Shadowborn

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Shifting Dynamics

While Zaren held up his end of the deal, Rhallani sat in their tent with Tiana, Serena, and Noelle. After what they’d all witnessed, all four of them had agreed a meeting of the harem needed to happen. Right now she sat behind Noelle, brushing her gorgeous and shiny hair happily.

“So Jack is a definite yes now, right?” Rhallani asked the others.

Noelle made a sound of assent, and Tiana and Serena looked like they felt about the same. “Assuming Zaren wants her, of course,” Serena said, her voice even, methodically cleaning her weapons in the corner of the tent.

Rhallani spared a cautious glance at the busty blonde. Sparring had always been their thing, so Rhallani wasn’t sure how Serena was dealing with the events of the night. Still, it was undeniable. Rhallani had seen glimpses of the Zaren that had fought Jack, usually in the bedroom when he came closest to really letting himself go. She’d never seen him so…alive.

“Jack definitely seems to bring something out in him,” Tiana said thoughtfully.

Rhallani scoffed. “I’ll say. For a minute there, I was sure someone was about to get stabbed. And not by a sword.”

Serena hummed. “It certainly was unlike any sparring match I’ve ever seen.” Rhallani didn’t think there was any jealousy in her voice, but it was hard to tell. Serena could be shockingly cagey when she wanted to be.

“Sparring?” Tiana chuckled. “That wasn’t a sparring match. I’m pretty sure they were both trying to kill one another.”

“And he loved every second of it,” Serena said, not lifting her eyes from the spear she was polishing. “I felt him through the Link. She pushed him hard enough that he stopped thinking. I’ve never felt him so…light.”

“Serena…” Rhallani said carefully.

But Serena just flashed a smile at her. “I’m fine, really. What they had during the fight and what me and Zaren have aren’t the same. With us, it’s all about technique. He’s teaching me. When we cross blades, it brings out the part of Zaren from after Ria started teaching him how to really fight. It’s more of a…sharpening of skills.”

She held the spear up, rolling it in her hands. “Jack seems to appeal to a different part of him. One that, so far, none of us have really been able to reach.”

Rhallani let out a relieved breath. “You think so?”

“I do.” She strapped the leather guard back on the spear. “We’ve all said at one point or another that we want to accept every part of him, but it’s going to be a long while before he really believes it. Hearing it and feeling it are two different things. Jack…she seems to get a rise out of that part of him. She challenges him in a way none of us do.”

Rhallani made an excited sound that caused Noelle to look back over her shoulder. “It’s because she’s got a dominant personality. Serena and I both lean submissive, Tiana’s a switch, and Noelle is still trying to find her footing. Jack? Fuck, I can’t wait to watch them go head to head. She’s such a fucking beast.”

Noelle hummed. “You are a very horny Arelim,” she said, amusement in her tone.

“Can you blame me? I mean, did you see her body? And those tits? And she’s casual about nudity?” A shudder ran down her spine. “But even putting all that aside, I think she’ll be good for Zaren. Even if she’s not interested or able to share his bed, if tonight was any indication then she can help him in ways we haven’t managed yet.”

Tiana crossed her legs, leaning back on her hands. “I just wish I understood why.”

Serena had moved on to her backup spear. “We’ve all become a sort of safety net for Zaren. When he’s in the dark, we can help guide him back to the light. We support him. Even when Jack was still Vivian, she almost does the opposite. She pushes him. Challenges him. Even if he wouldn’t admit it, he was slightly obsessed with understanding the woman under the Vivian mask. Now that he’s truly seen her…” Her smile softened. “Rhallani’s right. Jack would be good for him.”

Tiana nodded. “You two have known him for longer, so I’ll defer to you.” She wobbled her head from side to side. “So we’ve still got the twins under the yes category if Zaren wants them, and now Jack. Safina’s a maybe, considering Rhallani’s crush—”

“Hey!” Rhallani interjected.

