▪️I Z A R A▪️

"Beg for it..." Baldur whispered.

I whimpered at the deep husky tone of his voice and leaned over the back of the sofa; my orgasm was just within reach. My thighs trembled as my back arched, my entire body humming with pleasure while the Orc King stood behind me.

The sound of his raspy chuckle reached my ear before the surface of his large palm connected with the bare skin of my right buttock. I panted at the stinging sensation, my fingers digging into the soft cushions even more.

"Go on, Izara, you know you want to!"

"Fuck..." I moaned then yelped when his hand came down and spanked me harder this time, the resounding smack seeming to echo off the stone walls of the library.

His mouth lowered to lick the lobe of my ear, "If you want my cock, you're going to have to beg for it, my love."

Anu's beard!

The term of endearment had been unexpected and it only served to fuel my arousal even more. His voice, as I had come to recently comprehend, had the ability to get me hot in a matter of seconds.

Licking me again, he said, "Don't be shy, I know you want all ten inches deep inside you."

I did, and just as I was about to give in and beg, I felt Baldur pull away and I whined at the loss of the warmth of him. Before I knew what was happening, he was kneeling behind me, the feel of his breath fanning against my vulva making my legs tremble and I gasped when he leaned forward to bury his face into me.

"Oh!" I inhaled at the feel of him licking from my clit all the way to my sphincter.

The sensation was pleasant but unusual, for no one had ever touched me back there like that, much less used their lips and tongue. Once the initial shock wore off, the sudden rush of pleasure caused me to stand on the tips of my toes, unsure of whether I wanted to run away from his touch or push back for more.

Baldur groaned as his tongue devoured me.

His hands dug into my ass cheeks, obscenely pulling them apart before letting them fall back into place. The skin of my face flamed at his vulgar actions, and while I may have felt shy because of what we were doing, the Orc King was absolutely relentless in the way his mouth moved against me.

It felt so wrong what he was doing, but I wanted more, needed more. Craving it like my next breath and I unexpectedly found myself pushing back into him, causing a grunt of appreciation to rumble in his throat.

"Please..." I begged, hoping that he would relent and give me what I needed.

I longed to have him inside me, wanting to feel his girth stretch me wide, anticipating the way the ridges along his length would stimulate my inner walls. When the Orc King stood, I hummed, eager for what was to come next.

In response to the sound I made, he chuckled then gave my backside another smack.

The excitement flowing through me was so intense that I felt slightly unsteady and I gripped the back of the sofa tighter. Without warning, the shelves within the library began to blur and I briefly closed my eyes to steady myself.

Upon blinking my lids open, I found myself staring up at Dura's concerned face.

"What the hell!" I shrieked.

It took me a moment to observe my surroundings and I certainly was not expecting to see the elderly Orc staring down at me so intently. The realisation that I had been dreaming caused my heart to race against my chest and I silently prayed that I had not been talking in my sleep, seeing that I had a habit of doing it sometimes.

As the fog of confusion slowly began to clear, I dared not even think about what could have caused me to dream such a thing between Baldur and myself. But in that moment, the memories of being in the forest with him after the great tremor came crashing to the forefront of my mind.

"The King–" I choked, my throat feeling parched.

"Is fine, let me help prop you up then I'll get you some water," Dura said with a smile.

All my joints felt so stiff while I tried to sit up and as I attempted to turn my head against the pillow, I immediately realised that something was wrong. My shoulders shook and a slight tremble travelled up my spine as I hunched slightly while watching Dura pour me some water.

My body felt weird and as I slowly tried to lift my hand to take the mug being offered to me, it flew out of her hand and into the wall behind her, shattering upon impact, spilling water everywhere.

Dura's eyes widened as she looked back and forth between me and the broken pieces of ceramic, "Well, that certainly answers my question on how you're feeling."

I would have laughed if I was not so freaked out.

"What's going on?" I asked while looking down at my hands which suddenly felt very prickly.

Stepping even closer to the bed, Dura paused for a moment before she helped me sit up better, taking her time to ensure that I was appropriately propped up against the pillows. She paused once again, her eyes concentrated on my right hand before she lifted it in hers, and I noticed that she kept my palm facing away from us.

Her slender fingers tightened around my wrist causing my own fingers to involuntarily twitch before she instructed, "Izara, I want you to focus on that wooden chair by the table, and imagine that you're pushing against it."

