Her guards averted their eyes from the intimate scene, avoiding Thorn's imposing wings. Thorn held Elora by the waist and took to the sky.
''Don't hide it when you're tired,'' Elora said, her tone warm as she took in the sight around her. The muddy ground stretched endlessly, but a patch of dried land was visible in the distance.
The wind brushed her face, her braid whipping behind her as she closed her eyes with a contented hum—a smile crept on Thorn's face, and his hands around her waist tightened gently.
They flew for a while, her guards trailing below, before landing on solid ground. Her stomach churned, and her scalp prickled the moment she spotted the guard's body.
Dense black leeches clung to their legs, their trembling bodies proof of life as the parasites drained their blood.
She turned away, unable to bear the sight. Lisa and the rest plucked the bugs from their skin and cast a cleaning and fire spell to burn them off.
