Mark of the Huntress, Ch2

Here's a preview of the second chapter!

As always, feel free to comment about anything.

---
 

2

Four hours and several dozen hushed conversations later, Kaseya and I found ourselves standing outside the Silken Rose, a festive bordello catering to the wealthy noblemen of the Redwater District on the northern side of the city. Ostensibly, one of the “dancers” inside was something of an information broker working on behalf of the Black Mistress. I had encountered plenty of similar operatives in Vorsalos, and thanks to a few well-placed charm spells I was reasonably convinced that this lead would actually get us somewhere. 

The problem, as usual, was that we still didn’t have much coin. I was already relying on my magic more than I wanted to, but unfortunately I didn’t see any other options. Maybe I would get lucky and my trail of spellcraft would ingratiate me to the Black Mistress and her allies.

“Males come here to exchange coin for coitus?” Kaseya asked.

“Some women do too, though not nearly as many,” I said. “Not everyone is lucky enough to have their own loyal amazon.”

“Mm,” she murmured. “Perhaps I should relieve you before we enter. Otherwise you may find it difficult to focus on the task at hand.”

I snorted when I imagined her dragging me into the nearest alley and tugging me to a quick climax. There were times when I was convinced she viewed me more like a cow in need of regular milking than a man with an overactive libido. 

“I’ll be fine,” I assured her. “They may have a problem with your weapons, though. They’ll ask you to leave them at the door.”

“They can ask all they like,” Kaseya said. 

I pursed my lips. “We need to be careful about causing a scene. Perhaps you should wait outside.”

“I do not wish to leave you unprotected in such a dark place. Unless you would prefer to meet with the whores alone...?”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” I said, grinning at the subtle hint of jealousy in her voice. “I’m not here for the girls.”

“You misunderstand me. I am concerned for you safety. You are free to take as many lovers as you wish, Maskari. The male stem craves variety.”

My mouth went dry. “You’re serious?”

“Of course,” she said as if it were obvious. “If you do take another lover, however, I should be present during your copulation. In the event that she is incompetent, I will ensure that you are properly relieved.”

“That’s good to know,” I murmured. Every once in a while I needed to remind myself just how insane our relationship was—and how thankful I was for it. Kaseya still seemed too perfect to be true sometimes. My natural cynicism warned me that sooner or later all of this was going to blow up in my face…

Shaking away the thought, I led her up to the entrance where an attractive greeter and a decidedly unattractive bouncer were waiting for us. The former smiled at me while the latter scowled at Kaseya.

“Good evening, my lord,” the greeter said. “Tonight’s entry fee is ten gold pieces. I am afraid your guardian will need to wait outside. We do not allow weapons or armor inside the Silken Rose.”

“That’s unfortunate,” I said, flashing my warmest smile. “She’s been looking forward to spending some of her hard-earned coin.”

“I wish there were something I could do, but I’m afraid our rules are quite clear.”

The bouncer took a menacing step forward in an attempt to intimidate Kaseya. She didn’t seem particularly impressed. 

“I’m sure you can make one little exception,” I said, reaching out through the Aether and touching the woman’s mind. “In fact, you’re so happy to serve us that you’re not even going to charge an entry fee.”

The woman’s brow creased ever so slightly before her smile returned. “Of course,” she said. “Please, go on in and enjoy yourselves.”

The bouncer turned to face her, confused, before I reached out and clouded his thoughts as well. Neither of them proved particular resistant to my magic—considering the heavy presence of the Mage’s Guild, I doubted they had to deal with someone like me very often. The proprietor probably had a magical advisor somewhere inside, however, so I knew I needed to be careful. 

“Don’t worry: we won’t cause any trouble,” I assured them with a smile. I risked a quick glance back over my shoulder to make certain no one was watching us, then touched Kaseya’s arms and led her inside. 

The place was louder, darker, and smokier than I had expected, but at least the current bard was good. The vast majority of the patrons were nobles or wealthy merchants—nearly all male—and at least half the tables seemed to have private dancers. The main stage was currently empty aside from the bard, though several servants were scrambling around to prepare it for another show. 

