The Aspect: The Cessation's Harbinger Read online

  “All of this because of The Academy?” Saïgra mumbled.

  “Queen Vatia was right. The city is in chaos.”

  “But why would they begin a riot after just being attacked? If anything, you’d think they would want to help the guard and the city, not revolt against them.”

  Tempest nodded as he leaned against the stone railing. “I don’t think we fully understand what these people are going through. They have a hard-enough life as is and then they get attacked after thinking they are safe. It wasn’t just any normal attack either. It was a complete massacre of some of the most powerful people on the planet. There’s no telling what the long-term effects are of losing all of those sorcerers and students. The people are scared, and they have to vent their frustrations. It’s like an animal being backed into a corner. The only move for them is to attack.”

  “I guess I understand. It just seems like they would accomplish more if they worked together rather than…well…this.” Saïgra raised her eyebrow as Tempest chuckled.

  “I am so sorry,” he said, putting his hands up. “It’s just, you sound a lot like me a few weeks ago, and I can’t help but see the resemblance.” Saïgra pursed her lips as she looked back out at the city. The two sat there in a moment of awkwardness before Tempest slapped his thighs and turned to head in. Once his hand touched the handle of the balcony door, Saïgra spun and shouted.

  “What happened on the boat?!”

  Tempest froze from the unexpected outburst. He cocked his brow as he turned. “What do you mean?”

  Saïgra began pacing, her arms flailing at each inflection. “I have this hazy fog when I think about what happened when we boarded the boat. I remember getting on, seeing Riika and Ella fall asleep and then seeing you at the end of the bow. You…you looked so sad.”

  Tempest’s body slouched as he leaned into the door. Once again, the thought of losing his apian companions flooded his thoughts. Flashes of Z’Korra’s face as they watched the apians dance in the firelight. The soft press of Kiri’s lips as they shared their first kiss. Now they only existed as cherished memories. Tempest saw Saïgra’s footsteps approach him as he looked up. Her eyes growing with concern.

  “Did Queen Maileath take control of me?”

  Tempest quickly looked away. His eyes darted back and forth as he contemplated his answer. “I think you should ask Queen Maileath,” he said, crossing his arms.

  “I did, and she wouldn’t tell me. That’s never happened before. I’ve always been aware of when the Queen was in control, but this…this feels like she’s hiding something from me.” Saïgra rubbed her bark as she looked up at Tempest with heartfelt eyes. “Would you tell me what she told you?”

  Tempest scratched the side of his face as he thought about their journey on the boat. “Not much.” His hand stopped in motion as his mind replayed the events to the end. His eyes flew wide as he thought about Queen Maileath’s request before they departed. Saïgra’s face was bright as she realized Tempest remembered something.

  “What is it?!” she asked.

  Tempest was in full panic mode. His heart thumped in his chest as he stumbled over his words. “U-uh nothing, nothing at all.”

  Saïgra glared at him as she brought her hands to his hips. “You remember something, and you’re not telling me.”

  Tempest swallowed hard. His mind began to hyper focus on the Queen’s request. Hundreds of scenarios raced through his head on how it would happen. His eyes flowed over the features of her body he found attractive.

  First it was her eyes. They had conveyed a sense of innocence and wonderment since the two of them had left the Firegrove. His gaze fell on her toned and athletic body, making her a formidable combatant. Then there was her hair. The branches that mimicked her hair contained the same red leaves of the Firegrove, which he found supernaturally beautiful. It wasn’t just about her looks, though. The time they spent together, laughing, fighting, and mourning created a special bond in Tempest’s heart. A sneeze and a sudden gasp pulled Tempest from his mind. Saïgra’s milky white cheeks were as red as her leaves.

  “What’s wrong?” Tempest asked.

  Saïgra stumbled over her words as she leaned back. Her face was lit with confusion and intrigue. She bit her lower lip as she swayed her body slightly. “This is all so sudden,” she softly muttered. “Now? Here?”

