Chapter 30

"Do we know why this happened?" Zelas demanded, by all the terrors of the world, she was pacing. Beastmaster Zelas was pacing. Her two underlings on bent knee before her, watching her go back and forth before her throne.

"I've got a theory or two, but they're not much better than speculation at this point," Somari answered from her position next to Xellos. "Xellos's power going into her and altering her kind of makes sense. He was marking her. And the power difference between them is immense enough that maybe her own wasn't enough to fully nullify his. Why she appears to have adapted to it so well I couldn't tell you, at least not yet".

"However how some of her spirit ended up in mine is still a mystery," Xellos continued on. "She didn't mark me back. And I'm certain that she wouldn't have been physically able to if she tried". There were serious faces all around as the monsters conferred.

Zelas's frown deepened as she continued her pacing. "I would say I'm disappointed in you two. But given that we are dealing with an unprecedented situation I'll have to let it pass," she said as she stopped to stare at the two of them. "So let's debrief. What has your experiments revealed so far?"

Somari spoke up first. "So far Xellos actually appears mostly unchanged. You can see the smallest of traces of the girl in his base form, but you have to be looking for it".

"And I don't feel any different. My powers remain unchanged, and I don't suddenly feel the need to spread good will and cheer," Xellos tried a small cheeky grin, however the look Zelas gave told him she was not in the mood. Rubbing his head as his cheeky grin changed to a nervous one he pressed on. "Although we did find that I seem to be slightly resistant to some purification methods. Though they still cause me pain. And I must admit I'd rather...not..."

Xellos paused as he felt something touch his mind, 'Oh for Ceiphied's sake. How will I even know if this is working?' Xellos was completely shocked to be hearing Filia's voice shouting right now.

'Believe me Fi-chan, it is working,' he responded to her. How in Ruby Eye's name is she linking with him right now?

'Xellos!? Oh my gosh. I did it!' Xellos winced. Her shouting was going to give him a headache. And her voice had an echo to it that he was finding very distracting.

'Yes. Now Filia whilst I am impressed and have quite a few questions for you, now is not a good time. And this is incredibly distracting'.

'Why is now not a good time Xellos?' He could hear her irritation ringing in his ears.

'That's enough Filia. We'll talk later, I'm busy'. Xellos firmly shut his connection to her, turning his attention back to his Mistress, who was staring at him in question.

"Sorry Mistress. It appears Filia has just learnt to link, rather loudly," Xellos informed as he rubbed his temple.

Zelas's eyes widened in surprise. "I see. On that matter, why did you let her leave? We now have a golden dragon wandering the world with L-sama knows how much of your powers just, sitting there. That is one large loose end I am not comfortable leaving as is," Zelas commented sternly. Xellos had a bad feeling about where this was going.

"She's not alone my liege. Kerry should be with her still," Somari said. If Xellos didn't know any better he'd think she was trying to help him.

"There is also the issue that it would be unwise to try and imprison her here I believe," Xellos added. "I've already noticed that her physical strength has drastically increased. We have to consider the damages she could cause to everything around her if she felt she was cornered. Given that, at least as far as I know, she isn't aware of her new strength yet," Xellos advised. The last thing they needed was Filia becoming a loose canon on them. And while he was confident he was still stronger than her enough to subdue her, he'd rather not go to battle against his new mate.

Zelas harshly exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I hear you Xellos. I acknowledge that she is your mate, and you will likely seek to defend her interests, but hear me now Xellos," Zelas gave him a hard look. "Until more is known and dealt with, she has just become a walking liability," Zelas stepped over and grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt, raising him off the floor to her height. "This will be your only warning. You my servant, are now completely responsible for her, and everything she does. If she falls into the wrong hands, if she is ever used against us, I will ensure the liability is removed. Personally if I have to," her words struck cold and harsh as she dropped him back to the ground. He fell back to his knees, a grim expression on his face.

"Yes my liege," he replied flatly.

Zelas turned and walked back to her throne. "As a courtesy to you I'll make it swift and painless," she sat down and considered her servant. "Oh don't look so glum dear. It's not like you'd die with her. Besides, keep her out of trouble and you'll never have to worry about it," Zelas said offhandedly. "Now leave. And keep me informed of any new developments," Zelas dismissed the pair. Xellos and Somari arose and left the room quickly, the heavy doors swiftly closing behind them.

"You know what's ironic? The only reason your precious dragon is even in trouble is because of you," Somari disappeared faster than a blink, narrowly dodging the blast that flew right through where her head had been.