I led Kaseya to an empty table as quickly as I could, mostly to lower the chance of anyone throwing a fit about her weapons. Her bow and shield weren’t nearly as obvious when propped up against the wall and cloaked in the room’s long shadows. One of the serving wenches—a voluptuous young woman with freckled cheeks—came over to greet us almost immediately.

“Welcome to the Rose, darlin’,” she said, clearly talking to me but just as clearly transfixed by Kaseya. “Can I get you and your friend anything?”

“We’re actually looking for Silhouette,” I said, desperately hoping that the man who had dropped her name wasn’t full of shit. “We’d like a private dance, if possible.”

“You and about ten other guys, honey,” the wench said. “She’s only around a couple of times a week these days. You might have to make an appointment.”

I smiled. “I’m willing to pay double.”

She eyed me up and down. “I’m sure that will move you up the list a little. Assuming I remember to give her the message…”

I repressed a sigh. I didn’t have the coin for a bribe, but I really didn’t want to get in the habit of charming every person we came across. Every time I channeled I made myself more of a potential target, and the unpredictable nature of sorcery something could always go seriously wrong…

“Why would you forget such a thing?” Kaseya asked. “It is a simple message to deliver.”

I almost slapped my forehead. For all her virtues, she was as subtle as a brick to the face sometimes. 

The wench grinned. “I have a lot on my mind, honey. I just need a little incentive to remember.”

“I see,” Kaseya murmured. “Perhaps this will aid your memory: if you do not deliver the message, I will break one of your fingers. Is that enough of an incentive?”

The wench’s eyes shot open, and she belatedly noticed the weapons propped up behind our table. But before she could do anything, I reached into her mind and wove another charm spell. 

“Please, just tell Silhouette that we need to have a few words with her,” I suggested. “It won’t take long.”

The woman blinked a few times as the Aether twisted her mind and thoughts. I had just started to worry that I might have hurt her when she abruptly nodded and scurried off. 

“I doubt your magic was required,” Kaseya told me. “She took my threat of violence seriously.”

“I know—that’s the problem.” I sighed and ran a hand back through my hair. “Remember what I said about causing a scene? We really can’t afford to draw attention to ourselves. Perhaps you should just let me do all the talking.”

She studied me in silence for a moment. “You are displeased with me.”

“No, I’m just—” I paused and sighed again. “I’ve spent a lot more time dealing with these type of people than you have. It requires a certain amount of…finesse.”

“I am sorry, Jorem,” Kaseya said. “I will defer to your judgment.”

I bit down on my lip. I felt like I had just scolded a puppy. It was a patronizing comparison, I knew, but her naivety could be a real problem sometimes. And it was only going to get worse if we actually started working with an underworld figure like this Black Mistress…

“You wanted to talk to me, sweetheart?”

I turned, and mouth almost immediately fell open. I had known that Silhouette was a young half-elf, and given her line of work I had assumed she would be at least passably attractive. What I hadn’t expected was for her to be drop-dead gorgeous. Her body was the perfect amalgamation of her heritage, which was a fancy way of saying she was indistinguishable from a full-blooded elf aside from her plump, human-sized tits. Her blonde hair was cut just below her pointed ears, and her green eyes pierced through the darkness like tiny emerald beacons. 

“Uh, yeah,” I managed, clearing my throat. “You’re Silhouette?”

“That’s right,” she said, gliding forward and perching on my knee. “Ana mentioned something about a private dance and a whole lot of coin.”

I licked at my suddenly dry lips and struggled to pull my eyes off her black, thigh-high stockings and impossibly short skirt. When I finally succeeded, they just locked onto the thin bandeau cradling her breasts instead. 

“Yes,” I replied even though I had already forgotten what she’d said. 

“I charge a hundred gold an hour, honey, though if your friend wants to watch I’ll knock off ten,” Silhouette said, her voice a velvet purr. “If she wants to help out, I’ll knock off another twenty.”

“That is a very fair deal,” Kaseya said. “He desperately wishes to copulate with you.”

Blood rushed into my cheeks at nearly the same rate it was flowing into my cock. “You’ll, uh, have to forgive her,” I stuttered. “She’s new around here and doesn’t—”

“Honey, I can recognize an amazon when I see one,” Silhouette said with a giggle. “I’ve never seen one in person before, though, and I’ve definitely never played with one. I always give discounts for new experiences.” She placed her hand on Kaseya’s leg. “I bet there are a lot of things you could teach me.”

