>>641

>That is a really big reminder that I'm not that good of a writer.

Or that erotic fiction is tough to sell due to social taboos. An online purchase is even harder to justify since people will just pirate it, or feel dirty paying for "porn". By far does it not mean you are a bad writer.

Two words: Ad-supported. I checked out your site. There doesn't seem to be ads there. If you're comfortable with the idea, find an advertiser that will take your site (there seems to be very few unfortunately) and if you're popular enough, you'll scrape together some decent extra cash. That's a few potential bucks every ten readers or so.

>>642
Ads are a nasty little thing. Most ad places that I trust won't let you put ads on pornographic pages (I'm pretty sure I qualify). And the ones I don't trust put things like Flash or other animated ads that I truly hate.

I also have the philosophical hatred of ads. I despise them in my electrical and gas bills. They show up everywhere and they don't need to.

So, a long time ago, I decided that I don't need to put ads in. I make enough to maintain the website as part of my day job, so it isn't entirely about money. Yeah, it is a money hole, but I'd rather take money via donations, selling my books (which is more "honest" for me), referrals (I use Dreamhost and they give me a small percentage if I refer people), and commissions (though only from people who I trust via interactions). It seems to work for the most part.

Writing well is much different. I figured that when I write something that is good, people will give me money (either by the above) or simply buying it. It will work in the end, I'm just taking the "long path" as it were.

For every season of the year, the Meat Cutters District had a distinct smell. In winter, when Merrie first started, it was the smell of charcoal and burning flesh that greeted her on the first day of her job. At first, she thought the district was on fire, but the casual way everyone continued their lives set her at ease. It wasn't until later she found out that the district took three months to clean. They didn't use water and soap, but simply white-hot fire and then rebuilt the parts that couldn't survive the weeks of flames.

She didn't really understand why it took so long to clean the district, or why they used so much magic, until she saw her first abomination, a horrific creature that had somehow assembled itself from the raw body parts of slaughtered cattle and sheep using nothing but the pain of a million creatures being killed to feed the largest city in the country. It raged down the street, tearing apart storefronts and howling through a dozen ruined throats. Guards killed it, with sword and magic, just outside of Merrie's new place of business. The resulting explosion had shattered the windows of her apartment and painted the entire front of the building in blood and gore. The guild cleaned it up, but for a week in the dead of winter, it was very quiet in the district and only two whores were able to remain working: Scorch and herself.

Even though she abandoned her ratty shift, the cold didn't bother Merrie anymore. The only clothing she needed was the shifting black cloak that clung to her body. It moved as she needed, shielding her from the wind and peeling back to give potential customers a brief view of her naked breast, bare pussy, or her tail.

The cold in her bones also kept her protected from the icy wind. With most of the whores abandoning the district, she got more than enough fucking to use spells and she measured out her power to keep her warm and safe.

Merrie spent her nights with the beggars, sleeping in her box instead of the warm bed at the guild house. Despite being a member of the guild, complete a seal as the clasp to her cloak, she didn't feel welcomed after her first day. The submissives, ones like Barrel and Elf, clung to her with rapt fascination while others, including Scorch, snubbed her with their own discomfort of being affected by her orgasms.

The beggars, on the other hand, appreciated her presence. To help them, Merrie made a deal with Ratty to provide them food whenever they came to the store during the day, along with a large pot every night to enjoy together. She wish she could do more, but despite the steady stream of customers, it was hard to get rich off the poor.

She found a new rhythm to her life. Wake up and head to the guild for breakfast and a bath. Barrel or Elf would be there to help, including shaving her and the occasional blow job or fingering. Then, she would head back across town for a day of fucking before heading back to the alley.

Merrie didn't want to admit she was happy, but she was happier. The pang of her loss still hurt when she thought about it. At night, she dreamed of her master and woke up crying, but she had to survive. The intoxicating rush of pleasure staved back the despair and she enjoyed being able to use magic again, time keeping spells to show up on time and the ability to shade herself so she could crawl instead of walk across the city.

The only magic she couldn't figure out was how to transform into a dog again. She remembered the rush of having legs and claws, but she couldn't remember the strange half-spell. She wanted to experience it again, to feel fur tugging in the wind. Occasionally, while she was racing across the city, she imagined it was on four feet instead of a nearly naked woman crawling across the boardwalks.

Spring came with new smells. The burnt wood and flesh lingered in the cracks, but the first herds brought in the scents of living creature, manure, and fresh blood. It was the coppery sweet smell of blood that she drank in as she knelt on a planter just outside of the coffee shop. She found the flower pot a few weeks before, it was high enough to keep her breasts in view of the people and balancing on it emphasized her spread open legs with the hint of a pussy hidden underneath the cloak.

The wind nipped at her skin, but it came with the hint of warmth. It teased her senses and she opened up the cloak to let it ripple along her bare skin. Her nipple grew harder at the touch.

She felt a potential mark walking past and released the tension of the cloak. It slipped off her breasts, tugging on the nipple just as he was glancing at her. He got only a brief flash of rosy nipple before he was carried past her. Merrie didn't need to see him to feel him desperately looking back. In a few weeks, he would proposition Merrie for a quick lay. She already knew what would turn him on---sucking on his balls and licking his ass---but he needed to make the first step, otherwise he would shrink away. Merrie could feel the courage building and let it blossom with little flashes of tit and cunt.

She could wait.

Merrie opened up her mind further and pushed past the throb of discomfort. The river of people streaming came with a rush of power. She remained still and arched her back, breathing in the scents of humanity and slaughter. A thousand fantasies flowed in front of her, some of her but mostly of others.

"The point of being a whore," muttered Scorch as he leaned against her planter, "is that you are suppose to get people to pay you for sex. Not just sit there like a dog and wait for someone to invite themselves."

Merrie cocked her head toward him but didn't open her eyes. She didn't need to look at him, his dislike was fire against her skin. He would be frowning. She rocked her hips back and forth and took another deep breath, working her way around the soot and coal scent that clung around Scorch to breath in the scents. She loved the smell of people, the hidden hints of sex and excitement.

On the far side of the street, in the stream of workers heading into the district, she caught the drifting thought of someone interested in Scorch. It was a man who enjoyed the pain of burying his cock into an ass that seared him back. She smiled and opened her eyes to look at Scorch.

"What?" growled Scorch.

Merrie gestured to the far side of the street with her head.

Scorch's scowl deepened and he glanced across.

Merrie tugged on the mark's thoughts and their eyes meet. There was a flash of lust.

Next to her, Scorch growled as he glared at her. "I can find my own fucking marks." He slapped at her, but Merrie shifted to the side and his hand swung through empty air. There was a flash of anger and fear, but then Scorch headed across the street as he put on his fake smile. He wore a simple shirt and trousers, both easily removed for a quick fuck in the alley or up in the apartment.

Merrie returned her attention to the workers leaving the district. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and wiggled her tail, rocking back and forth as she felt the attention of the works rolling off her. It was getting to the end of the shift change and the people who fucked her were usually the stragglers. They held back nervously, waiting for most people to leave the street before coming up to her. She smiled and inhaled, enjoying the shifting cloak as it pushed up her breasts and peeled away from her nipple.

A ripple of stunned excitement filled the crowd along with a flash of lust. There was a brief stumble as everyone had their steady life disrupted, but then she covered herself and people moved forward. The flash of lust would remain with them and she smiled at the thought of workers making love to their husbands and wives while thinking about her.

She amused herself as the crowds died down by delving into the minds of the people passing her. Each one was a potential fuck and she felt the hunger rising inside her. It had been almost an hour since a young man spent a day's pay to fuck her ass and the afterglow was barely an ember inside her body. She craved another orgasm before she gave up for the night.

A wave of power rolled over her as she felt a presence coming closer. It was invisible but penetrating as someone scanned the street telepathically. Reflexively, Merrie wrapped herself in the shade and let the probe slid over her. It felt familiar, crystalline and elegant, but barely kept in control.

Two women came walking around the corner, arm in arm as they spoke together cheerfully. They both caught Merrie's attention. The first was a slender blonde with brown eyes. She wore a stern suit and high heels, but she also had a city guard's seal hanging from a pendant above her cleavage. She was the source of the telepathic probe, but she made no sign that she was scanning the street before her.

The other guard was an older woman with closely cropped hair on the side and a long pony tail. She still wore the outfit of a street guard except that her sword was shifted back and bouncing off her ass instead of at her side where it would be ready to drawn.

Merrie knew both of them instantly: Gail and Tai. The woman Merrie uplifted to save innocent people and the guard who saved Merrie. Neither knew she was kneeling on the side of the boardwalk as they walked up.

Curious, Merrie reached for their minds.

Tai's was the easiest and Merrie dove into her thoughts. She was happy with Gail but still guarded that the telepath would read her mind. Ever since that fateful day, Gail never entered her mind, but Tai wasn't sure she would ever know.

Merrie pushed further, looking for the memories Tai had of her. She found them easily but she wasn't surprised that Merrie was one of Tai's hidden secret. In the days that passed, Tai remembered Merrie was the sweet, innocent thing that needed being saved. But, as fantasy took over, so did a lust for Merrie. Tai wanted Merrie to be thankful for her new life and be willing to let Tai lick and touch her whenever she wanted.

Warmth curled up from Merrie's pussy. Tai wasn't a submissive, but she wanted to be the one licking and touching, to be sweet and caring. When no one was looking and her hand was between her legs, Tai thought about Merrie. And Merrie was both flattered and turned on by the torch that Tai still held for her. They were only together for less than a hour, but the flame burned bright.

Heady with lust, Merrie pulled out of Tai's thoughts and delved into Gail's. The telepath had strong shields, as expected from someone used to working with her mind, but Merrie pierced through dark cracks in the crystalline brightness. Once inside, she spread out with the grace of a shadow, unseen and unexpected.

Gail's thoughts were structured and measured, like the beats of a clock. Everything was organized before she even started. She allocated the minutes of kissing before they both left their home, the hour of their lunch, and even the rate they were walking down the street to arrive just as the food was delivered. She saw the world in the crystalline perfection and strived to make it that way.

But deep beneath the order was the power that Merrie gave her to save the district. It was raw and chaotic and dark, like Merrie's master. It shifted uncomfortably in the crystalline cage and Gail was both afraid and enamored with its potential. It begged for her to let go of her order and do something unexpected, but she was afraid of it.

Merrie wanted more. She wanted to know what would turn on the telepath. She burrowed deeper into Gail's mind, searching out her lust. She found it in a little box, sealed up with shame and fear. Moving as gently as she could, Merrie forced her way into Gail's innermost lusts.

It was a massive dog of shadow and death. It looked like one of Merrie's pack, a Bel Dark hound, but the creature was larger and blurry as if it was made from pure shadows. Two eyes, the darkest of dark, stared out unblinking at Gail, but Merrie saw herself in the eyes. The dog was her and that was what both terrified and excited Gail.

Merrie pulled back and realized she was panting. Where Tai's unconsciousness turned Merrie on with her need, Gail's turned it on with fear. There was helplessness and hunger in the telepath's mind, a chaos that threatened to crack the shell she wore to the public.

With a start, Merrie realized she needed the two just as they needed her. She wanted to taste their bodies, to feel their skin. She wanted to be next to the warmth they felt for each other, but also to feel the lusts burning inside them. She craved to feel the fear and passion rise up and touch her own.

Prickling with excitement, she waited until they were closer. As they passed, she dropped the shade and drew their attention with her presence. It was subtle magic but Merrie was getting good at manipulating the minds around her.

As one, they stopped.

Merrie drew herself up, balanced on her knees and her wrists at her throat. She wagged her tail and cocked her ears. The broken one had been healed, but it still drooped no matter what she did. But, the look she gave was enough to bring a flash of recognition in Tai.

The female guard stepped toward her, her face pale. "G-Girl? Is that you?"

Merrie smiled broadly and barked loudly. The sound echoed off the walls.

Shocked, Tai reached out for her. "You're real? You're really there?"

Another bark.

"Honey," said Gail, "who is this?" As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on Merrie's. There was just the hint of recognition, not of the physical form but of the energy inside Merrie. Monk called it signature and Merrie knew that Gail was beginning to recognize Merrie as one that had given her power to save others.

"This is the dog girl I told you about."

"Who?"

"The dog girl. I don't think she can talk, but..." Tai turned to her. "You don't remember again?"

Gail shook her head. In her head, there was no memory of Merrie or Tai ever speaking about the bitch. Even as Tai's words sunk in, Merrie saw a compulsion erasing the memory from Gail's thoughts. If they walked away right then, Gail would forget that Merrie ever existed.

Bringing everything together, Merrie connected every living being in the district to Gail. At the same time, she gave a single command, inescapable and overpowering. (Save them and forget.)

Merrie jerked at the memory. Gail couldn't remember her, because Merrie's spell wouldn't let her. The same spells that protected her master's grave from memory also shielded Merrie from the telepath's consciousness.

Tail let out a sigh. "I told you about her, I swear."

Gail stepped up behind Tai and wrapped her arms around the fighter's waist. She rested her chin on the strong shoulder but continued to stare at Merrie. The hunger built in both of them as they both tried to find some way to encourage their lover to bring Merrie with.

Tai rested her hands on Gail's clasped fingers. "I wish people would believe me."

Gail said nothing as she watched Merrie. She was drawn to Merrie but she didn't know why, but deep inside, the hidden memory of the shadow hound rose up and little flickers of terrified excitement flared to life. "She's pretty."

"She's beautiful, Gail, I told you."

"I think---"

Merrie tilted her body so the Whore's Guild mark flashed in the light. She drew the attention to it with a little twist of power.

"---that she wants to come home with us."

The heat between Merrie's pussy grew hotter. She smiled and gave a confident bark. She squirmed and her tail thumped loudly against the side of the planter to emphasize her point. There was no question she was going home with them, but to see two women staring at her with lust excited her, even if Merrie had started the fires herself.

She crawled off the planter, using a nearby bench as a step. On the ground, the cloak wrapped around her until she was almost completely covered in darkness. With a smile, she crawled up between the two women and looked up with an expectant bark.

Tai looked at Gail. "Um, I wasn't... expecting that. How do we get her home?"

Gail looked around. "Hold on." She closed her eyes and power rippled out from her. It was a repulsion spell, not quite as powerful as Merrie's shade but the same results. As the spell settled around them, the attention of people around them drifted away to leave them to walk in peace.

With a giggle, Gail tugged on Tai's arm. "Come on, let's hurry."

They lived about a fifteen minute walk from Merrie's post. It was a fast walk, filled with anticipation as both women were lost in the thoughts of their own fantasies. Merrie crawled between them, enjoying the heat of their bodies and the whiffs of excitement that seeped through their clothes. She was slick herself, but that was her normal state since... as long as she could remember.

At a two-story brownstone, they stopped. It had a neat garden behind a brick wall and white painted shutters on the windows. Tai went first and unlocked the door before holding it open for the others.

Merrie crawled inside and took a deep breath. It smelled of oil and perfume. It was comforting and she couldn't help but smile. She knew that she could never stay, but for a brief moment, she could enjoy the idea of having a home again.

"You know," said Tai as she closed the door, "we can do this, but we could get in trouble. Guards aren't suppose to get... um, girls like her."

"Don't worry, no one saw us. I'm good enough for that." Gail nervously giggled and tugged on her shirt. Neither looked down at Merrie.

"Um..." Tai glanced around. "Now what?"

Merrie grinned. After a few months, she was used to the first-time jitters. She could recall the memories from both guards. Taking charge, she reached over and clamped her mouth on Tai's trousers. With a playful tug, she drew her into the kitchen.

Gail remained behind, unsure of her own responses and struggling with a doubt that filled her.

In the kitchen, Merrie released Tai and crawled over to the stove. It was a simple one, a clay shelf with three metal plates on the top. A heating rune marked each one, along with a sensitive trigger to turn it on and off. Neither guard made enough for the adjustable ones, so each plate only had one setting but the sizes dictated the amount of heat they produced. Merrie knew on the back one had a tea kettle, so she got on her knees and reached over to tap it.

Tai stared in shock. "Tea? You want tea?"

Merrie settled back down and barked.

She stared at Merrie for a moment, as if unsure of the request, but then happiness blossomed inside her and the tension flowed away. "I can make tea, for the both of you." Helping people was one of Tai favorite things and Merrie found the perfect way of getting her to concentrate on what she loved the most.

Merrie watched as Tai fill the pot. The tea was less important than the process of making it. It would help relax all of them. She got on her knees and wrists and crawled back to the front door. Halfway there, she paused. She had a flash of Kirin doing the same thing, acting as a healer for Merrie's mind just as Merrie was helping Tai. It was also the same thing Merrie did as a beggar, easing the minds that gave her money. She frowned and pushed it aside to think about later.

Gail was in the living room, sitting on the couch and wringing her hands together. Doubt and fear boiled in her thoughts, a dark cloud over the telepath's head. Her shields were strong enough to keep it in her head, but Merrie could feel it against her skin like a sandstorm.

Letting her body rustle the carpet, Merrie crawled over to the couch and crawled up on it. As she did, her cloak flowed just out of Gail's sight and sank partially into the cushion cracks. She stopped it as it reached the point Gail was comfortable with. Over the next few minutes, Merrie planned on slowly stripping more away while Gail wasn't looking.

Gail didn't look at her. Instead, she stared at the far end of the room with sweat beading her brow and her eyes flickering back and forth. Her small breasts rose and fell with her short breaths. Every time Tai set down a cup or flatware in the kitchen, she jumped.

Merrie glanced down to her hands, then took a double-take when she saw what looked like bite marks on the back of Gail's hand. There was no wound, but just two marks where some dog had bitten her. But, in her mind's eye, it was the shadow magic that seeped from the marks that caught her attention.

Curious, she reached out with the smooth end of her arm and rested it against the mark.

Gail jumped and pulled away, covering the tooth marks with her hands. "Oh! Don't worry about that. I got it about a year ago when... when..." Her eyes glazed as the memories welled up.

She was sitting at the dispatcher station with her hands on the crystal focusing globe. She struggled to keep her composure so the other dispatchers wouldn't notice, but she was trying to find Tai. Something was happening near her lover. As she expanded her probe through the shifting darkness that covered part of the city, she regretted every reading Tai's mind in a moment of doubt. It wasn't worth the fight and she didn't want the last words to be "I hate you!"

Whatever had swallowed up the district was nothing but a maelstrom of pain and agony. Her shields were being stripped away as fast as she could spin them and she was losing. A sob rose in her throat and the other dispatchers were beginning to notice.

She saw an image of some terrible beast, a demonic abomination of shadow. It lunged for her. She tried to yank her hands from the focusing crystal but four teeth slammed into her hand and pinned her into place. Alien thoughts battered against her sanity. It cracked her shields in an instant and she was laid bare to the inhuman mind that caught her as easily despite her years of training. She felt like a mouse in the hound's jaws, moments away from having her mind and body crushed into oblivion.

Gail shuddered and closed her eyes. She tore her thoughts away from the pain. Moments later, the compulsion spell rose up and began to erode at the fresh memories, dissolving them until there was nothing but a general feeling of disease.

Guilt hit Merrie and her ears drooped. She didn't mean to torture Gail that way. She reached out and slid her hand in between Gail's palms and brought the marked hand up to her mouth. Looking up at Gail, Merrie kissed the mark. She couldn't remove the mark any more than she could remove the memories, but she could at least apologize for the pain.

Sniffing, Gail watched her. The memories faded from her mind. "I-I never did this before, um, what do I call you? 'Girl' seems wrong." She giggled nervously.

Merrie thought for a moment. Since she couldn't give a name, everyone came up with a different name. She was known as Bitch, Slut, Fuck Hole, Ears, and Cunt. Everyone called her different things and no label ever stuck. She was reminded of her master's words, to never give an anchor with a name. She thought for a moment, reaching out to both Tai and Gail's mind. She followed various associations they had with her appearance. Both of them thought her cloak looked like lace against her skin and she got a name for the two guards.

Looking up, she pointed to a lace tablecloth on an end table.

"Cloth?"

Merrie shook her head and tapped the edge.

"Lace?"

She nodded and barked.

"Lace?" Gail played with the word for a moment. "How about Black Lacy?"

Responding to Merrie's happiness, her tail wagged faster.

"Black Lacy, I like that." Gail's tension eased for a moment.

Merrie brought her hand back up and kissed the marks. Gail's hands were soft and perfumed, with manicured nails that were maintained with the same precision she carried out her life. Merrie thought they were perfect and kissed up to the fingertips and back down.

"I-I..."

Knowing that the words would come out eventually, Merrie continued to plant little kisses down Gail's palm. Her lips caressed the lines before working her way down to Gail's slender wrist.

"I've never done this before and I'm... I'm afraid that she's going to fall for you, Lacy."

Merrie glanced up but continued to kiss.

"She's been talking about you for months. An obsession, but no one remembers you. You don't exist. But, what if she leaves me for you? What if I'm not good enough?"

Merrie shook her head. She could feel the doubt boiling inside Gail, the insecurities cracking through her ordered world. Gail hated herself for almost losing Tai once, but she still dreaded that Tai would leave her for someone who needed her more.

"Why am I tell you this?"

With a soft smile, Merrie balanced on her knees and used both arms to pull Gail's hand to her chest. She worked her way down the cuff of Gail's jacket.

"Oh!" Gail blushed and used her free hand to unbutton the jacket. Merrie released her other hand so Gail could slip it off. Underneath the black jacket, Gail wore a silk blouse that clung to her bare breasts. Two nipples stuck out through the shimmering fabric, little peaks that begged to be sucked.

Merrie let out a soft moan and slid her arms up Gail's flanks to cup her breasts. She leaned into her, rubbing her body along Gail's and forcing the woman to rotate enough to lay back on the couch.

In a position of dominance, Merrie kissed Gail's belly, then up between the valley of her breasts, to the woman's collar. She knew that Gail ached to have her nipples sucked on, but Merrie wanted to kiss her lips first. As she moved, she straddled her lover's hips and sank down. Her tail battled against Gail's legs as she settled into place.

"I-I---" Excitement warred with fear as Gail tried to talk. "Shouldn't we wait for Tai?"

Merrie nipped Gail's collar, right at the sensitive spot above the bone. The respond was immediate, an inhalation of air and a shiver that rocked against Merrie's body.

The cloak slipped off Merrie and retreated for the darkness underneath the couch. It wasn't needed anymore and Merrie wanted to feel the rasp of the suit, the slickness of the silk, and Gail's flesh against her own skin.

Merrie nipped again. At the same time, she let just a hint of the darkness bubble up. It wasn't enough for despair or sorrow, but it resonated with the part of Merrie inside Gail, the little box of secret desires.

Gail tensed up as her breath quickened. Part of her was afraid, but the other was focusing on the pleasure Merrie gave with the little nips and the soft skin against her own. Gail had enjoyed many lovers before, but none since she met Tai. The newness was a raw excitement that send quivers of heat trembling through Merrie's body.

Shifting forward, Merrie followed the line of Gail's jaw up to her chin and then to her lips. The touch of their kiss was electric and Gail's body thrust up against Merrie's.

"I---"

A kiss.

"---should wait---"

A little nip and Merrie kissed into Gail's moan.

"---for Tai."

Merrie didn't stop. She could feel Tai watching from the kitchen, stroking herself through her panties. She had already lost her trousers, but she didn't want to interrupt the moment. The words that drifted from Gail were an aphrodisiac for the other guard, the feeling of being needed was almost as exciting as watching the two women on her couch.

Settling higher up, Merrie cupped Gail's head between her arms and kissed harder. She let the mental images drift into Gail's head, of the shadow hound, at the same time she prevented Gail from fighting.

The response was immediate, an excited helplessness. Gail's body grew hot as she exhaled into Merrie's mouth, a soft little puff of air mixing in with a moan. Her body squirmed underneath Merrie's but she was fantasizing that Merrie was a softer, safer form of the creature that both terrified and excited her. Even Gail didn't know they were the one and the same. The thin veneer of pretending was enough to send excitement radiating from Gail's heart.

Merrie exhaled with just a hint of a growl. The feeling of power she had over Gail was intoxicating, almost as much as submitting. She growled and kissed harder, enjoying the flash of pleasure and the tiny orgasms that rippled through Gail's mind.

(Please don't be real. Please don't stop.) Gail's thoughts drifted through Merrie's mind, followed by a ripple of discomfort. Merrie ignored the pain and continued to impress the hint of the creature without becoming it. It was a balancing act because every pleasure brought a sympathetic clench of Merrie's pussy. And the pleasure pushed back the despair that Merrie was using to turn Gail on.

A rustle of fabric caught Merrie's attention. She felt Tai kneeling on the couch, naked and excited. The guard ran her hands along Merrie's buttocks, exploring the junction of her tail and down her thighs. She was focused on Merrie's soaked pussy but she wanted to see Gail's sex also.

Merrie lifted her hips to give Tai access to her lover. The new position pressed their lips together even harder and Merrie took advantage to aggressively kiss her, balancing on the knife edge of pleasure and terror.

Gail whimpered into the kiss. Her arms snaked around to clutch at Merrie's head. Her fingers ran through the blonde hair until she reached Merrie's ears. The touch against the sensitive ridges was enough to push Merrie over the edge and she sank into the rush of an orgasm filling her body.

She regained her senses moments later just as Tai was pulling the last of Gail's suit pants off her hips and down her legs. Merrie glanced down to see Gail's sex, furred with dark brown hair and lips peeking through the thatch. She smiled and lowered her hips back down, until their pubic bones were resting against each other.

Behind them, Tail let out a hungry moan and stretched out on the couch. Inching forward, she grabbed Merrie's tail for balance and kissed the sensitive folds right below Merrie's asshole.

Merrie moaned which continued into a long gasp as Tai ran her tongue down the length of her slit and then fell down to Gail's sex. She lapped deep before coming back up, crossing over the thin gap of the two pussies, before running her tip along Merrie's shaved slit.

Underneath, Gail spread her legs further apart with a gasp. She gasped for air, wordlessly crying for more.

Merrie let Gail's efforts part her own legs. She caught Gail's head and kissed her again, harder and faster. Their lips ground against each other as did their breasts. Their nipples were separated by only the thin fabric of Gail's blouse but there was no room to pull away the offending cloth.

Tiny orgasms coursed through both of them, each one a ripple in a stream. Merrie knew there was more in Gail, but it was slow to come out. She broke the kiss and worked her way down to Gail's throat, kissing along her neck. As she did, she kept the mental image in the telepath's thoughts, of a shadowy hound pressing against her.

"P-Please," whispered Gail, "don't hurt me."

Merrie worked her mouth along the junction of Gail's neck and shoulder, a sensitive spot that brought the most pleasure to the slender woman. She could feel the fear and excitement swirling together inside Gail, boiling to the edge of orgasm but not able to push over through the crystalline bounds of control.

With a grin, Merrie opened her mouth and pressed her teeth against Gail's skin. It was hot and perfumed, sweet and salty. The sharp edges of her teeth caressed the skin and Gail lurched up into her, almost reaching an orgasm she could never admit to wanting.

"P-Please?"

Below, Tai was lapping harder at both of their sexes. Merrie's thighs were coated not only with her own juices, but Tai's saliva, and Gail's excitement. It was hot and slick and the strong tongue coming back to her clitoris was enough to push her closer to the edge.

Gail whimpered. "Don't be real. Please don't hurt me." Her whispers were too soft for Tail to understand. It was desperate and crying, a hunger for more and a release from the secrets that she couldn't tell anyone.

Merrie reached out with her mind. (I will never hurt either of you.) And she bit down, not enough to break flesh, but just to use the brief flash of pain to set off the orgasm boiling inside Gail.

With a scream, Gail's mind exploded with pleasure. It was bright and sparkling, like a crystal exploding. It slammed against Merrie's shields and she let it pass through, letting the wash of an orgasm reach deep into her mind and set off her own ecstasy.

Merrie's orgasm was a dark hole compared to Gail's explosion of light. It was sweet and choking, a void that darkened the brightness. And deep inside it, the illusion that Merrie wasn't the shadowy hound cracked. The fear and excitement doubled and Gail was thrown into another crest of pleasure.

Her cries filled the room as the pleasure reflected off the two telepaths. Merrie took it and pushed it back. Gail shoved back and it snowballed between the two them, growing more intense as their bodies were consumed by it.

Soon, Merrie realized she was about to come hard enough to set off the city. The events at the guild stopped her and she thought furiously, or tried to through the pleasure. Moving frantically, she imagined a dark crystal and formed it into her mind. Desperate not to set off orgasms across the entire city, she poured her pleasure until the mental crystal glowed blackly with her ecstasy.

Underneath her, Gail began to sob. It was cries of pleasure and a release of something she didn't understand. She jerked violently and there was a spray of hotness from between Merrie's legs. It soaked Tai's face as the other guard lapped at Gail's pleasure, drowning in the flavor and heat.

Merrie lost herself as she stared the spell in her head. Somehow, she had trapped her orgasm inside a mental construct, a battery of sorts. She could feel the pleasure radiating from it, but the bulk of the ecstasy was trapped inside the spell. It felt raw but there was excitement as she wondered what it could be used for.

She slipped off as Tai crawled up. The older guard settled herself down on Gail, holding her weight on her arm and knee. She was naked but Gail still had her silk blouse covering her heaving breasts.

Gail panted for breath and kissed Tai's sticky lips. "I love you."

Tail kissed her back. "I love you too."

Basking in their love, Merrie settled down and wagged her tail. She wasn't in a hurry to leave but she loved seeing them lost in each others eyes.

(Lacy?) Gail's thoughts reached out tentatively, as if she wasn't sure she heard Merrie the first time. When Merrie opened herself up, Gail asked, (Do you have to leave?)

Merrie shook her head. (I'm here for as long as you need.)

(I think Tai would like to come too. She likes her asshole licked.) Mixing in with the thoughts is the distaste for going near any rectum, much less Tai's.

(As long as you need,) Merrie repeated and her tail wagged faster, (and to do whatever you want.)

Gail kissed her lover tightly. She was staring into Tai's eyes but her mind was on Merrie. (You won't take her from me, will you?)

Merrie shook her head.

(I won't remember this, will I? That you are a telepath, that you're real.)

A spell was already forming in Merrie's mind. It was elegant and specific as the calligraphic words spread out across her thoughts. (She will never leave you and you will always remember that.)

Almost a year of awesome!!!

Merrie held down Tai's trousers and underwear with both arms as she kept her tilted head jammed up between the guard's muscular thighs. Tai's sex drooled into her mouth and Merrie had to keep her lips sealed around Tai's opening to prevent it from dripping down her neck and face. Not that it mattered, but she loved the musky taste of Tai and wanted to drink every drop instead of wasting it on the ground.

Tai grabbed her ears and pulled her tight, guiding Merrie to her clitoris. Her arms strained as she tried to lift her leg, but with it trapped underneath Merrie's weight, she could do nothing but lean against the brick wall and clench her teeth to avoid calling out.

Merrie loved the frantic submission and the desperation. Tai was off duty in less than an hour, but the hard edge of excitement couldn't wait. So, they were back in the alley between two tanners. Around them, the sharp smells used to treat the hides mixed in with the steady spring rain that dripped down the gutters and railings to splash down around them.

One stream splashed down on Merrie's back. Every droplet of the cool air sent little twinges down her spine. She pulled back the cloak to let it run along bare skin and down between the cleft of her buttocks. Each droplet clung to her pussy before dripping off. The sensation, while tiny and minute, just added to the intensity of the moment.

She ground her face harder into Tai's pussy, breathing through the thick patch of hairs and lapping hard. She knew the woman's pussy like the back of her hand, where to lick and where to touch. She drank in the flood of juices and flicked the little fold of flesh.

"Faster," whispered Tai, "please. Please harder."

Merrie forced her head back so she could pry her shoulders between Tai's thighs. She stretched back and worked her tongue further back to burrow between tightly clenched buttocks of the guard.

"Oh, please..." cried Tai. She brought her hand up to her mouth and bit down on the glove to avoid attracting attention. Guards weren't suppose to use whores at all, but while on duty it would be a firable offense. But, there was no way that Tai could know that Merrie shaded them from sight and even telepathic detection.

Merrie jammed up, forcing Tai up on her toes. She found the tightly clenched anal ring and ran her tongue along it.

Tai's pussy clenched and a flood of juices filled Merrie's mouth and splashed down. It ran down both sides of her face and Merrie moaned at the loss of the taste as it coursed down her breasts, but she simply focused harder on lapping Tai's asshole.

Tai cried out into her glove and clenched tightly on Merrie's ears. The pain only encouraged Merrie to lap harder, circling around the wrinkled opening until it squeezed tight with Tai's rapidly approaching orgasm.

Merrie jammed the tip of her tongue into Tai's hole and fucked her while using it like a little cock. Each thrust ignited a burst of pleasure in the guard and soon Tai was trying to squat down on Merrie's face to keep more inside her.

When Tai came, it was a little burst of pleasure. It filled Merrie with warmth and she drank in the feel of it, along with the musky scent of Tai's pussy and ass.

Shuddering, Tai slumped back. She released Merrie's ears and her glove creaked.

Blood flowed back along the sensitive ridge and Merrie squirmed as the flash of discomfort radiated through her body. She gave the trembling hole a final caress before pulling back. Carefully, she released the trousers and watched the fabric sliding back up Tai's outstretched legs.

"Oh, fuck the gods," gasped the guard. "I needed that."

Merrie grinned and brought herself into a begging position. She bobbed up and down as her tail wagged back and forth. Her naked body glistened from the rain, but unlike Tai, she could cover herself in a flash.

With shaking hands, Tai reached down and pulled her trousers up. "Sorry, Lacy, but I really should be on duty." She finished buckling the belt before she fished into her pockets. Pulling out a twenty mark bill, she looked away as she handed it to Merrie.

Merrie's cloak flashed up and gently plucked it from Tai's fingers. With a ripple of blackness, the money was secreted in one of the pockets. Merrie pulled it back then stopped when she noticed that Tai was missing one of her rings.

Hissing silently, Merrie grabbed the end of the cloak and dug into the pockets. A moment later, she found the ring and pulled it out. As the cloak grew in strength, it started to exhibit of her master's tendency for kleptomania. She had to keep track of her marks to make sure they didn't lose their wallet or jewelry while they were fucking her.

Innocently, the cloak rippled around her and fluttered against her skin.

Glancing up, she pushed Tai's mind into blankness and had the guard hold out her hand. Merrie dropped the into her palm and Tai reflexively put it back on her finger.

Merrie brought the cloak back to her. The thin fabric draped itself over Merrie, sliding along her naked skin and covering her once again in the shifting black folds. Underneath a faux skirt created by a fold of the cloak, the cool air continued to tickled against Merrie's bare sex, prickling the drying juices that coated her own thighs and sex.

Flushed, Tai took a deep breath and looked down. She stroked Merrie's ears. "Thank you, Lacy. I really needed that."

Merrie barked and smiled.

"I'm also glad that Gail doesn't mind you 'relieving' the pressure. Though, I wondered why she doesn't seem so hung up on you like the others."

Merrie only shrugged.

"Well, I better get on duty. Fang is probably finished writing up the report from the robbery." Tai double-checked her belt and trousers and hurried out of the alley.

Following her with her mind, Merrie reached into Tai's thoughts and calmed her breathing down and hid the flush of excitement. She left the warm afterglow that smoldered in her loins along with a desire to find Gail as soon as she was off duty. With a smile, she crawled in the opposite direction and into the crowded street.

The district smelled of blood and manure, but the rain beat it down until it was only a palatable stench. The throngs of people on the street moved slower in the rain, not to avoid the water but simply to enjoy the respite from the smells that would be suffocating in a few short months.

The first day of summer was coming and Merrie found herself looking forward to going to the message boards. She didn't know what Eolis would say or leave, but she was proud that she obeyed him. Even in absence, his command kept her going through the winter and through the spring.

She lifted her head and let the water rain down on her face. It felt good. Opening her mouth, she enjoyed it splashing on her tongue and washing away the musky smell of Tai's cunt. They had a bottle of wine hidden in one of the planters for that, but Merrie found struggling with the bottle not worth the effort of calling Scorch or any of the other whores working the street. Nir would help, the girl was begging at the corner, but Merrie could tell that she was having a good day and didn't want to disturb her.

Wagging her tail, she jumped on a nearby bench and transferred herself up to a planter. The flowers were in full bloom and her movements brought whiffs of perfume around her. Finding a comfortable spot to kneel on the edge, she turned to the boardwalk and settled down.

Turning her head to the sky, she let her mind drift. She didn't want to say she was happy but being a whore felt right. She loved bringing people pleasure just as much as she enjoyed having hard cock and questing fingers filling her. More nights than most, she was in someone's bedroom, giving as much as receiving. Life seemed better when she was fucking and she wondered how she could have ever let herself plunge into the despair that almost took her life.

The pain of her loss was still there. It never went away. Every time she thought of her master, she felt it tearing into her soul. There was an empty place that couldn't be filled. Every time she swallowed, she wished it was him. She prayed that she would wake up from her dreams to find herself back in the cage, but it never came true. Instead, it was an empty box in an alley surrounded by beggars. It hurt, but she found that the tears didn't come anymore. She would forever be empty, but at least she was as happy as she could let herself be.

"Hey, Ears?" Nir spoke up next to her. She was healthier than ever, mostly because of Merrie, but there was still a gauntness in her frame. Dark shadows hung underneath her eyes as she glanced at the crowd, trying to measure if anyone would give her a few more coins. One strand of knotted black hair fell down over her face and she absently brushed it aside.

Merrie scanned the people walking by, but none of them were willing to give more than a few coins. She pushed them to do so and Nir held out her hand as they dropped money into her palm without either of them looking.

"I'm sorry," she coughed and one of the coins dropped from her hand. She whimpered and knelt down to grab it. As she was below, the cough grew louder before Nir managed to regain her composure. Standing up, her face was pale. "Sorry. I-I don't think I can stay out anymore. This rain is really cold."

Cocking her head, Merrie took a deep look at the girl. She was getting worse. And while the rain felt good against Merrie's skin, she could see how it was sapping Nir's strength with every passing moment.

Taking a deep breath, Merrie dug into her cloak. The pocket came to her arm and she eased out the twenty that Tai had just given her. The cloak gripped the edge and wrapped around her arm as she held it out to the beggar girl.

"I-I can't, Ears. You've---"

Merrie shook her head and jammed the money into Nir's chest. Then she pointed to the cafe down the street, the one under the guild's apartment. Scorch was in the apartment at the moment with a pair of customers, but Nir knew not to go in there.

Reluctantly, Nir took the money and scurried down the street.

Merrie watched her nervously, unsure what to do. The obvious answer was to suggest that Nir join the guild with Merrie. She was old enough not to be under Consent's protection, but she didn't think Nir would be open to it, not when she was raped by her father. Neither broached the topic, not that Merrie could, and she was forced to watch Nir getting weaker by the day.

There was also loyalty to the rest of the beggars. She couldn't save them all, but it felt wrong to take Nir to a comfortable life when she couldn't do the same for the rest of the alley.

Most of her money went into the alley, to give them enough shelter to ease the suffering of their lives. She paid for healers when they needed it, ensured they would have steady meals in their bellies, and company to get through the days. They never asked for her obvious talents of sex, but they all craved her patronage.

It hurt that she couldn't do more, but Merrie didn't know what she could do. She couldn't save them all.

Sighing, she let her mind drift and focused on her job. Over the next few hours, the crowds came and went. She gave a number of blow jobs, got fucked against some crates of fruit, and even jammed her arm into a regular's ass. By the time night fell down on the city, she was brimming with excitement and enjoying the afterglow that pulsed through her body.

She was about to call it a night when a familiar man came down the street. It was Fang but the guard wasn't wearing his uniform. Instead, he had on a light rain cloak and was furtively looking down the alleys as he passed. To her surprise, he was looking for her and she could feel the anticipation as he drew closer. There was no question what he wanted, she could feel the anxiety and horniness coloring his thoughts. There was also depression darkening his mind.

Merrie pulled the cloak away from her body. The rain soaked her instantly, but she knew what would turn him on. She sat up into a begging position, something he had glimpsed her doing for Tai, and waited for him to draw closer.

He slowed as he approach, his eyes locking on hers. There was a strange intenseness in his eyes, something more than just a desire to orgasm. For a brief moment, he looked familiar to her, more so than the occasional looks they shared since the day she was freed. She stared into his brown-green eyes as he stopped in front of her. He was taller than her, even with her kneeling on the planter. Merrie couldn't picture it, but she could have sworn she saw his eyes before, but she didn't remember when. She wondered if it was before she lost her memories, of the days before the mill.

"You," he breathed.

Merrie nodded.

"I know she's fucking you," his voice was filled with longing and need, "right?"

She cocked her head but didn't respond.

"Look, I need it. Can you give it?"

She knew what he wanted, to have his cock in something warm and hot. But, there was also a hesitation. He had money on him but he was hoping for a freebie, something he assumed Tai got whenever they were in the alley. For a moment, Merrie considered saying no, but the eyes drew her. She knew she had seen them before.

With a bark, she jumped off the planter and headed down the street.

Fang followed after tugging his cloak over his face to shield himself. He moved quickly after her. When she ducked into the alley, he hurried past her into the darkest part. Shielded from sight, he pulled back his cloak and whispered to her. "Over here."

Merrie didn't need him to tell her. She could see in shadows as brightly as day. She crawled over the cobblestones and stopped in front of him. With a smile he couldn't see, she pulled herself into a begging position and rested the ends of her arms on his thighs.

He jumped at the touch. "Just give me the same deal, okay?"

Merrie stared up at him. His brunette hair was in a thick ring around his head and it left the top of it bare. She could feel that he hated his body and wished he was someone else.

There was also loneliness in his apartment, something he didn't want to go back to. She got the impression he used to live with someone, but now there was only depression and hopelessness. She didn't push further, not when he was exploring her ears with his fingers.

She leaned forward and nuzzled his crotch. She could feel the hardness underneath the fabric.

Fang fumbled with his trousers and unbuttoned them. With a groan, he fished his cock out. It was long and thin, about sixteen centimeters in length with a arrowhead tip. When he tugged his balls out of his jeans, the tip smacked against Merrie's nose.

"S-Sorry."

Merrie opened her mouth and tilted her head so she could lick along the bottom ridge of his length. His body tensed with her tongue and she continued up toward his tip.

"Sweet..." His voice trailed off into a moan. He clutched the wall behind him and thrust forward with his hips.

Reaching the tip, Merrie used her tongue to work the tip into the foreskin and explore the tip. He was clean underneath, but sensitive. Even the brush of her breath against his cock head caused him to tense up.

"Slow, please slow?"

Merrie pulled back and slid her lips down the bottom edge. She kept her arms resting on his thighs, to give him an anchor to focus on in darkness. She stopped at his balls but didn't mouth them; she knew that he didn't like his testicles being played with. Opening her mouth, she clamped her lips on the side of his hardness and worked her way up, using her saliva for lubrication.

Fang moaned even louder. His fingernails scraped the bricks as he pushed forward. He stepped out of his pants and spread his legs even further apart.

Taking her time, she slathered his cock with her mouth until it dripped. Rising herself up on her knees, she reached the tip and rolled it around against her lips, giving him a bit of pressure as if he was about to penetrate her.

His cock jumped at the sensation.

Merrie pushed her mouth down, parting her lips just enough to give friction as she took his cock in her mouth. The hardness bumped against the top of her mouth and slid along the smooth palate toward the back of her throat.

He was obsessing on every millimeter that sank into her mouth. He could picture it in her mind and she added in the details until he was almost cumming from the mental image. She bobbed down, taking a few centimeters before sliding it back up.

His precum was light and musky, tinted with a sweetness. It pooled on her tongue and she gulped to enjoy the warmth sliding down her throat. It wouldn't be long before she had more, but she wanted to bury it completely in her throat. He wanted to cum inside her, balls deep, but she was going take her time getting there.

Merrie bobbled up and down, sucking on his entire length until her cheeks hollowed. Her body trembled with the anticipation and she clenched her inner muscles to fight back her own lusts. She continued to move in slow strokes that took him deeper and deeper.

She relished every ridge and bump as it scraped against her lips. The tip bumped against her throat, deeper than he ever had someone take him, and then further down. She gulped as she stuffed his cock into his mouth, enjoying how he shuddered as the tip sank into her throat.

He finally released the brick wall and grabbed her head. It was a frantic touch, a primal desperation to drive deep.

Merrie surrendered to him with a flash of pleasure. She opened her mouth just enough as he began to fuck her face, pounding hard. His belly, hard from guard duties, smacked against her nose. His cock drove deep into her throat, scraping against the back end and sending fire along her nerves.

She pulled away her hands, knowing how he would respond.

Fang grabbed her tighter, afraid she was pulling back, and thrust harder. His balls smacked against her chin with every stroke. Wet slurping noises drifted up and pushed him to drive in faster. Soon, she was seeing stars from the wet, meaty impacts, and they were sinking down into her belly, stoking the fires of her sex.

His orgasm came bubbling up. It was hot and searing as she felt it cresting inside him. And then his cock swelled inside her mouth, stretching her lips.

He moaned loudly and began to slam into her, driving deep with hard, erratic strokes. His cock surged and cum poured down into her throat. She gulped at it and held herself limp as he pounded her face a few last times, then buried his length as deep into her mouth as possible. His shaft surged and jerked in her grip as more cum poured down into her belly.

Merrie tenderly cleaned his cock as he withdrew, leaving it spit-shined and slick. Her stomach growled as she watched him pull his trousers back into place and button them.

"I... I..." he gasped and staggered back.

He wasn't going to pay her. He had the money, but the shame and humiliation burned brightly with the afterglow. It turned into blind panic and he fled the alley in a dead sprint.

Merrie licked her lips and smiled. She didn't fuck for the money, just the pleasure. She brought the cloak back around her and crawled out of the darkness.

"Well," said Scorch in an angry tone, "he ran out in a hurry. You aren't suppose to scare them, Bitch."

"Don't listen to him, Ears." Nir hurried over and knelt down to hug Merrie. "He's just a meanie," she whispered.

"I heard that," came the familiar growl.

Nir glared at him, but she was also smiling. "Good, because you are a meanie."

Scorch's body shimmered with heat as he folded his arms over his chest. The rain that splashed down on him hissed and sizzled away. He glanced down the street where Fang had ran. "He didn't pay you, did he?"

Merrie shook her head, her ears drooping. Kirin had talked to her about not getting paid for every fuck.

"The guild is going to take twenty-five percent no matter what, you know."

Merrie nodded.

"But, you can't let the marks think they can get away from that. You might fuck for the joy of it, but if you teach them that, then you put all of our jobs at risk."

With a sigh, Merrie lowered her head and looked up at him through her eyelashes.

"Puppy eyes doesn't change anything, Bitch. Collect the money or else," he snarled. He dropped his arms and shoved past Nir to head down the street. Steam followed after him, wafting in the air before the rain beat it down.

Nir hugged Merrie tightly. "Don't worry, I'm sure you won't get in trouble."

Merrie shrugged and nuzzled Nir's face.

The girl smiled and kissed Merrie on the nose. When she sniffed, she crinkled her nose. "You smell like cum."

Wagging her tail, Merrie gave a little bark.

Nir stood up and looked around through the streaming rain lit up by the light of the lanterns. "Think we can stop by Ratty's? I'd love to bring a little desert. I got enough money."

Merrie barked. She looked up at the guild apartment. The lights were on and she could feel one of the whores already inside, alone and masturbating. Not worried about it, Merrie crawled next to Nir as they headed back home.

It took them almost an hour to walk across town. By the time they reached Ratty's street, the rain was pouring down in sheets. It overflowed the gutters and the puddles stretched across the street. The occasional wagon threatened to soak both of them, but Merrie discretely used her cloak to shield both herself and Nir from being touched by the sheets of water.

In one strong splash, something clinked from the cloak. Merrie peered down to see a ring. It was from one of her marks, but one that had long since headed home. Swearing softly, she picked up the ring and stuck it back in the cloak. At the same time, she posted a reminder using a spell to return it as soon as she saw him again.

The cloak rippled and she tried to figure out some way of making it stop stealing.

Lost in thought with her efforts to control her cloak, she didn't realized something was wrong until they were a block away from Ratty's restaurant. There was too many minds for that late at night and their thoughts were in a cloud of regret and dread.

The only cheerful person was one of Ratty's neighbors, a self-satisfied woman who hated the beggars. She was trying to pretend to be devastated while inwardly she was already cheering.

The healer was kneeling on the ground next to Ratty's body. The stench of vomit and feces stank up the air, choking, but the healer had seen far worse. He was trying to save the flicker of life in the old woman's chest, but it was too late. He just couldn't stop, not with the promises he made when he joined the guard. His only regret is that no one found her earlier.

His eyes looked down at the blood and vomit on the ground. Food poisoning was a terrible way to die, more so when your neighbors wouldn't come to your cries for help. He glanced at the old woman talking to the guards. He knew that she waited until Ratty was dead, but he couldn't prove it. The sick feeling rose in his stomach, not from Ratty's corpse but at the pettiness of the woman speaking.

