoff who'd found this mission for them, he'd been sitting in Kalebs office chatting with Kaleb when it had come in. It was the Encan government that had put in the request, some of the illegal weapons had made their way to Enca, and some weaponsmiths had been harmed, one man killed, when they had unwittingly started modifications on the weapons for clients, only a few of which had known the weapons had been magically enhanced illegally beforehand.
Knowing Cidas background, Cristoff had taken the request before Kaleb posted it to the database for assignment and had called Vander about it and Vander had grabbed it. It had surprised her he'd take another undercover mission after what had happened on the last one, but, he'd been trying to convince Kaleb to let them back into the investigation and hunt of Quazar, so...Vander certainly wasn't backing away or avoiding what had happened to him.
It had made her feel so much pride in the man, when he'd sat at the family table arguing with Kaleb about that.
"Presca and I are the best fucking trackers in Bosco, Kaleb, it makes no sense at all not to put us on the job, I get you're protecting me, it's all sweet and I really am trying not to shed a tear here, but put us IN." He'd growled.
Kaleb had glanced at Arman and their father had drawn a breath. "I want to see you complete a different mission, get back to work, get your feet fully under you and your focus in place, then and only then will your Uncle and I consider allowing you on the hunt for Quazar. The Citadel and Boscan Consulate are in charge of the hunt Vander, the Citadel has military jurisdiction and the consulate is keeping borders open wherever the hunters need to go so ultimately? It is ME you need to convince." Arman had said calmly and Vander had narrowed his eyes.
"Dad, I love you, and I realize the shit you all went through to save my ass...again...but Presca and I really are the best, you know that." He'd said and Arman had nodded.
"I do, and I also know Presca hasn't taken a job in nearly a month, he's been relaxing and dating Evergreen while you were in Stella. I appreciate you've been training, and your magic is stable and Cida is very strong and you could do the work better than anyone, BUT, I demand proof you and your team are ready. Complete another mission, a high level one, and I will speak with Tesso about including you." Arman had replied.
She'd been proud of him, seeing him ready to jump in and go after the demon that had nearly destroyed him. Few people would go through what Vander had, and be willing to go back and go after what had come so close to ending them. Vander didn't look the least bit scared or detered either, he'd sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Fiiine." He'd huffed in a whiney tone then leveled a look at Kaleb again.
"So what mission do we have to tackle to prove we can kick demon ass?" He'd asked lightly and Kaleb had drawn a breath and admitted he had nothing that met Armans standards yet but, White Sea got requests from all over Ishgar every day, he'd have something for them soon.
He had too, they'd waited less than a week before Cristoff had called Vander about the job they were on now. One that would bring Cida back to Enca after they investigated the purchase point of the weapon that had killed the weaponsmith. She was nervous but excited about that, she'd meant to ride all the way to Daevale and get an airship to Enca, check on her family who she hadn't seen since she was child.
She'd gone over the reports of injuries caused by the weapons in Enca anxiously and been relieved none of her immediate family was involved, though the man killed, his name she recognized as a friend of her fathers.
"You look at Van like that sometimes, that same look I've seen on people looking at Cristoff." Presca pointed out.
She narrowed her eyes on Presca then. "No matter, nothin can come of it." She said firmly looking down at her hands and he'd raised a brow.
"Why?" Simple question, she rolled her eyes because it had no easy answer.
"Yeve seen what I am Presca, that aint changin. Nuryev can't take any more of it outa me without killing me. I have to master it and...I'm not close to that." She sighed.
"They helped in Stella?" He asked, he knew Vander and Zen both had insisted Cida get some help from the Stellans while there, Vander taking her with him because aside from Cristoff, who was needed at the guild a lot because of his healing, she really wasn't comfortable with anyone. She seemed to need someone to...hold on to, use as a sort of safe point, and Vander was that for her now that King Allsaidian had gone back to Seven.
There was an open invitation to her, if she found the world at large too much, wanted safety and complete understanding and acceptance, the King had his arms wide open, he'd take her back, give her a place on his immediate staff and she would never need to worry about anything but work he'd give her suited to her skills and "issues"
"They tried...I hurt a few people, they switched it up so I trained with Zen and Van…" She smirked "Now those two? Never did get a good one in on either of them, knocked Zen outta the sky a couple a times and landed some hits on Vander, but never hurt em…" She said, eyes sparkling with memories.
