“No, Eva, thank you. For everything.”
She stopped what she was doing and watched me.
“For having me in your home, for jumping through that portal after me, and for riding my ass. Thank you. I know I’m a long way from being this grand hero to crush Null armies, but I’d appreciate it if you’d watch my back on this road ahead of me. And I’ll do the same for you.”
I proffered my hand to her, but Eva smacked it away. Before I could react, she brought me into a strong hug.
“Thanks for fighting,” she said.
I leaned my cheek against her smooth, golden hair, and settled into the embrace. It was nice to finally experience something soft from her iron-like character. We’re just acquaintances, or squad mates, at this point, but I look forward to our friendship. Can’t imagine the day-to-day without her or Neepa.
“Al? Eva?”
Speak of the angel.
We detached from each other and saw Neepa standing in the doorway. She simpered, looking very pleased at the sight.
“What’s going on?” she asked, the gentle smile never leaving her lips.
I gave Eva a sidelong look. “Just thanking her for giving me a shave.”
Neepa hugged me, then pecked me on the cheek. “Hmm, I like it.”
“He does look more presentable,” a voice said from inside.
We all whirled around to see Koko standing a few feet from the door.
Koko cried herself to sleep after her episode, and being as exhausted as I was at the time, I slept, too. When I awoke thirty hours later, Koko was gone. The girls told me that she awoke as if nothing ever happened, then excused herself to speak urgently with members of the academy. Shortly thereafter, my meetings started. It was the first time I’ve spoken to Koko since accidently wedding her.
I had to work my mouth a little to remember how talking worked. “Koko, I don’t know how many times I can say this, but I’m truly—”
“Miss Kokoliniasta, where would you like your belongings?” a woman dressed in the livery of Lucinia asked. She held one end of a trunk while another servant held the other. Behind them was another pair holding another trunk.
Koko turned back to us. “Have rooms been decided yet?”
“You’re… staying here?” I asked, thoroughly shocked.
Koko’s tail swished the air behind her. “Of course. I’m going to be coordinating your classes and aiding with your studies. It wouldn’t be very practical to not be by your side.”
I tugged on my collar and cleared my throat. “It's Just that— I— I didn't want to force you into this.”
Koko held me in her ruby gaze, then stepped forward. “I didn’t expect you would ever do such a thing,” she said in that flat, cold tone of hers.
I couldn’t help the grimace on my face. Only the floor was worthy of my gaze at that point.
“Though, not exactly the most horrible arrangement, husband,” she added.
I jerked my head back up, Koko’s lips pursed in an almost imperceptible smile that looked like a mirage on her face. She turned to address the waiting servants. “I would like my belongings on the second floor, one with a window facing the street.”
“Yes, Miss Kokoliniasta,” the woman said, then followed Koko up the upstairs and worked past the other soldiers who were unloading the last wagon.
Eva and Neepa looked just as surprised as me, and none of us quite knew what to make of it. A commotion outside made us jump. There was the sound of things crashing and people shouting, and the shouting moved from the front of the house to the opposite side of the wall in the backyard.
The girls and I stepped off the porch and looked toward where the sound was coming, and then a body suddenly leaps over the seven feet of masonry. The sun blinded me when I followed the silhouette, then it crashed into me, sending down onto the packed earth.
Once the spots faded from my vision, I was face to face with the wolf-beastkin from the woods. She sniffed my face and neck furiously, the long tassels of her smoky hair brushing against my cheeks and nose.
“Hey, get back here, you mangy mutt!”
The wolf-woman rolled off me and into a deep crouch and her ears swiveled towards the voice, a deep growl vibrating her throat. The feral woman was barefoot and had a white sundress covering her shame, barely. Rips and tears riddled the dress, one vertical slash giving a great view of underboob and firm stomach.
Laramie was perched at the top of the wall, looking out of breath and pissed. She hopped down and marched towards the wolf-woman, Laramie’s tawny tail puffed up behind her.
