As I settle into the grand bed of my private dorm, the silken sheets whisper against my skin. The room is bathed in a soft, silvery glow from the moonlight streaming through the ornate stained-glass windows.
I sink deeper into the plush mattress, my head nestled among a small mountain of pillows. The bed is undeniably luxurious, yet there's a subtle difference from my bed at home. It's comfortable, undoubtedly so, but there's a whisper of unfamiliarity that keeps it from feeling truly like home.
As I close my eyes, the events of the day replay in my mind like a tapestry of vivid memories. The grand halls of Starcrest, the faces of new acquaintances, the weight of expectations that seems to hang in the very air. But above all, one image rises to the forefront of my thoughts: Octavia.
Her flowing white hair. Those piercing golden eyes seemed to see right through me. The way her face flushed crimson when our gazes met.
I find myself wondering, not for the first time today, why I'm so captivated by her. We barely exchanged words, and what little interaction we had could hardly be called positive. Yet there's something about her that I can't shake, a magnetic pull that defies reason.
Is it her beauty? Undeniably, Octavia is stunning. But I've seen beautiful women before, and none have affected me quite like this. Perhaps it's the air of mystery that surrounds her, the sense that there's so much more beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered.
As I drift off to sleep, my mind still swirling with thoughts of Octavia, a faint sound catches my attention. At first, I dismiss it as the wind or perhaps a branch scraping against the window. But then I hear it again, a distinct jiggling noise coming from the direction of the window.
My eyes snap open, heart suddenly racing. Before I can fully process what's happening, there's a loud click, and the window flies open. A gust of cool night air rushes in.
A figure dressed entirely in black leaps through the open window landing silently on the plush carpet. For a moment, the intruder is silhouetted against the moonlit sky, a living shadow come to life. Then, in a blur of motion almost too fast to follow, they're at my bedside.
I try to cry out, but a gloved hand clamps firmly over my mouth, stifling any sound. Panic surges through me as I stare up into a pair of glowing red eyes, visible through slits in a black mask. The rest of the intruder's face is hidden, but I can sense an intense, almost predatory focus in that crimson gaze.
"Shhh," a feminine voice whispers, low and husky.
Her other hand moves slowly, deliberately, from my chest up to my neck. I feel the sharp point of a nail through her glove trailing along my skin, leaving a path of goosebumps in its wake. The touch is feather-light, almost gentle, but there's an underlying threat that makes my blood run cold.
My mind races, trying to make sense of what's happening. Is this an assassination attempt? Has some rival kingdom sent a killer to eliminate the Warbringer prince?
"Shhh, shh, baby," the woman whispers, her voice carrying an otherworldly quality that sends shivers down my spine. "I'm not here to kill you, okay? I just want your first time."
She slowly removes her hand from my mouth, her gloved fingers trailing across my lips in a feather-light caress. My cheeks burn hot as her words sink in, equal parts terrified and intrigued.
"What?" I manage to croak out.
The woman's hands move to the hem of her shirt, lifting it slowly. Moonlight spills across her exposed skin, revealing a toned stomach etched with lean muscle. Higher and higher the fabric rises, until finally...
I find myself mesmerized by the sight of her breasts, perfectly rounded and perky. They seem to glow in the silvery light filtering through the window, casting soft shadows that accentuate every curve. My mouth goes dry, and I swallow hard, unable to tear my gaze away.
As she discards her shirt entirely, I drink in the sight of her athletic frame. Her body is a work of art sculpted by years of rigorous training. Lean muscles ripple beneath smooth skin. She looks like a goddess come to life, powerful and alluring in equal measure.
"Come here," she whispers, her voice low. With feline grace, she crawls onto the bed, her movements slow and deliberate. The mattress dips slightly under her weight as she straddles me, her warm thighs pressing against my sides.
My heart pounds in my chest. She leans forward, her silky black hair cascading around us like a curtain. Gently, she cups the back of my head, guiding me towards her chest.
"That's it," she murmurs encouragingly as my lips brush against her soft skin. Almost instinctively, I take her nipple into my mouth, my tongue swirling around the sensitive bud. A low moan escapes her lips, sending vibrations through her body.
She presses closer, cradling my head against her breast. Her fingers run through my hair as I continue to suck, lost in the intoxicating scent and taste of her skin.
"I love you, Elwin," she whispers fervently, her breath hot against my ear. The raw emotion in her voice makes me shiver.
