45. Unwanted Visitor #3
“The kind that’d shed the barbs from his panther-dick.” She grimaces slightly and my mouth falls open in disbelief.
“I advised him against it but he threatened he’d seek out dark witches to get his dick cursed.”
What?
“You know, so it rots and falls off." She explains, reading my stunned expression.
"Afraid he’d make a wrong decision out of desperation, I gave him something to soften the barbs. A placebo of sorts. Because he was acting dumb.” She shrugs.
Unable to believe what I’m hearing, a strangled sound escapes me.
“Yes, talk about extreme.” She says dryly but suddenly looks sheepish.
“Later, I discovered our conversation hadn't been private. A new employee eavesdropped and babbled to her friends outside the shop that afternoon. She was immediately fired and memory-wiped, but word had already traveled.” She winces.
So that’s how the whore-with-tit-inflation knew.
“But it seems like we have a different problem now. From the looks of it, he’s caged his panther. Bad move. It’d cause an irreversible rift between his two halves if this continues.” Her face turns grim.
Silas bellows, almost tearing himself free from the trio’s hold but they manage to reel him back in time. She takes a step back, warily watching Silas.
“And now the feral cat has taken back charge, and has his sights set on you." Zarelle scratches her head.
Silas’s lengthened fangs have cut through his lips and blood dribbles down his chin, making him look rabid.
I'm rooted to my spot, reeling from the discovery that Silas took such extreme measures.
What was that dumb cat thinking? He wanted to get his cock cursed so it would fall off?! Has he lost all his marbles?
Swift rage obliterates my wariness, breaths turning harsh like a raging minotaur. My horns and tail snap out and I bare my own fangs at Silas whose slits dilate, taking over the golden irises.
My anger at his lunacy burns bright like an inferno and I yell at the top of my lungs, hands clenched tightly into fists, "You daft, dumb-ass cat! What were you thinking? Did you cat-brain turn to mush? I’ll curse your dick myself, you imbecile!"
I dodge Zien's grasping arms and climb on the bed, towering over a startled Silas. Not hesitating, I grip his strong throat with my clawed fingers.
"You will never, ever do such stupid shit! You hear me, you dimwit?" I snarl into his stupefied face. "Nod if you understand!" I bark since he stays frozen.
He nods once then purrs deeply, rubbing his face against my arm. Our exchange garners pin-drop silence in the room. My anger rapidly drains out at the familiar feline gesture, leaving behind a deep sadness. I ask the trio to release him.
"Should I get my fukiya?" Rinn asks cautiously, but both Alistair and Archie shake their heads.
When they hesitate some more I call out firmly, "He won't hurt me. Let him go."
The moment they do, Silas smooshes his face into my belly and shudders deeply.
"Dumb kitty!" I scowl, heart helplessly softening.
Startled, I almost stumble back as Silas shifts into his huge panther and curls his feline body around my feet.
Someone gasps, and hands steady me. Looking down, I slowly sink to my knees on the plush bed, and the big cat makes room for me.
He silently watches me with those intelligent yet sorrowful golden eyes.
I expect crushing fear at any moment, but it doesn't come.
Those liquid pools of golden fire stare at me warily.
As if afraid I'd reject him and the carefully built walls around my heart crack a little.
With a tentative touch, I rub his round ears between my fingers and Silas's panther lets out a pitiful mewl, burrowing his huge head into my lap.
"Silas..." I sniffle, scratching his furry head between his ears.
His flexible tail swishes in the air as he squishes his powerful body against my back.
I stroke along the length of his spine and he purrs loudly.
The vibration sends a zing to my toes and my breath hitches, skin breaking into goosebumps.
Silas rubs his wide feline nose against my protruding belly and licks the sliver of skin exposed by my cropped shirt.
Suddenly feelings of intense satisfaction and protectiveness hit me out of nowhere. Gasping in wonder I realize these are Silas’s emotions flowing into me directly. Something I haven't experienced before.
