A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

The way the connection between a fairy and their protector works is like an elastic piece of string. It can stretch but never break, and eventually, it will pull the fairy back. Violently.

It might seem like a drawback for the fairy, but such is the price they pay for protection. Even fairies who enslave their protectors are bound by this rule.

The distance can be increased only by strengthening the connection through time and strong emotions.

Currently, the connection between Elora and Erik boasts an impressive span, covering several hundred kilometres, a remarkable accomplishment for a bond of just seven years old.

This strength stems from the injury to Erik's soul during the bonding process and, of course, their profound mutual emotions.

However, that is not the only aspect of their connection that can be improved. The other part is the distance that the connection is still useful for. Meaning the distance where Elora and Erik can communicate and where Elora can instantly dissolve into Erik's body and soul.

For them, this distance was only a few kilometres. Any further than that, and the connection was only helpful for finding each other.

Technically, this meant that if Katya kept Elora right in that sweet spot where their connection was essentially useless, they wouldn't be able to do anything about it. But, of course, they would have to keep Erik from moving around as well.

Erik, who was now utterly naked despite Emma's presence. The first time Emma slept with him, he had put clothes on to put her at ease, but when Emma wanted to continue sleeping with him even now, he had made it clear there would be some changes.

After all, he preferred sleeping naked, and having Emma sleep in bondage was not strictly necessary anymore. He didn't want to turn wearing clothes in bed into a regular occurrence.

Emma had been a little nervous, but her trust in Erik had become near absolute. Besides, she didn't want to lose that comfortable and safe feeling of lying next to him in bondage.

Why exactly she felt this way, despite her ability to easily break free by burning through these regular ropes with her light affinity, she didn't know. It likely had something to do with her sister tying her up for years on end, but… the specifics were lost to her.

What she did know was that she didn't want it to end, so Emma agreed to sleep next to him despite his nakedness, even if she did keep her own clothes on.

Erik naturally also enjoyed the fact this brought Emma one step closer to joining his bed in a slightly different setting.

After being snapped back, Elora now lay naked and sprawled on Erik's equally naked chest while enveloped in his embrace. Her wings had returned to her, and a hint of pain was etched on her face.

His hand gently patted her head. The fairy continued to groan unconsciously for a few more seconds before she began to wake up. "Ugh. Fuck that hurts."

Being pulled back forcefully by the connection would generally end up hurting and weakening the fairy. It wasn't anything life-threatening or permanent, but certainly not pleasant either.

Erik chuckled and kissed her on the lips as a distraction. Elora knew where she was, so she leaned into the kiss and enjoyed herself.

Meanwhile, Emma had woken up from the commotion. Her eyes were wrinkled with happiness as she looked at the kissing couple. At the same time, a different and unfamiliar feeling also reared its head.

She didn't recognise this feeling but tried to identify it as she watched Erik and Elora make out.

Eventually, Erik separated from Elora, his lips curled up in a confident grin, "Feel better?"

Elora's body slumped down on his chest as she sighed, "Much better."

Erik smiled at her, "I missed you. It's been a while since we were apart for more than a few minutes."

Elora smiled back, "I missed you, too. But we're never really apart, you know that."

They stared at each other for a while longer, but their moment was suddenly interrupted by a loud, rhythmic beeping.

Whether through someone else's memory or having experienced it for themselves, they all knew what this sound was.

A ringing cell phone.

Erik chuckled as there was only one person who might call him: the same person who had given the cell phone to him.

He reached next to his bed, where the grey cell phone brick lay and grabbed it before answering the call.

Elora's face lit up with a mischievous smile, "Tell her I said hi!"

Erik chuckled and spoke into the phone, "Hey, Katya. Elora says hi."

Silence reigned on the other side of the connection for a moment before Katya's Eastern European accent came through. It sounded like she was angrily clenching her teeth, "I'll admit you surprised me. What was that? I refuse to believe it was just an illusion."

Still patting Elora's hair, Erik answered while grinning contently, "No, that was the real deal. Elora is simply… special. But that's all I'm willing to say on that topic for now."

Katya released a furious sigh and rubbed her forehead, not having expected much different as a response, "So all that back at the mansion was a ruse?"

Erik shrugged, even if Katya couldn't see it, "Honestly, not really. The only things fake were my objections to you taking Elora and Elora's entire personality. She's far more intelligent and ruthless than either one of us.

I really did enjoy our fight, though. And I like you, Katya. You're passionate about fighting, took the time to teach me and didn't humiliate me.

Honestly, if it wasn't for my revenge and the fact neither Elora nor I like to subordinate ourselves to anyone, I might have taken you up on your offer from the start.

Oh, and don't blame Seraphina too harshly. My Elora can read someone's memories while they sleep. So it wasn't hard to discover everything we needed to fool you without her knowledge."

While Elora can read and even alter memories slightly, this only works on those much weaker than her, weakened by outside means, or who are already enslaved by her. But he told a little lie to hopefully insulate Seraphina. After all, he felt grateful for her help.

It took a moment for Katya to respond, "So, at least your desire for revenge was real. What about the Ashcroft sisters?"

Erik answered while moving his hand downwards to caress Elora's back, "They're with me, of course. Don't worry, Emily won't cause any more trouble."

Katya sighed, "Fine. But you know the council won't let this go, right? And frankly, neither will I. I suggest you spend a lot of time training with my notes. If you don't improve sufficiently by the time we meet again…"

Her voice took on a far more threatening note, "Then you will die."

Erik smiled as his hands reached Elora's ass. "That's fine. I'm sure the next time we meet will be on more equal terms. I hope we'll have fun again, and I wish you good luck in your hunt, Katya. You'll need it since you have no idea where we are or where we're going."

Before Katya could respond, the connection began to crackle and pop before breaking completely. It appeared Erik had now left the range of the cell phone towers.

Erik grinned and kissed Elora again while groping her ass under the fairy's delighted squeals.

He wasn't worried about Katya's or the council's pursuit at this point. The Iron Sentinel likely hadn't even discovered the boat's theft yet, and even when she finally did, they could be sailing anywhere.

Besides, they learned from Seraphina that the council's presence in Northern Norway was almost non-existent, and their destination after that would likely be Africa, where the council had no influence at all.

Yet he couldn't help but look forward to his next meeting with this kindred spirit named Katya.

He tossed the phone to the side without turning it off, not worried about it being tracked. The only way to ping its location with the world's current technological difficulties is by triangulating with at least three cell phone towers during a call.

As for some kind of magical tracking… "You already checked it for any magical tricks, right?" He asked Elora with a smile.

She giggled, "Of course I did. I also investigated the method they use to charge these devices with magic. Who do you take me for, anyway?"

Erik stroked her cheek, "The best partner and wife ever, of course."

He frowned a little, "How are you feeling now? Did they treat you alright?"

She chuckled, "I'm fine, just a little weak. That bear woman kept calling me 'kid', though. I might have to punish her for that later."

Entirely unsurprised by her designs on Katya, Erik laughed softly, "Just don't go too far, alright? I think she could make a good ally in the future."

Elora grinned as her eyes twinkled mischievously, "I make no promises, but I'll do my best."