"Texas and Lappland?" Exusiai smiled secretively. "What about them? They're… good friends of mine. Really good friends! We work really well together."

The poor Sankta knows exactly what she's getting into. Stepping into the wolves' den. She's not in the room for a few seconds before Texas and Lappland look straight at her, and they exchange knowing looks.

"We work… REALLY well together. Closure actually told me, heh… she's never seen a more productive Trading Post Trio!"

Exusiai closes the door behind her, and locks it.

"Hi Texas. Hi Lappland. Ready to get to work?"

The angel smiles devilishly, unzipping her jacket, before tossing it aside carelessly.

"Let's do good work today, mmkay?"

"I don't really know the EXACT number… but Closure said that when me, Texas, and Lappland work together… it's like… productivity skyrockets! A big percent number. I don't remember the number, but it's seriously a big percent! So many percents!"

Before she knows it, she's got a wolf on either side. Lappland smiles mischievously. Texas glares them down. They don't have to say anything - Texas leads. She always leads. "Undress me," she tells Exusiai, and Exusiai gets to work on helping Texas out of her clothes.

"Texas and Lappland, you know… they're Lupus." Exusiai smiles with embarrassment, and she rubs the back of her neck. "Lupus are very… what's the word…"

Possessive.

The suit jacket comes off of Texas's shoulders, and no sooner than that does Lappland come up behind Exusiai to pull the angel right up to her own body.

"What do you think you're doing?" Texas asks Lappland, scowling.

"Oh, Texas, you always go first!" Lappland licks her lips, holding a hand over Exusiai's neck, like she was threatening to choke the poor angel. "Why don't you let ME get her warmed up for a change? I know how badly she's missed this body of mine~"

"A-Ahhh…" Exusiai stiffens underneath Lappland's touch, her entire body shuddering when she feels those nails on her neck. "Come on, Lappy, wait your turn…"

Exusiai clears her throat, and she runs a hand over her own neck. "Lupus are very…"

Predatory.

That's the expression that Texas gives the both of them.

The Black Wolf was about to be uncaged. Maybe that's what Lappland wants.

She wants to see The Old Texas. She wants the other Lupo to lose control.

Exusiai can't let that happen. Not again. Someone could get seriously hurt.

"Texas…~" Exusiai hummed lustfully, and she hiked up her shirt to expose her midriff; her bare and beckoning navel. She wasn't wearing a bra, either. She doesn't need one when they're together. "Calm down, Texas… come here…~"

Exusiai takes a deep breath. "Ha ha ha… sorry, it's kind of hard to think right now. You know what I mean, right? Lupus - especially ones like Texas and Lappland - I don't know, maybe it's a mafioso thing? They can be so…"

Aggressive.

When Texas pinches Exusiai's nipple, she squeals aloud. Fortunately, this room is soundproof. No one was coming to save her.

"Hey now! Careful you don't break our chew toy, Texas…'' Lappland grabbed Exusiai's face by the chin, startling the Sankta as she made her look into her eyes. Exusiai gazed deeply into Lappland's silver irises. Like small, icy lakes. She was going to drown.

"You're one to talk." Texas growls softly, as she palms Exusiai's bare breasts with both hands, getting a good feel of the Sankta's merchandise. Whatever she put on display. "Exusiai, do you remember your safe word?'' And Exusiai nodded - as best she could while Lappland held her by the chin. "Good. If you ever need to say it… feel free."

"Why are you reminding her? She knows how the game is played." Lappland gently shook Exusiai's head, and the angel opened her mouth for a kiss. When Lappland pushes her tongue into her mouth, everything gets hazy.

"A-Anyway! I'm getting a bit sidetracked… point is, there's no better team on Rhodes Island, that's for sure!" Exusiai laughed nervously. "Sure, Texas and Lappland have been rivals for a long time… but the past is in the past!"

"Who did you miss more, my little angel?" Lappland smiled daringly after asking. "Be honest, now. You missed my fingers on your skin, hmm? You missed my teeth on your neck? My thick, throbbing—"

"Keep dreaming. She only lays with you to placate you. Otherwise, it's merely tolerance. I know I'm right," Texas claimed. As she spoke, the dark-haired Lupo held Exusiai by both her cheeks, looking straight into the angel's eyes. Like she was trying to find something.

The truth? Exusiai couldn't say. She loved both her dogs very much. No matter how much they butted heads, she belonged to them, just as they belonged to her.

Exusiai shuddered. When Texas looked deep into her eyes like this, it was like she was looking into two black holes. This was different from the clear lakes of Lappland's own eyes. With Lappland, Exusiai could drown. With Texas… she was going to be swallowed whole. Forever lost. Taken.

It made her so fucking wet.

"Strong? Y-yeah, they're both really strong. Texas, and Lappland… s-so strong. I don't know if I could ever take them on! Even when we spar, it's like… oh shit, I might die, you know? Heheheh…" Exusiai fidgeted, nervously. "S-sorry, can I have a glass of water? It's hot…"

"Say my name."

Exusiai nodded, weakly. "T-e-x-a-s…"

The whip cracks again. Exusiai screams. She's crying.

It hurts better than anything in this world.

"Louder." Texas commands. Exusiai listens.

"TEXAS…!"

She's strung up in the middle of the room. Like an ornament. A decoration. That's what she was. A prize to be admired. Something to be regarded fondly. Something owned.

"I want to hear you say my name." Texas squeezes the handle of the whip. "Tell me who owns you."

