azriel-landsayd

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel felt her words, I miss you, it was a simple statement, but he felt it true even if she had run from him, but she had her own reasons. He saw them clearly, she wanted answers, and he did not fault her. He wondered how deep her emotions ran for him, but he doubted he could be the man she deserved. Azriel was not a good man, but he was also selfish and could not let her go and be with another man. The best solution would be for her father to kill him. He cared little for such thoughts when she lay naked beneath him, heaving and moaning his name. She was utterly stunning, breathtaking. He would easily die for her, whatever punishment her father decided for him. He would gladly indulge for her, damn his sister and mother. Nephele consumed all thoughts and pushed all rationality out. She was the only divine thing he ever believed in. She felt divine, her walls were tight and warm. “I missed you, so, much.” He muttered in between thrusts. His, she was his. There was no other man who would ever hear these sounds of pleasure, the only way would be if he were dead. “Fuck, look at you, kitten.” He muttered, loving how she looked and took him. “Utter perfection.” He grunted, meeting her gaze. Her beautiful features filled with pleasure, the way her chest rose and fell, the sounds that emitted from her lips. He brought a hand to cup her face, the pad of his thumb tracing along her lower finger as she moaned his name, his thrusting building speed, and rhythm as he met her hips. A slow smirk appeared on his lips as she maneuvered her body to push his cock out of her, and watched as she shifted their positions. Seeing her graceful nude body move on top of him, his hand came up to cup one of her breasts. He squeezed them, and they spilled out. Running his fingers along her nipple before placing both hands on her hips as she had just placed her on his chest, and soon they both seemed to sink into the pit of quicksand of pleasure. Moaning escaping his lips, he felt her body begin to tense as she neared her climax, his own building quickly with the beautiful display he had. Her walls soon tightened around his cock, bringing forth his own pleasure. “Fuck Nephele,” he grunted, as he filled her with his seed, his hips gradually slowing as his climax subsided. He lay breathless and satiated underneath her, he looked up at her as his cock began to soften inside of her. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her down toward him, taking his other free hand and cupping her face. Meeting her lips with his in a searing kiss, wishing to convey that there was more to them than just sheer lust. He felt something for her, but he would not voice it. He felt it useless to say those words, the hand that had gripped her wrist slid up to interlock with her hand. Breaking the kiss after he had his momentary fill of her. “Just two days to gather supply? I could stay in this bed with you for weeks.” He spoke, brushing some locks away from her face. “I could meet your mother, your aunt. Surely they will succumb to my charm.” Laughing softly, Azriel did not truly dare to meet her mother. He was unsure how he could look into the eyes of the woman. He kidnapped her daughter. Was Azriel that shameless? He had to wonder, he supposed if Nephele requested it of him, he would. “Now, my sweet kitten, tell me how you filled your days before? What did you do when you weren’t healing or being kidnapped? What did you enjoy doing in these walls?” He asked as he peppered kisses along her shoulder and arm.

Nephele loved the sound of his voice, how it seemed to reverberate through her when he was so near. How evident his need was in his tone caused her own need to bloom between her legs. "I have missed you." she whispered softly against his ear, gently tugging at his ear with her teeth. The action so lustful, but she had not only missed his touch or kiss. It was not just the physicality of it all that she missed. No, it had been him. Despite it all, she had missed him. There was something there. Some kind of feeling that had started to run deeper. She was hesitant to voice such things. For now she was lost fully in the physical enjoyment of him. Her hand continued to slowly stroke his cock, moaning softly as his lips traveled. She could feel his fingers moving down her body, between her legs. Her body seemed to respond so naturally to him, her legs parting to grant him every bit of access to her that he could desire. Now distracted by his touch that seemed to explore her just to know every inch of her her hand released his cock as her head rested back against the pillow, "Taste it." she begged him softly, her body needed more than his teasing touch. She was wet and needing him. She had propped herself up to look down at him, his blonde hair buried between her legs as his mouth finally made contact with her. She moaned softly, her legs lightly squeezing around his head as she fell back against the bed. "Azriel!" She moaned his name, her orgasm beginning to grow as he continued, but it was then that he pulled away. She groaned softly and when she opened her eyes was met with that cocky smirk of his. She rolled her eyes at him, but readily wrapped her legs around his waist. Her legs pulled him against herself as he finally filled her, a soft moan emitting from her in the swift movement, "So good," she said softly, looking up at him, admiring the look of concentrated pleasure on his face, his lightly toned chest. Nephele wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him against herself when he kissed her; their breath mixed and her moans muffled by how their lips met. Her feelings for him had all changed so drastically. How could she ever have her fill of him? She shifted her hips against his, pushing her weight against him to turn him over onto his back, his cock slipping out of her when she did so though she quickly swung her leg over his hips to straddle him and guided his cock back into her. "Azriel," she moaned his name again, knowing how he liked when she did it. Her hands rested against his chest, her fingertips digging into his skin as her pleasure grew, her denied orgasm now quickly making its way back to her. Her hips moved feverishly in her rising pleasure, "So fucking good, Azriel!" She moaned his name once more as her pleasure reached its peak, her hips rising and falling quickly, her pussy spasming around his cock as she rode out every bit of pleasure she could achieve. Her back arched and her head thrown back as she moaned for him.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel groaned in pleasure as her body responded, as her breathing changed and grew heavier, and soon her moans began. He let out a chuckle laced with pleasure, “Ah, how I missed those sweet sounds, kitten.” His voice was husky and dripping with passion. He felt something entirely new at that moment, this felt like more than just pure raw lust, this was laced with a stronger emotion. That emotion added to everything; it felt potent. It burned inside him like a raging fire, that could only be placated by her. His hip jerked toward her touch, moaning her name, “fuck, I missed your touch.” He whispered, kissing her exposed skin as his hand traveled down the inside of her soft thigh. His knuckles brushed up and down her inner thigh, teasing her gently. Azriel pulled back slightly and glanced down to gaze at her beautiful nude body, his gaze lingering on her pussy, beginning to gape slightly as she opened up to him. “We will get there, I fully intend to fuck you, but I also want to taste your sweet pussy.” He nibbled on her skin lightly. His fingers made their way to her lips, splitting her flower open slightly to reveal the pink inner flesh of her vagina. She was wet and ready for him. “Deliciously wet, just for me, you are so good.” Azriel wanted to sink his fingers inside her body, but he wanted to savor her. Take his time, it had been far too many months since they pleasured each other. He began to stroke her labia. Her folds parted easily for him, allowing his fingers to stroke along the velvety flesh inside, the warmth of her earning another groan out of him; her hardening nub gradually began to peek out. His fingers made their way to her clit, giving it the attention it craved, circling it slowly with the pad of his fingers. Azriel pulled back slightly but kept his pleasuring her, he watched in awe as her pussy was eagerly begging for his cock, he was lost in every sensual detail. “So fucking beautiful, Nephele.” He lowered himself, and his lips met hers, he could smell her arousal, in awe of her body's natural odors, along with the faint traces of lavender and pine. Nephele was easily the most delicious being he had ever had, and the only one who left him satiated. He planted kisses along her slit; taking her lips into his mouth and sucking at her moist lips and dragging his tongue through her depths. His mouth finally made its way to her clit and sucking on her bud. When he felt her reaching her peak, he pulled away from her. He met her gaze and smirked, “Not yet, kitten.” Azriel gripped her legs and wrapped them around him once more; taking the swollen head of his cock and rubbed it back and forth along her dewy, pink flesh between her legs. With a low sound of pleasure emitting from him, Azriel pressed forward; his cock slipping inside her. “So fucking good.” His hands gripped her thighs, his fingertips digging into her thighs as he began to thrust in and out of her. He observed her with sheer awe at the pleasure he was giving her, the pleasure he felt, twinge with pride he could pleasure such a beautiful being like her. His gaze cascaded along her body as his hips began to build speed and he started to slam into her; absorbed in the movement of her weighty breasts, the dark wisp of hair between her legs, her aroused, pronounced lips which had begun turning rosy with friction, and the sticky, audible suction of her body. “Fucking perfection.” He grunted, now holding her gaze, and leaning down to capture her lips with his in a rough kiss. A feverish kiss that was full of passion, making up for the lost months.

Nephele gave him a soft smile, he was right. She should have poisoned him f she had been sensible and not blinded by her attraction to her captor or her sense of right and wrong. She had known that his act was one of need and desperation and so he was not fully at fault, he had been good to her when she was his prisoner and now he had come around to helping her instead. For that she knew she had made the right choice in not poisoning him or leaving him to die when she so easily could have. She shook her head, “Of course not. Help yourself.” He would feel better washing his days of travel off himself anyway and the linens on her bed were fresh, smelling vaguely of the pines on the mountains and lavender. While he bathed she blew out the candles in the kitchen and moved back to her bedroom. She changed into one of her thin, silky nightgowns knowing he would join her soon enough. She felt she could not deny herself of him much longer. She laid down on the bed, hearing faintly the sounds of him moving about in the tub, the cottage small and meant for only one after all, but there was comfort in just hearing his presence in the other room. It once again occurred to her just how strange it was to go from hating the man because he held her prisoner, feeling he was dangerous to now this touch of domesticity to their bond was an unconventional one. She should not have harbored the growing feelings that she did and yet they were ever present. She heard the sound of his footsteps getting out of the tub and she turned onto her side to face the door. They had fucked on a forest floor, needy and desperate for each other, dirty from their travels, but this moment felt different. There was still passionate desire, but there was the inkling that there was feeling there now. It was not solely carnal and she wanted it to feel more deeply passionate than just physical. When he entered the room her eyes roamed over him, the towel slung low on his waist and beads of water still sliding down his chest and shoulders. It was as though she had no control over herself. She has risen to her feet and approached him, her arms sliding around his neck as her body pressed to his. Drops of water made small wet spots on her nightgown as they connected to each other. Their lips met, heated and wanting, needing each other after so long without the other’s touch. If Azriel had bedded whores while searching for her his manner did not show it, he seemed a man starved for touch and desire and she felt quite the same toward him. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he lifted her up and brought her to the bed, her heels pressing against his backside to hold him against herself as she felt his hardening cock growing against her and giving him more friction. Her hands ran down the length of his back, but soon he had pinned them above her head and a soft sigh of enjoyment escaped her, her hips wiggled against his wanting and needing more of him. There was a small pause, his hands releasing her from how he restrained her as they looked at one another. It was possible to see the slight flush that had taken over both of them, passion and yearning for one another. Her eyes met his blue ones, looking back at him for the brief moment that had seemed to hold still. His touch was so gentle and thoughtful as his grazed along her skin, but it felt as though it had burned, her emotions for him only seeming to burn more ardently and obviously within her. His smile she returned to him before his lips were soon on hers once more. She hummed softly in approval, her hips rising to meet his once more as he held her ass, his erection pressing into her in a manner that only made her want him more. She laid her head back, exposing her neck fully to him and moaning softly as his lips moved along her flesh. The sound of tearing fabric drew her attention back to him and his warm hands held her breasts, his calloused fingertips brushing over her nipples pleasurably. “Azriel,” she moaned his name softly to him, her fingers working into his hair and holding onto him.

