I stood on the porch, staring out at the vast, shifting wall of blue.
I took a step forward.
"Ow, my back."
Every time I shifted my weight, a dull ache radiated through my lower back.
Even breathing felt like work.
Now I finally understood how Elara was when she released her pheromones. But I had to pay it with my body. It was unavoidable with how little restraint she had left, as she stopped holding back. It wasn't nearly as painful as our very first time, but the soreness lingered like a quiet reminder of her presence.
But I didn't regret it, though. Not a single second of it.
After hesitating for a moment, I stepped off the porch and onto the sand.
The beach was never silent, but now it was crawling with people.
Some were building something elaborate out of sand, shaping towers and walls only for the water to rush in and wash them back into nothing.
Instead of getting angry, they laughed and started again.