But Tiana ignored her. “—should we mention anyone else while we’re waiting on Zaren to fulfill whatever Jack’s favor is?”

“Alice,” Noelle said, surprising them all.

“Really?” Rhallani asked, leaning forward and wrapping her arms around Noelle. “I didn’t realize you two were so close.”

But Noelle shook her head. “She confided in me. Her last owner would only let her feed while he had sex with her, and her body has been trained as a result. She get’s aroused when she feeds, and she isn’t sure how much longer she can last without losing control.”

Serena looked like she might be sick. “That’s horrible!”

Noelle just nodded. “Yes. She also likes him to an extent, but she fears her desire might be twisted thanks to her past. She’s admitted she doesn’t know him well enough to be completely interested in him romantically, but she does find herself craving him physically.”

Serena pursed her lips then glanced at Tiana. “Beastial rules?”

Tiana just nodded. “I think that would be smartest. Tsuki’s worried she might go into heat any day now, but Ryoko should be good for a while longer yet. We’ll let Zaren know that something might happen next time he lets Alice feed and that we don’t mind it.” She huffed. “Though, at this rate, there’s no telling how much our list will grow before he ever tries to add someone.”

Then, once again surprising everyone, Noelle said, “he won’t.”

They all turned to her. “Why not?” Serena asked softly.

Noelle’s face tipped towards the floor. “He won’t seek out other women. He still doesn’t feel like he deserves us, and he’s afraid that trying to change anything will ruin what he has.” She ran a hand through her hair, her lips pulling downward.

“Noelle,” Tiana asked, sitting forward, “did he say something?”

She shook her head. “He does not need to. It is how I feel, and I recognize it in him.”

Rhallani immediately squeezed Noelle tighter. “Noelle, if anyone deserves all this, it’s you. Zaren, too.”

Noelle just shrugged. “Maybe, but it is like you said earlier. Hearing it and feeling it…” She wrapped her arms around one of Rhallani’s. “If I lost all of you, I don’t think I would want to live anymore. He lost his family, but he keeps going. He fought to find another, but…”

“But he probably still feels like he failed his first family. The people that Karn and Grimsbane killed,” Rhallani finished. Noelle nodded. “Noelle, you continue to amaze, you know that?”

“Yes,” she said simply.

Serena looked troubled, then smiled. “We’ll figure things out. And who knows? Maybe Jack will be the one to approach him if we can find a way around the issues caused by her class.”

“Do you think we could change her class like we did mine?” Noelle asked.

“Maybe,” Rhallani said thoughtfully, “though it would be reliant on if Jack wants to change her class. It’s undoubtedly strong.”

It was then that Zaren finally arrived, pushing inside the flap. Rhallani’s gaze went immediately to the bulge in the front of his pants and she licked her lips, heat throbbing between her legs. Whatever their deal, it seemed Jack had left him wanting. Rhallani would have to thank her for that.

But Rhallani was still held in place by Noelle, so it was Tiana who got to Zaren first. Like a goddess, she wrapped around him from behind and pressed her lips to his neck. He hissed as her hands slid under his clothes, one running up his abs towards his chest while the other snuck under his waistband to grip his magnificent cock.

“So…” Rhallani prompted. “Jack?”

He grunted as Serena started undoing his pants with a smile. “This is gonna be another one of those strange times where we talk about another woman while I’m balls deep in one of you, isn’t it?”

Noelle let go of Rhallani’s arm and stood. “Yes it is,” she said. She grabbed his arm and pulled him further into the tent while Serena stripped him and Tiana started to pleasure him. Then she dropped to her knees and took him into her mouth.

He groaned. “Fair enough. Never thought I’d say it, but I think I’m getting used to the idea.”

Rhallani smiled so wide her cheeks started to burn. “In that case, we might have to start ramping things up soon.”

They all shed their clothes while Noelle’s head bobbed up and down, her long tongue swirling around the underside of his cock and sending shudders through him. Rhallani wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down so she could taste his lips and he groaned again as he released into Noelle’s mouth. Jack had really gotten him going, apparently.

