Erasthais Across Time

16 - Crossroads

Danielle's POV:

Keep running! Xena urges me. I try to shift but I can't – something's blocking my ability. All I know is that there's a fire behind me and smoke blocking my already obscured vision. I can't place where I am, or when I am, but I know that I have to keep running or something bad is going to get me. I am running out of breath, which I shouldn't be if I'm a lycan but now it's dawning on me that I may be...human? Xena! What's going on? Where are we?! I yelled out. Hold on Danielle! Just a little longer! Just keep running! She replied, getting softer with each response. Xena?! XENA!!

I gasped awake and gripped the blankets around me. Xe!? Xena? Xe, are you there? I asked nervously. I'm right here; I'm not going anywhere, she responded, purring inside my chest. Oh good. Did you see any of that? My dream? I asked. Sometimes if we were connected deep enough in a dream state, we could share a dream state as well. Parts of it...it seemed more like a memory than a dream. It was hard to place, she responded. Hmm, I'll have to think about what it could be from, I responded. I leaned over to grab my phone from the floor, after I tossed my clothes off last night, rinsed off in the shower then passed out. "Ah shit! I never texted them when I got home. I don't have any frantic calls though..." I said, looking through my texts and phone log to see that neither Damien nor Bear sent me more than a few messages last night after I left them. They're here, outside. I can smell them, Xena said. Curiously, I put on my bathrobe since I slept in an oversized tshirt last night and opened my door. I jumped back in surprise at seeing a passed out Damien curled up in a blanket and pillows like he was a little kid at a sleepover. "Shit Damien! I almost stepped on your face!" I yelled unexpectedly, but surprisingly he didn't hear me – only continued to sleep. Awww, they seem peaceful, Xena said. Why are they sleeping on the floor? Did they drink too much? I asked her. Stepping over Damien, I picked up the stray pillows and threw them back on the couch. Xe, is Zeus asleep? I asked. Out cold, she responded. Great, this'll be a lot easier if they stay asleep... I said, bending down and picking up Damien. As a lycan, my strength was already far stronger than most creatures and being of royal blood made me much stronger than most male lycans. But things are always about pride and if Damien woke up in the middle of me carrying him to bed, well, let's just say he'd be very uncomfortable. I put him on my bed and wrapped the covers over him. It was 9a and although I didn't get the best sleep, I felt rested enough. I tidied around the house, and brought down some clothes for him to change into. After an hour, I put on some coffee and decided to wait for him on the balcony.

Damien's POV:

I woke up feeling like I was sleeping on a cloud, with the most heavenly scent around me. Definitely not how we fell asleep. I opened my eyes and took in the familiar room around me. I sat up immediately. Danielle's room! I was in Danielle's room but...where was she? Zeus – how did we get here? I asked him. Honestly man, I'm not sure, he replied with a yawn. I slid my feet over the bed and saw I was still in my boxer-briefs but noticed some lounge clothes were left to my side. I got dressed and left her bedroom, inhaling her scent one more time. I smelled freshly brewed coffee and found an empty cup waiting for me. I poured myself some and then followed her sweet scent out towards the balcony. And there she was: in an oversized tshirt and seemingly nothing underneath. Goddess, my cock swelled at the sight of her laying down with her legs crossed above her. How I yearned to divide them and slip right between them... She was reading a book – something about killing a bird? I walked over to her and her scent grew stronger. I could feel how rock hard I was with every stride. I put my hands in my pockets to try to hide my bulge. "Good morning," I said, with a slight smile, trying to hide how overwhelmingly lustful I was feeling. "Morning," she said, not turning to look at me. Uh oh, said Zeus. "Thanks for the coffee," I said, not knowing what else to say. She's mad, Zeus chimed in. Not helping... I replied. "Mhm," she responded. Definitely mad, Zeus said. Go away unless you have something helpful to say! I scolded him. Zeus didn't respond. "We didn't get a text from you last night. Did you send one?" I asked, hoping it would get more of a response from her. She started rubbing her leg with her other foot, and a desire to give her a massage came over me. "No. Sorry about that. I took a shower last night and went right to bed. It must've slipped my mind," she said, still not looking up. "Oh. Okay. We checked with Luther when we got back and he said you seemed distracted," I replied. "Mmm, if he said it then probably. He's very observant," she answered. I moved closer to the couch and sat on the unoccupied part where her feet were. Her dark green toenails were still as vibrant as they were a few days ago. I started rubbing my knee, hoping its movements would spark something to talk about. You could apologize for being an ass last night? That might be a place to start, Zeus spoke up. Zeus! I said. What? I'm being helpful. She's mad about last night – obviously – so that's where you should start, Zeus proudly stated. I groaned that he had a point. "How...how did I end up in your bed?" I asked her. She stopped rubbing her feet. "I put you there," she said, and resumed rubbing her feet. "Wait what? How?" I asked, completely unsure if she was joking or not. She closed her book and turned towards me, just enough so her tshirt pulled up over her luscious hips and I could see these flirtatious, cheeky, black panties that on each cheek said "KISS" and "MY", and if I wasn't already hard – I sure was now. "What do you mean how? I picked you up and put you on my bed. It's exactly how it sounds," she said, and turned back to her book, except now I had a full view of that lucious ass, taunting me. Focus! "You were able to pick me up? By yourself?" I asked again. This seemed to really get her attention. "Ugh! Yes! For the last time, yes! I woke up and almost stepped on your face because I didn't see you were sleeping on the floor. Couldn't figure out why so I picked you up and put you on my bed, then left you to go make coffee. Anything else?" she yelled, booked closed and standing up now. "I didn't realize you were that strong," I said quietly. "Yes! There's a lot of things you don't realize, and a lot you don't listen to me about. I am much stronger than you remember and much stronger than anyone realizes. Just because I wasn't out on my own for the last 100 years doesn't mean I haven't been training; getting stronger. I have to train four-times as hard to keep up any means of my original strength while staying hidden. And apparently, I'm not even doing a great job at staying hidden it seems!!" she finished, and stormed off into the house. "Danielle, wait! What are you talking about?" I said, fast-walking behind her. "Nevermind..." she said, walking into her room and attempting to close the door on me but I was too quick and grabbed it before it could close. "Danielle – what's going on? What are you talking about?" I asked, watching as she paced the room. "It's nothing Damien, just – just leave me be, alright? I need some space," she said. "Hey, whatever it is, you can talk to me. I'm here. You can tell me anything, alright?" I said, getting closer to her and inhaling that sweet strawberry vanilla scent. If I didn't have better control over myself, I would be drooling. "I don't want to talk, Damien. Alright? Just leave me alone for a bit. Go for a walk or something, I don't know. Text Gregor. Just give me space," she said walking out of her bedroom. "Danielle – wait!" I said and reached out to grab her arm. Wrong move. I was so overwhelmed with these electric tingles throughout my body that made every hair stand on end. My cock felt like it was ready to explode and my heart was racing a mile a minute. I could smell her – more than before – smell her sweet arousal and knew I needed to take her. I was almost foaming at the mouth. I looked her up and down and saw how divine she looked. Those petite little feet, holding up those strong, curvaceous legs and those lucious hips. Her small frame encompassed by an oversized tshirt, waiting for me to tear it to pieces. Those magnificent breasts hidden away, waiting for my lips to suckle them. Her neck, so soft and warm, inviting me to sink my teeth into it and remark her. Her lips – Goddess her tongue! If there was one part of her I wanted to be selfish of it was her mouth. And those eyes – her beautiful hazel eyes. I could look into her eyes forever and know I was safe with her. "Damien..." she whispered. My name on her lips sounded like an orgasm already. I felt her arm twitch in my hand and picked her up by her legs and brought her back to her room. I threw her on her bed and ripped her panties off before she left my arms. "Damien!" she yelped. Her fresh arousal filled my nose and I could sense my eyes go black. "Damien...stop. I think we should talk," she said. Stop? Stop?! "Please Damien? After last night, I have a lot on my mind," she said. I could see the stress on her face and backed away. I couldn't turn off how she made me feel physically, but seeing the look on her face told me she was serious. "I'm going to shower. I suggest you do the same..." she said and stood up. I stared at her, knowing she was bare underneath that tshirt, and I had to suppress these urges. "Could you leave? I don't have a bathroom door yet," she said, her eyes glancing towards the bathroom door I had yet to put back on its hinges. "I don't want to leave you. I've done enough of that lately," I said, trying to control my frustration. "I keep telling you – I want to be alone," she repeated, arms crossed. "Why? Huh? Why do you want to be alone? Why do you keep pushing me away? I'm your erasthai, damn it! We've been apart for a hundred years and have barely been together for three days and you keep pushing me away! She said you were