“Possibly,” the amazon replied. “I would also enjoy the opportunity to learn from a professional. I’m certain you could instruct me a wide variety of techniques to better please my Maskari.”

My breath caught in my throat. What the hell had just happened? What had I just witnessed?

“Then I think we have a deal,” Silhouette said. “Though you will understand if I ask for payment before we head upstairs…”

I smiled, wishing more than ever than I was a wealthy man. I didn’t have a hundred gold coins—I didn’t have a hundred of any coins. And no matter how hard my cock was throbbing or how desperately my libido was begging me to charm this girl onto her knees, I wasn’t actually here for sex. I needed information, and she might have been the only one capable of providing it. 

“On second thought, let’s forget the coin for now,” Silhouette said unexpectedly. “Why don’t we head upstairs where we can discuss the details?”

She slid off my lap and held out her arm for me. I stood without even thinking about it, and before I knew what was happening we were halfway up the nearby staircase. Kaseya was walking right alongside us, her eyes vacant. She had also left her weapons behind, which was extremely out of character…

It was only then, in a flash of panic, that I realized I had been right before—the proprietor did have a magical advisor on staff. And apparently that advisor just happened to be his most coveted whore. 

You fucking idiot, what have you gotten yourself into now?

I closed my eyes and tried to fight against the charm spell Silhouette had so subtly woven over us.Now that I was conscious of what she had done, it was easier for me to feel the Aetheric currents flowing between us. Unfortunately, sensing them and stopping them were completely different things. Even when I ordered my legs to stop moving they refused to obey. 

“What…” I croaked. “What are you…?”

“We’re almost there, sweetheart,” Silhouette cooed. “Then we can have some fun without any distractions.”

We entered one of the private suites a few seconds later, and the instant the door closed Silhouette’s eyes flashed with Aetheric power. Kaseya’s body abruptly stiffened as she snapped out of the spell clouding her thoughts. She drew the dagger concealed in her boot, lunged forward…

And vanished. 

“What the hell…” I stammered, glancing around the room. I could still feel Kaseya’s presence through our bond, but I couldn’t see her anywhere. Gritting my teeth, I reached out to the Aether and summoned its power to my hands—

At which point Silhouette slammed me against the wall with a sudden burst of telekinetic force. Before I could recover, several magical, web-like strands of energy materialized in the air and pinned my arms above my head. 

“It’s not every day a fellow sorcerer walks into my parlor,” the half-elf said, calmly sauntered forward until her lips were barely an inch from my face. “At least, not one stupid enough to channel the Aether in public. Poor Teresa downstairs is going to have a headache for hours.”

I swallowed and forced myself to take a deep breath. Valuri had always warned me not to underestimate whores. In massive cities like Vorsalos and Highwind, they were often the keepers of dangerous secrets. I just hadn’t expected Silhouette to be the keeper of dangerous magic as well. 

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I never had any intention of harming anyone. I’m just here for information, and I was told that you are the only one who can help me.”

Silhouette studied me carefully for a long moment, her green eyes glittering. Under different circumstances, I wouldn’t have minded being tied up in front of a woman this beautiful, but right now I felt like an idiot for getting caught flat-footed so easily. There was still a chance I could overpower her if I needed to, but I was more concerned about Kaseya.

“Your amazon friend is safe,” Silhouette said. “She just can’t see us at the moment. The mind is the most powerful sexual organ, you see, but it’s also the most devious prison.”

I closed my eyes and tried to reach out through our bond again. I could still sense Kaseya’s presence, but I couldn’t communicate with her. If I could somehow activate the ring, however, I might be able to help her break free of Silhouette’s spell…

“You are new to Highwind, so perhaps you don’t understand just how badly the Archmage frowns upon sorcery,” Silhouette said. “And his wife, the Academy Headmistress…well, let’s just say she’s even less fond of us than he is.”

“I’m from Vorsalos,” I told her. “Believe me—I know exactly what it’s like when powerful people despise you.”

She studied me again. I didn’t get the sense that she was actually upset—she actually seemed more amused than anything. Of course, a cat probably also seemed amused when it was playing with its food…

“I’m here because I’m looking for allies,” I said. “Rumor has it that there’s a new power in the undercity—a Black Mistress who welcomes people like you and I.”

