Chapter Four - Veils and Vices
The Blue Moon hung heavily in the sky as Nate leaned back against the thick cypress tree, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. His golden Kinetic Healing Magic slowly faded from his hands and forearms as Jezebel rose smoothly from her knees, completely naked, her glowing blue runes shimmering across her skin. He couldn’t get enough out of her, even if he knew it was a very bad idea…
“Mmm, you always come to me so worked up, Caeden. All that strict Conclave duty… and yet here you are, feeding me your golden light while I worship under the Blue Moon,” she teased, her voice husky.
“We were reckless tonight,” he said, his own voice low and rough as he pulled on his shirt. “So close to the gazebo… If anyone wandered back here…” He scanned the dark shadows and a faint ripple of residual magic brushed his senses, but he dismissed it. It was probably just leftover energy from their own encounter after all.
“Would you relax?” She chuckled, trailing a finger down his chest. “No one saw us… Tell me about the new girl instead. Tyra something? I felt her power during our introduction earlier… She seems like she’s a little lost.”
Nate cleared his throat as he buckled up his belt. “The Conclave wants her in Icarus. It’d be structure and control for her. Her magic is volatile and they’re worried that she will burn too bright if she’s left unchecked.”
“And yet you’re the one they sent to watch her,” Jezebel laughed. “How convenient… You like her, don’t you? I can see it in your eyes. The storm in her veins calls to the part of you that hates cages.”
Nate pulled back on his black duster, his expression as conflicted as his thoughts. He looked towards the glow of the main bonfire, debating how best to respond. He knew that she was right… Tyra had walked into the gathering like a live wire looking for a place to strike. As much as he knew that she could thrive in Icarus, he also knew there was something appealing to seeing her in the uninhibited, free coven that Jezebel belonged to - where rules were merely suggestions. Besides, there was something about the way she’d looked at him during the lecture that stirred the same hunger he tried to bury with Jezebel…
Nate looked back at the half-naked woman in front of him and said quietly, “My job is to monitor her… Make sure she doesn’t break the Accords. If she chooses Aquarius…” he sighed, shaking his head.
Jezebel smirked, pressing against him. “Let her choose the storm that she wishes to enter.” She kissed him deeply, sending golden and blue magic briefly as it flared between them before fading, and Nate pulled away, somewhat reluctantly.
“I need to find her before she makes her decision… The clock is ticking.”
He adjusted his duster and stepped out of the clearing, looking like the strict, demure warden he was supposed to be. As he headed back toward the main gathering, he kept his eyes scanning for any sign of Tara and her purple magic energy. He knew that his dalliances with Jezebel were nothing more than a way to release the tension within him, but if anyone had seen any of it… His whole world would come crashing down.
He had barely emerged from the trees when he came upon a tense standoff near the edge of the clearing. He slowed down, recognizing the trio instantly. Axel was a man in his mid-thirties, with a muscular body and an aggressive stance. Standing right in his face was Ivy, a fierce woman in her late-twenties. Not far from them, Madison was standing guard, her arms crossed and her eyes scanning the area.
“You’re too close to the covens, Ivy. We’re wolves, not their playthings. One wrong ritual and you’ll be spilling blood for their moon instead of hunting on your own terms..” Axel’s voice was angry, and he was gesturing around sharply as he spoke.
“This isn’t your call, Axel,” Ivy insisted. “The alliance keeps the Conclave off our backs. Or have you forgotten what happened the last time we stood alone?
Axel stepped closer, his posture possessive and threatening. Nearby, Madison tensed, looking ready to intervene if needed. Nate was all too familiar with this group of vampires. They were always testing the boundaries and Axel and Ivy were constantly at each other’s throats. And Madison… Nate sighed. She’d been another damsel in distress that he’d offered to help, to support, but the more he’d tried to be there for her, the more she’d pushed him away. And now, she had clearly chosen her path - far away from him. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t admit that it still stung, just a little.