"Well, your energy is calmer, just so you know, you sparked some before, had these spikes and I'd see the tiger energy push at your normal energy, but now? No spikes, it's...better. Still there? But better." Presca told her seriously and she blinked at him.
"You can see that?" She asked and he smirked.
"I see energy, feel it, sense it, all kinds. That's my magic, I can pull it, use it, drain it away and redirect it into other things or even ram it back into where it came from and destroy a mages magic pathways with their own magic...best way to wreck a dark mage." He said with a dark grin then shrugged.
"Yes though, i can see it, see yours, two distinct types of energy in you, the one that's yours, your human side, and the...manufactured side, not human, not animal exactly...I've been into Pergrand more times than I want to remember, I've seen it's like before." He told her.
"Your energy is at its best, most balanced, around Vander, especially...when you touch him." He smirked again and Cida rolled her eyes.
Presca shrugged "I see what I see, not lying to you or trying to convince you of anything, you balance out pretty good around Cristoff too, but then most people do that around him including myself. Just, be aware, that's real, you're really worried about hurting people, I get it, I was too, my magic? I can drain the life energy out of someone, kill them in seconds, used to have control issues, especially when Grendace killed my wife and daughter...I killed more targets than I immobilized for a while back then and I was afraid to be around anyone I cared the least bit about." He said thoughtfully.
Cida drew a breath, Presca was so...steady, stable, it amazed her that he could have been that way…
"What happened? How did ye get it in hand?" She asked.
He smirked "Vander." He replied with a snort "I HATED him when I met him, was forced to work with him, and he pushed me so fucking hard, I know I attacked him more than once but he always...danced around it, side stepped it, never stopped smiling, never stopped just...being fucking friendly. Dragged me to his home, made me meet his family and then?" He chuckled shaking his head.
"Once Arman decides you are a friend of any of his children? You're just...swallowed up in that whole family and even if you want none of their help, none of them at all...it just...happens." He looked up as if for guidance but was smiling.
"Now? They're my family too, every one of them calls me, drops in, asks me on jobs or to go places, do things, once I was "in" they all just, embraced me and I, against my will at first...well, I love them, all of them, including fucking Vander, who...I know...if the worst things happened to me, if walking through the ninth plane of hell was what had to be done...Vander wouldn't even hesitate, he'd do anything, go anywhere, face anything for someone he cares about. He's my friend, my best friend...and...he's your friend too, could be more, I see him thinking it, looking at you, like he's never looked at anyone before, so...if you wanted more with him? Unlike anyone I've ever met or seen him with...you could have it, your choice, I know Van, he sure won't push you that way, would fuck you till you couldn't wipe the smile off your face for a week, but wouldn't force you into more, you'd have to want it as much or more than him for that." Presca said.
Cida pressed her lips together, smiling faintly at the man.
"I'm feelin some o what yer talkin about." She chuckled and Presca smiled.
"Think about it ok? You need to talk? I don't tell Van shit even when he fucking begs, I'm only one around, other than his father, he can't get information out of when he wants it." He said and that got a real smile from the woman.
"Thank yeh, Presca…" she said and he was just about to say more when Vander appeared, a red eyed Evergreen and her large suitcases in tow.
Cida smiled as the man barely managed to get his arms open and Evergreen was tackling him from the cargo case he was sitting on to the floor, all tears and kisses and Presca managed to shift himself enough he could just wrap his arms around her and drink it in while Vander hopped up onto the container Presca had been perched on a moment earlier, watching the couple and smiling.
"You two decide to have sex there you better be willing to have company." Vander chuckled, seeing Evergreen shoving her hands under Prescas shirt and his friends hands slide down and grip the womans ass.
Evergreens middle finger appeared and Vander laughed.
Cida grinned, happy for the couple. How much Evergreen could help with the mission remained to be seen, but she knew neither herself nor Vander were going to deny Presca when he'd said he would bring Evergreen with them.
Evergreen drew a shaky breath, curling into Presca once she'd kissed the man breathless, felt all the tension she'd not even known she was carrying bleed away as warm arms tightened around her. He sat up, shifting her in his arms so she could settle in his lap.
"You two should go up on deck, I can feel the moons energy starting to hit the deck up there. Cida could use some time under it." Presca said and Vander snorted.
