(Amaia)

I am shivering in Saiph’s hold while he hides my true self by placing the necklace around my neck.

Saiph is a storm, hard, fast and brutal and he took my breath away. And yet, I cherished every moment with him.

My wings have grown and I know it’s because I have mated with him. It swells my heart that he got to see my wings.

I mentally make a note to show them to Rigel too. He is the only one left who hasn’t seen them.

His hands rub against my body, trying to warm me.

"Let your body dry, then I will dress you up." Picking up his shirt he begins to use it as a towel to take away the extra water.

Like Mintaka, he cares for me after having sex. Saiph removes the remaining GlimmerSticks from my hair. The excited creatures are still sticking to me but he returns them to the water.

Once my body is dry, Saiph helps me get dressed. His actions are unhurried, patient, and loving – like he genuinely cares, unlike his fucking.

His shirt is soaked so he only puts on his jacket and pants while I hold onto it.

"Come you must be hungry. We will eat something before returning to the academy."

"Please!" I cling to his warm body. He really is like a Yeti. My stomach is growling after all that exercise we have done in the water.

Throwing one last glance at this secluded place where there is not a soul in sight we head out.

Saiph keeps the pace of his bike slow so both of us can converse and enjoy the scenery.

My mindlink with Mintaka and Alnitak is quiet. I think there is a range to which it works and not beyond it. But their agitation now seeps into my heart. They are frustrated, and I am guessing the training must be over, and they have to be looking for me.

A restlessness crawls into my heart.

Did they sense me having sex with Saiph?

I will worry about it when we get back, for the time being I have to be with Saiph, he deserves my time too.

The sputtering of his bike is the only sound in the night for miles and I love the slow pace and rhythm with which it travels.

He takes me to a small market area with a few stalls. Parking his motorbike he helps me climb down. Being a short person it’s not easy for me.

"What would you like to eat?" He questions, pointing to the three stalls there.

"Skewered chicken thighs, Kimbap, dumplings or fried fish?" He gives me all the options.

I cross my arms over my chest, still feeling cold, and my hair is wet and clinging to my clothes. I hate wet hair.

"Let’s go with fish. It will warm me up." Saiph walks me over to the wooden benches and helps me sit down.

"I will bring it, wait here." Saiph walks away while I spread his shirt on the bench beside me so it can dry.

Placing my elbow on the table, I hold my face in my hand. It’s such a quiet and peaceful night, no incident or monster in sight. The blowing wind is cool and I hope my hair will dry before we return to the academy.

My eyes drift to the stalls and there is one with games. Like throwing rings and balls to win prizes.

Saiph walks back to me and observes me watching the stall.

"Come, let’s play," he offers, extending his hand, clad in half-leather gloves. I take it and he leads me towards the stall.

"Three rings." He holds up three fingers for the young boy who is operating the games on the stall. Wearing a red and white clown hat, he offers us a goofy smile.

"3 silver coins," he tells Saiph and he pays him from his pouch.

Leaning closer, I place my hands on his thick bicep and whisper, "I will pay you when we get back."

Saiph’s head turns towards me and he offers me such a scandalous look as if I have not only offended him but his entire lineage.

"No, you will not. And don’t ever say that again," he says with such finality that I have to suppress a smile.

"Here, try the game." He offers me the rings and I go to stand in front of the stall. There are three thick, red cones about 10 feet away. I need to throw the rings around them to win.

With the swing of my arm and hand, holding the ring with my thumb and pointer finger, I aim twice without releasing the ring.

I think I have got it, I am not a bad shot. Saiph hulks by my side, arms folded watching me keenly.

Aiming for the first cone, I release the ring and it flies through the air before landing around the neck of the cone.

"Woohoo!" I happily raise my arm and Saiph’s smile widens into an impressed one.

"Excellent! Go for the next one."

The second ring swings through the air and hits the upper edge of the cone.

My heart jumps in my mouth as I expectantly watch...

It swivels on the edge before landing inside with a few wobbles.

A sigh of relief leaves me.

"Only one left. You can do it," Saiph encourages me. A proud smile rests on his lips now.

I close my left eye and focus with my right. This is the most difficult one because the last cone is the thinnest. I have to be careful.

With a silent prayer, I release the last ring, and it glides through the air before smoothly landing around the last cone.

"Yahhh!" I raise my arms, and Saiph hugs me, pulling me into him for another heated kiss.

I am truly getting addicted to this man.

"What prize would you like to have?" The boy’s voice makes us pull apart and turn towards his embarrassed face.

He is pointing towards the glass display which holds plenty of stuffed animals. A roaring lion, a cute white and black panda, a few creatures from our current world, a red dragon, but it’s the big-bellied, gigantic but fluffy white and blue Yeti that gets my attention.

With a knowing smile, I point and tell the boy.

"I want that Yeti."