The morning came slowly, the sky painted in muted shades of lavender and gold as the first light of dawn broke through the trees. Annabella rode through the quiet woods, her body still aching from the strain of the previous night's emotions, but she couldn't stop now. She had to find Rea—to see her, to feel her, to make sure she was still alive after what she'd done.
Her horse's hooves pressed softly into the earth, the rhythm steady and comforting beneath her as she made her way deeper into the forest. The air was cool, tinged with the scent of damp earth and pine. It was still early, the world hushed as if holding its breath.
Annabella's mind was a whirlwind of what she had witnessed the night before—the flames, the sacrifice, the overwhelming weight of power and desire that had nearly consumed them both. She'd never felt so conflicted. Never so exposed.
As she rounded a bend in the trail, her heart gave a sudden lurch.
A pull.
A whisper of magic. Of memory. Of her.
Following the thread of that connection—something deeper than magic, older than logic—Annabella dismounted in one fluid movement. Her legs shook beneath her, but she didn't pause. Guided by instinct alone, she followed the path that led toward a soft stream, the rush of water growing louder with each step.
And then she saw her.
Rea.
Half-naked by the stream, sitting on a large boulder, her legs drawn up and her head tilted back slightly as she ran her fingers through her tangled hair. Her broad shoulders were tense, her back marked with faint burns from the purification flames, and her breathing was unsteady—like she hadn't slept, hadn't rested, hadn't even stopped.
Annabella stood still, drinking her in.
Rea looked like something out of a myth—wild, wounded, beautiful. A war goddess just after battle. Strong legs, sun-bronzed skin, and a jawline that could have been carved from marble. But there was vulnerability in her eyes too, in the way she stared at the stream like it might hold answers.
Annabella's heart skipped painfully.
Rea turned, sensing her presence, and their eyes locked.
"You came," Rea said, her voice hoarse and heavy.
"I had to," Annabella replied softly, taking a step closer, her violet eyes shimmering with something she hadn't let herself feel in years. "I couldn't leave you like this."
Rea stood slowly, pain flickering across her face from her burns. But it didn't stop her. She stepped forward, closing the space between them, her breath uneven.
"I couldn't let it happen again," she whispered. "I couldn't let your power overwhelm me again. I would rather burn."
Annabella reached out, brushing trembling fingers against the scorched skin on Rea's arm. The memory of that moment—the fire, the agony, the devotion—was still seared into her chest.
"You're crazy for doing that," she whispered, her voice cracking. "You could've died."
"I would do it again and again. You are worth dying for."
Annabella flinched as if slapped. Her breath caught. "Why do you care so much? Your life should matter and if… if I put you in such peril—maybe we shouldn't—"
Rea didn't let her finish.
She reached out and cupped Annabella's cheek, her hand warm despite the burns, her touch steady. Annabella leaned in despite herself, caught in the gravity of her gaze.
"I love you," Rea said simply. No theatrics. No conditions. Just the truth. "Even when I don't understand everything. Even when I'm terrified of what it means. I love you."
Annabella's breath shuddered. "You have no idea what you're getting into," she whispered. "If you stay… if you stay, I'll destroy you."
"I'm not walking away," Rea replied, voice dark and reverent. "You can run from this, from me, from everything you're scared of... but I'm still going to be right here."
A pause.
Then, forehead to forehead, Annabella let herself fall forward—into the feeling, into the moment, into her. Annabella could feel the warmth of Rea's breath ghosting over her lips, close enough to taste, and yet—neither of them moved.
Rea's hands slid from her cheeks to her waist, anchoring her closer. Her voice dropped, dark and reverent. "Say something, Anna."
Annabella opened her eyes slowly. The violet hue had returned, glowing soft, beautiful.
"You're addicted to pain," she murmured, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "You must be, if you still want me after last night."
"I'm addicted to you," Rea replied, with zero hesitation. "And you're the only person that's ever made me feel alive."
Annabella didn't reply—not with words. She reached up, fingers weaving into Rea's hair, and pulled her in.
The kiss was nothing like the one from before—there was no frenzy, no loss of control. This one was slow, deep, a burning brand pressed into flesh and soul. It tasted like promises. Like pain. Like love. Like surrender.
Rea groaned softly into her mouth, her body reacting instinctively to the heat between them, but this time, she didn't push. This time, she let Annabella set the pace.
When Annabella finally pulled back, her breath shuddered out of her. Her eyes lingered on Rea's lips before she reached for her cloak and carefully draped it over Rea's bare shoulders, her fingers brushing lightly along her collarbone.
"We need to move," she said, her voice still low, still ruined from everything they'd just shared. "By now the guards might have caught up… they'll be looking for me." Her eyes lifted to meet Rea's. "I know a place. We'll be safe there."
Rea nodded, gaze steady, but the fire between them hadn't dimmed—it just simmered lower, deeper.
