Emma Elizabeth

The Songbird & The Forest

 First published by Emma Elizabeth 2024

Copyright © 2024 by Emma Elizabeth

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is
illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means
without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents
portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Emma Elizabeth asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

First edition

ISBN: 979-8-9906805-2-4

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To my fellow monster smut lovers <3
 Contents

Acknowledgement
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Emma Elizabeth
 Acknowledgement

I’d like to thank, firstly, my sweet husband, for believing in me and supporting
me on my writing journey! I have had so much encouragement and advice
from friends near and far, but for this specific little story, I’d like to thank
Shannon and all of my other lovely beta readers for their helpful feedback. I
am so grateful that you were willing to read Ilex and Dahlia’s story!
I’ll also use this space to give you a head’s up on some Content / Tropes
you can expect. In these pages you’ll find:
A little grumpy / a lot sunshine
Sexually explicit scenes
Light BDSM
Fisting
Mild gore (non-sexual)
Discussion of loneliness

I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to reach out to me if you feel there are
content warnings I’ve missed!
1
 Chapter 1

“Y ou want me to go?” Dahlia could hear the shock in her own voice despite
her attempts to remain professional.
The two necromancers before her, both high-ranking officers in the Dead
Court of Daosbor, stared at her with motionless expressions. The silence
stretched, and it became obvious that Dahlia was not going to say anything
else. The man on the right sighed slightly, and his eyelids finally twitched in a
blink.
“Yes, Adept Mortis—the Grand Magus believes you will do Daosbor proud
as one of our representatives. Once in Lucinne, you will be joined by several
other Daosans from other cities,” he all but repeated the words that had caused
her shock in the first place.
Dahlia had heard that there was to be a great celebration in Ichorna for the
turn of the millennium, but she had assumed people more important than her
would be accepting the invitation to represent Daosbor. She couldn’t believe
she was being asked, but she supposed she should say something.
“Of course, I’m honored. Is there anything I should prepare before I go?
My workshop will need tending in my absence. Are there any diplomatic
conversations I should have while I’m there? I’ve never really done anything of
the sort, so I’m not sure I’m the most qualified…” she trailed off at the annoyed
looks on their faces. After a long pause, the man continued.
“Adept Mortis, your duties here will be handled in your absence. No
preparation is needed on your part other than packing your things to begin
your journey tomorrow,” he droned.
“So soon?” Dahlia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The last day of
the year was over a month away.
 “You have a long journey ahead of you, and the invitation we received
specified that the celebration would last a full month leading up to the new
year.”
All Dahlia could do was nod for once, but she felt herself smiling at the
thought of leaving the Dead City so soon. She loved her home, but she had
longed for the opportunity to explore more of Domhan na Rùin for as long as
she could remember.
The other necromancers turned to leave her little workshop. The door had
barely snicked shut before she squealed. She heard a familiar rattling of bones
and looked down to see her cat, Fluffy, rubbing his bony little skull against her
legs. She had reanimated his skeleton during her necromancy training and had
grown so attached to him that she’d kept him around ever since.
“Fluffy, we are going on an adventure!”
The cat stopped, planted his paws on her foot, and started to knead.
Dahlia’s mind raced with all she would need to do to prepare for her
journey.
“I need to make a list!” She said brightly, and bent to scoop him up before
hurrying over to her desk to find pen and paper.
After a flurry of packing and talking to Fluffy about their trip, Dahlia lay
awake in her small bed, her imagination overflowing with all of the
possibilities of the journey ahead.
2
 Chapter 2

I lex would never get tired of the vibrant shade of green that touched the
rolling hills of Wellsah. It was a good thing, too, because the land of growing
things was blessed with an eternal late-spring lushness. The rest of Domhan na
Rùin was drifting into the gray of winter this time of year, but Wellsah
continued to bloom. Ilex supposed it made sense; the magic of this place was
ancient and powerful.
Most of Wellsah had settled into a pleasant agricultural existence,
forgetting its wilder roots. Dryads like Ilex were more comfortable outside of
the towns that now dotted the hillsides, preferring instead to roam amongst
the forests of gnarled oaks and holly.
Ilex stood on the banks of a stream that ran near their home, the soft
burble of the crystalline water soothing their soul. Warm rays of sunlight
caressed their skin. This should be enough—always had been enough for them.
They weren’t sure what had come over them of late. The dryads had
preferred to stay away from the humans of Wellsah for a long while now, but
they enjoyed having communities of their own. Ilex hadn’t wanted that,
though. They often didn’t understand others, and preferred their own
company and the quiet conversation of the forest.
Lately, though, they had been feeling listless. The small joys that had
always brought such comfort felt dimmed somehow. They felt…lonely.
They supposed they could seek out the other dryads, but they were not the
easiest folk to find. They tended to blend in with the trees and did not show
themselves readily unless they wanted to be found.
Anyway, they weren’t sure the company of other dryads would satisfy this
longing for something more. They wondered what it would be like to see more
of what the world had to offer, to explore beyond the borders of this lovely
forest. But would the world be safe for one like them? They knew other non-
human creatures existed across Domhan na Rùin, but they had never met one,
and they were unsure if those creatures were welcomed openly in human
communities.
Ilex turned their face into the sun, letting its life-giving rays fall on the
mane of leaves that sprouted from their head. They could feel their leaves
opening in pleasure at the sun’s caress.
They stood, dreaming and wondering what it would be like to not be so
very alone, when the sound of a horse’s hooves on the path startled them out
of their reverie.
The most beautiful person Ilex had ever seen sat astride a horse of bone—a
striking image that they were sure would never leave their mind. They knew it
wasn’t wise to approach anyone. They should hide in the trees, but they felt an
overwhelming desire to simply talk with this person. They knew it wouldn’t
end well, but…at least they wouldn’t be alone, if only for a moment.
3
 Chapter 3

D ahlia set out the next morning with her pack crammed full and Fluffy
stuffed into a saddle bag by her leg. She had raised her horse this
morning, the bones clicking together slightly as she urged it into a
canter. As they made their way up the winding paths of the deep valley that
contained the Dead City, she supposed she ought to give the horse a name.
Raised beings experienced their second lives as a continuation of their first, so
Dahlia always treated them with the same courtesy she gave to all living things.
“What do you think about Jack?” She asked. The horse tossed its head and
grunted. She took that as a no.
“Alright, no to that then. How about Misty?” At that, the horse gave an
enthusiastic neigh. “Great, Misty it is. Misty, this is Fluffy,” the cat gave a tiny
mew from the saddle bag. Dahlia had no idea how the creature made noise
without vocal cords, but who was she to question her own magic? “And I’m
Dahlia. We’re headed to Ichorna, so we’re going to be together for quite a
while.”
The horse didn’t respond. It was just as well. Dahlia had been talking to
Fluffy for years—she had grown used to rather one-sided conversations. She
seemed to have plenty of words for all parties involved.
Dahlia and her creature friends soon crested the ridge that concealed the
rest of the world from the view of the Dead City’s residents. The sun felt
brighter here somehow, and the rest of Daosbor sprawled out in front of them.
It was a densely forested land, nearly always shrouded in mists. Other than the
few strange, barren valleys where the necromancers built their cities, Daosbor
was rather flat. She couldn’t wait to see the rest of Domhan na Rùin.
Daosbor sat nearly at the southern end of Domhan na Rùin, and Ichorna
sat almost all the way to the north. She would have to pass through Wellsah
first, then make her way around the inland Vaporiad Sea and through Illathir
before crossing into Ichorna. She couldn’t wait.

