Playing For Keeps (Alpha World Book 4)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Alburet put out a hand to stall her, “It’s okay, Fluff. It really is okay. You’re just not ready yet, and that is perfectly fine. Maybe you will never be ready for me to be present or a part of it, and that’s okay, too. I will welcome you with open arms when you are ready and wait patiently for you to decide when that will be.”

  “Aye,” Stacia commented as she raised her body over his shoulder. Her naked chest draped over his side, “Tha’ goes for me as well. When ya be ready, I be more than happy to join ya. Ya are the one who decides, and we are happy it be tha’ way.”

  Her lips twitched, unsure if she should cry because she felt bad for denying them now, or if she should feel elated that they cared for her that much. “Thank you,” the words were barely audible as she turned her head away from them and buried her face into Karen’s naked chest.

  Karen stroked her ears as she held Fluff, “That goes for me as well, Fluff. We’ll talk about if you’re ready tonight, after Al’s memory, okay?”

  Fluff gave a single nod of her head, “Okay.”

  “I think we should be thinkin’ about startin’ the day,” Stacia said after a moment of silence. The call for breakfast came clearly through the walls of the tent.

  “I guess you’re right,” Alburet chuckled even as he palmed one of the heavy globes resting on his chest. “However, I seem to be pinned down by a rather weighty matter.” His lips ticked at the corners.

  “Ya are gonna pay for tha’,” Stacia muttered as she slithered over him, forcing him onto his back as she pinned him in place. “Come, me friends, it be tickle time.”

  Not expecting this reaction or his sudden inability to move he started to speak rapidly. “Now, now, kitten. There’s no need for this. I’ll apologize and we don’t go any further down this road.”

  Small flames sparked in Stacia’s eyes, “Ya called me wonderfully lush form weighty. Ya deserve a bit of payment for tha’, I be thinkin’.”

  “Oh, I agree,” Karen replied as she and Fluff came over to join her. “What do you think, Fluff?” She asked as she flexed her fingers with an evil grin.

  “Maybe if he kissed them better in apology?” Fluff suggested, her lips forming a small smile. “If he doesn’t want to, then we can tickle him.”

  Alburet glanced between the three women, a sigh of defeat escaping him. “I yield. I’m sorry for my comment, dearest. I meant it in jest and a poor jest it was. If you will please let me make amends that don’t involve tickling me.”

  Stacia’s eyes flickered as the small sparks of flame died out, “Aye. Kiss me wounded pride.” She shifted further up his body, dangling her magnificent breasts over his face. “Iffin ya do a bad job, then we still be ticklin’ ya.”

  Karen laughed, “I kind of want to tickle him anyway. I didn’t know he was afraid of it.”

  Alburet lunged upwards, capturing one of Stacia’s hard nipples in his mouth. He lavished it with attention before turning to the second, trying to ignore her low moans and the way her body writhed on his. He finally released her second breast from his mouth, panting as he lay back. “Is that enough?”

  “For ya comments, aye,” Stacia panted as she licked her lips. “Ladies, iffin ya want to stay and watch feel free, otherwise ya be wantin’ to leave.” She gathered both of his wrists into one hand, easily able to keep him pinned with her much higher strength. With her other hand, she began to remove his clothing.

  “Can I join?” Karen asked, her own breath quickening as she leaned in to nibble Stacia’s neck.

  “Aye, always ya be welcome,” Stacia moaned as she frantically tried to remove the clothing that was stopping her.

  “Ladies,” Alburet interrupted them as his gaze went to Fluff. “Maybe this isn’t—” He was silenced by Fluff, as she leaned forward and claimed his mouth with hers. That stopped his feeble attempts at protest.

  Once the clothing had been stripped from him, Fluff stopped kissing him, retreating to grab her sketch pad. Karen and Stacia took complete control of Alburet, not letting him use his hands at all.

  Gerald’s voice came from outside the tent after some time had passed. “Alburet, breakfast is almost over. Are you all awake in there?” he called out as he knocked on the tent post.

  A few heartbeats later the trio all collapsed into a shuddering heap. Fluff crossed to the tent flap, unlacing its bindings. She cracked it open to see Gerald standing there. “Sorry, it seems we overslept. We’ll be right out,” Fluff told him, her face flushed.

  Shaking his head, Gerald sighed while cover ing his face, “Right. I’ll let Roberto and Banthor know it will be a few moments.”

  Fluff shut the flap and retied it quickly, her breath slowing even as her face heated a bit at what Gerald obviously thought he had interrupted. “We need to get dressed.”

  “I’ve been trying to for a while,” Alburet chuckled from under the duo that were on top of him. “Ladies, if you’re done having your way with me?”

  “For now,” Stacia purred as she got to her feet.

  “What she said,” Karen grinned, deliberately rubbing her naked body against his one more time before getting to her feet.

  He lay there a few more seconds pondering this new lifestyle, before he rolled over to get his clothes. They were across the tent from him, so instead he focused on Stacia and used Copy on her. “Kitten, be a dear and grab my gear for me.”

