Bathed in warmth

Aurelia

“What took you so long?” I asked as he pulled me from the ground and wrapped his jacket around me. He had the feather tied to his arm; originally hidden under the sleeve. I noticed I was staring at it.

When I looked down, I saw I was covered in blood and mud. He laughed and pulled me close to him. “What took you so long to call me? I have been waiting a bit longer than you.” He almost kissed me.

“Aurelia!” Saira yelled as she fought her way to us with Mana like a shadow behind her.

I looked once more at Galorian, at the lips that I have been missing, and turned from him and stepped out of his arms. My legs went out from under me and I started to fall! This time I didn’t hit the mud. Galorian hauled me back to my feet and held me up against his body. Through all of the battle smells, I could still smell the ocean on him.

“Your hurt! Let me heal you!” Her voice was filled with panic.

She didn’t wait to grab me by the hand. Eyes closed and silver crystal in her other hand. Her magic flowed into me and as it flowed, I could feel the wounds healing. “Thank you.” I sighed to her.

Even though I could stand on my own now, I let Galorian hold on to me. My body may be healed but my energy was wasted and with everything that had been going on. I needed his support. Saira looked at him; I tried to count all the emotions and thoughts that I saw cross over her silver eyes.

“Here, I brought you your sword. We still have a lot of clean-up to do. You were right about the command. They are swarming like fools now.”

I snaked my hands through the sleeves of the jacket Galorian had given me. It was long and heavy and would keep me safe while I fought hand to hand. I took my sword from her and looked at the lines of men holding the demons off from where we were standing. There was no more time to waste standing around.

“We cut them down, all of them!” I shouted and ran back into the fray with my sword raised.

My blade had been imbued with the Saira’s power. She had been working on it for weeks now. I could feel the energy pulse in tune with my own heartbeat. Each and every time I struck the flesh- whatever form it came in – burned and withered away. My fire was out still, I didn’t think that it would come back during this fight.

At first it seemed like it was never ending. They kept coming like the waves from an angry ocean. We fought hard through them, strong and determined. Galorian and I fought like two warriors that had been side by side for eternity. Saira stayed behind us casting spells and curses where she could. Kairios never joined us but I could see the effects of his magic over the battlefield.

By the end of it I was covered in red and blue blood. Mud was caked into my hair. I looked around thinking that there would be one more enemy to fight. And all I saw was bodies. We had won the fight but my army had been devastated. My sword hand relaxed and my blade sunk into the mud. It was done.

“Come with me.” Galorian stood next to me, his sword in one hand and the other held out to me.

“Saira...” I tried.

“I have to go see to the wounded. I'll send you a report in a few hours when I know more.” She looked at Galorian. “Thank you for helping.” Then left swiftly.

I was so tired that I could hardly stand. I tried to follow him. But after a few stumbles all I could do was sit on the ground and look up at him. There was no way I could any further.

“So many have died. I couldn’t save them.” I admitted to him.

He knelt down before and put a large finger under my chin. “They will always die. One day or another, one way or another. It cannot be helped and isn't your fault. By doing all of this, spending so much strength and energy fighting for them. Their lives will last longer and longer after you win this war.”

I let him pick me up. Even curled into the warmth of his body. I didn’t notice how cold I had gotten. “Where are we going?” I asked with my eyes closed.

“To the camp. When I saw that you were engaged in battle, I sent all my camp hands and maids to set up a camp next to your back lines. I brought you medicines and food by the way. Not counting the men that died.”

“I guess I owe you now.” I was so tired, my voice barely more than a whisp.

“I’ll keep that in mind, for later.” He pulled me closer to his chest.

After such a long day, all the lives I had taken, all I wanted was a bed and a hot meal. I had fallen asleep in his arms as we walked. My eyes opened for a moment when he put me down and closed again as he pulled a blanket over me. The warmth soothed me back to sleep.

The battle replayed through my dreams. The faces of demons and humans filled me vision. I knew that each demon life I had taken had once been a human life. I didn’t even know how many lives I had taken now. How many families did I have a hand in ruining? Would they all feel the same way as Kairios did? Would they blame me the same way?