“Please,” she said the words breathlessly, “Azriel, I need you. Only you.” She begged him softly, “fuck me, Azriel, please. You are all I need.” She begged him softly still, her hips rocking against his for friction. Their skin gently sticking as the air in the room grew warmer and their need intensified. “Azriel,” she said his name again like a chant that might magically make it happen immediately. Her hand slid down between them to palm him over the towel which she then hooked her fingers into and pulled away from him with ease, her hand down between them and fingers wrapped around his cock, pumping him slowly.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel simply gave her a nod of acknowledgment in her words. He understood her comment had stemmed from a good, and he could not deny that her opinion mattered to him to some degree, that was concerning. This half-witch was slowly seeping herself into his life, in ways he was not sure how it was happening. He laughed softly at her comment, but she was utterly right. “You are right, kitten, but I did not trust you. That is the truth, you would have poisoned me. You should have poisoned me.” He smirked at her as he finished his bowl of food. “That is changing now.” He admitted softly. He gave her a sympathetic nod that he could not be more helpful regarding her father. In his defense, he never had the intention to be more involved with this job at all. Things got complicated along the way, and now he could not walk away from her so easily. He watched her get up, and rinse the dish with water and soap, reminding him that he wished to wash the grime of travel away. “Do you mind if I take a quick bath?” He asked her. Azriel stepped into the small bathtub, he filled the tub with water. Not caring if it was cold, he only wished to bathe. He took the sponge bath and soap, and lathered it; washing the grime of his long travels and relaxing in the cold water. After, he grabbed the linen cloth and approached her bedroom where she was splayed on her bed before she approached him. A smirk on his lips as she spoke, “You do not need to ask me twice, darling.” He whispered against her, a soft groan at the sensation of her warm lips beneath the skin of her ear. Registering the smirk on her lips, his hand came to the back of her neck and brought her lips to his. The hand relaxed at the back of her neck as his thumb teased the skin under her ear. His cock stirred underneath the linen cloth wrapped around his waist. His hands moved to grip her ass, picking her up with ease, and walked to lay them on place them on the bed. Azriel hovered over her, his mouth savoring her kiss and groaning into it. Kissing her like a man that had been starved, and she had starved him. Not intentionally, but he was touch-deprived. His hands slid down the length of hers and gripped her wrist. Pinning her hands over her head, his lips now moving to her neck. He heard her sigh and wiggle a bit when his tongue ran down to the start of her shoulder and over her collarbone. Azriel let go of her, but only enough to move back and admire her. He saw her brown eyes staring at him. It stirred something deep inside him, shifted emotions he could not place around. His hand came up and brushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it neatly behind her ear; tracing her eyebrow with his fingertip. A small smile curled his lips. Now tracing the outline of her face, then ran a thumb across the lips he had just kissed and yearned for them. “Fuck Nephele,” He whispered, his head dipping as his lips found her shoulder, and then they were on her neck. He traced kisses up to her ear and then down to her jaw. His cock was fully erect now and pressing against her body. His hands slid down her body, finding her ass, and cupped it. It was covered with thin fabric. His hand slid from her ass and came up to grip her thin nightgown to rip the nightgown, exposing her ample breast. “God, the most beautiful fucking tits I have ever seen.” He grunted. Azriel’s tongue found the skin between her breasts. Both breasts overflowed his hands, he kissed and teased his way around them before concentrating on her nipples. Alternating the breast between massaging it with his hand and his mouth. Letting her hard nipples roll under his fingers. “Come on kitten, beg for it. Just like you know how to do it. Moan for me, moan like you need my cock.” He whispered in between the attention to her breast.

Nephele nodded, "It was only to say that I understand. People do what they must to take care of the ones in their lives and sometimes it takes doing things that other may find distasteful or wrong, but we are all only trying to survive this world." She hoped her words came off more sympathetically than they seemed to have before. She laughed, "Really? The women you have bedded before me are far kinder in their words with you than I have been then." she teased and laughed. She found herself swing back around to him in only a moment; her chest against his. She could feel his breath against her lips, his words caused her skin to warm and flush. There was a moment of temptation to call herself his, but the feelings felt too complicated yet to admit as much. But she felt it, felt that no man fucked her in the way he did and also hid her with such reverence. “I concede that I do rather enjoy it when you’re as lewd as you are.” She felt a deep need for him. A yearning for his kiss and touch after so long without it. No lover had been so eager and enjoyable as he had been. It felt so impossible to not kiss him, his lips just teasing above her own as he spoke. She did desire him, so greatly. But it was not only that. She felt as if she yearned for his presence. Everything told her she should not. That they only knew each other because he had been hired to kidnap her seemed as though it were reason enough to not feel deeply for him and yet she did. There was a peace in his presence that should not exist as it did. His presence in her home did not feel at all unnatural. He did not feel as company. He felt perfectly right there, like her home somehow felt more comfortable and welcoming to her even. It was all too tempting to her to act as though she were his. Maybe she even wanted to be. She wondered if he ever really wanted a woman to belong to him in a deeper sense than a sexual one. She wondered if he was able to stay in one place for more than a brief amount of time or if he had grown too used to moving from place to place. There were many things that called into question his ability to be stable and that made her question if it was silly of her to think far too deeply into his statement of how much he loved how she moaned his name as though he were hers. Sexually fueled words seemed to hold either the most deep meaningful passion behind them or were simply carnal need. She smiled as he complimented her cooking, "Well now you know for the rest of our travels. I will handle the cooking. I could probably do much more with much less than you had." she teased him. His food had done enough to keep them fed, but it was not food for enjoyment. She knew with her abilities she would at least make tastier meals for them. She nodded as she listened to him, concerned on the secretive nature of it all, but she supposed that soon enough she would have her answers. "Unfortunate that he is such the mystery, but I suppose we will know soon enough." she said and sighed softly. She finished her stew rinsed her dish and set it aside. She locked things up for the evening and poked the fire around to give it a chance to cool down. The night was not so cool that they would need its warmth and they had each other for that anyway she figured. Her mind now wandering to that more heavily than anything. She approached him from the side, her arm slipping around his waist as she pressed herself close to him, her lips brushing against his ear as she began to speak, "Now come warm my bed, hmm?" she encouraged softly and pressed her lips just below his ear. "It has been too long since I have known your touch." she said softly.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel met her gaze and simply lifted a shoulder in a shrugging motion, “I am not sure that I care if people find fault in that or not. I did what I had to, and I would do it once more for my sister and mother.” Azriel replied. If it meant his sister's mother had enough for food and medication, then, he would easily. He did not care about the opinions of others, which made him aware of how isolated he had become in his life. Sure, he knew of people and had acquaintances in the trade of his job, but no one he could call a friend. The closest person to that title would be Nephele, she knew more of him than any other woman who had shared his best, and she knew more of his past than another person he had done jobs with. It was truly a paradox how she was becoming vital in his life. Azriel cocked a dark brown brow at her calling him a sex pest and laughed, “Sex pest? That is something I have not been called before.” He spoke, grabbing her wrist and twirled her around to slam into his chest. He looked down at her, “I love sex, kitten. But I love it even more with you.” He spoke, his voice dropping to something just above a whisper. “I love it when you moan my name like you are mine.” His nose softly bumped into hers, his lips hovering above hers. His hands slid over the curve of her hips to rest against the indent of her waist. “I know you love it when I am in between your legs with my tongue deep inside your needy cunt.” He said, a soft sigh escaping him as he relished in how her body felt against his. It had been many months since they had shared a bed and hoped that would be remedied by tonight. His lips danced over hers, he visibly needed to kiss her but managed to tear away from the embrace to allow her to lead the path down to her home. He wanted her to yearn for him like he was for her, her scent lingered around him, taunting him. Beckoning him to take her here in the middle of the field. Not having a care for modesty. Thankfully, she brought up the topic of food as they walked upon the town, simply giving her a nod as words were muddled with lust right now. Luckily, the sensation wore enough for him as they entered her small home. The constant travel and movement had left him weary, longing for the comforting embrace of familiarity. A place he could call home, Nephele had no idea how lucky she was to return to a place where she would always be welcomed and feel it. Azriel could return home to her mother and sister, but he would never actually feel the sense of warmth or welcome. He had been gone far too long to find that comfort there. He watched with awe as Nephele bustled around her kitchen, her hands moving with practiced ease as she stirred the bubbling pot on the stove. The rich aroma of the stew filled the room, starting to simmer on the stove, filling the air with a tantalizing aroma. His stomach rumbled in anticipation as he took a seat at the table, his tired body craving nourishment and comfort. Azriel listened, agreeing with her plan of course for the coming months and her confronting her father. He would not mind the days of rest. “That is fine and wise. I could use the two days to just rest as well.” Seeing as she placed the bread on the table, thanking her when she placed the bowl of stew in front of him. As he took his first spoonful of the stew, he closed his eyes in pure bliss. The flavors exploded on his taste buds, each bite a symphony of warmth and richness. Azriel’s senses were overwhelmed; the tender chunks of meat, the earthy aroma of herbs, and the comforting warmth that spread through his body. As he ate, Azriel could not help but marvel at the perfection of the dish. Each bite was a symphony of flavors that told a story; each mouthful caused a sense of contentment to wash over him. The months of hardship and longing melted away, replaced by a deep sense of gratitude and wish for the simple pleasures of a home. Something he could call his own, call his.

He looked across the table at Nephele, “You are talented, had I known you were such a cook I would have allowed you to cook our food long ago.” He confessed. Her questions brought him back to their reality, this was not his home and Nephele would never accept him more than just a good fuck. It was the bed he had made, after all, he brought nothing to her except chaos and disarray. He tore a piece of bread and thought about it for a moment. “Truthfully? I could not get a read on him. I spoke little to him, mostly spoke to a man who worked for him.” He answered, “he did not even disclose you were her daughter, I had begun to piece that after the fact. He simply said you are to kidnap a half-witch and here is a pendent to protect yourself. That was it.” He explained, “he certainly did not come off loving or kind, but that is all I truly can recall.” He answered her.

Nephele watched the darkening sky as she listened to him explain that aspect of his life to her. It gave sense to why he did what he did. He was providing for his family at a very young age. It was all survival. She was quiet, simply listening to him as opened up. There was something pleasant in seeing this more open side of him. It endeared him to her though she would never deny that she found it amusing when he would be as lewd as he was. She would never use that vulnerability against him. She valued that he was so open with her. She felt her feelings towards him changing with time. “You have and considering the large lot you took on I do not think anyone could fault you for the choices you’ve made. Even if at one time it was at my expense.” She teased him softly, but it was all to state that she simply understood. She understood it had been difficult going for him. They both held in common that their fathers were uninvolved. She felt it gave them a deeper understanding of one another. But she decided not to dwell on it heavily. She worried it could cause him to shut in once more if she drew too great attention to just how much he had opened up to her. His attempts to ease her conscious on dragging him into tracking down her father were kind from him though she did feel some responsibility for what happened to him due to his mother and sisters dependence on him. Nephele smiled at him, "Well, she may not know that I was kidnapped by a sex pest. I may have left that out so as to not worry her too greatly. Especially since I had come home safe." she explained softly. She had not wanted to burden her mother with that knowledge though her mother was no fool. Nephele knew that her mother likely suspected Nephele had not gone totally of her own volition since she had said nothing to her about departing. She smirked at him, "It does not bother me too greatly." No, indeed, she did like it at times. She enjoyed how desirable he made her feel. No man had seemed quite as enamored with her body as he. She laughed, “it’s a cooked meal, but it is not quite the same, is it?” She expected no answer. Her brief time on the road with him told her that a life of travel could be rather lonely and quiet even with a companion. The food was not made by someone who knew you in taverns and on the road one could only take what would survive long stints of travel. It was strange the change in her feelings she began to feel for him. Perhaps she thought too much of a moment of comfort, but then he had never struck her as the comforting kind. The way he held her had been tender. He had been vulnerable with her even. And supportive. She did not think she needed to question heavily that the feelings between both of them were in the beginning of change. That perhaps it was not just carnal desire for one another, taunting as it had begun. She smiled at him when he agreed to join her, she had figured it would not take too much convincing. She began to put together a stew, something hardier than he had been making with more vegetables. She thought he did well with what he had, but he also looked as though he could do with more of a meal. Nephele was relieved there was no timeline to be met, but it did worry her slightly that without the pendant her father may be looking for them himself. She did not feel entirely at ease remaining in the town for too long. "We will gather provisions for the road for the next day or two and then we should go." It was a subtle form of taking charge, but she also felt they could not risk lingering there for long. She stirred the pot of stew, letting it cook as she then moved about the small, cozy kitchen space. She set out some bread and eventually filled a bowl with the stew and placed it in front of him, "What was my father like when you spoke to him? How did his presence feel?" she asked, wondering also if he had thought so deeply on such things. Surely he had to doing the work that he did.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel gave her a pensive sound of acknowledgement to her words, concurring with them. “I know, which is probably why I was always faced with anger when it came to him. There was no excuse or logical enough reason for him to abandon us. Abandon us to our luck. Perhaps death, but that was not what happened.” He spoke, “but it was not directly him who chose this path for me, I did. I refused to let my younger sister work, she was not much younger than me; three years. My mother, but she did for as long as she could until she could not.” He explained, “Then I decide to help bring in money, blacksmiths, bakers, all those jobs do not pay a salary that could feed and pay for my mother's medication, and I was always good at being sneaky. It just led me down this path, money was good, even if the dangers could be high. But alas, I made it this far.” He further confessed. He had never so candidly spoken about himself or his childhood with anyone, he was not so sure what made Nephele so special, what she brought that softened his hardened edges. But she did, and even more surprising was that he did not fear she would use such knowledge against him. Strange, that he trusted this half-breed, but she had the option to allow him to die, and she did not, even if he had taken her from her home. “So you are sure you wish to go seek the answers from your father.” It was more a statement and only further cemented when she voiced her wish out loud. He would not deny there were nerves that lingered about what exactly this would mean for him. But he harbored no regret in handing her the choice. He would see it through, whatever the end consequence was. He only wished for her to be very firm in her choice, and that she would get the answers she desired. It would do some good, since her father had abruptly caused her life to change. The softness of her lips pressed against her cheek caught him slightly off guard but caused the corners of his lips to turn upward, into a soft smile. “Very well, we shall head to your father's then.” He spoke, “Whatever my consequences are; they are mine to bear and mine alone. I made the choice to accept his offer.” He spoke, trying to ease her consciousness. Azriel listened to her, “Mothers do tend to worry about us most. It is good that she does not to worry about the lewd man who kidnapped you.” He said with a chuckle, knowing that he was not the type of man one brought home to their mothers. His appearance shouted what he did for a living, there was no hiding it. Merchants on the street always kept a watchful eye, he was not much of a thief anymore. In his younger years, but now he made enough to be able to pay. “I do not plan to change, besides, I think you kinda enjoy my lewdness.” His voice dropped, and speaking into the crane of her neck, near her ear, before he nibbled her earlobe softly. “You respond well to it.” He smirked, the smirk evident in his tone of voice. Azriel was surprised by her question, something he had to think about. “Do meals at taverns count?” He said with a chuckle, “I think it has been many months since I have been in a real home with a proper meal.” He answered. His smirk reappeared at her suggestion, he was not one to deny such an offer, much less coming from her. “I will gladly warm you and your bed.” He spoke with as he stood with her and followed her down the winding hill path that led into her town. “No, he knew these things could take time, but I fear the pendant he gave me perhaps gave him access to our conversations or location.” Azriel shrugged, he had left the pendent at the location where he had fallen ill. It was no longer his issue, and he hoped that would buy them more time now for when they would set out. It would be Nephele's choice after all.

