Heretic Spellblade - Epilogue Pt3

Sorry for the huge delay. The epilogue has gotten way, way bigger than I planned. I figured it would be around 20k-25k words, and it's blown out to be 40k+ now. So there'll be a part 4 in the next couple of days that will finally finish it (and include a long-planned scene that got cut from Book 8).

Part 1: https://www.patreon.com/posts/heretic-epilogue-119727495

Part 2: https://www.patreon.com/posts/143121007

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Nathan escaped the nobles flitting about the palace halls in short order. Only a small number of royal knights patrolled here, and one of his officers distracted him enroute to Seraph’s office with some cookies she’d baked.

Ciana stared at him sidelong even as she nibbled on one of the chocolate and almond confectionaries. The wolfgirl royal knight’s tail wagged as she held up a pink satin bag and chattered about how she loved her posting her, her eyes glued to Nathan’s face.

Unlike in the past, the royal knights weren’t a unit trained and restricted entirely to the palace. The civil war and battles against Messengers and Sofia had demolished their numbers, forcing Nathan to induct large numbers of his own elite knights into their number. He’d kept up the practice, using the royal knights as a way to test and reward his best knights. Castle Aleich was one of the more dangerous portals to defend, as its proximity to the palace and Fyre meant Messengers still attempted to invade annually.

But mostly, it was a reward. He’d broken his rule about not sleeping with his subordinates after defeating Sofia once and for all, and now his knights actively romanced him. Not that he freely slept with them—far from it—but a knight didn’t need to become a Champion to catch his eye.

“You spoil them,” Ciana said after they wandered away, holding onto the small satin bag. “You realize you can just accept the gift, give them a thank you, and leave?”

“Yes, but they enjoy it more when I eat the cookies with them,” Nathan said.

“Uh huh. You’re terrible. It used to be a lot easier to keep the rutting knights at bay, but they whine and moan so badly now.”

“I have a lot more free time,” he admitted. “And that means I get to know them better. Kind of like I used to… long ago.” His eyes turned distant.

Years ago, in a world before this one, he’d been Nathan Martel, a Champion who faced the end of the world, and failed. He’d been far freer with his affections, but also spent less time on politics and management.

Since coming to this world, he’d reunited with many of the women he’d loved and thought lost, including some very special ones. At the same time, he’d slowly realized many would never meet him.

“You’re less bitter and distant when you remember,” Ciana said. Her hand gripped his and she smiled. “Did you know her? She’s around my age.”

“Her younger sister, actually,” he said. “Most my Champions were quite young when… it all ended. Veterans like you, Fei, and Narime were exceptions, but after over a decade of fighting, it meant most Champions were a good decade younger than me.”

Ciana grinned at him. “Is that why you didn’t mind recruiting me and Fei despite how young and cute we were?” She poked him in the side. “I was a budding teenager with a crush on the amazing, powerful Nathan Straub, newly minted hero of the Empire.”

“I wasn’t a hero when we met,” he drawled. “Your crush was your own business.”

Her cheeks flushed and she looked away. “Maybe. But I knew you were the right one.”

He pulled her against his side, eliciting a squeak. Her horn shimmered with darkness and lewd emotions pummeled his mind over the mental link.

Before he could do anything rash, like pushing Ciana down and fucking her in the corridor, the flutter of fancy dresses distracted him.

“Papa!” Raissa shouted.

“No fair, I saw him first!” another young girl’s voice shrieked.

Two pairs of small footsteps pattered toward them at rapid pace. Green magic flashed and a dark blonde head of hair shot toward him.

He caught the bundle of dresses with his arms, while Ciana grabbed Raissa before she tripped. The girl he caught shrieked with joy as he held her in his arms.

“Papa!” Lin shouted, cuddling against him. “I missed you yesterday.” She pouted. “Tell Mama I don’t have to go to the Deet.”

“It’s pronounced Diet, Lin,” Kara said firmly as she approached from behind, also dolled up in a dress. Hers was less frilly than her daughter’s and matched the fashion of Alice and Anna. Her eyes lit up as she smiled at Nathan, but held a slight edge. “Nathan, I hope we didn’t wake you this morning.”

“You didn’t wake me,” he said drily.

Lin looked like the spitting image of her mother: an adorable doggirl with floppy ears, rapidly growing blonde hair, and a thick tail that spun like a magical motor. Her bright blue eyes took in the world with an innocence and excitement Nathan hoped never left her. The main thing he’d given her was his talent with magic, including an affinity for wind, and a darker tinge to her hair than Kara’s.

Her mother looked no different to her days as a Champion, although she remained one. She possessed two amethysts and a diamond in her collarbone, but had long since shed her uniform. Being both the archduchess of the former beastkin Enclave and his Champion remained controversial. Of course, her skills at command and management meant Nathan relied on her to handle most of the fortresses in the archduchy.

His eyes fell to her most prominent physical feature. They had only grown since having a child. Namely, her massive tits.

They stood out even as Kara’s close friend, famous for her huge chest, wandered up, sulking all the while.

Fei looked like Artemis, as one would expect of alternative timeline copies of the same person. Long, luscious black locks, adorable cat ears and bushy tail, curvaceous body, mischievous eyes. Fei’s chest outshined Artemis’s, but she’d always been jealous of Kara’s since their days in the academy and had finally caught up—until pregnancy separated them.

“Nathan, tell me there’s a Messenger invading somewhere?” Fei whined, tugging at the absurdly frilly black and gold dress she’d been forced into. It bore multiple emblems, including Nathan’s family one and that of the royal family, to remind others she was a Royal Champion. “The Diet is so boring! All we do is stand there while everyone prattles on, and on, and on. I’m not even allowed sleep.”

Raissa looked up at her mother in disbelief. “Mama, you slept most of yesterday.”

“Yes, you did,” Kara said acidly.

“I said I’m not allowed to, not that I can’t.” Fei looked proud of herself for doing the wrong thing in front of the assembled nobility of the Empire.

Nathan sighed while his daughters giggled. “Even if there’s a Messenger invading, we have enough Champions to take care of them. Seraph, Reine, or even the Twins will tell us if we need to be worried.”

Fei stared at him, betrayal writ across her face.

Kara smiled. She looped an arm through his, standing on the opposite side of Ciana. Her engagement ring glittered on one hand. “You are planning to join us today, Nathan? There are—”

“Anna already gave me a stern talking to,” he said, meeting her gaze.

Kara pouted. “That’s not an answer.”

He cradled Lin in one arm and ruffled Kara’s hair with his other. She gasped, her dog ears flapping and tail whirring. Leaning into his touch, she enjoyed the feeling for several long seconds.

