Villain's Second Heart: Trapped in A Fantasy Novel (BL)-Chapter 94: Dinner With Rav

Dinner was a veritable feast - Rav had traveled far for the ingredients. An assortment of fish and crab, some of Rav’s favorites, all seasoned with zesty lemon and cracked black pepper. It was the perfect meal to end a day like the one they’d had - one filled with adventure, physical exertion, and, of course, mind-blowing sex.

Oberyn dug in, despite not recognizing a lot of the food on offer. He struggled with his crab legs but Ezra, hovering over him, showed him how to eat them successfully. As the two devoured through plate after plate together, Rav watched with reverent awe.

"Y’all are TOO much," Rav smirked, his tail swishing wildly. "Is everything to your tastes?"

"Oh yeah," Oberyn responded, slurping out a thick hunk of meat directly from the shell. The crab juices dribbled down his chin onto his shirtless torso.

Rav’s eyes followed a dripping line of juice as it rolled down Oberyn’s lean muscle.

"So, you left off rather cryptically during our last chat, Ezra. Wanted to pick my brain about something, hm?"

"Yeah," Ezra said, cutting into a beautifully seared salmon fillet. "We found a little out about the Magician of Thorns - what she’s looking for, where she is. We didn’t get too much information, but apparently she’s hunting that Dark Elf we met. Varlen."

Rav raised an eyebrow. "Go on," the astute Ferin said.

Ezra nodded. "He’s hanging out in some place called the Hollow Forest. Are you familiar with it?"

"Why, of course," Rav replied, setting down his eating utensils and folding his hands. "That’s the domain of the Dark Elves itself. Not the kind of place people like you or I go waltzing into, that’s for sure. If she’s truly creeping around there, it’s for the best that we don’t get involved. Trying to find her in such a place isn’t just dangerous for her sake - it’ll be dangerous for you all as well. In fact, I strictly forbid it. Deek shouldn’t set foot there."

"Wait, really?" Ezra frowned. "What, are Dark Elves evil or something?"

Rav cleared his throat. "I don’t blame you for not knowing. There are many who’ve lived in this world their whole lives that don’t know the subtleties of how the different races interact. But let me tell you now, so that there is no doubt - Ferin stay away from the Hollow Forest. And the Dark Elves take caution on their own to avoid the Ferin lands. This is how it has always been."

"But you seemed to get along with Varlen just fine. Even let him bite the back of your neck!" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Rav smiled wistfully. "Ah, yes. That was nice. Ah! But not the point. As the Great Sage of Clouds, I get along with everyone, naturally. But perhaps that muddies the waters. Let me speak plainly. It’s not that there are any racially-charged hatreds between the Dark Elves and the Ferin. Quite the opposite - there is a respect among our two races, different than what we enjoy with the humans."

"So..."

"So that is why we don’t intrude upon each other’s lands. To do so would be to violate long-standing treaties, you see. Filthy humans stomp wherever they please, while Ferin and Dark Elves have historically been marginalized, oppressed, and shunned by the rest. A sorry state of affairs. It’s the least the two tribes can do, to respect each other in a way that we’ve never been respected by others."

"I see...so Deek entering the Hollow Forest is a violation of this treaty," Oberyn chimed in, patting his stomach. He was thoroughly full from dinner. "And you’re worried about how that might look."

"Indeed. Not even I would enter the Hollow Forest. You two may do as you wish, of course - you’re beholden to none of our social customs. Though I would like to say that as a Nephilim, Oberyn, I see you somewhat as an honorary Ferin. You’ve got wings, after all. And, as you know, Nephilim have been freely exploited by the humans as well."

"Yeah..." Oberyn said, his expression darkening. He didn’t need the reminder - he tensed, remembering the cold, clammy touch of Demetrius every time his curse mark acted up.

Ezra, sensing the subtle shift in Oberyn’s demeanor, wrapped his arms around his love. "It’s okay," he whispered into the Nephilim’s ear. "I got you."

Rav smiled at the tender moment between them - too sweet for him to interrupt with more of his pointed jabs or flirting.

"I know Deek will be disappointed, but she will understand. This is a matter of Ferin culture and tradition. I have never known Deek to turn her back on our customs."

"I get it," Ezra said, resting his head atop Oberyn’s. "I think she’ll definitely be disappointed, though. She trained so hard for this...she hates what this Thorn lady is doing."

Rav closed his eyes. "I do, too," he admitted. "I’d take her out myself - truly. But if there were even a single witness, and word came to the King of Asteria that I myself killed one of his Royal Magicians...boys, that would start a war between the humans of Asteria and the Ferin. And I can’t have that on my conscience. What choice would I have, then? Kill every human in Asteria? Or let my people be slaughtered?"

"We get it, Rav," Oberyn replied softly. "We both understand. You’re not at fault at all."

"I get nervous enough just harboring you both here," he said, eyes darting between Ezra and Oberyn. "A fugitive Nephilim and an actual Harbinger. At least I can claim ignorance if something happens."

"I..." Ezra started. "Rav. I guess this is my question of the day. If someone came here, hunting the two of us...would you defend us? Or would your allegiance to Asteria stop you?"

Rav cracked his knuckles and kicked his feet up on the table - he was done eating as well.

"It’s an interesting question," he said, not giving an answer right away.

"You are my friends," he said, his eyes trailing into the darkness. "I won’t let my friends be killed. Never again."