Chapter Fifty Five - Haven

Chapter Song Suggestion "Gyration by Oddling"

---------------

THE PAST | Eira

It was the final night of the Skothii games and the siblings were gathered around the campfire, excitedly discussing their wins, until their youngest sister IIona piped up, "What are your dreams for the future? I've always wanted to travel the world when I grow up."

"I'm going to be the next Chieftain of our tribe," their eldest brother, Kulan answered.

"That's so typical of you," their sister, Meera snorted. "I'm aiming to become the first female war commander."

"Good luck with that," IIona remarked. "You'll have to defeat Kallam for that position. It's obvious he's thinking of succeeding his father's title. You'll only be in his way."

"Or she'll end up marrying him," Kulan teased, knowing his sister liked the warrior who trained with them since young.

The firelight couldn't hide Meera's mortified cheeks. "Shut up, Kulan! That will never happen!"

IIona rolled her eyes heavenward, turning to her eldest sister. "What about you, Eira? What's your dream? Are you going to be a head huntress like mother?"

"I don't know," Eira admitted lamely. "I've never given it much thought but, I suppose a future where we can live freely — safe and sound without fear — is all I want. And to be with surrounded by my loved ones."

Kulan smiled — a sad yet proud expression. "Amongst the four of us, you've always had the simplest desires, anakki. I hope you'll realize that you are capable and worth more, but I acknowledge that it is part of who you are. And I am proud" — he glanced at his sisters — "of all of you and I hope we can all achieve our dreams together."

"Hear! Hear!" IIona exclaimed fervently, raising her goblet of cider. "That's one of the best things I've heard all day. Here's to us and our future!"

---------------

PRESENT DAY | Three Months Later

"We hereby accept your resignation as Captain of unit six," Colonel Emory proclaimed before the court. "As promised, we have absolved the late Officer Kasper Verhelst of the crime he had been wrongly incriminated for upon his murder. On behalf of Ataxia, I sincerely apologize for everything Novak Levente had caused your family. We hope that with the Prime Minister's restitution, you will be able to live out the rest of your life in comfort. Thank you for your years of service. Despite of how you came to Ataxia, know that I have never doubted your competence and always looked fondly upon you."

Surprise slipped onto Lars's face, eliciting a soft chuckle from the Colonel. He never witnessed this side of Colonel Emory before.

"Yes, it seems everyone knows it, but you." A hint of sadness reflected in the Colonel's eyes before it vanished. "Ataxia will be losing one of its greatest warriors today." He saluted Lars. "I wish you good luck, Lars Verhelst."

"Thank you, Colonel Emory," Lars returned the gesture and sentiment. The moment he exited the room, he felt incredibly lighter in years. He also spotted Hakon waiting for him.

"Are you really leaving?" Hakon demanded, peeling off the wall.

"Yes. There's no longer a reason for me to stay." Lars regarded the other man's brooding expression. "And you?"

"I like what I'm doing here," Hakon conceded. "As Captain, I have a purpose and there is no one waiting for me back in Thaenia. I guess this is where our paths deviates." He held out a hand. "It was good knowing you, Lars Verhelst."

Lars grinned fiercely, accepting his hand. "If it wasn't for you, I might have died fifteen years ago. I'm sure we'll meet again someday."

Hakon never imagined the rebellious boy he met in a prison cell had finally achieved his dreams. It seemed many things were still possible in predation times. "Count on it."

---------------

Eira smiled at the sight of her lover entering the courtyard.

After Ataxia's destruction, it took the government three months to restore half of the base's main facilities and dormitories. All units had contributed in some way or another to facilitate the process, at the same time fostering harmony between everyone. It seemed that near death experience and devastation had inspired the kill hunters to build a better rapport with each other, for the good of the future.

Eira was glad the dark cloud hovering over Ataxia was gone, and everything was back to normal with the exception of the ongoing investigation.

In the past few months, she and Lars had found a deserted island off the coast of Craole where they could build a new home. She was brimming with excitement for the house Lars was designing, adding a few touches for Aeolus and Xue Long's comfort. While Lars tied up his loose ends with the authorities, she continued working small missions with the team until the day Lars was summoned by the tribunal.

And that day was today.

She willingly went into his arms and asked teasingly. "How was it? Did the Colonel shed any tears?"

"He did look wistful," Lars admitted.

"I told you he had a soft spot for you."

He shook his head. "It doesn't matter. We're finally free of this place, and I can't wait to leave." His palm slid protectively over her tiny bump. "How's the little firecracker?"