Then she caught herself and pulled away. Kara grimaced.

“You don’t have to pretend to be Alice or Anna just because you’re an archduchess now,” Nathan said gently. “Remember to still be my adorable Kara.”

She winced. “Sorry.”

“And you don’t have to apologize.” He rubbed her head gently, and she happily hummed while enjoying the sensation. Lin giggled while watching. “I need to talk with Seraph, and then catch Maxwell. But I promised Anna I’d finally show up, and I’ll promise the same to you.”

“Thank you,” Kara said softly. “Um…” She pressed her fingers together, then looked at Fei.

The catgirl harrumphed and looked away. After barely a second, she turned back and grinned at Nathan.

“You two are terrible at staying mad at each other, you know,” he said.

“I’m still mad at her,” Fei said, glaring at Kara, who glared back. “But, you know…” The catgirl nudged her head at Raissa, who glowered jealously at the hand rubbing Kara’s head.

“Ah. I’ll set aside some time tonight. For both of you.” He looked between them, and they winced. “Together. So set a good example for Raissa and Lin. Especially you, Fei.” He looked past Fei, where Artemis lurked in a doorway. “I’d ask Artemis to keep an eye on you, but I know she’ll vanish the second you get close to the Diet.”

“I have other babysitting duties to do,” Artemis chirped.

Fei bared her teeth at her counterpart. Both women’s tails swished behind them in an eerily similar pattern as they glared at one another.

“Um, foursome?” Kara whispered in his ear.

“No,” Artemis said flatly. “I am not getting between the two of you when you’re fighting. Ask me when you’re not being bitchy.”

Kara’s jaw dropped and she looked between Nathan and Fei, who giggled at him.

Ciana scowled. “Language.” Her eyes flashed at Artemis, who raised her hands.

Raissa mouthed the naughty word and winced when Kara and Ciana stared at her. Fei smirked.

Yeah, Raissa was going to be trouble when she grew up.

After giving both his daughters a cuddle, he ushered them away with their mothers. Or, really, with their mother and alternate universe mother, while Fei clung to him and whined.

“I dun wanna go to the Diet,” Fei wailed as Artemis dragged her, relying on her immense Messenger strength to overwhelm Fei’s Champion enhancement as Fei dug her heels in and ground a groove into the tiles.

Raissa tried not to giggle as she walked hand-in-hand with “Mama Arty”, and both she and Lin waved goodbye to Nathan and Ciana. He waved back.

He’d like to say silence ensued, but Fei’s screams continued even after she turned the corner.

“When did Artemis become my wrangler?” Nathan wondered aloud.

“Years ago, when she settled back into her old role as Champion and favorite kitten,” Ciana said with a smirk. When he looked at her, she raised an eyebrow. “She denies it, but it’s true. Isn’t this what she wanted all along? To take back what she lost on the same night you came to find us?”

He nodded. “I guess her jealousy subsided over time.”

Ciana snorted. “No, she just channels that in bed. It’s a good thing I have a taste for choking on your cock.”

A lewd grin crossed his face and his hand wandered across her ass, but Ciana danced away. He frowned.

“Not now.” She blushed. “You have work to do, and I don’t like having sex right after seeing the kids.”

“We’ll slip into the bedroom before I head to the Diet then.” He leaned in and butterflied kisses along her neck.

Ciana sighed and rubbed her hands along his side. Then she froze.

Nathan ignored her reaction, as he sensed the cause nearby. Instead, he stole a deep kiss. Ciana flailed, her diamond glowing as she tried to push him off her with borrowed strength.

When he pulled away, she pouted. “Asshole. Prick. Dipshit.”

“That only entices me, you know,” he said.

Ciana bit her lip, her eyes lighting up with desire while her horn glowed with darkness. Yeah, something told him she knew that.

A cough echoed from behind them. “Uh, if you’re going to fuck in the corridor, can I at least get in on it? It’s mean to ignore your other Champions.”

Nathan turned to see Vala wearing her Royal Champion uniform and armor. Her tall, muscular figure always impressed him, even when she covered herself up and hid her massive thighs that could shatter steel. Two diamonds and an amethyst shined above her chest, inset in her breastplate.

“You’re all suited up for a fight. Can’t get your armor dirty,” Nathan said with a sly grin.

Vala snorted. “Fuck off. You railed Choe and me right there in the portal after we beat that Messenger who battled us by throwing weird demons in balls.”

She strode up to him and pulled him in for a kiss, which he happily returned. Ciana stood to the side, her horn shimmering with darkness, until Vala rolled her eyes and pulled her in. Letting out an “eep”, the unicorn barely had a second to gasp before Vala rammed her tongue down her throat, before Nathan kissed both of them again.

Unfortunately, the woman he’d come to see chose that moment to interrupt. Not with a cough or by clearing her throat, but by dropping small orbs of lead on their heads.

The conjured balls struck the tiles with loud cracks, doing far more damage to the palace than they’d done to Nathan and the others. Vala glared at the one responsible. The orbs vanished a moment later while the damage repaired itself.

Seraph leaned against the doorway that lead into her office, an eyebrow raised. She wore a gorgeous figure-hugging cheongsam with thigh slits that revealed her luscious thighs. Two jades and a sapphire sat above her hefty bust, and she wore a wide assortment of jewelry.

“If you want to fuck, don’t do it outside my office. Or at least take your own advice, Vala.”

Vala’s face flared up and she looked away. As daring as she was with some Champions, her willingness to join in the fun didn’t apply to everyone.

Nathan was more than aware of the small “clique” formed by those Champions roughly the same age: Fei, Ciana, Sen, Sunstorm, Vala, Kara, and Fyre. Artemis joined in when her whims struck her, and the Twins adored the two titty kitties.

But their willingness to have threesomes or group sex with other Champions depended heavily on personal relationships. Rather than a clique, this group of Champions were all close friends, while the rest formed more independent relationships, often with a more mentor-mentee feeling. Seraph and Narime in particular intimidated many of the other girls, even years later.

Vala mumbled something, and Seraph frowned.

“Let’s step inside your office,” Nathan said, heading off any awkwardness. “I’m guessing you’re here to talk work with Seraph anyway, Vala.”

“Yeah.” Vala rolled her shoulders, and her blush fled. “I wanted to talk about Champion deployments now we’re giving up our binding stones.”

Nathan frowned as they entered Seraph’s office. “I’m not giving them up. I’m slowly handing over some of them to new Bastions, so there are others who can actually fight and help us. Goddess knows…” He paused and scowled at the word he’d used, and his Champions smiled. “I don’t want to create learned helplessness on Doumahr, where everybody expects us to be the ones to battle and destroy the demons.”

