Fairy x Adventure

by Magnafeana

In a new era after the Alvarez War, Lucy, Natsu, and the rest of Fairy Tail not only face new challenges but watch as their kids go on new journeys, learn new powers, and battle new enemies and old! Join Luna, Nashi, and the upcoming generation of Mages on Fairy Tail and more on their never-ending adventure!

111. Adventure 111

Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it, nor any pop culture or classical references. All original plots and characters are mine.

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In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.

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PREVIOUSLY, on Fairy Adventure: our young heroes had the time of their life at Tesla's neighborhood pachanga with plenty of food, relatives, and dancing to go around. But things took a serious turn with some needed realizations and loving heart to hearts. Meanwhile, Ena, Silver, and Mary Jane took on a mission to free a client's magical creature from a fighting ring and take out the organizers of the event while they were at it. But when Maxim and Drawback shake things up, it's left Silver to deal with the creeping knowledge that his sister isn't all she seems. Mary Jane's meeting of Mio, Zera, and August couldn't have been better fated! But when Mavis takes over her reincarnated body to help Mary Jane overcome the chaos of her ability, it failed to work… Or does it?

Gary… Thank you for loving me when I couldn't even love myself. Thank you…my Devil.'

Fun in the sun couldn't come any sooner as a turning point enters our protagonists' lives. But the question still remains… Which path will our heroes take next?

---

Chibi-Nashi appears with a grin and a wave. "Hi, everyone! Ready for more Fairy Adventure? To keep your eyes safe, make sure you read with at least one light on in a low setting! Today's episode will have mature scenes that will have this marking when those scenes start and stop." She points at the board and says, "This is the symbol for when it starts."

X – X – X – X – X

"And this is the symbol for when it stops."

Y – Y – Y – Y – Y

"If you like reading mature scenes, go for it!" Chibi-Nashi encourages. "But you are more than welcome to skip them and view the rest of the episode! Do what makes you comfortable. This arc will feature quite a few mature scenes, but if you can take the heat, feel free to read! And here is an update timezone table!"

Abbreviations – Time Zone Name • — • — •— • — Location • — Offset

MCDT • — • — Melandian Central Daylight Time – Melandia • — • UTC +7

CST • — • — • – Cipangu Standard Time • — • — • — Cipangu • — • – UTC +5

SST • — • — • – Sīchóu Standard Time • — • — • — Zhōnguá • — • – UTC +3

CIT • — • — • – Central Ishgaran Time • — • — • — Bellum • — • – UTC +2

CMT • — • — • – Charring Mean Time • — • — • — Minstrel • — • – UTC +1

FST • — • – Fiore Standard Time • — • — • — • Fiore • — • — • – UTC - 0:00

ACT • — • — Arcticados Central Time • — • — • – Arcticados • — • — UTC – 1

CAST • — • — • — • — Caracole-Alicanto Standard Time – Fiore • — • UTC – 1

ADT • — • — • – Alvarez Daylight Time • — • — • – Alvarez • — • — UTC - 2

AT • — • — • – Amazone Time • — • — • — • — • — Valchestria • — UTC - 4

EST • — • — • – Eastern Standard Time • — • — • – Meidiland • — • UTC - 6

She winks. "And see you at the end of the episode!"

---

The enchantments alarmed Nashi, but not in the way you would think.

It was too early in the morning for Nashi to register much outside how the feel of the sheets against naked flesh. All her other senses were muted. Maybe she heard some footsteps and felt the enchantments meld back into place, but she could not get her body to rise and check who would be coming in so early in the morning. In and out she drifted as sleep lulled her.

Winter crooned to her summer.

Nashi barely acknowledged the bed had dipped, but she offered no protest when she felt his wintry skin collect her. Truth be told, she welcomed the cold. She was sweating a little and needed a coolant. She toppled into his snuggle and took a deep breath of his scent—the first snow of winter.

"I'm home, Angel." A low affectionate murmur.

Nashi hummed. Her mouth felt like it had been glued shut, but with some sloppy will, she broke her lips apart and slurred gibberish that did not sound remotely like a greeting. A sighing grunt escaped when she forcibly cracked her eyes open, but her lashes would not rise all the way. She saw peachy flesh, toned and hard, and tattoos. Maybe if she was more alert, she would happily drool over him and feel that tingle between her legs, but it was so early.

A vibrating chuckle and a wintry kiss upon her temple. "Go back to sleep, Angel," he murmured to her in husky command. "I'll wake you up later." Another sweet kiss pressed upon her skin.

Nashi sighed and felt that peaceful darkness sink her back into a world she could create from whatever she deserved. But in her heart of hearts, she hoped that winter felt the loving caress of her summer and her lips twitched into a smile.

Welcome home.

And her dream settled in.

• — • — •

The dreams were sparse montages that overlapped each other. One moment, she was a little girl on a playground with her lion butler and the next minute she was on some sort of movie date with her favorite Josean actor. At some point, she was at an EMPHASIS concert with her STRESSOR bomb glowing as she shouted the lyrics.

The last of her dreams held firm, all fluffy and quaint. She was a gardener with her dirtied apron as she took care of repotting her prized bleeding hearts and—woo!—this was some hard work, but she did not mind. She rubbed the dirt onto her towel before she set onto her next flower and—oh!

A delicious stranger had come to visit her while she was repotting and—oh my. His hands soothed down her chest, calloused and large and possessive, and thumbed her nipples with an aching slowness that drew her to mewl and—oh god—the garden was replaced for a shadowed play space where her clothes were gone.

X – X – X – X – X

All she knew was this stranger took his time mounting wintry kisses on her flesh and yes yes yes he teased one of her nipples with his teeth while he rolled the other between his fingers and nnngh more she could feel that aching stickiness coat between her legs. She bucked for him to please touch me master and his dark chuckle and retreat nearly made her cry until—

Oh.

Oh yes…

He teased her with slow laps of her sex with firm hands keeping her thighs apart. She whimpered and pleaded please more but he refused to heed her cries and kept teasing and tonguing to his pleasure like she deserved to be savored like fine wine—

A startled sob rocked her when he slid an unexpected finger into her weeping sex and oh god oh god oh god he was forcing her to fuck his finger and ah-ha-ha another finger toyed with her clit to send down alarming sparks that had her toes curl and heat quickly climbed up her thighs while something twisted in her stomach and oh god master I—!

• — • — •

Nashi's eyes burst open as a body-shuddering orgasm rocked through her and all that could leave her were staccato whimpers. The force of such a blissfully numbing sensation had knocked away any lingering feelings in exchange for overwhelming pleasure that made her chest tingle and yearned to be touched and her thighs shake. All that pleasure intensified when the finger between her thighs catered to the aftershocks with lazy thrusts, and she succumbed feeling herself clench repeatedly as her body twitched and her hips could not help but buck.

Y – Y – Y – Y – Y

It felt like hours had rolled by as her heart beat erratically and she panted, needy and tired yet wired and hot and sensitive. She closed her eyes when winter caressed her stomach and praising kisses glorified her body, well-placed and intervaled. Like she was drugged, she hummed and her fingers found purchase in messy hair, combing through it.

The scorchingly cold kisses trailed up her body, and she jerked when her nipples received extra attention with the swirl of his tongue and the nip of his teeth. She moaned when his lips pressed claiming kisses on her collarbone and shoulders and that sweet spot on her neck that made her clench and whimper, but it was worth it when his lips hovered over hers and she could feel his smile.

"Good morning, Angel."

And his kiss burned winter onto her soul—

Gary was surprised and amused when Nashi pushed him back and covered her mouth, flushed, eyes partially unfocused. Hair tussled and mouth too inviting and devilish, he hovered above her in his naked glory and cocked an eyebrow. "You're still shy about morning breath?" he teased her.

Nashi cut her gaze to the side, embarrassed and also trying not to blatantly drink in every inch of him like an S-Class pervert. "Don't judge me," she mumbled. "I know I have bad breath."

Gary chuckled as he dropped a kiss on her chin then her jaw then that sweet spot that made her want to press her thighs together. "Angel's so cute when she's shy," he chuckled. "And so beautiful when she rides my fingers."

Nashi covered her face with her hands as Gary—the ever-opportunistic Devil—kept kissing all over her neck and clavicle. "That's not fair," she whined. "You can't just wake me up by orgasm!"

"No?"

"N-No!" Nashi cried (it was more of a weak whimper, but she was too deep in her embarrassment to admit that).

Gary's smile pressed against her neck. "Really, Angel? I can't?"

X – X – X – X – X

"No—oh…" Nashi's eyes fluttered when those tantalizing fingers returned to leisurely take their time stroking her nether lips. She pressed her lips together, but a groaned whined still pressed onto her throat, and she wiggled her hips for more and nearly cried when he took away his hand.

"No, please, please, more!" she begged. All her pride had flown out the window.

"Which is it, Angel?" Gary pulled back with hooded eyes, blues dark and dangerous and predatory, and his smile too mischievous. "You told me I shouldn't wake you up like this, but you're begging for more."

Nashi blushed even more and weakly explained, "W-Well, I'm awake now…" She closed her eyes and gave a shuttered exhale when Gary chuckled and planted a kiss on the corner of her lips. "Don't tease me, Master," she grumbled. Okay, no, she was full-on whining.

Damn this Devil for driving her—a proud Heartfilia-Dragneel, daughter of the Dragon King and Star Queen, and a literal Angel herself—to whining.

"But it's so much fun to tease Angel," Gary told her as he brushed his nose against the side of her own. "Hearing Angel beg to ride my fingers… Watching Angel's face while I play with her…" A low groan escaped him into her ear. "I love every second of it."

Nashi's breathing hitched when she felt a finger sink into her with ease and could not resist a wanton moan that Gary was infatuated with. Her nails scrapped down his back as she shifted with her thighs curling around him for his finger to go deeper.

Gary chuckled, seeing right through her, and pulled out his finger to draw back and lap at it, all while watching her pink-cheeked face. "Angel is delicious," he groaned. He shifted down to settle between her thighs and a moment struck Nashi seeing the lustful heat in his eyes.

Never had she felt more wanted or powerful than seeing this man she was stupidly in love with—this Devil the world saw as a destructor and this Wizard the world saw as a revolutionary—between her legs, hungry for everything she could offer him. She swallowed and asked of him, tone quivering, "Please."

Gary's eyes lit. "What do you need, Angel?"

"You," Nashi breathed. "All of you. Please."

"Angel wants me inside her; is that it?" Gary taunted in a honeyed tone. "Angel wants me deep inside her, making her take every inch of me while I thrust into her?"

Nashi's eyebrows came together and she sucked back her whimper when her and Gary's connected gaze never broke as he made a show of pushing in two fingers into her sex. Her nails dug into the sheets and she bit down on her bottom lip when she felt herself welcome him and when he pulled his fingers out a little, she had coated him in cream.

Her chest shuddered and she beseeched breathlessly, "Please, Master, fuck me." She tried to encourage his fingers to go deeper with a wiggle of her hips—

"Oh god!" Her back bowed and her head went back when his sudden thrusting shocked her to her core and that climbing heat and twitch of her stomach burst into an electrifying orgasm that had her shamelessly crying out. "W-W-Wait! Nnngh!"

Oh, the aftershocks!

It was one thing to feel an orgasm rattle you, but the aftershocks made the pleasure feel like it would claim your heart. He kept up his fast thrusting and all she could do was ride out every twitch and clench with a pitiful choked mewl and plea. Her heart could barely withstand and her mind was blitzed with thoughts of stop don't stop more wait no yes yes yes!

A crying gasp befell her when those fingers were roughly gone and heat pricked the corners of her eyes at such brutal abandonment in the middle of her processing what powerful desire her body had gone through with emotions rising and her need for him so great that she felt ready to curl up and sob—

"M-Master!" Her mouth opened, shocked, when his mouth devoured every last drop her pussy had to over, even the cream that splattered between her thighs. She wreathed and moaned as she both shoved him away and ground into his mouth, a wanton contradiction.

His tongue had no consistent tempo. He came at her hard, making out with her pussy, tonguing it, thrusting into it, before he abruptly slowed into caress suited for lovemaking, gentle and sweet and paced. When she tried to close her thighs to shake him off because oh god this is too much this is too much I'm going to come, he forced both her thighs over his shoulders and locked his arms around them.

He was her master, and he would take what he pleased from his sweet submissive Angel.

She clawed at the bed in reckless abandon when his inconsistency fed into another delirious orgasm. Embarrassment would come later when she knew that her desire had gushed out onto his face, but all she could think of now was the torn need to pull away and pull him close. But those conflicting ideals jumbled with submission when he tore his mouth away and growled, "Look at me, Angel."

Nashi cracked open her eyes, all shy and breathless and aching and his, and felt the urge to close her eyes and hide when his gaze, hungry and longing and aching and hers, hit hers.

"Don't close your eyes," Gary commanded—warned—when she felt the urge to drop her lashes. He rose up where his tattoos could be seen and that tempting V to expose his blaring red head already leaking with precum.

Nashi's bottom lip trembled and she swiped it with her tongue as a sudden hunger to suck every inch of him and please her master hit her hard. She bit back a moan, entranced when he palmed himself before her and her thighs clenched as she remembered that salacious feeling of being full his cock always gave her. She sat up—

"No, Angel." A soft instruction from her master.

Nashi knew better than to protest, but he was right there and she wanted to spin him into the same dizzying desire as her. Haltingly, she defied his order and reached for him. His free hand caught her wrists to stop her, and she begged, "Please, Master, let me touch you." Her mouth watered watching him swipe his thumb over his aching head. "Please."

Please let me please you let me touch you let me worship you—

Gary wordlessly let go of her wrists and watched with hooded eyes when she eagerly approached him and took his cock into her hands. Eyes drizzled in lust and need, she felt greedy when her mouth opened and she savored the tangy flavor of his precum before bobbing her head, hollowing her cheeks, and swallowing inch after inch of him. Her hands split between cupping the base of him and teasing his balls with quick and sensual strokes.

Gary's fingers threaded through his head as he closed his eyes and his neck flexed. "Steady, Angel." Another soft command. "Go slowly. If you go too fast, I'll have to punish you."

Nashi moaned and her pussy clenched as she remembered his delicious punishments. Over his knees, counting every spanking, and random finger thrusts to her pussy to blindside the pained yet pleasureful torment. Spankings to her pussy and hearing every wet smack. Withholding her right to orgasm—

Gary chuckled when Nashi disobeyed and swirled her tongue, bobbing her head at a medium speed. "I think I need to come up with better punishments for disobedience if Angel is desperate for them." His fingers tightened his grip of her hair. "How about this?"

Nashi's eyes flew opened, shocked, when he thrusted into her mouth. She gagged for a moment and her hands let him go to splay on his thighs in a vain attempt to stop him.

A twinkle entered Gary's eyes when Nashi looked up at him and his lips twitched. "I won't do that to your mouth," he promised her, "but if you don't slow down, you won't like your punishment."

Resisting the urge to pout, Nashi lowered her eyes, submissive, before closing them and obeying his command with an achingly slow pace that had her master hiss and groan, sounds that brought per joy and pride to her ears. She went back to cupping his base and stroking his balls, letting her tongue swipe him in a nonsensical rhythm. A wet heat creamed between her legs, but she could not give a damn about it. All she craved was hearing those fateful words—

"Good girl," Gary praised in a throaty moan. "Just like that, Angel."

Maybe it was silly or stupid, but Nashi could not help the twinkling bliss from that praise. That was the praise she craved for, that praise she submitted eagerly for. She moaned around him and sucked on his bulbous head, swiping the center, and shivered at the guttural groan that left him and the way he tugged at her hair. She could taste him leaking ropes of precum and craved more more more. More of her master's pleasure. More of his moans. More of his praise.

The beauty of worshipping your person was that type of reward. Knowing you were giving them pleasure they could not receive with their own hands or toys made you feel like living royalty, like a god, like their everything. Your own needs took a backseat because—as odd as it was to think—your pleasure drank from theirs. Without their moans and pants and good girl yes right there right there, that sopping heat between your legs meant nothing.

The two tugs on Nashi's hair meant playtime was over. Brattily, she sucked him harder and gripped his balls—

Gary hissed before he commanded in a growl, "Let go, Angel."

Nashi was slow to withdrawal, sucking his head and giving it a wet kiss before she sank back on her haunches. A gleam of sweat covered them both, ruffling their hair, but her lovedrunk gaze looked on to his wintry stare for his orders.

Gary thumbed her bottom lip and praised, "You were beautiful, Angel. I know you wanted more time to play, but I would've cum in your mouth." His eyes dropped between her legs with clear intent. "And I want to cum somewhere else."

Nashi quickly put in, "I want that too." She hesitated, unsure of her next question.

Gary caught on and asked, "What is it, Angel?"

"Can you…?" Nashi swallowed. "I mean, you sent me your follow-up test results, so I know you're officially sterile and everything…"

Gary smiled and bent down to give her a burning kiss. "Are you sure?" he breathed. "I know we talked about it, but I don't mind still wearing a condom, Angel. Whatever makes you comfortable."

"Thanks for the pressure," Nashi muttered. She jerked, giggly, when he nipped her bottom lip at her insubordination. "I'm okay without condoms as long as you are. We talked about it, and I'm ready. I want to feel you." She followed up with, "And my IUD is still in place."

"I know. You told me." Gary searched her eyes for any hesitancy or uncertain, but there was none to be found. "All right. No condom."

"No condom," Nashi agreed.

Gary laughed. "I was actually hoping our first time bare would be on the island." His eyes lit impishly. "I guess this will be good practice for when I have more time with you." He offered her a chaste kiss. "Hold on."

For a few moments, Nashi was confused when Gary shifted her. He laid down on the bed and propped himself with pillows, and she questioned, dubious, "I'm on top, Master?"

"For this part." Gary thumbed her hip with a free hand as he stroked himself. "Just for you to get used to feeling me without anything between us. Don't worry, Angel." His smile broadened. "I'll have my way with you once you feel ready."

Nashi reddened when she remembered every position he "had his way with her" in that made her grateful she took up her sister's offer to help with her flexibility. She climbed onto him and sat up, hovering over his cock standing erect and slick and thick. She swallowed and gave a shaky exhale. "I've never done this before."

"I haven't either." Gary threaded his fingers with hers and gentility burst through his eyes and his winter calmed her anxious summer. "Go as slow as you need to, Angel."

Nashi gulped and nodded again. Maybe some thought it was stupid. But sex without a condom versus sex with a condom felt like a loss of a second virginity. It felt like a step that would take them into uncharted and deep waters. She gripped his hand and closed her eyes as she rocked himself onto his naked head.

Gary gripped her hip when she tensed. "Easy," he told her.

"Yes, Master," Nashi breathed. With a slow rocker, she sank down on an inch—

Neither one could hold back their strangled moans.

It was not as if he had grown in girth or she had tightened in the duration of his teachings and healings and her busy schedule and her training. But that clinical barrier that gave a muted sort of pleasure was exchanged for an intimate touch skin to skin with exposed sensations of this is it this is everything this is you and me.

Nashi gave a mewl when she sunk down another inch. No matter how wet she was, those months apart and her sorely lacking vibrator did not help as he stretched her in such a way that made her ache for him more. Inch by inch, he watched her sheathe him and could feel her muscles constrict and contract and flutter. The moment she had every last part of him inside her was an overwhelming moment that hit Nashi by surprise when tears sprung to her eyes.

"Angel?" Gary reached up to thumb away from of her tears. "Are you okay?"

Nashi nodded, smiling. "I am, Master. Sorry. I didn't think I was going to cry, but I'm not in pain, I promise."

Gary believed her. "All right." His hands dropped back to her hips and gripped them. "Are you ready?" When Nashi nodded, he exaggerated his actions as he lifted her up a few inches and guided her back down.

The sheer bliss that registered on their faces was enough to orgasm on alone.

It was hard to describe this sort of pleasure because there was no one answer to give and the adjectives felt too bland and cheap to use for this sort of sensation. But his winter and her summer entangled in each other in a beautiful steam that gave birth to this new sort of pleasure where everything clicked, everything was exposed, everything was raw.

Nashi arched her back as she fell into the rhythm Gary started with her heart at her throat and her mind only thinking god he feels so good it's been so long I missed him I love him I want to cum on his cock—

Gary could not stop watching their lazy thrusts and that primal urge surged each time he was fully nestled in her warmth of fuck she feels incredible it's been so long I missed her I love her I want to cum inside her—

It was unspoken when Nashi could not take it and had to move faster. It was that insatiable need to feel full, to cum, to drive him crazy and she moaned, puffing out her chest, as she rode every last inch of him. Her fingers splayed on her breasts and fondled them before one hand slid down for a finger to brush her clit and static rained down her body with her aching chest and her sensitive clit and his cock stretching her—

Gary growled when he lurched off the bed. The instinct to fuck her claim her make her mine was too much to muzzle when it had been two long months without sinking into her, feeling her pussy worship him, cum for him, weep for him and he bowled her onto her back. Aggressively, he shoved her thighs onto his shoulders and pushed her legs back when his hips thrust and her cry of fuck me master made him snarl and his lips came down to bite that sweet spot on her neck—

Oh god oh no I'm coming I'm coming I can't—

The closest thing Gary could describe feeling her cum on his cock was perfection.

Feeling her body tense up and release, listening to her weep his name and only his name—this would feel his head for days to come when he was alone and all he had was his right hand. Her nails clawing his shoulders as he pounded into her and fed off her pleasure and the little flutters and jerks her pussy gave him as she tried to ride out her orgasm and ground herself—these sensations would be the instigator to his wet dreams.

"Such a good girl," Gary praised through his pants. He kissed away the tears flying down her cheeks—the tears that always came when her mind had locked in as his submissive and she came for her master—and breathed heavily, "So beautiful. So fucking beautiful, Angel."

"Master," Nashi cried, holding him close. "More. Please. More."

"Not yet, Angel." His restraint was tested feeling her raw and wet and warm around him, but he was not finished. He refused to be. "Be patient for Master."

The second Gary stopped almost sent Nashi into a tailspin of a sob and emotions.

"Shhhh," Gary shushed, peppering her face with placating kisses. "I know, Angel. Master wants to try something new." He withdrew from her slowly, but he saw her eyes well up with tears and made sure to keep close, keep touching, keep her grounded. "Can you get on your stomach for Master? I'll help you." Keep them touching, keep her close, keep her here.

Nashi turned and fell pliant to Gary's shifts and adjustments. She panicked a little when his weight left the bed, fearful for the abandonment of her master and craving his touch. "M-M-Master—"

"I'm right here." Gary's winter fed her security and love to soothe her summer's wild need for him to be close as a hand pressed onto her back. He reached for a pillow and his hand dropping to her ass and giving it a squeeze made all her panic simmer down. "I've got you, Angel. Can you lift your hips for me?"

Nashi obeyed. The pillow propping her felt a little strange, but she parted her legs and hoped he saw how wet she was, how she presented to him what was his to take to claim to make his. She mewled when he did not touch her and lifted her ass in the hopes to entice her Male—

Gary chuckled and swiped her dripping heat with a finger. "Careful, Angel. We haven't talked about primal play yet and you're already Presenting like a natural." He swept her hair to the side as he cloaked her body with his and rumbled in her ear, "It's almost like you want Master to breed you like the Devil he is."

"Yes," Nashi moaned in a whoosh, squirming, delirious, wanting. "Please."

"My sweet Angel wants to be bred?" Gary nipped her ear as a hand massaged her ass. "Interesting. We'll talk about it later when you're a little less touch-starved."

Impatient and petulant, Nashi pushed back in the hopes she would find purchase with his cock—

Gary abruptly stood up and his hand struck her ass in a loud spank.

Nashi stilled. She knew he would be silent and let it sting until she did what she needed to do. She whispered, "I'm sorry, Master." She sighed when his cool hands slid across the sting.

"Good girl," Gary praised. "I know what you want, Angel, but breeding is something we have to talk about." He chuckled when he could feel her pouty summer and massaged her ass before his thumb slid and sunk into her wet heat. He smiled when her back arched and her hands reached out to grip the sheets. His thumb withdrew to push in two fingers in repetitive thrusts while he palmed her ass cheek and could not help but rest his aching cock along her.

"Master," Nashi slurred. "Please. Please fuck me." She locked her legs around him, hopeful, needing.

"Master wishes he had time to make you beg for it," Gary said with a touch of darkness in that wish. "But we don't have the time and I want to make sure Angel feels perfect and clean after this." He took out his fingers—he chuckled when she muffled her cry at the loss—and suckled on her taste, savoring how thick and creamy she was, before he gripped her thighs.

Gary's lips twitched when Nashi instinctively parted—presented. That basal instinct whispered to him breed her claim her fill her, but he buried it for now. He grabbed himself and teased, "Is Angel ready for me?"

"Yes," Nashi half-cried half-moaned. "Yes, please, Master—Ah, god, yes!" She twitched and wreathed at the brutal thrust to her sex and could have sworn a blinding white flashed before her eyes. Incoherent cries and moans left her as she squirmed under the duress of his sudden invasion and pounding. She had no time to adjust to his thickness and all she could think about was yes oh god yes no wait yes right there I'm going to come on Master's cock—

"That's my girl," Gary growled when it took everything in him not to release the moment Nashi's pussy sucked him in and clamped down, her muscles milking him. "Fuck, Angel, you make me want to cum."

"Cum, Master," Nashi hurriedly spurred. "Please cum inside me! Make me yours!"

Gary smirked through his resilience to hold back not yet wait for it and purred, "You're already mine, Angel. But for you to think you're not right now makes me think I should stop—"

"No!" Nashi panicked at such a threat. "No, please, don't stop, don't stop, please!"

"Then who do you belong to, Angel?" Gary snarled.

"You!" Nashi sobbed when she felt the rush of another orgasm climbing up her legs and centering at her lower stomach. "You, Master!"

"And who do I belong to, Angel?"

"Me! You belong to me, Master!"

"Fuck, Angel feels so good," Gary groaned. His thrusts borderlined cruel and selfish as he thrust deeply like he needed her to remember this feeling of him inside her, the way she made him crazy, the way he owned her.

Summer submitted until it sung nothing but submission to the dominating winter. The Bond was at its peak. It was fulfilled and filling to the brim. It grew, building building building into something that was cresting, that was right there, that was just right there—

Shock numbed Nashi as the sensation rippled down her body and could feel every cell within her alive and her summer burst from her chest and a hot gush could not be contained when her pussy doubled down. Too much too much too much—

She wailed, "Gary!"

Too much too much too much—

Gary's balls drew up his winter spewed as he thrusted one two three—slam!—and he howled, "Angel!"

And they let go.

That pleasure—that release—felt like never-ending white-hot bliss. She stroked his cock, weeping and contracting, and he could feel each long spur jet into her, filling her, claiming her. And they stayed in that stasis, feeling each other, what they made, what they did, for what felt like eternity. Another softer orgasm came back for Nashi as though her body wanted to make sure she milked every last drop from him, and Gary gave a hitched groan at the numbing sensation.

And they stayed and existed and breathed.

A high feeling elated Nashi. Nothing mattered outside of this union. Warmth and relaxation made her mind drift as her senses dulled and sharpened. Just calm. Just peace. Just bliss.

Gary's hypnotic voice crooned to her, "Time to start flying back to me, Angel."

Nashi could not gather the words to agree when that stasis was too addicting to let go of. Her eyes closed, drowsy and sated, and she knew she and her summer hummed when that winter embraced her and brought a needed chill. He never broke free from their union. Instead, he kept them connected as he rubbed down her back with kisses in-between. The words he strung along her skin in sweet coos and whispers held so much love and appreciation and praise that it did not matter what he said—it mattered how he said it.

My beautiful Angel look how strong you are look how powerful you are every inch of you is beautiful I love you Angel—

"Flying back" felt like a daydream blending back into reality so slow that you could see every frame. That nonverbal bliss and stasis melted back with smaller sensations first. His hands and words were what she felt and heard the most before the softness of the bed registered. Her flushed skin was next and her sweaty hair. She could feel her chest squished beneath her. Her thighs were clamped onto him. Then she felt the more intimate sensations. She felt them locked together with their mixture of cum cooling. Summer felt that security of winter and nestled into it for safety.

Nashi's eyes fluttered, taking in everything, before her eyes closed and she sighed.

Gary kissed behind her ear. "Have you flown back to me?" He heard her slight sniffle and kept up his ministrations, whispering, "I'm right here, Angel. Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it. I won't pull out until you are okay with it." He kissed her neck. "You did perfectly, Angel, so perfectly. Every sound you made was beautiful and your submission is something I feel so honored to have. I'll cherish that gift, Angel."

Something in his tone made the Bond hum again and her summer mellowed back into his nurturing cold under his winter's caress and care. The heat in her eyes backed off for a purring adoration to fill her and she breathed, "Can you hold me?"

"Of course." Gary paused. "Will you be okay if I pull out, Angel?" He added delicately, "I'll go slow."

Nashi swallowed and nodded. "Just hold me afterward."

"I promise." Gary covered her with his body and made sure they were flushed skin to skin before he started to move. The process was lengthy, but he did not mind as he poured his winter over the rising anxiety of summer. The moment he was unsheathed, juddering loss and despair and anxiety rattled their connection until he climbed onto the bed, fell to his side, and embraced her into his chest.

"I'm sorry," Nashi mumbled into his skin.

Gary stroked her hair. "Never feel sorry, Angel," he murmured. "I'm glad you told me. Tell me whatever you need." He nuzzled her. "I'm just sorry for the first time it happened. I should've seen the signs you were panicking when I pulled out too fast."

"You couldn't have known. I was trying to hide what was going on in my head and we didn't have our connection then," Nashi said softly. His wintry flesh soothed the rawness that sliced her. Her submission still sang within her summer, but it was less intense and consuming. And his winter accepted it graciously all the same.