***
A week on the road hadn’t dimmed Dahlia’s excitement. She had just crossed
out of Daosbor into the eternal summer of Wellsah, and every moment
brought a new sense of wonder. She hadn’t passed many people on the road,
but those who did see her atop her skeleton horse gave her a wide berth.
Daosans were not reclusive like some of the peoples of Domhan na Rùin, but
necromancers didn’t particularly have the reputation of being pleasant.
There were, of course, certain necromancers that were cold and harsh, but
she was not one of them. She knew people assumed things about her because
of her necromancer’s black garb and her skeleton friends, but she was excited
for the opportunity to prove them wrong with her glowing personality. She
would do her nation proud and—most importantly—would not give the other
members of the court reason to regret choosing her.
Dahlia was enjoying the sun on her face, eyes closed, when they suddenly
lurched to a stop. Her eyes flew open to find Misty had wandered to the banks
of a lovely flowing stream and had bent to take a drink. Curious since Misty
was only a skeleton…She supposed old habits die hard. She did nothing to
dissuade the horse but instead surveyed her surroundings.
The clearing around the stream was lovely and bright, and the air felt alive
somehow. The scents of moss and fresh water filled her nostrils. Graceful
willows bent their boughs over the water at intervals, and a bit further back
from the bank, great oaks, elms, and pines filled the space.
One smaller tree, likely a sapling, caught her eye, and she studied it for a
long moment. Strange—it almost appeared to have shoulders and…a face? No,
certainly, it was a trick of the light playing through the canopy of leaves
overhead.
Misty raised her head—apparently done with her pretend drink—and
Dahlia couldn’t help but steer her steed in the direction of the strange tree.
Only, when she raised her gaze to it again, it was gone.
 Goosebumps prickled her arms. Surely, she was just looking at the wrong
spot. She searched all around her, turning Misty this way and that, and Fluffy
mewed a protest at the spinning from his spot in the saddle bag. Each way
Dahlia turned, though, the small tree did not appear.
Determined now to find it, if only to prove her own sanity, Dahlia guided
Misty off the path and into the woods.
The sunlight of the clearing dimmed as they went further into the forest,
and the air felt instantly cooler. This did not do anything to lessen the
trepidation Dahlia felt. It was ridiculous—she was a fully trained and talented
necromancer. She was not defenseless…but she wasn’t the bravest of souls
either; she frightened rather easily for someone who could raise the dead.
The trio made their way deeper into the trees, and the sapling did not
appear. Dahlia sighed in frustration but froze when she heard a distinct rustle
of brush close behind her.
Her blood ran cold, and she whipped her head around to see the source of
the noise—but nothing was there. She slowly turned back and felt every nerve
ending in her body light up in terror at the creature that stood a few feet in
front of Misty. It sounded like the creature was speaking, but Dahlia’s scream
of surprise was already halfway out of her throat, and she couldn’t make out
their words.
Misty bucked at Dahlia’s scream, and she lost her grip on the reins.
Dahlia’s mind could barely even process the sensation of falling before it
stopped; she felt bark beneath her fingers, and she heard Misty’s hooves
stamping the ground anxiously nearby. Fluffy let out a loud yowl from the
saddlebag, and Dahlia opened her eyes, bracing herself to find the creature
looming over her.
And it was looming over her—only she was in its arms. Her eyes widened
in shock as she looked up and took in its face for the first time. It was…the
most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
4
 Chapter 4

I lex couldn’t believe the mess they had thrown themself into. Standing out in
the open and staring at a human was bad enough, but approaching? And
startling them enough that they fell off their horse? And catching them in their
arms? Ilex wasn’t sure what they had been thinking. This wasn’t like them—
they didn’t interact. They observed.
But something about this human had been arresting. The way they had
tilted their face into the sun as if it was the greatest, simplest joy—it reminded
them of how it felt when the sun was on their own face.
Ilex blinked down at the creature in their arms—it was small. They
supposed they had better break the silence; the poor thing looked as if it would
implode in terror.
“Hello there,” they said as gently as they could manage.
The human’s eyes widened even further somehow, apparently astonished
that Ilex possessed the ability to speak.
“Hello,” the human responded. Its voice was lovely. Light and melodic like
the song of a bird.
“My name is Ilex. What should I call you?”
“I’m Dahlia, she and her, and I’m a necromancer from Daosbor,” she said.
They noticed her breathing evening out a bit, but she made no move to
extricate herself from their arms.
“Dahlia. It’s nice to meet you. I use they and them, and I am a Dryad from,
well, here.” They said, mirroring the information she had shared in an effort to
be less threatening.
“A Dryad. Fascinating. I’ve never heard a thing about Dryads,” she mused,
studying their face.
 “I’ve heard of necromancers, but I know almost nothing about them, so I
suppose we’re even,” Ilex said, offering a bit of a smile. Humans liked that,
right? They were rewarded when she returned their smile tenfold and laughed,
clapping her hands in excitement.
“Well, Ilex the Dryad, thank you for catching me, and not thank you for
scaring me half to death! What was that all about anyway? Do you make a habit
of startling travelers in the woods just to rescue them?” She joked with a
chuckle as she shifted, clearly trying to right herself. They helped her adjust,
and she stood before them, brushing herself off.
“That’s my horse, Misty, and my cat, Fluffy. They’re happy to meet you,
too,” she added, gesturing at her travel companions. Ilex looked over and
offered a polite nod to the skeleton creatures. Fascinating—they had never
seen anything like it.
“Did you make them?” They asked. Dahlia nodded proudly.
“I raised them; obviously, I didn’t make the bones from scratch, but you
know… I guess I did about half the work. It’s one of the less taxing forms of
necromancy, just doing the bones. I don’t even have to think about it once
they’re moving on their own again. It’s making the flesh that’s really the hard
work.”
Ilex felt certain Dahlia could have said many fewer words to convey the
same meaning, but they liked the sound of her voice. They wished she would
keep talking.
“Well, Dahlia from Daosbor and Misty and Fluffy, may I offer you a snack
or a comfortable place to rest for a bit? I assume you are on your way
somewhere. People don’t often wander through this part of the wilds for no
reason.”
She considered for a moment and then said, “I would love a snack—thank
you, Ilex! And to answer your question, yes, I am on my way to Ichorna for the
celebration! It’s a whole month-long ordeal, so I set off last week.”
Ilex gestured for her to follow, and she grabbed Misty’s reins, walking at
their side.
“Lucinne—you know, the main city in Ichorna—well, they’re having this
grand celebration for the new year because of the new millennium starting
and all that. I think it’s just an excuse for them to show off. Do you know much
about Ichorna? I don’t have to explain it if you already know. I don’t mean to
be rude,” she said. Ilex wasn’t certain, but it seemed she had perhaps said all of
that in one breath. They didn’t think they had said that many words out loud
to another living being in the past ten years.
“I do not, actually. I am a bit isolated out here in the wilds—the folk of
Wellsah aren’t exactly used to seeing us around these days—so I don’t really
keep up with current events,” they answered, continuing to make their way
toward their home. It was well-hidden amongst the trees.
“Ah, well, the short version is that the Ichornians have blood magic
which…” she shuddered a bit, “Well, it’s nasty stuff if the wrong person uses it.
Anyway, they’ve spent all this time building their rail system, that’s what I
think they call it; it transports people quickly from one place to another along
some sort of track. I think they’re trying to get back in the good graces of the
other nations so they can have better trade and such. I’m no politician, so I’m
not entirely sure, but that’s my hunch,” Dahlia twittered, looking around at the
trees as she walked.
“I see. If you’re not a politician, what are you?” Ilex asked.
“I’m a bit of an herbalist myself. I’m a trained necromancer, but my
specialty is potions and that sort of thing. I have a workshop at court because I
suppose I’m decent at what I do, so they gave me a spot and like to keep me
around. I never thought I’d be important enough to be sent on this trip, but
here I am!” She finished with a laugh. Her smile was contagious. Ilex felt
themself smiling right back.
“And here we are,” they said, gesturing to their cottage. Ilex studied
Dahlia’s face to read her reaction to their home. They weren’t quite sure why
they cared so much—but they found they did.
5
 Chapter 5

