Vaid Empire: Conquest Ch. 93

Vaid Empire: Conquest is a massive fantasy series that aims to mix erotica with the quality of a published novel. New chapters and artwork are released every month for free, with the completely optional possibility to receive early access on the official Vaid Empire Website. The Series focuses heavily on worldbuilding, story, and characters.

The world of Ayphieal is shattered and chaotic, with kingdoms and tribes of six distinctive races vying for territory amongst themselves. It is only when a young human warrior finally pushes back against the chaos that the world begins to shift towards order.

***

14th of Twic, 19 AVE.

Kingdom of Lian, Near Praith.

Nafalya awoke before the legion. With a hand resting between her thighs, she savored the remnants of her pleasure. A delicate finger dragged between soaking lower lips as she chuckled, already aching for more.

The sun had yet to rise, yet she found herself alone. Expecting to find Hesin beside her, she found only an empty bed with a message cylinder where he should be. Curiosity danced in her silver gaze as she opened it, lips curling into an amused smirk. Directions into the jungle were etched upon the rod inside.

"This game again, master?" she thought to herself. "So be it."

She dressed in her usual skirt, a blade secured in her belt as she calculated the likelihood of a trap. Deciding to proceed cautiously, eager to hunt her prey, she stepped from their tent into the darkness of the jungle. The humid morning air clung to her soft skin. The colossal trees stretched high into the black sky above in every direction, like the legs of monstrous gods.

Silently, her steps made no sound as she crept unseen through the sea of tents that flooded the land, scattered densely between the looming trunks. The sounds of sleeping legionaries echoed around her, and she felt their countless unconscious minds as she focused.

When she finally reached the edge of the camp, far in the distance, she eased. The camp offered safety, surrounded by endless blades loyal to her father's throne. The jungle offered solitude, holding hidden dangers. She preferred the jungle.

Holding Hesin's directions, even her keen eyes were unable to see the tiny symbols in the consuming darkness. Glowing plants littered the jungle, scattered through the trees, each one a deadly invitation, though their light was hardly enough. Two fingers were her solution. Though she had struggled to manifest even the smallest flame, her lightning came forth easily, as if as natural as breathing. A steady arc of electricity crackled quietly between her fingers, the flickering light just enough to reveal the symbols etched into the wood in her grasp.

As she made her way through the trees, she sensed the beasts lurking all around. She carefully avoided their attention when possible and sent others scurrying away with tiny flicks of lightning.

With her mind open, senses seeking, she felt the new life already taking form inside her womb. A new being had been conceived, a new entity coming into existence, the blood and soul of her father mixing with her own. If she survived their infiltration, she'd grant The God Emperor another daughter.

When she saw the first hints of light through the vegetation, she smirked. Approaching carefully, she slipped soundlessly between a pair of smaller trees. Her master wouldn't hear her this time. Bathed in the red light of candles scattered in a rough circle, she saw the image of a cloaked man standing before a figure bound to a tree. Readying her dagger, she crept forth and pressed the blade to the hooded man's throat.

"Well done," he whispered, his voice metallic. Granted mercy, Hesin's masked face turned to regard her. "You weren't followed."

It was more of a statement than a question, hardly requiring a shake of her head. As she looked past her lover, she saw the bound victim up close. A naked woman, her hands were pulled far above her head, arms and legs tied tightly to the tree. A muffled whimpering begged through her gag, her head wrapped in skintight slinion silk. Only her nose was free to breathe, her identity concealed. "This is rather curious, master."

The woman squirmed in panic as Hesin caressed her bound form. "To others, yes, but I've seen too many horrors to name. You will too. An eternal empire requires those willing to soil their souls and get their hands dirty to maintain order. We are willing, aren't we?"

"Of course." She watched the mystery woman tremble. The tree behind her appeared tiny in the shadow of its monstrous brothers all around, though in truth, it would be considered quite large if found in The Human Basin.

Hesin slowly pulled a thin dagger from his sleeve. Long and elegant, the hilt gilded in gold, he offered the white blade. "Your father had it forged before we departed Domani. He's permitted me to keep it until I deem you ready. Last night he made his approval of you clear, and today, I think it's time. You've earned it."

Accepting the dagger, she couldn't conceal a faint grin tugging at her lips. A gift from the two men she was most fond of rested in her grasp, feeling a subtle dampness return between her smooth thighs.

"It was forged with the same internal tunnels as The God Emperor's sword. You'll need it when we enter Praith, and if we survive, you'll have to... do whatever Cendra did to make her own sword share your father's power."

She chuckled at his ignorance, a rare sight from her master. "And the girl?"

A whimper escaped his victim, perspiration from the humid air trickling down her toned form. Hesin studied her from behind his emotionless mask. "A traitor to The Empire."

"Her crime?" Nafalya watched her struggle with amusement.

"Doesn't matter." Hesin regarded the princess with his single eye. "Tonight, we'll sneak into a city we know little about, filled with people more foreign than anyone we've encountered. I need you ready and focused at my side."

Hands clasped behind her back, grip tightening on her new dagger, she offered a deadly gaze. "I'm ready, master."

"You've never taken a life." He patted the bound girl's wrapped cheek, making her writhe. "It's unlikely we'll reach the burial chamber with clean blades. You may have to kill."

Her smirk eased.

"I can't have you hesitate. A single misstep in a critical moment may kill us all. Before tonight, you're going to wet your blade for the first time. Deal with the feeling now, rather than in the heart of a hostile city." He gestured to the young woman. "It's time you joined us fully. It's time you became a Truthseeker."

An involuntary flutter in her chest accompanied the subtle widening of her eyes. Long had she trained to mask her surprise and excitement, yet all she craved hung before her. "Truly?"

Hesin nodded. "You're ready. Take her life and prove it."

She studied her victim as she brought the blade forth. Sensing the young woman's soul did little to reveal her identity, her bonds connecting to no one she knew. She learned only her age, a year younger than Nafalya herself, just beginning her life. "You claim she betrayed us?"