"Nice way to get rid of us, but...you're not wrong, wanna go moon bathe kitten? We can go grab some food from the kitchen in the front of the ship after...and bring some to these two after we eat...give them time to fuck each other…" He snickered and Evergreen glared at him but Presca just smiled.
Cida hopped off the container she was sitting cross legged on. They had set up a sort of "camp" in this cargo hold at the back of the ship. They were being smuggled into Iceburgs ship yards by the captain of this cargo ship who General Fasion had put them in touch with for the mission.
The cargo hold normally had no heaters or any power to it, so they were making due with some lacrima Presca directed energy into so they heated up like a camp fire, if they didn't take those measures, they would freeze to death during the full 2 days it would take them to cross Iceburg to the Northeastern port that held the largest shipyards in the country. She refused to acknowledge she had so far slept every night wrapped around Vander on his sleeping mat, it was cold, he was warm, end of story.
They had made an area within the shipping crates, arranging some taller crates so they had a sleeping area that was mostly enclosed so the heat from the lacrimas Presca charged stayed around them and during their stops in a few places along the way where the ship was off loading and loading cargo they remained unseen.
While Cida and Vander retreated upstairs to the deck now that the moon was up, Presca gathered Evergreens things and took her to the little alcove they had made, resetting the runes that ensured no sounds made in the area left it.
Evergreen was wiping at her face, suddenly upset she saw mascara on her hands, that meant she had to look absolutely freakish….
"I'm...I'm a mess…" She whimpered and Presca drew a breath, he couldn't read emotions, but over the years he'd gotten damn good at seeing how a persons energy changed based on their mental state and when Evers did these little flutters? It meant her insecurity was flaring up and while he could tell her he didn't care...because he really didn't, they were on a cargo ship flying over Iceburg, it was dark and the light from the lacrimas was a dim soft ivory, to him? She was the most beautiful thing he'd seen in a while, he'd missed her when she'd left Bosco, worried she'd decide she could walk away from what was just starting to really build between them, and a long mission? He hated it had come when it had but knew the importance.
"There's a bathroom over there…" He chuckled when she grabbed up the smaller of her bags and dashed for where he had pointed. It wasn't much, a small bathroom with a sink and a stand up shower, cramped and only down there because the brig for the ship was also down in this area so it was where anyone being transported a criminal was allowed to shower and use the toilet. They had even considered staying in the brig since it had cots but then chose not to because it couldn't be hidden.
He drew a breath and smiled after her, busying himself getting the area set up, channeling energy into the lacrimas for warmth, setting her bags aside, she'd want to organize what went into requip space, he was still teaching her how to use that, this mission would give him time to make sure she perfected it.
Once the lacrimas were blazing well and heat was filling the space he shed his coat and set it aside, loosening the ties for his vest and pants not sure just how far they would go, it would depend on Evergreen. He'd love nothing more than to see her sprawled naked on his bedroll, but, this wasn't exactly a protected spot. No the crew didn't come down here, the captain had ordered them not to stating certain cargo in the hold was dangerous.
Vander had snorted at that, two trained assassins and an ex Sevenese super soldier...yep...dangerous.
Still occasionally one came down the stair well to sneak a drink of something they weren't supposed to have, and a couple of times crew members had retreated to it to share pleasure, but so far, nobody had come into the hold itself. But, aside from some basic confusion and stun wards to slow them, they hadn't set up preventions, unwilling to harm any of the innocent crew. This was a Boscan ship crewed by good Boscans after all.
He was still on his knees pulling a thick quilt out of requip when Evergreen came back, ducking under the container they had put over their little alcove that held the warmth in for them.
He and Vander both had to stoop a good bit moving around in there but it was warm and they only used it for sleeping...well...until now….
"I shouldn't have been so stubborn." She sighed, eyes sliding over Presca, she hadn't seen him in much but his brown leather set he wore on missions and the casual jeans and light shirts he wore when he wasn't working. The heavy navy blue pants laced at the hip and matching turtle neck looked...really good on him though.
His furlined black boots were already off, sitting near the lacrima to keep them warm and the leather pliable. His long hair was lose too, she had always loved that about Freed, how he kept his hair long, and once in Bosco where so many men had long hair she'd realized she decidedly prefered it, and Prescas was beautiful enough any woman would have envied it, curls and waves, shiny and thick, soft and the color of milk chocolate with little lighter streaks here and there from all his time in the sun.