D ahlia stood staring at the cottage Ilex had led them to. It was literally
built into a tree, the most massive tree Dahlia had ever seen. The cottage
seemed to be carved right into the middle of the trunk. A few small
windows dotted the trunk’s perimeter, and a lovely carved wooden door sat at
the end of a path of worn earth. It was the most magical little place. Dahlia was
entranced.
She turned her gaze to Ilex, who stood at her side studying her closely. She
couldn’t get over how incredibly lovely they were; their skin had the texture of
bark in some places, but others appeared to have the softness of a leaf. They
were tall and lithe and graceful, and looked truly timeless. Thick eyebrows
framed eyes of the same shade—the darkest green of a pine tree. Their lips
were plush, a slightly lighter shade of green, and leaves crowned their head
where hair would be on a human.
Dahlia realized then that they wore no real clothing, only sprouted patches
of the more bark-like skin covering their forearms and around their hips and
lower back.
She couldn’t stop staring at them; they were ethereal in a way that drew
her in.
“I uh, I know it isn’t much,” they said, clearly taking her silence as some
sort of judgment on their home.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to be rude; you’re just incredibly…
beautiful,” she said before she could stop herself. Ilex drew back a bit in
surprise, their green brows raised and eyes wide as they considered her. After a
long moment, they nodded slightly and gestured toward the cottage. Dahlia
could not believe she had just said that. She knew she must be blushing fiercely.
For once, she managed to keep quiet and not make the situation any worse.
 Inside, the floor of the cottage was covered in downy moss and soft leaves.
There was a sort of nest in one corner of the room, and a large, long mound in
the mossy ground sat next to a low wooden tabletop. Dahlia assumed it must
serve as seating for the table.
Ilex pointed to the mound, saying, “It’s not much, but it’s home. Please,
have a seat. Can I get you some water?”
Their voice was absolutely hypnotic—she was so focused on the lovely
timbre that she nearly forgot to answer. This poor Dryad would think she was
the rudest being in Domhan na Rùin if she kept this up.
“Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you so much, Ilex,” she said quickly.
“Do you often have company?” She asked, attempting to fill the silence.
“No, I cannot remember the last time I spoke to another creature,” they
said as they poured from a wooden pitcher. She couldn’t believe it; how could
someone go so long without talking to anyone? She was sure she would go
mad, though, in all fairness, she knew she talked much more than the average
person.
“Doesn’t that get lonely?” She asked and realized immediately how
incredibly rude that was to ask someone she had just met. She quickly added,
“Ignore me. What a personal question to ask! I sometimes simply say whatever
pops into my mind. I meant no offense, Ilex.”
They set a small wooden cup down in front of her, their face neutral. “No
need for apologies; your honesty is refreshing.”
Dahlia felt herself relax—she found she wanted this dryad to like her for
reasons entirely unknown to her. They continued before she could say
anything else embarrassing.
“It is lonely. I sought the solitude, and for many years, it was exactly what I
needed. But yes—I find it is now quite lonely.” A touch of sadness laced their
tone, and Dahlia found herself wanting to make Ilex smile. She wanted to ease
their loneliness, if only for a time.
“Thank you for the water; it tastes so pure here,” she offered, sipping from
her cup.
“Wellsah is a lovely place to exist,” Ilex said, nodding their agreement.
They sat in silence for a long moment, Dahlia taking in her surroundings,
and Ilex—she realized as her eyes fell on them again—was taking her in.
 “I will go out and find some berries for us; it’s high season for surberries,”
Ilex said in a bit of a rush, obviously flustered at being caught staring. They
glided back out of the cottage without another word, and Dahlia stared after
them in confusion. They had seemed so calm and self-assured, but something
had thrown them off-balance. She only hoped she hadn’t done something
offensive—perhaps she had talked too much.
6
 Chapter 6

I lex had to get out of the cottage. What was usually a perfectly ample amount
of space had suddenly felt much too small as they stared at Dahlia’s lovely
face, so full of life and as warm as the sun’s golden rays.
Her hair was the color of a wild poppy, orangey-red and wild, and her face
was covered in flecks of copper. Amber eyes held joy and laughter, and her
scent…Ilex had never experienced anything quite like it. She smelled of crisp
apple and jasmine blossoms, light and glorious.
Ilex had noticed, of course, as they were walking back to their cottage, but
being in an enclosed space with her, they had become overwhelmed. They
were having…feelings that had come out of nowhere, and they needed fresh air
to get their wits about them.
They had never had a romantic partner or even a friend, really. They
hadn’t needed any—they were fine on their own. But now that Ilex was
presented with this effervescent necromancer, they found they were sad at the
thought of her continuing on her way, leaving them alone once more in their
forest.
They made their way through the trees toward the surberry patch, not
paying much mind to their surroundings. These woods didn’t hold many
dangers, and they knew their surroundings like the back of their hand.
Ilex did not realize they had been followed until they heard the whistling
of an arrow flying through the air—they did, however, feel the piercing pain as
the arrow pierced their shoulder. They let out a yell and turned to face their
assailant.
Unfortunately, they were greeted with the sight of three bandits; two had
bows drawn and aimed at Ilex, while one stood in the middle, daggers drawn.
 Ilex took a deep breath and mastered the pain radiating out of their
shoulder.
“What trouble do you all have with a Dryad?”
“Monstrosities like you aren’t welcome in Wellsah!” The man in the middle
shouted.
“Ah, I see. The reason I keep to the woods,” Ilex said, more to themself than
any of the bandits.
“You’ll die today, abomination!” One of the archers yelled, loosing an
arrow at Ilex. This time, however, they were prepared, and they dodged the
arrow, running at the bandits. Their eyes flared slightly in fright; Ilex was, after
all, a rather large Dryad.
The man with the daggers attempted to swipe at Ilex as they approached,
but Ilex grabbed his wrists and squeezed. Bone crunched, and the man
screamed. Ilex released him, kicking the daggers away into the brush.
Ilex, now fully paying attention to their surroundings and not stuck in a
daydream about the pretty necromancer, heard another set of footsteps
approaching at a run through the forest.
“How many of you are there?” Ilex hissed to the three men surrounding
them.
“Only three, I swear it!” The man with the broken wrists cried, backing
away.
“Then who…” Ilex began—but then they saw her. Dahlia was running
toward them, concern creasing her brow and her black cloak billowing around
her.
“Ilex? What’s going on?” Her bright voice made them want to smile despite
the circumstances.
One of the archers took the opportunity to fire another arrow at close
range, straight into Ilex’s back. Ilex cried out, and Dahlia screamed.
Ilex felt the air shift then; the birds stopped singing, and the temperature
dropped slightly.
Then came the rumbling; the earth was shifting, and suddenly, clumps of
dirt were spraying, white lumps erupting from openings in the ground. They
realized it was bones. Large and small, all remnants of the life of the forest
being pulled up by some unseen force. The bones assembled themselves into
the form of what Ilex assumed must be a golem, though they had never seen
one.
Dirt and moss pulled up the creature’s body and melded into rotting flesh
in a blink. The creature roared—and Dahlia screamed in wrath behind it, her
arms held out and shaking with the effort of her creation.
The golem stomped forward, and the bandits were too shocked to move.
They only stared up at it. The man closest to Ilex wet himself in fear. The
golem grabbed one of the archers in its massive hand and simply…crushed
him. The sound was less than pleasant.
Ilex noticed a bit of blackness edging their vision, but they focused on
breathing. The other two men had seen enough of the golem at this point, and
they took off sprinting through the woods. For a long moment, there was
silence as Ilex, the golem, and Dahlia all stared at each other, simply listening
to the men flee.
When it was clear they were not returning, Dahlia grunted and released
her hold on her beast. It collapsed to the ground, as lifeless as it had been
before—now only a pile of dirt and moss and animal bones. Dahlia was
breathing hard, but she approached Ilex with worry on her heart-shaped face.
“Ilex,” she breathed. They loved the sound of their name on her lips. That
was the last thought before the darkness suddenly overwhelmed them, and
they were falling.
7
 Chapter 7