  Tempest tilted his head, trying to decipher her remarks. “What are you talking about?” He watched as the redness from her temperature spread further along her body. Her hands trickled over and around her chest as she became absorbed in his smell.

  “Your pheromones,” she said, inhaling deeply. “You smell delicious, like a wild cherry lilac we have back in the grove.”

  Tempest’s face scrunched up, confused about Saïgra’s response. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I am not doing anything.”

  The words acted like a trigger to Saïgra. Her face became deadpan, and she became stiff as a board. “You mean you’re not doing it on purpose?”

  Tempest just shook his head. “I’m not doing anything.”

  “Y-you’re giving off pheromones telling me you want to mate.” In unison, a sense of horror and embarrassment washed over the two like being thrust under a raging waterfall.

  Tempest’s movements became erratic as he became confused about what to do. “I, uh, I didn’t mean, I wasn’t trying to, I…”

  Saïgra lowered her head as she crossed her arms and pulled away. She pointed back toward the door as she leaned into the side railing. “I think you should go.”

  Tempest reached out his hand. “But I…”

  “Go away!” Saïgra shouted.

  Tempest slowly turned and entered back into the main living room. He looked over his shoulder and watched as Saïgra wiped away a tear before slowly morphing into her tree-form. The situation left him feeling confused, but curious about what Saïgra had mentioned.

  Pheromones? He wondered. When did that start happening? He let out a sigh as he walked toward the bathroom. Riika’s snoring was audible as soon as he came back inside. He peeked into the steam-filled bathroom to find a passed out Riika covered in a bunch of towels in the emptied tub. It was what he expected to find; he was just glad that she drained the tub.

  After giving her a once over to make sure she was safe, Tempest bent down and kissed her wet forehead. An unintentional smile crept along her face, briefly silencing the motoring snores. Tempest left and headed toward the bedroom. He attempted to open the door as quietly as he could, realizing the night curtains were blocking out the sun. However, the wooden creak prevented any intention of stealth as he closed the door behind him.

  “Tempest?” Ella’s groggy voice called from the bed.

  “Yeah, it’s me,” he responded as he approached her. The cloak was the first thing to go as he began undressing. As he finished, he leaned on his knees, his mind engrossed in the recent discovery. He turned and called out to Ella; her delayed response elaborated her exhaustion.

  “Ella?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Were you aware that I produce pheromones?”

  Her ears perked up as she rolled her head to the side. “What are you talking about?”

  “I was talking with Saïgra, earlier,” he said, pulling off his boots. “Apparently, I was producing a pheromone that implied that I wanted to…”

  “Mate?” Ella asked, finishing his words.

  “Yeah…” he said, trailing off. His head jerked up with the sudden realization. “Wait, how did you…?”

  Ella rolled her head back to her side. “Kind of a guess, kind of not,” she said, pushing her head into the pillow. “Riika and I have experienced it a couple of times now. When it happens, we smell a scent we love, and while it doesn’t compel us into lust, if we’re already wanting it, it can amplify our desires.”

  “Huh,” Tempest said, slouching. “Saïgra said I smelled like wild cherry lilac or something.”

  Ella turned around facing Tempest. She
rubbed her eyes before looking up at him. “It was something I was meaning to investigate further, but honestly we got so busy with everything that was going on, I could never get back around to it. I mean, the last time it happened to me was back before my experiment on your seed exploded my house,” Ella said letting out a small laugh. “Looking back on that, the cause for the explosion was a big enough sign that you were the Aspect.”

  “Oh, really?” Tempest asked, shifting his way down to a pillow.

  “Yeah, the test I was performing was an attempt to measure the magical prowess that lived within you. Riika and I started arguing because she thought I had slept with you and was pretty pissed off about it.”

  “She was that jealous?”

  “Oh yeah. She thought I was going to steal you away from her. She’s always been self-conscious about how she looks, and I think deep down she feels like she doesn’t deserve you.”

  “Why would she think that?”

