#Seer Jay

[anns-works]

Seer!Jay is a gorgeous concept bc other than the usual angst, there are also moments where people have sumbled into Jay aggressively preparing for the soon-to-be avoided bunnypocalypse. Need to hold him back from demolishing a gift shop. Stop him from dumping crates of eggs in to the sea. Witness him threaten every plant they come across.

[hornetsstuck]

jay being a seer of void makes so much more sense to me now that i've contextualised the seer as "one who seeks [own aspect] through [opposite aspect]". jay's ultimate goal is to understand the unknown & unmask alex's secrets, but he goes about it in such a light-coded way (documenting everything, getting through by blind fortune alone) that he really does seem like a light player at first glance.

the jay|alex parallels drive me crazy sometimes. also saying a lot that jay has the same aspect that i've tied directly to the operator.

[starlit1daydream]

HORNETSSTUCK GOD TIERS (MAYBE FINALISED PROBABLY NOT)

Jay Merrick: Seer of Void

Alex Kralie: Prince of Light

Timothy Wright: Heir of Heart

Brian Thomas: Witch of Mind

Jessica Locke: Muse of Breath

The Operator: Lord of Void(?)

THIS MAY CHANGE. ALEX AND JAY ARE THE ONLY ONES I AM 100% SURE ON

[gu6chan]

thinking about making that lhc/isj rp multimuse again but the thought of having a zera without a jaibo or a jaibo without a zera is making me want to VOMIT‼️‼️‼️‼️

[miscellaneousjay]

Can’t celebrate Spooky Season without plugging my piece about one of my favorite witches/witch films: Eve’s Bayou! Check out this analysis and review I did on this Black classic!

[fournets]

i was just scrolling pintrest thinking devious thoughts then this fucking showed up

god i am actually shaking and trembling /lh

[thatonegaybastard]

im gonna change jay to the seer of breath ans olly to the knight of void though seer of void would be badass abd cook byt also i dont wabr to have two seers

im gonna run one session with this combo then authorbot

[stxrryclusterthinks]

us

[ranahan]

C, cy, yc—why are they pronounced like that?

I think I’ve mentioned before that the rule is very nearly regular, so here it is. I’ve reproduced Traviss’s original pronunciation guides here (so you can see whether what I’m saying holds true).

c (without y) is pronounced as /s/ before high front vowels /e i/

cerar [sair-ARR]

ceratir [sair-AH-teer]

ceryc [sair-EESH]

cetar [set-ARR]

cetare [set-ARE-ay]

cin [seen]

cinargaanar [see-NAHR-gah-nahr]

cinarin [see-NAH-reen]

cin'ciri [seen-SEE-ree]

cinyc [SEE-neesh]

ciryc [seer-EESH]

mircin [meer-SEEN]

mircir [meer-SEER]

mirci't [meer-SEET]

racin [ray-SEEN]

tom'urcir [tohm-OOR-seer]

ver'mircit [VAIR-meer-seet]

otherwise as /k/

That is, before other vowels:

ca [kah]

cabuor [kah-BOO- or]

cabur [KAH-boor]

ca'nara [KAH-nah-RAH]

can'gal [CAHN-gahl]

carud [kah-ROOD]

ca'tra[KAH-tra]

cuir [COO-eer]

copaanir [KOH-pan-EER]

copad [KOH-pad]

copikla [koh-PEEK-lah]

copyc [KOH-peesh]

cu'bikad [COO-bee-kahd]

cunak [COO-nahk]

cuun [koon]

cuyan [koo-YAHN]

cuyanir [coo-YAH-neer]

cuyete [coo-YAY-tay]

cuyir [KOO-yeer]

cuyla [COO-ee-lah]

du'car [DOO-kar]

du'caryc [doo-KAR-eesh]

ge'catra [geh-CAT-rah]

jorcu [JOR-koo]

ori'copaad [OH-ree-KOH-pahd]

vencuyanir [ven-COO-yah-neer]

vencuyot [vain-COO-ee-ot]

vercopa [vair-KOH-pa]

vercopaanir [VAIR-koh-PAH-neer]

