My parents had left a day ago. They were travelling back to the town to seek help from the blacksmith and his family when it came to weapons. That way, if they were successful, we could cross at least one thing off of our list. The blacksmith and his family were part of the church and seeing as my dad had spoke of the church's positivity when it came to going against the King, I was hopeful that they would come back with good news.
With weapons being made, and a myriad of people behind us, the only thing left for us would be first aid supplies for extensive injuries. If my parents could win over support from some of the nurses and doctors back home, perhaps in no time we could have everything we needed to finally get back at the King.
Before they left, Blasius reminded them countless times to stay quiet about the four of us being free, just in case some weren't as supportive as they seemed, or if there were any prying ears. They agreed with him, saying it was for our safety, and left without anything further.
My family and I had never been against the mythical races that shared our lands, but I had never felt as connected with them as I did recently. Seeing humans be willing to risk their lives to protect races other than their own was refreshing. Hanging out with Silva, Menas, and Blasius made me realize that there was nothing different about us at all. We were just a bunch of young adults trying to survive this cruel world.
I shook my head, focussing on my surroundings.
"Are you okay?" Blasius asked.
"Just lost in thought," I answered. Him and I were currently searching through the village. With five more mouths to feed, food was running out quicker, so we decided to stock up on as much as we could find from the other houses. Although at this point, most fruits and vegetables were way past their due date and the gardens were destroyed by the winter's cold that had just passed. The only things they could take back was non-perishables.
While they were out, they decided to find what they could of first aid items, small things like bandages and such, just in case of any mishaps.
"Blasius?"
He hummed.
"You said when we were locked up that after mates discover each other they 'strengthen the bond.' Through a mark." I hadn't had much time to think about him and I since my family had arrived, but something sparked inside me since we were alone now, and I felt curious about what our future entailed.
"I remember," he recounted, "is there anything specific you wanted to know about that?"
"When does this mark happen?"
"It doesn't suddenly appear one day," he explained, "one mate puts it on the other whenever they choose. Since you aren't a werewolf and don't have the teeth that I do, I would mark you on the crook of your neck, through a bite."
"Why haven't you?"
"I haven't had much time to explain it to you until now, and I wanted you to understand it better. It will most likely hurt, and I'd only do it if you wanted me to."
"I do want you to." The words come out of my mouth before I even process his sentence, like an automatic reaction. It's true, though. I do want him to mark me. I remember in the castle he had told me it would strengthen our bond and although I already feel close to him, I wouldn't mind making us even closer. I think it would be nice to feel that way about someone. There's no one I've ever felt even slightly romantically interested in, and maybe I'm naive to say this, but I already feel head over feels, even if I would never admit it aloud. I can't imagine what it would feel like after the mark. I'll be absolutely smitten. Just thinking about it makes me bite my lip unconsciously.
Blasius walked over to where I stand in the middle of the kitchen in another abandoned house, looking over me for a few seconds. He looked like he was unsure, like he was wrestling with his own thoughts about what I had just said.
"Are you sure?" His voice comes out low and unsteady. I nodded my head. "Say it."
"I'm sure, Blaze."
With lightning speed, Blasius picked me up by the waist, setting me down on the windowsill directly behind me. At first he did nothing but look me in the eye and I wondered if he didn't want it. Should I have said no instead?
But he leaned in, pecking me on the lips before making his way down to my neck.
"Here," he kissed, "is where I will mark you."
The spot Blasius lips touched was sensitive. So much so that it sent a shiver through me, raising the hairs on my arms. He placed another kiss, slightly further up my neck that time. And again, and again, making his way further up until he began leaving open-mouthed kisses directly on my jaw, as my head tilted back slightly, giving him better access.
Without even realizing it, one of my hands had made its way to his shoulder while the other slowly made its way to the back of his neck, twirling the small hairs between my fingers.
He worked his way back down, toiling at the first spot he kissed. It was a new, intense feeling like nothing I had ever experienced in my life. I couldn't keep the whimpers from falling out of my slightly opened mouth as he played with the area, no doubt turning it red with the pull of his lips and moist tongue.
All in the matter of a few minutes I felt matured. All of my life up until now I had been babied, treated like a child. But this. This act of maturity, of sexuality, as tame as it was, made me finally feel like the adult I was.
His mouth work stopped and his lips retracted as he let his teeth graze my skin. At this point, I physically shuttered from the feeling, wrapping my arms around him tighter. Using one of his large hands, positioned on the side of my neck that his lips weren't, he rubbed my cheek with his thumb in response. I practically leaned into the touch.
"I'm going to mark you now, okay?" The feeling of his breath on my damp skin tickled, and I giggled lightly.
"Yes," I said breathlessly.
"You can change your mind, if you aren't ready."
"I am."
"Amicia?" Blasius and I both jumped as the door opened to reveal Floria, my older sister. After looking at the two of us, she averted her eyes, knowing she walked in on something she shouldn't have. "Our parents are back with news, they told me to come get you and Blasius."
"Oh, ah, a-alright, we'll be right there."
She scuttled out of the room and I leaned my head back on the windowsill, sighing slightly. Although I didn't get marked, the experience of someone's mouth on me like that for the first time in my life was more than enough for me. Blasius took a step back, gathering the food we had picked through as I gathered my breath.
I was nervous about how my sister would feel about seeing that, after all, in our culture it was seen as something reversed for only married couples to do. But at the same time, every worry that slipped into my mind was replaced by the memory of how good it felt, and I couldn't stay worried for long.
When I finally caught my breath, I slipped off of the windowsill, looking up at Blasius who was already looking at me with hooded eyes and a small smile.
"We'll finish this later," he whispered, as he excited the house.