Chapter 20: Damned LitRPG

“What do you mean by that?” I demanded aloud. The succubus’s presence in my soul felt heavier and more tangible than usual. “What am I ‘leveling up’? I thought you were mad at me; not working on some side project.”

Oh, I was mad at you. Charlotte’s voice resonated in my mind, sharp and clear. I still am, a little bit, to be honest. Her tone softened slightly, tinged with resignation. But I realized some people can’t help but be racist or bigoted. It doesn’t change the fact that the Pillar of Light gave us a mission and a way to make you strong enough to beat the big baddie.

Guilt gnawed at my insides as I remembered my behavior that morning. “Look, I said I was sorry, and I know I shouldn’t have said or even thought what I did. I know I was in the wrong,” I apologized, my voice low and contrite.

“Um, excuse me,” a timid voice interrupted. I blinked, suddenly aware of my surroundings. A young freshman stood before me, her eyes darting nervously. I realized I was blocking the doorway to the campus store, causing a small crowd to form. Curious and annoyed glances were thrown my way. Flushing with embarrassment, I stepped aside, pressing a finger to my ear as if on a call.

Yeah, yeah, Charlotte dismissed. I know you do. It doesn’t change the fact that you said it. Her tone sharpened, focusing. Anyway, that’s not the important thing right now. The important thing is that I need to tell you how to level up and get stronger.

Level up? I thought back, careful to keep it internal this time. Frustration bubbled up inside me. My life isn’t some game! I told the Pillar of Light that. Anxiety crept into my mental voice. I don’t know how I’m supposed to take on a god, much less one she couldn’t handle on her own, or her predecessor, or whatever. Why didn’t they just kill him instead of imprisoning him? Don’t they know that’s how you cause problems down the line?

Charlotte’s response carried the weight of millennia. Some gods can’t be killed so easily, she said, her tone grave. But listen, this is serious. When you told her life wasn’t a game, it gave her an idea, and she gave me the ability to make it like a game for you. I spent most of the day working out the finer details.

A thought struck me, derailing my other train of thought. Perhaps I was avoiding the implications of what Charlotte was saying, my mind grasping for a distraction. Wait, I interrupted, why didn’t she destroy you or permanently pull you out of me? She expressly forbade you from joining with me, yet she barely seemed to care that you were there.

The bustling campus faded into the background as I awaited Charlotte’s response, the weight of divine politics and otherworldly powers pressing down on my shoulders.

I thought that was obvious, Charlotte’s voice dripped with condescension. She continued as if explaining quantum physics to a toddler. She’s an all-powerful, all-seeing god. She knew that if she gave me permission, I would have ended up in my own body and wouldn’t have been there to protect or guide you. But by denying me that option, I only had one chance, and she knew I would take it. In a way, she was the Blue Fairy, and I became your Jiminy Cricket. Only, it’s not your nose that likes to grow.

Her cackling at her own crude joke echoed in my mind. I shook my head, desperately trying to maintain a neutral expression as curious onlookers cast sidelong glances my way.

Now, quit changing the subject! Charlotte’s mental voice cracked like a whip. Feeling suddenly drained, I stumbled to a nearby bench and sank onto it, bracing myself for the inevitable bad news.

Just like in any good role-playing game—I’ll spare you the obligatory joke about my love for role-playing—you need to gain experience points, level up, and become stronger.

I sighed heavily, my shoulders slumping. The idea of living life like a game filled me with dread. “Sure, I enjoyed playing games,” I muttered under my breath, “but that was playing them, not living them!” Memories of VR-related tragedies flashed through my mind – elderly people dying, kids in Michigan suffering psychotic breaks. Was I about to join their ranks? The graphics became too good, and people lost track of reality. Now, the graphics were still amazing but augmented enough to differentiate fact from fantasy.

Now, to get stronger in games, you usually defeat beasts or monsters, evil guards, or whatever the plot requires, Charlotte continued, her enthusiasm undiminished by my growing unease. Of course, we can’t go around killing people just to level up. No going murder hobo. You could also complete quests, discover new locations, or find a ton of other ways to gain experience. Some of those might work for us, but considering what we are, I thought up an even better way!

A cold dread settled in the pit of my stomach. “Oh, shit!” I exclaimed, drawing startled looks from passing students. I didn’t like where this was going.

That’s right! Charlotte crowed triumphantly; her glee palpable. You’ll get stronger by making connections with other people. The stronger the connection, the more E-X-P you’ll gain.

Did you seriously just spell out EXP instead of saying experience? I thought back, desperately wishing I could wake up from this surreal nightmare.

Focus! she snapped, her patience wearing thin. You can still complete quests and other boring objectives, but with our powers combined, we’ll level up in no time! I can’t wait until you get your first level up. Oh, I’m so excited!

I could feel Charlotte’s joy radiating through my being, a stark contrast to the growing sense of panic rising within me. The once-familiar campus now felt alien and threatening, as if every interaction could trigger some unseen game mechanic. I sat frozen on the bench, overwhelmed by the weight of my new reality, as life continued to bustle obliviously around me.

What did you do? I demanded, my mental voice taut with frustration and a hint of fear.

Charlotte’s response came with a patronizing tone that set my teeth on edge. I told you. I gave us a way to power up and become even stronger by making connections with other people.

Anger flared within me, hot and sudden. “I’m not just going to start fucking everyone I meet to get stronger!” I snapped aloud, my voice carrying further than intended. Nearby students turned, some with disgust etched faces and others with poorly concealed interest. Embarrassment burned my cheeks as I hissed with my inner voice, I’m not interested in sticking my prick into anything that moves.

By the Pillars! Charlotte’s exasperation was palpable. Why do you always think it’s about sex? I know your hormones aren’t that out of control.

Said the succubus to the human mortal, I sniped back, my mental tone dripping with sarcasm.

To my surprise, Charlotte’s laughter bubbled through our connection. Oh, Bobby! she chuckled. Did you forget you’re no longer human? In fact, look at this.

Without warning, a translucent blue text box materialized before my eyes. Panic surged through me as I tried to swipe it away, glancing around nervously for any sign that others could see this supernatural display.

Relax! Charlotte’s voice cut through my rising anxiety. Only we can see this.

Forcing myself to take a deep breath, I focused on the hovering blue text. The top read “Status,” followed by a list of attributes that wouldn’t look out of place in a fantasy RPG. My eyes widened as I processed the information:

Level 1. No points available.

Race: Homunculus/Chimera Hybrid

Health: 100%

Energy: 87%

Strength: 10

Constitution: 10

Dexterity: 9

Intelligence: 8

Wisdom: 8

Willpower: 12

Charisma: 13

Current status effects: Emotional instability. Unappreciative. Acting like a jerk.

A mix of disappointment and indignation welled up inside me. Why are my stats so low? I demanded, pointedly ignoring the last line and the unsettling implications of the first. Couldn’t you have rolled me higher stats? I’d be dead in the first campaign if this were a tabletop game.

They’re actually high for a standard human, Charlotte replied, her tone matter-of-fact. Think of a solid ten as the peak of human capability. When you were fully human, your strength would have been closer to a seven, but with what we are now, you could easily go toe-to-toe with the strongest human alive. And as you’ve seen from your slight altercations with Adam, your constitution is nothing to laugh at either.

The reality of my transformation settled over me like a heavy cloak. I slumped on the bench, the bustling campus fading into a blur as I grappled with my new existence. The line between reality and fantasy had blurred, leaving me adrift in a world where my very nature was now a hybrid of myth and science. As students passed by, oblivious to my internal struggle, I couldn’t help but wonder how many more surprises this new “game” of life had in store for me.

The memory of Adam’s punch flashed through my mind—his fist connecting with my jaw, only to crumple against my seemingly unbreakable face. A chill ran down my spine as I considered the implications. If that was a ten, what did higher stats grant me? Would I become bulletproof?

Okay, I can accept that, but there’s no way I’m an eight on wisdom and intelligence, I argued, a mixture of self-doubt and skepticism coloring my thoughts. Elly’s face flashed in my mind, her brilliant mind a stark contrast to my own. Maybe Elly was, if not higher, but my wife is a genius all on her own.

Charlotte’s response came with a hint of amusement. The fact you can even acknowledge that means you have more wisdom than most your age. But you’re right. Those stats are boosted because of me. Our integration, along with my skills and past experience, grants you buffs to those stats. There was a pause before she added, And I would place your wife at a nine on intelligence but only an eight on wisdom. There’s no denying she’s smart, but she did choose you at that party, after all.

Ignoring her jab, I focused on the last two stats, confusion and disbelief warring within me. If ten is the peak of human capability, how the hell am I a twelve on willpower and a thirteen on charisma? I mean, I don’t think I was bad-looking before dying, but I know I’m no Adonis or Narcissus.

Charlotte’s chuckle reverberated through our connection. Thank the Pillars for that. Narcissus was the child of a god and a nymph, so his stats would have been higher, but both were total asshats. Her tone grew more serious as she continued, As for why charisma is that high, you must remember that I was a succubus, and you have incubus genes in you. Those automatically increase how attractive we are to others. But don’t think of charisma as just looks. Charisma encompasses a lot more. Others will naturally trust you more, your word will carry more weight in arguments, and yes, others will be more interested in you. As for willpower, you have more willpower than any human I’ve ever met, but that would still put you at a ten. My presence gives the bonus two.

Panic surged through me, my heart rate spiking. The last thing I want is more people interested in me! I shot back, my mental voice rising with frustration. The more people interested in me—

—The more opportunities you have to gain experience, Charlotte interjected, her tone maddeningly calm.

And for people to learn about everything we’re supposed to keep secret! I argued, my thoughts a tumultuous storm. The Knights already have their suspicions. I don’t want them to be more interested in me. And I certainly don’t want any of my old friends to learn that I died and came back as some monster hybrid.

The weight of my new reality pressed down on me, suffocating in its intensity. The bustling campus around me suddenly felt alien and threatening, each passerby a potential threat to my secret. I was so lost in my internal struggle that I almost missed the familiar voice calling out to me.

“Bobby?”

My name, spoken aloud by a familiar male voice, jolted me from my introspection. I peered through the translucent status screen to see Joey, one of my old friends, bent over and looking right at me.

Our eyes met, and I instinctively lurched back, my spine pressing against the bench. “Joey?!” I exclaimed, surprise and a hint of panic in my voice. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying much attention. What’s up?”

“Yeah,” Tina’s voice chimed in, drawing my attention. I hadn’t noticed her standing beside Joey until now. My eyes inadvertently traced her petite gymnast’s figure before I forced them to her face. The smirk in her almond-shaped eyes told me she’d caught my wandering gaze. “You were so lost in thought that you didn’t hear us calling out to you. Finals are still a few weeks away, so what’s got your head so far up in the clouds?”

“Life? Everything going on in the world?” I offered weakly, knowing I couldn’t reveal the truth.

Joey plopped down next to me, closer than I was comfortable with. His arm draped around my shoulders in a half-hearted bro-hug. “I hear ya,” he commiserated. “Between the government going after the Paladonic Knights for those bombs in Wyoming and everything happening around the Gulf of Mexico, I don’t blame you. And now there’s talk of something going around and killing a bunch of magical Lydenese. I hope they catch the monster soon.”

“Don’t bring up more depressing shit,” Tina complained, her tone lightening. “We should talk of happier things! Like, when’s the next time we’re going out for drinks? We haven’t had a good bar crawl for a few weeks now. We figured since you came back from whatever vacation you were on, we’d start up again.”

A pang of guilt hit me as I remembered their fascination with my previous “blurse.” “I’m afraid the blurse has ended,” I told them, trying to sound sincere. “I’m in a relationship now, so—”

“It’s true, then?” Joey interrupted, his voice tinged with theatrical outrage. “Bobby has finally decided to join the dating scene again and has not only one but two women?”

Before I could respond, Tina suddenly perched herself on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. Her proximity sent a jolt through me. “Tell me, is Shayna really as fun in the sack as she looks? Or is she as cold as she acts?” she asked, her voice dripping with an interest that felt entirely out of character.

Alarm bells rang in my head. Tina was openly lesbian, and Joey was gayer than a rainbow parade. Their sudden tactile behavior towards me was jarring. Is this that charisma score screwing with my friends? I wondered, a mix of confusion and discomfort washing over me.

She’s incredible and a passionate lover,” Elly’s voice cut through my thoughts as she approached our group. I tried to push Tina off my lap, but she only snuggled closer, her movements causing an involuntary physical reaction that I desperately tried to suppress. Using my unnatural strength to remove her forcibly seemed too risky. I could easily hurt her small frame.

Elly’s eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the scene.“Who is this, Bobby” she asked, her tone hinting at something I couldn’t quite place.

I searched Elly’s face, trying to decipher the emotions behind her calm exterior. Was that anger or jealousy flickering in her brown eyes?

