Chapter Nine #2
“We are driven to continue our lines because that is the trade that our destiny made for power.” Vine smiled. “We weren’t consulted on the matter, but I know where this power came from.”
Mao asked, “Where?”
“Need. In a lightning-fast decision for the planet, it made the first enhanced alphas thousands of years ago when it saw the elves for the first time. After some trial and error, the earth knew how not to make gods that would need worship. Self-sustaining paranormals were much better. The wolves protected each other, so they were the first and the initial project. They were the ones that everyone accepted, whether they shifted or not.”
Kazuya asked, “So why aren’t your new generation simply living on their own?”
“Because we are given the need for a partner, a family, children if possible. A few are in guidance roles, and they do not have the same need. If they choose a partner, it is just that. A choice.” She reached out to Mao.
“Don’t worry about it. She will be fine.
She’ll find some kind of water-born alpha and live happily with little babies with tails and scales.
” She shrugged. “Or she won’t, and she will give in to the draw of the deep. ”
“You think she will,” Mao murmured.
“I am pretty sure. Her wings are only for escape or rescue.” She shrugged. “You feel like you two are a bad match?”
He blinked. “I am bound to Lord Kazuya.”
Kazuya stared. “I have never held a servant once they found a mate.”
Mao cocked his head. “You haven’t? My grandmother said that this service was for life.”
Kazuya rubbed a hand over his face. “No. Why didn’t you ask me about this?
Your family swore itself to me for life when I saved them from a flood seven hundred years ago.
One member per generation was assigned to serve, but I can actually do my own errands and laundry.
The modern era is delightfully easy to navigate.
A housekeeper for daily activities is all I truly need.
When you next find a female that suits you, pursue her. ”
Mao paused. “Lady, I don’t suppose you know if Meeda is busy?”
“I do, but she’s settling herself. You said she could return if she got hungry, so if that is the only reason she needs you, she will call.” She mimicked his words.
Mao groaned. “I sounded like an ass.”
“Yup.” Vine and Kazuya said it together. Vine added, “Arrogance against a peer is always in bad taste, and while her power is new, it is not weak. You helped her to strength and then mocked her for it. That is what hurt.”
She sighed as he flushed, and his demon form was apparent. The grimace of his features matched his grabbing his head. He looked miserable. He got up and left.
Vine took a sip of tea. “Harsh reality check?”
“Needed. One gets used to being strong, and this last generation of women is changing the definition of strength. I have noticed that your world is making this into a trial by fire for many of you. The power is tempered by the pain you have been through.”
“It is shaped by what we need. Meeda’s skill with shaping clay was hers, the wings were hers, and the tail is hers. Her magic? That only happens when she’s happy.”
“What is her magic?”
“Finding. If she is happy, she can find what she needs or what she wants. When we needed to go, she found the time, the place, and the power to throw us back where we came from.” Vine sighed. “She is tethered by her hunger, by the memories of her survival. That does quite a number on morale.”
She sighed. “She’s been in heavy therapy for years.”
“Not to be crude, but enough about your friend. How are you feeling?” He cuddled her close.
“Good. I thought it was going to take five treatments to get me to this point.” She wiggled her legs a little.
“You responded to me very well.” He nuzzled her neck.
She chuckled. “Still have the little rut issue?”
He sighed. “Yes, but I will wait for you.”
Vine smiled. “How long do you want to wait?”
He lifted his head and met her amused gaze. “How much time can you give me?”
“How long can you keep me alive underwater?”
“Oh, it doesn’t have to be underwater.” He stroked her cheek. “I would take any bit of time that you had to give me.”
“Well, I would really like to knock this out before we go nuts getting ready for Jenn’s baby.”
He chuckled. “Xiroth’s baby.”
“She’s in possession and responsible for maintenance, ergo... Jenn’s baby. How long do your ruts last?”
“I have never had one attended to, but two days is normal.”
She sighed. “Let me get to my purse. I have to send the ladies a notice that I won’t be coming home tonight, and where I have put the extra charms for Sable.”
He helped her up so fast she nearly catapulted forward. He laughed as he caught her. “Sorry.”
She smiled and sent the message, getting responses quickly. They knew where she was, and on Friday morning, they would come for her if she wasn’t home by then.
She set her phone down and turned it off. “Okay. Where did you want to do this?”
He sobered, kissed her cheek, and lifted her to carry her into the house.
She asked, “Do you have protection?”
He nodded. “I do. I thought you weren’t due for months.”
“You have literally been fishing around in there all morning. I don’t trust your tentacles.” She paused, “Or your testicles.”
He laughed and called, “Mao.”
His servant showed up and said, “Yes, Lord Kazuya?”
“Lady Vine has offered to help me with my heat. I would like another box of condoms and some hydration drinks.”
Mao smiled. “I will also arrange a platter for when it has concluded.”
“Leave everything outside the door. We will be preoccupied.”
Vine muttered, “He will be preoccupied; I will be taking notes.”
Mao nodded. “I will be back within the hour.”
Kazuya grinned. “I am hoping we won’t notice.”
He slid the door aside and grinned at Mao as he slid the panel shut.
He walked her to the low platform and set her down before sliding his robe off his shoulders, and then he released her sash as he started kissing her lips before he worked his way down to her neck, and she threaded her fingers in his hair.
She held on as he focused on waking her senses, and she twisted against him. He ran his hands over her skin, and she smiled as he checked his work.
By the time he used one of his condoms, she was writhing on the surface that didn’t allow her to retreat. They came together, and he shuddered for a minute while he gained control over himself before he began to move.