Eira loved how his tone inexplicably gentled every time he talked about their baby. In fact, he couldn't go one day without touching her bump and every night, he would kiss their child good night after making sweet love to her. He was spoiling them with his love and unexpected sweetness. She realized Lars had changed over the course of their reunion. "Our baby's fine."

"Captain!"

They both turned to see Koga waving excitedly with the others. "Captain! Are you really leaving today? Can't it wait another day?"

"I am no longer your Captain, Koga," Lars said with dry amusement, his gaze shifting to Florian. "From today, Florian is your new Captain."

Florian threw him a harassed look. "It was unfair of you to nominate me without my consent."

"It didn't elect you because you're incompetent, Captain Denali. And you only need to bear with it until everyone is cleared to leave Ataxia."

"Who knows when will that be?" Florian objected lightly. "The investigation could drag on for years. I wish you could take us with you." Reluctance seeped into his voice, expressing his misery. "It wouldn't be the same here without you and Eira." He nodded at Aeolus and Xue Long. "I think I would even miss those two fish hoggers."

Aeolus huffed loudly.

"Sorry I'm late, Verhelst," Kaiser announced from behind, dragging his belongings. "I was delayed by Commander Chopin."

"Why does Kaiser get to go with you?" Koga's voice vibrated with annoyance.

"Unlike you, I've always been a free man." Kaiser wasn't above rubbing the fact into the ex-yankee's face. The two had forged an unlikely friendship in the past few days. "And I resigned a month ago."

"You sneaky little bastard!" Koga accused.

"Don't worry, Koga," Eira placated, squeezing his shoulder. "Time will fly and before you know it, we'll be together again. Once we reach the island, I'll have Xue Long relay a message. We can still keep in touch."

"That's right," Lars agreed, possessively pulling her back to his side. "We'll be waiting. By then, we would have a decent home you will be proud of."

"I'm going to miss you, Captain. To me, you'll always be my Captain," Koga declared wholeheartedly. "I bid the both of you a safe journey."

Anaelle stepped forward to embrace Eira. "Take care and I'll see you soon. If there's anything wrong with the baby, reach out to me and I'll be right over."

"Thank you, Anaelle." Eira was appalled to feel the prickle of tears. Thanks to her pregnancy hormones, she seemed to cry at the drop of a hat. "I'll miss you."

"As your appointed medical officer, you won't even get the chance to miss me," Anaelle said cheekily. "I'll be checking in on you every morning."

Eira released a faint laugh. "Somehow I knew I couldn't escape you."

After loading Kaiser's belongings onto Aeolus, Lars helped Eira onto Xue Long before mounting the Gryphon. "Take care, everyone. We'll meet again soon."

"Safe journey, Captain," Koga saluted him, watching as the predators took flight with their masters into the afternoon sun. He wore his smile wide and bright until their silhouettes disappeared from sight, only then, did he allow the sadness to creep in.

He was startled when Anaelle slipped her arm around his. "They'll be fine. With the way you're acting, someone would think it's the end of the world."

His face was wistful when she would've expected a snarky comeback. "I'm happy that the Captain and Eira have obtained their long-awaited freedom. It just won't be unit six without them." He placed the hand over his heart. "Is this what a breakup feels like?"

She rolled her eyes. Anaelle always knew Koga was a sensitive man beneath his foul mouth. For three months, he had forced himself to smile on behalf of the Captain's happiness when he was the most torn about Lars's decision to leave.

"Ahh!" Florian startled them with a frustrated sigh. "We're back to being the loser unit. Without Lars or Eira, we're a three-man unit." He raked his fingers through his hair. "I hope we can survive long enough to reunite with them."

"Oh? Did I miss them?" A new voice entered the scene.

"First Lieutenant Strauss!" Florian couldn't hide the surprise in his voice. "If you're looking for the Captain, he just left."

Mickael's lips twitched. These brats were still devoted to Lars even after he had resigned. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Why don't the three of you come with me? I have a mission that would be of interest to you."

---------------

ONE MONTH LATER

"Kaiser, have you seen Lars?" Eira wandered into his hut, unable to see him through the astounding mess of his lab.

"I think he went down to the waterfalls." Came his muffled response.

"Alright, thank you!"

"No problem!"