“I know, I know.” Vala hopped up on a smaller desk near Seraph’s massive oaken monstrosity. “Still need to talk about it.”

Seraph’s office was huge, and akin to a small workshop or library in size. Two huge desks dominated either end, with smaller ones for her assistants. Gargantuan bookcases lined the walls, while tables and various magical knickknacks and devices dotted the room. She had a fancy setup that created both tea and coffee using magic, as well as a bowl that literally never ran out of whatever baked good Nathan enchanted it to create.

This week, it was apple and cinnamon muffins with a vanilla glaze he’d learned about from Shiva after a very inappropriate joke. Ciana tottered over and grabbed two, tossing him one before digging in herself.

“What, not giving me one?” Vala asked.

Ciana stuck her tongue out, and the white vanilla glaze coated her lips. “You got us in trouble.”

“Settle down, children,” Seraph chided, and the other Champions glowered at her. She smirked and prepared tea and coffee using the device in the corner.

Naturally, most of this was powered using Nathan’s ascended magic. He was careful not to use it too freely, but if he couldn’t indulge his Champions, what was the point of being an immortal demigod or whatever he was?

Vala clicked her tongue and kicked her legs back and forth, which looked comical given her size. “I still think it’s silly to give up the binding stones. The whole reason I’m here is to talk about how we defend them after we hand them over to newbies.”

Nathan sighed, then quietly thanked Seraph as she handed him a mug of thickly brewed coffee.

This was an old argument. One he’d had not only with his Champions, but others around him. Opinions varied on why Nathan should give up any of his power, even if it was largely symbolic.

After all, his binding stones had ceased to be the primary source of his magical power years ago. His foes didn’t know that, and once they finally realized it, Nathan knew he’d be dealing with far more than muttering among the nobility about how he no longer aged.

“I only took control of so many binding stones as an emergency measure,” he explained. “The Empire’s civil war and the years leading up to it strangled the supply of Bastions, and far too many sided with the Nationalists and got themselves killed. Almost every other nation either battled us and took catastrophic losses, suffered a civil war of their own that culled their veterans, dealt with immense demonic invasion, or a combination of all three.”

“It was a combination for every nation by the end,” Seraph said, expression dark. “Just a question of what order it happened in. Civil war and demons for Trafaumh, and we then battled the rebels. Falmir went through roughly three civil wars before we crushed them, and then Sofia invaded them. The Federation—”

“We get the point,” Vala interrupted. “I was there for most of that, remember? I only missed the beginning, and you didn’t do much damage to the Federation at the start. Hell, I think you only killed a single Bastion.”

“Ah, Theus.” Seraph swirled her coffee and smiled cruelly. “I do wonder how he would have fared in his glorious stupidity if he’d seen what was to come.”

“Terribly,” Nathan said flatly.

Seraph frowned. “He was strong, Nathan. You made him look the fool, but don’t belittle him because you had a decade of experience facing the apocalypse.”

“Strength got Theus where he was, but he was an idiot,” he said. “I learned the hard way that just being a good fighter with lots of strong Champions couldn’t make a difference. Theus wasn’t even a good fighter, and he sucked at commanding. Fighting Bastions and Messengers requires a level of guile and planning on top of being strong. That was what separated the veterans of Kurai from the younger Bastions.”

“Guess they went through a lesser version of what you did, huh?” Vala said, narrowing her eyes. “But they had twenty years to improve and none of them got as strong as you.”

“Because it only happened once.” Nathan sighed and stepped up to the window. Ciana joined him, but kept her silence. “We’ve learned that being a strong Bastion comes down to willpower and conviction. Bastions like Adam, Leopold, and Tharban wanted to change the world, but I think their inability to cut through the political bullshit mired them in cynicism. They never created trigems, preventing them from becoming true forces of change.”

Vala raised an eyebrow. “Can’t any Bastion create trigems now? I mean, using your mental magic.”

He nodded slowly. “I still haven’t decided how much I’m willing to truly teach new Bastions, although I suspect it will be out of my hands. Ascended magic is an open secret. While the connection to Bastions isn’t, I suspect it’s only a matter of time. Too many Champions are highly talented sorcerers, and the same goes some Bastions.”

The three women traded glances. He didn’t miss the meaning in their expressions and laughed.

“They’re not going to become me,” he said with a mirthless smile. “If even the Messengers don’t know how I accomplished what I did and potentially became an outer being. Or whatever the hell I am.” He shrugged at the glare Ciana gave him. “To return to the topic at hand, unless I want to become the supreme overlord of Doumahr, with complete and utter control of every binding stone, portal, and soldier, we need to start training new Bastions and ensuring they can handle their portals.”

“And rather than dumping in the deep end, particularly with portal activity higher than it was before Fyre emerged as the prophet, we can support new Bastions with our vast network of veteran Champions and knights,” Seraph said, taking over the topic. “It also lets us guide Bastions so they don’t become like Theus or Deverese, or remove them from power should they lose their way.”

Vala bit her lip, then nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I get that.” Her eyes locked onto Nathan, but she knew it wasn’t his appearance that reflected in her mind, but that of a man who was nearly his mirror image.

“We can protect a lot of Champions this way,” he said quietly. “Prevent great warriors from being wasted and overlooked, whether it be because of idiotic nobles or naïve fools.”

“You never overlooked me,” Vala said, her expression hardening. “I’m not the woman you lost years ago, but the fact you saw that potential in me despite how much of a sadsack I was…” Her smile turned self-deprecating and she rubbed her arms. “It’s hard to believe you and Oliver could be the same person. That you trusted me and turned me into a legendary trigem in Falmir, when he barely spared me a glance while fucking every beastkin he got his hands on and masturbating wildly to delusions of Charlotte.”

Ciana snorted and looked away, covering her mouth. Nathan grimaced.

Seraph spotted his expression. “Hits too close to home?”

“I at least fucked Vala alongside the beastkin,” he protested, while Ciana continued to giggle uncontrollably. “And I didn’t masturbate to Charlotte.”

Although he sure as hell had loved a woman who he struggled to believe loved him back. The woman who Sofia consumed obsessed over him, but hadn’t been the princess he’d known.

Vala blinked in confusion. “I feel I missed something.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He waved her off. “I’m not going to give up all binding stones. Just those outside my territory, save for a few I’ll hold onto for emergency gateways. Anna won’t even countenance the idea that I don’t control the majority of binding stones in her territory, and Alice needs a powerful Royal Bastion. It’s also not only about giving up binding stones. The first beastkin Bastions will graduate from the academy shortly.”

