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I understand why Leandra pushes the subject, of course. She wants her family to stay close, wants to be able to play a hand in mine and her daughter’s life for years to come, and I can’t bring myself to dash her dreams.
While I know I want more for myself than what I have right now, regardless of whether or not Camp Horizon is one of the best places to be as a human, I’m just not interested in any of the human men here.
I’m not ignorant to the sneaky glances some of them give me, both at work and in the village, but I just don’t find any of these men… appealing.
Movement sounds from behind me, far enough away that I almost don’t turn toward it, until the husky voice of a dark elf calls my name.
“Layla!”
Oh, shit.
KERYM
Layla whirls toward me, her dark curls bobbing with the sudden jerk of motion. I can’t help the smirk that rises to my lips as I see the panicked look on her face before she realizes it’s me, a laugh nearly breaking free when her features relax slightly and she rolls her eyes.
Layla steps toward me hurriedly, her eyes darting around for witnesses as she hisses “That’s not funny, you scared me!”
The laugh that had been building in my throat shakes free as I look down at her and give her a wink.
“You like it,” I murmur softly, earning another eye-roll, although she’s unable to hide the small smile playing across her full lips. My fingers itch with the desire to brush across them, to feel her soft, tanned skin beneath my hands. I’ve waited long enough for her.
The rest of the village is quiet, but that’s no reason to be sloppy. Before she can react, I grab the crook of her elbow and pull her into the alley behind us, pinning her to the wall with my body weight as I drop a searing kiss to her lips.
Surprise renders her unresponsive for a moment, her human senses struggling to catch up to my elven speed. As soon as her mind catches up with her body, however, her lips part beneath mine, returning my kiss with every bit of hunger and passion.
I can’t get enough of her.
Layla’s tongue darts from between her lips, brushing against the seam of my mouth in equal parts question and demand. I groan, opening my mouth against hers and letting our tongues tangle together.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough of her.
Ever since I first spotted Layla last year, I haven’t been able to control myself. Dark elves take human slaves and play things all the time on the larger continents, especially in the bigger cities, but Layla is so much more than that to me.
When I first arrived at Camp Horizon, I was an eager, untried, bright-eyed soldier, intent on making his way through the ranks. Miou soldiers never stay in Camp Horizon too long, finding the camp boring and lacking any real way to move through the ranks.
Soldiers pass through here in rotations, using the camp as a stepping stone to bigger and better positions once they gain enough experience to warrant transfers to more exciting, opportunistic locations.
But the second I found Layla, I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. It took nearly no time at all for me to be head over heels for the woman. I don’t care that she’s human, and I don’t care what beliefs or opinions others of my kind hold- she’s everything to me.
My ambitions within the ranks of the miou, my dreams of becoming a Lieutenant and proving my worth to my family, all feel childish as my lips move over Layla’s. Nothing, no victory or rank or recognition, could compare to the way she makes me feel.
Layla breaks our kiss first, the both of us breathing heavily as we stare at each other. Her warm brown eyes twinkle in the stray spears of moonlight. It’s all too easy to forget my responsibilities when I’m with her, to cast aside all of the things I know I want. In this moment, right now, I only want her.
“How was work?” I breathe, falling into our usual, playful routine. Layla loves her routines, and I love that about her. I especially love throwing a wrench into it every now and again, especially if it means that I get more time with her.
Layla grins and gives me a playfully casual, one-shouldered shrug.
“It was work,” she responds. “How about you, how was work?” I mimic her reaction, loving the way her smile grows wider.
“It was work,” I reply. Neither of us acknowledges what we know is coming. Transfer season is on the horizon, and Layla is all too aware of the ambitions I hold so closely to my heart. They’re certainly not unusual ones, especially for guards who choose to be stationed here for at least a brief time, but my case is made all the more unusual by my family.
Phonipe and Kunardah Torsys, power couple of the decade. My father is well known for his position among the miou ranks, being an influential player in Vhoig among the nobility. My mother was his chosen prize, the beautiful and talented daughter of another strict, traditional miou family.
My older brother, their first son, is everything they’ve ever wanted him to be. The perfect soldier in shining golden armor, with his perfect mate and perfect life. He was stationed in Camp Horizon for a time as well, before leading armies and earning prestige through his victories.
My parents have always wanted me to be the same, to uphold our honorable family name. They waste no opportunity to tell me as much, to push me harder and farther, pointing out all of my numerous flaws and missed opportunities for success.
In some ways, I guess I can’t really blame them. Salnath created an expectation that I don’t know if I’ll ever live up to, and given the social expectations of my dear family, it’s no wonder that they expect only the best from me.
