by Reed James
“Change only comes through pain, Prince Meinard,” the Paragon said. “Soon, you will be ready to win back your daughter and your princedom. Soon.”
She crooned, the hideous sounds a mockery of a mother's lullaby while torturous pain assaulted my body. Reshaped my flesh.
Chapter Thirty-One: Diamond Implications
Sven Falk
Despite her armor, holding Nathalie to my side didn't feel awkward. She had her arm around my waist, her armor clinking as she trembled against me. She had a look of pale shock on her face, the exhilaration of battle fading out of her.
“You did good,” I told her, my hand clutching to the pauldron of her armor, the metal warm from the magic coursing through it.
With these armors we'd found in the vault, we'd prevailed against our enemies. Prince Meinard and the monsters of Biomancer Vebrin were working together. I shouldn't be surprised that the power-mad man would work with the foul things. He enslaved his own people and used their souls to move his army of constructs. He wanted to conquer the world.
He'd enchanted his own step-daughter so he could breed an heir.
We walked down the street, the citizens of Az peering out of alleyways, staring at the street where monsters rampaged. There were dead men and women scattered around the street, killed by Prince Meinard and his new “allies.” The bastard attacked his own people. He ruled Az. This city numbered among the largest in the world, and was the most populace in his country. It was a center of culture and learning, a jewel, and he defiled it.
Ava's feyhound proxy padded up beside us, the wicker body creaking. She glanced up at me. I nodded at her and placed my hand on her head. I stroked the woven branches. She shuddered, her tail wagging. She held herself in a pleased manner. Somehow, she'd defeated her father's iron proxy, shutting down that monstrosity of metal.
We walked to the Temple of Krab. The doors lay battered open by the monsters. We climbed the stairs. My stomach tensed, sobbing echoing. Were all my other women fine? We passed into the threshold, leaving behind the dwindling twilight of the outside into the darker interior. Carsina sobbed over the mangled body lying in a puddle of water. The entire sanctum was flooded, water flowing around my feet as it drained out at the corners.
Zanyia, splattered in black ichor, looked pleased as she crouched atop a dead monster, her tawny ears twitching. My step-sister stood by Ealaín, a perplexed look on Kora's face. Greta hovered by them, the busty sex slave looking hale.
Everyone save for Master Theophil looked hale and whole.
“What happened?” I asked my sister as she stared down at the water. There was something mixed in it, a thick gunk. A formless ooze?
“The ooze acted weird, brother mine,” she said. “It stopped fighting us when it shouldn't have.”
“Really?” I asked. “That's strange.”
Ealaín nodded her head, her armor glowing a little brighter as she moved, making her skin almost negate light, drinking it in, a void clad in radiance. Her light spilled over my sister, crimson reflecting between her tits. “It bought us time for Greta to kill it.”
Carsina looked up and said, “Kora told it to stop.”
“Yeah, but, I didn't do anything to it,” Kora said, shaking her head. “I was just making illusions and shouting out of fear. I don't have the power to control monsters. It was that diamond hammer. You hit it and then it stopped.”
Carsina frowned. She glanced down at the diamond hammer we found in the vault with the armor. It rested on her lap. She picked it up. Brilliance flared in its center, a fiery reflection of the light pouring off Ealaín's armor.
“Look what the hammer did to Greta's armor,” Kora continued. “How it energized it and made all this water. That hammer has power.”
“Is that what happened?” Ava asked, her voice coming from the doorway that led deeper into the temple. I glanced at my side and saw the feyhound proxy lying unmoving. Then Ava and Aingeal emerged into the room, Ava running fingers through her strawberry-blonde locks. “I felt the hammer surging with power. I used that energy to sever my father's connection to his proxy.”
“Maybe,” Carsina said, frowning. “I suppose we could think of the monsters as devices. I mean, they were designed by the Biomancer, and the hammer was created to be used on artificial constructs. It empowers them or destroys them.”
Kora clutched at the ruby amulet I cursed her to wear when I gave it to her as a gift.
“It was created to be used at the Altar of souls, right?” Ava said, stepping up beside Carsina. “And left here for me.”
Carsina nodded. She rose and handed over the hammer to the princess.
“Why?” Ava asked. “Why did Krab leave this here?”
