Chapter 32
Oryx
My hearts become heavier with each passing day.
I don’t know how much longer I can do this.
I spend half of my day with Veylor and the other half with Vesper. Vesper insisted that I spend more time with Veylor if I choose, but she absolutely refused to be around him. She said she needed time to even think about the idea of being near him.
I've attempted to reason with her, to share his thoughts through my own. Veylor has taught me how to open my mind and to let others in. I haven’t let Veylor in as of yet, but I was willing to do so for Vesper.
I had nothing to hide from her. I wanted to be her safe place.
I felt I have not been a true monster to her.
She sees Veylor as her monster.
She doesn’t trust him.
Whenever Veylor walked by in the hallway, she would clench her fist and raise her middle finger in what I assumed is a rude human gesture.
Yet I can't help but notice her eyes lingering on his retreating form as we passed by. I'm torn between thinking it's a look of deep yearning or perhaps a gaze filled with simmering resentment that's been held for too long.
Veylor is utterly distraught. He paces back and forth whenever I am with him, he can't help but probe incessantly about Vesper and her persistent brooding. His eyes are filled with worry, and his voice trembles with concern. There isn’t much to say that could ease his troubled mind, and I found myself urging patience, and suggesting that he gave her the time she needed to navigate through her own thoughts.
He did try to kill her the first time they met.
At first I worried that Veylor was upset because I told him we would no longer touch each other unless Vesper was with us. However, Veylor seemed far more engrossed in ensuring Vesper's well-being.
He watched over Vesper during meal times, making certain that she was eating properly after losing so much blood.
He stayed in the shadows, discreet yet ever-present, and he busied himself with tasks such as instructing Benedict to bring fresher vegetables, more plush blankets, and additional candles to illuminate our dim room so she wouldn’t be afraid of the dark.
He wanted her comfortable, cared for.
Which was, unlike him since I have known him in this life.
I had my own ways to try and keep her happy. I made sure she knew that Veylor and I were not… doing anything physical.
She said she didn’t care, that it was my decision to make and assured me she was fine with whatever I chose.
My pet knows that we had touched each other when she slept to heal. I came into desire as I drank her blood and did not want to do things to her while she slept to heal.
She was blank, unreadable but she nodded and said she understood. My pet caressed my chest and told me that it was okay.
It did not feel okay.
No, it didn’t feel right.
Veylor and I would not touch each other intimately until I knew what to do.
As much as my cock ached for them both.
Veylor and I had much to build, we shouldn’t be doing that. My cock still rises at what we had done before, I think about it too often. Only when I think about it now, Vesper is doing things with us.
I feel a burning selfishness for allowing my mind to harden at these thoughts, yet both of them have come to hold immense meaning for me.
I desperately wanted them to find common ground and like each other too.
Why is this woman being so infuriatingly stubborn?
Why won't she let me show her the truth of what happened?
Vesper pursed her lips, her expression one of intense focus as she plunged the needle into the skin of the vessel before us. Her jaw was set with determination. Her fingers moved with practiced precision and remarkable speed, weaving and carving through the vessel that lay on the table.
My tail curled around her leg and I leaned in closer to her. “Pet, what are you doing?”
Another jab made me flinch. No blood oozed from the skin, nothing to make it seem real. I'm not sure why the sight of the delicate skin being repeatedly pierced made me gag. I recoiled from her, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.
Vesper giggled. “What’s wrong with you? Can’t handle a little skin crotchet?”
I shook my head and snuggled up beside her, careful not to glance at her work. "It's unnatural for blood not to seep from a wound. Why are you involved in this? I thought you despised Veylor, yet you're doing his work?"
Please tell me your icy heart is thawing.
My pet's smile gradually faded. "I'm not doing this for him; it's for Benedict. He handles all the work around here and never gets a rest." She sighed, finishing a knot in the thread. "He's done so much, and I wanted to show my appreciation."
I tilted my head and watched the needle fall into the container next to her. “He’s been a great friend to talk to when you are off with Veylor.”
I hung my head. I didn’t want to leave her, but she made me go.
I let out a whine.
Vesper faced me, placing her hands gently around my head. "I want you to build a connection with him. I've mentioned it a hundred times. I just don't want a relationship with him at the moment. Maybe we can be friends… in the future."
She withdrew her hands and headed to the sink to wash them. Although delving into her thoughts was off-limits, I needed to speed things up. They needed to be united, and Veylor desired it as well. He experienced something with Vesper; does she feel the same way about him?
Vesper did let Veylor watch us that one time. She watched Veylor pull out his cock and it turned her on all the more when he came.
She needed to learn to let go.
I huffed. Females.
I tapped my skull and looked around the room for Veylor. He often watched Vesper and me. I could feel his presence now but I couldn’t see him.
