Tally's individual training was going equally as well. Verger had placed her in the dollhouse again, but with deeper hallucinations and better hidden seeds. It was more difficult than Tally anticipated, but she had managed to figure it out and find the seeds based on their colors.
Verger was impressed, and it certainly made Tally beam with pride. The downside was that she was soaked with sweat. One of the seeds made the temperature climb rather high, and it was the one that pushed her to find that particular seed as fast as possible. It was stifling in the small room.
She managed to have just enough time to grab a quick shower before dashing to the War Room to watch the strike team.
She was the last to arrive, but made it with a minute to spare as she stood next to Sarah. She reached down, threading their fingers together as the large scry lit up.
"They're in position, General," Clary said.
Alder's eyes swept over the scry, giving a single nod for them to advance.
The base was well guarded, they could see as much.
"Wait!" Tally exclaimed suddenly.
"Halt them," Alder ordered immediately. Her eyes turned to Tally. "What do you see?"
"There's…" she trailed off as she looked closer. "There's some sort of Working around the base. I can't tell what it is exactly, but it's…crude."
Alder hummed, understanding what Tally was trying to explain through their bond. "I want the strike team to move closer, but remain out of sight."
She waited until they were nearer, and then she had them stop.
"It's running along the perimeter," Tally said. "I'd guess an alarm system of sorts."
"Can you see where the source is?" Clary asked.
Tally looked closer. "Have them head East, just until they can see the corner of the building."
The strike team moved carefully, doing as ordered from General Clary. When they stopped, Tally pointed.
"Right there," she said, pointing at an electrical box just a bit away from the building. "It's coming from that."
"Take it out," Alder ordered via farspeech to the strike team. "Quietly."
A soft seed of disruption echoed through the scry and Tally gave a nod when the Working was disabled.
"Can you see any additional guards?" Sarah asked, eyes trained on the screen.
"There's a handful on the outside, and looks like there's around ten inside the building," she responded.
"Strike team," Alder began, "Take out the guards around the building, quietly. We can go in blazing once they're dealt with."
The strike team fanned out, pressing closer until they could take the members out with their scourges or seeds. It was quick and clean, and Sarah gave the order to push ahead.
"Do you seen any other Workings?" Alder asked Tally.
The redhead shook her head. "They just had the perimeter imbued. They're clear."
"Strike team, eliminate all targets," she ordered.
They watched as the team entered the building, engaging the Camarilla members. They attacked their throats first, disabling each of their vocal boxes before killing each and every one of them—the element of surprise on their side.
"Targets neutralized, General," one of the strike team members reported.
"Place the charges and get out," Alder ordered.
"We're blowing it?" Abigail asked, eyes shifting over to Alder.
The General nodded slowly. "I want that thing blown to bits. Wipe it off the map."
"Yes, General," one of the strike members replied.
They all watched as the charges were placed throughout the building. They left the building then, waiting until they were clear of the blast radius.
"Clear, ma'am."
Alder gave a single nod.
"Detonate," General Clary ordered.
There was a moment of silence before the building went up in smoke and flames—debris falling through the air and crashing into the ground billow, kicking up grass and dirt.
"Destroyed, ma'am."
"Bring them home immediately," Alder ordered. She turned her back on the scry, eyes falling onto the table and the map that rested there.
A hand rested on her shoulder, and she turned to meet the eyes of her songmate.
Tally placed her hand over top of Sarah's. "Are you okay?"
Alder nodded stiffly. "I only wish I could be with them."
"You're bloodthirsty," Tally pointed out. It wasn't judgmental or cruel. It was a statement. She could practically taste it through their bond, and Tally didn't blame Sarah one bit for wanting to be in the mud with them.
"I want to wipe them all out, Tally. Every last one," Alder thought darkly.
Tally's hand threaded with hers. "I know you do, imé wèlá."
Sarah's eyes softened, no longer swimming with bloodlust. Tally's soft tone and the warmth in the bond soothed her aching soul, and she released a sigh of relief. She stood, straightened her jacket, and brought Tally's hand up to her lips to kiss it.
She turned and walked over to her bar cart to pour herself a glass of whiskey. She took a sip, relishing in the slight burn of the liquid as it made its way to her belly. "What's the status on our strike team for the recon at the warehouse?"
"In position, General."
Alder leaned against the table, watching the scry. "Do you see anything?" she asked Tally.
"No."
"Advance, slowly," Alder ordered through farspeech.
The team moved carefully, eyes sweeping their surroundings as they approached the warehouse.
