30. Fenric
“Puppy?” Lirion called out.
“Yes?” Maxie paused and turned on the dirt path back to the ship, his arms full of new rope they’d also picked up. Behind him, the setting sun painted the sky a beautiful mix of soft pastels.
“Fenric told me he literally dug you up in the middle of a graveyard and that’s how you came to join this disreputable group. Is his story true?” Lirion asked, his voice light and playful. Fenric didn’t miss the undercurrent of worry.
“Yes, it is, and I am ever so grateful for Fenric’s rescue.
I would have died in the coffin if not for him.
My family tossed me out with no warning and took me halfway across the kingdom before I was dumped into that grave and left to die.
” He continued to walk once Lirion was beside him.
The porters had gone ahead of them with the wood in a large wagon pulled by a pair of cranky, braying donkeys, leaving them to carry just a handful of other goods they’d picked up after leaving the lumberyard.
“But he didn’t demand you join his group after he saved you, right? You’re not his slave? A trapped minion for their evil bidding?”
“Hey!” Fenric shouted, even as Lirion slid a wicked grin over his shoulder.
“Oh, no! Absolutely not! Fenric and the others might be villains, but they are good, honorable people deep down. They would never do anything so heinous.”
Fenric rolled his eyes and groaned. This. This was why their villain rating was so shitty. You couldn’t be called good and honorable and still be a villain. It was against the rules.
“I had nowhere to go and no experience surviving on my own. I didn’t even know what town I was in when Fenric saved me from my awful fate.
He took pity on me and brought me home with him.
All the villains have taken excellent care of me and taught me such amazing things.
Hapi and Malfas have helped me so much with my magic.
Rain has been teaching me to swear like a pirate.
Belstrom has kindly shared all of his books with me so we can enjoy stimulating late-night philosophical discussions.
But most important, Fenric has been imparting his vast knowledge of the world and his experiences, giving me the skills I need to survive.
They are all so brilliant and deadly, but also generous with their time and skills.
If I work hard, I can one day be worthy of being a part of their group. ”
Lirion shot Fenric another raised eyebrow.
“What? I’m a villain. Corrupting the innocent is part and parcel of the gig,” Fenric countered testily, even as his cheeks burned. Corrupting Maxie felt truly evil, though. Like smashing a priceless stained glass window or burning down an orphanage bad.
“It’s okay. I want to be corrupted!” Maxie said.
Fenric choked on the breath he sucked in and Lirion cackled. Gods save him. He was going to the deepest, darkest levels of hell for this.
“Besides!” Fenric came back sharply. “You’re offering to give him seduction lessons. Aren’t you trying to corrupt him too?”
Lirion adjusted his grip on the canvas bag of fruit he was carrying and shot Fenric a look before turning his attention back to Maxie. “Well, if you’re going to be out doing wicked things with this group of villains, it’s important you know how to protect yourself.”
“Oh, I’m pretty good with a sword because I had fencing lessons for years, but Hapi and Rain have been giving me more practical lessons. Also, Fenric has been teaching me how to use a dagger in a close-quarters fight,” Maxie reassured him.
Finally, Fenric had something he didn’t have to be embarrassed about. Teaching Maxie how to protect himself was important, whether he was out doing good or evil in the world.
“Yes, yes.” Lirion was instantly dismissive.
“These are good, but I’m talking about more than fighting skills.
You need to know ways to manipulate people with more than weapons.
Get yourself out of a dangerous situation before you’re forced to use violence.
I think it’s time to upgrade your seduction skills. ”
“Yesss!” Maxie cheered.
“Nooooooo!” Fenric howled.
“Yes, he needs this,” Lirion argued with a wide grin.
Fenric continued to shake his head. “No. This is a terrible idea. You’ve seen how good he is with those eyes. The world can’t handle this.”
“True, but it’s a good way for him to protect himself.”
“Or get himself into more trouble.”
Maxie spun around so that he was walking backward.
“Please, Fen!” Of course, he had to turn those enormous, helpless puppy eyes on Fen.
Was he even doing it on purpose, or did they just pop out to torment him?