Merrie gasped. She rushed forward and blocked Nir's path.

"Ears? What's wrong?"

Merrie shook her head and pushed Nir back. Even as she was moving, she cast out her senses to the beggars in the alley. She couldn't find them and dread rose inside her. There was always someone in the alley at night.

Frowning, she shoved Nir back again and the girl stumbled.

Merrie focused harder and scanned the surrounding areas. She found a pedestrian was walking by and Merrie grabbed him with mental fingers. Rushing through the domination spell, she took over his body and forced him down into the alley.

Another spell gave her his senses so she could look.

Not comprehending why he decided to walk down an alley, the cheese maker took a sniff. It smelled vile in the darkness. He thought about the store at the end, a competitor. No wonder the cheese was rank there, not with the stench in the alley. He continued forward, pushed by some unseen force.

He tripped on the first body and fell forward. His hand splashed into a puddle of something wet and sticky. Panicking, he looked up at the unseeing faces around him.

Merrie felt sick as she recognized Copper, Threads, and the others. They were all around the pot of food that had been spilled in their death throes.

"Ears? What's wrong?"

Merrie pushed her back, away from the alley and Ratty's.

"No, what's wrong?" Nir tried to go around Merrie.

Merrie shook her head and pushed back. She started a spell to dominate Nir, but it faltered. She couldn't do it to a friend. A stranger was fair game, but not someone who held her at night. Not for this.

She sat down heavily and shook her head. She held up her arms and her cloak spread out into black wings, darkening the street. It blocked her body.

Nir gasped as she stared at the billowing darkness. Then, as the tremors started to shake her, she lowered her gaze down to Merrie. There was confusion and fear in her. It slowly blossomed into realization. A sob tore out as she shook her head and stepped back. "No, not Copper. Not the others."

Merrie bowed her head.

"No!" Nir spun on her heels and sprinted the other way, sobbing loudly as she splashed through the rain.

Merrie forced the stranger in the alley to call for the guards and ran after Nir.

Merrie knelt on the soggy ground and morosely watched over the nine ragged rectangles in the grass. The rain poured down on the freshly turned earth and it melted before her eyes. The flowing mud connected the graves before it ran down the hill toward the dirt path leading out of the graveyard.

She sighed as she looked at the stone markers. There were no name or dates on them. She knew each of their names and why they arrived in the alley, but she couldn't tell anyone. Instead, she gave money for a simple carving on each one. For Threads and the others who still believed in their gods, it was their divine symbol. For Copper, she picked a rose for the man he lost everything for. Each one was meaningful, but no one would ever know why because she couldn't tell their stories.

The grave digger picked up his shovel and hoisted it over his shoulder. He looked at Nir, standing next to Merrie, and held out his hand mutely.

Nir, tears streaming down her face, turned her red eyes to Merrie helplessly.

Merrie dug into her cloak and pulled out a hundred marks. Holding them in her lips, she handed it to Nir.

Nir took them, briefly shadowing Merrie's face from the rain, before she gingerly stepped around the grave to pay the man.

"Madams," said the digger while controlling his opinion. He thought Merrie was a freak, an abomination, but a job was a job. Pocketing his money, he turned and headed down. The muck from his boots marked a trail of clods as he trudged back to the tightly packed houses that pressed up against the graveyard.

"It," sobbed Nir, "it isn't fair."

Merrie rested her arm on Nir's hip. She leaned into the teenage girl and felt the sobs shaking her body. She had muted Nir's emotions with a spell, but it felt wrong to suppress them completely. Instead, she kept Nir's thoughts from spiraling into despair, if anything to avoid the same fate that Merrie suffered.

Nir lowered herself to her knees and clutched Merrie tightly. She sobbed into Merrie's shoulder. "It just isn't fair."

Merrie could feel the raw horror dwelling in Nir's mind. There was regret for running away from home, but doubt that she would be welcomed back. She was afraid and didn't know what to do. She clutched to Merrie as her only anchor in life.

"I," Nir whispered in a broken voice, "I don't know if I can go back there. Not tonight."

Merrie sighed. She was thinking the same thing. The alley was marked off with the guard wards, in theory to investigate, but she knew no one would look to what happened. Instead, the wards would fade in a few days. A few months later, no one would remember that nine people died in that alley.

But, until then, they had no home. Merrie couldn't bring Nir to the guild and they didn't have enough money for more than a few days in an inn. She could make more if needed, but that would take some time.

She had ways of making the money, not of the guild. She could dominate someone into handing over enough. She knew how to make it subtle enough no one would ever know.

But, she would. And it felt wrong to use dominate that way. She remembered the rush of controlling people at the county fair and Haviston's simple words. It was seductively easy to use power. In the end, it would risk everything she had with both the guild and her very being.

In the corner of her eye, her cloak fluttered up and spun together until it was a snake-like creature staring at her with black eyes. Merrie turned to look at it, putting herself between Nir and her cloak. The despair was rising inside her. Closing her eyes, she focused on calming herself until she felt it stop. The cloak lost its tension and fluttered back to the ground.

Nir sniffed as she looked at Merrie, unaware of the cloak's response. "What do we do? We don't have anywhere to live."

Merrie knew a place. Even thinking about it brought a pain slashing through her heart, but she forced herself to consider it. There was shelter from the rain and warmth in the mansion, or there was before the battle.

Nir whimpered and started coughing, a wet rattling in her chest. She sobbed between the coughs and held Merrie tightly for balance.

Merrie held herself still, forcing herself to make the decision. When Nir looked up with tears in her eyes, Merrie's heart broke. She loved her master, but he was dead. She couldn't allow Nir to die because of her own despair. She could have Nir wait on the bridge until she made sure it was safe. It wouldn't be an easy life, and Merrie would have to guide her through the repulsion for a while, but it was better than any other choice.

A decision made, Merrie pushed Nir to her feet. The girl hesitated before stand up straight. "Ears?"

Merrie concentrated on her cloak. Twisting part of into a snake-like shape, she formed an impromptu leash and guided the end into Nir's hand. The girl closed her fingers around the icy lead without looking.

Giving the graves one last bow, Merrie headed toward the gate of the graveyard. The cloak tugged when she reached the end of it, but Merrie dug her wrists into the ground and pulled until Nir stumbled after her.

The path down the muddy road was painful. Merrie knew what she had to do, but she didn't want to. Memories of that last night, of her master dying before her, flashed across her head. She shuddered every time she replayed that last look in his eyes before his body burned away in black shadows. It tore her open and she had to cling to the faded memories of sex and the few orders he gave to avoid bursting into tears or work, destroying everything around her.

She felt a presence at the entrance of the grave. Looking up, it was Scorch standing in the middle of the road with his hands behind his back. The rain steamed around him as he waited impatiently. There was a glower etched across his face.

Merrie reached out to read his mind, but there was nothing but anger and determination in his thoughts. But, none of it was directed at either of them and she relaxed. She crawled down the road, the mud sticking to her knees and wrists, before stopping in front of him.

"S-Scorch?" asked Nir.

"No one else came?" His voice was low and bitter.

Nir shook her head. "No."

"Come on." He gestured with his chin before turning on his heels.

Nir glanced down. "Ears? Where is he going?"

Scorch was heading for the guild, but Merrie didn't know why. She looked up at Nir helplessly and shrugged.

"S-Should we follow? He hates us, doesn't he?"

Merrie shook her head and started after Scorch. Her wrists splashed in the cold water but she didn't feel the discomfort. A moment later, Nir caught up with her. Merrie wrapped them both in a shade and followed after Scorch.

They walked in silence for almost an hour before they got to the guild house. The building was brightly lit, as always, but most of the whores were inside and away from the rain.

Scorch stopped a few meters from the front door and pointed to it. "There."

Nir whimpered. "Where? In there?"

"Yes, in there," he snapped. "There is food and there is warmth. They'll give you a bed to sleep in and a healer to help that cough. I can't make you go through the door, but you need to go in there."

Nir shook her head. "No, no, I can't. I can't."

He spun on her, his eyes glowing red. "Why not? You've been hanging around us for months, getting in my way. You know what we do, what I do. What Bitch does. She's," he gestured down at Merrie, "has been feeding you ever since she showed up. Why is not working for the guild any better!? Besides making sure none of us will find you dead in some alley!?" His voice crackled as he stepped toward her. In his mind, there was an intense flash of protectiveness and affection toward Nir and it surprised Merrie.

Stunned by his sudden outburst, Merrie stared at him in shock.

"Scorch, I can't. I was... my father..." Nir sobbed as she struggled with the words.

"You were raped, that happens."

Nir gasped and clutched at Merrie's ear.

Scorch pointed angrily to the guild entrance. "That is the safest place to make sure that never happens again. Do you know what happens to people who rape whores? We kill them! Me, Pristine, and Elf. We hunt down people who hurt the guild and make sure they never do it again. If that fucker or his wife shows up, they won't leave the building alive. If you are afraid of them, we," he smacked his chest and there was a puff of smoke and brimstone, "will be there. This is the guild, we protect our own! But, I can't," he jerked as he swallowed hard, "legally protect you if you aren't guild."

Merrie looked at Nir. She could feel the warring emotions in the girl. Scorch was right, the guild would take care of Nir. But, the girl kept picturing herself pinned down on her bed by her own mother as her father raped her. The fear burned brightly.

It would take just a little push to crush the memories. Merrie could make all of Nir's pain go away, but she didn't. She didn't know why at first, but then she thought about the blank part of her life. Merrie had given up her past for her master and now there was nothing before the mill. The only way she could heal Nir was to the same thing, to erase the memories and leave her an empty shell.

Nir sniffed and stepped back, tugging on Merrie's ear. "C-Come on, Ears, we can go somewhere else. You don't have to be here either." It was a high-pitched, plaintive whine.

Merrie sighed and let Nir pull her away, a little flickering of heat rose inside her as she was dragged away.

"Bitch?" came a new voice, Barrel.

Merrie stopped and then winced as Nir pulled on her ear. She levered her head around to look at the nearly naked man standing just inside the door.

"Are you," he gulped, "leaving us?"

She froze. She couldn't leave the guild. She was happier than she had been in a long time. The sex and pleasure was one thing, but the feeling of being home was another. Even though she rarely entered the guild hall herself, there was someone waiting for her.

Sari's words came back. Eventually she would leave, flow away like the shadows, but she never thought it was Nir.

Nir tugged harder. "Please, Ears, let's go."

Scorch grabbed Nir's other arm. "Don't be an idiot! You're sick girl. You need---"

"Scorch!" interrupted Kirin as the guild mistress came out into the rain. She was wearing her black corset and nothing else. She had a glass of wine in her hand.

He snatched his hand back, leaving a red mark on Nir's arm.

"What are you doing?" snapped Kirin.

"She need shelter. And food."

"Yes, but no one will ever be forced to join the guild, you know that."

The tension on Nir's arm relaxed.

Scorched sighed. "She's an idiot."

"Yes, and your heart means well. Go inside, please."

Scorch's jaw tightened.

Kirin raised an eyebrow.

He bowed as shimmers of heat rose around him. "Yes, guild mistress. I'll be in my room." Without another word, he shoved himself past the gathered people and disappeared from sight.

With a delicate sigh, Kirin turned to Nir. "So, you're Bitch's bitch."

Nir blushed. "Um, not really. I mean, we haven't done... anything."

Kirin's presence washed over Merrie as she smiled brilliantly. "There is more to life than sex."

Nir flushed. "Um, you're naked."

"No, I'm wearing a corset. But, if that bothers you, let me... Elfie?"

Elf came up with a black, full-length jacket. Slipping it over Kirin's shoulders, he reached over and hooked it on her breasts. With a giggle, he patted it down over Kirin's ass before stepping back. The jacket was open to the air, but Kirin's naked cock was only visible for those looking at her head on.

"Better?"

Nir blushed hotly. "Not really."

"Well, best you're going to get from me. I find clothing to be uncomfortable. Have you eaten?"

Nir stared at the sudden question. "N-Not since yesterday."

Kirin favored Nir with a bright smile. "Then, why don't we talk over dinner?"

The girl's eyes opened wide. "In there? I-I can't."

Kirin caught the girl's arm. "Of course not. There is a lovely Melkuth place down the street. Life is a lot easier if you have something warm in your tummy, don't you think?"

Nir's stomach growled.

With a smile, the guild mistress turned to Merrie. "Coming with us?"

Merrie thought about her master's grave and Nir's reluctance to enter the guild. She shook her head and took a step back.

Sadness flashed across Kirin's face. She released Nir and walked over to Merrie, her bare feet tapping lightly on the cobblestones. Kneeling down, with one knee on each side of Merrie's head, she crouched over her. "We won't make her enter, you know that? Legally or morally."

Merrie nodded. She lifted her eyes from Kirin's immense cock to look up at the blue-gold eyes. She could smell the perfume on Kirin's skin, the unique smell made only for her.

Kirin cupped Merrie's chin and searched her face for a long time.

"You have to do something, don't you? And you might not come back."

Merrie thought about the mansion. It scared her, but she had to go back. She didn't know what was there or if she could handle it. She struggled to make a noise, a sound to explain it. But, there was nothing she could say. She reached up and kissed Kirin on the lips.

The woman smiled and kissed her back. "Be safe, Lost Alpha," she whispered. "We'll take good care of her. For twenty-four hours, we can give her the shelter of the guild without requiring her to enter. No more. But, even if you take longer, I'll take care of her for you."

Kirin kissed Merrie on the lips and stood up. She hooked her arm around Nir and guided the young woman down the street. There was a warmth between them, some of it due to Kirin's magic, but also Nir's crumbling resistance. Months of being with Merrie showed that the guild wasn't evil and no one had ever even tried to hurt Merrie or Scorch.

Glancing to her side, Merrie noticed that some of the guild were watching her. Elf, Barrel, and Pristine were all on the side of the door. Barrel had tears running down his face and Elf was patting Barrel on the hand. Pristine just looked sick, as if the idea of Merrie leaving was making her ill.

Merrie could never leave the guild, no matter what Sari or Kirin said. It was her home, but she had to do something first. Taking a deep breath, she blew them a kiss and turned away from the guild. She walked alone down the street and into the darkness, her other home.

Every step closer to her master's grave added to the dread that filled Merrie's heart. She tried to convince herself that Nir would join the guild and she didn't have to go back. But, she saw the look in Nir's eyes. Scorch's offer of shelter might be the best thing for the teenage girl, but Merrie knew of Nir's past. There was no way the girl would ever join the guild.

Setting her jaw, she forced herself down the street. Her knees and wrists tapped on the cobblestones as she worked her way through the fading crowds. It was a long walk to the district and she took longer than normal. By the time, she got near the bridge, it was already dusk.

The first thing she noticed was the memorials lining both sides of the street. At the first one, she stopped and looked at it. Someone had created a small shrine to a woman, with a small picture that had already blurred under the rain and a dozens of flowers. A few meters down the road, she saw another and then another.

Frowning, Merrie continued toward the bridge and the dread was rising. She saw more memorials. She could feel the emotions from each one: sorrow, pain, and grief. It vibrated from the little presents and letters. She didn't need to read them to know what they were for. There was only one reason so many people would die and that was the Shadowed District.

But, Merrie knew that Gail had saved everyone in the district. She made sure of it, but the memorials said otherwise. She slowed down and looked at the nearest one. It was for a old man who died only a few months before, judging from the newspaper article.

Guilt slammed into her. She may have saved everyone from her despair, but it was still drawing people into the darkness. She shuddered and reached out, only to find a wall of sorrow and grief boiling only a hundred meters away.

The bridge looked nothing like when she left it. In the center, someone had built a wooden wall with a large "bridge out" sign hanging from a rope. Spiked logs topped the top, dripping with the rain. Four guards stood at a reinforced gate in the center of the wall.

Beyond the wall was darkness. The Shadowed District was wrapped in perpetual shadows. Black smoke boiled around just out of sight and she could see dead trees hanging over the raging river. Something crawled inside, she could feel the malevolence from it as it paced back and forth as if it was waiting for the shadows to reach into the bright parts of the city.

On the bright side, a makeshift camp had been built. In the center there was a large fire and it was tended by a number of younger men and a few women, all in their early twenties. They had weapons and armor, but they all looked exhausted. Many of them were bandaged, some of it still crimson with blood. Surrounding the fire were some wooden buildings. One was serving food, another had maps of the district and other paper. A third was lit with painful brilliance. Inside, a young woman sobbed loudly as she crouched on one of the tables.

Merrie stopped in shock. It wasn't what she expected. She knew she wasn't sane when she created the Shadowed District, but the signs of combat and devastation were more than she could handle. Wincing, she looked away as guilt tore at her and the despair rose up. Around her, the shadows grew darker and she felt the malevolence inside the district focusing on her.

Sniffing, she forced herself to pull her thoughts from the rising despair. She couldn't do it again. She stared at the dark and realized she had to do something about it. She couldn't undo the damage or death she left behind, but she could stop more from dying.

With a set to her jaw, she wrapped herself in the shade and continued down the road. Her heart pounded as she got closer to the bridge. The only path she could see was brightly light. In her mind's eye, it glowed with holy magic. It was designed to stop creatures of the shadow and she wasn't sure her shade was strong enough to get through the wards.

"Dolcen! Jarrek!" A man's voice boomed across the fire. Merrie turned as a broad-chested man came out of the brightly lit building. He wore simple, torn clothing and had scars across his face, arms, and hands. On his back, a massive scythe glinted in the light coming from all directions.

As he came to the fire, two men stood up. One of them, his face covered in bandages, staggered to regain his balance.

"Have you found them?" The man spoke with a southern accent, rich and deep. He held out his hand to catch the staggering man.

The other spoke. "No, we checked regions four and five. The Reaper surprised us as we were entering six and Dolcen," he gestured to the swaying man, "got really hurt."

The large man sighed and turned to Dolcen. "You should be in the infirmary. The healers are there for a reason."

"I-I wanted to report."

The unnamed man patted him gingerly on the back. "You reported. Now get healed."

"I want---"

"Get healed, boy. The shadows will be there tomorrow."

Dolcen sighed and pushed himself away. He swayed as he walked.

The man snapped his fingers and a hawk-faced girl ran out of the crowds to grab him before he fell. She wore a healer's robe, but her pendant said she was an initiate instead of one capable of healing him.

The man turned back to the other man. "Can you fight?"

Jarrek stood straight. "Yes, of course."

"Good, because there are two children out there who need us." He stepped back and raised his voice. "I need volunteers to go back in!"

Merrie let out a sigh of relief. She clutched the repulsion spell tight in her mind and made her way toward the bridge. Her body was silent as she skirted the pools of bright light and made her way down the bridge.

The bridge shook underneath her, as if something was pounding on the far end. She could feel the shadows reaching out for her, dark and hungry for her power. She trembled as she crept closer to her master's grave. She could feel it in her mind, like a compass of darkness that she could never forget. Tears welled in her eyes as she moved from shadow to shadow, working her way along the shuddering structure until she was pressed up against the gate wall.

Despite being brightly lit, there were places that shadows will always form. Her master knew that and she remembered when he learned the same tricks. Feeling exposed, she ducked underneath a gap from one of the timbers enforcing the wall and breathed a sigh of relief at the blessed darkness.

The wall glowed with ward magic. It enforced the barrier between the worlds and kept everything in painful brightness. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't step through. But that didn't stop the darkness on the other side from pounding on the bridge, scraping at the supports with helpless claws in an attempt to get to the light.

The unnamed man was efficient. Less than ten minutes after Merrie found her position, he was striding up the bridge with ten men and two women in tow. All of them looked exhausted but determined. They were also armed heavily and prepared for war.

"We'll start with region twelve and move back. Jarrek said the Reaper is around six, so we'll pray the children aren't there. Ten still has the trees, but we need to check at least a few meters in before discounting that. If they got much further than that, they would have been torn apart. Beyond that, they could be anywhere."

Jarrek fumbled with something around his neck. "How did they get in there anyways?"

The man sighed. "Their grandfather left a suicide note when he went inside. Their mother thinks they followed after him."

Another warrior hefted his long sword. "What if they aren't?"

The large man turned. "Then we fight shadows and maybe make it a little safer. If you have a problem, Golor, then turn back. This is for volunteers only."

"No," said Golor, "I'll stay."

"Good man," said the man, "we might get out of this alive." He turned to the guards at the gate. "Please?"

The guards said nothing as two of them provided keys and unlocked the gate. Looking away from the boiling darkness, they pulled open the door and held it wide.

The man took a deep breath and swung his scythe from over his shoulder. The blade began to glow with a warm yellow light. With a long exaltation of breath, he stepped into the threshold of light and dark.

Moments later, the others filed in. Merrie watched mutely, shifting closer to the gate as she prepared a domination spell to slow the guards from closing it.

Jarrek passed and she saw what he was toying with, a pendant with the symbol of Lemetri on it. She gasped as rage rose up. Jarrek drew out his own sword, a two-handed blade much like Bass' but smaller, and dove into the darkness.

Merrie stared as the light faded in the darkness, then released her spell. It took the guards and the three remaining warriors in mid-step, freezing them. In the brief pause, Merrie launched herself from the darkness. Her cloak spread out in a pool of darkness as she dove into the gate and to the side.

The threshold felt like passing into the Shadows. It was a pain of familiarity, pleasure, and horror at the same time. On the other side, the world was an inverted image cast in darkness. Her cloak blossomed around her, wrapping around her in black on black as she crawled along the back edge of the wall.

Behind her, the remaining warriors stepped through, unaware of the brief moment they were unable to move.

It was dark on the other side, almost pitch black, except that the glow from the warriors created more shadows across the deathly silently world. There was magic radiating from all of them, but the strongest came from Jarrek's pendant and sword. All of them were surrounded by magical light, but Merrie's attention was on the follower of Lemetri.

"Keep together. This is not the place to be a hero."

Merrie watched as they headed to the right of the bridge. She focused on the unnamed man, curious of what made up the leader and to alleviate her own fears that he was associated with Lemetri.

He stood over the beds of his two wives, crying. Both of them had sheets covering over their face and he watched morbidly, looking for any sign that they were still alive.

The village healer rested his hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Gillette, they were too weak for the gods to heal them. I tried everything---"

Gillette shoved him aside. "Damn you and damn the gods!" Without another word, he stormed out.

Merrie gasped at the intensity of Gillette's emotions.

He was coming into Franome City with a load of vegetables. The wagon swayed back and forth and he leaned against the side with the same bland feeling that had consumed his life ever since the plague took his wives, two years ago. He had no purpose, no reason to do anything but keep doing the same as his father and his father's father.

A cold wind tore through the city and his horse, Old Gentle, reared back with fear. He looked up to see a cloud of darkness rising up from underneath the branches of the World Tree. At first, he thought it was a fire or explosion, but the cloud continued to blossom with terrifying darkness, stretching high.

Suddenly, four guards who were eating at a nearby table dropped their forks and shoved back their chairs. Scrambling to their feet, all of them grabbed their swords and sprinted toward the blossoming cloud. There was fear in their eyes.

Gillette glanced to the side were he saw two more guards racing in the same direction. On the other side, another city guard was breaking free of a crowd as he bellowed for everyone to clear out.

He had nothing left, but he could help. Reaching back, he made sure his scythe was still strapped to the back of the wagon bench and snapped the reins. He would just look, nothing more.

Merrie shivered at the memories. They were as raw as her own, but he was focused and determined to help. With guilt still gnawing at her, she cast out her senses for the children he was looking for. In the darkness, her power was stronger than ever and she spread out across the entire district.

She found them clutching each other in terror. Something was circling around them, growling as it inched closer. Merrie shifted her senses to the creature and sank into its dark mind.

Rage and hunger. Hunger for the terror that radiated from the two little morsels of flesh and bone. It had been drinking fear from them for hours but the sweet edge was fading with too much terror. One of the morsels was cracking and soon its mind would fill with darkness. It needed to eat before the mind broke, it wanted to taste blood not corrupted by the darkness.

Merrie closed her eyes tightly. She plucked the map from Gillette's mind and identified the creature. It was in the sixth region, the one they were avoiding. It was the Reaper, a cat-like but massive beast of shadow, as tall as a two-story building and surrounded by black tentacles that tore flesh and bone. Gillette had felt the four rows of teeth during one fight and he only survived with the concerted effort of Jarrek and the others.

She glanced at the light fading in the darkness. They were going the wrong way.

Whimpering, Merrie tried to catch the children's mind, to place an anchor on them, but the terror made it impossible to hold still. She couldn't find their position either, not with the power radiating off the Reaper.

Spurred into movement, Merrie crawled after the warriors. She had to tell them, somehow, before it was too late. She may have created the darkness, but she couldn't bear the idea of children dying because of her. Her cloak flowed around her, rippling along the ground behind her.

With the warriors inching forward, she caught up to them. The cloak rested itself over her mouth, to quiet her panic, as she tried to think of some way to guide them to the right place. She was afraid of showing herself, not with someone following Lemetri in the group.

In the distance, she heard the Reaper screech and the spike of fear radiating from the children. The boy's mind was cracking and she could feel little bursts of insanity rippling away from his thoughts.

Merrie looked down at her body. She couldn't show herself as a bitch to Jarrek, he could be looking for her. Gulping, she concentrated on the cloak. It flowed with her mind, snapping back and forth from the emotions that tore through her thoughts. She drew out a spell, writing calligraphic runes in the darkness. It was a domination spell, but one that attached her mind tighter to the cloak. She hoped it would give her enough control to fake her appearance.

The spell ignited into flames and the cloak shuddered. She pulled her cloak closer and wrapped it around her arm tightly. She tried to remember what it was like to have a hand and pictured reaching out for her walking stick.

The cloak flowed down her shoulder and wrapped around her arm. It continued twist together as it reached out, spreading into a gross proximity of a hand, then down into the shape of her walking stick.

Panting from the effort, Merrie turned her attention to the other side and concentrated. The cloak twisted down and spread out. The fingers were long and flowing until she brought them back into shape. She twisted the black palm over and glared at herself. It didn't look anything like a hand when she looked at it and it would only fool someone who couldn't get a good look.

She sighed and cocked her head. In the shadows, she could pretend to be something less than human and still save them. She hoped it was enough.

Bearing down, she gave herself legs. The cloak tightened around her, squeezing her limbs until the pain brought a cry to her throat. She clamped down on her mouth, biting her tongue, as she sank into the agony.

With a shuddering gasp, she tried to stand up. The cloak shifted around her but she lost her balance and tumbled. The ground hit her wrists and she pitched forward. She let out an inarticulate yelp as she landed face-first into the cobblestones.

She rubbed her nose as she stood up, humiliated and ashamed. But, fear forced her to try again. Power radiating from her, she drew on the strength of the shadows to form the faux limbs for her arms and legs. With a deep breath, she tried to stand up. To her surprise, it obeyed and she was standing for the first time in years.

Heart pounding, she leaned on her cloak and took a hesitate step forward. Her limbs were malformed and grotesque, but functional. She wanted to reshape them, but she couldn't concentrate enough to do anything but move. Limping forward, she worked her way after the warriors until they were only a few meters ahead.

Cringing at the idea of drawing attention to herself, Merrie dropped the repulsion spell and reversed it to draw their attention.

The warriors slowed and stopped. One by one, they turned to look at her. Jarrek responded first, gasping as he brandished his weapon. "Gillette!"

Gillette spun around, his scythe flashing.

Jarrek shook as he stepped between the warriors and Merrie. "What is it?"

Gillette, on the other hand, wasn't as frightened. He hefted his scythe and joined Jarrek. "Something new."

"Is the evil getting stronger? Is this one of the Lords?"

Gillette's eyes flashed for a moment. "You tell me. You're the paladin in training."

Merrie almost lost her balance. She stared at Jarrek with surprise and then shook her head. She couldn't speak, but she could feel the need to move growing with every passing second. Shaking with the effort to move, she lifted one hand and pointed toward the Reaper.

Jarrek hissed and stepped back, readying his weapon. Sweat prickled his brow as he waved the tip of the sword toward her. "It's going to attack!"

Gillette stepped back and pulled back his scythe, holding the weapon in one hand.

Merrie's stomach clenched in fear and she swayed as the cloak rippled underneath her. The spell was exhausting her and she dug into her reserves to keep standing. She forced it back into stiffness and pointed again, using her magic to draw their attention to her finger.

Gillette relaxed but he didn't lower his weapon. "I'm waiting for the attack, Jarrek."

"I-I---" The young man gulped and wiped his brow with his arm. "It's evil, I know it."

No one said anything for a long moment. Merrie trembled with the effort to remain standing. It was unnatural to her and she longed to drop to her knees. She wasn't suppose to be standing, not anymore.

Gillette lowered his weapon. "I don't know about you, but if it is a creature of shadows, it would be the first time they just stood there pointing instead of trying to rip our throats out or drain the life from us."

"I-It might be intelligent."

Gillette patted Jarrek on the shoulder. "Then it probably understands you."

Merrie started to giggle at Jarrek's blanched look, but then bit down to avoid making a noise.

Gillette held his scythe back and took a step forward. He held out his hand, but Merrie noticed that the arm still holding his weapon was tense. "Hello, I am Gillette."

Merrie flinched at his hand. She emphatically pointed toward the children.

"Careful," gasped Jarrek, "it could be a trap."

Gillette pulled back his hand. "Everything's a trap, but better to go into it with eyes wide open than get stabbed in the back." He turned to Merrie. "Do you know what we're looking for?"

Merrie wasn't sure how to respond. Being so close to the armed man was making it hard to breath. She could feel her breasts pressing up against the tight wrappings of her cloak. It squeezed down on her, holding her steady. Her mind torn a thousand ways to remain standing, she nodded.

He cocked his head, watching her carefully.

Desperate to attract his attention, she lowered her hand to about the height of the children, then held out two fake fingers. She gulped and stepped back, walking backwards away from him and toward the children.

Gillette followed, his scythe still held behind his back.

A few moments later, the others followed. Jarrek remained right behind Gillette, holding his two-handed sword with both hands. She could feel distrust radiating from him.

Merrie kept a wary eye on the younger man as she led them closer. She avoiding tripping by scanning the ground and using Gillette's senses to keep her moving smoothly. It was hard work, but she didn't dare turn her back on the paladin-in-training.

As they got closer, she felt the boy's sanity crumbling. Ripples of fear broke down into incoherent babbling.

The Reaper felt him breaking and started forward to kill both of them.

Desperate, Merrie threw power into her attraction spell and focused it on the Reaper. At the same time, she pointed toward Gillette's scythe.

The farmer stopped. "What?"

The Reaper screeched, a horrid noise that sounded like someone being thrown into the grinder.

Jarrek gasped and stepped back. "Reaper? It brought us to the Reaper!"

Gillette brandished his weapon, holding it steady but he wasn't looking at Merrie. "Prepare for combat."

"It trapped us."

"Shut up and get ready---"

The Reaper burst out of the darkness as it charged down the street. Each impact of its six heavy claws shattered stone and shook the ground. The air trembled with the impact and a foul wind blew against Merrie's face. It stunk of rotting meat and spoiled blood, two smells she knew intimately from the meat packing district.

The warriors scattered as they prepared to attack.

Merrie felt a prickle of fear. The attraction spell crumbled and she draped a shade around her. Unsure if it would work, she rushed to the side of the street as the Reaper sailed over her and landed in the middle of the fighters.

With another screech, three tentacles grabbed one of the warriors and yanked it off the ground. He screamed in pain but it ended sharply with a wet ripping noise. Blood splattered on the ground as the Reaper chomped down on the man's spurting chest.

Jarrek's blade glowed brightly as he slammed into one of the Reaper's back legs. A spurt of black blood splattered in all directions and began to burn away in darkness.

Gillette attacked from the other side, bellowing as he brought his scythe down on one of the tentacles. The thunk of blade punched the air and the blade sheered clear through before hitting the cobblestones with a spark.

The Reaper screamed out in pain and stepped forward, chomping down at Jarrek. Merrie guiltily hoped it would kill the paladin, but Jarrek dodged at the last minute and the massive creature bit down on stone and part of the curb.

Merrie watched as the others attacked, blades flashing. She was ignored by everyone fighting. Glancing around, she turned away from the battle and crawled over to the children.

Both of them were cowering in a basement of a house. Something had torn the rest of the building off its foundations and there was no obvious way to crawl down. The shredded remains of an older man was painted against the ground; she guessed it was the children's grandfather.

Flowing as silently as the shadow, Merrie used her cloak as a rope to lower herself down to the basement. The shattered bricks crunched underneath her knees.

The girl let out a cry and clutched at her brother. He drooled and babbled incoherently, his mind cracking from terror.

Merrie headed straight for the boy.

"Leave my brobro along!"

With a flick of her mind, Merrie froze the girl as she knelt down in front of the boy. Holding her breath, she reached out and grabbed his head with her wrists. His crumbling sanity felt like a prickle plant on her mind.

Merrie delved into his mind, pushing her way past the fragmented thoughts as she looked for some shred of sanity left intact. She found it, cowering in constant flashback of the Reaper nosily eating his grandfather. She smiled and pulled him close. Spells rose up in her mind and she released them gently, easing each one to repair the damage and soothe the fear.

The boy's babbling quieted and he began to sob.

"Brobro?" gasped the girl.

Merrie realized she lost control of her domination, but continued to focus on him. The damage was still raw and broke, but easily healed. She sealed up the worse of the pain and then wrapped him in a protective spell. It was almost the same as the ones in the collars from the mill, designed to push back strong emotions and suppress the spikes of fear and terror. There was a name for it, but she couldn't remember what numbers Borias used.

Sweat prickled her brow as she pulled her mind out of the young boy's thoughts. She felt relief flooding through her as she leaned back on her ankles, panting from the effort.

A deep growl shook the air.

The girl gasped and turned pale as a ghost. The boy's terror peaked, but hit the suppression spell and bounced. He let out a cry and clutched at his sister, but there was a strange, dull look in his brown eyes.

Merrie turned around. When she saw the drooling fangs of the Reaper less than a meter away, her heart skipped a beat.

The icy breath of the shadow creature washed over her. The Reaper opened its mouth and Gillette rolled out and hit the ground with a thump. He still held the broken shaft of his scythe and blood puddled around him. She could hear his ragged breathing and felt his thoughts, but he was as good as dead if she didn't do anything.

She focused on the massive creature crouching in front of her. The Reaper stood on the edge of the basement, two claws clutching the stone. It was large enough to eat a horse.

But, it wasn't attacking.

The Reaper, the alien creature of shadows and death, opened its mouth and licked her face. The tongue was sticky and icy. It left a cold slime against her skin as he finished lapping her from knees to face. She gagged on the stench of rotting meat.

Merrie looked into the six black eyes. It was her fault that it was there. Her own despair and guilt summoned it.

She held out her arm and pressed her wrist to its teeth.

The Reaper purred. She knew in the bottom of her heart, she could use it just like her cloak and everything else. She could rage across the world until everything was burning in black flames.

With a tear in her eyes, she reached deep inside her mind. She found the mote of crystallized pleasure she created with Gail and Tai. It contained an orgasm strong enough to consume the city in pleasure. And it would be enough for her magic. Taking a deep breath, she released it.

She was already crafting the spell as the orgasm tore through her. It was a single flash of pure intensity, a pitch black singularity of pleasure. She fed it through the spell.

(I'm sorry,) she projected as the spell exploded from her.

The despair that kept the shadows bound to the district crumbled from the onslaught of pleasure and ecstasy. Above her, the pitch darkness burned away and the last of the day's sun came pouring in.

The Reaper jerked back and screamed in agony. Its form ignited into choking black flames as it thrashed in the street, knocking down a building and then another.

Around her, the shadows peeled back in a rush, removing all darkness and letting pure sunlight come pouring in from between the branches of the World Tree. It was painfully bright against the dim light of the district and her eyes teared up even as she looked away. The circle continued to spread out, burning away the darkness and revealing the destruction, until the circle of normal reality was hundreds of meters across. And then, just as quickly as it started, it stopped. The edges of shadow and darkness wavered along but the circle of light remained. It was forever burned into the shadowed district, a place of safety and light.

For a long moment, she stared up at the light and was naked to the sun. Tears ran down her cheeks as she felt a terrible loss filling her being. The shadows were her home but she had destroyed it.

Letting out a gasp, she bowed her head. She felt weak and pathetic. Crawling over, she nosed Gillette and pushed him over.

Gillette's eyes were open and she jumped.

He groaned as he sat up. "Oh, I thought I wasn't going to make it." He sounded remarkably coherent for being in the jaws of death.

Merrie shrugged.

With a glance, he grunted and turned away. "Didn't think you were a pretty girl under that black thing. Jarrek might have been a bit more generous if he knew."

With a start, Merrie looked down. Her naked body was visible through the folds of her cloak. With a whimper, she scramble back and wrapped the cloak around her. It squeezed tightly around her skin but it was too late.

Gillette stood up. He glanced down at his broken weapon and tossed it aside. "Come on, let's see if the others survived." He peeked at her and turned away. "You don't have to come with us."

He gathered up the children, both of them crying softly from the their muted fear, and carried them down the street.

Merrie followed in the shadows, moving in silence as she watched.

They lost half of the fighters in the fight with the Reaper. Steaming blood and offal coated the streets. Torn bits of flesh and shattered bone coated the walls. To her regret, Jarrek was one of the survivors; he was standing on his own as Gillette arrive.

"The Reaper?"

Gillette shrugged. "Not here." He pointed up to where the clouds were finally breaking and one large branch of the World Tree waved back and forth. "But, I'm not going to question it. Come on, let's get the survivors to the healers."

"Where is the creature? The other one."

Merrie tensed as she waited for Gillette's answer.

"It isn't important, Jarrek. We have the children and we have injured. We must do what we must do."

"But, it will get---"

"Survivors come first!" snapped Gillette.

Jarrek bowed and sheathed his sword. He turned his back on Gillette and headed for the nearest body.

Merrie watched as they checked the survivors and gathered them. Most of them were severely injured and had to lean on each other. Gillette staggered under the weight of two of them. The sister and brother helped another, moving with the small dull actions they had since Merrie suppressed their emotions.

As they started back toward the gate, Merrie followed in silence. It didn't take long for the warriors to delve back into the shadows, but they were vulnerable to the creatures prowling the dark. She could feel them circling around, sensing weak prey inching through the darkness.

Merrie wrapped the warriors in a repulsion spell, draining the last of her pleasure to push away the creatures. She couldn't dispel them like the Reaper, but she kept them safe long enough for them to crawl through the gate.

As the door shut, she let out a long breath. She felt a little relief from her guilt, but it still tore at her. She shook her head. She came in hopes to give Nir a home, but there was no way the teenager could survive the death preying in the darkness.

She turned her back on the gate and headed deeper into the shadows. She had a long way to make it safe. Safe for not only Nir to give her a home, but also to prevent any more memorials being placed along the bridge.

Merrie sat at the gate of her master's grave but she couldn't force herself across the threshold. The memories and despair held her in place, frozen as if someone had dominated her with a spell. Around her, the cold wind blew out the gate and across her, prickling her skin and causing her nipples to harden from the icy touch. But, it was more than the howling winds and dark shadows that held her in place.

It was guilt and dread. The mansion was her master's grave. She thought it would be easy to take apart the spells, but as she looked at the ragged building and felt the memories lashing out at her, she realized she couldn't give it up. She couldn't bear the thought of losing it.

Tilting her head back, she leaned into the dark winds blowing around her. It felt good against her skin but it also reminded her that she was surrounded by death and destruction. The entire district was a trap for mortals and other creatures like the Reaper still prowled in the darkness.

But, she couldn't destroy the mansion. It was too important to her. It was a gravestone for the empty hole in her soul, the place that could never be filled. It was the last reminder of the good and love in her life, just as it was a stark sign that she could never truly be happy again.

She held out her arm but couldn't set it down. With a soft sob, she rested it on her knee and stared up at the broken windows and scorched walls. The front door had been broken in and there were stained bones scattered through the rotting garden. Her eyes drifted to the spots were the pack died and, even though the bodies had long since been eaten and scattered, she could see the hound's corpses in her mind.

Tears threatened to pour down, but she kept her emotions in check. For months she had despaired and avoided the place. She wanted it to be a shrine to her master's memory. But, in doing so, she had killed people: the memorials on the street and the beggars in the alley. All of them would be alive if she hadn't cast the region in shadow and death.

Her master, though he loved her with all his heart, wouldn't have clung to her memory so long. He would have sat on the bed and cried for days, but then he would have gotten up and stolen something. The mental image came clearly and she sobbed at the loneliness that tore into her. The tears welled up and rolled down her cheeks. She missed him so much. Every morning, she woke up thinking of him and every night, she dreamed of his touch, his commands, his heart. She wanted to fill the empty hole in her soul but nothing could ever complete her again.

Like him, she had to let go. The mansion could no longer be his marker. But, as much as she knew she had to destroy the spells around it, she needed something. Something to remember him by, something she could hold close. When she first left the mansion, she took the cloak, but it was no longer her master's. Ever since it had become part of her, acting as her arms and now legs, it no longer her master's. There were no more poignant memories in the fabric. Instead, it was simply part of her body. A lost slave without a master.

Merrie focused on the mansion itself. She needed something and it was inside the one place in the world she dreaded to enter. The only way she could ever let go of the mansion as a grave was to find a memory.

Tears ran down her cheeks as she contemplated entering. Merrie lifted one trembling arm and set it down inside the property. Shifting her weight, she listened to her ragged breathing. It ached in her chest to get closer, but she needed a different grave to his memory. Just because she was in agony didn't mean she had to destroy other lives.

Another step. Images of the battle came back, flashing through her mind as she felt the pack dying one by one. Watched as the paladin slaughtered Tamin. Felt as each dog willingly gave its life to save her and her master.

Another step. Her cloak flowed around her as she shifted her weight to her knee. It was a little easier to take the next and then the next.

The house loomed above her as she crawled up to the front door. The familiar creaks of the porch brought more memories back, battering her with cruel blows. He fucked her over the step one day. A few days later, it was on the stairs inside the house. And then on the floor of the bathroom.

Her body grew slick as the pain grew sharper. She pushed herself past the shattered door and into the entry hall. There was a stain mark where Rimmy had killed the mage sneaking into the building. Merrie crept closer to see where the knife had punched into the wooden floor, leaving a little gouge.

She had to choke back another sob as the tears came faster. She felt weak and helpless, unable to stop crying. But the memories were there, hanging over her in a cloud. She could barely crawl forward as she came to the foot of the stairs.

In the battle, someone had destroyed a section of the staircase. The blackened remains left only a narrow part remaining. The rest of it had collapsed into the storage closet underneath. Merrie remembered the closet, her master used it as a cage once and kept her locked in for half a day, just to hear her pawing at the wooden door.

She let the sad smile cross her lips. Without moving, she considered her path in the house. She thought about the kitchen and the porch, but that was where her master and mistress died. At the flash of memory, she jerked and tore her thoughts away from the vivid image of her master reaching out for her as he burned away. Tears rolled down her cheek as she turned away from the kitchen. She couldn't handle it yet.

The stairs looked too dangerous to crawl up and she didn't want to step into the Shadows to go there. That left only one place. Turning slowly, she regarded the hallway leading to her master's bedroom.

Sniffing, she crawled toward it. If there was anything that she could use to remember the happy times, it would be in the bedroom. She thought about his pillow, she could use that as a token of his memory. And then, maybe, she could release the spells surrounding the mansion.

But, at the door, she caught a whiff of his scent. The smell of it brought back a flood of memories and she froze as they assaulted her. Fucking and touching, his talks of insecurity and desire as he drifted to sleep. The playful way he felt before going on a job. Each one punched into her and left her gasping for breath.

Merrie froze in mid-crawl, her arm trembling as she reached for the door. His smell slammed into her and she sobbed. Stumbling forward, she slumped against the door and cried out. The cold wood was nothing compared to the despair and depression that curled around her.

She could feel the darkness rising up inside her. The shadows were growing darker. Her cloak snapped as it stretched out, spinning into the shape of a snake. Two eyes, pitch black, regarded her. She looked up through the haze of her tears, wishing it was her master that looked down at her, but it wasn't. The cloak was part of herself, her mind and her body. And when it was shaped like a snake, she knew that she was dangerously close to letting the darkness consume her again.

She took a long shuddering breath. The smell of her master, the musky scent of man, filled her. This time, she concentrated on the pleasure he gave her. The way he would throw her in the cage or fuck her against the bars. It was hard to remember the joy through the sharp memory of his death, but she struggled until the cloak lost its tension and fluttered to the ground.

Gasping for breath, she staggered into the room. She needed something more than rapidly fading memories. She needed something physical and concrete, an anchor to keep the thoughts from turning into a despair she could never escape. Her eyes focused on his bed and his pillow, it would be a start until she could find something more emotional.

She barely made it to the bed before her willpower crumbled underneath the onslaught. The frighteningly clear memory of him dying slammed into her. The look on his face and the way his body burned with black flames. It was too much and she could feel the darkness clutching at her heart.

With a high-pitch cry, she collapsed to the ground. The impact crushed her breasts but she just curled into a tight ball. Tears ran down her cheeks, puddling on the wooden floor beneath her. Nothing would ever make the pain fade away; the empty hole in her heart had torn open again and there was nothing but despair and depression.

She felt movement over her. Rolling on her back, she flailed out but all she encountered was the fluttering fabric of her cloak. Peering through the haze of tears, she saw it once again poised over her. The two black eyes were wide and unblinking as it stared down at her.

The need to fight against the despair rose up. She couldn't let the darkness take her again. She bit down in her lips with the effort to fight it. Dreading her mind, she pulled up memories of pleasure but they cracked underneath the despair. In a flash, the joy of being slammed into a wall and fucked was crushed. More memories came, but they burned away under the despair clawing out from the hole in her soul.

She curled up tight and wrapped the cloak around her, squeezing down as she pretended that he was here again, just standing inside the bedroom door. Without him, her life was just a sham. She could never truly be happy again, not with him missing. The happiness that she felt when she was whoring was nothing compared to the love for her master. It would be just an illusion.

But, it was the only illusion she had left to keep back the darkness. She focused on the submissions and pleasures of being a whore, of fucking in alleys and the occasional home. She was a whore and, thought she would never truly be happy again, it was the only happiness she could get.

Trembling, she rolled on her stomach to push herself up. A twinkle underneath the bed caught her attention. She knew what it was, it was her master's engagement ring. The shadow stone was a dark mote in the shadows underneath the bed.

With more strength that she realized she had, Merrie crawled across the floor and stuck her head underneath the bed. The ring sat there, covered in dust, as a silent reminder of what happened that night. She wiped her face and reached out, the smooth end of her arm dragging across the ground.

The ring rolled away from her. She crawled further underneath the bed, until her tail was pressed up against the side. Heart pounding, she caught the ring and dragged it closer. It sparkled darkly as it came to halt in front of her nose.

Merrie let out a long, trembling breath. Little clouds of dust rose up around the ring and settled down. She stared at it, wallowing in the pain that ripped at her heart and the throb in her bones. It was going to be the greatest moment of her life, to have a master and a mistress. Neither one of them was good at dominating her---she smiled sadly at the memories---but just as her presence had given their lives structure, she was sure that they would learn how to properly dominate and command her. They would have all grown into their relationship, a bitch and her masters.

She stared at the ring. It was the thing she was looking for. A reminded of her happiness and hope, a sign of both her master and mistress. She grabbed it with both arms and inched out from underneath the bed. The heavy ring rolled along the ground until she could sit up, dust drifting around her in a cloud. There was so much hope and love in that moment he handed the ring. She remembered the warmth that all of them felt that night, before the paladin came.

Merrie brought it up to her lips and kissed it. (I do,) she projected as she remembered the words that both of them would say when they married.

The ring felt icy on her arm and she rolled it along her wrists for a moment before letting it tumble down the crevice of her arms. It fell between her elbows and struck her thigh with a little thud. A moment later, it was rolling into a pocket and hidden from sight.

She looked back up to the room with the sad smile still on her lips. But, as she thought about the ring, the overwhelming memories no longer tore at her. She missed him, more and more with every passing moment, but the despair no longer rose as long as she was thinking about the ring.

Getting back on her knees, she took a long deep breath. She turned her back on the old room and crawled back into the hall. She started down the hall, heading past the empty rooms to the one at the end where she had bonded. The ground was still stained with darkness that no sanding could remove. She stroked it with her wrist before crawling down the hall to the kitchen.

This time, she could weather the storm of emotions. Whenever she started to choke up with memories, she concentrated on the ring. It staved off the horror enough for her to crawl past the very place he died. The porch was much the way she left it behind. Fang and Gom had dropped their loot by the door. She pushed her arm through the gathered gold and jewelry before looking at the empty room that was her prison for so many weeks.

Merrie didn't know what she felt. She wasn't happy, but neither was she sobbing or struggling with her sorrow. Instead, she felt almost content, but that wasn't the right word. Accepting. She had finally accepted the pain inside her but also her master's death.

She looked up at the porch. It would take a long time to repair the building, more so even as an amputee. She also couldn't safely bring Nir back until the Shadowed District was purged of shadows.