D ahlia was horrified. The arrows must have been poisoned with
something to have made Ilex unconscious so quickly. She had no idea
how she was going to get them back to the cottage, though. They were
massive, and she was…not.
She had come running when she heard sounds of an altercation, and she
was glad she had trusted her instincts. Ilex had been kind to her—she wasn’t
going to just stand by and watch those awful men hurt them. Her summoning
the golem may have been…overkill. Even she could admit that. She wasn’t sure
what exactly had come over her, but she knew in her soul that she had to
protect them. How could those men have wanted to hurt someone so beautiful
as Ilex?
She looked around her, trying to focus on a way to transport Ilex back to
the comfort of their home. After a bit, she had the energy to reanimate the
bones she had used for the golem into her closest approximation of a horse.
She had used too much magic today, and the effort was exhausting. These
castings weren’t like the more permanent spells she had worked on Fluffy and
Misty—those were self-sustaining until she actively cast another spell to end
them. These more impromptu spells required her continuous focus and effort.
By the time she released her hold on the horse creature to deposit Ilex outside
their cottage, she was nearly spent.
Ilex began to stir at the jostling of being dumped onto the ground on top of
what was now a pile of bones. She rushed to their side.
“Ilex, it’s Dahlia. I’m here with you,” she said in as soothing a tone as she
could muster.
“Dahlia,” they said, their voice a raw croak.
 “I think those arrows had poison on them, Ilex. We have to get them out of
you and get some sort of antidote. Do you think you can stand and get inside
with my support?” She asked, unable to keep the worry from her tone. She
couldn’t believe this sweet Dryad had been hurt so badly when they were just
trying to be a good host to her.
Ilex nodded weakly, and the two of them worked to maneuver them into a
sitting position, then up to standing. Ilex leaned heavily on Dahlia as they
hobbled into the cottage, and they settled down into the nest-like structure at
the corner of the one-room cottage.
Ilex’s emerald eyes were barely open, and Dahlia knew this must be bad.
She had no idea what sort of poison they could have used, but she knew the
leaves of the ciùine plant had anti-inflammatory properties. That would be a
good place to start, at least.
“Ilex, I have to go find a few plants to help you, but I’ll be back soon,
alright?” She explained as she grabbed one of the cups Ilex had set out for her
and filled it with water, placing it beside the nest. As she bent down, Ilex
caught her wrist gently.
“Thank you, Dahlia,” they said simply. She gave them a worried smile in
return and set out into the surrounding woods to gather what she needed.
As she wandered, Dahlia thought about how staying to help Ilex would
make her late to the gathering in Ichorna. She found she didn’t care one bit.
Something about Ilex felt so familiar, and they had been kind to her—she
wasn’t just going to leave them.
8
 Chapter 8

I lex couldn’t open their eyes. The bright scent of fruit and flora filled the
emptiness behind their eyelids, and they felt themself taking deep breaths as
they drifted in and out of sleep.
During one such episode of near consciousness, Ilex heard the most lovely
voice. It was light and fluttered from pitch to pitch, the sound of it
complementing the chorus of birds that serenaded the forest. They couldn’t
make out the words, but they felt contentment deep in their soul, just letting
the voice settle over them.
Then—they realized with great pleasure—that the voice was saying their
name.
“Ilex? Ilex, your fever seems to have broken. Can you hear me? Do you
think you could try to drink some water?”
They focused all of their attention then on opening their eyes, only to find
the most beautiful human face just inches from theirs. Dahlia. Suddenly, the
memory of her, of what happened, came rushing back, and they became aware
of the way their entire body ached.
“Ilex! Oh, you’re awake! Ilex, I’m so glad you’ve opened your eyes; I was so
worried,” Dahlia breathed.
“It seems you’ve kept me alive, little bird,” Ilex said, their voice like gravel
from disuse.
Dahlia let out a relieved laugh at that. “I certainly did my best. I had no idea
what type of poison those awful men used, so I had to guess at what herbs
would help. I probably didn’t get it totally right, but hey, you’re talking to me
right now, so I will take that as a win, I suppose,” she said.
“Here, you need to drink some water, and I made some broth too. I hope
you don’t mind, I raided your garden a bit. Oh, and poor Misty thinks she can
eat still, so she’s torn up the plants outside quite a bit—I’m so sorry about that,”
Dahlia said as she offered Ilex a cup of water.
They drank and savored the feeling of the cool water running down their
throat before they spoke again. Dahlia had hurried off to fill a bowl of broth
and was now sitting before them again, offering it to them.
Ilex had never been…cared for. Even as a young Dryad, their family had
not coddled them, and they had moved away the moment they were old
enough to fend for themself.
But this bright little necromancer had stayed with them, was caring for
them. For reasons Ilex could not understand.
“Could you try to eat just a few bites at least?” Dahlia asked, holding the
small bowl out to them.
Ilex nodded, taking it into their own hands. Dahlia smiled at that and
remained seated at the edge of their nest.
“I’ve also, eh, made myself at home. You were asleep for several days. I
hope you don’t mind too terribly, but I made myself a spot on what I think is
your couch?” Dahlia gestured to one of the mossy lumps Ilex had fashioned
into the floor of the cottage when they’d made it. They couldn’t hold back a
hoarse chuckle.
“It is where I sit when I’m not sleeping, yes. You would call this a couch?”
“Yes, or a sofa, I suppose,” Dahlia smiled back at them. “It’s very soft.”
Ilex nodded and studied Dahlia’s face openly as she studied theirs. After a
long moment, Dahlia seemed to realize that they were both just staring at each
other, and shifted her gaze, rising from where she had been sitting. Ilex wasn’t
sure why she seemed uncomfortable.
“I’ll, uh… I’ll go check on Misty and make sure she hasn’t gotten into your
garden again.”
Ilex hoped she wouldn’t be gone for long.
9
 Chapter 9

D ahlia was struggling. She had a lot of feelings that she wasn’t sure what
to do with. She had been so incredibly worried about Ilex during the
four days they’d slept, and now that they were awake, she found herself
looking for excuses to stay a bit longer with them.
She knew they didn’t talk much, but the way they looked at her with such
awe and quiet joy made her feel…wanted. Safe.
Everyone else in Dahlia’s life had always told her she talked too much, she
was annoying, her personality was unbecoming of a necromancer of the court.
Her talent with plants is what had kept her in favor despite her supposed flaws.
She had never really thought they were flaws, though. In her heart, she
knew that her bright spirit was something to be proud of—something that
made her, her.
Dahlia had always quietly loved herself. It was the people around her that
didn’t appreciate what she brought to the world.
Ilex didn’t seem to mind all of the things that other people had disliked
about her. In fact, they seemed to enjoy her company. When they weren’t
unconscious, of course.
She knew it wasn’t wise, but she wondered what could happen if she
stayed a little longer. She was supposed to be representing Daosbor at the
celebration in Ichorna—something she never would have missed even a week
ago. But now, confronted with the experiences she was having, she found her
heart telling her this was where she was supposed to be.
10
 Chapter 10