Nephele was a bit surprised by his tenderness, but she did not move away from it. It felt rather easy to lean back against him having him envelop her in his larger frame. Her head back against his shoulder as he pressed his face against her neck, his low voice reverberating through her when he spoke so closely. She liked it. Some part of her felt connected to Azriel and she did not attribute it solely to their sexual activities. She watched the sun beginning to dip in the horizon over the mountains and array of colors that changed the sky, listening to him as he spoke quietly of his own father. Their situations were not so different. “It makes no sense to me how a man can do that, leave his wife and children. Especially if their wife is sick. Even worse to put your young son then in the position of watching over everyone.” She spoke sympathetically as it was clear Azriel had taken on a great deal of the fatherly duties and it was more obvious on how he had ended up doing what he did. It certainly paid him well and he had a sick mother and a sister to look after. It showed her a very different side of him, made his motivations more clear and understood. She nodded, “Quite conflicting. You both resent the woman and yet yearn to understand who made half of who you are, wanting to know just how much you take after him. But then hating him for caring so little about you to not stay. I understand completely.” She said softly. Nephele turned her head, leaning slightly to the side so she could more easily look at him. If the action of him physically comforting her was not surprising enough then what he was saying certainly was. He was giving her a choice. A choice she knew would affect him as well. He had been selected for the job, expected to deliver, and unable to pay back what he had been paid if her father came around wondering where his daughter was and where the money was if she was not present. Despite the start of all of this she did not wish to put him in that position either and she did have unanswered questions. She wondered what Azriel’s change of heart was. Clearly some feelings of affection has bloomed between them, feelings that she felt he showed even if they both did not fully understand them. She pressed her lips to his cheek, “I wish for you to take me to him. You by my side. I do not want for you to suffer whatever consequences there may be for not bringing me before him and I hope to answer some questions.” Her body relaxed against his, the moment with the setting sun feeling rather romantic which was unexpected of Azriel. She enjoyed this side of him, something more tender and caring. "I have chosen to keep her in the dark. Though she did wonder if I had gone looking for him. I agreed to that narrative of things and left it there." She felt no need to worry her with the details of what really happened and only scare her. Nephele had returned after all. She smiled, relieved he would not bind her, "I do not question your ability to track," She started and watched him dangle her undergarments in front of them and playfully rolled her eyes, "Lewd as always." She chastised playfully and laughed as he tickled her rib. All of this felt so natural. So easy. She enjoyed his arms around her and watching the sun set together, talking like two people who understood each other. She moved her attention to the sun as he pointed to it, watching as the large star began sink and then quickly disappeared beyond the horizon. The moment fell comfortably silent around them, enjoying the cool breeze and the scent of the flowers wrapping around them. She hummed softly and turned herself slightly to face him more, "When was the last time you had a meal that was not that gruel over the fire?" she asked in a soft, teasing tone. "I do have a home of my own. Come warm my bed." she said softly and pressed her lips gently along his jawline. She finally stood and lead him back to her home. “Did my father give you a timeline on when we would like me brought to him?” She was mostly concerned with gathering some provisions for the road.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel’s lip curved upward at the mention of her killing him. She was utterly capable, he was sure of it, but he would like the pleasure of tasking her sweet nectar between her legs once more. However, he bit his tongue at voicing that. He did not like how disappointed or discouraged? She sounded, slightly frowning. He did not like the tone of it, it was disheartening to see her in this state of unknown and questioning. He held no answers for her and learning the history of how she came to be was questionable, her mother had been used. That could only mean that his intentions with his daughter could surely not be good? A soft sympathetic sigh escaped him as she spoke of her concerns, his body visibly relaxing as she spoke. Azriel moved closer to her, sitting behind her and encasing her with his legs. Her back to his chest as his hand slid around her stomach and pulled her gently closer. Bridging the gap between her back and his chest. He buried his face in the crane of her neck, her soft tendrils caressing his face as he gently inhaled her scent. He was not a man who had words to comfort her, nor did he know how. Azriel simply held her, allowing the silence to linger between them before he pulled back slightly, his chin resting on her shoulder. “We share that much.” He spoke softly, “I do not know much of my father. He also abandoned us when we were young. He only never came looking for us. Azriel knew of my mother’s illness and left. He did not care for us or her.” He shared, “If I am honest, I am not sure what I would do in your position, but I have thought about it. Many times when I was younger, at first I swore to the gods that I would tell him off. Sometimes I even wanted to fight him because of what he did to my mother. Conflicting, is it not?” He leaned down to press his lips to her shoulder, “You do not owe that warlock anything. But if you wish for answers, then I will take you to him.” He was making it clear, in many words. He would not force her. He was giving her a choice, a choice in which he was possibly exchanging his own life for hers. He did not dare call it love, but strangely he felt at peace with whatever she would want to do. It seemed only fair, “I will respect and fully support whatever your choice is.” He spoke gently. He was not attempting to right his wrong, but this felt right and proper for her. It felt like the last thing he could do when it came to her. He did not believe he would die so easily anyway, her father was powerful, but Azriel would not make the same foolish mistake of trusting magic once more. He should have known better than to accept the amulet, after all, he was not a weak human. He was fully a human and harbored the strength that could rival elves. “And if you wish to seek answers to your questions, I will take to him, but if you allow me, I wish to stay by your side in case.” He added. Despite being half-breed, she was not that different from him. Curiosity ate at her much like it had him during his youth, the drastic difference was that her father had come to seek her, whatever his intentions were, but he had. “Does your mother know he wishes to see you? Does she have no opinion on the matter? Or are you keeping her in the dark?” Azriel questioned and laughed at her words and questions, while heavy, they still felt comical. “I will not bind you once more, are you curious at all how I came to track you quickly? Hounds are good for tracking.” Azriel dug into his pocket and pulled out her undergarment and playfully dangled it in front of them, “this made it quite easy.” He laughed softly next to her ear but held her tighter so she would not attempt to move out of his grasp. “No, not quite yet. This location is beautiful, and the sun is about to set.” He spoke gently, tickling the side of her rib, wondering if she was ticklish at all. “Now look.” He pointed in the direction of the sun.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the sky, Azriel sat on the hill with his Nephele nestled in his embrace. The world seemed to slow down around them, as they watched the vibrant colors of the sunset painting the sky in hues of pink, orange, and gold. With each passing moment, Azriel felt a sense of peace wash over him, knowing that he was exactly where he was meant to be. The gentle breeze ruffled their hair, and the sweet scent of wildflowers surrounded them, creating a moment that felt magical. Azriel would not bother to find out what the heavy mixture of his emotions meant when it came to Nephele, not yet anyway. He only felt like doing right by her, and he hoped that had been clear.

Nephele looked up at him as he stood beside her, unsurprised by his presence though disappointed he had found her as quickly as he did. Her fight or flight seemed to set a pang of anxiety in her belly for a brief moment before she managed to dismiss it. She frowned, "And what would the point in that be? I would only have to continue running until I figured out how to kill you. And even then my father would likely only find another way to track me down for his purposes." She felt defeated by it. There was only dread in the wonder of her father. His means seemed only based in something negative. Her eyes flickered over to Azriel as he sat beside her. For a moment she wished to seek comfort from him, his arms around her as she was filled with anxiety and dread about her father. Azriel was the only one who knew what was happening. When it came to her mother she came up with some lie of running off and growing curious about her father in her travels. She did not wish her mother to know truly what was happening. She did not move closer to Azriel, but she did not move away from him either. She accepted that what was happening to her was likely inevitable. “Not as much as I would like.” She said softly. She questioned how much she should tell him. She questioned trusting him at all. She supposed he was not a dishonest man. He was merely seeking to complete a job he had been hired to do. It was just disappointing that it would come at her expense. That he would hand her over to a warlock who more than likely had no good intentions for her. But then Azriel did not know her. There had been occasion where they enjoyed each other physically, but then that was all. And the carnal pleasures of men did not lend themselves to fond feelings for women necessarily. She could fuck him every possible moment that he might desire it and he would still ultimately hand her over, she was sure. She looked over at him, his handsome features, the light eyes and dirtied blond hair. She had detected a note of sympathy in his questions, sympathy that only served to confuse her feelings towards him further. “All of my questions are not answered. There is still mystery to me on what value I might hold for him to go through the lengths he is to have me acquired for him. My mother believes he put her under a spell and that is how I came to be. He did not stick around long enough for her to even show she was pregnant with me. He was gone. She never heard from him again. So even she is limited on what she knows of him. She just knew he was magical, that he swept her up in the excitement of his romance only to be let down by it almost as quickly. I suppose the only way to know what he truly wants is to allow you to take me to him. No matter the great unease it causes me to even think of being in his presence.” She could not shake her dread, but she had gotten to the juncture where continuing to run was feelings fruitless. Just as sharing what she knew with Azriel seemed acceptable. There was nothing to lie about. If she ran, if she hid information, it would not get her far. Azriel had proven that her father had chosen well in his tracker and also would not allow her to know peace. She would run for the rest of her life if she chose to run. “Well,” she started and let out a long, heavy exhale, “Shall we get started on retreading the progress we once made?” She asked and looked back out through the trees. “Must you bind me again? I accept that there is no fleeing.” She stated. She knew it was foolish to expect him to trust her to not run, but she also felt she showed her acceptance of defeat.

