Eiarex, World of Her Birth (On Hold)

Chapter 15

**Warning: This scene contains brief sexual content**

Chapter 15

Krath nudged open the gate that surrounded the natural hot spring that was located just outside of the village. It was empty this time of night as it had been for the last week. No one had wanted to test their fates where the vampyre was concerned, and bathing alone or in small numbers at night with a dark one haunting their town was just asking for trouble. Krath took advantage of the unused place now that he knew the immediate danger had passed. True, there was still the imminent possibility of another assassination attempt, but he was confident that Nyril would be safe in his presence.

He carried Nyril into the circle of tall boulders and sat her on a large, flat rock near the water’s edge. Uncaring now of their unmated status, Krath undressed a compliant and blank-faced Nyril, then removed his own clothing. Once they were both nude, he lifted her back up and walked into the hot, bubbling water. The heat caught Nyril’s attention, as he had hoped. Her tears had stopped falling by now, and she still looked forlorn, but she seemed to be aware of her surroundings again.

Krath sat her on a smooth rock that stood within the hot water, the steaming liquid lapped at her bare breasts. He went to the side of the natural pool and retrieved a vial of scented soap. Nyril looked at him, and he saw the love in her eyes, but he also saw her pain, and something else. He felt her loss, sensed her sorrow at losing a piece of her that she had become accustomed to. Krath was not sorry for the absence of that darkness that had been pulsing in the back of her mind. That black smear on her psyche came from Archibald and without the vampyre, it had faded. Now, there was nothing and no one who would come in between them again. He was sorry for Nyril’s hurt, but her sadness would eventually be a distant memory.

Krath offered Nyril a soft, encouraging smile. Then he poured a small amount of the liquid soap into his hand and preceded to wash her long, thick hair. He washed every inch of her body, even her intimate parts. His hands smoothed over her round breasts and her peaked nipples. They slid across her flat belly and dipped into the crevice between her thighs. He worked his hand there, washing and caressing until she was letting out short gasps and moans. Her hands went to his shoulders as he showered attention on her most secret spot. Suddenly she cried out softy and shuddered against him. Aroused and immensely pleased by her response, Krath continued his task of cleaning the rest of her lovely little body.

He was uncomfortably aware of his body’s need to find release, as well, but he firmly ignored his own desires, focusing intently on Nyril. Once she was completely cleaned and rinsed, he then quickly washed himself of the blood from the fight with Archibald. None of the blood was Krath’s. He knew that if he had been fully himself that the battle wouldn’t have been won so easily. Oh, he was certain he would have won regardless, but he was sure that he would have walked away with at least a few cuts and bruises.

However, Krath had not completely been himself earlier that evening. Something extraordinary had occurred, and he wasn’t exactly sure how to explain it himself. He had felt himself being filled up with incredible power. He had sensed the presence of many, many others who were each distinct, separate, yet connected by the same soul.  All of his former lives had come together within him to work together to destroy the one who had threatened his life with his soul-mate. It had been an incredible experience, one that filled him with wonder when he stopped to think on it. The power, strength, and speed that his other selves had lent him had made his ability to fight as easy as breathing. For those few, brief minutes Krath realized that he had been the most powerful shifter of his entire clan. He wanted to speak to the Chieftain about his experience. Krath was sure that had the alpha still been in his prime, he would have rivaled even Chieftain Radrick’s prowess, if not surpassed him.