"Are you ready to debrief or do you want to stay like this a little longer?" Gary asked her. "I already made sure to have juice on the nightstand and your coloring book. And I have your playlist ready if you want music or any of those first."

Nashi nodded with a deep exhale. "I'm okay."

"All right." Gary kissed her head. "Was the way I woke you up this morning something you were okay with you?"

"Yes." Nashi meant that and a smile touched her face. "I loved it. That's my favorite wake-up method. Please don't ever stop and don't ever do it to someone else."

Gary chuckled. "I'd never, Angel." He stroked her spine. "And everything that happened before we went bare?"

"Perfect." Nashi gave him an amorous nip and a kiss to his collarbone with her summer a little frisky and powerful.

Gary hummed, both aloud and with his winter in their connection. "And when we went bare? Did that…bring up anything?" A trickle of doubt and trepidation went down his back. "I know it was a big step and we should've done more of the pre-care I planned before we took that step—"

"No!" Nashi was quick to shoot down. "No, Gary, that was fine. That didn't bring up any bad memories." She could feel his winter's uncertainty and soothed, "That weekend you got a vasectomy, remember when we talked at length about bareback? And we kept talking about it still? It's weird to say it, but I brought it up to my therapist. We did some EMDR therapy and talked it out. Honestly, feeling you was the best thing in the world. And nothing those assholes did to me came up. All I thought about was you and even when I was flying back to you, all I could think of was I didn't want to let you go."

Relief relaxed Gary. "I believe you." He gave her a squeeze before gently prodding, "Was it when I mentioned breeding?"

Nashi hesitated for a few moments, hedging, before she whispered, "I don't want to get pregnant. I know you're sterile, but I just…" She belatedly added when Gary's silence welcomed it, "But…Tesla mentioned that kink to me before, I-I…" Shame doused her summer.

"It's why when you started what's called 'Presenting', why I didn't want to immediately be inside you," Gary explained to her. "There's nothing to be ashamed of, Angel, about having that kink. I'm happy you're telling me about it. But I want us to talk about it. Because with me being sterile, it's a kink we can do. But we can keep talking about it until you feel comfortable, and I'd like us to do some pre-care for that sort of scene."

He palmed her ass when he felt her lingering shame and doubt. "If you feel comfortable with it, we can talk to Jang-ta and Tesla. They predominantly do primal play and breeding. And both of them are one hundred percent child-free."

Y – Y – Y – Y – Y

Nashi swallowed and felt better with that suggestion. "I'd like that." She blushed. "If they're okay with it, that is."

"Jang-ta was like my mentor when it came to this and told me he and Tesla are fine with questions. You should know by now she is."

Nashi laughed. "Even when I don't have questions, I still learn something from her." She feathered Gary's arm and trailed his feathered tattoo that represented her and him and the love they created from conflicting powers. "Yeah, I'd like to talk to them before anything. I just…have a lot of questions." She needed to check, "And you'd be there too?"

"Of course. We'd learn together, Angel."

Nashi sighed in relief. "Okay. Yeah, let's do that." She giggled a little when Gary smooched her forehead. "I feel like such an adult."

Gary found amusement in that statement. "What, for wanting to talk out your kinks?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

Gary laughed. "Even without BDSM, I'd still want us to do that. I normally had to provide aftercare for Sparkles whenever she came back from an intense hook-up or just in some sort of mood after a hook-up." Instantly, he felt summer's discomfort and creeping envy and fear, and he soothed her, "Sparkles just needed me to talk to her and be close. I might've held her if she cried, but she had a blanket here she'd wrap in, and I'd put on her favorite movie and make sure she'd eat. Nothing like what we have, Angel."

He hugged her tighter as winter gave summer sincere apology. "I'm sorry for bringing her up now during our time. That won't happen again, Angel."

"It's okay." Nashi felt foolish growing so self-conscious when they had a bond between them that gave way of their naked emotions. "I know you and Dazzler are good friends. I've never been jealous or anything. I guess my head just started thinking things." She felt horrible. "I'm sorry."

"No need to be, Angel," Gary soothed. "She may be one of my best friends, but you are my partner and my Angel. You are my priority and the only one who gets to feel all of me." He added in slight jest, "If it helps, Ezra needed me to hold him days after he and Saudade would have sex."

Nashi snort-laughed. "No way."

Gary snickered. "Yeah. I teased him about it to this day. This was before Ez realized guys can ask for aftercare too." He sighed. "He and Saudade felt like they had the connection we had, crazy intense and passionate. He'd just feel so overwhelmed and get depressed when he couldn't see Saudade if she had a hospital stay and then guilty feeling depressed over her health, so I'd just hold him when he got emotional. He and Saudade worked it out and he snuck into her room when her parents were gone." He shook his head, blues crestfallen. "Sometimes, I can't believe he just…ended it with her."

"Did he ever tell you what happened?" Nashi carefully asked.

Gary withheld his silence, but his winter flickered with guilt.

Nashi sighed. "I won't ask you for details," she promised. "And Saudade's happy with Majime now. Isn't Chi-chi going to Melandia this week?"

"Yeah. He's checking in on Ezra since he got intel from Chace Ezra decided to work through his spring break." Gary closed his eyes when Nashi tilted her head to kiss his throat. "His voicemails scared us," he admitted to Nashi, voice small. "He sounded…unhinged. Not like himself. And as much as I love Ezra like I brother, Orochi and I were worried that, had he been in Fiore during Heart's Day weekend…"

Nashi felt unease and fear and knew Gary needed no more words to convey what he felt. "Daddy said Ezra left her some crying voicemails."

"I know. Majime came to Orochi and me because Saudade was a wreck and he didn't know what to do," Gary remembered. "We told him the best he could do was just provide as much comfort as possible. I know Saudade is happy with Majime, but as much as she says it, I don't think she can truly forget what she had with Ezra."

"I don't think so either," agreed Nashi, sad. "It's good Chi-chi is visiting him to figure out what's happening." Another heaved breath. "I love you; you know that."

Gary softened. "I love you too." He pulled back in time when Nashi tilted her head and they settled on a sweet kiss. "How are you feeling, Angel?"

"Sticky." Nashi's eyes gleamed. "A good sticky. But we'll need a shower and we'll need to change the comforter since there's probably a little puddle of your cum on it."

Gary laughed. "We'll make sure everything's clean before we leave." He kissed her nose. "Is it okay if I check the time?" When she nodded, he tore away from her with a hand still on her side to twist to grab his Compact. He looked at the time. "We made good time. We can still shower, have breakfast, double-check, and be at the Sky Port like we scheduled."

He threw his Compact on the bed to encase Nashi in his arms. "How much are we betting that Jang-ta and Tesla are late?"

"Nothing because they're punctual," Nashi chortled. "But Justin bets they won't make it thirty minutes in the air before they start up their sex-lympics and we're all doing thirty-minute intervals. Since the Sky Boat isn't too big, I'm putting my faith they can wait until we're on the ground."

Gary snorted. "You don't know their determination," he muttered. "Jang-ta was supposed to be a guest presenter with me for some Magic workshop seminar, but he wasn't with me during my half of it and got back, like, maybe a minute before his start time. Apparently, he couldn't resist it when Tesla popped by, and they ended up having sex through my entire presentation in some abandoned room before he had to start."

Nashi burst into laughter. "Oh my god!"

"They will find a way to have sex anywhere," Gary said, tone flat. "Taking assignments with him is a nightmare to get him off his Compact and not jerking off to whatever Tesla sent him. He's focused on the field. But the second we're off the clock, I have to wrestle his Com away from him before he and Tesla end up having virtual sex." He groaned. "How does that old man have that much stamina? Isn't that much sex bad for you? Can't he keep it in his pants for five minutes?"

"I think I heard Jaxton load his shotgun for that sort of backtalk," Nashi teased.

"He abuses me regularly. Him shooting me wouldn't shock me," Gary muttered. "I should be the one shooting him. I caught him and Tesla having sex in the locker room after our provincial hockey game and they – would not – stop – even with me in the room."

Nashi was tearing up in mirth. "I totally believe that. Tesla warned me they're no strangers to voyeurs and welcome them." At Gary's huff, she smacked his arm. "Don't get all mad. They're keeping the passion alive."

"'Passion' my ass. Jang-ta is just a dirty old pervert," Gary grunted. "Virgin one day and now he humps Tesla's leg whenever he has the chance." He added when Nashi shook her head, "Do you know how many times it took me to realize while he and I are on the Com, Tesla slips in to blow him or they start having sex? Do you know how scarring that is? And he doesn't even mute! What sort of best friend does that to their best friend!"

Nashi snickered and patted his cheek. "He might not think of you as his best friend, Gary."

"He does!" Gary insisted. "He just…admits it on the inside!"

Nashi raised an eyebrow.

Gary pouted and mumbled, "We are best friends."

"I'm sure you are," Nashi cooed. "But we need to shower so we can meet your best friend and stop him from being a 'dirty old pervert'."

Gary huffed as he sat up, bringing Nashi with him, "I bet he's taking advantage of Tesla now, the pervert. He can be such a dog sometimes."

°•°•°•°

X – X – X – X – X

"Oh god, yes, right the—no, no, no, don't stop!"

Jaxton paused, ear twitching, and yellow-amber eyes glowing. Sweat glistened off him and Tesla with claw marks on his back and arms treated like battle wounds and his hair thoroughly messy. A flushed Tesla sat on top of him with her braids scrunched up into a bun and his cock sheathed inside her.

She whimpered, bucking, and pleaded, "Jang-ta, keep moving."

Jaxton narrowed his eyes, disturbed, and growled darkly, "That pissant is talking shit about me."

"I don't care, just move…!" Tesla whined. "Fuck your anger at him into me."

Jaxton snapped his gaze back to his girlfriend with a dangerous heat backing his eyes. "You might regret that." He widened his legs and gripped her hips. "Hang onto me, baby girl." And the second Tesla dug her nails into his shoulder, she wept when he lifted her up, letting her suspend over him, and slammed her down with a brutal thrust and a possessive growl.

Y – Y – Y – Y – Y

°•°•°•°

Gary shivered, wild-eyed. I feel like I just started something dirty and I don't know why.

Nashi yawned and stretched her arms. "I feel like I could fall back to bed." She rubbed her thighs. "So sore… Whoa!" She automatically wrapped her arms around Gary when he lifted her into a bridal carry. "Gary!"

Gary beamed and strode for the master bath. "Come on, Angel! Let's bathe together!" A dirty gleam contradicted that innocent beam. "I'll make sure I clean every inch of you."

"You perverted dog, we're not doing anything in the shower!"

"But… Not even a little?"

"NO!"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

kazoekire nai hodo no omoi wo

itsu made mo okuri tsuzuke te kun da zutto zutto sen mo

•

kurikaeshi gokoro ni chikau yo

te wo nigiri zutto soba ni iru n da soshite kesshite hanasa nai yo

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Spring break was here, and Sky Ports showed that.

Trains were popular transport for students and families to go through the country or head to another Ishgaran country who shared the borders with Fiore, but Sky Ports were the trend with the Sky Boats sourcing their power from renewable Ether. Traffic was already bad, with busses and taxis and cars lining the pickup and drop-off lane for travelers, friends, and family. A few friends on their way to Sin crossed the street with their luggage dragging in their hands and excitement about their week of debauchery. A bus driver helped an elderly woman put herself inside with an assuring smile it was no trouble at all.

The inside was as orderly as it could be with airline desk agents doing their best to keep the peace with Lacrima Screens showing arrival and departures and delays and boarding. Multiple clocks and a holographic glowed showed every time zone and LVs hung showed current events.

One woman insisted her juvenile retriever was a service dog, only for everyone to be shocked when it wrestled from its leash to bite a porter. Security was swamped, but the process was not too long as people stepped up to the Lacrima Pads to a scan of their health and any illegal weaponry on their person while another scanner grazed over belongings. It mortified one boyfriend when his boyfriend was pulled aside for packing a very questionable sex toy that looked like a torture device. Annoyance flicked around because of a crying baby and his exhausted mother.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Jaborosa-Crocus International Sky Port

Jaborosa City

Fiore, Ishgar

8:07 AM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A long yawn.

Justin rubbed the sleep from his eyes in his comfy joggers and sandals and his blue hair in a messy bun. "The sooner we get there, the better." He fanned his mouth as he kept his tablet balanced in his lap. "I swear my assistants are magical people, but I'm about to lose my shit with this manufacturer for hassling us."

"Take it easy, baby." Ace sat beside him with his basketball shorts and socks with sandals. He looked awake with one EarPod in as he listened to a podcast. "Your collaboration with The House of E is going fine. But you're about to start micromanaging again."

Justin huffed. "Yes, well, this manufacturer needs his ass micromanaged because so help me—"

"You should text Carlisle for some stress relief."

That brightened Justin's dark expression. "You think so?" He played with his tablet with more enthusiasm. "Dante is godsent. Those pictures he took of Carlisle in the harness we bought are orgasm-worthy, ugh. Why can't we have him now?"

Ace chuckled and leaned back in the seat. "Because we promised we'd go slow, Justin, and be patient with our little one."

"Bleh. 'Patience'." Justin hmphed, but he used his pen to text a message to Carlisle. "We'll see about your stupid 'patience'."

"Here's your coffee, Justin!"

Justin looked up and squinted as a blinding eager-puppy aura surrounded Gary with a tail wagging and everything. Maybe Nashi was right and he is a dog. He eyed the pink Starfox in Gary's hand and tested, "Two pumps of vanilla, two pumps of white mocha with vanilla sweet foam?"

"And three strawberry scoops," Gary cheerily added, "just how you like it."

Justin tried to bury how impressed he was and sniffed, "Thank you." He took his Pink Drink. "But how about a taste test to be sure?" The straw was already inserted, so a few sips were taken. Orgasmic bliss registered on Justin's face when his mouth exploded with a liquified pink star bust, but he caught Gary's eager face and schooled his expression into haughty indifference. "You did okay."

"I'll try even harder next time," Gary determined. But all that seriousness disintegrated when he called enthusiastically to Nashi (who was with Tesla at Starfox) and cheered, "Angel! He said I did okay!"

Tesla snorted into a hand while Nashi looked ready to die.

As Gary wandered back to Nashi with a flowery aura and his shorts and tank top, Ace nudged his boyfriend and cajoled, "Baby, you know Gary's a good guy. And he's been treating Nashi like a gentleman, hasn't he?"

"I know," Justin grumbled. He could not keep up his agitation for long when he reflexively softened seeing Gary and Nashi's interaction. He hugged Nashi from behind and she reddened, half-heartedly tearing into him for embarrassing her, but she laced her fingers with his and leaned back into his touch.

"I've always known he was a good guy," murmured Justin. "I was his biggest advocate when Nashi wrestled with her feelings for him." He toyed with his straw and watched with fondness when Nashi tipped and cocked her head and she and Gary met for a chaste kiss.

"'But'…" Ace prompted.

Justin sighed heavily. "But I've seen Nashi shatter—twice." Those times still surfaced sometimes when he saw Nashi. He remembered her broken and drugged form in Orochi's arms as a blossoming teenager with stickiness diseasing between her legs. And he remembered her torn-up form functioning thanks to PICU machinery. "He was nowhere. I just… I don't want to see that again."

"Baby…" Ace pulled Justin close to kiss his temple. "I know you're worried for her, and I'm happy you care so deeply. But you have to understand they're both adults in a very healthy relationship. I'm sure they're communicating. That's the important part of it." He nudged Justin for a peck on the lips. "Don't be so cold to him. He really has been trying to win your trust back." He grinned. "And I know your resolve collapsed when paid for you and Nashi when you went to Balsam Village for a full-body spa day."

Justin grumbled, "Whose side are you on?"

"The side that makes Nashi happy." Ace kissed Justin's cheek. "Stop pouting." He kissed his cheek again and saw Justin's lips twitch. "Uh-huh. I know you're melting, Ice Queen. It's only a matter of time."

"Shut up," Justin chuckled, shoving Ace away. "Go listen to your podcast. Mama has important business things to do to keep your sugar baby ass happy."

"Wouldn't want to mess with my sugar mommy making money to spoil me rotten," Ace chuckled. He put on his other EarPod, but before he played his podcast again, he told Justin, "Trust Nashi." He rubbed Justin's thigh and turned back on his podcast.

Justin sighed. I do trust her. More than you know.

Ines (decked out in some joggers and a comfortable t-shirt), Ellie (with her cardigan and athleisure capris), and Jaxton (in an athletic t-shirt and basketball shorts) came back with bags from THE BISCUIT COMPANY and made sure to sort out all the bags as Gary, Tesla, and Nashi wrapped up at Starfox with drink trays.

"All right, we have everyone's orders!" Ellie chirped. She grabbed a bag and handed it to Justin. "For you, mademoiselle, is your chorizo and egg biscuit with muenster, green onions, and salsa picante. And for the monsieur, he has his cinnamon roll Sammy with ham, bacon, a fried egg, and creamed cheese."

Justin grinned, humming. "Oh, oui, oui. Merci beaucoup."

Ellie winked and handed Jaxton his bag. "Your order is in there and so is Tesla's over-easy egg, sausage, maple syrup, and apple butter." She handed out the second to last bag for the incoming Nashi. "And you, sweet girl, have a vegan wake-and-bake biscuit, and your man has his special-of-the-day biscuit with eggs, avocado, aioli, and bacon. De rien!"

"Thanks." Nashi exchanged the drink tray for the bag in her athleisure tights and an EMPHASIS t-shirt paired with her cardigan. "Your drinks have been double-checked, don't worry."

"Thanks." Ellie took her and Ines' breakfast bag and plopped back to her seat. "Nothing like some le petit déjeuner, so we can hit the ground running."

"We have a four-hour flight to prep to hit the ground running, Daisy," Ines reminded as she sat beside her girlfriend and pulled Ellie's legs into her lap. She situated their drink tray before she claimed her breakfast biscuit. "And I know when we get to the mansion, I'm taking a nap."

"It's not a mansion," Gary laughed as he and Nashi settled down. "Honestly, the upgrades I did to it weren't for me but to help me make it a profitable rental to weekenders and vacationers. It's not that special."

"Um, acca-scuse me?" Tesla unwrapped her breakfast biscuit as she and Jaxton shared a two-seat on the lounge bench. "I know you did not say, 'it's not that special' when we know good and well celebrities and the rich have done some ragers at your place."

Gary thought nothing of it. "I guess so, but it's nothing I'm directly involved with until the event planner comes to me with a contract." He quietly thanked Nashi for giving him his breakfast biscuit. "And all I care about is the revenue for making it a rental and keeping it in the black. Honestly, without Mister Dreyar's help, I would've let the house sit there. He helped me turn it into something successful."

"And it's successful on Caracole freaking Island," Tesla groaned. "That's so amazing!"

"It's not that amazing," Jaxton grunted (though Tesla heard his jealous pout), "and I have better properties."

Gary smirked. "You're just whiny because your girlfriend likes me better."

Jaxton narrowed his eyes. "You want to take this outside, pissant?"

"C-C-Come on! It was a joke!"

Nashi's eyebrow twitched when a trembling Gary and his nervous smile put her before him as his shield from Jaxton's deadly aura. And he says they're best friends?

Ellie swallowed her mouthful of her matcha crème frappuccino and asked Gary, "And you're sure it's okay we can rent the cars?"

"Sure!" Gary sucked on his dark roast coffee. "The cars are mine anyway."

"What!"

Justin, Ellie, Ines, and Nashi all gaped at Gary.

Gary had innocent question marks around him. "Didn't I mention that?"

"No!" Nashi looked ready to pass out. "You own cars now? What else do you have?"

Gary hummed, looking up at the ceiling in thought. "Hmm. Jang-ta and I own a brothel together."

"What!"

Jaxton could not care less about who stared at him, shocked and scandalized, but he cared when Tesla's jaw dropped. He explained, "It was on happenstance we found it on an assignment. The workers were being mistreated and abused. We made a…reasonable offer to the previous owner to hand over the deed in exchange for generous compensation, and now the workers can live in a safe and healthy environment. Orochi manages it for us."

"That bitch!" Justin gasped. "I knew something wasn't right about him hiding his PAL from me!"

Ace pitched in wryly, "No, I think that was right."

"And you didn't think to tell me this?" Tesla and Nashi asked their respective partners, incredulous.

Jaxton raised an eyebrow. "I did."

"No, you didn't," Tesla retorted. "When the Hell did you tell me this? Because I would've remembered—!"

"When we visited my home in Zhōnguá and you wore that lacy red number I ended up shredding."

Tesla instantly understood. "Oh… You did tell me about that…"

She internally sweatdropped as she recalled Jaxton's confession during their passionate "hard conversation" (which consisted of them quickly getting sweaty and naked and moaning their words). Considering my foot was eaten off, his mom was batshit psycho, everyone turned to monsters, and I found out my boyfriend is a Lycan and Cultivator, him owning a brothel wasn't on my top priorities to process.

Gary cheerfully told Nashi, "The property is listed with all my assets, Angel, so you have access to them. I told you what's mine is yours, remember?"

And he thought that applies to a brothel! Nashi felt blank-faced and broken with Gary's flowery aura overwhelming her dreary one. What sort of person am I in love with?

"But yes, those cars we'll be driving are mine," Gary confirmed aloud. "Mister Dreyar and uncle Gajeel suggested it to drive up the enticement. Renters still have to go through proper protocols with insurance and liability and returning the car in a clean condition, but I own two jeeps, an SUV, and a truck."

"You forgot the dirt bikes and the ATV," Jaxton grunted.

"Can I count those as mine?" Gary questioned. "You bought them."

"Yeah, I bought them for you because I couldn't stand hearing you whine about how the other kids had dirt bikes and ATVs and you didn't," Jaxton growled scathingly. "It was a gift to myself for saving my ears."

Gary beamed. "See? You do care about me, best friend—!"

"Fuck you."

Everyone sweatdropped as Gary further antagonized a fuming Jaxton. What type of best friend buys their best friend dirt bikes and ATVs? How much money do these two have?

Nashi blinked when her Compact did its flashlight notification. She checked the message that popped up on the screen and stiffened.

The conversation had descended about Tesla, Ines, Ellie, and Justin's plans to latch onto the party scene and shake their junk, but Gary pulled away from all the lewd innuendos when he felt a disturbance. He looked worried at Nashi. "Angel?"

Nashi looked up at him with those eyes. "I have to go."

Gary understood, features sharpening. "Keep your Compact on you," he insisted in a low murmur. "I'll keep a focus on your emotions just in case."

"Thank you. I should be back soon." Nashi pecked his lips and shimmied away from the group to diverge into the open hall. Travelers passed her with luggage and impatience, but she did not care as she blended with the crowd with her hand tight around her Compact.

This is what I agreed to when we left. Hickories darkened. I… I did what I had to.

Nashi skulked through the pedestrian traffic until she found a quaint center where a few restaurants had opened for the breakfast rush. It did not matter that it was eight in the morning; businessmen, pilots, spring breakers, and others congregated with their luggage as they chowed down on breakfast before it was time to line up at their gate.

Nashi scoped through the café lounge with her shoulders hunched. Should I keep walking or stay in one place?

PLOP!

Nashi blinked when a wooden carving of a star fell onto her path.

A smile. "Excuse me, darling, but could you pick that up for me."

"Sure, ma'am." Nashi scooped up the intricate star carving before offering it back. "Here you are…" Her words died off in shock. "You… You're the one I'm meeting for check-in? You're okay?"

"Your uncle's assistant thought you wouldn't recognize me or might harbor resentment, but I'm happy to see that isn't the case." Garnet eyes tinged with relief and a smile betrayed with sadness, Mozah looked comfortable with her white hair down and pushed back by her colorful headband and her traditional spherical earring of Alvarez. She had adopted Ishgaran fashion for the most part. "Hello, Nashi."

"I…" Nashi worked her mouth and decided sitting would be best. She sat in front of Mozah, who had a tray of breakfast before her. "I… I don't understand what's happening here. Normally, my check-ins are with—"

"Workers under your uncle and his assistant," Mozah agreed. "However, I wanted to see how you were doing myself."

Nashi could not hold back her surprise. "And In—my uncle's assistant said that was okay?"

"Like he could stop me," Mozah laughed. "He knows better than to try."

Shadows covered Nashi's eyes as she could envision a stoic Invel silently seething and observed Mozah sipping her morning coffee. This woman either has no fear of Invel or a massive death wish.

Mozah turned grave as she observed Nashi, "I know my question is loaded…but how are you doing? How is the Morningstar? Ah, pardon me. How's your partner?" she corrected.

Nashi gave the council elder a wary look. "Don't you have people watching me?"

"Your uncle's assistant may tell me things from time to time," Mozah admitted, "but I'd like to hear about your well-being from you. Though I have been keeping up with your media when I can." Pride shone in garnets. "Well done, if I must say. You sound well-spoken and eloquent."

Nashi smiled against the odds. "Thank you." She toyed with the star carving. "I'm okay. Busy but okay. I've been training. And my siblings are doing okay too. My brother Luke will be doing some summer internship at the Tower of Learning under some high-profile Sorcerer, and my sister is doing a summer semester at Saint Layla's, but…" She gave a pathetic laugh. "You probably already knew that."

"And it hears much lovelier coming from you."

Nashi sighed. "I heard the news. About Ajeel and Naseer and that UAA meeting and everything." Hickory connected with garnet. "What's about to happen?" she had to ask.

Mozah looked tired. "Many countries Alakitasia outside of Alvarez are desperate to see the heirs of His Late Majesty back on the throne." She subtly shook her head. "He's been immortalized as a god in Alakitasia who brought fruitful prosperity and boundless peace. It's why Holy Revolutions are parading around the continent. Many hope this search for the heir will result in Alakitasia slipping back into peace."

"I understand," murmured Nashi. "I don't like it, but I understand." Her body tensed. "Be honest with me. Will I be expected to return there?"

"If you are, those plans haven't been shared with me," Mozah confided. She reached across, palm up, and asked, "May I?"

Nashi nodded and gave her hand.

Mozah traced the lines on Nashi's palm with a focused gaze. "Your fate is tied with Death still, but you have a most beauteous life ahead." She closed Nashi's fingers and cupped her hand with her own. "I came in the stead of one of the agents to make sure you were all right. But I also came with an impossible ask."

"What is it?" Nashi questioned.

Mozah held her gaze strong. "Your partner will have a choice in death. And he must choose correctly. This is why I ask you the impossible." She tightened her hands on Nashi's. "Please, Your Majesty. Do not let him kill him."

It did not matter that Mozah had not disclosed names. Nashi instantly knew who she meant. "I can't decide that for him," she gently said. "And I told Gary that I would support his decision."

"Do you hate him?" Mozah asked.

"I don't know what to feel," Nashi sighed. "He abused someone I loved. He took something important to me away from me. He kidnapped me." She shook her head. "I don't think it's hatred I feel towards him. I just…don't understand why he would do all this. For my uncle? But why? Why is he this loyal after all these years considering everything that's happened?"

A heavy sadness held in Mozah's eyes. "I won't make excuses for his abhorrent behavior. But all I can say is that your uncle gave his assistant purpose. And no matter how much I wish for it, he won't stray from this path."

Nashi studied Mozah closely. "You care about him a lot?"

Mozah smiled a tired smile. "I cared for him when he was brought to Alvarez when he was just a boy. His Late Majesty felt it appropriate I guide him through his education and studies." A wistfulness tickled those words. "When His Late Majesty lived, I could catch glimpses of the boy I knew. And now…" Her lashes lowered, resigned and grim. "Now I can't see him at all." Her words were quiet, but they spoke volumes of how those happier times meant a great deal to her.

But before Nashi could offer comfort or a response or something, Mozah said, "I know you can't stop your partner from doing what he believes needs to be done. But I thought I would ask, as bold and offending as the question might be."

"You didn't offend me," Nashi assured.

"I'm glad." Mozah patted Nashi's hands. "Please take care of yourself, Your Majesty. You may not take your uncle's place, but there are many who rely on you."

Nashi nodded, shoulders drooping. "Right." She stood up. "I'd better get back." She passed the star carving back. "Thank you, Mozah, for… Just thank you. And please be careful."

"You do the same." Mozah took the carving, garnets showing her somberness. "Watch over your siblings. Something is lurking in the shadows and below our feet. Something that has your uncle's assistant on alert. And if he's on edge"—garnet hardened—"then that means the threat knows who you all are. And they'll come at you with everything they have."

°•°•°•°

Gary welcomed Nashi back as everyone was gathering their belongings now that their Sky Boat had come with its passengers safely cleared. He saw the lost look on her face and shielded her from the group.

"Are you okay?" he murmured as he cupped her cheeks with his hands. "Did check-in go okay?"

Nashi jerked a nod. "I'll tell you later." She fell into his touch and murmured, "We really need a vacation."

"And we'll get one." Gary kissed her forehead, but his ear twitched when he heard clicks and murmured. He had to laugh. "But we might be posted online throughout our vacation."

Nashi groaned. "And it's spring break. You know we're going to be deal with spring breakers." She drew up with her cheeks puffed and a narrowed-eyed-glare about her. "Don't you dare give any of them hugs or anything. I know you're popular."

Gary chuckled. "Do you want me to be unapproachable like Jang-ta?"

Both looked back to see Jaxton softening as he watched Tesla chat away with Ellie and Ines, but his cold front was back when a few fangirls inched in with their Compacts ready. They retreated with their tails between their legs.

"Normally, Master would have a coaching, but him being an ice queen somehow makes him more popular." Gary muttered under his breath, "I've been his best friends for years and he still is an ice queen around me."

Without looking at Gary, Jaxton gave him a middle finger.

Nashi simpered and said loudly, "You can't blame him for being a tsundere. He acts cold to you because he loves you."