[azriel-landsayd]

Unbeknownst to Azriel just how close Nephele had been. She had slipped right under his nose, and he had caught wind of it far too late. He slyly and quickly tried his best to run after her and chase her without garnering too much attention from people. However, he was too late, she had slipped out of the window and his newfound companion was barking madly from where he stood, announcing he had found her. Tapping the heel of his hand against the window still. A smirk on his lips. He liked the chase, he would still give her a couple hours. After all, he had already paid for his room. Azriel glanced around the room, looking for any indication of where she could be heading. She had left in such a rush, but then again she did not have much to carry. Once more, he sat in the rickety old wooden chair ordering himself some booze. He needed the rest and bed would be a nice change of pace from the previous days. Why was she running? What was the purpose of it? To evade her father? Was he a danger? No, Azriel was certain her father was a danger. There was no other explanation, but if she was right. Her father had tried to kill him for sleeping with him? He had to care on some level? This could not be an act of revenge on Nephele’s mother, could it? Azriel let out a sigh of frustration wondering why he was so concerned about Nephele. He should have just handed her over without these complications, but most of all he hated that Nephele seemed to be in the middle of whatever her father was doing. Azriel found himself in a deep slumber that night and awoke early to get a head start to follow her. The dog easily picked up her scent and headed in the direction where he saw her run off. It took Azriel a few days to come to the conclusion that she was undoing all the progress they had made and heading back to her mother, to her hometown. He arrived at the quaint she lived in. Seeing in different eyes this time. The sun began its slow descent towards the horizon, casting a golden hue over the picturesque village. Tall oak trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling with each movement. Colorful wildflowers dotted the landscape, adding a splash of vibrancy to the lush greenery that enveloped the village. Azriel had never been drawn to nature. He did not hate it, but he simply had never given it attention. He walked along the cobblestone pathways that wound through the village, he couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over him. The air was thick with the scent of fresh herbs, their fragrances intermingling in a symphony of aromas that tantalized his senses. Herbs reminded him of Nephele, it was reminiscence of her scent. As he continued his leisurely stroll, Azriel came across a small herb garden tended by an elderly woman with a kind smile. She invited him to explore the garden, pointing out the different herbs and their medicinal properties. He listened intently, making him wonder about many different things in his life. He offered a polite smile to the elderly woman and carried on. He headed over to Nephele’s mother's home which was not hard to find after asking and it seemed her mother was the town healer. He approached the house and round about the back. He was not eavesdropping but merely allowing Nephele the time she needed with her mother. He quietly followed her as she left her mother’s home. He kept his distance and watched her as she collected the herbs and so forth. Her face gave nothing away as she collected them. He should have grabbed her and tied her and gagged her, to drag her to her father without a second thought. Yet he was allowing her to collect her herbs and plants. Azriel plucked a red apple from a nearby tree and approached her when she sat under the tree. He stepped up next to her and took a bite of the apple. The crunch of him biting into the apple broke the silence. “Do you plan to keep running?” He questioned her, now taking a seat on the grass next to her. She did not appear to look like she would flee, if anything she read as if she had accepted her fate?

“What did your mother tell you?” He asked softly, almost empathically. “Did you get the answers you wanted?” He asked, wondering if she would even entrust him with such a sensitive topic.

Nephele stared daggers at him, “You are foolish to question what he may be capable of if the magic of an amulet he gave you could have such great affect on you.” Nephele felt it unwise to question her father’s magic. Her belief that it was in fact the amulet seemed only confirmed for her by the fact that it now sat between them and he was far from the brink of death now. She knew she could not stay. Running while she could was her only option. Nephele had lingered in the forest for some time, creating winding paths that hopefully might throw Azriel off her trail. Or that the magic of the town she eventually found herself in after weeks of running would be enough cover. She was not the only witch, the other witches being full blooded and more easily hiding anything suspicious about herself. She needed time. She could not go running off right back home. It would be too obvious. She would need to hide out, buy herself time. She wondered just how long she could evade Azriel, or worse, her father. But those worries she pushed off for getting some rest and gathering goods to make her running more safe and also save her from having to spend too much time in towns. How long she could run for truly was in question. Between Azriel tracking her and knowing it was at the behest of her father only made her worry that she would have to continue running until she was caught or died. For now she felt safe, perhaps a little too safe, but she felt she had a few days to rest and gather her goods before running again. She knew she could not stay put in any place for too long, but she had been far too confident that she had more time than she did. As she entered the tavern where she had been staying for the past few nights. The price was more than she could afford, but she offered her ability to heal in exchange for a room which the innkeeper readily accepted because of his ailing wife. Nephele did what she could to bring the woman comfort and ease for which the woman seemed grateful, but Nephele’s work was limited anyway. She looked around the tavern. She had grown used to constantly surveying who was around her. There was no doubting that Azriel was already on her trail. And as though her thoughts summoned him there he was sitting at a table with a drink. At first it felt as though a force demanded to bring her closer to him, desiring to rake her fingers through his blonde hair while she kissed him, but she kept her feet planted where she stood. While his touch and kiss may have been missed he was still ready to hand her over to some unknown purpose from her father. She pulled her hood over her eyes. She could not just turn and leave after she had just walked in. Instead she walked along the darker parts of the tavern, attempting to draw little attention to herself until she was out of his sight. She only needed to gather her few items she had acquired and flee. She calmly walked up the steps to the hall of the inn and down to her room though her heart stammered in her chest and ears, hoping that he was not just behind her. She quickly disappeared behind the door of her room. She pulled out a satchel she had found and gathered up her limited good into the bag and slung it over her shoulder. She opened the window and escaped down a gutter and disappeared again into the night. It was too close a call for her and despite her better judgement she did turn home. The direction she had headed the opposite of home and that seemed to be the trail he was on. She hoped that with going back she could lose him long enough to question her mother about her father. In the weeks that followed she stopped only for a few hours of sleep at a time and food. She could not afford to quit moving. She eventually got her hands on a horse making her travels less draining and soon she was home once again. She could see the lush green valley at the base of the mountains where her town lay. She quickly rode down into it, navigating the land with the most ease she had since she had run from Azriel that night that felt so long ago now.

She threw open her mother’s door and entered the cottage. Her mother rose to her feet, visibly shocked to see her daughter once again, happiness evident in the smile that began to break on her features, but Nephele’s gaze was sharp. While it filled her with happiness to see her mother again, she had many questions for her. "Where have you been?" Her mother asked as she rushed towards Nephele and threw her arms around her. Nephele hugged her mother, "A man took me." she said softly. Her mother pulled back to look at her, a questioning look on her face. "A man hired by my father." Nephele said simply. Her mothers face grew grave and she took a seat at the table, motioning for Nephele to join her. The conversation gleaned nothing too surprising to Nephele at this point from what she had pieced together by the happenings. Only that her mother had loved him, but questioned if she had not just been under a spell because of how quickly she had fallen out of love with him. But Nephele grew comfortable at her home once more. Knowing she likely could not stay. Azriel was not the fool she liked to think of him as, he would track her back to her home. But she believed she had time once more. The afternoon was sunny and the air was crisp and cool. She wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and set out for the mountainside in search of plants, roots, and minerals she would need She had decided to properly prep herself for the road once more. She filled her basket as she moved through the brush. She sat beneath a tree, pulling out a few small bottles from her basket to begin crushing some of her collected items into and to also just enjoy the breezy afternoon. The calm, but steady wind seemed to carry sound with it, the song of the various birds being carried with it as she sat there enjoying the soft sounds.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel glanced up from the pendent to glance at her at the suggestion of them sleeping together, and let out a weak chuckle. “How would your sweet pops know I have tasted that sweet pussy of yours?” Azriel questioned her, underestimating the magic of witches. A mistake, clearly, but he just could not understand how her father would know what they had done behind his back. But the smirk faded slowly as her features changed at the mention of them. Resentment? Anger? Confusion? A plethora of emotions passed through her eyes, and the mention of being tied, only her words were bitter, accusing. He sighed, feeling a hint of sadness, mixed with guilt. However, before he could even utter any words, she was off running before his eyes. He stood far too hastily, the trees began to spin, leaning back against the tree. Glancing once more in the direction she had sped off from, gone. She was gone, “run, run.” He whispered with a chuckle. He would give her within a few weeks. Azriel had tracked her once, he would have no issue doing it once more. Azriel sat back down, slumped. He would go to the town and find the witch to have him fully heal him. Azriel glanced around and started a fire for the night. He wondered how she would get, and there was a moment of worry that passed through him. He feared for her safety, but Nephele was clever and did not come off so sheltered from the world. Furthermore, he would track her soon enough, once his health was fully replenished. The embers crackled softly in the hearth as the wind kicked up. Azriel would fully recover from a debilitating illness that had wreaked havoc on his body. Those days of being ill, he was unsure if he would make it out alive. But Nephele and whatever witch she had run into aided in that. A thought passed through him that perhaps he should allow Nephele to flee, to grant her freedom. Yet he knew it would not bode well for him. Let alone the fact that such a decision could cost him his life, selfishly he wished to have her near him again. To speak with her, taste her, touch her, get reacquainted with the softness of her lips. It had been too long since they had a moment to share intimacy. The traveling and his illness did not make room for such a notion. Azriel soon fell asleep and wasted no time the following morning. The sun no longer made an appearance, it was moody weather as his mother used to call it. Rain would make an appearance soon enough, finding the witch Nephele had come into contact with, Soliel. Azriel paid for a room at the inn and with a few potions from the witch named Soliel. After a few short days, Azriel now found himself with newfound vigor coursing through his veins. Now determined to hunt down his pretty halfbreed once more. Azriel scouted some of the nearby towns until he found a hunting dog, paying far too much for it, but it would be well worth it. In the nearby forest where she had fled weeks ago. He bent down, petting the dog's long floppy ears, “shall we find her?” Azriel asked the dog which tilted his head her head in curiosity. Pulling out a pair of Nephele’s undergarments. He brought them up to his nose and smirked as they smelled of her. Before allowing the dog to sniff them, taking in her scent, and soon her black nose, started to sniff the surrounding area picking up her trail of scent. The dog began to walk and lead them into the forest. Azriel’s senses honed in on his surroundings. As they trudged deeper into the dense foliage, traces of magic lingered in the air, guiding them. The dog did not lose her scent at all. She had been worth the gold he had paid for her. Azriel’s mind went into overdrive, devising ingenious strategies to outwit the half-witch. He had not expected her to flee, not so boldly anyway. He was sure he would track her once more, even if he gave her days of a head start. The only difference from the first time was that Nephele knew he would be tracking her. It made no difference to him. Days turned into weeks as Azriel and his newfound companion doggedly pursued Nephele through treacherous terrain.

She had spent a great deal of time in the forest, but alas, her scent led them into a town. A town filled with magic, so much so that the air seemed to crackle with it. Azriel approached cautiously and made his way into a tavern, not wanting to garner extra attention to himself. He made no fuss and paid the ridiculous price of the room and headed up to the room to leave the dog with some food and water before he headed back and ordered himself some food. It also gave him some time to observe and see who could be paid to talk. A pear-shaped wench passed by, his eyes on her as she walked by, or he could sleep with someone to get information as well, he thought. His vigor was back and stronger than ever.