Xellos lowered his hand, walking down the passage way with a dark look on his face.

/

Filia took one last peek at the sleeping Val, curled up in his nest with his favourite heating pad, before gently shutting the door to his room. She sighed softly to herself, walking next door to her own room. Closing the door behind her she reached over to adjust the glow of her lamp-

"Interesting barrier you've got around here," Xellos's voice startled the daylights out of her! She's going to have to learn to stay alert if he's going to keep doing that.

"Xellos! Would you please stop doing that. I'm not sure my heart can take much more," Filia snapped quietly, holding a hand to her chest.

Xellos continued on from his spot sitting on the edge of her bed, "it even kept me from teleporting in. I'm impressed".

Filia nervously rubbed her arm, "thank you. I'd been working on it for a while in case, uh, just in case," Filia said, avoiding his eye at the end.

"Mmm. Although if your aim is to stop all monsters from getting in, forgetting to lock the door is a big problem for you," Xellos responded, nodding towards her special doorway to Wolf Pack Island.

"I'll, I'll keep that in mind thanks," she shifted from one foot to the other. Xellos moved over slightly and patted the space beside him in invitation.

She walked over and sat beside him. Looking anywhere else in the room but at him.

"So. You've learnt a new trick or two today I take it," Xellos conversed, leaning back on his hands.

"Y-yeah. Miss Kerry had me try a thing or two. She can be very informative," Filia commented. Remembering her session with Kerry, she turned to Xellos, finally meeting his eyes. "Speaking of which Xellos. She told me an interesting fact about mate marks," Filia said, her tone turning accusatory. "She said that it's considered improper to be displaying them! Is that true?" she demanded, hands moving to her hips.

Xellos smiled, shrugging his shoulders. "It can be described as a...bold move to show it off. But if you feel like being a little risqué with it I wont stop you".

Filia swung her arm, knocking him in the chest and over with an -oof-. "You jerk! That's not what I meant!" Filia buried her face in her hands, "I'm going to have to wear a scarf all the time now," she bemoaned.

"You will do no such thing," Xellos's voice took on a commanding tone, Filia's head snapping up to meet his narrowed eyes. "If I see a scarf wrapped around your pretty little neck it had better be snowing, or I will burn it and all others of its kin you own. And you will be punished. However. I. See. Fit," Xellos had been leaning in closer and closer as he spoke, a hand snapping up to grab her chin as she began to pull away. "Do I make myself clear?" He was nose to nose with her now. She felt her heart race and her cheeks get hot.

"B-but," her hand reached behind to hold her nape self consciously, but Xellos's other hand stopped it in its tracks.

"No buts. Your hair will provide sufficient cover from immediate view. And besides," his hand released her chin and snaked its way behind her head. "I want to be able to do this," his finger lightly caressed the nape of her neck, sending a jolt through her that went straight to her nethers, "whenever I want". Xellos caressed the spot again, drawing a gasp from her lips. He took his opening to claim her mouth with his, his tongue caressing her own.

He could feel her moan into his mouth, placing her hands on his chest. Then after a moment of breathless kissing she pushed herself away from him, standing up and breathing heavily as one hand held her chest, the other covering her nape.

"Wh-wh-what w-was that?" she asked breathlessly, her own hand gently feeling around the area.

Xellos smirked as he stood up. "It wont work for you," he said as he slowly started moving forwards. "Although the fact that you just tried, in front of me, I find interesting". He stalked closer to her. She shied away, taking a few steps back before knocking into the corner of her dresser, swerving around it and backing up against the wall.

"I-I, I don't understand," she stammered, hands shooting up to his chest, halting his steps forward.

He tilted his head down, looking into her wide blue eyes with a toothy smirk. "Perks of a mate mark. For everybody else it's just a mark on the skin. But when I touch it," his hand reached past her interfering arms and ran a feather like touch up her neck. She felt her legs shake and her knees go weak. "It stimulates its bearer". He relented his ministrations, his finger hooking under her chin, "I think you can figure out the rest".

"Th-that's not fair!" she exclaimed, shaking her head free from his grip.

"No. No it isn't. But if you're a good girl I'll make it worth your while," he whispered, leaning in for another kiss.

She dodged it and shoved her way past him, "Oh shove it Xellos!"

He flashed a grin, moving swiftly and shoving her onto the bed with a squeak, "with pleasure".

/

Hello again, next chapter is the last smut scene. Feel free to skip if that's not your thing, you wont miss anything important. Enjoy!