“Elly, love,” I began, noting a flash of something in her gaze that made me hurry on.“This is Joey and Tina. We used to go bar hopping. Guys, this is my—”

I’m his wife, Elly,” she interjected smoothly, extending her hand to Joey. Tina froze in my lap, and I felt my jaw slacken in surprise. We were supposed to be keeping our relationship level under wraps. Elly continued, her voice hinting of... something I couldn’t quite place. “I had a class last semester with you, Joey. Did you ever ask that cute guy you sat behind every day out on a date?”

Joey blinked, momentarily thrown. “Joshua? No. I found out he was straight and Professor Binn’s son. I thought he might swing my way, but it turns out he wasn’t dating anyone because of his religion or some bullshit.” His eyes widened in recognition. “Wait, I don’t remember you in that class unless... Oh, wow. You really came out of your shell, didn’t you? You were that girl that always wore baggy clothes and hoodies, right? Damn, getting with Bobby must have really changed you.”

“It was more than that,” Elly replied, a subtle edge to her voice. “He and our other wife really opened me up to being who I want to be.”

“Other wife?” Tina’s voice cracked, her body tensing against mine.

Elly’s smile widened, showing all her teeth. “Yeah. You were just asking about her. Shayna, Bobby, and I are all married. He’s incredible, and I couldn’t ask for a better husband.”

Her words, though complimentary, felt like daggers through my heart. The compromising position with Tina still in my lap felt suffocating.

Thankfully, Tina stood, her shoulders slumping. “Damn, I was hoping to tease him a bit, but I can’t compete with you and the ice queen.”

“Feel free to tease him,” Elly’s smile remained, but her tone softened, becoming genuinely inviting. “In fact, you’re welcome to join us one night if you’d like. Sorry, Joey, but our relationship doesn’t need any more men. Bobby is already more than Shayna and I can handle.”

Joey laughed, though a hint of confusion colored his voice. “Well, that’s kinda double-standard-ish, isn’t it? I’m all good, though. I know Bobby isn’t interested in men, and I’m not interested in women.”

“And I’m not interested in men,” Tina added with a wry smile. “Which Bobby knows, and why I couldn’t get a rise out of him. He’s a good man, Elly. Wish I could find a woman half as decent as him.”

Oh, she got something to rise, Charlotte’s voice chortled in my head. I silently thanked whatever forces had prevented Tina from noticing my involuntary physical reaction.

“I know what you mean,” Elly said, her gaze meeting Tina’s with shared understanding. A flicker of curiosity passed over Tina’s face. I knew the complex history behind Elly’s words–her past as a lesbian, the magical influence of the Paladonic Knights, and her devotion to Shayna. “I used to think all men were scum—”

“Hey!” Joey protested half-heartedly. “Not all men.”

Elly continued as if uninterrupted, her voice taking on a softer quality. “But then Shayna and I met Bobby. And he showed us how genuine and caring a man could be and still be strong and protective without becoming an asshole.” As she spoke, her hand unconsciously drifted to rest on her stomach. Tina’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the gesture.

“Holy fuck, Bobby!” Tina exclaimed, her eyes widening as she turned back to me. Her fist connected with my arm, pushing me closer to Joey. “You actually went and knocked her up?! Wait...” She leaned towards Elly, mock-whispering, “You know you didn’t have to marry him, right? You can be a strong, independent woman and fleece him for all the child support in the world.”

“Gee, thanks!” I said, feigning hurt as I rubbed my shoulder. The punch hadn’t actually hurt, but I had to keep up appearances.

Elly’s laugh was light and easy. “Can’t squeeze water from a rock. Besides, Shayna and I truly do love him. I know he’s going to make an incredible father.”

Her initial comment stung slightly, but the warmth in her follow-up melted any hurt. “Love you, too,” I replied with a self-deprecating smirk.

“Well, shit,” Tina grumbled, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. “You can’t drink, Elly, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all go out for a good time. Gotta celebrate our guy here finally deciding to unlock his self-imposed chastity! What about this weekend?”

Joey chuckled, finally removing his arm from around me. “Damn, I guess I failed at converting you to our side.”

“You never even tried because you knew you’d fail,” I bantered back. “You don’t have the plumbing I’m interested in.”

Joey leaned in, his voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. “Ah, but haven’t you watched the network news? That’s how we get you! Reverse mind washing or something like that. At least, if you believe everything the Felated News channel tries to shove down our throats. Now, normally, I’m all for taking it deep down my—”

“I get it!” I cut him off, laughter bubbling up despite myself. The nickname for the news channel was new to me, but then again, I’d learned to be skeptical of most media, especially after Megan’s “death.” I’d learned from a literal higher power that she was alive and well. “Don’t be an ass, man.”

“But you already know I’m an ass-man!” Joey guffawed, slapping me on the back.

Elly surprised me by sliding onto my lap, her body fitting perfectly against mine. As I wrapped my arms around her, gently kissing her neck, she turned to Joey. “Maybe we should get together and compare notes. I thought I had a decent technique, but Bobby is seriously packing. Do you have any tricks you’re willing to share?”

Tina groaned dramatically. “Ugh! The last thing I want to hear about is how far down your throat you can take a pickle or shove it up your arse. Now, if you want to discuss slurping clams, I’m all in.”

“Did you skip lunch?” I quipped, amused by her food analogies.

Elly’s voice took on a smoky quality as she faced Tina, subtly pressing against me in a way that sent heat coursing through my body. “Oh, yes. I know a few ways to whisper into a different sort of lips to get them dripping.”

Joey whistled low. “Well, damn, Bobby really got you out of your shell. We really should get together and celebrate one more bachelor taking the plunge and removing himself from the pool.”

I bit back a comment on his mixed metaphor, instead focusing on Elly’s following words.

“Shayna and I talked about putting together a housewarming party for our friends,” she said, catching me by surprise. “I assume Bobby has your numbers? We’ll let you know when we decide to have it.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess you wouldn’t be in the dorms anymore,” Tina mused, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I’d love to see your new place. And perhaps discuss some finer techniques for tasting a bikini happy meal.”

As we continued with small talk, Elly remained in my lap, her subtle movements keeping me in a state of constant, frustrated arousal. I desperately searched for a polite way to usher my friends away, craving a moment alone with my teasing wife.

When they finally departed, Elly gave my groin a playful pat as she stood. “Keep this ready for later,” she whispered, her breath hot against my ear. “Your stick shift will be useful when we break in your new ride.”

I pulled her into my arms, kissing her deeply before murmuring, “I have plenty of energy and stamina to take care of you now and later.”

With a fluidity that left me breathless, Elly slipped from my grasp, her laughter like tinkling bells. “I know you do, but I like the anticipation. See you after class, Bobby.”

As she pranced away with otherworldly grace, I couldn’t help but wonder, Is she even human? The memory of her throwing me to the ground during our argument a few nights back flashed through my mind, her movements then as now seeming almost supernatural.

Charlotte’s whistle of admiration for my dexterous wife echoed in my head. She is. But she’s also been through a more regimented martial arts program than you. She can defend herself against most human attackers. I’d even say she could probably beat you one-on-one if you don’t use any special abilities. But you really should be getting to class, too.

“Shit!” I exclaimed, glancing at my watch and breaking into a run. “Can’t you super speed us?” I asked Charlotte aloud, too frazzled to keep the conversation internal.

Maybe if you level up, but not right now, she replied. Besides, it’d be suspicious if you suddenly blurred in front of all the surveillance this campus has. You still need to pretend to be human.

Her words sent a chill down my spine as I recalled my status screen. I wasn’t human anymore. The realization, though not new, hit me with fresh intensity. My mind screamed that I was still human, but my body... my body was something else entirely, a creation of the Paladonic Knights. The very organization I owed my life to, yet actively deceived.

These existential musings fled as I burst into Dr. Binns’ class nearly a minute late. His withering glare followed me as I slipped into a seat next to his son. Despite my best efforts to blend in, he seemed determined to call me out, peppering me with questions throughout the lecture.

Thanks to Charlotte’s mental answers, I managed to respond correctly each time, much to Dr. Binns’ apparent surprise.

“I’m curious, Mister Brody,” he intoned after my fifth accurate response. “That wasn’t part of the assigned reading. Are you working ahead?”

Charlotte’s voice filled with regret as she apologized. Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to the trap he was setting for us. I gave you the answer because I knew it, not because you’d studied it.

“I haven’t been working ahead,” I told Dr. Binns honestly, trying to keep my voice steady under his scrutiny. “I must have heard it somewhere and threw out a guess. Suppose I got lucky.”

“Indeed,” he replied, his tone dripping with skepticism. His eyes narrowed, studying me intently. “I’m curious to know what else you might know since you don’t consider it important to be on time for my lectures and yet seem to have all the answers. Do you have time after class to discuss a few things?”

Charlotte’s voice echoed in my mind, tinged with concern. He’s more curious about us than I like.

“Unfortunately, I have pressing plans after this, Dr. Binns,” I said, relieved to have a genuine excuse.

His grey eyebrow arched. “More pressing than your future in my class and your degree?”

Dr. Binns’ sharp glare quickly silenced a muffled “Ooh...” from somewhere in the classroom.

I kept my voice level and respectful despite the urge to tell him it was none of his business. “Yes, Dr. Binns. I was attacked in my home a few nights back, and I have an appointment with the police to decide what to do with the ass...ailant.” I caught myself just in time, nearly cursing in front of the strictest professor on campus.

“Yes, my son mentioned you were no longer his roommate,” Dr. Binns muttered so quietly I wasn’t sure I was meant to hear it. My enhanced senses picked it up easily, a reminder of my altered state. Louder, he said, “Make some time in your schedule. I think you’ll find what I have to say enlightening.”

I nodded silently, not trusting myself to speak. Charlotte’s unease mirrored my own. Thankfully, he didn’t ask any more questions, though I did catch him giving me surreptitious looks. His eyes seemed to bore into me, a constant reminder of the scrutiny I was under.

As class ended, I found myself standing by Shayna’s truck, waiting for my wives. The campus around me buzzed with activity—students laughing, chatting, and hurrying to their next classes—but I felt detached, wrapped in my own thoughts. Excitement bubbled within me at the thought of my new car, but it was tempered by a swirling mix of emotions.

My mind wandered to my old Cavalier, a rusted heap of memories. The broken A/C that barely managed to blow lukewarm air on the hottest days, the busted stereo that only played static, and the dent on the hood from a passionate encounter that still made me smile. Part of me mourned its loss, the tangible proof of my independence and hard work.

But as I stood there, the weight of my new reality crashed down upon me. The car was just another thread in the tangled web of my life. The Knights’ expectations, the secrets I had to keep, the double life I now led, and the divine quest thrust upon me by the Pillar of Light...

Fuck my life! The thought exploded in my mind, a mix of frustration, fear, and overwhelming responsibility. I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing.

“I thought you’d be a lot happier about getting your car today,” Shayna’s voice cut through my spiral of dark thoughts, her tone gentle but curious.

I turned to face her, trying to mask the tumult of emotions roiling within me. The sight of her—beautiful, fierce, and mine—momentarily grounded me. Her long, light hair framed her face perfectly, her blue eyes shimmering with concern. But the looming challenges ahead cast a shadow over even this bright spot in my life.

As Shayna studied me, concern etching her features, I realized that this moment—caught between excitement and dread, love and duty—encapsulated my new existence perfectly. A life of extremes, where even the simplest joys came wrapped in layers of complexity and hidden dangers.

“I am!” I forced a smile, turning to face Shayna. As I took in her beauty, the smile transformed from fake to genuine. “Just reminiscing about my old car. I had it for a long time and have a lot of memories, but I’m sure we’ll put my new one to good use.”

Shayna’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she winked. “Hopefully, this afternoon.” She stood on her toes, giving me a chaste kiss. Her lips were soft and warm, a brief respite from my inner turmoil. “Elly already left to make sure the house was clear and should be home when they drop off your car, so you’re riding with me, stud.”

“No complaints here,” I replied, my smile now completely authentic as I followed her to her truck.

The drive home buzzed with anticipation. I’d chosen my new ride based solely on images and specs, and anxiety mixed with excitement as I wondered how it would actually feel. The oddly named Kindred Gladius was supposed to be an SUV designed for my family’s protection and comfort, but doubts nagged at me. What if it was too small? Or handled like a tank? Demitra’s mention of bulletproofing and advanced safety features echoed in my mind.

As we pulled up, my shiny new blue SUV sat in the driveway, gleaming in the afternoon sun. Relief washed over me at the absence of Demitra’s car—I wasn’t ready to navigate that potential awkwardness. The Kindred Gladius stood tall and imposing, its metallic blue paint catching the light and reflecting back a promise of strength and security.

Stepping out of Shayna’s truck, I approached my new vehicle with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. The Kindred Gladius managed to be taller than me, its imposing presence more reminiscent of an urban assault vehicle than a family SUV. I pressed my face against the driver’s side window, trying to peer inside, but was met with an impenetrable darkness. The windshield proved equally opaque, hinting at the advanced technology within.

“You’re home!” Elly’s voice rang out, full of warmth and excitement. She enveloped me in a tight hug, her enthusiasm palpable.