"TEXAS!" The whip cracks against Exusiai's bare ass, leaving a deep mark upon her backside. "OW~! TEXAAAAS~!"

Lappland grabs the angel's face.

She wipes away Exusiai's tears with her tongue.

Long, languid licks. Utterly delicious.

That's when the knife comes out.

Exusiai gasps. She can shake all she wants - she's not getting out of those bindings. As her body slowly twirls and sways in the center of the room, Lappland drags her own tongue against the stainless steel in her grasp, smiling almost evilly if Exusiai didn't know any better.

"Now I want you to spell mine," Lappland told the angel, with bound wings.

The tip of the blade finds its home against the Sankta's bare tummy.

"How do you spell my name, my little angel?" Lappland asks.

Exusiai's tears stain the floor. More fluids would soon follow.

She has so, so much to give them.

"Sora, and Croissant? Sure, we're all friends. We're Penguin Logistics, we can do anything! Texas and Lappland though… there's something about them. I'm very close to them. Very close… I like to make sure they stay out of trouble. Makes me sound like some kind of therapist, huh? Heh heh heh…"

"She's such a diligent little thing, isn't she?" Lappland giggles, tossing the stained knife onto the workstation. Texas has to agree.

"The toys we had back in Siracusa. They were rather…" Texas shrugs her shoulders.

"One-use-only?" Lappland grins.

"That's a very good way to put it."

"Oh, but not our little angel. No… our angel's something truly special, right?"

Texas pulls the cigarette from her lips, and she pats Exusiai over the head. The sweet-smelling smoke that billows from the Lupo's lips fills the Sankta's lungs. She'd cough if she wasn't already used to it.

"Exusiai… What are you to me?" Texas asks. Funny how innocent the question sounds beyond its current context. Perhaps only months ago, the answer would have been: friend.

"Your toy…" Exusiai replies, smiling weakly. She starts to laugh. Then she cries out when the cigarette tip is placed against her nipple. "Aah!"

"What are you to me, my sweet little angel?" Lappland asks her, cracking her knuckles. Exusiai is a good girl - she already knows the answer to this question. Even if she would have said colleague in the past - they're not living in the past. Not anymore.

"Your slave…" Exusiai whimpers. "I'm your slave…"

"Atta girl!" Lappland reaches up and yanks Exusiai's hair, causing the little angel to whine from the pain. The sweet, sweet pain.

"What are you to us?" Texas asks, holding her hands behind her back. "Say it slowly now. Say it loud and proud."

Exusiai takes a deep breath. The air smells smoky. Coppery. It smells violent. It smells like everything she's grown used to, and comes to crave.

"I'm… your… very… special… toy…" ❤️

"The thing is… I think Texas and Lappland really do need me. And I need them. Is that weird to say? I don't think it's weird to say. I think that, umm…" Exusiai swallows hard, then decides to smile. "I think that without me… they'd be… their old selves. The less said about that… the better. Ha ha, maybe they should call me Wolf Tamer Exusiai, huh? Phew…"

Exusiai leans back, steepling her fingers. "Gosh… this entire interview, I've been going on and on about Texas and Lappland! Makes me sound like I'm obsessed with them…"

And she was.

She was addicted to the pleasure.

She was addicted to the pain.

Every drop spilled, was another ounce gained.

Exusiai put a hand over her own heart.

"I'm just…"

Texas turned over beneath the silk sheets.

She put her hand over Exusiai's cheek.

"Did I hurt you… too much?"

Exusiai shook her head. She smiled, with utter relief.

"No, you didn't, Texas…"

"Are you sure?" Because she wasn't. She frowned at the sight of her dearest friend.

"I promise you didn't hurt me. You were rougher last time," she teased.

"Mm. If you say so…"

Texas scooted close. She pressed her forehead against Exusiai's.

"You know I love you, right?"

"I know, Texas. And I love you too."

And she meant it.

"I'm just… you know…" Exusiai tried to explain. Was she getting choked up?

There's a stirring behind her, as Lappland comes close, and wraps her arms around Exusiai's midsection. Moments later, there's a soft pair of lips against Exusiai's neck. Almost too soft for this world, despite all its grievances.

"Little angel…" Lappland whispered.

"Lappland… are you okay?" Exusiai asked. She always cared.

"I should be asking that question, you fool…"

"I'm fine, Lappland. Are you worried?" She smiled. Lappland didn't reply with words. She just whined, softly, and nuzzled Exusiai closely. Warmly. Tenderly. It was a side of Lappland that no one else got to see. That was special. She was special.

Exusiai turned around, carefully, and kissed Lappland over her closed eye, right on the scar that marked her face. Exusiai promised herself that she'd kiss every single one of Lappland's scars. Better get a head start.

"Hey, Lappland…" Exusiai smiled softly. "I love you too."

Lappland held the angel tighter that night. She didn't need to say anything more.

"S-sorry! I don't know what's gotten into me today…" Exusiai rubbed her eyes, sniffling. "Ugh, I'm so cringe… I'm trying to say I'm happy they're in my life, okay? Both of them! Can we cut this part out of the interview? Pretty please? Ugh… I need a minute…"

Texas slept soundly that night.

Lappland, too, snored silently. Peacefully.

Where did that leave Exusiai?

The angel nestled between two demons.

A Sankta between two Lupus.

A chew toy. A plaything. A necessary job.

And she was damn good at her job.

As she cuddled the two wolves closely, she realized something that was at once comforting, and concerning. Something soothing… and something scary.

She never wanted to let them go.