Chapter 213: Tempting Snuggles
Evanna patrolled the surrounding woods but remained close to their campsite. Arawn didn’t return to where their group was sleeping, he had wandered off after kissing Evanna’s knuckles. She could still see the fire burning behind his eyes, the lust pulsating beneath his skin, so she assumed he needed some space.
The princess returned to the camp when it was past two in the morning. She had sat on the boulder where she initially was going to guard until Arawn.. distracted her. Evanna quietly tiptoed over everyone surrounding the dim large blue flames that crackled and radiated warmth. Everyone was covered in furs except Axel, who seemed to be using his shield as a blanket and snored, cuddling his axe.
Evanna searched their faces, Arawn was yet to return, which caused a prickle of worry in her, but she knew he could defend himself, and she’d patrolled the area already. Still, it was there at the back of her mind.
"*Did you have a nice bath?*" Fiza asked quietly from where she leaned against a tree, her arms crossed over her bare stomach, her eyes gleaming playfully.
Evanna feigned ignorance. "*Yes. Thank you for making the water warm.*"
Fiza snickered. "*Even without my magic, I’m sure there were other ways to keep you warm,*" she winked, then waved her hand as Evanna paled, then blushed and became flustered. Usually, she was a master in masking her emotions, palace life had taught her that, but her activities with Arawn were so recent and fresh on her mind. Besides, nobody was crude enough unless it was her sister to make points about Evanna being ’vulgar’.
"*I do not care, princess. Where I come from, fae’s pleasurable pursuits before marriage are not uncommon. Do not worry. I will not tell anyone. Although this would be good material for blackmailing.. I like you, though, so any possible relationship going forwards most likely will be strained if I used such methods..*" Fiza sighed, like not following through with blackmail was incredibly hard.
Evanna bit back a laugh and shook her head, hoping their conversation had not woken anyone else up. She wanted to ask Fiza more about the world of the fae, but she knew that would come at a cost, and she was now far too tired to sate her curiosity. "*No, blackmail is not the way to go to making new friends..*" Evanna crouched near another boulder closer to Fiza and fixed her with a curious look. "Can you not sleep?"
Fiza shook her head. "*I am more alive during the night than day, but I am growing accustomed to your schedule. Go to sleep, princess. The journey from here will only grow more tiresome.*"
Evanna nodded, accepting the night fae’s words. Fiza closed her eyes and began to hum quietly to herself; her voice was low and sweet and could make anyone fall asleep to such a lullaby. Maybe that was how these men slept so well, or maybe they were weary from the travel. It only made her more concerned about when they would make it to Lyvaria.