“I promise not to get in more trouble with this new skill. Lirion only wants me to protect myself. Isn’t it better if I get out of trouble without a sword or knife? ”
Fenric was going to strangle Lirion. The incubus was pure evil at his core. How had he not seen this sooner?
But the worst part was that he did see the logic.
Maxie was more skilled with a sword than any of them had expected, but his skills were clean and clearly taught by an instructor who’d never expected him to get into an actual fight.
Maxie had no idea how to improvise or fight dirty.
He also never expected his opponent to fight dirty.
That kind of slipup was going to get him killed.
Escaping because of those eyes of his was far safer.
“Okay, fine.” Fenric sighed. “Teach him.”
“Excellent!” Maxie spun around, swinging the bundle of rope in front of him. “Can we start right now?”
“Sure, let’s start now. I need a break. Between the kraken and trekking across this damn island, I’m done in. Fenric’s face is all red from carrying a whole lot of nothing. He can use a break, too.”
Fenric opened his mouth to argue, but Maxie and Lirion were already stepping off the road and into a shaded area to set their items down. It wasn’t his fault he’d been smart enough to toss the nails and other rope into the wagon before the porters could haul it off.
He wanted to point out that Rain and the skelebabies were waiting on these supplies to finish fixing the ship, but he wasn’t in a hurry to get back on the water.
The fight with the kraken and choppy waters had left him longing for dry, solid ground.
With a grumble, he followed Lirion and Maxie to set their supplies down.
Lirion stood in front of Maxie with his hands on his hips and a serious expression.
A line of sweat traveled down the graceful curve of his neck while damp tendrils of pink hair clung to his cheek.
Why was that sexy? Everything about the man was alluring, and Fenric didn’t think it was linked to him being an incubus.
At least, not all of it. Lirion would have been gorgeous even as a mere human.
“Now, you’ve mastered Level One Puppy Eyes. We saw that with the vendor,” Lirion said. “You just gotta remember the little flutter of the eyelashes matched with the tiny jut of the lower lip. That combo makes Level One lethal.”
Maxie nodded, his expression serious and eyes locked on Lirion as he absorbed everything he said.
“Now, the goal of Level Two Puppy Eyes is to disarm, distract, and lower their defenses. Make them desperate to do whatever you wish. You engage Level Two when it is clear Level One won’t get the job done.
” Lirion lifted a hand and tapped one long finger against his lips.
“This is easier to learn if you’ve got a target. Let’s borrow Fen.”
“What? Hey now—” Fenric didn’t get the chance to argue any further.
Lirion grabbed him by the wrist, swung him around, and shoved him up against the side of what appeared to be an abandoned shack.
Fenric blinked, his vision filled with Lirion.
The scent of sweat and Lirion’s natural sweetness combined to make Fenric’s mouth go dry.
“This isn’t fair,” he said and swallowed hard. “You’re an incubus. Puppy doesn’t have that advantage.”
Lirion’s smile grew even more wicked. “I swear I’m not using any of my magic on you. I’m going to teach him tricks anyone can do. Well, anyone who looks as adorable as your young charge here.”
Maxie drew closer, practically vibrating out of his skin in his excitement. “What’s next? What do you do next?”
Having the young man so close made Fenric’s dick confused. Lirion close and sexy made him horny, but add in Maxie, and it all felt wrong.
“Now, Level Two is about closeness. Level One can be accomplished without you invading the other person’s space.
Level Two, you’re likely going to need to touch them, but it is always better if you can pin them against a surface.
You be on top. It makes it easier for you to escape.
If you’re pinned against the wall or trapped in a chair with your target hovering over you, it’s much more difficult to escape. ”
Maxie nodded. “Got it. Make sure the avenue for escape is open.”
Okay, so maybe Lirion was teaching him some excellent skills.
“Next, you’re going to apply the big eyes like Level One, but instead of fluttering your eyelashes, you need to do the slow blink.
Let the other person admire the beautiful length and thickness of your eyelashes.
Give them a second to bask in the memory of your gorgeous eyes before they are hit with them again. ”
As he spoke, Lirion slowly blinked, and Fenric couldn’t help but notice the way his dark lashes lay briefly against his tan cheeks before being hit again with his perfect eyes. Behind him, the last rays of the setting sun cast him in a soft golden light as if he were a heavenly creature.