While Noelle swallowed every drop, Rhallani pulled back with a grin. She’d wring every scrap of information out of him about whatever was between him and Jack, but she knew from experience that his tongue was always a little looser after they reminded him that he was loved.

# # #

Sleep came for me hard after Rhallani’s interrogation. Considering her methods involved shooting for a record number of orgasms with the help of the rest of my harem, there was a small part of me trying to figure out what other secrets might lead to another round.

I could see the gears turning in Rhallani’s head just before I passed the fuck out and I wondered if Jack was prepared for whatever my clever, horny little Arelim had planned. I was extremely interested in how Jack got along with the rest of my household now that lady Vivian had been laid to rest.

I was hardly surprised that I didn’t see her at all that morning until camp had been fully broken down. She came staggering out of her tent on unsteady legs, her shoulders more relaxed than I’d seen them and a wide grin on her face. She shot me a wink that promised there would be a next time and hefted herself up onto my wagon, leaning back against the side and closing her eyes.

I let her have her day of rest, if only because she’d helped me deepen my understanding of my skill. After we’d all eaten and gotten the caravan moving, it was Tsuki who appeared by my side. I shot her a questioning look that she pointedly ignored, so we walked in silence for a good portion of the day.

Finally, she asked, “I would like to know more about this Soul Link.”

Both of my brows rose. “Well, like the name implies, I forge a connection between your soul and mine. At the first level, the main benefit is to me, but I’ve got some other skills that revolve around the Links.”

She chewed on that for a moment, then nodded, her black-furred ears flicking. “Skills like?”

“Well, for combat purposes, I can give those Linked to me a stat boost and an increase to their damage output when more than one of us is fighting an enemy. I also know when they’re in danger as well as how much danger they’re in. Those are the only two as of yet, but I’m sure more levels will give me more skills.”

She nodded curtly, returning to her thoughtful silence. Then, “it sounds like the Link would be very useful for scouts or spies. You would know the moment they were in trouble.”

“True,” I admitted. “But I’ve already decided I don’t want something so permanent to be completely defined by its usefulness. I want to forge Links with people I want to be bonded to, not just for combat.”

She seemed to relax slightly, her tail starting to swish as she walked. “Is it? Permanent, I mean?”

“For now,” I said slowly. “It’s possible that, in the future, I could gain a way to remove them.”

After chewing her lip thoughtfully, she finally nodded. “When we stop for camp tonight, I’d like to be Linked.”

I didn’t answer right away, choosing my words carefully. “I’d like that, but I want to make sure it’s for the right reasons.” She shot me a confused glance. “You being Linked has nothing to do with whether or not you’re a part of my household. I simply don’t want to form the Link just because you think you have to for you and Ryoko to have a place here.”

Her head jerked up, her cheeks flushed. “That’s not it!” she practically shouted. Then her flush deepened. “I mean— I just—” Her lips became a flat line and she wrung her hands. “I…I want it,” she said quietly. “The Link. To be Linked to you.”

I rubbed her head between her ears and her tail shot out in a straight line. “Alright then, that’s all I needed to know. We’ll form the Link tonight, but first you should know that so far everyone I’ve Linked has had a…reaction to it.

Her golden eyes fixed on mine. “A reaction?”

“Yeah. A need, for lack of a better word. For…contact. Skin-to-skin contact.”

Her ears quivered. “So…if we were to forge the Link, then after we would…”

“Not necessarily. The only ones I’ve forged a Link with so far have been those I’m already intimate with, and I can’t imagine I would be forced to fuck anyone I Link with. That would be a pretty restrictive skill if you ask me.”

I’d thought she’d be reassured by my words, but she almost seemed disappointed. “I see,” she said simply.

“Though,” I added, “if you wanted to…”

Her ears shot up again. “Wha— I don’t— I didn’t— Um, I need to go talk to my sister,” she stammered. Then she ducked her head and sped off.