"That's all you need. A Truthseeker's place isn't to judge a target's guilt. When you're ordered to take a life, you do so without question. That's the price of maintaining order. We dirty our hands so ordinary citizens never have to." He cupped the helpless girl's chin. "Her crime could be as large as conspiring to assassinate The God Emperor himself, or as small as stealing food from the legion supply train, and everything in between. Both would endanger The Empire in their own way. You'll just have to trust my judgement in deeming her death necessary."

Nafalya moved closer as Hesin stepped away. Slowly, she brought her blade to the girl's neck. Naked, no uniform nor clothing hinted at her identity. She could have been a commander in the legion, or a simple slave. Fear radiated from her victim's trembling body as the sharp dagger pressed against her skin. A breath slipped slowly from the princess's lips, amused at the faint quiver of her own hand. "Curious."

"No hesitation, Nafalya."

Closing her eyes, she dragged the blade across the girl's throat, cutting deep.

The new dagger ran red as the girl fell limp in her bindings, bare skin staining with trickling crimson. Nafalya stepped back, bearing her deed. The feeling was a quick one, heavy, banished a moment later. A life had ended by her hand. "A strange burden to bear."

"It's one you'll bear over and over and over until it's little more than a whisper," Hesin said, his chest feeling hollow for a single moment. He then chuckled as he offered the edge of his dark cloak. "Here. Wouldn't want to stain your new weapon so soon."

She cleaned the blood from her dagger. "Chimira steel cannot stain."

"All blades stain in their own way." When she was finished, he reached beneath his cloak and unclasped a bundle from his belt. "You'll need this for tonight."

Taking the bundle, she carefully unwrapped the thin white fabric. When she met the face staring back at her, she grinned once more. "Master..." In her hands was a mask identical to Hesin's own, save for the pair of empty eye holes rather than his one. White steel offered no expression, smooth as she ran a finger over the surface.

"I've kept it far longer than the dagger," he said casually, only for his tone to soften. "Few of the Truthseekers I've trained have brought me more pride. It's yours."

Savoring the cold steel in one hand, the other discovered the fabric to be the white robes of a Truthseeker. For years she had trained, struggled, and bled for this moment. A dampness in her eyes shocked her. She seized the emotion squeezing her throat, forcing it down, banishing it deep where it could do no harm. Rather than tears, she offered a smirk, moving aside Hesin's mask to meet his lips. "Thank you."

Few words were required as their gazes met. A silence carried the understanding that other lovers needed long speeches of flowery words to confess. Both would rather cut their own throats than endure such nonsense.

"Come. Get dressed," he said when it was time. "The sun will rise soon, and we have a meeting with the holder of Lalian's leash." Beginning to extinguish the red candles one by one with his fingers, he chuckled. "I wouldn't want to keep Anthara waiting long, else your father may visit her bed again before we arrive."

"And her?" Nafalya eyed the bound corpse.

"Leave it." Hesin nudged one of the candles with his boot. "The red light seems to keep the beasts away, if only temporarily. Without it, something will make use of the meat before the hour is out."

As her master departed, Nafalya eyed the dead girl a final time. Her first kill hung limply, yet the corpse was more than mere 'meat'. She donned her mask, peering through its eye holes as she felt the metal upon her face. "May your rest never be disturbed."

Turning away, she hurried to catch up like a silent ghost moving through the trees.

***

The first rays of sunlight trickled through the branches far overhead as the group gathered inside The Grand Imperial Architect's tent. Nafalya eyed the treetops above as they blocked out the sky. Absurdly tall, The Grand Pyramid itself could hide beneath their dominating reach. Soon, she knew, she'd climb to their highest branches. The thought brought a tingle to her belly and a smirk upon her royal lips, amused at the challenge.

She was one mask among a dozen as they slipped silently through the entrance. Relinquishing her former skirt, her new robes of white and gold hardly stood out from the others. Concealing little, much of her royal body remained on display, her greatest weapon. A long skirt of thin fabric flowed from her childbearing hips. Boots continued up to her thighs, while a narrow thong hardly protected the prize between her legs. A loose hood complimented her mask, connecting to a short top that loosely draped over the top and outer halves of her breasts, parted in the middle.

A hand rested on the hilt of the new dagger at her belt, while her other hip presented several throwing knives. None regarded her with the respect her royal blood deserved. Instead, she became an anonymous body in the crowd, just the way she liked.

Only the greatest Truthseekers had been summoned by their Grand Master for the task ahead. A lone male among the group, a single black hood in a pool of white, Hesin waited at Anthara's side until all had arrived. Lalian was nowhere to be seen, already setting out to complete additional translated texts for The God Emperor.

"Please, proceed." Hesin gestured to the Lanthian woman. No greeting nor preamble was offered, cutting directly to the matter. They all knew why they had come.

Straightening, a hand holding her pregnant swell, Anthara cleared her throat. If she had felt out of place during meetings with The God Emperor's advisors, facing an audience of expressionless white masks was another sensation entirely. She fought to maintain the confidence her pride demanded despite her misgivings. "I promised to aid your mission tonight with my knowledge, so I shall." She gestured to the desk at the foot of the Lanthian couple's bed. Atop it, a slab of wood waited, its surface etched with a rough layout of Praith. "Many years have passed since I lived in this city, yet I know it well. Much has surely changed in my absence, though the chamber will never move." Her expression seemed to dampen, tainted by shame. "It's the holiest place in the city, rivaled only by the incubation temple."

Nafalya studied the woman with curiosity, sensing the battle raging inside her pregnant body. Despite Anthara's dueling loyalties, she found no deception.

"There are no stairs, pathways, ladders, or... how do you say... ropes granting access to the city. Even the slaves laboring in the mines below are carried by pairs of winged guards from the jungle floor up to Praith each day." Anthara's accent was a constant reminder of her betrayal, human words never coming easily from her tongue. "Try to climb the trees supporting the city and you'll be noticed long before you reach the top."

The Truthseekers pressed close to observe the slab as she pointed to an area west of the city layout.

"Instead, you'd be wise to make the long climb to the jungle ceiling several miles away." Another finger pointed up. "They're observing us now, no doubt. They'll watch every tree between us and Praith, expecting you to climb. If you can slip away from camp unseen, you'll be free to climb without their notice. From there, you'll have to move from branch to branch until you can slip inside the city by nightfall."

