I offer up this snippet of the next chapter of "Spellweaver"
Enjoy, friends!
"If you're lookin for yer girl, she's in ain't here," Sazza croaked.
"Where did she go?" Gale asked, still searching the darkness as if Faelyn would somehow materialise.
Sazza examined the wizard closely, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I ain't telling. Not unless you—"
Her playful defiance was abruptly silenced as a hand shot through the iron bars, seizing the top of her armour with a vice-like grip. The cold steel of the bars contrasted sharply with the heat emanating from the wizard, pulling her closer to him. He leaned in, his voice low and dangerous, and demanded once more to know where Faelyn was.
"You think you can scare me? I'm chosen by the—" Sazza's bravado crumbled under the intensity of his gaze, which flickered with dark chaos. The hand that clutched her began to radiate a fierce orange glow, a fiery energy that seeped into her very bones. She felt the metal of her armour grow warm against her skin, a creeping heat that intensified rapidly, escalating to a point that bordered on unbearable.
"I will ask you this only once more," he growled, his voice a low rumble laced with menace. "Where. Is. She."
Warning: 18+, explicit smut, angst, Halsin in his... natural form.
I used Shinurah in place of "Durge" because it took me RIGHT out of it when I wrote "Durge" instead of a name.
They got out of the receiving chambers and she turned to Gale. The small cracks in there foundation was now a vast chasm. The hatred and anger in his eyes caused her to stumble back. The entire group was upset.
"You were behind this plot the whole time? The worm, the brain… everything. You destroyed all of our lives." Gales face was inches from her own and it seemed to take all of his restraint to stop him from lighting you on fire. "I am done. I have already been the pawn of one goddess, I will not be the pawn of another."
"Please…" But what could she say. He stalked off to camp. A flash of memories came rushing into her mind. Not all of them. But enough.
Back at camp she sat alone near the river. Contemplating if it would be better if she walked out into the depths forever. Leaves crunched beneath someones feet. She turned around hoping it was Gale. Deflating she smiled meekly at Halsin as he sat next to her.
"So, it seems you have some explaining to do." He watched her carefully. He must be angry, but he seemed willing enough to listen.
"I'm a monster." She continued to watch the tantalizing waves.
"Hmm, perhaps. But the last time I checked monsters didn't rescue helpless tieflings or bring an entire forest back to life." He placed his hand gently on her back in a friendly gesture. It had been a week since she and Gale broke up.
She handed him a note she found in moonrise tower. It was a note between her and Gortash. It detailed their desire to break free from the gods. To become gods themselves and usurp the dead three. It also detailed how she maintained the mantle of Bhaal's chosen as a way to circumvent some of the abuse happening to her little sister.
He read it carefully. Smiling sadly at the words he read.
"Monsters don't try to protect their sisters. Although, I may have chosen a different route." He chuckled a bit at that. He moved his hand from her back to her shoulder and pulled her into him. Soft sobs escaped her as she allowed Halsin to hold her.
"I ruined your lives. Gods. I've ruined so many lives." Her voice faltered. "I ruined his life."
"Or, nature saw fit to allow events to occur so that he was no longer at danger of blowing up in a tower. I know he's angry, but he's a fool to let you go so easily." His face hardened at that.
"Since the curse was lifted… I have been able to see things more clearly. See you more clearly."
She blushed at that. Trying to wipe away the tears and mucus from her face. "Halsin…"
Cupping her face, heavy lidded eyes drifted across her face.
"You are the most incredible woman I have ever had the privilege to meet. And I fear you don't even see just how wonderful you are." A bit of trepidation laced his next words. "If you do not want this just say so and I will be happy to remain by your side as a friend. But I want more than just to sit next to you at the campfire. I want to lay beneath the stars with your skin upon mine."
"Halsin… I…"
"I am not asking for the whole of your heart. I am just asking to be able to share in it." He leaned over, but he didn't kiss her. He waited for her clear consent.
She didn't know exactly why. There was definitely a connection they shared. Whether it was the loneliness she felt. The grief of everything that was discovered. Or just the seemingly finite nature of their mission. But she nodded her head and pressed a soft kiss upon his lips.
He wrapped his arms fully around her then. She pulled away from him a bit, searching his face.
"I will not allow the darkness of our circumstances to cloud my judgement. You are not a monster. Shinurah, I love you for who you are. In spite of who you have been." He leaned in again deepening the kiss. His hand laced through her hair drawing her even closer.
She allowed herself to get lost in him. He whispered a brief incantation and the ground was covered in soft moss as he laid her down, his large arm acting as a cushion for her. He began to run his hands along her and as he was kissing her neck he suddenly broke away.
She watched as Halsin transformed into a bear. She watched with a mix of confusion and fascination as he shifted back into his human form. "I'm so sorry, sometime when blood runs hot enough… I lose the run of myself… I.."
He looked away, disgusted by himself for his loss of control.
She got up from where she laid and walked up to him. "You aren't a monster either Halsin." And she brought the large druids face down to hers and kissed him again.
She let him go and walked towards a clearing of trees, stripping off her clothing as she went. When she was completely naked she looked behind her shoulder. Beckoning him to join her with a small smile.
He didn't need further encouragement. Soon Halsin was also naked and his arms were wrapped around her from behind as he pressed his body against hers. His lips devouring her all the way from her sensitive neck down till he was kissing her thigh just below her ass cheek.
He encouraged her to turn around, gently pushing her against a tree. Again he looked up at her. Waiting for her permission to continue. She nodded and he began to lap her up like a man dying of thirst. Her knees were shaking and she was glad for the tree because she was otherwise unable to keep herself up. After a time he breathlessly pulled away and stood up. "More?"
She nodded and he began to kiss her neck as his fingers continued the work he had started with his mouth. She cried out as pleasure ripped through her body. He was not rough, but he was not gentle either. Halsin was feral in his handling of her. He grabbed each leg and hoisted her up so that she was straddling him. His considerable manhood pressed against her entrance. This time she shifted her hips so that he began to slip inside her.
She was thankful for the time he took to ready her because it still took an effort for him to fit. Carefully he pressed until he was fully seated inside her. Gods. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head as he began to thrust inside her.
What started as an evening contemplating her own demise ended with the promise of something new. Hope. When they were finished they curled up on the ground. She felt safe as he cradled her body into his.
Right as she was falling asleep his arms tightened around her and he kissed the crown of her head. "You are not a monster."