I just shook my head and watched her make a beeline for my wagon. At one point she looked back over her shoulder at me, but when she saw me looking back she jumped and scurried off even faster.

I had yet to fully figure out Tsuki. Some days it felt like she barely tolerated breathing the same air as me, others I wondered if she didn’t want a place in my harem. Especially since we’d fucked for Rhallani’s little experiment and had our heart to heart after. Perhaps forging the Link would make things clearer.

But with Tsuki somewhat taken care of, there was someone else I needed to have a word with. I tracked down Alice, who was back to walking by herself it seemed. She tensed as soon as I got near, but that was her only reaction to me. “Alice, I was wondering if I might have a word.”

“I’m fine,” she said a little too quickly. “I haven’t been using mana or losing health, so I can go at least another few days before I have to feed again.”

“And I’d rather not wait until you have to,” I said gently. She chewed the inside of her cheek uncertainly, so I put a hand on her shoulder. “Noelle told me about your situation.”

Her head shot up. “What? She wasn’t supposed to—I mean, it isn’t like—”

I gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I’m not going to judge you on something you had no say in. You didn’t ask for your last Patron to do this to you, did you?” She shook her head. “See? We’ll figure it out. And if he trained you to be this way, we can always work to undo that training.”

She swallowed. “Really?”

“Really. Just ask Noelle sometime what her last master was like. And the next time you feed from me, if something happens then something happens.” She paled and tried to pull away, but I kept my grip firm. “We won’t go all the way—not if you don’t want to—but there are plenty of ways to sate any needs you have that don’t involve penetration.”

At that, she started to relax. “And your women? They’d be alright with that?”

I chuckled. “They are shockingly open minded. If it would make you feel better, though, you’re welcome to talk with any of them about it. We already have a similar agreement in place for Ryoko and Tsuki.”

Her dark violet eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really. If they go into heat, we’d all rather they be taken care of by someone they trust than forced to go rely on a stranger or forced to suffer through it. And, like I said before, I won’t go all the way unless you tell me you want it. I won’t take advantage of you, Alice. You have my word.”

Her shoulders slumped. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I didn’t…I never thought…”

With some hesitance, I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her tight to my side. She leaned into me happily. “It’s alright. Take things one step at a time.”

She nodded and I let her go, though she remained close to me. “In that case…do you think we could…tonight…?”

“Sure. And, if it makes you feel better, we could have one of my girls in the room with us. Maybe Noelle?”
“I’d like that.” When she looked up at me, I thought her eyes looked brighter than before. “You’re a good man, Ren. There aren’t any left like you in this world.”

I just shrugged, uncomfortable with the praise. “You might be surprised. Unfortunately, it’s the shitbags that are the loudest, so it certainly feels that way.”

She smiled again. We talked a bit longer, but not about anything important. Eventually, after guiding her towards Noelle, Kili, and the twins, I left to go find the others. I brought them up to speed on my talks with Tsuki and Alice both.

As the sun started to dip lower on the horizon, there was a buzz amongst the ranks of the caravan. Everyone’s eyes were on the three shapes barely visible in the distance. The three towers that marked the center of Amesseria. The city was centered on the highest point for miles, which meant the towers were visible from a long distance away. One was a guard tower, equipped with gear that made it impossible for any forces to sneak up on the city. Another was the wizards tower, and I was sure Bennet was among its top floors still trying to devour any and all information he could get his hands on.

The third tower was Grimsbane’s. It was at its peak that we killed him, and with the curses and traps that polluted its every floor, we all unanimously agreed that the tower be closed off for good. I wondered if Rolar or whoever was in charge still upheld that decision to this day.

But, as we set up camp, the appearance of the towers on the horizon seemed to have caused a change. While the caravaneers and Pierce’s group were eager and excited, the tension within the ranks of the demi-humans seemed to reach an all time high.