Nephele nodded, “I do. I may be a half breed, but that still means I am half magic, I can feel it quite easily.” Nephele seemed to feel the impact of her lack of access to others with magic more and more the longer she was away from home. She felt the judgement of her lack of knowledge, the undermining of her abilities. She looked at the pendant that lay between them, watching his fingers slid over it, "Perhaps it turned on you for sleeping with me." she suggested, it was all that had changed and considering that the magic within it was apparently fashioned specifically against her his physical closeness to her could present an issue. But what did she know? She was not gifted with such strong magical knowledge. Nephele felt stunned by the news that it seemed to be her father seeking her. He had never sought her out, never seemed to desire having her in his life if he had even known about her though now it was clear that he did. She found she had many questions, maybe even a desire to continue on with the journey and not be let go. But she felt a nagging in the pit of her stomach that told her it was not right her father did not come seek her out himself, that he sent some dangerous human to overpower her and take her back to him. She looked to Azriel. Dangerous he might have been, but it was danger created from survival. She liked his touch and his kiss, even how utterly primal his sexual instinct seemed to be. He did not feel dangerous to her. Only that he was capable of danger. She wondered if he found some fondness for her as she had for him, but she felt they were feelings perhaps better left unexplored. And he had only proven to be a rather sexually motivated creature when it came to her. She sighed softly to herself. The conflict of emotions was great. She could easily ask for her freedom, but his words only confirmed he would not let her go though it was all she wanted, the only thing she could deem capable of repaying what she had done for him. Any feelings of hope that seeing her father may be a good thing felt dashed when Azriel mentioned the crossroads of cursed towns that were their destination and who knew what her father had in store for her there. The impression she gathered was not that he was some benevolent warlock who only wished to see his daughter finally. How had her mother come to lay with a being like he? And how could she possibly be the product of it? It made her question if she were capable of far darker things than the healing she used her magic for. She looked at Azriel, a swell of resentment shooting up from the pit of her stomach into her chest, “So you cannot release me.” She said simply, her tone lacking emotion as the storm seemed to draw in overhead again. The dread was building in her gut. She should have left Azriel to die. It was not in her nature to do so, but she realized now she should have just let her curiosity die, let her mercy for him die along with him and taken her opportunity to flee. No father who wanted good things for their daughter would have her obtained in such a demeaning manner. And Azriel would accept her saving his life and still turn her over to an unknown fate. “Well, I suppose you had better tie me up again, right?” Her tone now more bitter, giving away her anxieties and fear. But only moment after she spoke she stood suddenly, realizing he was still rather weak and perhaps her opportunity to run was not entirely lost. She looked at him leaning against the tree trunk, taking him in for the last time. “Save your apologies. They mean nothing.” She spat the words at him before turning and running between the trees. She had at least a partial head start. How far she could run, how long she could dodge him for remained to be seen. He had tracked her effortlessly to begin with, but she had to try and not allow this to just happen. Whatever this was. She zigzagged through the trees, attempting to make tracking her as difficult as she could.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel took the bread from her, giving her a small smile. She was far kinder than him, feeling that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach once more. Why? Why was he feeling guilt suddenly? He could not, the job was paid for, the gold spent. His mother and sister were well, and yet as he looked upon Nephele’s kind brown eyes, the emotion only grew. Azriel felt guilt for the first time in his life, and he had done plenty worse than kidnap a half-witch. Yet said half-witch was willingly helping him and aiding him while he was ill? Had he been around too many crooks and criminals, that he forgot that the world was not as rotten as he was used? Azriel had taken her from her life, and she did not wish him death? Ah, witches were not the cruel hags people often described them as? Yet again, she was still human. Raised by a human wife, it was her father who was the warlock, and he indeed was proving to not be so righteous. He ripped a piece of the bread and ate some of it. The bread settled too well in his empty stomach, it felt good to hold food down. It had been days since he had eaten and the bread as plain as it was tasted glorious to Azriel. “That is good bread.” He spoke sheepishly, ripping another piece and eating it. Trying his best to not stuff himself as he did not wish to upset his stomach once more. He was not avoiding her questions or words but he felt unease; he glanced down at the pendent, thinking over her words once more. “You sense the magic?” He questioned her, slowly dragging his fingertips over the ornate pendent. “You think the warlock who sent me after you shifted it? Altered his magic? It was supposed to aid me in protection against your magic.” He stated, frowning as his hand wrapped around the cool metal and yanked it from his neck, the thin leather strap ripping with ease even in his weakened state, leather was no match for the strength humans harbored. If Nephele were to kill him, then so be it, but she had a chance to run and she did not. He did not see hate in her eyes for her to seek vengeance, he had spent weeks with her and had yet to see any maliciousness from her. “Hm, a warlock, as you probably figured from the pendent. I believe it to be your father.” He finally answered her, wondering if she knew anything about him. It would not be easy news to accept, he wondered if she even knew of his existence? Did she believe him dead? Or some other tale her mother could have told her? Humans were fickle and lied to spare feelings. He knew that all too well, his mother hiding her own illness in their youth. That memory brought a hint of sadness to him, he could not remember a time his mother had been well. Suppressing such memories as he focused on Nephele once more, her expression unreadable about the news of her father. “As for the reason? I could not tell you, for I do not know. He approached me, offered me the job of returning a previous person to him, and paid me well and in advance. Money I would not see in eight months of work, and money I have already spent.” He explained, hoping she would understand that his hands were bound, he could not free her. “At first, I believed a lover, and he tossed me the pendant and told me it would aid me if you tried to harm me. I did not think twice. However, when I saw you I could see the resemblance, I am sure it is your father, but that is all I know. I do not know beyond that.” He recounted the short encounter with the warlock, “he told me to bring you to the underground crossroads. It is a crossroads of four towns, cursed in their own ways.” Azriel recounted, “I admittedly did not think much of it.” He felt himself start to feel much better, lighter, like his natural state. Now sitting up straighter and his appetite slowly returning as he ate the bread piece by piece, the pendant sat in between him and Nephele, a soft glow illumining it. “I truly am sorry.” He mumbled, not being able to look at her. How could he? He did not deserve to. She had saved him without a second thought. “Fuck.” He whispered under his breath.

Resting the back of his head against the trunk, contemplating his next move. She would and should have him repay his debt, but how was he supposed to repay her now?

Azriel’s surprise that she had returned was not all that surprising to Nephele. She should have run. She should have just left him to die and not turned back for him. It was foolish of her to return to heal a man who was holding her prisoner to take her to some unknown. She could only surmise that it was negative or else why would she have to be captured and bound the way that she had been? But perhaps she was blinded by her sexual connection with this man, the small parts of himself that were not so abhorrent and could be rather sweet with her in small ways. It did not feel right to let him die. It was also just not in Nephele’s nature to let those around her go uncared for even if they had wronged her in the sort of way that he was. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he pulled her close. Her fingers slid into his hair as the nape of his neck, holding him tightly to herself as well. She had feared for him. Despite it all she did not want him to die. To say the least, such feelings were conflicting. But when he was pressed to her like he was, the smell of his natural musk imprinted his memory heavily on her. “Of course I did.” She said in response though it was not a situation where of course she had returned. She should have run and they both were all too aware of that. She liked when he used pet names for her though. Despite their situation she enjoyed hearing him call her sweetheart or darling. However his question did raise up the insecurity about her abilities. As a half breed she was not very strong, especially as a half breed who had met so few other witches. Her magic was weak and lacking. The fact that Soliel was kind enough to help her only confirmed for Nephele that she could not have done it on her own. Though Soliel’s belief in her only affirmed the quiet feelings she had that she might need to be around other witches and not return so readily to her home. Though she did miss her mother terribly. Nephele reached out to him as he questioned her, his chest bare and showing the amulet that he wore. She moved her hand close to it, wanting to reach out and remove it from him, but she felt a force pushing back at her. It was strong and she suspected it was the source of what had come to ail him. A strange little amulet. She wondered if humans saw the strangeness in it that she did. “No, it is power." she said softly, feeling his dismissal of her abilities in his words. It only cut as deep because she knew it was true. She was not capable of going against whatever magic hung about him. She could only do small things to help it not have as strong a hold over him. Her eyes met his which caused her to appreciate the pretty shade of blue that they were, tired now but so regularly filled with the life and vigor that he seemed to possess. Such life what enviable about those who were fully human. She pondered on his question, though the answer seemed obvious. She would want her freedom, but she wished to know why she found herself here to begin with. “Tell me who sent you and why.” She said softly. She wondered if he would really tell her or refuse. He could. Just because he wished to repay her did not mean he would follow through. He was still a man with his own reasons for having taken up such a job to begin with. It did not benefit him at all to allow her to flee. She hesitated answering his question, wishing she could take the credit for herself but she simply could not, “Yes. Another witch helped me. We can go to her tomorrow. We both need rest." She answered, her eyes trailing down his neck and over his bare chest to the amulet once more, “I believe what ails you may be tied to that amulet you are wearing." she could not be certain, but it was strange to her that she could not touch it. "Soliel might know more." She said softly, hoping the older witch would continue her good nature towards her. She pulled some bread from her bag and broke some off, handing it over to him, "I thought you might need something other than that soup you make." She smiled softly at him, finding herself relieved the magic had worked.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel sat slumped against a towering oak tree, his mind was now heavy with thoughts of his sister, Clara. She was the one who had taken up the mantle of caring for their frail mother when Azriel decided to join the dangerous life of a mercenary. Though miles stretched between them, Azriel made it a point to send gold to Clara regularly, ensuring for both his mother's and sister's well-being. Up until this point, it felt like it was truly the only right and correct thing he had ever done in his life. He had tried to do right by them, they were the only people in the world that mattered to him. What would happen to them if he were to die? Azriel had a few brushes with death, but it was all in good fun. It did not feel so serious, but this illness? It was unlike anything else he felt, it was consuming. Darkness and a feeling of deep dread that did not ease. Surely he would succumb to whatever illness it was. His mind wandered to the Nephele, his little half-witch. Would her knowledge or magic be enough? He could not help but question it. Half-breeds had their own strength, but Azriel had broken out from magical spells they cast and with some ease. Strength was often overlooked. Nephele, she should take leave and flee. Azriel had no idea what her father had in store for her. He could not back out now, her father had paid. That's not to say, it would also ruin his reputation. He would lose more than he wanted to give up. But Nephele surprised him, although she had been his captive, she had shown surprising resilience and courage. In their interactions, Azriel had also noticed a flicker of compassion within her eyes, and a glimmer of understanding in her words. Perhaps, just perhaps, she could be the key to freeing him from this illness. As the evening shadows stretched across the forest, she did have yet to return. Azriel had decided to set aside his doubts and asked for her aid. He could not be upset with her, she was clever to run. Azriel could no longer wait for her return, he grew too tired. Sleep easily consumes his weakened body. The next Azriel knew and felt was someone shaking him, he mumbled, but truly it was a low groan as he stirred trying to acknowledge the person. The voice instantly soothing him, as if it were a stranger. Azriel would not have had the forces or strength for a fight. He could barely keep himself standing. His eyes fluttered open as he heard her chant an incantation under her breath, mixing herbs and other ingredients he could not make out. With her skilled hands, Nephele’s chant caused the magic to stir. He was not sure what all happened except she held a bowl with a glowing liquid, it contained a concoction of rare plants and enchanted waters, and she created a mysterious elixir. Presenting the bowl to him, Azreil tasted the liquid as she poured it down his mouth. It was bittersweet, but the taste mattered little when it clearly began to work. The liquid flowed down his throat; warmth spread through his body, dispelling the icy grip of the illness that had plagued him. His vitality surged, muscles rejuvenating as newfound energy coursed through his veins. Azriel sat up slowly, tiredness still present, but his color returned to his face, “Nephele, you returned.” He said in disbelief, but his gratitude for her selfless action had him pulling her toward him. The fact that she cared for his life? No, that was not it, she only cared for him because she was a healer, like any good healer they valued life above all else. Regardless of her motives, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her frame and pulling her into a tight hug. Holding tightly against his frame, digging his face into hair and inhaling her scent. It was not nearly as tight as he wished, as he was still gaining his lucidity back and strength. What kind of sickness had overcome him? How? And Why? Their diet was no different from hers? Yet he still felt remnants of it lingering within him.

Finally breaking the embrace but keeping her close to him, “How did you manage that, sweetheart?” He questioned, sitting up to grab the flask of water. “Is my illness more show than power?” He questioned softly, wishing to know what it was that plagued him. His mother and sister would surely be thankful for her if they knew she had just saved his life. His mother would surely kill him, but then would his mother even accept him? Learning of everything he had done? He shoved those thoughts aside, they mattered little. Nephele had just helped save his life, he was sure of that much. Now how would repay her such a deep debt? He swallowed softly, “how can I repay you?” He questioned simply. She would request her freedom, he was sure of it. “Did you find a healer to aid you in this? We should go to them. I feel…better, but remnants remain.” Azriel admitted.