…and in a word-final position:

balac [bah-LAHK]

bic [beek]

ibac [ee-BAK]

ibic [ee-BIK]

norac [noh-RAK]

tebec [TEH-bek]

yc is always pronounced as /iʃ/

aikiyc [ai-KEESH]

aruetyc [AH-roo-eh-TEESH]

balyc [BAH-leesh]

beskaryc [BES-kar-EESH]

burk'yc [BOOR-keesh]

chakaaryc [chah- KAR-eesh]

copyc [KOH-peesh]

dalyc [DAH-leesh]

daryc [DAR-eesh]

diryc [DEER-eesh]

duumyc [DOO-meesh]

etyc [ETT-eesh]

gaht'yc [GAH-teesh]

gehatyc [geh-HAHT-eesh]

haamyc [HAH-meesh]

haatyc [HAH-teesh]

haryc [HAR-eesh]

hayc [haysh]

hetikleyc [hay-TEEK-laysh]

hettyc [heh-TEESH]

hodayc [HOH-daysh]

hokan'yc [hoh-KAH-neesh]

iviin'yc [ee-VEEN-esh]

jagyc [JAH-geesh]

jaon'yc [jai-OHN-ish]

jari'eyc [JAR-ee-aysh

jatisyc [jah-TEE-seesh]

johayc [JO-haysh]

kotyc [koh-TEESH]

kyr'adyc [keer-AH-deesh]

kyrayc [keer-AYSH]

kyr'yc [KEER-eesh]

laamyc [LAH-meesh]

lararyc [lah-rah-eesh]

majyc [MAH-jeesh]

morut'yc [moh-ROO-teesh]

narseryc [nar-SAIR-eesh]

nayc [naysh]

neduumyc [nay-DOO-meesh]

nehutyc [neh-HOOT-eesh]

nu'amyc [noo-AHM-eesh]

nuhaatyc [noo-HAH-teesh]

ori'beskaryc [OH-ree-bes-KAR-eesh]

ori'jagyc [OH-ree-JAHG-eesh (or OH-ree-YAHG-eesh)]

ori'suumyc [OHR-ee-SOOM-eesh]

oyayc [oy-AYSH]

piryc [PEER-eesh]

ramikadyc [RAH-mee-KAHD-eesh]

ret'yc [RET-eesh]

ruusaanyc [roo-SAHN-eesh]

sapanyc [sah-PAHN-eesh]

shaap'yc [sha-PEESH]

shi'yayc [shee-YAYSH]

shuk'yc [shook-EESH]

shupur'yc [shoo-POOR-esh]

sol'yc [sohl-EESH]

talyc [tahl-EESH]

tomyc [TOH-meesh]

tranyc [TRAH-neesh]

tratyc [TRAH-teesh]

tug'yc [too-GEESH]

ulyc [OO-leesh]

urcir [oor-SEER]

utyc [OO-teesh]

verburyc [vair-BOOR-eesh]

verd'yc [VAIR-deesh]

vutyc [VOOT-eesh]

yaiyai'yc [yai-YAI-eesh]

Note that this is still true when yc occurs in the middle of a word instead of the end:

barycir [bah-REE-shir]

besbe'trayce [BES-beh-TRAYSH-ay]

dirycir [DEER-ee-SHEER]

ke'gyce [keh-GHEE-shay]

majyce [mah-jEE-shay]

majycir [MAH-jeesh-eer]

mar'eyce [mah-RAY-shay]

mureyca [MOOR-aysh-ah]

cy is pronounced as /ʃ/

burc'ya [BOOR-sha]

burcyan [BOOR-shahn]

cyare [SHAH-ray]

cyare'se [shar-AY-say]

cyar'ika [shar-EE-kah]

cyar'tomade [SHAR-toe-MAH-day]

mirshmure'cya [meersh-moor-AY-shah]

murcyur [MOOR-shoor]

oyacyir [oy-YAH-sheer]

Ret'urcye mhi [ray-TOOR-shay-MEE]

sheb'urcyin [sheh-BOOR-shin]

sho'cye [SHOW-shay]

tracy'uur [trah-SHOOR]

Exceptions

The above holds true except for some exceptions:

The first is a group of words with a combination of u + yc:

buyca [BOO-shah]

buy'ce [BOO-shay]

buycika [BOO-she-kah]

This might be related to the status of /ui/ as a diphthong in Mando’a & could be a piece of evidence against it. What do I mean? Well, every instance of ⟨uy⟩ in the dictionary, Traviss breaks up in two syllables /u.i/. Could be there’s no diphthong /ui/ in Mando’a? However, I think it’s more likely this is because Traviss gives the pronunciations with an English orthography (i.e. how an English speaking reader would know to pronounce the words), and there’s no diphthong /ui/ in English, so in order to represent those sounds in English, they have to be broken up in separate syllables.

I also think the long /uː/ in buy’ce etc. is likely simply an elision: try going slowly from /u/ to /i/ to /ʃ/, and you’ll notice it’s easier to slip directly from /u/ to /ʃ/. I would generalise it as the diphthong /ʊɪ/ being realised as /uː/ before palatal consonants (at least; maybe others as well).

and:

buyacir [boo-ya-SHEER] /bʊ.ja.ˈʃiɾ/

Which has no excuse for being irregular except for influence on its spelling from buy’ce, so you could alternatively spell it as buyacyir or pronounce it as /bʊ.ja.ˈsiɾ/ (either would be regular).

The other exception to the rule is:

acyk [AH-seek]

The rule for this could be formulated as “if y is the only vowel in a syllable, it’s pronounced as /i/ and the pronunciation of c follows that.” Except for…

tracyn [trah-SHEEN]

Which itself could be analysed as a combination of the above rules: y as an only vowel gets pronounced as /i/, but the consonant in cy is still pronounced as /ʃ/ (in which case it would be acyk that is irregular instead).

It’s the derivations that appear irregular:

tracinya [trah-SHEE-nah]

tracyaat [tra-SHEE-at]

tra'cyar [tra-SHEE-ar]

Tracinya is plainly a derivation of tracyn, just spelled with an i instead of y. Interestingly, in Harlin’s Mando’a tracyn is pronounced as /tra.ʃin/ and tracinya as /tra.sin.ja/. So perhaps it’s acyk which should be pronounced as /a.ʃik/?

I’ve chosen to adjust the pronunciation of the other two to conform to the rule of pronouncing cy as /ʃ/: /tɾa.ˈʃaːt/ & /tɾa.ˈʃaɾ/.

And then:

yacur [YAH-soor]

Idek? I have do idea where this one comes from.

And:

Coruscanta [KOH-roo-SAHN-ta]

which is a loanword and doesn’t count. Although I’d suspect that “Corusanta” might be a fairly common misspelling among native speakers.

Explanation

So why is it pronounced like that? The explanation is something called palatalisation, which is the same reason why c in Latinate words is sometimes pronounced as /k/ and sometimes as /s/.

In very simple terms, the high front vowels and the semivowel /j/ are pronounced such that the tongue is at or very nearly the palatal position. So they tend to pull the preceding consonants to the palatal place of articulation (instead of whichever place of articulation they used to be pronounced at).

So in Mando’a:

c → k

c + high front vowel /i e/ → /s/

c + semivowel /j/ → /ʃ/

Not sure if /k/ is the original value of ⟨c⟩ since this rule doesn’t seem to apply to ⟨k⟩. Maybe ⟨c⟩ had originally another value, which has later changed into /k/?

There will be a second part to this post later, but I’ll break this off here for now.

[sidyashchiy-na-plakhe]

Wings of fire ADOPTS

My first adopts! If you want to buy them, DM me and I'll give you a link to my boosty, where you can pay for the adopt. Do not remove the watermark before purchasing and do not assign the reference itself as your authorship. If you want a full body reference, then also DM me and I'll draw it for you (within $10-20. Depends on the style).

Nightwing (Rhodonite) - closed. 5$

Seawing/skywing (Jay) - closed 3$

Mudwing (Lazuli) - closed 4$.