Jaxton looked twitchy.

Gary chortled and kissed the side of Nashi's face. "We'd better not make him angry. He'll either punch me or sneak off and churn his anger into sex with Tesla." He made a look of disgust. "Such a dirty old man—Ow, ow, ow…!"

Jaxton had grabbed Gary's ear and forced his head down with a tick mark pounding on his temple. "Say that to my face, pissant."

Gary whined, "Tesla! Your dirty boyfriend is hurting me!"

Tesla glanced over to smirk and cooed enticingly, "Jang-ta, if you let him go, I'll wear every piece that you bought me."

That caught Jaxton's interest, but it was not enough to let Gary go. "You already will."

"Yeah." Tesla's smirk broadened. "But I won't torment you and wear them all in one night instead of one for each night." She laughed when Jaxton crowded her, peppering her face in kisses.

Gary rubbed his ear and threw a childish glare at Jaxton. "See? He's just a dirty old man! He didn't even apologize!" He pouted when Nashi laughed at him. "Angel…!"

"If the world knew the most dangerous Devil in the world was this childish, you wouldn't have a prayer." Nashi pecked Gary's pouting lips. "Now come on. We need to get our stuff. We have a four-hour flight to sit through." She grimaced seeing the way Jaxton closed in on Tesla. "And I'm regretting not putting down my jewel for them being in the mile-high club at thirty minutes."

And Gary threw back his head to laugh.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Nanatsu no umi wo koete tsudoi sawagou

Tokonatsu no shima wo mezashite

Hada no iro gengo mo kankei nai jan

Dare ni demo tanoshimeru

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Boarding was not that bad, but it was easy to see that their Sky Boat would be filled with more spring breakers than normal tourists. Fans of Fairy Tail had their Compacts out. Some had tried to be discrete about taking their photos while others were more on-the-nose and bounced up to the Wizards in hope.

Being in first-class felt nice. A male flight attendant who had tried to suavely take Justin's carry-on ended up stonewalled and terrified when Ace came around with a terrifying smile. Ellie had taken out her Compact for a video to go on Insta and captured everyone trying to get settled in with Tesla near-fainting about all the alcohol they could order in-flight.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Ki no nuketa nichijou wo kakimawasu youna

Awadatsu tansan nomihoshite

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ellie had a flight attendant capture of photo of the entire group prior to life off with their large smiles (Jaxton still looked indifferent). Another photo had been taken with Inez already clocked out with her headphones in and Ellie had gotten underneath her girlfriend's arm to snuggle for the camera.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Ima wakiokoru kanjou tokihanashi tara

Yuuyakezora ga netsu wo obite yuku

Saa minna de odoridasou

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

More photos had been taken to document their in-flight experience.

Justin pretended to be shocked when he was caught with his tablet as he openly looked at sex toys and jockstraps. Nashi looked ready to die of embarrassment when Gary was watching a romance movie and was crying about how the amnesiac female lead told her husband she would never recognize him again. Tesla was flushed beyond relief while Jaxton looked more relaxed and satisfied. Justin and Nashi begrudgingly gave Ellie their jewels.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Taiyou wo shimesu bokura no conpasu

Tadotte yukeba jiyuu ni nareru kara

Tomo ni uchiage you hanabi

Kimochi hitotsuni shite

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gary had decided the romance movie was a little too upsetting for his tastes and decided to do some reading instead. He was engrossed in the fantasy novel that it startled him a little when something hit his shoulder. He looked down to see Nashi had fallen into him, asleep, even with her neck pillow on. He saw a flight attendant come down the aisle with drinks and lifted a hand and mouthed no thank you. She smiled and moved on.

Nashi sighed in her sleep.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Taiyou wa shizumi kuri kaesu

Ashita hare nante hoshou wa nai kedo

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Angel…"

Nashi awoke, a little groggy, and hummed. She felt Gary's winter within reach and wanted to snuggle more, but she held back. "What is it?"

"Look out the window, Angel."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Donna aranami sae mo umaku nori konashite

Unmei no rakuen wa ima…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi yawned and rubbed her eyes before she turned to the window. She squinted at the bright light, but her eyes adjusted—

She gasped. "Is that…?"

"Yeah." Gary leaned to look out the window, and they drank in the luscious sight of a paradise atop crystal-blue waters. He rubbed her shoulder. "Welcome to your home for the week."

Nashi smiled. We made it…to Caracole Island.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

koko ni aru

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 111

•

Welcome to Caracole Island

•

カラコレ島へようこそ!

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Something about being on a tropical island made you giddy.

The white beaches were cloaked with skin tones of all shades, umbrellas, stereos, and even a beach café. Hotels had done their part with burnt gold and sandstone exteriors clubbed with palm trees. Valets raced out to greet the Sky Port and marine shuttle busses and other taxis. One of the bigger resorts had their cabanas all rented out and resort-stayers took advantage of the canoes. Sports cars and luxury cars, roadsters and SUVs—all commonplace to be seen drifting down the main roads.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Caracole Island, the main island of the Gran Alicanto Islands under the Fioren Isles Administration. Magia has a beach club resort on the island, but there are several resorts and adventure tours and even a festival called Carabana to celebrate the culture. Most natives speak Minstrish, but they also speak Cráole. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

With a lively city built into parts of the island with their sun-bleached coloring, stone roads, and tourist-lures with recipes made from the famous star mango, the rural charm of the island drew in people. Favorable weather, picturesque villages—it felt like spring and summer combined all their best traits and forged a comfy paradise.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Caracole Island

Fiore, Ishgar

11:57 AM CAST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi laid back in the jeep with the doors and top gone and the breeze pushing past her floral and warm. Gary drove them up the hill with grassy lands passing them by, fields of flower, and splotches of villages no and again. "This is beauty." She shook her head. "This is really beauty."

Gary smiled as he glanced at her. "I thought so too." He checked to make sure the other jeep, the SUV, and the truck were following him up the incline. While the road was not too steep and each side only had one thin lane to themselves, you never knew when an impatient spring breaker decided to try something. "Coming here every year helps me reset for what's to come. I'm glad I get to share that with you."

Nashi looked over to his side to look out onto the water. "It'd be nice if we could fly here."

Gary threaded his free hand with hers. "We'll visit Estrelmar during our vacation," he promised her. "Tejocote does a lot more adventure tours and has a small village that lives there, but Estrelmar is uninhabited and has some great cliffs to fly." He offered her a meaningful look. "I need to fly with you."

"I know." Nashi watched as he kissed her knuckles. "I need that too." She sighed and pulled back a flyaway from the corner of her mouth, drinking in the island. "Didn't your parents come here for their honeymoon?"

"Yeah. They stayed at one of the resorts. But when Angel and I get married—"

"Don't bring that up so suddenly!"

Gary chuckled and thumbed the back of her hand. "How about this? I hope to take Angel here during her summer vacation and during our six-month anniversary."

Nashi softened. "Really?"

"Really." Gary beamed and cheerily added, "And I plan to have Angel naked the entire time!"

"You perverted dog; I knew there was a catch!" Nashi huffed under Gary's carefree laugh, but one look at the beauty she would be immersed in for the week had her beaming again. Finally. A vacation from all the craziness. And the Chairman approved of Gary spending the entire week here. Her eyebrow twitched. But I wish he was more…subtle.

• — • — •

"Oh-ho, I'm sure you kids have big plans for your spring break, hmm?"

In Arcticados, Nashi and Gary laid in bed together, tangled in his sheets, with Gary's Compact on ⟪ Speaker ⟫ on his call with Draculos. Nashi had reddened, burying her head in her hands, while Gary looked too smitten for his own good.

"I don't see anything wrong with Mister Fullbuster having a week from teaching Miss Uki, so long as she passes her first quarter examination with the proctor," Draculos said. "And that means you two get those ten days yourselves. Make sure you're being safe." He added cheerfully, "All those gossip blogs Miss Monics reads tell me Mister Fullbuster is quite the passionate lover, Miss Dragneel, so I would make sure you have plenty to eat and drink!"

With Nashi passed out, eyes swirling, with steam coming out of her ears (and Gary was no help as he played with her hair with his love drunk dreamy smile), Iris spluttered in the background, "S-S-Sir!"

• — • — •

Nashi's eyebrow twitched with a small tick mark on her temple. Mama always warned me the head of the entire Magic Council was a strange man, but I didn't think he was that strange.

She blinked. "Oh, right." She looked at Gary. "What will Miss Uki do this week?"

"Since it'll be the first quarter of the moon, she'll be doing something with her herbs," Gary told her. "And she has appointments through the break. But I did give her homework and she'll still need to do basic meditation. But it seems like she's getting better and better with her Curse control."

"That's nice." Nashi hesitated to bring it up, but she asked, "And…Skade?"

"He's quiet." Something in Gary's eyes shifted, and he added nothing else.

Nashi squeezed his hand and murmured, "Thanks for bringing us all here for spring break. I'm excited to share it with you."

Gary gave her a loving look. "I'm excited to share it with you too." He gripped the steering wheel. "I need to lock Angel in the bedroom for being this adorable."

Nashi shot him a wary look. "Gary… Don't do anything—Oh my god!" She clung to her seatbelt when Gary slammed onto the pedal and gunned it up the road. "Gary!"

"Come on, Angel!" Gary hooted over the roar of the wind. "The quicker we get there, the quicker I can have my way with you!"

"Dammit, you perverted dog, now isn't that time!"

And Gary's maniacal laughter and Nashi's screaming blew into the wind.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And then…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The driveway was made of smoothened stone with the front yard landscaped with thick shrubs and seasonal flowers. Dressed in sun-bleached blues with a front porch to die for, the three-story mansion had an old country charm with Sinnish architecture influences with the roof, the large doors and windows, and fencing.

Nashi gaped as Gary opened both of the two-door garages (both immaculate and the one-door garage home to a motorcycle). "You…live here?"

"I don't live here," Gary patiently reminded. "This was a gift from a…client of sorts." He pulled into the garage. "And the only reason it looks as great as it does now is with tremendous help from others." Once the others were inside, he cut the engine.

Nashi could not stop gawking. "Are you sure you're not a secret millionaire or something?"

Gary chuckled as he got out of the jeep and rounded to Nashi's side. "Nothing like that." He helped her down. "I just made good investments and got extremely lucky. Thanks to the care put into my house here, it's almost always booked. I had to decline a rental offer this week from an actor, though, so I could bring everyone here, but I recommended him a different rental."

Nashi sweated at the innocent flowery aura around Gary. How does he not know how abnormal this is?

"Yeah, this is definitely a mansion," Ines called as she started taking out her and Ellie's luggage from the SUV. "Should we be worried you'll have staff lined up to welcome us?"

Gary laughed and started unloading the jeep. "No. I do have a staffing service renters can use, but this week, we'll be on our own. Though they did make sure the kitchen is full. Grocery shopping here can be a little bit of a mess."

Ace shook his head. "Nashi, you better hang onto him," he teased. "You never know. He might have properties around the world."

"I—"

Nashi slammed a hand over Gary's mouth. "I don't think I can take any more bombs today," she rasped.

Gary kissed her palm before moving it off. "Then how about a tour of the house?"

°•°•°•°

The family room the group ended up in had a built-in entertainment unit, fireplace, and wood floors. Muted light grays, egg-white, and washed-out shades and tints of blues for accents brought the room together with the decorations and the furniture. It opened to the grand foyer with its sandstone walls and extravagant chandelier.

Gary started pointing. "So this is the great room or family. I have a living room with a piano on the first door in the foyer. The second door is to the master suite, which is for Angel and me, which is down here. Justin and Ace, your bedroom is also down here by the stairs and past the kitchen. Ellie and Ines, you have the entire second floor to yourself, but there are two bedrooms upstairs and they both have their own bathroom. And Jang-ta, you said you would be okay in the basement."

"Tres magnifique," Ellie breathed as she looked all around. "Gary, your house is beautiful!" She took out her Compact to start taking pictures when she noticed the Perench doors. "What's out there? Can we see?"

Gary nodded. "Go ahead."

Ines chuckled when Ellie squealed and led the charge to the door. She gasped as she broke outside. "Mon dieu…"

The outdoor patio with its whicker table and chairs and the outdoor kitchen and grill expanded to the backyard of someone's dreams. The outdoor pool had been filled with the in-ground hot tub ready to go underneath the pergola. The other pergola had a firepit and cut logs stacked a distance away with swing cushioned benches you could lounge on all day.

But it was the view that made you gasp.

With the house built on the mountainside, you had the luxury of seeing the forest in its glory, but above the canopy lay a few of those crystal waters with Estrelmar and Tejocote in sight. A few paragliders had decided to make a day of the warm weather and low winds with the sails of boats high in the water. It looked like something out of a postcard or a fantasy to be amongst such nature, such rich beauty.

"How much do you own?" Ace asked, curious. "Are there any paths?"

"Originally, I didn't own much, but I bought additional property," Gary told him. "The community here owns a private beach, but I had my own natural stairwell built to go down to it and then the natural paths for the dirt bikes and ATVs."

"Security?" Justin checked.

"I have an alarm system for the house, but the previous owner had an Enchanter put in a security system, and I've been using it ever since," Gary replied. "During the day, it gate keeps any wanderers from the main part of the property, but when it hits dinner time, it encompasses the entire property."

"Aren't you worried about predators here though?" Tesla had to ask. "I know my ass is not about to go out into those woods with Smoky the Bear on the prowl."

Gary smiled. "I don't like tampering with the ecosystem, but the wards alert me if a predator comes into the area so I can avoid it. But predators mainly don't come." A mischievous gleam came into his eyes. "But I do have a few 'beware of wolves' signs up."

Jaxton's ear twitched.

"You get wolves here?" Nashi worried.

Gary snickered. "No, not really. But there's this stray dog I normally see who cries all the time. It's awful, but I don't have the heart to silence the poor little puppy."

A vein in Jaxton's neck bulged.

Tesla clapped her hands over her mouth to not laugh.

"I think it was crying all the time since it was all alone and mopey that no other girl dog would love it," Gary continued in an innocent chirp with Jaxton's mood darkening. "And it sounded like a dying moose all the time just wailing away all pathetic—"

BAKI!

Jaxton held Gary's collar and snarled through gritted teeth, "Maybe pissants shouldn't be running their mouths if they want to keep their teeth."

Gary sweated as he nervously laughed. "Oh, come on, Jang-ta!" he tried to reason. "You shouldn't get upset about such a little puppy—!"

"I said"—Jaxton leaned in with a deathly aura around him—"shut – your – mouth – pissant."

As Gary tried to laugh his way out of his impending death by Jaxton's hands, Nashi caught Tesla was horribly holding in her amusement and asked her, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing, just some random bullshit." Tesla whipped her braids to one side as she surveyed the land. "We need to figure out the party scene quickly because I did not get fresh braids, my nails done, and bring every tight and short thing I had to not thot around this island."

Justin wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "For sure we are finding a party. It's only one. We have a lot of time." He smacked her ass. "And we'll make sure your ass and titties shake, BB." He pouted. "I really wish Carlisle was here to watch his ass shake like it did at Nine-Dollar."

Ace rubbed Justin's shoulders. "Keep spamming him with sexts and gifts and you're going to scare him off."

Justin waved away the concern. "You're better at dirty texting than me, so I blame you for writing flat-out erotica to him."

"Can I read it?" Tesla begged. She batted away Nashi's look. "Again: don't judge me for how I get it on. My man still parks his big-mack truck right in this little and very wet garage."

Ace laughed. "You can read it, but don't look at the videos sent." He nudged his boyfriend. "Our little one was very brave for sending them."

"God bless Dante for doing the lord's work and recording all of it," Justin moaned. He tipped his head up to look at Ace. "I'm going to need to fuck all my aggression out in you tonight. Just a warning."

Ace's lips twitched. "Noted." And he pecked Justin's pleased lips.

"Gary?" Ellie trilled. "You said the rooms have enchantments for soundproofing, right?"

"She's just asking so we don't hear all those vibrators and multiple orgasms," Justin whispered.

"They're soundproofed." Gary had survived Jaxton's threats (for now) to reply to Ellie. "I made sure every bedroom has two bedroom sets, so if something happens—"

Tesla snorted. "Just say, 'when', honey, because it's only a matter of time." She groaned when Jaxton seized her. "And for us, it might be at the end of this sentence."

"Oh, I am right there with you," Justin purred as he eyed Ace.

Ellie giggled. "Can we make a plan that we have an hour to unpack before we meet up again? D'accord? Agreed?"

Jaxton grunted, "Agreed." He did not care for anyone else's opinion when he picked up Tesla over his shoulder. And he strode away with Tesla blowing a kiss and waving at everyone.

Gary sighed. "Take an hour. We'll meet back in the family room." He circled his arms around Nashi, as Justin eagerly hauled Ace away and Ellie laughingly gasped when Ines scooped her into a bridal carry. "And now I get Angel to myself."

Nashi smiled when he coated her neck in kisses. "Then you better take me to bed because I'm not as open to watchers as a certain couple we know." She spared him a lengthy kiss.

Gary pulled away and brushed his forehead to hers. "As my Angel wishes." He whisked her down the side steps of the patio where another pair of Perench doors waited with curtains shielding the windows. He pushed open the doors. "This is our room for the week."

"Oh my god…" Nashi stepped in like she was stepping into another realm. "Are you for real?"

Wood floors greeted her with a luscious rug beneath the four-poster king-sized bed. If the fireplace was not enough to entice renters, then it had to be between the accent chairs and table near the window for a private meal or, more likely, it was the master bathroom. Sliding mirror doors were already parted to show the charming maritime master bath with natural lighting, a freestanding tub, and polished gray marble floors. It was a "his and hers" sort of bathroom where each side had a delicate sink, vanity, closed-door toilet and bidet, and walk-in closet.

But the rainfall shower was what made Nashi never want to leave.

"And you…slept here?" Nashi whirled onto Gary, incredulous and awed. "Like… This was your room?"

Gary cocked his head. "Yes, but it didn't always look like this. You can thank Mira for introducing me to the right interior designer. They did all the work for the budget I set." He shuffled his feet, unsure. "Do you like it?"

"'Like it'? Nashi echoed. "I'd move in here with you!"

That excited Gary and gave him hope. "Really?"

"Oh…" Nashi winced. "I'm sorry. That was a poor choice of words on my part." She could feel winter's disappointment and came in close to kiss his chin.

Gary sighed. "Maybe a little poor choice of words, but I should've known you were joking." He brushed back locks to behind her ears. "Not that it matters. I'm happy you like it." He smiled. "We can take baths together."

"Oh, I am so using that shower and tub with or without you." Nashi let him guide her back to the room. "And I noticed the wardrobes were already full…" She eyed him when he laid them down on the bed.

"I might've gotten a little excited and asked for some help from a personal shopper friend of mine," Gary admitted, sheepish.

Nashi shook her head. "What can't you do?" she muttered. "You're smart, you're talented, you're basically rich, you have connections…!" She sighed. "It makes me wonder what the hell have I been doing this whole time."

Quiet.

"Does it bother you?"

Winter's worry burned into a slow withdrawal from summer as Nashi caught Gary's closed-off expression. She turned onto her side to face him and thumbed his jaw. "Maybe a little," she confessed, "but not in a bad way." She tried to explain, "I just feel stupid, I guess. Like… Like you have all this and I don't—"

"I don't care—"

"I know you don't care, but I do." Nashi sat up, looking at him. "I care. I don't want to become one of those gold-digging girlfriends who relies on her rich boyfriend for every single thing." Her eyes dropped. "I already know that's what people think about me anyway…"

Gary's eyebrows slammed together, and he sat up too. "Angel…" He sighed when she turned her head to the side. "Angel, please take off your clothes."

TICK!

Nashi slowly raised a shaking fist. "Gary…"

"Not for sex." Firm cerulean stared into hickory. "I want to get my message through to you, Angel, loud and clear. And it helps when we're naked."

Nashi sighed, shaking her head, "Gary—"

"I'll undress Angel—"

"No!" Flustered and irritated, Nashi touched the ends of her shirt. "I'll do it myself." She got off the bed and gave him her back as she shed her clothes, hearing him do the same. She hesitated when it came to her panties, but she removed them. When she went for her bra, cold fingers had gotten to the clasps. "I can do it myself."

"Indulge me." Gary unclasped her bra and slowly peeled it off her. He grazed her already hardened nipples and her moan turned choked when his hardened cock pressed against her ass.

Nashi weakly said, "You said this wasn't for sex."

"And it isn't." Gary's smile pressed onto her shoulder as he cupped her breasts. "Angel has a filthy mind." He chuckled when her huff turned to a mewl when he sunk his teeth into her skin for a love bite. "Look in front of you, Angel."

Nashi cracked her eyes open to see Gary had placed them before one of the full-length mirror doors. Her faded scars displayed across her skin and a small part of her wanted to hide her stomach, but seeing Gary wrapped around her and how flushed her cheeks had become made all her apprehension melt. "Gary…"

"No one's accomplishments overshadow or understate someone else's," Gary breathed onto her flesh. He lazily thumbed her nipples and felt her physical shocks and subtle shocks from summer. "I understand your concerns. I know what they say about us—all of us. And I won't tell you to ignore it because I understand how difficult it can be. But I will tell you to focus on my words more than theirs."

Gary captured her jaw, and she watched those blues fill with a stern intensity. "Jealousy, inadequacy, worrying—once you feel them, it's hard to stop. That's a lesson an old friend taught me. But he told me I could turn those emotions to fuel my own accomplishments. Because what's worse than seeing people successful is not moving forward to your own goals. You have accomplishments you want to fulfill, and I support them however I can. But you are not lesser than anyone for lack of materials. You are more than others in so many ways because of how much you're willing to try."

Nashi pressed against him as she breathed, "You always know what to say."

"Not always. I learned a lot of this the hard way thanks to a mentor-type friend," Gary told her before kissing her nape. "He might've been harsh with me, but if he hadn't been, I wouldn't be who I am today." He whispered, "Follow my lead, Angel."

Nashi swallowed when Gary helped her to all fours. Her reflection made her want to glance away. She saw a young woman with a deep flush, half-lidded eyes, and parted lips intoxicated with lust, summer craving for winter. She tried her half-hearted appeal that tugged into a plea, "Master…"

"I know, Angel." Gary fluttered a hand up her throat before making sure she could see him and her in the mirror, exposed, skin to skin. "Master knows what you want." He cradled her jaw and watched her shake and whimper when he placed wet kisses along her shoulder. "I need you to understand what I'm saying first, Angel…"

X – X – X – X – X

Nashi's eyes widened then fluttered closed when she felt two fingers slip into her sex. She whimpered.

"Angel…" Gary nipped her ear. "Are you listening to me?" He kept his thrusts to a moderate pace and watched when little yips and moans pushed past those full lips of hers. "Angel, Master asked you a question."

Nashi barely got choked out, "I'm l-l-l-l…l-l-listening, M-Master—Mmm…!"

Gary darkly chuckled, but he refused to stop his ministrations. "Then pay attention," he breathed. "If you truly wish to surpass me in every way, I'll happily support you. All I want is for Angel to be happy. But all I expect in return"—a third finger and his teasing bite to her skin made Nashi moan deeply and press against him to feel his thick cock against her ass—"is for Angel to do as she pleases and live her life according to her own goals, not in accordance to the lives of others. Understand?"

Nashi could feel that faint stir in the pit of her stomach and tried to move her hips to ride his fingers. "Master, please…!"

"Ah-ah-ah, Angel." Gary watched Nashi's trembling expression with glowing blues. "You told me you would listen to your master." A slow drag of his tongue up her neck as he moved his hips for his dick to slide against the crack of her ass while he curled his fingers inside her. Her jolt and flushed skin and that adorable hiss that finished in a whimper made Gary want to imprint this in his memories. "What did Master say, Angel?"

"I-I-I…!" The stir flamed as summer spasmed into winter, pleading, yielding, submitting. "M-Master, please! Please…!"

"Naughty Angel." Gary grinned into her neck. "Too focused on your pleasure than to reply to your master. My naughty little Angel." His fingers picked up in tempo, rallying her cries and feeling her inner walls start to constrict and try to suck him in. Winter sang its song to summer, luring it deeper deeper deeper into its trap. "Look how filthy you are, Angel. Look at that naughty woman in the mirror."

Nashi bowed her head, embarrassed and hot and please master touch me more—

"Angel." Gary's icy breath made fire expand on her skin. "Master gave you a command. Open your eyes and look at yourself."

An order had been given, winter had given its command, and she could not resist. She lifted her head and forced her eyes open to see her reflection with that lewd look of vulnerability and need splashed across her face and that Devilman possessing her every waking moment with dark intentions of lust and pleasure. How poetic.

A divine Angel at the mercy of her sinful Devil.

"Dirty, dirty Angel," Gary mocked her as he groped her sex and his thumb rubbed her clit. He saw her tremble and squirm, but he refused to stop, smirking. "Will you cum for me, my naughty Angel?" When Nashi shifted and bucked wildly for friction, he purred, "Watch yourself cum, Angel. Watch such a filthy Angel cum for a Devil. Right"—his tongue trailed her earlobe as winter keyed up summer into such a painful twist that one snap would break it—"now."

Between the force of her climax and the astonishment her body listened to his command, Nashi did not know which one startled her more. But she sucked a fierce breath as her back arched and she jolted when Gary lazily thrust to prolong that heat, the peak, that feeling of summer and winter colliding. When her sex could not clench anymore and a heat stung her eyes because of how much she felt his love through his winter and how much she knew how he treasured her, he gently pulled out his fingers.

Nashi found those fingers teasing the seam of her lips until Gary whispered, "Taste yourself for Master, Angel. I want to watch. Look at me when you lick yourself off my fingers."

The innate need to please had Nashi open her mouth as hazy hickory connected with dark cerulean through the mirror. She watched how ardently she sucked the cream from his fingers, swiping and swirling her tongue, and tasting that thickness, that saltiness, her essence. A puff of winter breathed down her barren neck and went straight to her aching breasts. Nothing enticed her more than to see Gary's composure crack when his nostrils flared winter and that crazed possessiveness filled his eyes just as her demonic submission reaped her soul.

Nashi groaned when Gary forcibly turned her to give her an aggressive kiss with his tongue dancing with her own. She did not want to fight. She could feel those sinful whispers rise and felt eclipsed summer crest while devilish winter snarled and swirled to possess her so tightly that she could only rely on him for pleasure.

And she wanted that badly.

Gary pulled back and looked at her beneath his black lashes. "Naughty, naughty Angel," he whispered in taunting. "If Heaven existed, I'd steal you from there. Could you imagine other Angels if they knew how much you craved for a Devil to put you on your knees and make you his willing toy?" He swiped her bottom lip before dragging it with his teeth. His hips tipped back and he knew beads of precum had dropped onto the floor. A hand came to guide his cock to its purchase. "And how loudly you moaned my name, begging for me to fuck you?"

A slow reckoning came over Nashi when she felt Gary push into her heat and stretch her. "Master…!" She panted and mewled as he slowly slipped inch by inch into her until she was deliciously full, but when he did not move, she struggled and tried to push back. "M-Master, please!"

Gary snickered. "Filthy Angel." His hand graved her stomach, relishing when she jerked, before tantalizing her breasts and watching her face expressed everything he loved—her desire, her love, her need. Her eclipsed summer matched his need for submission in his devilish winter.

An Angel willingly blackening her wings for her lover—the Devil.

"Even if Heaven wanted you back, I can't let you go now." Sharp canines sparked as that devilish smirk broadened and those ceruleans glowed with dark desire."I'd drag you to Hell with me to keep you as mine."

Gary had moved too fast for her to register what he was doing, but his sharp pull back and thrust made only one thought clear to her—she was finally succumbing to his possession.

Nashi spasmed and twitched as her eclipsed summer sank down down down into devilish winter's grasp. Nothing could have prepared her for the way Gary gripped her hips as he slammed into her with no remorse with only thoughts of possess, claim, mine, but she welcomed such aggression with an open mouth and wanton moans and cries. Her claws sharpened on her nails, and she watched before her as black inked her sclera, but those hickories stayed the same.

A Devil dominating his little Demon Princess.

Gary snarled when those whispers and purrs and hissed goaded for him to follow the natural order. He was a Devil. He took. He possessed. And he had conquered the ultimate prize any dark creature could have—a divine Agent who had the heritage of Demon royalty. His Nature dictated his Light be chained to him in the most basal way possible. To make their Bond so woven and tight there was no escape. To possess her every thought so she would only look at him.

The climax came so abruptly that Nashi snarled. Gone was the whimpering mess of an Angel. Here was demonic royalty who would never settle for a weak little Devil trying to possess her. She clawed the ground when he snatched her pleasure, using it, using her, and making sure he lengthened her high for as long as it took until she gave him another one. It did not matter if she was ready. He would make her ready.

Gary felt something in him tighten and the whispers told him release claim mine. He thundered winter's breath as his clawed hand entangled in her hair and he yanked her up, filling her deeper harder faster. She thrashed as her summer wobbled and snapped, unhinged, unrefined, as his winter started cloaking her so tightly, so inescapably, that—

A primal surge filled Gary as he yanked on her hair and ordered in Dark Tongue, "Cum for me, Angel."

Nashi's entire body clamped down and freed itself at the same time when a violent climax rocked her off her axis and summer spasmed and withered underneath winter's claim. But that clenching and contracting was strong enough that Gary gave a guttural grunt and speared himself into her for one last harsh thrust until he jetted every last drop of himself within her.

It was different having sex as a courted Demon Princess and a Devil. The sensations felt primal and raw and intense. Her orgasm brought about a sweltering heat that cocooned and contracted against his cock, and his passionate release brought about a shocking cold that iced her veins and sparked a second climax. It was a cycle. It was a claim. They fed off each other's pleasure, the more summer gave, the more winter took. They rocked into each other, snarling and panting, forcing the other to keep tipping over the edge. The Bond flailed and fattened, drunk off such extreme pleasure and pumping them with more thought than they knew what to do with.