“He has his reasons,” Carsina said. “He builds things for a purpose, even if only he sees it.”
~ * ~
Zanyia
Carsina put the final stone in place, entombing her master in the small garden at the rear of the temple. It was a place of beauty that I was surprised to find here. It was a carefully constructed garden, the plants placed with care, many sculpted into topiaries, shaped into strange, abstract designs. Paths of crushed marble wound through them. She had worked all night on the tomb.
It was such a beautiful thing. Each granite stone fit with care. She had skill in making things.
“Krab, accept Master Theophil into your apprenticeship,” Carsina prayed as she knelt before it. “Share with him all the secrets you have learned. He devoted his life to his craft. He learned all he could in this world and is ready to study the techniques of the next. Your time will not be wasted, Krab. He will drink in all you know. He will work hard to master your techniques, to devise and construct machines for the use and benefit of all.”
My tail twitched. What a strange thing to pray for the dead.
“He will be accepted, Carsina,” Princess Ava said. She had a soft smile on her lips, the morning sun highlighting the red in her light hair. She hugged the trembling girl. Then she broke away.
“He was a good man,” Master said, his voice soft. He gave the journeyman a nod and she shivered, looking down at her Master's tomb.
My head cocked. I breathed in, parsing through all the scents in the air: the perfume of flowers, earthy loam, the musks of my husband and wives, the confused welter of emotions pouring off of Carsina. It spiced the world my nose sensed. An owl hooted as I sorted through them, my tail swaying back and forth as I crouched in my armor of banded, leather strips.
My family filtered out of the garden when it was over, Kora clinging to our husband, Aingeal and Ava holding hands, my fellow sex slaves leaning on each other. Carsina, however, stayed staring at her master's tomb, rubbing her hands on her leather work clothes. I inhaled through my nose, my ears twitching as I processed the riotous aromas of her emotions.
I padded towards her, my tail going rigid behind me. A purr rumbled in my throat. I stopped by her, seeing her trembling, her face set. I breathed in the tang of resolve. I cocked my head, staring at her smooth face. The sunlight painted across the bluish face. The sapphire tinging her pale skin gave such an exotic cast to her delicate face, her cheekbones fragile and graceful.
“You want to come with us,” I said.
Carsina nodded her head, her fists clenching, her face hardening. Her eyes bored down on the tomb.
“I think you know what that means.”
Carsina shot her gaze to me. Her brow furrowed, her vibrant-red hair dancing about her face. Her ruby eyes almost glinted in the sunlight.
“I've seen you looking at Master,” I said, giving her a sly smirk.
Her cheeks darkened to a deeper blue, a lovely azure. Her eyes shot down to her feet. She shifted, rubbing her hands together. I loved the scent wafting off of her.
“You're a journeyman,” I continued. “You need a new master.”
Carsina shivered. “I'm just grieving. I'm not thinking straight.”
“Or you're thinking clearly,” I told her as I turned away.
“It's your choice, Carsina.”
~ * ~
Kora Falk
“Did the hammer affect my illusions?” I asked as we re-entered the temple, leaving the garden behind. The events of last night still confused me. “I mean, I was trying to save Carsina when my illusion suddenly had... substance to it.”
“I guess that makes sense,” my step-brother said, nodding his head. We took a turn in the corridor, reaching the room Carsina gave us. We spent the night here, recovering from the battle. “Your illusions could be seen as constructs.”
“Can they?” Ealaín asked, her face furrowing. “They're works of art, not mundane devices built out of wood or stone. They're... discovered. Inspired.”
“Still,” I said, arching an eyebrow as we gathered up our possessions. Then I frowned. “Where's Zanyia?”
“Right here, Mistress,” Zanyia said, stepping into the room behind, Carsina following. “Now do it just like I said.”
Sven groaned as Carsina moved up to my brother and fell to her knees before him, her bright-red hair spilling about her sapphire cheeks. A smile grew on my lips as Sven shook his head. The journeyman raised her head.
“I want to be your sex slave,” Carsina said, the azure hue in her bluish cheeks deepening. Her ruby eyes almost glowed with a feverish passion. “I need a master. I'm a journeyman. And you're amazing.” She swallowed. “And you can't say no,” she added, speaking fast. “Zanyia said so.”