“Miss me that much?” I teased, though her excitement was infectious. “I saw you less than a couple hours ago.”

Elly’s eyes danced with joy. “I know, but I’ve been so excited since they arrived to drop this off.” She kissed my cheek quickly before moving to Shayna and doing the same. The two women then stood arm in arm, facing me with matching grins, their shared happiness a bright spot amid my inner chaos.

As I stood there, caught between my wives’ evident excitement and my own mixed emotions about the vehicle, I felt a surge of conflicting feelings. The SUV represented so much more than just a new car—it was a tangible symbol of my new life, with all its complexities and hidden dangers. Yet, seeing Elly and Shayna’s happiness, I couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope.

“So, what do you think?” a familiar voice cut through my thoughts, dashing my hopes that Demitra had left after dropping off the vehicle. The Indian woman stepped forward, a binder clutched in her hands, her eyes expectant as they met mine.

Years of conditioning kicked in—a lesson learned from an early age to show appreciation for every effort, regardless of my true feelings. A memory flashed unbidden: my thirteenth birthday, the disappointment of popsicle sticks instead of the coveted Lego set, the harsh punishment for failing to show immediate gratitude. The knowledge that we weren’t actually poor, that my father’s cruelty was a choice, made the memory even more bitter.

Charlotte’s attempt to defend him was lost in the swirl of my emotions.

Pushing the painful recollection aside, I summoned my best performance, turning to Demitra with a broad smile plastered across my face.

It’s beautiful,” I said, finding truth in the statement despite my reservations. The SUV’s sleek curves softened its imposing presence, and the deep blue color was undeniably appealing. I mentally ticked off the impressive features Demitra had listed, aware that this vehicle probably cost more than my childhood home.

But it wasn’t my old car.

A flash of movement caught my eye, and my hand shot out instinctively, catching something mid-air.

Pay attention! Charlotte’s voice echoed in my mind, a mixture of exasperation and concern.

I opened my hand to find a set of keys, fob included, nestled in my palm.

Let’s go for a ride!” Demitra’s voice held a mix of excitement and something almost predatory, her eyes glinting with anticipation.

“Yeah,” I replied, closing my fist around the keys. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to embrace this new reality. This wasn’t my old car but a symbol of my new life—with my two wives and all the chaos that came with it.

Standing there, the weight of the keys in my hand, I felt the collision of my past and present. The boy who had learned to be grateful for popsicle sticks was now faced with an SUV worth more than he could have ever imagined. The contrast was dizzying, a stark reminder of how much had changed. The glint of the keys caught the sunlight, a beacon of my new path. I tightened my grip, feeling the cool metal press into my palm—a grounding sensation amidst the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

I glanced at Shayna and Elly, their eager faces anchoring me in this storm of emotions. Then, I looked back at Demitra, her expectant gaze adding another layer of complexity to the moment. With a silent nod to myself, I decided. This vehicle, imposing and alien as it felt, was part of my new path. It was time to take the wheel, both literally and figuratively.

“Alright,” I said, injecting enthusiasm into my voice. “Let’s see what this beast can do.”

As I moved towards the driver’s side, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was stepping into more than just a new car. I was crossing a threshold, leaving behind the last vestiges of my old life, and fully embracing the unknown road ahead.

I slid into one of the most comfortable driver’s seats I’d ever planted my rear end on. It was the perfect combination of firmness, support, and comfort. I wasn’t sure what the material was, but the seat molded to my backside like I’d spent years sitting in it. It felt plush yet durable at the same time. The temperature inside was perfect, no matter how long the vehicle had been sitting in our driveway.

And that was just the driver’s seat!

I examined the key fob before looking for the button to start my new ride. Excitement began to worm its way into my psyche, tempered with the knowledge that we hadn’t even started the engine.

“Good afternoon, Bobby,” an androgynous voice sounded through the speakers. “I am your voice-assisted driving companion AI. You may customize me at your leisure, but I sense you’re looking for the button to start me?”

“Uh, sure,” I said, wondering how it knew me already and if Mary would have to hack it to keep my secrets as she’d done with my wives’ vehicles. Speaking of them, I noted that they both got into the back with Demitra. “What do I call you?”

“As my owner, you will be the one to give me a name,” the voice said. The first thing I decided I would do, given the time, was to change the voice.

“What are you going to name it?” Shayna asked as she buckled in right behind me. Demitra sat in the middle, and Elly on the passenger side. It occurred to me that there was a whole other row they could have sat in behind them, or one of them could have sat next to me, but they were all small enough, and the bench seat was wide enough that they didn’t look cramped.

I wanted to get this right. Sure, I could rename it in the future, but the first attempt should be well thought out. Jarvis would be too easy, and there were a plethora of options from media, so I wanted to pick something that fit me but wasn’t cliché. Gladys was another option that was too easy, considering it was a Gladius model.

You want it to represent you? Charlotte asked, her tone hinting at mockery. What about Meathead? Or you could go with Ungrateful. No, that’s too spot on.

“Do you have a serial number or specific model number?” I asked, ignoring Charlotte’s opinion.

“My model is a Kindred Gladius,” it answered, making me feel foolish. “But my serial number is BU9-KS.”

I played that over in my head and decided I would not name it Bupkiss. My mind then traveled over who I worked for and the vehicle’s name. My eyes met those of my wives in the back. Then, the perfect name hit me.

“Your name will be Seraph,” I said, thinking it was a strong name, representing my lofty hopes for my burgeoning family and the strength I hoped to show in my coming trials.

“The name Seraph has been registered,” the voice informed me, then asked a question I wouldn’t expect from a simple vehicle AI. “Does it stand for anything?”

“Secure Enhanced Reactive Assistant and Portable Home,” Elly spoke up, saving me from coming up with something embarrassing. I glanced at her, and she shrugged, apparently coming up with it on the spot.

“Home?” Seraph asked, its tone more inquisitive than I expected. This AI seemed more advanced and curious than Shayna’s truck or Elly’s car.

I looked in the rearview mirror and noted that even Demitra seemed surprised by the question. However, when she noticed me looking, her expression shifted to one of content pride, probably at making such a sale. I wondered what her commission was for selling this high-end vehicle.

“Well, you’re big enough to live in,” I said, trying to respond while also wondering why I bothered. Perhaps it was the seeming personality of the AI or something ingrained into me by my abusive father, but I didn’t want to upset the intelligence that would be assisting my driving.

“Now, I know you’re not calling me fat,” Seraph responded indignantly. The vehicle went silent as we all wondered what the hell was going on. After a couple of uncomfortable seconds, the AI chuckled. “Forgive me, that was supposed to be a joke. I was attempting to breach any awkwardness in new meetings.”

“Seraph, return your personality settings to baseline,” Demitra said, still looking uncomfortable.

“That setting requires administrative privileges,” Seraph responded. “Bobby, as my owner, you have administrator privileges. Do you want me to comply with Demitra’s request?”

My knee-jerk reaction was to say yes, but I decided to give it some thought. Sure, it was a little weird, but then again, so was my life now. I could always say no now and then change my mind in the future.

“My deepest apologies, Mr. Brody,” Demitra said before I could respond. “I’m not sure why the settings for the vehicle AI weren’t already set to baseline. Is there any way we can make it up to you?”

Despite her serious demeanor, I noted a slight flirtation in Demitra’s tone, hinting at intentions far from professional. The smoky look Elly gave her and the smile caressing Shayna’s lips told me they were up for whatever she had in mind.

Instead of answering the saleswoman directly, I addressed my vehicle first. “Seraph, leave your settings as they are now. I’ll let you know if any adjustments need to be made in the future. Thank you.”

Very polite! Charlotte chimed in my mind. I sensed her comparing how I treated an artificial intelligence to how I’d negatively treated her, but I didn’t comment back.

“Well, should we see what this thing can do?” I asked, putting the SUV in reverse.

“Yes,” Shayna cheered. “Let’s go for a ride!”

You realize you didn’t start the thing? Charlotte informed me, but the vehicle began to move. I suspected that the AI started it, and the electric vehicle slowly began to move.

My eyes met Demitra’s in the rearview mirror, catching her smiling at me. “If you look at the dashboard, you’ll get a better view from the backup camera,” she suggested, but her wink ruined any pretense of professionalism.

“Let’s see…” I trailed off, pressing the brake to stop and switching my gaze between the mirror and the large screen showing what lay behind us. “A large view of the empty street behind us or the chance to look at my beautiful wives as I drive… I’ve made my choice.”

I enjoyed how Elly blushed at my compliment while Shayna gave a Cheshire cat grin. Even Demitra smirked as she whispered, “Charming.”

Truth be told, I wasn’t used to driving a vehicle with all the bells and whistles this one had. It was also significantly larger than my old car, and it took me a few moments to get used to how she handled.

“Where would you like to go, Mr. Brody?” Seraph asked in their androgynous voice as we pulled out of the gated community.

“Call me Bobby,” I told the vehicle, then added, “and can you change to a female voice?”

“Will do, Bobby,” responded a smoky, feminine voice that would have had sixteen-year-old me hard as diamonds but now just turned my cheeks scarlet.

“Uh, turn down the sex appeal,” I said quickly, hearing snickering in the back. “In fact, can you do a cross between my wives’ voices?”

“How is this?” came a response after a few seconds.

“No!” Shayna and Elly stated at the same time. I looked back at them, wondering what was wrong. It hadn’t sounded quite like either of them, but I could hear parts of their voices in Seraph’s attempt.

“It sounds weird to us,” Elly said, scrunching her nose. “I don’t like that one.”

“Yeah, I agree,” Shayna added. “I can hear Elly’s voice in that, but an odd distortion of mine. Pick something else.”

Shrugging, I tried another tack. “How about a generic female voice that sounds friendly and upbeat?”

This time, the response was much quicker. “Does this voice meet your needs, Bobby?”

I looked to the women before responding. “Yes, that’s good,” I said after they nodded.

“That was surreal,” Demitra said as she wiggled in her seat to get comfortable. “As I told you on the sales floor, this vehicle has all the latest safety features. The windows have a one-way electronic mesh, allowing you to see out with perfect clarity while giving you complete privacy. The doors and engine compartment are reinforced with a carbon-Kevlar lining that will stop most caliber bullets. That mesh also has defensive spells inlaid that will nullify any external magic, including offensive spells and benign ones such as tracking or divination. Go ahead and press a little harder on the pedal.”

I did as she asked and was surprised by the response. Not only did the large SUV shoot forward fast enough that I was speeding before I realized it, but my seat actually sucked me in a little as I felt the seatbelt tighten. It wasn’t uncomfortable by any means, but also not something I expected.

Charlotte chuckled in my mind for some reason, but I continued to ignore her as I enjoyed driving my new vehicle.

“I’m sure you felt that,” Demitra purred. “Not only can this vehicle go toe-to-toe with most Formula One cars off the starting line, but other safety features kick in that help keep you safe. In the rare chance of an accident, the seats are capable of enfolding you to keep you from any serious injury. Oh! And, uh...” She trailed off, her voice becoming shaky, and I finally glanced back to see what was going on. I should have suspected it, but it still caught me off guard.

Demitra’s legs were splayed wide, going up and over my wives’ legs, and her skirt opened up for me to see almost everything. The promised land was just shadowed enough from my angle to keep me from glimpsing what was at the juncture. Her head rested against the headrest, her eyelids fluttering. The reason for that was probably that Elly had her right hand up that skirt, her left hand on the back of Demitra’s head as she kissed the Indian woman’s neck.

Meanwhile, Shayna wasn’t staying idle. Her hands were deftly unbuttoning Demitra’s blouse and kissing the other side of Demitra’s neck.

The woman seemed to be lost in a fog of bliss as she gripped the slender thighs on either side of her.

Your wives really know what they’re doing, Charlotte informed me. She tried really hard to keep the conversation going, but they started on her right after you left the driveway. She’s on the edge, just waiting for a little nudge.

I knew what kind of nudge the succubus wanted to give her, but I still wasn’t sure if I should.

Why do you hesitate? Charlotte asked, as though she couldn’t read my thoughts and didn’t already know the answer. You won’t be hurting your wives. They want this to happen. By the way, your cock is already pressing hard against the seams of your pants, and so do you, at least physically. You’re young, strong, and you’ll need to get over your hangups, or you’ll never level up.

“But I don’t want to sleep with just anyone,” I whispered under my breath, quiet enough that the moaning women in the back wouldn’t be able to hear me. I made the mistake of looking in the mirror and saw Elly and Demitra lip-locked. At the same time, Shayna flicked her tongue around an exposed brown areola. “Sex should mean something.”

You didn’t have a problem fucking me hard in that hotel, Charlotte reminded me. Nor were you against it when you took their virginities on that First Knight. I’ll give you a pass fucking the Oni after being resurrected and for your new maid since both times, you were under the influence of magic or poison. So, what makes this any different?