ABOUT ADOPTS:

Madame Rhodonite 🌹✨ (price: 450₽/5$) Rhodonite is a blind nightwing who was born under a blood moon and gained incredibly strong abilities to see bad outcomes in the future. Her parents were overprotective and grieved over her "unfortunate fate". However, Rhodonite didn't give up, but on the contrary, learned to have excellent control over her visions and became the best seer of her time. She sees the world through her visions. Rhodonite's family became the dominant royal seers (and Allknowing is her distant descendant). She is a very cheerful, sarcastic and damn cunning woman. (if you want me to draw you full body references for Rhodonite and for her best friends, then you can pay me about $60. For four references in the style as in this post!)

Jay 🪶🐦(price: 300₽/3$) Jay is a seawing-skywing hybrid. She is a big fan of traveling, very emotional and self-confident, which is why she sometimes gets into fights. Very sociable and does not like to be alone.

Lazuli 🎩🎻(price: 400₽/4$). Very calm and gentle mudwing (1/4 seawing). He is the conductor of the orchestra, the members of which are his siblings. Together they travel from different kingdoms and give dragons beautiful classical music at various concerts. (if you want to get all Lazuli's siblings along with him, the amount is about 90$. But that's 5 full-fledged references with a 10$ discount.)

[spinchip]

For the Find Your Way Home AU, are there any character relationships or connections that you think would be different from canon because the ninja all meet each other at a different point in life/under new circumstances? Like, for example, are they less close with Zane because they only just met him and didn't know him while he still thought he was human? Is bonding with Lloyd easier because they didn't deal with him trying to go all "child villain" on their asses?

ohhhh ohhhhh the Zane dynamic in the group is so fun because he's not human, he knows hes not human, and he's actively keeping it a secret. he's lying to them! for a long time! because of this, hes effectively always keeping the others at arms length. he can't risk anyone getting close because they might find out. this puts a wedge between him and the others until they find out about his secret (which is... seasons down the line. oops.) also they think he's weird ❤️ and all his extensive knowledge, seer abilities, and android nature only add to that. it takes them longer to warm up to him.

bonding with Lloyd is definitely easier because to them he's just some kid signed up for a tournament he should NOT be in. they want to protect him!! and Lloyd also has a lot going on that really helps him relate to the others, and he's more willing to be open about those things. doesn't know his dad, who left when he was a kid? hey Kai! feels he's destined for something greater and feels the pressure to live up to that mysterious bar? Nya! complicated relationship with a parental figure? helloooo Cole! Different in an unexplainable way that sets him apart from others? Zane! has a hard time making friends and uses sarcasm to shield himself? Jayyyyy!

Cole and Jay take a loooong time to trust and rely on the others. they have each other, and that's a crutch they both constantly fall back on. they know where they stand with each other and don't have to worry about guessing games with the others.

Kai is not really into the whole Elemental Masters thing, but he forms a close bond with Lloyd and Nya really pushes him to embrace his destiny so he finally warms up to the idea. part of him is still resistant so that can cause a bit of contention between him and zane especially, who'd fully committed to his role as the White Ninja.

Nya's relationship with kai suffers a lot during this because Nya always KNEW she was destined for greatness!! and then she learns about this amazing prophecy... that her brother is part of. her brother, who wouldn't even have come along if not for her. who wants no part of it. HE'S in the prophecy. and he's still trying to baby her and take care of her. she's bitter towards them all but doesn't show it

feel free to ask about specific relationships!

[bananaactivity]

STUFF

I’m super busy with uni stuff so I haven’t been able to make much progress on my MBAV comic but I have art to look at 👅

Harry bought that, Jay took the picture Prince goody two shoes in the back is appalled at the blatant substance abuse

A quick sketch of what Ethan Morgan’s Seer eyes look like, you can tell it’s quick because it doesn’t have the features I gave Ethan… he looks like a basic black haired main character.

Some comic progess. Technically the flats since I’m waiting to finish all the character work before I add the final shading. Yeah it’s gonna take decades to finish that. I’m probably gonna draw some Victorious stuff next for posting.

This comic is gonna be a background project just because i know if i only focus on just it ill burn out and get bored.

[hornetsstuck]

hmm.. something about jay becoming blind during hornetsstuck to symbolise him going further into his journey as a seer of void (one who sees nothing)

[riptidesblog]

Pilots summarized in a poem

A blacksmith's son and daughter alone,

An old man with secrets prone,

Inner fire one shall unleash,

To save his sister taken by hands of bone.