  Kitten glanced over at him, a broad smile on her lips, “As ya wish.” She swayed over to his gear. “Do ya wish me to pack up everythin’ else while ya dress, master?”

  “Please. We’re a bit behind due to… reasons,” Alburet finished.

  Giggling, Kitten began to tidy up the odds and ends while everyone dressed. Shaking his head, Alburet focused on his gear, keeping his eyes off of the women around him. He got to his feet and put his backpack on to find the others already waiting for him.

  “Ladies first. I’m going to summon Tiny and Bob before heading out,” Alburet told the other three.

  “We’ll be waiting for you outside,” Fluffball replied as she untied the tent flap and went out.

  “Don’t keep us waiting too long,” Karen snickered as she followed Fluff.

  Stacia winked, saying nothing as she followed Karen out of the tent. Watching her go, he smiled, “She truly does make me want to stay here forever.”

  “Of course I do,” Kitten purred from behind him.

  Laughing, he turned and kissed her cheek before stepping away from her. “You drive me to distraction. Now to summon the boys for the day.” He silently called Bob and Tiny to his side. After they appeared he motioned to the tent flap. “We’re the ones holding up the show guys, let’s go.”

  “As you wish,” Tiny rumbled, ducking to keep his horns clear of the top of the tent.

  Bob snickered, “I think someone got distracted by the bevy of flesh he keeps around him.”

  “I was ambushed,” Alburet replied before he snapped his jaw shut, realizing he’d just been baited.

  Cackling, Bob skipped towards the flap after Tiny, “I’m sure it was a complete surprise and you valiantly tried to fight them off.”

  Rolling his eyes Alburet motioned for Kitten to follow Bob. Once everyone was out he collapsed the tent, putting it into his belt pouch. He turned to see people milling around, and a guard standing at each campfire.

  “We’ve been waiting,” Roberto said, his face carefully blank. “You ready, Alburet?”

  “Same plan as yesterday?” Alburet asked.

  “Just join Gerald and we’ll be ready to go,” Roberto replied, dodging the question.

  Nodding to the Captain, Alburet did as he was asked. As he joined the group Roberto called out to the men to pull the fires.

  “Glad you could pull yourself away,” Gerald said dryly.

  “You have no idea,” Alburet sighed. “I wasn’t the instigator.”

  “Nay, he was nay the one,” Stacia agreed with him. “It be me fault, and mayhap Karen’s fault to a lesser degree.”

&nb
sp; Karen snickered, “It’s not like a few minutes will make a difference.”

  Marysue added after a moment, “It doesn’t do a lot for the raid though, if the leader is the one holding us up.”

  “Fair point,” Alburet agreed. “Stacia, no more making us late.”

  “As ya wish, Asthore,” Stacia replied as she bowed her head to him. “Ya will be me law.”

  At that moment the sands shifted, revealing their fight for the morning. It was the same horde of undead they’d faced the day before, which meant everyone knew what their positions should be. The fight was over more quickly than the day before by a couple of minutes, since the raid had already learned what abilities the mobs had and knew how to counter them. Once the mobs were dead and looted, they were ready to travel.

  “It seems the Infernals are keeping their distance again,” Ioaniss pointed out as the group started to move east again.

  Everyone looked to the hills rising before them, seeing the flying shapes moving above the hills. “Seems that way,” Alburet agreed. “I’ll have to ask the Dark Lord why, whenever I see him next.” He dug jerky and tea from his bag, handing it around to the women and keeping some for himself.

  “Because he wants us to take the Keep?” Karen suggested, taking the offered breakfast with a smile.

  “Tha’ be the obvious answer,” Stacia agreed, sipping the tea before biting into the meat.

  “I wonder why it matters to him so much?” Fluff commented, giving Al a warm smile in return for the food.

  Gerald stroked his chin as he chimed in, “He must have some motive.”

  “True enough, and who are we to guess the whims of a God?” Ioaniss chuckled. “I’ll just be happy that we don’t have fire raining down on our heads, or our healers turning against us.”

  “Aye, tha’ would be the likely way they would attack,” Stacia mused. “Iffin the Destroyers got in close then, they could really hamper thin’s iffin they have access to the area taunt.”

  Marysue pursed her lips, “That kind of damage mitigation to anything other than the Destroyer would be bad. It would basically force us to focus the tanks first.”

  “Aye, tha’ would be the point,” Banthor chuckled as he drifted over to join the conversation. “It also be the way the fights with them normally go. Makes it a right pain to deal with a group of the buggers.”

  “Guess we really should be glad, then,” Alburet commented.

  The sentiment was greeted with hearty agreement, then they fell into a quiet lull. The silence stretched out for some time, each of them contemplating their own thoughts. Eventually they struck up another conversation, but it was mostly speculation about what they might see when they camped that evening.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Excitement grew as the raid left the sands and started up the black stone hills. Everyone expected to see the Keep once they crested the top. They had been attacked not even thirty minutes ago, which meant that they would probably be clear until they reached the top of the hill. The guild members had gained at least another two levels, with some of the guards and mercenaries finally gaining a level as well.

