"So, what does that make Wrathion to us?" Darguni watched the dragon fly away.
Elunara shrugged her shoulders. "Just another one of my projects, I guess."
"What about...?"
"Any children born will be my children, same as ever. They will just be your new sibling."
Darguni nodded. "Understood."
Tulani bit her lip. "How many did you agree to have?" She asked quietly.
Elunara shrugged again and nuzzled her cheek against Sinea's. "I may be immortal, and dragons live for thousands of years. There's really no telling."
"You plan on doing this more than once?" While he seemed calm, Jordan's voice betrayed his doubts.
"The smarmy dragon seems to think so, at the very least. I have yet to decide how grateful I am for his assistance in returning my children. In returning all the children. He did fight with us, as you well know."
"Yeah, but..."
"My body, my choice. I will decide if and when I give him more than already planned."
"Of course."
She laughed softly, rocking Sinea in her arms. "As he's already told me, he's a dragon, and as such, very greedy."
--
While the family made an effort to resume daily activity, Elunara found herself reluctant to move very far away from them. Logistically, she knew they were safe, emotionally, she was weighed down by the guilt. She hadn't been there. All of the protections in the world, all of the power she held, and her children and grandchildren had been snatched right out from under her. In the next room over no less. Tulani's words had hurt like a dagger to the chest, not just because who said it, but because of how true it had felt. What good was she, if she could not protect the ones she loved the most? Leaning against the door frame, Elunara watched Tulani work on her drawings. Emaline was asleep on a small cot by the bassinet where Sinea slept peacefully.
"You're thinking pretty loudly over there, my love." Tulani stood up and brushed her fingers over Elunara's hair.
"It's not important."
"Love, you know better than to lie like that."
"I couldn't... I couldn't protect them." A tear ran down Elunara's cheek.
"This is about what I said, isn't it?"
Elunara shook her head. "It is, and it isn't. You only voiced what I felt. Your emotions are higher on the surface, and I am more analytical and coolheaded. What you say in the heat of the moment is what I could not let myself feel until after the fact. But, ignoring that, why did you say Sinea was your only happiness?"
Tulani froze. "I- I said that?"
"You did."
Tulani almost didn't hear her. "Elunara! I- I'm so sorry! I don't know why I would say that!" Tulani stooped down at Elunara's feet. "My love, you bring me all the happiness in the world. You've given me so much. I wouldn't even have my baby if not for you. Yes, Sinea brings me endless happiness and joy, but it is you who showed me what happiness and joy could look like. Without you, I would be a shell, a husk, a... a..."
"Tulani. Sweetness." Elunara ran her thumb across the tears on Tulani's cheek. "I understand. I just... I didn't know why you said it. I- I began to wonder if... if maybe..."
Tulani grabbed Elunara's hand and pushed it to her cheek. "What, my love?"
With a sigh, Elunara looked away. Gathering her thoughts, she looked back at Tulani's upturned face. "I wondered if what I've been doing all this time had hurt you. If maybe my 'practices' were driving you away. Maybe you felt I didn't love you, or that maybe I wasn't devoting enough time to you."
Tulani closed her eyes and sobbed. "Oh, gods. That I would make you feel that way."
"Tulani."
Tulani wrapped her arms around Elunara's waist. "Oh, my love, my precious Elunara. I would never think that. You work so hard for me, all the time. I know you love me; I know how you feel and why you do what you do. I would never ask for you to stop."
Elunara dropped down to the floor. Brushing her hand over Tulani's hair, she sighed. "I would stop."
"No! Never! Not for me! Not ever! Do not change you for any reason, least of all me." Tulani wrapped her arms around Elunara's neck.
Elunara pulled her wife into her lap with a shuddering breath. "Thank you, my sweetness. You are the light of my life. I would never do anything to upset you or lose your love."
"You could never lose my love." Pressing her lips against Elunara's, she was desperate to convey her emotions.
Dancing her lips with her wife's, Elunara shared the same compulsion. Together they mated their tongues and danced their lips, hard and fast, showing a desperation neither had felt before. Threading fingers through hair, they devoured each other. Elunara ran her fingers down Tulani's neck and shoulders, down her side and to the bottom of the skirt. Tugging the skirt up, she slipped her hand inside and ran her fingers along the inside of the other woman's thigh. Going back further, she felt those soft hairs, brushing through them, until she reached the slick center folds. Pressing a finger in, Tulani gasped and wiggled against Elunara's attentions. Elunara reclaimed Tulani's mouth as she worked the finger up and around, pressing and rubbing on those spots that gave the most effect. A second finger matched the first.
Tulani's hands were buried in Elunara's hair, but she unwound one hand and began to move it downward. Tugging at the edge of Elunara' shirt, she pulled it up and leaned her head down, licking the top of her wife's breast. With her free hand, she lifted the breast and began to suck on the nipple. Elunara groaned and plunged her fingers deep into Tulani. Her tongue ran along Tulani's teeth. In and out she worked that tight hole around her fingers. Tulani's fingers trailed down further and went into Elunara's pants. Down the front she crushed into the hair, eager to bury her own fingers into her beautiful lover. Together they pumped their fingers in a wild desperate motion. Tulani gave in to the torment first. Gasping, she continued to work her fingers until that clamping heat gave way on her own fingers.
Elunara dislodged her hand and wrapped her arms around Tulani and buried her face in the other woman's neck. "It would destroy me if you stopped loving me."
"It would destroy me if you stopped being you for me. I love you more than life itself."
--
Lulu's entire body hurt, but she was determined to maintain her routine. Calysta walked beside her. "Are you certain you do not want me to carry your books?"
Lulu shook her head. "They're heavy, but I don't care. I won't change my routine because of a few aches and bruises."
"Such a strong woman you are." Calysta kissed her temple.
Lulu backed away half a step and blushed. "I still don't understand you."
"My pretty girl, I only wish to see you happy."
"And my happiness has been with Nara all this time." She sighed. "I still don't know that I can give you the affection you want. Or deserve."
Calysta took Lulu's hand. "It is enough that you would try. It is enough that you would be my friend. I have never had a true friend before."
"Why ever would that be?"
Tracing little patterns on the back of Lulu's hand, Calysta frowned. "Many think me odd. I speak unlike others. I was pushed out of my home by my parents as soon as I was old enough to care for myself. I sought out the warlocks because I wished to summon friends. Many, such as yourself and your father, do not like the warlocks, because of our reputation. I was best of my class. Many did not like me for that. I assume I held myself differently from other people too." She shook her head. "I approach my thirties, having not found a friend. I may be seven years older than you, my girl, but it is you, you who approached me without reserve, that I give my heart to."
Frowning down at their hands, Lulu shook her head. "I just wanted to know how to control my felhunter."
Calysta pulled Lulu's hand to her mouth. "No matter the reason." She pressed her lips to the hand.
Janella blinked at the by play from the door of the inn. With a cough, she stepped forward. "Lulu, what brings you my way?"
The heat slammed into Lulu's face, and she pulled her hand away. "I was coming to class."
Janella shook her head. "I'm sorry, Lulu." She rubbed her muzzle. "But you've learned all that I can teach you. Unless you are reconsidering the summoning and control of your succubus."
"Never!"
Janella spread her hands and sighed. "From this point on, the only way you can improve in the warlock class, is to adventure and level. You are beyond my teachings."
On the way back home, Lulu kicked a rock. "But I liked going to class!"
"Lulu..."
She opened her book and began to flip through. "There's got to be something in this stupid book I haven't read yet."