Hesin addressed his apprentices coldly, offering no comfort. "The savage Arkos are lucky enough to forge false claws, though we don't have that luxury. We'll have to free climb the entire height. Many of you will fall."

Nafalya sensed each body in the room become tense, yet as a testament to their training, no visible hint revealed their thoughts. Each of them was prepared to die at their Grand Master's command.

Anthara gestured to the etched layout. "Coming from the west, you'll be closer to the chamber than from the east." A finger traced a path along the network of walkways until it circled a round platform in the heart of the city, not quite in the center. "The tomb is just beside the throne platform, inside the trunk of a nearby tree."

"What shall we find inside?" an anonymous voice asked softly from the group.

Another flush of guilt tortured Anthara. No outsider should know of its existence, let alone its internal secrets. One of the deepest traditions of her culture was betrayed with her next words, though the alternative was death and fire. "Only the greatest of our warriors are buried inside. Their bodies are preserved in small pits carved into the floor of the chamber."

"Preserved?" another asked.

"You'll find them soaking in..." She sought the word, finding no translation. "Saitha. It's a... how do you say... a natural liquid that prevents the decay of flesh. Even bodies as old as Praith itself appear just as they did the day they died."

Tilting her head skeptically, Nafalya couldn't help but grow intrigued.

Anthara swallowed, as if her next words were the vilest she had ever uttered. "Secure the chamber and threaten to pull the bodies from the Saitha. Disturbing the eternal sleep a warrior has earned shall pain The Miarch of Praith to her bones. Further, if you threaten to mutilate the bodies..." She took a silent breath. "If you threaten to cut, harm, or damage the bodies, The Miarch shall surrender immediately."

"Human words will mean little to Lanthian ears," someone noted.

Hesin folded his arms, concealed beneath his cloak. "Our helpful guide is far too pregnant to join us, as you all can see." Despite his mask, Nafalya could almost hear his mocking grin. "And Lord Lalian's uses are best utilized elsewhere than a mission such as this. Some of you have been mentored in the basics of their tongue, of course, though to ensure our demands are understood without misinterpretations, our green Lord has inscribed them in his native symbols upon wooden slabs."

"A messenger is unlikely to return alive." A Truthseeker stepped forward. "Allow me the honor of presenting our demands, Grand Master."

A wave of Hesin's hand dismissed her. "Your death won't be necessary. They'll read our demands when they're found bolted to the corpses of their fallen."

He waited. When no further comments came forth, he gestured to the map.

"Now, come. Study the city's layout. Burn it deep into your memory. The climb shall be long, and the journey far longer." Hesin permitted the closest to hold the wooden slab. "We'll attack under the cover of darkness, though we'll leave within the hour. Prepare yourselves."

As their Grand Master departed the tent without another word, the slab was passed from woman to woman. When it was Nafalya's turn to study the crude lines, silver eyes carefully observed every detail. The map was hardly more than a scattered mess of pathways and landmarks pulled from memories too distant to trust entirely, though they possessed nothing better. Entire areas were left blank, either forgotten by Anthara, or never visited, while what remained was nothing less than a chaotic maze of various levels of overlapping walkways, buildings, and monuments.

Another may panic when faced with such a twisting labyrinth. Nafalya merely calmed herself. As she studied every detail, the image of the city gradually formed inside her mind, reconstructing and mapping the details until she could visualize the layout in her head.

When she was finished, she passed the slab to the next in line, moving to depart. Before she reached the entrance of the tent, she turned, advanced ears hearing Anthara's whisper.

"Forgive me."

Once more her senses sought deception. Once more they found only pain and guilt within the green woman. Amused, she departed without another word.

"Such consuming emotion. What a curious freedom," Nafalya thought to herself. For an instant, she tried to coax the memory of receiving her mask. When the first hint of joy began to bubble to the surface, she retreated, banishing the feeling once more. Disappointment soured upon her tongue, yet she merely shrugged. "Weep, Lanthian. Savor the freedom of your tears."

***

"Don't you dare fall," Irith said as she squeezed her firstborn. "Take no unnecessary risks!"

Concealed from the eyes of their enemy inside the command tent, Nafalya endured her mother's embrace as they said their goodbyes. No doubt The Concubine Empress would've eagerly accompanied her daughter to the edge of the camp, or further if she was permitted, though they could offer no hint of their departure. Each Truthseeker snuck alone from the camp at different times, in different directions, regathering deep in the jungle.

The God Emperor grasped Hesin's shoulder, urging him close. "Return her safely," his deep voice whispered, as if oozing from his stern lips.

Sharing a look with his ruler, Hesin nodded.

"Free me," Nafalya commanded, slipping from her mother's grasp. She turned to her siblings as they stood nearby.

Cendra offered a cold smile. "May you be victorious, little sister." They clasped each other's forearms. "Bring us Praith."

Beside her, Vixin came forth and wrapped Nafalya in another hug, so soon after her escape. "We're so very proud of you."

The twins waited their turn. Zela seemed to daydream as if oblivious to the coming danger her sibling faced, while Arinax stood quietly, only looking up from the ground when Nafalya's attention found the pair. Together, they granted her a brief embrace. A moment later, Zela found another distraction, and Arinax retreated behind Irith.

"Ah, my flower." Dominax pulled Nafalya close.

"Endless touching," she thought to herself in annoyance. As she felt her father's chest, however, she found a subtle smirk creeping upon her pretty lips. Perhaps she didn't mind his touch.

When they separated, Dominax assessed his daughter with a searching gaze, hands gliding over her curves. "You've matured much, child. Often, I forget you've become a woman, rather than the small shadow always at her mother's side."

She couldn't prevent a blush from darkening her cheeks as his grasp found her chest, cupping her breasts. The others merely watched as he felt her perky flesh, pretending to look away from the secret they all shared. His fingers brushed his daughter's nipples, visible through the thin fabric of her outfit.

"You've grown into utter perfection." He held the weight of her breasts, flawlessly round. Though she carried his child, only now did the final remnants of the faint image of his little princess vanish entirely, replaced permanently with the deadly assassin standing before him. "You're ready."

