Suddenly, other hooded figures appeared... but attacked both camps indifferently.
—What is this madness?! cried Kira.
The battle turned into total chaos.
Kira tried to launch an attack, but one of the men disappeared in a dark flash and reappeared behind her, blade raised.
—KIRA!!!
Eiden intervened.
The attack hit him head on.
A scream tore through the night.
— EIDEN!!!
He collapsed in Kira's arms, his body bloodied, unconscious.
— No… no… no… stay with me… please…
Miria, frozen, felt something explode inside her.
The ground shook violently. Lightning streaked the sky. Brutal power poured out around her, knocking enemies and allies alike to the ground.
— MIRIA, CALM DOWN! Asher shouted, holding her against him.
The storm of power slowly subsided.
Then Miria collapsed, unconscious.
At the same time, several armed men appeared.
Leading: Bryan.
The attackers fled.
But one of them was violently grabbed by Bryan. His hood fell.
Bryan turned pale.
- …You ?
— My prince... I... I...
— Guard!
—Yes, my prince!
— Take him. Make him spit out the name of who sent it...and why.
— Please... pity...
He was dragged by force.
Bryan turned to the others.
Eiden was unconscious in Kira's arms.
"We need to treat him immediately," said Alix.
"I have a healer," Bryan replied. But you need a place.
Asher, carrying Miria in his arms:
— My place is too far...
Kira raised her head:
— We can go home. It's not far.
Alix hesitated.
— But... Ikan is over there...
Asher was silent for a moment.
- We have no choice...
"Very good," Bryan concluded. Let's go.
Elsewhere — Katrina's Room
Katrina was quietly packing her suitcase. There were only three days left.
The door opened suddenly.
—So, what does it say? Mila said.
—Are you already packing your bags?! Lena wondered.
"I want to be ready," Katrina replied simply.
Mila exchanged a knowing look with Léna.
— So… what was it like with the young man… do you know who I'm talking about?
"I don't see," Katrina replied, tense.
— Oh stop! We saw you kissing! And disappear all night! added Lena.
—And you didn't come back until the next day! Mila added.
Katrina sighed.
—Okay... yes... something happened.
—And then why are you pulling that head? Mila asked.
—Are you serious? I spent the night with a young man my daughter's age!
Mila shrugged her shoulders.
— He is an adult. He was willing. Where is the problem?
Katrina flopped onto the bed.
Léna sat down next to her, smiling mischievously.
— Well... now that the moral is out of the way... what was it like?
— Lena…
— Come on… be honest.
Katrina sighed, then whispered:
— He is... very good.
The two friends exchanged a shocked look... then burst out laughing, shouting in unison:
—Aaaah!
Katrina raised a finger to her lips, her eyes sparkling with amusement and embarrassment.
— Shhhh! We could be heard!
Léna lowered her voice, still out of breath from her enthusiasm.
— Oh, sorry... Sorry... But it's just... wow!
Mila, eyes bright, grabbed Katrina's hands impatiently.
— Come on, tell us more! Tell it all, insta!
Katrina blushed slightly, but her gaze betrayed a mixture of nostalgia and repressed desire.
— Well... he really knows how to touch a woman. His hands, his mouth... everything was perfect.
Lena shook her head, feigning theatrical jealousy.
- Don't tell me that, I'll regret not having had him in my bed myself!
Mila and Katrina burst out laughing, a frank and liberating laugh that echoed in the room. Katrina caught her breath, her cheeks still pink.
— Yes, you can complain. Not kidding you, when he pushed his cock in... it was so big that with each thrust, my pussy had to expand a little more to accommodate him. He was just... incredible. I'm ashamed to admit that I loved it. And if he wanted to do it again, I would spread his legs without hesitation. I still want it so much. Every time I think about that steamy night, I find myself getting wet just thinking about it.
Lena whistled in admiration, her eyes wide. — Woooh, so there, respect! You who have always been such a homebody, was it enough for you to have sex to awaken so much desire in you? It's crazy!
Mila, more pragmatic, tilted her head to the side, one eyebrow arched.
— What if it was just the effect of not having slept with anyone after so many years? I mean, after your husband left, you never did anything again, did you?
Katrina frowned, suddenly thoughtful, a shadow of doubt crossing her face.
"Do you think it's just because I haven't made love to anyone in so long?"
Léna shrugged her shoulders, a mischievous smile on her lips.
— Well, maybe. We're not sure. Maybe if you tried it with someone else, we'd be hooked.
Katrina shook her head, a little uncomfortably, but with a hint of intrigue in her voice. — I don't know... Okay, shall we stop talking about my one-night stand and move on to something else?
Thus, they changed the conversation, leaving an air of complicity and full of unacknowledged secrets.