The Crystal Caves settled after that scrap with the guardian, but the air's still thick, hummin' with magic that makes my skin crawl. I'm sittin' there, back 'gainst a crystal pillar, breathin' heavy, scales mostly gone but leavin' a tingle. Elara's beside me, that heartstone glowin' soft in her hands, its light dancin' on her face. My chest's tight—not just from the fight, but from her, that pull from the glade still burnin' in me.
The amulet's hummin' lower now, but that whisper—"The throne demands"—lingers, makin' my head ache. Them undead and villagers are out there, and I'm wonderin' if I'm cut out for this.
Elara shifts, tucking the heartstone into her pack, and glances at me. "We rest a bit," she says, voice low, tired but steady. I nod, rubbin' my neck where the amulet sits, feelin' its warmth. The cave's quiet, crystals castin' a blue-green glow, but there's a weird scent—sweet, like flowers, but with a sharp edge. I sniff, frownin'. "Somethin' off here," I mutter, and she nods, standin' to check the walls. Her leather creaks, and I catch that pine-magic scent again—damn, it's distractin'. I shake it off, focusin'—crossed it out, hell—on the cave.
She touches a crystal, and it flares, sendin' a wave of that scent thicker. My head spins, and I stumble, vision blurin'. "Elara!" I growl, reachin' for her, but she's swayin' too, eyes wide. "Hallucinogens," she gasps, "in the air—old ones' magic." The cave shifts, walls meltin' into colors—purple, gold, swirl in' like a dream. My heart pounds, and the beast stirs, hunger roarin' up, but it's different—warmer, wilder. I see her, Elara, but she's… more. Her hair flows like water, armor gone, skin glowin' with runes. My breath catches, and I feel it—a pull, deep and urgent.
She steps closer, eyes locked on mine, and I can't look away. "Job," she whispers, voice echoin' like a song, and I'm on my feet, drawn to her. The cave's hum turns to a pulse, matchin' my heartbeat, and the air feels alive, pressin' us together. My hands—claws half-out—grip her arms, gentle but firm, and she doesn't pull back. "This ain't real," I mutter, but my body don't care. Her hands slide up my chest, fingers trac in' where scales were, and I feel that heat from the glade rush back.
We crash together, rough but soft, the cave's magic guidin' us. My lips find hers, tastin' that elven wildness, and she moans, pressin' closer. The hallucinogens twist it—vines wrap 'round us, glowin', holdin' us up as I lift her. Her legs hook 'round me, and I press her 'gainst a crystal wall, the cold shockin' 'gainst the heat. My shirt's gone, torn off, and her hands explore my skin, nails diggin' just right. I growl—crossed it out, damn—lost in her, the beast purrin' as I nip her neck, my tongue flickin' out, forked and sensitive.
She arches, runes on her skin flarin', and I feel the magic flowin'—into me, through me. My transformation kicks in, scales pushin' out, but it's controlled, sensual. Her breath hitches as I move, slow at first, then harder, the cave's pulse matchin' our rhythm. The air's thick with moans, echoes bouncin' off crystals, and I see visions—thrones, scales, her face twisted with pleasure. It's intense, too much, and I hold her tighter, feelin' her shudder 'gainst me. She cries out, elven words spillin', and I follow, a roar mixin' with her sound, the magic peakin' as we climax.
We slide down, pantin', the vines lettin' go, and the cave steadies. The haze lifts, leavin' me human again, skin slick with sweat. Elara's beside me, armor half-on, eyes dazed. "That… wasn't just the air," she says, voice shaky. I nod, feelin' it—the amulet's pulse stronger, my power hummin'. "Magic fed off us," I grunt, rubbin' my face. She looks at me, a mix of awe and somethin' else—trust, maybe. It warms me, but doubt creeps in. Was it real, or just the cave messin' with us?
Before I can ask, the crystals dim, and a hiss cuts the air. I tense, claws out, as shadows move—spiders again, but bigger, their legs clackin' like bones. "Not done yet," I mutter, standin'. Elara grabs her bow, heartstone glowin' in her hand. "They're drawn to the magic spike," she says, firin' an arrow that shatters one. I charge, roarin', tail swingin' to crush another, but they're fast, bitin' with venom that burns. My head spins again, the hallucinogens kickin' back, and I see her—Elara, but with claws, laughin' at me.
I shake it off, focusin' on the fight. My claws rip through, and she blasts light, the heartstone amplifyin' it, scatterin' the spiders. One lunges, and I catch it, smashin' it 'gainst a crystal, shards flyin'. The cave quiets, but my legs tremble, poison and magic mix in' me up. I drop, breathin' hard, and she kneels, hand on my arm. "You're tougher than you look," she says, smilin' weak. I chuckle, rough, feelin' that bond grow—real or not.
The amulet hums, and I feel the throne's call stronger, but the doubt lingers. Was that ecstasy ours, or the cave's trick? The spiders' retreat leaves cracks glowin' red—somethin' worse comin'. I grip my hands, ready, knowin' this cave's just the beginnin' of a wild ride.