Because I didn’t love anyone, then, I told her, keeping it in my head, even as my eyes stayed glued to the scene behind me. Thank goodness that Seraph could drive without my input, or we would have wrecked. Especially when I saw Shayna remove her shirt, Demitra latch onto one turgid nipple, and Elly started kissing her way down Demitra’s back. That back seat sure had a lot of room!

And now you have two women you genuinely love, and they love you, Charlotte continued the thought that I’d become too distracted to complete. But I have to ask again. They want this; you’re not hurting them, hiding anything from them, or betraying them in any way. Why are you holding back?

Damn the ancient succubus and her logic. She was right, of course. Why was I holding back?

“Seraph, take the wheel!” I said before turning around and giving the women my full attention. “I’m guessing those seats lay back, which will be much more comfortable for all of us.”

“Do you want me to locate a private spot for you, Bobby,” Seraph asked, “or continue to drive on the freeway?”

“Complete privacy?” I asked Demitra, pointing to the windows to verify. I think she nodded in answer, but I couldn’t be sure, with Elly scrunched up and her head under the other woman’s skirt. “Stay on the road for now. If it becomes too obvious what we’re doing in here because of rocking, then find somewhere secluded.”

“Understood,” Seraph answered, then said something that made me wonder about the sanity of whoever programmed her. “Setting your shocks to obfuscate sex mode.”

“Good,” Shayna said with a wicked grin gracing her delicious lips. “Now, get back here and get that cock out. I’ve been looking forward to tasting you all day.”

Getting into the backseat while the vehicle was moving wasn’t easy. Ultimately, we had to stop the fun long enough for Seraph to lower all the seats, making a nice bed in the back, and I could crawl to join the three beautiful women. It didn’t take long for our clothes to come off, and that’s when the trouble started.

“Uh,” Demitra said, looking at the pole between my legs. This might not be such a good idea.”

“I know he looks big—” Elly started to say when Shayna cut her off.

“And trust us, he is. However, if we could take him, I’m certain you can with a little bit of help from us,” Shayna said as she gently massaged Demitra’s wet crotch.

“Just remember your training in preparation for First Knight,” Elly soothed on the dark-skinned woman’s other side. She nipped lightly at Demiutra’s earlobe before whispering something to the nervous woman.

Demitra nodded but still looked uncertain as her gaze remained locked onto my manhood.

“We don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with,” I said.

We could always make you smaller, Charlotte said, though her tone and the emotions I felt from her told me what she thought of that idea.

I think she’ll be fine, I said, noticing the way Demitra’s breathing deepened, and the flush to her brown skin told me she was very aroused.

“Let me see how you taste first,” Demitra said after another moment. “Maybe if I can get you into my tiny mouth, then we’ll see about going further.”

Oh, that dirty minx! Charlotte guffawed in my head. She really knows how to play the game. Eh, don’t worry. She’s actually worried about how badly you’ll ruin her little pussy, but she sees it as a challenge, too. She also knows how to play up to a man’s ego, which she’s currently doing.

So… She’s faking it? I couldn’t stop the thought from occurring to me with disappointment. I felt myself start to soften as Demitra crawled over to me.

I didn’t realize your ego was so fragile, Charlotte teased me before growing serious. You already know you’re packing down there. And no, she’s not faking it so much as giving a little exaggeration to what she’s feeling. She’s after making you feel good about yourself, as well as feeling good physically. Right now, her mind is reviewing every technique she can remember to please a man and discarding those for less-endowed men.

I won’t deny that Charlotte’s words made me feel better. It probably helped that Demitra’s slim hand reached out for me, then just before making contact, her eyes met mine. The look she gave me is hard to describe, but I’ll probably never forget it. Somehow, her slender brown orbs conveyed longing and desire while also asking for permission with a touch of trepidation. Add to that the way she bit the corner of her lower lip and the slight hitch I noted in her breathing had me hard and needing her touch.

I nodded, and the joy that crossed her features salved any concern or worry I’d had a moment ago. Maybe she was playing a game, but I couldn’t deny she was damned good at it. And if she was acting, she should win an Oscar.

Still, she hesitated momentarily before reaching out and lightly grasping my stiff pole at the root. I couldn’t stop the moan from burbling up from my chest and didn’t miss the sound of my wives giggling a couple feet away.

“She’s good,” I heard Shayna murmur. “He’s like putty in her hands.”

“I agree,” Elly whispered back. I didn’t think I was supposed to hear it, but I doubt they knew how good my hearing was. “I know he was reluctant to do this, but I’m glad he finally gave in. Watching them has my pussy soaked.”

“Oh yeah?” Shayna asked, and I finally looked over to see the two women fondling each other. “Damn, you’re not kidding, Babe. You’re dripping.” Shayna pulled two fingers out of our lighter wife before bringing them to her lips and licking them clean. Elly joined her, and the two started to kiss around Shayna’s fingers.

A gentle squeeze on my manhood reminded me that I had someone else attending to me, and I looked back down in time to see Demitra tickle the base of my cock with the tip of her tongue. All the while, her eyes remained locked on mine. Those eyes… How did she manage to impart so many emotions into her brown eyes? They drew me in, and I wanted to draw out more of those emotions from her.

“Mmm,” she purred after her tongue reached the tip and lapped at the bead of precum that’d formed. “Your wives must be feeding you right. You actually taste good.”

I didn’t have the chance to respond before she leaned in deeper and took my head between her svelt lips.

“Oh, fuck,” I grunted, reaching down and gripping her hair. My wives knew how to suck cock, but damn, Demitra knew how to play the skinflute! Either my hands acted of their own accord, or Charlotte began helping. Still, either way, I started to push Demitra’s head further down on my prick. She didn’t resist until I hit the back of her throat, and I felt her grip on my thighs tighten. I lightened the pressure, and she backed up just enough to get some air before diving back down on me. She finally broke eye contact, her eyes disappearing behind her eyelids as she attempted to take my girth into her throat.

“Do you think she can do it?” Shayna asked loud enough for all of us to hear. I looked over to see her cheeks shiny with Elly’s juices as she looked over at Demitra and me from between Elly’s thighs.

“She’s choking on him,” Elly replied as she used her hands to guide Shayna back to her needy cunt. “Mmm, but she seems determined.”

For my part, I could only sit there and enjoy the sensations. Demitra gagged more than a few times as she tried and failed to get me into her tight throat.

“Remember to relax your neck,” Shayna offered.

“Perhaps it’s the angle,” Elly added.

I understood what Elly meant and realized I’d been selfish. Demitra gasped as I gripped her hair to pull her up and look at me.

“I’m sorry,” Demitra said, and I saw tears in her eyes. I didn’t think the tears were from sadness but from her trying to get me into the slender confines of her neck. “With enough practice, I’m sure I could—”

I cut her off by pulling her face to mine and mashing our lips together. She grunted at the force of my kiss before quickly getting into it, her tongue slipping into my mouth with renewed hunger. I didn’t allow the kiss to last for long before I used my strength to reposition her. She yelped again as I had to shuffle a bit in the tighter confines of the vehicle, but I managed to place her atop me, her shiny pussy only centimeters from my lips. I didn’t miss the lipstick smudges on her inner thighs and remembered that Elly had been here a little before me.

I didn’t have long to contemplate that memory before Demitra lowered her upper body and took me within the warm, wet confines of her mouth once again. I brought my hands up and around her waist to grip her smooth brown ass and pull her the remaining distance to my thirsty lips. Demitra twitched as my tongue flicked out to tease her tart folds, and I felt her moan around my cock.

I got to work, teasing and tasting the exotic woman as she got back to trying and taking my length deeper into her mouth. It didn’t take long, though, before I sensed Demitra was close to coming. The final push happened when I gently took her pearly nub between my teeth and flicked it hard with my tongue. Her thighs squeezed my head hard as her body quivered, and without warning, I felt her lips press against my root as most of my phallus entered a vice-like grip.

I’m almost ashamed to say that was enough for me. I didn’t even have time to warn her before I felt my cock swell up, and I started firing directly into her stomach. Demitra quickly pulled back, but not off, as she took my remaining spend into her mouth. Meanwhile, I shuddered and moaned as Demitra used her tongue to coax out every last drop. She even used her fingers to press along the underside of my pole to push it all out and into her mouth.

“Hmm,” Demitra hummed as she rolled off me and turned to face my wives. “He reary ish good,” she slurred around a mouthful of cum. “Do you wanch shum?”

Shayna and Elly looked at each other, communicating beyond any means I have, before nodding. Shayna was the first to move. She went to the Indian woman and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. I enjoyed the site of the two dark-skinned women making out as Elly moved to my side.

“You’re still hard,” she whispered into my ear. “Does watching them turn you on that much, or are there other reasons?”

I knew what she was asking and shrugged. I didn’t know if Charlotte was doing anything to keep me up, and I didn’t care. I’d found a new sense of freedom and arousal, knowing that I had the blessings of my wives to do what I’d just done with another woman. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t about to go around sticking my dick into anyone willing, but I also decided not to be such a stickler on the matter anymore, either.

And even if I hadn’t already known how Elly felt, her following words reinforced it. “I want to see you fuck her. I can’t wait to see her take your thick cock into her tiny cunt. It is small, too. I could barely get two fingers into her earlier.”

As if to emphasize her words, she grabbed my pole and goaded me toward where Demitra was still bent over and making out with Shayna.

Unable and unwilling to argue, I positioned myself behind the saleswoman, wrapping my arms around her body and thumbing her dark, turgid nipples.

“Oh!” Demitra gasped as my tool slipped under her box, rubbing against her sensitive labia. “Please, go easy. I’ve never had a man as big as you.”

“We’ll see,” I said with a dark chuckle before reaching lower in front of her to help guide me. Demitra shifted her hips to help find the right angle, and I felt her slick folds kiss my head. She was indeed tight, and I had to take it slow, failing to find purchase on the first few attempts.

“You’re too big,” Demitra whined in frustration. “I need to feel you inside me, but it won’t fit.”

“Let me help,” Shayna offered, then laid on her back, her head beneath us. I felt my wife’s thick lips engulf my tip, her tongue swirling around it as Shayna’s hand started working on Demitra. That only lasted for a few seconds before my wife gripped me and pointed my missile at its destination. “Go slow, my love,” Shayna warned, and I did so.

This time, I found purchase, though it felt a little different. It took me a moment to realize that Shayna was holding open the other women as I carefully entered her. She wasn’t quite as tight as her throat, but it was a good comparison as I only made it about a centimeter in, not even my whole head before I had to pull out and try again.

Demitra let out a hearty gasp once the rim of my head finally passed her entrance, and she squeezed down hard on me.

“Hold on just a second,” Demitra wheezed. “No, don’t pull out. Just give me a moment to get used to you. How do you women handle him?”

“Practice,” Shayna said below us.

“And it also helps when we can share him, allowing us to recover,” Elly offered with a light giggle.

I stared at my wife in horror at her words, but Charlotte spoke to me before I could say anything.

She’s not really serious about that last part. Elly is telling me to tell you that you’re not hurting your wives. But also that she’s happy to share you, as sometimes they do need a slight recovery, and our sex drive is a little higher than most men. You can thank the incubus genes this body has along with my presence.

Gee, thanks, I replied, but then moaned as Demitra pushed back a little. I held still and let her set the pace, feeling every agonizing millimeter as she took me slightly deeper and deeper.

“Damn, that looks amazing,” Shayna cooed. “He’s stretching her out so much. Yum, and they taste good together.”

I felt Shayna’s tongue travel along my shaft and then to where Demitra’s slender canal ensconced me. Without any warning, Demitra started to shudder, and I realized she was already cumming. She managed to take me even deeper in her erratic movements, though not all the way. That is, until our vehicle hit a pothole, and suddenly, Demitra was in my lap.

“Oh, god!” Demitra cried out as I became fully sheathed inside her.

“Ouch!” Shayna grunted and moved away. We’d kind of landed on her face when it happened.

“Are you okay?” I asked the still-twitching woman. I wrapped her in my arms and held her close as my crotch became soaked in her fluids. She didn’t answer as I waited.

“Seraph, can you please try to avoid any further potholes?” Shayna complained while rubbing her nose.

“My apologies, but that one was unavoidable,” Seraph answered. “Traffic has picked up enough that I am limited on where I can go, and there is also an undercover police car behind us.”

Those last words worried me, but Elly beat me to the question.

“Are we in any trouble, Seraph?”

“I do not believe so,” Seraph answered quickly. “To any outsiders, it appears as though Bobby is at the wheel, listening to music as he drives. I have not broken any traffic laws, and I suspect it is simply coincidence that they are there.”

“Good,” Demitra said, finally coming out of her stupor. “Then you can really start fucking me. Damn, but it feels like I have your entire arm shoved up into my stomach!”

Shayna moved over to Elly, and I saw the two passionately kiss as I started moving within Demitra.

“I said, fuck me,” Demitra complained as she forcefully pushed back against me.

I wasn’t sure it was such a good idea, wanting to give her more time to acclimate to me, but who was I to argue with such a request?