“Listen to me for fuck’s sake!” Laramie hissed. The wolf-woman growled in response. “At least my mother wasn’t an actual bitch,” she snapped back.
I picked myself up and dusted off. “Um, hey. What’s going on?”
Laramie blew air from her cheeks. “We were on our way to see you when that wild bitch took off like an arrow as soon as we were out of the infirmary.”
“We?”
On queue, the steel door on the side wall opened and in stepped an old face.
“Iason?”
The dark-skinned man approached with slow, powerful strides. I thought he looked big in his armor the first time I encountered him in the library, but he was built like a damned wall. His baggy shirt of white did little to mask his might.
Jesus, what do they feed some of the people here?
He stopped a few feet shy of me and the growling wolf-woman. He looked down at her, then regarded me with his stony-brown eyes, a smile breaking his stoic expression. “We meet again, Al,” he said in a low-pitched voice.
Seeing Iason slammed through the service desk played back in my mind, how he lay in a limp heap as if all life was pummeled out of him.
“Yeah, good to see you, too.” Didn’t appear to have any trouble moving; magic healing is no joke. Then again, my chewed-up ass should understand that already. “Are you okay? Thought you bit it when you fought the Caster.”
He guffawed. “Aye, kind of you to say when you were in a worse state after the battle. I’m more than well.”
Neepa and Eva came up then and greeted our new guests. The wolf-woman didn‘t respond or growl when they neared. Eva I understand considering how they almost died together. But Neepa?
“Not that I mind the company, but what brings you two here?” I asked.
Laramie grinned and slapped Iason’s cobblestone-looking abs. “Sigemond appointed us for your special squad, if that’s okay? The Devlers already dug around our heads so they know we won’t kill you.”
I gave each of them a speculative look. “You two? I mean, I don’t mind or anything.”
Laramie tipped her straw hat. “Yep. Since Iason was part of the old squad, it only made sense to appoint him to help you with swordplay. And I’ll teach you how to throw a punch.”
“You?” I didn't mean for it to come out as harshly as it did. I boxed since I was twelve and mostly kept up with it when I stopped competing. The cat-beastkin was a whole head shorter than me. She couldn’t have weighed more than a buck-fifty wet.
“Careful,” Eva warned. “Laramie is one of the best hand-to-hand fighters in Scintillion.”
“How come they have you driving wagons, then?” I asked.
“She stole a cask of rum from one of the barrack’s provisions, started a brawl in the canteen, then passed out in a meat merchant's stall without her pants,” Iason informed.
Laramie shrugged. “Whoops. Though, I still never figured out what happened to my pants that night.”
Iason caught my dour face and went to mollify it. “She may be ill-mannered, but her talent can’t be denied, I assure you.”
If someone of Iason’s stature respects Laramie’s ability, then I shouldn't question it. “Okay, then. Well, Resonant or not, I’m still an amateur, so I’ll take all the help I can get.”
“Great!” Laramie beamed. “So which room is mine?”
“Wait? You guys are staying here, too?” I blurted.
>
“Just her. I’m comfortable in my room in the barracks,” Iason replied.
“Umm…” I glanced at the wolf-woman crouched by my feet. “What about her?”
Laramie shot the feral beastkin a wry look, then sighed. “Better build a kennel. Since you killed her pack’s alpha, corrupted being or not, you’re her new alpha. Pack rules or something."
Stunned, I looked down at the woman in question. She looked up at me with bright yellow eyes, her tail wagging profusely.
I scanned the faces of all those around me, Eva and Neepa looking uncertain of our feral housemate, then I utter a dry chuckle.
“The more the merrier.”
I hope.
✽✽✽
The four servants that accompanied Koko also brought provisions to fill our cupboards and pantry, even going so far as to prepare a small feast for everyone once all the work concluded sometime in the late evening.
Once bellies were full and belongings were squared away, those kind enough to help bid us goodnight and left. Laramie and Iason left, too, since they had to inform their superiors of their new positions and file reports. Eva and Koko retired to bed not long after dinner. The wolf-lady, who we’re going to have to figure out how to address at some point, went out to the back porch, keeping watch like a guard dog. Neepa busied herself in the study, setting up her workbench and personal library, which she was especially ecstatic about doing since Koko brought a fair collection of books in her belongings.
