Soul Forge (Book One of the Soul Forge series)

Elda was still on Sypher’s lap, her head resting against his shoulder. The water was still warm and she’d stopped noticing the wet clothes clinging to her skin. Her embarrassment at being so close to him had faded when he told her how Julian had found him with the intent of killing him after Nova fell, only to see the state of him and realise he never hurt anyone intentionally. Julian had spent years helping Sypher recover from the trauma of what he’d been forced to do.

“We’re going to have to get out at some point, you know,” Sypher told her, breaking her out of her thoughts.

“I know,” she sighed, sitting up reluctantly. His eyes followed the trail her hands traced down his chest, stopping at his stomach. “It’s peaceful here. Nobody is trying to kill anyone.”

“You’ll get used to the constant threat of death eventually,” he quipped.

“I don’t want to get used to it, I want to stop it.” Her brow knitted.

“Unfortunately it’s one of the perks of being a Keeper, El. There’s always the possibility that we could die.”

“I don’t want either of us spending our time frightened that we’re about to fail.” She shifted in agitation and Sypher swallowed when she brushed against him, red eyes filled with flickering fire.

“I’m not frightened that I’m about to die right now,” he answered roughly. “It’s difficult to concentrate on being frightened of anything with you sitting on my lap.”

Her cheeks darkened. “Do you want me to get off of you?”

“I didn’t say that.” His hands tightened around her hips. Her heart started to thud a steady rhythm against her ribs. His eyes flickered down to the pulse fluttering at her throat, then back up to her face, settling on her lips. “Do you trust me?”

She nodded, knowing it was more than just a question. She’d never been touched by a man before, yet she knew the meaning behind his words. He was asking permission.

“I trust you,” she whispered.

“All you need to do is tell me to stop.”

He reached slowly for her waistband, giving her every chance to reject him. When she didn’t, he tugged her tunic free from her trousers and lifted it over her head, revealing the basque beneath. His attention travelled the swell of her chest, watching it rapidly rise and fall, then following the curve of her waist before his extraordinary eyes returned to her face. Even though he hadn’t really touched her, her skin prickled with electricity as though his hands were on her.

“Ederra,” he whispered. “Beautiful.” Elda’s breath hitched when his lips skimmed her collar bone, planting butterfly kisses along her throat that left a tingling trail behind. Her head tipped back, eyes closing when his mouth found the sensitive spot below her ear. A shiver slid down her spine when he sucked the skin, a soft gasp slipping from her lips. He pulled her closer, pressing his body against hers as his kisses grew more intense, leaving her trembling. An ache was building inside her.

Like he sensed that ache, his hands moved back to her waistband, tracing the arch of her waist before unfastening the clasp so his fingertips could stroke her hip bone. Her skin heated, nerves closing up her throat enough to make her grab his wrist in a panic. Her brows pulled together and she gnawed on her bottom lip.

“Sypher, I…” He cocked his head, looking up at her with a faint smile. “I’m not ready to give up my purity,” she admitted.

His smile became more pronounced, tender and understanding, but also brimming with unbridled desire. “I know, maite. Trust me.” Sypher’s voice caressed her skin like warm honey, sending a shudder right through to her bones.

She bent her head to kiss him, letting go of his wrist and resting her hands on his shoulders to trace the contours of his muscles and scars. When he was certain she’d decided to put her faith in him, his teeth trapped her lower lip gently, eliciting a soft, breathy moan. His hands continued their wandering across her stomach, raising goosebumps as they worked their way back down to her hips.

Her back arched when he found her centre, head tipping back once more as his caressing fingers stole the air from her lungs, sparks skittering through her body and settling low in her stomach. Heat was building and rising inside her, a fire that he continued to stoke until she was sure she couldn’t contain it. Hands that had been so afraid to touch, so afraid to be in contact with another, loved her in ways she’d never imagined a person could be loved.

He still peppered her collar, throat and lips with deep, slow kisses, his tongue grazing hers whenever she parted her lips. Each one left her head spinning. His chest heaved, his skin hot to the touch, and when she knotted her fingers tightly in his hair, the growl that escaped him made her insides quiver.

She’d never experienced anything so intense, never imagined that it was possible anyone could make her feel the way Sypher was making her feel right then. Her body rocked against him of its own accord, hands clutching his shoulders desperately as she tried to contain the swell of sensations threatening to rob her of all sense.

“Let it happen, maite,” he pleaded softly into her ear, his breath tickling her sensitive skin. “Let me hear you.” His voice, deep and hungry, cut through her restraints like a dam bursting. Pleasure crested over her in a tidal wave, dragging his name from her lips in a gasping moan that he swallowed with a passionate kiss. Her body convulsed with each shockwave his fingers orchestrated, her nails digging into his skin when her body tried to shake itself apart. His free hand knotted in her hair, a low groan rumbling through him at the sound of her ecstasy.

She collapsed against his chest, dazed and panting. His hand withdrew, strong arms folding her into a vetiver-and-jasmine scented embrace. She could feel that her reaction had aroused him, but he seemed content just to hold her until her pulse finally slowed, his fingers tracing small circles on her shoulder blades.

“For someone who’s afraid of touching people, you didn’t seem afraid at all just now,” she whispered breathlessly.

