Bones rattled as the skeletons rose, turning toward the three with jerky, unnatural motions. Their sockets gaped hollow and unfeeling, yet something unseen guided their gaze.

  Obeying the elusive master that puppeteered them, they stepped forward with each faint twitch of its finger.

  Roots from the accursed flowers wound through their bones, binding them together like sinew. The pulsing strands stretched across brittle ribs and cracked limbs—some holding fast, others tearing apart under the strain.

  It was, without question, a macabre march of the dead.

  “Skeletons…”

  May took a step forward, her blade gripped firmly in her right hand. Her posture was composed but loose with intent—she held the sword low along her thigh, the edge aligned with her leg, the point angled toward the ground.

  “Either this is a ridiculous joke,” she said, voice flat, “or you’re underestimating your opponent.” She let out an exasperated sigh and glanced over her shoulder. “Leave this one to me.”

  Her tone allowed no refusal. Compelled by May’s resolve, the others stepped aside, giving her space.

  “Knowing you, I won’t need to intervene. Still—be careful.” Deveralna watched May’s back with a thread of worry. She had no doubt the woman would fight; she simply wanted her safe.

  “I will. Take care of Stella so she doesn’t burn herself,” May replied.

  Stella, unsettled, turned to Deveralna. “I know I don’t have to question her choice, but—will May be all right?”

  Deveralna slithered behind Stella and curled an arm around her waist. “Have you never seen her train? She rarely shows the full force of her strength. Even so, I can tell you she is… well.” She looked away, unable to find the word.

  Then she unfurled her wings in a sudden blast and lifted Stella out of reach, carrying her into the sky where nothing would target them.

  “…” Stella watched May until the lamia below grew smaller and smaller.

  Do we really need to go that far away? What if she needs our hel—

  She did not finish the thought.

  BOOM.

  A column of fire detonated where May stood, swallowing the ground like a coiling serpent. The inferno bent the air, a roaring wall of heat that erased the nearest skeletons as if they had never been—no ash, no trace, only void where bone had been.

  “Hot!” Deveralna grimaced. “I knew we wouldn’t be able to stand too close.”

  Even Stella, who resisted heat poorly, felt the press of the blaze from above, a furnace that rattled her chest.

  For the first time, she watched May alone and understood the rumor: the woman’s power was monstrous.

  “Are you trying to tell me… that yesterday’s display was—” Stella began, voice cracking with shock.

  Deveralna chuckled. “We rarely use our full strength. At this point, any of us—Orion’s wives—could raze cities if we wished. It’s controlling the output that’s the toughest part.”

  From within the fire, May reappeared. Even now, Deveralna thought, you’re holding back. I can see it.

  May’s gaze flicked to Deveralna and Stella overhead.

  They’re safe. Good. I don’t want them hurt by careless courage, she thought, then closed her eyes and centered herself.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Are you ready? A faint voice answered in her head—one only she could hear.

  “Come. Give me your worst.” She lifted her left hand and taunted the skeleton puppeteer; her voice was a blade. The thing that guided the skeletons shuddered as if it had been struck. “Remember that I, May Feales, am one of the most dangerous humans this world has known.”

  The line snapped across the void between them.

  —

  It was a day like any other.

  Waking from her slumber, May stretched her arms.

  “Nghh…”

  Her hair, slightly disheveled from the night before, slid over her forehead.

  Carefully looking to the side, her eyes settled on the man resting next to her, a gentle smile curving from one corner of her lips to the other.

  The radiant rays of the sun spilling from the window accentuated her innate beauty.

  “Gawking at me early in the morning?”

  Orion opened his eyes, slowly rising from his sleeping posture. He lay on his side, head supported by one arm, as if reluctant to fully rise from the quiet pull of sleep.

  “I wouldn’t say…”

  Looking at his toned muscles, she failed to finish her sentence. Realizing she was also naked, a light shade of red spread across her cheeks and ears.

  Very lightly, she pulled the cover toward her, hiding her body from sight.

  “You don’t have to hide. We’ve been sharing the same bed for quite a while now.” Orion chuckled softly. “But I do enjoy this embarrassed side of you.”