The temptation was far too great when my eyes landed on her once again.
I effortlessly entered her mind as she dried her hands. It was incredibly simple, and I discovered the thoughts she had buried deep within, the ones she tried to conceal from me.
I hummed softly, feeling a shiver travel down my spine and causing a stirring below. She imagined him groveling before her, pleading for her forgiveness. She envisioned him kissing her feet, adoring her completely. My pet entertained the filthiest fantasies about how he could make it up to her.
Why would she not voice them? Why hold it up inside and make us all suffer?
I lowered my head as I threaded through her mind.
The sweet torture was enough to make my cock press against my trousers.
"Oryx?" The sound of my pet calling my name gently touched my ears. "Are you up to something you're not supposed to?" Her foot rhythmically tapped on the floor, prompting me to lift my head. Her arms were crossed, and her brows were furrowed into a frown.
Why was she so beautiful even when she was angry?
I purred and rubbed my snout against the side of her neck. “You make me hard when you look at me that way.”
My pet lowered her arms and put her hands on my shoulders to push me away. “You are not getting away with that, Oryx. You said you won’t look inside my mind.”
I whined. “I want to fix things. Let me help. Let me show you, please.” I tugged on her dress and pulled her toward me. “Let me show you, let me open your eyes to the truth.”
She twisted her mouth and shook her head. “Nah, I’m good.” She walked away from me to cover the bodies, but my tail was still wrapped around her ankle. My pet stopped and stomped her foot.
“I will bring you pleasure right now if you let me show you,” I chided.
My pet scoffed and turned toward me. “You can’t bribe me with orgasms! That isn’t fair!”
I chuckled deeply. “You cannot go a night without me…”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!” She wagged her finger. “You are the one that cannot go six hours without mounting something!”
I felt heat flush my bones. She wasn’t wrong.
“You want him as much as I do, why do you fight it? What is the point?”
Vesper clenched her teeth and struggled against the grip of my tail.
"It's about the principle! He's been awful to both of us.
From the moment he met me, he's been nothing but nasty.
He even tried to kill me the first time we crossed paths, and I had to negotiate just to avoid getting hurt.
Now you're telling me he wants to be friends or even more?
His behavior is suspicious, and I can't help but think he has hidden motives.
If you want him, Oryx, I've given you my blessing.
You've known him longer than you've known me, in your past life. "
It felt like a slap to the face. She knew.
"I don't need to be involved with him. If you want this arrangement to succeed, I can be polite. That's the most I can offer."
I clamped my jaw as I pondered. She mentioned cordial. I could work with that.
I rubbed the side of my face. “What if we all sat down together, for a meal?”
For the past few days we took turns having meals together. I was tired of having to choose which meals to spend with each, I wanted us all to get along. Once my pet saw that Veylor only meant to do good things for all souls, we then can work to build her trust back in him.
This would be good, it could work out. Veylor will be happy. Vesper will soon be happy as well. We can all have cuddle piles on the floor and do naughty things to each other.
My pet took in a deep breath and bit her bottom lip.
I wrapped my arms around her and laid my skull on top of her head. “Please, my pet. For me? It would really make me happy.”
Her hands came up to rest on the arms that had wrapped around her body. “You are hard to say no to. You’re kinda cute.”
I wobbled my head back and forth, preening. “It helps to have a beautiful human by my side that loves me.”
“Just don’t break my heart, Oryx. It’s fragile.”
I turned my pet around and lifted her up into my arms. I pressed her head to my shoulder, and hoped she could smell my scent there the strongest. “I will always love my pet. You loved the monster first.”
Vesper’s lip wobbled as she whispered. “I know, Oryx. I have big feelings that I don’t even understand, and it scares me. Especially with Veylor. I love you so much and there is this strange feeling with Veylor… I want to hate him…”
Tears cascaded down her cheeks as I gently drew her back into my comforting embrace.
My chin found its resting place atop her head, and I tenderly stroked her silky hair.
“Shh, now. There is a reason for that. We can explain soon.
I don't want you to worry anymore. You're not getting enough sleep, are you? "
She shook her head.
I've always slept in the same bed with Vesper, and that was no different since the attack. She has been plagued by nightmares, causing her to cry out in terror during the dark hours. Even with my presence beside her she remains restless and haunted by the memories.
I cradled her gently against my chest, feeling a surge of strength as I held her close. With tender care, I guided her out the door and down the hallway to our room, the room that used to be mine. Inside, the air was thick with my scent, a comforting and familiar aroma that would keep her asleep.
“I will put you to sleep, just the way you like,” I chuckled.
Vesper playfully slapped my chest. “You looked in my mind. You were being naughty, so no, you cannot put me to sleep, you perv.”
I snorted a laugh and continued up the stairs.