Page 64 of The Divine Shallows
“Yes,” Elowyn affirmed.
Draeden hovered himself above her and Elowyn reached for his neck, lowering him into a soft kiss. She ran her fingers through his claret-red locks, savoring the warmth from his closeness. Elowyn’s heart unfolded, yielding to a newfound emotion in her. She didn’t believe thiswas love just yet, but it was looming that line. A sense of bliss unfurled inside her, spreading through every fiber of her being. It felt undeniable, precious, and unmistakable. In this moment, she knew without a doubt that this was everything she wanted.
They shared a deep kiss, bodies intertwined. Elowyn felt his hardness press against her, slick with desire. Draeden’s hips worked in rhythmic movements and his kisses became more urgent. Elowyn beckoned him to her entrance and Draeden became undone as he gripped her breast and thrust himself inside her. Elowyn gasped sharply, feeling his hardness inside her pulling and pushing tenderly. He began trailing his lips along her neck and to the side of her face.
“Are you okay?” Draeden whispered, nipping her ear.
“Yes,” Elowyn breathed, pulling his face into a kiss.
Draeden returned her embrace, gripping both his hands around her hips, burrowing deeper in her. Her body demanded him, tightening around his length and he sensed her climax approaching. The thought of it sent him increasing his pace to match her need until pleasure overwhelmed them both, careening them over the edge.
He slumped beside Elowyn, reaching for her body and pulling her close to him as he wrapped his arms around her. The two of them nestled into each other, delighting in each other’s company and the intimate moment. Draeden gently toyed with a strand of Elowyn’s snow-white hair, twirling it between his fingers as he spoke softly.
“Dusk is approaching,” he murmured. “The sunsets in Orwyn are breathtaking. I’d love for you to watch it with me, but I worry you’ll be late returning to Eriden before the Fifth Day begins.”
Elowyn lifted her gaze to the sky, watching as the clouds transformed into a palette of rich amber, luminous gold, burnt orange, and crimson red. This moment held such significance for her that she couldn’t help but smile.
“Let’s stay here, together, for the Fifth Day,” she declared, her eyesfilled with affection. “We can make our offerings to Caena from this oasis. We can participate in the Offering from anywhere.”
Draeden hesitated for a moment. “What about your kingdom? Would they mind your absence from the Fifth Day?”
“There will be more Fifth Days. Right now, I don’t care. I just want be with you.”
Eventually, he nodded and replied, “All right, let’s do it.”
Elowyn’s eyes sparkled with delight as she showered Draeden with kisses, expressing her gratitude. She playfully pushed him onto his back and straddled him, feeling nothing but affection for him. Their passion ignited once more, and they made love under the setting sun, then again in the shallow oasis.
As moonrise approached, they summoned their magic, each projecting their own celestial creation from their palms. Draeden conjured a waning gibbous moon, brilliant and luminous, while Elowyn crafted a perfect crescent moon, radiant and breathtaking. Together, they released their magical projections into the sky, watching as their moons ascended, leaving behind trails of shimmering feylight.
Observing the celestial display, Elowyn marveled at the thousands of magical offerings floating above Orwyn, each one a tribute to the Fifth Day. She wondered if Ora, Bane, Stryx, and Nerys were witnessing the phenomenon in Eriden as well. In that moment, she felt a profound connection with every fey in Neramyr—each soul cherishing the sky above with wonder.
They gazed upwards, their eyes brimming with wonder. The celestial display above symbolized the conclusion of the Offering, magic newly replenished in the feylands once again. With contentment, Elowyn nestled into Draeden’s arms, watching the glimmering skies.
In that moment, her heart overflowed with bliss, knowing that this memory would be etched in her soul for the rest of her life.
22
Beginnings of Betrayal
The white sandsof the Elune Isles’ seascape looked like something plucked from Elyria’s wildest imagination. The oceanside caressed her features in a temperate embrace as she wiggled her toes in the lush shore, letting the luxurious beach mold her footprints in the sand. Casting her gaze upon the Swyn Sea, she marveled at its majestic beauty. Its waters shimmered with shades of cerulean blue, glistening aquamarine, and hues of emerald as it lapped the seashore.
Elyria breathed in the brine-filled air, hoping to still her racing heart. Today marked the Sixth Day, theVitus. Weariness lingered beneath her composed facade, burdened by the weight of her responsibilities. Sleep eluded her once again, leaving her with only her troubled thoughts for company. The absence of her sister, who had spent the day before in Orwyn, added to her unease. Feeling the opal necklace around her neck, memories of yesterday’s worries resurfaced.
The events of the Fifth Day had unfolded slowly, dragging on until moonrise, prompting Elyria to question her sister’s whereabouts atnightfall. Though tempted to scry her location, she instead sought answers from Finnor during the Offering, suspecting Elowyn was entangled with the Darkmaw prince. Her suspicions were confirmed when Elowyn later slipped into her room, giggling like a lovestruck maiden as she recounted every detail of her passionate tryst in the oasis.
Elyria couldn’t suppress a smile at her sister’s happiness. Elowyn deserved joy and contentment in her life—even as her own eluded her. Elyria had stopped seeking happiness long ago, finding comfort only in her sister’s presence amid the shadows that surrounded her. Her entire existence seemed to be a quest for answers that remained a mystery. Why had the Goddess left her unmarked as an infant? Why had her name been spoken seven years ago? Was the Moon Goddess so cruel as to subject her to a childhood of ridicule, only to offer her a chance to prove herself worthy now?
She pushed away these thoughts before they could consume her with anger, reminding herself that questioning her fate would never alter it. She had trained herself to feel so little that she wondered what remained of her beyond emptiness. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, drowning out all other sound.Just breathe. Calm down.She repeated the mantra to herself, as if they could rescue her.
“Elyria?” A familiar voice sliced through her disquiet like a steel through skin.
She turned to see Sylas smiling at her, and she felt grateful that her demeanor remained composed despite the unrest within her. “Hello, Sylas.”
“Are you enjoying the sea?” he inquired politely, his bare feet shuffling into the sand.
Though Sylas had been seeking her favor in recent days, Elyria remained wary of his intentions. Despite his seemingly genuine nature, she hadn’t yet let down her guard. Offering him a soft smile, as she had done each day before, she replied, “Very much so. I’ve beheld the Swyn Sea thrice now, and itsmagnificence never fails to captivate me.”
“I can relate to that sentiment,” Sylas replied openly to Elyria. There was a raw sincerity in his gaze, and a part of her sensed that he wasn’t merely referring to the sea.