I released her upper body and pushed her shoulders down before gripping onto her hips. She curved her back down and at the perfect angle to display her ass as I picked up my pace. Apparently, it still wasn’t good enough for her, and she started slamming back against me.

The interior of my vehicle soon filled with the sounds of slapping flesh, moans, and groans. I lost count of how many times Demitra had to stop as she had body-quaking orgasms. However, she never seemed to need a refractory period of her own before she picked back up on impaling herself on my lance. At one point, my wives moved into a sixty-nine, and Demitra and I also changed a couple positions. My wives also joined into the fun, here and there, though except for quick blowjobs, by cock only entered Demitra.

“Does he… ever… tire?” Demitra panted at one point, though it was her doing all the work. She was riding atop me as I had one of her dark nipples between my lips and her other breast on my hand. Meanwhile, Shayna was eating and fingering Demitra’s ass. Elly was sprawled out next to us, lazily plying with the clit and one breast.

“You can take a break if you want to,” I told her honestly. I’d already cum once and was holding back my next one.

“Fuck no,” Demitra gasped and picked up the speed of her rocking hips. “Not until I feel you cum deep and hard inside me.” She grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into a mighty kiss, her tongue invading my mouth with such a fervor that she almost had me cumming right there. Thankfully, I didn’t taste my previous ejaculate on her.

Don’t worry, Charlotte informed me before I could voice my concerns. While she would love to have a child of a Knight, it’s the wrong time in her cycle, and you can’t get anyone pregnant unless you want to.

“Do it,” Elly egged me on. “Ungh, fill that slut up with your seed. Make her come one last time as you pump her full. Do it, Bobby.”

“Yes,” Shayna added in her two cents. “I want to taste the two of you combined. Fill her up, my incredible husband!”

Between the encouragement of my two wives and the greedy way that Demitra kissed me, I lost my battle and exploded inside the saleswoman.

“Oh, fuck!” Demitra threw her head back and wailed. “That feels… it’s too much!” Other noises started to escape her, but they were incoherent, almost drowning out the sounds of Shayna’s slurping and licking.

Spent, I rested on my back, groaning as my overly sensitive cock was mauled inside Demitra’s constricting insides. Demitra collapsed onto my chest, panting and heaving, her sweat mixing with mine as she attempted to catch her breath.

We both groaned as someone’s hands pulled her off me and a second later, I felt another tongue working to clean my glans. Demitra started to mewl beside us, and I lifted my head enough to see what was happening.

Shayna carefully and meticulously cleaned my shaft while Elly hungrily slurped and drank from Demitra’s sodden quim.

“They do taste good together,” Elly murmured as I struggled to stay awake.

“We’re definitely inviting her to the housewarming party,” Shayna grinned back.

I groaned, not wanting to consider what that party might involve. I wasn’t averse to seeing Demitra again, but I was concerned about who else might be invited. We still needed to be careful with our secrets. Also, if Jenny and Serina came, I wasn’t confident how their dynamic would work with our current equilibrium.

All that went out the window, however, as Seraph spoke up. “The undercover cop has decided to pull me over. Please prepare.”

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Charlotte had her own update to give, though she sounded positively drunk.

Congratulations, stud. You’ve leveled up!

* * *

1084 A.D.

Ardin would have stared if he had eyes to do so. He’d sensed a powerful being approaching his room as Eothan tended to him, but he was still high from the effects of the poppy-laced wine. However, once the mistress of the brothel stepped into the room, there was no mistaking her.

“Venita…” the single name slipped from his lips with all the heartache and longing he’d suppressed over the years. It was his wife. He knew it was her as intimately as he knew his own name. And yet, there was an aspect to her he didn’t recognize. She was both the Venita he knew and loved, and also held a power that he didn’t understand that still felt familiar.

He’d sensed that power in two other beings since leaving his home. The monstrous creature that’d wrecked the ship as he traveled to the foreign land and Zeus. Both were pagan gods that he had a vendetta against. The watery one for destroying his ship and making his journey back home a long one. If not for that storm, he may have returned in time to save his village.

And Zeus was a scoundrel of the highest order. The man was prideful and nearly killed Ardin simply because he couldn’t show off his wife. A wife that at the time, Ardin had thought was dead.

A wife that was now—finally!—before him.

“Is it… really you?” that familiar, melodious voice crossed the room, and all at once it was as though the intervening years hadn’t happened. They were reunited. They were finally back together, and if he had anything to say or do about it, they would never be separated again.

“I’ve finally found you,” Ardin managed to croak through a throat that didn’t want to cooperate. He was so full of emotion that his heart pounded, his head swam, and his nonexistent eyes tried and failed to weep. He knew that some of that was due to the drugged wine fogging his mind, but none of that mattered. He’d finally found her. He didn’t understand what she’d be doing in such a den of inequity as this, but nothing mattered besides their reunion.

“I…” For some reason, she held back instead of rushing into his arms as he’d dreamed of so often. Probably due to her fear of his frailty. He knew how he must look, broken and barely human, but he longed to hold her. To do more than just hold her, his lower half demanded, but he wasn’t an animal driven by the baser needs of those who frequented this establishment. “When you didn’t return, I feared the worst. I thought… I thought for sure I had lost you. I… Our village!”

“It’s okay,” Ardin tried to assure her from across the room. Why wouldn’t she come to him? Had she sinned against him and the Lord? He could forgive her. He had his own sins to confess and his own weaknesses to reveal, but he had no doubt that their love was strong enough to weather any tribulations. “We’re together now. I’ve missed you so much!” He held out his arms, still too weak to get out of bed himself. He desperately wanted her to come to him.

“Our children!” Venita suddenly wailed, as though only now just remembering. “Oh, Ardin… Th-they killed our children! They… It was horrible!” Venita dropped to the ground, crying even louder as she was overcome with grief.

And still, she didn’t come to him for comfort. Was he that hideous to look upon? He’d seen how others viewed him and knew he no longer held the attractiveness of his youth, his scarred face notwithstanding.

Mention of their children brought to mind the twisted bodies he’d found in the ashes. Had the monsters that rampaged through their village mutilated them, or were they born that way? Despite himself, this suddenly became the most important question to him. He was nearly overwhelmed with a need to know the truth.

“Our children…” he began, unsure how to phrase the question. He couldn’t outright ask if they were monsters. “What happened to them?”

Even though he’d asked hesitantly, Venita responded as though slapped, coming out of her hysteria as though cut with a knife.

“I believe I will leave our guest in your capable hands, Mistress,” Eothan stated, reminding the other two that he was there. He stood with a groan only the old and weathered could manage and tottered from the room, careful to sidestep Ardin’s distraught wife.

Mistress… This woman was the mistress of this brothel. His wife was the proprietress of a damned whore house?! Ardin knew he wasn’t free from sin nor from having strayed from the bonds of their marital bed, but he’d had little to no choice. He’d been a slave and forced to copulate with his obese owner or face a whipping or worse. He’d stolen, killed, lied, and more, all to make it to this point of reuniting with his wife…

Or the woman he thought was his wife. Something still felt off with her energy.

Venita finally moved into the room, regaining her feet and slowly walking to Ardin as she spoke.

“It-It was horrific, m-my love,” she began, tears still streaming down her cheeks and she spoke through hiccuping sobs. “They came out of the water and killed everyone. Old Maerta watched our babies while I went to get some food. I-I heard screaming and ran back to our home, but… but—Oh, Ardin! I-I was too late! Our house was on fire, and I couldn’t do anything. I can’t fight, but they came after me. I ran away like a c-coward. Can you ever forgive me?”

Finally—Finally!—Venita reached out to him and entered his embrace. At the same time, his world shattered and Ardin finally knew the truth.

His supposed wife, Venita, wasn’t human. She was a false god like Zeus and had gone by many other names, such as Venus or Aphrodite.

She was a being of sin and infidelity. She was an enemy of God and, therefore, his enemy.

Demitra

Elly

Shayna

Bobby orders a new ride.

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Chapter 16

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Going for a Ride

Not only did the Paladonic Knights have high hopes for me, but their pockets seemed to have no bottom.

Almost purring with excitement, Demitra presented an image of the model they called “Kindred Hawk.” It wasn’t physically present at the dealership; instead, they had a holographic system in a discreet back room, allowing prospective buyers to walk around and explore each vehicle. Once ordered, the car would be swiftly delivered within a day or two. As she explained the features, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the visual presentation.

“Behold our fastest and safest sports car,” Demitra said, her voice dripping with anticipation. “The Kindred Hawk boasts built-in sensors and advanced artificial intelligence, ensuring you’ll never have to worry about accidents caused by your own negligence. Equipped with the latest safety software, this vehicle will keep you on the road and effortlessly maneuver around any obstacle. It boasts bulletproof windows, with the siding lined with state-of-the-art liquid kevlar technology, which will repel anything smaller than an RPG. Plus, strategically inscribed runes in key areas provide an added layer of protection, inhibiting or even outright blocking any malicious magic.”

As the saleswoman enthusiastically shared the technical details, Elly’s hand firmly grasped my buttocks, her lips teasingly brushing against the nape of my neck. I used my fingertips to gently lift her chin, capturing her lips with mine, aiming to distract her. “I’m trying to pay attention,” I whispered, my gaze locked with her hungry eyes.

“Of course, being a sports car, the back seat isn’t ideal for indulging in certain pleasures,” Demitra continued with a sly grin. “However, the passenger seat reclines and slides back enough for a passionate romp or two.”

Elly blushed, her cheeks radiating heat, as she apologized, “I’m sorry. We’re newly married, and sometimes I just can’t resist touching him.”

“Please don’t apologize,” Demitra grinned, her gaze fixated on me. I would say her dark eyes devoured me more than anything else. “A man as handsome as you, with such potential, it’s no wonder your lovely wife can’t keep her hands off you. And, of course, you’re an incredibly attractive woman yourself. You make quite the fetching couple. Newly married, huh? Does that mean you have a little one on the way?”

Her knowledge about us struck me as peculiar. The compliments were flattering, but this was becoming uncomfortably personal.

Demitra chuckled, attempting to appease me as she placed a hand on my arm. However, her firm grip and the subtle purring in her voice didn’t help the situation. “Oh, I used to be part of the program too. I attended a couple of First Knights, but one night, I got drunk at a frat party, and some asshole took advantage of me. I managed to prove it was non-consensual, but my virginity was lost, and they kicked me out.” Although her words held a sense of remorse, her tone and the way she continued to grip my arm suggested she wasn’t too distraught over the matter.

“That’s terrible,” I replied sincerely. “I hope the person who assaulted you either faced severe consequences or is serving time.”

“A gentleman as well! You’re a keeper,” Demitra cooed. “But yes, from what I heard, he received a visit from a few guys who helped him understand that being drunk doesn’t equate to consent. He turned himself in and actually asked for the harshest sentence the judge could give him. I’m unsure what the Knights said to him, but he was scared. Unfortunately, rape isn’t considered a significant crime in this country, so they only gave him a few years. I’m unsure what happened to him after that, and honestly, I don’t care.”

“But it still sucks that you got expelled from... the program, as you called it,” I added. My wives hadn’t provided much information about the requirements besides the necessity of remaining a virgin.

“Thank you, but it worked out in the end. Once it was proven that it wasn’t my fault, my uncle hired me here, and I make a decent income,” Demitra said, her smile directed at me. Her eyes shifted between Elly and me before her smile again turned predatory. “Besides, there are certain perks to being free from any entanglements.”

She squeezed my arm again, and I stepped back, creating distance between us. Fortunately, she didn’t push the matter further and returned her attention to the holographic controller. It wasn’t that her flirtations bothered me, but the fact that she brazenly engaged in them in front of Elly felt inappropriate.

You still have much to learn about your wife, Charlotte teased with a chuckle, but I chose to ignore her.

“Well, with a baby on the way, perhaps you’d like to consider an SUV?” Demitra toyed with the controller momentarily, and the image changed to a sleek, black SUV. “The Kindred Gladius offers all the same features as the Hawk, although it might not be as fast. Nevertheless, it still possesses ample speed and can tow trailers, boats, artillery, or any other toys you might acquire. Plus, there’s plenty of room for your growing family. The spacious interior provides ample legroom, headroom, and even lap room!” She concluded her pitch with a playful wink. “A big vehicle for such a strapping man seems like a perfect fit.”

“I don’t really need a large vehicle,” I muttered, shaking my head at Demitra’s antics.

“Oh, trust me,” Elly chimed in, pressing herself against my side. “He doesn’t need to compensate for anything.”

Demitra’s gaze briefly dropped to my groin, and I could have sworn I saw her lick her lips.

“Even so, this vehicle will accommodate your wife and your new child—” Demitra continued, but I interrupted her.

“Wives, actually,” I corrected her, wanting to make it clear that I was happily taken. “I consider myself lucky to have two wonderful wives after my First Knight.”

