Fractured Spirit (Alpha World Book 5)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “I’m sure it will be fine, Karen.” Alburet sampled the stew. The familiar heat filled his mouth, though a bit faster than he was used to. He was able to take a second bite before he had to nibble some bread. “Whew, a bit faster on the spice than the normal, but just as tasty.”

  Karen nodded as she took a bite of her bread, “I think it was the amount of Infernal Sand Worm I used. Stacia told me after I’d already dropped it into the pot.”

  “I did nay expect ya to use it all,” Stacia chuckled. “Tha’ be me fault for nay guidin’ ya better.”

  “It’s still just as tasty, we might just need a bit more bread,” Fluff added.

  Sipping at the wine after another bite, Alburet let the mingling of flavors wash through his system. He took another bite, again nibbling at the bread to quench the fire. “The wine still mingles perfectly with the meal, so everything will be fine. It’s a success for your first attempt at it, Karen.”

  Her smile broadened at his words, “Glad to hear it. I was a little gun shy about attempting it, but Fluff thought I should. She’s going to try next time we have it.”

  “I’m sure it will be wonderful when she gives it a go as well,” Alburet said, reaching over to stroke Fluff’s ear.

  Fluff purred as she took another bite of her stew. Ducking her head, she had a smile on her face as she ate. Once she’d cleared her mouth she glanced at him. “Would you be okay with having it again tomorrow?”

  “Of course,” Alburet told her. “Maybe we should hunt tomorrow, though.”

  Stacia spoke up, “No, we talked about it while ya slept. We already told Gerald it will be after the new members join the guild tha’ we will go back out huntin’. He said he was goin’ to drop off the bags for us tomorrow mornin’, along with the maps from Sir Dracon. Gerald and Marysue already have theirs.”

  “Okay,” Alburet agreed.

  The rest of the meal passed in silence as they concentrated on the delicious stew. Once they were sated, Stacia cleaned up the table as the others all took their refilled wine glasses into the living room.

  Karen guided him to the sofa, placing him in the middle between her and Fluff. “We think it will be better if we’re right next to you while you talk tonight.”

  Looking at the drawing that Fluff had made for the wake, Alburet nodded mutely. The loss was keen, cutting into his soul as he looked at his departed friends. He set the glass on the coffee table before he spilled any as his hand started to shake.

  Stacia lit a few candles near the drawing and sat down on the floor between his legs, facing him.“We be ready. Tell us. Let everythin’ out, master. We be here for you.”

  He could feel the love from her, as well as the pain his sadness caused her. He was aware of similar emotions from Karen and Fluff. Their love was the strongest feeling, mixed with a little worry, fear, and uncertainty. He took a few deep breaths before he began to talk.

  “You all saw how I first met David. You never saw how I first met his daughter.” His voice trailed off, his eyes misting over as he dredged up the memory to speak of it. He knew this memory was not altered; he was certain of it as he began to relay the story to them.

  “I remember going over to David’s house. He’d said he wanted me to meet his pride and joy. I was never one for kids, having consigned myself to never finding the right woman by then. I was prepared for a spoiled brat who refused to listen. I was willing to endure that though, for David. He had become a good friend to me already in that short time.”

  “She wasn’t, though. She was the nicest, most polite child I ever met. I kind of fell in love with her almost from the first time I met her.” He told them how Kaylee had been a respectful, proper child. He had been surprised over the years at her constant diligence in doing her homework during the weekends, as well as the fact that she never argued with David, not even as a teenager. As he spoke, tears started to spill from his eyes, though his voice stayed firm.

  Fluff, Karen, or Stacia would reach out to wipe them away for him as he continued to speak. He told them many stories of the things the three of them had done, the good times, even the few bad. He spoke of Kaylee’s resolute expression when David had been hospitalized for gallbladder surgery. He told them about David’s happiness when Kaylee had told them of her plans to attend the local university.

  By the time he wound down, they had finished a third bottle of wine and the candles were guttering. He had cried several times, been comforted, and the sense of loss had lessened for him during the time he spoke. Each of the women had helped him over parts when his voice hitched and he had to pause while his emotions settled enough for him to continue.

  When he finally stopped, he sighed deeply. Stacia, Karen, and Fluff watched him with love-filled eyes. “Thank you, all of you. I try to be strong and protective, but over the last few days you’ve seen me broken and weak. I’ve never felt your love waver, not for a single moment. You’re all I have left to live for, and I hope you’ll let me fill my life with you as the central parts of it.”

  “Aye, always and forever, me lovin’ husband and master,” Stacia said as she leaned up to kiss him briefly.

  “As long as you respect me, and are willing to keep testing me,” Karen added, a touch gruffly as she tried to hide her happiness at his words. She kissed him demandingly.

  Once the kiss broke, Fluff gently turned his head to her. “I never knew real love, until I met you, Karen, and Stacia. I still have moments when I fear that you’ll all spurn me. As long as you can deal with my moments of insecurity, we will never be parted.” She leaned in and kissed him deeply. As the kiss went on she leaned into him, demanding that he hold her.