Claim. Submit. Yours. Mine.

It took moments for them to calm down and even longer for Nashi's demonic gaze to retreat for the whites of her eyes. Their claws rescinded and that feeling of possession coiled like a sleeping snake, waiting to strike at the right time.

Nashi closed her eyes, out of breath, and her sex full and her body exhausted. It took Gary more time to snap back his control over his Nature, but he was delicate in releasing her hair. He did not let her collapse. His arms covered her stomach and her breasts to bless her heated flesh with wintry kisses. One kiss to her pulse and her body's knee-jerk reaction was to send a lazy contraction around his cock, but she loudly exhaled and covered his hands with her own.

Y – Y – Y – Y – Y

"You said this wouldn't be sex," Nashi breathed.

"I know." Gary kissed her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Angel." A wicked grin curled onto his lips as he kissed her pulse again. "Angel is just too irresistible." He offered a lazy thrust. "All I want is to take Angel over and over again like this." He purred into her ear, "And make Angel beg for it."

TICK!

Gary beamed and held back an irate Nashi from trying to smack him. "I'm not begging for a damn thing, you stupid dog!"

"Huh?" Gary cocked his head, still smiling. "But Angel loves to beg for my—"

"Shut up, you stupid dog, and pull out already!"

Gary tightened his hold on her body and nosed her jaw. "But I thought Angel liked it when I stayed snug inside her afterward," he breathed onto her skin. He rocked them gently and his finger tweaked her nipple only to rejoice hearing her whimper. "See? Angel does like it?" His hand drifted down her stomach. "And if I press right here, Angel will definitely start begging for a round two."

TICK.

Nashi gritted her teeth. "You…!"

Gary gayly laughed when Nashi tried and failed to claw at him. "You dumb dog! I told you I'm not begging for anything!"

"My, my, Angel certainly has so much energy," Gary commented merrily. "Perhaps enough energy for another round?"

"NO!" Nashi's eyebrow twitched as she avoided looking in the mirror. "Just…! Just pull-out already, you stupid dog. I need a shower after this and you better take some responsibility."

"'Take responsibility'…"

"Yes," Nashi harshly snapped. "I think you wrecked my thighs, and I already know I'm going to start dripping the second you pull out. Take some responsibility!" She tried and failed hiding her blush. Even if I love feeling a little sore after we do it.

X – X – X – X – X

"Oh, I see." Gary kissed her nape. "I'm going to go gently and pull out, Angel. Lie forward for me." Once Nashi was back on all fours, he took his time and watched in vested interest as he pulled his cock free from her sex, dolloped with their mixed cum. Those blues watched when his cum splattered her inner thighs and dribbled down her flesh. He could not help it when he teased her entrance.

Nashi shivered and weakly cried, "H-Hey! Wh-What are you…?" She bit back her moan when he thumbed the petals of sex. This…feels so good! But she tried to scold him, "D-D-Don't watch it come out, you pervert—Ah…!"

"I can't help it, Angel." Gary toyed with her as his nostrils flared as more drops of cum streamed down her skin. "We always use condoms, but seeing this…" He groaned when her squirm made more gush out. "I want to watch it every time."

Nashi mewled her feeble protest, "N-No… Th-That's… Ah!" Her back arched when he toyed with her clit. "I-It's…embarrass—Nnngh!"

"I see." Gary stopped teasing her sensitive nub to roll forward and encompass Nashi in his wintry embrace. He kissed her cheek. "Wouldn't want Angel to be embraced?" He kissed her jaw. "Is Angel ready for bath time?"

Y – Y – Y – Y – Y

"I'm not a damn kid," Nashi grumbled. "And who says I want to bathe with you—? Hey!" She did not appreciate him rolling her over and scooping her up into his arms. "Put me down!"

But Gary did not listen as he stood up and smiled sunnily. "Angel said I have to take responsibility. So I'll take responsibility in making sure every inch of Angel is clean." A salacious gleam teased his eyes. "Every inch."

Nashi struggled when he strode to the bathroom. "We're not having a repeat of this morning, so don't even think about it!"

"So then… Angel didn't like it when she rode my face in the tub this morning?"

"N-N-No! I-I-I mean, yes, I loved it, but—!"

"Then we'll do it just like this morning since Angel loved it so much!"

"That's not what I meant at all!"

°•°•°•°

"Holy shit…" Tesla looked around the basement in wonder. "Maybe I should've asked Gary to be my sugar daddy after seeing all this."

The basement had been refurbished into part of a speakeasy with burgundy walls, mahogany wood throughout, and a wet bar. Curtained down the hall was a home theater and another swanky sitting area with a fireplace that allowed guests to have a sensual space for intimate conversation. The basement master suite carried this theme with dark tones and cream-white accents, and it was clear the master suite and the entire basement was modeled for the more mature in contrast to the third floor with its bright tones, bunk beds, and game room.

Jaxton latched onto Tesla, her back to his front, with his dark eyes lightened into yellow-amber, and he mumbled, "You have me."

"Mmm, but it couldn't help to expand my options."

Tesla snickered when Jaxton huffed. He's such a child. But I'm happy I'm the only one who gets to see this side of him.

With light kisses placed on her neck, she shivered before smacking his arm. "Take me to bed if you're going to start dry-humping. I might heal from rug burn, but I'm not being fucked into the carpet again."

Jaxton chuckled and scooped her into his arms. "All right, baby girl, have it your way." He took care depositing her on the king-sized bed and hovered for a long kiss before pulling away.

"Lay with me?" Tesla murmured in ask. She closed her eyes when Jaxton did so and felt a flutter of pleasure-filled warmth when their skin brushed. "This place is amazing," she breathed. "You've been here before with Gary?"

Jaxton stroked her side. "Yeah. I normally come with him during the lantern festival or accompanied him when he needed a mental break."

"What did you guys do?"

"Nothing much," Jaxton confessed. "We would sit together. Sometimes, as humans, sometimes not. I'd play my guzheng for him to help him fall asleep without receiving nightmares. We'd talk." His finger trailed down her arm. "When he was younger, if I was in my Lycan form, he'd ball up next to me."

Tesla smiled. "Aw, that's so cute." She pictured such a scenario in the present with Jaxton as a huge white wolf growing irate of Gary snoring against him. He'd kill Gary if he tried doing that now.

Jaxton grumbled, "It wasn't cute. He drooled on my fur all the time. Fucking pissant." He smiled when Tesla simpered. "All in all, I was wary taking my boss' command to be a mentor and a friend since I actively avoided children. But Gary proved self-sufficient whenever we were here. He kept quiet. And when he wasn't quiet…"

"I'm s-s-sorry!" A little boy hugging white fur with all his might as icy tears stroked his cheeks. "K-Kill me, please!"

Yellow-ambers darkened with emotion. I can't forget his crying. And I can't forget his request to me when we met. Even now…

• — • — •

"Miss Sera said you were a friend."

The focus watched in a room filled with tarps and the scent of paint swamping his nose. The walls had been cleared into a viable canvas with splotches of works-in-progress mapped out, some painted, some sketched. But he watched as a young boy with dull blues kept stroking his paintbrush on the ceiling like it was the only thing he knew what to do on an icy ladder.

Jaxton rumbled, "I am."

"Okay." The child kept painting, listless.

A wide silence birthed between them.

Jaxton studied the child before he hunkered down and looked out one of the windows, sighing. 'I should've never agreed,' he regretted. 'I should be watching my assignment.' His ear twitched and his indifference softened. 'She roped that God-touched child into ice-skating. Valkyrie should be watching her in my absence. Maybe I could convince her to send me a video.'

A grouchiness glazed over him. 'Then again, I know she'll try to offload some of her casework onto me.' He huffed through his nose. 'For someone of a proud warrior race with her own Pegasus, her laziness pisses me the fuck off.'

A quiet call. "Mister?"

Jaxton grunted to say he was reluctantly listening.

A hush.

"Please kill me."

• — • — •

"Jang-ta?"

Yellow-ambers snapped to concerned steely grays.

"Hey…" Tesla thumbed his jaw. "I know you can't speak about what Gary went through. It's not your story to tell." She turned to lay on her side to face him. "But I'm here to talk about how things affected you."

Jaxton took her hand to kiss her fingers. "Thank you," he breathed onto her skin. "I've fought in many silent battles. The people I've taken in have come out from trafficking, being child soldiers, experimentation, and much else. But…"

"Please kill me."

It's not like a request of death is uncommon, Jaxton thought, morbid. Dulls like the one attached to Tesla frequently sought death. Enemies I fought begged for death. But him…

Relieved ceruleans. "Please kill me."

I've never seen such a relaxed face asking me for death. Mother never allowed a mercy killing. When her enemies begged for death, it was her mission to barely let them live. And yet him… Yellow-ambers darkened with subtle sadness. I can't forget that sort of request…and how peaceful he looked.

When Jaxton's expression shuddered, Tesla murmured, "I get it. Well, no, I don't understand both of you and your situations. But I can tell you worry about him even now." She smiled when Jaxton's lips flattened. "You do," she half-teased half-affirmed. "I can see that, Jang-ta, that you do."

"Maybe a little," Jaxton slipped, reluctant.

Tesla breathed a laugh. "Be that as it may, I can tell Gary thinks the world of you." She searched his eyes. "He's fortunate to have you to look out for him. As am I." She kissed Jaxton's nose. "But it's unfair he knows your age—" She broke into chortles when Jaxton rocked to pin her down to the bed.

"I regret that pissant knowing my age with all his stupid jokes towards it," Jaxton told her. Something crippled his serious stare—guilt. "And I had a lot of emotions about my age when I started pursuing you." He added gently when Tesla shied her gaze away, "And I know you did too. Maybe you do still."

Tesla shuttered a sigh. "Not so much now. The only thing I'm thinking of is…"

Her lashes lowered. That you'll keep going for centuries…and I'll be buried six feet under in a handful of decades…

"Remember what I told you?"

Tesla frowned, confused.

"I know you won't stop thinking about all the complications," Jaxton murmured. "I can't stop those thoughts. But I'm going to make sure you know where I stand. And I'm going to show you that as much as I tell you." He thumbed her bottom lip. "Remember the scene we've been planning?"

Uncertainty and a hotness swarmed Tesla. "Are you sure it's okay?" She winced and writhed when Jaxton dipped his head to press a scorching kiss on her neck.

"Your human fiction gets it wrong in so many ways about Therians." Jaxton nipped at her ear as that knee-weakening aroma of heat and temptation burrowed in his nose. "But for you, I'll indulge it. It's my gift to you to show you that no matter how much you get caught in your head, I'm going to keep staying here."

His hand drifted down to toy with her breast over top her clothes. A low growl worked him over when Tesla squirmed under his touch and tried to bury away her moans. "This won't do."

He sat up with his hand combing back his bangs to see that tormented look heating Tesla's face, halved between pleasure and bashfulness as she covered her lips with her arm.

"You know I don't like it when you try to keep quiet." He tore off his shirt in one smooth movement before fingering the ends of her shirt. "Either this comes off or I tear it off." A glow filled his eyes. "Your choice."

Trembling, Tesla made her move to sit up. She tried to shy away when Jaxton helped her, but his growl to be still gave her pause. He held her out of her shirt before forcing her legs up to take off her tights. She tried to hold tight to her panties, but punishing nips to her fingers made her whimper and let go. Those grays would have shifted away with her exposed, but she felt weak when she watched him strip himself bare and had to swallow, admiring the definition and work he put into his body.

"That's better," Jaxton breathed. He raised an eyebrow when Tesla withheld her tongue. "Still trying to play the silent game? Trying to act maidenly even after all we've done? The scene we've planned?"

He slid atop her with his hand smoothing up her arm that covered her mouth to thread their fingers together and pull her hand over her head. "So adorable playing innocent. Like I'm the big bad wolf and you're nothing more than virgin little red riding hood."

X – X – X – X – X

His canines grazed her throat. "Is that what my baby girl wants? Me to play the horrible wolf who wants nothing more than to put little red on all fours and mount her?" His kisses trailed down to the valley of her breasts. Fingers swirled lazy shapes on one breast while he blew hot air on the other. The jerk she gave and the muffled whimper made a chilling smirk come over him.

"If my baby girl wants to play like that, who am I to deny her?" His tongue circled her pebbled nipple while his hand pinched and rolled the other. She squirmed, trying hard to evade his legs and press her thighs together, but he refused to let her move.

A languid stroke of his tongue on her nipple set fire down her neck and a coil to her gut, but she kept her mouth clamped shut with her nostrils flaring. Her head threw back on the bed the moment he gave her a fierce nip, and against her wishes, her surprised and wanton groan slipped out.

"Ah…" Jaxton released her with his smirk broadening. "Much better, baby girl. Let me hear you." He rose. "After all…" His fingers captured her chin to force half-lidded steely grays laden with arousal to connect with salacious yellow-ambers drenched in lust. "You've always wanted a werewolf between your sheets. And now you have one." He caressed her quivering bottom lip before parting her lips with two fingers. Seeing her willingly accept him and tongue his fingers whilst looking him in the eyes made his cock twitch.

"What should your wolf do with you, Little Red?" Jaxton mused in a lazy purr. "Should I be as rough with you as those werewolves in your novels are? That's a thought." He grabbed himself—already stiff with his head a nice red, and his balls tight—and rubbed himself against her creaming sex. A shuttering breath left him seeing those creamy drops sluiced down the pink petals of her sex. So pink and so precious.

Tesla shivered when he rubbed himself against her entrance and whispered weakly, "D-D-Daddy…"

"Hmm? I can't hear you," Jaxton drawled. "You're already this creamy and I've barely touched you, Little Red. I could fuck you now and I doubt you'd put up that much of a fight against me, would you?" His thumb nudged her clit from its hood—

"Ah-ha!" Tesla's back bowed with shocks singing her body and her eyes wide. "W-Wait! Nnngh!"

Jaxton tipped his head, but he did not stop when he administered slow and gentle prodding and rubbing over her clit. "I can smell how wet you are, but seeing it makes me want to lick every last drop of you," he told her, husky and promising. Dark amusement and the instinct warred within him when Tesla grabbed the sheets for leverage as her thighs shook and her stomach contracted. He could taste what she offered him saturating the air so much so that his mouth watered, and all he wanted was to make love to her sex with only his tongue.

But he held back.

"What else do the wolves in your little books do?" Jaxton taunted. He had mercy for her twitching and drew back from teasing her clit for his fingers to stroke her nether lips. Her gasping cry when he teased her entrance and the rush of cream came from such a subtle act made instinct scarily flare.

Mount. Mate. Breed. Claim.

"I don't think your wolves pleasure their—what do they call them in your books? They call them 'mates'. That's right." It was quiet mocking, an arrogance, but it was not downright derision. This was a game between predator and his lucky prey, a wolf and his little red—a Male preparing his Female. "No, they aren't nice like this, are they? Should I stay this nice, or should I act like them?"

Tesla's expression contorted when his finger pushed inside her with a lazy thrust. Her hips jerked, wanting that friction, that feeling, that connection, and she was not above begging for it. "Daddy, please…"

"'Please'?" Jaxton dared to chuckle as he inserted a second finger. A little resistance met with him as her walls fluttered around his fingers, tight and constricting. "Do your wolves respond well to that sort of begging? I've forgotten." His other hand came up to fondle her throat before pushing his fingers up and into her mouth. "Suck them."

Tesla obeyed without question—

Jaxton added a third finger and thrust hard.

"Mmmph!" Tesla could not help it when she released his fingers to clench the comforter. "J-J-Jang-ta-ah…! Ah…!" Her hips bucked to ride his fingers as that connection built a heat in her thighs and a tightness in her chest. Breasts aching and her pounding, she succumbed to this pleasure—a Female giving into her Male.

"Should I toy with you more, or should I let you fuck my fingers? What would your wolves do?" Jaxton taunted. His focus was split between Tesla's vulnerable expression as she moaned for him and the way her weeping sex contracted with each thrust of his fingers. He licked his lips when he saw more cream coat his digits.

LUB-DUB-LUB-DUB-LUB-DUB!

"Oh, you're close," Jaxton purred. He bent over her to nip her exposed throat, but he pulled back his fast thrusts into lazy and relaxed. Her open whine and whimper made him chuckle. "You didn't think I'd let you cum that soon, did you, little red?" He kissed her jaw before a hard kiss on the mouth rendered her weeping and boneless. His tongue swept the seam of her lips, and she could not refuse. The moment she parted her lips—

SQUICK!

Tesla's eyes flew open and stared in pure shock into that lust gaze of Jaxton's when his fingers fucked her weeping sex and she matched her hips to his frantic rhythm.

Jaxton sucked on her tongue before his own swirled around hers. That forced connected gaze and the power behind each of his thrusts with the shivers his tongue gave her made this pleasure spin into delirium. She abruptly pulled away when that heat centered her core and that innate feeling of her climax cresting made her shove at his stomach.

"N-N-No!" she panted. When he refused to move, she put both hands on his shoulders in a vain attempt to get him to move away. She could feel herself clenching his fingers and that wondrous feeling circling her lower region was on the horizon, but a staggering need to get away made her desperate. "W-W-Wait! Please, n-no, I'm gonna…ah…! Ah…! Ah…!"

She did not cum on his fingers.

The moment that blissful release started to bloom, his fingers ripped from her so brutally that she could have lurched from the painful shock. But in all but a second, a culmination of a pleasureful yet jarring stretching that filled her to the brim, and the loss and rejoices of being touched, connected, made her entire body spike contradictory with no no no yes yes yes and then—

"Ah-ha, Jang-ta!" Tesla cried out when the full force of it all hit her. She could feel her sex contract against the girth of his cock and could not bite her lip from the ebbing pain of such a brutal intrusion. Her body forgave such abruptness as it coddled her with that need to be filled, that ache to be taken, used, pleasured.

Jaxton clenched his jaw when the shocks of Tesla's orgasm wrapped around his cock, sucking him in. Instinct to take, claim, mate filled his head, and to feel her pleasure confine him made him want to surrender to instinct. But he kept himself still and watched with a flushed neck as Tesla could barely push audible words through her lips as she rode out the full length of her climax on him.

This face she made—this vulnerable, awed, beautiful face—made him love her even more.

As the aftermath dawned on her with subtle shocks jerking her sex around him and a lazy desire swept through her, Jaxton lifted one of her legs to trail heated kisses from her ankle to her thigh, nipping and nurturing, and he could feel her brazen gaze watch him through half-mast eyes. Once he had his fill, he made sure her leg was over his shoulder before giving the same affection and care to her other leg.

But when Jaxon had her legs on his shoulders and he pushed down to rest his forehead against her, Tesla cried when his cock sunk deeper deeper deeper into her tightness and she managed to claw his shoulders for a sense of grounding. Pants birthed between them as she lowered her lashes to breathe and he watched her like he could not get enough.

"You've suffered enough shocks," rumbled Jaxton through his panting. "You've dealt with enough. This week is for you to relax and let me lead you and give you anything you could need or want." He grazed her cheek with his knuckles before pressing a softer, sweeter kiss onto her lips. She responded in kind, moving against him, before he pulled back to see those grays filled with swirling love and lust and everything in-between.

But still…

I can still sense her lingering doubt. Jaxton kissed her nose then her brow before dedicating his time to kiss all over her face except for her lips. She's too worried about our future to surrender to me fully in the present. That won't do. His lips hovered over hers. I hope our scene on Friday will settle her doubts. I know I can't make them go away. However…

Tesla's hands encompassed his cheeks and pulled him down for a much-needed kiss.

Jaxton sank into her lips, taking advantage of their plumpness and relishing how full and sweet her lips always tasted. …by the end of this week, I plan to give her a taste of what she's been longing for. I made all the arrangements. She's too young for me to fully Bond with her. He slid his fingers into hers and their handhold tightened the deeper their kiss went. But I refuse to let her keep thinking I will ever want another. That's why…

They broke from their kiss with heated breaths between them. Tesla's delirious face and love-drunk eyes were all Jaxton needed in this life.

…I'll show her a taste of what a Bond feels like. His decision was made. She agreed to let me give her that much. Even though I know she's disappointed I won't fully connect with her, I want her to be certain. Because once I Bond with her—his canines came down to bite the juncture between her shoulder and neck, and Tesla scratched his back as she cried his name—I have every intention of creating a home with her and making sure everyone knows she's solely mine.

Yellow-ambers glinted. Not even my path with Báihǔ will be enough to keep me from her.

Jaxton whispered into Tesla's skin, "This wolf is addicted to you, Little Red. I can't help it." He gave a low lick of her neck, making her shiver, until he purred in her ear, "Everything about you is so sweet and tempting." His shallow thrust into her sex made her nails find purchase in his shoulders. "I'm so good tempering my control, but you make me feel savage—like all I am is a wolf."

Tesla moaned pitifully at his superficial thrusts, "J-Jang-ta, please, I…! Ah…!" She buried her lips in his neck as she rose to meet every thrust with less grace than she would have liked. He's…so big… Even after all this time, he stretches me! That familiar heat spawned in her inner thighs as pressure climbed her chest. She was melting, falling, surrendering with every plunge.

A Female letting her Male claim her.

"Do you remember what I told you?" Jaxton part-grunted part-purred into her ear and made her all the more sensitive and achy and fuck me claim me use me. "You give me so much more. And I'll show you that, my little red." A deeper thrust had her clenching and crying and slow down no more I need more give me more please!

"You are mine."

THRUST!

"My life."

THRUST!

"My light."

THRUST!

"My weakness."

THRUST!

"My strength."

THRUST!

"My hope."

THRUST!

"My future."

THRUST!

"My love." Jaxton pulled back his head for teary steely grays to see the burning yellow-ambers of a beast yearning to make her his in every conceivable way. "My baby girl. My Tesla." He kissed her chin then her bottom lip. "And I'll howl that so the Spirits themselves know that I won't ever let you go."

Tesla had no chance to respond when Jaxton's hips bucked. She barely could hold on as he thrust into her, leaving her to wallow in this electrifying desire with her ears muted to her whimpers and cries yet she heard his animalistic grunts and snarls. That build-up snapped as the damn of pressure broke for her first climax, but his thrusts against her clenching sent her into a desire-filled spiral as she raked his back and cried for him to wait too much too much yes oh god right there I'm g-gonna—!

Jaxton snarled into her neck the moment he felt her next orgasm crest and clench, but he could not stop his furious take of her. His teeth nipped and his tongue soothed over the flesh of her neck and jaw with his arms swarming around her to cage her, pin her, keep her still. Instinct took control with feral needs filling him that he kept tucked away. The instinct to mate, to provide, for her complete surrender.

A Male rutting his Female to submission.

Jaxton felt that urge expand into his chest and pressure him, but he shoved it down, listening to every whimper and moan Tesla gifted him. Not yet, he told himself as he thrust. Stay in control—for now. Once she gives me a good chase on Friday, then I can lose control. The thought and thrill made his thrusts turn brutal. Running through darkened woods with only the scent of Tesla's heat to guide him until he could court her and win her approval, until he could cherish her, mount her, claim her—

Jaxton's balls tightened when that constricting and flutter of her walls did him in. Fuck, I'm gonna cum. But I don't want this to be over. He pulled up his head to watch emotions flicker through Tesla's face—her pleasure, her submission, her love. He sucked her into a deep kiss. Tesla… You don't know how deeply in love with you I am. I can't help but be selfish when it comes to you. And I know that my selfishness could put you in harm's way, but I don't care. I'll do whatever it takes to make you mine. But you'll feel how desperate I am to keep you soon enough, I promise.

Slaps of flesh picked up as a renewed vigor hit Jaxton, and he knew that sensation. The heady scent of sex and sweat and Tesla and the thoughts of tasting her sex to see if she was ready, dominating her, fucking her until only submission hummed between them—the dawning of a basal possession and the aggression, the need to neutralize threats to his Female crested.

Jaxton snarled. Just a few more days and I can give in as a Lycan. But for now—

"J-J-Jang—ta, I'm gonna…! I-I-I…! Ah, god…!"

Jaxton clamped his fangs down on her neck when her shattering orgasm nudged his own and he could feel his body prepare.

—I'll love her as a human.

With a loud roar, Jaxton splurged inside her, but he could not stop thrusting when Tesla wept into her next crashing climax. The throes of their passion could not leave them with any words. Tesla could only dig her nails in to keep from drifting into that hot and waiting bliss while Jaxton's hips jerked against the flutter of her sex and the overwhelming sensation of releasing inside her. Her milking of him gave him a few more spurts, and he stilled when his body felt tempted to cave into that feral feeling to tie them together—a Male locking his Female.

Nature's intent tried to sway him with that sheer bliss of rutting—their locking, her submission, building a den, providing, nipping, nurturing, mating—

Y – Y – Y – Y – Y

He bucked it down Nature's intent to embrace Tesla, skin to skin, and inhale their mingled scents, calming himself down.

"I love you," croaked Tesla, hoarse and vulnerable and genuine.

Jaxton panted and kissed her neck before nipping her bottom lip. "I love you too."

Slanting his lips on hers, he rocked into a soul-sucking kiss. I'll always love you.

---

"This train is now departing for Concourse B. Concourse B as in Bailey."

The train doors closed, pedaled with travelers from infants to elders and workers needing to get from A to B. Two universities students murmured to each other about their plans for spring break. An older man in a wheelchair was talking shop to his escort, who looked a little high.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Jaborosa-Crocus International Sky Port

Jaborosa City

Fiore, Ishgar

1:46 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Pacer and Pearson had dressed down in short-sleeves and shorts for Pacer while Pearson had done ripped jeans. Their personal bags and carry-ons were all they needed. But both men stood with protective worry on their faces as they looked at—

"Can you not stare at me for five seconds?"

It was safe to say Jasmine was ready to snap at the twins. She had blotted away her dark circles with make-up and all her new growth worked in mass for the twin braids she had scrounged up. The bottle of ginger ale was her best friend right now since neither the father of her children nor uncle of her children were entertaining her in the slightest. She lost the right to carry her own bags and had given them venomous looks when they tried to escort her.

Whoever said, "two is better than one" clearly was never pregnant and never had to deal with obnoxious chauvinistic twins.

Jasmine felt her nausea betray her and quickly sipped her ginger ale, cringing when her stomach twinged at the sudden movement and her head rushed with dizziness. "I'm fine," she snapped at them. "I'm not going to drop."

"You've had a lot of fainting spells," Pearson pointed out in a soothe that grated her nerves. "We're just trying to make sure you're okay."

Jasmine speared him with a mutinous glower. "No. You're trying to impede on my normalcy and privacy." She winced when she felt the discharge between her legs and dreaded needing to change her panty liner. "I would've been okay taking this trip to see my family by myself."

Pacer raised an eyebrow. "That sort of statement would be negated by your obvious distress, attorney. You wouldn't last ten seconds on the stand convincing a jury of that."

"Oh, I would love to take you to court," Jasmine hissed, narrowing her eyes. "I wouldn't even need a jury. A judge would take one look at you and convict you of being an arrogant dick."

"You mean after I present my case that I've taken serious steps to give you the care and support you need and your own admission that I've been, in your words, 'the best you've ever had'." Pacer smirked when Jasmine growled. "Come on, Slugger. You'll have to do better than that."

Pearson sighed. "Pace, don't antagonize a pregnant woman."

"I'm not 'antagonizing'," Pacer muttered. "You weren't there when she threatened to neuter me."

"No, because I heard about it later that you suggested her using your body to vent out her pregnancy hormones," Pearson grumbled. He felt a headache coming on. "Why would you even suggest that?"

"She was the one using a vibrator when I'm right here and very willing," Pacer said like it was a natural defense.

Jasmine retorted scathingly, "At least I could get off using a toy. And I'm not in the mood to use something passed around. I don't take sloppy seconds."

"Too bad you're committing perjury," Pacer remarked.

"I'm not under oath and I'm not lying."

"Really? Because I distinctly remember how you feel when you cum on my—"

"We are in a public place," Pearson hissed at both of them with an aching tick mark against his forehead. "Can't you both save it for somewhere more private?"

Mischief glinted in Pacer's pale reds. "I'm game if she is."

"Hard no," Jasmine sniffed. She tried to cross her arms, but the moment she pressed against her breasts, uncomfortable sensitivity made her wince. "And if we have to talk, we can do it after my break from the both of you." She did bristle when the twins exchanged a look. "I told you both I'd be out of touch this entire spring break since I was forced out of office and I meant it."

She did not want to sulk, but she remembered the whole affair and how startled she was when her emotional boss gave her the week off. My supervisor kept preaching how I should take the break to 'bond' with my twins. What the Hell is she on about? I'm pregnant, not incompetent or a mombie.

"Which we understand," Pearson tempered in a slow soothe. "But…maybe you'd reconsider letting us visit you during your break at your aunt's house throughout the week."

Jasmine scowled. "No." She would not give an inch. "Hell no. If I'm not allowed to work, I'm going to be studying and I don't—!" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I never told either of you I'd be at my aunt's house."

Pearson struggled for an excuse while Pacer drawled, "No. She told us."

"What?" Jasmine's eyes darted between both brothers. "When did she do this?" She pounced on a guilty Pearson and told him poisonously, "Pearson… Did you call her?"

"He didn't. She called you," Pacer told her, taking Jasmine's attention off a sweating Pearson. "You were taking a nap when the call came in."

"So you answered it?" Dread filled Jasmine. "Please tell me you didn't tell her—"

"That I'm the dad? No." Pacer gave her a wry smile. "She assumed it for herself."

Jasmine sneered. "And you didn't deny it?"

"Why would I do that?" Pacer's eyes sparkled in amusement towards Jasmine's ire. "I'm not going to lie to her. You're an attorney. Don't you remember how our jobs work?"