Silhouette smiled. “The Mage’s Guild considers her a criminal, and the Highwind Council considers her the greatest threat to the city’s security.”

“That’s only because they’ve never encountered the Senosi. If they think the Black Mistress is bad for harboring sorcerers, just wait until the Grand Inquisitrix shows up and tells them that all magic is evil.”

While she paced off to the side and considered my words, I channeled the Aether back through me and focused upon my ring. I couldn’t move my hand through the web, but I didn’t need to—a tiny bit of telekinetic force was all it took to depress the tiny crystal embedded in the side. A second later Kaseya’s emotions washed over me. She was enraged at being deceived, but otherwise I mostly just sensed confusion. 

It’s all an illusion. Focus on my presence, and you should be able to pierce the veil.

“The Black Mistress is always seeking worthy recruits,” Silhouette said after a moment. “Careless ones, however, are another matter entirely. Why would she be interested in risking her position to harbor someone like you?”

“Because she needs me,” I said. I could feel Kaseya pushing through the illusion; I just needed to buy her a few more seconds…

Silhouette snorted. “So you’re arrogant and reckless, then.”

“I’m the only person in this city with the knowledge to help you defeat the Inquisitrix and her Senosi,” I said. “I’ll give you an example. A few days ago, a mage named Dieran was smuggling some illegal magical cargo into the city for you, but his caravan never arrived. The Duskwatch and the Mage’s Guild blame bandits, but I know the truth: the Senosi stole whatever it was you were transporting.”

Her face barely moved, which I took as further proof of her professionalism rather than a sign of ignorance. “Go on.”

“There’s not much else to say, other than the fact my amazon friend and I killed the Huntress responsible,” I said. “Unfortunately, the cargo is long gone. And now that you have the Inquistrix’s attention, you can look forward to even more plunder over the next few months. She has all but conquered Vorsalos, and now she’s focused on expanding her reach here.”

Silhouette stopped pacing in front of me. “Interesting, assuming any of it is true,” she said. “But I hope you don’t expect me to help you based on random hearsay and conjecture.”

“No,” I said, smiling. “I expect me you to help me because if you don’t, my friend is going to kill you.”

I had the pleasure of watching Silhouette frown in confusion an instant before Kaseya reappeared and tackled the half-elf onto the room’s plush bed. In the span of two seconds, Silhouette was pinned face-down with her arms locked behind her back and a dagger at her throat. 

“Even a mental prison can be opened with the right key,” I said, channeling the Aether back through my body. Without her standing over me, I had time to unravel the threads of her spell and free myself from the webs. “Now, how about we restart our negotiations from the beginning?”

***

“Impossible,” Silhouette breathed. “How did you escape so quickly?”

“Amazons are clever like that,” I said, rubbing at my unshackled wrists. “If I were you, I would be trying really hard to keep her happy right about now.”

Oddly enough, Silhouette didn’t seem particularly concerned despite the knife pressing against her throat. If anything, she looked almost excited…perhaps even aroused. What in the hell had I gotten myself into?

“I apologize for the deception,” the half-elf said after a moment. “But you did manipulate my assistant’s mind, and I had no other way to gauge your intentions.”

“You can apologize by telling Jorem everything you know about the Black Mistress,” Kaseya said.

“It’s all right,” I soothed. “I think maybe we all just got off on the wrong foot here. How about we relax and try again?”

I gestured for Kaseya to stand down, and she grudgingly removed her knife from Silhouette’s neck. She kept the half-elf’s arms pinned behind her back, however, and remained pressed atop her.  

“I’ve heard stories of the amazons and their bonding rituals,” Silhouette said, her eyes shifting over to my ring. “I can sense your connection now. It’s remarkably strong.”

“Another reason your mistress should want to meet with us,” I said. “We’re in need of powerful allies, but I suspect she is, too.”

Silhouette smiled. It was incredibly disarming, and I caught myself reflexively letting my guard down. She was good—there was no way around it. I had a feeling she had far more influence with the Black Mistress than she was letting on. 

