Page 17 of Boundless
Daega spread her arms in a challenge. "You've not managed it yet, duckling. Though I do welcome you to try." Daega's use of Tesse's old nickname sparked a kind of fiery determination in the younger woman's eyes. This was good; Daega hada lotof nervous energy to work off.
They circled each other warily, their wings tucked in flat against their backs and their tails swaying and flicking as they sized each other up. They'd been sparring partners since further back than Daega's memory stretched, and this dance was a very familiar one.
"So you like your little elf husband, eh?" Tesse asked, sinking into a loose crouch. "Do you think it could be a love match?" Tesse lunged forward, her hooves kicking up clods of grass and dirt as her powerful legs launched her at her older sister.
Daega managed to catch her around the shoulders and redirect her around her own body, using Tesse's momentum to send her in a tumble to the ground. But Tesse had been expecting it, and rolled into the tumble, tucking her lithe body into a tight ball and springing up on the other side. Daega laughed, hopping backward a couple of steps to get some distance.
"Could be," Daega mused.“It's only been a day, but his sweetness does stir me something powerful."
Tesse smiled gently. "I hope it is. You deserve it, to find that sort of happiness."
She smiled, touched, then made a sudden lunge for Tesse that caught her off guard. Daega grabbed her around the waist and took them both to the ground. "Aye," she agreed, sitting on her sister's chest to pin her, "after Inda someone sweet and gentle is a breath of fresh—" Suddenly Daega was in the air, landing hard on her ass. The impact knocked the breath out of her, pain radiating up her spine from the way she'd landed on her tail. "Bloody gods, you cunt!" she laughed, rolling to the side to avoid Tesse's body slam. "Who's been teaching you such dirty tricks?"
"Da!"Tesse smirked, "And Granny." Granny wasn't their actual grandmother; both of those women had been felled in battle when the girls were little. Granny was the horde's oldest and best healer, a tough, older Istarii Drakan who had been an impressive warrior before losing most of one leg and deciding to heed the call to herbcraft and healing magic instead.
"Granny sounds more right," Daega returned. "Da's a pussy cat, these days. He's enjoying his break from warcraft too well."
Tesse snorted, smiling fondly at their father, who was regaling Len with some tale that apparently required a lot of arm flailing. As if sensing their attention, the two men turned to the sparring females and waved.
Daega waved back, and Tesse used the opportunity to sweep Dae's legs out from under her and drive her elbow into Daega’s solar plexus. It wasn't with all her might, it being a friendly match, but it still drove the air from Daega's lungs, leaving her gasping and coughing.
"Daega!" Len cried, and she dimly heard her da laughing, telling Len to settle, but the elf ignored his father-in-law, sliding to a stop at Daega's side. He peered into her face, his fingers brushing her cheek in concern. "Are you alright?"
Still breathless, all Daega could manage was a nod. She coughed and sputtered, finally getting air into her lungs. "I'm alright," she wheezed, twisting to glare at Tesse. "Thoughshewon't be." Tesse only laughed, holding her hand out for Daega to take to help her up.
Once she was upright Len relaxed a little, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles briefly before returning to the blanket to listen to whatever their father was going on about.
"He's very sweet on you," Tesse said as they grappled, hands locked and each trying to overpower the other. "Maybe I'll have to get my own elf lover."
Daega finally managed to get the upper hand, breaking past her sister's guard and wrenching her arm behind her back—carefully, of course, so she didn’t hurt her. "From what I've seen, few elves are like my husband," Daega told her, using one of her legs to stop Tesse from kicking her. "Though I'll keep my eyes open, I suppose. I'm surprised you fancy them, though."
Tesse wriggled, trying to break from Daega's iron grip. "I am too, truth be told," Tesse replied, straining. "But there's something about seeing you and Len together that has me picturing the like for myself."
Tesse shifted her weight, sagging and pulling them both forward and then springing up to send them tipping onto their backs. Daega was winded all over again, part of Tesse's skull cracking her in the chin and one of her sister's horns scratching her cheek as they fell.
"Alright, I yield!" Daega coughed, releasing Tesse and rolling onto her back. She pressed her fingers to her cheek, which had begun to sting, and was unsurprised to see her fingertips come away bloody. "Well done, Tess," she groaned as she got up off the ground. "You've been practicing a lot. You fixing to take over from Da?"
Tesse chuckled, brushing blades of grass from her clothes. "Aye, since you're an elf princess now. Key to peace amongst our peoples and all."
Daega rolled her eyes, punching her sister in the shoulder. "Shut your rancid hole, you cow."
Tesse shoved her back, giggling. "Keep talking like that and I'll have to give you another beating."
They laughed, slinging their arms over each others' shoulders, then made their way back to the picnic area.
When Len spotted her he let out a cry of dismay, interrupting her father yet again to come to her side. "You're hurt!"
She shrugged, offering him a smile she hoped was reassuring. "It's nothing, dearest. It'll be all cleared up in a day or two; I heal fast." Len frowned, reaching up to gently cup her cheek.
"Let me a-at least clean the cut and get you some ice f-for your chin."
"You're supposed to be pretending you don't like me, remember, sweetling?" she murmured, her heart fluttering at the concern in his eyes.
His brows lowered, his frown deepening. "B-but...you're hurt."
"Barely. I promise I'm fine." She dropped her voice, leaning in just a little so only he would hear. "Now, will you be a good boy and stick to the plan? Or will I have to punish you later for disobeying?"
Len's pupils blew wide, swallowing the vibrant green. His breath caught, a flush creeping up his neck. His responsiveness stoked her own arousal, but now was not the time for that. She threw him a wink and then stepped away, joining her mother and Sercha by the drinks; she grabbed a fistful of ice and wrapped it in a napkin for her chin and used another half-melted chunk to soothe the cut on her cheek. She felt Len’s eyes on her like a physical weight all the while.