I pull back, my cheeks burning. "Who are you?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly.
Her eyes gleam in the darkness, filled with an almost manic intensity. "Someone who knows every little thing about you," she replies, her tone bordering on obsessive.
Before I can respond, she's moving again. In one fluid motion, she shimmies out of her pants, tossing them carelessly aside. Then her hands are at my waistband, tearing the fabric in her haste to undress me.
I gasp as I feel her warmth envelop me, my hands instinctively grasping her hips. She takes me in fully, a soft moan escaping her lips. The sensation is overwhelming, tight, wet heat surrounding me completely. My heart races, blood pounding in my ears.
"Oh god," I breathe, overcome by the intensity of the moment. It feels like I'm falling, tumbling head over heels into something profound and life-changing. Is this what falling in love feels like?
She begins to move, rolling her hips in a slow, sensual rhythm. Pleasure courses through me with each motion.
A particularly deep thrust draws a loud moan from me. She quickly presses a finger to my lips. "Shhh," she whispers, her voice sultry. "We don't want the staff downstairs to hear."
"If they try to interrupt, I'll send them away," I reply fervently, lost in the moment. Nothing else matters but this, here and now.
She kisses me deeply, her lips soft yet insistent against mine. As we part, she gazes into my eyes, her own gleaming with an unsettling intensity.
"Elwin darling, I'm trying to rape you," she whispers, her voice a mix of tenderness and madness.
I feel her insides twisting around me, muscles clenching and undulating. It's as if she has complete control over every part of her body.
"Oh god," I gasp, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of her hips.
She blushes beneath her mask, a rosy tint spreading across what little I can see of her cheeks. "You're not really reacting like a man should," she muses, her tone thoughtful rather than disappointed.
There's no surprise in her voice as if she knows more about me than she's letting on.
"Who are you?" I manage to ask between ragged breaths, my hips instinctively bucking up to meet her movements.
A crazed smirk plays across her lips, visible even beneath the mask. Her red eyes look unhinged, filled with an obsessive adoration.
She leans in close. "I'm the one who wishes to be your wife," she whispers fervently, "purely out of love."
As the words leave her mouth, I feel a surge of emotion wash over me. It's as if her declaration has unlocked something deep within my core. My entire body tenses, muscles contracting as waves of pleasure crash through me.
At the same moment, I feel her inner walls clench around me, pulsing rhythmically. She throws her head back, a low moan escaping her lips as her orgasm takes hold. Her hips gyrate wildly, grinding against me with an almost desperate intensity.
The combination of her movements and the sight of her lost in ecstasy pushes me over the edge. With a deep, guttural groan, I find my release. My hips buck upwards, driving myself deeper into her as I empty myself into her waiting womb.
She captures my lips in a searing kiss, swallowing my moans as we ride out our shared climax together. Her fingers tangle in my hair, holding me close as if afraid I might disappear. I can taste the salt of her sweat on her lips.
As the last tremors of pleasure subside, she collapses on top of me, her body a warm, comforting weight. Our chests heave in unison as we struggle to catch our breath. The room fills with the sound of our panting and the faint rustle of sheets as we shift against each other.
I lie there, my mind reeling from the intensity of what just transpired. Every nerve ending in my body feels alive, tingling with residual pleasure. The scent of our lovemaking hangs heavy in the air.
She nuzzles into the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply. I feel her nose tracing along my skin, from my collarbone up to just behind my ear. "Mmm," she murmurs contentedly, "you smell so good."
Her actions remind me of a cat marking its territory, claiming me as her own. I find it very cute.
As I stare at her with wanting eyes, she finally looks back. She suddenly seems almost embarrassed, her earlier confidence wavering. We stare at each other for an uncomfortably long time, the silence broken only by the sound of our still-ragged breathing and the distant whisper of wind through the trees outside.
"I want to be with you," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. The words hang in the air between us, charged with the weight of everything that's just transpired.
She seems to try to say something but hesitates, her words stuck. I watch as a myriad of emotions flicker across what I can see of her face. Her lips part, then close again, as if she's fighting an internal battle. Her eyes dart around the room, never quite meeting mine, as if searching for an escape route.
Suddenly, she moves, trying to dress up fast. Her movements are jerky, almost frantic, a stark contrast to the fluid grace she displayed earlier. Pants first then, as she finishes with her shirt, I reach out and grab her wrist, my touch gentle but firm.