“A face-to-face meeting is possible, but it will take some time,” Silhouette said. “She’s a busy woman, and one can’t be too careful with the Mage’s Guild and Knights of the Silver Fist sticking their noses where they don’t belong.”

“Naturally,” I replied. “Unfortunately, time is a factor. The Inquisitrix is currently holding a prisoner with incredibly valuable information on the Senosi’s current plans in Highwind. I’m not sure how long she’ll survive.”

“Let me guess: this prisoner also happens to be a friend of yours.”

I shrugged. “Does it matter? She’s a former Senosi Huntress with information you won’t be able to attain anywhere else. She’s also incredibly skilled and would make for another powerful ally.”

Silhouette’s smile widened. “You really are an interesting man, aren’t you?”

“I have my moments,” I murmured. “So, what do you say?”

“I will get a message to my mistress tonight. I can’t make any promises, but with luck I’ll hear back shortly and contact you. I’m afraid that’s the best I can do.”

Kaseya glanced back at me. Through our link I could feel her asking for permission to get more aggressive. But there was no point—this wasn’t exactly the deal I had been hoping for, but it was probably the best we were going to get.

“All right—it’s a deal,” I said. “Just make sure she’s aware of the potential opportunities here.”

“That is my job,” Silhouette said with a wry smirk. “Speaking of which, my time is quite valuable. You’ve cost me a great deal already. I have a client downstairs who would have paid me hundreds of coin for this kind of personalized attention.”

“You’ll live,” Kaseya muttered. 

I sighed and smiled back. “I’m sorry, but you know we can’t afford to pay you.”

“I wasn’t asking for gold, honey,” Silhouette said, slithering out from beneath Kaseya’s grip. “Like I said before, a woman in my position values new experiences far more than coin. And I must say…I haven’t met someone so enticing in a very long time.”

“Really,” I murmured, trying to remain skeptical even as my cock swelled back to life. I didn’t trust her, obviously, but I couldn’t just ignore her taught elven body and plump human tits. “Given your connections to the Black Mistress, I would have thought you’d get a fair amount of sorcerer clients in here.”

“Oh, we do. But you’re not the one I’m talking about.” Silhouette placed a hand on Kaseya’s thigh. “I’ve never tasted an amazon before. What do you think, honey? You want to have some fun?”

Kaseya blinked. “You wish to copulate with me?”

Silhouette chuckled. “I’d like to start by licking that pretty cunt of yours. After that…who knows where the gods will lead us?”

My cock had never gotten so hard after a rejection. And my voice had never dried up so quickly.

“I do not even know you,” Kaseya said after a moment. 

“What does that have to do with anything?” Silhouette asked with a snort. “I don’t know most of people who come through my door, but I guarantee they all have a good time.”

Kaseya glanced over to me. “Jorem is the one who wishes to enjoy your services.”

“Good for him.” Silhouette scoffed and slipped her hand further beneath the amazon’s skirt. “Look, if it makes you feel better he can fuck me too. But not until I’ve had a taste.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but apparently my voice was still on holiday. Thankfully, Kaseya could sense my approval through our magical bond. 

“Very well,” she said. “Though I am not certain how—”

She didn’t even have a chance to protest before Silhouette flipped up the straps of her skirt and assaulted the leather thong beneath. I was a bit surprised by how easily Kaseya gave in; she spread her legs and leaned back the instant Silhouette pulled thong over her boots. If not for our bond, I might have assumed that the half-elf had woven another charm spell. But no, Kaseya was acting purely of her own accord, and her pleasure shuddered through our bond and nearly knocked me to my knees. 

“Shit,” I whispered, leaning against the bedpost for support. Kaseya had told me that enjoyed the company of other women. It made perfect sense, given how she had been a virgin awaiting her Maskari for twenty long years. Still, I found it shocking to see the woman I had been relentlessly fucking for a week readily submit to another person. It was only when she made eye contact with me and winked that I realized what was really going on: she knew I had activated the ring, which meant she knew I would feel everything she felt. And most importantly, she knew how much it would drive me crazy. 

Clever girl. 

I freed my cock a split second before I erupted all over the inside of my trousers. I dove onto the bed and grabbed Silhouette’s slender waist, hoping she wouldn’t protest. I got my wish—she arched her back and readily presented herself to me. Smacking her ass in anticipation, I pushed up her skirt and grinned when I saw she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. Her tight elven ass was practically begging to be plugged, but I nudged the head of my cock into her smoldering quim instead. 