"I won't fail you, father." She offered a smirk. Tonight, she'd earn her rightful place at his side, or fall. No other fate was acceptable.

Lips pressing to her ear, the satisfaction in his gaze fell, moving to hold her closer. "Return to me."

Three simple words were his goodbye, yet she heard the hidden agony they held. When she pulled back, she saw the fire of a fear he could never reveal within The God Emperor's eyes, an inferno that would consume the world if she fell. Her own goodbye was a kiss, a final taste of the victory she sought to earn.

Though Hesin chuckled silently to himself at the sight, savoring the intimacy of his lover with another, his amusement was banished by the sight of Atrix. The boy had been passed around, only for Irith to bring him closer when it was her turn to hold him. In her other arm rested Nafalya's firstborn, the boy Irith had accepted into her own care.

Caressing the tiny prince's cheek, Nafalya said her goodbyes, granting the other boy a simple nod. Irith granted the boys into Vixin's care before trapping her daughter in another hug, only permitting Nafalya to escape when Dominax touched her shoulder with a silent command.

"We love you, Nafalya," Irith nearly sobbed.

With a final glance, the princess followed her master out of the tent, leaving her family behind as she donned her mask. Each of them had a purpose. Tonight, she'd claim her own.

***

Anthara stared out at the surrounding jungle, knowing Praith was through the trees ahead. Even standing near the edge of the camp, it was difficult to find any sign of the city during the day, far in the distance and high atop the monstrous trees.

She fought to ignore the legionaries as they tended to their duties. Most were courteous enough to grant her ample space, though others required a harsh scowl when they wandered too close.

"Humans." She shook her head, caressing her belly beneath the thin green silks cascading down her pregnant form. The feeling of the child inside was her only comfort as she waited, knowing a doom approached the city of her birth, born from her own assistance.

Reminding herself that Praith had been spared by her actions did little to dampen her guilt. No matter how many times she told herself the population would thrive under the rule of humans, the endless waiting remained a silent agony.

Her thoughts were interrupted at the sound of a familiar voice, smooth, seductive, elegant. "You know, it might be easier to ignore Praith's fate when you're not seeking a glimpse of it."

Turning, Anthara met one of the few humans she could stomach at the moment. A quick bow came as her greeting. "Supreme Mother Vixin."

Hips swaying, the princess made her way carefully to the Lanthian's side, avoiding muddy puddles as if they were filled with poison. "I could say it was fate that I encountered you here, but in truth, even the weakest of my kin could sense your pain from afar. Although Cendra isn't here, so perhaps not," she chuckled softly, only to frown. "Ah, that was unkind. Don't tell her I said that."

"Of course not." Anthara watched the royal girl lean against a crate at her side, sneaking a glance at her alluring form. Another stab of guilt forced a scowl.

Fanning herself through the jungle humidity, Vixin cleared her throat awkwardly. "We didn't enjoy the most welcoming introduction, it's true, though after all these years, I hope you'll consider me a confidant."

"Lalian and I owe you a great debt." Anthara glanced at the tattoo in her palm. "I would not repay that debt by burdening you."

The princess chuckled. "Your words are not a burden to my ear, and perhaps I can alleviate your own. After all, a powerful woman requires allies, and the mate of my father's most trusted advisor could be a valuable friend indeed."

"Alleviate?" The word sounded strange upon Anthara's accented tongue, almost as if she asked its meaning. However, the understanding in her next question spoke well of Lalian's teachings in the imperial tongue. "How could the betrayal of thousands possibly be alleviated?"

Vixin smirked coyly. "Oh, you misunderstand. I cannot remove your guilt. You can spend the next hour spilling every painful thought you have before me, and if that shall aid you, I'll listen, though I can only offer the same words about eternal peace and a better future for Praith you've already encountered a thousand times. Instead of all that, I could simply offer you a distraction from your agonies."

Curiosity flickered in her green gaze. "Distraction, princess?"

Looking around, Vixin chose a moment when the majority of surrounding legionaries were otherwise occupied before caressing the Lanthian's cheek. Pressing close, she watched surprise fill Anthara's eyes, then curiosity, never pulling away as she slowly pressed their lips together. Lingering, granting Anthara a quick taste, the green woman finally pulled back, cheeks darkening with a long-neglected need.

"Princess..." Anthara peered around, scowling at any voyeurs too intrigued to look away.

"I trust Lalian won't mind a simple kiss?" Vixin questioned.

Savoring her closeness, Anthara shook her head, a new grin subtly forming. "If you were anyone but his master's daughter..." she began to say.

Vixin dared to touch the woman's hips, pulling her curves against her own. "Oh? Would he stop me?" A touch explored the exotic body before her. "I suppose I'm lucky I am The God Emperor's daughter, then."

Biting her lip, her guilt remained like a sharp dagger at her throat, yet the soft skin against her was a welcome haven. "A kiss is my distraction? Generous, but fleeting."

Another kiss, another taste, the feeling of feminine flesh tingling beneath her fingertips. "My generosity may extend, if that is your wish. Yisi is tending to her mount, and I've found my fingers idle for the day."

Temptation stirred in her gaze with every passing minute. She wanted to remain, to stare out at the population she had both doomed and saved, knowing she didn't deserve the comfort Vixin offered. Yet as royal hands caressed her form, coaxing an obsession long controlled, Anthara knew there was little point in stewing in her pain. "Perhaps I'll grant them a purpose, then. It's been quite a while since I've enjoyed the... comforts of another woman."

Though pleased, Vixin's seductive expression grew serious. "We'll make up for lost time, though only if Lalian truly approves. He's served my father loyally, and I won't shame him." A devious smile fell upon her pretty features next. "Of course, however, if he were to... catch us... it'd only be polite to invite him to join my generosity."

For a single moment, thoughts of Praith were placed aside, nestled in the back of her mind as Anthara chuckled. "You and I? At once? The mere sight of us together may prove too much."

"Perhaps so." A hand glided beneath green silks, venturing with curiosity. "Let's see how long he endures, shall we?"

A final glance at the jungle, a final hesitation was all she offered before Vixin's touch guided her away. Eager, tingling, her guilt was met with her lusts, holding the royal hand in her grasp as if clinging to her sanctuary.

