Hearing how much I was tempting him scared me, I didn't know whether he was talking about hunger or desire, but either way, I was terrified. I wanted to let go of him but my body only held on tighter. The fluttering of his heart raced and it was beautiful to my ears. A cloud then crept over the moon, causing Ikko's appearance to return to normal. The darkness made me come back to my senses and I pulled away from him. Before I could get far, he quickly grabbed me and pulled me against him again. "How dare you provoke me." His voice was riddled with anger and lust, and his fingers shook slightly as he held me.
Now it was I who was shaking. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'll never tempt you again, I promise! Just please, let me go." He hesitated for a moment and then loosened his grip, allowing me to pull away. "If you ever touch me like that again, I'm afraid I won't be as strong, and make your body mine then and there. So go to sleep before the moon comes out again."
I looked at the grass in front of me while continuing to shake. 'I haven't been so close to someone since Sython. I feel so bad for making Ikko fight back when I knew that he couldn't resist my soul. But if I apologize again he'll just think of me as an annoyance.' I slowly relaxed as Ikko turned his head away from me. "...Does your skin and wings only glow like that in the moonlight?" I asked. He closed his eyes and sighed. "No. It's just more powerful in the moonlight. It glows in sunlight as well, which is why I prefer to walk in the shade. It's nothing but a curse."
I shifted my position and tilted my head. "I know it's none of my business, but, why did you become fallen?" He turned his head back to me with a glare and I immediately regretted asking. Before I could apologize, he relaxed his face. "Let's just say I grew tired of only existing for someone else." He then rested his head back against the tree and turned away from me again. "Go to sleep, temptress." I looked up from the ground in shock, but Ikko had already started to fall back asleep. I crawled back beside Arine and laid down. 'Temptress? I didn't think I would ever be called that before.' I then closed my eyes and slept soundly for the rest of the night.
When I awoke, it was sunrise and a cold breeze flowed through the forest. The sky was still dark and was filled with pinks and oranges as the sun lifted in the sky. I was the only one awake, and the howling wind started to scare me. 'Why do I wake up so early?' I started to shiver as the breeze grabbed a hold of me. 'It's so cold this morning. I don't think I can go back to sleep.' But as soon as I thought that, Arine opened his eyes. He sat up tiredly and looked over to me.
"Wow. You're up early." He said with a smile. I sat up as well. "You're up early too." His smile faded once he noticed that I was shivering and took off his jacket to give to me. "Here. I don't want you catching a cold out here." He wrapped the jacket around me and smiled again. "We have a long trip ahead of us, so I'll keep you warm, cutie." I smiled a little. "Do you think you're well enough to fly today?" He nodded. "Yep. I'd do anything if it means I can hold you for the entire day again, baby." He booped my nose and I instantly blushed. 'Yikes. He's more pushy than usual today.' But before I could answer, Ikko sighed. "Why do you get to carry her? I think I should get a turn." I turned to see that Ikko was now awake as he sat against the tree. "Oh. Good morning Ikko." I said. He smiled and Arine glared at him.
"You don't get a turn because you're a homicidal megalomaniac who has a craving for Silvera's soul!" Ikko's smile disappeared. "How is that any different than an egotistical narcissist with a huge crush on her, like you?" He gasped and was about to get up but I pulled him back down. "Arine, we want him to help us, remember?" I sighed. "It would only be fair if he could carry me if he wants at least once."
Ariane mumbled angrily and crossed his arms. "Fine. But if he tries anything, he is so dead." Ikko stood up. "Right. Well, we better get going. I don't fly in direct sunlight." Arine stood up after him. "Why not? Do you melt?" Ikko walked over to me and picked me up so easily that it was unnatural. "Think of the logic in that question," he said as he rolled his eyes.
They started to argue again and it was getting annoying. 'I could try to stop them by taking advantage of their crushes on me... But I don't know exactly how to do that... I could at least try.' I then tilted my head in a cute way and made a playful sad face. "Can you two please stop fighting? I like you both very much and it hurts to see you fight."
They stopped arguing, distraught to see me act in such a way, and glared at each other one more time before giving up the argument. Arine let his arms fall to his sides. "Fine. I guess I could dial it down..." Ikko sighed as a blush became present on his face. "...Just because you're cute." I smiled. 'Not bad for my first try.'
A few hours of flying later we landed near a lake behind some trees. Ikko put me down and started to walk around the lake. "He should be around here somewhere..." Arine rolled his eyes. "And who is this we are looking for?" Ikko answered while continuing to look around us. "Cienar." Arine froze with shock. "Wait. Cienar?! As in, The Siren Prince?!" I suddenly lit up. "A siren? We're going to meet a siren?! I've never seen one before! I'm so excited!" Arine then grabbed me by the shoulders and faced me toward him. "What?! You're excited?! Sure, sirens are known for their beauty and song, but they're nothing more than greedy heathens who take everything they see!" Ikko laughed. "Haha... You should know."
Arine paused to glare at him and then turned back to me. "The point is, when we meet him, you have to stay behind me at all times." Ikko then turned to us. "He has a point. I've known Cienar for years and if he's anything like he was when I last saw him, he would grab a pretty girl like you as soon as he got the chance." I shuddered. 'Great. What is it with men and grabbing me?'
Suddenly, I began to hear some faint music in the distance. "Hey, do you hear that?" I walked past them, wanting to know where it was coming from when Ikko took my arm. "What did we just say?" I continued to look in the distance. 'Right. That must be Ceinar singing. I forgot that siren calls were to lure humans to a watery death. Which is probably why Arine and Ikko aren't affected by it. But I can't help but want to follow the beautiful sound.' I struggled out of Ikko's grip. "I want to get closer." I continued to walk until Arine flew in front of me and picked me up to fling me over his shoulder. "Hey! Let me go!"
Arine sighed. "Great. She's under his control." Ikko hesitated for a moment. "Since she has a beautiful soul, she can't resist things similar to it, therefore, things with beauty have a more powerful effect on her than regular humans." Arine became annoyed. "Damn straight! Let's go stop that damn tuna from singing before she gets even crazier." I hit his chest. "I can hear you, you know!!"