Chapter 17: Sleeping Beauty
Elathan carried Igraine out of the caves, cursing the damn unicorn with every step he took. She still lay unconscious in his arms, her head lolling against his chest while he walked. Her eyes were closed, her lashes throwing dark shadows on her pale cheeks. Too pale, he decided. What had Aon done to his human?
“Nothing,” Aon had said when a very angry prince had confronted him with just this question. “I only told her what she already knew.” When Elathan’s hand had moved to the hilt of his sword, fury blazing up in his golden eyes, the unicorn added, “The mortal woman will live for now, Sire. You have my word on it. But she needs to rest. The human mind was not made for the intensity of my visions.”
“What did you tell her?” Elathan’s lips were pulled back in a sneer, revealing his sharp white teeth. Aon didn’t seem to be very impressed, showing his deadly fangs in what was supposed to be a smile. “It was your choice not to know your future, my Prince,” he answered. “Your … slave,” he used the expression deliberately, grinning when the elf winced, “… it was her own wish to see what I offered to show her. So she alone will be the one who might tell you. But maybe you will never know, if she chooses to keep this in her heart.”
The prince had had enough of the unicorn’s cryptic answers. With a last warning glance to Aon, he swept up Igraine in his arms and walked away, feeling a sudden urge to leave this place, beautiful as it might be. Just because he had been living in caves for ages didn’t mean he liked them. He hated them, in fact. The forest was his home. He loved to walk under the old trees that whispered his name whenever he came near, breathing in the fresh moist air smelling of moss and the earth, watching the animals busying themselves with hunting for food, mating and raising their offspring. Despite his immortality, having seen nearly anything, the elf never grew tired of watching the ongoing circle of life.
And he knew that he never would grow tired watching Igraine.
He directed his gaze back to her graceful, almost elven features. In her deep, exhausted sleep she looked as innocent as a child. Not even knowing what moved him to do this, he looked around to see if Aon followed him, then hugged her close and buried his face in her silky hair. Sighing, he deeply breathed in her sensual scent. Mine, he thought once again. She was his secret treasure, but much more than that. Igraine was a part of him now, she belonged only to him. And he did not intend to ever share her with anybody. He would never let her go. He simply couldn't.
Elathan didn’t need a magic flame to find his way back to the cave’s entrance. On their way into Aon’s lair he had kept everything in mind - every change of direction, every turn and bend of the tunnels. His sharp eyes could penetrate the dark well enough. When they had entered these dark corridors, the light had been for Igraine’s sake only. He didn't want her to be frightened. It brought a smile to his face when he remembered how her hand had felt in his while they searched their way through the heart of the mountain.
It was the blackest part of the night when the prince finally stepped out of the cave entrance. He was relieved to see the open sky above, glittering with stars. Elathan walked along the rock and crossed the slippery stones over the river with ease, despite the fact that he was carrying Igraine. He heard the agonized cry of a dying animal far away in the woods. It seemed as if his unicorn friend had gone hunting at last. He must have left his home of eternal darkness through other tunnels than the ones Elathan had used. Aon was the most dangerous predator in the forest, unpredictable when he went out to still his hunger. Elathan knew that the unicorn had tasted humans before, but only a few whom he had deemed worthless and impolite. The elf had kept his hand at the hilt of his sword all the time while the creature had searched Igraine’s mind. He had been ready to strike, even if he knew that a fight with the unicorn would very possibly mean his own death, too.
Having reached the pool formed by the mighty waterfall, he gently lay her down at the water's edge. “Wake up, mo ghrá!” he murmured, caressing her hair. When she didn't move, he stretched out beside her in the soft grass and touched her forehead with his, entering her mind. She searched for her in the darkness, but there was nothing. His heart beat quicker with the sudden fear to lose her forever.
But as he blindly reached out into the emptiness, calling her again and again, he noticed the soft voice of her beautiful soul answering, weak but unmistakable. A surge of relief washed over him. He had not lost her. There she was, hidden in a far corner of her mind, closed up by a mental wall she had erected herself. Obviously she was trying to shield herself against something that frightened her, but he was not sure what it was.
The answer came to him in an instant. Knowledge. Aon had revealed something to her, but whether about her past or future, the prince couldn’t tell. Igraine held that part of herself safely enclosed, to keep herself from thinking … knowing. Elathan didn't want to penetrate her defense by force, otherwise he would hurt her even more. But whatever it was, it had terrified her so much that she preferred being unconscious to facing her newfound realization.
Damn the dragon’s son and his prophecies, Elathan thought. Come, Igraine, he called out to her. Come back to me.
No, he heard her faint answer. I don’t want to see. I just want to sleep for a while, not knowing. Please, my Prince, hold me and let me sleep.
Igraine. He let his voice grow stronger and louder until it echoed in her mind, making her unable to ignore him. You will not sleep now. Not like this, when you can drift so far away that I might not be able to find you anymore. I will let you rest when you are back with me. Do not heed what the unicorn told you. I always believed myself to be the master of my own destiny, despite all prophecies. The future is yet unwritten. You will make your own choices, Igraine. But not now. As your prince and protector, I command you to come back to me.
He felt her resistance, but he continued, well knowing that she had not the strength to defy him. Come back. I need you, sweet Igraine. You are mine.
When he sensed her struggle to forget her fear and return, he noticed that he had not convinced her by giving her an order. It was his confession that he needed her that seemed to have changed her mind. Her eyelids began to flutter, then relaxed as she drifted into slumber once more. He cursed softly. She still lay far too lifeless in his arms. He had to try something else. What she needed was a good reason to come back, something that was palpable. And she needed it right now, before she retreated into her secret place of shelter again. Elathan was not sure if he would still reach her if she decided to flee even deeper into unconsciousness.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty,” the prince said before he pulled her in his arms and kissed her lingeringly. He was positive that she felt all of it, even if her eyes were still closed and she didn't move. Her blood was united with his. Whether she liked it or not, her body would always react to his touch. It would make her feel alive again.
