Page 106 of A Dance of Water

Tharen’s eyes roved over the back of her. Her thick cloak was unassuming, but on her, it held sinful temptations. Her backsideswayed with every step, and the fire in his palm burned brighter. Fuck.

The magic of Ignis and Terra had always been easiest controlled by him, but he felt his firm control shake, droplets of water mingling with fire and causing smoky ash to fall in the air, before a few flames were snuffed out by whispers of air.

He gritted his teeth, wrestling control back. "Godsdammit," he grumbled lowly.

Luella cocked her head as she watched him, breaths puffing before her as the air grew colder, tinged with the scent of pine and salted air.

And in a whirl of fluttering leaves, Tharen stumbled into one of the shelves, books digging into his back, as something hit his shoulder.

"Master Tharen!" Nyxila, the impishly jovial sprite he had rescued, fluttered before him, her dark green hair tumbling over her shoulders as a cute smile dimpled her cheeks. "You’re here!"

Tharen couldn’t help the small smile that broke free. He so loved rescuing broken, hurt things—his wolves, the sprite…

Luella…

The mage reached up with a large hand, letting the sprite sit on his palm as she kicked her feet happily, tiny fingers gripping his thumb for balance as her wings fluttered behind her.

"Nyxila," Tharen addressed.

The sprite was so caught up in him that she jolted on his hand when footsteps brushed against the stone floors, her head turning to find Luella backing up, hands nervously fumbling before her as she caught the sprite’s eyes.

Nyxila’s mouth popped open, and she drifted from his palm, wings beating softly as she swayed in the air before Luella, verdant eyes wide. "Lu?" The sprite sounded shocked, reaching up to tug on a strand of his lamb’s white hair.

"Nyx," Luella breathed.

Curious, Tharen eyed them. He knew how Luella and the demon had escaped into the tunnels and stumbled upon a gateway to the Silva Noctis, but he never would have figured her to have found help. However, it was clear she and the sprite were acquainted—built on a foundation of lies, he soon realized, when Nyxila’s eyes slanted, wings fluttering anew, little hands clenched by her sides.

"You lied to me," the sprite spat, her high voice holding much more anger than he would’ve thought for such a tiny thing.

"I did," said Luella. She looked down, white hair falling into her face as the sprite hovered before her. "I am not Lu, but Luella."

Tharen noted she did not mention her title, humble thing she was. That gentle humility may be her demise.

"Was there a good reason for your lies?" questioned Nyxila. The sprite came to rest back on Tharen’s shoulder, waiting.

Luella nodded, sniffling as she looked back up, the tip of her nose tinged with red. Tharen wanted to roll his eyes—she was crying over this? How fucking weak.

"Then I forgive you… But do not lie to me again. I detest lies." The sprite’s voice had turned sweet with forgiveness.

His lamb’s brows furrowed, but she nodded again, left speechless by Nyxila’s quick forgiveness. Sprites were like that, easy to please and not easily angered.

"What happened to your hair?" Nyxila left him, much like a distracted babe, as she hopped on Luella’s shoulder.

"I… changed," Luella stammered.

"It’s pretty! You’re pretty," trilled the sprite. She, once more, left Luella’s side and came to flit about before Tharen, smile turning impish as she questioned, "Isn’t she, Master Tharen? I told her before, she’s much prettier than the females you usually have in your bed chambers."

Luella spluttered, and Tharen let out a deep sigh, the sprite’s words making him think of silken sheets and warm heat. Fuck, it had been too long.

Tharen couldn’t fault the sprite for noting Luella’s beauty—it was undeniable. But his godsdamned reputation couldn’t handle such accusations.

Though he was much enjoying his lamb’s discomfort, all these niceties were getting old. "Nyxila, we came here for a reason. Lu"—he stressed—"would like to find some answers." He wasn’t being generous in offering Luella free rein to explore. He had an agenda—the more she knew about her powers, the greater chance they could succeed in killing the shadowed bastard, Caliban.

"Of course, Master Tharen. What type of answers do you seek?"

Luella’s blue eyes met his. And in the amber-tinged, deep cavernous spaces of the library, the storm raging on outside, she said, "On elemental training for mages."

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