Even though I was bewildered by her request, I did not bother to question the elderly Orc. She was not only one of the best healers on the isle, but one of the most knowledgeable as well.

My brow creased as I tried to do what Dura asked.

No sooner than I thought about moving the chair I felt an unexpected rush of energy leave my body and the chair as well as the table lifted off the floor. Both pieces of furniture, along with the flower vase that had been on the table went flying through the air with such a speed that when they hit the wall, I yelped in surprise at the destruction I had caused.

Holy shit, I had magic!

Not wanting to make any sudden movements, when Dura gently lowered my hand. I then lightly fisted my hands at my sides, not wanting to unintentionally heave anything else across the room.

In a croaky voice, I murmured, "How is this possible?"

Dura frowned slightly, clearly thinking about something while she moved to pour me some water in a new mug. She then brought it to my lips, and it would seem that she would not answer me until I drank.

Letting out a soft sigh, I took a tentative sip, then a few more before my throat felt a lot better.

Resting the mug back on the side table, she said, "I'm not sure how this is possible, but it's clear that when Baldur returned your life force, he unintentionally transferred some of his magic to you."

Glancing back down at my hands, I thought about what this could mean for me.

I knew about the basis of Baldur's magic, and his ability to manipulate the energy around him was mostly in the form of wind. But the mighty Orc King also had another type of magic, a remarkable yet dangerous power that made him the most feared individual since the Fae Queen, Nissa.

Lifting my eyes back to Dura, she sensed my unvoiced question.

"I don't know if you can drain the souls of others. King Baldur himself didn't even know that he could until the fratricide ceremony. But what's happening with you, Izara, is something that no one has ever seen before. I know that you must be feeling afraid, especially given everything that has happened over the last few days–"

Not meaning to interrupt her, I blurted out, "Days?"

"Yes, the great tremor took place over four days ago. King Baldur brought you back to the castle after he regained his strength. You had passed out in the forest and well, I'll spare you the details. We were worried that you had contracted the sleeping sickness, and the fact that you can even sit up and move about a little already is nothing short of a miracle, though I'm sure the King's magic also has some role to play in this. He'll be so happy to hear that you're awake, he's been so worried about you."

"He has?" I recoiled, knowing that my shock was illustrated all over my face.

Dura moved over to another table that was near the bed and began rummaging through the various medicines she had laid out. She then began grinding a few different plant roots before mixing it all in some water before lifting the concoction to my mouth.

"Yes, he has. I've never seen him so concerned about a human before. Well, not since Avilon anyway..."

I quickly drank the medicine, unable to stop the grimace at the awful tasting liquid. Even though I momentarily gagged, I forced myself to finish everything in the cup, knowing that the specific roots she used would help give my body a boost in minerals and vitamins.

Taking the now empty cup, Dura added, "Given what transpired in the forest and your new magical abilities, one might argue that you two were fated to be together."

My throat constricted as glimpses of my dream tried to push its way in the forefront of my mind. It was as if I could hear his deep soothing voice whispering to me, urging me to beg him and at the thought, the skin of my cheeks began to tingle while I shook my head, willing the images to disappear.

Faltering, I replied, "What? Me? Fated to the Orc King? Ha!"

Dura looked over at me and what she did next had my fingers gripping the sheets.

I watched with widening eyes as the elderly Orc put her left hand over her chest and slowly bowed her head to me. It was a gesture that was usually only given to Orcs of great importance, and certainly not a tribute showed towards humans.

"Thank you, Izara, for saving our King."

I could do nothing more than simply stare at her. On top of being completely stunned by the gesture, I had no idea what to even say.

Sensing my unease, Dura gave me a small nod then straightened up.

"I'll go send for the King; he'll be happy to know that you're awake. I was to let him know the moment your eyes opened, so I best not waste any more time," she smiled and walked towards the door.

While Dura spoke with one of the Orcs that had been patrolling hallway, I shifted my attention towards the window, noting the darkness outside. Turning my eyes back to the various pieces of broken furniture, I resisted the urge to reach my hand out and try to use my new abilities.

A part of me had always been curious about what it had been like for our human ancestors when they used magic. But as I looked down at my hands again, I immediately remembered the horrible things humanity had done with their abilities.

Right there and then, I quickly made a vow to myself never to abuse the magic I had been gifted with.

It was obvious that I would need to be taught how to use this new power and a part of me feared not being able to control the mystical energy that now flowed through my veins.