They mounted the horse together—Annabella in front, Rea pressing close behind, her arms instinctively wrapping around Annabella's waist, holding her like she might disappear if she let go.
The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable. More like a storm that had passed, leaving something tender and fragile in its wake.
Annabella was the first to break it, her voice soft, hesitant, almost like she didn't mean to say it aloud.
"You make me want to believe in things I've spent my whole life trying to kill.
Rea smiled, a slow, wicked smile, and leaned in, brushing her lips against the back of Annabella's neck. "Stop saying things like that," she whispered, letting her teeth graze the sensitive skin there. "It makes you sound so… soft. It's turning me on."
Annabella inhaled sharply, her nails digging into Rea's arms as a visible shiver ran down her spine. "You're unbelievable," she whispered. Her voice came out in a half-laugh, half-moan.
Then, biting her bottom lip, she added, quieter, "We need to tend to your wounds first."
Annabella didn't reply—not with words. But the way she leaned back into Rea, said everything.
At last, they reached it.
A narrow ravine opened ahead, half-hidden behind a wall of overgrown thicket. Annabella slowed the horse, dismounted quickly, then gestured for Rea to do the same. Together, they guided the animal into a hollow space between two large rocks, carefully camouflaging it with branches and brush.
"This way," Annabella said, her voice hushed. She pushed the vines aside, revealing a cool interior dimly lit
Rea followed her inside, the tension between them thickening with every step.
"You've been here before," Rea said, her voice echoing softly.
Annabella nodded. "Once. Long ago. When I needed to disappear."
Inside the cave, the stone walls were smooth in some places, the air was cool and damp, carrying the soft echo of dripping water from a spring nestled at the back wall. A gentle stream trickled from it, pooling in a shallow basin carved by time into the stone floor.
Annabella turned, her gaze swept over Rea's burnt arm, shoulder, and chest again. Her expression darkened.
"Sit," she said softly, nodding toward a flat rock near the spring.
Rea sank down slowly, jaw clenched against the throb in her shoulder. The purification flames had done their work—but the afterburn still hummed under her skin, hot and raw.
Annabella approached, her boots silent against the stone, and knelt beside the spring. She removed her gloves, reached into the water, and drew out a shimmering thread of it, lifting it gracefully into the air. The liquid obeyed her without hesitation, floating in a slow, deliberate dance toward Rea.
"Hold still," she murmured.
Rea did. She trusted her.
The water curled over her wounds, cooling, glowing faintly as Annabella infused it with her power. Rea hissed softly at the touch—but didn't pull away. It felt like ice and fire all at once. It felt like her.
You really scorched yourself," Annabella whispered, brows furrowed as she concentrated.
Rea gave a small shrug with her good shoulder. "Couldn't risk stopping halfway. I needed it to work."
After a long, delicate silence, she finally spoke.
"This will leave a scar," she said quietly. "It might not always be visible, but it will never really go away."
Rea looked down at her arm, then back up at Annabella. "I don't care. I'd rather have that scar than loosing you.
She looked at Rea's arm, then at her face. Her voice softened to almost a whisper.
"You're so reckless. It terrifies me."
"But you're still here," Rea murmured, voice husky, eyes searching hers.
She pulled the water away slowly, and the wound remained.
Annabella let out a shaky breath, her hand curling around Rea's instinctively. "Because every time I try to walk away… you do something like this. You burn yourself alive just to save me." Her voice trembled, a strange mix of anger and awe. "And somehow… that makes me want to fall into you even more."
Rea pulled her hand up to her lips and kissed Annabella's knuckles slowly, deliberately. "I want you ...I can't wait anymore."
That was all it took.
Annabella stood in front of Rea, the cool air of the cave brushing against her skin. She reached up, slowly unbuttoning her shirt, her eyes locking with Rea's as the fabric slid down her body, exposing the delicate curve of her collarbones and the soft swell of her breasts.
Rea's breath hitched. She couldn't look away. Her body reacted without thought, the hunger she'd kept at bay flaring to life again.
Annabella smiled faintly as she discarded the shirt, letting it fall to the ground. She moved with an unhurried grace, her gaze still on Rea, as she slid her boots off one by one, her fingers brushing the soft leather, each movement deliberate, sensual.
Rea's pulse quickened, her breath shallow as she stood still, watching Annabella disrobe, piece by piece. She imagined the taste of her skin, the heat of her body pressed against hers. God, how she missed this. But she didn't move, waiting—no, needing—Annabella to guide them.
When her fingers slid down to her waist and hooked into the waistband of her pants, Annabella peeled the trousers down her hips with a subtle roll that made Rea step forward, unthinking as she swiftly took off her briefs.
Annabella took Rea's hand and led her into the water. The moment Annabella stepped into it fully, her body seemed to warm the pool around them.