He was smiling at her, she had washed her face, adjusted her eyeshadow so it was ok but hadn't put on the mascara and eyeliner again, too worried she might fucking cry again she was so damned happy to be with Presca again. Gods help her...she hoped he felt at least some of what she did, prayed he liked her more than enough to just want to keep dating her because...her chest just ached looking at him.
"Come here beautiful…" He purred and she growled, hurrying into his arms. She was a proud woman, she really was, but right now, it was just them and none of it mattered as much as being in his arms, kissing that mouth...hearing the sounds he made when she got his body going and knowing she, Evergreen, had done that, had made a healthy boscan male writhe and moan and gasp her name.
She slid into him and sighed as soon as his lips slanted over hers, happily letting him lay her back on the bedroll, for once not caring at all about her surroundings. He was slow this time, gentle, taking his time stripping them both of their clothes and he removed everything before draping the thick quilt over them and returning all of his attention to her.
He'd done this with her once before, this slow careful lovemaking...where his hands just burned over her at a gliding easy pace, lingering wherever he heard her breath hitch or felt her body tense in pleasure. Kneading her flesh, kissing, licking, gentle nips and soft exhales to cool skin before he warmed it again.
She writhed under him too happy with it, too immersed and wonderfully lost in what he was doing to even whimper about how much more she wanted, how eager and hungry she was for him. When he moved over her fully, settled between her legs and slid himself into her body it was perfect, part of the pattern of movement over her fevered flesh he'd already established.
She lost track of everything, her usual shyness, boldly running her hands over him, raking her nails over his back and sucking on his skin, lunging up to bite the nicely defined right pec where the lion roared in his clan tattoo.
She had no idea how long it took, it felt like forever. Presca was a slow lover, had immense patience and plenty of stamina, so he pulled an orgasm out of her before finally pushing her to a second and joining her with it, groaning out his finish as he rested his forehead on her shoulder, trying to catch his breath. Just because he'd reigned in his pace and kept it slow didn't mean it wasn't still a work out.
Evergreen was boneless beneath him, smiling, hands resting on his shoulders when he pulled back to look into her eyes.
"I missed you." He smiled, kissing her nose and she grinned.
"Yes well...I was reduced to a teary eyed mess...I...I'm so sorry about that display…" She stammered, embarrassed until he kissed her.
"I loved it, means you missed me and I sure was missing you. I'm going to make sure you don't regret joining me on this mission." He smirked then, leaning in to trail nips and kisses along her neck.
"I'm going to get you a big Donjay fur coat, they're beautiful, and the woven fur from the Donjay alpacas is the warmest material you can get anywhere, there's a golden brown shade, rare and little pricey...but you'd look so good in it…" He purred and she giggled, she loved it when he talked about spoiling her, something he did often, sometimes just taking her somewhere to try some wine or tea, he'd taken her to a flower shop and had her pick out arrangements and the whole time she was with him, every morning she woke up to fresh flowers on the kitchen counter when she came out of the bedroom.
He'd bought her some beautiful golden roses and they had laid in bed, him dragging the velvety petals over her skin, following the flower with his mouth and she'd about gone crazy at how that had felt. She'd gone home with so many little gifts and walked to her house and met a florist, holding a large bouquet of those golden roses waiting for her.
She had never in her life felt so cherished and wanted to show him...she could return that feeling, make this man feel like he was the only thing in the world that mattered to her...she just, didn't know how. She was planning to bite the bullet and ply Vander for help, Vander being Prescas best friend...she hoped the man would actually help her and not tease her, but she was so desperate to please Presca...she was willing to take the risk.
Right now though, all she wanted was to curl up under the blanket, press herself against his naked body and sleep.
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"NO." The growled out word had eight sets of eyes wide and eight sets of lips pouting and the big mage glaring at them did NOT care.
Xiao drew a breath, opened his mouth then closed it.
It had now been four months since Zens brother had left. The Archangel mage was working amazingly well, his mastery of black fire and gating abilities were stable now. Shimako had now gotten pretty good at pulling the big mage to her side and Zen could snatch the small woman to his even on the wing at hefty distances.
