The next couple of days were busy for the pair. Sabele had bathed twice that whole week, opting to hunt rather than just "laze around" in the spring. Eventually, to his insistence, Sabele would begin to bathe every night. Evåinic claimed it would help her relax and stay warm while the storm began to head up the mountain. Sabele believed it was a nice way of telling her she stank.

"I'm not saying you stink. In fact, you smell delicious." Ev had been trying to convince her all morning that she did not stink.

"You're only saying that because you're hungry." She gave him a pointed glare and hit him in the butt with a spoon.

"That was rude and no, I'm serious. You need to stay warm." While he was right about staying warm, it didn't mean he had insisted because of that reason.

"Sure..." Sabele, however, did as he commanded and took a bath that night.

Morning never came. No chimes woke her. Darkness and a horrible chill greeted her.

"Evåinic?" Sabele slowly got up, feeling her way around by using the wall.

"We're snowed in it seems. I'll get a fire started. Go into the spring and see if the hole is covered up," there was a glow where he sat.

Sabele nodded and made her way to the spring. The hole was indeed covered and a little snow would fall and melt into the spring.

"Yeah, it's covered." She stood beside him while he warmed the wood up. Once the wood unfroze just enough to catch fire, he let out a blast of flames. Sabele shrieked and stumbled into the bookshelf behind her.

"Didn't mean to frighten you," he held out his hand to her and she gingerly took it. They sat, hands clasped together, in front of the fire.

"So, tell me about yourself. You've asked me lots of questions so I think it's fair I get to know you.”

"Alright," Ev scooched back, bringing Sabele with him, until they hit the bookcase, "what would you like to know about me?"

"Let's start with everything." He smiled at that. She wanted to know everything. So, he began before his birth.

His mother, Amist, had been walking through a meadow with Haven, the goddess of nature. As they walked through, they could hear yelling. Curious, the goddesses decided to check it out. Not far from them was a large plantation. That's how she met his father.

Amist, smitten by the "hard working man" (her words verbatim), approached. He never knew she was a goddess until years later. They married after she came out with the truth. Then little Evåinic was born.

His father came from a long line of generals. Over those years, they gained land and passed it on. Along with that land, they passed everything they knew about being a general onto their sons and their title. Ev's father never served in battle because it was a time of peace. However, everything his father taught him, he passed onto Ev. They both went to general meetings that were held annually at the empire's capital.

Amist taught him everything he needed to know about the new world he was about to be introduced to. She lived with them down below but she did take him to the Great Hall to visit with her family. All his powers came from her and as a child, the other gods gifted him with abilities and blessings. He never mentioned what.

His father, one day, decided that he wanted to travel the empire so he got together a wagon of things and set off. Evåinic went with him, acting as a bodyguard to protect his aging father.

Amist returned to the other gods and would watch from above, lending a hand to them when they needed it but mostly just let them go through their hardships. Ev learned a lot that way which his father intended. No matter how much it pained her.

However, his father eventually became too old for that kind of travel and they returned home. He died there and Ev lived with his mother from then on. He still owned the plantation and everyone who works there but they were self-sufficient and could take care of the property themselves. No one other than those who worked on the land truly knew the current owner was a demigod.

"During the spring, my mother and I will stay at the plantation house for a couple of weeks. We do it to honor his memory. Truthfully, it was centuries before my mother remarried Aleanga. Then they had my three younger brothers," during his storytelling, Ev had placed his arm around her shoulders to bring her in close to his side. She rested her head on his shoulder, watching the flames lick at the wood while she listened.

"You're not angry at her for it?"

"No, I was happy she found love. She seemed lonely without my father around, something I use to get mad at, but with Aleanga, she found someone to help her be lively again. My brothers are annoying but I love them too.” He watched the glow of the fire warm her face. Her nose was a little red from the cold and her cheeks a little pink.

Cute.

"That’s nice. You haven't found anyone in all these years?" Sabele tried not to ask the question. It seemed too personal but he didn't seem to mind because he answered without hesitation.

"I've had my fair share of lovers, yes. But none of them really stayed long. Some were in it more for the bedroom fun than anything else. We all live and learn." Evåinic sighed then, lost in thought.

Sabele let her thoughts wander too. She thought about how her life could have been normal. A loving home, a love interest, siblings even. Perhaps some drama between her and her friends like regular teenage girls. Sabele brushed the thoughts away. They never led down a good road and wanting something one could not have was never good.

"I'm going to go warm up in the spring, okay?" She detached herself from his embrace and left the room. Evåinic sat for just a little while longer before he too left to follow her.

"Sabele. Wait. I wan-" he stopped mid-sentence at the sight before him. Sabele, already stripped, was neck deep in the water.

Squealing, she wrapped her arms around her chest and sank lower, despite him unable to see anything anyway.

"Trying to take a bath here!" Her cheeks that were once pale, sprang to a deep crimson red. In fact, her whole face went red. "Stop laughing!" But he couldn't help himself.

He walked in there hoping to talk some more, completely forgetting what she might have in mind walking into the spring. Other than that, his body lit a fire looking at her and if he didn't laugh to distract himself he would have jumped in with her.

Jump in with her...

Stripping himself down, Evåinic began to wiggle out of his pants when she shrieked again and turned her gaze away. She didn't look back in his direction until she heard a splash of water.

"Geez, chill out, Sabele. We are both submerged in water. Relax." He grinned at her and stayed on his side of the spring, casually leaned against the rock.

"This is inappropriate. Turn around so I can get out," she swam over to the edge, ready to hop out.