D ahlia, thankfully, did not stay away long. Ilex knew her excuse of
checking on Misty was a lie and that she had felt the need to flee for
some other reason. They only hoped they had not made her
uncomfortable.
While she had been outside, Ilex had risen from their spot in the nest and
tidied up a bit. Their leafy mane had grown a bit wild as they had slept, so they
put it to rights and set about washing their soup bowl in the basin of water
under the small water pump at the corner of the cottage.
Dahlia came back while Ilex had their back turned to the door, so they
pivoted to look at her, assess her. She was breathing a bit fast, and her round
cheeks were a bright pink. So was the tip of her tiny nose. Ilex thought they
had never seen anything so pretty.
“Oh, you’re up!” She exclaimed as she took them in.
“I’m up, thanks to your excellent care,” Ilex said. Her blush deepened.
“I’m so glad you’re feeling better,” she said, true relief in her voice—but Ilex
detected another emotion underneath.
“And you, Dahlia? Are you well?” They asked.
“I…Yes, I’m well, thank you for asking,” she said and paused. They waited
for her to continue. “Ilex, if it’s alright with you, I think I should stay a few
more days. Just until we are sure you’re fully recovered, you know? I wouldn’t
want the fever to take you again when you’re all alone out here with no one to
help. Would that be alright with you? Of course, I don’t want to intrude, and I
know you live out here because you like your privacy, but,” she stopped and
took in a breath as Ilex closed the short distance between them. They took her
dainty hand in theirs and looked into her amber eyes as they spoke.
 “Dahlia, you are welcome here as long as you’d like to stay. I find I quite
enjoy your company. Please do not worry about intruding. I am grateful for
your help, more than you know,” they said.
“Oh,” Dahlia said, clearly surprised at Ilex’s openness. They found they
could not help but be open with her. Her face softened after a moment,
though, and a smile graced her lovely rosebud lips.
“Thank you for saying that, Ilex. I…” she paused, glancing away to collect
herself before turning her amber eyes back on them. “People generally do not
seem to enjoy having me around. I talk too much. My voice is shrill. I don’t act
with respectable seriousness for my role…the critiques never end. It is, in fact,
very meaningful to me that you enjoy my company. I find I enjoy yours too,
Ilex.”
A content quiet settled over them then as they both let their honesty sink
in. Ilex couldn’t look away from Dahlia, this dainty flower of a necromancer
who had floated into their life on a rogue breeze. They were glad she wanted
to stay with them, if only for a few more days.

***
The next morning, Ilex awoke with the dawn and immediately noticed Dahlia’s
soft snoring from where she slept on one of their mossy benches. They rose
from their nest and walked quietly over to take in her sleeping form. Her
expression was so soft in her sleep; they couldn’t believe this tiny force of a
woman had taken down those bandits singlehanded. Ilex was grateful she had
been there to save them.
They were usually self-sufficient—had been for the last three decades—but
having someone to help when they needed it wasn’t the worst thing. In fact, it
made Ilex’s heart ache in a way it never had before. They wanted to hear her
voice again, to get lost in her words and thoughts.
Ilex didn’t know what was happening, but they knew they needed to get
some space. They turned away from her and strode out into the dewy
morning. They didn’t know where they were headed, but they needed to think
and get this budding attachment to Dahlia out of their mind.
11
 Chapter 11

D ahlia awoke alone in the cabin. Ilex must be feeling better if they had
gone out, and Dahlia supposed there was no need to worry about their
absence. Though, she did worry.
She wasn’t sure when she had decided to fuss so much over this Dryad that
had startled her in the woods, but it seemed her emotions had a mind of their
own. She absently ran her hand over Fluffy’s bony back where he sat curled in
a ball next to her.
What an odd predicament she found herself in. Not in a million years
would she have guessed that she would meet one of the non-human creatures
of Domhan na Rùin on her journey to Ichorna, let alone end up nursing one
back to health in their cottage—but here she was. She had wanted adventure,
to see new things; she couldn’t complain that she wasn’t getting her wish.
When she finally felt awake enough, she stood and stretched and made her
way over to the small kitchen area of the cottage. A bowl of crisp apples sat
atop the counter, and she took one, shining it on her shirt before taking a bite.
Its tart juice danced across her tongue, and she let out a little moan of pleasure
at the bright taste.
She heard a sharp intake of breath behind her and whirled to find Ilex
standing in the doorway, eyes a bit wide and a darker shade of green coloring
their cheeks.
“Oh! Ilex, good morning. I hope it’s alright I took an apple. They’re
delicious!” She said in a rush, her mouth full and embarrassment at her moan
now coloring her cheeks.
“Of course, please help yourself to anything here,” they answered, a smile
playing on their lips.
 “It looks like a beautiful morning outside! I’ve never been much of a
morning person. I don’t have to start in my workshop at any specific time,
which inevitably means I run late,” she said around her bite of apple. Ilex didn’t
respond but watched her intently. Their appraisal made her nervous, and she
was talking again before she could stop herself.
“Did I mention I have a workshop at court in Daosbor? I make potions and
such; that’s my particular area of expertise. I went through necromancy
training, of course, but they keep me around because I’m uh…good with
plants.” She finished her sentence and internally groaned at herself for her
choice of words. Her unintentional innuendo did not escape Ilex’s notice; she
could see them trying not to smile.
“Anyway, that’s what I do all day. That and talk to Fluffy. What do you do
with your days? Do you have any hobbies or anything?” Apparently, she was
determined to talk her new companion to death.
“Do you think Fluffy would like to have some fur of sorts?” Ilex asked,
eyeing the cat where it still lay curled on the bench.
“Oh! I’m sure he would, though I’m not sure how…” Dahlia trailed off as
Ilex raised their willowy hand toward Fluffy. Delicate vines and soft leaves
twined around Fluffy’s bones, giving the cat the appearance of fur all over and
a pair of downy ears.
Fluffy stirred and let out a tiny meow before stretching and jumping down
from the bench.
“Oh, wow! That’s incredible, Ilex! What beautiful magic you have to do
such a thing,” Dahlia ran her hands over Fluffy’s new leafy coat as she spoke,
smiling up at Ilex.
“I hope Fluffy enjoys his new coat,” Ilex said with a chuckle. “And to
answer your question, I listen to the forest. That is my hobby. I hear the birds
and the wind on the leaves and the movement of the water—even the soft
creaking of the trees as they grow. I listen, and I exist, and that has been
enough for me for many years,” Ilex said simply.
“I see,” Dahlia answered, letting Ilex’s words settle into her mind. “Do you
think that will ever change? Might it not be enough for you someday?”
Ilex looked at her for a long moment as they considered. “Anything is
possible.”
12
 Chapter 12