The first thing I did once we were set up was grab Cynthia and seek out Korey. Now that our destination was only a day and a half away, there were things I needed to set in motion. We talked for a while, and by the end of things we not only had a rudimentary deal in place to link Korey and his business to my household, but he’d also given me a list of businesses in the lower quarter that were primarily staffed with demi-humans.

By the time we’d concluded, Cynthia and I already had a basic plan for which businesses to approach and contract for the inevitable work that was going to be needed for both my properties and the lower quarter as a whole. Our conversation was cut short, however, by raised voices across the camp.

I made my way over quickly to see the Tiefling sisters, Friya and Zerali, about ready to come to blows with Miril and Feranica, the Seraphim and Drakken. Iris, Brinya, and Elena were doing their best to keep the peace, though in this instance it seemed to involve physically holding the two pairs away from one another.

“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to keep the demand from my voice.

Everyone froze. Faces paled and eyes found the floor. Nobody would look at me. Finally, Elena cleared her throat. “Nothing, sir. Just a small disagreement, that’s all.”

That hardly seemed to be true, but with the quaver I heard in her voice I wasn’t about to press. “We’re almost to the city,” I said, “you won’t have to sleep in tents for much longer.”

If anything, my words seemed to make things worse. Shoulders stiffened and lips thinned, but all I got in response were curt nods as everyone faded away into the camp in different directions. I let out a breath and ran a hand through my hair.

“Man, you are really bad at this,” a highly amused voice said. I turned to see Jack sauntering over with a wide grin.

I just shook my head. “What am I missing? I’m doing something wrong, clearly, I just don’t know what.”

“Aww,” she pursed her lips and patted my chest, “you poor thing. You really do have no idea what you’re doing, do you?”

“Not in the slightest,” I said honestly, and her grin widened.

Then her expression fell. She retracted her hand and crossed her arms under her bust. “Well, all things considered, I guess I can’t fault you for not understanding. They’re scared, Zaren.”

“Of me?” I asked with a frown.

“Of what happens when we get to the city.” At my confusion, she continued. “Zaren, standard practice when it comes to demi-humans that are either runaways or separated from their Patrons is either returning them to said Patron or taking them to the Pens. If their Patron is still alive, they can collect their ‘property’ there. If not, they go back into the system.”

I suddenly felt sick. “They’re afraid I’ll just drop them off at the Pens when we get back.”

She nodded. “You’d be well within your power to do just that, and you’d probably receive a reward for it. It’s what many would do in this day and age.”

“And the alternative?”

She tapped her throat. “Give them collars. It’s why they’ve all been so determined to prove themselves useful since you saved them. Each and every one of them is desperately hoping you choose them to join your household so they don’t end up in the Pens, but they’d never ask you for fear it would harm their chances.”

I let out a long, tired breath. “Right. I can see now how I might have been making things harder for them.”

“You’ll figure it out. You’re a smart boy,” she said with a playful grin, “you’re just a little behind the times.”

She clapped my arm, then started walking off. Suddenly, impulse grabbed me. “Jack,” I called.

Jack paused, looking over her shoulder curiously. “Yeah?”

I summoned a gem from my storage. “I’ve got a skill that lets me grant armor to people. Rhallani, Tiana, and Serena all have one. It’s magical in nature, and since it’s tied to my magic and shadows I figured…”

Her eyes widened. “That it might not burn every time I flame up?”

“Might be worth a shot if you’re planning to stick around at all.”

She chewed her lip, the hunger clearly visible in her eyes. “I’ll think about it. Thanks for the offer.” She stared at the gem between my fingers for a bit longer before spinning on her heel and heading off into camp.

Well, a maybe was better than a no. I was still surprised I’d been the one to ask, but I knew my girls would have approved. I knew for certain that Noelle would rather Jack have the armor than her if Jack was planning to join us, even if she didn’t end up in my harem.

Gods, what was my train of thought right now? First my conversation with Tsuki, now this? I shook my head, fighting a smile. If the Zaren from before Allura saw me now, he’d be laughing his ass off. Oh how quickly things had changed.