"Wait," Tally interrupted.
"Halt your positions," Alder ordered as all eyes fell on Tally.
"There's nothing there," Tally said.
Clary looked over at Petra and then Alder, not understanding.
"Nothing," Tally repeated firmly.
Sarah then realized the implication. "There's no sign of Work. Which means they either have a technological alarm system or it's rigged."
The redhead nodded. "Exactly."
Alder glared a burning hole in the scry, considering the next move carefully. "Something simple then. Throw something at it."
"General?" Clary questioned curiously.
"A rock, something small, I don't care what it is but hurl it at the door. Let's see what happens."
Clary gave the order, and everyone in the War Room waited and watched. A rock hurled to the door, causing a chain reaction of sounds being released.
"The same frequency that blocks our work," Clary murmured.
Alder snarled. "They trip wired their own warehouses in case we discovered them. I don't doubt that they've been alerted."
"Orders?" Petra asked worriedly.
"General," one of the strike members called through the connection. "Something is coming from the building."
Tally's eyes widened, spotting it first. "It's the witch plague."
"Get them out, now!" Alder barked.
The strike team quickly slapped salva on their necks, lifting into the air and toward the nearest bat to them. They could see a tendril of the plague reach up for the last member just before they moved out of distance, narrowly avoiding it.
"They're rigged," Alder growled. Her fury was overwhelming, and she knew it was seeping into her and Tally's link.
"Sarah," Tally spoke softly, reaching out to take her face in her hands. "With me, imé wèlá." Tally breathed deep and slow, forcing Sarah to match her.
"They're out of range," Anacostia said, her eyes worriedly trailing over her foster mother.
Sarah's forehead was wrinkled with the tensing of her muscles in her attempt to relax. She felt herself soften as Tally guided her back with whispered assurances through their bond.
Sarah.
Sarah's eyes shot open—and Tally's widened, startled by the sudden reaction Sarah just had.
"Did you hear that?" Alder asked her.
Tally shook her head.
Eébùcháí, Sarah, the voice instructed.
She inhaled sharply, calming and relaxing as she listened.
"Gener—" Petra began, only to have Alder hold up a hand in silence.
'Uyèghà ùrì mé péník'òyè—péchér jìrùvónàz úrràyà ènò, the voice whispered in her mind.
Sarah released a shaky breath and nodded in acknowledgement—seemingly to herself.
"I hear Her too," Raelle said, drawing Alder's line of sight.
The others all shared a look of confusion.
"Yèó," Alder said aloud.
The presence coiled around her mind softly. Pé luzòvú, jè lóù pézòvú, Sarah.
Alder gave a firm nod. Silently thanking The Mother for speaking to her, and her gratefulness at her own mind for allowing Her to be heard.
"What was it?" Tally asked softly, as if she would startle Sarah.
"The Mother," Sarah replied, looking at Raelle. "Did you hear all of it?"
Raelle nodded. "I think She's telling us to not hold back."
"Then I think we should heed Her," Alder responded. She stood up, straightening her jacket. "I want that warehouse completely levelled."
"Yes, General," Clary answered before giving the order.
A few moments later, fire rained down on the warehouse—exploding it and setting flame to anything inside.
They could hear the screech of the witch plague burning inside, and Alder didn't release the breath she was currently holding until the screams died out.
"Squad is secure and target eliminated," Clary informed them.
Alder gave a stiff nod. "Everyone is dismissed. Collar, stay a moment."
Tally placed a gentle kiss to Sarah's cheek before she led the rest of her coven from the room.
The General's eyes fell on Raelle. "Walk with me."
They set off from the war room, quickly descending down a set of stairs before she led them in silence to their earlier spot. Once they reached the tree, Alder took a seat—with Raelle following her silent request.
"She's never reached out like that to you either then," Raelle said, breaking the silence.
Alder shook her head. "No. But just as always Her presence brought immense comfort."
"Do you think we are the only ones that can hear Her, or the only ones She's allowing?"
Sarah thought for a moment. "Probably allowing. She did get Tally's attention if you recall."
Raelle nodded in understanding.
"How are you feeling after today? I know it's been a lot," Sarah asked. Her eyes turned to look at Raelle, genuine concern shining in them.
"It's a lot but…I feel…better," she replied honestly. "I'm not as afraid now. I think meditating helped, as well as Her reaching out like that…it's more grounding, than unsettling."