Pearson could see the stress building on Jasmine's face and scolded his twin, "Stop upsetting her. You're not doing yourself any favors here with it, Pace." He sat on the bench with Jasmine, worried, and asked her, "Do you want us to stop somewhere and get you pretzels?" He rubbed her back. "Is your back hurting again?"

"I'm fine," Jasmine groused. She paused and mumbled, "But my back is hurting a little." She rolled her shoulders and moved her head from side to side, nose wrinkling. "And my neck. I feel so stiff and crampy."

"Granny Porlyusica and Miss Wendy said you'd be feeling that a lot more," Pearson reminded. "How's your exhaustion?"

Jasmine sagged against Pearson's waiting shoulder. "Let's just say I'm excited to see a bed. That flight nearly took me out with motion sickness if I hadn't taken that sleeping pill."

Pearson smiled. "You'll be at your aunt Sharon's soon enough to sleep."

Pacer clenched his jaw before purposefully looking away. She should've been relying on me. But ever since Parent's Day… It's like she's done everything in her power to put distance back between us. Those pale reds darkened. I shouldn't be annoyed, but…

He glanced back and could not help when his stomach twisted when whatever Pearson murmured to Jasmine put a weak smile on her lips. She never smiles at me the way she does with my own brother.

Pearson's stare flicked up and he caught Pacer's clenched jaw before suppressing a sigh. I can't help his jealousy. As long as he doesn't act on it, I won't say anything. Because we have bigger things than him being petty and jealous over Jasmine and me.

He eyed Jasmine's bulging stomach with a pensiveness. Their souls are strong—too strong for twenty-two weeks.

He observed the pinch in Jasmine's expression as she tried to relax. Her perpetual exhaustion has been worrying Pacer and me. Miss Wendy told us she should be having a little more energy, but Jasmine has been fainting left and right. Had she had fainted before we boarded, Pacer, Miss Sharon, and I made the call Jasmine would stay in the US.

"Make sure Jasmine comes to see me during all of your trips here."

• — • — •

The focus was on a Compact on speaker resting on the island of Pearson's apartment with his twin bracing his hands on the counter. Both listened sharply to Wendy's words.

"It was worrisome about her severe exhaustion and her losing taste buds," Wendy told the brothers. "Evidence is turning more and more in the way of the twins being born with an abnormal quantity of Magic, but without her naturally absorbing Ether…"

Pacer looked on edge. "We'll bring her."

"Pacer, don't force her," Wendy sighingly cautioned. "She doesn't need the stress. Just suggest to her to come to Porlyusica's hut. If she's comfortable, if one of you could accompany her, that'd be great."

"Why?" Pearson could not help but ask.

Wendy was quiet for many moments until she unveiled, "Porlyusica and I have been talking about her pregnancy… In the event Jasmine is hospitalized, one of you needs to be her proxy. Her twins shouldn't be taking this much from her that she's in this much pain and exhaustion regardless they could be Wizards and she's Spiritless. And we need you both to be prepared to speak for her when she can't."

• — • — •

DUN-DUN-DUN!

"Please hang on. This train is stopping."

Pacer's eyes caught when Jasmine clamped down on Pearson's hand for support as the train slowed. His jaw went taut, and he looked away with his hand clenching the pole harder.

Once the doors opened, there was no race to get out. Most still had another concourse until they were at their destination, but some held back when the escort wheeled out his ward. Jasmine got up with her hand cupping her swollen belly and a grimace on her face. A rush of dizziness tripped her up when she rose, but Pearson caught her.

"I really need to lie down," Jasmine strained to say.

"And you will soon." Pacer flanked her side and murmured, "Hold onto me, Slugger."

Jasmine did so without defiance and let him escort her out of the train car with Pearson guarding the rear. While two sets of escalators waited for travelers to take up to the food court and waiting area, Pacer diverged to the elevator and the working escort held it open for Jasmine to waddle in. She puffed, exhausted, and leaned against Pacer.

"Ugh… Ten steps and I feel like I ran a marathon," Jasmine breathed. Nausea and wooziness washed over her when her leg cramped, and she closed her eyes to combat the pain. "I can't wait to take a shower and slip back into bed."

Pacer smirked and lightly teased, "Am I included in that fantasy?"

Jasmine snorted. "That ship has sailed and was bombed." She tried to move away, but her stagger made Pacer latch onto her. "I'm fine," she tried to excuse, touching her temple. "I'm just a little dizzy, okay? It's nothing. Your twins are fine."

"Put it in your head, Slugger, I'm worried about you on top of Scooby and Shaggy," Pacer growled lowly to her.

Frustration and worry gnawed at him seeing Jasmine so out-of-sorts. I've been watching her closely, and I keep getting more and more worried something's going to happen to her. Granny Porlyusica gave her Ether supplements that normally work for pregnant Spiritless with their babies Wizards, but Slugger is still exhausted.

Her ragged breath and held back whimper when the elevator jerked to a stop made him want to hold her tighter and pepper her face with sating kisses. Come on, kids. Take it easy on your mom for all of us.

DING!

The elevator opened. The man and his escort rolled out first, but Jasmine took her time as pressure built up on her lower stomach. She cursed at the unfairness of it all. "Damn. I need to pee." She spotted the nearest women's restroom. "At least it's close." She turned around to face Pacer and Pearson with an expectant hand out.

Pacer raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

Jasmine huffed, rolling her eyes. "My bags," she stressed. "Come on, hurry up. I really need to pee."

Pearson proffered, "We can hold them for you—"

"No." Jasmine firmly shook her head. "The second I'm done, I'm going to see my aunt, and I'd rather not explain whatever's going on here outside of Scooby and Shaggy giving me an extreme stomach makeover. Plus, I'd much rather not be seen with either of you."

"Wouldn't want you to be embarrassed to be seen with us," Pacer grumbled. "Tattoos and piercings probably don't look good next to you."

Jasmine gave him a severe look. "You know what's not what I meant." She had to forcibly exhale when the urge to pee hit her strong. "You guys told me you had some family coming to get you. That's great. Go reunite with them or whatever; I don't care. But I told you I don't want to meet them." She tried to grab her things and groaned when Pacer held her bag out of reach. "Stop being an asshole."

"Go do your business," Pacer told her. "We'll wait for you, and we'll make sure to give you your stuff back before we go out to the waiting area," he added when Jasmine opened her mouth to protest.

The urge hit her too strong to deny, and Jasmine squeezed out a hiss, "Fine. But remember—I don't want anyone seeing us together." She whipped around and made a beeline for the restrooms.

Pacer muttered, "So fucking stubborn."

"And that stubbornness is about to be inherited in your kids," Pearson laughed as they trailed to the bathrooms.

Pacer smiled. "Yeah. I'm counting on that. If I can just figure out how to tell with their stubborn-as-Hell mom, then maybe I have a shot dealing with their backtalk in the future."

Pearson shook his head. "Good luck with that." They lingered against the wall. "If I didn't see how much you're in love with her, I'd guess you guys are like oil and water."

"I'm not in love with her," Pacer combatted, cheeks hot and tone gruff.

Pearson was not convinced, but he would let it go—for now. "Have you found a way to tell Mom and Dad yet?" He grew incredulous when Pacer looked away. "She's five months in, Pacer. You can't dodge Mom's calls forever."

"You heard her, didn't you?" Pacer snapped. "She doesn't want anyone to know I'm the dad. And it's fine."

"Bullshit," Pearson called. "If you agreed to it, that meant you saw some benefit to it. Don't blame this all on her."

Pacer locked his jaw, but he did not have a response.

Pearson shook his head, but he let his twin brood. He checked his Compact to see one missed call from Sindella. Without me in the US this week, I hope Giovanni and Sindella found another Meister to help with the animavores. Pale reds darkened. I don't know where they slink out from, but it seems to me whoever they belong to are testing them. Some of them look human, but others look animalistic. He touched his chin, contemplative. I had hoped to ask Dad and Penelope for some help and if they've seen anything strange.

After a few tense minutes, Jasmine staggered out and looked winded and gray. "All right. Let's get this show on the road." She held out her hand again. "My bags now, please and thank you?"

While Pearson gave her the rolling duffle, Pacer held back from giving her the other duffel. "Maybe—"

"No. No maybes." Jasmine took the plunge and stole back her duffle. Huffing at the weight and mind fogging for a moment, she hated seeing that worry in his eyes and jerked her chin up. "Look. It's been a very exhausting past few months, and all I want to do is sleep and catch up with my aunt. Thanks for escorting me, and I'll see you when the break ends." Now that that was that, she pivoted and strode away.

Pacer watched after her, agitated, but Pearson clamped a hand on his shoulder and murmured, "C'mon. We need to head out too. We'll keep watching her until she gets to Sharon and Maddox."

Pacer nodded and followed his twin, but he could not help watching Jasmine's gait and how unsteady it was. He captured her jaw quivering and how she bit her lip as though grounding herself from whatever pain was spasming with her.

I really thought we were making progress. He touched his lips and could remember how sweet she had tasted kissing him. But ever since Parent's Day and she got some Com call, she's shut me out at every turn. He tightened his hold on his backpack. How the Hell am I supposed to show her I'm in this for the long haul if she shuts me down?

"You're here!"

Pacer looked up—

He was shocked. "Mom?"

The entirety of the Strauss-Dreyar Clan had come to the Sky Port with giddy smiles and twinkling eyes. Nik, Justin, and Ezra were the only ones noticeably absent, but the other relatives held up dorky signs to welcome the twins home.

Lisanna waved at her sons. "Welcome home!" she called. "I know Lance said he'd come to get you, but we all wanted to surprise you two and have a late lunch together!"

"Thanks, Mom," Pearson weakly said. He glanced to see Pacer still shell-shocked and anxious and covered for him, "We were—"

SLAP!

"Jasmine!"

Pacer's heart lurched when his attention snapped in horror to see Jasmine had crumbled to the ground. "Jasmine!" He did not care about his mother's confused call when he sprinted to Jasmine as worried watchers already started calling for an ambulance, and her barely conscious form was in the arms of a reptilian Aberrant. "Jasmine!" He crouched down only to find himself blocked by a protective black woman with chilling eyes.

"Who the Hell are you?" she snarled at him. When Jasmine's weak whimper was heard, the woman turned to soothe her with shaky hands flooding down her cheek. "Shh, Jazz, you're going to be okay, baby, but you need to stay awake for Aunt Share, okay?"

That voice. It clicked for Pacer. "You're 'Sharon'?"

Sharon was too busy to answer, but the reptilian aberrant gave Pacer a frazzled yet inquisitive look and tentatively asked, "Pacer?"

Pacer jerked a nod, his attention torn between Jasmine and everything else. "Yeah. You must be Maddox."

"Oh my gods." Sharon looked at Pacer in bewilderment. "You're the twins' father?"

"He's what?"

Pacer closed his eyes when he heard his mother's sharp question and steeled himself for her wrath and disappointment. But that would have to come later. He could hear the sirens swirling and hurried footsteps. "Mom." He turned to his mother with unreadable eyes. "Not right now, okay?"

Lisanna's blues darted from her son to the faint Jasmine, and something hardened in her eyes. "You're right. Not right now."

But later was unspoken between them.

Penelope came over just as the first responders came rolling over their gurney. Her eyes glowed with Magic. "I'll lift her." Her hand shot out to coat Jasmine with her Magic. Sharon and Maddox looked ready to catch Jasmine as Penelope levitated her, and the first responders (a bit perplexed) moved out of the way so she could lay on the stretcher.

White noise sprung around Pacer as he drifted to Jasmine's side. He could hear questions being rattled off and the steadiness of Sharon feeding them responses. He knew someone was talking to him, but he needed to be next to Jasmine at all costs and slipped her hands in his own. "Slugger," he breathed. "You're going to be okay."

Jasmine could barely keep her eyes open, but she slurred to him, "Don't let them take them. Don't let them take Scooby and Shaggy."

"They aren't, sweetheart," Pacer promised her. "Worry about yourself right now, okay?" He panicked when her eyes clothes and surged forward. "Hey, hey, hey, no falling asleep right now," he cooed, desperate. "Scooby and Shaggy need you to stay awake."

Jasmine groaned as her head went side to side. She gurgled something, but it was easy to see her body was shutting down, and she was losing the fight against sleep.

"Jasmine," Pacer called. A trembling hand caressed her face. "Slugger, you have to stay awake for me," he pleaded with her. He rested his forehead against her temple and squeezed her hand. "Come on, sweetheart, you need to stay awake."

"Sir." A hand crunched his shoulder. "You need to move so we can take her to the hospital."

Pacer glared up at the first responder. "I'm riding with her."

The first responder did not move. "Sir," he said firmly, "she has family that will be coming with her. We'll be taking her to Crocus Clinic Main Campus, and you can see her then—"

Undulated rage filled Pacer as his pale red irises glowed a murky green. The sheer force of his power overwhelmed the first responder, and the moment Pacer felt the first responder's soul and mind, he commanded, "I will ride with her."

"Of course, sir," the first responder agreed, dazed. "We'll make room for you."

"Pacer," Pearson growled, blocking Pacer's view from the first responder. "Don't do this. Let him go. You can't possess him for doing his job, and Sharon and Maddox will be with her. We can follow. Let's – go before you cause a scene."

For a split second, a dark debate weighed on Pacer's mind to possess his brother—

"Don't." Pearson's hackles raised as he showed his own Magic Aura. "Don't even think about possessing me. Think about Jasmine. She needs to get to a hospital now. Stop swinging your dick around."

Pacer snapped back his power, but that fear overrode his anger with Jasmine's faint breaths and still body. He kissed her knuckles before he reluctantly placed her hand atop her stomach and felt only agony when the responders carted her away.

"Hey." Maddox paused to gather Jasmine's fallen bags and address the twins while Sharon scurried after the responders and Jasmine. "The EMT was right. You can meet us at the hospital." His eyes swept to Pacer, questioning. "I think we have some things to talk about it."

Pacer swallowed. "We'll meet you there."

Maddox offered them both a farewell before jogging away.

"Pacer Liam Strauss." Lisanna came up to her son and even with their absurd height difference, she made sure those pale red stared into her blues. "Are you really a father? And the lady who collapsed—she's carrying both of your children?"

It was hard for Pacer to shore up his shame and guilt. His mind was racing with endless fears regarding Jasmine, but he managed a scratchy, "Yeah." He was restless to get moving. "Look, Mom, I know this is a shock, but I need to go—"

"We're all going."

Pacer looked at her and saw a softness in her stare. "Mom—"

"Don't argue with me, Pacer Liam, unless you want an argument." Lisanna touched his cheek, searching his gaze. "Come on. I want to make sure my daughter-in-law and my grandbabies are okay. We need to move fast." But she gripped his chin before he could say a word. "And once we find out everything, you and I are going to have a long conversation. Do we understand each other?"

She was showing him a mother's love and a mother's teeth.

Pacer lowered his head. Her threat of wrath would not be ignored and he was right to fear it. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good." Lisanna let him go to pat his arm. "The best thing you can do now is keep a calm head. If you go into the hospital demanding and angry, they can refrain from letting you see her." She nudged him forward. "She might need you in there."

Pacer jerkily nodded, trying to calm himself down. "Right. Okay."

Pearson picked up Pacer's fallen carry-on and watched as his mother worked to calm Pacer down. We should've made the call to keep her in the US. He clenched his backpack strap. This should've never happened. We should've been more careful with her.

"What the…?"

Pacer turned to see Lance's white-as-a-sheet face. "You okay?" He took notice of a strange compass in Lance's hand. "Um… Everything okay with your compass?"

"Y-Yeah…" Lance pocketed the device, dazed with disbelief. "Come on. I'll drive you." He moved without waiting for Pacer, but he could see the ambulance from the large windows as they loaded Jasmine in and let Sharon ride in the back while Maddox was in the thought. The divusiometer doesn't lie. But… How could it sense that?

For a moment, the world pitched into its negative zone before his very eyes. Yet he saw two columns of energy swirling with the contrasting colors of a jubilant green and a chaotic black-violet. He blinked and ended up watching the ambulance pull off in full living color.

That woman… Her and Pacer's unborn twins… They're God Slayers?

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It could not be helped when the beaches were full. The locals had their own mini beaches to entertain, but the main beaches were made for all the flaunting tourists with built-in umbrellas, cabanas, outdoor bars and eateries, and more. Renting out surfboard and jet skies was a simple matter of a license and paperwork, and delicious instructors with bronzed skin and pearly white smiles suckered more than enough tourists for lessons. Bright colors in linens and cottons streaked the beachside with sarongs, skirts, and swimsuits galore. Even though this was a Fioren island, the fashion clubbed from Alakitasia with looser restrictions about showing skin and the only jeans worn came in booty shorts from foreigners.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Medusa Beach, known for its luminescent jellyfish that can't paralyze human flesh, though legend has it a Medusa used to haunt this beach and turn unfaithful men into stone. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

From sweatpants to swimsuits, the group had come to the beach with towels, sunblock, a beach blanket, and plenty of items to entertain themselves. The difficulty of visiting one of the best beaches on the island without trespassing onto private property was staking out a big enough plot of sand for you and your crew that gave you enough relaxation. Putting your blanket close to a spread-out family might mean running into their child or hearing screams and laying too close to people your age meant you could hear their music tastes and innuendos.

A beach was a battlefield, truly, and you had to pick your allies.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Medusa Beach

Caracole Island

Fiore, Ishgar

12:51 PM CAST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Merry Christmas to me." Justin was shameless with his sunglasses on, his hair in a high ponytail, and his short swim shorts as he licked his lips watching two buffer men cross the beach as they tossed a frisbee back and forth. "I must've been extra nice for this sort of present."

"You live to make me jealous," Ace muttered as he winced sitting down. He maintained a tank top and his boarding shorts, but he rubbed his hip.

Justin smiled sweetly at his boyfriend. "Please. Your perverted ass checked them out too." He rubbed Ace's thigh. "Sorry I got a little rough with you. You can punish me later for it." He grinned. "Or punish me now."

"Ace, don't listen to him," Nashi called as Gary eagerly rubbed sunscreen on her back with her bikini top untied. "One blowjob later and I swear you'll be gone for hours. Right, Gary?"

"Yes, Angel."

Justin sweatdropped as he watched Gary's flush and could see his heavy breathing as he massaged Nashi's naked back. I have that feeling if he keeps putting on your sunscreen, you'll be gone for hours, sweet girl.

"The water looks fantastic," Ines remarked with her translucent sarong and a racy black bikini. "Part of me wants to go surfing." She had Ellie between her legs with her shades and halter one-piece with a design meant to entice. "What do you think, Daisy?"

Ellie flushed when Ines' innocent shoulder rub dipped to catch the sides of her breasts. "I think you need to keep those mains errantes to yourself." She shut her legs when Ines tried to sneak her fingers to her thighs. "Pitié, s'il vous plaît! I'm still sore!"

Ines dropped her chin on Ellie's shoulder and hugged her from behind. "I'm not. You tapped out just when you started turning our room into a meadow. I want to see what other flowers you make."

Ellie's blush intensified and roses shocked the people around them as they popped up.

Justin cackled. "Ines, please get her orgasm-drunk so she starts making weed! We could have such a big business!"

"JJ, no!" Ellie dismissed the roses (and the people who watched were flummoxed this girl made roses on a sandy beach) and laughingly scolded him, "I'm not making Mary Jane plants for you!"

Justin pouted. "You're so stingy. If I had your gift, you know how much jewel I'd be rolling in making pot plants?"

Tesla laughed from beneath the umbrella. "But the real question is what would you spend it on?" She had come in a hot pink polka-dot number that stood out against her dark skin and a madras head-wrap tying up her braided bun. Jaxton had sported blue boarding shorts and had her leg in his lap as he massaged on her sunscreen and hungrily eyed between her legs.

Justin crossed his legs before he went for one of their two coolers. "I'm thinking I'd buy my man the house of his dreams and then get Carlisle a fancy-ass diamond collar and leash." He took out two waters and passed on to Ace. "Is that good with you?"

"If we're doing diamonds, I want a diamond butt plug for him too," Ace decided.

Justin patted his cheek. "And this is why we're dating."

"I'm sorry I couldn't invite Carlisle and Dante," Gary said as he stopped with the sunscreen but kept massaging Nashi's back for any excuse to touch her. "But I heard their spring break is full."

Jaxton grunted, "Dante's taking Carlisle to meet with his teacher." He tried to climb up Tesla's thigh for that valley between her legs only to be deftly smacked away as Tesla checked her lips in her mirror. Pouting (maybe he looked grumpy to others, but Tesla knew he was childishly pouting), he kept up massaging her thighs with sunscreen. "It'll take some time for them to reach her."

"His teacher was that famous Enchanter, right?" Ines checked as she reached back to get ice-pops. "I'm surprised he's taking Carlisle to see his old teacher. Were they close?"

"Very." Tesla snapped her compact mirror shut and rewarded her pouting boyfriend a chaste kiss. "She's his role model. For him to introduce Carlisle to her means things are getting serious, and I'm here for it since Carlisle is hot."

"Preach," Justin groaned.

Ellie giggled. "Before we all get shipped off in every direction, JJ, make sure you invite Dante and Carlisle to Summer-ween." She thanked Ines for her ice-pop.

Tesla cocked her head. "'Summer-ween?"

"Mmm!" Justin swallowed his mouthful. "Honey and I do this Hallow's Eve part in the dead of summer because why not? It's fun, sexy, and basically an unofficial rave and orgy smashed into one. Normally, Pleasure Palace is our go-to, but we like to take it to Akane Beach for some more"—his lips curled into a dirty smirk—"sensual activities." He reached over and smacked Nashi's butt—

SMACK!

"Ow!" Nashi dashed down her shades. "JJ—!"

"Bitch, you're shackled now," Justin reminded her.

Nashi groaned while Ellie gasped, "Oh mon dieu, you're right! Nashi, you gotta!"

"No…!" Nashi whined, kicking her feet. "You can't make me!"

"Should I be worried about what Angel has to do?" Gary wondered.

Nashi huffed and explained, "Basically, summer-ween is a whore-fest where we have 'initiations'." She glared at Justin. "Which is basically hazing—"

"Shut up." Justin took over with explanations. "I don't know how it all started." He tapped his chin. "It might've been Majime and Daddy who did it first. We were all pretty fucked up when it happened and tradition sort of stuck. The newly monogamous get inducted into our cult by us doing this spin-the-wheel sort of deal. Whatever it lands on is something they have to do in front of the crowd."

Tesla asked, curious, "What did it land on for Maijme and Daddy?"

Justin tipped down his shades to show the filthy glint in his eye. "Let's just say we can all confirm Daddy is sa-tis-fied in bed with what Spider-Man is packing."

Ines snorted, shaking her head. "You're freaks. I like it." She poked her girlfriend. "Are we going to do that?"

"Yes," Justin decided over whatever Ellie was going to say. "But you don't have to do it in front of the classroom since Ellie had a date before. Nashi's always been the single one—"

"N-No, I haven't!" Nashi protested, red-faced. "I had dates!" She glared mutinously at an innocent Gary. "At least I did until a day later, I'd get some accuse they had a family emergency or they were sick."

Gary blinked and it was like a halo was around him. "That must've been terrible on you, Angel. Those men weren't worthy of you."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

⟪ Pause ⟫

He was the reason all her dates canceled.

⟪ Play ⟫

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"So!" A sparkling Gary turned to Justin. "That means Angel and I get to participate this year?"

Justin made a face, but at Ace's raised eyebrow, he begrudgingly said, "Yes."

"No!" Nashi tried to reach for Justin, pleading, "JJ, please, you know I can't do it!"

Tesla raised her hand. "I volunteer as tribute."

"Tesla, you're a goddess," Nashi comically wept, and it was like the heavens reigned good fortune upon her. "I forfeit my life to you and will worship you forever!"

Ellie grinned at Tesla while Gary prodded Nashi (Angel, you should worship me. Why are you worshipping someone else? You're making me jealous right now.) and teased her, "Are you sure you're up for the challenge? Summer-ween gets raunchy."

Tesla was undeterred and welcomed the challenge. "Sure." She cupped Jaxton's jaw and purred, "We're game. Aren't we, sugar daddy?" She smiled when Jaxton leaned forward for a blazing kiss.

Gary muttered, "Maybe you should pick someone else since Jang-ta's a dirty pervert."

TICK!

It was like watching Tesla soothe a mad dog with the way Jaxton looked ready to rip apart an angelic Gary sitting safely out of reach with his sparkly aura of I-said-nothing-wrong.

Nashi gawked. How in the Hell can he say they're best friends!

CLAP!

Everyone turned their attention to Justin as he stood up. "All right, people. We are at a beach in swimsuits and the water is looking great." He winked as he held up a finger. "So, do you know what I'm getting at, or do I have to spell it out for you?"

Everyone looked at each other and grinned.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

BASHA-BASHA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It was a no-brainer to rush into the tide.

Tesla had hopped onto her boyfriend's back, and even he could not resist smiling at her antics while Nashi gawked being thrown over Gary's shoulder. Ines kept her soft eyes on Ellie as she took her by the hand, beaming from ear to ear, and Justin had the pleasure of Ace swooping him up as he ran for the water.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

BASHA-BASHA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

They could not help but smile and laugh with water splashing around. Justin had pounced on Ace in the water, but Ace held steady, shaking his head at Justin's enthusiasm. Ines hugged Ellie from behind with a startled Ellie blossoming water lilies around them. Nashi and Tesla took to trying to splash their partners, but both men shielded themselves and tried to get them back.

There was no time for worrying about the future or what was to come. Because this break was about them being free.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Nanatsu no umi wo koete tsudoi sawagou

Tokonatsu no shima wo mezashite

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • —

Nashi and Ellie had decided to work together on building a sandcastle with the kiddie buckets and shovels they had brought and combined their rudimentary sandcastle with Ellie's plants to make it look unique and beautiful. But they both gawked when Gary proudly presented his ice miniature castle in the hopes to impress a dazed Nashi until—

BAKI!

A chibi-Gary sniveled when all his hard work was destroyed while Jaxton had to live with Tesla scolding him (and Nashi and Ellie were still shocked Gary conjured an entire perfect scale model of a castle with ice).

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hada no iro gengo mo kankei nai jan

Dare ni demo tanoshimeru

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Two large shadows interrupted Ines' time lounging in the shade of one of the umbrellas with a good book. She placed her shades in her hair to see two muscular men with less-than-pleasing looks had sauntered up to her with arrogant swagger and smirks. But just as they tried to flirt, one of them noticed one of their arms had grown strange plants of three leaflets. He touched it, but the regret and panic hit him a moment later when hives broke out on his body.

His body was growing poison ivy.

In a sea of panic, both ran away, screaming and itchy, and Ines laughed when a huffy Ellie looked ready to do more than give those two poison ivy.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Ki no nuketa nichijou wo kakimawasu youna

Awadatsu tansan nomihoshite

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gary had dived underwater, lurking towards Jaxton in effort to scare him while he was talking to Ace about something. With a roguish grin, his hands crept out of the water—

SLAM!

Ace had question marks around him while Jaxton had his arm whipped back to shove a struggling Gary underwater, and frantic bubbles came to the surface.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Ima wakiokoru kanjou tokihanashi tara

Yuuyakezora ga netsu wo obite yuku

Saa minna de odoridasou

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi frowned when someone had tapped her on the shoulder, but she turned to see a nervous Ace behind her. After a deep breath, Ace pulled his tank top over his head and—

Nashi's eyes fell to the subtle scars cupping his pectorals after a moment. It did not hit her for a moment, but when Ace's mouth moved, it all clicked for her. Hickories soft, Nashi moved to cup his cheek and smiled.

Relieved, Ace smiled back.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Taiyou wo shimesu bokura no conpasu

Tadotte yukeba jiyuu ni nareru kara

Tomo ni uchiage you hanabi

Kimochi hitotsuni shite

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Jaxton had gone surfing (after Tesla's begging) when a big wave had come, and he barreled out of it with Tesla clapping and cheering for him. But when he was able to get back to shore, dripping wet and tossed back his bangs, he had gained noticeable admirers ready to up their chances snagging him.

But the moment Jaxton cut them a cold look, all of them were too afraid to approach while a flowery Tesla praised him. To the fangirls, all they could imagine was a sweet mistress praising her Doberman.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Taiyou wa shizumi kuri kaesu

Ashita hare nante hoshou wa nai kedo

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Justin ended up getting recognized and had the pleasure of those who loved his work. He did his best to be civil with two young men with pompadour haircuts, sultry looks, and little muscle to them pressed closer to him. His eyebrow twitched and his smile was strained with their hounding—

CLAP!

Both gentlemen turned, startled when large hands clamped down on their shoulders, but instead of being terrified at an irately smiling Ace, the tables had turned with them both culminating a lewd interest in all he offered.

TICK!

Ace held Justin back when he flung away both men with his kinetic energy and had profanities not suitable for anyone's ears tearing from his mouth.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Donna aranami sae mo umaku nori konashite

Unmei no rakuen wa ima…

koko ni aru!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The day could not have been better, and Ellie, Justin, Nashi, Ace, and Ines had made short work of dividing and conquering when it came to pictures. Ellie had taken a picture of her and Ines with their star manga gelato and peace signs. Justin had laid his head in Ace's lap and brought down Ace for a picture. A shutter-photo story had Tesla between cute natives and showed framed by frame the exact moment the natives paled and ran like Hell, leaving her clueless, then glaring when Jaxton cuddled her from behind.