  Ella shrugged. “It’s just part of who she is, I guess. But anyway, that experiment required constant oversight. Since I wasn’t there to administer a suppressant…,” Ella mimicked an explosion with her hands. Tempest looked over at Ella’s glistening blue eyes. They were so bright they gave the illusion that they glowed in the dark. He watched as a smug smile crept along her face.

  “So, you said the same thing happened to Saïgra, right?”

  “Yeah,”

  “Then I’m thinking there has to be some kind of trigger. I want you to think about what happened with Saïgra, Siena, and the time you were laying on top of Riika and I, after you figured out how to trigger your power.” Tempest thought for a moment and it hit him. His face went pale at the sudden epiphany. Ella giggled as she peered up at him. “Looks like you figured it out?”

  “Mm-hmm,” he muttered and quickly nodded.

  “Good, because I have an idea.” Ella turned around and snuggled herself as close as she could get. Her nine tails created a soft barrier like he was hugging a cloud. He jokingly made spitting sounds as the fur covered his face, to which Ella responded by shoving them more in his face. After a second of fake gasping, she released him from his prison, grabbing her tails and pulling them around her side. Tempest snuggled his body close and wrapped his arm around her to pull her tight.

  “Okay, I want you to do whatever it is you did before, and we’ll see if it works.”

  Tempest hesitated as he sat there holding Ella. While he had been with Riika and Ella multiple times since the Firegrove, this was the first time it was just the two of them. He let out a slow breath, closed his eyes, and thought about the first time they had slept together. He concentrated on the vulnerable look in her eyes as she looked up at him. It was one of trust, desire, and acceptance.

  It was her increased heartbeat thumping next to his arm that first alerted him that it was working. Her soft pants quickly followed as the scent filled the surrounding air. An idea popped in his head as he remembered something Riika had told him in private.

  Ella loves it when her ears are played with, he remembered her whispering to him. He slid his left arm down from above his head and curled it around Ella’s ears. They darted back as his hand brushed against the fur alongside them. Her body froze before relaxing back into his hands as he slowly stroked her ears.

  “I’m going to kill her,” Ella said jokingly between each breath.

  Tempest smiled as he slowly brushed his fingers along and around her ears, taking his time to make it seem almost accidental when they touched. After a few minutes of light teasing, Tempest gripped the base of her ear. He kneaded it with his thumb and index finger as he slid it up to the tip. Ella pressed her bottom into Tempest and turned her head to him.

  “If you’re going to tease me, I’m going to do the same to you,” she said, panting. Tempest was already hard with excitement. Ella started rotating her hips, pressing her bottom along his shaft. Like climbing a ladder, she inched her way to the top before sliding back down.

  Her fur was as soft as silk, sliding without restriction around the base of his shaft. Tempest could smell the scent of her sex fill the air, as the two moved together. He moved his opposite hand down Ella’s body, taking his time to reach his destination. Once he stroked the wet caress of Ella’s lower lips, he smiled. With his right and left hands working in unison, Tempest massaged Ella’s weak points, doing his best to maximize the surface area with his hands.

  Ella gritted her teeth as the sensation began to tip her over the edge. Tempest increased the tempo as each breath became more frequent. With Ella’s climax came a high-pitched yelp and a torrent of soaking fluid. Tempest smiled when Ella spasmed as he pulled his hand from in between her legs. For what he perceived as the conclusion was actually just the beginning.

  His smile turned into a gasp as Ella slid her butt upward, allowing Tempest’s cock to slide between her soaked pussy lips. She used her hand and slick fluids to wet the tip of his shaft. With a firm grip and expert precision, she pressed the tip between her lips and slid the top of his cock into her until it nestled firmly at her hot center.

  The two let out a moan as Ella guided Tempest inside her. At first, she pressed slowly, taking the time to walk her hands back as she let Tempest completely fill her. When he reached the top of her inner wall, she contemplated just staying there. However, her own greed for pleasure called on her to move.