That just left me in the living room, working myself through a bottle of Neepa’s home-brewed spirits with the notebook the people of Lucinia were kind enough to return along with the others’ things.
Finally, with time and ease of mind, I finished what I’ve been putting off. A few strong, winding lines of charcoal here, a lighter stroke and a smudge of my thumb there, and there was Caroline. Her crisp locks of black hair were perfect, the charcoal really giving her the appropriate boldness. The glasses perched atop her button of a nose were perfect; I could close my eyes, see her face, then open them to see it perfect on paper. Even her smile carried the same warmth as in person.
Seeing her face in the pages next to the completed portraits of my parents tugged on certain emotions, but it didn’t hinder my smile. I may not be able to embrace them or speak to them, but I know they’re not gone. They’re always here. Either in the notebook in palm, the memories in my head, or the in the force we all shared at one point, they’re always be with me.
I set down my notebook and knocked back my last glass. My bokken sat next to me, the dark finish devouring the ambient light provided by the fireplace. Questions still plagued me about how it changed or why, but Julika promised it’ll be discovered in due time. Still, despite sitting next to a weapon that leveled a chunk forestry and almost killed me, I felt at peace around it.
A pair of arms wrapped around my neck like a scarf, and my body tingled from the touch.
“Still up?” Neepa cooed softly in my ear.
“I just needed some time to think. So much has happened that it feels like my head is spinning.”
Neepa walked around the couch and sat next to me. She took the bottle of spirits from the table and took a big gulp. “Perhaps you had one too many glasses.”
Hearing that from her made me laugh. She smiled back and settled comfortably on my shoulder, and I melted into her.
Things felt perfect: safe, warm, and happy. But now that we had some time alone, I had to ruin the moment.
“Neep,” I said, “I’m sorry about the thing with Koko.”
She pulled a way to give me a strange look. “You shouldn’t be apologizing to anyone for that. I admit it was shocking. Though, from what subtle things I’ve noticed, Kokoliniasta seems relieved, elevated almost. The way she moves, like walking on air. She doesn’t have Charna controlling her every move, and I’m sure she didn’t mind losing her nest sisters.”
I played with her fingers in mine. “I know. She doesn’t look upset or anything, and I’m happy that isn’t the case, but I care a lot about your feelings. Didn’t want you to be mad or feel like I’m using you or anything.”
Neepa giggled and shook her head in mock disapproval. “Oh, Al, I could never be mad at you. Not when you’ve given me so much joy. You protected my life and made my dream of attending Lucinia a reality. There’s nothing you could possibly do to make me mad at you.” Neepa made a face. “Is that why you’ve been a little sullen around me? Why are you so bothered by it?”
“Because I love you.”
All the emotion slowly drained from Neepa’s face, her lips parting as her jaw fell open. The muscles of her lips twitched, then she swallowed.
“W-what?” she asked in a voice that hitched near the end, the question coming out almost fearfully.
“I love you, Neepa. I love you so much that it hurt to think about never seeing you again when I was being hunted in the forest. I’m ready to walk this road ahead of me, but knowing the promise you made about staying by my side, it chases away any fear in my heart. I wanted to tell you that. No, I needed to.”
Shadows of the fire danced on Neepa’s blank face, making her expression all the more difficult to read. The anticipation built as Neepa slowly absorbed what I told her, her eyes never breaking from mine.
She reached out and held either side of my head, then leaned in and planted a firm kiss on my lips. She hovered near my face and drew in a shuddering breath.
“I love you, too, Al.” She sniffled and wiped away a stray tear. She gave a tight smile as more tears welled in her eyes. “You make my heart ache with so much joy that I might die.”
“Please don’t. I wouldn’t know what to do.”