Nashi had captured a story in five parts with Tesla sweetly feeding a docile Jaxton gelato as Gary popped into the corner of the frame. The second picture showed Tesla trying to bite back her grin while Gary horribly snuck up on Jaxton with a bucket of water. The third picture showed a wet cat Jaxton while Gary was laughing. The fourth picture showed Gary realizing the error of his ways when Jaxton promptly got up and grabbed Gary by the throat. And the last showed Jaxton sitting perfectly, nudging his girlfriend for more gelato, but Tesla had dropped her spoon, gaping as Gary was chucked back into the ocean.

More photos were captured with the group venturing the beachside and discovering a cave. A silhouetted Ines was helping a silhouette Ellie cross rock, but when swiped to the next photo, it showed the silhouetted Ellie bringing her girlfriend in for a kiss. Justin and Ace had collected seashells, and Justin was over-the-moon finding a dead sand dollar. Ace had taken a picture of Gary and Nashi holding hands as they walked along the beach and their footsteps in wet sand. Nashi had taken a short video of Jaxton being a diligent boyfriend and acting as a professional photographer for all of Tesla's flexible poses in the sand.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Taiyou wo shimesu bokura no KONPASU

Tadotteyukeba jiyuu ni nareru kara

Tomo ni uchiageyou hanabi kimochi hitotsu ni shite

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ines and Ellie had decided to take a break with Ellie sunbathing while Ines carried on with her book and combed through Ellie's hair. Justin was speaking to some fans of his, all of them hopeful to give him their appreciation and take a picture. Ace had made a few new friends and was playing frisbee.

Nashi sat on the blanket and watched with fondness as Tesla and Jaxton took a walk together on the shoreline with Jaxton carrying Tesla's sandals. A breeze pedaled by, and Nashi tucked a stray strange behind her ear. The wind would feel so nice under my wings.

"Angel?"

Nashi looked up to see Gary joining her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Taiyou wa shizumi kurikaesu

Ashita hare nante hoshou wa nai kedo

Donna aranami sae mo umaku norikonashite

Unmei no rakuen wa ima koko ni aru

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gary looked at Nashi in concern. "Everything okay, Angel?"

"Yeah." Nashi leaned against him, closing her eyes. "Everything's fine. Everything's perfect."

Gary blinked before he smiled and made sure her strands were away from her face. "We'll go flying soon, Angel."

Nashi hummed, drowsily pleased. "Promise?"

"Promise." Gary glanced at Jaxton and softened with the winds of Caracole ruffling his hair. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here today to show Angel all of this. He closed his eyes.

"Is that what you truly want? For me to kill you?"

• — • — •

The ceiling painting was in its developing stages, but the focus angled upwards to look at Jaxton with his yellow-amber eyes, expression indifferent, and dressed in nothing but black. He did nothing to dampen how intimidating he looked and would remain unapologetic for it.

"Yes," Young Gary breathed softly. "Please kill me."

That was when Jaxton lowered himself to stare the focus in the eyes with those chilling yellow-ambers. He examined the focus a silent moment as though waiting for Young Gary to backtrack or for emotions of regret to bubble to the surface. But none came to pass.

"You want me to kill you? Fine," Jaxton agreed with nothing else in his voice. Toneless. Uncaring. But his eyes spoke volumes. "I can kill you if that's what you truly wish. But I have one condition on it. And you have to make me promise on your life."

"I'll do anything," Young Gary quickly responded. "Anything."

Jaxton's eyes glowed. "Then listen to me carefully, kid. Because I won't repeat myself."

• — • — •

"Gary?"

Summer soothed winter.

Gary smiled and leaned his head against Nashi. "Sorry, Angel. I was lost in thought." He loosely threaded their hands together as he cracked open his eyes. Jang-ta's condition… The promise… Without them, I wouldn't be here. Because of him, I've been able to live.

CAW…! CAW…!

Blues flickered upwards to see the grace of a Shadow Bird flying in the wind with its white-feathered mate. Their beauty and strength reflected in crystalling ceruleans.

HYU…. HYU…

I owe him so much. With Angel, I learned love. With Jang-ta, I learned worth. And now I can live.

Jaxton stopped Tesla. She frowned, confused, only to melt when he cupped her cheek and came down for a scorching kiss.

HYU…. HYU…

And now…

The Shadow Bird and its light mate spun around each other in their affectionate dance.

…it's my turn to help them both.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

koko ni aru

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A popular beach bar with outdoor seating and bungalow-themed was raving with mainly young adults and above. The waiters dressed in the local fashion with madras headwraps, large earrings, sarongs, and predominant half-nudity. It was clear who were the foreigners as they ogled at some of the waiters while others spared nothing more than a once-over that had subtle appreciation unless they were looking for something more. Laid-back songs that dragged as they pleased set a relaxed tone.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Ocaso Bar & Restaurant, a hotspot for its cocktails and rums. The specialty cocktails all include star mangos. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Two half-naked young gentlemen sipped on the whiskey and rum with bronzed skin, brown eyes, and bored expressions of the people around them. The chatter was incessant and pointless as labels and brands and gossip were thrown around. They both looked ready to call it with a glance shared between them, but the one with pierced ears saw something hot pink and stopped.

And he stopped his friend.

Irritation crossed the other young man with his highlighted brunette hair swept into a man-bun. "Dude, what the fuck is your problem?"

But his friend had a sly smirk and jerked his chin. "She's my problem."

The man-bun young man turned, and his eyes widened. "Fuck." A grin wove onto him as he observed. "Where the Hell has she been?"

Their target was a buxom young lady with dark brown skin glossing her body which made her hot pink polka dot bikini look all the more tempting to tear off. She sat at the bar with water and her acrylics wrapped around her straw. Her shoulders shook when she laughed before her tongue darting out as she sucked a few more mouthfuls of water.

The pierced young man frowned. "Shit. She has a boyfriend." He pointed at the young gentleman beside the dark-skinned beauty. He was her polar opposite with a lean yet muscular build and his vibrant blue hair damp and clamped into a bun.

Both young men watched when the lady's companion gave parting words and left her side to round the corner, out of her sight. But it looked like he was not alone for long when a muscular man caught him and sucked him into a deep kiss.

So she's alone, both young men thought, relieved and interested as they watched their target stir her water, sighing. That's perfect for us. They exchanged looks and nodded before they closed in.

Looking casual about the approach meant everything. The first sign of you looking threatening meant she would be on guard for a majority of your flirting unless you took the time to exaggerate how much of a non-threat you were. They made sure to loudly call their pardons and excuses past people as their target remained unsuspecting. Even upon them taking either side of her, she did not spare them a single glance.

They exchanged smirks. Showtime.

The pierced gentleman put on an innocent smile as he murmured to the target, "Am I the only confused about what to order first? Everything looks so good."

"I know, right?" She sipped her water and re-crossed her legs. "Took me a while to figure out what I wanted, but the bartender was pretty insightful."

"Yeah?" His smile broadened. "What'd he recommend you?"

"Mmm, let me see." Bringing her straw to her lips, she turned to him—

LUB-DUB.

His eyes widened as a bit of pink sprinkled on his cheek. Holy shit… Steel grays eyes big and wide stared up at him with thick lashes curled. Those eyes… Her plump mouth wrapped around her stray, soft and supply… That mouth… Her bikini top covered and supported the most important parts, but they spilled over, perfect to grab. Those tits…

But his friend was focused on her sculpted back and the flare of her hips and backside. That ass…

Their mouths watered and they felt like they ascended to heaven. We scored the jackpot!

°•°•°•°

Ugh. Here comes the perv squad.

Tesla kept her cool with her doe-eyed innocence about her, but on the inside, she was seething. They're not even making it subtle their eye-fucking me. She kept her gaze over the man before her and trailed down his arms. He's pretty muscular; I'll give him that. Thick fingers—ooo, I like that. Probably could get off. She made sure to take her time with his sculpted abdomen. And a nice V-line with a happy trail—snaps for happy trails, sis.

She cringed when she saw the outline of his crotch. But even half-hard, he looks small. He could be a grower, but no thanks. Jang-ta ruined my pussy with that fucking monster in his pants.

Her eyes flared past his shoulder and she spotted Jaxton. He had stopped and cocked his head, watching her intently. Oh, I see. We're playing that game again. Releasing her straw, a cunning smirk wove onto her lips. Well, well, let's see who wins.

"I remember what he recommended me now."

The young man with the man-bun was taken back when her hand slid onto his chest, and she leaned forward to graciously bless him with a better view of her breasts and those lips. She purred to him, husky, "The Creamy Pussy. Ever tasted it?"

"I-I…!" The young man swallowed. Fuck, she's forward. Lost my shit for a second. Grin back on his face, he covered his hand with hers as he leaned down. "I'm more of a fan of Sit On My Face myself."

She throatily laughed and showed a glimpse of those pearly whites. "Oh, I bet you are. But the best combination you can get"—she trailed a finger down his chest—"is a Sit On My Face, a Leg Spreader, and when you taste a Creamy Pussy, it somehow tastes even sweeter than you could imagine."

"I can imagine," he rumbled. His stomach contracted when her tantalizing fingers grazed his lower stomach. He could feel blood jump straight to his cock, but he leaned forward with one hand on her seat and the other on the bar counter. "But I think you'd taste sweeter."

Her lips twitched. "That sounds like a line from a cheap porno."

His grin broadened. "Seriously?"

"Yeah."

They shared a brief laugh before he licked his lips with a quick glance between her legs then back to her eyes. "I didn't mean to break the mood," he told her.

Her eyes dipped down, and they both knew where she was looking before she sprung her eyes up with a widening smile. "You didn't," she breathed in promise. "Tell me a few more?"

He chuckled. "All right." His gaze landed on her lips. "What's a nice girl like you doing in a dirty mind like mine?" When she hummed her mirth, his eyes twinkled. "You like that?"

She pretended to think about it. "It's not Rated-R, but it'll do," she teased him as her nail drag to the waistband of his boarding shorts. "Another one?" Those grays glinted. "Or should I beg for another?"

"Depends," he told her with his voice raspy and rough. "Are you a begger?"

She tilted her head. "Not usually." Her lips curled. "Don't tell me. Are you doing to turn me into one?"

"You caught me red-handed," he snickered. Her fingers are driving me crazy. "Look. A friend of mine is having a party with some of our friends and whoever they bring along. DJ, beer—it's whatever. Our parents are officials from Alvarez, so you know how that i-is." He tripped over his last words when that light touch threatened to go past his waist.

She hummed. "Right. Of course." Oh, you dear sweet thing, my boyfriend is the son of a psychotic murdering empress and he still rakes in millions, but you do you. Her eyes gleamed impishly when she saw how tense Jaxton had become. And he's losing our little game. "Am I invited? I'm afraid I'm not that great in big crowds."

"Yeah?" He leaned closer and knew if he breathed, their lips would touch. "Are you asking me for a private party instead?"

"Depends," she murmured and her nails teased his drawstrings. "Do you want me to have my Creamy Pussy here or at the party? And, um…" She glanced over her shoulder to give his friend a sultry smirk. "Can your friend join us?"

Both young men were speechless. She's… She wants us both? Censored images brewed between them about how she would spread out on silky sheets, sweaty and weak and crying out from their touch. We really hit the jackpot!

"Hey."

Both men turned—

They felt like mere mice as Jaxton loomed over them with eyes that spelled death and a wintry expression. He did not even have to raise his voice as he rumbled, "What the fuck are you planning to do to my girlfriend?"

Both swallowed, pale and shaky. She's…his…girlfriend? They shrunk more when Jaxton's murderous aura choked them. Oh shit.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And then…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Guess what, bitches?"

Everyone looked up from their shared beach towels with their drinks from the bar and food spread out. Tesla came skipping back with a brooding Jaxton escorting her. She beamed at the group and chirped, "Strap up those thongs because we are going to a beach rave tonight sponsored by the rich daddies of two men ogling my goodies!"

Justin cheered. "Yes! I knew your ass and titties would get us into a party!"

Ellie, Ines, Gary, Ace, and Nashi sweatdropped as Justin clasped hands with Tesla and they jumped up and down. There is something seriously wrong with this picture.

Ellie noticed the jaded aura around Jaxton and prodded, "What's wrong, Jax?"

Tesla dismissed Jaxton's broodiness with a smile and a wave. "Don't mind him. He's just mad because he lost and now he has to suffer."

Ines frowned, confused. "'Lost'?"

Tesla enthusiastically nodded. "Yup!" She cuddled Jaxton's arm and proclaimed, "And now my poor little boyfriend all jealous has to come with me to the cat room at the animal shelter." She cooed and rubbed his arm, "Isn't that right, snookie-wookie, since you lost? You have to come pet all the kitties with me and not my kitty, huh? So cute, so adowable!"

Everyone felt the force of Jaxton's lethal brooding while Tesla kept on keeping on with her baby talk. What type of couple are these people?

Tesla stepped away from Jaxton to clap her hands. "All right. We have hours until we have to slut it up." She flounced over to Justin, Ellie, Ines, and Nashi. "So! Here's what I'm thinking of wearing…"

Gary slid next to a stormy Jaxton with a high-and-mighty look and patted his shoulder. "There, there, Jang-ta, everyone loses sometimes." He added sly behind a hand, "You just have trouble keeping that nasty temper in check and not humping Tesla's leg every hour of the day." He did not notice Jaxton shaking and added, "It's no wonder. Untrained dogs like you would be peeing everywhere if you had it your way—"

BAKI!

Gary fell with a hand on the footprint on his back and he stared at Jaxton like he was crazy. "You could've killed me!" he cried.

"Needed to hit something," Jaxton grunted. "I feel better now."

Gary got up, eye twitching, and rubbed his lower back. "Then punch the sand! Don't kick me!"

"Stop complaining. If you moved faster, I wouldn't have hit you."

"That's not the point, you monster!" Gary sniffled as he rubbed his sore back with an icy hand. He's so mean to me after everything I do for him. I planned to make love to Angel all night, not land in a hospital.

"Gary."

He upturned his nose. "I'm not speaking to you unless you apologize—"

"Is it ready?"

Gary faltered. He saw Jaxton's black stare concentrated on Tesla as she fervently agreed with Justin's concept for the party. "Yeah," he replied. "I double-checked to make sure everything went smoothly." He glanced back at Jaxton and asked in a low voice. "Are you sure about this?"

"I am," murmured Jaxton, honest and firm. His eyes softened when Tesla laughed with her whole body when whatever Ines suffered had a blushing Ellie sprouting flowers. "I'm sure about my choice."

Gary blinked. Jang-ta… He grinned and cooed theatrically, "Oh, my precious little puppy has grown up into a mature dog!" He ran to Jaxton, arms out. "Look how much you've grown—Argh!"

Jaxton slammed a hand onto Gary's face and looked at him in chilling disgust. "Don't you ever fucking touch me, pissant." He shoved Gary away. "We aren't that close, so fuck off. I'm getting food." He lumbered away.

Gary scurried after him. "Come on! We're best friends! You don't have to treat me so coldly!"

"We are not best friends," Jaxton seethed. "Fuck – off."

Gary pointed out, "But we are—!"

"We're not!"

"But we've cuddled—Ow! Stop it! Ow, ow, ow, not my arm!"

"Stop pissing me off!"

"So grouchy…" Gary rubbed his sore arm as he trailed after Jaxton and mutter, "Maybe Tesla's better off with a softer lover like me—"

TICK!

SMACK!

"Ow! You monster! This is abuse of your best friend!"

"FUCKING LEAVE ME ALONE!"

---

The campus was wide as it was tall with multiple buildings textured with glamorous reflective windows and courtyards and underground parking. People in backpacks and button-downs and badges crossed all over the campus and passed through some of the art Crocus Institute of Arts (CIA) students had made for their art therapy project way back when. A couple of residents and a physician's assistant they knew decided go to the cafeteria. A surgical tech team was a little shaken from the failed surgery and the head surgeon and his assistant were left to tell the family how the operation went.

Patients swept in and out for appointments or the emergency department. A little girl came with her older sister to her infusion for her MS (multiple sclerosis). A few front desk coordinators were gossiping about the latest love confession to the famous "Bachata Bae". A valet received permission to pet an older man's service dog, a sweet golden retriever with a penchant for blueberries.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This Crocus Clinic Main Campus, a non-profit academic medical center and consistently ranked one of the best hospitals internationally, leading to it to expand to multiple countries in Ishgar, a clinic in Melandia, and a Crocus Clinic USN. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The emergency department was not necessarily full or empty at this time of day. Spring was one of the focal points for ED visits and spring break set off another insurgence of food and alcohol poisoning, overindulgence, lacerations, and psychiatric disorders. The evenings brought in a plethora of patients, but the afternoons felt predominantly steady. The biggest party in the modern waiting room consisted of Lisanna, Bixslow, Lance, Pearson, Penelope, and Pacer. The rest of the Strauss-Dreyar Clan had gone upon much insistence, and Laxus would come back with a meal for the ones in the ED waiting room.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Crocus Clinic Main Campus – Emergency Department

Crocus

Fiore, Ishgar

4:13 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lisanna rubbed her husband's arm. "I'm going to get us some drinks." She gestured to Pearson. "Pearse, can you come with me?" Those blues spoke they needed to have a conversation.

Pearson did not dare defy his mother. "Yeah, sure." He clapped Pacer's back and trailed after Lisanna.

Pacer looked too cagey for comfort with his eyes staring at the ED doors in the hopes someone would come out. But the more time passed, the more his leg bounced, and he could feel his power willing to possess whomever he needed to for answer—

"Don't."

Pacer cut to his father and growled, "Why?"

"You don't want to get kicked out of here before you even see her," Bixslow warned. "You should know the drill. Using any abilities in a hospital ends you up in a sealstone room for evaluation." He touched his shades. "Don't make the same mistake I did."

Pacer failed to understand. "What do you mean?"

Bixslow sighed, adjusting his sunglasses. "You know I missed yours and Pearson's birth, right?" When Pacer nodded, his father divulged, "Yeah, well, my stupid ass missed it because I was going psycho with how much pain your mom was in."

That shocked Pacer. "Seriously?" He's normally pretty chill. For him to lose control…

"It wasn't my finest moment," Bixslow confessed. "I should've cooled down, but I couldn't." He snorted. "Out of all of us, Elfman and Freed are the only men in this family to stay calm for childbirth. Laxus was kicked out of Mira's birth with Nikolai. It took a long time during that first year for Mira to forgive him. I got lucky he stepped in, so I wasn't taken into confinement. I missed something so special because I was frothing like a mad dog instead of supporting your mom."

Pacer blinked as such a realization hit him hard. He could scarcely imagine how frightened his mother was and how pained his father was for being forcibly removed. "I never knew…"

"It's not a story we like to tell, kid," Bixslow said with a slightly self-deprecating smirk. He sighed. "I know you feel powerless. Your power can tell you feel helpless, and you'll want to start charging in. You'll lash out. But you can't do that. All you need to do is support her, you got that? Because she's the one who needs the most from you."

"I know." Pacer washed a hand down his mohawk. His hair had been growing out and his mohawk was less pronounced. "I knew coming here was a mistake. But that wasn't my call to make. And now she's here."

He clenched his hands together. Because of Parent's Day, she agreed she'd stay in the states if she was having too much trouble. But then she shut us out. And now we're here.

He could not understand it. Why? Why did she shut us out? I thought we were doing great. He touched his lips. I thought…we were going somewhere. So why…?

The automatic doors opened, and Pacer rose when Maddox was the one to emerge. He could not wait and hurried to Maddox. "How is she?"

"It's not great," Maddox admitted grimly. "She's moving to the inpatient fetal care center right now. That's why I came out. Miss Sharon is making the trip with her, but we can meet them there. It's just…"

Pacer caught Maddox's hesitation and his mood darkened. "It's just she won't want to see me," he finished, tone flat.

"No," Maddox hurried to rectify. "It's not that at all!" He hesitated. "Jasmine's…not in the best mental state. The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist and the ED doctor both agreed she needs to go through psychological evaluation on top of everything else. She was having…very vivid hallucinations."

Pacer's heart dropped. "Are they thinking of checking her into a ward?"

"No." Maddox shook his head. "They're scrambling to bring on a Wiccan MFM Specialist. She bounced between Crocus and Xerion, apparently, but she'll be a major help. They said she most likely wouldn't be able to come until tomorrow, so they're scrounging up any specialists who practiced in magical maternal-fetal medicine." He cursed. "Which makes me furious it's not standardized for situations like this."

"Wizards aren't as common as people think," Lisanna cut in as she and Pearson came back with drinks. She rubbed Pacer's back and turned to Maddox in worry. "She's being moved, isn't she?"

Maddox nodded. "She is. I can take you to her, but I'm not sure if she'll want visitors." He added with a grimace, "Or that she'll understand she has visitors."

"Take us to her. Please," Pacer added insistently.

Maddox eyed him for a moment, tail flicking. "All right." He held out his hand. "Thank you. I know this isn't easy on you—any of you. But thank you."

"Don't thank me." Pacer shook Maddox's hand. "There's nothing to thank, really. I care about Jasmine and our twins. I'm going to be there for all three of them if she'll let me."

A scrap of respect and admiration glinted in Maddox's eyes. "Then let's move." His eyes swept to the family. "I'm sure Miss Sharon would like to get to know her in-laws."

°•°•°•°

The fetal care center was meant to be clinical and serene with Fetal Care Nurse coordinators helping families adapt and counseled them while streamlined specialists were yanked in, from pediatric anesthesiologists to neonatologists to congenital heart specialists. It was a safe, nurturing, and healing space for soon-to-be mothers who were of high risk and needed a core care team to support them.

The in-patient unit was not too busy with most rooms having one pregnant patient. A frantic wife came roaring down the hall to see her wife and looked near-tears how exhausted her tubed-up spouse was. Another family came to visit a pregnant aunt with an autoimmune disorder and cheered her up as her young nephew spewed about his birthday party.

In a one-bed unit, Jasmine had been changed out of her comfy clothes for hospital attire with a bedpan beneath her and an IV hooked up to her. Her eyes felt heavy as she wobbled between asleep and awake. She groaned, "Aunt Share…?"

"Right here, baby." Sharon made sure her seat was at Jasmine's bedside. "Do you need anything?"

Jasmine laid a hand on her stomach and slurred, "Twins…"

"They're still there," Sharon assured her. "They're still there." She's been worrying so much about if her twins were taken from her. Her heart fell. My bitch of a sister really is a bitch for doing this to her.

KNOCK-KNOCK.

Sharon looked up when a nurse in nice teal scrubs came in with their monitor on wheels. He smiled and nodded. "Just here to do monitor, give a little insight, and administer meds for Miss Strother."

Sharon jerkily nodded as Jasmine dazedly called, "Daddy?"

"No, but he's a nurse, and he's going to help you out a little bit," Sharon promised. She offered a slightly apologetic smile at the nurse as he started his routine. "I'm sorry about that."

"No, it's fine," the nurse laughed. "Some of the meds make our mothers here a little sleepy."

Sharon sighed and stroked Jasmine's forehead. "I hope she does fall asleep." She asked, "Is there anything you can do to help her fall asleep?"

The nurse sadly shook his head. "Not at this moment. The side effects of her IV will help her fall into a comfortable sleep, but speeding along the process could be detrimental to the babies. But hopefully, our Wiccan MFM specialist will be in tomorrow. She's an Apothecary, so she might have appropriate elixirs for Miss Strother."

"That's a relief," Sharon breathed, shoulders sagging. "Is there any reason why she can't come today? Not to sound pushy or anything—"

"Oh, no, you're fine." He typed on his DAL and replied, "Apothecary Lupita Bankole is one of the only certified apothecary practitioners and certified Wiccan practitioners in Fiore and works in a number of fields with very high-level cases. It's not that she wouldn't come right away if she could, but—"

"No, no, I understand," Sharon assured. She looked at her niece and hardened. "Sorry. I guess I'm just angry she can't get the help she needs right now. And I know it's not your fault—"

The nurse smiled at her, pausing in his shifting and typing. "We get that a lot. It's not an issue, ma'am, and our coordinator will be in to help you and your family with anything you need." He shook his head. "Unfortunately, it's difficult these days. Of course there are clinicians who practice Ether medicine, but specialties like here don't produce too many of them. And"—he winced—"in politics, it looks like there's still discourage of standardizing Ether medicine into regular science and medical education."

Sharon could not help but be angry with herself. If I'd known the dad was a Mage… If I had known her twins were Wizards… Could I have done something different to prevent this?

The nurse finished his work and leaned on his rolling stand to observe Jasmine as she tried and failed staying awake. "While we wait for our Apothecary Bankole, Miss Strother is still given a prenatal team while in-patient. We took her ultrasound and her EKG. We'll be getting those results back hopefully before the Apothecary arrives tomorrow. We did draw some blood. We'll take a urine sample when Miss Strother is awake—"

"So why the bedpan?" Sharon interrupted.

"Normally, we wouldn't issue a bedpan since we know how uncomfortable they are, but it seems here during your time in the ED, we were told Miss Strother had several instances over severe chronic pain causing multiple accidents, both asleep and awake," the nurse explained. "We'll do a urine culture to see the reason behind this level of incontinence and the ultrasound will help to see if this is due to a pelvic nerve or if she's not emptying her bladder all the way."

Sharon nodded. "I understand."

The nurse crossed one ankle over the other. "Based on what we've found and with being and finding the Ether distribution and her prescription in her blood, this could be leaning towards magiautoimmune disease of some type. And especially with her being in her second trimester, she should be in what we call a 'happy trimester' where she has more strength. Spiritless mothers with magical children might experience fatigue, but we prescribe Ether supplements or infusions to negate this."

"But it hasn't been working on her," Sharon checked.

The nurse nodded. "Her prescription was tailored for her having a high-risk pregnancy. Medically, it should have taken effect. Records of Spiritless women having multiples who are magical are very rare cases, so it'll help severely having the Apothecary here tomorrow for an effective diagnosis."

Sharon blew out her cheeks. "So we're playing the waiting game?"

"Unfortunately," the nurse said sympathetically. "Like I said, we'll be bringing in our own team to closely monitor Miss Strother until the Apothecary arrives tomorrow. Right now, the specialist on this floor is Doctor—"

Sharon's eyebrows rose hearing the last name. "That's their actual name?"

"We tend to call them 'Doctor' since their last name is a beast and a half to pronounce and twice as long," the nurse said ruefully. "He'll be in to care for Miss Strother as his floor patient and he'll directly pass her to the Apothecary."

Sharon was unconvinced. "And will he…understand everything going on here?"

"Oh, the doctor is much more careful than our lady specialists, even," the nurse assured. "He might not sympathize, but many mothers here find his empathy and level of care assuring and appreciative. But it's Miss Strother's choice who she feels comfortable with on her team."

Sharon backed down when she heard the stress. "Right." She nodded. "Anything else?"

"She should be asleep in the next few minutes," the nurse diagnosed. "She does have quite the waiting party out there. Once Miss Strother's is lucid, she can decide with our FCN coordinator who she wants with her for all the planning, but at this moment, as you're listed as Miss Strother's proxy, you're free to see them and explain the situation or invite only one back at a time that won't cause Miss Strother's stress."

Sharon nodded. "Thank you."

"Of course." The nurse drummed on his DAL. "The specialist is making his rounds with his assistant and should be in soon. If you're still here, they'll speak to you, but if you aren't and Miss Strother is asleep, they'll come back around later. Oh! And you're in the M-five-thirty-four for the room number. If you ever want someone to come and visit, let them know you're at the west towers and then that room number."

"Okay. Thank you so much.".

Sharon looked over Jasmine's form with helplessness rattling her. "I'm so sorry, baby girl," she whispered. "You'll get the help you need soon."

She curled over, hugging herself. I knew her pregnancy was causing her problems, but I didn't know it was this severe. Was she—? No, Pearson told me she was taking her medication and getting rest. She only shut down—

Her eyes darkened. Right. She shut down after Parent's Day. She took out her Compact to see missed called at come from her mother and quietly cursed. Dammit. Mama keeps trying to grill me if Jasmine came home. I lied that Jasmine was staying in the states. But then again, if Mama's determined, she'll find a way. She stood up. Never mind that now. I need to get Maddox so we can come up with a plan. Those amber-browns fell back to her niece.

"I'll be right back," Sharon whispered. Silently, she left the room, and, with some quick directions, she found her way to the elevators and took it down to the waiting reception area. She eyed the unfamiliar people (save for Pearson and now Pacer) and kept her course to Maddox.

"How is she?" Maddox fretted, stroking her cheek.

Sharon welcomed his touch. "She's sleeping," she informed him. "I need to hurry back upstairs to be there when the specialist comes since I'm the proxy. Nothing's definite, but she'll be getting the help she needs by tomorrow at the earliest—"

"And not now?" Pacer challenged.

Lisanna gripped his arm and warned, "Pacer."

Sharon narrowed her eyes at him when Pearson came forward with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. He's on edge—we all are." He hurried with introductions. "Oh, um, these are our parents. That's my little sister, Penelope. And that's our cousin Lance."

Lisanna sprung a strained smile. "It's nice to meet you. Sorry this is all a little rushed, but we can do this another time."

"Right." Sharon did not sound like she wanted another time. Her eyes shifted to a tense Pacer before landing on Pearson. "I'm her proxy, Pearson, and she made it very clear about how she feels with anyone else around her, given all that's happened. I'm sorry, but this is a discussion for Maddox and I. Once she wakes up, I can—"

"Are you serious?" Pacer hissed. "I'm right here. I should be in there with her!"

Bixslow growled, "Pacer, chill."

"No!" Pacer kept his stare firm on Sharon. "I need to see her."

"She's sleeping," Sharon bit. "And she doesn't need the stress. You aren't immediate family—"

"I'm the fucking father—!"

"And the mother wouldn't want you there," Sharon retorted, lifting her chin. "My responsibility to Jasmine is making sure she's in a safe and stress-free environment and right now, I understand why she doesn't want you near her."