Ciana nodded, and Seraph crossed her arms.

“I still think it’s best if I take the lead for them,” Seraph said slowly. “I’m not as capable as you, but—”

“Seraph, you’re like the second-best Bastion in the Empire,” Vala said. “You’re the only Bastion other than Nathan to be officially recognized by multiple nations, thanks to his training.”

The usually implacable Seraph blushed and looked away, fiddling with her hair.

“Seraph is right,” Ciana said. “I’ve heard one of the likely Bastion graduates will be a woman, but even the male Bastion will have female Champions. It might be problematic if you’re there in person and… stoke jealousy.”

“Fair,” Nathan admitted.

While he didn’t think it would be a huge issue, the last thing any new Bastion would appreciate was his newfound Champions, and likely future lovers, making faces at their superior. Or the reverse, if the Champions got jealous because their Bastion wanted to fuck Nathan instead of the Champions.

“It’s a great idea, until the new Bastions and Champions come from our knights and Nathan’s already fucking the shit out of them.” Vala grinned while the other grimaced. “Although the best solution is to just have them group up.”

“I’ll cross that bridge when it comes,” Nathan said, preferring to avoid that topic as long as he could. He shifted uncomfortably. “Anyway, I’ll let you talk about moving the Champions around—”

“I imagine you didn’t come here purely for small talk and flirting.” Seraph narrowed her eyes at him.

He blinked. “Oh, right. I spoke with Lotte and convinced her that she should start smaller with her plans. Give her a hand, as I imagine she’ll reach out again after she speaks with Kara and Harrum.”

“Harrum, huh?” Seraph nodded. “I’ll get in touch.”

Not what he said, but Seraph knew what she was doing.

“Also, I’m heading to Soreaux shortly—” he began to say.

“Today?” Seraph asked, a dangerous note entering her voice.

“No.”

She relaxed.

“I want to visit Reine, as well as the others like Narime who are helping her,” he said. “Probably in two days. The Diet and other matters will hold me here for a bit. Can you let Reine know I’ll call her in the morning to chat, then visit the next day? And either clear my calendar or make sure anything important is dealt with tomorrow.”

Seraph nodded slowly. “There is someone who reached out to speak with you while the Diet is… occupying matters. Can you visit the estate in Straub tomorrow?”

Someone, huh? There weren’t too many people who would want to meet Nathan outside of the palace, but that could make it to Straub on short notice. He had a hunch who this person was.

“Yes,” he said. “Let Sen and Nurevia know I’ll be visiting, too.”

He took care of a few other minor administrative matters while he was here. Seraph acted as both an official aide to the Empress, as well as his Champion that handled the logistics of his armies, Champions, and fortresses. The entire Imperial Army ran through her. No plan that even touched on the military received approval from Alice, Nathan, Anna, Lotte, or Kara without Seraph’s touch.

Someone who didn’t know her would suggest they’d piled too much responsibility on her. Nathan worried he didn’t give her enough to keep her busy. The fact her office was empty while the Diet was extremely busy meant Seraph was doing little more than twiddling her thumbs.

“Don’t worry about me,” she chided him, as she caught his eyes wandering across the empty desks. “I’ll be snowed under once the Diet approves the matters under debate, and it’ll only get worse as the spring session continues. Once the plans we’ve drafted get the stamp of approval, then I get to put them into action.”

“And if they don’t get approved?” he asked.

Seraph crossed her arms and gave him an upturned look. He winced.

“I, uh, assume that’s why I need to attend the Diet today,” he said.

“Exactly. Plans can always be adjusted, but it would be embarrassing if the reason is because you don’t want to deal with politics.” She accented the final word in a specific way, as if to push his buttons.

He scowled, because it did exactly that. Nathan had made a great song and dance about how he refused to ignore politics when the fate of the world hinged on bulldozing the Diet and nobility.

“Also, you’ll set a bad example,” she added.

His eyes closed and Ciana hissed.

“Sorry, that was too far,” Seraph said, taking a step back.

He opened his eyes and shook his head. When Seraph still refused to look at him, he stepped up and pulled her into a hug.

“It’s fine. Merely a topic that’s been on my mind lately,” he said. “Choe poked me about it in the shower, too.”

“You’re not your old man. Old men, I guess,” Vala said, voice gruff as she hopped off the desk and strode over. Her hand rubbed his shoulder. “The girls and Leo aren’t going to become shitstains because you don’t like listening to self-aggrandizing speeches and the autofellatio of the nobility.”

“The what?” Ciana gasped.

“It’s a fun word the Twins told me about. It means sucking your own dick.” Vala grinned.

“You’ll be sucking something else if you ever say that around Eris or the others,” Ciana muttered.

Vala ran her fingers across her mouth, imitating a gesture the Messengers often used.

“As lovely an image as it is, Vala is right, Nathan,” Seraph said. She cradled his cheek with one hand and looked up at him. “We all have our bad habits. Including swearing.” She smirked at Ciana. “Or cruder things.”

Ciana coughed into her fist and looked away, cheeks reddening and horn turning black.

Seraph continued, “The problems you had with Adam and Tharban weren’t because of their unwillingness to be great, perfect men and set a shining example. I imagine they probably thought they were doing exactly that. Neither of them strikes me as the type to admit fault or weakness.”

“Definitely not,” Nathan drawled.

“What sets you apart from them, and why none of us worry about the children following your lead, is that you’re being a true father to them. They’ll grow up, and undoubtably become more rebellious and less clingy, but that is the course of life. None of them will ever think back and regret that their father dragged them to his most boring, tiresome duties.”

“But I will still need to set that example one day.” He took her hand and rubbed the back of her palm. “They’re going to be strong, well-trained, and with all the resources of Doumahr at their backs. To say nothing of whatever Eris might be capable of.”

“Maybe. But I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. We’re all new to this, Nathan. Try not to overdo it, hmm?” Seraph gave him a quick kiss.

With her words in his mind, he left her office. Vala and Seraph moved onto the mundanity of logistics and troop deployments while his and Ciana’s footsteps echoed in the office.

The unicorn knight looped an arm around his back and glanced at Vala. She winked and stuck her tongue out.

“Oi! What did I say earlier about needing to share?” Vala shouted.

She tried to rush after them, but Seraph held her back. Ciana giggled as she left with Nathan.

“It’s a good thing Eris can’t see you. She’d be a shocked,” he told Ciana.

Ciana shrugged. “With whatever Fyre put in her, she’s going to be a terror when she becomes a teenager. You’re worried about setting a bad example, while the rest of us are worried about how we’ll stop Eris from teleporting or flying across Doumahr whenever she has a tantrum. Especially after the Twins start teaching her things.”

