(Aren's PoV)
I lie there as Elissa's hands slide over my back, I presume searching for wounds. It was not my most honourable deed, but her cry of anguish could not be faked and I am betting on it fooling them too.
She carefully turns me over and I hear her take a shaky breath then feel her hands upon my chest. I have to stop this charade, so wrap an arm around her back. She shrieks as I pull her down on top of me and open my eyes.
Those stunning emerald eyes of hers search mine. I must admit I am a little elated by the evident concern shining in them and probably like having her in my arms a little too much. Then I ruin the moment by winking.
"You..." she growls and I place a finger upon her lips. "... bastard," she finishes in an angry whisper.
My brow crinkles slightly. "I do not think my parents would appreciate you casting aspersions upon my lineage."
Now those eyes narrow at me. "Bite me."
"Do you know that, to an Animage that could be taken as an invitation?" I cannot resist teasing her and wrap my other arm around her lower back.
Evidently not amused, she hisses, "Let me go. Otherwise you will not be accepting any invitations."
She is possibly even more beautiful when angry and I find myself grinning. However, I dare not push her too much and loosen my hold. Elissa jerks free and glares at me.
I start to crawl away on hands and knees, using the trees as cover and motion for her to follow me. Our progress is torturously slow and I can feel her disapproval drilling into my back.
When we finally reach deeper cover, I stand and hold out a hand to help her up, but she pointedly ignores it.
"Elissa, please do not be angry with me."
"That was a mean trick you played back there."
"Were you worried for me?" I ask, shamelessly fishing.
"No." Her immediate response is tinged with irritation, but she is unable to maintain it. Studying the ground, a vulnerable quality enters her voice, "Yes, I thought that they had hurt you."
Placing a finger under her chin, I gently raise her face and apologise most earnestly, "I am truly sorry if I caused you anguish. They chase until their quarry falls. I wished them to believe that they had downed me."
Taking her hand, I kiss her knuckles and, not relinquishing my hold, lead her through the trees. The ground once again falls away, but this time in gentle, lush rolling hills.
"Welcome to my homeland." I feel my chest expand with jubilation. "If not for you, I might never have gazed upon it again."
......
The sight of steam rising from the large pool calls to my aching limbs. I recall happy memories of frolicking here, first as a child and then less innocently as a young man.
"I do not know about you, but I could do with a bathe," I announce.
Stripping to my braies, I sink within the water's warm embrace. Elissa remains standing on the bank.
I try to beckon her in. "The water is wonderful. It is not very deep, so you have nothing to fear."
Noticing the slight flush on her cheeks and belatedly remembering decorum, I turn my back and call out, "I promise not to peek."
The sound of rustling clothes teases my senses. It is followed by a soft splash and then a contented sigh.
I glance over my shoulder, smiling. "See. It is ..." The rest of the words catch in my throat at the sight of Elissa wearing a thin chemise, which is virtually transparent and clinging to her like a second skin.
"Aren, is something wrong?"
"Ah!" I turn away and flex my shoulder, trying to cover up my embarrassment at how she is affecting me. "I am feeling a bit stiff." Oh, very smooth, Aren.
"Do you want me to take a look at your shoulder? I took massage classes."
I rest my forearms on the bank and she glides up behind me. I am hyperaware of the closeness of her body and how little either of us are wearing. I should not be thinking such things. She saved me and it is my duty to protect her, not get diverted.
Her deft fingers work on the muscles in my upper back and shoulders. It is wonderful at first but then the pressure steadily increases until pain shoots down my back, causing me to cry out in complaint.
"It is supposed to hurt. You have a knot and I need to ease the pressure."
"Are you sure that you do not have a little dark elf in you?"
I only meant it as a joke, but Elissa pulls away abruptly. Turning to face her, my expression falls at the sight of the anguish in her face.
Fool, you have upset her, the eagle berates me.
"Elissa." I reach out and not sure where is safe to touch, settle on her upper arm. "You are nothing like them."
I give her my best big blue-eyed look, the one that has gotten me off the hook with mother or governesses on many an occasion.
"You are courageous and kind and intelligent and beautiful and ..." I am interrupted by a finger on my lips.
"You don't have to go overboard," she says, shaking her head, but there is a glimmer of a smile too.
"Will you tell me something of your life before?" I ask, genuinely curious.
"I was studying." She bites her lip and I wish she would not as it brings my attention to her lips. "I guess the closest equivalent here would be a healer of animals. What about you?"
Ah, I have not thought this through. "I suppose you could say that I am studying the skills of my forefathers."
"Like an apprentice?"
Giving a non-committal shrug, I direct the conversation back to her.
"I really hoped to work in conservation. In my world, man is ravaging the ecosystem and pushing some animals to extinction. I want to help preserve life." Her voice becomes more animated as she explains further.
I cannot help but admire her obvious passion and find myself falling a little further. She is unlike any lady I have encountered before.
"They say that the king of animals is the lion." She says, her eyes sparkling. "But for me it has to be the tiger."
Tiger - the word sends a shockwave through me. Closing my eyes, I try to subdue the presence in my mind, which is now very alert.
A gentle touch upon my cheek causes me to jolt upright and my eyelids spring open. She is right in front of me. For a moment her gaze gets distracted by the water droplets trickling down the ridges on my chest, before returning to my face.
I notice her slightly dilated pupils. Good, I affect her too.
She skitters away, like a frightened doe, and clambers hastily out of the water. The urge to pursue is too strong and the transformation ripples through me unbidden. I know that hazel is replacing the blue of my eyes, while my body thickens and I sprout black, white and orange fur.
The tiger gracefully leaps out of the pool, shaking off water and prowls towards Elissa. Backing away, she trips over.
Now a passenger in the tiger's mind, I command, Transform back.
The tiger ignores me and standing over Elissa's prone body, nuzzles her neck and licks her with his rough tongue.
Elissa giggles. "Alright, I surrender."
I try again to rein in the tiger. Give me back control.
The tiger gives a deep chuckle. I suppose in furless form we can have skin to skin contact. Shall I transform now?
Yes, er no. Wait! I realise what a compromising position that would put us in.
While I am in full control and harmony with my other forms, the tiger has a distinct, powerful and oft-wilful personality, so I try to keep it contained.
Elissa interrupts my internal argument. "Aren, can I take a proper look at you?"
The tiger allows her to sit up. It slinks around her, rubbing against her body and giving off a deep purr.
She runs her fingers through his, our fur. "You are magnificent!"
Suddenly my ears prick and my body stiffens. Ahead of us a haunting howl fills the air. Standing protectively in front of Elissa, my hackles rise and a low growl rumbles in the back of my throat.
Behind us comes an answering howl.
......
The High King is in his study when the head of his guard enters.
"Ah, Garrett. Tell me you have good news and that Nero has redeemed himself."
"My liege, as you know Lord Nero sent his captain to lead the pursuit. They are closing in as we speak."
"Good. The boy provided useful leverage against his father, while the girl could be the very key to recovering the Light of Elysium. How could he have let them slip through his fingers?"
"Sire, there were very powerful wards securing them," Garrett reasons.
"What do we know of her? Is the Watcher still being unhelpful?"
Garrett swallows. "Her origin is still a mystery."
Mood darkening, the king bangs his fist against a table, rattling glasses. "I want her secured."
............
AN - the song is Pools by Glass Animals. The video is really trippy 🙃
Aren's tiger is the presence that has been stirring in his mind and is now out.