***

The humidity clung to Lalian's green skin and cloak. He tried to brush it away in disgust as if it would taint him. Distant chirps and squawks echoed through the towering trees all around as he walked through the camp. The land of his birth seemed to mock him, rejecting a long-lost son of the jungle.

Carrying a stack of wooden slabs, he couldn't wait to return to Domani, wishing to rid himself of Lanthian lands as soon as possible. Every foul deed he had suffered had occurred among these trees. Every joyous moment he had savored had been far away while inside The Human Basin. Even Manith's cruelties had been a blessing, for his brief enslavement in Zilrin had led to Dominax.

Memories swirled anew, increasing in frequency the longer the legion lingered in the jungle. Moments of pain, cruelty, and torturous humiliations replayed in his mind in vivid detail, his flawless memory unable to forget a single second. When he banished his thoughts, it was only a matter of time before another crept inside his head, ready to torment him.

By the time he found the entrance to the armored command tent, his mood had long soured. When he stepped inside, however, he found his scowl vanishing the moment he met Arinax's curious eyes. "Ah, my prince!"

The boy hurried to receive his gift. Alone, he waited patiently as Lalian placed the stack upon the round table claiming much of the center of the room.

"Where are your parents?" Lalian eyed the entrance to the adjacent bedroom, hearing the faint moans of a woman echoing from within.

Arinax shrugged. "Zela wished to collect flowers, so mother accompanied her. Father has a... visitor, I believe." His silver gaze never departed the wooden slabs, waiting patiently.

"I see." Lalian blushed before dividing the stack in two. "When he's finished, please inform him that my next translations are here. As for you..." He patted the second pile. "I've created identical copies for your enjoyment, my prince."

Eyes gleaming with interest, the boy offered one of the only excited smiles Lalian had ever witnessed upon his young face. "Thank you, Lord Lalian."

"A simple 'Lalian' shall do, my prince." He bowed. Then, either fueled by thoughts of his unborn child, or simply due to Arinax's strong resemblance to his friend, he patted the boy's shoulder with a burst of fatherly affection. An awkward blush followed soon after, pulling away. "En... enjoy."

"Lalian," Arinax called out softly before the green man reached the entrance. "May I ask you something?"

Returning, he lowered himself to listen. "Of course, my prince."

Arinax eyed the squat tower of slabs, curiosity lingering in his tone. "Your other translations spoke of a... Kanara, correct?"

Lalian nodded with a smile. "Ah, the first Miarch. Y... yes."

Tapping his chin in thought, the boy appeared perplexed. "The translations claim she founded the first Lanthian kingdom by traveling to every city and challenging each ruler for their thrones in single combat. She was the superior fighter every time, winning thrones until she conquered the land without an army." He hesitated, knowing there was an answer to his coming question, though unable to work it out himself. "Father read the same histories. He knows of Kanara. Is it not possible for him to... challenge Praith's Miarch or Priarch for the city?"

"Ah, very astute, my prince. Yes, he could challenge the ruler of Praith, though the population would never bow as easily as the early Lanthians did before Kanara," Lalian explained. A groan echoed from the bedroom nearby, mixing with a woman's cry of passion.

"Why not?" He tilted his young head.

"Well... my prince," Lalian looked away as if embarrassed. "He's a human. Worse, h... he's a man."

Arinax hardly seemed to care that the description fit himself as well. He merely sought an explanation, as if eager to solve a puzzle.

"Male slaves fight every year in every city for the right to challenge The Priarch, similar to how Kanara proved herself. When they're occasionally victorious, the population of women hardly respect him more than a... a..." Lalian blushed, waving his hand dismissively. "He's granted certain... privileges and duties, rather than true power. If your father challenges Praith's Priarch, they may respect him enough to... to..."

"Have children." Arinax shrugged. "The texts were quite clear, Lalian."

Lalian raised a finger. "Yes, precisely. Many may accept his right to... grant them children... though certainly not to rule. Others will reject him outright, for he is a human, and humans are..." He clasped his hands behind his back. "Apologies, my prince. Their opinions are not my own, though they consider humans to be inferior."

"Ah... I understand," Arinax replied with a quiet satisfaction, as if an itch had been scratched. "Still, should he not at least try? Lives could be spared. It'd be more efficient."

Lalian shook his head. "A challenge from an outsider would be discarded outright. Many Akros raiders have tried their luck, only to fall to Lanthian treachery. The only way to make the city bow is to force their surrender, much as your brave sister Princess Nafalya is attempting just now." Lalian shrugged. "It's truly a singular conundrum, and one that may end with a duel regardless, though we have few alternatives. When two cultures clash-"

He was interrupted when the flap to the bedroom parted. The God Emperor emerged, securing his one-suit. When he eyed Lalian, a smirk claimed his lips. "Hello, my friend."

A young woman followed a moment later, pulling a thin shroud tightly around her svelte form as she noticed the others with surprise. Bowing before The Prince Upholder of Vaidrin and The Grand Imperial Architect, she blushed. "My Lords."

A hand concealed behind her back crept down to squeeze her rump as Dominax savored her young, fertile body, a new Vaidspawn soon to grow in her womb. With a spank, he dismissed her to scurry from the tent before assessing the neat pile of translations. "Ah, well done, Lalian. I'll assess them tonight. For now, the boy must be tended to." He eyed his son. "Come. We have little to do but wait for Nafalya, and your training demands our attention."

Fear tainted Arinax's excitement, peering at Lalian with reluctant silver eyes.

"Ah, very well." The green man looked from the boy to his master, and back to the boy. "W... we'll discuss this another time, my prince. I had best return to my tent."

A silent despair overcame the boy, yet he offered no complaint.

As Lalian was dismissed, Dominax urged Arinax closer. The Lanthian knew better than to overstay his welcome, departing after a swift bow.

Making his way through the sea of tents deep inside the oppressive jungle, Lalian couldn't help but think of the woman at Dominax's side, remembering every tantalizing inch, just visible through her shroud. Another womb fell to The God Emperor's seed, another body conquered. With a tingle that made him blush, he thought of Anthara's swelling belly.