“That's right,” Nathalie echoed. “You have to accept slaves, Master.”
Sven shook his head, bringing a giggle from my lips. I nudged my brother's arm and said, “Nope, brother mine, you can't.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Luben's going to get mad at me for violating my marriage a day after our wedding.”
I hooked my brother's arm. “You'll violate it with your wives.”
Aingeal's fairy wings fluttered, her head nodding. “Yes, yes, let's get back to the Temple of Rithi and our rooms. We need to break in your new sex slave before we head off to the Altar of Souls.”
I nodded my head.
Carsina hopped to her feet. “Let me gather my things. I'll be right back.”
She darted off, making me giggle. She had found something to latch on to. It was cute. Another naughty sex slave for the harem, another bit of spice. I would create something beautiful with her, a delicious bit of passionate art writhing with her and my husband. I glanced at Ealaín and gave her a smile.
My aoi si muse gave me a blank look. She shifted in her armor, a bit of white light spilling across the silvery metal. I frowned at her. Was she tired? Did she not see the potential inspiration a new woman in the harem added?
“It must be such a burden, husband,” Ava said, sliding up to Sven's other side, “to make every woman in the world wet for you.”
“Not every woman,” Sven muttered.
Aingeal burst into laughter. She rose into the air in a flutter of her wings, her big, pillowy tits bouncing and jiggling. Her golden rings flashed and glinted. She settled down on the ground. She stroked her foot up her calf, balancing on the toes of the other.
I frowned at her then I glanced at my brother. “Are you annoyed you didn't seduce Priestess Thea into violating her oaths to her husband and God yesterday, brother mine?”
“She was a mature beauty,” he said.
“Just a perv,” Ava said, a smile on her lips.
Carsina appeared, a pack in hand, a slip of a blouse spilling out the side. “I'm ready, Master.”
Zanyia stretched her back, wearing the straps that crisscrossed her naked body. “See, she says it like a natural. No hesitation. She's a perfect sex slave.”
Carsina shivered, her cheeks such a bright azure. Valyan women had such interesting coloring. It was... exotic. I couldn't wait to press my pale body against her flesh.
Sven took the lead in his shadow-absorbing armor. He moved with an even deadlier grace than before. He had such power in it. A fencer who could spring into action at a moment's notice. He could sweep through the room, leaving death behind in his wake as he fought to protect his women. A giddy thrill shot through me. I was so glad we were a family now. That we'd be together forever.
The citizens of Az were cleaning up the streets in the wake of the monster's rampage. There were so many dead. I couldn't believe Prince Meinard would attack his own city. He butchered his own soldiers when they were struggling to defend their city. It made me so angry. I had another reason to despise him.
To want him dead.
We reached the Temple of Rithi. The acolyte out front frowned at us and folded his arms before him. Frowning, I walked up to him and said, “Is there a problem?”
“Problem?” he asked, glancing at Ava holding the feyhound proxy.
I glanced at Ava. She blushed and looked down while Aingeal let out a naughty giggle. “What did you two do?”
“They battered down doors,” a familiar voice said, words hard.
I turned to see Radiant Gertrude, my fellow priestess, marching out of the temple, her arms folded before her pink robes. Her red hair shone in the morning light, freckles dotting her face. She swallowed, flexing the tattoo of the sun at her throat.
“They injured several with their mad dash through the temple. We gave you shelter, Radiant Kora, and your companions abused it.”
I sighed. I glanced at my brother. “I'll talk to her and explain it. Go inside.”
“I'll help,” Sven said, giving Radiant Gertrude a hard look.
She arched an eyebrow.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Readying the New Slave
Aingeal
“Yes, yes, yes, just like that,” I purred as I knelt next to the naked Carina, her pale-blue body having such a delicious hue to it. Her round breasts quivered, dark-red nipples thrusting hard from her areolas. Her glasses shifted on her nose, made of dainty wires of silver holding the lenses in place. Her cheeks hollowed as she bobbed her head up and down the aoi si's girl-cock. “Mmm, yes, that's how you suck a dick to please my husband.”
“She's doing good, right?” Zanyia asked, kneeling on the other side.