By Fyre, the horror. Nathan didn’t need to feign his terror.

Fortunately, between his own power and his Messengers, he should be able to rein in Eris. But her tantrums would be completely different to his own as a child. He’d run away from home to become a Bastion. What would Eris do? Try to create her own religion?

Keen to distract him, Ciana dragged him back to his bedroom to make good on their idea from earlier. Nathan appreciated the ride, particularly as Ciana cooed in his ear.

But the morning quickly passed and he needed to find King Maxwell during the Diet’s lunch break.

A quick scan of the castle located Maxwell. The foreign king lingered in one of the interior gardens, although he had likely chosen this one as it was off limits to most of the Diet. As a gesture of goodwill, Alice allowed Maxwell access to a wing of the palace technically restricted to royalty, but it hadn’t been used since former Emperor Gorthal’s passing. Alice had relocated to a different part of the palace and established herself along with Nathan during her grandfather’s final years.

Nathan paused at the entrance to the garden, Ciana by his side. Sunlight filtered through a large skylight and bounced off the many leaves and branches of the herbs, vines, and towering plants crammed into this small chamber. Invisible barriers kept the humidity of the garden from flowing into the rest of the palace, and the pleasant trickle of fountains filled the air.

Giggling broke the constant susurrations of the water. Maxwell kneeled behind a young girl—no more than four or five years old—who possessed the same blonde hair he had, including his abundant curls. The young princess wore a relatively simple blue and gold dress, and the trim was decorated with the golden lions of Falmir’s royal family. A large silver choker studded with crystals wrapped around her neck, and shimmered with powerful magic.

Two other women joined Maxwell and his daughter. One was undoubtably his wife, despite her impressive poker face. Her figure was surprisingly slim, and she possessed a long shock of vibrant red hair and bright green eyes. While she wore the golden lion of the royal family, Nathan didn’t need the best intel on Doumahr to know she and Maxwell hadn’t married for love.

The other woman was one of the few unicorn beastkin Nathan had seen in his life. Since offering greater stability and protection to beastkin, more unicorns had slowly emerged from hiding. Nobles who tried to enslave them or harvest their horns met grisly and public ends, but the race stood near the brink of extinction nonetheless.

This unicorn wore the uniform and armor of Falmir’s royal guards. No gems or signs of a Champion enhancement, and she looked roughly Nathan’s gaze. Her long black hair hung in a high ponytail and she had a lean, muscular figure with a mature beauty. Her unicorn horn glimmered while her golden eyes watched Maxwell with barely concealed envy and sadness.

Those eyes reminded him of a woman who had loved Nathan almost like a mother, and who had been denied children of her own due to politics.

Noticing Nathan, Maxwell glanced at his bodyguard. “Trish.”

“Your Majesty.” Trish gave a short bow, then stepped in and smiled at the young girl.

Maxwell said something quietly to his daughter, then stood and walked over to Nathan. His daughter clung to the knight’s leg, hiding behind her surcoat. Trish rubbed the young girl’s shoulders while her ostensible mother merely stared at Nathan as she moved beside the two.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your family time,” Nathan said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I can come back—”

“It’s not trouble.” Maxwell smiled genially. “I wanted to speak with you. Ellie’s tired from seeing so many new faces and being away from home so long, so I’ll hope you’ll forgive her for that.”

He’d truly grown up to be an impressive looking king, as his awkward looks as a teen gave way to a muscular figure with the looks to turn heads when he held court. Ironically, he’d enjoyed far better luck with women when he wasn’t king. Nathan remembered that he had a reputation as a womanizer in his old world.

“I’m used to it.” Nathan waved gently at Maxwell’s young daughter, Ellie, and she hid her face behind Trish’s leg in response. Ciana hid a smile with her hand. “My girls aren’t great at traveling either. Raissa and Lin lose their tempers after just a day. She’s doing really well to last this long.”

Maxwell blinked in surprise. “Really? When you visit with Princess Eris, she’s the image of perfection.”

Ciana frowned and opened her mouth, then closed it. Maxwell caught the movement, then inclined his head.

“Feel free to speak, Lady Ciana,” the king said.

His wife’s eyebrows shot up before she resumed her poker face.

“Eris has always been unusually patient when I take her anywhere,” Ciana said, choosing her words carefully. “But I wouldn’t do your lovely daughter a disservice by holding her to Eris’s standard. The palace is full of children the same age who remind us every day how young they are.”

Maxwell’s lips quirked upward. “You mean that they’re troublemakers at heart and you sometimes regret having them at all?”

Ciana smiled. “Perhaps, Your Majesty.”

“Exactly right,” Nathan growled.

Maxwell laughed, and his wife stared at him as if he’d grown a second head. Even his bodyguard appeared shocked, while Ellie poked her head out to see what the fuss was about.

“I’ll take your words to heart,” the king said. “Perhaps the prophet’s rambunctiousness rubbed off on Princess Eris.”

Nathan nodded, and Ciana glared at him.

When Maxwell’s expression faded and he glanced back at his family, Nathan knew the pleasantries were over.

“Shall we go for a walk?” Nathan suggested.

“Of course, Nathan,” Maxwell said. “Lead the way.” He glanced back at Ellie and the others. “I’ll be back shortly. If anyone comes to find me—”

“I’ll tell them you’re busy with the Emperor,” Trish said drily.

Ciana snorted, and Nathan pretended he hadn’t heard that.

They walked slowly through a long corridor just around the corridor. Nathan cast some magic to ensure they wouldn’t be disturbed. Nobody else joined them, and wouldn’t until he wanted them to.

Maxwell nodded, then waited for Nathan to speak while Ciana drifted several steps behind them.

“You can talk freely here,” Nathan said.

“I’d joke if you’re going to do away with me, but I’m not sure if it will be a joke.” Maxwell stared forward, his hands crossed behind his back, and took steady steps that matched Nathan’s. “I’ve gotten some warning signs that my… intended conversation with you would ruffle feathers. When even the great puppet master Torneus hints that I need to tread lightly, I know I’ve misstepped.”

Nathan kept his expression impassive. “You mean a potential arranged marriage.”

“That was the original idea.”

They walked in silence for nearly a minute. Maxwell frowned as he noticed the corridor appeared to remain exactly the same size and they saw nobody pass by the ends. They grew no closer to the hallways at either end. No noise filtered in from outside.

“I’ll admit, the idea bothered me a lot,” Nathan said.

Sweat formed on Maxwell’s brow. He kept walking, his posture unchanged.

“But I saw you with your daughter and your family,” Nathan continued. “It leaves me confused.”