He found his own tent nearby. When he pushed aside the fabric entrance, however, his eyes widened with utter surprise. "V... Vixin?"

There, atop his bed, two gorgeous bodies rested entwined in each other's arms, one green, one human. Two faces offered teasing smirks. Four hands caressed and explored.

"Ah, there you are, my love." Anthara parted her legs as a royal hand crept up her thigh. When it reached her prize, she moaned. "You kept us... ahh... waiting."

"I... I..." he stammered, watching Vixin's tongue run over his mate's breast, taking her enjoyment before turning to regard him.

"You've left your poor mate to suffer alone." Royal fingers glided through the wetness building between Anthara's thighs. "Oh, though don't worry. I've kept her occupied in your absence."

Speechless, he was left frozen in the entrance.

"Come." Anthara beckoned him with a finger. "Unless you want the others to watch your mate's... satisfaction."

The women chuckled together before he broke from his shock, hurrying to close the tent flap behind. As Anthara's lips met the princess's, he felt his loins tingle, feminine bodies pressing together.

"Are you simply going to stand there and watch?" Vixin asked gently, sounding disappointed. "This is your bed. This is your... cunt." She glided a finger between Anthara's drenched labia. "You have a right to join us."

"V... Vixin... Anthara..." He fought to regain himself, watching royal thighs part to reveal her need. Two women rested before him, presenting themselves, every inch flawless. "This is... this is utterly singular."

Caressing Vixin's leg, a hint of sincerity filled Anthara's teasing tone. "Today is one I'd rather forget, and the princess has offered her generosity. You wouldn't mind sharing your mate with the woman that sealed us as bondmates, would you?"

Vixin explored the Lanthian's pregnant form. "We've shown great restraint in your absence. Now that you're here, why don't you assist in keeping her occupied for the day?" As if to match Anthara, Vixin grew subtly serious. "Join us or send me from your tent. Nothing shall change between us either way."

Anthara chuckled. "Come, Lalian. You've had us both." She caressed the pretty lower lips on display between Vixin's thighs, making the princess moan. "You've savored the tightness of your master's daughter, and my own. We can trust her more than most."

Feeling his hardness twitching beneath his tunic, Lalian took a step.

"You trust me, don't you?" Vixin gently held onto Anthara's arm as fingers played between her legs.

"Of... of course, princess," he muttered quickly, only to correct himself. "Vixin."

"Then come, let me savor the love I sealed when I made you bondmates," she commanded gently, her seductive voice oozing from pleasured lips. "Let us find ecstasy, together."

Heart hammering in his chest, Lalian felt his temptation rising with every step. When he could reach out and touch the sheet, an ache tormented his loins, demanding, begging to make their offer a reality. Only Vixin's welcoming silver eyes calmed his panic, his jealousy rolling in waves with every touch he saw. "Are... are you certain?"

"She's yours, Lalian," Vixin chuckled. "You don't require my permission."

Fingers brushing against soft skin, retreating, lust driving them to return, he mounted the bed with a grin, blushing deeply as they took his hands. Guiding him closer, he was enveloped in a realm of bliss, hardly able to believe his reality as they carefully undressed him.

Vixin brushed aside an embarrassed hand when Lalian tried to conceal himself. "There's no place for shame here." Gently, she ran a finger over his erection, biting her lip with a chuckle. "Ah, there he is. Hello again, little one. It's been a long, long time."

Her voice stirred memories, recalling their night together. Her touch made him quiver, his cock twitching eagerly.

As the women returned to their backs, Lalian watched their lips meet once more, tongues dueling with passion. As if waiting for approval, he was granted a devious nod from his mate, his fingers permitted to glide across Vixin's delicate skin, divinely soft. He nearly shuddered at the touch of her body as his hand moved up her thigh.

"Oh, is she so alluring, so tantalizing, you'd explore her first over your mate?" Anthara nearly growled, only to laugh when he stuttered to find an excuse. "I can't say I disagree." A hunger filled her expression as her hands caressed the royal body beside her, exploring perky breasts. "Go on, Lalian. Show her what I've taught your fingers, though don't forget your second duty." She eyed her pregnant belly. "Don't forget the mother of your child."

As the women chuckled together, Lalian felt as if his loins would burst as his fingers found the flawless treasure between Vixin's soft thighs. Cock twitching, he caressed her lower lips gently, as if they were too delicate and beautiful to enter. He knew better, of course, and a moment later, two fingers carefully slid inside.

"Ah... Lalian..." Vixin offered him a teasing smirk.

"Is... is this too rough?" he asked, enthralled with every tiny twitch and quiver of pleasure her gorgeous body displayed.

"She's far from fragile." Anthara took his other hand, guiding it to her own loins. "Go on. Show her the skill of my mate. Make us cum."

Serving the two women he trusted most, Lalian's cock throbbed as his fingers worked, watching them moan. Their tongues dueled once more, feminine bodies writhing, subtle muscles tensing and releasing.

With her wings open beneath her, Anthara cradled Vixin's body as she reached over, savoring the shape of the princess's smooth thigh. Lips parting, their breath warm with lust, Anthara couldn't hold back as she gently bit Vixin's lip. "You have no idea how long... ahh... I've ached to taste your lips once more. The moment you sealed our bond... ahh... I knew I needed more..."

The words were a quick pain as Lalian's eager fingers coaxed their juices. They'd feel like a dagger to his heart if said to anyone else. Uttered to The God Emperor or his daughter, however, made whatever faint jealousy Lalian felt quickly dampened, replaced by a warmth spreading through his loins.

Back arching, Vixin moaned at his touch before reaching over, caressing Anthara's pregnant swell. "On that day... ahh... I blessed your descendants. I wasn't surprised when I learned of your pregnancy. My father isn't one to ignore such a gorgeous form."

Surprise mixed with her pleasure, touching Vixin's hand atop her swell. "You... ahh... know?"

"Y... you forget their senses, my love," Lalian muttered. It had been a certainty Dominax's children would sense their sibling in Anthara's womb, a fact he carried with a silent humiliation. All members of House Vaid knew of his failure, yet no other family deserved to know the truth more than the one he had served for the majority of his life.

