If you're just tuning in, this is chapter 5, and it'll make more sense if you've read the previous chapters. Wy's and Lost's backstories are: They're All Crazy, and Getting Lost.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you're enjoying the story. I appreciate your comments (and this story will have an actual ending in a few more chapters 😉 ).
-Guinevere A. Hart
***
Kytia, Wy, and Lost spent the morning apart. Lost found a sunny spot in the courtyard where she worked on her dress. Wy joined a Sil engineer to reprogram the Ay'niki communication device. Kytia got an early start in throne room, struggling to convince the freed ylf'nim that she was not interested in queenship.
By the time they could regroup in the kitchen for lunch, Kytia felt cross. Though she'd finally talked them into voting for someone else to lead them, she walked away from the conversation frustrated and uncertain for the future of Raelinholm. Kytia thought she was much better at throwing punches than the verbal acrobatics her people had required of her.
She must have had a look on her face, because Lost immediately drew Kytia into a strong hug. Kytia nuzzled into Lost's hair, breathing in the warm scent of sun and flowers. The fragrance infused her with comfort, a sense of belonging after spending her morning feeling so disconnected.
Wy let them hug it out while he prepped plates of bread, cheese, and fruit. He poured wine. Then after glancing over his shoulder at Kytia, he poured a lot more of it into her glass. When she sat and noticed the disproportion, Kytia laughed, and her spell of gloom was officially broken.
They talked about their morning over lunch, but they still had the afternoon before they'd meet Araquies for the shuttle ride northward. Kytia suggested, "I was thinking we'd go back to the beach today and have a look inside the grotto." She knew there could be nothing left of Lost's friends. Their remains were two-hundred years old with the tide constantly pushing and pulling. Still, she had to try for Lost.
After lunch, Kytia went back to their bedroom to change clothes. She looked at the rumpled bedclothes and their bags that they still hadn't bothered to unpack, and she sighed. There was no point in unpacking since their journey wasn't over. She allowed herself a moment of self-pity while she shed her "court crap" and donned a sensible pair of pants and a shirt.
She stood in the mirror and tied up her hair while she talked to her reflection. "Option one: bitter, lonely, nasty, old bitch. But I get to stay home. Option two: loving mate to two people who love me although I don't deserve them."
Kytia was startled when two solid thumps sounded behind her. She spun around in time to see one of the closet doors slowly swing open. A cursory investigation gave no reason for the noise. She tried the door, and it latched fine. "So, option two then?" she joked. The closet had no response, and Kytia made a mental note to have someone check for rodents... exceptionally large rodents who open doors.
She returned to the mirror and stared herself in the eye. Kytia would do anything for Wy and Lost. It wasn't even a decision. "I'd make one hell of a crazy cat lady, but yeah," she agreed with the closet. "I'm going with option two."
On the way out, Kytia thought to grab towels and a couple of blankets. It was a warm summer day, but the water might be cold.
They'd chosen the perfect time of day. The tide was out, which made getting inside the grotto a little easier. Kytia had been right about the water temperature. She stood naked at the edge where the cold water sloshed around her ankles.
Beside her, Wy suggested, "Best do like Lost. Just get in all at once."
Regardless of their somber mission, Lost had dropped her dress halfway across the beach and ran straight at the water. She whooped and laughed at the chill, but it didn't slow her down. Kytia lost sight of her for a second when she dipped under. When Lost bobbed back up she called out, "Kytia! Cold! Come on!"
Through clenched teeth, Kytia muttered, "Fuck this shit. There's not going to be anything there, anyway."
Wy admonished, "You told her you'd help her look." For emphasis, he slapped Kytia's buttocks. "Get out there. Or do you need me to throw you in?"
It was hard to smile, keep her teeth from chattering, and talk, all at the same time. "Do you need me to kick your ass?"
"Usually, but for now, go help her. I'll be here to warm you both up when you come back out."
Lost headed for the entrance to the grotto, and Kytia knew Wy was right. She went out and immersed herself in the cold. Once she was in, it wasn't too bad, if she kept moving. Within the shadowy entrance to the cave, Kytia saw Lost cast a light spell on her own hand, and she followed it.
The only light she had was Lost's, but she seemed to know where she wanted to search. They waded through narrow corridors, and in some places the seawater was all the way up to their chests. Kytia's thoughts drifted to the terror she'd feel if she should lose her way. The caves would fill up, and she would drown in the darkness, her body eaten by fish. She shivered from more than the cold.
Lost paused and turned to her. She put her glowing hand down to show an opening that was below the water level. "In here," she said.
"Are you sure?" Kytia hated the fearful pitch in her tone, and she hoped Lost would mistake it for cold.
No such luck. Lost looked up into Kytia's eyes. Since it was just the two of them, she spoke their native language. "Kytia, I have to look. You can wait for me here. I'll be okay."
