PART ONE

NIGHT OF THE AUTUMN FAE

CHAPTER TWO:

Boars, honey-wine and how to make a Faerie blush

Despite the excitement that had begun to grow in our bellies, the mid-autumn day of Sanctuary went on just as any other would. Tomas retreated to library, muttering something about dusting the shelves. Of course, Yokomi had tasked Keisuke, Yeren and I with a journey to the local markets for ingredients fresh as we could get them. With the few staff she employed, they maids and cook would be busied for the whole day cleaning the feast-hall and foyer from top to bottom. Usually, being sent on a mundane task might’ve irritated me. But the day was oddly nice, the sun smiling down on my bare skin, a soft and sweet smelling breeze twisting about us as we journeyed out of onto the forest road in our old wagon. Keisuke and Yeren sat at drivers perch, while I sat amongst sacks of potato and smaller pots of forest herbs and mushrooms. Keisuke had a fondness for spending hours on end walking amongst the trees and shadows of the forest surrounding our home, gathering its hidden bounty. They’d make for good trading goods. With the sacks and a small purse of gold coins, it’d be enough for two bottles of the higher-end Gorrivan wines and freshly skinned boar.

Hmph. If only one of us actually knew how to properly hunt. We could almost be self-sustaining. Well. Maybe if I didn’t eat through half our stores each morning.

Thumbing the purse out of boredom, I spared a glance at Keisuke. He seemed happy amongst the shadows of the forest canopy that reached over the lone forest path, at peace even. It egged on the seed of curiosity that had been planted deep inside me the moment he’d been inducted into Sanctuary. He’d seemed so much smaller then. Broken, shy. Unable to even look to any of us. Shadowing Tomas in the library, until he’d found his own space in the wild gardens in the fields behind the main building. I’ve always wondered, what pushed you down so? What forced your head so far down that all you could do for those first few months was stare at the ground in front of you? I hope you’ve had more success finding Fae-folk in the woods than I’ve ever had. They always hide from me…I only caught glances of them dashing behind trees, back into their pond or back into their hollowed out trunks.

I shrugged, and supposed they’d be awfully lucky to have the pleasure of knowing such a kind man.

***

By the time we’d arrived at the markets, I’d managed to dose off. With a day such as this, I struggled to see how Keisuke was so surprised when he’d been forced to wake me with a soft flick of his tail. With little help Yeren carried the potato sacks, leaving Keisuke and I to shrug at one another and take the smaller bags that remained. While the others were out of sight, I slipped a carrot to the old wagon horse Nutmeg. She thanked me a soft bump on the head and a lick on the arm. The market took place on the outskirts of the small but conveniently located village of Tyracide. It sat in a sort of crossroads for two high-ways of travel and trade and betwixt two other villages surrounding by fertile farmland. Despite its size, it simply came to life when the markets rose amongst the green fields.

And today, the markets were simply alive. Traders, farm animals, fish-wives and hunters showed off their wares and coin from stall to stall. The dirt road and open field was filled with a busy, bustling crowd, each vendor crying out the maddening value of their stocks of pelts and assorted meats. As chickens and hunting dogs ran about underfoot we made our way through the crowed, weaving in and out until we found our imported honey-wine, spiced cheeses and fresh loaves of olive bread. Yeren had wandered deeper into the maze of markets in search of a boar, leaving the two of us to simply walk about with our freshly bought wares. I didn’t expect this many people…I’m not sure…this is such a good idea for me…

There was a lot of people. So many they seemed to press me in further and further. They rubbed against my shoulders, bumped past me and squashed me between their carts. And it was hot. Too hot. The kind of hot that made my skin tingle, my thoughts melting into one another. My heart began to race. A hunter with pelts stinking of vinegar bumped into me, pushing me into Keisuke. Unable to really get the words out, I tugged on his sleeve.

“I need to…uh…can you…could you find somewhere quiet...please?” The last word I managed to utter come out broken, chocked. As if I might cry then and there, pathetic as I felt. But he seemed to understand, well enough. He pulled me along, somehow sweeping me out of the crowd and into the more open field. I followed blindly, my concentration all on attempting to pull my mind back together as it seemed to melt in my skull.

Heat, hot as a flame began to pulse from my bare skin. He took me too a barn. I could tell from the stench of hay and rotten wood. He sat me up on a bale, his faint voice urging me to breathe. But I couldn’t pull myself away from it. The thought of being crushed by the crowd. But in my minds eye they were different now. They were made of flame and ash and rock and heat and violence and –

Splash!

A bucket of water splashed over me without warning, water soaking me to the bone. Keisuke stared at me round-eyed and apologetic, holding the bucket.