Nephele noticed a change in Azriel. He seemed lethargic, worn down. It was magic that affected him, she knew that much. She sensed the darkness of it, the heaviness that it carried. She wondered how or why this human man held such magic about him. It did not feel like a curse, but her abilities as only half a witch were limited, her sense of that magic limited by her lack of completely magical blood flowing through her. Strangely she found herself concerned for him. Strange only because he was her captor, but perhaps not strange considering the frequency of their fucking on this trip to where ever he was taking her. Despite their sexual chemistry he still had not revealed to her what the motivation for his capturing her was or who had paid him for her. She looked to him as he indicated he wished to rest where they were. He rested more, too. It was clear he was no well. Sweat beaded along his hairline, a drop of it streaking down his cheek every now and again. It might have felt rather erotic to her if she did not see clearly that its source was not the heat, but his own affliction, the color of his skin looking pallid. She felt concern for him. Though she could see opportunity in him being ill, knowing that its source was some dark magic only caused her worry. For him and for herself. She worried she could not just leave him, but it also worried her what he was taking her to. Something within her told her they were not unrelated. She watched him lay out in the grass, his movements were slower and more labored than they ever had been. She moved next to him, kneeling down beside him as he spoke carefully, the severity of his ailment making itself more apparent. "I noticed." she said softly to him, mincing no words, he looked exhausted. Despite how they met or the fact that he still kept her bound Nephele experienced some worry for him. He had no idea what he was messing with involving himself with such dark magic. She even with her magic was not experienced with it. She felt a small knowing smile tug at her lips as he asked for a healer. His illness seemed to have made him forget that she herself was a healer and one highly sought after in the village she came from. She liked how he smiled at her, something more genuine and sweet than the smirk he usually wore, "Only you have complimented them so highly." She accepted the compliment gently, noticing how severe his illness was beginning to seem, but feeling flattered still. It was ridiculous. At best he was still a man with questionable morals and their affections for each other were only sexual. She allowed him to unbind her and took the gold coins. There was a trickle of a sense of freedom that began to run through her like a shot of adrenaline. She could easily run and not return to him. "I will return by nightfall." she assured softly. She stood and looked around herself, attempting to embed the look of the spot they were in into her memory. She began to walk away from him, casting a glance over her shoulder before he disappeared from her view. She could run. She could run and not have to face whatever awaited her. But there was a nagging worry, a worry that Azriel would just die there if she did not return. No, she knew he would die if she did not return. As a healer she felt she could not allow that to happen. But what she was dealing with was so far outside of any healing she had faced before. It was dark and strong. It was a daunting prospect to consider what she might need to bring him back from the brink. Within hours she found herself at the edge of the next town. Along the way she had gathered some flowers, herbs, and roots she thought might be useful. Though truthfully she did not understand fully what she was attempting to heal him of. She made her way into the town, the late afternoon sun was beginning to take on that golden hue. She would not be back to him by nightfall as she had promised, but she would be back to him that night. She found the apothecary and purchased a few more rare roots and herbs.

As she exited the shop she walked back through the town, a sense of magic attracting her, drawing her in to a door. She found herself knocking on it without a thought only a feeling that it could help her. A woman answered the door, a witch, one much older than herself and vastly more experienced. "I am glad you came." She spoke in a voice that was confident, knowing, but that sounded almost hoarse with her older age. "You are?" Nephele asked, though it was not all that surprising that a witch of so many years and pure magic would have sense the presence of the half breed. "Close the door." The witch said as she stepped further into her small cottage, motioning for Nephele to follow her. Nephele did as instructed, wondering if the older witch had bewitched her in some manner to earn such obedience. "You face a dark magic that you need help overcoming." The older witch said and stopped in front of a desk with a large grimoire on it. With a flick of her wrist the book swung open and the pages flipped rapidly through most of the book before coming to a sudden stop, "Ahh!" The older witch exclaimed softly and smiled. Nephele slowly approached her, watching the witch, "You are a healer." The witch spoke almost as if she had always known Nephele, "You are capable of conjuring this magic." Her words were sure in Nephele, leaving the half breed no room to doubt her abilities. But Nephele had questions still, "What do you know of my situation?" Nephele asked, "And who are you? How do you know this will help me?" She knew other witches to be capable of a great deal, but how could this witch seem to know what she did. The elder witch was taking bottles from her cabinet and gathering materials, but she stopped to look at Nephele. "My name is Soliel. And while I do not know exactly what it is you face, I can feel the magic that it is. You are here gathering materials you feel you will need to heal so I can only assume that dark magic I sense has taken someone now in your care. But you are inexperienced with such magic evidenced by some of the materials you have gathered. Allow me to help you." Soliel explained to Nephele, "And allow me to help strengthen you as a witch." Soliel continued and seemingly finished gathering the materials she needed. Nephele wondered whether to trust it or not, but she only derived a sense of peace from Soliel and no ill will. "What can I give you for such help?" Nephele questioned, knowing such a good deed would need repaying in some fashion and she did still have two pieces of gold with her. Soliel was gathering some of the ingredients she had picked out for Nephele into smaller containers. "I will take three silver pieces if you have it, dear. An old witch does still have use for such human things." Soliel spoke. Nephele smiled at her, finding herself endeared by Soliel and her willingness to help Nephele, to teach her. "I can do better than that." She pulled out the pouch she held the coins in and placed the two gold coins on the table. "That is too much." Soliel refused it at first. Though with some insistence Nephele managed to convince her to keep it. If it saved Azriel then it was worth it. It was his money anyway. Soleil explained to Nephele what she needed to do and by the time Nephele exited the cozy magical cottage night had fallen. Nephele moved swiftly to make her way back to Azriel. She found herself hoping he had not succumbed to the magic. A sensible person would have run at such an opportunity, but she found herself compelled to aid him. Hours passed and the moon had moved from the eastern part of the sky and was now edging from overhead to the west. The daytime clouds had cleared into an evening where the moon shown brightly and guided her way back to their camp. "Azriel!" She spoke in a harsh whisper as she knelt down beside him and gently shook his shoulders, "Wake!" she urged softly, but wasted no time.

She withdrew a small bowl from her bag and began to add in the ingredients to it, "Heal this body," she began to speak in a low voice, "Heal this mind. No magic can take it. Only mine which can heal it shall have such power over it." she held the bowl in front of herself towards the sky. A soft blue hazy glow rose from the bowl, the ingredients within it rising and swirling together in mid air before slowly lowering back to the bowl in the form of a liquid. Nephele slid her hand behind Azriel's head and held it up as she poured the liquid into his mouth until it was gone. She cast the bowl aside and rested her hand on his chest, chanting the spell over and over, focusing only on reviving him and hoping it would work, that it had not been too late.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel held his hand out to grip Nephele’s wrist to halt her from walking any further. “Here, we will take a rest here.” It was more than he usually took. But he could not help it. The grassy feel was welcomed, the air breezing by. He felt his body had grown largethic in the past few days, and he was not getting any better. He had not admitted to Nephele, he did not wish for her to see him as weak and try to escape. They were being held back because of him now, he unpacked slowly before he finally just laid down in the grassy field. Feeling his body growing weaker, but he was unsure of how he came to be ill. He could not make sense of it. Had Nephele managed to slip him something? She would not dare? They were fucking, and she surely looked all too pleased riding his cock, the image of her on top, her large breast bouncing her pretty face filled with pleasure. No, she could not, and aside the pendent he wore protected him from magic, gripping the pendent now. The intricate design of the pendant, adorned with mysterious symbols, held immense magical power. Azriel knew that much. A few months ago, her father had approached him and offered a deal he could not refuse. With his own mother being ill, and his sister taking care of her. He never refused a well-paid job, no matter how questionable. His head pounded with a relentless, throbbing ache, as if tiny hammers were chiseling away at his skull. Beads of perspiration formed on his forehead despite the gentle breeze, and a queasiness churned within his stomach. The source of his affliction? The pendant, that hung around his neck, pulsated faintly with an otherworldly energy. One Azriel could not feel. “Darling.” He finally relented, he was given no choice but to trust her. He worried it would be misplaced, that she would flee, and he would die in this field. It would be well-deserved, he did not question that. He had kidnapped her and bound her like an animal, their dynamic only changing because they enjoyed each other bodies. “I am not sure if you noticed, but I feel like shit.” He spoke quietly, as if he were trying to conserve his energy but wore his trademark smirk. “I do not know what is wrong with me. I need to get to a healer, the village is only half a day away.” Azriel spoke, closing his eyes as he lay there. Remembering that she was gathering healing herbs when he kidnapped her, now turned his head slightly to meet her gaze. For the first time, noticing how warm they were. Brown, but not dark. They reflected light, the smirk turning into a gentle smile, “you have very pretty eyes, has anyone ever told you that?” For the first time, sounding sincere, and perhaps he was. Even in sickness, her beauty still stood to him. Breaking the trance, he felt like he was being pulled into. “Do you think you could fix me up, darling?” He asked her, but she was his only hope. He did not believe he was so close to death, it was only a sickness. Azriel was sure it could be cured, perhaps some food did not sit well, or he simply got a cold. “Go on, go into town.” He stated, finally moving closer to her and unbinding her from his handy work. He was good at tying complex knots that were not easy to undo for the common man. Digging into one of his leather pouches and grabbing a few gold coins. He was handing everything to her for her to flee with ease, he was ill. She had the gold and into town, she could and should honestly. He had no idea what her father’s intentions were with her, but why should he care? He was only paid to deliver her. The fucking was just an extra. Azriel watched her as she gathered herself, and soon she was walking toward the village, watching her until her body disappeared from his view. “Please come back.” He whispered softly into the wind.

Minutes turned into hours as Azriel lay gasping for respite, his strength weakening with each heartbeat. Visions began to flicker before his eyes, flashes of possible futures that twisted and contorted with each passing second. His mind became a battlefield, the pendant's magic clawing and manipulating his thoughts, blurring the line between reality and illusion. Awaiting the return of his Nephele, but would she? Doubt also gnawing at him.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel looked at her, “impressed? In what ways?” Questioning her with a smirk. Azriel listened to her relay what little knowledge she had about her father. It was not uncommon at all for magical beings to flee responsibility when they breed with humans, or so, in his experience, most half-breeds stayed with their human counterparts while the magical being fled. It was odd and wondered why that but how her father wished to make contact. He was curious as to what had changed for him to desire to have an interaction with his daughter now. “Are full humans, not always the ones that love. Dare I say, love more than the magical counterparts.” He shrugged, unsure if love was somehow altered by the magic. He had interacted with magical beings before, but it was usually always strictly business or just pure simple lust. “Because he is the only who is not in your life, it seemed strange. Wonder if your mother had kept you in the dark or not.” The excuses easily rolling off his tongue. No, it was not up to him to inform her it was her father who had paid. Thought now he feared she would surely start to piece everything together but, no, she did not have enough information even after Azriel had caught her staring at the pendent around his neck. “But if it calms your concerns, I can inform you of my mother.” Azriel smiled more sincerely than he had their whole trip. “A good man, honorable, decent, helped those who needed it. He was a healer, hence my very basic knowledge of plants.” Fondness in his tone. His father truly was the best of humanity, that much he was sure off. “I am not sure the why’s or how’s, but it is believed elves killed him while he was gathering and forging in the forest.” Bitterness in his voice, but it was not directed at the elves as a whole, but the ones who had killed his father. “My mother was never the same. Now she is ill, she does not remember where she is. She sometimes believes my father is still alive and will return from his trip. My sister takes care of her, while I send money. I took the easy way out.” He could admit that his sister was taking in the bigger mental load. She sometimes attached notes with his owl he sent. Expressing the mental toll it took, and he felt the guilt crushing him, but what was he to do? These jobs he took paid well. In gold, often, they could not refuse it. Azriel sunk his top row of teeth into his lower lip to get him to shut up. He was oversharing, but he felt at ease with Nephele like she would not use this information against him. Not that she could? He would deliver her to her father and probably never see her again. That thought, did not sit well at all, and he got up abruptly. Walking over to rinse off his bowl with his water that resided in his canteen. Needing a distraction from such a thought. Azriel set the bowl aside to dry and went to his horse, grab some rope. Sitting back down near her, his hands working defy to tie intricate knots to keep his hands busy. His gaze focused on his hands and the rope, before he met her gaze once more. Heavily debating if he should teach her, but it could not harm her, if anything it would benefit her. Azriel felt self-confident enough that she could not escape him. “Come here.” He said, “you should learn how to get out of ropes.” Grabbing her hands and crossing her arms, “if they have you like, clench your hands as hard as you can. That way when you relax them you will have a bit of wiggle room.” He spoke, starting to wrap the rope around her hands. “Most knots I have seen are simple, there is nothing to their craft with these men, which is probably why they do not have the reputation I do.” Smirking as he spoke. Once her hands were tied, he dropped. “Now relax your hands, and wiggle them.” He instructed, watching her carefully.