Merrie thought about the explosion of pleasure and how it banished the shadows and the Reaper. Her smile grew wider. She could gather up pleasure and erase the darkness. This time, she could craft the shade around the building so it only shielded the mansion and her home. That way, she could provide for Nir.

If Kirin would only give her the time to purge her mistake.

Contented, Merrie crawled back through the front door. She knew what she had to do. Her wrists crunched on the gravel as she made her way back to the gate. She stopped at the entrance as she felt a bright presence dangerously close.

"I knew it," Jarrek said in a low hiss. He had his two-handed sword held in front of him, brandishing it as a golden flame flickered up its length. The stylized "L" on the hilt pulsed with a steady beat like a heart.

Merrie froze in mid-crawl, her arm held above the ground as she watched him.

Holy magic glowed from the young paladin-in-training. It burned at the shadows clinging to him. The edges of darkness peeled back like burning paper and casting him in a pool of gold.

"Gillette may not see your true nature, but I knew the moment I saw you." He stepped forward, crouching down.

Merrie's cloak snapped and wrapped around her, layering the darkness on top of each other. She felt the pressure grinding down on her as the cloak did what it could to protect her. She crouched down as the power rose up inside her.

"When I defeat you, Lemetri will finally grant me the power I need to destroy all evil." His boots tapped against the cobblestones as he inched closer. He brought his sword into a ready position as he stepped on the curb before Merrie.

Merrie's heart quickened with fear. It was one of Lemitri's, a paladin. She gathered up her magic and cast it on herself, spinning through spells of speed and strength. Soon, her magic was pulsating in her ears and the steady beat gave her focus.

Jarrek whispered a prayer and brought his sword in a wide, overhead swing. "For Lemetri!"

The world slowed down for a moment and she flowed to the side, moving like her cloak, and the attack struck the ground centimeters away from her leg. She growled, a long deep noise that shook her to the core. She couldn't think of a combat spell to use, it was the one thing that her grandfather never taught her.

He yanked the sword up, spun around, and then brought it down again. The cobblestones shattered and shards of stone struck her face. The holy magic in the blade seared at her skin and her cloak peeled back away from it.

Merrie jerked and stepped back. She couldn't attack, she had nothing to fight with.

Jarrek tried to lash out at her with his feet, but missed wildly.

She backed away, trying to figure out some defense against Jarrek. She couldn't think of any and prepared to run.

"Stop moving, damn it, and fight!" Jarrek attacked wildly, hammering down with his sword. Stones shattered as he followed after her.

She tried to pull back and retreat into the mansion, but he chased her. His sword slammed into the rotting garden, sheering through a tree branch. Black leaves fluttered down around him as he swung again.

"Is," he gasped, "your place? Your lair?"

Merrie felt something rising up inside her. It wasn't despair but anticipation. She could feel the threat bubbling in his mind and she was already responding to it as if was a command. Calligraphic spells ran across her mind as she responded without thinking.

"I'm going to burn it to the ground, if it is the last thing I do. Your evil will no longer---"

An intense feeling of protectiveness rose up inside Merrie. He had threatened her master's home, her home. The incomplete spell ran across her mind, the transformation spell she sought for so many days. She didn't hesitate. With a surge of power, she threw her energy into it and set off the spell.

A tingling rushed through her body as she felt her arms stretching as black paws slammed into the ground. Muscles rippled along her body, twisting and reforming it as short black hair sprouted along her skin. Her cloak sank into her body as the she felt her face stretching and pulling, reforming into the powerful jaws of a Bel Dark hound. Her growl shook her chest and she felt it shaking the air. She glared at Jarrek with pitch-black eyes that reflected the Shadows around her.

Jarrek hesitated, his face blanching. He stepped back and got a better grip on his sword. "Shadow spawn!"

With a bellow, he charged forward. His sword glowed brightly, burning away the shadows as he slashed down at Merrie.

Merrie's body melted into shadow and slipped to the side. As the sword came slamming down into the ground, she reformed and snapped out. Powerful jaws, fueled with magic, chomped down on Jarrek's wrists. There was a brief sensation of bare flesh against her lips before her teeth tore through his skin and and crunched down on bone. She pumped energy into the spell and her jaw cracked through his arm.

Hot blood flooded her mouth. Planting one foot on his chest, she shoved him away and tore his hands and sword from his body. A spray of blood arced high in the air.

Jarrek fell back on the ground. He screamed, a high-pitched voice, as he stared at the broken ends of his arms. Blood spurted out from the edges. "N-No. No, I was going to be a paladin!" He looked up with a cry. "Lemetri! Help me!"

A beam of light pierced down through the shadows and struck him in the head. Jarrek gasped and spread out his arms. "Thank you, thank you!" He was crying as he lifted his head in benediction.

As healing magic poured into him, Merrie didn't wait. She charged forward and opened her jaw.

Jarrek looked down just as she came into the light. It burned her skin and peeled back the cloak, but she was moving too fast. Remembering Sable's attack, she brought her mouth up between his legs and crunched down. She felt his pelvis shatter and a flood of blood poured into her mouth.

The light faded instantly as Jarrek fell back.

Enraged, Merrie shook him violently. His body snapped back and forth. Tendons and bones separated. His scream grew frantic and agonized. Merrie shook even harder, pouring power into her strength as she cracked him back and forth. She felt his spine snap and let go.

Jarrek hit the ground with a thud. The darkness rolled over him, gathering around as Merrie padded closer. The growl shook her body and blood dripped from her jaws. It splattered against the cobblestones as she circled closer.

"N-No, stay away!" Jarrek tried to crawl away but his arms slipped helplessly on the stone and his legs refused to move. "I'm good. You're evil, you're... you're the one who is suppose to die!"

She stalked after him, furious that a paladin, or even one in training, had threatened her home. She couldn't let him live, not after that. She padded closer with a growl deep in her canine chest.

Jarrek fumbled for his pendant, but the blood-soaked metal slipped from his shattered fingers. He gasped for breath, looking around for something.

The darkness behind him deepened into a black void. Black claws, ones that defied comprehension, reached out from the shadows and slammed on him.

He gasped as he look up at him, staring at a cage made from the inhuman claws that pierced the ground.

Merrie froze. She could feel the alien thoughts of the Lord of Shadows behind the grip.

The Lord pulled itself into sight, the black on black of the inhuman power.

Jarrek screamed shrilly, his eyes white with panic.

Merrie ignored him. She stared at the black entity before her. The boy was nothing but a mouse to it, a pathetic and insignificant creature compared to the incredible power that held him. She reached out into the alien thoughts; she was rebuked by the incomprehensible thoughts that slammed into her. She pushed back, struggling to project to the Lord of Shadows.

(Why me?)

The Lord dragged Jarrek toward the black void that made up its body. The boy was pawing uselessly at the claws that trapped it, splattering blood everywhere with his frantic efforts. His throat tore and his voice cracked but he kept on screaming. She watched the flash of his limbs as he jerked back and forth in his efforts to escape.

The claws clenched suddenly and there was a wet crunch. Blood spurted from between the Lord's claws but it evaporated into darkness before it hit the ground.

Merrie stared, stunned but unafraid. She felt a strange joy in seeing the man crushed to death. Lemetri had taken everything from her and she couldn't dredge even a hint of sympathy for Jarrek.

The Lord continued to squeeze down, grinding the flesh in its claws. Black light poured from the cracks, spreading out in all directions. One beam ran along the front of the mansion wall and the stone crumbled with age. More beams struck the trees, buildings across the street, and even the earth below it. Whatever it struck rotted away in an instant, all the life and energy was sucked out by the absolute darkness.

One of the beams of darkness washed over her. Something thin glittered between her and the claws and the darkness snapped to it. She flinched as the icy blast hit her, but unlike everything else, she didn't rot away. Instead, she felt power filling her, spreading out to fill every part of her body. The beam was so cold, it burned. Her senses screamed out in agony but she couldn't move her body.

More beams tilted toward her, focusing on her with an intense black beam of raw power. Her cloak peeled away and blossomed around her, stretching out into black wings as the darkness poured into her.

Her world focused on the beams striking her. The breath was locked in her throat and she felt the first burn of asphyxiation rising up from her depths. She started to cry but the light burned away the tears before they rolled down her cheeks. She stared into the darkness and saw nothing but emptiness, the void.

The line dwindled down into a thin line. It twisted, bulging out like no beam could ever move. Moving with unnatural grace, it began to wrap around itself, threading through loops as it weaved into a thick braid. More beams came winding up through the growing thickness.

She regained control of her senses. Trembling, she followed the line from the Lord's claw, through the space between then, and peered down. The braided cord pierced her chest, right between her breasts. It looked like the leash she had with her master.

A sob tore out of her. Was the Lord bringing her master back? Could it? She didn't know the powers of the Shadows but she didn't think it was capable of even that.

Dark joy spread out from her chest. It spread out across her body, hardening her nipples and bringing a heat to her pussy. It continued down her arms and legs to pool at the smooth ends of her amputations. It continued up, filling her with an icy balm that blended with the hope and anticipation.

She felt it blossoming inside her mind, in the most private of places behind her shields. Her body shaking, she closed her eyes and reached out, begging for the bond as it reformed.

It wasn't her master. She knew that immediately, but the low, growl that echoed through her mind was the second greatest mind in her life.

(Alpha?) projected Tamin as the hound send out a tentative thought.

Merrie slumped to the ground, crying pathetically. She felt him in the hole in her heart, the raging emptiness that now had a small part of it filled. His thoughts were in hers, spreading out as she felt Tamin's need to obey and serve settling into place. He was hers to do as she command, to order. He would die for her again and do so willingly.

The Lord of Shadows stretched open claws of purest night. In its palm, the massive form of her dog stood up with shaking limbs. He swayed for a moment as its body solidified from the stuff of shadows and Jarrek's blood. Jet black eyes focused on her, as the hound focused on his only reason for being brought back to life.

His alpha.

Merrie stepped forward. (Is-Is it really you?)

Tamin's tail wagged and he stumbled for her. (Alpha!) There was joy and relief in the hound's mind.

Merrie surged forward, spreading open her arms as the hound slammed into her, slathering her face with his tongue. Tamin's breath had become a strange mixture of ethereal and spit, but she opened her mouth and kissed him back, clutching to him in fear he would fade away.

Joy filled her, pushing back the darkness, and she held him tightly. She had forgotten how large he was. His massive form dwarfed her, but he was as gentle as a puppy as he pressed against her.

Sobbing pathetically, she stroked his fur and held him tight. His emotions burned inside her, joy and happiness. It pulsed and she felt it spread out across her limbs, filling some of the empty hole with love.

With a gasp, she pulled back to thank the Lord of Shadows, but the alien entity was already gone. The darkness had receded and only shadows draped over the ruined buildings. The only remnants of the Lord's presence was the wide circle of sterile earth and an almost perfect circle of crumbled buildings and rotted stone fences.

(Thank you,) she projected as hard as she could, hoping the Lord could hear her.

There was no answer.

Returning her attention back to Tamin, she hugged him tight against her naked breasts. (How? I felt you die.)

The explosion slammed him through the wall of the porch. His litter mate's body punched into him, shielding him from the explosion even as the body was torn apart by the brilliant magic. The stench of burning fur and flesh choked his throat. The magic continued to assault him, tearing apart his companion's body. As it punched through the corpse, it burned away his own fur and peeled back the skin. Agony coursed over him.

He had failed his alpha. She had given him thought, life, and meaning and he had failed. She needed him at that moment, he could hear her screams through their connection, but he was too weak. He wished he could have done more in the brief moment they had, to serve the one he loved with all his heart.

Reaching out through the connection, he felt it fraying away with his body dying. His insides ruptured from the heat and he felt the agony coursing through him. He clutched to the bond with his alpha, holding on to serve her as long as he could.

Nothing.

His body burned away in flames and magic. Fur, flesh, and bone. Each one disappeared in oily smoke that clung to the air. But he was still aware, still conscious. He couldn't see anything, feel anything, or even hear. There was nothing but the void and a single, infinitely thin thread stretching through the worlds.

Somehow, he focused his attention on it. Felt the delicate strand grow tight with pain and agony. Flicker of despair strummed along the connection as he felt his alpha's alpha die. The barrier between Shadow and the other world thinned as black smoke poured in. It was the alpha's alpha.

The Lord of Shadows flowed past him and sank into the smoke. It inhaled, or something like inhaling, and drank in the ethereal smoke of the alpha's alpha. Energy rippled through the Lord and it grew larger, spreading out with black wings until it split in half. Four eyes opened into the Shadows. Where there was one Lord, there was two.

But, his alpha was in pain. Her life was being sucked into the darkness with the alpha's alpha's. He couldn't lose her. With all his might, he reached through the delicate fragile connection and grabbed her agony. He held her spirit down, pinning it in place.

The pain washed back into him, turning the bond into an agonizing wire that tore into his soul. But, he had to serve his master. He would serve her with the rest of his life. He took the pain and screamed. He screamed and screamed but he held her tight, biting down on her soul to prevent her from being destroyed like the alpha's alpha.

The pain never stopped. It raged but he held on. It was the only thing he could do. He didn't know how time passed, but he felt it through flashes through the fragile connection. His master considering suicide, the first time she held out her arms to beg, when the dangerous thriban chased her. She needed him then and he gave it to her, finding the magic inside her that brought out her true form. He didn't understand the magic or the words, but he could push her to transform.

His connection almost snapped as she became the most beautiful bitch he had ever seen. And then again when she crossed back through. It was only her desperate throw back into the other world that kept it from breaking.

Months passed and the pain subsided. It no longer consumed his thoughts and he finally could relax. He took what she couldn't handle and bore it for her. He couldn't lick her or touch her, but he could be there. The last, fragile anchor holding her in place.

And then she found peace. When his master held on the shadow stone, she forgave herself and the pain ended. He bowed his head and readied himself to fade away, but the original Lord of Shadows had other plans. It gave him a body again, wrapped his mind in tissue and blood. It returned him to his form and gave him back for reasons he couldn't understand.

It didn't matter anymore why he was alive or why the Lord of Shadows brought him back. Tamin licked her face as she stared at him with shimmering eyes. All that matter was that he had his alpha back.

He loved her with all his life. He would die for her, not just once but again. As many lives as the Shadows would give him, he would use them to fight for her, to die for her. She was his alpha.

beautiful

Merrie felt raw but elated as she crawled down the street. It was well into the morning and the streets were quiet. Only one lantern in ten was lit and the dark pools of light were a balm against her raw senses. The rain had stopped while she was in the Shadowed District and a heavy fog had rolled through the town, clinging to the street and wrapping her world in a muted silence.

Tamin paced next to her, his massive form shifting in the streamers of fog. He burned with shadow magic. It boiled beneath the skin and reached out for the night around them.

Her own cloak responded. It flowed and spread out, but as it reached closer to the hound, it caressed his muscular body, tracing the curves and clinging like static. Shivering of pleasure ran through her senses, from his body, through the cloak, and into her.

The gaping hole in her soul was still there and she desperately missed her master, but she could feel how Tamin had anchored her. The connection was always there, just a tiny thread that somehow saved her life. It was enough to keep her from plummeting fully into a world of despair. It was stronger now, a full leash that bound them together. His thoughts pulsed in her head and she could feel the power rolling in his mind. Raw potential, energy she could use, both pleasure and despair.

She smiled and bumped against him, enjoying the solid feel of his form against her naked skin. He towered over her, but there was no question of who dominated the relationship. She listened to his heavy footsteps on the cobblestones and how his weight squelched the loose bricks.

Leaving the Shadowed District was easier than she expected. Merrie didn't fear the Shadows anymore and they simply crossed over, walked a few steps, and came back down in the street. They avoided Gillette and the others. No doubt, the warrior farmer would spend months clearing out the creatures that roamed the district. She would help him from the darkness, at least to remove the larger areas of shadows.

Guilt filled her as they passed the last of the memorials. She had to.

(Will you reveal your home to the light?)

Her home. Merrie looked up at Tamin and smiled. The mansion was her home, even though she couldn't bring Nir there. She shook her head. (No, but we can let the world see the area around it.)

("The subtle shadows hides the longest.") It was quote from her master's master.

Radiating amusement, she brushed up against him. (It is our home. We can't hide forever, but at least we can prevent others from being lost in it.) She paused and looked back the way they came. Her amusement crumbled. (It was so easy to create, but it will take a long time to undo it.)

(How?)

Merrie kissed him and they continued walking down the street. (By the things I do best: fuck. Pleasure burns away the despair, leaving only shadows behind. I like the dark, it makes everything feel better when I'm blind.)

He responded with affection but no words.

They walked in silence, both in thoughts and words.

Merrie spent the time figuring out a home for Nir. She settled on Tai. She knew the guard wanted to take care of someone, and it wouldn't take much for Gail to be convinced. It would be a quiet life, but at least someone would take care of Nir.

Nir was as close as Merrie had to a pack before Tamin returned. But, Nir couldn't go where Merrie was going. It was more than just being a whore. She was being pulled into something greater, and far more dangerous, that she could imagine.

They came up to the guild around three in the morning. The mist glowed from the guild where the lanterns still lit up around the openings and the windows. The building never slept because there was always someone working, no matter how late. The city was always fucking.

Merrie reached out with her mental senses and looked for Nir. The teenage girl was upstairs in Kirin's room. To Merrie's surprise, Nir's thoughts were glowing with excitement and flashes of heat. Pleasure sparkled around in a familiar halo of an orgasm. She was being fucked.

Stumbling, Merrie looked up at the top floor. She didn't think Nir would ever enter the guild willingly, not with the fear of rape in her mind. But, there was no question that not only was Nir inside, she had gone consensually and was now glowing from a series of orgasms.

Merrie smiled and continued along. Something had happened while she was gone and she was curious to find out.

As they came up to the front door, Barrel staggered down the street. He wore only a leather thong and carried three whips over his back. His thighs, back, and shoulders were crisscrossed with red marks. Bruises darkened both sets of cheeks, ass and face. But, he was smiling and humming, still lost in the afterglow of pleasure and pain.

She dropped the shade as she paced next to the submissive.

They were almost up to the front entrance when Barrel noticed her. He gasped and jerked to the side. He bounced off Tamin's solid chest and flung back.

Merrie reached up to catch him. At the same time, Tamin snapped out and chomped on the whips. Between the two, Barrel didn't fall, but it took him a moment to regain his feet. When he did, he was gasping for breath and laughing. "B-Bitch! I didn't see you there. And---" he glanced over at the massive hound still holding his whips.

Tamin opened his mouth and let the leather strands fall out. Drool dripped from the loops as they hit his legs with a wet snap.

"A-And, you got yourself a new friend, didn't you?" Barrel was smiling to hide his fear. "Will he bite?"

Merrie nodded and smiled at him, pulling back her teeth and a sly smile.

Her expression brought a flush to Barrel's cheek, the submissiveness rising. She felt it hum inside her and teasing heat between her legs. She loved to see him smile.

"Um," a flush rose on Barrel's cheeks as he peeked towards Tamin's hip, the unthinking thought rising up. "Will he bite me?"

Merrie kissed Barrel and continued inside. The young man followed after them nervously.

As they entered, the room grew silent. There was only about fifteen whores in the guild that night. Most of them were lazing on the couches and two were having a drinking contest with small glasses of spirits. But, even the contest paused as Merrie entered.

It wasn't the first time silence greeted her. Merrie was never at home at the guild. She loved the fucking, she loved the people who would talk to her, but there was an uncomfortableness that surrounded her. She had made every one of them come at the same time, without touching them or even being in the same room. It hung over all of them knowing that she could do it.

"They should just accept it." Barrel rested his hand on her ear, stroking along the ridge. She shivered at the touch and closed her eyes in pleasure. None of the submissives distrusted her, they were used to be used and loved what she had done. "It was a beautiful."

Merrie kissed his thigh again. Tamin lapped at the other side, which caused Barrel to jump.

"Um, is he going to do that a lot?"

Merrie nodded and pulled away to head up the stairs. Tamin paced her, moving with the ghostly silence that surrounded both of them. Their footsteps crushed the soft carpet on the stairs.

Scorch sat on the landing, at the top of the first flight of stairs. A haze surrounded him as he watched with amusement. "You know, according to the city, we aren't allow the perversions of real animals in the guild."

Merrie's cloak blossomed out, unwrapping from her body and leaving her naked. It snapped over to Tamin and surrounded him. The hound stepped across into the Shadows as the cloak pulled back. In a heartbeat, she was alone on the stairs with a smile on her lips.

Scorch chuckled. "I thought so. Your little friend is up with Kirin. I promise you, she came in willingly."

Merrie stopped next to him. She reached over and kissed his cheek and his lip, drinking the hot air and smell of soot that surrounded him. With a third kiss on his lips, she pulled back and continued alone.

As soon as she passed, she let her cloak flutter back out and Tamin stepped back across, moving as if he never left her side. And he never did.

Behind her, Scorch laughed.

Up on the third floor, they headed to Kirin's room. The hook was almost empty and the little numbered tiles were scattered all over the ground. Her eyes were drawn to Kirin's bed where Nir was splayed out on the white-streaked sheets. Her eyes were closed but there was a big smile on her lips. Her pussy, freshly shaved, glistened with cum as did the rest of her body.

Merrie could feel magic filling Nir, centered around three runes that had been inscribed on her right thigh. One for sterility, one for cleansing, and a final one to protect against disease. None of them were the permanent runes, like what Merrie had between her legs, but they were red-rimmed with freshness.

She never looked at Nir as a sexual being, but Merrie saw her as one now. The girl was on her back with her legs spread. Her breasts, too small for Nir's tastes, stood up as two proud mountains. Her nipples, low and wide, was hard as fresh globs of cum rolled down from them.

One of the whores, a dominating man who specialized in ball torture, shook as he came on her face and body, coating her with four long ropes of sperm before he staggered to the side and off the bed. He nodded to Kirin who sat in a chair next to the bed.

Kirin was sprawled out in one of her gold corsets. Her cock was at half mast and she had both legs and the tip of her cock resting on Elf's back as the submissive acted as her stool. She twirled a glass of black wine with three fingers as she watched the bed.

Another whore, a woman with a top hat and nothing else, crawled on the bed and straddled Nir's face. She delved her hand into the girl's cum-soaked hair and brought Nir up to her pussy. "Think you can, honey? Just use little licks for me."

Nir's lust rose up and she willingly shoved her face into the woman's sex, lapping and sucking.

Merrie felt a sympathetic heat rising inside her. She crawled over to Kirin and sat down next to the guild mistress.

Tamin circled around and took up an opposing position.

Kirin didn't notice, but Elf looked up with a smile. The hairs on his back were soaked in a puddle of precum forming underneath the massive cock of the mistress. His movement cause his body to stir and a droplet rolled off and hit the ground. It sizzles as it burned away on the white marble, leaving a slightly brighter patch.

"Bad boy," whispered Kirin.

Elf moaned and closed his eyes. His cock, not the largest thing, jerked and precum of his own splattered down on the marble. Unlike Kirin's, it didn't sizzle or hiss.

Merrie guided Tamin to lower his body and bring it up underneath Kirin's glass, to form a table for her.

Kirin jumped when the hound's body cradled her drink. Then, she looked at what was holding her glass. With a gasp, she stood up from her seat and backed to the side, stopping centimeters from Merrie and spinning around. Relief flooded her. "Oh, thank the fucker. Bitch, you surprised me."

Merrie grinned and wagged her tail.

Kirin sank back down and reached out automatically for her wine glass. Tamin held himself steady as she plucked it off. Taking a long sip, she set it back down on his broad head.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

Merrie nodded and glanced over to Nir. The teenager was lapping hard but slowing down. She was exhausted despite the pleasure filling her. Her legs were pressed together and cum glistened across every square millimeter of her skin as she clutched her lover's hips tightly to keep lapping.

"It was Elf that got her to relax. He came over to bring me something and they got to talking. I left the two of them alone for dinner. A few hours later, she made the request to come up here. Elf sponsored her and Monk cast the runes."

Merrie turned her attention to Elf.

The large man looked back at her and his strap-on wings shivered. "I promised I would protect her."

Kirin reached out with her foot and pressed it against Elf's mouth. The submissive man opened and sucked on her toes. "My little Elfie is one of the guild's protectors."

Merrie couldn't believe it, even when Scorch mentioned it earlier.

Elf pulled his mouth off Kirin's toes, saliva connecting him to her. "Butterfly enemas really hurt." He smiled and jammed his mouth back on Kirin's toes.

Merrie giggled and looked away.

"Elfie, that's two punishments for talking out of turn."

He pulled his mouth off and panted, "Yes, mistress."

"Three," came the reply and Elf moaned. Kirin shoved her foot back into his mouth. "You have to gag him or he'll go until he has a thousand."

Elf mumbled with a full mouth, nodding.

"Normally," Kirin continued, "we only need him and the others when we have customers who don't pay. Of course you, Bitch," Merrie felt Kirin's attention focusing on her, "need to actually try to get paid first. I've been meaning to talk to you about that... again."

Merrie ducked her head. Her skin tingled as she felt exposed. On the other side, Tamin's ears drooped also but he kept his head rock-steady.

"I know you are using the money from your other marks, but it isn't about payment. It's about a contract. A social contract. You whore, they pay, understand?"

Merrie nodded. Her ears drooped against her head as she stared at Nir.

"It will be important since that girl looks up at you as a role-model. You and Scorch, though I have no clue why that man would ever look out for her. And, unlike you two, she has no magical powers. She can't set cheaters on fire or... whatever you do. Though," Kirin said as she tapped Tamin on the head, "we might have to get you into some of the dog and pony shows. I have a feeling you'd fuck this thing and I have no doubt that his cock is huge."

Merrie's pussy clenched and she nodded. On the other side, Tamin panted happily.

"Though, normally I would be hesitant to let a undead war hound brimming with shadow magic into my guild."

Merrie jerked at the words. She stared across the chair at Tamin. (Tamin?)

(I have no idea what she's talking about. I feel the same.)

Kirin sighed. "Magic fuels his heart and his veins are as black as your shadows. He isn't a construct though and there is no necromantic energy around him, but the only thing keeping his heart beating is that connection to you," she swept her finger through the air and the shadowy braid flickered in response, "and a core of darkness in his soul. I've seen something like this before, but from demons not the shadows. I didn't think anything from the Shadows was capable of bringing back even a hound like this."

Merrie shivered at the words. Tamin's memories rose up inside her, of how the Lord of Shadows bring Tamin back to life.

"Be careful, Bitch, anything capable of doing this," Kirin tapped Tamin on the head, "always wants something in return. And the price is usually far costlier than what you're getting from him."

(Tamin?) A sick feeling rose in Merrie's stomach and her throat felt tight. (Do you know what she is talking about?)

Tamin turned his head to look at Merrie. His eyes were pitch black, stained by the Lord of Shadows. (I will die for you, alpha.)

Merrie shivered at his projected thought. When he first said it, right after the Lord, it was something familiar and comforting. But, now with Kirin's words, she heard something else. It wasn't only Tamin speaking but a promise. The Lord of Shadows wanted her for something and Tamin was there to protect her until the Lord got what it wanted.

Even with the dark thoughts burning in her head, she could feel Tamin's love through their connection. It was the same raw passion and protectiveness that she remembered from the first day they bonded. His emotions were laid bare to her and there were no secrets in his thoughts. If the Lord of Shadows had corrupted him, she couldn't sense it, but the Shadows were adept at hiding.

She sighed and leaned against Kirin's chair. She couldn't abandon Tamin, not after just getting him back. Even knowing the Lord of Shadows wanted something in return couldn't stop the love she felt in her heart. He was her pack, comforting and protective. He was hers and she was his. She craved the feeling of having a connection with him. Torn, Merrie looked over at Tamin who watched her unblinkingly.

(Do you not want me, alpha?)

Even as he projected the thought, Merrie knew she couldn't lose him. She felt sick to her stomach. (No, I can't lose you again.)

He sent a pulse of love and she shivered in his warmth.

Kirin rested her hand on Merrie's head, her finger stroking along the ridge of Merrie's ear. "If you're curious, it was worth it for me."

Merrie jerked and looked up into the blue-gold eyes of the guild mistress.

The guild mistress smiled at her as she continued to stroke Merrie's ear. "He was the greatest seven months of my life. Even knowing what... I needed to do, I wouldn't have given him up for anything." A tear rolled down Kirin's cheek.

Elf reached up to pat Kirin's thigh comfortingly.

Kirin smiled and patted Elf's hand and Merrie's head. "I'm just saying, don't let it hang over you. Know that there is a price but cherish every moment and every passion." She sniffed. "I didn't and when it was over, I realized the last thing we did was fight. It probably tore me apart more than anything else. My humanity verses love? Fuck being human, I'd give up anything for him."

Merrie whimpered softly and glanced over at Tamin.

He sent a wave of love back to her. (I love you, alpha. For as long as I can.)

She knew that she couldn't give him up. Even knowing there was a price. She promised she would cherish every moment and sent an intense wave of love toward him. (I love you. No matter what happens.)

Their tails began to wag in synchronization, thumping against the ground.

"It's hard to believe," Kirin said as her fingers continued to stroke Merrie's ear, "that you are probably the most dangerous thing to ever pass through the arches in the history of this guild. And, despite that, you are still just a fragile little girl."

Blushing, Merrie leaned into Kirin's fingers. She could feel the shadow of the Lord hanging over her and Tamin, but Kirin gave her hope. The guild mistress didn't regret the price she paid and Merrie took her words to heart. She would cherish Tamin.

(And fuck me?) There was a primal hope in his thoughts.

With a grin, Merrie sent a hard pulse of pleasure through the connection and Tamin shivered from the sudden orgasm. The wine glass on his head quivered, threatening to fall before Kirin caught it.

"You're adorable, actually. Not unlike your little friend here." She gestured toward the bed where the woman with a top hat was staggering off the edge of the bed, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Sweet girl, though. She has followed you from one side of the city to the other. I half expected her to propose to you months ago."

The guild mistress' words were true, there was affection inside Nir for Merrie. It would take years before it blossomed, but Merrie could see one path that would lead them to living a sweet life at the mansion. But, she couldn't marry anyone anymore. She had her master's memory and her pack and, now, a price. She shook her head and gestured over to Tamin.

"I thought so." Kirin sat up and turned her back to Nir who was switching partners again. The mistress leaned over the edge to whisper to Merrie. "Does this mean you'll be staying at the guild now that you aren't protecting her on the streets?"

Merrie looked up into the blue-gold eyes. She had a home but the guild wasn't it. She shook her head.

Sadness filled Kirin's eyes. "Are you leaving? I didn't mean to ruin getting your dog back. I don't think I've ever seen you happier."

With a smile, Merrie reached up, rested her breasts on the side of the chair, and stretched up to kissed Kirin on the lips. She wasn't going anywhere for a long time, no matter what Sari, the dead guild master, said.

"Good. I'm quite fond of you." Kirin sat back up and looked to the door. "Looks like Talbot is the last one. What do you think, Elfie, think she's in?"

Elf slurped around her toes before releasing them. "Sixty-one for yes, three against."

"We have a consensus then." Kirin picked up her feet and let her cock slide off Elf's back. "Clean her up so I can welcome her to the guild."

The large man squealed and scrambled to his feet. Kirin's precum dripped off his back and hit the ground, sizzling on the marble before fading. He used a towel to wipe off the remaining on his back and bounded toward the bed.

Merrie watched the towel blacken from the touch of Kirin's precum. It didn't smell of anything but the sharp smell of cum.

"The problem," sighed Kirin, "about fucking demons is that it changes you. Kind of like fucking the shadows, don't you think?"

Merrie giggled and nodded. The shadows had changed her in ways she didn't expect. She glanced at Tamin who watched everything with quiet amusement and anticipation.

On the bed, Elf crawled over to Nir. His wings shuddered with his movements.

Nir, spotting him, spread her legs and held out her arms.

But, Elf didn't mount her. Instead, he took a deep breath and cried out. "Cream pie!" And then dove between Nir's legs, his mouth seeking out her pussy.

With a gasp, Nir grabbed his head and arched her back.

From the arch, Barrel gasped. "Oh, I'm just in time! Cleaning time!" He scrambled across the room, stripping off his thong, and launched himself on the bed. His tight, marked ass waved for a moment before he clamped his mouth down on Nir's upturned breast.

Merrie felt a pang of heat rising up. She grinned and crawled toward the bed.

"Leave my wine stand."

With an order for Tamin to remain in place, she flowed up the bed and across the sheets. She breathed in the strong smells of cock and pussy before she caught Nir's other nipple with her mouth. It was slick and dripping and tasted of both fresh cum and women's juices.

Nir whimpered and her body tensed up as three mouths laved her. "Oh, gods!" Her body flashed with an orgasm, the tension rippling up her limbs before she slumped down.

Merrie smiled at Barrel across her breasts as she planted her arms against Nir's side. She lapped at the cum on the heaving breast, moving in wider circles to clean every hint of sex from the girl's body.

Nir cried out wordless as she writhed back and forth. The three mouths steadily worked across every centimeter of her skin.

Flushed with the taste of cum, Merrie reached her face first. She smiled at Nir before she lapped at her face, removing hours of cum from her face.

When Nir's eyes could open, she did. She saw Merrie and gasped. "Ears!" she said in a broken whisper. "I... I had sex! And it felt good." She grinned sheepishly and whispered, "It felt really good."

Merrie nodded and kissed her. Their tongues danced across each other before Merrie returned to her duties of cleaning Nir's face, throat, and then into her hair. The rasp stung her tongue, but Merrie continued along her duties. Her own naked body ground against Nir's. She was careful to keep to the cleaned areas to avoid smearing cum across the teenager's glistening skin.

"A-And," Nir gasped with a moan, her eyes closed, "Elf said he would protect me from anyone, even my parents."

Elf lifted his face. It shimmered with the juices he was cleaning off her. "Of course, sweetie. You're guild."

Kirin, from the her chair, called out. "That's four. Screw that, I'm suppose to be the one telling her! That's ten, Elfie!" But, there it was mock anger that resonated in her voice.

Elf moaned and delved back down to suck the cum from Nir's feet.

It felt good to lap and clean, but Merrie didn't feel the rush of submission or the excitement of being dominated. It didn't matter. This was for Nir, not herself. She continued to clean her off until they flipped her over and started on the back side.

Tomorrow, she would find someone to force her into submission and make her cum. She could use the pleasure to right the damage she did to the district.

(Just wanted to mention, the reason there hasn't been so many grammatical errors and typos is because mbscout is awesome.)

The first day of summer was the sweetest day of the year, except for the sunlight. It bore down on the streets and thickened the air with heat. It was humid and searing; the cobblestones reflected the heat and made it impossible to escape. With the crowds enjoying the day and filling the streets, there was very little breeze that reached Merrie's level.

She panted as she wound her way through the feet. Pedestrians streamed around her but didn't look down. They never saw her anymore, despite her magic being weakened by the direct sun. Instead, they tried to step aside to unconsciously let her pass, but in the crowds there was little room to maneuver. She was forced to slid along naked legs and bump against bags filled with holiday shopping.

The city celebrated the first day of summer like almost every other holiday, by spending money, getting drunk, and a lot of fucking. She could feel a couple making out in a nearby alley and three other people watching discreetly. A man was giving another one a blow job behind one of the stalls. Further down the line, a husband was fingering his wife as she held her shopping bag in front of her hips with shaking hands; she whispered to him to stop before their son saw it but that only encouraged him to thrust faster and harder.

Merrie smiled and drank in the pleasures. They were sparks against her skin and reminded her of her own near nudity as she moved. Her cloak was the only thing she wore and the black fabric had draped tightly around her to avoid being stepped on. It shifted as she did, moving as naturally as her tail narrowly avoiding brushing people.

Part of her attention was focused on the cloak. If she let her mind relax, she would find jewelry and money hidden in her pockets the next day. The cloak moved constantly, brushing on pockets, and she had to keep it in check to avoid it from grabbing everything she could. Her master was the same way, reflexively stealing even when he didn't need to, but Merrie couldn't figure out why the cloak was taking on his traits.

At first, she wondered if her master was somehow possessing the cloak, but she could find none of his thoughts in the thin fabric, even after inspecting it for a needle-thin connections like she had with Tamin. It moved as her will and only her will. But that meant she was driving the cloak's thievery subconsciously.

(I do not like all these people,) muttered Tamin. He was shadowing her from a nearby alley, flitting between the barriers of the world and Shadows with the grace of a natural creature. With every step, though, she was moving further away from him and into the bright exposure of the Central Plaza. He wanted to follow, but her orders were to keep in the shadows and protect, not add to the struggle to get through the pedestrians.

The Plaza was the largest open space in the city. Unlike the parks and gardens, it was almost entirely cobblestone except for small clumps of buildings, fountains, and other semi-permanent structures. It was filled with vendors and pedestrians, people of all ages and personalities. Illusionists cast spells over the heads of people and the spectral plays cast the entire Plaza in shifting lights. There were stages at both ends and the shows fought to make enough noise to be heard of the din of conversation and the screams of hawkers.

A cacophony of smells rolled over her. Almost every purveyor of food was in the Plaza, selling fresh breads, meats, wines, and treats. Her stomach rumbled as she moved from the street into the cobblestone expanses. She passed a man hawking roasted meats and she relaxed her cloak enough to let it snap out and pluck one right out of his hand. She was eating it before he realized it was gone.

Magic crackled around her, creating a haze as a thousand spells interacted with each other. Wards to protect the stalls and personal protections interfered with the invisibility and repulsion spells. It felt like everyone was trying to find some way of creating space around them and the tension ground down on Merrie.

She wrapped her shade tight against her body and continued down the path. She didn't need a wide space to move in, just enough to slip past legs as she headed straight for the message boards.

The first board, Oak, was erected over a thousand years ago as a place to make announcements. As Franome City grew, so did the number of people who felt the need to make notices, decry some injustice, or look for companionship. One board, Diamond, was dedicated to proposals and a crowd of men and women peered hopefully at it every year, desperately wishing it was their name on one of the thousand pieces of paper that fluttered in the breeze.

Merrie caught the thoughts of a young man staring at the corner of the board. He was looking at a folded piece of pink paper. Another guy's name was on it, but he had written the letter. He was terrified to open it to see if his paramour answered. Reaching out, Merrie found the target of his affection, secretly watching from behind the Ruby message board. She smiled and threw a small domination spell at both of them, forcing them to turn and catch each others eyes.

The letter was quickly forgotten as they stepped toward each other.

Grinning, she made her way past the towering message boards toward the middle. They were arrange six across and twelve deep. Messages were posted to both sides of the boards, but with the crowds pressing against them, no one had a chance to even find the hammer and nails that were normally used to post messages. Instead, they brought their own and the boards shook with the constant pounding and pulling.

Merrie looked up until she found the Obsidian board. Like the others, it was crowded as people peered at the thousands of notices and papers nailed to it. She crept closer, forcing her way past legs until she was right up against the board. Remembering Eolis' directions, she headed to the right side and sat on her knees, peering at the papers herself.

Her pulse was fast in her veins as she stared at the scrawled notes. There was a dizzying array of hand-written and printed letters. Some glowed with magic, mostly illusions, while others pushed her eyes away from looking at them. She tightened her shields and forced herself to look at every one, working systematically through the pages until she reached the end. When she didn't find it, she ducked underneath the board and went to the opposite side. She started again, looking for anything labeled "Lost Alpha".

As she looked, a young child came up to her. She ignored the little girl until she felt a tiny hand grabbing her tail and pulling. Jumping, Merrie peered over her shoulder at the girl.

The girl smiled broadly as she stared down at Merrie's pale tail.

Merrie frowned and wrapped the shade tighter around herself but the girl continued to tug lightly on her rear. Merrie squirmed uncomfortably and pulled it free.

The girl stared up at her and Merrie was briefly caught in her intense gaze. She felt exposed in the girl's eyes and realized her shade wasn't powerful enough to protect herself from the young one.

Pushing back her fear, Merrie smiled at her and cocked her head.

The girl giggled and clapped her hands. "Doggy!"

Next to the girl, a woman turned around and sighed. She grabbed the girl's arm. "There aren't any dogs here, Dith. This is a festival. No one in the right mind would bring a---"

"Doggy!" The girl pointed directly at Merrie, but the woman didn't even look at the nearly naked bitch.

"Come on! Let's find your brother."

Dith waved as she was pulled back.

Merrie got into a begging position, cocked her head, and waved back. She smiled broadly until the girl was out of sight.

She was about to return to the board when she realized something. Pulling her tail up, she stared at the end. Her tail was normally blonde, the same color as her hair, but the tip had become white. She didn't know when it happened, but it was as if all the color had been bleached out.

Resting on her ankles, she stroked the tip of her tail. She had lost no sensation in the tip. Every tap and stroke sent a bolt of pleasure through her body, but even the hairs changed color in mid-strand. With a sigh, she let it slip from her arms and got back on her knees. It was a mystery for later.

She turned around and resumed her search for the note. After a few more seconds, she found it. It was a tiny card with an incredibly neat writing. On the front, it said "The Lost Alpha" in block letters. Using her teeth, she tore it from the board and rested it on her wrists. Her cloak flipped it over so she could read the back. "If you obeyed, return where you were given the order at sundown. If you disobeyed, be waiting tomorrow at the southern gate at sunrise."

She smiled. She was a good bitch and had been properly fucked almost every day for half a year. Except for the initial two days, where she got within hours of disobeying, she was also a well-fucked bitch. She smiled and her tail thumped against someone next to her. She watched the stranger try to bat away her tail and let the card slip into her cloak.

Getting on her knees, she looked around. The line of the board and the press of bodies gave her enough shadows to work. With a grin, she jumped into the darkness and stepped across.

On the other side, the world was deathly silent as mute shadows of people flitted from spot to spot. Creatures of darkness, shadows of crows and rats, chased after the faint images of humanity, trying to feed off the contrast of light and darkness.

Tamin came bounding across the darkness at her. (Alpha!)

Merrie sent him a wave of happiness and then crawled toward the forest that Eolis commanded her. It only took a few steps before she was back to the clearing. Travel in the Shadows was always faster than across reality, even while crawling on her wrists and knees.

She stopped and circled the clearing, looking for people. She noticed the shadow of a single individual, barely visible in the darkness formed by the trees. Closing her eyes, she pushed her senses across.

It was Zeob, Eolis' partner from the wagon. The slender young man was sitting with his back to the tree. He looked like he was casually reading a book, but he was nervous and kept jerking with every sound that drifted through the clearing. Sweat prickled his brow as he clutched the book and his knuckles were white.

Merrie felt a prickle of concern. Pulling back, she spread out her senses through the clearing. There was no magic or wards for a hundred meters in either directions. She could feel the press of people, but only one intelligent being was in the same area.

(Is it a trap, Alpha?)

She sighed and looked around. (I don't know. It feels like something is watching, but I can't find it.)

(I didn't find anything. Only small, tasty things.) A hunger rose up along their connection as he watched a shadow of a squirrel, long separated from its physical counterpart, reliving the actions it did in life.

(It said sundown.) She squirmed as the uncomfortable sensation grew. (Let's wait.)

(May I?) Tamin's thoughts grew excited.

She smiled and settled down on the black grass near Zeob's body, meters away except for the barrier of worlds. (Go on and chase the critters.)

Tamin sent a pulse of excitement and launched himself after the squirrel.

Merrie closed her eyes and kept her senses focused on the other world. She listened to the ebb and flow of the city celebrating along with the intimate flashes of pleasure as Tamin hunted in the darkness.

Two hours later, she was sure no one else was waiting for her. Zeob had finished his book and had a light lunch. He didn't move from the spot, but his nervousness faded with the second book.

She gathered energy and sank through the worlds, never getting up from her spot in the grass. The sensation of crossing over sent a little thrill through her and she breathed in the smells of living grass and fresh earth.

With a smile, she waited.

It took him almost twenty minutes before Zeob realized she was there. He was flipping a page and looked up around him. His eyes passed over her, despite her not using a shade, and he let out a sigh.

And then froze in mid-turn. His emotions exploded into fear and terror and she bit back a moan at the intoxicating feel of it against her mental senses.

She let out a dramatic sigh and her tail began to shake back and forth.

"I-I," Zeob whimpered as he tried to relax his tense sphincter, "A-Alpha. I was waiting for you." He glanced up at the light and then scrambled to his feet. "Y-You're early. I-I'm not suppose to call you by name, okay?"

Merrie sat up, the cloak fluttering around her as it wrapped around her naked body. The pressure felt good against her skin and she let let her body rock back and forth as she wagged.

"Does that mean you obeyed?" His cheeks grew flushed as he struggled with his words. "You listened to our, um, mutual friend?"

She opened her mind and listened to his thoughts.

(She's really scary with that black thing moving around her. There isn't enough wind for it to be fluttering like that. I wonder if it is magic. No, it has to be. I've never seen an alpha look like her.) There was fear coloring his thoughts. (But, my love said to check her out.)

As he tried to subtly look over her, Merrie let the cloak pull back way from her body. Her naked body, from hanging breasts to shaved pussy, was exposed to his eyes and she felt a thrill as his discomfort rose. Like Eolis, Zeob was gay. Unlike Eolis, Zeob didn't even care to look at the naked female.

(She, um, seems pretty healthy. I don't see scars or scratches. How do I get her to roll over or, um, let me see her back? He told me to just give her an order, but I can't.) The fear rose up. (Not with those eyes.)

Merrie got a flash of what Zeob saw. Her blue eyes had lost their color, just like her master, and they were a haunting shade of gray on gray. He felt like they were peering into his soul and he started to wish that Eolis could be here instead of him.

She stretched and arched her back. Her breasts rose as did his discomfort. With a sigh, she turned around and got on her knees. Lifting herself up, she spread herself wide and held the position.

(Why did she do that?) He gulped as he looked over her. He saw no signs of damage or even starvation in Merrie's curvy but tight frame. Merrie was at the peak of her health, the perfect bitch, and Zeob's discomfort rose up. He wanted to be anywhere else even as a small, humiliating, thought drifted up. He wished he looked like her, but male. He craved not to be with her, but to have the raw sexuality radiating from her body.

He shook as he closed his book with a light thump. (Why is she holding herself like that? I know I...) The fear sparked again. (Eolis said she could read thoughts, that she was a psychic, but she should have lost that with her... can you read my thoughts?)

Merrie felt playful. She looked over her shoulder at him, catching her with her colorless gaze. With a smile, she gave a single bark.

(Oh, the gods, she's reading. I need to think... what do I do?)

She released her position and turned around. Crawling over, she stopped when she was right next to his feet. With a soft woof, she settled down on his legs to pin them. (Relax,) she projected along with a wave of comfort, the equivalent of a hug, (I'm not going to bite.)

Zeob whimpered, his body trembling. He was submissive enough for her telepathy to work and she listened to him working the words through his head. He was unaccustomed to having foreign thoughts drifting through his mind but quickly adapted.

(Relax,) she repeated. She reached in and caught what would help him relax, much like she had done with every mark she had. With a little flex of her mind, she guided his mind to forget about the breasts against his thighs or her pussy and just pretend that she was an attractive young man, much like Zeob.

The tension drained out of his shoulders. "T-Thank you," he whispered, "I'm kind of" (new to this.)

Merrie sent another wave of comfort. (You're doing fine.)

"I, um," (someone might be listening---you can hear me, right---and Eolis told me to be careful. He can't come) "because" (he's being audited. Most collectors have it happen every few years, but its a few days of truth spells, having his geas verified, and his finances reviewed. It's very invasive, but I'm not allowed to be near the wagon while the auditors are there.)

She nodded and rested her chin on his knee. (So, what else are you looking for?)

"I, um, I'm suppose to find out what you've been doing the last five months."

Merrie closed her eyes. With a gentle push, she showed him what she was doing. Because it would make him uncomfortable, she edited out the sex and despair, but otherwise she sent him the rapid-fire memories of five months.

Zeob tensed up and he gasped. His hand clutched his book as he stared out into nothing. His mind spun furiously as he was shown her life, every day and every night. She guided his mind to take the information and abstract it down into his own words and thoughts.

It took almost an hour to give him her life for half a year. When she finished, she lifted her head and cocked her head.

Zeob gulped. "Um, please tell me before you do that again." He gave her a pained smiled.

(Would you have let me do it then?)

He looked away and his regret filled his mind. He gulped. (The Shadowed District, do you think you'll free it soon?)

Merrie sighed. It was slow going since she started, mainly because she couldn't find enough orgasms to power her magic. As much as her marks liked to fuck her, it was hard to get the orgasms that threatened to burst out of her head. And when they did, it was just as hard to gather up the excitement instead of sinking into the pleasure. It was about a third gone, but as she erased the shadows from the world, the remaining darkness grew stronger. It would be easier if she just tried to destroy it entirely, but Merrie wanted to keep the shade spell firmly entrenched around her home.

She rested her chin back down. (Maybe half a year to a year.)

(That will help. There are a lot of scared people there. And Eolis might be able to earn some good will by letting some key people know. And then, he might be able to keep everyone away from your home.)