Axel and Ivy stormed off into the trees with a growl, and Nate didn’t miss the long, unreadable look from Madison before she stalked off after the man. If he didn’t warn Tyra about what storm she was getting herself into, she might be caught up by a gale of wind that she had no idea was coming…
“Mmm, you always come to me so worked up, Caeden. All that strict Conclave duty… and yet here you are, feeding me your golden light while I worship under the Blue Moon,” she teased, her voice husky.
“We were reckless tonight,” he said, his own voice low and rough as he pulled on his shirt. “So close to the gazebo… If anyone wandered back here…” He scanned the dark shadows and a faint ripple of residual magic brushed his senses, but he dismissed it. It was probably just leftover energy from their own encounter after all.
“Would you relax?” She chuckled, trailing a finger down his chest. “No one saw us… Tell me about the new girl instead. Tyra something? I felt her power during our introduction earlier… She seems like she’s a little lost.”
Nate cleared his throat as he buckled up his belt. “The Conclave wants her in Icarus. It’d be structure and control for her. Her magic is volatile and they’re worried that she will burn too bright if she’s left unchecked.”
“And yet you’re the one they sent to watch her,” Jezebel laughed. “How convenient… You like her, don’t you? I can see it in your eyes. The storm in her veins calls to the part of you that hates cages.”
Nate pulled back on his black duster, his expression as conflicted as his thoughts. He looked towards the glow of the main bonfire, debating how best to respond. He knew that she was right… Tyra had walked into the gathering like a live wire looking for a place to strike. As much as he knew that she could thrive in Icarus, he also knew there was something appealing to seeing her in the uninhibited, free coven that Jezebel belonged to - where rules were merely suggestions. Besides, there was something about the way she’d looked at him during the lecture that stirred the same hunger he tried to bury with Jezebel…
Nate looked back at the half-naked woman in front of him and said quietly, “My job is to monitor her… Make sure she doesn’t break the Accords. If she chooses Aquarius…” he sighed, shaking his head.
Jezebel smirked, pressing against him. “Let her choose the storm that she wishes to enter.” She kissed him deeply, sending golden and blue magic briefly as it flared between them before fading, and Nate pulled away, somewhat reluctantly.
“I need to find her before she makes her decision… The clock is ticking.”
He adjusted his duster and stepped out of the clearing, looking like the strict, demure warden he was supposed to be. As he headed back toward the main gathering, he kept his eyes scanning for any sign of Tara and her purple magic energy. He knew that his dalliances with Jezebel were nothing more than a way to release the tension within him, but if anyone had seen any of it… His whole world would come crashing down.
He had barely emerged from the trees when he came upon a tense standoff near the edge of the clearing. He slowed down, recognizing the trio instantly. Axel was a man in his mid-thirties, with a muscular body and an aggressive stance. Standing right in his face was Ivy, a fierce woman in her late-twenties. Not far from them, Madison was standing guard, her arms crossed and her eyes scanning the area.
“You’re too close to the covens, Ivy. We’re wolves, not their playthings. One wrong ritual and you’ll be spilling blood for their moon instead of hunting on your own terms..” Axel’s voice was angry, and he was gesturing around sharply as he spoke.
“This isn’t your call, Axel,” Ivy insisted. “The alliance keeps the Conclave off our backs. Or have you forgotten what happened the last time we stood alone?
Axel stepped closer, his posture possessive and threatening. Nearby, Madison tensed, looking ready to intervene if needed. Nate was all too familiar with this group of vampires. They were always testing the boundaries and Axel and Ivy were constantly at each other’s throats. And Madison… Nate sighed. She’d been another damsel in distress that he’d offered to help, to support, but the more he’d tried to be there for her, the more she’d pushed him away. And now, she had clearly chosen her path - far away from him. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t admit that it still stung, just a little.
Axel and Ivy stormed off into the trees with a growl, and Nate didn’t miss the long, unreadable look from Madison before she stalked off after the man. If he didn’t warn Tyra about what storm she was getting herself into, she might be caught up by a gale of wind that she had no idea was coming…
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