Vixin chuckled, every moment bringing her closer to her satisfaction as his fingers rubbed her most sensitive area, sending tingling pleasure through her tight tunnel, just as Anthara had taught him. "It's an open secret... ahh... in any case."

Memories of the conception coaxed her enjoyment further, wings twitching as she neared her orgasm. The feeling of the princess's hand atop her unborn child was a strangely tantalizing sensation, knowing the father of the royal woman moaning at her side had spurted his seed deep inside to claim her womb.

Cock twitching, Lalian watched two gorgeous bodies squirm, the feeling of their soaking loins squeezing tightly around his fingers driving him to madness. The subtle differences in texture around his fingertips were intoxicating, stirring his curiosities.

Knowing the body of his mate best, Anthara was the first to finish. Crying out, moaning, muttering pleasured words in her harsh native tongue, the Lanthian arched her back. When she fell, satisfied, her hands caressed Vixin's breasts to assist Lalian, teasing small, pink nipples until the princess cried out.

Awed, Anthara watched Vixin squirt, drenching Lalian's hand. "You are... enchanting..." The sight flared her lusts anew, surprised that the delicate, pretty, elegant vagina on display could climax to such a powerful extent. It was a shame to let her juices go to waste, yet more was yet to come.

Recovering with deep breaths, the sheets drenched beneath her, Vixin meet Lalian with an impressed gaze. "That was... you..." She sought to gather her thoughts as her mind basked in a haze of pleasure. "Wow..."

Lalian smiled at her pleasure. "I had ample practice... V... Vixin." After many years, the scales were balanced. She had allowed him to cum inside of her, a gift of kindness he had never forgotten. His inadequacy had offered her little satisfaction in return. Now, watching her gorgeous body savoring the aftermath of an orgasm brought by his hand, Lalian felt a hint of pride rise in his chest.

Anthara reached down to tap his manhood as it twitched, painfully rigid. "Awe, has my poor little cock been neglected? You did well, my love. Come. Take your reward and push this small weapon as deep inside me as you can reach."

He could endure no further. Another second of the aching of his loins would drive him to madness. As he accepted his place between her smooth green thighs, Lalian hardly delayed before pushing himself inside. "Oh... oh... Anthara..."

Vixin leaned on her side to watch the couple's love. As Lalian bucked his hips, moaning like an eager pet, Anthara sought the princess. Vixin pressed close to her side as a green hand explored between her wet thighs, finding the source of her juices.

"Ohh... if I had a lover as flawless as you years ago... ahh... I might have never left the jungle," Anthara moaned, finger circling Vixin's sensitive clit. "I only hope my child is half... ahh... as perfect as you are..."

Lalian controlled his thrusts the way she taught him, focusing carefully on his rhythm. No matter how well he knew her body's needs, however, her attention rested with the princess.

"Your father was a... how do you say... a master," Anthara confessed before kissing Vixin. "Never has any male... ahh... felt as... exquisite. When he filled me with his seed, while his cock claimed my deepest reaches... ahh... I knew my ecstasy would never... ahh... be rivaled."

Cock throbbing, Lalian whimpered, thrusting harder at the sound of her words. When she took his hand, he was surprised to earn her attention once more, watching her mask of seduction melt away. Holding her pregnant belly together, he saw the affection in her eyes.

"He granted us a gift... ahh... we can never repay," she moaned, pulling away from Vixin's groin to guide a royal hand to join theirs. "He is a man... ahh... to be prideful of, a human Priarch, a worthy source of your blood."

Three hands atop Anthara's pregnant swell, they shared a moment of understanding. It was a single instant, a feeling binding them together. Fate had them meet as foes. Anthara had been presented before Vixin, a captured enemy in chains. She had conducted their marriage ritual long after, sealing them together eternally. Now, a child grew inside her womb, the result of their bond.

"I sense it..." Vixin said before their tongues dueled once more, craving each other. "Your child is... healthy... powerful."

Lalian's hand quivered, his cock throbbing at the thought. He wanted to go to Dominax, to kneel, to thank his friend for granting his mate a healthy child. Though his bloodline had ended forever, he felt nothing but gratitude that it had been replaced with the bloodline of the man he trusted most.

Anthara squeezed her hand, moaning, rocking lightly with every thrust between her parted legs. "Feel it... ahh... inside me. Feel your... ahh... sibling. Feel the child your father granted my womb!"

Holding her lover's belly, Vixin maneuvered to lick Anthara's nipple. As if seeking to taste the milk that would feed her sibling, she began to suck, receiving little but small drops and moans from the Lanthian. Her royal cunny tingled at the thought of her father cumming inside the beautiful body on display, breeding a gorgeous woman by spewing the seed that had sired her.

"Princess... come... allow me to taste you," Anthara requested when she could resist no longer.

Suckling, Vixin ran her tongue sensually over the nipple a final time before granting her wish. Rising, she maneuvered to straddle the woman's head, her juices leaking.

When she lowered herself, groin meeting Anthara's lips, the green woman plunged her tongue into her royal folds. A moment later she pulled back, eyes wide in disbelief. "You..." She muttered in her native tongue, licking once more. "Princess... your taste..."

Vixin merely chuckled. "So I've heard."

"I've tasted many women, yet you..." She grabbed Vixin's hips, holding tightly as her tongue worked frantically, as if greedily enjoying an exquisite feast. "Ohh... nothing in this world is sweeter..."

The contrast between an ordinary vagina and a Vaid's was striking, enthralling, an addiction she wasn't certain she could break from. Her world narrowed between Vixin's soft thighs, obsessing over her juices. Years without the touch of a woman had done little to dampen her skill, her ample experience returning within an instant.

Forcing himself to slow his pace, the sight of his mate enraptured by Vixin's womanhood was nearly too much to bear. His limit hung before him, inevitable, urging him closer with every thrust.

Vixin's thighs clenched as she gasped at the woman's skill and knowledge. Every lick was precise, knowing exactly where she craved. Pushing inside, pulling out to flick back and forth over her clit, Vixin whimpered in joy. Her hips began to grind against her lips without her notice, instinctually begging for more.