  She took the time to savor every second as she slid Tempest inside of her. She lazily began rolling her hips, allowing one side to press higher than the other. Her body tingled with every touch of Tempest’s skin along her fur. It didn’t take long for her to become lost in her own lust. She brought her hand on the tip of her clit, massaging it in the same circles her hips rotated. As she leaned back and kissed him, the continued flutter of her hands brought her the release she sought after. She moaned as she sucked on his tongue.

  When they pulled apart, Tempest couldn’t help but smile. He loved how quickly Ella came. He felt a sensation of pride that he pleased her so. Yet, a primal urge filled him to take control.

  Tempest rolled Ella over to her stomach bringing her up onto her shaking legs. Unexpectantly, Ella’s third orgasm came the quickest as Tempest’s hand gripped around the base of her tails. She yelped as his firm hands wrapped around the base of her tails bringing recognition to an undiscovered weak point. He didn’t let her have a moment of respite as she laid convulsing on his shaft. With one hand on her tails and the other on her hip, Tempest began thrusting inside her.

  Out of frustration, thanks to Ella’s teasing, Tempest set a quick pace. The only thing Ella could do was let him use her the way she wanted to be. Her body felt like it was dipped into a frozen lake as she became numb. Pleasure was all that she had become. Her mind was mush as her lover’s thrusts compounded her euphoria. Their bodies, slick with the excess of their lust, slid and pressed into each other. The smacking delight of their fun echoed throughout the room as the two continued faster and faster. Their moans became shouts as they reached their approaching summit once more.

  With Tempest’s last thrust, Ella relished in her lover’s warmth as it filled her, putting her over her own edge as her body released its delights. As Tempest collapsed on top of her, the two rolled to their sides and laughed as they attempted to regain their composure. It was foolhardy, though, as the two enjoyed a few minutes of aftershocks. Each throb of Tempest’s cock sent a wave of pleasure throughout their bodies. When Tempest attempted to pull away, Ella quickly reached around and grabbed the side of his hip.

  “Please don’t move, I want to fall asleep like this.”

  “Okay,” Tempest said, kissing the side of her cheek. Ella grabbed onto his arm as he wrapped it around her. With the night’s fun finally over, the two drifted into a lover’s sleep.

  8

  A Blood Pact for Revenge

  Ella and Tempest were both feeling buoyant when they awoke. Tempest ordered everyone food and Ella prepared everyone another bath. The surprise shout and lau
ghter coming from the bathroom alerted Tempest that Riika was now awake. He saw that Saïgra was still in her tree form on the balcony, which normally indicated she was still asleep. However, he wasn’t deterred enough to allow this morning’s misunderstanding to sour their relationship.

  Tempest opened up the door and stepped out onto the patio. The crowd’s shouting outside the palace walls was deafening. He stepped to the railing to see that the crowd’s size had doubled during their sleep. He realized how thankful he was that the walls could block most of the crowd’s noise.

  Most likely some kind of magical enchantment, he thought. He turned toward Saïgra’s tree-form, holding onto the towel wrapped around his waist as he flapped in the wind.

  “We’re all going to bathe before we prepare for the day, and I’ve ordered everyone food. It would be great if you’d join us.” Without waiting for a response, Tempest turned and headed for the door.

  “Thank you,” Saïgra responded, her voice sounding like it was shouted through hollowed wood. Tempest turned, smiled, and nodded before ducking back inside.

  The bathtub had already filled by the time Tempest entered the room. Riika was still in the same corner with her arms stretched out along her sides. She tilted her head back and watched as Tempest pulled off the towel and stepped in.

  “Is she going to join us?” Ella asked.

  “I don’t know,” Tempest intoned, lowering his body into the scalding water. “She said thank you, but I don’t know what that meant.”

  “She’s missing out,” Riika said, lifting her leg out of the water and examining it. “I could stay in this thing for the rest of my days.”

  “Me too,” Tempest replied.

  “Riika, you’re lucky I drained it when I left last night,” Ella said pointedly. “You realize it’s possible to drown in a puddle, right?”