My first stop was to find my girls and explain to them what I wanted to do. Unsurprisingly, they were all completely on board with what I had in mind. From a couple of their expressions, some of them assumed I was already planning as much and were surprised to realize I wasn’t. After that I grabbed Cynthia and gave her a brief rundown of what I needed from her, then we were off to put things into motion.

It didn’t take long for me to find Liana, but now that I knew what I was looking for I realized it was because she was actively trying to make herself available to me. I also didn’t miss the hint of relief in her eyes when I asked for her help, nor her eagerness to do whatever I needed. There was a slight worry when I asked her to gather all the demi-humans we’d saved, but she agreed to it quickly.

In a surprisingly short time, she’d managed to collect everyone who wasn’t already wearing one of my collars. They all sat huddled together in groups, some on the folding camp chairs and many on the ground. When I arrived, they all looked to me expectantly with expressions ranging from worried to nervous to downright afraid. When I cleared my throat, more than one of them jumped.

“First off, I wanted to apologize. After what you’ve all been through, I thought I was doing the right thing in waiting. Now I understand that my logic was a bit flawed.” I looked them over one by one. This time, none of them dropped their eyes. They all hung on my every word.

“None of you are going to the Pens,” was the first thing I said. I saw more than one set of shoulders sag, and I saw Iris clamp a hand over her mouth with watery eyes. “If you have family in the city, then I’ll help you get back to them. If you have a Patron to return to or know someone who serves a Patron who might have a place for you, then we can figure that out as well.”

“If not, then you’re welcome to my household. There will be some adjustment, especially since my properties are likely not overly livable at the moment, but if you wish it, I’ll find a place for you. I expect everyone in my household to pull their weight in whatever fashion is most suitable for them, but rest assured you’ll be more than compensated with food, a home, and even pay once I’ve got my finances worked out.”

Many of them straightened at this, and there were more than a few disbelievingly hopeful gazes. It was Elena, wringing her hands, that stood first. “Um, sir? How many of us are you willing to take into your household?”

“All of you.” A ripple passed through them as many started whispering to their neighbor. “I’ve got enough collars and then some. Like I said, nobody is going to the Pens. Not if I can help it.” The whispers started again, but they all silenced when I started speaking one last time. “Don’t decide right this moment. Talk amongst yourselves, consider your options. We’ve still got one more night outside the walls, so you have until then to make your final decision. Once you’re certain, talk to Cynthia. She’ll take care of the official parts and get you your collar if that’s the path you choose.”

Elena bowed. “Thank you, sir. For saving us, and for everything you’ve done since. It sounds like we’ve got a lot to think about.”

I inclined my head. “One last thing, if you choose me as your Patron and decide down the road that I’m not a good fit, I’m more than happy to help you find somewhere you do. You’ve all been through hell, and helping you that much is the least I can do.”

They all burst into conversation as I turned to leave and Cynthia gave me an approving nod. I knew I’d given them until tomorrow, but I had a feeling more than a few would be falling asleep tonight with one of my collars around their throats.

I could smell dinner approaching completion, but my eye was caught by a nervous looking Tsuki fidgeting outside my tent. Her eyes jerked to me and she froze, her ears flattening. Then she ducked inside.

I followed, pushing past the flap to find it empty except for Tsuki. She paced nervously, wringing her hands. “Having second thoughts?” I asked gently.

“No!” she said quickly, then collected herself. “No, not at all. I just…” she trailed off.

“It’s alright, I understand. As long as you’re sure, I’m ready.”

She nodded, swallowing audibly. “How should I…?”

“Well, only a little skin contact is required to actually forge the bond. It’s afterwards that I’m unsure about.”
She nodded, then pulled her tunic off and shimmied her pants down her legs. She discarded her bra, letting her full breasts bounce free, but left her panties on. “Maybe you should, um, remove your shirt?”