As she sensed Lalian's impending climax growing dangerously close, Vixin's own arrived first. Her body seized in a pulsating explosion of pleasure from between her legs. She cried out, caring little for the fabric walls separating them from the rest of the surrounding camp outside. She wanted them to hear her pleasure. She wanted the world to know of her glorious orgasm.

When at last the climax released her, she collapsed to the bed. Lalian reluctantly pulled out just before he'd find his own satisfaction, eager for another prize.

Anthara drank the juices drenching her face, obsessing in Vixin's taste as if drinking from a goddess. When she was satisfied, knowing she'd hunger for more eventually, she rolled onto her side to caress her fallen lover. She guided Vixin's pleasured legs apart, offering a royal vagina to her mate. "Go on, Lalian. I know you crave her as I do. I'll permit you to fuck her, though only if you intend to impress her."

"Yes... Lalian," Vixin giggled, offering herself. A teasing caress taunted him, showing herself off, hands running over her alluring body. "Show me what you can do after all these years."

Throbbing, aching, he pressed his tip to her lower lips as his heart pounded. "Yes, Vixin," he replied, all too happy to obey. As he slowly pushed inside, his body trembled at the feeling of her loins, as if sliding inside a goddess. "Thank... you..."

No other feeling rivaled the loins of The God Emperor's daughter. The intensely stimulating texture of her royal tunnel drove Lalian to madness within an instant, tight, constricting, warm. His legs trembled with pleasure, threatening to collapse atop her seductive body.

"She must feel exquisite to make you shake, my love," Anthara chuckled, amused at the sight of his ecstasy. "Never have I made you moan as loudly, yet with one thrust, her cunt claims your endurance."

Never could anyone forget the divine sensation of a Vaid, yet even with Lalian's flawless memory, experiencing her tightness once more after many years was a euphoria his memories simply couldn't provide.

A whimper escaped him, unable to conceal the desperation in his tone. Slowly, knowing he'd finish in mere seconds if he proceeded recklessly, he began to thrust with slow movements. Each pump of his hips sent pulsating pleasure shooting through his cock as if pushing into a bed of soft feathers that caressed every one of the few inches he could offer.

Vixin hardly reacted to his intrusion, merely enjoying the sight of his bliss. Her tight body had endured far larger, yet she wished to grant her father's loyal advisor the ecstasy he deserved. "Go on, Lalian. My body is yours for as long as you can endure."

"Yet endure you must." Anthara reached over to find the aching clit of the princess. While her mate's hips pumped, her fingers offered their aid. "If I permit you to lay with another woman, you're going to please her."

Concentrating, Lalian required every ounce of his self-control to prevent the finish her divine body sought to milk from him. Her vagina seemed determined to claim his seed, as if unaware he could offer little but pitiful drops of sterile liquid. Her own subtle pregnancy had yet to show itself, yet already her loins demanded another.

Vixin relished the touch of her Lanthian lovers. Working together, experienced fingers rubbed her as Lalian fought to please her. His thrusts appeared calculated, striking with new skill, rather than the wild humping of a man desperate to breed. "You're... ahh... better than I recall, Lalian."

The compliment darkened his cheeks further as a smile spread across his features. "Am... am I pleasing you... Vixin?"

She offered a kind smile. No lie was required. Though most of her pleasure came from Anthara's skill, the contribution of Lalian's thrusts was nothing to ignore.

"Good boy. Thank the princess for binding us together." Anthara massaged the small bud at her fingertips as her other hand rubbed her pregnant swell. "Thank the daughter of your master. He granted us a child, and you'll repay him by satisfying his offspring."

Moaning, every second tortured Lalian's cock with an intense stimulation he never wanted to escape, yet knowing he could endure no more. "Ohh... Vixin..."

The princess tasted Anthara's tongue as her body rocked and writhed with pleasure. Every inch of her was a tantalizing feast for the Lanthians, driving their obsessions.

"I hope my child is as flawless as the royal form before me," Anthara said, chuckling.

Hips raising as if guided by the woman's fingers, Vixin moaned, preparing to find her final finish. "Keep... ahh... going! Cum inside me again... Lalian!"

Every thrust drove him closer. Every blissful push into her tightness cut his endurance to ribbons.

"Breed me!" Vixin grabbed Anthara's other hand, squeezing as she tasted the beginning of her orgasm. "Breed me... ahh... just as my father bred your mate!"

The fantasy was impossible, yet he shunned reality. Driving himself deep, he convulsed as he found his finish. The greatly dampened stimulation from his castration did little to sour his orgasm, shaking, trembling, hardly able to cry out. Only once had such pleasure battered his mind, and just as he had the first time he had finished inside the princess, he crumbled atop her, eyes rolling back.

Vixin quivered in her own climax, lying still as she recovered. With a chuckle, she caressed his unconscious cheek before meeting Anthara's lips. "You..." She took a breath. "You possess a great man as your mate. I merely hope you treat him well."

Anthara granted his head a kiss. With their lusts fulfilled, her teasing facade faded, caressing her mate lovingly. "The pleasures I offer aren't quite as grand as your own." She peered at the tattoo in her palm, caressing her belly.

"Then perhaps I'll have to offer my generosity more often."

A hungry grin found Anthara. "Such is a gift we'd never refuse. Human beds can grow cold without a woman's flesh to warm you, and feminine forms are simply superior."

Sharing a chuckle, they rested together, pressing close.

Satisfaction held back Anthara's thoughts, yet they slowly crept back into her awareness. As her guilt rebuilt, she stared at the ceiling of the tent.

A hand hovered over her pregnancy as Vixin concentrated. Realization flavored her pretty smile. "It's an odd thing to sense a Lanthian pregnancy, no less when carrying a hybrid, though I wasn't merely offering kind words when I spoke of your child's health. You'll have quite a powerful son, Anthara."

Shattered from her thoughts, Anthara sat up in surprise. "A... son?"

Vixin nodded. "I sense him."

Slowly, as if all of Praith had vanished for an instant, she touched her belly. A son. She could almost laugh despite her crushing disappointment.

Perhaps no fate was more fitting for a traitor. Perhaps, after a lifetime of dominating slaves, it was only fitting she'd bear a child that would've joined their ranks.

"A son."