"I don't care who you are," I say, my voice stronger now, filled with a conviction that surprises even me. "We both clearly want the same thing."
She freezes at my touch, her whole body going still. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she turns to face me. Her crimson eyes, wide and vulnerable, meet mine. In that moment, I see everything, her fear, her desire, her desperate longing. It's like looking into a mirror of my own emotions.
I slowly pull her closer, my heart pounding in my chest. As our lips meet again, I feel a surge of electricity coursing through my body. The kiss is deep, passionate, filled with an urgency that threatens to consume us both.
My hand moves of its own accord, reaching for the edge of her mask. I long to see her face, to know the true identity of this woman who has captured my heart so completely. Her red eyes widen in panic as she realizes my intent.
"Don't!" she yells, her voice raw with emotion. Before I can react, her hand lashes out, slapping mine away with surprising force. The sharp sting of the impact jolts me, momentarily breaking the spell that seems to have fallen over us.
Desperate not to lose this connection, I grab at her shirt, my fingers tangling in the fabric. "Wait," I plead, my voice cracking with emotion. "Please don't go."
But she's already moving, her body a blur of motion as she dashes towards the open window. Her movements are fluid, precise, clearly the result of years of intense training. She moves with the grace of a dancer and the deadly precision of an assassin.
In the blink of an eye, she's at the window. She pauses for just a moment, silhouetted against the star-studded sky. Our eyes lock one final time, and I see a whirlwind of emotions swirling in those crimson depths, longing, regret, and something that looks almost like fear.
Then, with a grace that defies belief, she leaps. Her body arcs through the air, a dark shadow against the moonlit night. She disappears from view, leaving nothing but the gentle flutter of the curtains in the cool night breeze.
I rush to the window, my bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor. Leaning out, I scan the grounds below, desperate for any sign of her. But the gardens are empty, the manicured lawns and carefully tended flowerbeds undisturbed. It's as if she's vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of her presence.
A profound sense of loss washes over me, so intense it's almost physical. My chest aches, my throat tight with unshed tears. I slump against the window frame, the cool night air raising goosebumps on my bare skin.
As I turn away from the window, something catches my eye. There, on the plush carpet, glints a small object. I bend down, my fingers closing around a delicate silver button. It must have come from her shirt in our frantic struggle.
I cradle the button in my palm, running my thumb over its smooth surface. It's intricately designed, bearing a crest, I don't recognize, a crescent moon inside of a triangle. The metal is warm to the touch as if it still carries the heat of her body.
"Who the fuck is she?" I can't help but feel lost in wonder.
*****
[Octavia's POV]
As I leap from Elwin's window, the cool night air rushes past me, whipping my hair into a frenzy. My heart pounds in my chest, a thunderous rhythm that drowns out even the whisper of wind in my ears. The ground rushes up to meet me, but I'm ready. I land in a silent roll, the soft grass cushioning my impact.
It's not until I'm safely ensconced in the shadows of the dense forest that surrounds the academy that I allow myself to slow down. My legs tremble in embarrassment, threatening to give out beneath me as the adrenaline begins to ebb. I lean against a tree.
As my racing heart begins to slow, I become acutely aware of a warm trickle down my inner thigh. Elwin's seed. I can still feel him inside me, the phantom sensation of our joining making me shiver with renewed desire.
A breathless laugh escapes my lips, equal parts exhilaration and disbelief. I did it. I actually did it. I was with Elwin, felt his touch, tasted his lips. The memory of his hands on my skin, the sound of his voice thick with passion, it's all seared into my mind like a brand.
But as the high of our encounter begins to fade, doubt creeps in like a poisonous fog. I slide down the trunk of the tree, my legs finally giving out.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I mutter, burying my face in my hands. Despite the mask, despite the cover of darkness, I still couldn't bring myself to speak to him normally.
I pull off the mask, letting the cool night air caress my heated skin. My hair and eyes becoming their original colors. Tears of frustration prick at the corners of my eyes. "Why can't I just talk to him like a normal person, I'm so much worse than the original Octavia."
I sigh heavily, my breath forming a small cloud in the cool night air. "At least with the mask, I can bridge the gap a little bit," I murmur, trying to find some silver lining in this mess I've created. "Thank god I bought it."
I run my hands over my clothes, straightening them as best I can before heading back to the dorm. As I do, I notice something amiss. Frowning, I pat my shirt, searching for the familiar bump of a button. "Hmm," I muse aloud, "it must have fallen off when I was running."