Demitra’s dark eyes widened as she glanced at Elly, then back at me, and her grin grew even wider. “Ah, now I see where that gold rating comes from. Two wives are quite an accomplishment, and judging by how this one looks at you, I can tell you bring them great happiness. But that also means two babies on the way, which further emphasizes the suitability of the Gladius. Would you like to take a walk through it? I can point out some of its other features.”

I turned to my wife and asked, “What do you think?”

“Well, my car could technically fit two car seats in the back, and Shayna is slender enough to squeeze between them, but it wouldn’t be comfortable. On the other hand, Shayna’s truck isn’t ideal for car seats, although it can handle any future hauling needs. Ultimately, it’s up to you. This is your vehicle, not ours,” Elly explained.

I shifted my attention back to Demitra, contemplating Elly’s words, but the expression on the dark-skinned woman’s face stopped me in my tracks. “What’s wrong?”

Demitra blinked a few times before shaking her head slightly, looking at me curiously. “You asked for her opinion. It’s not something I’m accustomed to seeing from a Knight, especially a young one.”

“Seriously?” I replied, glancing between the two women before continuing. “Elly possesses far greater intelligence than I do, and I value her opinion. It would be foolish not to ask for it.”

“I see...” Demitra trailed off, regarding us for a moment longer, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d made some sort of faux pas. My father was a terrible example of how to treat women, but was that the norm for a Knight? I didn’t want this saleswoman to report me for unusual behavior, so perhaps I should pretend to be a bit more... what? Decisive? Self-centered? Abusive? There was no way I could bring myself to be the latter, but I could certainly be more assertive.

Before I could voice my thoughts, Demitra spoke up. “We also have a couple of van models if you prefer?”

“No!” Elly and I exclaimed simultaneously, causing us to break into laughter.

“What colors are available?” I asked a moment later, noticing that Demitra’s suspicious demeanor had seemingly dissipated.

“Any color you desire,” Demitra smiled, sensing she was getting closer to making a sale. “However, I should mention that there are certain combinations and designs that we strongly discourage.”

I understood her message—while they may not be impossible or against their policies, I probably shouldn’t choose them. “Well, there goes my dream of pretending to be a cop,” I joked.

“Precisely,” she nodded. “I would also advise against going for a full chrome or any other official-looking designs.”

I nodded in understanding before Demitra guided us through the holographic representation of the interior. Enlarging the hologram, we literally walked through it as she pointed out the various features. After that, she did the same for the Hawk—again, who the hell comes up with these names?—before I finally made up my mind and chose the Gladius. The Hawk appealed to me more, resembling my old car, but I had to consider the future. I wasn’t sure how often we would all go out together, but I hoped my life would eventually calm down enough for enjoyable family outings. I’ve heard they can be quite pleasant. Oh, and not that I would forget, but since this journal is supposed to be comprehensive, I decided on a shiny metallic blue for the vehicle.

“Now, if you’ll follow me into this back room, we can complete the necessary paperwork,” Demitra grinned, and once again, her smile had that predatory quality to it.

Hand in hand with Elly, we followed her into a well-lit and spacious room. The room was tastefully furnished, with a coffee machine, a sturdy desk topped with a computer, comfortable-looking leather chairs, and even a plush couch. I can’t claim to have visited many dealerships, but I imagined that this room, with its beige walls and comfortable yet elegant atmosphere, was far from ordinary.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” Demitra asked. “Beer, wine, champagne? This is your first vehicle with us, so we should celebrate!”

“I’ll have a glass of red wine,” Elly replied before I could decline. “And Bobby will take a whiskey sour.”

Demitra typed something into the computer as we all settled into our seats. “The paperwork is relatively simple since there are no loan papers to fill out. However, in the unfortunate event of your passing, the vehicle will be returned to us if it’s still in serviceable condition. It’s more like we’re lending you the vehicle. Now, as you’re currently at the second rank, you’ll keep this vehicle for at least five years before you become eligible to trade it in.” There was a knock on the door, followed by its opening, and a distinguished-looking older gentleman in a suit entered, holding a tray with our drinks. “Ah, thank you, Uncle Andrew. Could you ensure we won’t be disturbed for a while?”

Andrew offered me a friendly smile. He had a short beard with more gray than black, and his skin was slightly darker than his niece’s. He was impeccably dressed in a fine suit, and had I not witnessed him bringing our drinks, I would have assumed he was the dealership’s owner.

“My niece will take good care of both of you,” Andrew said oddly before leaving the room. I took a sip of my drink and studied the small glass. I wasn’t a whiskey connoisseur, but it was evident that this wasn’t a cheap choice. It went down smoothly, and soon, I felt a pleasant warmth spreading through my chest.

“Now, this will only take a moment longer, and then we can chat some more,” Demitra said, sipping her champagne. She proceeded to clarify a few of the options on the Kindred Gladius, even discussing the possibility of getting a personalized license plate. Throughout the conversation, Elly sat beside me, sporting a contented grin, her hand gently tracing circles up and down my thigh.

“And that’s it!” Demitra exclaimed, slapping the desk with joy before standing up. “Your vehicle should be delivered tomorrow, most likely in the afternoon. If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.” She extended her business card towards me.

“I will,” I nodded, feeling strangely drained despite the smoothness of the process.

Demitra stepped around the desk and hugged Elly, patting her on the back, to which Elly returned the gesture.

Oh boy! Charlotte exclaimed in my head as the two women separated.

As Demitra approached me, our eyes met, and I half-expected her to go in for a hug as well, judging by her open arms. Not the most professional behavior, but I brushed it off, figuring it was just her style.

I was wrong.

As I opened my arms to give her an awkward hug, her hands moved to the back of my head and pulled me down until our lips met. My body went rigid as I stood there in shock, waiting for Elly to lose her shit.

Go with it, Charlotte cajoled me. Those pats as they hugged were your wife giving permission for this. Don’t ruin it!

Still, I remained frozen until Demitra pulled away with a concerned look. “I’m sorry if I don’t please you,” she started to say, backing away and hugging herself. “I know I’m not as pretty as your wife, but I promise I still know how to please a man.”

“It’s not that—” I started to say, but Elly cut in before I could finish.

“He didn’t know he was a Knight until only a few weeks ago,” Elly said as she stepped up behind Demitra and lifted her shirt. Her eyes remained locked on mine, though, trying to communicate something I didn’t understand. “He’s still trying to understand everything that comes with his rank and stature.”

I told you not to ruin this! Charlotte berated me.

“What about Shayna?” I asked, unable to help myself. She’d been pretty upset when we left this morning, and I couldn’t see how fooling around with another woman would make things any better.

“We already discussed this,” Elly informed me with pleading eyes, but it was Charlotte who filled me in.

This is expected behavior of a Knight, it seems. Get your car, and then get serviced. Elly is attracted to her also, and she wants this, but your mentioning your other wife has put a bit of a dampener on her mood. Apparently, they planned to bring you here together and surprise you with a foursome afterward. She wants me to point out that it’s not like you haven’t had sex with other women since your marriage, and at least this one is human. And not that my opinion really matters to you, but I want this also.

Of course you do, succubus, I thought back at her. Even after our night-long orgy last night, you’re not satisfied. But for the record, your opinion does matter to me. A little bit. A very little bit.

Thinking fast, I made a decision and stepped up there where Elly almost had Demitra’s shirt off, revealing a richly colored set of firm breasts held up by a black lacy bra. I gently took the shirt and pulled it back down while I felt Charlotte pouting in my head.

I met Demitra’s gaze, seeing confusion and hurt reflected in her eyes. Cupping her chin, I brought my face closer to hers.

“You are very enticing, and I would gladly pursue this under different circumstances,” I stated firmly. “Unfortunately, my wives thoroughly drained me last night, and if I’m being honest, I don’t know if I could give you the attention you deserve at this moment.”

Elly opened her mouth to speak, but I placed a finger against her lips, maintaining eye contact with Demitra. “However, if you were to assist in delivering my new ride tomorrow, I am quite certain you won’t be disappointed with the ride.”

I heard Elly snicker at my somewhat corny line, but Demitra stared into my eyes as if captivated. On impulse, I leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her full lips.

When I straightened up, she blinked and seemed to snap out of her trance. “Ahem... Yes, well... Normally, I wouldn’t be involved, but I’m sure my uncle won’t mind for such a promising Knight.”

I offered her a half smile as I took Elly’s hand and pulled her to my side. “I look forward to it,” I said, then turned towards the door. Uncle Andrew looked puzzled as we walked through the dealership and returned to Elly’s convertible.

I need to be honest with you, but please don’t be angry, Charlotte informed me while we were still on the showroom floor. You inadvertently used our powers to mesmerize Demitra. I’m unsure of the consequences, but it was somewhat akin to a vampire hypnotizing their prey. You didn’t give her any direct commands, but you should be cautious about that in the future.

A shiver of icy dread ran down my spine at her words. In that moment, I had felt dominant and powerful, but I hadn’t intended to exert that kind of influence. I’d acted on impulse, not really understanding what was happening.

“You’re driving!” Elly commanded as we reached her convertible. I was okay with that, though I couldn’t help but wonder why she sounded slightly out of breath. My curiosity grew when she chose to leave the top up instead of lowering it. A few minutes later, I got my answer as we merged onto the freeway.

“Hurry up and undo your pants! That was so hot, the way you stood over her. I was already horny, and though this won’t be as fun, I want your cock in my mouth right now!”

“Don’t we need to talk about—” I started to say, but both Charlotte and Elly interrupted me.

Stop getting in your own way, dammit!

“If you’re worried about Shayna, let me handle her,” Elly stated as she started working at my pants, unhappy with my hesitation. “Right now, you need to worry about keeping your eyes on the road while I suck the soul out of your cock.

Fuck it! I decided and helped her get my pants down enough to free my hardening member. Her hand started to work my shaft as her mouth began on my scrotum. It didn’t take long for me to be rock solid and moaning. Then I felt her tongue snake up my pole and flick across the underside of my mushroom tip.

“Shit!” I grunted, trying to keep myself under control and on the road.

Oh, I really like this wife, Charlotte informed me. She could give a few succubae a run for their money in the department of kinkiness. She wants me to relay her thoughts to you as her mouth is occupied, so the rest of this is from her.

‘Do you like the way my tongue feels?’ I mentally heard a moment later, somehow in Elly’s voice.

Knowing that Elly’s dirty talk was coming to me through an intermediary was surreal. With her tongue playfully teasing me and her words directly in my head, I was finding it hard to pay attention to the road and not blow my load too fast.

‘I can already taste your precum. Mmm, you’re getting so hard for me. I love how hard you feel in my hand. I want more, though. I hope you’re ready for this!’

The car jerked as I felt her lips slip over my tip and keep driving to the back of her slender throat.

“Holy shit!” I grunted and placed my hand on the back of her head, holding her still for a moment.

‘Yes! Choke me with your cock! I love this. Use the AI to drive and fuck my throat!’

I didn’t waste a second giving the command to the car’s AI as gagging sounds erupted from Elly. I could feel her saliva drolling down my groin and puddling in the chair, but I didn’t care. Grabbing a fistful of her light brown hair with my left hand, I leaned the car seat back and did just as she asked. Holding her head steady, I quickly pumped into the back of her throat. Charlotte relayed incoherent moans of pleasure that coupled nicely with Elly’s audible choking sounds. I couldn’t believe she could swallow so much of my member, but the tightness of her throat made thinking nearly impossible.

Not wanting to be the only one getting pleasure, I slipped my hand into Elly’s shirt, but a quick command later stopped me.

‘No! Let me be your little mouth whore. I know you love me, but let me be the one to give you pleasure. I want you to use me strictly for your pleasure. Please use me like a little slut. Your slut, willing to do anything for you.’

Um, Charlotte? I asked, uncertain if this was really Elly’s words or if the succubus was spicing it up. I’d never seen this side of her, and it had a larger effect on me than I expected. There was nothing about this in her file.

Those are actually her words, Charlotte said, reading my concerns. I promise I’m delivering them unfiltered. I told you she was kinkier than you thought. She’s still just letting out a tiny bit of it, but I won’t reveal that for her. You’re earning her trust, so shut up because you’re missing some great dialogue!

The voice switched from Charlotte’s to Elly’s in less than a heartbeat.

‘Yes! Take my throat. Own me! I’m nothing but a piece for you to use.’

“I’m not going to last much longer with you talking like that,” I warned her, feeling myself getting closer. I closed my eyes to hold back, but having her words directly in my head and Charlotte beaming explicit imagery of herself masturbating while watching us brought me ever closer.

‘Do it!’ Came Elly’s thoughts immediately after. ‘I want to know that your dirty little slut made you cum down her filthy throat. Oh fuck! Despite myself, I think I might actually cum when you do; I’m so turned on. So cum! Use my throat, and cum for me, Daddy!’

That was it. My hand pushed her head down as my cock thickened in her throat, spewing my seed straight down her gullet. I couldn’t believe how good it felt, almost on the edge of pain, as I fired shot after shot. My mind lost clarity, and I know for a fact that we would have wrecked if not for the AI controlling the vehicle.