  A little taken aback, Alburet hesitated, then wrapped her in his arms and returned her kiss. After a few minutes they broke the kiss, foreheads leaned against each other as they panted. Eyes locked on his, she was clearly able to see his desire for her, but also the fear of hurting her.

  “I’m not ready yet, Al. I’m sorry,” she said, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, he was still watching her, “I’ll try to be soon, but are you still willing to wait for me?”

  “As long as you need, Fluff,” he kissed her lips softly before he released her. “You make it hard at times-”

  Karen had broken into a snicker at the word ‘hard’, forcing him to pause his comment. Once she had regained her composure, Alburet coughed once before he tried again. “It is difficult to wait, but you’re well worth it. I will wait for as long as you need, fear not on that point.”

  Fluff nodded her head before she got off the sofa. His attention was making her want to rush things. “Thank you,” she said and stepped away quickly.

  Karen chuckled as she got up to follow Fluff. “Well done,” she said softly to Alburet. “She fears that you won’t wait, it preys on her mind. Every time she doubts, though, you reassure her, and that is what she needs most.” She stepped into the kitchen after the Lunari.

  “We be a good family,” Stacia said from the floor, before she crawled into his lap. “Oh, I see tha’ it be hard alright.” She wiggled slightly against him, “Ya can take it out on me, when ya want.”

  He touched his head to hers, “Sex demon.”

  “Aye, me lord and master,” Stacia purred. “I will always be tha’ for ya, or anythin’ else ya wish me to be.”

  “Let’s go to bed,” he said, picking her up in a princess carry as he rose. “Ladies, me and Stacia are going to be active in the bedroom. So you are aware.”

  “Okay. Me and Fluff will take the guest room for a bit. We’ll join you in the bath after we sate ourselves,” Karen said from the kitchen. She had Fluff against the counter, obviously having just been making out with her.

  Smiling at the duo in passing as he princess carried Stacia down the hall, he shook his head. “Do I really deserve this?”

  “Aye, and much more,” Stacia replied as she laid her head against his chest.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Alburet woke to the
smell of bacon and coffee. He stayed there staring up at the ceiling for a minute, his mind going over the events of the day before. He felt the loss of David and Kaylee keenly. The loss of his mother was a duller ache behind that pain. The love that the trio of women felt for him had helped buoy him up out of the depression he was sure he would have been in otherwise.

  “There’s nothing left for me outside of Alpha World now,” he muttered to himself. “If not for Stacia, Karen and Fluff, I’m not even sure I would care about going on.”

  Sitting up, he discovered he was alone in the room. He rinsed briefly in the bathroom before dressing and heading into the living room. He found Stacia and Fluff sitting on the sofa with Karen in the kitchen. Blinking, he smiled at Karen’s back. He snuck up behind her slowly and kissed her neck.

  “Morning,” he wheezed as she elbowed him.

  Turning her head, she smiled, “Don’t sneak up on me. Also, morning and you can kiss me again if you’d like.”

  Rubbing his sternum, Alburet winced, “Serves me right. The first time you snuck up on me, if I recall correctly, we ended up on the ground.”

  “Yup, you pinned me, which is one of the reasons I was interested in you,” Karen smirked. “Breakfast will be done shortly. The carafe on the table is coffee, so feel free to indulge until I’m done.”

  A sly smile settled on his lips as he spun her around and kissed her hard. She wrapped her arms around him while keeping the fork she had been using away from his back. When he let her go, she eyed him hungrily, “Not what I meant by indulging, but I can get Stacia in here to take over if it’s what you want.”

  “I be busy,” Stacia’s voice floated in from the living room.

  “Seems it will have to wait until later, then,” Alburet grinned as he stepped over to the table to get some coffee. He winked at Karen, who looked a little miffed, but he could feel her amusement. “It’s not often I get to insist on things with you, after all. So, this could be a form of indulging.”

  Her miffed expression cracked with a chuckle. “I’ll remember that later.”

  “I’m sure it will be something to look forward to,” Alburet said, turning to go into the living room. He paused as he took in the moment he was about to intrude on.

  Fluff was on Stacia’s lap, being cuddled and gently kissed. As Alburet watched the tender moment, Stacia gave him a smile and wink, before she went back to teasing Fluff with tenderness. Leaning against the kitchen table, Alburet watched as Fluff accepted the love Stacia was giving her. He couldn’t help but smile at the love and acceptance that Fluff felt.

  “She’s adorable, isn’t she?” Karen said softly from beside him. “I think she’s damn near perfection.”

  “She is adorable, a perfect counterpoint to a certain spitfire I happen to know,” Alburet replied just as softly as his arm went around Karen’s waist. “Things are going well between you?”

  “We didn’t actually do anything last night except cuddle. She wanted reassurances that you would be okay and that I wasn’t planning on going anywhere either. Okay, it might have been cuddling and a little light petting, but nothing like at the Keep. I know how it feels to want to keep her safe, though. That’s what you feel when you look at her, isn’t it?” Karen put her arm around his waist, leaning into him some.

