Chapter 668

Chapter 668: Starlight of Loch Lake

The night-time Loch Lake was dotted with the lights of distant dwarven dwellings.

Beyond the town street of Thelsamar, scattered stone houses lay along the nearby shore, nearly invisible until their lamps lit up at night, blending seamlessly with the cliffs and hills.

Jesse and Vereesa walked slowly by the forested lakeshore, gazing at the starlight mirrored on the water. "I’m actually grateful to Molofeel," Vereesa said.

"Because she saved you?" Jesse asked.

"Of course I’m grateful for that too, whether it was your command or not," Vereesa replied. "But that’s not what I meant. I meant during our time in Kalimdor. If she hadn’t been there, I might never have sorted out my feelings for you."

The arcane fire in the elf’s eyes dimmed slightly, allowing Jesse to see her true eyes clearly. "Sorry," he said.

"I’m not about to compete with a demon minion, Jesse," Vereesa said, her long eyebrows twitching. "Don’t forget where I come from."

"Why not talk about you instead?" she continued. "When did you start taking an interest in an ‘elf’ from Quel’Thalas?" Jesse thought for a moment. "Remember Eastvale?"

"Ah, how could I forget? I knew it," she smiled.

The pair sat amidst the waterweeds, leaning against each other as they looked towards the moonlit island at the lake’s center. Vereesa rubbed her jade-green earring. "I can’t wait to return north and show them this. Let those folks see…"

"Oh," she suddenly turned to him, "if you’re going back to Lordaeron, would you come with me to Quel’Thalas? Let me tell them Jesse Seso belongs to me."

"Won’t Sylvanas kill me?" Jesse chuckled. "Are you afraid of her?" Vereesa countered.

Jesse nearly pointed out that her idea of Sylvanas likely differed greatly from his own. But even the Sylvanas *he* knew… what could she really do?

"Then before meeting her, remember to give me a bottle of Sunwell water to soothe my throat. Just in case she gets mad and suddenly stabs me. I definitely couldn’t dodge it."

Vereesa tilted her head. "If I’m to give you a bottle of well water, you’d better guarantee she’ll stab you on sight. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a waste?"

Jesse’s expression froze. "How do I guarantee that?"

"You idiot," Vereesa turned her face away towards the nearby waterweeds.

Jesse suddenly understood her hint. His heart pounded fiercely, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.

Tentatively, he reached out and tugged her cloak aside. Vereesa flinched violently, lightning-fast grabbing his wrist. "Here?!"

"Scared?" Jesse asked.

Vereesa bit her lower lip, glancing towards the lights of distant Thelsamar. "Scared yourself…"

Fumbling and clumsy in their haste, they shed their cloaks, robes, and clothes. Vereesa breathed deeply until only her patterned elven brassiere remained. Her hand clutching its edge trembled violently…

"I feel a bit…" "What?"

"I don’t know, I…" "You’re not a virgin, are you?"

"You filthy thing! How could it be my first time? Do you think I have zero appeal in Quel’Thalas?!" "What does appeal have to do with it? You’re a Lady Windrunner. Who’d dare bother you?"

"Uh… fine. So what if it *is* my first time?"

Jesse almost choked back a laugh at her reaction. Was having no experience something to be ashamed of in Quel’Thalas?

"Think it’s funny?!" Within half a second, Vereesa snatched the Blade of Eternal Darkness from her robe and pressed it to his neck. "Dare tell another Quel’dorai about this, and I’ll slice your stupid face to ribbons!"

Feeling the shadowy power emanating from the blade at his throat, Jesse shook his head frantically.

Vereesa frowned and tossed the dagger aside. "Then stop talking nonsense. Hurry up!"

But as she lay back down, she hesitated and whispered, "Damn it. I feel like I can’t breathe."

Jesse braced himself on the grass, leaning over Vereesa sprawled on the cloak, her chest heaving. He looked into her eyes. She met his gaze intensely for a moment, then averted her eyes, her lips trembling.

"Well then," he murmured, lowering himself slowly. He kissed her smooth, firm abdomen, inhaling the faint scent of fire and lightly floral herbs lingering on her skin.

His kisses trailed lower. Vereesa realized his intent and clamped her legs around his head, trying to grab his hair.

"Don’t… Jesse! My last proper bath was back in Quel’Thalas! The lake’s right there… at least let me…!"

"… You… don’t… ah…" "Jesse…"

"I like you, Vereesa," Jesse lifted his head, seeing the elf curled up shyly. "I had to say it."

Vereesa flushed, exhaled, and smiled softly. "Then I like you too. You must have known that already, right?" Jesse hesitated, then murmured, "I… I was never really sure."

At that, Vereesa’s smile faded. Her gaze grew distant as she looked at Jesse. Suddenly, tears welled up uncontrollably.

"… I’m so afraid you’ll die, Jesse. I’m terrified you’ll just… leave me one day. I’m so scared… how can I tell you? I’m sorry, Jesse… truly sorry…"

She bent forward and clutched him fiercely, pressing her face into his hair, her voice thick but determined. "But even if the Queen of the Red Dragons won’t bless you… I’ve already decided. I am yours. Always."

They held each other tightly for a long time. Jesse whispered, "Don’t be afraid anymore. I’ll stay with you until the end."

"Remember your words," Vereesa wiped her tears, her smile returning. "These days feel like a dream. You… standing in the center of that hall, driving the Azuresong Mageblade through your arm… my heart ached… but you seemed like a hero from the tales. The master of Grim Batol. I bet the Red Dragon Queen thought so too. You might not have noticed, but she was stunned. Ha! Only that dwarf was busy brawling with the Orcs."

Jesse couldn’t help but laugh. "After the war, he finally got a real chance to fight Orcs. I think that’s why he came to Grim Batol with me."

Vereesa was silent for a moment, staring at Jesse. "So you came here with me just to talk about that ‘Mountain King’?"

"Shall we continue?" Jesse asked.

Vereesa glanced down, her face warming again.

"Hmm," she murmured, leaning in to taste his lips. "I can’t wait."