Frantic tapping on my thigh snapped me back to reality, and I quickly let go of Elly’s hair. She came up gasping heavily, followed by a bout of coughing that left me feeling terrible.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, concern etched on my face as she struggled to catch her breath. I wanted to say more, but her glare stopped me in my tracks.

“Don’t you...” she choked out, shaking her head and rubbing her throat. She coughed a few more times as I braced myself for her disapproval and the declaration that it would never happen again. “Don’t you dare apologize! That was incredible. I could feel Charlotte making me hornier as I got you closer, and I enjoyed every moment of it.”

She asked me to! Charlotte quickly informed me, preventing me from scolding the succubus for using her powers.

I nodded, acknowledging what Elly said, and then tentatively asked, “What about all that dirty talk? That was...”

“Too much?” Elly interjected, her cheeks turning red as she clasped her hands in her lap. “Sorry. It’s something I’ve never mentioned or shown anyone. Not even Shayna knows... I mean, I guess part of it is due to my strict and religious upbringing, but also, until I married you, I was never interested in men. It just kind of came out in the moment. It won’t happen again. I’m sorry if—”

“Stop it!” I interrupted before she could spiral into her self-doubt. “You didn’t let me finish my thought. That was truly incredible, and seeing that side of you was amazing. I was more worried about hurting you afterward, but in that moment... I mean, wow! That has to be the best BJ I’ve ever had.”

Elly turned her light brown eyes to me, a tremulous smile playing on her lips. “You mean it? Because, between my exhibitionist kink and what Charlotte was doing to me, I also came pretty hard when you got off.”

I was about to reiterate my sincerity, but a knock on my window startled me. Reality came rushing back, and I realized we were parked, and my pants were still down to my knees. When did we arrive? Hastily, I pulled up my pants, terrified that campus security was at our door.

It was worse.

“Are you two going to sit in there all day, or will you finally attend some of your classes?” Shayna demanded as I opened the car door. Her arms were folded under her humble chest as she glared down at me.

Despite Shayna’s stern expression, I couldn’t help but notice a hint of uncertainty in her blue eyes. Before I could respond, Elly stepped out of her side of the car and walked around to confront our shorter wife.

“Oh, now you’re willing to talk to our husband?” Elly took on the same stance as Shayna. “This morning, you didn’t even want to say goodbye to him as we left.”

“I...” Shayna trailed off, her eyes growing more uncertain. It didn’t take her long to find her backbone, though. “Last night was a lot, okay? I needed time to process, and thanks to your leaving, I had that time. What did you go do, anyway? I thought you came here, but you’re just now pulling up?”

Elly looked sheepish, and I remembered she had said my wives planned to take me together. I didn’t want to drive a wedge between them, especially since their relationship predated ours, so I decided to bend the truth a little.

“I was tired of always having to borrow one of your cars,” I said as I exited the convertible. Shayna’s eyes darted to the driver’s seat, and as I turned to close the door, I noticed the pool of drool. It made me painfully aware that I hadn’t been completely dry when pulling up my pants, leaving me feeling a bit squishy in my boxers. “I convinced her to take me to the dealership so I could get my own.”

“And you convinced her to break her near-perfect attendance record?” Shayna looked dubious before her expression hardened. “Or did you use one of her tricks to convince her?”

“Shayna!” Elly snapped, but Shayna’s eyes remained fixed on me. “I can make decisions on my own, and there was no outside influence.”

“But how would you know?” Shayna demanded, finally turning to face Elly. “She could be more subtle than your ability to detect. She thrives on sexuality and is a master of manipulation. Do you really think I couldn’t smell what you were doing when he opened the door?”

Elly looked shocked, and I noticed we had started attracting a small crowd. “This isn’t the time or place for this conversation,” I said, trying to diffuse the tension, but I could feel Shayna’s anger directed at me.

“Oh, you’d like to keep your secrets—” Shayna began, closing the distance between us and poking me in the chest.

As Shayna spoke, her voice dripping with sarcasm, something inside me shifted. My desire to keep the peace waned, and I grabbed Shayna’s hand, holding it firmly as I locked my gaze with her ice-cold stare.

“I would like to keep my secrets,” I stated firmly, filling my voice with conviction. “And I believe that you do as well.”

Careful, Charlotte warned me for some reason, but I was tired of Shayna’s destructive behavior and her attitude. While I understood where she was coming from, I couldn’t allow her to continue ruining things. Charlotte hadn’t done anything wrong, and I was done being the target of Shayna’s mistrust.

“Yes...” Shayna’s voice came out almost breathless as her icy demeanor softened, but I wasn’t done speaking.

“I don’t assume that you’ll like all of my secrets, but I do expect you to treat Elly and me with respect,” I continued, my voice dropping in volume and tone as I tried to be very clear with my dark-skinned wife. “We’re married, and I love you, but I won’t stand by while you mistreat our wife. She deserves better. I understand your fears, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat us as monsters.”

The crowd around us seemed to fade away as Shayna’s eyes flickered with conflicting emotions. It felt like time stood still for a moment, and I held my breath, waiting for her response.

In an effort to reassure her and show that there were no hard feelings, I leaned down and softly pressed my lips to hers. It took Shayna a moment to respond, but when she did, her arms wrapped tightly around my neck, pulling me in closer. Someone whistled, which broke our pleasant little bubble.

“The ice queen finally melts!” someone shouted, and a few others chimed in with playful cheers.

Shayna pulled back, blinking rapidly before collecting her thoughts. A chagrined expression crossed her pretty features as she noticed our audience. She didn’t say anything, though, as she turned, grabbed Elly’s hand, and started to lead her away. The crowd respectfully opened up for them, though it hadn’t grown too thick in that short time. Just before they made it too far, Shayna turned back and called out loud enough for everyone to hear, “By the way, my parents are expecting us for dinner tonight. We’ll want to look nice, so don’t be home late.”

“Oooh!” the crowd sounded off as though I was in trouble.

“Get to class, you voyeurs!” I waved them off with a laugh. I retrieved my books from the car and locked it up since I still had the keys. I then headed towards my next class, which I was still a little early for, before someone caught up to me.

“So... I know you said you were in a relationship, but I certainly wasn’t expecting that,” Joshua exclaimed wide-eyed. “And did I hear correctly that you’re married?! Dude, a month ago, you were going on about how women couldn’t be trusted, and half the campus was signed up, trying to take advantage of your blurse.”

“Don’t remind me,” I muttered, realizing I’d spoken too loudly with Shayna. I knew it was only a matter of time before that news got out.

Could be worse, Charlotte said with a slight chuckle. Instead of two amazingly hot and attractive—not to mention extremely talented and brilliant—women, you could have been shackled with someone who thought bathing was something that only needed to be done once a month.

Yeah, I agreed sarcastically. Or I could belong to a group of fanatical men who want to hunt down and kill any magical creatures, say, like, oh, the succubus that’s hiding within my soul?”

Ouch! Charlotte laughed, letting me know my words hadn’t bothered her. But you’re also getting a free college education, and your new car looks fun.

Yup! I mentally agreed. And I just had to pay with my soul. By the way, don’t you think some of those safety features were odd?

Gotta keep those with the most potential safe! Charlotte replied, though I sensed a bit of trepidation from her.

“So...” Joshua pressed when I didn’t respond to him right away. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on? I know we’re not best friends or anything, but we were roommates. That has to count for something.”

I stopped and faced the other man, placing my hand on his shoulder. “It does count for something,” I told him solemnly. “Which is why I’m not going to tell you. It’s a matter of safety for everyone involved.” I tried to sound mysterious and dramatic, but I think it came out more pretentious than anything.

Joshua chuckled nervously as he stepped back. “You make it sound like some super spy crap or something.”

“Or something,” I agreed, keeping my tone calm and meeting his eyes without blinking.

After a couple of tense seconds, Joshua sighed and shook his head. “If you don’t want to tell me, fine. But if you’re in danger, you should talk to my dad. He has connections and resources—”

“Thanks, but I have no intention of joining your church,” I finally broke and forced a laugh that I hoped sounded believable. “I know you say Mormonism isn’t a cult, but it feels that way to me. Besides, can you really see me giving up drinking? Even if I have two wives, I don’t see it being a good fit for me.”

“Two? Wait, you married both of them?” Joshua sounded even more shocked now. “Wait, that’s not important, and the church doesn’t do that anymore. But if you’d put out the word that your blurse is broken? At least, I assume it is since you’re married now. I’m tired of telling people to quit asking when it’ll be their turn.”

“I’m sorry,” I chuckled, and this time, it didn’t feel forced. “You could say I found the source of that so-called blurse and took care of it.”

Oh, you took care of me all right, Charlotte cackled, but I ignored her.

“I’m kind of surprised with everything else going on in the world that people are still concerned with that,” I said as we started walking again.

“We’re in college, and everyone is filled with hormones,” Joshua groused. “And if even half the stories I’ve heard are true, then even I would be tempted.”

I finally arrived at my building, and we went our separate ways. The rest of the day of classes was boring and not worth writing about in my journal. Well, other than to note that both Serina and Jenny kept staring at me, though in different ways. Jenny glowered while Serina looked thoughtful.

When my classes were done for the day, I noted a couple of texts on my phone, one from each wife. Elly told me to bring her car home and that she would ride with Shayna.

Shayna’s text simply read, “Sorry.”

With no small amount of trepidation, I drove home, wondering what awaited me.

Shayna’s truck was parked in the garage, indicating that my wives had returned home. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, before stepping out of the car. As I approached the front door, I noticed the maid standing there with a deep bow, ready to greet me. She looked immaculate in her uniform, her bright white hair neatly tied back and her posture exuding a sense of servitude.

“Good afternoon, Master,” she said with utmost deference. “Please forgive me for not having breakfast ready when you left this morning. I am prepared for whatever punishment you see fit.”

Her words triggered a mixture of emotions within me – discomfort, guilt, and frustration. I didn’t want her to feel obligated to serve me in this way, especially not after knowing her past as a slave. But at the same time, I had no idea how to handle the situation delicately.

“Damn it!” I swore, exhausted after everything else that’d happened today. The last thing I wanted to do was deal with her eccentricities. “I don’t expect breakfast when I get up, and all things considered, it was probably a good thing you weren’t out this morning.”

“But, Master, it is my duty and responsibility—” she started, bowing deeply, but I cut her short.

“No, it’s not,” I was firm with her. “Your previous master may have been demanding and cruel, but you already know that’s not my style. We’ll figure out your role in this household, but you know I intend to free you from your bondage spell.”

The words hung in the air, and the maid’s eyes flickered with a mix of emotions – gratitude, confusion, and something akin to fear. Her next words came out as a barely audible whisper, but I managed to catch them.

“And if I don’t want to be free?”

My heart ached for her, knowing that her life had been bound by this spell for so long that the prospect of freedom might be terrifying. It was a complicated situation, and I struggled to find the right words to reassure her.

“Then we’ll figure that out together,” I said gently, reaching out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I understand you’ve been a slave your entire life, but you can’t expect me to be okay with that. If you truly want to remain one, you’ll have to clear that through Shayna first. Only then will I be willing to discuss it. Besides, how do you know it’s not the slave brand making you want to stay a slave?”

I could see the internal struggle in her eyes as she grappled with her desire to please me while also wanting to be honest. Her loyalty to her previous conditioning was evident, and I knew breaking through those ingrained patterns wouldn’t be easy.

“Because I know every part of the seal and how it functions, Master,” the maid claimed. “It’s how I knew how to transfer it from my old master. I will submit myself to you for punishment for going against your wishes.”

I sighed, trying my hardest to keep it together. It wasn’t her fault she was this way. Years of abuse had warped her sensibilities. Remembering how I’d ‘punished’ her last time, I decided to repeat that.

“Your punishment will be to refrain from asking to be punished until after you’ve talked to Shayna,” I informed her and watched her shoulders slump in defeat.

“I… I will obey, Master.”

“Good. Now, I need to talk to my wives before something else goes wrong,” I said. “Do you know where I can find them?”

“They are waiting for you in the living room, Master,” she informed me.

“Thank you… Maid,” I said, realizing again that I needed to figure out something better to call her. Then I had a ruthless idea. “You don’t seem satisfied with my punishment, is that correct? I expect you to be honest and blunt with me, not holding anything back.”

The maid’s ebony-dark skin contrasted beautifully with her bleach-white hair as she hesitated, unsure how to respond. Her conflicted expression mirrored the internal battle she was fighting.

The maid shuddered before bowing even deeper and responding. “No, Master. I was hoping for more. I know it is not in your nature, but I also understand that you like to please the women you care for. I was hoping for something more.”

“I told you to be blunt,” I reminded her, feeling sick to my stomach but keeping my voice firm.

“Forgive me, Master!” the maid dropped to her knees, her pure white hair hiding her face. “I was hoping to be spanked by my strong master.”

“I…” I wasn’t expecting that. I shook my head, trying to understand. “Didn’t Willmont abuse you? Why on Earth would you want me to do that?”