Vine was trying to decide whether she was a fan of the sensation or not when he almost completely withdrew and slid into her again. That was delightful. She was a convert.
Thirty-six hours and half a box of condoms later, he carried her to the water and stepped into it, wrapping her in his tentacles as they sank, and he breathed for her.
She felt a sting for a moment, the cleverest tentacle entered her, and everything felt warm and wonderful again. They rocked together for over an hour, and then she felt the heat surge into her, and she wanted to punch him.
When they surfaced, she was glaring at him, which surprised him.
Kazuya asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Did you have a tentacle-shaped condom by any chance?”
“What?”
“I know how octopi reproduce.”
He looked sheepish. “I didn’t think anyone knew that.”
“I have done a lot of sudden research on octopi. For... reasons.” She looked down to where the tentacles had been.
“No, I didn’t have a condom on the tentacle.” He sighed.
“Okay. Great. So I am going to shower again, get dressed, and go home to have a nervous breakdown.”
“Why?” He was worried.
“Well, not to put too fine a point on it, I am going to have major rejection issues starting as soon as I wake up. I would rather not be here.”
“Rejection? Jennika was fine.”
“Jenn is a beta.”
His eyes widened. “Oh, hells. Would you let me link to you?”
She paused. “I am not trying to trap you. I can get over the rejection.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t consider myself trapped; I consider myself lucky that you took pity on me.”
“Well, you helped me, so I helped you.”
He stroked her hair. “I will do the hair twist, and are you content with just me as a mate?”
“Yes. I don’t want anyone else. I won’t be around much. I have my own work to do at my workshop.”
“I will install a workshop here, just tell me what you need.”
She blinked. “I can just buy the lot next to you and set it up there.”
He smiled. “You don’t want to be close?”
“I need focus. It has to be an uninterrupted space.”
He twisted a tendril of her hair around his finger. “Then, we should bond so that you can get comfortable. And we can determine what you need and when you need it. I want you, I want to keep you with me, help you be happy and live a bright life and future.”
“Huh. I work weird hours, and my friends are my highest priority.”
“I accept that.”
“I am also independently wealthy.”
He smiled. “You mentioned. Do you want a prenup?”
“I wouldn’t mind it. That way, we both have clarification. Are you good with me, or do you want a pack?”
“You are sufficient for me. More than. You are all I could ever want.” He stroked her cheek. “I could tangle with you for centuries.”
“What if I don’t live centuries? No one knows how long mages last. We probably have a human lifespan, but who knows if it goes further. If we are linked, you die when I do.”
He sighed. “I will be at your side and in your bed every day and night that you are with me. If you go before I do, then I will be right behind you.”
She put her hand over his. “What about when I travel, when I babysit?”
He grinned. “I will bring dinner and help you with anything you wish.”
Finally, Vine said, “What if I want to put a permanent portal between the baby’s room and this place?”
He frowned. “That requires a lot of energy.”
“I know. I have it.” She smiled. “I can create anchor objects.”
“Does it drain you?”
“It lets me sleep.” She shrugged. “Without it, the energy just bubbles up.”
He smiled. “Do you like the ocean?”
“I haven’t been. Meeda likes it though, so it is probably nice.”
“It is cool and wild, and there are wonders I would love to show you.”
“Don’t you have to stay at the spa?”
“I have a manager. I have Mao. My spa is part of a chain that I have around the world.” He grinned. “I even have a spa on Emerald.”
“Emerald?”
“The Emerald Islands.” He stroked her cheek. “They are a short ferry from Wonder.”
She smiled. “I haven’t actually taken a vacation before.”
He kissed her softly. “They can be a lot of fun, and you can obtain more things to enchant.”
Vine paused. “That is actually really enticing, but the baby is coming, and I need to be here for that.”
“Then, why don’t we go before the baby comes? Thirteen more days, right?”
“Yeah. You paid attention.” She booped his nose with a finger. “Good for you.”
“You can do site-to-site transport?”
“Yeah.”
“I will give you images of my rooms there, and we can go anytime. We can return the same day. I just want to be with you in the deep.”
Vine sighed and patted his chest. “You were plenty deep.”
He grinned. “And you took me with ease.”
“I would not say it was easy, and once I got a little swollen, I was very aware of every move.”
“I healed that.”
“Once you realized that you needed help getting in.”
He chuckled. “That was a factor.”
“Mucus for the win.”
He laughed. “Please don’t suggest I use it for advertising.”
“Funny. Body by Mucus has such a cachet.”
He grinned and said, “May we bond now?”
“Yes, but only to keep you from whining. So what is involved?”
He explained about the twists of hair, and they sat, bloodied the locks, and made the twists. She felt her brain experience what seemed like a rush of oxygen. She was alert, awake, and had so many excellent ideas. She could also feel the residual lust that Kazuya was experiencing.
Vine looked at him and sighed. “Why didn’t you say something?”
He shrugged, and his expression was sheepish. “You have already given so much.”
“Dude, when I go into heat, I am going to ride you until parts start falling off.”
He grinned. “I look forward to it.”
She smiled and slid a hand up his chest. “So did you want to take care of that residual tension?”
He nodded. “Bed or the lake?”
“Bed. I need to make sure that you practice with condoms. I don’t trust the tentacles.”
He laughed and carried her back to his room. She made sure the condom was in place before she straddled him. It was tricky because of the size difference, but she managed.
The combination of him being in her body and her mind at the same time made her race to orgasm faster than she would have imagined. Kazuya stroked her hips and waited until she started moving again. He flipped her to her back and took a turn. She did like unions that were partnerships.
She was going to have to talk to Mia. She didn’t have any swimwear.