A tale of two brothers,Wu and Garmadon,

Weapons of gold and the eldest gone.

Art of spinjitsu shall blacksmith's son hone,

The four united against a dark foe.

Cole,black clad leader,earth's reign,

Zane,the seer in white,ice is his domain.

Jay,the blue talker,wields lightning's might,

Kai,the brother in red,commands fire's light.

Three weapons from dragons' lairs secured,

Sister's calls come quiet in twilight woods,

Deception weaved by Dark lord's hand,

Mentor's sacrifice,gone with fiery sword.

Four ninja leave the mortal plane,

They fly to Underworld,dead's domain,

Dark lord's plans unfold,

Samukai is dead and Garmadon gone.

The team returned with weapons back,

Siblings reunited despite setbacks,

A dark shadow looms over at the horizon,

But heroes are ready to fight doom's attack.

S1ep1

[travelingthief]

Ornithomancy

Ornithomancy is the interpretation of bird calls, numbers, behaviors, and flight patterns for divination purposes. It was practiced in ancient times, but we, unfortunately, have very little information about the techniques used.

I recently started learning ornithomancy, but again, there are minimal resources, so I have put together a guide for learning.

Disclaimer: This is by no means the only way to practice and I would love to hear your takes! I'm also very much a beginner, so this is also a step-by-step plan for me to follow.

Step One: Identify the birds in your area.

Start with getting outside and watching/listening to the birds around you. I recommend downloading a bird identification app like Merlin (it's free!) to identify birds by their songs, calls, and appearances. Take notes about what birds you see/hear most commonly. I'd recommend getting binoculars, but you can absolutely do this without them.

Note: You do not have to be able to identify a bird without an app, but definitely start trying to! Listen to what calls you hear most frequently or what species you see often.

Step Two: Learn about the birds in your area

After you have your list of local birds, take to the internet (or guidebook) to do some research. I'm starting with the birds I can easily identify without an app, like blue jays, goldfinches, crows, ducks, etc. Research the birds' behaviors, habits, habitats, migratory patterns, and whatever else you find important.

Note: Go at your own pace; don't feel like you have to learn every single bird in a week. Let it take months or years! Revel in the joy of learning!

Step Three: Assigning meanings to the birds

Ornithomancy is a highly personal divination technique; there are no guidebooks to tell us what each bird means. You can assign meanings based on your research, deity associations, or personal experiences with the birds. Some birds, like crows, have folklore already tied to them, but absolutely put your own UPGs in there!!

Examples: Blue jays alert birds in their areas to predators with their calls. For this reason, I associate blue jays with warnings or alarms.

I grew up hearing chickadees everywhere, so I associate them with childhood, innocence, or youth.

Crows are often associated with the god Apollo.

In folklore, cardinals are seen as visitors from heaven or the souls of deceased loved ones.

Note: While going through these steps, continue to get outside and watch/listen to the birds! Keep a running list of birds to learn about.

Step Four: Figure out how you want to read the birds

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we don't know much about how birds were read in ancient times. From what I could find, seers would face north and read birds on the east side. But again, do what feels right for you. You can read birds directly in front of you, flying, just the calls, a combination, or however you feel is right!

I'm still developing how I want to read birds, but I'll update as I go!!

Step Five (optional): Learn basic numerology

If you're going the route of counting birds for certain messages, it may help to know basic numerology! Of course, do what resonates and feel free to assign your own meanings to different numbers.

Note: There are tons of resources online about numerology, but I have found some of the associations are vague or redundant of each other. Use your intuition to determine what is best for your practice.

Step Six (optional): Learn about flight patterns/behaviors

Pay attention to how birds around you are flying. How much are they flapping their wings? What direction are they flying in? Do they land? For how long? Where do they land? Do they take off again? Are they migrating? Learn the terminology for these behaviors. Determine how you want to read these behaviors and assign meaning where you see fit.

Step Seven: Honing your craft

Try to identify birds on your own, either by call, appearance, or both. This process will take time, and that's totally okay!