Before Pacer could snap, Lisanna intervened with a kind smile and hard eyes. "With all due respect, I know these are very tense times. None of us should be pressuring you when all we should be worrying about is the mother since she's the one in the hospital bed right now alone." She aimed that barb towards Pacer who flinched. "Maybe we could exchange numbers for updates?"

Sharon eyed Pacer—

"I can always relay whatever is said," Lisanna offered as though she knew what Sharon was thinking. She added softly, "Please. I know we don't know each other, and our first exchange isn't in the best shape, but we'd all like to know how everything is progressing."

"For your potential grandkids or my niece?" Sharon challenged.

Lisanna straightened. "Both."

Sharon looked ready to dispute that, but Maddox came forward with a hand on Sharon's shoulder and told Lisanna, "Pearson has our numbers. He can give it to you, but we should go to Jasmine. We'll be in touch. I promise." He tugged a huffy Sharon away and back down the hall.

Pacer did not look at anyone as he rumbled, "I'm staying here."

"No. You're going home." Lisanna refused to hear anything other than an agreement and she grabbed her son's chin to force stormy pale reds to look into icy blues. "You are about to embarrass yourself in this hospital. Right now, it doesn't matter if you're the father. What matters is her comfortability." She was unafraid to turn her nails to claws and remind him why she absorbed animal souls.

If he was not careful, her teeth would show.

Pacer looked down.

Lisanna released him. "You'll come with your father and me." They all knew what that meant. He would receive no help or support when he answered to his parents for his secrecy—for his new family—and would feel the brunt of their ire and disappointment. "Lance? Could you take Penny and Pearson?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

Pearson's eyebrows knitted together when he saw how dazed Lance looked. It's easy to see he's confused, but why?

"And Pearson?"

He swallowed when he met glowing blues. "Yeah, Mom?"

"We'll talk with you and your brother when we get home."

Pearson nodded. "Right. Okay." He saw the tension in Pacer's back as he followed their mother. Don't do anything you'll regret, Pacer. For once, pleasethink before you speak. He glanced at Lance to see him staring down the hallway and called, "Lance?"

"Yeah." Lance jerked his stare back. "Yeah, let's go."

Pearson kept a close eye on Lance as he passed him for Penelope to come to his side. He murmured to his sister, "Am I the only one thinking something is off with him?"

"No." Penelope watched Lance as well. "He knows something."

Pearson clenched his hands. "Then he's going to talk."

°•°•°•°

The parking garage was not too far of a walk, but they did have to cross a bit of the campus to get there. Pacer diligently followed his mother and father to their car while Lance, Pearson, and Penelope broke off to go to Lance's car. But once the three settled in with the car running, Lance did not get the car driving any time soon.

Silence.

Pearson looked at Lance with hard eyes. "You know something." It was not an accusation—it was a fact. "What's going on, Lance?"

Lance gripped the steering wheel and stared out the front window. Insofar, only Master, Mom, Dad, and Aine are aware of the divusiometer and me being a God Slayer. His grip tightened. However—his eyes slid to the rearview mirror where Penelope looked out the window like a doll—Penelope and Pearson are high-ranked Soul Meisters. I know I can trust them both with my life. The problem is—

"This won't get back to Pacer."

Grayed emeralds cut to pale reds.

Lancer looked at a firm Pacer with narrowed eyes. "You won't tell your own twin?"

"I didn't tell him Jasmine was pregnant because that was her wish. And I made her a promise." Pearson gripped his pants. "Right or wrong—I stuck by her decisions. Pacer is my brother and I love him. And yes, he's the father of the twins."

Lance challenged, "But?"

Pacer's red glare sharpened. "But I know how he reacts. And whatever you know is going to make him storm into that hospital and make a scene. I'm not saying he should never know. But I'm the one who lived with him, Lance." He challenged back, "Just like with Ronnie."

It was a sore spot and a cheap shot, but Lance had to agree he was toeing a line. He wanted to ask Penelope—

"You know my stance," Penelope said listlessly. "I have no interest in alerting anyone who doesn't need to know."

Lance sat back in his seat and took a beat. "Back in January, I received a package from an unknown sender. And that package contained a rare artifact—a divusiometer."

Interest and curiosity glazed Penelope's eyes while Pearson sat up straighter. "That's a compass-meter," Pearson slowly recalled. "But they were long lost since the gods rescinded their authority and demi-gods and Champions weren't being selected. And on top of that—"

"You needed someone with the ability of a god or a Blessing to power that divusiometer in the first place." Lance held Pearson's gaze. "I know."

"That's why your soul changed," Penelope commented. "I've never had the pleasure to Coordinate the soul of a God Slayer. But it makes sense now of what I've seen."

Lance nodded. "I don't know why I was chosen but I do know…"—he conjured lightning in his hands and let the static wind around his fingers like a spiderweb—"the Lightning God from Éirulan called Baracles chose me."

"Wait. You said you received a random package with the divusiometer?" Pearson pried. "Did it say where it came from?"

"The stamps told me it came from somewhere in the USM," Lance divulged. "I checked with a friend in the Archaeology Society, but he couldn't reveal if any Custodians of the Gods were in the USM."

"But that's the logical outcome," Penelope said. Maybe to others, she sounded bored and dazed, but those who did know her could hear her intrigue. "If we follow in accordance to how the gods worked in the Old and Middle Era, more than likely, a Custodian sent you that divusiometer and hailed from that religion. I've read bits and pieces about the Custodians. They couldn't deviate from the faith they were Blessed with and only selected from the religion they were from."

Lance withheld that information for later use. "Still, I can't use the Archaeology Society to find Custodians or their descents. They've been granted full protection from both the Council and the AS. I was lucky enough when one of the descendants reached out. But I know I won't be that lucky again. Tracking down the sender would be ideal, but it's out of the question."

He debated how to say this next part. "I've been able to use the divusiometer, but only when I'm in range. It summons itself to me the moment I'm in range, and I can see the energy of a God Slayer, but since it only worked once, I'm still in the dark about a lot of its mechanisms."

"Until today." Pearson looked on edge. "

Lance nodded. "Yes."

"That's why their souls are strong," Pearson realized, aggrieved and aggravated. "Fuck." He pushed back against the seat. "Fuck. That's why Jasmine's under this much stress with her pregnancy."

"And she'll continue to grow weaker and weaker," Penelope loftily said. "You saw it too, didn't you? You've been seeing it."

"Yeah." Pearson loathed to admit it. "The stronger her twins' souls become, the weaker hers does." He scrubbed his face. "Fuck!" He looked between his sister and his cousin. "What the Hell are we supposed to do?"

"Finding the God Slayers is my mission and providing them safety," Lance told them both as everything caught up with him. "But not at the price of someone else's life."

"It doesn't really matter about your morals," Penelope said, looking out the window. Her eyes rimmed with forest green glows. She could see the souls of every person within her vision, but two vast souls overwhelmed the populace in their creative green and chaotic black-violet. "Jasmine Strother will become the mother of two power God Slayers. And in the process…"

Her eyes narrowed as she saw the anchor for such powerful souls. A smaller soul, pretty in its pink hue, with cracks and weakness.

"…she'll lose her life."

°•°•°•°

Maddox and Sharon stayed at Jasmine's bedside with open worry in their eyes and a frazzled tension crackling within the air. Maddox puts his hands on Sharon's shoulders to rub them and she thanked his silent support with her hand falling atop his.

"Thank you, Maddox," Sharon breathed. "But you should be enjoying your spring vacation—"

"I'm too old to be spring breaking," Maddox murmured wryly. "I told you I planned to stay in during the break." He added quietly, "With you."

Sharon swallowed. "Things have changed—"

"Nothing's changed," Maddox softly insisted. "I wanted to say with Jasmine to help her with the twins, and I'll continue to do that." His lips quirked. "I know how you are with pregnancy, Miss Sharon. We'll need to start looking at doulas for Jasmine. She has four months left. We should've hired one sooner for her."

"No use crying over spilled milk," Sharon sighed. "Once she's in a better condition to speak, we'll talk about all of that. We've made plans, but they need to be concrete." She added after a few moments of hesitancy, "Do you think it's safe for her to go to the US considering all those attacks?"

"I don't know." Maddox's reptilian eyes softened on Jasmine's form. "But we'll make sure she's safe."

Sharon did not mention how his casual use of "we" did things to her.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

The door pushed to show a wide smile. "Mind if I come in?"

Sharon nodded as the door opened wide. "Yes, please. You must be the floor specialist."

Loafers stepped into the room as the door stayed open. "Yes, ma'am. I'm the floor doctor. My nurse briefed me about Miss Strother's case. Oh, please excuse my assistant. They dual as my scribe since I tend to talk fast."

"That's quite all right," Maddox dismissed. "About Jasmine?"

"Oh, yes." A gloved hand pushed up glasses. "Regarding Miss Strother, the emergency ultrasound performed showed us the twins in their proper positions and allowed us to admit her without any chronic problems insofar, but I'm sure the Apothecary will want to perform a secondary ultrasound since we were told Miss Strother has yet to have her April prenatal appointment."

"She hasn't," Sharon confirmed with great guilt.

The smile widened. "Nothing to be ashamed about. Life happens. On my end, I'll want to make sure the Apothecary has everything she needs to hit the ground running, so we'll go through the standard procedures, check out the anatomy of her children, the gender—all normal things. But since she's a high-risk pregnancy with a staggering list of symptoms, we'll be monitoring her as close as possible."

Sharon and Maddox both looked relieved to hear that. "Thank you," Maddox spoke. "Is there anything we can do for her in the meantime?"

"All we can say is to keep her calm," came wise advice. "Keeping her comfortable and supported is our main priority. She's around twenty-two weeks, so her twins are starting to detect noises. They can't respond to them until around twenty-seven weeks, but it's in good health to keep things calm. And with Miss Strother's arrhythmia and mental state, best keep the visitors to those you know she trusts."

Sharon agreed. "We can do that."

"I'm sure you can." Loafers shuffled. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to grab one of the nurses. I'd like to speak with Miss Strother once she's awake, so feel free to use the nurse button to alert them she's awake." More shuffling. "Any questions for me?"

"I didn't catch your name," Maddox said.

"Oh, my last name is a hassle to pronounce. No one gets it right, so they call came to a consensus of what to call me. And without sounding arrogant, everyone tends to just call me"—glasses imprinted the bump of Jasmine's pregnant stomach—"the Doctor."

---

Nothing like being on your thot shit during spring break.

The "party" looked more like a glorified fraternity "kings of the beach" rave on the private beach where you need to sign a waiver to be there, but the security guards posted with their shades and black shirts were enough to remind you children of the rich had paid a pretty penny for this to happen. Beer kegs and booze raked through the dancing crowd. Beaded necklaces, leis, and glow sticks had been passed around with beer cans raised in the air. An outdoor bar set up on the sand supplied water and playful cocktails.

Sloppy kisses and sloppier grinding happened before the stage with the DJ scratching bass-bumping music. Bikini tops conveniently were untied and boarding trucks were sporting hardened packages. Weed, liquor, sweat, sex—even with the party outdoors, the moment you immersed yourself with the packed crowd, you could taste desire in the air. Some giggled and staggered away from the party to find a bathroom or take their touches and make-outs to a more intimate setting. Thankfully, security broke up whatever became too hardcore for other eyes to see.

You had to wonder how much money the rich parents paid for a party of this caliber because it was uncivilized, unsupervised—unhinged.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Undisclosed Private Beach

Caracole Island

Fiore, Ishgar

9:45 PM CAST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gary and Nashi trickled onto the beach with their friends in tow, and Nashi was astonished to see the crowd before her (and grateful she took Tesla and Justin's wisdom to pack her bright blue bikini and her sarong considering how everyone else was dressed).

"This is insane!" Nashi laughed.

"No, this is called 'normal'," Justin reminded her. Of course he would come in his crop top and short-shorts to this; he was not born yesterday. "And you know the rules, sweet girl. Whoever came with you better know exactly what the fuck they came to do." He kissed Ace's shin and dragged a hand down his naked chest.

Nashi murmured to Gary, "He means basically make me look good when the drinks kick in and I start going crazy."

Gary chuckled. "I can do that."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

I swear I hear some new bullshit every day I'm wakin' up

It seems like nowadays everybody breakin' up

That shit can break you down if you lose a good girl

I guess you need a bad bitch to come around and make it up

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ines had her arm around Ellie with both women sporting bikinis tops, though Ellie had decided for shorts while Ines donned a skirt. Ines breathed into Ellie's ear, "Better not let me get too carried away, Daisy, unless you want us to find a dark quiet spot."

Ellie smacked Ines' arm, flushed. "Don't tease me."

"Oh, no, please me and tease me." Tesla traded hot pink for a shocking white and black bikini and her translucent red sarong with her braids in twin tails. All Jaxton had done was switched into cargo shorts with nothing else, but he looked ready to tear off Tesla's swimsuit. "It's time for the twerkulater," she sang. "I'ma shake what my mama gave me! I'ma shake my money-maker!"

Justin laughed and abandoned his boyfriend to pounce on Tesla from behind (and ignored Jaxton's displeased frown). "I'm so ready for it!" He moved along with her as the song slowed in a gospel-like hip-hop beat. "If you aren't twerking, you aren't working."

Tesla giggled. "Wow, I have a full-time career then."

They both crowded with the rapper, "But still, stupid ass bitch, I ain't fuckin' with you…!"

Ace shook his head. "Part of me wants to grab a beer first, but I'm afraid to leave him alone."

"He'll be fine," Nashi sighed as Justin and Tesla rocked. "His blue hair makes him stick out if we lose him, but I definitely need a drink before I get into whatever mosh-pit grinding fest is happening over there."

The DJ started blending sounds for the next song.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

(OG Parker)

(And if the beat live, you know Li'l Ju made it)

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Justin and Tesla screamed and made a beeline for the dancers.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hands on my knees, shakin' ass, on my thot shit

Post me a pic, finna make me a profit

When the liquor hit, then a bitch get toxic

(Why the fuck you in the club with n****s wildin'?)

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Justin and Tesla had no shame playing up the liberating hip hop song with their grinding and twerking, their grins matching each other. The tipsy and the drunks all welcomed them with open arms and raised solo cups like the initiation had begun.

Ace huffed a laugh. "We've been abandoned."

"Not for long." Jaxton strode to the crowd and did not have to excuse himself when people parted for him as though sending his chilling exterior. He easily took his place as Tesla's dance party, but the only reason his eyes were different than the others watching her move was that predatory undercurrent and how well he complimented every movement.

Ellie tugged at Ines. "Allez, allez! Come on!"

And with that, it looked like drinks would wait as they followed Ellie into the crowd.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hoes tryna call me a snake, shit, I guess I can relate

'Cause a bitch spit a whole lotta venom

And since these hoes all rats, when they come around me

All I see is a whole lotta dinner

I walk around the house butt-naked

And I stop at every mirror just to stare at my own posterior

I don't give a fuck who talk behind my back

'Cause the bitch knew better than to let me hear her (ah)

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Niceties and classiness did not exist in a place like this. You could openly grab your partner's ass and slide fingers down a chest without judgment. It was more expected to cop intimate feels and hint at dirty promises than it was to be chaste and "leave room for the Holy Spirt".

Joints and cups were passed around as everyone got dirty in the sand with no pure intentions. When you were in a relationship and you attended a party this lecherous and unrefined, you had a few options. The first option was to drink responsibly, but you did not entertain the thought of joining those in the sweaty crowd and clung to each other on the outskirts. The second option was joining in the fun with your head sloshed with beer and your hands on each other, one thread away from going at it in the sand. A third option came upon mutual agreement that you danced independently and together with trust between you.

And that fourth option…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hands on my knees, shakin' ass, on my thot shit

Hands on my knees, shakin' ass, on my thot shit (thot shit)

Hands on my knees, shakin' ass, on my thot shit

Hands on my knees, ha-hands on my knees

•

Hands on my knees, shakin' ass, on my thot shit

Hands on my knees, shakin' ass, on my thot shit (thot shit)

Hands on my knees, shakin' ass, on my thot shit

Hands on my knees, hands on my knees

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Justin and Tesla thrived on the option "It's my world and you're all living in it", to the partners' amusement. All they cared about was how good the music made them feel—slutty and empowered. They ground with their respective boyfriends, with each other, and anyone else who wanted a good time. But the mischief held in their gazes when they glanced at their boyfriends made it known every bounce and shake was a show just for them.

Ellie and Ines rocked together with Ellie flushed and Ines saucily grinning how she could press her sweet girlfriend's buttons. And with the way Ellie was falling for it the moment Ines roped her into a passionate kiss, a few shots of liquid courage might make her charge off with her into the darker parts of the beach. Gary and Nashi laughed at her horrible sense of rhythm, but he held her from behind as they moved together with a daring grin on his lips and a knowing dressing down coming from her.

It was never enough to be sober at parties like this unless you had decided to be a DDM or a DD for the group you came with. Those "designated" had brought their own alcohol-free beverages and preferred conversations of substance on the rocks or over younger. But the baseline was at least two shots and a beer for most of the dancers and getting crossed was optional as long as you brought your own weed.

Tesla and Justin had taken shots off each other, but the moment Nashi laughingly refused to participate, they dragged her into their antics, and she downed three shots and her last one had been a body shot off Tesla. Ellie and Ines had taken shots off each other that led Elli into a fit of giggles as she hung onto her, the local tequila making her flushed and tipsy already. Gary and Ace sat out, but Jaxton was more than inclined to do a sensual shot off Tesla's breasts and licking the salt from her neck would have turned into more had she not moaningly pushed him away.

Looser tongues and lowered inhibitions made for a good time.

A brass fanfare started up that had everyone whooping and hollering.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Baby back, ayy

Couple racks, ayy

Couple Grammys on him

Couple plaques, ayy

That's a fact, ayy

Throw it back, ayy

Throw it back, ayy

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Everyone was bumping and grinding to the bass-thumping song with hips shaking and hands in the air. Some had started to chant the recognizable lyrics as they bopped and vibed.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And this one is for the champions

I ain't lost since I began, yeah

Funny how you said it was the end, yeah

Then I went did it again, yeah

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Two gorgeously brown-skinned sisters with braids beaded with shells and their full-pink-lips black gentleman friend had started mimicking the dance moves from the music video that earned them cheers and a circled berth to give them space to move as more voices joined in singing along.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

I told you long ago, on the road

I got what they waitin' for

I don't run from nothin', dog

Get your soldiers, tell 'em I ain't layin' low

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

This was the way to kick off spring break and it would be the way to end spring break. A rave with no muss and no fuss, just freedom, delinquency, and debauchery. See-through t-shirts, slamming shots, partying down, forbidden kisses—sometimes, you felt invincible having that little care of the world around except for this moment in time.

The DJ strung together a variety of songs that had people chanting. When throwbacks like Soulja Boy and Wobble, it was clear who grew up knowing the right dance steps and who had the politely gentrified version. Tesla laughed when Jaxton held onto her during the wobble dance and could feel how her every movement made him feel.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

3-6-9, damn you fine

Hoping she can sock it to me one more time

Get low, get low (get low), get low (get low), get low (get low)

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The entire crowd crowed with the rappers with their hands up: "To the window…! To the wall...! Til the sweat drop down my balls! 'Til all these bitches crawl!"

Justin made a grab for Nashi and twirled her as he crooned with the rest of the tipsy and faded crowd, "Til all skeet-skeet, motherfucker! 'Til all skeet-skeet, goddamn!"

More drinks and shots were slammed down, but the party went on strong. One couple could not wait as they stumbled away from the crowd with laughter and kisses between them. A more reserved and slightly nerdy boy with a bigger frame and muscle underneath became entranced at a native young lady with her bronze skin and fiery hair with her bewitching him with her naughty smile.

Gary laughed when a drunken Nashi tried to mimic what Justin and Tesla were doing for one of the songs and found her growing more and more adorable by the second. Jaxton tongued Tesla's neck as she moved against him, and Ace was not subtle grabbing Justin's hips when he danced. But it was Ellie who recklessly made out with Ines, and Ines could barely handle her whimper and the way she trembled.

Ines nodded at Gary before she took Ellie by the hand and rushed them away. She could not hold back her grin when Ellie giggled with a thrill going through them both. They maneuvered through the outsiders and toured through the darkness of the private beach, avoiding wherever muffled moans and pitched whimpers came from.

Ines was the one to find them a secluded boulder well-hidden with grass and shadows around it. The moment they were safe from wandering eyes, Ines pushed Ellie against the rock for a deep kiss that would have triggered Ellie's powers if she was not tipsy. Ellie moaned when Ines broke the kiss to gun for her neck with nips and bites.

"Ines," Ellie whimpered, shaking. "Please."

Ines grinned against Ellie's neck. "You'll have to be more specific than that, Daisy." But she slipped a hand to cup Ellie's ass. "What do you want from me?"

Ellie trembled as she grasped Ines' cheeks to pull her back and weak hazel-cerulean stared into Ines' dark gaze. "I want you." But her eyes shifted around to check if anyone would approach them—"Nnngh!"

Ines made short work of untying Ellie's bikini top while she sucked hard on her pulse. "You're going to have to keep quiet, Daisy," she teased her. "Someone might come over if you moan too loudly."

X – X – X – X –X

She trailed wet kisses down Ellie's clavicle and before she slipped up the bikini top to find sweet purchase of toying with Ellie's nipple with her tongue while her other hand curled and cupped and twisted the other nipple. Ellie writhed, but she put her hands over her mouth to stop her moan from coming to fruition. All she could do was feel every shock and tingle from Ines' sweet ministration and watch how she bobbed her head, teething against her before tonguing her before she tugged and let go.

Ines switched to Ellie's other breast to give it equal attention, but she puffed hot breath as she whispered, "I'm not going to be nearly satisfied with this. But I know how you feel about us doing stuff in public for too long." She looked up at Ellie with her nostrils flaring seeing how red and weakened Ellie's expression was and the need backing her eyes. "Five orgasms."

That stunned Ellie and made her knees shake. "Th-That's too many—Ah…!" Her head came back when Ines cupped Ellie's sex over her shorts. "I-I-Ines…!"

"That's the only way I'll let you go," Ines murmured, with one hand teasing Ellie's breast until she rolled her nipple between her fingers and the other hand tugging down Ellie's unzipped shorts. "Five orgasms, Daisy, and you have to count them for me." Reluctantly, she let go of Ellie's breast to tug down her shorts to her ankles. But she took her time with the swim shorts.

Ellie's thighs shook when Ines snipped and kissed her flesh and made her jerk when delicate fingers grazed her skin. She knew without a doubt Ines knew she was aching and her pussy was weeping for touch, for pleasure. She gasped when Ines stepped back and reached for her blindly. "W-W-Wait—!"

"Are you okay stepping out of your shorts and your bikini bottoms?" Ines asked her with eyes that spelled Ellie was in trouble.

Ellie swallowed and nodded.

This part made Ellie love Ines even more with how gentle and coddling she was helping a shaky Ellie out of her trunks and how she felt like the most desired woman in the world when Ines tugged off those bikini bottoms and looked hungrily at what Ellie had to offer between her legs.

With a glance down to the bikini bottom, Ines simpered seeing splats of cream on them. "I'd rather take my time, but you might not last that long." She was careful to set the bikini bottoms atop the shorts before she turned her attention back to her vulnerable little flower. "Are you ready, Daisy?"

Ellie nodded, not able to trust her voice.

Ines slid a heated hand onto Ellie's leg that had a tattooed vine over top the scar she received long ago. Adoring kisses peppered the tattoo before that leg slipped over Ines' shoulder and left Ellie's petaled sex exposed and weeping for Ines to drink in. The smell alone was a heady aphrodisiac, and Ines could not resist teasing those nether lips with prodding fingers—

"Ah!" Ellie pressed her hands harder against her mouth as heat worked up her thighs the more Ines teased and taunted. Her body pressed, spurring Ines for more, but those tantalizing touches were better than receiving more.

Her skin fanned with pleasurable heat, but the thrill that anyone could circle back behind and catch them in the act made her desire sing to another level. Such a naughty deed to do, playing in public, but the exhilaration and lust overpowered any sort of fear or anxiety—

Ellie could not help the lengthy moan when Ines closed her eyes and covered Ellie's sex with her mouth.

It was not just the timing or the teasing, but it was her. It was knowing this beautiful vixen of a woman wanted her and her alone with each lap of her tongue and press of her mouth. That sent shivers down Ellie's spine as she ground into Ines' eager mouth for more. Her whimpers she tried to muffle blurted into mewls when Ines' tongue speared inside her, and all her care and propriety flew out the window for Ellie to buck her hips as that twinge in her gut ached for more more more—

Ines groaned into Ellie's first climax as a rush came to her mouth and she lapped it all. Her hand gripped Ellie's thigh as the other snaked to nudge her clit from its hood. She knew this was a sensitive time for Ellie. The first orgasm made her twitch uncontrollably and normally she would pounce on Ines to give as much as she received, but Ines had no time to be sweet and nice.

Ellie's hands move on their own when they clawed Ines' hair and her whimper turned into a wanton wail when Ines' tongue claimed her vigorously with sucks and laps and teases and thrusts. The unpredictable jolts to Ellie's clits sent her into mindless jerks and frantic bucks when the toe-curling rush of another climax flamed inside with her stomach constricting and oh god please please I can't—!

Ines moaned into Ellie's orgasm, but she refused to stop swirling her tongue with each pitiful jerk and whimper Ellie blessed her with. It felt monumental when the little flutters and subtle twinged of Ellie's body to try and coddle her after her climax built up so quickly, preparing her for more.

Ines slid her hands up Ellie's stomach, smiling when she sucked in a breath and toyed with her hardened nipples. Each pluck and roll and rub sent Ellie into a writhing spiral. Everything was too sensitive, too electrifying, too much—

"I-Ines, wait," Ellie gasped in plea. Her head was spinning, and she knew she was aching, but the exhaustion cleared away her buzz and the unbridled sensitivity had too strong of a grip to let her succumb to this delicious torment. "Wait, please, ah…!"

Ines pressed a kiss against Ellie's sex with her tongue slipping between those pink folds. She puffed a chuckle when Ellie ground against her tongue, but those ceaseless whimpers that bordered a sob made her slow down. A sweeter kiss and a last quick lick were given before Ines massaged Ellie's thighs and took pity on how Ellie's bottom lip quivered and that red blush heated her skin.

"I'll collect the other two later," Ines murmured before pressing a kiss onto Ellie's naval. "But I'm debating if I want to eat you out or watch you ride one of the toys you brought." She chuckled when Ellie covered her face. "No need to be shy, Daisy."

"Je ne suis pas timide," Ellie mumbled. "I'm not shy." She swallowed down her whine when Ines stroked her weeping sex, but the gesture was softer, kinder, lovingly. "Ines…"

"You're just so hot to touch," Ins breathed. She brushed against Ellie's clit for a final time before kissing her inner thighs. "But I know, Daisy. No more touching until tonight." She went for Ellie's bikini bottom and thought the better of it. "Do you want my skirt instead? You might be uncomfortable in your bottoms and shorts considering how…"—she grinned and eyed between Ellie's legs—"messy you are."

Ines' shoulders shook when a bundle of peonies sprouted. "Aw, my Daisy is feeling shy…!" she teased.

"Chut." Ellie tried to close her legs, but she sighed when Ines kept them open. "Ines…"

"One last kiss for the road, I promise." Before Ellie could protest, Ines covered her mouth over Ellie's sex for a ravenous kiss. She groaned when Ellie's nails scratched shoulders and slid her hands onto her thighs to spread them wider. It was a split decision when Ines laid a palm against Ellie's clit and pulled back her mouth to slide two fingers in—

"Oh, g-god!" Ellie gasped. She wriggled and writhed when Ines thrust her fingers inside her and her quieted mewls turned into breathless pants with each thrust until she was riding Ines' fingers. "I-I'm gonna…!"

The moment Ines slightly crossed her fingers and thrust, there was no time to prepare when a shower of electricity singed Ellie's enter body—

"Ah…!" Ellie's breath shuttered and her eyes widened at the aggressive force of her climax, so much so that she could barely say a prayer.

Ines never felt such satisfaction than feeling Ellie expand and contract against her fingers. Maybe fingering was an art other women detested, but it was all about your partner's pleasure over your own, and nothing made Ines feel more powerful than seeing Ellie this glassy-eyed and speechless as she clenched on Ines' fingers and rode out each and every powerful aftershock.

It took Ellie time to regain her senses and part with such an overwhelming bliss, but a second wave of embarrassment hit her when her knees gave out and Ines had to support her.

"Sorry!" Ellie squeaked and prayed she had not sprouted more peonies.

Ines laughed. "It's okay." She held Ellie steady. "Do you want my skirt now?"

Ellie gave her girlfriend a half-sour and half-flushed look. "Are you going to give me anymore 'kisses' for the road?"

"You might turn the beach into a meadow if I do that, so no, not this time." Ines grinned as she maneuvered holding Ellie steady with one hand while she shimmied out of her skirt. The bottoms she had on would do nicely for the evening. "Here. Let me help you."

Ellie muttered, "That's what you said in the library before you start fingering me." She held onto Ines and stepped into the skirt. Once the skirt had been fastened and she wanted to make another remark, all was lost when Ines took her time coming to her feet, pressing kissing up Ellie's legs and cupping her sex before ascending to her full height.

Y – Y – Y – Y – Y

Ines smirked at Ellie's cute glare. "What? Not my fault your sex when you're hot and bothered." She hugged Ellie close, though she snickered at Ellie's gasp when she brought down a hand to squeeze her ass cheek. "Oops. My hand slipped."

Ellie sniffed as she threw her arms around Ines' neck. "You drive me crazy." But she melted into the kiss she started and moaned when Ines parted her lips with her tongue for a playful dance.