“Step two is to wet your lips. Skip the pouty bottom lip. Let the tip of your tongue slowly skim across your upper lip. Leave your mouth slightly open as you stare at your target. Let them fantasize about all the dirty, delicious things you can do with your perfect mouth.”
Of course, Lirion followed up his instruction with a demonstration. Fenric cursed the incubus all while his body went up in flames. When this was over, he was going to be able to hammer the nails into the ship with his fucking cock.
“And finally, step three is your voice. Keep it soft like in Level One, but instead of pouty, you need soft and breathless. Make them think you’re so turned on you can’t even catch your breath when you’re near them.
Combine all these things as you lean in close.
Touch them, but always above the waist, such as on the chest or arm. ”
Lirion pressed his hand to Fenric’s chest and slid it up so his long fingers partially wrapped around the side of his throat. He slowly blinked his gorgeous eyes and licked his lips. “Please, baby. Say you’ll help me. I need you so much.”
Fenric was sure he was going to set the shack he was leaning against on fire. His dick pressed against the front of his pants, demanding attention. It was on the tip of his tongue to agree to anything and everything Lirion wanted, so long as he found some fucking relief.
But Maxie dumped a bucket of ice-cold water on those thoughts.
“Oh! Let me try! Let me try!”
“No!” Fenric roared as horror flashed through him.
“What?” Lirion asked, though it sounded like he was holding in a laugh.
“Nooooope! Absolutely not!” Fenric shoved Lirion off him and hurried over to where Lirion had set down the canvas bag of fruit they’d bought for the ship.
“But I need to practice. It’s the only way I can be sure I’ve learned what Lirion has told me,” Maxie argued.
“Nope. I can’t, Puppy.” Fenric grabbed the bag and started down the road.
His dick bitched the entire way about the weird up and down teasing.
Lirion was going to pay for this later. “You’re like a little brother to me.
Having you try Level Two Puppy Eyes on me is just creepy.
When we get back to the ship, try it out on Hapi.
” He stopped and narrowed his gaze on Maxie.
“Ask his permission first, but Hapi is a good target.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to list some of the other members, but no, that was a bad idea.
Rain would not only give in, he’d want Maxie to follow through on his seduction, and Fenric did not want to think about Rain and Maxie screwing.
Malfas didn’t have enough brain cells outside of magic to put up a fight, and Bel…
sigh…Bel would probably analyze the attempt from an intellectual standpoint, which would ruin all of Maxie’s hard work.
No, cold and distant Hapi was the best choice.
Probably.
Fenric resumed walking toward the ship, Lirion’s chuckles chasing after him. A moment later, he could hear their footsteps joining his on the dirt path.
“Don’t worry, Puppy. We’ll find you a suitable target for your practice, even if it has to be me. But another key thing about learning the art of seduction is also learning how to resist that same seduction.”
Maxie groaned. “What if I don’t want to? Everyone treats me as a little kid, but I am eighteen. I have needs and desires, too.”
Fenric closed his eyes and shuddered. That was another thing to tuck away in the dark corner of his mind and never, ever think about.
Maxie wasn’t allowed to get laid. He was supposed to be sweet and innocent forever, but that was utterly unrealistic.
Fenric had enjoyed his first sexual encounter at the ripe age of sixteen.
He thought he’d heard that always-horny Rain had popped his cherry at fifteen.
Not that Fenric had wanted to know, but Rain was always happy to share his sexual exploits. Regardless, Maxie wasn’t too young.
“I understand, but you need to be sure the person’s intentions are good.
Does this person want to have a good time with you physically or do they have evil schemes in their heart?
” Lirion continued. “If you succumb to their seduction, you’ll miss that they’re only trying to pick your pocket, steal valuable information from you, or even kidnap you to sell you off to a sex ring.
You don’t want any of those things to happen to you, right? ”
“No,” Maxie mumbled in a low, pouty voice.
But it was Lirion’s gentle, instructive tone that brought a smile to Fenric’s lips.
Okay, so maybe the incubus was smarter than he was giving him credit for when it came to teaching Maxie.
Lirion’s methods might be evil, but Fenric couldn’t fault him for wanting to give Maxie the skills he needed to stay safe.