ready! She said you missed me! She said –" "Who said Damien?" she said coldly. I froze. SHIT. "I –" "WHO SAID WHAT Damien?" she shouted. Fuck... "Danielle, please, I –" "DAMIEN! You will tell me the truth!" she commanded. For the first time in a while, and by her, I was forced by an Alpha command to tell her. "The Moon Goddess, Selene," I said, hanging my head. "Son of a bitch!" she said under her breath. I didn't say a word. "What did she tell you, exactly?" she demanded. I sighed. "She – I – it's a long story," I said, rubbing the back of my neck and sitting down on her bed. "Well, as far as I know, we have no plans so the day is all ours to talk. So let's hear it," she said. "Look, I – maybe we should take those showers? I can't really think straight right now..." I said, glancing at her with a bashful look on my face. She rolled her eyes at me. "Ugh, fine! But quickly!" she said, taking off her shirt in front of me and walking into her bathroom. I was hard once again and my heart was pounding, just watching her ass sway away into the shower. "Are you joining or not?!" she yelled. "Uhh, yea. I'll be right there," I said. Fuck – how am I supposed to just shower with her with this hard on? I walked over to the sink to rinse my face and take a deep breath. In the mirror I could see her silhouette in the fogginess of the shower and I knew this was going to be difficult. I walked into the shower and was naively hoping for cold water. "I'm almost done," she said. I reached out to grab her hips before I could stop myself. "Damien..." she warned. "Sorry...I can't help it..." I said, but I didn't remove my hands. I watched as the water cascaded down her hair and onto her skin. It looked delicious and I wanted a taste. I kissed her shoulder where a heavy droplet landed. "Damien..." she scolded again. "I know..." I said, then softly left her kisses from her shoulder all the way to her neck. "Damien..." she said again. "Mhmm," I said, hearing her but not really listening. All I wanted was to taste her – all over. Drink her in. Sink my teeth into her. Call her mine, mine! "I'm done...the shower's yours," she said, while turning around to face me. My hands lingered on her hips. She looked up at me with those eyes – those beautiful eyes, caught between wanting to be with me and holding herself back for some stupid reason. "Damien...you need to move, so I can leave," she said, looking at the door behind me. The hot water did nothing to help cool me down but I wasn't about to turn it down and make her leave even quicker. "What's going on? With you? With us?" I asked. "We can talk out of the shower," she said, trying to get around me. "Well this isn't going anywhere," I said. "Yea? No shit. But I'm sure your hand has the solution," she said. "What? Oh - no! Not that. I mean us – this bond. I'm talking about the connection between us," I said, motioning between us. She looked away, realizing she assumed wrong. "Look, I love you. I have always loved you and I always will love you. Bond or no bond. You are mine. My erasthai. Whatever you're going through, I'm here for you," I said, holding onto her waist now. "Yea? Okay. Then you can start by being honest with me," she said, and pushed past me out of the shower. Fuck. I couldn't chase after her like this, so I jerked off twice – it did nothing. I switched to cold water and got out. I made a mental note to fix the door as soon as I could find a hammer. I got dressed and found her outside again, this time enjoying the sunshine. "Lingerie isn't going to help this conversation along," I said, with a smile. She turned her head to look at me and frowned. "For your information, old man, I'm wearing the equivalent of a bathing suit nowadays," she said, putting on her jean shorts and white button-down shirt. "Really? You'll have to model your bathing suits for me one day," I said. She stuck her tongue out at me. "Goddess, don't start..." I said a little too loud. "What was that?" she asked, when I went to sit across from her. "Uh, nothing," I said, clearing my voice. "That's a lie, Damien. Even without the bond, I can tell when you're lying," she said. Ahahaha! She got you there, buddy! Zeus cackled. "We're off to a good start, aren't we?" she said, with her arms crossed, and one of her famous cocked-eyebrows staring at me. "Alright, fine. Your tongue. Anytime you stick out your tongue, I instantly get hard and think about when you sucked me off. Okay?! I just jerked off in the shower so I could try to have a better mindset and if you continue to stick your tongue out it's going to get me hard. Again," I said, staring at her with my hands folded in my lap, as if I didn't just confess a huge turn on she could use against me, and torture me with. "Okay. Now that I believe. And I won't do it again, during this conversation," she said, nodding her head. "Thank you," I said. "Now your turn. Ask me something you want me to be honest about so we can start on the right foot and then we'll get into the bigger conversations," she said. "What happened last night?" I said blatantly. She looked surprised at first then accepted it. She took a deep breath. "It wasn't just the humans, although I really didn't want you and Bear to get into a fight with them. I've been called names before, and they really were just drunk and stupid. I could've killed them if I wanted to. I just wanted to continue with my night, is all. When you left, the bartender who was waiting on us told me she knew who I was – who I really was – and that there were others who knew of me and our stories and would rally behind us if we ever needed aid. She got really heated about the situation and it took me by surprise. She called me Luna. That's the second person in as many days to call me a title that I would love to forget about," she said. The fae bartender knew who she was? asked Zeus. "How did she know who you were?" I asked. "She said the fae are told about lycan stories, our wars, triumphs. She told me they know about the princess and her family, and that I had more supporters in the realm if I ever needed them. I didn't know what to do with that information. It just made me feel very visible in a way I hadn't been in years, like all my efforts have been for nothing," she said, looking towards the sky. "What efforts?" I asked, moving to sit next to her. She sighed and put her head down. "The last hundred years, I wasn't just hiding from you...I was hiding from him," she said, not looking up at me. A chill went down my spine. I forgot about him. "I know who knows about me – about my true past, and I know who knows some information but not all. And that bartender – Jasmine – was not someone I was expecting to know who I was," she said. I reached out to grab her hand. "She says that her people are waiting for me to take back the throne 'to take back what is rightfully mine' or something like that. And if the fae are waiting for me – then who else is waiting for me? Are there more of our kind...waiting on me to fight back?" she said, looking up at me with tears in her eyes. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into my chest. I kissed the top of her head and held on to her. I knew this was a sensitive topic for her: other lycans, a sense of community, a family – children. Children were something we made a decision about and it was not an easy one.