“Here’s to a productive new relationship,” I said, thrusting all the way inside. I had never fucked an elf before—barely any of the fair folk lived in Vorsalos—but I had heard stories about their legendary tightness. For once, the rumors didn’t disappoint. The walls of her cunt cradled my cock so snugly it was almost painful. Thankfully she was gushing wet, and I slammed into her over and over while her tongue lathered Kaseya to climax. 

I almost turned off my ring to protect myself from the sudden wave of euphoria, but instead I grit my teeth and enjoyed the sensation even while I fought to contain my load. Later, I promised myself, I would crawl between Kaseya’s athletic thighs and return one of the many favors she had already given me. But right now I really wanted to see how long I could hold out. 

The answer, as it turned out, was not very long. Mere seconds after Kaseya’s climax faded I felt my own swell beyond my control. I slapped Silhouette’s ass hard enough to turn her cheeks red, and I was tempted to flip her taught little body over and deposit my seed all over her tits and chin. I settled on leaving my mess between her naked shoulder blades instead, however, and a split second before I flooded her cunt I pulled out and took aim—

At which point Kaseya practically lunged forward over Silhouette, mouth agape, in an attempt to catch my offering mid-blast. She barely made it. My first volley struck her lips and cheek, but she gulped down the rest while I was paralyzed in a euphoric haze. I slumped backwards once I finished, amazed that she had found yet another way to surprise me. 

“You know, it’s not polite to steal all the credit for another woman’s work, honey,” Silhouette snickered as she rolled over.

“Jorem is my responsibility,” Kaseya said, licking her lips clean. “You should be grateful for his attention, no matter how limited.”

The half-elf’s blonde eyebrows arched in disbelief, and I knew exactly how she felt. I still couldn’t quite believe that Kaseya was real either, not even after everything we had been through. 

“I think I need to take a trip to little island of yours someday,” Silhouette said. 

I grunted. “You and me both.”

***

Kaseya and I were back out on the street ten minutes later, and I glanced back over my shoulder at the brothel just before we ducked into a nearby alley. All in all, the meeting had gone far better than I could have reasonably expected. We might not have had an official meeting with the Black Mistress yet, but at least we were finally on the right back. I had also fucked my first elf, which a few short months ago I would have considered my greatest life achievement. Altering the fabric of reality with my mind was great and all, but a man still needed to have priorities. 

“I suppose we might as well head back to the inn and get some sleep,” I suggested. “At this point, there’s nothing left to do but wait.”

“Do you really believe she will arrange a meeting for us?” Kaseya asked. 

“I think I made a convincing argument that we’re useful,” I said. “And I’m pretty sure she’s smart enough to realize we can be useful allies. I’m just not sure how their organization is structured or where the Black Mistress is hiding herself—or if she’s even real, for that matter.”

Kaseya frowned. “Not real?”

“The name could just be a title used by multiple people. Several of the crime guilds in Vorsalos functioned that way.” I shrugged. “In the end, I guess it doesn’t really matter. Either she reaches out to us or she doesn’t.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“Then we start looking for help elsewhere,” I said. “Don’t bother asking if I have any ideas, because I don’t.”

“I have faith in your abilities,” Kaseya said, smiling and touching my arm. “We will find a way to rescue your friend.”

I smiled back. “You know, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself back there. Silhouette seemed pretty…skilled.”

“She was. Even Hestiah could not bring me so quickly, and she has perfected her technique.”

I bit down on my lip and tried to ignore the mental image of two tall, statuesque amazons crawling beneath each other’s skirts. It didn’t work—my cock had already started tingling back to life. It was a real problem considering how far we still had to walk before we got back to the inn. 

“I am pleased that you enjoyed copulating with her,” Kaseya went on. “She is quite beautiful.”

I swallowed and picked up the pace of my stride. “You really aren’t bothered by what happened?”

“Why would I be?”

“Let’s just say that most other women I’ve met are a bit more…possessive.”

Kaseya shook her head. “We are not married, Jorem. I have explained this before.”

“I know,” I murmured. “It’s just a little hard to believe.”

