63. Claiming Happy Ever After
Aleiraah
I’ve run out of Anput’s capsules. With nothing to sustain my diet of unadulterated lust, I’m at a crossroads. I could ask Anput for more lust-trapped capsules, but that’s the easy way out.
And when have I ever done things easy?
We moved to our new home a year ago and hosted a festive gathering.
Ispahan visited with his mates and Butterball.
Bastet crashed the party with Ammit in tow, and she’s now a regular.
The babies love pulling her mane. Ammit refuses to let me in on their mind-speak, but the babies chortle at her antics and even ride her back, so I’ve no complaints.
I’ve restarted therapy sessions for Mytherra’s inhabitants and after my long absence, the regulars were antsy for attention. I was happy to get back into the rhythm. Though my methods remain radical, my soul demon powers have made me far more empathetic.
A slight blemish marred our happiness when Herouk came bearing the separation decree one day. A pall fell over the cheerful atmosphere, and I felt terrible for my anchors.
They prowled the mansion, bad-tempered, a few sulked around the property––broody and despondent. But they didn’t act territorial, instead they gave me space.
It made me realize how far we’ve come.
I asked him to cancel the proceedings and we mourned the loss of Enithyme, together. The Supernatural Council had been dealing with the fallout from her death. The fact that goblins had schemed and infiltrated their ranks was alarming.
Herouk took time to digest the revelations about my true powers and what my mates meant to me. I asked him to keep it a secret, since I didn’t want to advertise that I’m a soul demon.
He shamelessly flirted until I saw fireballs being juggled casually by Baz, Rinn, and Azael while the others glowered at Herouk. He took notice and retreated with good humour.
Once I bid Herouk goodbye, I rewarded each of them with a kiss, getting my fill of essence to tide me over for a few days.
Kissing was fine, but the thought of doing more than that had my mental blocks sliding up like shifting walls in a fluid maze.
I love my anchors, and they have reclaimed my heart with patience, abundance of love, and thoughtful gestures. But my body still remembers the trauma and no matter how much I try to open myself up to the act of making love, I get cold feet.
I’m frustrated. Mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Azael finds me in my treehouse while I’m sulking. Snow is napping nearby.
“Diamonds for your thoughts, Azizam?” He takes a seat beside me.
“Why can’t I fuck, Azael?” Without thinking, I blurt out in irritation.
His dark brows fly up, not having expected that question. I let out a huff.
“Come here.” He coaxes after a beat, extending his arm and I snuggle into his side.
“Breathe with me.” He places my hand on his warm chest and I try to match my breaths with his, letting the knots inside my stomach dissolve.
“I’m sorry for asking this, but do you feel ready, Azizam?” He asks in a careful tone.
I take a calming breath, gathering my scattered thoughts. “I want to rewrite the Veilmoon night. More than anything. I don’t want Vroc’s devious actions dictating my life forever, Azael.”
“But it’s not just him. The seven of us were equally responsible.” His voice is heavy with regret.
“I know that. But his deeds combined with the Grimoire’s powers instigated the chain of events that wrecked my life.
I don’t want to dwell on the past, Azael.
I want to fix what’s broken. I want intimacy.
Physical intimacy beyond kisses. I’m a succubus for fuck’s sake!
” My claws bite into my palm, breaking skin.
He gently unfurls them, then heals the scrapes with a kiss.
“Don’t hurt yourself. You’re full of wonder, Azizam. I’ve full faith you’ll get there when you’re truly ready.” He says soothingly.
“But my body remembers that night as something brutal. Vicious. And before I can stop, my mind spirals. Because part of me is afraid if I let you all fuck me again, I’ll freeze and turn catatonic or scream the entire house down. Or worse—lash out and hurt you all.”
“It wouldn’t be anything we don’t deserve, Azizam.” He says quietly. I make an irritated noise and try to push him away but he holds me closer, placing a kiss in my hair.
Exhaling loudly, I once again settle against him.
“Rebuilding trust in the body takes longer than in the mind.” Azael adds sagely.
“Make no mistake Azizam, that it will be a privilege for all seven of us to worship your beautiful body again. And this time the experience might be even more intense, since you are connected to us at a deeper level. Our souls are entwined together.”
“I don’t want the night of the Veilmoon to be the loudest memory my skin holds.” The admission comes out in a whisper and Azael’s fingers tighten on my arm.
