CHAPTER 374: UNITED IN CELEBRATION, PART TWO

{Sirah}

Sirah sat on the balcony of the guest quarters, staring at her left wrist. Where her hand used to be, there was now just smooth skin.

[Should’ve dodged faster.]

She flexed her remaining fingers on her right hand. The phantom sensations from her missing left still caught her off guard sometimes. Like now, when she wanted to grab the wine bottle next to her but reached with the wrong arm.

"Fuck."

The bottle tipped. She caught it with her right hand before it could fall.

[At least my reflexes aren’t completely shit.]

She took a long drink straight from the bottle. Some fancy kitsune wine that tasted like berries. Far too sweet. The kind of thing her tribe would’ve mocked her for drinking.

But her tribe wasn’t here anymore.

She’d left them for a nim girl who kept running away from her. A nim girl who was currently being dragged around the palace by some hyperactive kitsune that looked like she’d snap in half if Sirah claimed her.

Sirah watched from her perch as Melisa appeared in the courtyard below. The dress that kitsune had put her in left most of her back exposed, showing off smooth purple skin and the way her black tail swayed when she walked.

[Fuck.]

The memory hit hard. Melisa beneath her, gasping as Sirah’s cock stretched her open. The way her pussy had clenched around her. The little whimpers she’d made when Sirah had grabbed her hips and really started pounding into her.

Sirah would do anything to experience that again.

"Enjoying the view?"

Sirah’s head snapped to the side. A pink-haired kitsune sat on the railing next to her, legs swinging casually. Isabella, if Sirah remembered right. She hardly cared about anyone except Melisa.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing specific." Isabella grinned. "Just noticed you’ve been sitting here for like three hours watching Melisa get fitted for costumes. Bit creepy, don’t you think?"

"She’s mine."

"Is she though?" Isabella tilted her head. "Because from where I’m sitting, she seems pretty free to do whatever she wants. Including that energetic little kitsune who keeps grabbing her ass."

Sirah’s grip on the bottle tightened.

"Careful. That bottle’s expensive." Isabella’s grin widened. "You know what your problem is?"

"Enlighten me."

"You’re thinking like a wild darian. All possessive and grumpy." Isabella hopped down from the railing. "Melisa doesn’t work that way. None of us do, really. We share."

"Share." The word tasted bitter.

"Yeah! Like, I’ve fucked Melisa. Armia’s fucked Melisa. Raven has." Isabella counted on her fingers. "Oh, and there was that whole thing with the previous queen that one time, though I don’t know all the details. And her mom. And my mom. And..."

Sirah’s blood boiled as Isabella went on.

The thought of other people touching what was hers made her want to break something. Preferably someone’s face.

"See, that’s the face!" Isabella pointed at her. "That’s why you’re not getting anywhere. You’re all intense and possessive and it’s honestly kind of exhausting."

"So what? I should just let everyone fuck her?"

Isabella blinked.

"Well, yeah? If that’s what she wants," Isabella shrugged. "Look, I get it. Darian culture’s all about claiming and keeping. But Melisa grew up in Lessmark, trained in Syux. She’s not gonna respond to you beating your chest and growling at everyone who looks at her."

Isabella turned to lean against the railing. Sirah watched her ass. Round and perky beneath her short skirt. The kind of ass that would feel good wrapped around her cock.

"You should try actually talking to her," Isabella continued. "Without the whole ’you belong to me’ vibe. Maybe offer to help with something that doesn’t involve your dick."

Sirah smirked.

"My cock’s my best feature."

Isabella laughed.

"Oh honey, I don’t doubt it, if Armia’s was anything to go by. But Melisa needs more than that. She needs someone who can keep up with her brain, not just her libido."

The kitsune pushed off from the railing, her tail swishing as she walked toward the door.

"Think about it. Or don’t. But sitting here glowering isn’t gonna get you anywhere."

Sirah watched her go. The way Isabella’s hips swayed was definitely intentional. Everything about these kitsune and nim was intentional. Every movement calculated to seduce.

[Maybe she’s right.]

The thought made Sirah’s jaw clench. Her tribe would be disgusted. Letting someone else touch what she’d claimed? Allowing her woman to spread her legs for others?

Then again, her tribe wasn’t here.

[Already broke one tradition. What’s another?]

She took another drink of wine.

Down in the courtyard, that Rakia girl was measuring Melisa’s bust with her hands instead of measuring tape. Melisa was blushing and protesting while Rakia laughed.

[Energetic little shit.]

---

{Melisa}

Melisa finally escaped Rakia’s grabby hands and made her way back inside the palace. The dress was comfortable enough, even if it showed way too much skin for her liking.

[At least she didn’t try to kiss me again.]

"Hey, Rakia?"

The kitsune bounced over, still grinning from her successful groping session.

"Yes, my beautiful star?"

"Where would someone go if they wanted to hear... less official information? About what’s happening in the city?"

Rakia’s grin shifted into something more knowing.

"Oh? Looking for the real gossip?"

"Something like that."

"Hmm." Rakia tapped her chin. "Well, if I was looking for information that the Matriarch might not want me to have, I’d probably check out the Moonlight District. Lots of bars and brothels there. People talk when they’re drunk or post-orgasm."

"Right."

"There’s a place called the Silver Tail. Nim-run bar. They serve this drink that makes your whole body tingle." Rakia winked. "The owner, Kava, she hears everything. Tell her I sent you."

"You’re not going to ask why I want this information?"

"Nope!" Rakia spun in a circle, her tails fanning out. "The whole mysterious thing is sexy!"

[This girl.]

"Thanks."

"Oh! But be careful." Rakia’s expression turned serious for a moment. "The Moonlight District’s pretty safe, but there’ve been some weird incidents lately. People starting fights over nothing. Nim and kitsune who’ve been friends for years suddenly at each other’s throats."

"Shadow Mages?"

"Maybe. Or maybe just the regular kind of drama that happens when you mix alcohol and sexual tension." Rakia shrugged. "Either way, watch your back. And your front. And that amazing ass of yours."

Before Melisa could respond, Rakia had already skipped away, humming something that sounded suspiciously like a funeral march played in major key.

[The Silver Tail, huh?]

Melisa looked out the window. Soon it would be dark enough to slip out without too much attention.

[Time to see what’s really happening in this city.]