“My wife and bodyguard, you mean,” Maxwell corrected.

“I know what I saw.” Nathan smiled, and the other man grimaced. “As you can guess, I spend a lot of time around women with… affections for me. For some time, those affections were unrequited.”

“I don’t ignore Trish,” Maxwell said gruffly, his façade breaking for perhaps the first time since Nathan had met him. “She’s…” He paused, and even broke step. “I won’t pretend to be an expert in love, or even to know much about it. I sought her out in a fit of vanity, and she’s become much more than a trophy.”

“Good. But that wasn’t my point.” Nathan shot a sidelong look at the king. “You have a daughter with a woman you married for politics, while the one you love can only dream of a child. I recommend finding a solution.”

“Your father—”

Nathan’s expression darkened, and Maxwell coughed.

“Martel would seize on the chance to weaken me drastically if I had a child outside of wedlock, and the monarchy is required to be monogamous.” Maxwell sighed. “Far too many rumors have been spreading thanks to Archduchess Lotte’s… Uncanny similarity to my mad sister, may she rot in hell.”

“There’s no chance Adam will risk Lotte stepping in over you, given the strong ties she has to both me and Alice,” Nathan said drily. “Your position is stronger than ever. But I’ll talk with Adam. He’ll understand, especially as a man who has struggled with the same problem.”

Both Veronica and Kate never had children with Adam due to his loveless political marriage. Perhaps that might finally change, but it required Adam to be less of a stubborn ass.

Maxwell came to a dead stop and stared at Nathan. “You’d argue with Adam Martel over this? The idea that I can have a child with a bodyguard you only just met today?”

Pausing, Nathan composed his thoughts carefully, aware Ciana was listening in and Maxwell might take this as weakness. “I won’t say you’re a friend, Maxwell. The political situation is too complicated between us for that. But I’ve known you for years, and trust you more than most nobles I’ve dealt with. Today is the first day I’ve seen you happy as a father, and I can only imagine what you might be like if you experience that together with the woman you love. You’d be driven to rule Falmir out of more than a desire to hold your family’s legacy together and avoid being killed.”

“Hah. I can’t tell if you’re being nice or manipulating me.” Maxwell shook his head. “You’re right to say our relationship is complicated. But…” He held his hand out. “Thank you. I’m in no position to deny your help and it would mean far more to me than I ever thought possible.”

Nathan shook the king’s hand, but the conversation wasn’t over. “The arranged marriage?”

“I take it the topic still upsets you?” Maxwell said cautiously.

“I don’t understand why you’d destroy the future of a daughter you clearly love. She doesn’t know Leo, and she might grow to hate you and the rest of us once she grows old enough to understand.”

Maxwell nodded. He leaned against the wall in a decidedly unkinglike pose. “It’s… unlike me to be so candid, but you’ve offered me a favor with nothing expected in return.” He stared up at the ceiling. “It’s because I love her that I think this will be best for her.”

Nathan stared at Maxwell.

“I can tell you don’t understand. To everyone else, this looks and sounds like a political maneuver.” The king chuckled and sneered. “Tie our two nations together, cementing our relationship, and weakening the Republican movement. That’s true. But… Do you know what it’s like to live your entire life under the terror that, at any moment, enemies will burst in at the dead of night and slaughter you and your entire family? That you will be powerless to stop them?”

“Yes,” Nathan said.

Maxwell looked at him, then winced. “Ah, yes. I forget so easily the past you spoke of. It’s… difficult to imagine a world so bleak that demons might casually threaten all of us at any moment.”

“We stopped it. And I understand you mean something else. The Republican movement dreamed of overthrowing the monarchy for decades, and grew in power each year after Kurai, years before you were even born.”

“Yes. And then it finally happened.” Maxwell’s fists clenched, and his knuckles whitened. “I wake up in a cold sweat some nights and check on Ellie. Worried that somebody will break into the palace, despite the additional protections you erected. I don’t even know whose Champions I can trust. Bastions changed sides so easily in the many civil wars Doumahr witnessed, and Champions even betrayed them at times. But you… You don’t worry about that.”

“… not anymore,” Nathan admitted. “But they were once. Trauma doesn’t leave us, Maxwell.”

He understood the nightmares far too well. They’d been his reality in the months after his first girls were born, particularly when the first true Messenger invasion struck after Sofia’s defeat. He hadn’t slept for a week, terrified a new onslaught from the outer beings was imminent.

“Those eyes. That’s why I wanted an arranged marriage for her,” Maxwell whispered. He gulped. “I know it’s dangerous, but… In truth, it wasn’t Leo I initially thought of.”

Nathan stared at Maxwell, horror growing in his stomach.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s an open secret you don’t age.” The king’s expression was grim. “In fifteen or twenty years, what will be the difference between you and Ellie, and you and those foxes? Or the succubi? Or Seraph, who is over a decade older than you? Or Astra, a living legend who goes back two calendars.” He barked with bitter laughter. “It was a silly idea, but I said I’d be candid. Plus, the odds of Ellie falling in love with a hero like you are high. She’d be safe and her future secure.”

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Nathan struggled for his next words.

For what could he say? He’d spend the morning talking with his Champions about his own fears about being a father, and here was Maxwell spilling his heart about his deep fears for his daughter’s safety. Those fears weren’t even that irrational.

Maxwell might have Nathan’s support, and Adam would never make a violent move against the man and his family in the current situation. But what about other nobles and Bastions? If a Bastion chose to martyr himself to kill Maxwell, he might well succeed. Falmir’s king was merely mortal and lacked magical power, just like his own father.

“Out of respect, I won’t say anything,” Nathan said, and Maxwell grimaced. “I can’t accept an arranged marriage. Both because I won’t tie Leo’s future up, but also because I respect you and Ellie too much.”

“If you do—”

“There might be another way,” Nathan added quickly.

Maxwell froze, then narrowed his eyes. He nodded.

“Your problem is that of power. You can’t accept a Champion gem for Trish, because that would tie her to a Bastion who might betray you and also another man,” Nathan said.

“Yes. Which rules you out, too,” Maxwell added. He bit his lip. “I won’t deny it crossed my mind. Trish… Might have taken the idea poorly.”

“I wonder why,” Ciana muttered, and Maxwell winced.

“There’s other ways to grant power than Champion gems,” Nathan said slowly. “Ciana’s prosthetic arm works similarly, as it’s powered by the binding stones. You’re more than aware of relics, given your daughter is wearing one.”

