Des'Tai: Book Two

129: Tyron

Colerock Shallows wasn't far from Eryl. It was a place Rune and I used to visit a lot in our teen years, during the long, hot summer months. It was the best local hangout to cool down.

And today was no exception.

Colerock, which was nestled in the eastern woods, was a crystal blue spring with small, layered waterfalls, each leading onto another circular body of water, so clear that you could see the black and white stones at the bottom. The nethermost spring, the largest and deepest, had a rickety, wooden walkway leading partially out over the water. Dark and light rocks and stones encompassed the edges, keeping the water clear of most woodland debris.

About a dozen others were dotted throughout the springs; couples sat together, their legs dangling into the clear waters, children played with their parents near the cascading falls and a small group of friends were dive bombing, laughing and joking at which of them did it best.

Nero was the first to jump in, taking a running leap off the walkway. When he broke the surface, his hair stuck to his face, he was grinning hard. "It feels uh-mazing!"

Senna dropped her yellow wrap, revealing her flowery navy two-piece underneath. "Is it cold?"

Senna was pale, her skin a snowy white, dusted with light freckles. She was slender, with a slight curve to her thighs and hips, but her chest was average for a female elf – about half the size of Faye's.

A cough sounded beside me and I turned to see my Mate watching me incredulously. 'Are you...eyeing up Senna?!'

I shook my head quickly. "No, of course not!"

She folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. 'See anything you like?'

I rolled my eyes and caught at the white wrap hanging at her side, giving it a slight tug. 'Hurry up and take this off. None of these skinny females can compete with you.'

'Are you calling me fat?'

I'd heard Faye ask Rune the same question six months ago, back when he'd been comparing her to my normal type of woman. My gaze raked down the length of her body slowly, before I raised it back up to look at her. 'No, but you have curves everywhere and I fucking love them. Now stop nit-picking at me and let's go swimming.'

I gripped at the hem of my t-shirt and tugged it over my head, dropping it into the pile of clothes that Nero and Senna had started.

Nero whistled at me as he and Senna hung onto the edge of the spring, watching us.

Senna beckoned at her friend. "C'mon Faye, stop mind-yelling at Ty and have some fun! We could be back at Difoda, forced to stand in the blistering sun watching a bunch of Watcher Wannabes."

I tossed my shoes off and dropped into the water beside Nero, quickly remembering how deep this part of the springs was. It was just as refreshing as it had been the last time I came here, the water cool but not to the point that it chilled you through. When I emerged, Faye had removed her swim wrap, showcasing her modest two-piece –that thankfully covered her breasts nicely- and was now sat on a large rock beside Senna, her feet dipped into the blue water.

"It's sooo nice having a day out of the kitchen!" Senna sighed, dropping her head back into the water, her long silver white hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. "It's been forever since I went anywhere nice like this."

I swam up beside Senna, my hands latching onto my Mates ankles. Faye combed her fingers through my hair as she spoke, "We can come here whenever you like, Sen, on our own or with these two."

She nodded her head, signally to Nero who was happily floating on his back like a sponge in a bathtub. I smiled and tugged at her legs gently, silently urging her to join me. 'Katinar...'

Faye braced her hands onto my shoulders and with my help, lowered herself into the water. She dipped below the surface, her blonde curls vanishing, only to reappear beside Nero's head a few seconds later. The easy smile he'd been wearing just about jumped off his face, a mask of horror taking over when he thought some blonde monster was raising from the water to devour him.

The three of us burst out laughing as realisation dawned for him. "Holy Maboly, Faye! I nearly drowned then!" Nero scrubbed a hand across his face. "My whole life flashed before my eyes."

The next couple of hours went by quickly as we divided our time between the water and the warm decking beside the springs. Nero and Senna wandered off briefly to check out the higher levels, meanwhile I'd found a comfortable position on my stomach, my arms crossed under my head in a makeshift cushion, while Faye traced shapes with her finger tips across my back, humming a low tune to herself.

When our companions returned, they looked flustered and red-lipped; it appeared that wandering wasn't the only thing they'd gotten up to.

It was well after five when we decided to head back, Senna leading the charge as she worried about being late back for dinner preparations.

We were on the pathway leading away from Colerock Shallows, when a young boy appeared around the corner, running so fast that he didn't see me on the bend in the path. He knocked against my legs, staggering off to the side and falling toward the bushes. Faye was quick, she reached out and latched onto him arm, stopping him from tumbling over.

A dark haired woman appeared, her cheeks flushed as she tried to catch her breath. "Roni! How many times do I have to tell you not to run ahead like that?" She looked toward Faye and smiled. "Thank you for catching him, but it's his own fault for running. I'm sorry he knocked into you."

I watched as the boy shot Faye a grateful smile. "That was close. I could've been eaten by the hungry bush monsters!" He laughed.

"I'm glad I could help." Faye returned his smile and straightened. "I'll make sure to keep an eye out for them, too. They sound mean."

"They are!" He exclaimed, pointing toward the green leaves. "They'll scratch you up if you're not careful. Do you have someone to protect you from them? I protect my Malanai," Blindly, he reached back, his small hand searching for something. The woman smiled warmly at him and took his outstretched hand. "Don't I, Mali?"

"You do."

"I think I could do that job," I told him, copying his movement and taking hold of Faye's hand. "Safe and sound."

"Good! Hold on tight. C'mon, Mali, I wanna go swimming!"

The dark haired woman turned to us, her eyes landing on our joined hands. "Oh, you're a Mated pair? Congratulations. Do you have any little ones of your own?"

"Not yet," Faye answered.

"Perhaps in the future." I added.

She nodded and then pointed to the bracelet around Faye's wrist, a knowing smirk creeping to her lips. "Smart. They're expensive but so worth it!" She held up her own wrist, where a similar bracelet was coiled around her arm. "It gives us the control to decide what goes on with our bodies, doesn't it? I find it so empowering."

With one last nod, she let her little boy lead her away, leaving the two of us in the middle of the path. Senna and Nero must have carried on ahead.

I tugged Faye forward. "You've got quick reflexes!"

"I've had to catch Sofia like that a bunch of times, it's a skill."

"You're really good with children, aren't you?" I mused, looking up to the leafy canopy above us. "I've never had to interact with them before, so I'm not really sure how to talk to children. If we actually can have babies, I don't think I'll make a very good Iasa."

Faye squeezed my hand tightly. "Don't say that, Ty! You're going to be an amazing Father, I just know it. It's different when they're your own."

I looked down at her, a small ache in my chest. Faye wanted children; the clear signs seeped out of her whenever she talked about Sofia or Luca, just like it was now, too. What if I couldn't give them to her? It would break her heart. My Faye deserved to be a Malanai; she was soft, kind and nurturing.

The thought of having children terrified me; I knew it wasn't the right time for it, not yet, but later down the line, when we were ready? Having the option of it taken away would be cruel.

"Maybe. For now, let's make the most out of that bracelet."