Nephele simply nodded, unsure how he was not tired. She imagined he was sleeping even less than she was and he was fully a man. Though as her eyes dropped to the amulet that hung around his neck she wondered if that helped him to not grow tired or as hungry or what it did. Regardless what magic flowed through her seemed to sense the magic possessed in just that small amulet. She shook her head slightly at his statement of falling in love, if anything she felt she might have the ability to cause him to fall in love with her if she played her cards correctly. Or at least make him fond of her enough to not turn her over to whomever decided they needed to pay someone to capture her. Her eyes were watchful as he moved closer and seemed to debate with himself on how to answer her. He was not so good with hiding from his face when he had his personal silent debates. She listened, not entirely surprised he had killed. It seemed likely that he would given what he did, but it was not his nature, that much she could tell. Killing at least was not his nature. Or she was just more softened to him at this point than she should have been, but she did not get the impression that killing was something he took lightly, but she did not press on it now. She smirked at him, "I suppose I am slightly impressed." She believed her father might know where she was, one past lover, a few people who passed through town that she became friendly with, but it was hard to imagine that any of them would send for her in such a way. She wrapped the blanket around herself more, the sun slowly beginning to sink in the horizon had caused the temperature to begin to drop. She held the blanket around herself and looked to him once more, listening as he went over her entire daily routine. She wondered how he had watched her for so long and she had not noticed him. It made her feel a little foolish for not being more aware of her surroundings. Perhaps it was the magic of the amulet he wore that caused her to not feel his eyes upon her watching her every move. Though they had just had sex she still found herself now feeling rather coy again at the mention he had seen her bathe before she even knew of him. Nephele looked to him as he questioned her about her father, it striking her odd. Though he had laid out his knowledge of her life fully before her and it was clearly absent of a father figure, it struck her odd that he would ask her what she knew of her father rather than assuming he might have been dead. It prickled at the nape of her neck slightly, caused her to wonder if the person who had sent Azriel was indeed her father. She sipped the last bit of her soup as she pondered the question now, reaching into her memory for what she knew of the man she had never seen before. “He is a warlock. A powerful one. That is really the extent of what I know. My mother says i take after him in my stubbornness and that my features are more akin to his than hers. I know she loved him, but she has never been of the belief that he loved her in the way she did him.” She paused for a moment, “Obviously he did not.” She added and set the bowl aside. "I never met him. I do not know if he even knows that I exist." she said. Her eyes met his, the shade of blue reminded her of the sky on a warm summer day, "Why are you curious about my father?" she asked.

[azriel-landsayd]

Smirking when she agreed with dreaming about his cock. Giving her a simple nod when she accepted the bowl of food, going back to fill his own bowl of soup and gently blew on it. His gaze and body now angled toward her once more, his gaze instantly honing in on her bare breast. The corner of his mouth lifting upward, a lovely reminder she would be easy for taking later than night. Her questioning bringing his blue eyes up to warm brown ones, shaking his head. “No, I was not tired.” He lied. Azriel could not so easily admit that he did not trust himself to fall asleep around her when she was unbound. She could easily flee. He did not wish to upset her and ruin what intimacy they had arising. His soup having cooled enough for his liking; bringing the bowl up to lips to take a swig of it. Nephele was a treat for someone like Azriel, and it was such a damn shame he had to hand her over to her father. Yet the thought of keeping her for himself plagued his mind once more. Amusement reading across his features as her questions, and Azriel being the man he was, could not hide his smirk nor teasing. “Now, now Nephele. Be mindful of your questions. You might start to fall in love with me.” Laughing softly, before he moved closer to her. Debating if to even answer her before he relented. Realizing that, he relented quite a bit when it came to her. “I do not only capture people, wildflower. I retrieve, steal, threaten, harm. I even killed a couple of times, but I did not take those jobs often. Far too messy.” But in truth, Azriel had not enjoyed killing. It was a far more complex action and emotion to process than most beings paid mind too. Azriel liked helping broken animals or people, not taking their life. That job was for the gods, or perhaps those who were innermost connected with the gift of magic. Smiling in approval at her other questions, “are you saying you are impressed with me?” He smirked. “The person who wants you pointed me in the direction of you. They knew, and all I had to do was watch and wait. I learned your full routine from top to bottom. You would wake up, go over to your mother's have breakfast with her, your aunt was there often times as well. Head back to your home, prep to open your tiny infirmary, and open shop. You are kinder to women and children.” He pointed out with a smirk, but he could understand why. “Then you would close. Do your inventory of your shop and on the days you kept your infirmary closed; you would gather supplies and develop potions or mixtures. You enjoy your baths in the evenings.” Shooting her a wink. He had watched, he would deny himself a beautiful being bathing, but he had remained respectful as he had not touched himself. “I knew it would only be a matter of time for you to end up on that hill for those yarrows, I know they are good for healing but not the reasons. As you can recall, botany never stuck with me.” Azriel now pointed a finger at himself, “my turn to ask you a question now.” Staring intently at her for a moment, “what do you know of your father?" Azriel's question had double meaning. Firstly, he wished to know if Nephele knew anything at all, and if she was in a type of danger because of him/ Secondly, he was genuinely curious to see how she felt about the warlock.

Nephele stirred some time later, the aroma of something being cooked entered her nose and roused her. She slowly opened her eyes, noticing the sun had changed position in the sky, now heading toward the western horizon to sink below it likely in just an hour or so. Her eyes shifted over to Azriel, for the moment his back was to her. He had not fully dressed and the muscles on his back moved as he did in a way that only showed strength. Then he turned to her, his words causing a flurry of different emotions for her, just looking at him earning the same reaction. It seemed obvious to her that he cared for her on some level. Maybe care was not the exact word, but it was the only one she could seem to land on in the moment. He had covered her up as she slept, laid with her for some time, kissed her like she had never been kissed before, but it was all so shrouded in how she even came to be in his presence and that he still would did not tell her where he was taking her to. She felt she trusted him, but she also knew she should not. She sat up and smiled warmly at him despite the thoughts her mind was mulling over, the confusing emotions it was attempting to make sense of. She rolled her eyes playfully at him, “Yes of course.” She teased. She took the bowl of soup that he offered her, “Thank you.” She said softly and sipped some of the warm liquid. She was growing used to traveling food and how he prepared at least had some flavor to it. “Did you nap at all?” She asked him as she sipped more of the soup. The blanket was draped over her lower half, leaving her breasts exposed but she felt no need to be coy with him at this point. She had a growing sense of comfort and safety with him, strangely enough. He seemed like he should be a danger to her considering their circumstances, but she just did not feel it. Not from him. However whoever paid him was still another aspect yet to reveal itself. But for now she felt comfort with him, a fondness, something compelled her to want to know him better other than her desire to use it to her advantage to leave. “How did you get into the line of work of capturing people?” She asked him, it must have paid well, but was money really enough to compel someone to do that for a living? How would one even train for something like that? "Did you get into tracking? The town I came from rarely touched by outsiders and I have so few connections outside of it and yet you found it and it was clearly me you were looking for. How did you do that?" she asked, not asking about the whom. Her question was instead about him, genuine curiosity for the answer as well.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel relished in the sensation of her skin against his, her hair splayed against his shoulder. Glancing up at the bright sky, thankful they were under an oat tree. The breeze, fresh and welcomed. Azriel would never consider himself a man of nature, he had learned to live among it as it was necessity for his jobs. Yet right at this moment he felt utterly content like never before. The corner of his mouth kicking up into a smirk as he noticed her breathing had fallen into even breathing. His fingertips trailing up and down along the length of the of back, she must have felt some level of safe with him. It was an odd sensation, he was glad she did not fear him, but he knew on the other hand, it probably meant he was not doing his job properly. Granted, he knew he was the latter from the moment he had. He had not done one single like his usual protocol. Nephele had tilted the axis of his world, and it was stranger still that it did not bother him in the slightest. Closing his eyes to rest, but he knew he would be unable to nap like her. It was habit for him to not fully trust her. Should he fall asleep, she usually could jab a dagger or flee. Thought he supposed a chase might be fun. Deciding, they would camp in the spot until tomorrow. Laying with her for a couple more hours before he gently disentangled himself from her. Slipping on his trousers as he headed over to his horse to grab a blanket. Along with some supplies to make dinner. Azriel covered Nephele with the blanket before he started a fire. It was a peaceful change of pace. He glanced over at Nephele who looked so damn pretty sleeping. Rolling his head back with a groan, utter vexation that he could not have her beyond the physical sense. He should be glad, but it bothered him that she would more than likely marry some full on magical being. Azriel hoped the aroma of the soup he was making would wake her; she looked far too endearing and sore ale sleeping, he did not wish to be the one to disrupt it. He desired to know more of her, what were her dreams and aspirations? Did she enjoy being a half-breed? But how could he broach such topics without creating a sense of intimacy. He was struggling as it was, he found her stubbornness and teasing far too alluring. She was an alluring being, he could not deny that. His gaze adverted to her stirring. “Helllooo, sleeping beauty,” smirking at her. “How was your afternoon nap? Did you dream of my cock pleasuring you?” He asked as he approached the fire and served her some of the soup he made in a wooden bowl and offered it to her.

Nephele knew she could use that he desired her so to her advantage, that she could maybe soften him to revealing where he was taking her or even convince him not to go through with such a plan. She did find herself with some tender feelings toward him which confused her for she could not tell if they were genuine, fueled by how good of a lover he was, or feelings brought on by him being the only person she had been able to speak to for weeks now. They were all quite confusing emotions. She knew she felt she could melt into his kiss though, full of passion. Even if she was just a passing fuck and he did this with many women he was also quite gifted with the ability to one feel as though they were the only woman he had set eyes upon, that her taste alone was all he desired. He seemed to draw pleasure even just from the taste of her pussy, his moans as he did so only heightening the arousal she felt. As her pleasure passed she felt his mouth slowly working back up her body until he was looking down at her once more. She smirked at his words and playfully rolled her eyes at him, “It is only to make up for when I was only moaning the first letter when I was teasing you before.” She defended, but was only teasing as well. He so easily drew it out of her with the pleasure he caused. Before she could respond to his next statement his lips were on hers once again, earning a soft moan from her as she tasted herself that still clung to his lips and facial hair, her arm slipping around his neck as he kissed her, holding him to herself. “Yes, so much to explore.” She said softly when the kiss was broken. She would use this to her advantage. She could enjoy sleeping with him and also slowly work at allowing him to free her. She knew he was a gifted tracker there seemed so little sense in just running. Her eyes wandered over him as he lay in the nude, admiring him really. She could not help that feeling that it was a terrible shame they met under these circumstances. The way he effortlessly tugged her over to himself to lay beside him did little to quell such emotions from brewing. Her head fell with ease against his chest, one of her legs softly wrapping over one of his. “It is.” She agreed softly as they lay there. Her fingers gently trailed up over his chest. To anyone that might happen upon them she believed they might come across as two lovers, two people deeply in love with each other even. The circumstances were far more grim than that, but at the very least Azriel was no threat to her and he was also at least a physical lover. It was only the early afternoon, but she closed her eyes, finding a sense of ease and needing rest from their fucking, but easily lulled into slumber but the even sound of his heart beating the sounds of birds in the forest around them.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel was sure, hearing her moan her name was possibly the most gratifying sound in the world. No, he knew it was. Azriel desired to make her moan his name many more times as she was, moaning underneath him. His mouth bringing her pleasure no other man could, she had admitted as much, and he felt such a surge of pride. He would enjoy her as long as she allowed and then turn her in to her father, but he did not have to rush as he originally had wanted. No, he would take his time in handing her over. Or he could kidnap her, but his had already been paid, and could he ruin his entire reputation for a woman who seemed to only tolerate him? Azriel focused on her, his mouth moving against her sweet pussy. How lucky was he? Azriel felt he to test his luck and go gamble if he managed to have the half-breed he desired so greatly, allowing him to pleasure her. A moan of approval emitting from him as she tugged his hair, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting. He liked how she handled him. Closing his eyes and letting out another moan of approval at her sweet pleas and moans. Her body tensing as he felt her reach her peak, wishing his cock was inside her once more as her walls tightened around it. His mouth keeping at her pace, and slowly subsiding his movements as she came down from climax. His mouth now moving to clean her of her wetness before he began to move up toward her. Placing gentle pecks along her stomach and chest area until he was face to face with her, a proud smirk on his lips. “You say my name like a mantra.” Teasing her, but he could not help it. “I am very gifted, my wildflower, and I hope we can explore much more than this.” He shot her a playful wink before taking her lips with his, kissing her deeply for a moment before breaking it. “There are many positions I desire to explore with you.” He spoke softly. He laid on his back, not having an ounce of shame in his nudity, but he felt he did not have to. Azriel was aware he was a good-looking man, he glanced over at Nephele and pulled her toward him so that she rested her head against his chest. His arm wrapping around her as he held against him, enjoying the softness and warmth of her. A content smile on his lips. “It is good.” Speaking his thought out loud, it felt far too good to have her like this against him. 