She sent a wave of comfort and a smile. She looked through the trees at the red haze over the mountains. It was almost night and soon the celebrations would be thundering across the city. She could already feel the illusion rituals building up in power. Magic would soon drape almost every surface.

Every year, the festivals had a theme. There was always flowers, cute animals, and mystical beasts as part of the illusions, but the general theme was kept a secret from the general populace. Merrie, with her ability to see magic, already knew it was going to be a river theme as she saw the preparations to turn the air above the streets into fantastic streams of fish, flowers, and plants.

She smiled. She loved the festivals, more so since she could only remember the last few years. It was new to her but also sad. She had lost so much with her master, willingly, but on the nights alone, she missed when her master and Rimmy would fuck quietly under the flashing lights.

"I," whispered Zeob, "could never do what you're doing."

Merrie pulled her thoughts from wool-gathering and glanced at him.

"I can't imagine what pain you went through. And, I wish I could do something about it."

Zeob ladled food into the bowl as he listened to the others. Eolis sat in his chair, looking handsome as usual, as he talked to Bass and Haviston across the table.

"Why can't you break the compulsion from here?" snapped Eolis. "Give me words, a trigger, a charm. Give me something I can use. That girl is alone in the city and I can't do anything about it!"

Haviston sighed and held out his hands. "Because I don't know what went wrong." He spoke in the monotone that always creeped Zeob out. It was unnaturally that he never raised his voice or even deviated from the dull dictation. "The compulsion was designed to break with the bonding."

Eolis slammed the table. "She bonded, damn it. She almost killed me with shadow magic. And I got very dangerously close to finding out what tentacles in my ass felt like!"

Bass raised an eyebrow.

Eolis snarled at him, his primal nature cracking through his veneer of civilization. Zeob shivered with anticipation and dread. That always meant that Eolis would be fucking him hard at night, to pound away his "dirty nature" as he always called it. His cock twitched with the thought and he began to catalog what he needed near the bed: lubrication, a gag, some bandages.

Haviston continued speaking, "I need to see the compulsion to break it. But, we are bound for three more years not to enter the city. Any chance you can bring her here?"

"No," snarled Eolis, "because of you." He reached over and slammed a finger into Haviston's chest. "And that stupid spell of yours. Anything that makes her think about the mill sets her off. And she will fight with all of her powers to make sure she never comes near here or the damn paladin!"

Bass sniffed and looked away. His jaw tightened and the mug he was holding creaked.

Eolis sank down. "Sorry, Bass, I didn't mean..."

The other thriban smiled at Eolis. "She has that effect on people. Adorable, vulnerable, but scary as hell. Kind of like Tabby."

From across the great hall, Tabitha called out. "I heard that!"

Zeob glanced over. Tabitha was teaching the new trainer, a young girl named Fir, how to whip a bitch. Fir had started just that summer but she brought her own bitch when she moved to the mill, a girl her same age that used to be called Ass Licker. Now, she was named Cuthie when she was being bad, though Fir usually called her Cinthia.

Merrie broke out of Zeob's memories as a surge of happiness filled her. Licker looked ecstatic as she was bent over the table, ass sticking out and her tail wagging back and forth. The teenage girl had filled out in the last few years, with wider hips and larger breasts, but she still was recognizable, even through Zeob's memories.

Fir joining the mill was also unexpected. Merrie remembered how Bass maneuvered around Kessler's refusal to allow Licker to be sold by giving her to the teenage girl. But, from the image she got, Fir had found her calling at the mill and Tabitha, of all people, had taken Fir under her wing to teach her.

"I, um, wasn't suppose to let you see that." Zeob blushed as he looked down at her.

She frowned. (See what?)

(The conversation between Eolis and Bass and Haviston.)

Merrie frowned, she didn't know what he was talking about.

(Just now, I felt you making me remember.)

She still had no clue what he was talking about. She just saw Licker and Fir being taught by Tabitha. There as no Bass or Haviston in Zeob's recollection. She tried to reach back through her own mind, but she felt her attention being dragged back to the young man in front of her.

Merrie kissed his thigh and sent another wave of comfort.

"Actually, we, um, I have a favor to ask you." (If you don't mind, but Eolis said you wouldn't.)

She smiled and cocked her head again.

(There is a man---Baron Jacir Pollium---damn it, I wasn't suppose to say names--well, Eolis thinks that you could help him with something. And he might be able to help you.) Zeob didn't know how the baron would help Merrie. (If you are willing, I'm suppose to bring you to his inn room. You don't have to.)

Curious, Merrie lifted herself up. Her breasts slid along his arm, sending another pang of discomfort through Zeob. She rested on her knees and wagged her tail, her entire body shifting back and forth with her emotions.

Zeob looked away and then stood up. "We should probably get going. It's a long way to the edge of town." He pictured an address as he started to plan the route.

Merrie knew the place. It as an inn in the northern part of town, in a relatively rich area that her master preyed on when he was feeling down. The inn had three stories and frequently was a place for drunken parties where the lager flowed, brawls started, and the occasional discrete encounters with the higher-class whores of the guild.

She watched Zeob fumble with his bag. He didn't want to go. Not only because Merrie's near nudity bothered him but also because he was afraid of ruining Eolis' reputation by being caught.

Coking her head, she regarded him. (How will I know him?)

"What?" Zeob froze with his hand in his bag. "Oh, he's in room 302. I have a key." He dug into his pack looking for it.

(I can get there by myself.)

He gulped and looked up, a guilty look. "You're reading my mind, right?"

She wagged her tail and settled back on her rear. The grass that Eolis had fucked her on tickled her tail and she warmed up at the memory.

"A-Are you sure?" (Thank the gods. Is she going to go there? How can she travel without feet?)

Nodding, she continued to wag her tail. Her breath quickened with anticipation.

Zeob pulled out a thick envelope and a key. He glanced around as he held it out to here. "Here is the key and, um, someone---" (Bass) "---got you some money to help you until winter. There is... a lot in there." (Thirty grand.) He looked at her. "Um, do you have pockets or something?"

With a grin, Merrie reached out with her cloak and plucked the items from his palms.

Zeob flinched back as she secreted them into the hidden pockets. He gulped. "A-Are you going to be okay?"

Merrie nodded as she gathered power around her. The darkness flowed over her and the shadows grew to pitch-black lines. (Yes,) she projected as she stepped through into the Shadows.

On the other side, she watched as he scrambled back away from her, the fear peaking for a moment. It quickly turned into relief as Zeob packed his bags and rushed away.

Tamin stepped out from the shifting shadows, but said nothing. From his mouth, black blood dripped to the ground.

Merrie sent a wave of love toward him and then headed across the city. In the shadows, there was comforting silence and coolness. She trotted across town with Tamin pacing behind her. She headed for her home first, to get a quick bath and perfume herself, before heading for the inn. By the time she stepped back through the shadows into room 302, the first of the fireworks and illusions were painting themselves across town.

It was a small and functional room, nothing remarkable but still clean. The bed was a double and covered with fresh linens. The center of the bed was indented from a small leather pack that had been tossed in the middle. She could smell cologne drifting from it along with other masculine smells.

She circled it once and then knelt in the middle of the room, facing the door. Closing her eyes, she reached out with her mind to find the occupant. There was already a party downstairs and the joy filled the room with drunken emotions. Merrie took her time, gazing across the thoughts of people until she found him.

The baron was a young man, in his mid-thirties. He had four of his friends, none of them titled, and they were recalling their youth over large mugs of stout. But, even as he was laughing and joking, there was a pang of sadness inside him and his mind kept drifting back to sadder times.

"Her name is Pris of the Pollium Family."

Jacir stood at the far side of his mother's desk, staring at her with shock. "An arranged marriage? Why? Haven't those gone out of fashion, I don't know, a hundred years ago?"

"Yes, Jacir, but it doesn't change the fact that you have one," she said as she brushed her graying hair behind her ear. "They're a good family and, twenty years ago, they needed help. They were about to go bankrupt and we loaned them money. The interest is, well," she smiled, "you two."

"Mother! I'm not a slave to be sold!"

His mother stood up and slapped her hands on her desk. "Look! The Pollium are good, well-bred, and titled. We have money and influence. This is a step up for all of us. You and her will benefit the most, since you'll eventually be in charge of both families." As he glared at her, she took a deep breath. "Look. Just come to dinner and we'll see from there, okay? I know the girls you chase after and you'll like her. She's very pretty."

He remembered the sullenness he went to the party just to see the woman he was suppose to marry.

She was standing at the top of the stairs, screaming at her parents, Marcus and Patrica. "I'll be damned if I'm going to ruin my life for some... some, gold-digging merchant's son!"

She was curvy, almost fat according to the modern fashion, but she was beautiful. Long black hair cascaded down her back. She had it braided and a dark blue ribbon ducked and flowed around it. She wore a ruffled dress, the fashion of the day, and matching shoes sparkling with sapphires. Her lips were also painted the same shade of blue.

Jacir stared at shock. He had only seen her for a few second, but his heart was already thumping loudly. She reminded him of the women he saw in the older pictures, voluptuous with flowing hair. He knew that when she smiled, she would glow. But, she wasn't smiling. Instead, it was a scowl that marred her heart-shaped face.

His mother elbowed him. "Close your mouth, you're drooling."

Pris turned at the noise and glared down at him. "My god, he's fat," she said disgustedly.

Jacir blushed. He wasn't skinny but neither was he fat. He had a slight gut despite his efforts. But, in a few short words, she had cut him deep. But, he couldn't stop staring at her.

"Pris!" snapped Marcus.

"I'm not going to marry that... that... thing!" She stormed off. The second floor had a balcony that surrounded the entry hall. As she moved, he turned to watch her until she entered a room and slammed the door.

"You'll have to excuse my daughter," said Baron Pollium as he came down the stairs. "She has been a bit... opinionated since we told her." He stopped and took Jacir's mother's hands. With a smile, he kissed her cheek.

"Spoiled," muttered Patrica as she gave Jacir a perfunctory kiss. "Rotten to the core, I say," she whispered to Jacir.

Jacir's mother patted his arm. "I'm sure they'll like each other, once they get a chance."

"I hope so," said the baron, "she's been screaming at me for weeks now. You think she would be more appreciative of the life she has, thanks to you."

"My pleasure, baron," said his mother, "she's---"

"She's pretty," said Jacir, his eyes still focused on the upstairs door. In the sharp silence, he realized he said it out-loud. Blushing hotly, he looked around at the shocked looks the three adults were giving him. Trembling, he turned to his mother who was turning dark with anger.

"That's my boy!" bellowed the baron as he clapped Jacir on the shoulders. It hurt, but Marcus hugged him tightly to his broad chest. "I knew I was going to like you!"

As she floated through Jacir's alcohol-inspired memories, Merrie crafted an illusion for him. It wasn't a physical one, but just enough to enhance the idea she was Pris. When Jacir saw her, he would see black hair and curves, the impression of a woman he loved with all his heart.

For three years, Jacir courted Pris. It was a stormy relationship with times of screaming winds and calm. The calm periods were the worse because they ended too soon. She would warm up to him and smile brilliantly, but then something happened and she quickly reverted back to the selfish bitch. He wasn't sure if he wanted to kiss her or slap her, but frequently it was both.

He couldn't leave, no matter how many times she hit him or insulted him. Because, out of the blue, her eyes would softened and the apologies would come. Her smile stole his heart away and he longed to see it again.

It was a bright and sunny day, but there was no joy in the house. Jacir sat on the couch with his hands on the baron's shoulder. The sobs shuddered through the man's shoulder as he sat crouched over the edge, his face buried in his hands. Tears ran down his arms and he cried out.

"Why? Why would someone steal my baby?"

A city guard, a valiant, stood at attention before Marcus, but his head was bowed respectfully. "I'm sorry, Baron Pollium, but we just found out ourselves. Witnesses say that there was a suspicious thriban watching her when she was out, um, celebrating."

[i]Jacir sighed. Pris had stolen almost ten thousand marks for a party, and left him in a lurch. He had to borrow money from some accounts to pay for the supplies that came in that morning. It wasn't the first time she did it, but he wished she understood how much risk she put both families into when she stole friviously.

"There was a bar fight and when the witnesses went looking for her, they were both gone."

"But," the baron said as he looked up, "why hasn't there been a ransom demand? Didn't they knew who she was?"

The guard nodded curtly. "She's alive, we are absolutely sure of that, but something is preventing us from finding her. There are wards protecting her and there are suggestions that she is no longer in Franome City." The guard stood straighter. "I will cooperate with your own investigators, of course, and I won't rest until I find your daughter."

Merrie's skin crawled. She knew what happened to Pris. Bass had kidnapped her and made her a bitch like herself. Her stomach clenched with fear as she pulled back, fearing to delve deeper.

Downstairs, Jacir excused himself and headed up the stairs. The beer had turned to ash in his mouth and he needed some time alone. As much as he wanted to believe Eolis, there was no way anyone would ever reminded him of Pris again.

Jacir sat at the dining room table but his heart had dropped into his stomach.

"What," gasped the baron, "did you say?"

The valiant held his hands together. He was still dripping from the rainstorm that pounded on the walls. "We found her, my lord, but she has been... damaged."

Marcus stared in shock, his mouth open but no words came out.

Next to him, Patrica stared down at her plate, a stricken look on her face. Her fork trembled with her thoughts.

Jacir spoke up quietly. "How? How was she hurt?"

The valiant turned to him and his eyes were shimmering with tears and regret. "Her arms and legs, they were... were," he coughed, "they call it cropped. The man who took her, a fallen paladin named Bassimar, specializes in am... he cuts off their limbs before he sells them."

The baron choked on his sobs. "Sells them? Why?" The tears ran down his cheeks and splashed on the plate.

"As," the guard swallowed, "sex slaves. Part of the Blood County fair."

"No," said the baron as he surged to his feet. "No one sells my baby as a fucking slave!"

The valiant straightened. "My men are ready. We don't have much authority in Blood County, but my captain is talking to the Royal Army to see if we can---"

[i]"No," interrupted Patrica. "N-No, please."

Everyone stared at her as she looked up at them. There were tears in her eyes as she stared at her husband. "Pris is a spoiled bitch. She doesn't appreciate the life we have or the life that he," she gestured to Jacir, "has given us. So, let her," the tears began to ran, "get a taste of that life and maybe she will understand."

The baron turned on her said, his face darkening. "How could you let---"

She stood up as the sorrow faded into anger. "She's fucking, spoiled princess! We all love her, but she won't stop stealing! We have to do something otherwise she's going to make one too many mistakes and ruin everything. Maybe, just maybe, she'll learn that life isn't all roses with this... man who kidnapped her." She sat back down hard. "Look, nothing else seems to make a difference. Let's just," she choked, "keep her there and when the auction comes around, have Jacir buy her."

"B-But, that man... he hurt my baby," said Marcus as he shook his head.

"I-I'll," Jacir said, "I'll pay for a healer. I'll do whatever needs to be done. I promise." Jacir held his breath, unsure of what to say or do. The idea of his precious Pris being raped by some stranger sickened him, but he could see some truth in Patrica's words. Nothing had changed Pris in the years he knew her.

"Valiant," the baron said in a low voice, "thank you. If we need you, I'll send a word."

And Merrie finally understood why Eolis thought she would help. She stripped off her cloak and sent it underneath the bed. It flowed and shifting as it settled into place. Naked, she pulled herself up into a begging position and wrapped herself in illusion.

She felt his steps down the hallway and her heart thumped with every thud. Her skin crawled and she gulped as she wagged her tail. Her pussy had grown slick as she crawled through his memories and she squirmed to feel her wet lips rubbing against each other.

The door handle creaked as he fitted the key in the lock. Yawning, he stepped inside. "Just a few minutes, then I'll go back... down..." He jerked as he stared into the room, his eyes focusing on her. "P-Pris?"

Merrie felt sudden longing burning inside him. He didn't believe what he saw. She wagged her tail and barked sharply, her voice echoing against the walls.

"I-It can't be." A sob rose up in his throat. His knuckles cracked as he gripped the side of the door. "You... you're dead. Aren't you?"

Merrie's skin prickled at his words. She didn't know that Pris had died, but the familiar despair was there. She felt the sympathetic pain in her own heart. It didn't have the same consuming despair that tore at her, but it was a loss that she knew intimately.

He gulped. "A-Are you real-really there?" He took a step closer. "How can this be?" In his mind, he was stunned that somehow Eolis' sly response had come true. When he looked at Merrie, he saw a woman that looked just like Pris.

She barked again, her tail rocking back and forth. She was going to be his lover, even if it was just for one night.

The door creaked as he shut it. The latch caught with a loud click. The room grew silent with only Jacir's deep breaths and Merrie's soft panting.

"I-I don't know how he did...," his voice cracked as he stared at her, "but, please... just stay?" He took a step toward her. He stumbled and lost his balance. With a lurch, he dropped to his knees and hit the ground with a thud. It sounded painful, but he reached out and grabbed her with the same movement. His weight bore down on her for a moment before he pulled her close and crushed her in a hug. "Pris, I love the gods. I can't believe it's you. Oh, Pris, Pris."

Merrie's breasts were squeezed painfully against his chest and she felt the buttons cutting into her skin. The rough trousers scraped at her inner thighs and she straddled him to avoid twisting her leg. She could feel his attention, even through the tears, as her amputated leg ran along his thigh.

For a long time, he just held her as he struggled with his emotions. Years of sorrow and pain were buried inside him. It was a iceberg in his mind, with most of it hidden deep in the darkness of his subconscious. There were layers and pockets of anger and loved mixed together. He loved Pris and he hated her. As much as he blamed himself for letting her remain at the mill, he also hated her for stealing the money and spending it on trinkets and parties. It was the attention-seeking that Pris did that drew the attention of Bass, he was sure of it. If she just listened, or at least didn't do it as much, then she would still be alive.

She wanted to help, but he didn't know what he wanted to do. He wanted to kiss her more and he wanted to hit her. The pain mixed in with love. Jacir held her tighter as he sobbed, his mind paralyzed with too many conflicting needs.

Merrie leaned into him and trying to find some way of bringing the love up. It was tender and sweet, fueled by the memories when Pris wasn't screaming at him. But even she had trouble.

Instead, she decided to work out the anger. She could polish the joyful Pris' memories once Jacir burned through his anger. She worked a quick spell that tied in just a small hint of her own anger and despair. It was a crystalline and calligraphic enchantment, crafted from psychic and shadow magic. With a delicate shove, she cast it.

The effect was immediate. His body tightened around her and he inhaled. The anger rose up, bubbling with heat, and she brought up the times when Pris was a bitch. She reminded Jacir of all the things she did wrong, each one ending with her stealing money to wrap herself in dresses, jewelry, and sycophants.

Jacir pushed her back and wiped the tears from his face. "Damn it, Pris, why did you have to throw those parties?"

Merrie snapped at him, playing her role. She could feel the anger rising and she knew it was going to hurt, but Jacir needed it. Her pussy clenched with need. She needed it too. She needed to be hurt and dominated and it was coming. A sweet anticipation that brought a quickening rise to her breasts and a heat spreading out along her limbs. She snapped again, bitching back with a click of her teeth.

His hand came down and across her face. The crack of his palm against her cheek was an explosion of pain. Stars sparked across her vision as she gasped for breath.

Merrie knew he was going to hit, but she wasn't quite expecting the impact. Her pussy clenched with anticipation and she gave him another jolt with a flash of anger.

Jacir backhanded her, his knuckles smacking against her face and shoving her to the side. "Why did you keep stealing?" he growled, "This was all your fault!" His hand came back across, catching her burning cheek and tossing her back to the side.

Whimpering, Merrie felt a heat rushing inside her. She got back into position. She was trembling with anticipation, not only from the pain but also the heat from the crack of flesh. She rose back into a begging position just as he caught slapped her again and again. The blows came faster as he lost himself in the anger.

Even though she was seeing stars, Merrie felt a strange sense of relief and excitement. He was abusing her and the curls of power and excitement filling her. She leaned into the smacks, accepted them even as her world turned to sparks of light.

Jacir smacked her arms away and slapped her breasts. Her nipples exploded into agony and she had to fight to keep herself in position. His palm rained down against her breasts, crushing them against each other and adding to the fire. More blows landed on her face, her shoulder, her breasts.

His emotions came in a rush, as if they were breaking through an ice flow. He stepped into the blows, hitting her hard enough to send her to the floor. Before Merrie could push herself up, he was on her. One hand grabbed her hair and he yanked her up.

She let out a cry of surprise as he bent her backwards over his knee. She was balanced on her shoulders, her legs flailing out as she tried to gain some balance. He smacked down on her belly, her breasts, her thighs. She couldn't escape the blows, even if she wanted to. The pain was too much to concentrate, but she was also writhing in both pleasure and pain. It swirled together and her pussy clenched right before each hit, each smack.

"I would have done everything for you!" He hit her pussy with his open palm. The popping noise sent a bolt riding up her spine and she cried out. "Damn you for going off on your own. It wasn't safe. I knew it wasn't. I-I should have stopped you." Another hit, this one against her breasts. It crushed her nipple and she sobbed at the impact. "I love you. I loved you the day I saw you and you," he hit her face twice, "you even said you loved me!" Another set of slaps that worked down her belly, against her abdomen, and to her pussy. His palm cracked against her sex and she jerked violently with an orgasm. When he pulled his hand back, her juices were glistening on his palm.

"Damn you to the hells, Pris!" His fingers slapped against her pussy and crushed her lips. It sent a bolt of pain, but he wasn't done. His hand came down again and again against her sex, crushing her clitoris and bruising her labia.

She writhed in the pain even as she was coming from it. It was agony being unable to escape, but he bent her back over his knee to get access to her. She flailed her leg, the short end jerking in air. The sight of it seemed to push him harder and he hit her again and again, slamming into her until she was sobbing with need.

(Alpha?) came Tamin's worried thoughts.

(I'm,) her thoughts flashed with pain, (safe.)

(You are hurt.) Tamin was close to them, hiding just centimeters away on the other side of the shadows. She could feel his growl through her mind. (I must defend my alpha.)

Jacir struck again, his knuckles crushing against her clitoris.

(Stay,) she commanded even as she was screaming out in pain. She pawed at him, which only pushed him harder and faster. She pulled away from Tamin as she felt his anger continuing to rise.

He yanked down harder on her hair, dragging her up along his leg until the small of her back was pressed against his thigh.

She felt vulnerable and exposed. An orgasm rushed up and took her as he rained down against her face and breasts again. His hand smacked hard against her body, torturing her while it sent her into heights of pleasure. She leaned into each blow, sobbing with each spasm.

He released her hair and she slid down until her neck was against his thighs. He reached out and wrapped his hands around her throat, his body tense with anger.

And Merrie felt herself losing control over him. As his hand tightened around her neck, she stared into the blank mask of rage.

(Alpha!)

It was too much for her. With a desperate surge, Merrie forced her will into Jacir's mind, stopping his body in an instant. The fingers were already tight around her neck and she could barely breathe. As she stared up into his eyes, she felt her body shuddering with orgasms that ran their course. Her breasts and body burned with his slaps and punches, a brand against her skin.

Even though his body couldn't move and she wouldn't let him consider why, his eyes regained their sanity. The focus came back and the massive emotions sank down into his subconscious. She could feel parts of it crumbling from the anger that no longer bound him tight, but there was far more than she could ever handle in a single night.

Catching her breath, she released her control over him.

Jacir looked at her and gasp. His eyes widened as he released her throat. "Oh, Pris, I'm sorry." He grabbed her tight and pulled her trembling body close to his chest.

Merrie felt bruised and broken. Her skin protested the movement, but the despair and hope that burned inside him helped her push away the pain. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his chest.

"I'm so sorry, please forgive me. Please, please," he whispered into her ear. He held her tight, reminding her of all the pains she experienced. Up close, she could feel him growing aware of her naked form against his body and the smell of her excitement in the air.

"They made you a bitch, Pris," he whispered, "I was going to buy you. I was going to save you. But," he took a deep breath, "but, I couldn't."

Jacir pushed Merrie down on the ground. The hard surface against her back was cold, but she looked up as Jacir as he positioned himself over her, towering and powerful.

She pressed her legs together and almost came as he forced them apart. His thigh was rough against her skin as he jammed down on her. His trouser buttons dug into her pussy, adding to the pain from the throbbing folds.

"You're still a bitch," he gasped as he struggled to remove his trousers. "And you still don't know how good your life was...."

When he got his cock out, he shoved it into Merrie's wet slit. It sank clear down to the base. The rough fabric of his trousers ground into her battered pussy limps and she whimpered at the pain.

Jacir regretted it, but he needed her. He needed to fuck her and remind her. The anger was being held back, but a small trickle still escaped Merrie's control. "Take it, bitch. Take what you wouldn't accept before they did this to you." He drew back, his cock dragging against her senses. With the pain from his beating, she felt every ridge as it was drawn out of her sex. The scent of her pussy drifted across her senses, filling her with a shameful lust.

The slap against her breast connected her aching nipple to her pussy. She almost came as he hit her again and again. Each one landed in a different place. She wanted to crawl away, but she didn't. Instead, she leaned into the blows and whimpered exactly the way he needed to hear her cry.

She tensed as he reached the opening of her pussy. With a grunt, Jacir slammed it home again, crushing her against the hard wooden floor and his body. She felt every pulse of his cock throbbed deep in her sex, scraping against her nerves. It hurt and it was pleasure.

Jacir slammed into her and pulled out. He buried his cock into his bitch with hard, brutal strokes. It wasn't for her pleasure, it wasn't for his. It was to prove that he loved her.

He drove her into the floor, slamming into her deep. Every stroke scraped against her nerves and every centimeter of her skin felt on fire. his trousers dragged on her inner thighs and pussy. The hard ground smacked against her back and ass. Every stroke became a wave of pain and her pussy clenched hard around his cock, squeezing it as she whimpered.

"Why did you leave me? Why did you have to keep leaving me?"

They were at a celebration of the crown prince's birthday. Jacir and Marcus wore their finest suits, but they were alone at one of the tables. Neither looked at each other and neither had anything to say.

When Pris was killed at the Puppy Mill, Jacir went almost insane with grief. He felt helpless and scared. He loved her, he wanted to tell her that, but their last words were a screaming fight when he realized she had just stolen money.

Patrica, on the other hand, took the news worse and her suicide still hung over both men. It was Patrica's idea to leave Pris at the mill, to teach her a lesson, but when she had died, it had destroyed her. Less than a day after getting the news, Patrica had hung herself from the bedroom rafters.

That was a year ago.

Now, they sat alone and didn't look at each other. Society mandated they showed up to the party, but neither man was interested. They simply waited for for the midnight hour when they could return to their respective homes.

"Count Rakin, so kind to see you. It's been what, two years?"

Jacir glanced up to two men speaking only a few meters away. He didn't know the one man, but Count Mard Rakin was a well-known figure in the royal circles. Despite living in the outer duchies, he was considered one of the richest men in the country. The powerfully-built figure tugged on his white-streak beard and smiled back.

"Just about, old man. What have you been up to? Any interesting wars?"

"Oh, just the usual. Barbarians of Emberka are rising up again. Something about a World Tree growing in the middle of their country."

Rakin snorted. "It's probably just a large weed. Everyone knows there can't be two World Trees on the continent."

"True, true. They are idiots. So, I heard you got yourself an alpha."

Rakin's expression darkened. "Had an alpha."

"You killed the bitch already? Even you---"

"No," growled the count, "the fucking bitch ran away."

The other man laughed. "And you didn't break her legs?"

"No, she is cowering behind a fucking fallen paladin named Bass."

Jacir jerked at the name. He glanced up to see Marcus watching him. Together, they lowered their heads as they listened to the covnersation.

"What did you do?"

"Exactly what you expected. I sent an army down there and attacked."

"No more fallen? You should be made a saint."

Count Rakin sighed and drained his glass of wine. "No."

"The great Rakin lost a battle?"

"Careful, I'm not in the fucking mood. No, I won but I couldn't kill him or her. It was... complicated and I lost a lot of men in that fight. But, I still got my revenge. He had other bitches, ones he couldn't protect, and I managed to steal them away while he was slaughtering my army."

The man chuckled. "Fucked them good and proper?"

"Raped them, tortured them, and killed them right in front of the paladin." Rakin laughed, "He got his power from oaths and the idiot made promises not to let the bitches get hurt. Naturally, I broke all those fucking promises. Almost killed the bastard too, but I'd be surprised if he could walk again after what I did to those bitches."

At both men's laughter, Jacir clutched his fists together. He wanted to rise up and punch the count, but he couldn't. He didn't have a title, much less any authority. Even Marcus couldn't do anything, not as a baron and not for something that happened years ago on the far side of the country.

Marcus was crying, the tears splashing down his cheeks. He was just as helpless against the powerful count, and both of them knew it.

There was one marker in the graveyard at the Puppy Mill that didn't have a name. She knew that Bass searched far and wide to identify the girls who died when Rakin came for Sable. It sickened her to think about going back, but she could finally give Bass and Sable closure and fill in that empty space: "Pris Pollium, Beloved Daughter."

Jacir grabbed Merrie tightly, his cock deep in her pussy. He crushed her against his chest as he sobbed into her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Pris. I wanted to save you. I wanted to be your hero. But, I couldn't. I failed. I failed you so much and there is no away to ask for forgiveness."

Merrie, tears in her own eyes, held him tight and let him cry. She felt the pain of his loss, both from his memories and the way he clutched to her body. She let the illusion fall away, Jacir didn't need Pris anymore that night.

Jacir looked at her, seeing her as Merrie and not Pris. The tenderness broke but he held himself still until the tears stopped coming. Then, he broke the embrace and sat back on the ground. His cock, glistening with cum and juices, smacked against the ground. He looked over her again, taking in her amputated arms and legs. "I-I'm sorry, um, I never got a name."

Merrie shrugged.

"Y-You don't mind me calling you Pris, do you?"

She smiled and shook her head.

Jacir stood up and staggered to the bed. "I-I don't know if I can take any more right now, but," he turned around and tossed her a roll of money, "I owe you that."

Merrie glanced down. It was two thousand marks. She pushed it under the bed where her cloak swallowed it.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, his face and inner thighs wet. With a long sigh, he buried his face in his hands. "C-Could you leave?"

Summoning her cloak, Merrie waited until it wrapped around her. She felt the rawness of his emotions, but there was nothing more she could do that night. He needed time alone to heal before he tried again.

"Hey, Pris?"

She stopped and looked back at him.

"You'll do this again, right? I'll pay you anything you need. Please? I need to see her again."

He sat on the edge of Marcus' bed, holding the old man's hand firmly as he watched the light fading from his adopted father's eyes. "I promise, I'll get him. I'll make Rakin pay for what he did." He sniffed and wiped his face. "I-I just don't know how."

Marcus groaned and lifted his other hand, pointing to his desk. When Jacir didn't move, he pointed again.

"There's something?" Reluctantly, Jacir pulled his hand away from his father's and circled the bed. The desk was sloppy but he had been handling the baron's paperwork for years since Pris. He flipped through the familiar bills and letters. At the bottom, he found an envelopes with a seal still on it. The seal was from the Court of Lands on it, the organization that managed the allocation of counts and dukes along with recording rewards of land and title. Head spinning, he held it up.

"Yes," gasped Marcus, "bring... here." He coughed.

Jacir rushed back, sitting down and handing the envelopes over.

Marcus' fingers slid along the envelope as he tried to grab it. When he couldn't, he tapped it. "My will. You... everything."

Jacir shook his head. "No, I can't."

"Take the title. Baron Pollium. Please? And never forget my baby."

Tears running down his cheeks, Jacir gulped. He sniffed and looked into Marcus' eyes and saw the life fading quickly. It wasn't coming back. Gasping, he crushed the envelope as he held Marcus' hand. "Yes, I will."

Marcus was smiling when he died.

Merrie bowed her head, fighting the tears from the memory. She barked once.

Merrie crawled down the street, humming to herself as she splashed in puddles. Even with the drizzle coating the city, her body was hot and slick. The afterglows of being dominated for hours smoldered with delicious pleasure.

True to his word, Jacir had requested her back. The later sessions initially were as emotional charged at the first, but soon he had worked through his loss of Pris and grew more comfortable with dominating Merrie. It became less about his lost love and more about abusing Merrie until late into the morning.

And, with her presence near Jacir, more customers came. They were drawn by Jacir's activities and gossip. In the last month, it wasn't just Jacir that called her to the inn, but some of his friends and friends of friends. Unlike the quick blow jobs and fucks in the meat packing district, her new clientele wanted to use her as an amputated bitch. They wanted to shove her face into the ground as they pounded her ass, force her to lick their asses, or even kneel and beg for them to pee in her mouth. Every little humiliation left her whimpering for more and they gave it to her. Hard, perverted fucking.

Tamin paced next to her, her constant shadow. He moved with the same spectral silence as she did, two shadows across through the pools of light and across the puddles. He was content with this role and it gave Merrie peace to know that he was there.

(Alpha?)

She sent a wave of affection.

Tamin bumped up against her and licked her face. (I am happier when you are glowing.)

Merrie giggled and kissed his nose, then shoulder. They stepped across the street and even wagons slowed down to avoid hitting them. The cloak fluttered behind her, clinging to Tamin and plucking at the shadows and pockets of pedestrians around them. (You are just looking forward to me fucking you tonight.)

His thoughts grew warm with lust. (Every night, every pleasure.)

She clenched her pussy at the thought. Despite being dominated and fucked every day, she dedicated her mornings for Tamin. They slept together on the floor of her master's bedroom, curled together. She wouldn't sleep on the bed, not yet, but waking up with a cock still buried in her cunt felt right.

(Do you want to fuck?) asked Tamin.

Merrie considered it, but the clock spell was reminding her that she had very little time to stall. She shook her head. (Better not. I'm suppose to be meeting up with Nir and Scorch.) But, she wanted to be stuffed by his thick cock, filled to the brim.

(Why not the Shadows?)

Merrie looked down the street. She accelerated just to move. (Because, it is too easy. I need exercise and this feels good.)

(Yes, it does, but it also makes me horny. And I don't want to wait until morning.)

Merrie sent a pulse of lust at him and giggled as he stumbled.

His cock grew thicker and hung down. With a shake, he got back to his feet and looked at her.

She wagged her tail at him.

Tamin charged after her, barking deeply.

In mock horror, Merrie scrambled forward and rushed down the street. Her cloak fluttered around her, tickling people's legs as she bounded across the street, underneath a wagon that couldn't stop fast enough, and across the street.

Tamin kept up with her and nipped at her ankles. She felt his teeth graze the skin and the pain was sweet against her senses. Letting herself enjoy her mock fear, she crawled faster. The transformation spell began to draw across her mind.

(Cheater!) came the amused reply.

(Loser does the licking,) she snapped back. Of course, there was no losers between them, but that didn't prevent her from transforming into the powerful hound form and shooting out down the street. The darkness flowed around her, gathering in blessed coolness.

As she passed, people were briefly covered by her cloak. It would feel like a bird crossing over, but if they looked up, they would see nothing but gray skies.

She panted as her claws dug into the boardwalk and the thuds matched the ones in her heart. She loved running as a hound, even though she preferred her natural, amputated form. There was something about sprinting fast enough to have the wind and rain splatter against her face. It felt good.

The world split open as Tamin came out of the Shadows to slam into her. His massive form tossed her to the side and she hit the front of a store. Panting, he stood over her as he looked down.

Merrie grinned. (You cheat too.) She fell back into the darkness and lunged forward, skipping over a few blocks before coming back into reality with a burst of icy darkness. She hit the ground and surged forward, splashing through puddles as she raced toward home.

A few moments later, she felt him coming back through the Shadows. She stopped and stepped across herself. In the howling silence of the other realm, she shot forward and dove back through, coming up between a man's legs and tossing him aside.

Before the helpless victim hit the ground, Tamin appeared and the man bounced once before crashing into another woman.

Merrie giggled and jumped on top of one wagon and used it to leap across the street. As she was wailing, she sent out a pulse of lust into the man and the woman behind her. Neither knew it, but she could feel a compatibility between them. She hit the ground just as Tamin ripped through the Shadows, his maw open to catch her. She could feel the urge to hurt her, enough to make it hurt and for her to orgasm.

Frantic, she slipped to the side and landed back into the Shadows, the rush of power filling her. With a step, she stepped back across. Spinning around, she chomped her teeth down on Tamin's tail.

Pain burned through the connection of their minds and she moaned around his tail.

Casting a strength spell on herself, she yanked him back and tossed him down the street. He crashed into a statue and it rang out from the impact. A cloud of pigeons rose up from the statue in offended cries, but both alpha and hound were both already past them.

It felt good to play, though they continued to escalate in violence until she was covered with bruises and scratches. Tamin managed to body slam her into a wagon and bit down on her tail once to crack her like a whip, but she got in her own blows.

The pain didn't matter. They were having fun and the amusement glowed along their connection.

She only had a few minutes left before she had to rush to work, but she didn't want to stop. It felt too good to just play.

Merrie came back from the Shadows and crouched down. Her tail wagged back and forth as she waited for Tamin who was about to come around the corner. Her body lowered to the ground as he tried to cover his thoughts.

Her breath was coming in fast pants from her exertions. In hound form, she didn't sweat, but the cold throbbing in her bones and the frequent jaunts into the Shadows kept her almost frozen. The drizzle steamed around from the contrast of summer rain and supernatural cold.

She took a deep breath to calm herself. And a familiar scent tickled her senses. It was sweet and delicate, a hint of something she had smelled before. She jerked as she took another breath, but the brief whiff was gone. But, there were other scents, a storm of smells that swirled around her.

Tamin, sensing her attention switching, paced around the corner. (Alpha?)

She closed her eyes and breathed in the smell. There was perfume in the air and she remembered it, but the name swam just out of reach for a moment. And then it came swirling across her mind: Crystalline Rose. She sent a command to him. (Find.)

He was already moving, sniffing the air as he walked away from her.

She moved away from him, using both his senses and her own to follow the perfumed air. In her mind, the timekeeping spell rang out to reminder her that she was late for her friends. She silenced it and continued to sniff the air.

It took ten minutes before they found it. A small, unassuming storefront nestled between a bookseller and a shoe maker. There wasn't even a sign on the door, but there was no question that it was a perfume store. The smells rolled out of the building. It permeated the stone and wood around it. Thousands of scents, from flowers to spice to others she couldn't identify, swirled around her.

Merrie sat down in front of it, staring up at the building. She glanced over at Tamin who sat next to her. (Can you find it? Crystalline Rose?)

He knew what she was looking for. (I'm sorry, alpha, there is too many and the smells are too old.)

The door to the store opened and a woman stepped out.

Merrie draped a shade over herself and Tamin to protect them from sight. As the shadow magic settled into place, she looked over the woman.

The stranger was in her early twenties and thin. Her black hair was piled high in stunning hairstyle that sparkled with sapphires. She wore a black suit, with a tight-fitting jacket and long, clinging sleeves. Her pants presented her long, thin legs; years ago, Merrie knew that she would have been jealous for the woman's appearance but she couldn't remember anything beyond the haze when she gave up her memories. It looked like she was coming out of a formal party, not a store. The only thing that deterred from her appearance was her shoes and her gloves. Instead of heels that Merrie expected, she wore black dancing slippers over silk stockings. She also wore black, kidskin gloves which were matte black even in the sunlight.

"Rose!" called a woman from inside the store, "forget something?"

From the darkness, the caller stepped out holding a white apron in her hand. She was older than Rose, but she wore an almost identical outfit. The only difference was that everything was yellow from jacket to pants to slippers. Even her stockings were the same color. She had a similar apron wrapped around her waist.

The woman in black turned. "Sorry, lady, my mind was on something else."

Clicking her tongue, the woman in yellow stepped down and plucked a page from the pocket of the apron she carried. She held it between two fingers of her yellow gloves and held it out.

Rose bowed her eyes. "Sorry again."

"The smallest detail changes the scent. Sometimes for good, sometimes not." The yellow-clan woman had a cultured accent. Since she appeared to be in charge of the store that had Crystalline Rose, Merrie guessed it was Lady Anasome, the famous perfumer.

"So," Rose palmed the note, "you're saying if I forget the Pennelworth Root, it won't be a problem?"

"No, it means you'll be watching the oils brew all night. And I'll be the one going to the spa. I could use another manicure." Lady Anasome's smile quirked the corner of her lip.

"I'm out of here." Rose kissed the women in yellow on the cheek, gave her a quick hug, and scurried down the street.

The lady looked around but her eyes slid over both Merrie and Tam who were less than a meter away. But then she sniffed. Rising her head, she sniffed again. "Unexpected," she said in a quiet voice and then headed into the store.

(Alpha? What do we do?)

Merrie looked around. Her time-keeping spell shivered along her thoughts, reminding her that she was late for her duties. Lifting a paw, she turned away. (We need to come back later. We're late.)

She and Tamin stepped into the Shadows. She glanced back at the store and stopped. It didn't exist in Shadows. Instead, there was just an empty place, neither dark nor light. It was simply not there.

Surprised, she sat back down and stared at the empty space.

She didn't know why, but the brief hint of Crystalline Rose reminded Merrie that she had lost something. But, the past she sacrificed for her master, the memory the perfume brought danced just out of reach of her mind. It was close, but she couldn't find it.

(Tamin, go tell them I'm not going to make it.)

The hound sent a wave of love and turned on his heels. With a swirl of darkness, he shot out across the city and was quickly out of sight. She could feel him in her mind even as she returned to reality.

She looked at the building with her mental senses. It glowed with wards, but the magic wasn't shadow, psionic, or even holy magic. Most of it was elemental and subtle magic. Concentrating, she looked for how the spells were anchored into place. It didn't take long to see countless runes nearly invisible on every surface of the store.

Merrie grew nervous and found a hiding spot. It was underneath a table holding a tray of flowers and it was cast with shadows. Settling down on the ground, she inspected the wards to determine their purpose.

About an hour later, the drizzle had stopped and Merrie thought she understood the magic protecting the store. Most of it were alarms for the owner, probably to prevent thieves. There were spells to detect even those who come through other planes, like Merrie, or teleported. There were also wards to strip off illusions and spells like her shade. If she went inside, she wouldn't be protected from sight.

Rose returned as Merrie was inspecting the wards. She carried a few packages delicately in her hands. Using her foot, she kicked open the door and headed inside. As the door closed, smells wafted across the street and Merrie was overwhelmed by the sheer variety.

Merrie waited. She watched as Rose took the packages down a hallway and returned a few minutes later. She was pulling on a pair of gloves, but Merrie didn't see when she removed the first set. Back in front, she started to dust bottles and clean.

About twenty minutes later, two women came in and Rose set down her duster to talk to them.

Deciding to take advantage of Rose's distraction, Merrie crawled out from the shadows. Gathering up her power, she shaped her cloak into a walking stick and forced herself to her ankles. She swayed for a moment, then limped across the street. Her cloak draped over empty space, giving the impression that her hands were covered by the back cloth. The top flowed over her head, shadowing her face.

At the door, she wrapped the cloak to pull open the door. She couldn't feel the handle and almost missed but she managed to pull it open and limp inside.

The perfume store was claustrophobic but homey. There was a wall of scents inside, a storm of scents and smells that were both overwhelming and intoxicating. She took a delicate sniff, hoping to find Crystalline Rose, but she couldn't smell anything other than a maelstrom of smells. It was like her intense orgasms, when pleasure and pain blurred together into nothing but pure, overwhelming sensation. The store was the same, it smelled but it had no specific scent.

She looked around at the glass shelves and bottles of every color. There was a small set of bottles for each scent, arranged behind a hand-written card that described its inspirations and scents. It was flowery prose, but Merrie was only interested in the name.

Limping, she started down the nearest of three aisles. Her eyes scanned the labels, trying to find her scent.

She could feel Rose's attention on her. It raised the hairs on her arms and legs. No matter how she moved, she could feel the woman in black watching her like a hawk despite talking to the two women about the merits of two perfumes, Golden Harvest and Dreamy Apple Singing.

Merrie finished the aisle and worked her way around. She glanced at Rose and the other two women. Even though Rose wasn't look at her, the sensation that she was being followed only increased. Her body tingled and she could picture Rose watching from the corner of her eye.

Limping quietly, Merrie finished the next aisle but didn't couldn't find Crystalline Rose. There were dozens of other rose scenes, but none of them were close to the delicate smell she craved to smell once again.

As she came around the corner, one of the women asked about a scent that Merrie had just passed. Rose guided both women toward it, but she took the long way around the store and walked next to Merrie.

Merrie looked away, but for the briefest of moments, she caught Rose's green eyes with her own.

(I bet she's stealing something.) It was Rose's voice that echoed in Merrie's head, but then the young woman was past and the voice in Merrie's head faded.

Merrie's heart thumped loudly. She wasn't expecting to hear Rose's voice in her head. She glanced at the thin woman for a moment, then forced herself to read the labels. Judging from the prices, she had enough for a bottle though she was surprised that any perfume could go for two thousand for a small glass container. A soft smile crossed her lips. She would just buy one and keep it, just to remember... something.

As she approach the end, her frustration rose inside her. She still hadn't found the scent. She reached the end and looked over the last three shelves. None of them were the alluring scent she barely remembered.

She glanced over at Rose. The young woman was concentrating on the women as she tried to make a sale. Merrie could feel her trying to find a chance to glance back at her but couldn't.

Merrie smiled to herself and turned her attention to the hallway leading into the back. It was only a few meters away. Moving smoothly as possibly, she kept the tall glass shelves between her and Rose as she made her way to the opening and then ducked inside.

It was dark and shadowed, but with Merrie's sight, it was bright as day. The hallway was longer than she expected. Her master's memories told her there should only be enough for two or three doors, but it stretched almost the entire length of the block. The nearest two doors were labeled Restroom and Storage. Further down, she saw three doors with more signs: Laboratory, Quarters, and Vault.

Afraid Rose would catch her, Merrie limped down the hallway. It would have been a wide hallway except for the tables and bookshelves that lined both sides. There were illustrations and pictures from thankful customers, a display of pressed flowers, and even a few statues that were in impeccable taste.

Merrie had to turn sideways to get through one point. Under her cloak, she felt the clink of bottles. Groaning, she pushed her way past the narrow point and then leaned against the wall. Digging into her cloak, she pulled out a bottle that was snagged by the kleptomaniac cloak. Glaring at the fabric draping her, she set it down on a table. Patting through the pockets, she found three more bottles and set them down with the others.

"Most thieves---"

Merrie didn't jerk at Lady Anasome's voice, but her limbs tensed up at the soft voice dangerously close.

"---usually go through their pickings outside of the store."

Ducking her head, Merrie looked down the hall. Lady Anasome was standing in the door of her quarters, decked in yellow and leaning against the frame.

Merrie held up her fake hand to show it empty. She hoped in the darkness that Lady Anasome wouldn't notice the unnatural shape.

Lady Anasome sniffed once and then nodded. "Go on. There is nothing down here for customers."

Gulping, Merrie risked everything and pointed to the door labeled Vault.

"That is for exclusive and limited scents. Those are for select customers and you don't smell like you had an invitation."

Merrie lowered her hand and sighed.

Lady Anasome stepped away from the door and strode toward her. There was no anger on her face so Merrie held her position. Up close, the woman had no scent that Merrie could detect beyond the smells of the store behind her. Lady Anasome stopped only a few centimeters away and looked her over. Then, without warning, she leaned into Merrie and sniffed right at the edge of the cloak.

Merrie whimpered and pulled the cloak tighter around her.

"You," Lady Anasome said in a soft voice, "were outside my store a few hours ago, weren't you?"

Sheepishly, Merrie nodded. She had to clutch her fake walking stick for balance.

"Unexpected. Were you really looking for the vault?"

Merrie nodded again.

"For a specific scent?"

Another nod.

"I'm curious. Come on." She turned and walked back to the vault. Pulling a key out, she unlocked it and opened the door for Merrie.

Merrie limped after her and into the vault. She didn't know what to expect, even her master hadn't broken into the room, but the room was far plainer than she expected. Metal walls lined the entire room and it was easily twenty feet tall. Along the wall were little cages with one to three bottles of perfume inside each one. None of them were labeled and they were all in identical, plain containers.

Lady Anasome stood in the door. "Which scent?"

Merrie glanced at her. At the lady's gesture to move forward, she limped toward the nearest cage. She pressed her nose close and sniffed at it. It was an intensely sweet smell, but not the one she was looking for. She moved to the next one and took another sniff. Slowly, she moved across the cages she could reach, smelling each one. They were all beautiful scents. Some of them made her tear, but they weren't the one she was looking for.

"Lady!" cried Rose, "I'm sorry. I tried to keep an eye on her, but she---"

"It's okay, Rose."

"W-Who is she?"

Merrie listened as she continued to sniff.

"I don't know. I never met her before."

"Then why....?"

"I smelled something unexpected."

Merrie circled the room but couldn't find the scent. She looked at the two women and sighed before she looked around for a ladder to reach the higher ones.

Lady Anasome held out her palm and lowered it. The metal cages shifted down, flowing along the metal walls until a new bank stopped at Merrie's height.