When I finally woke again, I was under a pile of heavy blankets and a warm arm hung over my stomach. I lifted my hand to it and felt the thick black hair that coated much of his body. Of course he would climb into bed with me. When I called him here, he had to assume that it was to be my side. How much longer would I be able to lie to myself that I had done it for the men he would supply?

Though I knew that I had wanted him to be here for a while. What was the point of trying to keep up that lie? I rolled over to get a better view of him. He looked the same as when I left him that day. He was as covered in mud as I was. And stunk too.

“Wake up, you bastard.” I whispered into his ear.

He didn’t open his eyes but a smile grew on his lips. “Such a nice way to wake up.”

“I told you to stay away.” Even if I was happy that he had sent help and Mana, and my own personal reasons as well, I still had to give him a hard time.

He opened his eyes. “I know you did. For that elf boy, right?”

“Don't call him that. He and I, we have children together.” He needed to know that I was now a mother.

“Tell me everything. Start with happened to your eye. I thought your friend could heal?” He ran his thumb along the line of my scar. He had never cared about my scars before, why did he care about this one?

“I fought something like those demons. But he was stronger, so much stronger. My eyes got damaged past the point of her repair. Well, she saved the one but this one. It's too far gone. She tried a few times. It took time to adjust. Sometimes I still knock things over or have to work harder to focus. When I'm in dragon form, I can see things a bit better.”

“And then you had kids?” Amusement filed his voice.

“I was pregnant when you took me. I had Saira use a spell to help me speed the pregnancy. I have a son, named Inigo and a dragon daughter named Vesta. Kairios is their father.”

“Why does he hate you now?”

“How did you know that?”

“It was a guess. I figured it was the only way you would call me to you.” He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“I killed his brother in battle. He tried to kill me, failed and I killed him in return.” It still hurt to admit.

“And he spurned you for that?” He was angry.

“And other things.” Like you and the fact that I almost killed him, I didn’t want to say that out loud.

“He can't handle the fire, can he?”

“No, he would rather see it tamed.” And as I said it. The truth hit me like a rock tossed hard. He wanted the kind of queen that would submit to him.

“I don’t know. He is a good man. And I hurt him deeply.”

“We should have a hot bath.”

He started to crawl out of bed, only wearing pants caked in mud. Servants came in with warm buckets of water that they poured into a large metal tub. They grabbed the muddy blankets on their way out. A plate of fresh fruits and cheese were placed on a table next to it. After they left, I walked over to it and was pleased to see that the tub was big enough for the both of us. I grabbed a strawberry and took a big bite.

I climbed in first when I finished it and sighed heavily as the warm water rushed over my sore muscles. I could hear him start to take off his pants and couldn’t help but look. There were a few cuts on him, but nothing that was too worrisome. I still needed to get a report on the damage. I tried to distract myself from the prize I saw there.

I scooted forward as he climbed into the tub and sat behind me. One of each leg was on either side. When he was settled, I sat back and rested on him. His body was strong and warm.

“I’ve missed you. Missed you in my arms.”

“Show me.” I wanted to feel something good.

He took my face in his one hand and turned it to look at him. His eyes were blazing. “Show me how much you burn.”

His mouth came crashing down on mine with a hunger. I didn’t shy from it and met each movement with my own hunger. His tongue snaked out and took dominance over mine. He tasted so good. Like the sip of fire wine he had to have taken moments ago.

He pushed me away from him and grabbed me by the hips. “A dragon queen, at my mercy.” His hand ran up my spine and I arched my back. The calluses on his palm scratched at my sore skin. It turned the pain into pleasure. Out of nowhere a fat finger rushed into me. A scream of surprise that turned into pleasure.

“Warm and tight, just like the last time.” He breathed into my ear.

His finger moved in and out while his other grabbed onto one of my breasts and pinched my nipple. It all felt so good. I felt the shift in the water as he moved to come to kneel behind me. He shoved into me hard and moved with angry purpose.

“Never leave me like that again.” He almost growled.

“I won't, I Promise.” Maybe I would be able to keep this one at least.