The women brought by his mother and Li, along with the other two of his own initial choices had grouped up and were waiting for Zen to finish his aerial work in the combat space Xiao and his priests had set up above the temple, forcing Zen to fly through and around a lot of tight turns and cramped spaces at high speeds while using his magic wings and weapons to handle varied attacks that he had to figure out fast which of his three responses would work against what was coming at him, some attacks could only be dissipated by the glaives, some by the wings, some by his magic, if he didn't keep his eyes and senses sharp, the attacks flew through his responses and hit him.
Few did, and so far, no matter how big the explosion those hits caused, Zen had not once fallen from the sky, except when the tigress had been part of things and got a cannon shot off on him he couldn't dodge.
Right now, Zen stood in just some snug dark gray pants and boots, the belt low on his hips. He had some cuts, there was a large black bruise on his left side from a hit Xiao had chastised a Priest for over building, the idea was to WORK Zen, not injure him.
Now he was due for his study and research period and they were going to be going over his reading and writing skills in Celestial later in the evening. The women though, wanted him to let them bathe and massage him, to ease his tired and sore body.
"But Master Zen...you're bruising, have injuries,at least let us attend those things, though a bath and massage would benefit you most and all of us are well trained in them." Lura said in a pouty voice.
"I can bathe myself, and when I'm done I can handle my own injuries. I said NO and I meant it." He replied firmly, glaring over the women before pushing through them, the first one that touched him Xiao actually had a moment of real fear for as he saw the lacrima on the arm bands light up and Zen rounded on her, one of his glaives coming up, the needle sharp pointed end right in the startled womans face.
Her hand fell from his arm and Zen curled his lip in a vicious sneer "I said NO, Nobody. Ever. Touches me without my permission." He snarled and then narrowed his eyes on her.
"Your name?" He demanded. She swallowed hard, staring from his fierce deep purple eyes to the black metal tip of the glaive.
"Celindi Hitose." She said.
"Celindi...you just pushed magic at me, some sort of light magic, who told you to do that?!" He demanded and Xiao was hurrying toward the group, eyes narrowing.
"i...I…" She couldn't lie...Xiao felt bad for her in a way, these women...they were used to the manipulation and subterfuge common throughout the high houses of Stella. Lies were just about bred into them and they were before an Evening Star...they could not lie around him, at all.
"Answer me. You can not lie in my presence so stop trying to, who told you to do that, to touch me and push your magic into me?!" Zen demanded and even from where he was he felt the Archangel compel her, felt the magic wash over the area and hesitated to approach, not wanting to get caught up in that damned spell.
"Lady Li Xing, she said you could not resist Holy Light magic, if any of us got the chance to touch your skin we could push magic into you to help you like us, listen to us…" She replied, tears running down her face, her eyes wide in horror as her body answered in spite of her mind probably screaming at her to shut up.
Zens eyes snapped up to Xiao who swallowed hard, putting up every mental shield he had, every bit of resistance, even clutching a talisman he had that helped him resist magic compulsion.
"Xiao, Lady Lis "candidates" have been schooled in how to fucking enslave me. I want them GONE, I won't deal with them, I won't consider any woman who has been told how to manipulate me!" He snarled and looked at the women. He glared at the three that had come with Hishako.
"Were any of you told things you could do to force me to like you?" He demanded and Xiao was actually surprised when the women all answered, truthfully...no.
"We have all been taught how to entice a man, how to please one, seduce one, I am Lura Shen I am trained to be a concubine, Master Zen, and I do not wish to be just that...that is why I begged for this chance...I have Holy magic, divination and the soothing of auras and I promise you, if you chose me, I will not use our bond to force you to serve my will." Lura said strongly, her pale eyes meeting his.
Zen narrowed his eyes on her "Making me sweet promises is manipulation...Lura." he growled and. Ignoring the openly weeping woman who had touched him, the big mage slammed his wings down and flew over the building to his balcony Xiao would bet.
Xiao drew a breath leveling cold eyes on the women.
"You three who came with my sister? Go pack your things, I'll have you off Temple ground within the hour, you have endangered a very precious agreement, and I will be having strong words with my sister over this. The rest of you? Remember in the future you will be completely and utterly unable to lie in that mans presence, he can, as you've just seen, force you to tell him what he wants to know. Manipulation? The games you've played with other men? They will not work with him…" He snapped as the three women Li had brought helped each other walking, all sobbing, to the residence area.