Besides, he had to admit that he could not resist her allure any longer.
Her warmth. Her joyful, heartfelt laughter, filling his heart with a peace he had never known before. The green depths of her eyes, darkened with passion every time he took her, entering her sweet, welcoming body. It was like coming home. The way she looked at him when he angered her, eyes blazing, proud and fearless like a warrior goddess in all her furious glory. Her soft skin, so sensitive to his touch. Her hair, shimmering dark against his skin when he let his fingers slide through her tresses. But it was how she smelled that drove him crazy whenever she was near.
He kissed her lips very tenderly at first, barely grazing them. They felt like velvety rose petals that were almost too delicate to his touch. Still he sucked her lush lower lip into his mouth, tasting her like a delicious treat, biting just a bit. It pleased him when her lips looked swollen from his kisses. He traced her with the tip of his tongue, slowly and carelessly as if he had all the time in the world. Then he continued with her upper lip, nibbling and suckling some more before his kiss deepened. She did not move, but her heart beat faster. Yet she responded to him. He felt her quickened pulse under his fingers while he caressed her throat. Slowly, his fingers wandered further down, slipping under the neckline of her gown.
Igraine visibly shivered when he moved his hand over the soft mound of her breast. His thumb and forefinger captured her sensitive peak and twitched it gently until she hardened for him. He continued with her other breast, stroking her up and down very slowly. This time he used his palm to rub over her nipple in tiny circles, slowly increasing the pressure. The prince smiled, noticing how quick the little rosebud tightened this time. His little minx seemed to like this very much. He had to keep that in mind for later. Maybe he could try this on other parts of her body, too.
The dress was in his way, so he grabbed the hem of her skirt and shoved it slowly upwards over her hips, groaning when he saw the seductive dark triangle between her thighs. He pushed it higher until he had her lying naked in front of him. The crimson fabric gathered above her full breasts, now exposed to his view and touch. Satisfied, he lowered his head to take the wonderful fruit of passion with his mouth, raising them up and together with his hands to devour her. He covered her with kisses before he licked her tight nipples one after another, circling them with his tongue. When he sucked her deep into the moist warmth of his mouth, he heard it.
Igraine moaned. It was a very soft sound, but it didn't escape his elven ears. He raised his head to look at her face, but she still slept.
“Oh, you enjoy this very much, little human, don’t you?” he said, covering her neck with hot kisses. The elf quickly discarded his own clothes. Then he placed his naked body fully on top of her, lifting his weight up on his strong arms while he began to rub his whole length up and down her belly. He kissed her gently before he spread her thighs with his own. “Open for me, sweet Igraine,” he murmured. Reaching down with his hand, he opened her and began to caress the swollen little center of her desire, pleased when he felt the wetness there.
“You are ready for me,” he said, stroking her gently until he heard another moan. But he still hesitated to take her. Her body had already agreed to join with him; she burned with desire for him. Yet he wasn't sure if she really wanted him right now, when she was still hurt from the encounter with the unicorn. He pressed his forehead to her and quickly entered her mind. Do you want me to take you, Igraine? He reached out into the darkness, uncertain if he would find her. Let me love you. Let me take away your pain.
Yes, elf. What are you waiting for? Her desperate answer hit him with its force, and he knew that she had almost succeeded in tearing down the wall that separated her from him. Help me, she added weakly.
The prince didn't need more encouragement. He rubbed his hard male heat along her moist folds before he entered her, delving deep until he was fully embedded in her wonderful warmth. The pleasure of joining was so strong that he almost spent himself on the spot, but he held still for a moment, heavily breathing at her neck until he had regained his self-control. He felt little tremors running through her body, and her inner walls seemed to hug him closer.
Relieved, he laughed out loud and pressed her close to his chest, feeling the strong, fast beating of her heart while he began to move. He began slowly, but with every thrust he felt life entering Igraine’s body, reviving her with his own strength and magic. But instead of weakening him, it only increased his pleasure. The feeling of becoming one with her was almost more than he could take. Groaning, he lifted her legs over his shoulders so he could enter her more deeply than he ever had before, moving harder with every stroke until he heard her moans again, sounding like lustful sobs now.
Igraine awakened more with each of the elf’s sensual movements. Her muscles tightened, and she began to lift her hips upward to meet him, adjusting to his hard, primal rhythm. He pounded into her again and again, driving life into her until he felt her arms around his body, embracing him while they rocked against each other. One final thrust, and he could not hold himself back any longer and poured himself into her, finding release in glorious waves of splendor. When he groaned with incredible satisfaction, her voice mingled with his as she reached the final peak with him, convulsing around his manhood with uncontrollable, shuddering contractions.
Breathing heavily, the prince lifted his head and looked into her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were slightly opened. He heard her soft sigh and knew that she was with him.
Elathan grinned. “Was that finally sufficient to wake you up, Igraine? I thought you would sleep forever. If you continue neglecting your duties, woman, I will have to find another slave of pleasure.”
Igraine opened her beautiful green eyes and silently looked at him for a moment. When he heard her sweet, irresistible laughter, an overwhelming feeling of relief washed over him. At the same time he felt like spanking her for the sorrow she had caused him, and not for the first time. But in his heart he knew that it was much more than sorrow he had felt.
Igraine, however, found a way to distract him before he could become too angry with her.
“I am not sure if I'm already awake,” she said. “To be honest, I still feel quite sleepy after this. Maybe you should try it again. But this time, my Prince, a little more effort will be required.”