  Excited chatter began to filter back as the first few people got to the top. They had to spread out along the small shelf that made up the top of the ridgeline. Before them was a roughly bowl-shaped valley. In the center of it stood a jut of stone that was at least a mile wide, and atop that mesa sat the Keep.

  The walls were broken in spots, but the main building seemed intact from what they could see from where they were. The only way up to the top of the mesa seemed to be a winding road that curved up the side of the rockface. The rest of the cliff looked smooth.

  In the bowl of the valley stood the ruins of a town. The buildings were in various stages of decay, and swells of sand half covered the sides of some of them. As people took in the scene before them in the fading light of day, they were able to pick out signs of Infernals walking through the ruins.

  “Well, looks like we’ll get to face them tomorrow,” Ioaniss said to Alburet. “I would bet this is indeed Gwain’s Keep. The valley and Keep are just as the history books say they should be.”

  “Make camp,” Roberto called out. “We’re going to have to spread out along this shelf, but it seems to stretch around the whole valley, so we have space. Set the Campstones with enough space so all the tents can be set up.”

  “Tomorrow we be seein’ iffin ye can do as ye said,” Banthor commented as he came over to the group. “I be wonderin’ where the graveyard be in the valley.”

  “Good question,” Gerald commented.

  Ioaniss pursed his lips, “I’ll look at the book I brought with me. Maybe it will shed some light on that question.”

  “What about the Keep itself?” Marysue asked. “Can you tell us what you know about it?”

  Ioaniss smiled broadly, “For a lady, I would be glad to. Let me change and eat dinner first, though. I doubt we’ll have the room in the camp for any real entertainment, so tonight I will fill that role.”

  As Alburet was about to enter his tent, Rolland called out to him. “Alburet, do you have a moment?”

  Turning to the newest addition to the guild, Alburet chuckled. “Of course. You are without a doubt a valued member of the guild. Without you we would be really hurt paying for the services of a Portal Mage.”

  Rolland shrugged, “I was meaning to ask if you had collected any of the materials to power the portal?”

  Swinging his bag around to access it easily, Alburet opened it up to look at the interface. “Yeah, I have some of the bone shards and crystals.”

  “How many?” Rolland asked quickly.

  “Half dozen shards, five crystals. What’s up?”

  “Curious as to how many had been collected during the journey. No surprise at the lack of horns, since we haven’t fought any Infernals. Also, I wanted to thank you again for inviting me into the guild.”

  “It’s all good, Rolland. Your wife has been a godsend, and you soon will be as well. Can you do as you suggested and set up a Portal from the guild hall to the Keep, after we claim it?”

  “It will increase how many resources we use in a month, but yes. Not connecting it to the Portal Guild is a more intensive process, as the guild is set up in the ideal spot.” Rolland replied before he asked another question, “What kind of restrictions are you going to put on me and Kim for hunting?”

  “I hadn’t considered it, but none if you can make sure you’re with a group. Your day off is your own, after all. Just follow the rules of the guild otherwise, and be careful as you’re both kind of important. I’m also adverse to losing friends, so keep that in mind.”

  Rolland’s broad grin widened even more, “That works, and we will be don’t worry. You’re going to need at least another receptionist, though. You’ll want to keep the desk in the city manned by two receptionists. Kim and I are thinking of staying out here if there’s a room we can use.”

  “Guess we’ll find out,” Alburet replied. “Ioaniss is going to share the history of the Keep after dinner, in case you want to hear it.”

  “I’m sure everyone is going to be interested. Thanks again for the time. See you later,” Rolland nodded to Alburet and went on to his own tent.

  Shaking his head, Alburet headed into the tent to change. The women had already changed out of their gear. “Master,” Tiny rumbled from behind him, “are we done for the evening?”

  Resisting the urge to facepalm, Alburet turned to his minions. “Sorry, guys. Yes, you’re dismissed for the evening. Rest up, tomorrow we go to capture our objective.”

  Tiny gave a small salute, vanishing in a puff of smoke. Bob looked up at his master, “So, no way we can pop back to the city first?”

  “Seems not,” Alburet sighed, “sorry, Bob. I wish I could too, it would make this a lot easier on us.”

  “Drat. Oh well, we’ll do our best for you,” Bob added with a smirk. “Maybe I’ll get to save you again.” With that parting shot he vanished
in another puff of smoke.

  “Little smart ass,” Alburet grinned after the departed Imp. His eyes drifted to Kitten, who stood there wearing her own smirk. “You’re dismissed as well, Kitten,” Alburet said.

  “As ya wish, me master,” Kitten replied, appearing to vanish in a third puff of smoke as Alburet dismissed the Copy.

  “You coming to get changed?” Karen called out from behind him.

  “Yes dear,” Alburet replied with a straight face as he entered the tent.

  “Oh, really?” Karen eyed him. “That henpecked tone. Those words. Do you think that is a good idea?”