  “Yeah. I think we’re both lucky that she accepted us as we are,” Alburet added.

  “Well I’m the best thing since sliced bread, so I know why she likes me,” Karen snickered. She turned her face upwards to look at him.

  Looking down at her, his lips were upturned in humor, “Sliced bread hmm?” He leaned down and kissed her gently this time, savoring her lips. As the kiss ended, he nipped her lip, “Yup, you’re tasty to me.”

  Karen growled softly as she pushed him back against the table, “You bit me.”

  A laugh came unbidden from his throat, “Oops.” Karen seemed to be thinking about what to do when he pointed behind her. “The food is burning.”

  Karen spun to the stove where the bacon was sizzling just fine. Her turn, though, had given Alburet enough room to slip away from her. She spun back to find him walking into the living room. “Oh, you are going to pay for that later,” Karen muttered as she went back to the stove.

  Stacia smiled up at him as he took a seat in one of the chairs. “Mornin’, me beloved husband. Did ya sleep well?”

  “I didn’t dream as far as I know, so yes,” Alburet replied.

  Fluff pulled away from Stacia slightly, “Morning, Al. You don’t mind, right?”

  “That you and Stacia are exploring each other? No. Well, that isn’t entirely true. I have to admit I’m a little envious. But overall, no I don’t mind. I’ll wait. Besides, I know how tempting she can be when she wants to be,” Alburet smiled. “I didn’t want to disturb you both, but Karen was going to be having me for breakfast if I hadn’t escaped.”

  “I might still have you for breakfast,” Karen called out from the kitchen. “You can all have the bacon, I’ll have his sausage.”

  Stacia laughed, “Only iffin ya make sure to share. Is the food almost ready?”

  “I’m starting the eggs now, so just a few more minutes,” Karen called back.

  “I’ll just go check on her,” Stacia said as she gently set Fluff to the side. “Thank ya for the wonderful time, Fluff. I be ready for more anytime ya want.” She went off to the kitchen, Alburet and Fluff watching her sway as she walked.

  “She certainly knows how to use her charms,” Alburet sighed.

  “Do you think she could teach me?” Fluff asked.

  “I think she would love to help you learn in any way you want,” Alburet told her as he sipped his coffee.

  “Al…” Fluff paused, biting her lip briefly. “Am I being a bitch to you? Making you wait while I’m fine with Karen and learning to be okay with Stacia?”

  He went over to the sofa, setting his cup aside before pulling her gently into his lap. Tilting her head so she had to look at him, she could see only love in his eyes. “No. Your life before now has been pain, suffering, grief, and agony. You deserve only joy, happiness, and love and that is all I will give you, all any of us will give you. I won’t lie, though. I want what they are being given. It gets painful at times to see you accept them while I stand back, afraid to hurt you. But in the end, waiting is what is best for you. If I hurt you, I don’t think I could ever forgive myself. So, while I look on longingly, know that I do not hold any ill will towards you for taking your time. When the time comes, I will do my very best to give you the love you so thoroughly deserve to have.”

  Fluff blinked against the sudden tears in her eyes. A single tear fell as she buried her face against his chest. “You big, comforting, protective... Even when I feel I’m doing wrong by you, you tell me that isn’t the case and make me love you more.” A single hiccupping cry of happiness came from her before she sat upright and kissed him hard.

  Alburet was surprised by how much passion was in the kiss. His arms went around her instantly as the passion between them grew. The kiss went on as her arms went around his neck, and he began to massage her back. His blood began to boil under the onslaught of her passion. With a small cry he pushed her away, just enough to break the kiss. Panting, his gaze met hers, the need in her eyes matching his.

  “Fluff… I…” Alburet began before she cut him off by lunging into his chest, squeezing him hard.

  “Don’t, please don’t,” Fluff said, her voice full of fear that he could feel. Her fear of rejection was sharp enough to cut as she held him.

  He gently tilted her head up, her eyes wet as she looked at him. “I was going to say I don’t think I can stop myself if we keep going.” With that, he kissed her, gently this time.

  Her breath caught in her throat at his words, then more so as his lips met hers. The passion was subdued but the emotions in the kiss were a whirlwind of their own. They lost track of how long the kiss went on for, only stopping when a cough got their attention.

  �
�It be good to see ya both comin’ to terms with ya feelin’s, but breakfast be ready,” Stacia told them, her eyes glittering with amusement.

  Alburet coughed once, holding Fluff where she was. “We’ll be right there.”

  Fluff lowered her head to rest on his shoulder, “Yes, we’ll be right there.”

  “Aye, we be waitin’ for ya,” Stacia grinned as she walked away.

  “Don’t make us wait long,” Karen called out from the table.

  Kissing her ear once, Alburet slowly released his hold on Fluff. “I won’t reject you in anything, Fluff. You are willing to stand beside me after seeing what I’ve done, and that means so much to me. I will do my best to treat you as I always have, with respect and kindness, even when I want to rip your clothes off because you make my blood boil.”