Hovering in a doorway across the courtyard, Shimako pressed her lips together, barely keeping a smile from taking over her face as she rubbed her hands on her apron. She quickly turned and gathered a few things from the kitchens herb stores, a pestle and mortar and a few other things before she checked to see Xiao herding the last of the women toward their rooms and dashed across the courtyard, hurrying to the door to the wing Zen stayed in.
Zen was pacing in his room, infuriated. They wanted to bathe him, run their hands all over him, like those fucking nobles in Pergrand that had paid to watch him be bathed, stood jerking themselves off staring at his body as it was scrubbed down by skinny miserable women slaves begging him to fuck them, to cum inside them so they could be worth something….
The look in that womans eyes as she had said she wanted more, wanted him...so much like the looks those slave women would give him. He'd rarely done it, knowing that if the damned nobility actually did manage to get a male child sired by him and could get any subservience out of it, they would kill him, he was too willful, too dangerous, had killed too many of their own and defied the King too many times.
He shoved his hands into his hair growling and ripping the tie out of it, trying to calm down. He HATED thinking about that part of his life, hated being reminded of it.
A soft knock had him whirling and he was actually surprised when one of his glaives formed in his hand. He stared at it and heaved a sigh, forcing it back in requip space.
He went to the door, ready to verbally, not with his damned glaives, tear apart Xiao or any woman foolish enough to have come up to keep pushing themselves on him. His eyes widened when they met Shimakos pale eyes and small smile.
"I saw you looked pretty battered, some of those explosions during your practice shook the whole temple…" She arched a brow at him "One of my lighter cakes for dinner tonight fell."
He pressed his lips together. "In my defense, I don't set up what they throw at me in training so...not my fault." He said, stepping back and letting her come into his room. She carried an armload of things to his little table and he tilted his head.
"What's all this?" He asked.
"Some medicinal herbs, I'm going to make a salve for that bruise, your magic will heal the cuts...ugh...you smell like old gunpowder instead of you, go take a bath, when you're done I'll have this ready." She shood him toward the bathroom and Zen smiled at her.
"And just what am I supposed to smell like?" He asked lifting a brow.
"Like YOU, you know…" She shrugged eyes on measuring out the herbs and putting them in the mortar.
"No, tell me, what do I usually smell like, that you prefer to the smell of gunpowder." He was teasing, knew it, but her blush made him keep going.
"You smell of the wind, like it smells when it comes off the Grass Sea, so go! Go smell like that and stop assaulting my delicate nose." He laughed but went into the bathroom,deliberately leaving the door open because he knew it would fluster her, grateful too that she had come to his room...because now he was smiling instead of wanting to kill something with his bare hands.
Shimako pressed her lips together, doing her level best to keep her eyes on her work making the poultice. Her mother had taught her to make several healing salves and poultices because her father and brothers tended to get rough when they worked out and were endlessly needing them, that and she tended to cut herself a lot while she was learning her knife skills.
The explosions during Zens work out earlier hadn't just wrecked a cake either, she had two fingers bandaged already covered in a healing salve because she'd slipped when the kitchen shook and cut herself.
The whole kitchen staff had stared in disbelief, she'd been a typical Tao, precise and perfect in the kitchen since she'd walked in and taken over the meals for the guests and High Priest Xiao, her cursing usually meant one of them was about to get ripped down, instead she rushed to the sink and started barking orders at them to get her things so she could bandage herself.
She did a good job of keeping her eyes away from the open door...mostly...she had Boscan blood in her from her grandfather and she very much appreciated Zens build, his deeply tanned skin...long mahogany hair all sunstreaked because he spent so much time in the sun while flying above the clouds.
He was more than just a beautiful man though, smart, thoughtful, he was quiet, but when he needed to be, he was fierce, direct, and feared nobody, his respect had to be earned, the man didn't give a damn about what anyones name was, what their titles were or any of that.
She admired him, could feel him through their bond and he was so...steady, calm and when he was flying he was just serene and happy. Right now...he was amused, and she knew it was because he liked teasing her. She'd love to tease back but she just lacked that as a skill, especially with him.
She took a deep breath keeping her feelings reigned in knowing he felt as much as she did. She wanted him...so so much, she was shocked by how jealous she was concerning anything to do with him. She'd almost laughed out loud as he'd demanded those women leave, she'd felt how furious he was, felt his anxiety, his rage and would have flown out there and attacked the women herself but knew Zen could handle it...the one who grabbed him...she was lucky she was leaving right away...there were poisonous things that needed to be in that womans food if she stayed after what she'd tried…
Zen emerged from the bathroom, hair damp, nothing but a small towel hanging low on his trim hips and Shimako licked her lips forcing herself to concentrate on gathering up the poultice.