Nephele felt a rush of heat when he obliged her in saying her name. She relished in the deep and lustful tone of it, her legs beckoning him closer to her once more as she felt his breath against her skin. She could lose herself entirely in this, the pleasure he brought her. Already she knew no one could compete. She did not feel the need to question that she had very much the same effect on him. It was in his eyes, the way he would growl just at the sight of her legs parted for him like they were. She bit down on her lip, watching him as his lips moved along her thighs, “Azriel,” she praised softly. Simply the feeling of his lips against her skin caused such arousal. She wished for this to not end. She did not think anyone had looked at her with such desire and caused it in turn. There was something so purely erotic about a man eating her pussy after they had sex, it was truly an act of adoration and desire. She shifted her hips, some impatience, but she was soon met with his mouth on her, a soft moan slipping from her almost immediately. She dropped from her elbows and feel back against the underbrush beneath her, one hand gripping onto whatever plant life was beneath her while the other slid into his golden hair, holding onto him firmly as his tongue moved within her. She felt her pleasure building once more, soft moans escaping from her until he pulled back to tease her clit with his tongue, “A-Azriel, please!” She now begged him softly. His mouth expertly sucking on her clit, beckoning her orgasm from her, but not quite allowing her to have it yet. “Azriel, please let me cum!” She begged softly, her hips pressing up closer to him, wanting more of everything he was giving her, “I am so close!” She said as her toes curled, her heels digging into his back, “Azriel!” She cried out for him as she reached her climax, a second absolutely glorious orgasm. He was far more generous a lover than she had ever known before. Her body had simply rocked with the intensity of it until finally she relaxed again, her breathing evening out as she found comfort against the underbrush, “Azriel,” she called softly to him, praise in her tone. “You are quite a gifted lover.” She said softly to him.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel’s lip slowly formed a smirk at her demand, but he happily obliged. “Nephele.” He whispered softly against her skin, his tone dripping with lust and desire. Admiring how her chest fell and rose from her. Azriel was even more surprised by her admission of no man ever begged her before, what odd thing? Those men were fucking fools, how could they pass up the chance to beg a woman as exquisite as Nephele, but there was a surge of pride that ran through him that he would be the first. He could only hope she would not forget him after he took her to his destination. He usually would not be one to beg if he were honest, but something about Nephele compelled him too, he wanted to beg her. Beg her to grant him access to her body as she was, her words fanning his ego, did nothing to quell that desire to treat her as he was. She was meant to be adored and admired in bed. Outside of it as well, but he could not oblige her there as she deserved. He had a job to finish, but she made him question it indeed. Indeed, it was a body he would never forget. She looked beyond beautiful, no amount of words or poetry would do it justice, and more so with the afterglow of her orgasm. Azriel fully intended to give her many more, if she would allow. Smirking as she parted her legs for him, Azriel pulled away ever so slightly to get a perfect view of it. Growling softly in approval of the view, he was at a loss for words as his seed was still seeping from her. Usually, he would not taste himself off anyone, but with Nephele he desired to do so. It seemed he was willing to break many rules he had for himself when it came to her. He could not help but believe that perhaps he was already bewitched by her, and the amulet he was given was of no use. Yet he did not care at all, no, instead he in and inhaled her scent. It smelled of them, their pleasures were mingled and made the most pleasant of scents. Azriel kissed her inner thighs, gliding his lips up along her smooth skin. His arousal once again grew for her, reaching her pussy. Running the tip of his tongue along his inner lips, savoring the mixture of their juices. His hands slid to cup her buttocks and pulled her closer to him as he began to truly feast on her. His tongue slid inside of entrances, tasting every inch of her entrance that his tongue could seek. Savoring her flavor, and it was tangy but delightful, much like her stubborn ways. Sliding his tongue from inside her to her clit, circling the sensitive nub. Loving how she coated his mouth and lips with her nectar, his tongue flicking back and forth over it, building speed to his movement before enclosing his mouth around her clit and slowly, tortuously slowly began sucking on it. Now desiring to hear her beg him.

Nephele’s gaze dropped back down to him below her, admiring the pleasure on his face, the his desire clouded those blues and made them appear darker. She loved how he looked at her, loved how it made her feel like the only woman worth experiencing it was so full of praise for her. It seemed foolish that she should experience butterflies at the mere look on his face, but they were present even in this moment where he was inside of her. Now that the bindings were off it made her forgot she was his prisoner in the first place. If only they could stay just like this. She did not believe she had deep feelings for him, but he was endearing and he was the best lover she had ever had. Such declarations felt high for their first time together, but none had felt as good and attentive and full of praise for her as he. “Say my name again.” Her tone firm, a demand, but full of need to just hear how her name came from his lips. His hold on her, how he moaned, helped lift her completely into that climax, moaning his name. She could feel him fill her with his seed, pleasant and warm, her movements finally ceasing and she relaxed into his touch. Her chest heaved still from the intensity of her climax and the work to bring them both to it, but it steadied and his hands moving tenderly against her skin felt soft and knowing, like a lover who had touched her many times before and was comfortable with handling her, touching her. She liked the ease with which they moved together. Her arms slid around his neck, holding him close to herself when he switched their positions, one hand sliding up to hold the back of his head, her fingers tangling into his hair as he buried his face against the crook of her neck. Yes, she could stay just like this, laying in the brush in the forest with her lover inside her still, treating her as if she were all he needed to feel the pleasures this world offered. His words. He was so eager and willing to beg her. Her legs seemed to instinctively tighten around him when he spoke, wanting so much more and more of him. Her eyes met his when he pulled back now, “Yes, beg me.” She confirmed softly, a small smirk on her lips, she wished to hear much he still wished to taste her. She debated if she would let him even, just to toy with him a little more, but she did not think she wanted to deny him of it any longer. Not when he looked at her like that. “No man has cared to.” She admitted softly. And his desire to do so only confirmed for her that she would let him finally taste her. Her hand came up to cup his cheek and guide him down into another kiss, her lips moving gently against his before she broke it to speak, “I do not think any man has fucked me so well to earn such a glow.” She softly stroked his ego. She felt him soften and slide out of her now, missing the fullness of him in her, but still feeling the warm trickle of his seed within her. Her eyes slowly closed as she felt his lips move down her neck and chest, once again opening when she felt them against her stomach now, a bolt of need for him again running through her, loving how he called her his wildflower. Such a nickname seemed to awaken feelings she had not had, “Taste me.” She told him, propping herself up on her elbows to watch. She parted her legs to give him a view of her herself; his seed still present. Men had feasted upon her before, but never did they beg to do so after they had fucked her. It had often be brief and before sex. Azriel was new and erotic is so many ways and she wished to explore it all. “Eat what you desire so greatly,” she smirked at him, a demand from her again, but he was fully in charge of the pleasure he would bring her.

[azriel-landsayd]

Azriel watched her in complete and utter desire and awe. She looked utterly beautiful, truly as beautiful as any wildflower fields he had seen. That description matched her perfectly, with her the wild waves of her hair and the beauty of her features and body. It was also in the wave she moaned and moved on him. Azriel's heart beat madly with a strange need to prolong the trip with her. He would make it his mission to figure that out later, as he had no real desire to let her get away so easily, especially after he had a taste of her. That thought embedded itself further as she moaned his name, a sound that was rare and unique. He was sure he would go mad if he did not hear it again? Could a half-witch be bewitching him just from the sounds of her moans? How her walls perfectly gripped his cock? He’d be damned if he was, as he was putting no resistance to prevent it from happening. He was all too eager to be bewitched by her, he did not care. She felt far too good. He had forgotten his sense of purpose, that he was even her captor, and how much they had paid. Everything. “Nephele.” He grunted, feeling his own pleasure building. Meeting her lips with raw passion, once more, taking everything she had to give him. Enjoying and savoring how her lips felt against his. Echoing back his thoughts that he could keep her? Could he not? Throw away his whole reputation to keep his little wildflower nymph? Azriel grunted in pleasure now as she bounded on his dick, the gesture causing his pleasure to heighten. “Gods, you are fucking-” not able to finish his thought as she seemed to know exactly what to do to run him dry. It was then he was convinced this half-breed was made for him. “Perfection, utter perfection, Nephele.” Feeling her walls begin to clench around him and Azriel did not need more incentive than that and joined her in her climax, gripping her hips and aiding her in bouncing on his cock. His cock pulsed inside her as he filled her with his seed. Soft grunts of pleasure and the sound of skin smacking added to the erotic bliss he was in. Azriel leaned up slightly to capture one of her nipples and suck it as she rode out her climax. Flicking his tongue over it as his hands moved from her hips to up, wrapping around her waist and gliding along the smooth skin of her back before he flipped them over. His body hovering over hers, his cock still inside of her. Nuzzling her neck softly, buried in those wild waves of hers, “You want me to beg to taste you? Has anyone ever made you cum twice, Nephele?” Pulling back to stare at her pretty face. Indeed, very pretty from the glow of her climax. He smirked quite smugly, “Has anyone made you glow quite as divine as I have?” His cock now slipping out as it had softened it, but he did not move off her. “I wish to taste you, please let me feast on your perfect cunt.” He whispered his pleas in between gentle kisses along her neck, and down her chest. Slowly running the pad of his tongue along her nipples, alternating the gesture. Glancing up at her, heat still dancing in his blue eyes. “I want nothing more than to be buried between your legs, Nephele. Please, my wildflower.” His lips trailing down her stomach now, waiting for her to accept, or perhaps she would deny him she was a proper cock tease, he could not forget that.

Nephele struggled to make sense of all her feelings in this situation. She was attracted to him, endeared to him in some small ways, but he was her captor to deliver her to some unknown end, but those things felt so distant compared to how his hands felt on her then, how his cock felt as it slid into her. Her head fell back, lost in her pleasure as it felt as though he totally filled her so perfectly. It felt as though he were made for her. Why should a man holding her prisoner feel so perfect? It felt like a cruel joke. She lifted her head, her eyes meeting his now, so pretty, she allowed the thought to cross her mind about him. He was though with his eyes that shown like the shallow, clear, blue waters of the sea that were just as clouded with lust as he own gaze was. To her surprise it was then that he unbound her, but she would not run. Not at this moment. It was trust that he had done it at all and with a month or two left in their journey she knew she needed to grow that trust. “Azriel,” she moaned his name softly as her hands steadied herself on his chest and she began to move, her hips lifting and dropping herself back down against him, a slow rhythm growing as he enjoyed how he felt. “You feel so good!” Her voice, indicating every bit of pleasure she was feeling from him, “Azriel!” She moaned his name to him again, if there was anyone nearby they would certainly know the name of the man capable of causing such pleasured sounds. A soft sound emitted from her as he rolled her nipple between his fingers, her own hand holding onto that wrist to keep it in place as she then leaned over him. Her other hand splayed out on the grass beside his head as her hips began to move more feverishly, feeling her pleasure begin to grow already, “Azriel,” she moaned softly just to him now and her lips met his, her hand moving from the grass and into his hair, fingers tangling in the short blond locks, “Your dick feels so good,” she moaned to him in a haze of her pleasure. The payoff for the build up of sexual tension between them truly was paying off. Maybe she had just been denied for so long but in the moment she was sure he was the best she had been with. If only she could convince him to stay in that spot fucking her rather than take her to their destination. “I’m already so close.” She muttered softly to him, her voice laced with her pleasure, and breathiness. She sat back up; moving to her feet to leverage herself more and began to bounce on him, her moans coming with more volume, her breasts bouncing as she moved with more force, desperately seeking out her climax until she found it. She forced herself to keep moving, the intensity wanting her to still and enjoy it but the need to keep it going and to get him there driving her on. His name came from her mouth in a series of moans and a tone of praise to them for how good it all felt.