Maxwell winced. “It’s for her safety—”

Nathan raised a hand to forestall the argument. “The blood has been spilled. We can’t unspill it by refusing to use the relics. My point is that there’s plenty of evidence of alternative methods to grant power. Trafaumh tapped into them, and I’ve found ways to do it without butchering thousands of innocents in squalid cells.”

“Good. I worried for a moment.” Maxwell smiled wanly. Then he frowned. “Wait, you’ve found ways… Not the prophet…”

Nathan stared at Maxwell without saying anything, and the king slowly nodded.

“I see. This is a secret I will be taking to my grave, I suspect. And beyond,” Maxwell said. “I don’t know why you’re offering this, but—”

“My goal is, and always has been, the stability and prosperity of Doumahr,” Nathan said. He sighed. “I like the relative peace we enjoy, Maxwell. But it’s only maintained because we possess the power and will to stop those who would destabilize things. That’s why things got so bad to begin with. Even when those who attempted to do good stepped in, they could only make things worse due to how warped the system was. The only thing I’ll remind you of is that—”

“You’re not granting me enough power to oppose you,” Maxwell interrupted. He smiled wryly when Nathan shot him a look. “I’m no fool, Nathan. Even if you give Trish the power of a trigem, you practically conquered all of Doumahr, then handed it back to us. I came to you because you’re untouchable. Whatever your price, I’ll pay it.”

“My price is that you rule well, justly, and properly,” Nathan said drily. “And let Ellie and her future half-sister or brother grow up to decide their own future, as much as they can in a royal family. Whatever things look like with the influence of Adam’s council, the everpresent threats of demons and instability favors a ruler who can make important decisions swiftly.”

“And who has the looming presence of the world’s guardian hanging over him?” Maxwell gave Nathan a half-smile. “Fyre may be the prophet, and the cult that worships you pure nonsense, but you effectively act as Omria’s… The word Champion is already in use, and we already have Bastions. Omria’s greatest protector? Her warden, responsible for the protection of the world?”

“That makes it sound like Doumahr is a prison,” Nathan said, finding escape in a pithy remark.

Because Maxwell had inadvertently compared Nathan’s current situation to one Sofia had offered to him in the past. The pretend goddess had wanted Nathan to act as her Champion, while she handled the goddess duties.

Somehow, he’d effectively done exactly what she wanted, only with Fyre. Perhaps Kadria had realized what Sofia needed all along, only for Sofia to steal the idea when she noticed.

In the end, it didn’t matter. Particularly as Nathan gained his own power beyond that of the binding stones and Omria.

“Again, I’m in no position to refuse,” Maxwell said.

They shook on the deal.

With little more to say, Nathan shattered the spatial spell that had made the corridor endless and separated them from the rest of the palace. Sounds from outside greeted them, starting with the whistling of a nearby patrol of royal knights. A catgirl knight spotted them and saluted, then continued on her way when she saw King Maxwell.

“Perhaps this may be… insulting, but I recommend not using that magic too openly,” Maxwell said, biting his lip. “My mad sister was quite fond of using it for private conversations.”

Nathan sighed. “Ah. My apologies. I didn’t meant to remind you of her.”

“Many things remind me of her. Especially when I’m here and Archduchess Lotte bounces up and makes me question reality.” The king chuckled. “Have a good day, Nathan. I imagine I’ll see you in the Diet, or else you’ll be in the doghouse given my read of the votes.”

“Thanks for the reminder.” Nathan grimaced.

He led Maxwell back to the garden, where several more of Falmir’s royal guards waited with his family. They saluted their king as he entered, and Nathan remained outside. The joy on Maxwell’s face as he picked up his daughter and Trish said something told Nathan he’d made the right decision.

The Diet was tiresome and boring. Nathan stood beside Alice’s throne, and his presence meant Fyre showed up during the actual session. Their appearances caused noticeable whispers and muttering, and many nobles openly anticipated when he’d speak.

“When did I become an event for the Diet?” he grumbled to Alice as they filed out of the grand hall hours later.

“Forever?” Alice said, shooting him a look of disbelief. “While we didn’t get everything we wanted, you turn half the no votes into yes votes on anything military related. I hate to impose—”

“Then don’t,” he said.

She swatted his arm. “Then I’ll gleefully impose. Once you’re back from Soreaux, there’ll be some events I need you to attend. Ingratiate yourself to some nobles. Make them feel happy. Try not to sleep with any wives.”

“I’ve never done that,” he said.

“But one day you will. Honestly, more of your former knights need to marry.” Alice pouted.

After dinner with both of his wives, and time spent with his various children, he puttered back to his bedroom.

He paused at the door. Only Fei lingered inside. Not Kara. It wasn’t that late, but he had expected both in there by now.

Ciana had left his side to take care of Eris, who was on the cusp of being old enough not to need mothering at night but still preferred it. A pair of royal knights sat on the sofa in the entrance hallway that protected his bedroom from direct intrusion from outside.

“Fei’s inside alone?” he checked with them.

“Just the captain, yeah,” one knight said.

He nodded, and slipped inside after giving both knights some scritches.

Wrapped around his pillow in little more than frilly black lingerie was Fei, and her tail swished back and forth along the bed. Her ears pricked up the moment he entered. She shot upward and stared at him with wide green eyes.

“Where’s Kara?” he asked.

Fei pouted. “She said she’d come after she handled some paperwork. But I wanted a brushing now. I got shoved in a dress before you could comb me out this morning.”

A purple metal comb glittered on a nearby cabinet. Nathan smiled and wandered over.

“Fine,” he said. “But no sex until Kara arrives.”

Fei pressed a finger to her lips. “Do blowjobs count as sex? Or titjobs? What about anal?”

“… my dick remains in my pants until Kara gets here,” he clarified.

“Oh. Then you can—”

“Fei, don’t push your luck,” he warned, waving her comb in the air.

Her green eyes followed the purple instrument of imminent pleasure. She let out a whine, before plopping down on the floor.

“Fiiiiiine.” She glowered at him. “But if Kara takes too long, I’m dragging her here.”

“Good. I’m a little annoyed she’s not here already.”

Fei perked up.

He settled in on a cushion behind her, Fei sitting in front of him. While the sight of her ass, easily visible through the sheer fabric of her lingerie, drew his eyes, her bushy black tail straightened out to its full length. He ran his fingers through it.

Slowly, he worked through it with the comb and his hands. The pleasant smell of Fei’s arousal filled the room while she hummed. The two of them spent almost every morning like this, often with Artemis next to Fei looking and acting just as alluring. Extra tail brushing sessions weren’t uncommon, as the catgirl’s tail was a quick comb.

Narime and Tarako had to schedule time for him to pamper their tails, as they took up an entire afternoon. But his beastkin could be handled much faster.