Practice, practice, practice your method of reading birds and become more confident in your skills. Tweak your methods when necessary and take notes about what works for you and what doesn't.

Note: One of the best things you can do is simply pay attention to the world around you. Become an observer of the natural world and learn from it what you can!

That's all I have for the time being! Thanks for reading!

[starfall-spirit]

Read on Ao3 // Ancient Myths Retold Masterlist

Summary: Lost at sea for the last ten years, Lucien Vanserra, Heir to Day has been presumed dead by all but one. Clinging to that thread of gold and loyal until and beyond death, Elain knows every one of the gossiping fools and suitors cursing her doorstep are wrong. Even still, feeling their bond grow frailer each morning has taken it's toll.

Each night she can't help but fear that bond will at last be cleaved, and the wolves will close in for their prize—her hand in marriage.

AN: This is inspired by EPIC: The Musical. If you haven’t listened to the EIGHT SAGAS Jay has released, WHAT ARE YOU DOING GO LISTEN!!!

If you have, DM me so we can freak out together.

CW: Fluffy smut

Chapter II: My Everything

Lucien

Lucien would never forget the day he met Elain. He’d heard the rumors about her, of course. She’d come into her power a few months before the solstice, recognized and revered as a seer almost immediately. There had been a mild interest shown on his father’s part, but he had no interest in arranging or rushing Lucien’s marriage. Considering the chaos and scandal that preceded his own union, it wasn’t exactly a surprise.

Lucien’s business in Summer was strictly professional, all about turning on his charm as a courtier and setting down new political anchors. But then the energy of the room had shifted. A thread pulled taut inside of him, winding out. Across the vast space of the ball room, he found the other end of it.

She was stunning in every sense of the word, dressed that evening in a sunset pink gown, her face slightly flushed from dancing, even if her partner seemed to be lacking in any sort of aptitude for the task. He knew he’d have to remedy the issue himself, making his move the moment it was socially acceptable. Luckily enough, the male moved on before Lucien could make himself look like an entitled ass in his desperation to speak with his mate. He’d crossed the floor, offered his arm, and that moment—taking her hand and drawing her into that first dance—had started it all. Had led them here.

Once again they stood hand in hand, eager to accept the silken fabric of white and gold meant to be wound around their joined hands where they stood before the court's High Priestess prepared to say their vows. Elain was resplendent in her mating gown, a lightweight dress that complemented the palette of the scarf binding them. The off-shoulder gown left her arms bare, the pleated bodice hugging her figure close before the skirt flared loosely from her slender waist, its sheer golden train trailing a few feet behind her.

But beautiful as all of that made her, it was the unadulterated joy in her eyes as they exchanged their vows that stole his breath. Hope for what their future holds. “You’re exquisite,” he’d breathed the moment he saw her. “Simply exquisite.”

The bond between them had thrummed as her cheeks heated, living and writhing between them with the tension building with each day they waited to truly accept the bond, putting on this grand display for their families and courts. All he needed was a bed and four walls to see their bond to its full glory, but with Elain’s raising… Though the concern could never be brought into conversation with polite company, Lucien could read Lady Archeron’s fears well enough. Elain was her most beautiful daughter and greatest prize on the marriage market. She wasn’t going to chance anything physical happening before vows were exchanged with a prince some dared call rakish. And Elain was the dutiful daughter, to a fault.

It had been a special kind of torture, shoving back the instinct to claim, claim, claim when he snuck into the guest room his family provided Elain. To wake each morning and fall asleep each night with her smaller form flush against his, her soft little breaths at his ear, her scent—so uniquely Elain—that stayed caught in his nose in dreams and reality both.