T hat evening, Dahlia sat chopping some vegetables from Ilex’s little
garden. Fluffy’s bones clicked together as he rubbed against her legs
while she worked. She was glad Ilex had accepted her rather transparent
reason for staying a little longer. Of course, she did want to make sure they
were alright after being so ill, but in truth, they seemed fine now. Really, she
just didn’t want to go.
She had been so excited to make her way to Ichorna, but now that she was
in this charming place in these lush green woods so full of life, she did not
want to go. She wanted to get to know Ilex better and just…be. Her life in
Daosbor’s court was a constant barrage of people’s expectations and lectures
on how she was failing to meet them for reasons both within and outside of
her control. She found the quiet joy of nature and the company of someone
who wanted her around healing in a way she hadn’t known she needed.
She could sit and try to reason through it and come up with excuses all
day, but really, it was simple—she just wanted to be here.
Ilex ducked through the door of the cottage then, carrying a basket full of
ripe berries. They bent to place the basket on the table, and Dahlia couldn’t
help but stare at the long planes of their muscled body. Even though it was so
plant-like in some ways, it wasn’t that different from a human. She wondered
what the softer parts of their skin might feel like beneath her fingertips—what
their hands might feel like on her.
Ilex finally turned and caught her staring. She realized her cheeks must be
bright pink; she felt suddenly very warm. The heat in Ilex’s own gaze wasn’t
helping the situation one bit.
They didn’t speak, just observed her where she sat. She couldn’t take the
silence and her embarrassment at once, and before she could stop herself, the
words were out of her mouth.
“When was the last time anyone touched you, Ilex?”
The silence fell again, and Dahlia thought she may simply implode. How
could she have asked them such a horribly blunt question? She wanted to look
around for a hole to crawl into.
“It has been,” Ilex began, their rich alto voice filling the small space and
sinking into Dahlia’s bones, “a very long time.”
She ignored her embarrassment long enough then to consider their words.
The two of them—alone here in Ilex’s cottage in the woods—were on a
precipice. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach. Whatever she said next
would decide their course. Being out in the world beyond Daosbor made her
eager to experience everything she wanted, and she wanted Ilex. She felt
confident and maybe a little reckless.
“I think you would be very nice to touch, Ilex, and I…” she trailed off,
gathering every ounce of boldness she possessed. “I would like to, I think, if
you will let me. Touch you, that is.” Her breathing was shallow, and she could
feel her heart working overtime in her chest. She fought to keep herself from
looking away from Ilex, refusing to be sorry for her openness.
“You want to touch me, little songbird?” Dahlia saw a slight dark green tint
rise over Ilex’s high cheekbones. They moved toward her then, kneeling next
to the bench where she sat. Fluffy scampered out the door of the cottage,
sensing that he should make himself scarce.
Ilex was so close to her, and they smelled of springtime—fresh green leaves
and an herbal undertone of rosemary. Their moss-green eyes assessed her,
now at the same height, and their beauty took Dahlia’s breath away.
“You may touch me, Dahlia,” Ilex breathed. She nodded, in a trance, and
reached her hand out toward their ethereal face.
Her fingertips traced over the planes of their face, and it was so soft under
her touch. She cupped their jaw in her hand and ran her thumb over their
plump lower lip. Ilex sucked in a breath at the touch. Their eyes locked.
“May I touch you too?” Ilex’s voice was barely more than a whisper. Dahlia
nodded. “I need you to say yes, songbird,” Ilex encouraged her.
“Yes, Ilex, I want you to touch me too.”
 One of their willowy hands slipped around her waist then, and the
sensation of their warmth sent a thrill through her. She moved her own hand
from where it was still cupping their jaw and trailed her fingers down their
neck. Ilex tilted their head to the side to allow her more access, and they let out
a soft gasp as she grazed a sensitive spot at the base of their neck.
Ilex looked at her again then, their hand tightening where it rested on her
waist, and they kept eye contact as they slid their palm up to cup her breast.
Dahlia sucked in a breath; she had been touched before, but it had never felt so
reverent as this. She had not been sure if Ilex shared her experience of sexual
desire, but she felt confident now that there must be at least something similar.
She wanted to encourage them, wanted to feel their touch everywhere. She
wanted them, whatever that might mean.
“Ilex, would you kiss me?”
Before she could second guess herself, Ilex leaned in, cupped her face, and
pressed their lips to hers. The contact was unlike anything she had felt before;
it felt like life itself, touching Ilex like this—and she wanted more.
13
 Chapter 13

I lex was kissing her. It was real. They had never thought they would be this
physically close with anyone; they had left home at such a young age to find
solitude and had never fully considered all of the consequences of their
isolation.
They had never been intimate with anyone in this way, but suddenly, the
desire was overwhelming. They wanted to be as close to Dahlia as possible.
They wanted.
Ilex reveled in the feeling of her lips against theirs. Her lips were so plush,
and the feeling of the softness of her waist in their palm was intoxicating.
Dahlia opened her lips into the kiss and brushed her tongue against theirs; it
felt incredible, and they wanted more despite having no idea what they were
doing.
They brushed their tongue against hers in return, and Dahlia moaned
softly. They tried to follow their instincts and stay in the moment, and they
were thrilled Dahlia seemed to enjoy it. Ilex wanted her to make that sound
again, more than anything they had ever wanted in their life.
Dahlia’s dainty hands trailed down their chest and the feeling of her warm
skin against their own sent tingles of pleasure through their whole body. She
pulled away with a small gasp and smiled at them then, eyes gleaming with a
bit of playfulness that made their chest go tight with affection and excitement.
“Ilex, will you tell me how to touch you? To pleasure you?”
Just hearing the words on her lips sent a jolt of arousal through them. She
watched them, lips slightly parted, face flushed, as they took her hand in their
own and guided it between their legs.
Ilex couldn’t help but gasp as Dahlia’s fingers grazed their slit. Dahlia’s
breath caught as well.
 “If you touch me here, my cock will form,” Ilex breathed. “The inside walls
are very sensitive too.” Dahlia nodded and rubbed her fingers softly over the
opening, and a small moan escaped her.
“Oh, Ilex, it feels slick and wet; is that because you want me?” Her sweet
voice filled Ilex’s mind; they couldn’t believe how erotic her words were.
“Yes,” they moaned. “Yes, little songbird, I desire you—more than I have
ever desired anything,” they breathed.
She didn’t say anything else then and instead watched their face as she
gathered their wetness on her fingers and slid them over their opening slowly
several times. After a few long moments, she pushed one of her fingers inside
them, and Ilex’s mind went blank with pleasure. No one had ever touched
them there before—they hadn’t even felt the need to touch themself. This was
entirely new.
They felt it starting as she rubbed her fingers against their inner walls.
Similar to the leaves that weren’t really leaves that made up their hair, vines
grew out of them to form their cock when aroused. It had only happened to
them a few times in their sleep—never in such an intense way.
Now, it was the most overwhelming sensation they had ever experienced.
Dahlia let out a little gasp as her fingers brushed against their vines twining
together, growing and lengthening. Finally, the vines tightened and emerged
from their slit as a large member. Dahlia withdrew her fingers slowly from
inside them and stared at their cock for a long moment before looking up at
them.
“Ilex,” she said, breathless, “May I touch you here, too?”
They nodded, beyond words now. She slowly wrapped her tiny hand
around their length, her fingers barely touching due to their size. Her fingers
were still wet from her exploration of their slit, and the slickness allowed her
hand to glide smoothly up and down their cock.
Ilex felt sharp tingling in their lower back and between their thighs at
Dahlia’s touch, and they moaned their pleasure openly. It wasn’t as if anyone
would hear them out here.
When Ilex thought they might black out from pleasure, Dahlia paused her
stroking motion and leaned in to kiss them again, more urgently now.
 “Dahlia,” Ilex said when they drew back for air, “please, I want to touch you
too.” Their hands roamed her still-clothed body now, feeling her softness,
every place her body swelled and curved.
At their words, she stood before them and began to undress. She kept her
eyes on theirs as each piece of clothing fell away, her creamy, freckled skin
revealed bit by bit. When she stood bare before them, she leaned into their
space to put her hands on their shoulders. Her lush breasts were only an inch
from their face now, and they looked up at her as they sucked one of her pert
nipples into their mouth.
Dahlia let out a cry of pleasure at the sensation, and Ilex had never felt
such satisfaction as knowing they were making her feel good. Ilex longed to do
more for her, but they had never been with anyone like this. They supposed
there wasn’t anything wrong with asking; Dahlia would understand.
“Little songbird, tell me how to touch you—I’ve never been with another
this way. I want to give you pleasure,” they said, looking up at Dahlia, who was
flushed and breathless.
“I’m not so different from you; I have a channel between my legs that is
tight and wet like yours, but I have a bundle of nerves just outside the opening
that you could touch to start,” Dahlia purred, not a hint of judgment in her
beautiful voice. Ilex nodded and slid their hand up her plump thigh, higher and
higher, until their fingers grazed the curls of auburn hair at her center.
Dahlia sucked in a breath as Ilex slipped their fingers between her folds
and found her core to be warm and wet. They moaned at the feeling of it and
began to move their fingers, exploring, seeking out the spot she had mentioned
they should touch.
They felt where her opening was and slid their fingers back toward the
front of Dahlia’s torso from there. When Dahlia moaned loudly, they knew
they had found the right place. It felt like a bud under their finger, and it
seemed incredibly sensitive. They rubbed lightly at first, in a small circle, and
Dahlia threw her head back in pleasure. Ilex felt their cock grow fuller as they
listened to the sounds she made.
Ilex wanted to explore every inch of this woman’s body, and she was so
responsive to their touch that they felt brave. They kept rubbing at the spot in
front of her entrance but slipped a finger into her at the same time. They
nearly came undone at the feeling—she was so tight and wet. They worried
suddenly that their cock would not fit.
“Ilex, please,” Dahlia panted. “Please, I want you inside me.”
“I want that too, Dahlia; I’ve just never…” Ilex trailed off.
“It’s alright. Do you want me to take the lead?” She asked, a glimmer in her
eye.
“Yes,” Ilex said simply, their cock aching for whatever came next.
Ilex still sat kneeling before Dahlia, and she still stood over them. Now, she
widened her stance and began to lower herself to straddle them, her arms on
their shoulders. They brought their hands up to Dahlia’s hips to support her as
she hovered her entrance over their cock.
Dahlia paused and looked into Ilex’s face. They realized then that they
didn’t ever want Dahlia to leave—they wanted to be wherever she was.
“Are you ready?” Dahlia whispered.
“Yes, little songbird,” Ilex answered.
With that, she lowered herself further, and Ilex felt their cock beginning to
enter her, stretch her. They both moaned at the feeling of it, and Ilex saw a
light sheen of sweat forming on Dahlia’s temples. She continued to lower
herself, at times rocking her hips a bit to adjust to their size. It was the most
intense feeling Ilex had ever experienced—her heat against the vines of their
cock was nearly enough to bring them to orgasm.
After what felt like an eternity of Dahlia’s careful descent, her weight
rested fully against their hips, and Ilex couldn’t contain their cry of pleasure.
Dahlia wrapped her hand around the back of their neck and drew them into a
kiss. When they came up for air, Ilex rested their forehead against Dahlia’s,
running their hands up the smooth expanse of her back.
Then she began to move.
Dahlia kept their cock fully seated inside of her but rotated her hips in a
circular motion, grinding against them. They could feel her channel pulsing
around them, and they had to focus not to immediately spill inside her. Ilex
knew a child wasn’t a possibility—they were different species, after all—but
they wanted this to last.
Ilex slipped a hand between their bodies to find the spot between Dahlia’s
legs that brought her so much pleasure and rubbed it like they had before.
 Dahlia cried out in response. “Ilex, I’m going to come, please don’t stop,”
she moaned.
They could feel their own release cresting as well. “Can I finish inside
you?” Ilex could barely form the words, but they were important.
“Yes, please, Ilex, fill me.”
The words undid them. They moaned, breathless, as their orgasm sent
intense waves of pleasure through their whole body. They could feel the mess
dripping out of Dahlia’s body. Just as their orgasm began to fade, Dahlia’s took
her, her channel clenching impossibly tight around their cock. She cried out,
and Ilex kept stroking her until it seemed her pleasure was tapering.
They sat then, Ilex still seated fully inside Dahlia. They stared at each other
in awe as they tried to catch their breath—and Ilex knew their life would never
be the same.
14
 Chapter 14