Gathering the hem of her skirt she wended through the jungle, avoiding decaying logs and slippery slopes. She climbed a bed of rocks surrounding turquoise waters, spotting Aeolus and Xue Long sunbathing on the highest peak, content to lie on their bellies. Those two were inseparable after coming to Haven. Upon coming here, they drove out the reigning predators and established their dominance.

Xue Long rolled over and lifted her head, ears flicking. {Master. Come to play?}

Smiling, she lifted a finger to her lips. The inviting silhouette bathing behind the waterfall curtain had her disrobing and diving into the waters. Yes, in the weeks they were here, Lars had taught her how to swim.

"Because it would put me at ease to know you can save yourself on an island surrounded by water," he had reasoned.

They discovered she was a mermaid in water and Eira was glad she never allowed her fear to rob her of this delightful talent. Breaching the waterfall, her head bobbed closer to his very wet, and very naked body.

"It'll take decades before you can catch me off guard, sweetheart," Lars remarked smugly without turning.

"Damn it!" she cursed softly. "How did you know?"

He flashed a very male smile. "I'll always know when you're near. Come here, Eira."

For the sake of annoying him, she did the opposite and swam to the rock wall only to gasp aloud when he trapped her against it. Lars's delicious heat was enough to make her tremble with excitement, her nipples hardening and her body readying itself for pleasure.

"Are you going to be disobedient again?" His voice was an erotic spell wrapping around her senses.

Her lids fluttered shut when his breath grazed the soft shell of ear. Why wasn't he touching her? A soft moan of frustration escaped her.

His chuckle was evil – deliberate and teasing. "What's wrong? If you want me to touch you, all you have to do is beg for it."

A bolt of dissatisfaction shot through her. Why did she always have to be the one who begged? Deciding to turn tables, she arched her back, grinding her bottom into his groin, rubbing against his hardness. Feminine pride fluttered in her stomach when his fingers dug into the wall. "Are you sure you're not the one whose supposed to be begging instead?"

His smile widened. "Is this how you want to play it?" Bending his head, he clamped his teeth on the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, dragging an intense moan from her. "I know every part of your body, sweetheart. Where to make you moan, where to make you wetter, where to make your body sing for me."

Eira didn't realize she was panting until he pressed two fingers inside her mouth, prompting her to suck on them. Cruel, sensual lips whispered against her cheek, her jaw and down her back. "Are you willing to beg now?"

Fists curling, she swallowed the urge to scream for him to fuck her. She was so fucking wet and horny. Shifting her bottom, she notched the head of his cock into her opening, silently begging.

"Oh, no sweetheart." His lips grazed her pulse. "Just three little words and this" – he pushed into her, stretching her for a second before pulling out – "can be inside you."

She whimpered at the loss of him. "Please!"

"Please what?"

Eira twisted around, capturing his lips in a brutal, open-mouthed kiss. His vitality was a living pulse that beckoned her, like a moth to flame. She met those beautiful, golden eyes and knew he could tempt her into hell itself. "Please, fuck me."

"With pleasure," he growled and buried himself to the hilt in a single stroke. They both moaned at the intense pleasure, her insides gripping him, welcoming him. They were intertwined. Lock and key.

Eira's arms wrapped around him, luxuriating in the fullness, the stretched ecstasy. And then he started to move, the slick motion of body against body, the thrust and parry of male and female, the lush, and erotic explosion into rapture. The last thing Eira remembered was that maybe she had underestimated her desire for this man alone.

---------------

She woke up to firelight dancing over her face. Blinking groggily, she glanced around.

"How are you feeling?" Lars's concerned voice drifted from the darkness. "I think this is the first time I've fucked a woman into oblivion."

Her cheeks flushed. "It's never happened before…,"

He came forward, looking so handsome with his slicked back hair. Her stomach clenched at the lines of his chest, his abdomen and skated down. She wanted him again.

"Don't look at me like that," he warned lowly. "Your body can't take another round of sex."

"I'm sorry," she murmured, ashamed of her insatiable appetite.

He lifted her chin up. "Don't be. I'm flattered that you want me that much. I want you too but, I'm drawing the line when it's harmful to your body." With great care, he helped her up. "Why did you come to waterfalls earlier today?"

"I intended to tell you that we received a message from Anaelle."

"What did she say?" he asked, shifting their bodies so that she was cradled between his thighs.

Excitement shone in her green orbs. "They'll be joining us next month. I can't wait for them to get here."

Though it was earlier than the original timeline he had anticipated, Lars couldn't say he was unhappy about it. He couldn't help wondering if Mickael had a hand in this. "Then we better prepare to welcome them."