Fighting the urge to grin, I did as she asked, then sat down and beckoned her closer. I’d expected her to sit in front of me, but she chose instead to plop down in my lap, straddling me. She pressed her face to my neck and inhaled while the feeling of her breasts squished against my chest sent my blood southward. “I’m ready,” she said finally.

Gently, slowly, I pressed my hands to her back. She shuddered, pressing into me even more. Her hands explored my chest before linking behind my neck. I closed my eyes and sought out her soul. Its exterior was hard and scarred, and I could see the layers of self loathing and shame that had left their marks on her very core, but I also saw the bright, even if damaged, center. The love she had for her sister. The fierce hopefulness that she kept both hidden and protected by her thick walls. And, accompanying all that…

The shimmer.

Now that I’d seen it a few times and my senses had evolved, I started to understand it just a bit better. It wasn’t the shimmer itself that was important, it was whatever that shimmer was hiding. Something was being obscured. Protected from this sense I’d developed. How, what, or by who were questions I didn’t even know how to start answering, but some things started to fall into place.

So far, the ones I’d seen the shimmer on were Rhallani, Tiana, and Tsuki. Rhallani I’d been placed to find, Tiana I’d been all but led to, and Tsuki we’d found because of a nightmare Serena had had. I didn’t think that was a coincidence. But that was something to discuss with Rhallani later. First things first, I checked my Essence pool.

[Soul Essence: 122/150]

I activated [Forge Link] and Tsuki let out a soft gasp. I felt a wave of eagerness as she accepted, and the both of us sighed in unison as the Link settled into place. There was no pain at all, and a part of me understood it was because of how much Essence I currently had. I watched the number drop by twenty points, leaving me just above the hundred I’d started with. I’d used only the excess gained from my Links, which meant I wasn’t using my natural soul at all.

Tsuki’s gasp bled into a sigh of pleasure as the Link finished sliding into existence. She inhaled deeply and I felt the magic crackle wherever we were touching. She rubbed her body against me, her hard nipples dragging on my chest in a way that drew a whimper out of her.

I felt the wetness between her legs begin to seep into my pants as she ground her slit against my length, only her panties and my clothes between us. She dragged her core along my length harder and harder, her nails digging into my back. Another whimper slipped past her lips and I couldn’t stop myself from sliding a hand down and grabbing a handful of her plump rear.

She moaned this time, arching into me and pressing her chest into mine. I slid my other hand between us and rubbed circles around her clit through her panties and she came undone in my lap. The magic slowly started to settle between us while she caught her breath, still clinging tightly to me.

“Are you alright?” I asked softly, my mouth next to one of her foxlike ears.

She shuddered, then nodded. “Yes,” she said back, her voice barely audible.

“We don’t have to go any further than this,” I told her.

“I…” she didn’t finish her sentence, but she slid back just enough that her fingers could trail along my erection. “That hardly seems fair.”

I let out a low laugh. “Trust me, if my girls have any say about it, you don’t have to worry about me getting mine.” I trailed a hand down her back, then ran it down the length of her tail.

She gasped, leaning into me again and rubbing me through my pants. “I love your scent. It’s gotten stronger lately. More confident.”

She looked up at me, her bottom lip firmly between her teeth and heat in her eyes, but before she could say anything there was a scratch of fabric at the front of the tent. “Um, Ren?” I heard Alice’s voice call out.

Tsuki backed away abruptly, her expression somewhere between relief and disappointment. “Next time,” she said, though whether she was talking to herself or to me I wasn’t entirely sure.

“You know where to find me.”

She nodded, grabbing my shirt—and only my shirt—and throwing it on. She paused one last time to smile softly at me, then she ducked out. The flap hadn’t even closed all the way behind her when Alice and Noelle pushed inside. Alice looked flushed while Noelle wore a slightly triumphant expression. I was surprisingly thrilled to see my collar at Alice’s throat already.

“I’m sorry!” Alice cried. “I didn’t know I was interrupting something!”