A shome.
Dahlia sat with Ilex buried deep inside her, she felt like she had come
Their foreheads rested against each other, and she was completely
lost in their embrace.
“Dahlia,” her name was almost a prayer on Ilex’s lips. They were both
breathless in the aftermath of their joining—Dahlia didn’t know what to say.
She worried if she let herself speak, she would confess her heart’s sudden,
jolting thought: that she wanted to stay with Ilex. She thought she might grow
to love them. It wasn’t possible, though, was it? They had known each other for
only a few days.
Instead, she held her tongue and wrapped her arms around Ilex, pulling
them into a hug. They hugged her back, and they stayed like that, tangled up in
each other for long minutes before she felt Ilex’s cock receding into their slit.
She immediately missed the feel of it inside her.
“Let me get something to clean us up, songbird,” they said softly.
She nodded as Ilex stood, but they paused just as they were turning away
from her.
“Actually, how does a bath sound?” They asked.
“Oh, a bath sounds incredible,” Dahlia said, her voice a bit husky from all
her moaning. Ilex smiled at her then, and her whole world shifted to center
around them. They bent and scooped her up in their arms and strode
gracefully out of the cottage into the late afternoon light.
Dahlia snuggled close to them as they carried her through the woods until
they came upon a rocky outcrop with the most lovely pool of steaming water
nestled at its center—a hot spring.
Ilex didn’t set her down but instead strode straight into the hot water,
lowering them both gently until Dahlia was submerged up to her shoulders.
She couldn’t help the moan that escaped her lips at the delicious heat.
She looked up at Ilex to find their eyes fixed on her mouth. She blushed,
blaming it mentally on the hot water. She was in so much trouble over this
Dryad. She still wanted to go to the celebration in Ichorna, but suddenly,
everything else in her life seemed so cold compared to how she felt when she
was with Ilex. She wondered what her life would look like if she didn’t go back
to Daosbor.
“This little spring is one of the many marvels the forest reveals if you know
where to look,” Ilex said.
“It’s beautiful here. Have you always lived in this part of the woods?”
“No, I left my family a long time ago, but I spent my early years in the
northern part of Wellsah. There aren’t many other Dryads here in the south,”
Ilex answered without the tinge of sadness she would have expected as they
described their departure from their family.
“And the humans aren’t very kind to you, clearly,” Dahlia said, anger
coloring her tone at her memory of the bandits.
“No, they…well, they just aren’t all that comfortable with the other types of
beings around, I think. It’s easier to stay out of the way.”
“It isn’t right, though, Ilex. You are just as much a part of this world as
humans are. Why should you have to hide?” Dahlia asked, her indignation on
Ilex’s behalf getting the best of her. She didn’t understand—it felt so wrong
that Ilex wouldn’t be able to go wherever and do whatever they wanted
without fear of violence.
“Domhan na Rùin hasn’t been my world since before I was born, songbird.
We’ve been living away from the human cities for five hundred years,” they
said gently, cupping her cheek.
“But if it were possible—if you didn’t have to be worried, where would you
go?” She asked. She had always been a bit of a dreamer; she loved imagining
and planning and wanting.
Ilex remained silent for a long moment, considering. “If you had asked me
even a week ago, I think I would have told you I’d stay right here. But now,”
they trailed off, turning to look out into the forest around them.
“Now?” Dahlia prompted.
 “Now, I think I should like to go wherever you go, little songbird. I know
we will keep each other safe.”
Tears sprung to Dahlia’s eyes, unbidden. “Ilex,” her voice broke on their
name.
“I know we’ve only known each other a few days, but amongst the Dryads,
when we meet our life partner, we call it The Knowing. It’s a feeling deep in
your soul that something is right, a sense of peace and surety when you’re
around them. We don’t have mates, but we take life partnerships quite
seriously, and we honor our intuition. I knew from the moment we first spoke
that you were someone special. I have always wanted to be alone, but I find
now that I only want to be wherever you are.”
Ilex’s words filled Dahlia’s heart to the brim; the feeling they described, the
intuitive sense of rightness, had settled in her sternum as well. What did she
have to lose in pulling on this loose thread fate was offering her?
“Ilex, thank you for being so open with me. It feels impossible, but I feel so
safe and happy with you—I’d like to try,” she said, and she felt a tear escape and
trace down her face. Ilex’s long green lashes brushed their cheek as they
blinked, and their lips pulled up into a gentle smile.
“Do not cry, songbird. We have so many possibilities before us,” they said
softly.
“I’m just so surprised and so happy; I left home meaning to see the world—
I never dreamed I’d find someone like you. I didn’t think anyone could want to
spend time with me or truly enjoy my company,” she said, embarrassed to
admit her insecurities.
“Well, I am not sorry one bit to prove you wrong. I love spending time with
you.”
Dahlia laughed then, and it felt like the sun breaking over the horizon at
dawn deep in her soul. Ilex laughed too, the sound sonorous and rich, and
Dahlia knew she would never get enough of it.
 Epilogue