“We’ll be with you every step of the way. You control every action, every nuance. You can choose who to be intimate with first. It need not be all of us at once. I know the rest will agree with me on this. You tell us, jump, and we’ll jump like those bouncy toys the babies love.”
The image he paints makes me giggle.
“There’s my brave and lovely Azizam.” The affectionate praise in his deep voice rolls over me and I circle my arms around his waist, snuggling closer.
I imagine my anchors kneeling before me not in submission, but in acknowledgment. Waiting for my nod. My consent. The image is not daunting. In fact it’s kind of exhilarating.
And I decide that I’ll start reclaiming my body with Alistair’s help. He’ll be able to empathise with me the best.
I stand on the terrace, the wind teasing my hair as laughter drifts from the gardens below. Ispahan is visiting with his mates and kids. They’d return to the Nephilim kingdom shortly, because tonight the Veilmoon shall rise again. After a decade of waiting.
Our kids are also going with them for a few days. They love the pixies who care for them.
Years have passed since I’ve rebuilt my life, one beautiful moment at a time.
Ten years ago, silence and pain filled my chest. I felt alone and bereft, facing a bleak future. Now, there is only happiness, contentment, and a sense of true togetherness.
Taking Azael’s advice I gained back the joy of physical intimacy with my anchors, one at a time. Slowly. Patiently.
There were hiccups along the way. I went through a range of emotions––anger, frustration, hopelessness, but finally I conquered my fears. When the pain resurfaced and I lashed out, my anchors grounded and supported me—even on the bad days when I couldn’t stand myself.
One thing I couldn’t get past was them making love to me together. But it’s time. Maybe it took another Veilmoon to grant us this opportunity. Deep down, I know I’m ready to finally re-write a bad memory with a happy one.
Behind me, my seven anchors are scattered like constellations sharing the same sky.
Azael leans against the balustrade, watching me with a steady devotion that hasn’t diminished over the years. And never will.
Nearby, Rinn lounges, grinning as a giggling Nyxara climbs his shoulders pretending he’s a tree.
On the grounds below, Baz relaxes in his massive dragon form, puffing out smoke rings as Shilohren and Ispahan’s youngest child slide down his back shrieking with laughter. Butterball flutters around his head, crowning him with bright blooms.
Alistair and Zien are bickering over a game of chess. Yesterday, they visited Malakai’s thriving siblings, disguised as humans. When I learned Malakai’s soul was sacrificed to the Grimoire, I made sure Isla’s descendents were protected.
Once Sunflare became the fae queen, the antiquated fae laws were changed.
She had to take an oath to do no harm to her innocent subjects.
Alistair finally swore his fealty with special provisions and the fae kingdom has benefitted from her rule since.
He has healed right along with me over the years, and shadows of the past no longer haunt my tender-hearted fae.
Ruidhart streaks across the lawn in a blur of midnight fur to pounce on Archie’s wolf, making me grin. Together they roll on the grass, Archie pretending to be defeated.
Nearby, Auromere sits propped against Silas’s napping panther. She giggles while reading her favorite story, ‘The Prince and the Clueless Dragon,’ for the hundredth time.
The years together have taught me that happiness is a choice and true forgiveness takes time.
After dealing with their insecurities, my anchors learned to love without the suffocating mix of possession and entitlement.
Choosing to stand beside me rather than shielding me from every hardship.
Our soul-tethers kept us deeply attuned to our feelings, helping us better navigate our marriage.
I also learned that I have infinite potential––to love, to fight, to conquer, and to grow.
Azael comes to my side, fingers lacing with mine. “You really wish to try, Azizam?”
“It’s time to one up the Veilmoon, don’t you think?”
He stares at me with those jewel-eyes and I feel love and pride wash over me through our tether.
Archie has licked me long and good, and into such a frenzy that I’m aching and horny.
I slide my dripping pussy over Rinn’s rigid length, his ladder piercings causing decadent friction. He grips the sheets tighter, cock already weeping delicious cum on his toned stomach.
The Veilmoon peeks through billowing curtains, bathing us in a light that feels neither sinister nor cold. Rinn lies on the huge circular bed while the rest of my anchors remain scattered around the airy room, watching me hungrily. Covetously.
“Mmm, Flame! You’re driving me mad. Drench my cock with your sweetness, baby.” His abdominal muscles contract from the strain of keeping his hips still.
“Show me your tentacles, Rinn.” Placing my palms on his chest, I gyrate my hips, grinding my clit on the head of his cock. Heat pools inside my belly as lust seeps into my pores, heightening every sensation.