This time he moved and trapped her there.

"Calm down. There's nothing wrong with us being in here." Her flustered face only amused him.

"But… but..."

This time he slipped up. No god, or demigod for that matter, could touch a priestess without permission in any way except under specific circumstances. Agous's word was law.

Kissing Sabele could be a death sentence, and if Agous was lenient then he’d be at least whipped until he couldn’t feel the pain. Who knew how long it would take to heal, his powers would be restricted for possibly years.

Still, the sweet taste of her was worth it all and then some. Her hands laid gently against his chest, her lips parted in surprise. His tongue teased her bottom lip with that of an experienced lover, bringing chills to her skin.

Sabele responded in kind, responding to every movement with one of her own until she stopped altogether and put her lips into a tight, thin line.

"Evåinic," she pushed against his chest but he didn't budge. He did, however, stay still. “Please let go.” He did as she asked, letting her go and taking a tiny step back.

Sabele’s face flushed as she looked him over, eyes curiously and dangerously traveling down his chest, outlining each fiber of muscle with her eyes until the water cut off her descent at his hips. Very delectable hips.

"Please, Sabele. Give me permission touch you." His eyes glanced down at her lips, his next intended course of action. Before she could speak, he dipped low to recapture her lips for a sweet peck. A plea.

"Please, Ev. Stop." With a tiny push, he backed away.

"Why?"

"You'd be better off doing this with someone else. Just… please leave." Her face downcast, she gave him her back.

"Now, how can that be? Why would I be better off with someone else?" He fought the urge to hold her and stayed rooted in place.

"Evåinic, I am a priestess. I can take no lover." At the last portion, she peeked over her shoulder, her entire face red with heat.

Ev placed his hands on her hips, slowly turning her around and ready to step back should she slap him away. She didn’t, though she didn’t catch his gaze.

He didn't say a word as he lifted her to set her down on the edge of the pool. His gaze unintentionally roaming her body and while she was skinny, unhealthily so, it did nothing to deter his attraction to her. His hands rubbed her thighs in a comforting gesture, making circular motions with his thumbs.

"Sabele, no one cares if you take a lover. The people say you can't but many have before. The gods were never angry with those that did. They never declared any of those silly restrictions.” He kissed her cheek, smiling warmly in an attempt to lift the frown from her face, but she didn’t budge. Sabele kept her arms over her chest, a failed attempt at being modest.

“I-“

“I’ll leave. If you want.” She caught his eyes then, a little surprised at his words. “But, only if you want me to. Those people have shunned you – abused you, but I don’t want them to dictate your choices. I want you to choose.”

“You’re a demigod…”

“Yes? And you, Sabele,” the way her name rolled of his tongue almost made her smile, “are a beautiful priestess, whose very alluring with her charming smile and passionate heart.” He drummed his fingers across her skin. Another shiver crawled up her spine and her head buzzed from the thought.

What if she said yes?

"I..." She couldn't form an answer for him. She didn't want to really say what she was thinking aloud. So, she chose not to.

“If you reject me, fine. I want you to make your decision based on what you want. Don’t listen to anyone else but your heart. Your brain too,” she gave a small laugh at his tease. Sabele’s eyes were bright at the thought but they dulled as worry swirled in her head. Her stomach twisted in nervousness. But Evåinic wasn’t done just yet as he continued, “please say something, Sabele. Yes or no. Just one word from you. Say yes and I’ll stay but say no and I’ll leave you alone. I swear it. This is up to you.”

“I...I don’t know…” He smiled at her hesitation. “I’ll get in trouble…”

“No. This,” he motioned to them in the hidden spring of her cave, “is a private matter between you and me and no one else. No one has the right to intrude on this. No one.”

She fidgeted under his heated gaze. His sincerity reassured her somewhat.

“Sabele,” like his tone alone commanded her, she took her gaze from the flowers on the far wall to him, “did you like the kiss?”

She pursed her lips as if refusing to answer, before breathlessly saying, “yes…”

“If that’s all you wanted from me, I’ll leave. Say no and I’ll leave you alone.” Sabele didn’t respond to that but searched his face instead. Questioningly.

Her reluctance settled the matter for him and he backed away, heading to the other side to exit. A splash behind him had him turning around to watch as she made her way halfway to him before stopping. One hand came to rest below her collarbone, fiddling with the spot in a way both alluring and sincerely adorable.

He didn’t move towards her, leaving this choice, alone, up to her.

Slowly, Sabele came to stand in front of him, reaching out to play with the few hairs on his chest before traveling up to cup his cheek. He leaned into her touch, a sign of acceptance.

His blood pumping, his heart beating fast, he swore it was boiling in here. Then, she nodded, slowly at first, but gaining confidence as she touched his hair in such an affectionate manner that made it nearly impossible to not love her.

The temperature went up just a few more hundred degrees. Sweat formed on his brow. Now, he was feeling nervous.

Ev gently pulled her closer, setting her legs around his waist as he brought her to the edge of the pool and set her down on the stone. He kissed her collarbone, nipping every once and a while, murmuring thanks as he made her squeal in surprise.

"I really don't know what to do..."

"It's fine, love. Just trust me, I’m here to pleasure you, that’s my only job.” He kissed her cheek, murmuring his next words, “no one has to know. Only us. That's all that matters. Right now, it's just us."

Sabele nodded again and placed a shaky hand back in his hair.

Evåinic upheld his word much to her delight. Every move and every touch unrushed. Each curiosity she had, he gladly indulged her, until her toes curled in absolute delight.