“Are you feeling better?” Fei abruptly asked. “You seemed distracted earlier.”

“I should ask you that. You were spitting and scratching this morning,” he said.

“Eh. I have to make a scene for Kara, or else she’ll drag me to the Diet more often.” Fei shuddered. “I’m a Champion, not a noble.”

“You’re both,” he pointed out.

Fei shrugged. Funny that she’d once fought Kara over becoming duchess of the former beastkin Enclave, although that had partly been because of the chance to marry Nathan in the future.

Once day, he wondered if he’d throw the political problems aside and just marry all his Champions. That would be one hell of a ceremony, as well as a honeymoon. He found the rare days when his younger Champions decided they all wanted an orgy with him to be a bit too much, let alone every Champion at once.

“So, do you feel better?” Fei pressed.

He didn’t answer for a while. “I’m not sure. Do you ever worry about how Raissa, Ayla, and Lyse will grow up?”

Fei turned and stared at him. “Um, isn’t that why we get everyone else to help? We all pitch in when we’re busy. Kara’s dragging me to the Diet, so ‘Mama Arty’ is taking care of Ayla and Lyse. We’re all helping to train the girls, and eventually Leo when he grows up. If one of us gets called off for duty, another can step in. Lin even calls me Mama Fei a lot of the time.”

“That’s not what I…” Nathan trailed off.

He frowned, while Fei’s ears drooped. Rubbing one, he stared at the wall.

Maybe her answer was correct, and he’d been worrying over nothing.

“My parents never did much to raise me,” Nathan said, and Fei blinked several times in confusion at the apparent non-sequitur. “I was the child of a political marriage, and intended to take over the earldom, rather than become a Bastion. Adam focused on politics and his affair with another Bastion, while my mother secluded herself. That left Veronica, Lily, and the other servants to raise me. Many of those servants were beastkin slaves.”

“O-oh,” Fei whispered, eyes wide.

Had he ever spoken about his true past in his old world, back during his childhood? Not the dark days of hell consuming Doumahr, but simpler times. Even if they weren’t necessarily happier times, given what came later.

“I learned magic from Veronica, as well as much more, while Lily taught me how to fight. My swordsmanship comes from Lily, and she kept up my lessons even after I ran away to become a Bastion.” He grinned at the memories of bumping into the two Champions over the years, and the impromptu lessons Lily would give him.

They usually ended with him being put in the dirt. Even with the training he received from Astra and Vala, Lily knew how to fight. She’d made it through Kurai with Adam for damn good reason.

“… I think I remember you said you ran away,” Fei said. “Um, because you didn’t want to become the earl?”

He nodded. “I didn’t get along with Adam. He left me to his servants and Champions, but expected me to pick up his legacy and duties without a murmur of complaint. The argument we had the day before I ran away was stupid. I wanted to fight. To become a Bastion or Champion, because I hated all the stupid noble bullshit and enjoyed the ‘fun’ lessons of magic and fighting. We’re both stubborn assholes, and I was an angry kid. Adam knew I’d fall into the king’s hands, and I saw him as a controlling, distant father. He hit me, and I ran away and became the king’s pawn until Adam eventually overthrew him.”

Fei gulped. He’d long since stopped brushing her tail, so she turned and pulled him into a hug.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

He chuckled. “Why are you apologizing, Fei?”

“Somebody has to.” She stroked his hair. “I miss my parents. But I can’t imagine never growing up without their love, even if my village eventually turned its back on me. Is this… is this why you still worry about the girls, even though we’re all here?”

After a long pause, he nodded. “Sometimes, the idea of leaving them all to be raised by my Champions reminds me of my own childhood too much. That I might be repeating Adam’s mistakes.”

Fei held him without saying anything for a while. He suspected she wished Kara was here, or another Champion.

Or perhaps that was mean. Fei was the Champion who realized he was from an alternative world before anyone else, and figured it out even before he gemmed her. The worldly and sharp Artemis was born from Fei, and while that came from being in trauma, the same intelligence lay within the catgirl cradling him.

Suddenly, Fei giggled. “Even after all these years, you never change.” She pulled back and grinned at him, then flicked his nose.

He recoiled and stared at her in confusion.

“You used to worry like this all the time. ‘Am I making the right choices? Will the decisions I make fix things or make them worse? What if I made better decisions to save the world?’” She gave him a wan smile. “What did you decide back then, Nathan? You lead us all to victory and saved Doumahr. Is avoiding the mistakes that your father made any different to avoiding the mistakes your old world made?”

No matter how much he dwelled on her words, he couldn’t find a rational rebuttal. So instead he hugged her and rubbed her back.

“Thank you,” he said. “I can’t promise I won’t still have the same worries.”

“You wouldn’t be Nathan if you didn’t worry too much about things.” She pressed her lips against his neck. “That’s why we all love you. Because you try so hard to help all of us, and we know how much you adore us. That’s why I know you won’t be like Adam. Raissa, Eris, Ayla, Lin… You don’t see them as political pawns or a way to continue your legacy.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Eventually, Fei frowned.

“Kara’s late,” she said.

Taking the chance to move on, Nathan leaned backward. “Maybe you should go fetch her. Drag her here no matter how much she whines. And make her get changed. You get to choose what she wears as punishment.”

Fei’s eyes lit up. “Ooh. Really? Maura gave me something really fun that I didn’t get to show you, but it would look really nice on Kara. They’re these tiny heart-shaped things that stick to your skin. I don’t know how Maura made them, but they’re supposed to…” Fei bit her lip. “Um, maybe it’ll be hotter if we show you.”

Nathan had already seen the Twins wear the nipple and crotch pasties before, but he pretended he hadn’t and nodded.

After all, he really wanted to see Fei and Kara squatting while nearly completely naked, with only tiny pieces of easily removable fabric covering their nether regions. Tonight would be very fun, even if his kitty and puppy would certainly drool all over the floor and bed with their pussies.

- - - - -

Commentary: There's still a Part 4 to come. To be honest, part of the planned scene in Straub kind of got absorbed by Fei here, but I think it works better and Fei deserves some limelight.

The epilogue is mostly intended as a mixture of a feel good finale, to let you know how everything is going and let you see all the old characters, as well as where some of the political plotlines have gone. But with its length, I've also turned it into a bit of a novella. It could potentially be a separate release at this point, but it's still a bit too short and it's promised to go with the omnibus.

It is fun to return to the series, though. I have been rereading the first few books in the series, as I haven't fully revisited them for ages (I mostly look at the later books). Spellblade isn't as popular as Mob, but I do love it and I hope you're enjoying the epilogue.