Ilex thought they might simply perish from pleasure. Dahlia’s hot, pink little
tongue was buried in their slit, the slightly rough texture of it so perfect
against their smooth inner walls. They were trying as hard as they could to
keep their cock from forming so that Dahlia could continue her exploration.
Ilex lay with their legs spread wide, Dahlia’s vibrant red hair spilling over
their thighs as her head bobbed between their legs. She slipped two fingers in
then but kept licking their slit, tiny moans escaping her as she worked them.
“Dahlia, oh fuck, please don’t stop,” Ilex said, voice hoarse. She kept
working them, and it took all of Ilex’s focus to keep their vines from taking
shape; but then she began stroking the perfect spot deep inside them. Their
release found them hard and fast, and they felt their cock form just enough
deep in their slit to release a flood of seed that Dahlia eagerly lapped at.
Ilex couldn’t fight it anymore, and their cock quickly sprang fully to life
and extruded. Dahlia looked up at them from her place between their legs with
a wicked gleam in her eyes. She was proud of herself.
“Be good and stay still for me, won’t you?” She asked, rising on her knees.
Ilex was beyond words, so they only nodded at her. She smiled at them and
turned around, straddling their legs with her perfect ass on display.
She didn’t waste any time; she lowered herself onto their length in one
smooth motion, and they both cried out their pleasure.
“Oh, Ilex, I’ll never get tired of this,” she said, breathless.
“Me neither, little songbird,” they ground out, transfixed by the beauty of
the sight before them. Her plump ass spread wide as she began to bounce up
and down on their cock.
Ilex was suddenly determined to make her come undone as she had for
them. They searched for their magic and summoned a tendril of vine to snake
up Dahlia’s thigh. They guided it to what they now knew was her clitoris and
began to stroke.
Dahlia’s body lurched at the sensation, and she cried out. Ilex smiled in
satisfaction and continued directing the vine in a circular motion. Dahlia’s
channel clenched suddenly, and Ilex cried out, following her to completion.
They stayed like that for a long moment, catching their breath. Ilex
marveled at how lovely Dahlia’s back was: a constellation of freckles and
creamy skin. When Dahlia had caught her breath, she turned to look at Ilex
and clicked her tongue.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay still, love?”
Ilex knew this was a part of the games they liked to play together; they
found they enjoyed Dahlia’s punishments when they disobeyed.
“Hm…” she hummed, rising from their nest to grab her shirt, which she
then used to tie Ilex’s hands together above their head.
“You know your word to tell me we need to stop?” She asked, leaning over
them.
“Yes, little songbird,” Ilex said, breathless with anticipation.
“What a good Dryad you are,” she purred.
Before they knew what was happening, Dahlia’s fingers were caressing
their slit again. They were so slick with both of their releases, but Ilex knew it
would be a little while before their cock could form again.
Dahlia worked them hard and deep, and they moaned, the sensation
almost too intense after they had already come twice. After what seemed like
an eternity, Dahlia paused, a bit breathless.
“I’m going to fill you up now, love. Remember to use your word if you need
it,” Dahlia said. Ilex didn’t know what she had in mind, but they wanted to find
out.
They felt Dahlia’s fingers at their entrance again, but this time, the feeling
was tight; they felt stretched in a way they never had before. Dahlia kept
pushing, ever so slowly, the stretch growing tighter and tighter until the
pressure released a bit at their opening. Only now, they felt so full.
“What…” Ilex couldn’t even get the words out.
“Stay still for me, love,” Dahlia said, her own voice laden with desire. She
enjoyed being in charge.
 Ilex moaned as they felt Dahlia’s hand curve into a fist inside them. They
felt the muscles of their lower torso tightening, clenching around Dahlia’s tiny
hand that now filled them so completely.
Dahlia moaned, too. “You’re taking my fist so well, Ilex; how does it feel?
This is what it’s like for me when your cock is inside me.”
Dahlia’s words had Ilex coming undone—they came around Dahlia’s fist,
squeezing her wrist and soaking her with their release.
When their orgasm had subsided, Dahlia unfurled her hand and slowly,
carefully withdrew it. She kissed Ilex’s cheek sweetly and climbed into the nest
next to them. She urged Ilex to roll onto their side, and she fit her body against
theirs. She cradled their much larger body in the welcoming curves of her
own. Dahlia draped her arm over Ilex’s waist, and they thought they could
never be happier than in that moment.
“We really should get to sleep, songbird,” Ilex said after a long silence. “We
are supposed to set out at first light. We have a long journey ahead of us, and
we’ll need to travel as quickly as possible to make it to Ichorna in time for the
celebration.”
“Ugh, I know, but how am I supposed to resist this?” Dahlia said teasingly,
running her hand over Ilex’s slit. Ilex chuckled and turned over so they were
facing each other.
“Sleep, love,” they said softly, running their hand over Dahlia’s hair. “We
have all the time in the world to be together.”
 About the Author
I am a project manager by day and an avid reader/writer by night. I love all
things fantasy and have a bit of an obsession with monster romance. My
favorite hobby is learning new hobbies. A latest obsession is quilting. I like to
hang out with my little dog Arya and my husband, and I enjoy cozy rainy days
more than just about anything else.

You can connect with me on:

https://emmaelizabethwrites.com
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 Also by Emma Elizabeth

The world of Domhan na Rùin is vast and holds many stories! The Songbird &
The Forest is the first novelette in a series of monster romances set in this
world. Mistress of Hours, and the subsequent full-length novels in the Losian
Rùin series, are romantasy (with a little something for the monster romance
lovers, too).

Mistress of Hours
https://www.amazon.com/Mistress-Hours-Emma-Elizabeth-
ebook/dp/B0D26CPVKG/ref=sr_1_1?
crid=AB4B5YMNL2J6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-yppEGotWZX4z-
oNwkPG3Q.APTjfAVEz8_N3-
tMAMyXLCiwKKh2V8S6IHH1zN5mSiM&dib_tag=se&keywords=mistress+
of+hours+emma+elizabeth&qid=1718045811&sprefix=mistress+of+hours,aps
,107&sr=8-1
Coming October 10, 2024
Evienne is living her dream as the highest-ranking blood mage in Ichorna
when the queens assign her to monitor two unexpected visitors from their
elusive northern neighbor of shifters, Beitar. She can’t help her curiosity when
one of the visitors–a striking academic with piercing green eyes–seems
determined to seduce her. What starts as a dalliance pulls Evienne into a web
of centuries-old secrets that could turn her world, and her understanding of
her power, upside down.

Orion, a professor from Beitar, arrives in Ichorna to attend their turn-of-the-

millenium celebration with a singular goal in mind– he must find answers
about his people’s dwindling magic. He needs an Ichornian ally, though, and
the alluring blood mage Evienne may be the key to his success. All his plans are
upended, though, when an ancient magic awakes in his soul.

Despite their different allegiances, Evienne and Orion decide to work together
to uncover the truth of Beitar’s failing magic. As the horrible threads of the
past unravel in the present, Evienne must choose between loyalty and her own
integrity. The lives of a whole nation hang in the balance.