Giving a nod of thanks, Merrie resumed searching for the scent. It was close, she caught a whiff of it. She gasped and looked around. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. It was still above her, the delicate smell that held a memory she couldn't recall.

Trembling, she held out her hand and mimed lower.

The cages lowered. "You have quite sensitive senses. Most wouldn't be able to smell anything in this room."

Merrie's tail began to wag and she clamped her cloak down to avoid revealing herself. She took another breath. The scent was stronger. Stepping to the side, she took another. Her body swayed as she hunted for the scent, using her hand to request the cages to be lowered.

And then she found it. The soft scent that escaped the cage was the one she remembered. She trembled as she touched the cage, tears beginning to well in her eyes. There were memories rising up with the scent, but they refuse to come where she could feel them.

"Is that it?"

Merrie nodded and tapped the cage again. There were two bottles in the cage and they were both the clear liquid that she remembered from Bass' bathroom.

"Lady? That's a retired---"

"I know." Lady Anasome was walking closer.

Merrie stepped back as the lady stopped next to the cage. "How could you have worn this scent? Do you know what this is?"

Merrie peered around. She pointed up to one of the yellow diamonds in Lady Anasome's hair and then pointed to Rose.

(What is she doing?) came Rose's thoughts unbidden in Merrie's mind.

"Diamond?"

Merrie shook her head. She wanted to name it, to prove she knew it. She pointed to the gems in Lady Anasome's hair and then the ones dangling from Rose's ears. Then, she pointed to Rose's chest.

"Crystal?" The corner of Lady Anasome's lip curled.

Merrie froze. She saw humor in Lady Anasome's eyes. The woman knew the scent and what Merrie was trying to say. Panting faster, she pointed at Rose.

Lady Anasome shook her head slowly. "Crystalline Rose. You know its name too. But, this is Duchess Warthin's exclusive scent. She died nine years ago, so there is no..."

Her voice trailed off as her eyes widened. Merrie felt the tension in the room growing around her. Lady Anasome's eyes rose up to Merrie's cloak over her head and then down to her feet.

"Rose?"

"Yes?"

"Leave us alone and check on the customers."

"But, I can't---"

"Leave," came the order.

Rose stepped forward. "I can't---"

"Leave!"

Merrie jerked at the snapped order, then shuddered as she felt a rush of pleasure course over her. She had never reacted to a command give to anyone else before, but her body grew instantly slick at the order echoing in the metal room. It felt like she was the target of the order and she fought the urge to rush out of the room herself.

Rose stepped back, a glare on her face. Without a word, she left the vault room and closed the door behind her. Merrie could hear her stomp back to the front.

"You're one of his," said Lady Anasome, "aren't you?"

Merrie turned to look at the lady. She was close to her, close enough for her body heat to brush against Merrie's face.

"You are one of Bassimar's?"

Merrie whimpered. She trembled as she nodded.

Lady Anasome reached up for Merrie's cloak. She flinched, but the gloved hands caught the edge and she pushed it over Merrie's ears and down to her shoulders.

Feeling exposed, Merrie blushed and clutched her fake walking stick.

"H-How?"

Lady Anasome grabbed at Merrie's hand. The fabric resisted for a moment and then collapsed. She didn't hesitate as she worked her hand through the thin fabric until she caught the smooth end of Merrie's arm. With a gasp, she felt around for a moment. "You," she gasped, "were cropped? How are you standing?"

For a moment, Merrie hesitated but then let her cloak pull away. The walking stick melted into darkness as the fabric fluttered away. She sank to the ground as her fake legs lost their tension. Spreading her knees out for balance, she looked up at Lady Anasome as the fabric spread out widely, almost filling the room before coming back to wrap around her nudity.

Merrie's heart thumped as she looked pleadingly up at the Lady Anasome, unsure if she had made some terrible mistake.

She stepped back and pressed three fingers to her mouth. "You're the Lost Alpha!"

Merrie nodded and bowed her head.

Lady Anasome backed into the cages and stopped. "My gods, I-I never expected to see one of you here. Bassimar has worked himself sick trying to find you. He actually wrote me a letter asking if I saw you. B-But that was two years ago. How? How did you find me?"

Merrie pointed up to the cage.

"Oh," Lady Anasome took a deep breath before she continued. "Of course." She looked up at cage. "Scent triggers a lot of things, don't it? But, how did you find this?" Her voice trailed off. "Earlier today, Rose was dusting these bottles. You must have caught a whiff, right?"

Without knowing how to response, Merrie simply barked.

"I can't let you have it, it is an exclusive and retired scent, but..." She worried her lip. "I'll give you a spritz, if you want."

Merrie whimpered as she nodded.

Turning around, Lady Anasome pulled the cage open and eased one glass container out. She pulled a small white pad of cloth with one hand as she untwisted the top with her fingers. Resting the pad on top, she upended it once and sealed it back up.

Kneeling down, she whispered to Merrie. "Lift your chin."

Merrie obeyed the command.

Lady Anasome dabbed the cloth against Merrie's throat and then once underneath each ear.

Realizing she was holding her breath, Merrie waited until Lady Anasome pulled back before she took in a deep breath.

Merrie sank into the water. She could feel Bass' hard cock poking her in the back as she settled between his muscular thighs. She settled back, though it felt wrong to her sitting on her rear in the water. After a few moments, she struggled to find a new position. He held her down, his hands cupping her breasts, but she brought her knees underneath her and knelt as if she was begging, then sat down on her ankles. It felt better and she was rewarded with Bass' cock growing hotter as it rested in the crack of her ass.

[i]Bass grabbed a rag and soaked it with a flowery soap. He started with her back, soaking it down and rubbing her skin clean. Merrie let out soft moans as he caressed every part of her body, scrubbing it clean. His fingers lingered between her legs, taking care to pump his soapy fingers in and out of her ass and pussy until his skin squeaked against her own. Large hands reached around to cup her breasts, exploring the soft mounds and hard nipples and leaving them covered with bubbles.

When he reached her throat, Merrie tilted back her head and felt the delicious thrill of his powerful fingers cleaning around her collar, delving between the flesh of her throat and the metal. He finished and lifted his dripping fingers to her hair to pull the dog ears apart.

Merrie felt helpless, but it was different than being bound in her gloves. Her fingers were freed, but she didn't want to reach out for anything. After a few seconds, she curled her fingers back up and rested them on Bass' knees. She arched her back as he worked shampoo into her hair and rinsed it out. She didn't want to move and there was a tender pleasure burning through her body as Bass finished cleaning her from head to toe.

Merrie gasped as she inhaled sharply. The memory had risen up without her realizing it.

She leaned back on her knees and barked once. When he aimed the spritzer at her, she lifted her chin and smiled at the cool spray that teased her throat. The fruity, ethereal smells rose up and she felt a heat flush across her skin. He sprayed her again, once between the breasts and once on her belly button.

Tears were running down her cheeks and she couldn't stop them.

"It was a look, a hunger for something you never knew you needed. I could see it in your eyes, like a bitch in a cage desperate to escape. You were a shell of a woman, an empty vase I had to fill."

She whimpered, reliving the moment she first caught sight of Bass. Inside her, his cock pulsed but she couldn't even regain enough control to grind down. She closed her eyes as lost herself in the pleasure of being held and spoken to.

"You are beautiful, Merrie. In the last six weeks, you have come out of that shell. You blossomed into... such a sexy bitch before our eyes. You lost your innocence, but I don't think you've ever been happier."

His hands reached out to cup her breasts, squeezing them until the prickle of pain added to the pleasure. His fingertips ground into the soft mounds as he mauled her compassionately.

She stared down at his hands, his soapy, gray skin against the sun-tanned canvas of her body. She remembered the years of dieting and exercises. She struggled to conform to some ideal of beauty. She drank and partied, but it wasn't until she was forced on her knees that she knew she was looking for something. All the drugs and drink were a pale shadow to where she was now. Even the idea of working seemed to be just an empty placeholder in her life, something she was inflicted with instead of the insatiable hunger she felt now to be fucked and dominated.

Merrie sobbed. She didn't hate Bass. She didn't hate the mill. She loved it there. She loved the tenderness and the passion. Every moment with Bass had taught her things about her own self that she didn't know. It wasn't rape, he never really raped her. Instead, he was giving her life. It was because of Bass that she had been awakened.

But, even as she remembered how much she wanted to go back to the mill, she could feel the desires fading. They were eroding, crumbling underneath the onslaught of some magic buried deep inside her.

Her eyes widened as she realized she knew what was happening. It was a compulsion spell, the one Haviston put on her. It was to keep her from remembering the joy of the mill and it was being taken from her again, just as she stole the memory of herself from Gail.

With sickening pain, she felt the memories crumble. She could only look at Lady Anasome with horror as she forgot all the passion she felt for the mill and its master.

And then she took another breath of the perfume. The memories came rushing back. They were painful, tender, and loving at the same time. As she exhaled, she felt herself forgetting all the joy again.

With a sob, she inhaled again so she could remember happiness for the span of a single breath. A tear ran down her cheek as she clung to the memories, knowing they would quickly fade.

Merrie crawled up to the front door of the mansion and took a deep breath of the fall air. It was crisp without the overpowering ethereal scents. With a sad smile, she looked around through the shifting darkness that surrounded the mansion. A few blocks away, city guards patrolled the street and the hard line between swirling darkness and the clear moonlight.

With the shadows receding to a single ten-block area of the district, there were constant patrols to ensure no one delved into the remaining darkness. Merrie had also banished the creatures that patrolled the shadowed areas around her house. Anyone who did manage to get inside would wander around blindly for a few hours before stumbling out somewhere else.

At the beginning of fall, Kirin had moved Merrie to the northern area where customers like Jacir were asking for her. She quickly got a following and steady stable of customers, all who shamefully enjoying treating her like a bitch or sought out some relief from their sex-bound emotions. Merrie had become both a healer and a slut, usually at the same time.

Merrie was also a dirty secret. No one would admit to hiring her and she couldn't sit outside an inn looking for customers. To her surprise, though, she stopped needing to look for customers. They came to the guild looking for her by name and reputation. She had appointments scheduled months in advanced instead of wondering where the next fuck came from.

She sat down and breathed in the smells. The house was inviting behind her, but she waited for Tamin to finish inspecting the grounds.

(I'm finding no intruders.) They checked every time they came home, but he never complained about inspecting the grounds. The feeling of being watched was almost a constant scrape against her senses. It haunted her that she was the one in charge of the shade when her home was invaded and her master killed.

Merrie knew someone was watching her, she could feel it against her senses and the hairs on the back of her neck. Even Tamin could feel the presence of eyes, even in the shadows surrounding the mansion, but neither could identify the source.

The first time she felt it was six months ago. At first, she thought it was the Lord of Shadows, but it quickly became apparent that the watcher could move in sunlight and follow her across town, two things the Lord never demostrated. But, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't identify her observer. They did nothing. There were no attacks, no invasions in the house, or anyone she could detect.

But, the memory of the night her master died kept her vigilant. She had to find them, if to determine if they were a threat to her pack or her home. She stuck her arm in the pocket with her master's engagement ring and let the heavy weight comfort her.

Tamin's paws thudded against the ground. (Nothing, Alpha.)

Reluctantly, Merrie nodded and turned to the house. (Come on, I need a bath before we meet up with Nir.)

Tamin panted and followed her into the mansion. Merrie's cloak snapped out to close the door behind her and they headed straight for her master's, now her's, bathroom. A few minutes later, she was soaking in the hot water and enjoying the heat as it sluiced down her breasts and into the bottom of the tub.

Her cloak hung from the ceiling above her, fluttering and billowing at her idle thoughts. Occasionally, as the pleasure of the water intruded on her thoughts, it would shiver and the ripples would course along its length.

Tamin padded into the bathroom, holding a basket of fruit in his mouth. Setting it down on the edge, he plucked an fall apple from the top and set it down on the edge of the tub.

Merrie sent a pulse of love to him and took a bite, holding it down with one arm as she cracked off a piece. With a grin, she chewed and leaned into the heated liquid. It felt good against her skin and it erased much of the smells of a night of fucking and being whipped.

(I do not like when they hurt my alpha.)

Merrie thought about the last customer. He was into spanking, but not the gentle smacks that they show in books and illusions. He beat her ass hard until she was crying out in pain and whimpering for relief. With her memories, her pussy began to tingle. (I like it.)

(It hurts you.) The need to defend Merrie rose up.

She sent a pulse of love to him, wrapping him in a mental hug. (I can take it and he felt good.)

(He lasted thirty seconds before he came in your mouth.)

With a giggle, she tilted her head so the hot water coursed against her ear. She shivered at the intense sensations and pressed one arm to her pussy for pleasure and the other to the side of the tub for balance. (It still felt good.)

(You didn't come, Alpha.)

(I always come.)

(Yes,) grumbled the hound, (there is the tiny little orgasms you get from submitting and something strong enough to shake my world. I like it when you shake me.)

Merrie opened her eye and smiled at him. (Been a while since you came?)

Tamin slumped to the ground, out of sight except for his tail wagging back and forth. (Yes.)

(It was this morning. When we were having breakfast.)

(Long time,) came the response tinged with amusement, (for us.)

Merrie stroked her pussy with her arm. (It's strange fucking you. I know what's in your head and it feels a lot like masturbating.)

(I like licking my balls too. It might be masturbation, but it still feels good. Very good.)

Merrie groaned as the sensations came through the connection. She liked it when Tamin licked himself, she could feel the rasp of his tongue and the heated pleasure prickling her own lusts. (I like it when you lick me more, though.)

The tail wagged faster. (I like knotting you most.)

Merrie almost came at the sensation of having Tamin's thick knot stretching her pussy, pinning her down as he fired jet after jet of cum into her cunt. It was intoxicating and submissive. She couldn't escape until he was done and the only thing she could do was accept his heat until there was no more pleasure to give.

She grinned and sent a hard bolt of pleasure through the connection.

Tamin grunted and shuddered as he came, splattering the ground and his fur with his seed. A whimper rose up as the tail dropped down. (That was cruel.)

Her lips pulled back as she smiled. (You said it was a long time.)

(I want to shove it inside you, not come without touching. I want pussy and ass wrapped around me. I want to ride you like a bitch until you cry out.) The images and memories came rushing back, pummeling Merrie with his need.

She writhed in the tub, splashing water everywhere as she panted for breath. She craved his pleasure and the heat between his legs. Tiny orgasms sparkled along her senses as she slumped to the side and peered over the edge of the tub.

Tamin was on his side, a puddle of cum pooling underneath his thick cock. His black eyes stared at her as his mind boiled with need.

(After Nir, you're going to fuck me.)

Tamin radiated joy and anticipation. (As a bitch?)

(No,) Merrie projected as she sank back into the water, leaning back so it poured down on her breasts and stomach. (You're going to hunt me down and fuck me as hard as you can.) She sent an image of an innocent girl running through the woods, naked and helpless.

Tamin's lust boiled through the connection, the need of a hunter and a lover burning bright. He pictured chasing after her, feet pounding on the ground as he leaped for her.

Together, they continued the fantasy of him throwing her to the ground and fucking her. It was just on the edge of rape, with her acting as if she didn't want it but both knowing that she craved the hard violence of a thick cock slamming into her pussy, filling her completely and sending her into the heady world where pleasure and pain mixed.

(I need you, Alpha.)

Merrie pulled her arm from her pussy. It dripped with water and her excitement. With a sigh, she brought it to her mouth and sucked on the smooth end of her wrist, enjoying the taste. (After Nir.)

(You need me.)

The lust was right on the edge of her senses, filling her with hunger. (Yes, but we need to wait.)

(A quick fuck, I will ride you hard.)

Merrie used soap to lather up her arms and began to clean her hair.

Tamin stood up and leaned over to help, using his muzzle to hold her still and his tongue to clean the errant bubbles.

She giggled and kissed his nose. (After. I don't want a quick fuck.)

(It will feel good.)

(I want a hard fuck. I want you to shove me to the ground and bite me hard. I want you to take me, not love me. I want it to hurt for a long time and we don't have enough time for you to rape me properly.) She sent an image of being pinned to the ground, his cock ripping into her ass without mercy. She anticipated it would hurt and needed to feel his knot tear into her body as he drove deep into her. She wanted him to hold her by her shoulder, biting down on the bone to keep her submissively in place as he raped her holes.

Tamin's cock thumped against the side of the tub and she had a tiny orgasm.

Merrie rinsed off, her cheeks burning with need. (So, we can wait.)

(You can heal yourself.)

She paused. When she was at the mill, Dixie had transformed into a hound and back to heal damage. She did the same, but she wasn't as good as him. It removed the bruises and whip marks, but for what she wanted him, it would take days to remove the scars. She shivered with anticipation and kissed his nose. (After Nir,) she announced.

Reluctantly, Tamin said nothing more but his thoughts were bright with anticipation. It kept Merrie on the edge of excitement, like the day that Nir kept a dildo in her sex after losing a bet with Pristine. It colored Merrie's thoughts with pleasure and made everything sharp-edged as she dried and got ready to visit Nir in the meat packing district.

Nir was still assigned to the meat packing district. When Merrie was lonely, she visited even though no one in their right mind entered it during fall. As the year drew to an end, stench had sunk into every nook and cranny. Almost a full year's worth of slaughter, pools of blood, and rooms of gore had began to spoil. The stink of rotting meat, stale blood, and mold rolled down the streets and people gagged on it. The city spent its effort to keep the air away from the district since there was nothing they could do until winter.

Merrie ignored the smell by simply walking in the Shadows with Tamin. The cold inverted world of darkness had no scent beyond the alcoholic smell that tickled the back of the throat. They made it in a few minutes but neither was anxious to step back from the Shadows.

Even in the early evening, the streets were nearly empty. No one lingered in the district if they could avoid it. It gave a haunted quality to the shadows, a wasteland of people scurrying down the streets much like rats or cockroaches. Merrie liked it, it was peaceful.

A small critter ran across the street, bounding with an unnatural gait on five legs. Merrie paused as she reached out for it, not surprised when all she encountered was rage and pain. It was a small abomination, no longer than a cat, but a combination of slaughtered animals that had animated itself in terror. She knew that in early fall, they would remain in the shadows but they would grow larger as the season continued.

(Tamin, hunt.)

He bounded after the abomination, anticipation of a kill rising up. (These things taste bad,) he said without disgust, (even for me.)

(I'll get rid of the taste.) She pictured him again, teeth clamped down on her shoulder as he crouched over her.

(Yes, Alpha.)

With a smile, Merrie slipped back across the threshold and into the world. The smell was like hitting a wall and she gagged briefly. Even Borias' lessons were not powerful enough to stop the urge to crawl back into the Shadows and never return. She shook her head and cast a quick spell to mute her senses and clear her eyes.

She was in the middle of an alley, cloaked in darkness. At the far end, she could see Nir dancing on one of the benches, bored but playful. Like most whores, she was encouraged to find an outfit to give her a distinct appearance---they called it branding---and Merrie loved what she came up. She wore a bright red mini-skirt with a low slung waistband. It hung off the middle of her hips, giving a broad expanse of her trim, teenage belly and the occasional flash of her matching thong when she twirled. The middle and back of the skirt was bound with a short strip of black mesh, giving the occasional viewer the hope they were seeing naked flesh. Her top was the same fabric, with the cleavage and back bound with mesh. The bottom of the top was barely over her breasts and her breasts peeked out from the bottom edge. She also wore a pair of red slippers and black mesh gloves. Together, it set off her shimmering black hair that spiraled around her as she giggled.

Merrie had to pause. Nir has blossomed at the guild. The signs of her time as a beggar had completely disappeared. Instead, she moved with grace of someone who had became intimately aware of her own body and sexuality. Merrie smiled and crawled out of the alley, letting the shade drop as she did.

"Ears!" Nir spun once more and launched herself from the bench. She swept Merrie up in a hug and squeezed her tight. The smell of perfume swirled around them, Golden Harvest by Lady Anasome; it was a gift from Merrie who visited every few weeks but could never remember anything besides walking in the front door and then leaving hours later.

Merrie got on her knees and kissed the girl on the cheek.

Nir tilted her head so their lips met and soon they were kissing more passionately. Her hand slipped into Merrie's cloak and caught Merrie's nipple. Pinching it, she moaned into the kiss.

Shivering with pleasure, Merrie wrapped her arms around Nir and held her tight. Her body grew hot with lust even thought she could feel that Nir wasn't going to fuck her.

And then tensed as the cloak slipped into Nir's pocket, hunting for her money. Merrie snapped at it and drew it back, pulling it tight against her body.

Nir, thinking that Merrie was being playful, forced her hand underneath the fabric as her fingertips taught Merrie's wet slit.

"You know," Scorch snapped, "if she isn't going to pay for that, you really shouldn't be making out. No one is here to appreciate the show."

Affection rose up from Nir. She broke the kiss. With a grunt, she shoved her hand down so she could bury two fingers into Merrie's cunt. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled sweetly at Scorch. "Shush, I'm advertising being a lesbian."

"Half the street knows you were being gang banged all morning."

Nir giggled. "It could have been a lesbian gang bang?"

Scorch leaned against the planter. His white shirt was blackened on the edges and he smelled of burnt hair and fried cum. "I doubt it. With your tiny box, you couldn't get three fingers in there much less a proper fist."

Merrie clenched her pussy around Nir's fingers.

"You know," Nir said to Scorch, "not all lesbians insist on being fisted." She shoved four fingers into Merrie's pussy, using short strokes as she started to work her thumb into the tight channel.

He shook his head with a smile on his lips. He was affectionate toward Nir and Merrie could sense their relationship was growing deeper every day. It wouldn't be long before Nir suggested marriage just as Scorch thought about it himself. There was a fifteen year difference between the two, but that didn't bother either of them. He focused on Merrie. "So, Bitch, you have magical mind-reading powers. Any marks around or can I can I give up for the night and get a proper hot shower? I have cum in the back of my throat."

Moaning at the girl's fist in her pussy, Merrie closed her eyes and leaned into Nir. Casting out her senses, she scanned for those interested in a whore. She found three of them, a woman and two men.

One was a familiar mind, Fang. The guard was strolling toward Nir's position with sex on his mind. There was also a sadness wrapped around him, vague and hidden deep in his thoughts. It reminded her of Jacir's own emotions, something had happened to Fang in the past but the guard had sealed it tight inside. Even Merrie would be hard-pressed to delve into the hidden emotions of the guard. She pushed deeper with curiosity, but stopped when she realized he had no intent to pay for sex. Instead, he was playing out the options of fucking Nir and escaping.

A prickle of anger filled her. While Merrie didn't mind not getting paid for fucking, Nir needed it. And Scorch's words were becoming true. It was a pattern for him and he picked on Nir because she wouldn't say no.

With a little thrust, Merrie read Nir's mind concerning the guard. She disliked the man, because he would promise money but always managed to run or bluff before paying her. She was trying to build up the courage to say no. She also asked Scorch to help, and he agreed, but it never happened when Scorch was available as Fang ran away.

Merrie threw a brief hesitation into Fang and pushed another mark to come faster. With a smile, she withdrew and held up her arms significantly: one, two, and then the first again to indicate three.

"Three, eh? Any for Nir?"

Nir pulled her hand out. It was dripping wet. With a grin, she held it up to Merrie who lapped at the fingers.

The taste of her pussy brought a smile to Merrie's lips.

"Bitch?" Scorch asked impatiently.

Merrie held up her arm and continued to lap at Nir's fingers, working her way down until the entire palm with glistening with her saliva. When she finished, she licked her lips and grinned.

"Okay, you had your snack. Now, any for the girl?"

The customer that Merrie encouraged to hurry up came into view. She pointed at him without looking and then to Nir.

Nir followed the gaze, then stood up with a smile. The light scent of her excitement swirled around her and Merrie could see her shaved pussy lips against the line of her thong. "Oh, I like him." She glanced at Scorch and then strolled toward her customer.

Merrie sat on the ground and watched, her tail wagging.

"You're up to something, aren't you?"

She looked over to Scorch. He was scowling as he stared at her. With a grin, she barked once.

Just as Nir and her mark headed toward the apartment for a round of fucking, Fang stepped into view.

Scorch groaned. "Damn it. I need that fucker to..."

Merrie's smile grew wider as she felt his surprise radiate from him, followed by annoyance.

"You're doing that, right? You knew he was coming."

Merrie nodded. She shifted her shoulders and her cloak pulled back, revealing her naked breasts and pussy.

"He's been stealing from us."

She nodded again.

Fang caught sight of her and the lust rose. He cut across the street as he headed straight for her. She could feel the hunger rising even as he was planning on cheating her.

"Every time you let him cheat you, Nir gets hurt."

Merrie got on her arms and knees. She gave Fang a come-hither look and crawled into the alley.

A moment later, Fang ran in after her.

Behind her, Scorch's mood grew dark with anger. And then stopped as Tamin appeared next to him. The massive hound gave him a wink and headed into the alley after Fang, silent as the night. (Oh fuck, she's going to rape him,) came Scorch's thoughts which made Merrie's anticipation even sweeter.

Fang's breath came deep as he joined her in the middle of the alley. "I haven't seen you for a while," he whispered. "You still fucking Tai?"

Merrie said nothing.

"Just need a blow. I can pay," he lied.

She got on her knees and spread her legs. Her cloak slid off her shoulders and puddled into darkness around her. It spread out and then back to leave her naked before him.

Fang moaned as he fumbled with his trousers. He unbuttoned it and pulled out his cock. It was already hard and he levered it down to her mouth.

Merrie inched forward and rested her arms on his thighs. It brought an instant surge of excitement. With a soft breath against his skin, she caught the tip of his cock with her lips and worked her mouth down. Even with his thoughts, he tensed up at the touch and then let out a guttural moan of his own.

"Oh, fuck, I forgot how good you are." He held out his hands as he wondered if he could grab her ears. After a moment, he realized he didn't care and clamp down on them, crushing them in his grip.

Merrie shivered at the pain and dove down on his cock, engulfing his entire length until it bumped against the back of her throat.

With another moan, Fang yanked her closer, pulling her by her ears and jamming her face into his pubic hair. His cock pulsed. Pulling her back only a few centimeters, he jammed her back down, his hips thrusting forward until they met with a wet smack.

Merrie moaned around the cock in her lips, knowing that it would turn him on. As he fucked her face, she crafted a spell to push him further. She wanted him to fuck her properly. She wanted to feel him coming inside her, filling her with hot seed.

Down the alley, Tamin sank down into the shadows and waited.

Fang drove into her face with hard, short strokes. His fingers squeezed down on her ears, crushing them. His breath was coming faster and harder.

And every twinge of pain added to Merrie's pleasure. She gulped at the hard length and drank the pre-cum that was already dripping down on her tongue. It was sweet and musky, with a slight bitter aftertaste.

It didn't take long before he was about to cum. He pulled back with all his might and jammed his cock deep into Merrie's mouth, holding it there. If he was a bit longer, it would have cut off her breath, but it only reached to the back of her throat and she could feel the tip pulsing right against the sensitive flesh.

"Fuck!" he groaned and came inside her. His cum splattered against the back and dripped down into her belly. She could feel the pulses as his cock swelled in her mouth. Each little thrust pushed her closer to an orgasm, but she couldn't quite come from it.

After a few seconds, he started to pull out. Merrie reached around and held him there as she lavished her tongue along his cock, sucking out the last few droplets from his length and polishing up every glob of cum before letting it pop out of her mouth.

"Oh, I needed that. I owe you twenty, right?" He started for his pocket, making a show of looking for his money.

Merrie ignored him. She crawled up on a nearby box and presented herself. Her pussy lips, still slick with her excitement from planning Tamin's domination of her, peeled apart. Curling her tail up, she cast an attraction spell that drew his attention to her open sex, wet and willing.

Fang stopped in mid-pat and stared at her. "I... I can't."

Merrie wagged her tail back and forth. She pushed a little encouragement into Fang and his cock was soon rock hard with need.

He didn't think anything of it. With a moan, he stepped up behind her and fisted his length. His other hand grabbed her tail, holding it up as he aimed his cock for her wet hole. With only a second hesitation, he sank into her.

Lubricated by the fantasies with Tamin and her submission, his cock slid clear to the hilt in a single thrust. His mind exploded with lust and she realized he hadn't had his cock in a woman for over ten years. With a groan, he shoved it deep before pulling it back.

"Fuck," he gasped and drove it home. Memories of past lovers rose up and fell away, all of them faded by the years. He groaned and picked up his pace, thrusting deep into Merrie's cunt with ragged, unpracticed strokes.

She gasped and moaned, pushing back as he drove deep. Little spark of pleasure rose up inside her, burning their way along her veins. She kept him fucking her until her own orgasm rose up and then sparked with a little burst of pleasure.

He leaned on the message board with one hand as he pounded in the nail. His palm was placed over the center of the paper, as it always was, so he couldn't see her. The nail sank in and he relaxed. Turning away, he pulled out the next paper and headed for the opposing board. Only ten more boards to go and he could retreat back home.

The image came unbidden and was gone as fast as it rose up. Merrie jerked at the vague image and tried to grasp at it. But she lost control over Fang and he began to pound into harder, thrusting as he exploded inside her.

Losing herself in pleasure, Merrie leaned back and clamped down, giving him more friction as he gave her a few last thrust before emptying his balls into her pussy. The wet squelching of cum pushed her into another orgasm and she let out a low, throaty moan.

Shuddering, Fang pulled out. "I-I've never done that."

Merrie slipped off the box and turned around. Grabbing his hips, she brought the dripping cock to her mouth and slid it in. He shivered with fear, his cock was hypersensitive after coming twice so quickly, but she was delicate as she cleaned him off again.

When she finished, she opened her mouth and let him slid out.

Fang staggered back, gasping for breath. "I-I owe you what? Hundred?"

She cocked her head, watching as he made a show of checking his pockets. He was going to run out the opposite side of the alley, away from Scorch who he avoided.

Tamin slid into the Shadows and crossed the alley. He came back up and sank down in the darkness. The anticipation rose as he waited for his prey.

Fang glanced down to the alley opening. He pulled up his pants, pretending to check his pockets as he buttoned them up. And then, with a flash, he sprinted for the end of the alley.

Merrie wrapped the transformation spell around her and let out a moan as her body twisted and shifted into the heavy form of a Bel Dark hound. Her senses grew sharper as she sniffed the air. It smelled of rotting food and a thousand blow jobs. The scent of orgasms clung to the bricks. It was home to her.

With a grin, she padded in the opposite direction from Fang and Tamin.

Fang was almost at the edge of the alley when Tamin's growl stopped him. He skidded to a halt as the massive hound stepped out of the darkness. Curls of his alpha's magic swirled around him, drawing the thief's attention to only him.

With a gasp, Fang stumbled to a halt. "Um, good doggie?"/

[i]Tamin pulled back his lips, baring his teeth. He snarled as he stepped toward Fang.

The guard dropped his hand to his belt, where his sword would be, but there was nothing. Blanching, he backed up before sprinting for the far end, toward the alpha.

Merrie waited in the darkness until Fang was almost on her. With a grin, she let out the same growl as Tamin. The deep bass rumble filled the alley as she stepped into view. She shielded herself from the outside street, but neither Scorch or Nir was there. At the same time, she drew Fang's attention to herself and the guild seal around her neck.

"Fuck! How did you get there so fast!?" Fang gasped and turned the other way just as Tamin stepped into his view again. He looked down at Tamin's neck and Merrie crafted the illusion there was another guild seal there.

"I-I'll pay!" Fang's fear with bright against Merrie's senses.

With a slip of energy, she let the transformation spell drop. Pulling her knees underneath her, she got into a begging position and opened her mouth.

Fang turned at her, expecting to see the hound. When he saw the naked woman begging, he did a double-take. Warily, he looked around for the second hound. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. Here," he dug into his front pocket and pulled out his wallet. He had about four hundred marks in it. Pulling out six twenties, he shoved them into Merrie's mouth.

Behind him, Tamin returned to the shadows. (He is a weak prey.)

(He's guilty, it makes him easy to manipulate.)

(I wanted a hunt.)

(In a few minutes, you are going to be hunting me down and fucking me until I scream.)

Tamin's growl filled the alley, brimming with lust.

Fang jerked at the noise and looked around. "I said I'd pay!"

Merrie halted Tamin's growl. She smiled and gestured to the alley entrance behind her.

"I-I can go?" Fang looked into the darkness, but couldn't see either Merrie or Tamin.

Merrie barked once.

"I won't do that again, I promise." He backed out of the alley and stumbled into Nir who was looking for Merrie. Spinning on his heels, he let out a shriek and stumbled back.

"I'm sorry," cried Nir.

"No, no, I'm..." Fang looked down at the wallet still in his hand. With a gulp, he shoved his hand in, grabbed all the bills and thrust them toward Nir. "Here! I forgot to pay you!"

Stunned, Nir took the money and then stared as he ran past her.

Merrie's cloak slid out of the darkness and wrapped around her. As it settled into place, it plucked the money from her mouth and shoved it into a pocket. Tamin joined them, sitting down on the ground next to Merrie.

Nir came to the entrance, confused. She smelled of sex and her cheeks were flushed. "What was that?"

Merrie shrugged and got into a begging position.

Nir glanced down the street. "Strange." She smiled at Merrie and Tamin. "Want breakfast?"

She barked and wagged her tail.

Winter was right around the corner with the first sharp bite in the winds that blew across the city. It was too warm for flakes of snow, but Merrie knew it was only a matter of days before the first dusting struck the streets. She smiled as she remembered Scorch finding a new outfit for Nir, fussing over her as he insisted on the right type of fur for her coat. He surprised everyone by giving her a heating pendant that he made himself; no one knew that he could make magical items and more than a few people got dangerously close to asking why he joined the guild.

Merrie knew but she wouldn't tell anyone. Scorch used to be one of the people out on the far side of the meat packing district, setting fire to everything. But, he lost the taste of fighting off abominations and left the city fire brigade and became a whore. It was a simple change of position, but it also meant he lost his license to artifice or to use certain types of fire magic within the city. Only as the Guild's enforcer, could he use combat magic legally.

She peered over the edge roof of the Whore's Guild apartment. Down below in the alley, Scorch was just finishing up giving a heavy-set man a blow job. The cum steamed off his body as he leaned back and showed a mouth filled with seed. The customer moaned with appreciation but didn't ask for anything more. A few bills passed between them and they went their separate ways.

Merrie grinned and settled down on the roof. The slate tiles were icy against her skin and comforting. She sighed and ground her naked breasts on the stone, wiggling back and forth as the wind plucked at her wagging tail.

(You are in a good mood.) Tamin was next to her, resting on her side and using her to shield himself from the wind. It was a pointless effort, since Merrie was a tiny thing against his side, but it was the thought that kept them both cool.

She sniffed and caught a brief hint of perfume around her. She spent the morning at Lady Anasome's but, as usual, she didn't remember what happened inside. It bothered her that every time she entered the store, she lost hours. Something happened inside every time, but she couldn't figure out why or how. (Are you sure you don't remember?)

(No, Alpha, I've tried.) There was regret in his thoughts. He tried as hard as her to remember what happened in the store, but couldn't.

The only thing Merrie knew was that she was happy when she left. Happier than she was in her current life, as a high-priced prostitute with her own mansion in what was becoming an exclusive district for the up and coming rich.

Gillette's camp was gone as were the memorials. The city finished building new bridges only a few weeks before and the hourly patrols of the city guard were just beginning to relax.

She smiled. (No matter. I'll get the answers eventually.)

He just sent a wave of affection. Merrie leaned against him, remembering how he protected her from the cold winds so long ago. It felt like years since she entered the city, but they just passed into the fourth year since she came home with her master. A pang of despair rose up, but she pushed it down. She and Tamin gave him a memorial on the day he and Rimmy died. A quiet little moment of silence for the man she missed with all her heart.

Below her, Nir cried out from an orgasm. She was pinned between two university students who caught sight of her as she was walking home the night before. They came back with an offer she didn't want to refuse.

Merrie tensed her body as she basked in the warmth of the teenager's orgasm. Nir was pinned by two cocks, one in her ass and one in her pussy. Except for her arms around one of their necks, she was completely suspended above the floor. The rush of being pounded hard pushed her into a second orgasm and she cried out, her voice echoing in the apartment.

(Wish you were down there?)

Merrie thought about the night before, when she was in a similar position but it wasn't fucking the two men were doing. Instead, they were giving her increasingly humiliating orders and slapping her when she hesitated. She danced right on the edge of being seriously hurt but it was a rush when they pinned her down on the bed and "raped" her. She cried out as appropriate and came so many times that she couldn't count.

Her tail wagged faster.

(I like when they punish you, Alpha, but not when they beat you.)

Merrie rolled on her side to look at him. (Do you want to punish me?)

(No,) he said, (but I do want to knot you like a bitch.)

(Tonight.) Her pussy clenched with anticipation.

Below, she heard Nir's marks leaving the apartment. Shifting over slightly, she peered to the front of the building where the two students walked down the street. They were embarrassed by what they had done but they were turned on more than they would ever be comfortable showing. She grinned. They would be good repeat customers for Nir.

Merrie stepped through into the Shadow. Then she got up and got ready to crawl downstairs, but as she began to move, something stopped her. Frowning, she looked around. Something felt different to her and she held her breath as she inspected her surroundings.

The shadows were calm that night, moving in a stately grace as they swirled around the building and herself. Darkness pooled in the gaps of the light, bringing the world between reality and Shadows.

(Alpha?) Tamin's concern rippled through the connection. (Is it the watcher? Or something else?)

Merrie shook her head. It didn't feel like someone was watching her. Instead, something just felt different to her, but she couldn't figure it out. It was maddening.

(Should I look around?)

For a moment, she thought shew as being paranoid. Then, she remembered the attack on the mansion. (Yes, I'll go this way.)

She turned on the side and jumped over to the next building. Her shadow-fueled magic carried her over to the alley. She hit the ground and stalked forward, watching every shift of darkness looking for whatever was bothering her.

Two minutes later, the discomfort was still there but she could find nothing. Frustrated, she sat on top of the building with the Guild apartment and waited for Tamin.

(Nothing, Alpha.)

(But, it doesn't feels right, to me.)

He sat next to her. Concern filled them as they peered around. (I can't find anything.)

Merrie pushed her senses back into reality, but the discomfort wasn't there. It was in the Shadows, but she only had a vague feeling that something was different. She returned her senses and sent out a wave to scan her surroundings. It rippled out in all directions, a barely perceptible ripple through the shifting darkness. It bounced off little creatures of darkness, but nothing larger than the small abomination or a dog.

(Alpha?)

She sent out another pulse looking for intruders. (I'm just being paranoid. It's probably that watcher still.)

(Are you sure?)

Merrie was torn. She felt uncomfortable but there was nothing. She let out a groan. (Yes, but I want to keep an eye on the Shadows here.)

Tamin nodded.

Reluctantly, she pushed herself down through the roof of the apartment and landed on the bed. The Shadows slid away from her and she sat down on it.

Nir had her back to Merrie as she dressed. Her body was beautiful naked and Merrie was still glad that the healers had erased all the signs of the girl's time as a beggar. Nir hummed softly to herself as she pulled her skirt up, rocking her tight ass back and forth as she squeezed it over her buttocks.

The bed shifted quietly as Tamin crawled next to Merrie. (I would very much like to mount that bitch.)

Merrie caught sight of Nir's breasts from the side and admired them. (I'm sure you would. But, she doesn't want to fuck an animal.)

(She fucks you.)

Merrie hesitated for a moment. She didn't feel human anymore, but she didn't feel like an animal either. She was neither and both at the same time. Her skill in switching between animal and human as becoming almost second nature to her, along with stepping into the Shadows. Gail saw her as an alien force, barely kept in the shape of a hound, but with a mind incomprehensible to her. There was another creature like that, the Lord of Shadows.

(Alpha, do you think you're a Lord?) Tamin wasn't afraid, just curious. (Maybe that is why the Shadows are different. Maybe you are seeing them like it does?)

Merrie shook her head and watched as Nir bend over, innocently exposing her sex as she worked her panties on. The smell of cum and excitement filled the air and she drank in the smell just to relish it. (No, I'm not. But, I don't know what I am. I feel... beyond everyone here except maybe Kirin and Monk.) She worried her lip. (But I love being in the guild. I love fucking, I love letting the guild decide where I work and giving me a schedule.)

(Though, your new assistant doesn't like me.)

(You did try to shove your nose up her cunt.)

Tamin chuckled silently, a wave of amusement coloring both of their thoughts yellow. (She was wet.)

(That's called peeing in fear, silly.) Merrie rolled toward him and bit his ear. (You did jump her and lick her face.)

Tamin flicked his ear away. (Still smelled good.)

Nir turned around. She caught sight of Merrie and her eyes grew wide. And then she screamed shrilly, "Damn it, Ears!"

Merrie giggled and got on her knees.

There was a thumping up the stairs. A heartbeat later, there was a pounding on the door. "You okay?" asked Scorch from outside.

Nir gave Merrie a mock glare and stomped over to the door. She yanked it open and pointed at Merrie and Tamin. "It's okay. The two perverts surprised me."

Scorch sighed. "Damn it, Bitch, don't get me worked up like that."

Nir smiled and kissed Scorch on the cheek. "Thank you, though. My hero."

He chuckled and kissed her back on the lips. He turned to look at Merrie. "Does this mean you want to go out to breakfast with us?"

Merrie begged. Her bark rang out in the room.

"Since you gave us the heart attack, you're paying."

Merrie squirmed at the order. She barked again. With a jump, she landed on the floor and pranced out of the room. Tamin followed, with high steps in perfect unison with Merrie's movements.

Giggling, Nir hooked her arm around Scorch's and they followed. "Like a little procession."

"Yeah, but I'm trying to figure out which one wears the bow. I think the dog should have it. Something big and fluffy."

Tamin glared at him as Merrie giggled.

At the landing on the stairs, Merrie pointed to Tamin who let out a deep woof. She continued down the stairs. Her cloak flowed tight against her body but she still moved in a pool of darkness. At the bottom, she headed out the door and into the street. With a grin, she turned around to beg but froze as she realized something.

The street was empty.

The beggar that always sat on the corner of the street was gone. There was no one walking down either side and all the lights were out in the streets. She glanced through the large glass window of the cafe, but it was also empty. It was never empty.

Responding to her thoughts, Tamin stepped to the side. His heavy body moved with supernatural silence.

"Ears, what's---"

Merrie started to cast protection spells on herself. Her cloak flared with the magic and she felt the energies stretching out into Tamin, protecting him at the same time.

"Quiet," hissed Scorch.

"Scorch?" whimpered Nir, "What's going on."

"Something bad. Go back into the apartment." There was a curl of fire magic rising up, the smell of burning paper and a wave of heat washed against Merrie's back.

"Scorch?"

"Now!"

Four men stepped out at the end of the street. They wore no uniforms but they moved with military precision. They glowed from dozens of different protection and combat spells. The colors were harsh against her senses, blinding her to anything. They were coming for her, she knew it deep in her gut.

Tamin projected in a tense thought, (Four more on the other end of the street. Similarly protected.)

Merrie reached out for the Shadows, but something stopped her. It felt dangerous now, as if the Reaper was waiting to attack. She didn't know what was going on but she couldn't concentrate. Not with armed men approaching.

Tamin's growl shook the air.

The door to the cafe clicked shut and Merrie heard Nir sprinting upstairs.

"Bitch," Scorch sounded worried, "I see a lot of protection magic. They are pretty well defended against fire, shadow, and a lot of other things I can't figure out. Someone know that you and me are going to be here. And Pristine and Elf are a lot better at hand-to-hand if we are going to get into a brawl."

Merrie's mind spun through the transformation spell. With a surge of power, she wrapped herself in the form of a Bel Dark hound. Her growl added to Tamin's rumble as she stared at the four warriors at the end of the street.

"I," gasped Scorch, "think I just shit myself. When the fuck could you transform?"

(For quite a while,) projected Merrie but she didn't take her eyes away from the four men stalking closer. She knew she could reach Scorch, he was submissive enough for her power despite being dominate most of the time.

Scorch shuddered and a whimper rose in his throat. "B-Bitch? Is that you?"

(Yes.) Merrie barked once and surged forward, her body blurring from the enhancement magics.

Tamin charged in the opposite direction, his form wavering like shadows.

"Fuck!" snapped Scorch. There was a pulse of fire magic and three fireballs screamed past Merrie to strike one man. He flinched as the fire exploded against his face, but as the flames curled away, he was untouched.

Merrie took advantage of his distraction to leap on him. She felt his protection magic burning against her skin as she clamp down his throat. He was protected against mental and shadow magic, but his physical protections were far weaker. She bore down using magically-enhanced strength and her teeth punched deep into the soft flesh of his neck. With a growl, she yanked back and ripped his head free with a pop of a snapped spine and a shower of blood.

The dead man's body collapsed to the ground. Merrie rode it down before snapping her head around to throw the severed head toward the next attacker.

The second man jerked away from the head, his eyes wide with fear. A burst of fire exploded in his face, doing no damage but he stumbled back reflexively.

Merrie jumped off the corpse and leaped for him. He wore a helm to protect his face, but his chain vest left his arms unprotected.

(Scorch, go with Tamin,) she commanded as she grabbed the man by his elbow and twisted violently. Her teeth broke skin as he fell to his knees with a scream. Merrie tasted blood in her jaws, but she wasn't done. With a growl, she used her magical strength and her cloak to flip her body over, twisting the arm caught in her maw. The guard couldn't move fast enough and there was a wet popping noise as she dislocated his shoulder. With a surge of power, she planted her paws on his chest and pulled.

The man screamed out in agony as his arm was torn off in a shower of blood. He fumbled with his sword with his remaining hand until Merrie smacked him with his own arm twice and knocked him to the ground.

(Alpha, there are flying mages coming. And one ground attacker is down over here. We can only hold them off, they are too well protected. I need more strength and speed.)

A sword came down. It scraped her side before landing into the injured man's chest with a dull thunk and scrape of metal rings.

Merrie rolled back and looked at the remaining two warriors. They were both armored in plate armor and she couldn't see any vulnerable area for her to bite. She wouldn't be able to drop either of them as quickly or easily as the first two.

The man who attacked yanked his sword up and swung at her, aiming for her throat. She dodged back and the point of the blade narrowly missed her jugular.

The second remaining attacker's blade cut a line down her back, slicing flesh. She flowed out of the way but she could feel the cuts burning on her skin and matting her fur with blood.

(Alpha!)

(Stop those men!) she ordered. (I'll take these two.)

(You're hurt!)

(Protect Scorch!) She raced through a strength spell and sent it through the connection. On the far side, she felt as Tamin lunged forward and caught an armored man's knee between his teeth. Powerful jaws, fueled by magic, crunched down on the metal and it crumbled along with the man's bones.

Next to Merrie, her two attackers spread out. They held their weapons in firm hands as the heavy scrape of their boots echoed against the walls.

Merrie focused on one of them, using glimpses from Tamin as he fought to track the other man circling her. Heart pounding in her chest, she wished that Haviston had taught her combat spells. She had strength and speed spells, but she relied on her domination more than anything else. She tried a quick domination, but it sloughed off their protections.

The two warriors attacked with fast stabs and slashes.

She dodged out of the way of the first, but the second blade came down on her thigh, opening up a deep cut from her hip to her knee. Pain exploded along her leg and she slumped at the agony. A dull throb filled her body, heat and excitement and anger.

Tamin wanted to come to her but she threw him back. (Defend Scorch! He can't take on all of them by himself.)

(But, you're hurt and you can't get through their armor.)

Merrie shook her head, pushing past the haze of pain and trying not to think of the blood pouring down her legs and side. (No, I can get through the armor, but it will leave me vulnerable to the other. Maybe I can use my cloak to blind....)

An idea came to her. Her cloak had repeatedly formed into a snake when she was threatened. As she considered it, she felt it responding. With a grin, she guided the cloak to one of her attackers while she focused on the other.

She felt a surge of excitement and charged forward. Her cloak fluttered behind her, and then pulled away from her body. It hit the ground silently and shot forward, rippling along the ground as its head reared up.

Both of the armored attackers stepped back and held their weapons to parry. The one Merrie charged after swung his sword, but her body flowed away from the attack and she came up underneath his sword. Using the bony part of her skull, she snapped her head up and knocked his hand aside. With a growl, she chomped down on the man's hip. Magical strength and supernatural teeth punched through steel and she bit down hard on his hip, cracking the bone and rending flesh.

Next to her, the cloak reared up in front of it's attacker. He swung at it and it dodged as two black eyes appeared near the top. It snapped forward, the needle-like tip slammed against his chest plate.

"Nice try," chuckled the man.

The cloak fell down from his chest and billowed around his arm. With a twist of her mind, Merrie wrapped the cloak around his wrist and yanked down. The sword clattered to the ground as the cloak swung down between the man's legs. With a surge of power, it shot back up between his legs, but instead of aiming directly for his crotch, it punched into the joint between the plates of armor. With a wet fluttering, it poured into the armor and disappeared in a heartbeat.

There was a sudden pause and a flash of fear as the man realize that Merrie's cloak was inside his armor.