“I have pledged myself to you and you alone. No other stem is welcome inside me without your permission. But you are free to satisfy yours however you wish.” She paused a moment and matched my new stride. “I assume that once you rescue your friend, you will wish to copulate with her as well. I look forward to witnessing your reunion.”

At this point, the bulge in my pants had officially become uncomfortable. “Believe me, I’m not complaining. I’m just trying to understand.”

Kaseya shrugged. “Every time you desire to relieve yourself inside another woman, I see it as a challenge for my abilities. It means I need to improve.”

“You really don’t—”

“For example, I plan to drain you several times tonight,” she went on. “By morning, I doubt you will even remember that elf whore.”

I bit down on my lip so hard I drew blood. Grabbing her hand, I took off in a flat sprint. We flew through the streets at record speed, and if I had known anything about teleportation magic I would have warped us onto our bed in the Knight’s Lantern and jammed my cock straight up her ass. Just like she’d predicted, I had already forgotten Silhouette and her tight elven cunt by the time we burst through the inn door and dashed towards the staircase in back. 

We were halfway up the steps when the owner called out to me. “Wait a moment!” he said. “I have something for you here.”

I paused and turned, half tempted to fling a fireball on his face just to shut him up. I really, really needed to get Kaseya into our room as quickly as possible…

“Can it wait until morning?” I asked instead. 

“I suppose, though the courier said it was important. Of course, they always say that, so who the hell knows?”

A warning tingle abruptly shivered down my spine. “Courier?”

“Yeah, the one who delivers messages?” the man said as if I were an idiot. He snorted and retrieved a scroll from behind the counter. “He came in here a few hours ago looking for your lady friend there.” 

Kaseya frowned. “He asked for me by name?”

“Naw, just by description: the tall red-head with the shield and leather skirt. You’re hard to miss, honey.”

The tingle in my spine grew colder when I reached out and took the scroll. We had been back in Highwind for all of six hours, and before that we had only been inside the city for a day. I didn’t know anyone here and neither did Kaseya—why would someone have sent her a message? And how had they known where to find her?

“Thanks,” I said, flicking a few coins on the counter and heading upstairs. By the time we reached the room and pushed open the door, my lust had completely evaporated in a cloud of confusion. 

“Why are you so concerned?” Kaseya asked, her brow scrunched.

I pulled open the scroll instead of replying. The message inside was short and straight to the point. 

Your friend Valuri is alive. If you ever want to see her again, you will meet me on the Gallowstone Pier tomorrow evening at midnight. Bring your amazon pet with you and we will make a trade. 

—Ayrael

I lowered the scroll and paused for a moment to try and let my heartbeat settle. “That name,” I rasped. “The Senosi Huntress whispered it just before just before she died back at that bandit outpost.”

When Kaseya didn’t reply, I glanced back over my shoulder. Her face had completely drained of color. I activated my bond ring, and the sudden rush of emotions was so intense it nearly knocked me off my feet. She wasn’t just surprised—she was mortified. It was only then that I remembered her strange reaction when we had first heard the name. I had been so focused on Valuri that I hadn’t pressed her on it.

“You recognize the name,” I reasoned. “You said that Ayrael was the reason you and your friend Hestiah were in Vorsalos.”

Kaseya swallowed and closed her eyes. “Yes.”

“Why? Who is she?”

“Someone who betrayed my people. Someone who betrayed me.”

I frowned. “But the two of you were ambushed by a Senosi Huntress. How could one of them have possibly betrayed you? There aren’t any Senosi on Nol Krovos.”

“No, there are not. But there is another amazon in Vorsalos.”

I took a step back when the truth belatedly occurred to me. “Ayrael is an amazon,” I said. “And she joined the Senosi.”

I hissed softly between my teeth. The Inquisitrix rarely recruited outside of Vorsalos, but there were exceptions. As far as I could tell, her only non-negotiable characteristic was gender. A trained amazon was a perfect fit for her cabal of highly-trained, psychopathic women. 

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” I asked. 

“I was embarrassed. Ayrael’s betrayal has shames me.”

“You personally?” I asked, shaking my head. “Why?”

Kaseya sighed and finally reopened her eyes. “Because she is my sister.”