"Ok, come here, sit on the chair here." She directed indicating the small armless chair she'd pulled away from the table by the window. Zen did as he was told, smiling at her, and she circled him, eyes scanning over him. She'd been right, most of the little cuts were already well on their way to healing, but the bruise...while it would probably clear quickly, would probably be gone by morning if she covered it well with the poultice.
"Hmm, Ok, put your left hand up behind your head and hold still." She ordered and Zen did, baring his side to her and she narrowed her eyes...she knew which priest had done this, saw Xiao chewing the man out...he wasn't going to be eating very well once she got back to the kitchen and spoke to a few people….
Having her hands on him...she hadn't really anticipated how good it would feel, his skin was smooth, warm, and the muscle under her fingers was like granite, so well defined, but those amethyst eyes were watching her so she kept herself calm...or did the best she could to, covering the bruise thoroughly then wrapping soft gauze over it.
"I'll bring your tea in the morning myself so I can pull the bandage and check the bruise, with your magic healing you, it should be mostly gone by morning." She said.
He smiled faintly
"I like how it smells." He admitted, his side smelled like fresh herbs. She smiled at him
"You smell much better than before." and he smirked, before she could move away his hand cupped her cheek and she couldn't believe the moan that slipped out of her when he kissed her. Again, it was soft, chaste and swift and she whimpered when he pulled back.
He was smiling at her "Thank you." He said softly and she blinked, kicking herself for reacting like she had to a Boscan thank you kiss...she knew they did that, her grandfather was always chuckling about kissing people and their stunned reactions.
She just wanted so much more...by the way he smiled at her...he knew it too and she blushed, gathered her things and bowed.
"I'll be back first thing in the morning." She said and he nodded.
"I look forward to it...bring enough for yourself Shimako, we're training together in the morning, might as well have breakfast together." He said and she smiled a little and nodded, grinning as she hurried back to her room.
Zen watched her go, smile falling, he did feel it...Shimakos desire for him, she wanted him, if he'd kept kissing her...it was possible they would have ended up in his bed together and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. He liked his little chef, she was sassy, didn't get put off by his gruff personality...and she had not once ever tried to manipulate him, use any "wiles" or long heated looks, no meaningful touches etc. Gods knew the other women did.
He sat back, enjoying the aroma of fresh herbs around him and let out a sigh, head falling back. This was such...new territory for him and while he'd demanded his right to choice...limited as it was here under the agreement he'd made...he was honestly grateful about that because relationships and trying to find and grow one….the idea just didn't sit with him. He was too much of a mess, and while he was working his ass off to correct that, still, the fact was he didn't see himself as much of a catch in the romance department.
He snorted, Cristoff...maybe Farron...you wanted romance? Men like that could provide it. Men like him? He could help you get to where you could bench press more than your own body weight but he couldn't even fathom romance. He wanted a family, wanted a mate, wanted that deeper connection his bonding with Shimako hinted at being possible. In this environment here, in this deal he'd made...he hoped he could find it, and that he really could love the woman he decided on. He looked at the door, frowning a bit and wondering if he could just….pick his little chef...she was a tiny woman, dwarfed by his massive frame, but her spirit and will were every bit as large and strong as his own.
The man stood, so lost in thought the towel falling to the floor didn't register as he stretched, feeling the herbs tingling on his skin. The afternoon sun shined into his room through the large double glass doors that led out to his balcony as he let out a breath...he enjoyed sunbathing...preferred to do so without any clothes on honestly, so he opened the doors and pulled the chaise lounge close to them where the sun was, stretching out on it only half registering he wasn't visible from below and caring about that. He had a lot on his mind, the sun felt good, the herbs felt good, it was a while before he lessons and he was taking a fucking nap.
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A/N Yes...some of you caught it, I didn't right away but the order of the chapters got messed up while I was posting because of a computer death and when I was transfering files things just got...messed up. I apologize. Fixed now (I hope) and thank you everyone, I'm so glad this story is being enjoyed and I appreciate all the PMs and those who take time to leave reviews especially!
DESNA