Merrie picked up her own victim by his hip and shook him violently. With her enhanced strength, it wasn't long before his body was rattling around in his armor and she heard the muted crack of bones snapping from her snapping his body like a whip.

The cloak swirled around in the sweaty space between it victim's armor and his body. It spread out until it found a vulnerable spot it could attack: his asshole.

The attacker's chuckled died and he began to claw at his armor. His gauntleted fingers clutched at the metal, scraping loudly as he began to scream. "Get it out! Get it out!"

The cloak punched deep into the man. It used the needle-like tip to pierce his organs and formed claws inside his guts as it dragged its way into his orgasm. It ground his belly against the inside of his armor as it tore through intestines and his stomach.

The man screamed loudly, an noise that sounded more inhuman than mortal. He clawed at his belly, trying to tear off his plate armor off. Sheets of blood poured down between his legs, leaking from the joints of his armor. A moment later, he dropped to his knees with a wet splat. His hands clawed up to his chest, matching the position of the cloak as it ripped its way into his throat.

He managed to yanked off his helmet. Blood poured from his mouth and nose as the screamed died down into a muffled gurgle. Just as she felt the cloak ripping up into his throat, his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

The cloak exploded from his mouth. His jaw was snapped open from the force of it pouring out. It spread itself out in a shower of blood and gore. Hot rain poured down and splattered down around her. She lifted her head as she stared at the supernatural cloak that had just killed someone for her.

A green blast of power caught the cloak, punching a hole through it. Merrie screamed out as she felt a sharp pain as the edges of the hole burned with an emerald flame.

Gasping, she looked up to see two mages flying above the street. One of them, a woman, had her hand held out and green flames licked her skin. The two mages circled around her.

Merrie scanned over them but she was despaired to see they were also protected against her psychic and shadow powers.

The other flying mage raised his hand and bright blue arrows spread out from his fingers to rain down on Merrie.

Merrie dodged between the energy blasts. She jumped up for them, but her snapping teeth only bit down on air. Panting, she looked around for some way to reach them. Spotting the planter she used present herself to find customers, she ran toward it in a wide arc to bring herself close to the fluttering cloak. As she passed, it caught her leg and flowed along her body, wrapping around her neck and then around her body like armor.

She reached the planter. With a grunt, she jumped on it and used it to leap across the sidewalk to the building near the planter. She hit the bricks a few meters off the ground. Flipping over, she used her momentum to launch herself across the air toward the flying mages.

The male mage let out a shriek of fear as she slammed into him. Her furry body pawed at him as she fell down, but she snapped out and caught his foot. Her jawed crunched bone and pierced flesh. With a sicken surge, she swung underneath him until she managed to snake her cloak out to wrap around the mage's neck. Tightening her grip, she used his body to claw up to his shoulders.

The other mage was about ten meters away. Using magic to enhance her movement, Merrie jumped across for her. Her cloak separated itself from her and wrapped tighter around the first mage's throat. It shoved itself down into his mouth to tear his throat from the inside.

Merrie landed on the woman's chest. There was a brief struggle which ended when Merrie's teeth clamped down on the woman's throat. She tore it out with a jerk of her body and then rode the corpse as it plummeted to the ground. The body hit the ground and Merrie rolled into it. She came to a halt a few meters away just as her cloak returned, attaching itself as if it never left.

The other mage hit the ground with a wet thud. His eyes were blank and his tongue stuck out of his mouth. Blood began to pool underneath him and traced along the cobblestones he cracked with the impact.

Down the street, Scorch and Tamin were down to one fighter and a flying mage.

Merrie dug her claws into the bricks and raced down the street to join them. As she sprinted past the front of the cafe, she saw a flash from the building. She came to a screeching halt and raced back to look inside.

Nir was struggling with a man. There were tables and chairs on their side, tossed aside during her struggle. A blue haze hung in the air. She was screaming, but no noise escaped the windows. Nir caught sight of Merrie and called out to her. She ducked underneath the man's arm and sprinted for the door.

The attacker spun around and Merrie's heart stopped. It was Rakin. She could never forget the man responsible for the destruction at the fair. Something deep inside her still craved him, a remnant of the spell triggered by him removing her collar, but anger also rose up inside her. Rakin was responsible for her master's death. The anger brought power with it and the world darkened around her as she glared at the man she was going to kill.

In the years since she last saw him, Rakin had changed drastically. He was still broad-chested with scars from prior battles. She had seen him in Jacir's memories and in her nightmares. But, the years were also hard on him. His hair was close-cropped and almost entirely gray. There were more lines on his face and a perpetual scowl had been etched into the lines. The anger, though, was still there. It burned in his eyes and she could feel the rage even through the glass window of the cafe.

Nir's eyes caught Merrie. She held out her hand for Merrie and her mouth opened up, mouthing the word "Ears" but no noise came out. She scrambled on the floor, trying to get purchase. She had lost one shoe in the struggle and she limped as she raced for the cafe window.

Rakin grabbed her hair and yanked her back.

She struggled to remain on her feet as she tugged frantically at her hair.

He dropped his other hand on her shoulder. It was encased in the metal gauntlet and the runes glowed brightly. There was a sharp flash and electricity exploded from the gauntlet. Arcs of lighting ran along Nir's body, reaching out for the metal in the room.

Nir's eyes rolled back as she screamed. Her body shook violently and she collapsed to the ground. Even though no noise carried through the glass, Merrie felt sick as she saw the girl clutching herself, her body jerking as the electricity ran through her delicate frame.

Digging her claws into the ground, Merrie charged the window. Her cloak shot out and shattered the window before she leaped into the cafe. The shards of glass rained down around her, breaking into clouds.

Nir's scream, muted by the glass, ripped out past her.

"No!" screamed Scorch. His fear and protectiveness spiked, burning brightly against Merrie's senses.

(Alpha! He's leaving and I need help!)

Merrie forced a domination spell to turn Scorch around. (Defend my pack! I'll get your bitch!) As she projected, she stood up and growled loudly.

Rakin chuckled. "And now we have the third little player for this game. Took you long enough, Merrie."

Merrie continued to growl, the rumble in her chest filling the room. She stalked forward as she prepared for an attack.

"You didn't think I was going to give up on you, did you? Though, I would have never expected you to survive your old master's death."

She snarled at him.

Rakin smiled and flexed his fingers. The gauntlet crackled with power and the energy beat against her skin. "It doesn't matter how long you hide or where you flee, I'm going to have you. One way or the other."

Merrie charged, leaping over Nir's spasming body.

Rakin caught her with a backhand. The metal rang out and there was a burst of electricity.

Merrie hit the ground with a gasp. Her body jerked violently as she struggled to regain control of herself. She heard Rakin's footsteps as he got closer and her heart pounded with fear. She needed to move but she couldn't. With a whine, she forced herself to push through the pain and let the transformation spell slip away.

She was human again, naked and vulnerable, but she had control over her senses again.

Rakin hesitated, confusion washing over her.

She transformed back into a hound and jumped to her feet. Her cloak snapped out and grabbed his gauntleted wrist. Shoving it to the side, she chomped down on his arm and bit down with all her might. Her teeth scraped on an invisible field and her jaw snapped shut painfully on itself, biting her tongue.

"Nice try, but---"

Merrie spun around and kicked out with all her might, using magic to enhance her strength. Her feet caught him in the hip and the force threw Rakin across the room and into the bar at the back of the cafe. The wood shattered and hundreds of bottles and cans poured down over him.

Turning around, she raced over to Nir and sniffed. The girl was alive but sobbing in a pool of her own urine. The electricity no longer tore through her, but Merrie could see burns and cuts all over her body. Her mind was also cracked from her brief brush with violence and terror.

"No, no," cried the young girl.

Merrie started to ease Nir's mind with a spell, when Rakin's voice interrupted her.

"You don't get it, Merrie." Rakin stood up and brushed the splintered wood from his shoulders. It stuck to his body but he didn't look bothered. "I've been planning this for months. Natalie," he pointed to Nir as he said her given name, "is also part of those plans."

She snarled at him, her hackles rising along her neck.

Rakin stepped out from the bar. The dust and haze highlighted the protective magics around him, creating a shimmering field that surrounded his body. He stepped out from the ruined remains of the bar and chuckled.

Merrie stepped over Nir. She would never let Rakin take the girl away.

Rakin chuckled and brushed the dust from his shirt. "Ready to go? I have the perfect place for us. Quiet and shielded. There is no way any of your guardians from the guild will find us."

Merrie jerked at his words. She glanced around as she spread out her senses. She felt nearly hidden magic surrounding her. Her eyes focused on tiny runes inscribed on the floor. With a start, she began to see more of them. They covered the ceilings and walls.

Fear burned her senses. She had seen the runes before, back before she was a bitch or an alpha. They were on the fronts of the stores and on the streets, seconds before she was kidnapped and thrown into her new life. Teleportation magic glowed in the runes.

"Go on," Rakin said, "try to move to the Shadows. You'll find a surprise there."

Merrie wasn't intending to flee, but his words sent a prickle of fear. (Tamin, I think Rakin trapped the Shadows.)

(That would explain why it felt strange.)

(Be careful and don't step through.)

(Yes, Alpha.)

Rakin bellowed, "Trigger!"

The runes exploded into light. It spread out across the floor with blinding speed. The magic burned across her skin as she felt the teleportation spell gripping her. Even knowing the Shadows were trapped, she knew she could escape. But, she could never leave Nir behind; Rakin would just use her against Merrie.

Frantically, Merrie sent her cloak to Nir. The black fabric flowed down over the girl and wrapped around her, covering her from head to toe. It bunched up over Nir's leg, the closest part to Merrie.

As soon as it was in place, Merrie bit down on the nearest part. The taste of her cloak and fresh blood flooded her mouth. Fearful that she would hurt Nir, she braced herself and snapped her body around, throwing Nir through the window and out from the range of the teleportation magic.

Nir's wrapped body flew across the air and Merrie cringed, terrified to hear the body hitting the cobblestones.

Pain exploded across her senses. At first, she thought Rakin attacked her, but it came from Tamin. The hound was in the Shadows and he was burning. White flames seared at his skin as he sprinted down the street.

(Tamin!)

He didn't respond with anything besides determination as he punched back into the world and landed right underneath Nir as she sailed over him. With a surge of speed, he jumped and caught her by her arm. He felt a crunch which sent a shudder through Merrie, but he twisted in air to cradle Nir's body as they both crashed through the opposite side of the street.

(Is she---) Merrie's frantic projection was cut off as the teleportation spell swallowed her up and everything turned white.

Merrie hit the ground and the impact drove the air from her lungs. The momentum from the teleportation spell flipped her over and she slid along the ground, her body scraping along brick tiles. The sharp edges tore at her back and shoulders. Her tail kinked underneath her and sparks of pain exploded along her senses as the hairs were torn from their roots.

Crying out, Merrie could only flail her arms and legs as she continued to scrape along the floor. She hit the wall with a crunch, her limbs unable to stop her before she slammed face-first into sharp bricks. A metal bracket punched into her stomach, right above her belly button, and her body jerked violently from the pain.

"Pretty clever," said Rakin in a low voice, "saving the girl like that. Never thought you'd give up your only defense."

She could barely hear him over the ringing in her ears. Her broken ear was crushed underneath her head and she tried to lift her head to relieve the pain but accidentally scraped her forehead against the wall. She pushed back, wincing as the sharp edge dug into her. Her eyes were open, she knew that, but there was nothing but bright, painful light.

"A pity though. I was planning on breaking her at the same time."

Merrie's protectiveness for Nir rose up, cutting through her blind panic. She clung to it, trying to overcome the disorientation from the teleportation. She didn't remember being so confused the first time, but it was years ago since that fateful day on the street.

Gasping, she struggled to get on her wrists and knees. Each brick would have been the size of her hands when she had them. There was no wear on the corners and the room smelled freshly mortared. The sharp edges left deep gouges in her skin.

Rakin's boot caught her in the ribs, slamming her against the wall and flipping her over again.

She hit the wall again and, as she slid down, fresh cuts tore at her breasts and forehead. She could taste blood in her mouth from a thin cut on her lips.

"Stay down."

Merrie blinked. Her eyes refused to focus. It was too bright to see anything. She reached out with her mind, trying to find a shadow to wrap around her and shield her eyes, but she couldn't find any. She tried again, but there were no shadows anywhere near her. She froze as she tried again to find any comforting darkness. There was nothing but light around her, not in the gap between her legs or the tiny spaces in her hair.

She couldn't escape the brightness.

Merrie whimpered and blinked her eyes. Her vision came back into focus. The world had a strange, almost drawn appearance. Without shadows, everything was flat and garish.

"I planned on using her to keeping you in line." Rakin stepped into the center of the room and gestured to the room. "I was going to break both of you and maybe crop her, just to make my own little pack. A matched set." He made a little laugh noise in the back of his throat. "Though, she would be useless once she broke."

Merrie tried to clear her head by shaking it. When she stopped, everything continued to spin around her violently and she felt nausea gnawing at her gut. Her eyes focused enough for her to notice her surroundings. She was in a small brick room, about three meters by two. Someone had installed a metal door in the corner and she could see white runes inscribed in the surface but no handle. Scattered around the room were dozens upon dozens of metal rings. Each one had been mounted into the brick and chains dangled from a number of them.

The only furniture in the room was a single bed along the wall. She could see bolts fixing it into place. There was no pillow on it, nor were there any sheets or blankets. She knew it wasn't for sleeping and her stomach twisted with the realization that Rakin had planned on raping her and Nir.

She let out a soft gasp of relief. At least she saved Nir from Rakin.

"You killed her, you know."

Merrie jerked at his words. She lifted her head and focused on him.

"Natalie... well, she calls herself Nir now. Those men you killed? They were just a distraction to separate you from your dog and the fire mage. The real force was coming after we left, to make sure your little mage doesn't live long enough to tell the guild." He rubbed his hand against his gauntlet. "Pity that Natalie is going to die... along with that hound of yours."

Merrie gasped with fright. She had to check on Tamin and the others. She clung to the connection and reached out for it. (Tamin!)

But, it sounded like she was screaming into an empty room. There was no response, no wave of emotions.

A whimper rose up in her throat. She frowned and tried again, screaming down the connection to Tamin.

Nothing.

Desperate, she reached along it, feeling out the connection. The leash that bound them was thin and hazy. It shifted but she continued to trace it along until she hit a psychic shield. Surprised, she explored it for a moment. There was nothing but a smooth wall that prevented her from reaching out.

But, she was a shield breaker. She pulled back and slammed on it. It didn't crack. She spread out her senses, looking for some weakness in the shield.

Around her, the room flashed. Swirls of yellow blossomed around her, sparkling along the bricks. She pulled back from the shield, and the light faded. Fear pooled in her gut and she reached out for it, watching as the bricks glowed yellow around her.

"You'll find," she jerked at Rakin's calm words, "that I've planned this for some time. The shield around this room took a year to make and there no way you will ever break out of it from the inside." He sat down on the corner of the bed, it creaked under his weight. "Go ahead. Call your puppy."

Merrie kept her eyes locked on him as she pressed herself into the corner of the room. The sharp bricks were almost comforting as she reached out with her mind, slamming against the shield with all her might.

It didn't even budge or crack. She gathered up her fear and punched at it, crashing again and again, but she could sense no weakness.

Around her, the bricks flashed yellow with every surge of emotion. She could see it swirling around her, coloring the bricks before fading. She shivered and gathered up her power. The tiles underneath her glowed brighter, matching the intensity of the emotions boiling inside her.

With a flash, the energy turned to hatred as she regarded Rakin. The tiles below her shifted from yellow to red, boiling with curls reflected in the bricks. She lashed out at Rakin. The shifting red and yellow brightened in a spear that raced toward him.

"Stop!" His bellow slammed into her and she lost control of her attack.

Merrie jerked at his command, then let out a gasp as she felt the hated warmth growing along her skin.

Rakin surged from his bed and stormed toward her. "Down!"

She cried out and shook her head.

He grabbed her by the throat and shoved her down. "Down!" He yelled.

A heat suffused across her body, both hated and seductive. She craved to obey him and it took all her willpower not to plant her ass on the sharp bricks. A human growl vibrated in her throat and she lashed out with her arm.

He slammed her face into the ground. An explosion of white sparks burst across her vision and the glowing tiles scraped her cheeks.

Rakin knelt down next to her. "You're a bitch. You're my bitch now."

Merrie shook her head and jammed her arms underneath her to push herself up. Power rose up inside her, anger and hatred boiling into white-hot fury. The bricks glowed red underneath her and the light blinded her.

He growled and lifted her head to force her to look at him. Her hairs caught on his gauntlet and she could feel the metal scraping her scalp. "Beg."

Merrie lashed out with her mind.

"Beg!" He screamed as the world exploded into agony. Lighting tore through her senses, ripping down her body. Her attack barely crashed into his own shields before she succumbed to the agony. Before the brief connection shattered, she realized his shields were almost as good as the room's. It would take time for her to break them but she couldn't do it while he was ordering her.

The smell of burning hair suffocated her. Her body jerked violently and helplessly in his grip. She felt heat pooling between her legs, sending flares of helplessness and pleasure coursing through her veins.

He released her and she slumped to the ground.

Panting, Merrie tried to catch her breath. Her body jerked and she clutched at the bricks, the smooth ends of her arms barely able to catch the sharp ridges. Another jerk left scrapes along her naked breasts.

Rakin smiled. "I already planned this. You and me for the rest of your life. These bricks," he gestured to the room, "are just part of your training. They tell me what you're doing and when it is just a scan or an attack."

Merrie cried out and curled against herself. She felt trapped by the corner of the room, stuck between the sharp bricks and Rakin.

"Lesson one is simple: beg. You, bitch, will beg for my cock."

She shook her head. She would never submit to him.

He leaned over her and grabbed her by the hair. His bare fingers caught her hair and he pulled her head up. "Yes. You're a bitch. And you're mine."

Merrie lashed out, the power fueled by her fear and anger. She slammed against his shields and felt them crack.

"Beg!" His gauntlet slapped across her face with the full force of his strength. Her body slammed to the side and the bricks scraped her face.

Her attack, like before, dissipated in a flash of humiliating heat and pain.

"Alphas," Rakin said as he forced her to look at him, "can't resist commands. If you were bonded, this wouldn't work because you only acknowledge one master. But, I've been watching you. You have no one master, you have many. Anyone who barks a command, you obey. You have men who pay to fuck you---" His lip curled back in disgust. "---but no one knows how to properly dominate you. They don't understand how to truly force you to submit."

Merrie whimpered and shook her head. She knew where he was leading her thoughts. She shoved at his arm with her own severed limb, but she couldn't move him.

"I'm going to be your master, Merrie. I'll make you mine."

She hated the curl of heat rising inside her. She knew that Rakin could be a master for her, someone who knew what she needed and forced her to accept it. Part of her, the hungry part that smoldered deep inside, rose up with anticipation. She needed it with all her mind. With a cry, she shook her head.

Rakin chuckled. "I just saw your need, just for a flash. That hungry look, the dullness of something missing in your life. You missed it, don't you. You need to be dominated. You need to be ordered, don't you?"

Merrie shook her head again, tears starting to well up.

He pressed his gauntlet against her breasts. The metal was still hot and tingling. It sent little aches through her body and her nipple grew hard against the harsh metal.

"You need to be punished again?"

She shook her head again, a whimper noise rising up even as she felt a heat burning inside her.

His gauntleted fingers gripped her breasts, squeezing into the soft mound. It hurt, but the pain flowed into her pussy and the fires grew hotter. The smell of her excitement, sweet and delicate, rose up.

Merrie squirmed in discomfort and she felt her slick lips rubbing against each other. Her body trembled with fear and lust and she hated both responses.

"You were a bad girl," he said, "when you rejected me at the fair."

And then electricity burst out from his gauntlet. It burned into her breast and tore through her nerves. Her head cracked back against the wall but the pain was nothing compared to the sharp pain that dominated her thoughts.

It ended in a flash and she slumped forward. Between her legs, her sex throbbed with need and she began to sob.

"It turns you on, doesn't it? Knowing what I can do to you? What I'm going to do to you?"

Another burst of lighting slammed into her. She cried out before slumping forward. It was hard to breathe. Her breasts rose and fell, every movement cause her curves to glisten with sweat. She was painfully aware of how her tits pressed into the metal grip that tortured her. It excited and terrified her.

Rakin stroked her face with his bare hand. She wanted to jerk away, but she could only tilt away. "Kine should have never bought you."

Stunned, Merrie stared at him.

"You know I had him killed, right?"

Something snapped inside her. The bricks around her darkened into pitch black as she felt the despair and anger rise up from the depths of her soul. She welcomed it as the light around her dimmed and the energy filled her. The pool of darkness spread out as the power rose up.

Her master's body turned to shadow, roaring as it burned away. The ethereal smell turned into the burn of Shadows and she felt his soul being torn away, to be claimed by the Shadows he got his power.

The haunting memory slammed into her. It was the last sight she had of her master, but she knew it was far more than that. The Lord of Shadows had taken her master and fed upon it, gathering the darkness into itself until it split into two. Her master's soul was food for the Lord, sustenance for an entity she could never understand.

A spell rose up inside her, the elegant calligraphy that her master used once to kill a traitor. It was the summoning spell for the Lord of Shadows into the world. It was usable only once, but her master never knew why. Now, she understood the spell behind it. It was powerful enough to summon a creature almost as powerful as a god, but it came with a price. It would tie her to the Shadows forever and when she died, she wouldn't slump to the ground as a corpse but burn away to feed the Lord that waited.

Merrie was at a crossroads in her life. If she used the spell, it would kill the man who was about to rape her but doom her very soul. There would be no salvation, no freedom, no hope. Her soul would become food for the Lord of Shadows.

There was no choice.

The calligraphy of the forbidden spell began to draw across her thoughts, dredged from her master's memory with perfect clarity. Inside her, the energy and despair rose up, consuming her thoughts and filling her very being. Runes burned across her sight and she felt the Shadows beating on the outside of the shield, pounding to reach her.

Electricity slammed through her. "Down!"

Merrie strained to keep the spell in her mind. Darkness wrapped around her, shielding her from the sharp edge of pain, but the words almost crumbled. She let out a scream and continued the spell, her lips working silently as she mouthed each unspeakable world.

Fear flashed across Rakin's face and she felt his shields cracking from the inside. He pulled back and slapped her hard. "Down!"

The impact slammed her face into the brick and the words blurred but they remained in her mind. She growled and continued to inscribe them on her mind. She reached out for the darkness beyond the room's shields, slamming against the psychic field that prevented her from reaching the darkest power she could summon.

On the far side, barely felt through the shields, the Lord of Shadows tore at the room's protection. The unspeakable entity dug into it, cracking the outside and stripping off.

"Down!" Rakin slapped her again and then balled his hands into fists. As the electricity poured into her through his gauntlet, he slammed his fist into her jaw, pounding her into the brick. "Down, Bitch!" He continued to bellow orders at her as he beat her.

Merrie felt the spell cracking. She couldn't summon the Lord through the shields. She cried out and threw more of her anger and despair, the infinite hole in her soul reaching out for them.

A second Lord of Shadows began to claw at the shield, tearing through the protections. They would eventually destroy it, but Merrie wouldn't last with him beating her.

Each blow sent a flash through the spell. It made it hard to maintain the magic with the constant assault of agony and orders. Her body screamed to obey, the pleasure of submission blurring the despair that filled her. Lust and anger couldn't fill her at the same time. She needed only a few more seconds for the Lords to slaughter Rakin. Only a few more seconds before succumbing to the pleasure.

Rakin's hand wrapped around her neck. With a grunt, he stood up and hauled her off the ground. He slammed her into the wall. Her entire weight settled on her throat and she felt the tightness cutting off her breath.

Merrie opened her mouth in agony, desperately trying to keep focus. The Lords were almost to her. She would sacrifice her soul to kill Rakin, it was the only thing she could do. The final glyphs of the spell refuse to form in her head, they needed the Shadows to complete and there were no shadows in the room.

She had to survive.

He slammed his gauntleted hand up between her legs. She felt the metal fingers punch past her labia as he drove three fingers deep into her sex. The sharp edges of metal cut at her insides and she screamed. Blood or her juices, she didn't know which, dribbled down her thighs.

Another symbol darkened as power filled it. The two Lords were almost through the shields. She could feel the connection with Tamin grow stronger, not enough to reach for him, but the shadowy leash wavered right on the edge of her vision.

Rakin yelled at her, "Stop!"

Electricity burst out from the fingers embedded in her. Every muscle in her body clamped down on his fingers, catching the gauntlet deep inside her as lightening tore through her insides.

She screamed out in agony, desperate to keep the spell in her mind.

Rakin's shield cracked and she felt his thoughts press up against her own. It was nothing but rage and lust. He was thinking about raping her against the wall, forcing her into the sharp edges and filling her body with electricity as he slammed his cock deep into her pussy. It was hot and frantic and tinged in anger.

The pain rose up and, to Merrie's horror, it became pleasure. The suffocation and electricity mixed in with his thoughts of lust and the constant orders he bellowed out at her. The despair crumbled with the onslaught of pleasure and her killing spell faded from her mind. She let out a cry of frustration which quickly turned into a gasping moan.

Merrie's body jerked with the electricity still tearing through her, but it was the helpless shudders of orgasm that refused to bring the despair back. The tension left her body and she slumped against the wall, sobbing and panting.

He released her throat and she slid down the wall, the sharp edges leaving long scrapes down her back and buttocks. His fingers slipped from her pussy but he kept them pressed against her belly as he traced a slick, tingling line as she fell. She struck the floor on her knees just as his fingers were resting against her throat.

The collar was made of the purest adamantite, the strongest material mortal man could forge. The black metal reflected almost no light as he looked down at it. It was nestled inside a wooden box and held in place with black silk.

His gaze drifted up to the gap in almost perfect circle. Once place on, it would seal in place and become a ring that could never be removed again. He smiled as he caressed it, enjoying the slick feel to the masterfully crafted collar.

It would be perfect for that bitch, Sable.

Merrie gasped at the memory. It was hazy but polished, brought back to Rakin's thoughts year after year. But, it had faded and it was more of an idea than anything else. He had a new focus for his anger and lust. A bitch that wasn't protected by a fallen paladin and his allies. The collar was for someone new.

Her.

Rakin reached down and grabbed her hair. He pulled her up until she was barely on her knees.

She looked up at him, tears burning her eyes and the humiliation of her orgasm burning as brightly as the frustration. She had her chance to kill Rakin but failed. Even now, she could feel the Lords of Shadows pulling back, waiting for the time she would be free of the shield and willing to surrender her soul again.

"Beg," he ordered.

Merrie shook her head.

He slammed her head against the wall. "Beg!"

She came again, it was humiliating as she shuddered. She couldn't surrender to him, not now, not ever. But every order sent bolts of heat coursing through her body. A wet dripping echoed in the room and the smell of her pussy was strong. She knew it was blood and excitement splashing on the bricks, both hers.

"Beg for my cock."

Merrie wanted to crawl into a ball, just as much as she hungered to reach for it. The idea of submission brought back a flash of energy, a heat that filled her. She was an Alpha and she had to obey.

He released her again. This time, as she hit the ground, she remained kneeling in front of him. Her body shuddered with her thoughts. Looking down, she watched her sweat-slicked breasts rising and falling. Trickles of blood and sweat ran down her curves before splashing on the bricks below. Every little pain from the cuts and scratches were a brand on her skin, inflicted on her by Rakin.

"You're mine now, Merrie. You'll going to become my Alpha."

She panted and struggled with the sobs that rose in her throat. She craved his orders. She needed him but hated every ache for his cock and his command. She wished her other lovers and customers could have given it, but none of them had even gotten close to the brutality of his domination. The aches in the back of her head and shoulders reminded her that every passing moment was increasing the heat between her legs and quickening her breath.

"You will never leave me again."

She wanted to tell him off. She had already bonded, but he knew that. There was something about the collar, the way it kept rising in his thoughts and leaking through the cracks in his shields. He knew she had bonded but he still was going to claim her with the black ring.

Rakin pressed his gauntlet against her breast again, his fingers curling to catch the soft tit. Her nipple scraped against the metal and she felt the tingle caressing her nerves.

She tightened her body with anticipation, her pussy clamping down and her thighs squeezing tight. He was going to hurt her, punish her. He was going to keep hurting her until she couldn't resist anymore. And then he would claim her as his own. She didn't know how, she didn't know if it could happen, but his thoughts kept circling back. He was going to bond with her.

Merrie sobbed. The aching hole in her soul hurt. No matter how happy she was as a whore, it was still there. It would never go away. But, if she could bond again, would it remain or would he fill the hole? The idea of being complete was seductive and she ached to feel the closeness again.

She shook her head. She couldn't.

"Beg."

Merrie whimpered but her eyes drifted down. He was wearing trousers and she could see the bulge of his cock straining the buttons. She knew what it would look like. She had only sucked on it once, but it had burned itself in her mind. The compulsion spell when he removed the collar still haunted her thoughts.

"Beg, Merrie. Beg for my cock."

She let out a long shuddering breath. She started to lift her gaze up but then lowered back to his shaft. As she pictured his length, her pussy clamped down tighter and hot liquid dripped down her thighs. She needed his cock, to taste it, to feel it, to have it rammed into her.

He would dominate her.

Electricity drove through her, tearing along her senses. She screamed out, both in orgasm and in pain.

"Beg."

Another bolt slammed into her, searing the skin. She jerked violently, but her body crashed against his hand, grinding her hard nipples against the source of her pain. She felt the energy coursing from his fingers as it poured into her.

She cried out and came again, the pain turning into pleasure.

"Beg!"

A thousand fantasies slammed into her, the million things he was going to do to her: bolt her to the floor, fuck every hole she had, make her beg for every orgasm. Each one crashed into her and she was gasping under the onslaught.

Pleasure and pain swirled together into another orgasm. It gathered inside her until it was black hole of ecstasy.

She screamed as she orgasmed and the entire room lit up brightly. Bricks ignited into a pale pink as her orgasm grew too much for her and it exploded out from her.

The ripples crashed into the shield and reflected back. It slammed into her and she was throw into another orgasm. It quickly reached a crescendo and exploded from her again. The shield held and the pleasure was reflected back into her, inflicting another orgasm, and then another. Her body grew slick with heat as she cried out from the pleasure, hating every moment as she was assaulted by her own pleasures.

Merrie slumped to the ground, gasping for breath. She could see the flickers of power along the bricks but she couldn't gather energy. It was hard to think through the pleasure, hard to concentrate when all she wanted was another orgasm. Her mind and body ached for it, screamed for him to electrocute her again and demand she beg.

"Beg for my cock, bitch."

She shivered at the command. She wanted to resist but it was too much. Sobbing, she pushed herself back to her knees. Her weight settled down on the sharp edges but she forced her legs apart until she felt her heated slick labia peeled apart and the warm air caressing her clitoris and sex.

Rakin's lust washed over her. His fantasies pummeled her, each one switching in time with his rapid breathing.

But, as much as she feared it, she couldn't say no. Tears ran down her cheeks as she brought her wrists up to her neck and straightened her back. Her breasts heaved as she arched forward. The sight of the scorch mark on her tit pushed her over and she closed her eyes.

Rakin exhaled and moaned. "That's a good girl. Beg. I want to hear that bark."

Merrie sniffed as she settled into place. It felt good to be submissive and she could feel the throb of her body filling her. Even for a man she despised and feared, she could feel the heady rush flowing through her veins. It was a drug, but she hadn't felt the intensity since her time in Blood County.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her gaze into his eyes.

She barked.

Rakin smiled and ran his hand through his gray hair. "Good girl. Again."

The second time she barked, it was easier. She was submitting and she almost came as she felt the next order rising up in his mind.

"Beg."

It was the same command but she still clenched and barked loudly. As the sound of her voice echoed against the small room, she felt the heat rising up.

"Beg for my cock."

She barked and leaned her head forward, brushing her face against his pants. She could feel his hardness through his trousers. It was thick and hot against her face. She buried her face into the opening and breathed in, drinking in the masculine scent.

Her pussy clenched at the scent of it. She ached to pull it out and suck on it. She still remembered how it filled her mouth, the warmth and the heat. It was like the night behind the stage at the fair.

With one last shuddering breath, she opened her mouth and tilted her head back.

Rakin panted as he stared down at her, his entire body trembling. She could feel the anticipation and heat rolling off him. With a grunt, he reached down and unbuttoned his pants. Twisted his hips, he worked his cock out and held it to her.

It was still the thick, long member she remembered. Nothing like a thriban's cock but still large. The end was an angry red and it drooled with his excitement.

Merrie leaned forward and rested her lips on the rounded tip. It was hard and swollen in her mouth. It jumped and pulsed on her lips.

"Good girl."

She shivered at the remembered pleasure that came from the words. She parted her lips and pushed down, taking him into her mouth. Even though she had sucked countless cocks since she had became a whore, there was an intensity as she worked her lips down, exploring every millimeter of his length.

He was going to be her master.

She closed her eyes tightly in denial. Her body craved it, but she hated the idea of Rakin being her master. She pushed her mouth down until her lips sealed around the ridge of his glans. His hardness was musky and salty. It tickled her through as he leaked precum against her tongue and cheeks.

"Suck it."

Clenching her legs for balance, Merrie added suction as she bobbed up and down, moving only a centimeter with each stroke. The precum coated her mouth as she drank him in. She caressed the hole of his shaft with the tip of her tongue and drew more of the stick fluid down her throat.

She knew when he wanted more, but didn't move. She had to hear the words, to submit instead of taking charge. The passing seconds of need and his thoughts as he swam between pleasure and the need to move added to her pleasure. She didn't need to touch herself to feel the curls of an orgasm rising up.

He grunted before he gave the order she already knew. "More. Take in more."

Merrie obeyed with a rush. Keeping her lips tight along his veined shaft, she pushed herself down until the tip of his cock slid along the top of her mouth and toward the back of her throat. It was hot in her mouth and her cheeks puffed out from his girth.

As soon as it bumped against the back of her throat, she pulled back and pushed down. She traced out each bump of his swollen veins and the ridges of his skin with her lips and tongue, exploring the cock of the man dominating her.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed harder on his cock until the tip was lodged against the back of her throat. With a moan, she relaxed and pulled it in further. Working slowly, she took her time to swallow his cock. Millimeter by millimeter it eased into her throat. She could feel it stretching her out and blocking her breath, but she knew what he needed.

Wiggling back and forth, she forced herself down until she was face-first into the thick gray patch of pubic hair and his cock was stuffed deep inside her. The feeling of being filled sent her over the edge and she came quickly.

Holding it as long as she could, she pulled back. She left his cock glistening with her saliva.

"Back in, I want to feel your throat."

She reversed her direction and shoved back down, swallowing his length until she was suffocating on his cock once again.

"Hold it there," he ordered. His gauntleted hand rested on her head. It was heavy and held her in place.

Her lungs began to burn with the need to breathe. Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to remain still. But, even as she did, her body was trembling with hunger. Heat and pleasure coursed along her senses, building up to an orgasm as she suffocated on his length.

Rakin grabbed her head with both hands. With a grunt, he pulled his cock out and slammed it back home. The impact drove her into the wall but he yanked her back on his cock, ramming himself back in. His cock swelled in her throat and her eyes watered at the discomfort.

"Fuck!" he bellowed as he rammed her face, fucking her with hard, brutal strokes. The wet slurp of saliva and precum flooded her mouth and poured down her chin. She could feel sheets of it coating her breasts and splashing down to the bricks below.

His fingers dug into her head as he continued to fuck her face. Even though she could feel the lust boiling inside him, he continued to drive hard and long. Each stroke ripped her throat open and filled her to the brim, but he drew back and pounded it back in.

The wet smacks echoed in the room. She could barely hear them over the pounded in her ears, but she could feel each thrust as it forced her mouth open and his balls smacked her chin.

His emotions slammed into him as they leaked from behind his shields. It blinded her with his intensity. There was the familiar lust but it was the rage that tore at her mind. It battered her from the inside, like a storm about to explode inside her body. She tried to shield herself against it, but it continued to batter at her mind.

Desperate, Merrie reached into his shields. With Jacir, she could tap his anger until there was nothing left to rage. But, when she eased past his cracked shields, she didn't see an end to Rakin's hatred. It fueled his life and his thoughts. His magic was tied to it intimately, just as hers came from pleasure or despair.

Every time he slammed his cock home and drove her head into the wall, he was thinking about her rejecting him. Every time he squeezed her skull to keep her place, he was thinking about fucking her mouth, pussy, or even more brutal openings. The thoughts were sickening, but there was no end to them. Each slam of his cock brought more fantasies, each one more terrifying than the one before. There was no end to them, no bottom to his hatred. It was a storm that rivaled the endless pit of despair inside her.

It scared her to see into Rakin's thoughts. It was like looking into the eye of a god and realizing there was no way she could ever survive its rage. No matter how much she rose up against him, he would meet it with anger and hatred.

And it was all focused on her. Years ago, Rakin raged against Bass and Sable, but in the last few years, Merrie had become his obsession. She could feel the endless ways he imagined her torture. Everything he did was to get her. The fair didn't matter anymore. Losing his county didn't matter. All that Rakin cared about was Merrie.

It humbled her and scared her. No matter how much she rose up with despair, he would match it with hatred. He would dominate her until the day she died. There would be no end to her tortures or punishment. He would rape and beat her until the breath escaped her body. She would die underneath his rage and there was nothing she could do to stop him.

Her orgasm tore through her. She was helpless against the pleasure and screamed around his cock. Her entire body spasmed and she scraped her knees against the bricks, but it was nothing to the pleasure that pounded in her veins and the cock driving into her throat.

Rakin groaned and his thrusts grew more powerful. Each one threatened to crack her head against the wall or break her teeth. He drove deep into her mouth, punching her throat, and shoving deep. Her tongue and lips strained against his length, caressing but there was no time to enjoy it. It was just hard, ceaseless pounding.

His cock swelled with an orgasm boiling inside him. It cracked his shields and his lust slammed into her.

Trembling with need, she delved into his thoughts and found what he needed. She knew exactly how long he was going to last. She knew where to touch him to send him over the edge and how to hold him back. She would give him the best orgasm she could, it was the only way she could truly submit.

Breaking her position, she reached out and caressed his thighs.

Rakin froze, his cock swelling, but then resumed his brutal pounding. His cock drove deep into her mouth, bruising her lips, nose, and chin as he held her place with a tight grip.

Merrie curled one arm around his leg and pulled him close. She rolled his balls with the tip of her arm. She could feel the moment he realized what she was doing and his focus grew on the sensations of her sweat-slicked breasts against his thigh. The knowledge she was using her severed wrist to stroke him pushed him into an orgasm.

He let out a bellow as he came. Shaking, he yanked his cock from her mouth and splattered cum against her face. Each strand was a burning brand against her skin. One caught her eye and she closed it before it could burn, but more painted against her throat, chest, and hair. It kept coming, surge after surge. It gathered and rolled down her body, splashing to the ground with wet slurps.

Merrie opened her mouth and drank in the splatters that whipped across her face. His cum was salty and thick. It slid down her throat in wet globs and she gulped to clear her mouth.

"Good girl."

She shivered with pleasure at the hated words. She despised the man but she craved the effect. With a gasp, she licked her lips and opened her mouth. She was blind with cum coating her eyelids, but she knew intimately where his cock was aimed.

Rakin stepped forward and eased his thick cock into her mouth. "Lick your new master clean, bitch."

Merrie clamped her lips on his cock and sucked him clean. She drank and lapped at his shaft until it was soft. With a moan, she tilted her head so she could clean each of his balls, lapping at the strands of cum until he glistened.

Stepping back, he panted for breath. "That," he gulped, "was a good lesson. And you learned it well. Good girl, Merrie."

She closed her eyes as she shivered with pleasure.

The lust was gone, but she could still feel the anger radiating from him. His shield had cracked even further from him orgasm and a memory drifted across her mind.

"Are you sure about this?" asked the artificer. "I know you've asked for enchantments that were less than legal, but this is something that will send us both to Abbinkey for the rest of our lives."

Rakin looked up. "Don't worry about that." He already had the assassin paid to ensure the artificer would never tell anyone. "But, are you sure it will work?"

"Yes," gulped the older man, his face pale. "Once the collar is put on, it will create a telepathic bond between whoever is wearing the collar and whatever is considered the owner. Though I don't understand the identification spells. The target spell is frightening precise. This will only work for this woman named Merrie Rosari Golddother." The artificer caught Rakin glaring at him and looked away. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

If the man wasn't already scheduled to die, Rakin would have ordered it. He fought down his annoyance and kept his voice even. "And the compulsion?"

"Whoever wears that collar won't be able to resist unless they take it off. The power of the compulsion is on par with the Dyfon Murdaski Geas. And," the man sighed uncomfortably, "that makes the spell illegal for use by anyone without a royal decree."

Rakin smiled broadly as his cock twitched. He knew that all Alphas were vulnerable to compulsions and a powerful geas would have a far stronger effect than even the artificer could imagine. "And the compulsion trigger?"

"The simple command you gave me: obey the collar's owner. It is simple but very powerful. She, um, the target of the spell will not be able to do anything else."

Rakin pulled his trousers up and stepped away from her. His mind was fixated on a single thought: to get the adamantite collar and put it on her. It used to be a fantasy and a dream, something to obsessively plan in preparation, but it was now a reality. He turned and headed for the door.

Merrie watched him heading for the door with growing dread. She still was humiliated by submitting to his commands, but she hoped that she could have said no. She was seconds away from being able to summon the Lord to kill him. If she had another chance, she would do it again.

The collar would take away any choice from her. She would become nothing more than a slave, telepathically ordered and commanded by his every will. Her body grew hot at the idea of being helplessly unable to resist his commands, to be dominated by every thought that raged through his body.

Part of her craved it as much as she knew she had to fight. Her mind and heart warred with each other. It would be too easy to let him collar her, to seal her fate forever. It would be as close to bonding again as she could ever experience. Maybe, just maybe it would fill in the hole in her heart.

She tore her thoughts away. She couldn't surrender to Rakin. He had killed her master and destroyed her life. He was the reason she had the hole in her soul and it was his own plans that put Scorch's, Nir's, and Tamin's lives at risk. She closed her eyes and bore down on her thoughts. She couldn't let him collar her. Not now, not ever.

She opened her eyes. She had to stop him from leaving the room. If he left, he would come back with the collar and his mental shield would be recovered. With a whimper, she reached out with her mind and slipped into the cracks of his shield. His rage consumed his thoughts, but there was still a small amount of lust in his mind. Bearing down, she sent a pulse of ecstasy toward him.

Rakin froze, his hand centimeters away from the door. She felt the pleasure rising inside him, the need to fuck drifting through the red-haze of his anger. His cock rose to full mast.

He lowered his head to look down at the bricks. The yellow and red colors swirled around him, gathering at his feet. More of the bricks underneath her were glowing as she sent another wave of lust after him, drawing him back.

"Nice try." His shields slammed down on her thoughts and she jerked at the abrupt surge that came back. She looked over his mental shields, they were still cracked and she could penetrate them, but he had too much control over his own base lust after such an intense orgasm.

"Don't worry. Tomorrow, I have a present for you." He smiled at her. "You're going to like it... one way or the other."

Even if she hadn't made the choice, the tone in his voice pushed her over the edge.

"Trust me. It is something that should have been given to you years ago. If your old master wasn't an idiot and knew what treasure he bought, he would have done it. But then," he smiled as he turned back, "you would have died with him. I guess I should be thankful for small favors, but I should have killed him the day he bought you."

Rage filled her. He killed her master and everyone else she loved. She took a deep breath and gathered up her emotions. The bricks underneath her glowed a brilliant yellow and red as she compressed the despair, helplessness, and rage into a single point of intense power. She felt it tearing at the hole in her soul, trying to invoke it into rising, but the afterglow kept her ultimate source of power sealed away.

Frustrated and desperate, she tried to figure out some other way of keeping him in. She already knew she couldn't stop him physically. With her amputated hands and feet, she was helpless against his gauntlet and magic.

That left only one thing: his anger. Cringing in fear, she took a deep breath and gathered up her emotions. The bricks around her glowed yellow as she pulled in the despair and helplessness, the anger and rage. She pulled in as much emotions until they threatened to burst out of her mind. She continued to compress the thoughts until they were reduced down to a singularity that could kill a mortal man.

She lashed out with her mind, throwing all of her gathered emotions into him. As she did, she forced it into a single pulse of intense anger and hatred. It slammed against his shields and punched through the cracks. Inside his mind, it exploded into the one emotion that dominated Rakin's life.

He stopped with his hand to the door. Slowly, he closed his hand into a fist and his gauntlet creaked. Around him, the bricks glowed with red and yellow from her psychic attack.

Rakin turned on her, his eyes glowing with anger. Without a word, he stormed over to Merrie and grabbed her by the throat. His fingernails dug into her neck as he hauled her off the ground. With a grunt, he threw her across the room and onto the bed.

"You do not attack me! I'm your master!" he bellowed. His voice echoed loudly against the walls of the cell. His eyes were almost blank, lost in the insanity of hate. His mind ran through endless fantasies, none of them gentle and all of them painful. She saw herself being skull-fucked and being amputated down to her shoulders. His fantasies had her burned alive, torn open, and simply broken until she screamed. They came at a dizzying rate and her own shields cracked from the fury.

She was afraid for her life. She succeeded in keeping him in the room, but now her life was in danger. Merrie pushed out to stop him, like she did for Jacir, but the endless rage crushed her attempts to slow him.

Rakin yanked open his trousers and revealed his swollen cock. The lust that burned in his mind from her first attempt kept him hard as he crawled on the edge of the bed.

Merrie hated how her body grew wet with anticipation. When he dug his hands into her hips, she cried out as she felt his nails digging into the joint.

He yanked her closer and she slid along the mattress. Her legs opened automatically, exposing her slick sex to his cock. He buried himself in a single stroke, burying balls-deep. His shaft was harder than she had ever felt it before and it slammed against her cervix. The impact sent a bolt of pain through her body and she was hit by the intensity of his penetration.

"You are mine!" Rakin's face mottled with anger and he pulled out enough to slam into her. The force of the impact shoved her forward, slamming her head against the wall behind her. "Mine!"

His body drove into her, filling her to the brim. As he withdrew, his cock pulsed and scraped against her inner walls. "You. Never. Disobey!"

He punched his cock back into her, slamming her hard enough that she struck the wall next to the bed. She tried to brace herself, but he was already pulling out his cock. It withdrew with a wet slurp noise and she tensed as she prepared for his next blow.

"Mine!" He bellowed and she was jammed against the wall again.

Rakin grabbed her throat with his gauntlet. Before the fingers had clamped down on her delicate neck, the electricity shot through her body. It tore through her body and every muscle tightened painfully. Her pussy clamped down on his cock, adding to the friction, but he continued to tear into her. Each thrust into her clenching cunt left her screaming in agony as he buried to her cervix with every blow.

The electricity didn't stop or slow him, but she was in agony and ecstasy as he raped her against the wall. Arcs of lighting stretched out across the bed and along the walls. It blinded her and left her vision blur as the smell of sex and burning filled the air.

"Mine! You are fucking mine, bitch! Forever!"

Merrie tried to cry out, but the grip on her throat was suffocating her. She felt centimeters away from having her throat crushed. She was about to die because she set off Rakin's anger.

In her mind, it was a storm around her, red-hot and agonizing. It tore at her shields, stripping them away and forcing her to experience the fantasies that slammed into her with the same intensity as his brutal thrusting.

Through all the pain and agony, her helplessness was turning it to pleasure. She could feel an orgasm rushing up and pouring through her veins. She fought against it, desperate not to come as he pounded her body. Each thrust drove her into the wall and her arms were useless to keep her from hitting her head. Blood splattered in the air from the impact against the wall, they were mere scratches compared to the brutality he was taking her.

Rakin's face grew mottled as he slammed into her. He was about to come but it was difficult through the rage. His hips slammed into her, forcing her legs apart. Each punch of his body crushed her labia and clitoris. Deep inside, at the entrance of her womb, his cock head slammed into her with more pain. But, despite the electricity tightening her muscles, she could feel every ridge and every bump in his swollen shaft.

He didn't stop or slow. He wanted to cum but he couldn't stop fucking her hard. Minutes passed but it felt like hours. He never slowed, never stopped. Not even Bass had Rakin's stamina or ferocity as he drove into her.

And then, in a small gap where the rage subsided for a mere stroke, his body took over and he came. It was a hot explosion deep inside her. His rapid strokes pumped it in and out, splattering her thighs with his seed.

"Fuck!" he screamed, his face purple with anger. He slammed into her hard. Once. Twice. And then the third time he crushed her against the wall as the last of his orgasm left his body.

Gasping, Rakin released her throat. His fingers creaked as he forced each one apart and pulled back. The smell of burning hair and blood and cum filled the air. He shuddered as he withdrew his cock, still hard and dripping, and staggered back.

His chest rose and fell with his gasps. Each one a ragged sound of exhaustion. "Never... do that again."