The water lapped at their backs as Annabella turned to face Rea, her eyes searching, her mouth parted as though words might still come—but instead, she surged forward without warning, her lips crashing into Rea's. The kiss was raw, desperate, a perfect storm of need—too much and not enough at the same time. Their kiss deepened, mouths parting as their breath mingled—lips, tongues, and the press of teeth. Annabella's hands found Rea's, guiding them to her waist, pulling her closer until their bodies were pressed together, their hearts racing in sync.
"Do you feel this?" Annabella whispered, her voice barely audible, a breath against Rea's lips.
"I've always felt it," Rea replied, her voice low and husky, the weight of her words carrying everything she couldn't say. "Ever since I met you."
Their bodies brushed together in the water, slick skin against slick skin, a sensual dance of mouths and tongues. Moans were swallowed into the kiss, only to echo softly against the stone that surrounded them, the water now nothing but a distant murmur in the background.
"You're so beautiful," Rea murmured, her voice rough with desire, her hands tracing the curve of Annabella's back.
Annabella smiled against her lips, the warmth of her breath teasing Rea's ear. "Take me then," she whispered, her words drenched in longing.
Rea's pulse quickened, her hands lifting Annabella's legs around her waist as she sank into her, the warmth and tightness of Annabella wrapping around her like fire. Rea's fingers dug into Annabella's hips, pulling her closer, as though the space between them could never be small enough.
Annabella groaned low in her throat, a sound of pure need, her lips trailing down to Rea's collarbone, pressing soft, wet kisses against her skin. Rea's breath hitched, a growl escaping her as Annabella's lips found the sensitive spot just below her jaw. The sensation sent tremors of pleasure racing through her.
Rea ground against Annabella with more urgency now, each movement sending waves of heat coursing through her. Annabella's hands clawed at her back, her voice a breathless whisper as she gasped, "I can't hold back."
Rea, her heart pounding with desire, moved them out of the water, her arms carrying Annabella effortlessly. She placed her gently on the soft rock, the sound of their breath heavy in the air.
"Don't you dare hold back," Rea commanded, her voice thick with hunger.
Annabella's seal flared again, her pheromones coursing through the air, wild and untamed. But this time, Rea's eyes glowed a confident red, her power steady and unwavering. With a firm thrust, she entered Annabella again, the movement slow and deliberate at first, savouring the heat of their bodies pressed together.
Annabella swiftly moved on top, her body grinding against Rea's with a slow, deliberate rhythm. She held Rea's wrists firmly, feeling the intensity of the moment grow as Rea's moans grew louder. The pressure inside her was building, overwhelming, and Rea couldn't take it anymore. With a sudden surge of energy, she sat up, her eyes locking with Annabella's, her arms wrapping around her waist as she took control, thrusting harder, deeper.
Annabella's breath caught in her throat, her eyes closing as she leaned into the feeling, her hands tugging gently at Rea's hair. "Please," Annabella gasped, her voice shaking with need. " nghn ..Let me cum"
The intensity between them grew, their bodies moving in perfect rhythm, pushing each other to the edge. Rea's breath became ragged, her chest heaving as every motion, every touch sent her further into the overwhelming pleasure. Annabella's name escaped her lips in a low, desperate whisper, her body reacting to the pull of Annabella's.
Annabella, just as lost, met Rea's mouth in a heated kiss, the desperation in their kiss matching the frantic urgency of their movements. Their lips clashed, tongues dancing in a passionate, frantic rhythm, as their bodies tensed, pressed together with the force of their desire.
Rea's grip tightened on Annabella's waist, pulling her closer as they both reached the peak, the world around them fading as they climaxed in a rush of heat, a shared, powerful release that left them breathless and trembling. Their moans were swallowed in the kiss, mouths still pressed together as they came down from the height of their passion.
Their movements slowed, the intensity waning as they held each other, lips lingering against the other's. Their breathing was heavy, panting in each other's mouths as the world slowly came back into focus.
Rea pulled away just slightly, her forehead resting gently against Annabella's, her breath still shaky. "I've never felt anything like that," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Annabella's eyes fluttered closed, a soft, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she pressed a tender kiss to Rea's lips. "Neither have I," she murmured, her fingers gently stroking Rea's hair.
The faint sound of the water lapping at the shore seemed distant now, drowned out by the quiet of the cave, where only the steady rhythm of their breath remained. In the aftermath, their bodies still tangled together, skin warm and soft against skin. Slowly, their breathing began to even out, the tension and heat of the moment fading into a comfortable, peaceful stillness.
Rea's chest rose and fell slowly, her arms still firmly around Annabella, pulling her closer as though unwilling to let go. Annabella, her head was resting against Rea's shoulder. Her breath was slow, even, as she nuzzled closer into Rea's embrace, surrendering completely to her.