From what I knew about the Orcs and their magic, being able to manipulate the air was rare among them and as such, only those who had such capabilities were tasked with flying the Amphiteres. But now, I, a human, was in possession of this special ability and I could not help but wonder what that would mean for me.

I pondered on the possibility of me getting to ride an Amphitere, but I immediately realised that I was getting ahead of myself. For all I knew, these powers could result in me being chained down in the dungeon, for the Gods alone knew how everyone would perceive me.

Would I be feared by my fellow humans?

Would the Orcs have me killed?

"Shit..." I murmured, thinking about the Orc King's reaction.

I had been trying so hard to prove to him that I was not the bad person he made me out to be and I really felt as though we connected in the forest. But who knew how this new development would change things between us.

Although, Dura did not seem upset by my new abilities. She was concerned about my overall well-being, yes, but I did not get the impression that I would be persecuted for the use of this new magic.

There was nothing I could do but sit and wait.

My body still felt very weak from the small demonstration Dura had initiated. From the way my hands trembled, I just knew that what little energy I had was mostly depleted from using the magic.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I had not realised that Dura had returned to my side. The clinking of one of her medicine bottles pulled my attention back to the room. She began to look through her assortment of herbs, choosing various leaves to make some tea.

She was so skilful in the way she striped the leaves evenly with her bare hands that I found myself getting lost in the rhythmic movements of her expert fingers.

The vibrant colours of the leaves made me think of the beautiful flowers that bloomed in the castle's impressive garden and with that, the image of the forest popped into my mind. This had me struggling to sit up even straighter against the pillows.

"Dura, do we know what caused the great tremor? Was it natural or do you think that the fae were involved somehow?"

Shaking her head, she poured some boiling water over the leaves, "Given the magnitude of the tremor, I'm inclined to think that it wasn't entirely natural, which would mean Alaric and his people have found a way to restore their magic. Khagra sent out a few Orc parties to scout the Black Forest, but so far, they haven't reported anything."

My teeth bit down on my bottom lip as I thought about what it would mean for the isle and its inhabitants if the fae were to regain their full power.

The sudden banging open of my chamber door made us both jump.

My breath hitched as the heavy wood slammed against the stone wall, the sound resonating through the room. Taking up the entire width of the doorframe were Baldur and Khagra and when they tried to enter at the same time, their shoulders clashed against each other, preventing their large bodies from getting into the room.

"After you..." Khagra grinned.

I was shocked by the look on the Orc King's face as he stalked towards me. He almost pushed Dura out of the way in his haste to get to the bed, causing her to make a tsking sound while Khagra chuckled even more.

What was that expression on Baldur's face?

The way he stared at me, was not one of his typical brooding glowers. In fact, it appeared to be closer to a look that I often thought was reserved for lovers, or at least for people who cared deeply about each other.

Before I could give the notion any more thought, he was standing at my side.

His hand quickly reached for mine, looping our fingers together and I had to suppress the shudder I felt pulse through me at his warm and gentle touch.

"Thank Anu that you're awake, I was worried about you!" Baldur said.

My eyes widened, "You were?"

I guess Dura really had been telling the truth, I silently acknowledged.

A frown appeared on Baldur's brow as he continued to look at me, my question seeming to confuse him. But just as he was about to open his mouth and say something, his best friend answered for him.

Khagra moved to stand on the other side of my bed, a smirk twitching on his lips as he held my other hand, "You should have seen him, Izara, he was almost beside himself."

My head whipped back and forth between the two imposing Orcs and I noted the way Baldur's scowl deepened as though embarrassed by Khagra's admission. They seemed to be having a silent conversation between them before their eyes moved to focus on me and I trembled beneath their penetrating gaze.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty, I'm leaving this tea for Izara, please ensure that she drinks it," Dura stated before she shot me a wink and left with her things.

When the door closed behind her, Baldur asked, "How are you feeling?"

I knew that I needed to tell him about my new abilities as soon as possible and I figured with Khagra here, now was the best time. If the Orc King did become angry, I hoped that his best friend would be able to calm him down.

But I found myself stalling nonetheless, "How is Gnarg? Is he feeling better?"

"He's fine, now tell me about you. Don't make me ask again..." Baldur said, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand.

Pursing my lips, I sighed, "I feel fine, but there's something I need to show you."

"What is it? Are you hurt somewhere?"