Merrie shivered at the anger that washed over her. But, her orgasms had given her strength and power. She felt it singing in her veins, liquid ecstasy that soothed the aches and pains that assaulted her body.

He backed away and turned to the door. He didn't bother shoving his cock back in his pants. "T-Tomorrow, we'll continue."

She watched him for a moment and then gathered her emotions again. It was going to hurt but she couldn't let him leave. With a whimper, she threw anger at him once again, penetrating his shields and setting off the hatred that boiled inside him.

Rakin stopped. The sound of his gauntlet creaking filled the air as he formed fists again. When he turned around, his eyes were once again glazed with rage. "I," he gasped, "am your master!"

Merrie woke up in agony. She ached from head to ankle, and everywhere between. With a gasp, she tried to curl up, but every muscle screamed out in agony and she slumped back. As she slid along the mattress, dried cum and blood scraped against the countless scratches that covered her body.

A sob tore out of her, but it only came out as a gasping wheeze. She inhaled and winced at the ache in her ribs and the scrape of air against her bruised throat. She exhaled and the pain of simply breathing brought tears to her eyes.

She hurt more than she thought possible. Rakin had used his fists and palms as much as his cock as he raped her. He impaled her ass while shoving her against the bricks. He forced her throat down on the edge of the bed as he pounded her into the bars. She had repeatedly triggered his rage and he took it out on her without mercy. Every time he tried to leave, she forced him to attack and rape her again.

Her pussy and ass burned. She tightened her muscles but gasped as she felt a sharp pain shooting up her spine. It felt like she had been impaled on a sword. Every twitch and pulse of her body ignited more pain. She parted her lips to cry out, painfully aware of how he bruised her mouth with his cruel pounding.

Trembling, she forced her eyes open. Her elbows brushed against her skin and she jerked at the discomfort. She reached up and wiped the dried cum from her face, gasping softly at the rawness around her eyes and cheeks. Globs of semen ran down her face and she rubbed it off before looking around blearily.

The room remained bright and painful, but her eyes had grown accustomed the lack of shadows. Dried blood stained the walls as did his cum. As she focused on them, the memories of how Rakin painted the walls with her body slammed into her.

It took her a second to realize that she didn't see Rakin. Gasping, she sat up with a cry and bit back the scream of agony from moving. She had failed and he left. She shook her head as fresh tears came. He was going to come back with the collar and she would become his slave forever.

She tried to get on her knees, but her legs failed her and she slammed back down on the mattress with a thud. The impact crushed her aching breasts between her body. When she lifted herself from the mattress, there were marks of fresh blood on the stained mattress.

Merrie reached out with her mind, knowing that she couldn't break through the shields. She was desperate to try though, to find some way of finding out if Rakin was coming back with the collar. To her surprise, she caught Rakin's thoughts still in the room.

Her breath coming faster with hope, she crawled toward the edge of the bed. Peeking over the edge, she saw him leaning against the side. His head was slumped back as he stared at the ceiling. His gauntlet was off and his left hand rested on his chest. It was pale with deep scars and burns. In one spot, she could see where a combat spell had melted the muscle inside his arm, leaving nothing but skin wrapped tightly around his bone.

Underneath his arm, his chest rose and fell with ragged gasps. Like her, he struggled to breathe. She knew the scars on his body intimately, they were burned into her mind from hours of fucking, but there were fresh ones on his knuckles, wrists, and knees from where he had mounted her against the bricks.

She inched further over the edge and looked below his arms. His cock was limp against his leg. It was thick and swollen. The veins continued to throb and the entire thing was an angry red. The scent of her pussy rose up from his body and his length glistened with drying juices.

Merrie let out a sigh of relief. She hadn't failed. She glanced up at the door and back down. He was still in the room and she wasn't collared.

She started to gather up energy to force him to fuck her again. The energy sputtered with the dread of being beaten. She couldn't take anymore; he had finally broken her. Her body hurt from the inside, every centimeter and every part. She looked at the bruises along her arms and the scratches the bricks left on her body. She looked like she had been in a war, but her opponent was just as exhausted as she was.

Everything burned but knowing that she prevented him from leaving gave her energy. She shuddered as she tilted herself to the side. The mattress peeled away from her body, ripping the impromptu glue of blood and cum from her skin. She reached down along her bruised and burned breasts to her sex. She wasn't surprise that she was soaked---she was an Alpha---but the skin had gotten so sensitive that even her touch brought a flash of pain. It felt like she had just finished a marathon fuck of a hundred thribans. Her nether lips were hot and painful, but gave no resistance as the tip of her arm slid into them. Pain and pleasure rose up, searing her senses and quickening her breath.

Rakin struggled to his feet with a groan. He swayed for a moment, then headed for the door. "I-I need to go." His voice cracked with his exhaustion. (I need to get out away from her.)

She shivered at his thoughts. They burned against his skin, flickering with heat and rage but sluggish with the hours of beating and fucking her. His shields had been shattered by her constant provoking. She knew his memories and thoughts as intimately as her master's, a thought that terrified her and brought a fresh surge of power.

She kept her arms between her legs as she looked up at him. Burrowing into her mind, she gathered up her fear and compressed it into a bolt of anger. With a gasp, she forced it into him. It exploded into a storm of anger, setting off the familiar rage.

Rakin stopped and his hands balled into fists. But then he shook his head. "N-No," he growl, "Not again. We're done."

Merrie jerked at the word. She straightened up and watched him with confusion. He had never resisted his own anger before. She watched as the energy crackling inside him sputtered; he was denying his very nature and source of his power.

Shuddering, he stepped forward again. His hand shook as he reached for the door.

She gathered up all the anger and despair she could, dredging the depths of her being. The strength of her emotion was pathetic, not even a hundredth of what she could do, but it was all she had remaining inside her broke mind.

Anger blossomed inside his mind, fueling the ever-present hatred. She felt energy crackling in the air as he spun around. But, as he turned, he staggered to the side before he could stop his movement. "No!"

At the sight of him, she gasped. There were dark shadows underneath his eyes. His body was pale and drawn. Even standing up, he was struggling to remain upright.

Curious, she reached out into his mind. She expected to see a storm of hatred and anger raging in his thoughts. But, even with her own magic pushing him to his limits, most of the fervor had dissipated. He was still angry, it fueled every action and every thought, but she had driven him into exhaustion. His stamina had been tapped and he was barely conscious. The only thing keeping him standing was his anger and the need to own her at all costs.

"No more." He gasped. "I'm leaving now, bitch."

He turned to open the door. His hand stretched out toward the middle and the runes flickered to life.

Merrie tried to send another bolt of anger, but her spell fizzled out. She had nothing left. She didn't know how many hours he raped her, but she had failed. Despair rose up inside her, turning the bricks around her black. She waited for the pleasure to destroy the darkness, but only pain cut through her body.

Rakin's palm struck the door. The runes flared and then died. With a groan, he planted his other hand on the door frame and tried again. The runes flickered and faded. With a groan, he slumped against the door. "Damn the gods."

Her ears perked up as she watched him. It was the only part of her that was merely in pain instead of agony.

Rakin turned around and leaned against the door. "How did you do it? I don't even have enough to open the damned door." He groaned and pushed himself away from the door. Inside his mind, the anger began to rise up again and she watched magic coursing along his body. "Is that what you want? To keep me in here with you?"

His bare feet smacked on the bricks. He lurched forward and caught himself. When he looked up with bloodshot eyes, there was a flicker of the anger that drove him. "Why? What are you doing?"

Merrie gulped to ease the tightness in her throat, but it felt like sand scraping down to her stomach. She shook as she forced herself on her knees and spread her legs. It was agony to settle down, but she didn't stop until her wrists returned to her collarbone and she opened her mouth.

Her bark was more of a gasp, but it was loud in the tiny brick room.

He shook his head. "No. No more fucking, no more begging." He wheezed as he took a deep breath. "No more beating and no more punishments." Rakin's voice was dull and listless. His eyes drooped as he leaned back against the door.

Merrie stared at him and he stared back at her. Every part of her body ached, but she was still conscious. She could feel his anger, but the flames of hatred were banked with exhaustion.

The idea of being tortured sickened her, but she realized they were both almost to the point of cracking. If she broke, she would become his slave forever. If he did, she... she didn't know what would happen. The only thing she knew was that if he left the room, she would also become his slave. Every path but one ended in the same place, an eternity of torment.

She dropped to the bed and crawled off it. Her legs didn't quite move, but she pulled herself onto the bricks. As her weight shoved her into the sharpness, she shuddered but lifted her gaze to the man who raped her.

"What are you doing?"

Merrie crawled toward him, her left arm barely able to handle her weight. It was agony with the bricks scraping her knees and her exhaustion dragging her down. Even her tail hung down against her buttocks, the hair scraping against her sensitive pussy and thighs.

"Stop," Rakin said. His face grew pale as she crawled toward him. She felt fear around her as he stood up straighter.

She almost gave up and dropped to the ground, but somehow she managed to crawl in front of him. Settling down, she forced her knees apart. Scabs tore open as she settled down and looked up at him. With a gasping bark, she brought her wrists up and begged again.

"N-No." He said, his voice cracking. When she didn't move, he lifted his hand. It came down, slapping her across the face. The agony was intense against her other injuries.

She sobbed from the pain and slumped to the side. His blow opened cuts in her face. Droplets of blood splattered down on the bricks. It sank down into the mortar. She fought against the pain and her desire to crawl into a ball. With a whimper, she got back into a begging position.

(Not again!) He slapped her again, throwing his entire weight into the blow. As she was slammed into ground, he dropped to his knees. She felt the pain bursting across his thoughts, it provoked his own anger. (I have to get away from her. I have to leave!)

Rakin staggered back to his feet, his hand dripping with blood. As he straightened up, he was shaking violently. He looked down at her with glazed eyes and shook his head. "S-Stay."

Merrie cringed, waiting for the rush of the command but it never came. She inhaled sharply and looked up at him. He couldn't dominate her, not with his exhaustion.

Rakin's eyes opened wider. "D-Down."

There was no rush to obey, no thrill of submission. She forced herself back to her knees and barked.

He slapped her. The blow left stars across her vision but she remained on her knees. She cringed at the burning on her cheek and the drip of blood running down her breasts. Tensing up, she took a deep breath and barked again. She reached down inside her, to the very core of her being. It was the liquid sexuality that fueled her soul. It was the very nature of her submission and lust. Pulling on it, she brought it up in her mind and let it radiate from her body.

Rakin's cock twitched and he groaned in pain. Shaking hands came down to cover his length and he shook his head violently. "No!" He glared down at her. "Don't you dare."

Merrie arched her back, lifting her bruised and battered breasts closer. Her nipples grew harder with the idea of submission and the anticipation of him beating her once again. No matter what happened, she couldn't give up. Even if her insides were torn open and she was bleeding to death.

Rakin exhaled, a gasping noise that threatened to turn into a growl. Even though he was exhausted, she could feel him pulling on his own core of power, the source of his magic and his endless hatred.

She didn't know which one would survive, her lust or his anger, but she had nothing left to lose. Gulping at her dry throat, she nuzzled his fingers with her nose. As their skin touched, she sent a bolt of lust searing through his senses.

He froze as pain blossomed from his responding cock. It raised his anger and power flowed through him. "I said stop!" He yanked his hand from his crotch and backhanded her.

The world exploded into sharp agony as she was thrown across the room. The remnants of his strength spell flared along the bricks behind him. The energy was golden streaked with red. Merrie cried out as she forced herself off the wall, ignoring the fresh trickle of blood that poured down the side of her head.

"Stop!"

She shuddered at the command, a flicker of lust rising up. She clung to it as she got back into a begging position. As soon as she brought her wrists up, she barked and sent out a pulse of exhausted lust.

Rakin stormed over, his hand rising up. Magic coursed along his body as golden red flames rose up. The heat burned against her skin and she recognized the patterns of a strength spell. Along with it was the insanity of his rage, the self control shattering with his exhaustion.

Merrie's breath caught in her throat. He wasn't pulling back his blow and she was barely able to stand, much less resist another strike.

The world slowed down as he came down, the magic blinding her.

Something snapped inside her. The despair rose up and she was moving before her mind recognized the reaction.

With speed she didn't knew she had, she leaned forward and bit his cock with all her flagging strength. It wasn't a solid bite and she missed the veins, but a flood of blood splattered against the back of her throat.

The response was immediate. Rakin stumbled back and lost his balance. With a scream, he crashed into the floor. His eyes glowed red as he surged back to his feet. "You bitch!"

A second later, he slammed her into the wall again. The bricks tore at her face and body as she slid down. Before she hit the ground, he grabbed her hair and threw her across the room again.

Merrie's body crunched against the wall and she plummeted to the ground. The impact drove the air out of her lungs. Gaping for air, she watched as Rakin sprint across the room after her. His entire body glowed with magic, the flames licking the air and smoke rising up from him.

As he knelt down to grab her by her breast, she snapped out and bit down on his arm. Her teeth pierced flesh as she bore all of her strength into hurting him.

Rakin snarled and jammed his hands into her chest. His fingers burned her skin as he yanked her up by her tit and pulled her up. Throwing her against the wall, he grabbed her head and slammed her face-first into the wall.

Merrie's scream was interrupted by the crunch of her nose. She flailed at the wall but Rakin yanked her back. With a grunt, he slammed her forward again.

As the bricks rushed toward her, Merrie dug into her soul and used the growing fear for a domination spell. The runes exploded across her vision and then burst out from her mind.

The psionic spell tore apart Rakin's ragged shields and plunged into his mind. He stopped with her bleeding nose millimeters from the sharp brick wall. His entire body shook with the effort to crush her.

"N-No," he growled and the anger rose up. It tore at her spell, breaking it apart.

Merrie dug deeper, pulling on the dark cloud of despair and fear that filled her. It came from the hole in her soul but it was power. The bricks in front of her turned black as she reinforced her spell.

Rakin snarled, his body trembling as he strained to crush her against the wall. His anger boiled out of his mind. It burned her own thoughts as the bricks in front of them swirled from black to red.

She fought back, pumping more of herself into the spell until the world lost its color and the painfully familiar despair coursed through her veins. There was no pleasure to dissipate the despair.

Her emotions slammed into Rakin's endless rage. The room became a storm of black and red as both of them threw themselves into the spell.

(I will not lose to her!) His thoughts were a brand against her mind. He was as clear as any other submissive; his dominance over her had been broken.

Merrie retreated deeper into her mind. She barely had enough to keep going, but she dug deeper until she reached the darkness in her soul, the hole left by her master. Yanking it up, she felt part of her life slipping away as she slammed it into Rakin.

She didn't bother fueling her spell, but poured the black despair directly into his storm of rage. It howled inside both of their minds, tearing their thoughts and shredding their memories.

They both screamed in agony, their hoarse voices filling the room. Merrie felt her vocal cords tearing and the taste of copper poured down her throat. She couldn't feel anything but rage, but she couldn't give up. She could never surrender to him.

(Never! I cannot lose!?) His thoughts cracked and she felt fear tainting his thoughts. His anger sputtered for the briefest of moments before the rage burned away his fear. (I'm her real master!)

Merrie's eyes snapped open. She stared into the eyes of her rapist and realized she had one last weapon again him.

She remembered her true master. She recalled the look as he reached out for her, his body burning away because Rakin had killed him. She focused on the agony she felt as her soul ripped. The blackness that filled her as she screamed out for him, her vocal cords ripping and blood pouring out of every hole in her body. She took every memory of that horrible night and threw it at Rakin.

He froze, his eyes growing wide. His breath stopped in his lungs as he realized what was happening. He had no more shields, no defenses against her. The intimate brutality and exhaustion had brought them too close and she clung to it with everything she had.

He dropped to his knees with a crunch but he didn't flinch. Instead, his eyes glazed over as the rage inside him fought desperately against the endless horror that Merrie had lived through that night. It flared like a candle in the dark, burning bright for one painful moment.

The room and his mind plunged into darkness. The light was still there, but every brick had turned to the blackest of nights.

Merrie felt her despair pouring out of her and Rakin's mind cracking as it tried to take it all in. His eyes rolled back and his skin paled as the memories ripped apart his life.

(You want to be my master?) Her thoughts were dripping with the despair that almost consumed her life and the anger toward the man who killed her master. (You want to bind your soul to mine!? Then have it! Take what's in my heart!)

She shoved every memory of that night into him, pouring it in until it spilled out of his consciousness and sank deep into his soul. She felt his spirit corroding from the onslaught of her memories.

Rakin's mouth opened as he tried to fight back and find some way of saving himself. His thoughts shattered in the darkness and there wasn't even a light left in his mind. His thoughts crumbled into insanity and she gathered up the worst of her pain to destroy him forever.

Tamin's presence slammed into her. (Alpha!)

The bright flash of her pack disrupted her memories. She tried to cling to it, to slaughter Rakin, but then a wave of compassion, love, and concern filled her. It poured into her and soothed over the aches and exhaustion.

Her domination spell faded and both she and Rakin dropped to the ground. She landed against the brick, unable to stop her momentum until her forehead slammed into the floor. She let out a long sob from her ruined throat.

Behind her, Rakin crumbled to the bricks with a groan. The coppery stench of blood filled the air along with the scorched smell of magic.

Struggling to breath, Merrie pushed herself off the wall and staggered to her wrists and knees. Turning around, she looked at the man who kidnapped her.

Rakin had one hand on his crotch, squeezing down as blood oozed from between his fingers. His eyes were deep and sunken as he looked at her. There was no anger left in his eyes, just a dull look of a broken man. But, his mind had survived. She could fell coherent thoughts rising up through the devastated remains.

She limped to him, looking down at the man she feared. She knew the spell that would destroy his soul forever. It hovered over the edge of her mind and the shield protecting the room had been destroyed between their final struggle.

"K-Kill me," blood flecked Rakin's lips. "I can't stop you."

She delved into his mind and found only a wasteland. No rage stormed in his thoughts. No magic flowed through his veins. He was an empty shell of man. The source of his power was gone and she knew there was nothing else she could do. (No.)

His raspy inhale filled the room. "Your voice. I forgot how it s-sounded. But, you aren't crying. I always dreamed I'd hear you cry."

Merrie turned away and crawled to the door. As she reached it, she plunged herself back into his mind and pulled out the spell to unlock it. He let out a soft cry as she ripped it from his mind. Using a fraction of Tamin's energy that now flowed through the shadowy leash, she cast it and pressed her severed arm against the door.

Bolts clicked and the door swung open. She looked down an empty hallway and felt a strange sense of relief.

"You're just leaving?"

(Yes,) she said. She could still feel her despair in her soul, the aching hole left by her master. But, his rage had burned it over, sealing it behind a scab. She knew it was there, but it no longer raged just inside her control. Like Rakin, she had been burned clean by their final fight. She looked over her shoulder, her bloody hair sticking to her face. (You will never be my master.)

Rakin curled into a ball, clutching his privates as his sweat- and blood-soaked body shook violently.

It took twenty minutes to crawl down the hallway to the stairs at the far end. She left behind a trail of blood and cum, the crimson splattered echoing loudly against the brick walls. The floor cut at her body, but it was small pains compared to the agony that had tortured her.

As she reached the end of the hallway, the connection between her and Tamin grew stronger. (I'm coming for you, Alpha, and I will kill anyone between me and you.)

Merrie smiled with pride and sent a pulse of affection down the connection. With a groan, she forced herself up on the stair and began the long painful climb up. Every movement was agony and every step a mountain, but she finally reached the top. She came out into a training room that looked like the Puppy Mill's. Cages of various sizes were on one wall. On the other, whips and chains hung from their spot.

She could feel Rakin's passion in the arrangement. He lavished attention on this room, fantasizing about every thing he would do to her. She knew each whip intimately, having been tortured in his mind in a thousand fantasies. The chains, the manacles, and even the knives had left their mark in her memories.

As she limped toward the center of the room, she heard the sounds of combat. The floor shook from an explosion and the chandelier above her swayed dangerously. Smell of smoke and fire drifted around her and she smiled. Scorch had survived.

(Tamin, is Nir safe?)

Tamin's thoughts were colored with blood and violence as he finished tearing the stomach out of a guard. (Badly injured but safe. Kirin has been watching over her the last few days.)

(Days?) She could barely dredge up enough energy to be surprised.

(Four since the night you were taken from me. Four lonely nights of us hunting for any sign of you.)

(How did you find me? I couldn't reach out.)

(Your connection drew me close and then I went to where the Shadows fear not tread. The Lords were circling and I just followed the death and dark.) Love radiated through the connection, followed by a brief flash of anger.

A scream echoed down the hall before it ended abruptly. At the far end of the room was an open door. Six men rushed past, their swords out and wearing Rakin's colors.

She projected the image to Tamin.

(I see them, Alpha. They are about to die.)

"Surprise!" cheered Elf, the large man's voice high-pitched and excited. A howling filled the hall.

One of the guards ran past as a swarm of obsidian butterflies punched through his body in a bursts of blood. Each one was as black as night and sparkling with thousands of different colors. His scream echoed loudly as his body was shredded and he fell to the ground in a bloody heap. His head exploded before it struck the ground and a shower of bloody butterflies continued down the hall.

A moment later, three guards backed into view. They were cowering behind shields as the obsidian butterflies poured against them. There was a flash of brilliant white as an energy whip sliced through the wall of the training room and curled around the shield of the nearest man. He fell back as his upper chest slid from his bottom.

The second dropped as Tamin appeared from behind him in a burst of shadows. He took out the man's knee as her cloak exploded from his back in two giant wings before clamping down on the third man's chest. His scream ended abruptly as the cloak poured into his mouth and burst out of his stomach.

The hound and her cloak were racing into the room before the bodies hit the ground.

Merrie smiled, tears burning her eyes, and pulled herself into a begging position. It was agony, but knowing her pack was there gave her strength.

Tamin radiated love and relief as he skidded to a halt. He was covered in blood and gore as he panted. Then, as gentle as a puppy, he reached over and pressed his head against her shoulder. (I love you, Alpha.) With his touch, she felt him take her pain and the sharp agonies slipped away.

She gasped at the relief and tears ran down her face.

Her cloak slipped around her, wrapping back around her back but fluttering to avoid touching her injuries.

Scorch ran past the door, his body surrounded by white flames. A heartbeat later, he called out, "Bitch!? Turn around!"

He slammed into Elf as the two collided into the door frame. Merrie saw a flash of an eye patch as the fire mage fell to the ground.

Elf managed to remain standing. Multi-color butterflies spun around him as he peered into the room. His small, strap-on wings, fluttered as he hopped into the room. "Bitchy! Bitchy!"

Stepping into sight, Pristine leaned over and helped Scorch up. She was dressed in her normal leathers, but held a brightly glowing whip in her hand. She glanced up and snapped out her hand. The whip sliced through the wall and there was a thud of a body hitting the ground.

Merrie leaned into Tamin and let out a sigh.

Elf slid to a halt. His eyes were wide for a moment and she felt a pang of despair fill him. He sighed and reached out to stroke her, but pulled back. "Oh, honey. He hurt you. That bad man hurt you. Just tell me where he is and Elfie will take care of him."

With a nod, Merrie reached out for Tamin. He opened himself up and she drew power from him. With a shiver, she transformed into a hound and back into a human. As the fur stripped off, the scratches faded into her skin and the worst of her cuts scabbed over.

(Again, Alpha,) ordered Tamin, his protective thoughts pushing her to transform again with a thrill of obedience.

Her body rippled between hound and human five more times before the injuries ceased to heal. The aches and pains remained, but they were no longer the bloody gashes that covered her body. She was covered in scratches, but her nose was no longer broken and the sharp pains in her sex had faded into an ache.

Scorch stopped in front of her. There were tears in his one good eye. His other was covered in a patch. Sword slashes and magic burns covering his body. But the injures didn't look fresh and she could sense magical healing seeping through his veins. He smiled and crouched down in front of her. "We're suppose to be saving you."

Exhausted, Merrie could only cock her head and give him a sheepish whine.

Pristine rested her hand on Scorch's shoulder. "Where is Rakin?"

Tamin responded with her thoughts, standing up and heading toward the stairs leading into the basement and her cell. He growled as he peered down into the darkness.

Pristine and Scorch were already moving toward it.

Elf stroked her cheek. "Is he alive, sweetie?"

Merrie barked.

"Not for long," growl Scorch. Flames burned along his body as he wrapped himself in fire magic.

Merrie looked over her shoulder as Scorch started down the stairs. The walls glowed from his flames. They would kill Rakin and then it would be over. She thought about Jacir and Bass, both who had their lives devastated by the man bleeding to death on the ground of her cell. It would all be over in a flash of heat and screaming.

It was Jacir's memory that pushed her into action. For hours, she let him beat her as he struggled to find closure with the loss of his love. If it wasn't for those hours of submission that she would have never had the strength to keep Rakin in the room. But, no matter how many times he fantasied about Pris dying, it was that one memory of Rakin laughing about murdering Pris that Merrie could never erase. And if Scorch killed him, she could never heal that last burning memory.

Her eyes flickered to the side to Tamin. The hound nodded and stepped into the Shadows. Almost instantly, he came back across in the middle of the stairs and blocked Scorch.

Scorch stopped in mid-step. "What? Move out of the way! I'm going to kill him."

Merrie and Tamin growled at the same time, the vibrations from their chest filling the room and hallway. She almost fell as she turned around to look at the flames filling the stairwell.

"Bitch! Move your damn dog!"

She shook her head.

Tamin stepped forward, but Scorch responded by drawing the flames to him. The heat poured out of the stairs.

Pristine stepped back, sweat prickling her brow. "Bitch? What is going on?" She looked back at Merrie with a confused look.

(Don't kill him.)

Both Pristine and Elf jerked at her thoughts.

Scorch's anger rose up and the flames poured out of the stairwell. "Like the hells I won't. He hurt my Nir!"

Tamin held his ground, but he had to look away as the flames licked his fur.

(Don't!) Merrie's domination spell slammed into Scorch.

There was a thud and the flames died out. A second later, Scorch's much calmer and confused voice drifted up the stairs. "Why am I sitting?"

Elf stood up and headed toward the stairs. "We aren't killing him, Scorchy-poo."

"Why not?" Scorch's anger returned, "He attacked Nir... the guild."

Elf glanced at Pristine who reluctantly nodded. He leaned and spoke down the stairs. "Because Bitchy must have beaten him. You know the laws. If we don't catch him attacking the guild, we can't legally kill him."

"This is Rakin!" Scorch stormed up the stairs. "This guy weasels out of everything thrown at him. He managed to attack us after the bastard lost his money, his county, everything. If we throw him in jail, he's going to bribe or sneak out. Kill him now, before he gets away!"

Elf shook his head and held out his hands. "It's the law, Scorchy."

"Fuck the law! I'm killing him---"

Merrie reached out and gripped Scorch's mind. With a sigh, she clamped down on his thoughts and sent him into unconsciousness.

Scorch's eyes rolled into his head and he crumbled to the ground. Before he fell back into the stairs, Tamin caught him and held him up.

Elf smirked and looked away.

"Bitch," warned Pristine, "we do not dominate our friends."

Ears drooping, Merrie lowered her head and whined. She released Scorch and woke him up.

Scorch groaned and sat up. "Did Bitch just knock me out?"

Elf patted him on the shoulder. "Yes, honey, but you weren't listening. And this is Bitchy's choice, not yours."

Pristine stepped around both men and knelt down in front of Merrie. "Are you sure? Really sure? Rakin doesn't fear the legal system. You'll be letting him go if we arrest him."

Merrie reached out for Rakin. He was alive, but barely. She could feel his broken, shattered thoughts as he focused on clutching his ruined crotch. He had no more anger, no more rage.

She focused on Pristine and barked.

The snow around the message boards in the Plaza had been stomped into slush and turned into an icy lake deep enough to soak into everyone's boots. But, despite the frigid liquid pooling around their feet, it didn't stop the throngs of people from milling around to read the messages fluttering in the wind.

Merrie sat on the corner of the Obsidian Board. The ice pooled around her buttocks and the cold stung her labia, but the ache felt good. It was over two weeks since Rakin kidnapped her. She was surprised to find out Rakin had fucked her for three days solid before she freed herself, but the injuries from his brutality were still healing. Every time she moved, her torn muscles itched and her bruises ached. At least most of the scratches and cuts on her skin had been erased.

Her cloak wrapped tightly around her body, covering up the last of the fading bruises. The hole still remained from the magical blast during the fight. She felt a pang of sadness every time she saw the hole, the cloak was her master's though it had become her own. She tried shape-shifting and gathering energy until she ran out of energy, but no matter how hard she tried, the hole remained.

Merrie was anxious to try again, but the healers and Kirin forbade it. Her attempts to gather energy through sex failed after the first round left the sheets soaked in blood and Nir screaming in fear. Now, she was forced to be content with blow jobs and delicate fingering.

(They're afraid that you will swear off sex forever.) Tamin's thoughts were comforting. (Most people cannot survive three days of rape without their minds being damaged.)

Merrie smiled and leaned her head against Tamin. The hound's claustrophobia with the crowds burned along her senses but she knew better than to ask him to head into the Shadows alone. Ever since Rakin, he remained by her side even in the healer's room. Anyone who dared to even appear to harm her brought a quick growl from her protector. (I'm an Alpha. I couldn't give up sex if I wanted to. It is my power and my source, just as Rakin's magic came from his anger.)

(You haven't had a cock in you since Rakin.) There was a little wistful longing in his thoughts. (You need a powerful orgasm, soon.)

She rocked her hips, quickly finding the sore spots along her spine and hips. She couldn't wait until the physical pains faded. (I've come though, plenty of times.) Even as she thought it, she craved for a cock to slam into her.

(Nir's tongue is a poor substitute for a proper fuck. And she can't even fist you after that last time.)

Merrie sighed. She thought she was ready, but the look of horror on Nir as she pulled out bloody fingers still haunted her. She tore her thoughts away. (I've ridden your tongue too. Are you saying you aren't good enough?)

Tamin's thoughts grew warmer with lust. (No, my tongue is never good enough. I want to mount you. I want to ram my cock deep into your pussy and knot you like a proper bitch. You need to fuck.)

(And what about the healers?) Merrie nuzzled against his shoulder, (They told me not to have anything large inside me for another month.) Her thoughts were tinged with her own lust. She needed him as badly as he wanted her.

(You're my Alpha. You can take the pain and we both know how far you can go. A little blood can be healed by shape-changing. And your cunt is ready even if the healer doesn't think so.)

She buried her face in his short, black fur and moaned. Her pussy grew warmer despite the ice water rushing against it. She wagged her tail and swirled it through the slush. (Sounds good. Tonight?)

The heated lust boiling out of his thoughts warmed her even more.

Merrie squirmed and grinned to herself. Raising her head, she scanned the fluttering messages for the one addressed to her. It was Zeob's handwriting again with a simple message directing her to an inn outside of the city limits. She knew the place, it had a basement that was perfect for gangbangs in the middle of the week. No doubt, Eolis would be there to give her another thirty thousand marks to make it through the winter. She didn't know where the money came from, but he brought it every time they met. And he usually sent her out to fuck another customer.

Tamin's tail thumped loudly. (There are woods along the way. Very dark with lots of underbrush. A good place to run.)

She smiled broadly, her thoughts drifting and her body tingling with anticipation. (It's been a while since you hunted me, has it?)

He answered her by grabbing her by the shoulder; her cloak peeled back so his teeth dug into bare skin. Tamin didn't break the skin, but the flash of pain brought a throb of heat deep inside her. He knew exactly how hard to bite her and when to stop.

But, Merrie didn't want him to stop. She moaned at the pricks of pain and discomfort. Her pussy grew hotter with the need to submit to her hound, but also at the thoughts of him biting harder until blood ran down her shoulder. Rakin had turned her on with his brutality and fucking, awoken the submissive hunger inside her. But, Rakin's rage and self-control had terrified her. There was a painfully thin line between beating and killing. And he crossed it when he tried to smash her face into the bricks.

Tamin's growl shook her body. He increased the pressure on her shoulder and the teeth dimpled the skin. (I will never truly hurt you, no matter how hard I bite. I will protect you until the day I die.)

His teeth broke the skin and a trickle of blood ran down her shoulder. She closed her eyes to enjoy the heated tickle as it oozed down the curve of her breast and then traced its way down her belly before splashing into the ice below.

She couldn't find the words to project. Instead, she looked over into his pitch black eyes. The Shadows boiled behind his gaze. He wasn't the hound that she bonded with but he was all she had left. He died once for her just as Merrie would have died for her master, if she could.

Tamin's jaw dug deep into her shoulder, stopping the dark thought before it came up. She shuddered at the helplessness of it and gasped softly.

He burned with love and lust as he tugged her away from the board. (Heel.)

Merrie's pussy clamped at the order. She stumbled as he dragged her away, her body half sliding through the ice and slush. She felt the heat boiling inside as she pawed playfully at him, the severed end of her arm helpless to stop him.

She could force him to stop, they both knew, but Merrie needed to submit. She craved the hunt and fuck, damn the healer's concerns. As much as he hurt her, he would never hurt her more than she could heal with shape-shifting and time.

(You're about to get more than scratches, bitch.) Tamin's growl shook her to the core and she squirmed with the heat boiling inside her pussy. He pulled her free from the crowds beyond the message boards before releasing her.

Merrie slumped to the ground and smiled. Her breath came fast and her breasts dipped into the slush. Crimson stained the ice beneath her, blossoming out from the love bite. She smiled and looked up at him, her tail wagging as she felt the moisture of her sex prickling against the icy wind.

He growled and pulled back his lip. (You should run.)

A flame ignited inside her pussy as she scrambled to her wrists and knees. She didn't need to look at him to feel the lust filling both of them. Digging her wrists in, she shifted into a hound and raced toward the southern gate of the city.

A moment later, Tamin burst into movement with a snarl that frightened the people around him. His heavy paws slammed into the ground as he accelerated into a sprint. He wasn't going to be gentle for her and the promise of pain sent a bright burst of lust dancing across her mind.

Merrie ran as fast as she could, ducking between legs and racing along the sidewalks. Her paws slammed into the slush, splashing bystanders as she raced away.

Tamin burst out of the Shadows and bit down. His teeth snapped centimeters away from her throat with a wet chomp.

Coming hard, she dodged to the side and jumped across to the Shadows. A moment later, she came back across and ducking underneath a wagon. Her furry back scraped against the bottom planks. She planted her feet to the cracks and used that for purchase to shoot out from the shadow and across the street.

He bounded over the wagon and slammed into her from above. The massive weight drove her to the ground and she had to brace herself to avoid smashing her chin against the ice-covered cobblestones. Her muscles strained to keep herself from being crushed. But, just as she was about to slip, he planted two feet on the ground and shifted his weight so she was only pinned without being crushed.

Merrie flailed out from underneath him. Her tail smacked against his legs as she dug into the stones for purchase. Her ass rose up against the long, hardness of his cock. Feeling the thick member along her tail, she let out another moan and her heart beat faster. The weight bore down on her from the base of her tail along her spine and almost to her shoulder-blades. She moaned and tried to remember the last time it was buried inside her.

Tamin loomed over her as if he was mounting her. His hips drove her forward into his snapping teeth, but she managed to duck underneath his jaw. The snap of jaw painted her with drool and hot breath. (Keep running.)

Reluctantly, Merrie crawled out from underneath Tamin and raced forward again. Her heart pounded loudly as she dodged another attack. She didn't try to attack or slam him back. She was prey that day and there was only one thing that would happen to Tamin's prey: they ran until they were caught. There wasn't a question if she was caught, only where he would be savaging her willing body.

He howled as he raced after her, the sound of it echoing against the storefronts. He didn't bother diving between legs but just barreled his way through people. There were screams and cries of surprise as he tossed people left and right in his efforts to catch her.

She only used the Shadows to jump across busy streets and duck through alleys. Everywhere else, she enjoyed the thud of her paws on the streets and the rush of the wind against her face. Her heart sang out with hunger and she came every time she felt his hot breath on her skin or when his teeth snapped dangerously close to her body.

It took them twenty minutes to reach the southern gate of Franome City. They left behind a trail of destruction and upset people. Merrie didn't care, though, Tamin had brought her to the edge of excitement and they weren't even done. At the gate, she charged through the opening. She felt the wards that protected the city but she stepped aside and flickered by in a flash of darkness and icy wind. She landed on the far side and raced up the hills toward the thick woods.

Merrie couldn't wait to lose the Bel Dark form in the woods. She needed to be naked and human. She craved the helplessness. She smiled and bounded up the hill, keeping to the Shadows for the last few hundred meters.

When she was out of sight of the city, she jumped from the Shadows. A large ice-covered bush surprised her--it wasn't old or large enough to have a presence in the Shadows. She dug her wrists into the snow to stop herself, but she caught a root and flipped over. The memory of landing in the Rakin's cell slammed into her and her transformation slipped away. It was a brief moment of horror, but then she remembered that it was a lover that chased her, not Rakin.

She clawed herself out of the bush. Her lips were parted with lust and she gave little whimpers as she imagined the sounds Tamin's prey would make. Her cloak snapped free, but she didn't look back. Tamin would gather it when he stepped back across. Her naked skin crawled from the icy wind that blew past her. The ice and snow burned at her breasts and stomach; she pretended that it burned her instead of the icy comfort from having Shadows in her veins.

She climbed up a short hill and slid down the other side. Fresh scrapes caressed her body, but it only added to the flames that seared her insides. She was prey and she couldn't wait to be caught.

Tamin's howl echoed off the bare trees. She knew he found her cloak and circled around, sniffing the ground despite knowing exactly where she was. He was playing his role just as she was in hers.

Merrie made it a few hundred meters before the hound came bounding after her. His snarl was sharp and terrifying. She spun around to see how close but then he was on her.

Teeth flashed as he bit her thigh and flipped her over. An arc of blood flew up in the air and Merrie cried out at the sudden pain. She hit the ground with a gasp and fought the surge of pleasure that sang in her heart. She was slick and hot and ready.

(My prey has arms and legs,) projected Tamin, (act like it.)

Merrie froze for a moment, then she felt the force of his will slamming into her. She had to obey him. Pulling on the command, she added the hazy memories of the days when she had limbs. Everything mixed together along with an illusion spell. She let the calligraphic spell spread out across her thoughts and the spell grew dark with power. With a gasp, she released it and threw it on herself.

Her skin crawled as the spell took place, filling her with ice and setting the ends of her wrists and legs on fire. Shuddering, she looked down at her body. Her breasts were flecked with snow and ice. As they rose and fell with her pants, she could see her limbs healthy once again. Two bare legs shivered from the ice, toes curling as she remembered doing before. Blood stained the ice beneath her own leg, but otherwise she was as whole as the day she was kidnapped.

Merrie gasped and lifted her arms. Her fingers spread out as she remembered how to move them. They were foreign to her now, something that was no longer part of her body, but she was driven to remember the days before being cropped. She panted faster as she stretched her fingers to their limits, remembering the ache of stretching the webbing between the digits. She could grab something, if she would just reached out. The ice, Tamin's fur, even the hard touch of the bark.

Tamin's teeth chomped down on her illusionary left arm, biting clear through the spectral flesh right above her elbow. A spray of blood spurted from his mouth and he tore the arm from her body.

For a moment, neither moved. Merrie struggled with the intense sensation of agony. She had been cropped... again. She sobbed at the memories that came back, of a giant wolf biting through the flesh and how the pain turned to pleasure.

Clutching the bleeding arm to her chest, she felt down with her other hand. Her fingers, clumsy after not using them for years, reached for her pussy. They slid between the soaked lips, but the sensations came from her parted lips not her fingers. Her hands weren't real, they were just an illusion for her role. But, the ache of her labia reminded her that she had a role to play.

She sobbed at the feeling of loss, then crawled on her hand and knees. She rushed away as fast as she could, listening to the sickening crunch of the hound chewing on her arm. She knew it wasn't real, but it didn't matter. It felt like reality in that moment.

He came for her again a few minutes later. The thud of his weight cracking through the ice. His growls shook the air. Each one pushed fear and lust into an intensity that she never wanted to stop. Her imagination fueled her efforts to crawl up the side of a hill, her bloody arm slipping as she pushed her way past the illusionary pain. The trail she left behind was bright crimson, but she wasn't sure if it was real or not. All that mattered was the hunt.

Her pussy dripped with her anticipation. She ached to be filled. She wanted to be forced, pounded into the ground and ripped open. Her body craved him, but it was the hunt that made the submission sweeter.

Tamin's teeth clamped down on her back leg. The teeth dug into imaginary flesh and he pulled her back down the hill. She lost her balance and landed face-first in the snow. It tore at her face and breasts, scraping her senses and leaving her shivering with hunger. She clawed at the ground, leaving a trail of crimson and finger trails as the hound pulled her down to the valley.

Merrie tried to flip over, but he wouldn't let her. One thick paw slammed down on her back, pinning her to the ground. She flailed helplessly even as she was sending a strength spell through their connection. It burned brightly in her mind and she clamped her legs together as an orgasm shuddering through her body.

He grabbed her leg and pulled. There was a wet ripping noise that flooded her veins as he tore off her imaginary leg. A flash of crimson splattered against the snow. She still wasn't sure if it was real or not, but her pussy clamped at the idea of being cropped again.

She reached down with desperation, she had to masturbate. But, Tamin had other ideas. He grabbed her other leg and picked her up. With a grunt, he began to shake her.

Merrie's hair whipped back and forth as she was cracked like a whip. The spells that fueled his strength reminded her how helpless she was. She couldn't do anything besides cry out pitifully and reach out blindly into the air. She was coming, coming hard and fast, and the world became dazzlingly white from the orgasms.

Tamin launched her into the air. She flew high over the hill before slamming into the snow. Flipping twice, she slid along the ground before coming to a halt underneath a wagon rolling over her.

Merrie saw the surprise on two farmers as she peeked under the edge. She panted with need as her illusionary blood spread out on the snow beneath her. She couldn't wait until Tamin caught her.

One of the farmers was female. "What---"

She barely got a word out before Tamin came rushing out of the darkness. He slammed into the wagon before crawling over it. Two wheels lifted off the ground from the impact. As he reached the top, the cloak spread out into two black wings and he jumped off the far side for her. The wagon crashed to the ground and the farmers screamed as they struggled to remain on the bench.

Merrie sent a pulse of fear into the horse pulling the wagon and the equine squealed out before charging forward. The wheels rushed past her and she was briefly blinded by the gray light of winter.

Tamin caught her one good foot and yanked her off the ground. Spinning around, he threw her further into the woods. But, his teeth didn't release her foot and there was a wet popping sensation as it tore from her leg.

She cried out in pleasure as she flew through the air and landed hard on the ground. She could feel the pulse of her imaginary injuries, the idea of bleeding out gave her a rush. Rolling to her belly, she crawled away from the road knowing that Tamin stalked her.

His icy body loomed over her, a pitch black silhouette. She felt the cold breath against her back and the drool that splattered on her shoulder.

Sobbing, she crawled forward as the tremors coursed through her. It was time for the kill and she felt the anticipation burning bright. The inferno inside her could melt the ice as his cock brushing against her buttocks. There was no way of pretending he was going to do anything other than rape her.

Tamin growled deeply, shaking the air. More drool splashed on Merrie's shoulder as he reached down with his jaw spreading wide.

She cringed, knowing it would hurt.

He hesitated with her thoughts.

(Bite!) She ordered, her thoughts burning with desperation and need.

He obeyed and clamped down on her shoulder, piercing flesh until his teeth scraped against bones. It hurt but it was a good pain. She arched her back in an effort to escape, knowing that she was bringing her soaked pussy in line with his hard cock.

Tamin's shaft speared into her. The wedged tip easily punched into her sex and slid deep. She felt her insides stretching around his thickness, from her nether lips straining as his knot pounded against her entrances to her inner walls straining to engulf his hardness.

She cried out and buried her face in the snow. She lifted her hips to give him more access to her willing, injured body.

He drew back and slammed it home again. His knot, as large as a full-grown man's fist, slammed against her labia. The pain and pleasure was intense and she was shoved deeper into the snow.

Merrie's eyes opened wide and she reached out with her one good illusionary arm. She strained for freedom, not wanting it but needing to continue her role as the helpless victim.

Tamin pulled back, his teeth grinding down on her shoulder. She was helpless underneath his crouched form, helpless to escape, helpless to avoid her fate. She tried to shift to the side, but the thick cock buried in her pussy kept her helplessly pinned in place.

She sobbed with need and shoved back.

Her furry lover clamped his forelegs over her arms, pinning them to the side. She was forced to balance on her knees, with the teeth holding her up. He drove into her, his cock angled up and deep into her pussy. It speared deep until the knot splayed her lips apart. She could feel his cock bulging her belly.

Liquid heat flowed through her veins as she clamped down. She was losing the illusionary spell but she didn't care. She was already caught.

With her pinned, Tamin pounded into her with the ferocity of a feral animal bent on breeding. His hips slammed into her buttocks as his cock drove deep. The knot, already swollen, crushed her labia with every stroke until she felt her opening stretching around it. Each thrust drove it deeper and his cock rammed against the entrance of her womb with every blow.

It hurt, but it was also pleasure. His brutal thrusts re-opened scratches and cuts, but she didn't care. She begged for more, the whine of a bitch in heat and not prey trying to escape.

The spell faded and her illusion slipped away. Her flailing arm disappeared in curls of shadow and left behind the smooth end of her wrist. The other bled from the bite he gave her, but the gouge was only deep enough to make the blood real. She reached back and clutched at his head, holding him tight as he mounted her body.

(Knot me. Knot me like your bitch!)

He responded with harder blows. The knot punched her entrance, tearing it open. For a moment, she didn't think she could handle his girth or strength.

And then his knot was forced right at the cusp of entrance. She felt it painfully holding her open. As he withdrew, she clamped down and pushed it out. With the part of her mind, she prayed he wouldn't be gentle with his next thrust.

Tamin wasn't. He drew back completely out, leaving her pussy gaping from the girth that once impaled it. With a growl, he yanked her back as he drove home. His cock punched into her pussy, sliding along her juices, and the knot slammed into her. It tore through her, stretching her to the limit before her body finally accepted it. With a slurp, it slid deep inside her.

She was stuffed from one end of her sex to the other. His cock was hot against her cervix and his knot held it into place. Every centimeter of her sex was tightly stretched around his pulsating length.

He tried to yank it out, but her body refused to let it escape. She jerked back, but was halted when he ground down on his teeth. For a moment, he stretched her out between teeth and knot, before driving his hips deep into her again.

Tamin didn't slow. He continued to fuck her, pounding her cervix with every blow. His knot slid back and forth, slamming against her entrance before bulging out her belly. She would have been yanked back and forth, except he was holding her tightly with his teeth.

She couldn't escape nor did she want to. She cried out and clutched him tightly with both hands, balanced on her knees and held by cock and jaw.

His thoughts slammed into her mind, a primal need to breed her. He pictured her as a bitch in heat. His cock swelled inside her, stretching her to her limits. The knot grew inside her as it churned her pussy. Each thrust drove the thickness deep before drawing it back to her entrance. The heavy thud of his knot against her inner entrance brought a flash of pleasure coursing through her veins.

Merrie cried out as orgasm exploded inside her. She couldn't escape it anymore than being mounted by Tamin. Her entire body tensed up, clamping down on the massive cock dominating her sex. It was agony and pleasure, an intensity with a rawness of being tortured. The hoarse cry died out as the explosion burst out of her mind, radiating out with a rush.

It rippled out into the world and she held her breath as she waited for the submissives of the city to respond. Moments later, the wave of pleasure struck the city and it lit up with a thousand bright points and then a thousand more. More minds responded to her pleasure than ever before. The intensity of her orgasm had caught more than the submissives in the city, it spread out to almost every adult mind inside the gates.

And each of their orgasms sent back a ripple of pleasure back toward her.

She tensed as the first ripple struck her mind. They sparked against her senses and she came again. Her pussy squeezed down on her lover as she writhed in ecstasy and whimpered for more.

Tamin's cock exploded inside her, a rush of icy liquid that poured into her pussy. It filled her quickly but it kept coming. Soon, it sloshed as it bulged her belly and forced its way up past the barrier of her womb. The knot at her entrance sealed it inside her quivering body.

The sensation of being filled with ice and Shadow triggered another orgasm. It quickly burst out of her mind. Moments later, it slammed into the city and she felt almost the entire capital light up with orgasms as a hundred thousand people suddenly came. It didn't matter if they were submissive or not, in that moment, they had submitted to her pleasure and she felt their ecstasy as a storm.

Merrie whimpered as she felt the reflected pleasure of an entire capital city rushing back at her. It was too much to handle and it frightened her. The first ripples struck and she cried out as it pushed her into another orgasm and then another. The waves slammed into her and she reflected it back, sending a stronger orgasm across the city. She couldn't stop it, it was too much.

Tamin crouched over her, pulling his body tight to hers. His thoughts delved deep and she felt the protectiveness wrapping around her. (Give it to me,) he ordered.