Ines pulled back first to touch noses with Ellie. "You're the one Mister Sequen brought in with that cute skirt and you just had to bend over—"

"I dropped my pen!" Ellie laughingly cried.

Ines hummed her amusement. "The point is you drove me crazy the moment I saw you." She noted the budding roses. "And all your cute flowers you make around me. That was a dead giveaway you were crushing on me."

Ellie huffily dismissed her flowers. "Ce n'est pas juste!" she complained. "This isn't fair! I'm normally more controlled with this!" But she smiled against her frustration when Ines laughed. "And you're really okay with…with everything?"

Ines brushed her cheek. "Eliana."

The use of Ellie's full name sent a pleasurable twinge between her legs.

"Ignore whatever Harley told you," Ines soothed. "She's right and wrong. Yeah, it pissed me off a little when girls basically used me to eat them out to figure out if they're 'lesbian' or not or they'd string me along without ever telling me they were questioning until the moment of truth." Her gaze softened as she kissed Ellie's nose then her lips. "You were honest with me before our first date. That's all I wanted. You told me you didn't know where you fit, but you liked me. That's all I wanted."

Ines added with a smile, "And when I told you I was intersex, you didn't give a shit." She brushed back a lock of Ellie's hair behind her ear. "Whatever you're into, Daisy, I'm just hoping it's me for a long time. That's all I care about."

"Really?" Ellie did not mean to make her voice small, but she felt unsure.

"Yeah." Ines squeezed her girlfriend. "Really." She glanced around. "Do you want to get back to the party or keep making out in the dark? Because right now…" Her eyes dropped to Ellie's lips. "I really want to keep making out with my cute as Hell girlfriend."

Ellie giggled and cupped Ines' cheek. "Embrasse-moi. Kiss me."

And neither noticed moments into their passionate embrace, red camellias and sunflowers blossomed around them. Flowers that symbolized deep desire and the purest form of love.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

And then…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The rave had wounded down this late at night. That did not mean everyone had scattered and abandoned this hellish haven, but the vibrating bass and twerking had been exchanged for slower songs to open up the path to slower and sensual intimacy and swaying and soft rocking. Couples—platonic or romantic—took this time to press close, drowsy from beer, weed, or pure exhaustion of the first day of spring break. Friend groups mixed and matched with people they met with new friendships and possible relationships sparking.

The stars drenched the sky and made it look like you could see the entire galaxy refracting into the ocean. Some took the time to head out to the rocks and the abandoned stone dock for private conversations or a leisurely walk to feel the crisp air. Highs came down and hearts opened this time of night as the DJ slid on emotional slow jams.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

I got my driver's license last week

Just like we always talked about

'Cause you were so excited for me

To finally drive up to your house

But today I drove through the suburbs

Crying 'cause you weren't around

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Tesla and Jaxton had disappeared somewhere, and Ellie and Ines were nowhere to be found. But Ace and Justin stayed behind with Justin curled into Ace's chest, happy and snug, though he laughed over whatever Ace had whispered in his ear.

Gary tugged a slightly tipsy Nashi away from the dancing for a careless stroll across the tides. Maybe his immunity would cling to her for the rest of the days since her summer felt comfortable and not at all tempted to dampen from the breeze. You could still hear the crooning voice of the singer about her break-up with her ex-lover who was okay with her gone.

Nashi snuggled into Gary's arms. "Breeze feels nice. It's a good night for flying."

"It is," Gary agreed and embraced how the zephyrs chased each other around them. "It's strange. My parents used to love taking the family to the beach." He gazed out to the water. "I still remember how much fun we'd have when we were younger. But suddenly… We never went to the beach again."

Nashi looked up at him. "How come?"

"I was very young when it happened, but there was an accident," Gary explained. "Silver had disappeared. I'd never seen my mom so shaken. Silver was fine—at least, that's what I remember. But my parents said we wouldn't be going to the beach anymore, so we never did." Those blues softened. "Silver was sad for a while until my parents kept him in swimming." His memories made his expression darken. "I can't forget the first time he was in a pool. He nearly died."

"What?" That had Nashi on alert, tipsiness be damned. "What happened?"

"He had a bad reaction to the chlorine," Gary told her, pained from that horrible memory of seeing his little brother writhing in agony, unable to breathe. "But Granny Porlyusica and Miss Wendy were able to help him so he could swim." A small smile. "It used to be such a pain getting him out of the water. Mom and Dad had to use incentives or else he'd never come out. But he loved it so much."

"I see." Nashi's gaze fled to the skies. "It's like how you love the cold and how I love the sky. It feels like home to him being in the water." She stroked Gary's arm. "Have you brought him here?"

Gary shook his head. "No. It's not like I didn't want to, but my parents were against it. I still don't understand why, but I respect their wishes. Maybe when he's an adult, if he wants to come here, then he could." He chuckled. "I could let him rent out the house with Ena."

"I couldn't believe Lu when she told me about that," Nashi simpered. "But lo and behold, when I had my secondary fitting and consultation for my battle suit, he was right there." She nudged him. "He looked exactly how you look when you're around me."

Gary grinned. "I know. Now I know how he felt when I'd talk about you. Anytime we FaceCall, he can't stop gushing over Ena like she created the cosmos." He kissed Nashi's temple before he guided her over an unused flat bolder that protruded a little into the waves. He made sure she was settled before he seated himself with their feet dipping into the water. "I'm a little worried about him."

Nashi arched an eyebrow. "That he's acting exactly like you? I think you'd be a hypocrite if you said that."

Gary laughed. "No. It's not that." His laughter faded for something serious and concerned. "He's just been having some trouble about things. Lady J told me he's been on edge around her and actually snapped at her."

"Damn." That had Nashi astonished. "I don't think I've ever seen him actually angry, even when he fought with Ena."

"I know. That's what has me worried." Gary offered gratitude in their connection when Nashi laid her head on his shoulder. "If everyone goes well, I'll be home in June. I hope I can see what's bothering him. I'm amazed he's coming out of his shell and being more himself—thanks to Ena. He rarely got angry." His lips twitched. "He used to be a massive crier, to be honest, and hid behind my mom a lot whenever Gale was over."

"I believe that," muttered Nashi. "I don't think Igneel ever had a problem with him, though." She felt winter's flicker of emotion and softened her tone to say, "I'm not sure what all you did for Igneel, but… Thank you for dragging him out of a dark place."

Gary sighed. "I didn't do much," he tried to downplay. "I sympathized at most. Igneel did all the hard work." Ceruleans saddened when he remembered how lifeless Igneel had been at the time with eyes that wanted nothing more than death. "He was the one who got himself out of bed and ate. All I did was nudge him."

"You did more than that." Nashi squeezed their conjoined fingers and rubbed his chest. "You saved him, Gary."

But I didn't, Gary wanted to tell her. Really. He did all the hard work. All I did was show him.

• — • — •

"Kill…me…"

The focus concentrated on Igneel's mess of a bedroom, its chaos reflecting his own. Young and frail, Igneel laid on his bed with scratched skin, cracked lips, and too pale for a living person to be. It was clear he had not eaten in days with his bones starting to show, and those once fiery eyes had dulled and glazed.

"Kill…me…" His lips barely moved for the deadened request. "Kill…me… Kill…me…"

And the glint from the thimble charm he kept in his hand faded away.

• — • — •

He reminded me so much of me, Gary recalled, despaired. All I wanted was to die. I would've killed myself. Igneel was willing to starve himself to death. But then…

Glowing yellow-ambers.

Gary looked across the water to see Jaxton and Tesla at the end of the abandoned stone dock. He could make out their silhouette against the starry backdrop and how intimately wound they were in their slow dance.

I met someone who showed me death wasn't the answer. He didn't sympathize with me at all. He didn't coddle me. And I needed him to show me my worth. I didn't need someone to tell me worthless things about depending on others for my will to live. I had to make my will to live my choice. He clenched his free hand. That's all I showed Igneel. It was his choice to make his will to live his own and he did that, not me. And I couldn't be happier I could give someone that same guidance Jang-ta gave to me.

"What are you thinking about?"

Gary smiled. "Minor things," he dismissed. "Are you excited for Inter-Guild? Especially since you were selected for the special courses?"

"I'm definitely excited I was chosen," Nashi gave to him. "It sucks I won't be able to see Lu since I'll be at the other training facility, but I'll see her for the closing ceremony. Oh! I almost forget." She laughed to herself. "You know how Lu's decided to go to Saint Layla's for the summer? Guess who else is going for his summer internship?"

It took Gary a moment. "She's not going to like that." He shook his head. "But he's determined." His gaze hardened. "I just don't want Looney to get hurt. I knew Gale liked her, but I thought he'd have better self-control."

"Granny Anna will be at the school, and Lu promised to see her on weekends for check-ins," Nashi soothed. "I'm just happy she's leaving Magnolia. Even if it is going to Saint Layla's, we're all relieved she's overcoming things." She cooed when Gary remained tense, "No need to get all protective, Papa Bear. Leave that to my papa."

Gary grumbled, "I can't help it. I know she's growing up, but I still remember her when she was little and how she was attached to her camera." He huffed. "I don't know how your dad keeps his calm. I don't know how I'd react if all that happened to my daughter. I'd probably go homicidal like Mister Mixa did to Ezra."

Nashi tittered. "I'm sure my mama was notified Gale took the position and they'll probably talk. But I'm just happy he's trying. And you should be too."

Gary grunted.

As much as Papa chases him off, they have a lot in common, Nashi thought, amused. Gary never had to be like this towards Lady J since Julia was basically top dog, but he's always been so protective of Lu and Silver.

"I don't know how I'd react if all that happened to my daughter."

Nashi frowned to herself, thoughtful and nervous. Should I bring it up to him about adoption? Maybe it's too early. But we should start to talk about it, right? Even if it's early? If we're not even open about it, then—

"I can feel Angel getting worked up."

Nashi flushed, ashamed. "Sorry. Damn Bond."

Gary chortled. "It's a blessing and a curse." He smoothed a thumb down her cheek in chaste caress. "What's on your mind?"

Nashi roughly swallowed. "Well, um… Well, I just…" She forced an exhale and looked at their legs. "About… About your comment on if you had a daughter and everything…"

Gary's nerves shot up. "I didn't mean I wished for us to have kids," he hurried to explain. "I promise. I don't regret getting a vasectomy—"

"No, no, it's not…!" Nashi sighed loudly. "No, it's not that. I know you don't regret it." She patted his chest. "I'd feel it."

A staggering realization ripped inside her. I'd feel it. That's right. I'd feel if he hated me or this. Why was I freaking out about this when I could feel if he hated something?

"Then what's wrong?" Gary fretted.

More confident, Nashi parted from him for firm hickory to connect with worried cerulean. "I told you I never wanted to have kids and that I'd always plan on getting a surgery done once my IUD was finished."

Gary warily nodded. "Yes…"

When Nashi only felt confusion from winter, she pressed on, "But someone made me realize something I never thought about before." She thumbed his cheek and told him, "I don't need to get pregnant to have kids."

But Gary failed to understand and expressed this. "What do you mean?"

"Let me explain." Nashi took a moment to gather her thoughts and let them flow naturally. "Diego and I had a conversation that sort of opened my eyes. All this time… I really hated pregnancy." She squeezed his hand. "I can still remember being pregnant. It was horrible and awful, and I never want that happening to me again—"

She took a moment to be thankful when winter caressed her summer in a soothing song. "But then Diego asked me something. He asked me if I never wanted any kids or if I just didn't want to be pregnant and wanted kids. I didn't understand then." She smiled. "But I understand now."

"Angel…"

"I'm not saying anything's concrete," Nashi murmured to him. "But talking to some people put it in perspective for me. I've always loved kids. Maybe not babies, outside of Lu, but kids? I've always adored them. And I…I know I have family. But Gary, my family isn't just my parents and my siblings. It's your family and Master and Ena and Aunt Mira… It's Fairy Tail and my friends. And none of them are blood-related, so… Why should a child need to be blood-related to be my child?"

Gary was hit with an echo of words from Layla Heartfilia. "It is true my granddaughter has no desire for the biological way of children. But you must remember something, Gary Fullbuster. A family is more than just blood. A family is the one that you choose."

"Angel…" Gary looked at Nashi in a mixture of disbelief, hope, and happiness. "Are you…?"

Nashi nodded as tears cornered her eyes. "I know this is really early. And so much could happen between now and whenever. But I'd want to adopt kids." Her smile widened. "And I want to adopt them with you if that's okay."

"That's more than okay." Gary did not know whether to smile or laugh or cry, but he ended up embracing Nashi and kissing her hair. "That's more than okay, Angel." His eyes close when he felt that heated sting. "I would've been okay if it was just us. But I'm okay with having one more or two. We can't have kids, but… A family is more than just blood—we choose who's our family."

I understand now, Misses Heartfilia, Gary thought as he felt summer and winter intertwine with a new wave of cementing love and relief. This is what you meant to me when you visited me, what you were trying to tell me. I knew I could never have biological kids. They'd become a Devil. I couldn't put them through that. But that doesn't mean I can't have kids at all.

He hugged Nashi tighter. I know it could be selfish. Even with us adopting, it doesn't mean our kids won't know how dangerous it is having a Devil for a dad or an Angel for a mom. But…if I'm allowed to want that…if I'm allowed to be a little selfish… He pulled back with Nashi cupping his cheek. He leaned into her touch and placed his hand over hers. "You really want this?"

"I think we should talk to more parents who adopted, but… Yeah." Nashi breathed a light laugh. "I do. With you."

Gary kissed her wrist. "That means you can't leave me."

Nashi's lips twitched. "I know."

"And we'd be living in the same house once we got serious about this."

A happy tear shed from Nashi's eye. "I know."

"And you'd have someone calling you, 'mom'." Gary's blues shimmered. "And someone would be calling me, 'dad'."

"I know all of that." Nashi slid a hand over his heart and could feel how in-synch it was with hers. "I know it won't change that we have enemies out there. It doesn't change I'm half-Angel and half-Demon or that you're a Devil." She smiled when Gary brushed away her tears. "But we're going to teach them the same thing our parents taught us—how to fight and how to live."

"And fly."

Nashi simpered. "Really?"

"It'd be nice," Gary teasingly supposed. "It's a stupid dream, but… It'd be nice to teach our kids how to fly with us. But even if they can't fly, it won't matter to me." Blues twinkled. "I'll just tease them for being stuck on the ground."

Nashi laughed. "No…! Don't do that to them!"

"I won't, I won't." Gary searched her eyes. "But if your mind changes, Angel, please know I'm perfectly happy with all the family we have and you. We have some years left until we can apply."

"I know. But I still wanted to talk about it." Nashi thumbed his flesh. "I can't believe my old bully convinced me to adopt kids with him."

Gary quietly chuckled. "And I can't believe the cutest woman with pink hair wants to adopt kids with me."

Nashi gave him the stink eye. "I distinctly remember someone conveniently left me out when he listed all the people he knew with cool pink hair."

"So Angel is confessing to being that hot woman at the station when I did my Hakobe assignment and stalking me?"

Nashi froze.

Gary grinned.

Nashi hastily pardoned, "That's neither here nor there. The point is—"

Gary gave a full-body laugh.

Nashi shoved him with no real heat. "Stupid dog," she grumbled, though she did it with a smile afterward. "It's not funny!"

"It is!" Gary came down from his high to touch his forehead to Nashi's. "Angel stalked me back in the day. How adorable. It makes my heart race knowing Angel was so obsessed with me she'd transform to stalk me."

"You can always sleep alone," Nashi threatened. "There are other bedrooms."

Gary hummed. "But how will you get in them when every room except ours will be locked?"

Nashi playfully narrowed her eyes at him. "Oh, so now you're going to play like that, huh? Force my hand to come crawling back to you? I'm a lot tougher than that."

"Yeah." Gary softened. "I know."

Nashi's eyes glinted. Gary…

But then he merrily added, "That's why if Angel tries to resist, I'll simply cuff Angel to the bed!"

"Not on your life!"

Gary laughed as Nashi silently fumed (maybe puffs of steam came from the top of her head) and could still see Tesla and Jaxton in their intimate embrace, swaying, existing, loving. Thank you, Jang-ta, for letting me be here to hear I can still have a family with the one I love. "Angel is going to be a hot mom." He pouted. "Now I'll have more love rivals."

Nashi looked at him like he was crazy (more like he was crazy). "How can there be love rivals if you're the only person I'll ever see and love until the day I die?"

"Really?"

Nashi's eye twitched at how enthusiastic Gary looked. "Um…"

"Those were vows. Angel is saying her vows," Gary cheered. As Nashi panicked, he went on: "Angel wants to marry me! I can finally tell Aunt Mira the day has finally come—!"

"No!" Nashi blurted. "Oh god, no!"

"N-No…?"

Nashi's eyebrow twitched when Gary gave her the saddest face she had ever seen. Ugh. It's like telling a puppy they aren't allowed to have treats. Such emotional manipulation. She sighed, blushing, and grumbled, "We still have a long time to go, okay? Let's just take a slow." She melted when Gary kissed her cheek.

"Okay, Angel. We'll take it slow," Gary docilely agreed. He further added, "I know I can get caught up in my head. I know I got that from my mom. But I also got her patience. She would have waited a lifetime for my dad. And I'll wait a lifetime for you too."

How Gary could say such steep words with ease made Nashi envy him. "You've waited for me long enough—"

"I waited for Angel to love me back, with or without her memories," Gary reminded her. "And I can wait until Angel is ready again for us to live together to adopt or get married—whatever comes first. I don't mind waiting. Even if we still live apart and never adopt or get married, Angel's love is enough for me." He nuzzled her as he made sure her summer felt the brunt of his deep love and how much he cherished her. I'm used to waiting. After all…

He remembered that warmth and coddling scent and nurturing hands.

His eyes cracked, swirling with endless affection. I'm still waiting for the one who took care of me to come back. I don't mind waiting at all as long as I can see them again. He pulled back to peck her lips.

Nashi leaned into his hold. "The future seems so far ahead now. I wish I could see it now."

"Angel." Gary smiled. "Don't you understand it yet? We're already in the future. And from how I see it?" He watched when Jaxton stopped Tesla for a sweet kiss. "The view is perfect."

---

— • — • — • —

Come on now, dance tonight

We can boogie till the morning

There's no plans tonight

We gonna have a Good One

Mizugiwa no playground

Konna kyouku wo play

And we can dance tonight

Hey we gonna have a Good One!

— • — • — • —

---

BURRRRR… BURRRR… BURRRR…

The apartment was filled with stagnate air even though the sun had not set. Papers for a dissertation were in organized chaos, highlighted and cross-referenced. Dinner had been picked at and eaten for its small portion.

BURRRRR… BURRRR… BURRRR…

A hand reached for the HCL and answered it. "Hello?"

"You sent Lance that divusiometer, didn't you?"

A lesser person hit with an accusation—a fact—would have clammed up, pawing for excuses or shorting up their defenses. But they moved about in their cardigan and slippers with a defeated sigh. "What do you want, Pearson?"

"I want you to tell me who you are," Pearson hissed. Gone were his pleasantries and friendliness. He was a raging Soul Meister who would reap the souls of those who aggravated him. "I want you to tell me why I saw people in black suits and a fucking animavore coming at you. I want you to tell me what the fuck is going on."

Stall. She needed to stall. "How did you figure out I sent it?"

Pearson's laugh was sharp and unkind. "Don't give me this bullshit," he spat at her. "Too many things added up. The way you looked at Lance, how shifty you were asking questions about him, when you asked me his address."

"I could've been interested."

"Oh, so you want to tell me even more lies with Jasmine in the hospital?"

She froze. A fear warped her as she made it to where she needed to be—needed to confess. "What do you mean she's in the hospital? What happened?"

"Like you fucking care," Pearson snarled. "Don't—!"

"Pearson." She would take his ire later. "What – happened?"

Pearson huffed, still pissed. "She's been hospitalized. She's fucking exhausted and in pain because her twins—who are God slayers, by the way, but you knew that—are sucking her literal soul and energy as a supplement since they can't get any Ether from her!" He cursed. "The fucking doctors of course won't know what's wrong with her! But her aunt told me this Apothecary is coming in—"

"Who, Pearson?"

"She said her name was 'Lupita Bankole', why?"

She stared up on the wide map before her that showed her the curves and route and borders of every country man knew to exist—and some, the common man did not know to exist. She focused on the contrasting chaotic black-violet and brilliant green energies located in the center of Fiore. "That's good. Lupita will be able to explain to the twins their mother is dying. Jasmine can live."

"What? What the Hell are you saying?"

She ignored him as she touched the energies swirling on the map. Yes. I should've seen it sooner. Such power needs vital energy. Not even a Wizard would've supplied them enough, but they would absorb their Spirit. Now I understand why Jasmine's the mother. Her soul… She was born with born with a soul filled with power. But she had no way to access it. Her twins don't understand they're killing her. Lupita can be trusted, according to Nice. But there are plenty of Wiccan specialists. Who would know about Lupita—?

Her eyes widened. Unless…

"Are you listening to me?" Pearson snapped. "What the Hell is going—?"

"Pearson, who is the doctor looking over Jasmine right now?"

"What? Why do you—?"

"Give me the name, Pacer, I mean it—!"

"I don't know! I don't fucking know! Miss Sharon just said he's called 'the doctor' or some shit—!"

Her heart dropped. No… No, it… It can't be…

Pearson roared. "Answer my fucking questions! Who the fuck are you?"

She straightened and gripped her HCL. "My name is Aurinia, Pearson. I'm one of the remaining Custodians of my faith and my final assignment before the gods chose to abandon this realm was to find the next leader of the gods. But that's not important right now. You need to get to the hospital."

"What? Why? What the Hell is going on?"

Aurinia looked at the contrasting energies. "I underestimated. And because of that, right now…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Sharon remained asleep in her chair with Jasmine dozing away. But Maddox was awake on his PAL as the door opened little by little. He felt only relief when he saw who had come. "I didn't realize you were here at night."

A smile. "Most floor doctors leave for the evening, but this floor's continuation of care is on a twenty-four-hour rotation. So I'll be here when the Apothecary comes for the best continuation of care."

"That's good to hear," Maddox sighed with an exhausted smile. "Thank goodness she's getting the help she needs."

A light chuckled. "She's in good hands, as are her children. Now I know the nurses do their routine checks, but I just wanted to make a visit and do a check myself."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

"…Jasmine and her twins are in grave danger."

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Glasses shifted to show the reflection of a sleeping Jasmine and her hand resting on her baby bump. "After all, Miss Strother and her children are patients I want to handle with care…"

And the smile widened to show a diamond tooth amongst pearly-white.

"…personally."

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns

Nashi Dragneel – Laura Landa

Tesla Greer / Hylia Lynk – Galena White

Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeong

Justin Justine – Ian Sinclar

Ace Benson – Billy Kametz

Eliana "Ellie" Strauss – Alexis Tipton

Ines Sharabi – Michelle Hendley

Mozah – Cree Summers

Draculos Hyberion – Mark Oristano

Iris Monics –

Gary Fullbuster (child) –

Jasmine Strother – Jasmine Brown

Pearson Strauss – David Matranga

Pacer Strauss – Josh Keaton

Wendy Marvell – Brittney Karbowski

Lisanna Strauss – Carrie Savage

Sharon Shuusei – Aja Naomi Kinng

Maddox Monacco – Cameron Bautsch

Bixslow – Tyler Walker

Penelope Strass – Cristina V

The Doctor –

Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook

Aurinia – Seána Kerslake

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

OPENING SONG

⟪ Walking with You ⟫

Novelbright

Lyrics by

雄大 / 勇太朗⌟

•

INSERT SONG 1

⟪ Fiesta ⟫

+Plus

Lyrics by

+Plus⌟

•

INSERT SONG 2

⟪ I Don't F**k With You (feat. E-40) ⟫

Big Sean

Lyrics by

Big Sean, D.J. Roger, Dacoury Natche Dijon McFarlan, Dwane Weir II, E-40, Earl T Steves, Kanya Wesy, Mikey "Mike Free" Adam, Willie Hansbro⌟

•

INSERT SONG 3

⟪ Thot Shit ⟫

Megan Thee Stallion

Lyrics by

Shawn Jermaine Jarrett, Julian Martrel Mason, Joshua Isaih Parker, Megan J. Pete⌟

•

INSERT SONG 4

⟪ Industry Baby ⟫

Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow

Lyrics by

David Biral, Denzel Baptiste, Jack Harlow, Kanye West, Montero Hill, Nick Lee⌟

•

INSERT SONG 5

⟪ Get Low ⟫

Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz & Ying Yang Twins

Lyrics by

D'eongelo Holmes, Eric Jackson, Hugo Diaz, Jonathan Smith, Luis Diaz, O'Neil Bryan, Sam Norris, Trevor Smith⌟

•

INSERT SONG 6

⟪ Driver's License ⟫

Olivia Rodrigo

Lyrics by

Olivia Rodrigo and Daniel Leonard Nigro⌟

•

⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Good One ⟫

HIRAIDAI

Lyrics by

EIGO, Dai Hirai⌟

---

•

•

•

•

— • — • — • —

Next time, on Fairy Adventure

•

Episode 112

•

FLY HIGH!

— • — • — • —

•

•

•

•

HERE WE ARE IN THE FUTURE

---

Start of speech.

EPISODE REVIEW

(1) – Jasmine and Pacer's relationship is a fun one to write in a future sense. Both are attorneys, though Pacer is more of a laid-back person who loves baiting his sassy Slugger. Jasmine has her reasons for her chip on her shoulder and her "bitchiness".

(2) – The Doctor is a very wild character. And make no mistake—he is not the "final boss". He isn't even technically a "boss". Mozah appearing here and her warning about Invel and a little about The Doctor will come to light down the line.

(3) – Gary and Jang-ta's relationship is one I always loved. I hope you enjoy the brief interludes within this arc of how they forged a bond.

(4) – Ines was hinted at being a part of the intersex community—but yes, her body is intersex and she is a woman. Her relationship with her family will be explored, but I enjoy her family. They are a cooky bunch.

(5) – JJ and Ace will have their own mature scene, so don't think I've left them out. This entire arc of Caracole Island will feature mature scenes and speak about BDSM, especially the scene Jang-ta and Tesla will be doing. Do not – stress yourself – to read it. Read what you are comfortable with.

(6) – Gary and Nashi's talk about adoption has happened, but the draft of the FAU already written is years into this universe when they are both matured adult versions of themselves. And Gary's "Devil's Lullaby" he sings (a David Bowie-inspired, Stolas-inspired, psychedelic song) made me emotional while drafting.

— • — • — • —

COMMENT RESPONSES:

SaFireSammi: Well now. I always enjoy your comments. So let me break them down as best I can.

I'm happy you're satisfied with Silver and Ena's pacing in their relationship. Without giving too much away, I think you'll enjoy when Ena draws to a fatal conclusion about her feelings. It's so…Ena. She does things in a logical and pragmatic way, so why should her romantic feelings not be sorted the same?

When you said, "I don't know if I should laugh or cry", if you have never read nor seen 「Heaven's Official Blessing」, forgive me but I cackled. The male lead in the English translation of the book says that a lot.

Jaxton and Icarus' connection was subtly hinted at, but I'm happy it came to a surprise. The conversation they had will be explained and so will Luna's knowledge of Jaxton being a Lycan.

Julia is Nightingale. That is confirmed in her individual episode in the Heart's Day Tales arc. My heart breaks for her when Silver confronts her on the mission I spoke about in a prior episode between her, Gale, and Silver. But it shows a lot of growth between the three. I particularly liked writing Gale and Silver's serious interaction. Gale is very prickly like his father and maybe he does rag on Silver, but he does care about his cousin-in-heart. And Gale's Hindsight will come very handy in Silver unlocking fragments of his childhood.

— • — • — • —

Guest who commented on c110: I'm happy you enjoyed our pachanga. I sincerely miss having them. I really do. I cannot describe dancing, so my friend came over so we could dance to the songs I chose.

Igneel's time to shine will come. He's touched the lives of many people. This is why I'm excited for Inter-Guild, where we meet Igneel's super-fan and self-proclaimed rival. He's a short and spunky one with a lot of Hinata Shouyo's personality from 「Haikyuu」, but he's a gem of a person who idolizes our Dragon Prince (though he is sorely mistaken if Igneel's absence means he has a shot with his idol's sister or MJ).

— • — • — • —

Daniel Murphy: MJ's relationship with August, hmm… Do you remember that August called her "Goddess"? He called her Déese which, in French, means Goddess as well. August has a bigger connection alongside Mio, Arius, and the incoming second son. The flashback of Zeref meeting August in the woods and August's death from the Truth flame (whatever that was) Gildarts threw will add up in time. 「The Disappearance of Igneel Dragneel」 shows Igneel's own flashback meeting August and Arius.

I should restart Fairy Lessons, I swear. Ena's Enchant will be further explained, but Ena can Enchant herself for a limited time with the tradeoff is she can use one Enchantment at a time. In this case, she made herself bulletproof, but if she wanted to be flame resistant, she would have to stop being bulletproof.

Silver's reasoning to keep the poison arrow will be revealed in his miniature arc with Julia and Gale on a mission where they need a Water Mage and Silver's tension as to why Julia—who had amazing gifts of Water and Ice last he checked—can't do the mission herself. And that poison arrow will be the straw that broke the camel's back.

— • — • — • —

CLOSING STATEMENT

The in-universe date is Friday, April 15 (based on the 2011 calendar).

Should I start adding the in-universe date when times and locations are brought up? Did you enjoy the mature scenes? Did you guess Aurinia was a Custodian? Can you guess what sort of powers Jasmine and Pacer's twins have? How do you like Jasmine's overseeing floor doctor? Should I start doing Fairy Lessons? Any questions?

And for all the Critters (Critical Role Fans) …is it Thursday yet?

End of speech.