The concern in his voice made my breathing falter as I felt the muscles of my core clench, but I quickly got control of myself and shook my head, "No, it's nothing like that."

Gently tugging my both hands free, I looked down at my palms before flexing my fingers.

I gradually raised my right hand up into the air and tried to focus on the broken pieces of furniture and the shattered vase that lay against the wall. Taking a deep breath, I envisioned a small breeze pushing against the broken table. However, what ended up happening instead was a pulsing wave that expelled from my palm, shattering the debris into even smaller pieces.

"Holy fuck!" Khagra exclaimed with a laugh, his face full of excitement.

Baldur's reaction was the opposite.

The Orc King was eerily quiet while his blue eyes gaped wide, flittering between me and the broken pieces of wood and ceramic, disbelief masking his facial features.

Clenching my hands into fists, I gripped the bedsheets while I fought the slight dizzying feeling that suddenly came over me. I took a few deep breaths, willing myself to calm down while I waited for Baldur to shout at me.

But what happened next was unexpected.

Dropping to his knees at the side of my bed, Baldur grabbed my left hand once again, both his hands clasping me, "I'm so sorry, Izara."

"Sorry? You're not mad?" I asked in a low voice.

Khagra jumped in and said, "Why would he? You can pass wind now!"

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing at his attempt at a fart joke, because of course Khagra would find humour in such a serious situation.

"How could I be mad?" Baldur enquired his fingers massaging over my now open palm before he continued, "It's clearly my fault this has happened as I assume when I transferred your life force back, I gave you a part of me as well. Or at least my ability."

His touch felt so good and I found myself thinking about the dream once again.

Not now! I silently chastised myself.

Pushing the thought away, I refocused myself and asked, "Do you think I got all of your abilities?"

"Fuck, I hope not..."

Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Khagra stated, "There's only one way to find out–"

"Absolutely not!" Baldur growled.

"You don't even know what I was going to say."

Baldur slowly got to his feet, my hand remaining his one of his while he used the other to point at his best friend. "Yes, I do, and I won't put Izara in harm's way just to test and see if she can manipulate another's lifeforce. For if she can't, she could get seriously injured in the process, or worse, die! We all know that's how my power was awakened, because I was on the brink of death! I won't ask that of her."

The protective tone in his voice had my lips parting in awe.

He cared about me, I grasped and the unexpected realisation had my heart beating a little faster and I unconsciously squeezed his hand to which his own hold on mine tightened slightly, returning the gesture.

"I understand the risks but I'm sure for Izara's peace of mind she would want to know?" Khagra suggested, his eyes turning towards me.

Nodding slightly, "I don't mean to go against you, Your Majesty, but I think Khagra's right. I would drive myself crazy wanting to know if I could drain the soul of someone. In fact, I'd be afraid that it was something I could do unintentionally. But I do also acknowledge that I need to first understand and master the wind element of this magic before we go trying any crazy tests."

Baldur seemed to ponder on my words for a moment before he grunted, "Fine, I'll teach you myself then. We'll start as soon as you're able."

This time, my mouth gaped open even wider.

I had always been eager to train with the Orcs and was absolutely ecstatic when Khagra would take the time to teach me a few things. But to have the King himself carve some space out of his busy schedule to train me was such a huge honour and I did not take this gesture for granted.

To think, before the incident in the forest, Baldur had avoided me as much as possible.

Yet now, he seemed to be eager to spend as much time with me as he could. As much as the thought made something in my stomach flutter, I tried not to look too much into it.

After all, Baldur was probably only offering to teach me because he was feeling guilty for nearly taking my soul. Or who knew, perhaps this was his way of thanking me for what I had done for him in the forest.

Either way, I was looking forward to learning all I could.

I just had to make sure to keep my carnal thoughts about Baldur to myself, and do my best not to let my attraction to him be obvious. Especially since it seemed as though he no longer hated me, maybe we could work towards being friends.

Yes, that sounded like a much better plan, for the last thing I needed to be doing was fantasising about the Orc King and what his massive cock might feel like. With that curious notion, I unintentionally let out a soft moan.

"Izara? Are you alright?" Baldur asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

Shaking my head, my cheeks tingled while I stammered, "Yes, sorry, I was just thinking about us training together."

"Sure, you were..." Khagra said with a wink.

Kill me now, I silently groused, fighting the urge to hide behind the covers.

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A/N: Interesting times ahead... 🤭