Now, seeing her in her mating gown, haloed by a sunset that just kissed the waters beyond, Lucien thought it was almost worth the wait.

~~~~~

Elain

Elain adored Lucien’s parents in every sense of the word. It’s why she’d had so few disagreements with the lavish event their mating ceremony turned out to be, planned with the help of his mother. If she was honest, the entire evening had been a girlhood dream come true. And yet all she could think of was the events that would follow the reception’s closure—or at least their leave from it.

Even with that said, all that came before it made for a night to be remembered, particularly their first dance together. Whatever fuss her mother and father had been making was long forgotten, with the ceremony and formal mating offering behind them.

What had started as a formal dance slowly morphed into something softer, hands once so carefully placed now drifting to pull each other close. One of Lucien’s hands had splayed across her lower back, drawing her in until she melted against him, arms coming up over his shoulders, her nose pressed against his pulse. His other hand slipping beneath her hair to cradle her neck. It left only enough room between them so they didn’t trip over one another.

It didn’t leave any room for her to misunderstand a single word leaving his lips, too quiet for anyone but her to hear, even as the worst of Day’s gossip-mongers twirled around them.

So, like warm honey each endearment flowed from his lips, their tender charm cleaved only by a filthy promise to complement each one.

Each and every time I see you, you seem more beautiful than the last. Tonight… I don’t know how much longer I can play this game when all I can think about is ripping this dress to pieces and worshiping every inch of you.

Every word was spoken so easily. His face never shifted, his scent never changed. Even as she felt desire pooling deep within herself. She saw the hunger in his eyes alone when he pulled back enough to claim her mouth. There was a familiar pressure around them. And the next time she opened her eyes the party had vanished, replaced by a massive bed and a crackling hearth.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Your mother—”

“My mother is a mated female. She’ll understand. And if she actually has a problem with us leaving early, she can take it up with me after the honeymoon. Now—” A feral grin crossed his face, a silent vow of wicked things to come. “—I believe I was just beginning to tell you my plans for our time away.” His nose swept down the side of her neck ever so gently, lifting away only for him to press a soft kiss beneath her ear. Elain didn’t bother trying to suppress the shiver that coursed through her. “The things I want to do to you,” he groaned, circling her until his breath warmed her nape, his nimble fingers unfastening each button at the back of her dress until the white silk pooled to the floor. “Mate.”

That word was her undoing. His fingers had just started working open the corset’s tie when she whipped around to face him again, dragging him down by the neck to kiss her. The taste of him would ruin her, that she couldn't deny.

There was a sudden heat down her spine, gone as quickly as it appeared, the stench of singed fabric cleared with a soft wind. Breaking the kiss, she scowled at her mate. “Did you just burn my clothing off?”

“I singed a few laces,” he purred, ripping through the weakened garment in a single motion. “You can keep pretending you actually care or you can let me take you to bed and fulfill every filthy promise I made on that dance floor.”

His mouth was on her again, the tip of his tongue sweeping across her lower lip. The heat of the bond only built as she let him in, channeling what focus she could manage into working open the buttons of his jacket and shirt. They fell to the floor in a forgotten tangle of fabric, buried beneath the skirt of her dress seconds later. “Cauldron. You’re going to be the death of me.”

“A bit dramatic, don’t you think?” Elain panted. “I’m just going to ruin you for anyone else.”

He chuckled, laying her down on the mattress at her back. “Little dove, that was done the moment you accepted my request to dance.” His calloused fingers traced down the tender flesh of her stomach, dipping just low enough to graze her clitoris, drawing out a soft whimper. “Hmm.”

“Lucien.”

“Such a mouth on you and one little touch later, where are we?” A single finger pushed into her core and she groaned. “Sweet, needy girl, already soaked for me.” Adding a second finger almost immediately, he curled them both inside of her, setting her trembling in his arms.

Reaching up, she loosened the knot of leather tying his hair out of his face, her fingers twisting through the strands at the back of his head. She needed to taste him again. Mate. Mine. Claim. She didn’t need any sort of daemati gift to know the same thought had lodged in his own mind, a tempest of need and emotion flooding her very veins.

Groaning into her mouth, Lucien rolled his hips into hers, the hard length of him all the more obvious to her with her legs spread to cradle his hips. She broke away just long enough to gasp out something that ended up sounding more like a plea than a command, but he honored it all the same, quickly stripping his pants and shirt.