“It’s alright,” I promised. “Now, how do you want to do this? You’re in control here.”

Her gaze raked over my bare chest, coming to a stop at my neck. It flicked to my wrist, then back to my neck. “Um, do you think I could…”

“You can feed from my throat,” I told her.

She licked her lips, then glanced at Noelle uncertainly. Without reservation, my Malachai started stripping. A second later, Alice followed suit. A few minutes later, the both of them were completely naked save the matching black leather collars at their throat.

Still a little pent up from my short time with Tsuki, I couldn’t help but give her an appraising look. She was still thin from imprisonment, but Vampires recovered quickly from physical injuries and ailments. Her breasts weren’t large, but they were rather perky. Her waist was thin and her hips flared out wide, and even from the front I could tell she had a very nice ass. Her more physical nature and class meant her arms and legs were firm, if not quite muscular.

She chewed a nail. “Will you…um…”

“It’s alright,” I told her. “Just tell me where you want me.”

Noelle grabbed her hand and nodded. Alice took a breath, then said with surprising confidence, “lay back.”

I did as she asked and she moved to stand over me, giving me a perfect view of the neatly trimmed patch of hair between her legs and the treasure nestled beneath it. Already I could see wetness dripping down her legs.
She lowered herself down so that one of my legs was between hers, licking her lips, then laid her body over mine. Her hand traveled up my chest much like Tsuki’s had—something that made my cock jerk in my pants—until it stopped at my neck. Her tongue trailed across my jugular, her breath hot against my skin, and Noelle took her spot behind Alice.

Hands sunk into my hair and jerked my head back, giving Alice better access. She shifted her body up enough that she was on all fours just before her fangs sunk into my neck. She moaned low in her throat as my blood hit her tongue, her grip tightening.

Then she moaned and I risked a glance to see Noelle’s face buried between her cheeks. Alice tried to lift up, but I cupped the back of her head and pressed her back down to me neck. She made an appreciative sound that turned into a delighted squeak when I reached down and pressed on her clit. Noelle’s tongue swiped over my finger once as Alice bucked into my hand then returned to her opening. I felt hands at my pants as Noelle fished my throbbing erection out and started pumping it slowly, licking away at Alice all the while.

Alice moaned and writhed against me, her peak getting closer and closer, until finally she released me with a cry and came apart. Climax ripped through her hard enough to send her eyes rolling back, then she was slumping down on my chest. She pushed herself up enough to lick the last of my blood from my neck before her skill knitted the bite closed.

Then I grunted in surprise as Noelle’s tight entrance slid over the head of my cock. Alice and I both looked to see Noelle lowering herself down until I was fully sheathed inside her, then she started bouncing on my cock while one hand kneaded her breast.

She must have been as pent up as I was, because she reached her end just before I did. Then she laid herself across my chest with my cock still buried inside her, reaching out to run her fingers through Alice’s dark hair. “I liked this. If you want, I would like to be present at more feedings.”

I looked from her to Alice, who was still breathing hard with flushed cheeks. “I won’t need that every time I feed, just every few times, but…I’d like that too.”

I pressed a kiss to both of their heads, then let my head fall to the pillow while I rubbed both of their backs with long, slow strokes. “Works for me. Now, I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m fucking starving.”
Noelle made a sound of agreement, but Alice’s gaze just fell to my neck. “I’ve definitely got room for more,” she said with a smile.

Noelle hummed. “Letting you feed once tonight was enough. If you want more, you may have to fight me for it.” From her tone, I didn’t think she was very against the idea. From Alice’s warm smile, neither was she.
“Come on, you two. I need decent meals or my harem will leave me a withered husk.”

Noelle stood, stretching. “You’d enjoy it.” Then she looked around with a frown. “Tsuki…” she grumbled before snatching up her own shirt with vigor.

I chuckled. “Between you and the twins, I’m thinking I’m going to need more shirts.”

She just fixed her crimson eyes on me, her lips lifted in a small smirk. “Yes, you will.”

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