Neepa laughed, and then drew me into a deep hug. She broke away and rubbed my cheeks affectionately with her thumbs, hey honey-brown eyes casting a reflection of myself. She leaned in again to kiss me.
Her lips hovered millimeters from mine as she drew in a breath, then went in for another, this one harder. All the following kisses grew in intensity until she kept her mouth firmly planted to mine. Even when she straddled onto my lap, our mouths never parted.
Her knees settled on either side of my hips, and she lowered herself until her heat pressed against my arousal. Her nails dug into the back of my neck as her tongue swirled around mine, her hips single-mindedly rocking to and fro. Air rushed from her nostrils in hot blasts and soft moans climbed from her throat. I settled my hands over the supple flesh of her ass, gently guiding her strokes until she grinded me in the most pleasurable way possible.
Before we get too ahead of ourselves, I pushed her away. A gasping and flush-faced Neepa did nothing to mask her blatant disappointed.
“Eva and Koko haven’t left their rooms, and the beastkin seems to prefer it outside. I can be quiet. Maybe,” she said promiscuously.
Jesus mother of Vishnu. She gets me so hot that I can hardly think straight.
“It’s not that,” I replied quickly. My cheeks started burning. “I know I’m really late asking this, but what about… protection? We’ve… done it twice already.”
Neepa leaned back and smiled. “Maiden's tonic. A special blend of herbs and roots that prevents pregnancy. I've been sure to take a does every day.”
“Every day?” You mean—?”
She smashed her chest against mine and whispered, “You don’t have to worry.”
I got so hard that I thought a stitch in my pants snapped.
Neepa gave her hips a wiggle. “Take me to your room?”
Without saying anything, I grabbed a hold of her plump globes and hoisted her up. Neepa giggled in surprise, then locked her legs around my waist and held around my neck. I picked my room on the ground floor, so I was able to easily navigate the distance without having to break away from Neepa’s sweet lips.
Neepa was sandwiched between me and the door once we reached it, her irresistible mounds pressing into my chest as I nibbled on her earlobe. She fumbled with the doorknob while writhing under
my touch. The door opened on the third attempt and I stumbled straight to the bed.
Neepa fell back into the mattress, then opened her legs wide and I settled between them as we continued to kiss wildly. I ran my hand the length of her leg, starting on her ankle and working under her dress so I could free her voluptuous figure, then froze when I saw Koko staring at us. Neepa tilted her head back on the mattress and caught Koko in her inverted gaze.
The dragon-woman sat on her knees on the other side of the bed, dressed in a pink nighty with a pillow mid-fluff in her hands.
With me still on top of Neepa, I asked, “I thought your room was upstairs.”
Koko resumed fluffing her pillow after being still for a few more beats. “It is. A room was needed for my personal artifacts. Since I am your wife, it is my duty to share your bed.” Her vertical irises narrowed on Neepa. “I don’t mind her as your mistress, but do lay in her bed so to not violate the sanctity of ours.”
I looked down at Neepa; the shock on her face was like that of a fawn staring down a barrel.
Confused and petrified, I only had one thought: What the hell am I going to do about this. I shifted uncomfortably, then added: And ‘this.’
Epilogue
I was reminded of Lucinia’s magnificence when Koko gave Eva, Neepa and I the tour promised upon my initial visit. I was shown the various classrooms, labs, and training halls. Each room dedicated to a specific study of magic and constructed with specific elements in mind. One such training hall I was shown was made of various kinds of stones so young mages could understand the principles of constructs—creating various things with the element at hand. Such other places exist for other elements and principles. We were even shown the conservatory, a grand space reserved only for the Seers, the ones who were mostly responsible for monitoring other worlds through the use of very complicated instruments and magic far beyond my capacity to understand.
It was refreshing. Before, I was too caught up trying to make sense of everything and didn’t get the chance to appreciate the mystical sights. This place was lovely, and I’ll be attending as a student. Nostalgic, like the admittance tour of Melchizedek.
Heart of the Resonant: Book 1: Pulse (Resonant Series) Page 38