“Uh-huh,” Ealaín groaned, her midnight-black face twisting with pleasure, her short, white hair dancing about her features. Her citrine eyes squeezed shut. “She's a natural at it.”
While we waited on Kora and Sven's return, I thought it would be a great idea to teach Carsina how to please him. She needed to know all this stuff if she wanted to be his sex slave. And it made me so wet.
I adjusted the straps of my dildo I just fashioned with my powers. It was a simple affair, made from the stone tiles of the floor and shaped to perfection. It thrust smooth before me, held on by a harness I fashioned out of the sheets, reweaving the fabric with transmutation spirits. It pressed on my clit, making my pussy ache.
I shifted around behind Carsina, staring at her curving rump. She had a cute ass. My pale fingers grabbed her light-blue butt-cheeks, digging my fingers into her as she sucked and bobbed her mouth on the aoi si's black dick. Carsina's bright-red hair was a hue of pure crimson, a richer shade than I'd seen on any other human, even Radiant Gertrude.
I shivered as Carsina moaned, my pussy getting hotter and hotter. Juices ran down my thighs. I moved the dildo down to Carsina's pussy, nudging the gray tip into her crimson bush, her cream gleaming on it.
She gasped as I rammed into her. I buried the dildo to the hilt in her, the base pressing on my clit. My husband's newest sex slave moaned about Ealaín's girl-cock. Then she sucked and slurped harder. Carsina's hips swirled, stirring the stone shaft around in her cunt.
“Ooh, yes, yes, you like that, you little sex-slave slut?” I purred, drawing back my hips. My tits jiggled. I thrust in again, groaning at the shock of pleasure through my body. “Yes, you do.”
“She does,” Zanyia purred, quivering nearby. “Just fuck her little pussy. Get her nice and juicy for our husband.”
“Oh, I am,” I moaned. My hands gripped her hips, slamming hard into her
pussy. Her boobs bounced and jiggled, my flesh slapping into hers.
It felt incredible. Every time I rammed into her, my clit ached and throbbed. Pleasure tingled through me. My ass clenched as I stroked into her. I fucked her so hard, plunging into her cunt over and over again. I loved pounding her as she sucked and slurped on Ealaín's girl-dick.
The aoi si's big tits jiggled and swayed. Her ebony nipples looked so yummy. My wings flapping behind me, I leaned over the sex slave. While ramming my dildo into her cunt, I latched onto one of the aoi si's fat nubs. I sucked hard on the puckered nipple, mimicking Carsina's actions on Ealaín's girl-cock.
“Rithi's inspiring art,” Ealaín moaned, her dark fingers running through my pink hair. “Mmm, Aingeal, that's nice. Both of you, flutter your tongues around my dick and nipple.”
“Yes, yes, tongue is so important, Carsina,” Zanyia yowled.
My tongue swirled around Ealaín's nipple as my pussy grew hotter and hotter. My juices flowed down my thighs. I groaned, plunging my strap-on dildo deep into Carsina's pussy. I stirred her up, my clit aching and throbbing. I moaned about Ealaín's nipple. Pleasure spilled through me.
I felt Zanyia's eyes on me. They were focused on something that swayed. My tits. She was staring at my pierced nipples, her eyes tracking them as they bounced and jiggled. Then, with a loud yowl, she sprang down, grabbed my right boob, and latched onto my nub.
I groaned about Ealaín's nub as Zanyia's rough tongue danced and fluttered against my nipple ring. She twisted it, sending more delight shooting down to my pussy as it grew hotter and hotter. My pussy clenched as my pleasure swelled.
“Rithi's keen eye!” groaned Ealaín. “Keep sucking on my cock. I'm going to unload in your mouth. I'm going to flood you with so much spunk.”
“Yum,” Nathalie moaned as she and Greta knelt between Ava's thighs, licking the princess's pussy. “Ooh, yes, yes, suck her cock, Carsina. You're going to love it. Second best cum in the world.”
I agreed. My wings fluttered as I hammered Carsina as fast as I could. Zanyia's tongue fluttered around my nipple. My pussy clenched. Juices flowed down my thighs. I needed to cum. Wanted it so badly. I sucked with all my might on Ealaín's nub, my mouth sucking and slurping, saliva running down my chin.