She reached to plant a hand on his chest, trying to keep a clear enough head to think of something other than the firm muscle beneath her palm—the hard length of him against her “We can wait, Elain,” he offered, reading the nervous energy that had cut through the fog of lust that had nearly consumed them both.

“No. Just…”

“I guarantee there is nothing you could do tonight to ruin the gift we’ve been given, Elain.” And if that didn’t cut right to the root of the issue. “Let me show you, my love.”

She nodded. “Close your eyes. All I want you to do for now is feel. Can you do that for me?”

“Yes,” she whispered. She hoped. But so inexperienced, who was to say—The first stroke of his tongue banished any concern of inadequacy from her mind. Elain hadn’t even noticed him move that far down the bed through their short discussion of her reservations. “You don’t have to—”

“You have a few things to learn, Elain, if you’ve convinced yourself that tasting you is an inconvenience to me. It’s all I’ve thought about for weeks. Relax,” he finally crooned.

It only took a moment longer for her to go pliant beneath his touch, earning a groan of approval, his calloused hands wrapping over the tops of her thighs to lock her in place against his mouth. “Gods.” She bit her lip nearly hard enough to break skin, trying to keep from revealing how easily his touch destroyed her self-control.

“None of that,” he growled, pulling away just long enough to scold her. “I want to hear every sweet little sound you make for me, Elain. How else will I know how to satisfy you in the future?”

At this point she doubted there was much he could do that wouldn’t satisfy her, not that she had any intention of feeding her mate’s ego more than this moment undeniably would.

Her case wasn’t helped any by the near violent trembling in her thighs when his head dropped again. “Lucien. Lucien, wait. Too much.” His mouth closed over her clit, two fingers pushing deep inside of her. She screamed, fist clenched tight in his hair as the first wave rolled through her.

She wasn’t sure if he realized how new all of it was to her. Of course Lucien knew she hadn’t gone as far as to let a male into her bed, but had he pieced together she hadn’t so much as touched herself? How could she, so fearful of judgement from her family and their staff if they could scent it on her the next morning?

There beneath her mate she couldn’t manage more than a whimper of protest when he continued working her through the crashing wave of sensation, unbearable pressure building too quickly. “Come on, sweetheart,” he growled, the vibration rippling through her.

“I’m almost—”

His fingers curled sharply, teeth pinching down enough to sting until her second climax broke through her. He slide up her body, mapping each tender point of skin along the way, his fingers keeping a steady rhythm inside her to drag her back down, spiraling back to some semblance of coherency.

Elain managed to peel her eyes open just as he pulled his hand back, drawing out a low moan quickly silenced by his kiss. He notched against her, teasing the tip until she tried to lift her hips. She felt his lips curl into a smile the same moment his left hand threaded against her right, the other a guide between them as he eased in to the hilt.

“Oh.”

“Alright?” he checked.

“Full. Okay.” He gave her a few moments to adjust to the stretch, let the pinch of pain fade. He was the first and last male who would touch her like this, be inside of her. Her mate. A pleasant shiver ran through her at the thought and his fingers tightened between hers when she clenched around him. “I’m okay,” she said again, legs wrapping behind his back.

“Good girl.” His other hand braced against the headboard, hips rocking slow and steady. “So sweet for me,” he praised, nose tracing the length of her throat as his rhythm quickened, Elain’s head tipping back. “Dreamed of seeing my pretty little mate filled up like this.”

Another soft moan snuck up her throat with the next punch of his hips, each word leaving her mates lips lodging deep in her mind set to run time and time again. “Lucien, more,” she managed to bite out, a broken sound leaving her when he reached beneath her to better angle her hips.

Teetering, waiting to fall, her nails bit into his back with the next stroke. He groaned at her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. “Elain, fuck.”

The arm braced beside her head buckled and he dropped to his elbow, his hand slipping under her head to tangle through her hair enough to tilt her head, his mouth once again homing in on the tender flesh of her neck. A soft cry left her at the pinch of his teeth and she gripped him tighter as her third orgasm tore through her, the mating bond a golden flame between them.

Lucien growled, hitting her cervix the moment he fell into his own release, his tongue tracing the bite at her neck as he worked her through the last of it.

She heard a mumbling by her ear, a steady chant gaining clarity as she dragged herself back to a somewhat coherent state.

“My mate. My beautiful, marvelous mate.” He kissed her brow. “What I did to deserve this, I’ll never know.”

~~~~~

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