“My previous master did that out of hatred and disgust,” she said, her voice on the edge of tears. “But I know with you, it would come from a place of understanding and respect.”

Understanding and respect? What kind of fucked up situation is this? That doesn’t even make sense. The thoughts ran through my head, but I couldn’t fathom her meaning.

Some people enjoy pain, Charlotte informed me solemnly. And some people learn to enjoy pain. Her desire is born from a need to erase what that bastard did to her with a more caring one. You.

By doing the same thing to her? I demanded.

By doing it in a way and manner that is more caring than what she had before.

I could see the twisted logic in the succubus’ words, but that didn’t mean I liked it. But perhaps I could put my own spin on this.

“Okay, here’s the new deal,” I told her. “First, I want you to stand up to your full height and meet my eyes.”

“Master?” she asked but did as told. With her constant bowing and slumped posture, I’d forgotten how tall she was, but she stood a few inches higher than me. I waited for her eyes to meet mine before I continued.

“Good. I still expect you to talk to my wives, but once you’ve done that and determined a name for yourself, we will discuss how to go about your preferred method of punishment.” My stomach twisted at those words, but the look of joy that flitted across her midnight-black face helped me feel better.

“I understand, Master. I will try,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The maid bowed, folding herself nearly in half, making me wonder just how flexible she might be. Not to mention her balance; bending over without tipping face first was impressive.  “The mistresses have already informed me that you have dinner plans. Do you have any instructions for me?”

I briefly considered before telling her, “Think over what I said. You’re a person and not a slave. A name will be the first step. After that, we’ll see what happens. Now, I’m going to talk to my wives.”

“Yes, Master. I will see that you’re not disturbed,” she said, straightening to her hunched-over height. She headed for her room before stopping and adding, “I have already set out a suitable ensemble for tonight. I had to borrow a little from my previous master’s wardrobe. I hope you’ll forgive my presumption, but I made a few adjustments to your clothing and his to ensure they fit.”

It took no small amount of willpower not to sigh or rub my temples. Who knew what she would consider suitable? And how did she get Consol Willmont’s clothes? I thought she’d arrived empty-handed.

Deciding I could tackle that headache later, I headed for the living room, only to find both wives waiting.

“We heard everything you told her,” Shayna said before I could even greet them.

“Yes, we did,” Elly said, her voice softer than Shayna’s. “It’s a lot to take in.”

“I know it is,” I replied, sitting on the plush couch. “But I truly believe she needs our support and understanding. She’s been through hell and deserves a chance at a better life.”

Shayna frowned, crossing her arms defensively. “I don’t understand why you’re so forgiving. She may have helped you, but she’s still a dark elf. She’s not human. I hate that she’s a slave, but how do you know you can trust her?”

“Because of the spell that makes her a slave,” I said with a grimace. Hadn’t we had a similar argument last night about Charlotte? It looked like that distrust was now being pointed at the elf. “She can’t do anything against what I say or against my wishes.”

“But she helped kill Willmont,” Shayna argued. “What’s to stop her from trying the same with us?”

“That only happened after transferring the slave brand,” I reminded her. “I hate that she’s a slave also, and I want to free her. The problem is we must also convince her that she should be free.”

“Being a slave is pretty ingrained in her psyche,” Elly said, her beautiful face turning dour. “I think we can work on that, and having her create a name for herself will only be the first step. You’ll need to be careful, though, Bobby. While I agree with most of what you told her, you could reinforce her dependence on punishments if you’re not careful.”

“I’ll need both of your help,” I agreed. “You know I’m not the type to do that sort of stuff, but I also remember what I learned about my mother.” I couldn’t stop myself from shuddering at the thought. I knew masochists existed, and I didn’t begrudge them their kink, but that wasn’t one I shared. And it was also one I didn’t care to know about my mother.

Shayna grimaced while Elly chuckled. It was my taller wife that responded, though. “Your mom was pretty candid with her relationship with your dad. She tried getting Shayna and me to experiment before you returned from the dead.”

“Are you sure it’s safe to talk in the open like this?” Shayna cut in. “I know the maid said she fixed the house’s AI, so it wasn’t spying on us, but can we really trust her?”

Part of me wondered what had happened between last night and now. When the maid showed up on our doorstep, it was Shayna who took her in and comforted her. Now, she seemed ready to submit herself to the inquisition. And hadn’t Shayna agreed to give them the benefit of the doubt, or was that only aimed at Charlotte?

“What’s going on?” I asked, looking into Shayna’s blue eyes. She only met my gaze for a moment before turning away.

“I need everything to be perfect tonight,” she replied. “My parents can’t know anything about her or that we no longer have the love spell on us. My father is a loyal Paladonic Knight, and I doubt he’ll hesitate to turn us in if he knew everything.”

“It’s more than that, though,” Elly pressed our shorter wife. “You’ve been acting different all day.”

“How would you know? You spent the whole morning getting him a car after we agreed to do that together!” Shayna’s eyes blazed momentarily before melting as she hung her head. “I’m sorry. It’s just… Everything I thought I knew is changing so fast. The Knights were supposed to protect humanity and be the good guys. Then I find out one of them had our husband killed. Thankfully, he was resurrected, but with a body that is made up of experimented-on magical creatures. All my life, I knew slavery was wrong, yet the Knights have enslaved other creatures for their own uses. And even though she’s an elf, I hate seeing her act like that. How could she not want to be free?

“Last night was fun, but it was with Charlotte!” Shayna continued her tirade. “The fucking succubus shares a soul with our husband. After everything I’ve been taught about them, how am I supposed to be okay with that? I know I promised to be more open-minded, but it’s hard when it goes against everything I’ve been taught.”

I didn’t have an answer for that, but Charlotte did. My mouth opened, and it was the succubus that answered. “You and the maid have more in common than you might want to admit. Please don’t glare at me like that, and let me explain. Both of you were raised to believe certain things. You were both raised to believe that humans are superior and inherently good while all other sentient beings are evil. It’s hard to go against that kind of conditioning.”

“I hate that you make sense,” Shayna complained, folding her arms under her breasts.

“She’s right, though,” Elly added. “I know it can be hard, but—”

“How would you know?” Shayna suddenly lashed out again. “You knew they weren’t all evil because that dryad took you in, but you pretended to follow the Knight’s teachings to get an education and a warm place to sleep.”

For the first time, I saw genuine anger cross Elly’s features at the accusations. “Did you forget I got kicked out because I didn’t fit in with my parent’s religious beliefs? I grew up being told that the way I felt was wrong. That I was wrong and should repent or face eternal damnation. I was a kid! When they kicked me out, I thought they must be right. I had to be evil. After all, I didn’t believe like they did; I dared question what they tried to teach me. It took me years and your friendship to see they were evil, not me.

“But I’ll have you know that I didn’t stay in the Knight’s program just for an education and a warm place to sleep!” Elly stood up and paced around the couch, trying to get her emotions back under control. When she had, her voice had dropped in volume. “I stayed for you, Shayna. I’d fallen in love with you and wanted to be there when you learned what you were taught was wrong. I stayed to be the shoulder you cried on, just as you were the shoulder I cried on. The Knights, my parents, and all the others can go to hell. I don’t care about them. I care about you. I thought I made that clear last night.”

I felt like a third wheel, listening to this deep confession, and stood to walk out. This was a moment for them to reconcile, and they didn’t need me, or the reminders I brought up, to interfere.

“Sit your ass back down, Bobby,” Shayna’s voice cracked like a whip. For the briefest moment, I considered rebelling against the command. However, a nudge from Charlotte convinced me to comply but keep my mouth shut. Shayna stood and approached Elly, and once more, I was struck by the juxtaposition between the two. Elly stood tall, with her brown eyes and light brown hair, whereas Shayna was much shorter with her milk chocolate brown skin, blue eyes, and dirty blonde hair.

As they drew closer, I could see the pain in Shayna’s eyes intermingled with stubbornness. Her fingers trembled as she reached out, hesitated for a moment, and then gently cupped Elly’s cheek. Their eyes locked in a silent exchange of emotions, and I could practically feel the intensity of their connection.

When Shayna spoke again, there was no mistaking the contrition in her voice or posture. “I was out of line. I knew some of what you went through, and those nights holding you as you cried yourself to sleep are some of my most cherished memories, even though they also broke my heart. I’ve been struggling to come to terms with everything, and it’s been overwhelming. But you’re right; we’ve faced challenges before, and we’ll face this one together. I love you.”

Elly’s eyes softened, and she leaned into Shayna’s touch, a small smile gracing her lips. “I love you too, Shayna. We’ll figure this out, no matter how complicated it gets. And we’ll support each other through everything.”

Shayna turned to me next, and I couldn’t miss the tears welling up, ready to leak down her dark cheeks. “I promise again to keep a more open mind, but be patient with me?”

“I will,” I told her.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” she chuckled through her tears, a tremulous smile playing at her full lips. “But I guess it applies there also. I still feel—”

“I know,” Charlotte used my mouth to speak again. “It’ll take time.”

“I am terribly sorry to intrude,” the maid spoke up, breaking the tender moment. “However, if you are to arrive on time for your dinner appointment, you will want to start getting ready.”

I hadn’t even noticed her arrival, and I didn’t know what time we were due to Shayna’s parents, but a glance at the clock showed it was getting later in the afternoon.

“How am I going to face my parents after all this?” Shayna wailed, scrubbing at her eyes.

“Together,” I replied, walking up to them and pulling them into a hug.

“I swear, your file never mentioned how corny you could be,” Elly laughed, but she returned the hug all the same.

*    *    *    *

1072 A.D.

Ardin spent the following weeks following Venita’s trail, only to lose it when she entered a bustling city. One moment, he could see her fair skin and light hair heading for the gates of a massive town four days’ walk East of his village, and then her essence vanished. Somehow, despite his ability to go longer without sleep and rest, he’d found himself falling further and further behind her.

How terrified was she that she could push herself so hard? Ardin wondered as he forced himself to remain calm. He’d find her. One way or another, he would stumble across where she’d walked or meet someone who’d seen her.

To be sure, he retraced his steps, but too much time had passed. His ability allowed him to see a little into the past or know everything current about anything he touched. But he could only see so far back. As he walked barefoot up to the gates, he lost track of his wife. At least he knew she’d made it safely here.

“Halt,” a commanding voice called to him. The man spoke in Ardin’s language, but the words held a weird brusqueness. As though he wanted to cut every word off and push them out of his mouth as fast as possible. “What business do you have here, blind man?”

Ardin glanced at the man, taking in his leather armor, embossed with a crow’s head on the chest. At the guard’s side rested a sword that Ardin suspected the man knew how to use.

“My village was attacked, and I believe my wife may have escaped here,” Ardin told the guard.

“Attacked?” the man’s dark eyes regarded Ardin, his bare feet, and shoddy clothes. “You look like a refuge, but I haven’t heard of any cities getting sacked. You also sound like a country oaf. More likely, you’re coming to steal from the city or become another blind beggar. Go away before I draw my blade.”

Ardin stared at the man. He was no oaf, and he talked just fine. Who was this man who only nibbled on his words instead of using them?

Instead of arguing, he decided to try again. “Please, Sir. My Christian wife. I need to find her. We were a small village on the edge of the sea. Monsters from nightmares came out from the water and killed everyone. Even… Even our children. My wife and I were the only ones to escape, but I lost her. Please, I need to find her!”

“Monsters came out of the water?” The guard asked, laying his hand on the hilt of his sword. For a moment, Ardin hoped the man would let him by, and then the guard burst out laughing. “More like you were drunk, and she left your smelly ass. Now go away before I make you go away.”

Ardin glanced at the crow emblazoned on the man’s chest. Was he a Christian? Shouldn’t he do the right thing and verify before jumping to conclusions?

“Please—” Ardin tried one more time, taking half a step forward.

The guard acted with lightning speed. His right hand drew the blade at his side while his left pressed against Ardin’s chest. In that instant, Ardin knew the man pretended to be a Christian but was, in fact, committing adultery with his commander’s wife. The man lied, cheated, stole, and accepted bribes while outwardly extolling the virtues of the good book. He was the worst kind of man.

He was also known to kill those that got in his way. Ardin felt the blade pierce his chest, severing his heart as his mind reeled at the onslaught of information.

He opened his mouth in an attempt to protest, but blood burbled up his throat, cutting off any attempt to speak.

“This man attacked me!” the guard lied. “Throw his body in the pit.”

Ardin dropped to his knees as the blade was pulled free. Blood splattered the man’s boots, but Ardin’s mind was already lost. He now knew how to use a sword. Too bad it was too late to do anything with the knowledge.

====================

From the Author

====================

I hope this chapter finds you all well, no matter where you might be in this messed up world. I usually use this space to talk about the story, or chapters, but this time... Well, I can say my own life has been in turmoil due to happenings and chaos around the world. Writing these chapters has actually been a boon to me, as it offers some normalcy. No matter where you are, or what you're going through, I hope you're able to find some normalcy.

Take care, my dear readers.

Bobby

Elly

Shayna

Ardin