  “Though…” He frowned lightly. “Could you not pull the entire cover toward you? It’s cold without it.”

  May looked away, puffing her cheeks as if ignoring his plea.

  “Please?”

  Hearing his genuine request, she relented. Lifting the hand not holding the cover, she pressed it to his chest, leaning forward just enough for Orion to see her cleavage.

  Instead of letting desire rise, he focused on her hand.

  “Here. This should be enough, right?”

  A wave of soothing heat enveloped his entire body, from head to toe. The cold dissipated instantly, replaced by a toasty and comfortable warmth.

  He’s enjoying it. Seeing his face relax, she smiled. I’ve never been happier to have this power until recently.

  Orion placed his hand over hers, letting the sensation wash away the drowsiness and chill of the morning.

  Letting out a relaxed sigh, May’s shoulders dropped.

  “Have I told you how much I love these slow moments?”

  Tilting her head and smiling, she asked Orion, who opened his eyes.

  “That’s new to me. I’m relieved to know this lifestyle hasn’t dampened your mood.” He smiled wryly. “There’s only training and sparring around here. It’s not something I’m proud of.”

  “I’m sorry I can’t give you a more peaceful environment.”

  But May shook her head, her restraint visible.

  “I don’t mind. Until a few months ago, I was still a dead woman walking. My days weren’t numbered, but they weren’t worth counting.”

  “You don’t seem to understand how intense being with you is.” She kept her gaze locked on his, laying her emotions bare. “You pulled me away from a life of constant carnage.”

  “I was still proud of being Turric’s general. But it was also becoming increasingly difficult to fight off the corrupt beasts.”

  “These moments when I wake up beside you as a living, breathing human are all I need. They make me forget all the hardships I’ve been through.”

  “As if my entire life was a simple introduction for this very time, when you and I can exchange warmth.”

  Her radiant smile took Orion by surprise. Unable to contain his urge to hold her, he straightened and pulled her into his embrace.

  “Hearing this from you makes me an incredibly joyful man. You can’t believe how worried I’ve been these past months. I’ve been trying to act like a proper husband, but it’s all so new to me that I couldn’t bring myself to ask.”

  May nodded shyly, her head resting on his shoulder.

  Enjoying his warmth, she silently closed her eyes, unaware of Orion’s quiet reach for the scar on her neck.

  “Hey!” Feeling the ticklish touch of his fingers, she pushed his chest away. “What are you doing?”

  She wasn’t prepared to see a face full of guilt staring back.

  “I’ve never truly apologized for what I’ve done. While I wasn’t entirely in control, I still could have lost you.” Rubbing the skin between his eyes, he forced the words out. “Really, I’m so—”

  But May placed a finger on his lips.

  “There’s no need. If you really can’t live without apologizing, I’ll accept it. But you’ve given me enough to compensate for that… slight mistake. This is nothing I’ll ever condemn you for.”

  As she finished, Orion gave a defeated smile.

  “If you say so, my Lady.”

  May pulled away slightly, sitting at the edge of the bed.

  “Now that I think about it, we still haven’t given any thought to those changes. I am human, but also part elemental.”

  Opening her hand, a little flame formed in her palm, dancing joyfully.

  “Well, I’ve been thinking it over for a while.” Orion glanced at her back. “Mainly with Nature as a listener. There are no records of any case like yours in history. You’re truly unique.”

  “One who has fused entirely, body and soul, with an elemental. There’s no way to separate you now. Thanks to me.”

  He scratched the back of his head before continuing.

  “In essence, you’re not much different from a special class of beings.”

  May glanced over her shoulder, intrigued.

  “We’ve decided it would be fine to classify you as…”

  —

  May took a step forward, blazing fire coursing over her limbs.

  Her smile widened into a dare. “Facing a Primal Human,” her smirk deepened “is a luxury you won’t survive.”

  The fire subsided, leaving only a searing aura around May—heat so intense it could melt steel.

  May lovers. Please enjoy as I put my entire mind into making it one of my best chapters so far. I quite enjoyed working on this one. Now, for the climax.