Kytia decided that kicking a cave for making her feel afraid in front of her girlfriend would only earn her a broken toe. Lost was already ducking down into the tube-like passage, so Kytia took a deep breath and followed. Lost was a far better swimmer, and Kytia trusted that she knew it. The tube wasn't long and led to a chamber where they could stand with their heads above water.
Lost smiled at her and said, "See, it's not so bad, right?"
Kytia tried to smile back, but it must have come off looking exactly how it felt. Lost threw her arms around Kytia and said, "Please, just help me look. Then we can go."
The light on Lost's hand grew brighter, and they ducked under together. Kytia noted some stones that might have been brought in from the outside. Moving them revealed nothing except an irritated snail. They moved slow, searching in a spiral pattern, but the only thing in the grotto was a handful of small marine animals.
Kytia felt a weird mix of sorrow and relief that there were no skeletal remains. She had known it would be this way. Still, if Lost wanted to look again, Kytia wouldn't argue with her. When they came up for air, she kept quiet and waited for Lost to say something.
Tears mixed with salt water, and Lost said, "They were here. I saw them."
Kytia nodded slowly, "I know, sweetie. I believe you."
"The ocean took them. They're gone."
"Yes," Kytia said while she drew Lost into a hug. "Their physical remains are gone, but we'll remember them. We'll make a place for them in the Grove."
After a while, Lost looked up at Kytia and said, "We can go now."
When they returned to the beach, Wyfrost met them with the towels and blankets. As they dried off, he asked, "Anything?"
"No," Kytia answered. "The tides took them out."
Wy and Kytia rearranged their blankets so the three of them were huddled together beneath them. They were skin to skin because Wy had taken off his shirt. He held them both and vigorously rubbed their backs and arms. The sunny heat radiating from Wy felt delicious against Kytia's chill, but Lost's teeth had begun to chatter.
Wy commented, "You know, I've never understood that. You've got the power to bend time and space to your will, but you can't keep yourself warm."
Lost smiled up at him and responded. Kytia interpreted, "She says she's perfectly capable of warming herself. It just feels better when you do it."
While he listened to Kytia, Lost went to work on his fly. They lost their blanket cover when Kytia pulled his pants down, but there were better ways to get warm. "Well now," Wy said, "I'm not going to argue with that."
***
Lost was disappointed by the foray into the grotto, but she wasn't surprised. She knew it had been too long. It was clear that Kytia really hadn't wanted to go, and Lost was grateful that she didn't have to go in alone. She felt cold all the way to her bones and craved the comfort of loving hands. Lost's body reveled in Wy's warmth, while her soul healed in the embrace of those she loved.
Lost wanted Wy as naked as she and Kytia were. She wrapped her cool fingers around the heat of his manhood while Kytia rid him of his trousers. With both hands, she caressed the length of him. This close, she could smell the subtle salt of his sweat and wanted to taste it.
She tilted her head and flicked one of his stiffened nipples with the end of her tongue. Kytia joined her on the other side. Wy moaned, and his fingers tangled in their wet hair. Lost stroked him faster while switching from kissing his chest to sharing a deep kiss with Kytia. Her tongue was firm and quick, reminding Lost of the way that muscle could dance over her clitoris.
Heat ignited in Lost's belly and between her legs. She let it grow until her desire and pleasure consumed everything else. Pain, sorrow, disappointment, all of it burned down in flames. The ashes flew away on an ocean breeze.
Then Kytia moved behind Lost, sandwiching her between the two of them. Wy kept one hand in her hair, and the other slipped down to explore the cleft between her cheeks and massage her buttocks. Wyfrost bent his head and drew Lost in for a devouring kiss. His long tongue thrust in and out of her mouth in time with the rhythm of her hands.
She could feel Kytia's body pressed to her back, hands caressing the underside of Lost's petite breasts. When Kytia tugged at her nipples, Lost moaned into Wy's kiss. Kytia licked the salt water from Lost's shoulders and back, lightly nipping at the bundles of nerves she knew would take Lost's need higher.
Wyfrost pulled away to mess with the blankets, so Lost turned in Kytia's embrace. Kytia's hold was strong, her kiss fervent. When they parted, Wy had arranged the blankets as a makeshift bed in the sand. He'd made himself comfortable while he watched and waited for them to join him.
Lost approached him, and he reached for her. Wy took control, seating her in his lap so that her back was pressed against his chest. He nudged her legs wide open and slipped his fingers through her wet folds. Wy then rubbed the head of his massive cock along her slit before tucking it inside.
Kytia knelt between their legs and smiled. From the look in her eye, Lost knew she was about to be immensely spoiled. Kytia bent forward and kissed Lost's belly and the insides of her thighs. She lapped at Wy's sac and teased Lost by sliding her tongue up the length of Wy's exposed shaft, just barely missing Lost's needy clit.