Sarah hummed in understanding. "Good. I'm glad that you are feeling more at ease, Raelle. This witch plague…"
"Do you think some of the bases are rigged too?" Raelle questioned.
Alder tipped her head back against the tree and closed her eyes—her heart ached with grief at the memory of her coven's demise, but the feel of bark at her back helped chase it away.
"I have no doubt," Sarah replied, eyes still shut. "They would be foolish not to. I will need to let Nicte know that the Spree cannot engaged the warehouses to rig them."
"How do we get in then? The first base wasn't booby trapped…" Raelle mused.
"A stroke of luck," Sarah sighed. She opened her eyes and looked at the cadet. "I am hoping that you are how we get in."
Raelle's gaze locked on the General's.
"We can't take on the witch plague without you. She's the only one that can contain and dispel it, and you're Her chosen," Sarah continued. "I believe that is what She was trying to convey earlier."
"'We are in you, and you in us,'" Raelle quoted.
"Yes."
"When do I go?"
Sarah searched her face a moment. "Not yet."
"What?" Raelle asked, completely surprised. She thought for sure she would be getting sent out as soon as possible.
"I am desperate to end each of them," Sarah told her seriously. "But you aren't ready just yet. Some more work is necessary still—I need you to trust Her. It's the only way it can work. Once you achieve that, we can begin taking out the Camarilla."
Raelle nodded.
"Also, Tally would never let me hear the end of it if I sent you off," she quipped.
Raelle's mouth hung open in surprise. She took note of the teasing smirk that spread across the General's face, and Raelle let out a loud laugh.
"She definitely wouldn't."
Sarah joined in—vibrant and bright. "Not at all." She grew serious once more. "As part of my private unit, I need to make sure that you all are protected, and I still need to get Shellbark up to speed a little more. We need time for that. Once Yule passes, we can begin. Until then, I will rely on Spree information for any more bases and warehouses that are found, strictly recon."
Raelle nodded in understanding. "Thank you for this, really."
Alder offered her a soft smile. "You're welcome."
Alder had returned to her office, finished up more work, and then promptly proceeded to her bathroom to sink into the tub. She knew Tally had roped the rest of her unit into scourge training before they went to dinner.
She stripped down as she filled the bath with water. She added in the salts and bubble baths, sighing as the scents floated by.
She stepped in, sinking down beneath the water with a slight moan.
"Don't start without me," Tally teased as she entered the bathroom, hurriedly stripping her dirty clothes from her body.
Sarah chuckled. "I just sank in." Her eyes brightened as Tally stepped into the tub, sinking down and resting her back to Sarah's front.
"How was practice, my love?" Sarah asked as her arms wrapped around Tally.
The redhead leaned her head back, sighing with contentment and glancing up at Sarah. "It was good. You're definitely rubbing off on me."
Sarah quirked an eyebrow. "I've certainly been trying," she voiced, the sound husky as her hands ran over Tally's body.
Tally hummed with approval. "I certainly won't tell you to stop."
Sarah chuckled, placing a kiss to Tally's head and tightening her hold.
"What did you want to talk to Rae about?"
Sarah's eyebrows rose in surprise. "She didn't tell you?"
"No," Tally answered. "She was a bit in her head at practice. Not in a bad way, just…engaged elsewhere? Abs and I were wondering if maybe the Mycelium was reaching out to her again."
Sarah hummed. "I hope that is the case. We spoke about the bases and the possibility of them being trip wired as well. I told Raelle that we need her for those missions but I am not sending us out until she and the Mycelium are closer. I need Raelle to trust Her."
Tally nodded. It made sense of course. She certainly didn't want any of them getting attacked by the witch plague.
"So when do you think we will go?"
"After Yule. Raelle and I will continue our meditations, I'll get Shellbark up to speed—his vocal work is good, his scourge combat needs some more work though. I'll put him and M through some exercises and then allow M to take over from there," Sarah explained. "I also need to help advance Abigail's Weather Work. As I told Raelle, we need time for that."
Tally nodded and snuggled into Sarah more.
"I am glad you were there today," Sarah told her seriously. "You are immeasurably valuable, Tally."
She turned slightly to place a kiss to Sarah's jaw, peppering it until she captured her lips in a kiss.
"Thank you," she murmured against her.
They pressed their foreheads together a moment before Tally bit her lip.
"What is it?" Sarah asked, a soft smile on her face.
"We haven't had sex in the bathtub," Tally commented, as if it was just normal conversation.
Sarah chuckled. "Are you propositioning me, cadet?"