He has this niggling need to groom the babies too. Without thinking I blurt out, "For fuck’s sake, Silas! It's too early to groom the tiny people!"
A few chuckles sweep through the room, and I stiffen. Silas growls and I sigh, choosing to ignore the rest.
Pushing his head away only makes him curl himself tighter around me. The panther’s long torso supports my back and I recline against his warm body––no longer burning from fever, and caress his wiry fur absently.
Bone deep contentment and love resonate from his panther and I feel myself tearing up.
His constant purrs are interrupted by Zarelle, still standing at the doorway, "Looks like my work here is done!"
Silas's panther huffs loudly and I reflexively dig my fingers into the back of his neck.
Zien, Archie, Alistair and Rinn stay in the room, vigilant for a while, but eventually file out when Silas falls asleep. At some point, I must have fallen asleep too because I wake to intense hazel eyes staring at me. Silas.
Suddenly aware of our tangled limbs, I sit up and pull away. Cuddling with the panther is much easier than his human side, though he did win a little favor by killing that bitch earlier. The raw hatred I felt toward him in Duat has lost some of its edge.
"Kitten." He rasps, reaching for me. The peaceful expression replaced with a quiet desperation. "Did you hear what I said to your panther?" I ask him carefully.
"Yes." He whispers, his eyes dropping to the sheet.
"You promise not to do such absurd shit in the future?" He looks embarrassed and I continue to stare him down until he implores. "Kitten, it's for the best."
"Best for whom? Certainly not you, Silas. What were you thinking?"
He has the decency to look ashamed. I shake my head in bewilderment as he says, "But I wasn't, Kitten. I wasn't really thinking anything, other than making sure you're never hurt in that way again. By me or my panther." He swallows painfully, a picture of agony.
"But that's not how you fix this, Silas!
Maiming yourself? Really?" I soften my tone as he winces.
"I'm not judging you, but do you really think I'd be happy if you mutilated yourself?
I'm not that kind of person. How could you think I’d be okay with this?
" The sheer burden of his self-inflicted harm leaves me incredibly saddened.
"No, Kitten! No! You're all things good!
You're all that matters. I wasn't thinking.” He frustratedly tugs at his hair.
“I just...wanted to reverse the damage I caused with my cruel actions.
My greed to claim you. I went about it the wrong way.
I lost control of my panther. I'll do better, I promise.
Please…please don't leave me!" His voice cracks.
He grabs my upper arms, eyes turning wild again.
Seeing him miserable, I hold his face between my palms and meet his frantic hazel eyes. "Take a deep breath. I’m not going anywhere."
After a few breaths his breathing slows down, syncing with mine, the wildness receding.
"Promise me you’ll never harm yourself that way again."
He deliberates for a few moments, then nods slowly.
"And you'll not trap your panther anymore." Silas immediately shakes his head, dark hair flinging in the air.
"Silas!" I snap and he stills, his gaze locking with mine. "It's not healthy. Please! He'll not harm me. I—I believe he just wants to be near the babies?" I add, a little unsure.
Silas's rigid shoulders slump and he rests his forehead against mine. "Kitten, don't you know?
At my questioning look, Silas lets out a sad chuckle then presses a soft kiss into my hair. “He’s obsessed with you just as much as I am, if not more. The cubs are a gift. But you? You’re the prize."
He lowers his head slowly, but when his lips are a mere whisper away, I flinch reflexively.
Silas's face falls. A profound sadness washes over me at the sight. Silas nods solemnly, then with obvious reluctance lets me go. "Take all the time you need, Kitten. You’ll never know how sorry…how ashamed I’m of myself.
I'll be here for you. Waiting. No matter how long it takes you to willingly accept my kisses again. "
He tucks my hair gently behind my ear with a resolute expression.
Torn between conflicting emotions, I give a final nod and leave his room in a hurry, his words circling endlessly in my mind.