The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 11
The words she had just heard lingered in her mind like a faint echo, their meaning slipping through her fingers like water. What did he mean by that? Evelyn tried to piece it together, to replay the moment in her mind, but the memory was clouded by the intensity of what had just happened. The shock of it still clung to her, a heavy weight pressing against her chest. Ah, when she tried to curl her legs, a shiver ran through her skin, sharp and electric, as if the sensation had burrowed deep inside her. It wasn’t as overwhelming as when she had touched him, but still… It felt good. Too good.
“My stomach… it feels strange…” she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.
Evelyn sat there, dazed, unable to move or think clearly. The world around her seemed to blur, her thoughts tangled in a web of confusion and lingering sensations. She felt paralyzed, as though her body no longer belonged to her.
Some time later, Cassis returned. He had sent out messengers and even contacted the nearby border guards, but now he was back, his expression calm, almost too calm. The nest he had so carefully prepared for her was still there, pristine and white, but empty. She was gone. He had told her to stay, and he knew she had heard him. But nymphs, especially this one, had a way of ignoring instructions.
Stubborn little nymph, he thought, though there was no irritation in his mind.
Cassis, with the sharp senses of an elf, had already picked up on her trail. The rustling of grass, the faint imprint of her steps—it was all clear to him. He didn’t need to summon spirits or cast spells to find her. She hadn’t gone far. Besides, it was almost time for her next lesson anyway. This was… convenient.
As he walked back, he noticed something that made him pause. Wild strawberries, ripe and glistening, their deep red hue reminding him of the lips he had stolen a taste from earlier. They would make a light meal, perfect for her. He took his time picking them, his movements deliberate, almost tender. But instead of leaving them in the nest, he decided to carry them with him. They might come in handy.
Meanwhile, Evelyn let out a long, shuddering sigh as she sank into the cool waters of the pond. She stretched her arms above the surface, the water lapping gently against her skin. It was bliss, pure bliss. Her eyes fluttered shut, the tension in her body slowly melting away.
At first, she had only intended to wash her sore feet and the dampness between her legs. But once her feet touched the water, she found it wasn’t as cold as she had expected. It was bearable, even soothing. Just a little while wouldn’t hurt, would it? The temptation was too strong, and Evelyn gave in, slipping deeper into the pond.
The spring waters are usually freezing, but not here, she thought. Is it because this is the land of the elves?
As soon as she entered the pond, all the thoughts she had been pushing aside came rushing back. Had the village chief returned safely? The situation had been so urgent that she hadn’t even had time to say a proper goodbye to Faye. She had wanted to repay their kindness by working in the garden, but now…
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She didn’t need to look to know who it was. The air around her seemed to shift, charged with an energy she was beginning to recognize. Cassis.
He stood at the edge of the pond, the wild strawberries in his hand, his gaze fixed on her. There was a faint smile on his lips, one that made her heart skip a beat.
“You’re full of surprises, little nymph,” he said, his voice low and smooth, like the rumble of distant thunder.
Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for whatever came next. But as Cassis knelt by the water’s edge, holding out the strawberries like an offering, she felt something stir within her—a mix of fear, curiosity, and something else she couldn’t quite name.
Something that felt dangerously like hope.
The enormity of how much her life had changed in just a few days suddenly hit Evelyn like a tidal wave. It felt surreal, almost too much to grasp. Just a short while ago, she had been holding the village chief’s kind hand, and even before that, her life had been so… ordinary. Now, everything was different.
Her thoughts swirled like a thick fog, and amidst it all, his name lingered, persistent and unshakable. She whispered it softly, almost hesitantly, as if saying it aloud might summon him. Cassis. How absurd was it that she, who had only known him for such a brief time, could feel so… attached? It was embarrassing, really. A part of her cringed at her own boldness. Surely, he wouldn’t hear her from this distance, even with his elven hearing. Right?