Tally turned around completely, straddling Sarah and cupping her face. "And if I am, General?"
A low moan rumbled in Sarah's chest as she surged up and captured Tally's lips in a hungry kiss. Her hands gripped her waist harder, earning a slight gasp from the younger woman as she moved to kiss her neck. She nipped over her collarbones, moving back up to run her tongue along the shell of Tally's ear before tracing the witch mark behind it.
Tally gasped, already able to feel the slick between her legs. Sarah's hands came up to tease her nipples, all the while still continuing to pay attention to her neck—pulling breathless moans and gasps from her lips.
"How do you want me?" she asked, her own voice breathless but still carrying the air of authority of the General.
"Inside," Tally panted as Sarah bit down on the muscle where her shoulder and neck meet. She groaned as Sarah sucked on it and then soothed it with her tongue.
Sarah trailed her hand down Tally's stomach, through the wet auburn curls, and finally until she reached her center. Sarah groaned at the first contact as Tally hissed.
"So swollen already. What a needy girl you are," Sarah murmured as she softly stroked Tally. Not enough pressure to be enough, purposely making the younger woman squirm.
"Yes," Tally panted. She tried to grind down, but Sarah pulled her hand away—earning a frustrated groan.
"Patience," Sarah ordered.
Tally stilled, her teeth biting harshly on her lip to stay still and wait patiently.
Sarah hummed with approval as she nipped along Tally's jaw. She passed her fingers through soaked folds, and without warning—thrust two fingers into Tally's wet heat.
Her head went back, a loud moan clawing up her throat.
"Ride me," Alder commanded as she curled her fingers.
Tally wasted no time doing as she was told. She rocked back and forth on Sarah's fingers, panting and moaning.
Sarah hummed. "You don't seem full enough."
Tally shook her head, not trusting her voice. It felt so good, and she was getting hazy but she forced herself to meet Sarah's gaze.
"Fill me, baby," Tally panted.
Sarah's eyes flashed, and she quickly added a third finger—earning a loud moan from Tally. She curled them in time with Tally's movements.
"Is that better, sweetheart?" she asked, voice husky and low.
"So much," Tally moaned. She forced her eyes open as she rested her forehead against Sarah's, never ceasing her movements. "You stretch me so good."
A possessive growl left Alder—something she wasn't used to, but thrust up into Tally. She earned high pitched moans as Tally began nearing her peak.
"What a good girl you are for me," Sarah told her before she captured her lips again.
Tally's movements became uneven and jerky, chasing after her orgasm with abandon before she released a loud yell—coming with Sarah's name on her lips like a prayer.
The General eased her down, stroking her softly and allowing her to ride out her pleasure before she removed her fingers and Tally slumped forward.
She rubbed her hands up and down Tally's back.
"I love you," Sarah told her softly as she pressed gentle kisses everywhere she could reach.
"I love you too," Tally replied. Her eyes fluttered open to regard Sarah. "I just want you to know that if we had all the time in the world at our disposal every day…most of our day would be that."
Sarah chuckled against her and grinned. "You certainly wouldn't hear any complaints from me."
Tally hummed happily as she captured Sarah's lips in a kiss. "I have another proposition for you."
"Oh?" Alder asked, a smirk forming on her face. "And what would that be?"
"We finish washing," Tally began, leaning forward to place teasing kisses on Sarah's neck. "And when we finish, you put the strap in and fuck me from behind." She bit down on Sarah's earlobe, earning a sharp hiss followed by a deep moan.
Sarah's eyes lit up and she pulled the plug in the tub, earning a surprised and questioning look from her songmate. She hopped out of the tub, saying nothing as she helped Tally out and hastily dried them off.
"Sarah," Tally said with a laugh as the woman swooped her up in her arms.
"Yes, my love?" Sarah asked as she deposited Tally on the bed. She moved to her dresser, grabbing the toy and coming back to the bed.
"I thought we were washing?" Tally arched an eyebrow.
"We are." Sarah slid the toy inside, needing no stimulation after Tally rode her in the tub. "But only after we're both covered in cum."
She advanced on her, crawling up the bed and capturing her lips in a hungry kiss. They both moaned when Tally opened her mouth to receive Sarah's tongue. They kissed with want and need before Sarah broke away to sit back on her heels.
"On your stomach, ass up," Sarah told her, smirking when Tally obeyed quickly. "Good girl."
She loved seeing the shiver that went up Tally's spine. She knew her songmate certainly loved being praised.