“And there was me concerned you wouldn’t like it.” He planted a kiss on the top of her head, shifting to make himself more comfortable.

“Do…do I need to…” Elda’s question was stilted and he felt her cheeks flame against his chest.

“No. I’m fine, El. Baby steps. There are things I’m also not ready for. And you never need to do anything if it isn’t what you want.” She relaxed again, breathing in the floral scent of the water and wishing she could go to sleep right where she was. “We need-”

“Don’t say it.”

“We need to go.”

“I said don’t say it,” she groaned.

“We can’t stay here forever,” he chuckled.

“Fine,” she sighed, sliding off Sypher’s lap and standing. His gaze tracked the water sluicing off of her, following her as she stepped out of the basin. She located two linen towels, still feeling his eyes burning into her back. She froze when she heard the water slosh as he stepped out of the bath behind her, not sure whether she should turn around or not.

While she was still deliberating with her back turned to him, the second towel was plucked gently from her fingers. He wrapped it around his hips and planted a kiss on the junction between her neck and shoulder from behind.

“Don’t overthink things,” he suggested when she turned, guessing her train of thought. He lifted a hand to pull the moisture from his body. The water beaded on his skin and hair to collect in a cloud above his palm. He directed it back to the basin in a small shower, completely unaware of how impressive the trick still looked from the outside.

“I’m just not sure if I’m supposed to look at you without clothes on,” Elda answered awkwardly when the last drop had fallen.

He chuckled. “If it makes it easier for you, I won’t be offended. It’s not rude if you to want to. Likewise, it’s alright if you’d prefer not to.”

“And what about when I change clothes?” she questioned, turning away again when he pulled a pair of leather trousers out of his dresser. He didn’t answer right away, though she heard the rustle of fabric. When he did speak his voice came from right beside her ear.

“El, if I watched you change we’d never leave this room,” he murmured. She felt his chest touch her back, his arms snaking round her waist. “But we must. I’ll leave you to get into some fresh clothes, maite.” He raised a hand and she felt a strange sensation ripple across her skin. The water soaking her clothes and saturating her hair was lifted from her in an instant, drifting over to the bath at his command. “That should help.”

When he released her and left the room, her hands that had been resting on his forearms around her stomach felt strangely empty. The phantom sensation of his mouth on hers, his pointed incisors squeezing the plump skin of her lips, made her shiver. It took several more minutes for her to regain enough sense to change into fresh clothes, but eventually she was lacing up her boots and leaving the room after him.

Most of the group was gathered around the kitchen table, once again waiting for Elda to join them. Lillian wore her usual sour frown but Julian was the one who made her blush. A broad grin split his cheeks when he saw her and she knew right away that somehow, he was aware of what had happened between her and Sypher.

The Soul Forge himself leaned against the counter with his arms folded across his chest, clad in his black armour with his sword sheathed across his back. His wings were tucked close to his body and Elda’s mind immediately shifted to the feel of his feathers beneath her fingers. He shot her a crooked smile and winked.

“Did I miss anything?” Yani asked, strolling in from the garden. “I went to see Syd.”

“You missed plenty,” Julian grinned, shooting a pointed look at Elda. Sypher elbowed him in the stomach. “Nope,” the Vampire wheezed. “You didn’t miss anything.”

“Have we any idea what to do next?” Yani asked, shaking red hair out of his eyes. Elda noticed they were paler than usual, and when she glanced at Julian his silver hues had also lost their lustre.

“Clover followed the Corrupted’s trail from the city when Sypher and Elda returned from chasing them down,” Gira supplied, sitting on the wooden bench and resting his elbows on the oak table. “He returned an hour ago with no news, but he’s back out now trying to find out if anyone has seen where they might have gone.”

“I’m recovered enough to pay a visit to the King,” Sypher put in. “Perhaps his scouts have come up with something we can use.”

“Let me visit the King,” Elda suggested. Sypher’s head tilted. “Gira and I can go together. If we can’t find anything out from the scouts our next option will be to move. All of us need to be fed and rested for that. Sypher, you should feed Julian and Yani or help them find someone who can feed them if you can’t.”

“You’re right,” he nodded, studying Julian’s pale eyes. “You and Gira go to see the King.”

“And what about me?” Lillian asked.

“You can join Clover out in the city,” Gira suggested. “You should be able to find him easily enough with your portals. You should tell him to come back here so he can rest and feed when you do find him.”

“So I’m going out there to do his job for him?” she scowled.

“Yes,” Sypher decided. “You’re the only one without something to do and you can ask the city guards the same questions Clover can.”

“I’m getting sick of doing the donkey work,” Lillian muttered, but she rose from her seat and stormed outside in search of the Vampire. Sypher relaxed when the Fae was out of sight and dropped a hand down on Julian’s shoulder.

“Why didn’t you tell me you hadn’t fed?” he asked.

“You seemed busy,” he grinned. Sypher arched an eyebrow. “Fine. Donors are hard to come by. People think Vampire bites are sordid, dirty little secrets they’ll be forced to keep, so nobody wants to help us. We’re not starving though. We can go a while longer.”

“No. Both of you, come with me.” Sypher gestured to Yani and the pair of them followed him out of the room obediently.

“I guess that just leaves us,” Gira said brightly, turning to Elda. “Come on, Your Grace. Let’s go see if King Artan has any good news for us.”