I stared at him in shock, frozen. Steam rose off my skin, and the cold water seemed to ease the rapid melting of my thoughts.

“Was that…?” He asked, voice quiet. I nodded, eyes glued to the dirt floor. There was a side of me that would rise alongside my heartbeat. It would struggle and claw its way to the surface whenever I panicked or grew scared. It was a part of me that was flame and ash, and I feared it with every waking step I took. Silence stood between us both. Keisuke set the bucket down and sat on its end, looking to me as if there were more he wanted to say. Maybe there was something I could’ve said. Something to assure him I wouldn’t explode into flames in the next instant. Instead, I stayed quiet and scrunched up the wet silk of my ruined dress in my hands. It’s…probably completely ruined now. The colours and materiel are messed up. Shit. And its…see-through.

Looking up, I noticed Keisuke’s cheeks had begun to burn a bright red. He’d noticed it too. My sun-dress, dripping wet lay slick against my skin and bare breasts. It pressed against my thighs, droplets running down my chest and legs. And he couldn’t help but look at me. At all of me.

Just as he did those few weeks ago. I’d been late to dinner and Yokomi in irritation had sent Keisuke to find me. But I’d simply spent too long in the bath and was looking for something to wear. Standing naked and wet in my room, rustling through my wardrobe Keisuke had walked in on me. I’d watched the shock on his face quickly twist into the need to turn and look away. But he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t help but look. And I didn’t mind. I’d stood there in the evening sunlight, felt it warm my bare skin. And I’d loved the need in his eyes, no matter how desperately he’d tried to smother it.

That same hunger was in his eyes again. It burned. Closer now, I could see his eyes were a sort of misty hazel. A twisted mist of dirty-gold and brown. Finally seeing them burn in such a way…it stirred something deep in me. The thing that made me pulled my dress down and tighter against my skin. It urged me onwards when I slid a hand down my wet thigh, fingers tracing deep into the fair skin. He bared his pointed canines in such a primal way my flesh began to burn once again, that between my thighs it started to become hot and wet – all at once.

I beckoned him forward. He hesitated. So I surged forward, took him by the collar, and kissed him. My fringe, frayed and messy as it was pressed against his heated cheeks and for a moment I listened to his rapid heart-beat. His strain for breath. Go for the jugular. That primal part of me rushed through my veins once more and listening to nothing but instinct I began to kiss his neck. He moaned in response, soft and low. Right into my ear. I dared to give his soft, warm neck a nip. His groans became a growl at that. Hot, thirsty – begging. I let my skin grow hotter and hotter. Keisuke in his beautiful lust took one of my tits in his hand, groaning in pleasure with every squeeze. I moaned with him at his touch, and he retreated, looking to me to make sure he hadn’t squeezed too hard and hurt me. His kindness was so sweet I could taste it on his lips. I could taste the honey-sweetness of his soft heart on his tongue as it explored my mouth. He dared to rub a canine against my lip, drawing a single drop of blood. That earned a small giggle from me, and I hugged him closer. Just as I wanted him. Close as he could get. Because he was warm and a mystery and he was so very sweet.

Keisuke began to draw a line with two fingers down my soaked middle, following a few drop of water. My pussy began to nearly quiver at the anticipation of his touch, of how could his long fingers would feel inside me. I drew back from his neck and leant back, eager to see the hunger in complete control of him.

But that was a mistake. He looked different now…he was…himself. His canines had grown larger, more animal like now. And in the place of human ears, two white-furred, pointed ears had grown in their place. Seems when he gets excited…his inner Fae makes an appearance. Is that why he’s so calm all the time?

Keisuke’s ears flattened and he drew back. There was fear in him now. I went to reach out to him.

“Keisuke, it’s alright I don’t-” My assurances were interrupted by an overworked farm-boy. He burst through the barn-doors, struggling to hold a bundle of tools. He stared open-mouthed at the two of us, frozen in place. Keisuke took the distraction and left me there, darting off and out into the field. The farm-boy tried to stumble an apology, but I waved him off. My clothes were soaked, and I was rather embarrassed. Nice as he was the boy went and fetched me an old blanket, so I happily wrapped myself up and went in search of the wagon.

Yeren came back eventually. With a boar ready for feasting she slumped it beside me and a crate of wine. I remained quiet for the rest of the journey, content to remain inside my blanket wrap. Keisuke joined us eventually, not sparing a word to either of us. He sat beside Yeren, seeming a touch sulky. Yeren questioned none of it.

On the return home I let myself slip into a nap, my hair a frayed mess. Maybe in my sleep I’d find some inkling of solace. Before the feast. Before I had to face Sinclair again. Or Keisuke’s blush