Astasha set her glass down on a table as she made her way through the festivities. She had performed a quick spell when their hands had touched, tethering Calder's energy to her so she could sense where he was. She knew he was following her. No sooner had she slipped away had he excused himself from the conversation with the advisor and headed after her.
She knew he was smart and wouldn't make it obvious, but she still worried someone would notice him rushing after her, so she uttered something quietly and a rush of air pushed a servant with a tray of empty glasses right into his path.
A smile broke across her lips as she heard the servant apologizing profusely for stumbling in front of his royal highness while he graciously continued to tell them it was fine and helping to pick up the fallen cups much to the servant's horror. He had always been so kind and had never seen himself above anyone in his kingdom.
She knew he was making sure not to lose sight of her so she wasn't worried that he wouldn't find her when she slipped out of the garden and into the trees.
Stepping a little further into the forest where she knew they wouldn't be easily found or seen she stopped. Her heart was racing and she tried to still it. Despite being able to sense him approaching, her heart still jumped when his hand brushed down her arm.
"Tasha..."
She turned. He was right behind her and they stood so close that she could smell him. It was intoxicating. She hadn't realized how much she had loved the smell of him until having gone without it for so long.
"We can't be here for long, people will start to wonder-"
"You have no idea how much I missed you." He stepped even closer to her. She was almost holding her breath. "I thought about you every day. You're even more beautiful than I remember." He reached up and ran his hand through the hair that framed her face, her eyes closing involuntarily at his touch.
"Calder, you know we can't." She had had every intention of simply getting him alone to speak with him, to search inside him while he opened up to her, but her mind was having a hard time focusing and all she wanted was to feel more of his touch.
"I spent five years with nothing to keep me going through the hardest trials of my life but the thought of seeing you again," his hand touched her cheek. "holding you in my arms, kissing you." His thumb trailed across her lips and every fiber of her being felt like it would burst into flame. His eyes, like the ocean, looked into her soul, his body standing over her, so close she could feel the heat of him, and it made her yearn for more.
"Please, it's forbidden." Her voice was barely a whisper.
He looked at her for a moment, taking her in, his eyes searching over her lips that were slightly open, her eyes that danced with flames of desire. "I don't care."
Wrapping his hand in her hair he pulled her face to his, his lips slamming into her with a ferocity she had never experienced before.
Senses exploded inside Astasha as she lost complete control of her power. It was like she was on fire, the flames moving through her into him.
His hands moved over her, from her hair, down her shoulders, touching the edge of her breasts as they moved to her waist. She realized hers were doing the same, one on his chest, the other tangled in his silver blond shaggy hair. Their tongues danced together, heat rising between them.
Suddenly, she felt her back slam into a tree. He had never been this rough, this out of control with passion before. His hands continued to explore, grasping her breasts, grabbing her neck. The force of her body hitting the tree pulled her from the fog that had taken over her mind. She had to find out what she had sensed earlier, and she had wanted him vulnerable to do it. Although this hadn't been her intent, it was the perfect moment. She focused herself and sent little feelers of energy out, winding their way into him.
His actions were becoming more aggressive as he began to drag the bottom of her dress up. She tried to ignore it and pushed her energy further into him, into his mind. What had happened?
She saw him approach the Lands of the Dead, the final task. She'd seen it just hours before, but this time, something was different. There was a presence there she hadn't picked up on during the ritual. A shiver ran down her spine. Whatever it was it was dark and evil. Something was wrong. Calder wasn't himself, he was never like this before he left, she could sense it.
Beginning to panic, Astasha tried to slow his hands from their frantic groping but he responded by biting her lip. Her eyes shot open in shock and pain as she tasted blood and what she saw made it run cold.
His eyes were open and watching her, but instead of the majestic blue she was so familiar with, they were cold and dead.
"Stop!" She pushed him away, both physically and with all the energy she could pull. The Prince was blown back a few feet and shock covered his face.
Astasha was panting, trying to regroup. She looked back into his eyes but saw only confusion in the deep wells of blue. Whatever she had seen was gone.
"I—I'm sorry..." said Calder. "I don't know what came over me."
"We need to return, people will be looking for you." And with that, Astasha hurried past him and back toward the party, leaving her prince standing alone in the trees.