<Private>

Estrei could hardly conjure a proper response, her end being so close, the pleasure becoming so intense. . . She clung on to him with shaking arms; an immortal force of nature brought down by a single man, in a single night.

"You're.. you're..." She couldn't speak beyond that, biting his neck as she whimpered, reaching her very end.

Estrei also grew slack underneath the battlemage, throwing her head back and gasping for air, her hair a mess and her freckled skin prickled with goosebumps. "You're... not possibly mortal..." What he just did to her. . . No man had ever dared; dared to take such dominance.

Estrei's ears flicked back, and she curled her hands in his hair, still out of breath.

"If immortality is what you think will make me stay. . ."

~~~

For the next two weeks, theu continued travelling north. Each day they travelled at magic-fed speeds through the wilderness, and each night, they burned their magic away. Each night seemed to last a bit longer, become a bit more intense, and yet, they only wanted more.

Estrei was covered in marks, especially on her neck, and her blue eyes burned brightly as they travelled during the day, side by side. They continued north, in the mountains, and further away from society.

The nymph looked up from watching the ground. They were slowing down for the night, both subconsciously in search of yet another private space. "Has hunting gone out of style?"

Estrei seemed to rolled her eyes, "Yes, you are human. This wilderness is not used to you being here. They notice you far better--" her voice was suddenly cut off by a startled gasp, and the nymph fell to her knees, as if a weight had pressed down on her. There was an obvious, sudden terror in her eyes, and she gasped for air, curling in on herself and gripping at her stomach.

Estrei didn't look at him, her skin a horrible shade of white as she struggled to get up, but failed.

"N-No... no, no..." She gripped Devorad's arm. She hated that she suddenly needed him.

"We're not far... please carry me.. keep going north..." The nymph looked at Devorad, her eyes full of desperation.

"Do.. Do you know anything about nymphs..?" Estrei asked weakly, clinging to him with a frail grip. "Please, hurry up..."

Estrei said nothing more, whimpering in pain as her trembling grew stronger. For the next couple hours, she urged Devorad on, until they could hear shouts and firelight in the distance. It was, after all, pitch dark.

"No..." Her voice was a terrified whimper. "Devorad, you must stop them. . . Leave me here and stop them. . ."

Estrei hissed weakly, falling into a fit of gasping afterwards. She could smell the smoke in the air. Gods, they started a fire. "Devorad... If you.. I will die if you don't extinguish the fire..." She summoned all of her strength to look him in the eye. She was serious.

Estrei was about to hiss her denial, but another wave of pain wracked her body, and she cried out, gripping at the sides of her head.

What Devorad thought was a village was actually just a band of people. They were running through the ancient forest of horseback, setting fire to the conifers, which crackled and curled as they burned. When Devorad moved himself in front of the horsemen, they stopped and looked at the two in utter shock. There was a long, stunned silence.

"Our... Our battlemage..." An older man dismounted and looked to Devorad in disbelief. "I knew you would find us... and you brought.." His eyes looked to the nymph in distaste. The large band of men circled around him, all in awe at the appearance of the former elite guard. The remainder of the Requin lineage.

"It appears you've brought us a nymph... if it's an oread, I suppose your efforts to bring it along were useless." The man waved to the fire behind them. "But, no matter, come with us, we'll discuss and deal with this creature in proper conditions." With that, two of the men helped hoist Estrei, pale and unconscious, over the back of a horse, where they messily bound her arms and legs together. It happened too quickly for Devorad to fight back, and the swiftly approaching fire didn't leave him with much time.