She helped guide Tally's ass up to the right height before she slid her fingers through Tally's slick. She rubbed it on the toy before sliding just the tip in.
Tally mewled at the first bit of pressure—then whined when Sarah didn't push in more.
"You're so beautiful," Sarah said reverently.
Then she smacked Tally's ass, earning a surprised cry that quickly turned into a moan.
Sarah was mesmerized by the way Tally's cheeks jiggled. She really did enjoy every inch of Tally's body. She couldn't resist backing away—earning a disapproving groan from the redhead—so that she could sink her teeth into her plump rear.
"Fuck," Tally gasped, wiggling her ass backwards as Sarah continued to bite and kiss the flesh.
Sarah hummed, moving to the other cheek to continue her ministrations—her other hand rising to land another smack to Tally's ass.
"Sarah," Tally breathed. She could feel her wetness sliding between her thighs. "I need you in me, please." She wasn't above begging right now at all.
"As you wish," Sarah replied, gathering more wetness and applying it to the toy before she slid all the way in.
"Goddess," Tally moaned—deep and husky—her fingers digging into the pillows in front of her.
Sarah thrust slow and deep. She made sure to drag the toy out even slower, pausing right at the entrance before slamming her hips into her to bottom out. She released a breathless moan. She was certainly incredibly glad that she had bought the strapless. It was probably her favorite modern invention at this point. Her own slick was sliding out from around the toy and down her inner thighs.
"Sarah, fuck me, baby, please," Tally whined, her ass pressing higher and closer.
Sarah grabbed onto Tally's hips, holding her steady as she pulled her back in time with her thrusts—earning loud, delicious cries from the younger witch.
"Yes, yes, yes, there," Tally chanted as Sarah pounded into her. Her eyes were rolling back.
"Fuck, Tally," Sarah moaned. The bulb inside her was rubbing against her g-spot deliciously, coupled with the image in front of her she wasn't going to be able to last much longer.
"Don't stop," Tally moaned.
Sarah reached forward, grabbing Tally's hair at the base of her skull and pulling her head back to fuck her in earnest. Her own clit was hitting the curve in the toy and part of Tally's cunt, and Sarah couldn't get enough of it.
She could feel Tally nearing her orgasm through the link, and she increased how deep she was hitting—earning her a loud moan followed by a guttural groan of pleasure.
Tally was almost there—so close that she could practically taste it. And, judging by the breathless moans and precise but desperate fucking by Sarah, her songmate was nearly there as well.
"I want you to cum in me," Tally moaned out.
She felt Sarah's thrusts stutter briefly before a possessive growl left her lips.
Sarah pulled Tally's head back as she leaned over her, rutting into her with abandon as she chased both of their orgasms. She sent them both over the edge, cumming in tandem and with a force that broke the lights in the room—encasing them in nothing but the light from the moon outside.
Sarah collapsed on top of Tally, minding her weight some as they both caught their breaths.
"If it was possible for you to knock me up, I would definitely be pregnant now," Tally mumbled into the pillow.
Sarah chuckled against her neck, placing a gentle kiss to her face. "I do not doubt it for a second. As if I would be able to resist," she said sweetly.
"We broke the lights," Tally commented with a pleased smirk.
Sarah silently asked if she could pull out—removing the toy from them both and setting it on the nightstand to be cleaned in a bit. They readjusted their positions, curling up with each other and basking in their post-coital glow.
"Nothing to be done about that I'm afraid," Sarah replied, kissing Tally's head. "I've already warded the room as best as I can to contain our power. The lights will have to be sacrificed."
Tally chuckled and nuzzled into Sarah's neck. "Maybe we should go back to candles."
Sarah looked at her, an eyebrow arching. "So you'd rather I catch the room on fire?"
Tally's eyes widened. "You think that would happen?"
"I certainly wouldn't be surprised. I don't know about you, imé jìpón jè wèdís, but I wouldn't care to have the room catch fire while I'm in the middle of an orgasm."
Tally laughed, kissing Sarah fully and stroking her face. "I love you."
"And I you," she murmured. "I think we should shower and then rest. Tomorrow is going to be even busier." Her brow furrowed.
Tally reached up, smoothing the line away with gentle caresses. "You're worried."
Sarah nodded. "I just hope that it works."
"It will," Tally replied, voice unwavering. "Everyone is on the same page and we all know what is at stake. We need this…and that's why it will work."
Sarah stroked her fingers down the side of Tally's face, overcome with love for her songmate. She always knew what to say it seemed. For that she was eternally grateful.