Merrie closed her eyes tightly and opened up her mind. As the pleasure crashed into her, she fed it into her alpha. His body shuddered and his cock exploded inside her. It poured through her, scraping against her senses and pushing her into another orgasm, but Tamin accepted the inescapable pleasure. His cock continued to surge inside her, adding to the pressure as he kept coming.

She felt his mind begin to crack under the pleasure. It was too much for either one of them. With a gasp, she stopped channeling the energy into him, but then it quickly built up inside her. She whimpered as she realized she was about to explode with another orgasm that would consume the city. Desperate, she channeled the energy into a blind spell.

The forest around them froze as the shadows came plunging around them. It spread out in pitch blackness before the entire forest was ripped into the Shadows. At the same time, she transformed into a hound and back again.

In the darkness, the pleasure no longer assaulted her but it still burned darkly inside her. She gasped and slumped down, sobbing from the intensity. She was full, filled with cum and cock. Gulping, she giggled. (Kirin is going to kill me.)

Tamin panted against her. (... bitch.)

Merrie moaned. She burned with power, the very core of her submission throbbing with endless power. It filled every part of her and all she wanted to do was obey an entire city. She wanted to be everyone's bitch, everyone's alpha.

But, she couldn't. She had bonded to her master and she would never forget him. Sighing, she closed her eyes and started to transform again. This time, she swirled between two forms, taking on both hound and human forms and then switching until her body blurred between the two. Her injuries, the ones the healer was hesitant to heal, were erased with each transformation. Even the scratches and cuts from their fantasy disappeared. She kept her pussy clamped around the cock, using it as an anchor to avoid losing her sense of self and submission.

Around her, the Shadows boiled and grew more intense. She reached out for it, finding comfort in the shifting world that was becoming her second home. Creatures appeared in the darkness, summoned by her power. She saw the rats and small creatures that patrolled the darkness. They gathered but even more came. The shadows of wolves, deer, and raccoons came to watch her with pitch black eyes.

Merrie let the energy bleed out of her. She used what she could to create more mental crystals of stored pleasure, but her mind couldn't keep more than half a dozen before they began to crack. She set the energy aside and continued to shape-shift.

As she did, a pool of liquid darkness spread out from her body. It poured along the roots of the trees and grasses. The slumbering plants withered and crumbled, the life being sucked out of them until there was nothing but a black circle of dead world around her.

More shadow creatures came, neither living nor dead. They sat on the edges of the black pool of her magic.

(There is a reaper.)

Merrie peered through the darkness to see a reaper, the giant cat with tentacles, standing over the crowds of creatures that watched in silence. It wasn't the same one as before, but the sight of such a fearsome creature skipped her heart.

The shadow creatures watched in silence. She felt like a queen in some silent court. A thousand eyes watching and waiting. There was no fear or hatred in their eyes, just blind obedience to her. They sat in the growing pool of darkness, untouched by the corroding effect of Shadows.

More creatures came from a distance. Every shadow of every creature that ever suffered or struggled outside of the city. The ancient imprints of creatures that died. Each one came silently to sit down around her, forming a growing circle of her dark court. She saw the cattle who lived their lives in sun and the birds that died in the darkness of the leaves. Humanoid figures joined in, the thieves and farmers that toiled in the bright and died alone. Each one sat down as they waited for... something.

Merrie's heart pounded in her chest. She had summoned them with her power, but she didn't know why. She could feel a purpose, a need to draw them closer, but she couldn't do anything besides pull more to her. The liquid pleasure of endless orgasms dribbled out of her and she slumped to the ground. (Tamin, why?)

(They come.) Tamin wasn't speaking of the creatures but something far more terrifying.

There was a swirl of darkness and the Lord of Shadows appeared. A moment later, the second one crawled out of the darkness. Both Lords were utterly alien as they spread out across the gathered shadows in dark clouds of power and darkness.

The gathered creatures held still as they began to burn. Black smoke rose up from the animated shadows of a thousand creatures, rising into the air. The Lords of Shadows drank in the power, consuming it like they consumed Merrie's master.

She lifted her gaze up to them, watching with growing anticipation. She could feel it, the power beating in the air and the way the shadows faded around her. The Lords weren't coming for her, but the shadows around her. They were feeding on her power.

The silent court of darkness burned away in a cloud of darkness. The two Lords swirled into it, sucking in the smoke until they were black on black. The shadows of trees wilted and crumbled away, leaving nothing behind but ash.

And then the blackness faded. Where there were two Lords, there were now four. Four alien beings that she would never understand. Three shot out into the darkness, disappearing before her eyes could focus on their shifting forms.

The fourth Lord, the original, looked down at her for a long moment. She could feel the alien thoughts swirling in the black-on-black. Obsidian claws flexed and dug into the ground less than a hand-span away from her. It dragged back, leaving a deep rent that would never heal. (... GIRL...)

She shuddered at the single intense word that slammed into her. It was trying to speak to her, but only the single thought was understandable in the alien thoughts. The fact she understood both frightened and excited her.

And then the Lord faded away, leaving her a black burning of afterglow. She looked down at the rent in the ground. With a trembling limb, she reached out and touched it. It burned and she yanked back. She had gotten dangerously close to being killed like the others, turned into the food of the Lord.

Fear pooled in her gut, fighting with the afterglow of her orgasm.

Tamin's cock slipped out of her pussy. A flood of juices jetting out, the pressure of his orgasm no longer bound inside her body.

She moaned at the sensation of draining. Rolling over, she squelched through the cum and held out her arms. She felt raw and shaken to her core. (Hold me. Please? Just hold me.)

(Forever,) said the hound as he sank into her. He didn't mount her, but simply held her tight with his body as the tears and cum poured out. His cold body was comforting and she buried her face in his short dark fur.

Underneath the skin, she listened to his heart. It was a rapid-fire pounding that shook her. It took her a moment to realize it wasn't the heartbeat that used to run through his veins but something else. It felt like the slams of his cock from moments before. She never noticed that it didn't have the strange double-beat like most hearts but just a ferocious pounding of animal sex.

(That is what keeps my heart beating. It isn't blood that flows through my veins but Shadows. And the beat I hear is the same rhythm of a hound mounting a bitch.) He licked her shoulder where the shape-changing had completely healed her injuries. (It is the same beat that I felt the day you gave me thoughts and you bonded yourself. It is the connection that reminds me that I'm yours, until the end of my life.)

Merrie lifted her gaze and felt sadness filling her. She couldn't dare ask, but she knew that Tamin's thoughts weren't anything more than a promise. She was heading toward something that would put both of their lives at risk. And, when the time came, he was going to die for her.

She sobbed and buried her face in his chest. (I'm free though, aren't I? Rakin is in jail. And he won't get free, will he? There isn't anyone else. Bass won't come for me, I won't go back. Is the Lord...?)

Tamin rested his large head on her shoulder and curled around her. (I don't know. I can't know. All I know is that it doesn't matter if it is days or years or decades. I will be by your side as long as I can. And, when the time comes, I will kill your enemies and protect your life with my own. I love you with all my heart. You're my Alpha, you are my love, you are my bitch. Forever and ever.)

Merrie sniffed and clutched tighter to him. (I'm scared, Tamin. What's going to happen to us?)

(I don't know.) He sighed. (I don't know.)

It was coming up on evening when Merrie and Tamin walked down the icy path toward the inn. The ground was hard underneath her knees and the wind blew against her naked skin, but she didn't care. The afterglow burned darkly along the connection between her and her companion. She felt a sympathetic heat between her legs and enjoyed the slick feeling of her nether lips. She was sexually sated, at least for the moment.

But, no matter how much she basked in Tamin's love, the fear remained. Watching the Lords consuming the burning shadow creatures shook her to the core. The shadows weren't alive, not in the sense that she still had a heart beating in her chest, but she felt a kinship to them. They were like Tamin, crafted from shadows and living their lives among trees of darkness and fields of gray.

But, they just sat there as the Lords fed on them. Like cattle heading into the slaughter houses. It was her orgasm and power that summoned them together. She had brought them to be killed, even if she didn't know she was sending them to their second deaths. She was reminded of the blank-eyed stares of cattle as they were herded into the Meat Packing District, the stench of blood, and even the horrors that came from the constant kill. She had dealt with the horrors of slaughter for years, but she never had the same affinity to the cattle. The shadows were part of her now, and she had sent them to be slaughtered.

Merrie leaned into Tamin as the tears began to flow. She could picture herself too easily in the same place. Screaming as her body burned away into black smoke, feeling the claws of the Lords digging into her soul, and that final ripping sensation as she was consumed. The Lords would feed on her soul and she had no doubt where there was four, there would be more.

(You aren't bound to the Shadows yet, Alpha. You are in no immediate danger from the Lords.)

Merrie looked up into his black eyes. They were endless pools, a shadow of the very being that would destroy her. And, for the briefest of moments, she realized Tamin knew something she didn't. (What?)

(The Shadows haven't claimed you yet, Alpha. Not completely. It tickles your thoughts and cools your body, but their claws aren't digging into your soul.)

She stopped in mid-step. (How do you know?)

(You bleed crimson, not black.) There was a sadness in his thoughts. Images welled up from her own memories: the stained ice underneath the spot of their lovemaking and the mattress after Rakin raped her.

(How do you...) She gulped. (Do you bleed black?)

Sadness rippled down the connection, a longing for something Tamin could never have again. (The Shadows flow through my veins, not blood.) The answer was as clear as if he said "yes".

She stopped crawling and stared at him. She knew that he wasn't alive anymore, but hearing the words in her head sunk her thoughts deeper. She wished, a small part of her at least, that she could delve into the despair and use that to fix everything. But, there was nothing she could do to save Tamin from his fate. He had died for her once and the Lord had brought him back to protect her.

Sniffing, Merrie wiped the tears from her face and pulled away from her dark thoughts. (I love you. You know that?)

(I love you, Alpha. With all my heart.)

She reached up and rubbed her cheek against his face. The cool sensation of his skin and short fur rasped against her skin. She smiled and kissed him on the nose and then the chin.

Without another thought, they continued down the path. Fluffy flakes of snow drifted down around them, caressing her skin before sliding off. They slowly dripped down her breasts and thighs, a small brand of her fading mortality.

But, the snow didn't melt off Tamin's short, black fur. By the time they reached their destination, snow dusted Tamin's head and back.

The inn was a large building right off the main road. It had a massive stable to one side and a kitchen large enough to feed an army. A wooden fence surrounded it and there were dozens of people standing in the door, drinking and chatting as they waited for the snow to fade or the drunken frivolity to begin.

Merrie reached out for them and scanned their thoughts but found nothing to worry about. There were some of her customers in the crowds, ones from the Meat Packing District and even one who spanked her over a banister a few weeks before Rakin. She smiled and her tail wagged faster with her rising hopes. Eolis always sent her to get fucked after meeting with him.

She found two guys lusting after one of the serving wenches and glaring at each other with jealousy. The woman in question had noticed both of them, but she was passing the hours of her shift by imagining both of them fucking each other. Merrie grinned and crafted a quick spell to push all three of them to meet up in the morning hours. Her smile grew as she felt it sinking into their minds. They were willing to do anything for her, they just didn't know how far they were willing to go.

Spreading out her senses, she scanned through the crowds looking for Eolis. When she didn't find him in the common room, she expanded it up and out until she caught the edge of Zeob's orgasm.

[i]He was bent over a heavy wooden table in the private rooms on the second floor. He had his legs spread apart as far as he could, but he couldn't get around Eolis' wide hips or even reach the thick legs of the table. Fortunately for him, Eolis' burning hot cock was long enough and thick enough to impale his ass no matter what position the thriban shoved him into.[i]

[i]Eolis grunted and yanked his cock out. The table scraped against the floor as Zeob shivered against the empty filling in his ass. He wanted to feel every ridge as Eolis' length slid back inside him. The air tickled his soaked insides. Eolis' pre-cum easily lubricated his hole despite the girth that filled him. It was part of thriban nature, but Zeob didn't think he could describe the wet feeling to anyone. It was as close as he could ever imagine being female.[i]

[i]"Damn that bitch!" The thriban slammed his cock. The swollen head popped past Zeob's sphincter and forced its way up into his guts. Every thick ridge rubbed against the tightly-stretched opening and Zeob had to bit down on his arm to avoid cry out loudly. They had to remain in secret, to keep their association with Merrie hidden.[i]

[i]Eolis pinned Zeob's hips to the table as he withdrew. The wet slurp filled the room and Zeob whimpered softly. He hated the empty feeling as his body grew accustomed to not having a thirty centimeter cock buried in his ass.[i]

[i]He lifted his hips, begging as silently as he could.[i]

[i]"I'm not going to stop, boy. That bitch's orgasm is still echoing in my head." He drove back into Zeob. The ridges dragged pleasurable along Zeob's tightly-stretched ring, filling him with the liquid heat of pleasure. The thrust ended with a powerful jerk that drove him into the top of the table and forced a gasp out of his lungs. It felt like Eolis' cock had driven clear to his lungs.[i]

Merrie realized she was burning hot with need. She squirmed at the sensation, aware that her pussy had grown slick with the shared sensations. She loved being fucked by large men---

(And hounds,) added Tamin.

She smiled and shoved him with her hip. He didn't move and she bounced off his heavily muscled furry side. With a flash of power, she cast a strength spell on herself and slammed him to the side.

As Tamin flew across the yard, she dove into the crowds. People stepped aside without knowing why, the shade spell shoving them back as she crossed the length of the floor and crawled up the stairs.

Behind her, Tamin panted as he raced after her. His mind radiated amusement as he easily caught up with her and passed her. His black body disappeared in the Shadows and she dove into the darkness after him.

They came up from underneath the table of the private room. Their bodies made no noise as they stared up between the legs of the thriban. The gray balls swung back and forth, each one the size of a full-grown human's fist. Wet slurps echoed against the walls and thick strands of pre-cum poured down off Eolis' cock and thighs. It splattered against the wooden floor and quickly formed a puddle of slick liquid.

Merrie held her breath as she stared at the powerful thighs moving. Eolis pounded Zeob's ass with hard, ceaseless strokes. The younger man couldn't even keep his toes on the ground, though he tried, and soon he was danging over the edge of the table held up by nothing more than cock and fucking.

Tamin settled down on his chest and watched, his tail wagging. She could feel the lust burning in his thoughts as he pictured himself in Eolis' place, fucking Zeob's ass until the young man screamed in ecstasy.

She wasn't far away, but she was picturing herself in Zeob's place. She wanted to feel the cock driving deep. Being able to watch his long, deep thrusts added to her heat.

Responding to her need, Tamin picked himself up and crawled over her. His paws rested on either side of her breasts as his back legs caressed her hips. Merrie lifted her ass up to his cock, knowing exactly where it would be.

Tamin slid into her rectum with a slick slurp inaudible through the splashing of Eolis' fucking. The heat and pressure brought a moan and she closed her eyes. Draping the idea of being Zeob and pretending it was Eolis mounting her, she shoved back.

The hound thrust hard, burying his length, and then pulled back. He gave a few more strokes and then accelerated until Tamin and Eolis were in perfect sync. When the thriban thrust deep, so did Tamin. The ridges scraped against her sphincter and his knot slammed against her. She pushed back, gasping with need.

They fucked in silence, moving in time with Eolis and Zeob. They were the two lover's shadow and it pushed Merrie into an orgasm. She bit down on her lip as she came, struggling to keep it inside her own head. It blossomed and spread out, pushing her into another orgasm and another.

Above her, Zeob let out a cry as he came. His cock splattered cum against the side of the table. His length was small compared to the two other males, but Eolis didn't care and Merrie didn't either. She watched the bright white cum splattering down and mixing in with the clear pre-cum.

Eolis and Tamin began to thrust powerfully with hard, erratic strokes. It shook both of their lover's bodies with the cruelty of a coming orgasm. Tamin's claws scraped against Merrie's shoulders as the hound moved with perfect synchronization; Merrie's telepathy bound him into mimicking ever movement.

They both came at the same time, two hard thrusts before exploding. Merrie gaped silently as she squeezed around the cock, feeling the swollen length pulsating deep inside her ass. She held it as tight as she could, shivering with the endless orgasms that ravaged her senses.

Eolis groaned as he pulled out. A few wet splatters of cum poured out from Zeob's gaping ass as the thriban staggered back. "That bitch needs to keep her orgasms in her own fucking head."

Zeob moaned and slipped off the table. He hit the puddle with a splash. For the briefest moment, there was a look of bliss on his face.

And then his eyes focused on her. He whimpered and then gasped, he staggered back. "Eolis!"

Eolis rushed forward, standing between Zeob and the table. He grabbed the edge and flipped it up. Merrie could feel the protective nature rising up from the thriban.

Tamin stood up, his cock bumping against Merrie's ass with a wet smack.

Eolis stared down for a moment and then a glare crossed his face. He pointed to the ground. "Sit!"

Merrie was already moving, responding to the command. She sat down as a flood of cum poured out of her ass. It dribbled down her buttocks before splashing on the ground. She giggled and relaxed, letting more of it pour out of her.

The thriban shook his head. "You were a bad girl."

She almost came. Her tail wagged twice before she draped it down, swirling it through the cum.

"You came, didn't you?"

She barked sheepishly, not ashamed but knowing she was about to get in trouble.

"How did you make me come? You can't affect dominate personalities."

Merrie thought about it for a moment. Years ago, she could only affect bitches. And then it was all submissives in the city. After the brutal rape with Rakin, she realized that even the most skilled dominate would eventually submit given enough time. Everyone had the streak of lust in them, the desire to submit. For those like Eolis, it was hidden, but she could feel it even in the thriban. (Everyone is submissive... at some point.)

All the color left Eolis' face. "Did I just hear what I thought I heard?" (She's getting more powerful every time.)

(Yes.)

(She can't know about---) Eolis' shields slammed down as he withdrew his thoughts. He grunted and looked away. "You were fucking just now, weren't you?"

Merrie brought her wrists up to her throat and barked.

Eolis chuckled and wiped his face. He grabbed a chair and sat down heavily on it, his dripping cock resting along his thigh. "You got me horny again, you know that?"

Another bark.

"You used to radiate orgasms at the fair. Does that mean you did the same an hour ago?"

She barked.

"How far?"

Merrie tried to project, but his shields were blocking her thoughts. She considered breaking into them, but something stopped her. He was tense with concern and he was preparing to fight her intrusion. She could see the fear in his eyes. Pulling back, she glanced over to Zeob who was mopping up the spilled lager with Tamin licking the floor clean.

Zeob jerked as she sent a thought across his mind. "S-She says the city."

Eolis peeked over at his lover and then to Merrie. She saw the threat in his eyes, he was worried about Zeob. "How far into the city?"

She sent a picture of what she saw.

Zeob stood up and tossed the rag. "I-I think the whole city. I saw even the royal palace lighting up."

Eolis moaned. "Damn, that's going to be hard to explain. You know, people don't like orgasms for no reason."

Merrie blushed.

"And, most people like a little foreplay before they spurt in their pants. So, keep it in your head. That's an order."

She shivered at the command. Enjoying the pleasure, she sent a thought through Zeob.

"She can't promise that, but she says she's gotten better."

"I know, I've heard the rumors." There was a pause as Eolis' eyes flashed. "I heard Rakin was arrested."

Merrie tensed and let out her breath. She barked.

Zeob padded up to Eolis with a wash cloth. Without saying anything, he knelt down between the thriban's legs. Merrie expected him to take it in his mouth, but Zeob surprised her by starting to gentle clean Eolis' length with the cloth. He was soft and tender, worshiping it with delicate fingers.

Jealousy rose up. Merrie couldn't do that, not with her missing hands. She watched sadly as the young man caressed each ball before wiping the hairs clean of the sheet of sweat and sex.

"Rumor has it that he kidnapped and tortured one of the Whore's Guild members. And attacked five other members of the guild in a battle that set the Meat Packing District on fire."

It was only a small fire, mostly from Scorch, but it was contained. The apartment and cafe were destroyed, but not from fire magic. Rakin's teleporation had torn out the supports on the building and it collapsed from being gutted.

She nodded.

"Was it you?"

Merrie didn't want to answer. She didn't take pride in the broken man that almost bled to death on the floor. Even when the guards were taking him away, the dead look in Rakin's eyes haunted her. She sighed and looked away.

"Don't answer. I'm glad you're safe."

Merrie nodded as the tears burned in her eyes. She felt like a monster, just like Rakin, for destroying the shadow creatures. She didn't try to stop them, but being reminded of what she did to the man brought sadness welling up in her thoughts.

(You won because you are the Alpha,) Tamin's thoughts interrupted her own falling mood.

(But, I'm an Alpha. I should have been submissive.)

(You are the Alpha, you are in charge. You are the master of me and nothing will ever break you.)

She smiled and sent a wave of love across the connection.

Eolis stroked Zeob's face. "Good boy," he whispered.

Zeob beamed and kissed the tip of the glistening shaft.

"Now, get dressed and send down that order. I'm sure," Eolis' gaze drifted to Tamin's slick cock, "the hound and I would like some meat. Fucking is hard work."

Tamin sat up and let his tongue hang out of the side of his jaw. He barked once and wagged his tail.

Eolis chuckled and helped Zeob up. With a grin, he smacked Zeob's ass. "Go on."

As soon as Zeob left the room, Eolis turned to Merrie. He worried his jaw for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "Next winter, I'm having some... friends over. I expect you to spend the week with them, okay? It will be a rough week, but I will make it worth your while."

Merrie tensed up. He was hiding something from her. She could see it in his eyes. Reaching out, she pushed her mind toward his but encountered his shields. She barked in agreement as she began to explore it, trying to find a crack to pierce it.

He wasn't protected by his normal shields. Eolis' mind was tough, like leather, but the shields that draped over his mind were crystalline and smooth, like a sphere that would be almost impossible to crack. She tried with a sharp thrust, but it slid off the mental protections.

"I brought another thirty thousand marks. It is in my bag over there." He gestured to a bag in the corner.

Merrie sent her cloak to recover the money. It flowed across the floor before engulfing the bag. She could feel it plucking through the contents, removing a diamond ring and some cash before grabbing the envelope. She forced it to leave the ring behind before summoning it back.

Eolis shuddered. "That's scary every time I see that."

Merrie cocked her head and grinned.

"I'm really glad to see you survived Rakin. Though, you don't look like you were tortured."

Merrie gestured to the scratches Tamin left on her. She shifted into hound form and back again, erasing any signs that she was just mounted by her hound.

"You learned Dixie's trick, didn't you? That boy could recover from being disemboweled if he could change shape."

She barked and wagged her tail.

There was a knock and Zeob slipped in. "S-Sorry, but there's a problem."

Eolis turned. "A problem?"

"There are a bunch of armed men in the yard. It looks like a mob of some sort."

Growling, Eolis stood up. "That could be a problem. Do you know what they are doing?"

"Looking for a woman who was attacked in the woods. She was being chased by a black wolf or something. The guy in charge things she was really hurt and some farmers said there was blood everywhere."

As Eolis slowly turned toward Merrie, she blushed hotly. With a whimper, she gave him a sheepish grin and drooped her ears.

"You?"

She barked quietly and drooped her ears and tail, giving him her best sheepish look.

Eolis slumped his shoulders and shook his head. "Bad girl."

Merrie shivered at the words.

He turned to his lover. "Think we can sneak out? I can't be seen here, not while I'm still a tax collector."

"I'm not sure, maybe. The guy in charge is really, really good at organizing people. They look like they are ready to go. But the waitress said that he only showed up ten minutes ago."

She perked up at the description. Reaching out, she delved through Zeob's memories.

[i]The man stood at the entrance of the inn. He had broad shoulders but the large scythe caught Zeob's attention. It looked dangerous and violent.[i]

Merrie shivered. She knew the man. It was Gillette.

[i]Gillette held out his hands as he pleaded to the crowds. "Look, I'm only looking for some volunteers. For two, maybe three hours. I have fifty men already combing the woods, but there is a woman out there who is injured and probably dying. We have to do something."[i]

She knew that men would join in. She saw it a hundred times as the hunter convinced even injured people to join in his fight against the Shadows. And now, he was trying to rescue her without realizing it was nothing more than play.

Merrie got on her knees and then her wrists.

"Where are you going?" asked Eolis.

She gestured down toward the common room and then stepped into the Shadows. It only took her a heartbeat before she was in the yard of the inn. Around her, there were twenty men and women strapping on weapons and getting ready to go out into the night. She took the afterglow of her orgasm and cast a domination spell, freezing each of them in their place.

In silence, she crossed the yard to Gillette who was the only one still moving. He finished strapping on his gloves and turned around. "Okay, ready to..." His voice trailed off as he looked across the still yard.

Merrie stopped in front of him and got on her knees. Her cloak wrapped around her body, the hole sliding to her belly right above her sex. She brought her wrists up to her throat and held it there. She released the shade spell and drew his attention to her.

Gillette's eyes lowered to her. When his eyes caught hers, he jerked. "Gods!" Gasping, he thumped his chest as if to remind it how to beat. After a few moments of deep breathes, he chuckled weakly. "You surprised me."

She wagged her tail.

"If you're here, I assume that the black wolf was a creature of the Shadows? Are you still defeating them?"

[i]He stood in the empty door of his home. It had been months since he saw the living room of the house he grew up in. He took a long, deep breath to drink in the familiar smells of home. There was a pang of loneliness, a reminder that he was terribly alone. When he exhaled, he closed his eyes in despair. It wasn't home anymore. After months of purging the Shadowed District of evil, he didn't belong there. He sighed and dropped his bags inside the door. With a shrug, the giant scythe tapped as it leaned against the wall. One night, he promised, and then he would return to Franome City. There had to be Shadows to destroy somewhere. He found his calling.[i]

Merrie nodded and drooped her ears. She projected with regret, (It was me and my hound. But, we're okay.)

Gillette glanced up at the still crowd. Snow drifted down around him, landing on the scythe and melting. The droplets of water ran down the blade before gathering on the tip. "Some farmers saw you and they thought you were in danger. There are over fifty men looking for you already."

(I'm sorry.)

He pulled out a black pendant. It sparkled for a moment and then lifted in the air. Instead of dangling, it lifted up until it was pointing straight at her. "There was a burst of Shadow magic a while later. I thought something was coming through."

(Destroyed.) She didn't tell him what destroyed them.

Gillette tugged on the pendant. It continued to pull toward her. "You're a creature of Shadows too, aren't you?"

She thought about Tamin's words. (Almost.)

"Why are you killing them then? You don't act evil."

She sighed to herself and rubbed the snow from her face. (Not all Shadows are evil. Some are... I made mistakes. My master was killed and I was alone. It brought... I brought myself to a dark place.)

"The Shadowed District?"

She sent a wave of sad acknowledgment.

Gillette seemed to notice the pendant again. He shoved it into his pocket. "But, you helped purge it. We all make mistakes, some more than others, but it's what you do to pay for them that makes you a man... woman."

His words slashed deep. She lowered her head and felt ashamed. It wasn't playful or teasing like being called a "bad girl" but the reminder that so many people were hurt by her actions.

"Are these people safe?"

(Yes. I'm holding them still so we can talk.)

"I need to call off the search. It's going to hit my reputation pretty badly, being this is my first job as a professional hunter. So, release them and be gentle?"

She barked. (These people won't remember.)

"You can do that?"

She smiled and barked again.

Gillette shook his head. "What does that mean? The barking."

(It means, 'Yes,') she said with a soft smile. She released her spell, erasing the memories of the last few minutes from their thoughts.

The crowds returned to their drinks and chatting as if nothing had changed. Casually, they slipped out of their armor and travel outfits. They set down their weapons to be forgotten until they left.

Gillette stepped closer to her, kneeling down until he was almost at her level. "Thank you. I'll call off the search for the people in the woods, but you owe me one."

Merrie cocked her head.

"A creature of the Shadow or not, I saw you destroy the Reaper that night. If you are willing to push back the darkness, I would be a fool not to ask for a favor." He grinned sheepishly, "I'm kind of new to this and I'd love to have a heavy hitter when I bite off more than I can swallow. What do you say?" He smiled, "Willing to help me in a pinch?"

Merrie thought for a moment. He helped erase her biggest mistake. She barked and wagged her tail.

Gillette reached out for her head. He hesitated, centimeters above her ears.

She reached up so his palm rested on her head.

"Thank you..."

(Call me Shades.)

"Thank you, Shades. I won't ever forget this."

It was dark on the balcony and everything had a thin sheen of dust over it. She could see through the shadows easily and looked around curiously. The balcony was large enough for six people to sit, but there was only two chairs. Both were large and well-padded, with heavily carved arms and legs depicting the World Tree and the royal seals. On both sides of each chair were matching end tables, covered in a few leather-bound books that showed no signs of being touched for months, if not years.

Merrie didn't know the place and she had no memory of it from her master's memory. Very few thieves ever made it to the Royal Courts and those who did were usually down on the main floor, with the judges passing sentence on them.

She crawled over the railing and peered down. The court hall was a large room arranged like a music hall. Five banks of a hundred chairs were spread out in a hemisphere with everyone looking at a stone platform in the center. In front of the platform was a large stone table wide enough for five judges to preside over court cases. The table glowed with protective magic and there was no subtlety in the runes that decorated it. It was a reminder that judges were untouchable, by magic or sword or psychics.

For minor crimes, which rarely made it to the Royal Court, only one judge would be sitting behind the table. For rulings that impacted the entire country or crimes against royalty, there would be five. For Rakin, three chairs were set out but no one sat in them.

About a third of the chairs surrounding the platform were filled. People sat reading books or working on notes. A few chatted among themselves with casual boredom. All of them were waiting patiently for the trial of the century: Rakin's. He was scheduled to appear in an hour, but those waiting wanted good seat to watch him weasel out of his crimes.

On the far side of the hall, Merrie spotted Kirin standing in a long jacket that was only buttoned enough to shield her cock from public view. Nir and Scorch sat behind her, lost in each other's eyes. Elf, Pristine, and Monk milled around, talking quietly to themselves.

Elf was wearing more clothes than Merrie had ever seen before, but the colors on the shirt and trousers were almost blinding. They looked like a thousand butterflies sewn together. And he still wore his wings.

Pristine wore a floor-length, sheath dress that she used for the days when she was an escort. It was a trifle fancy for court, but it looked good on her. It also had a slit up the side clear to her breasts that would let it be pulled open to expose as much as her customer wanted. The only thing that shielded her from indecency was a single black thread at her hips. Every time she moved, she gave tantalizing glimpses of her bare thigh and the curve of her bare sex.

The only one who dressed normally was Monk. The mage remained in his red robes and matching cloth over his eyes. He never changed, as far as Merrie could tell, but she didn't spend much time to know if he has a thousand identical outfits or somehow kept it clean in other ways.

Kirin ordered Merrie to remain out of sight and silent for the trial. After she was rescued, a court recorder illustrated the damage done to her. Two seers observed the process to certify it. But, the lawyers and Kirin both felt that Merrie's cropping would confuse the public, but not the judges. So, the illustrations of her bloody, beaten body would remain under seal and only seen by the judges to make their final decisions. And the perverts who managed to get into the sealed records.

Merrie was comfortable missing her hands and feet, but the others were afraid that she could come off as begging to be beaten and tortured. She didn't understand how the two were related, just because she was a whore and missing her hands didn't automatically mean she wanted to be raped and tortured. Though, in her case, the real problem was that the line between rape and consent blurred more than almost any living being in the city.

She blushed. The submissive part of her still craved Rakin's brutality or Tamin's ferocity. But, she was content to remain hidden. The shadows were her home and her name a secret. She crawled into the corner of the balcony and the railing and let the shade drape over her. She needed to watch, there was no way Kirin could stop her, but she could do it from an abandoned balcony above the trial.

As if sensing Merrie was thinking about her, Kirin suddenly looked around. Slowly, her gaze lifted as she scanned the balconies that surrounded the great hall. A moment later, her eyes slid past Merrie before she turned around. A moment later, she shrugged and returned her attention to Elf and Pristine. Sipping her glass, she stepped over and joined in the conversation.

"Natalie!"

Merrie looked up as a man and woman came rushing down the aisle toward Nir. She had seen them before, they were in Nir's nightmares since the day she ran away from home. Her mother, Dulcia, was in the lead, arms held out widely as if she was a loving mother desperately missing her girl.

Nir screamed out into her pillow as her mother held her shoulders down. The woman's hands were twisted around Nir's nightgown, tightening it around her neck as she struggled to keep her down. "Come on, baby," slurred her mother, "just let your daddy show you a good time. He's going to make you a real woman. And then we can all be a happy family." The stench of alcohol was thick on her mother's breath and it burned the back of Nir's throat.

She tried to kick out as her father grabbed her ankles and forced them apart. Her tears were ignored as he crawled up between them, his cock already dripping with excitement.

Merrie could feel the real reason behind Dulcia's desire to reconnect to her daughter. Dulcia had seen Nir as a nuisance and an embarrassment. She didn't miss Nir since she ran away and was thankful that she didn't have to care for the young girl. Even on the days she saw Nir huddling in the cold, coughing violently, she just smiled and continued shopping.

But, when Rakin's attack became news and the gossip burned across in the city, Natalie's name came up. Suddenly, the daughter that she couldn't wait to get rid of was famous. And Dulcia saw the opportunity to get her fifteen minutes of fame. She was already planning her tear-filled, dramatic speeches against the evil of the fallen count.

Merrie felt sick to her stomach. At least Rakin had just beaten and raped her. He was forward and honest with his desires. Dulcia, on the other hand, wanted to use her daughter for her own desires, just like letting her husband rape her daughter to rekindle their relationship.

"Oh, my baby girl! My poor baby girl!" Dulcia held out her hand as she rushed around the last few chairs. Her somber dress fluttered behind her and her heels clicked on the floor.

Nir saw her mother and cringed. With a whimper, she clutched Scorch's arm and ducked behind him. The fear radiating out from her mind sickened Merrie even more.

Gathering up her energy, Merrie started to craft a domination spell to get rid of the detestable woman.

Kirin looked up sharply at her, staring directly into Merrie's eyes. There was no question that the guild mistress could see Merrie despite the shade protecting her. Kirin shook her head once.

Merrie let the spell go, her heart thumping. She didn't think anyone could see her. But, the guild mistress surprised her more than a few times.

Kirin held up her glass of wine and winked. As Dulcia came rushing up, she stepped to the side to block the woman's path.

Dulcia skidded to a halt. She stood there for a moment, tapping her feet. When Kirin didn't respond, she tapped the taller woman on the shoulder. "Get out of my way, my daughter needs me."

Kirin turned to Dulcia, a glare burning in her golden eyes. Magic rose up from her body, an invisible wall of Presence. It surrounded the three guild members standing between Dulcia and her cowering daughter. "Excuse me? Your daughter?"

"Yes, my daughter." Dulcia pointed accusingly at Nir.

With a whimper, Nir jerked back behind Scorch. Her fingers dug into his arm as she shook her head. "No, no," she whimpered, "don't make me go with her."

Scorch patted her thigh comfortingly. Then, when that didn't work, he slid his hand up her thigh until she tensed. He pulled back and shifted his body so Nir could only see Dulcia over his shoulder through the haze of heat rising from his body.

Nir clutched to him tightly, her fingers white, and hid behind his body. The tears continued to roll down, splashing on his chest.

A pair of butterflies fluttered across the great hall to land on Elf's head.

Kirin's face showed no expression as she glanced over at Nir and then back to Dulcia. "You mean Nir?"

"Her name," spat Dulcia, "is Natalie! Not that name you whores gave her!" Her voice rose up above the din and people looked up with confusion.

Nir's father looked around nervously. He was an older man with a sagging gut but a thick head of hair. Merrie had seen him a thousand time in Nir's nightmares, always looming over the girl as he forced her legs apart or her down to her knees.

Merrie pulled her lip back in a snarl. She wanted to do something after spending so many nights holding the young girl as she sobbed. But, Kirin glanced up at her before returning her attention to the offended woman in front of her.

"You mean," she said in a low voice, "the girl you raped?"

Dulcia blanched. "I did no such thing!"

Kirin swirled the ever-present glass of wine. "Really?" The corner of her lip rose up. She gestured to the stone platform. As she did, her coat opened up to reveal her nearly naked body hidden underneath. "Willing to prove it?"

"W-What do you mean?" The anger faltered for just a moment, a brief flash of honest in Dulcia's face.

"There's a truth spell up on that platform. One lie and it lights up. So, just walk up there and repeat what you just said. Tell everyone that you didn't hold her down on the bed as your husband raped her."

Dulcia glared at Kirin, her face growing purple with anger.

"You make that announcement," Kirin's voice was low but her anger was evident even to Merrie, "in a whisper if you want, and you can have your little girl back."

"I-I will do no---"

Kirin leaned forward. Merrie had to reach out with her senses, listening through Elf's ears to hear the whisper. "You don't deserve a wonderful daughter like Natalie. She is sweet and wonderful---"

"I know, she's my daught---""

"She's in the Guild now. If you come for her, Dulcia Mirson, you better come with lawyers and guards. I don't take ultimatums and I don't do threats. If you come for her, you better bring everything you have, from magic to the gods above. Because," she paused as Elf and Pristine shifted to stand behind her, "I won't hold back to defend my guild from people like you."

"Y-You... bitch...."

"And I promise you this: there will be blood and violence. And then I will drag your beaten body up to that platform and make you tell the whole world what you and that pathetic man did. And you won't be whispering when I do it."

Nir's father stepped back, his face pale. He shook his head before spinning on his heels and stumbling toward the door.

Kirin continued, her voice almost a hissing growl, "And that little moment of fame you want? That will come as you are chained to the wagon before being sent to Abbinkey."

Dulcia's slap cracked the air. She held her arm up and a tremor coursed along her body.

Kirin didn't even flinch with the red mark on her cheek. With a smile, she rested her fingertips on her cheek. "Honey, you're going to have to hit a lot harder if you want to get a rise out of me. I've fucked a demon horse on a bet."

"You bitch!" Dulcia reared back to strike again.

There was an explosion of air next to Kirin and Dulcia. The impact of it knocked over chairs and kicked up a cloud of dust. It raced along the hall. As the shock wave hit the pedestal, a shimmering wall of force speared up in a column of light. Almost instantly later, another shield appeared in front of the judge's table to protect the judges from the blast.

Merrie stood up, a spell rising in her mind in concern. From the shadows, Tamin stirred and stalked over in preparation to attack from the darkness.

When the dust cleared, there was a figure in full plate armor holding Dulcia's wrist with one gauntlet and a large-bladed spear in the other. The armor was steel etched to look like bark and colored dark green. Instead of the classic visor, it was a solid crystal plate with etching that resembled veins of a leaf. The armor had been shaped for a woman, with two rounded breasts and slightly wider hips.

Engraved on the chest was the symbol of Franome and on the forehead was the symbol of the Royal Army, the elite guards of the country and the most powerful combat mages known across the continent. Energy crackled along the armor and the power flickered in the green surface of her armor.

"Loyal Alestri says stop," said the warrior with a crystalline voice. It carried out over the din, instantly silencing the room. Merrie felt waves of Presence radiating from the fighter, an inescapable demand to pay attention to her command. She shivered as she felt the lure of power drawing her. She wanted to obey the woman, even knowing it was a mind control spell that forced her.

Merrie had never seen a Loyal, one of the highest ranks of knights in the country. At the bottom ranks were the Trusts and Vigilant, like Fang and Tai. They numbered in the thousands, but the Loyals in the country could be counted with one hand.

Dulcia yanked at her hand, trying to pull it out from the green steel. "That woman stole my daughter!"

Kirin pointed to the platform. "Go on, get up there. Just one little phrase and you can have her back." Unlike Dulcia, she kept her voice low. "I'm not stopping you, Dulcia."

"I want her arrested!" screamed Dulcia as she yanked her hand back. "I'm demanding full charges for kidnapping and abuse!"

Behind Merrie, the door to the balcony creaked open. She tore her attention away from screaming and tightened the shade over her. Pressing her body against the wall, she looked over her shoulder.

"Why does all the royal places smell nasty?" muttered a younger man as he pushed open the door. "Has anyone cleaned this place?" He was in his mid-twenties, with a closely-cropped beard and bright blue eyes. He was dressed in a simple outfit of a embroidered button-down shirt and trousers. He was also wrapped in a field of Presence, but it felt different than anything Merrie had ever seen before. It didn't feel like magic but just a raw, almost physical, sense of leadership and entitlement.

"You'll get used to it, sire," said a bored-sounded older man. The second man was dressed in a black suit just one step from being made of pure Shadow. His shoes shimmered even in the dim light and he had a black tie neatly pressed against the line of buttons. He reached out for the door and took the handle; Merrie noticed he wore black kidskin gloves.

She recognized the younger man. It was one of the princes of Franome, Claston Pador. He was third in line for the throne behind his two sisters, Dinneia and Pitia.

Her master and Rimmy were standing at the Claston's party along the wall where the candles left a flickering pool of shadows. Both watched the prince as he strolled through the crowds, flanked by two warriors in green plate armor.

Rimmy giggled and took a swig of her drink. "So, what did you steal?" Her voice was a bit slurred from too much alcohol.

"I got this," her master said as he brandished a bottle of wine. "Let's see, it's a... Yurik Gold 778. That's expensive right?"

/Rimmy's eyes narrowed and then she was holding it. "Damn, that's impressive. On the market, it's about three or four thou."

He grinned. "Beat that, bitch." But his smile faded when Rimmy smiled broadly back.

"Really? Are you sure?" Rimmy licked her lips.

"What you'd steal? Come on."

"You're going to buy me something nice, right?"

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, if you win. And you're going to blow me when I beat you. But, come on. Show me."

With a flourish, Rimmy tossed him a piece of cloth. He caught it and looked at it, frowning for a moment as he tried to identify it. Flipping it cover, he caught the sewn flap on one side. "It... it's underwear."

"The prince's."

His hand shook for a moment. "How did you steal someone's underwear? That's not possible." He glanced over at the prince, watching carefully.

Claston continued to stroll across the room, raising his glass and watching the people swirl around him in their elegant suits and dresses. But, between one step and the other, he discretely adjusted his crotch and lifted his leg. He frowned and groped his crotch again, then looked up with a blush.

Rimmy stepped closer. "I want something expensive and dark. Something I can take into the Shadows with us," she kissed his ear, "Kine."

He shivered at his real name. She almost never used it, in fear someone was listened. Someone was always listening. His cock grew hard with his thoughts and the intimacy of her voice. "The..." He swallowed to continue talking, "The only thing that will go with us is shadow stone."

But, she had already faded into the darkness.

"If we never use this thing, why do we keep it?"

The older man closed the door behind him. "Tradition," came the bored response. "We are also here because the Royal Family is the balance on the opposite side of the courts. Where they must follow the laws by the letter, the crown is the force that provides change when the letter no longer fits the crime."

"Boz," Claston said, "there were a lot of words in there and I didn't hear an answer I understood." He stretched and Merrie noticed that while he wasn't heavily muscled, the prince was lean and graceful. He had scars on his hands from fencing and she could sense protective magic coursing through his body. His shields, when she probed, was like hitting a brick wall.

"If you feel that Mard Rakin's punishment is too weak or too extreme, you have the right to change it as you see fit."

Claston stopped for a long moment, and then leaned against the carved wall. "Seriously? Doesn't that mean I can pardon anyone? Or have him executed?"

"Yes, sire. That is your right."

"Then why do we have the law?"

"For when royalty doesn't intervene."

He shook his head. "Why am I here then? Why isn't mum? I'm not even close to getting the crown. I can't handle this."

"The Crowned Queen is currently occupied with more pressing matters."

"You mean she's being eaten out by that army of servants that wear less clothes than my sisters. All those rug munchers in one room."

Boz paused delicately. "It would not do to be so crude in public."

Claston snorted and gestured to the empty balcony. "Public? No one is listening."

"Given your new duties," Boz pressed the door as if to make sure it was shut, "I highly recommend that you learn that your perceptions are not truth. There are always spies in the dark just as there are assassins around corners."

Merrie squirmed for a moment. The Shadows were always listening.

The prince snorted again. "You make it sound like I'm important, Boz. I'm not. I have two, very competent, sisters who will take the crown long before me. I'm just the little brother."

"Even the smallest nail can save the war."

Claston moaned as he circled around one of the carved chairs. He sank down on it. "That's Geot, isn't it?"

"Very good, sire. You weren't sleeping during that lesson."

Waving the dust from the air in front of his face, Claston thumped the cushion. Another cloud of dust rose up. "Maybe we should have them clean this place again."

"I will have it ordered, sire. But it will have to happen after Rakin's trial. Otherwise it would be... rude."

Claston leaned back, lifting his body enough to look over the back of the chair. "Then, grab me some wine? If I'm going to listen to Rakin's trial, I might as well be hammered."

Merrie smirked.

"The bulk of the investigations are over. This will be less than an hour."

"Make it two bottles. Something strong."

Boz bowed. "Very well, sire. Be safe." He turned and opened the door.

"Boz?"

The suited man stopped. "Yes, sire?"

"I don't have to say anything, right? Rakin can't ask me to, can he?"

Boz inclined his head as he stroked the side of the door. "It is his right to ask."

"What do I say?" Claston sounded frightened for a moment, "I've never done this. Mum never showed me. What if I screw up?"

"You'll do fine. Just trust yourself, sire. There is a noble prince in there... somewhere." Boz closed the door behind him.

Claston got up and thumped into the other cushion, coughing from the cloud of dust. "... there's a noble prince in me. Yeah, shut the fuck up." He sighed and glanced around the room. "There's no one here, Boz."

Merrie smirked as a thrill of watching rose up inside her. He couldn't see her and the rush left tingles coursing along her skin. She pressed her thighs together, feeling the heated moisture rising up from the sense of power. Her master did the same thing as he was growing up, stroking his cock as he watched the world passing by the shadows. Thousands of people unaware they were being watched.

She turned to peer back out the balcony. On the floor, Dulcia and the armored knight were not visible. The guild members were gathered around Nir, who sat on a chair with a pale face and tears streaming down her face. She was bent over her legs, holding her face. Her shoulders shook with her sobbing.

Scorch sat next to her, trying to hold her but he had a stricken look on his face. Merrie let her senses drift across his, not surprised by the rage and anger that boiled beneath his thoughts. He loved Nir with all his heart, but he couldn't say the words. And he hated that he couldn't stop her tears.

"Scorchy-poo, trust me." Elf sat on the edge of Scorch's bed, his weight sinking the corner down as the large man batted playfully at the butterflies around him. His eyes were unfocused from the afterglow of submission and his hairy ass was red. "Just do it."

Scorch groaned and rubbed his eyes. He glanced over to the clock and then back to Elf. "It's two in the morning, Elf. Why is this important?"

Elf smiled and held up his fingers. A butterfly landed on it and began to glow red, casting the small room with a hellish glow. "Because she loves you. And, if you bothered to listen to your heart, you'd know it too."

As the words sunk in, Scorch felt very uncomfortable. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The larger man's eyes twinkled as he smiled at Scorch. "Yes, you do."

Scorch said nothing.

"Get her a ring and just ask. She won't say no. All of us know it, but that sweet girl needs you to ask."

"Can't you or Barrel just find me a good one? You're both good at the jewelry thing."

Elf stood up. A few butterflies flew off his shoulders and head and out the door. "It wouldn't mean as much if I did. Put your heart into it, Scorchy, and she'll set you on fire." He patted Scorch on the thigh and gave him a strong squeeze. "Just remember that and you'll be fine."

At the door, Elf stopped. "She does like rubies though."

"I thought she liked red gold."

Elf giggled. "The two go together, you know. Fire and sweetness. You might need to get a few lessons from Barrel though. To avoid getting rolled. The boy knows a lot about these things. And he has a lot of marks that are jewelers. He'll send you in the right direction."

"Elf?"

"Yes, cutie?"

"Why do you care?"

Another smile and a butterfly fluttered out the door. "Because I love both of you."

Merrie smiled as the memories rolled through Scorch's head. She probed deeper and found that he had the ring in his pocket. It had been there for over a month. Every moment in silence, he agonized over proposing but he was afraid of the answer. It tore at him, but he struggled with his own fears.

Seeing Nir sobbing, Scorch wanted to do something. He knew that Kirin and the law wouldn't let him attack Dulcia. He wanted to burn her to the ground, to destroy her after what she did to her own daughter.

Merrie remembered her master as he fretted over the same decision. But, it was the shadow stone ring that he held in his hand instead of the golden ring in Scorch's pocket. She shifted slightly and her cloak plucked out the ring, holding the pitch black up for her to see. Every time she looked at it, she was swarmed with memories of that night. The ring was love and passion and death and horror. She smiled and kissed it before putting it back.

Turning her attention back, she watched as Scorch was torn watching his love sobbing in front of him. She knew the answer like she did for her own master. With a soft though, she let it drift through his mind. (She won't say no.)

Scorch jerked. Blanching, he looked around sharply.

"Scorchy?" Elf whispered as he came closer. "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm..." Scorch was torn. He wanted to propose right then and there, to erase the horror of Nir's mother and to prove he was going to be there for Nir, for the rest of their lives. But, it wasn't romantic, it wasn't the perfect time. He looked up and noticed Kirin discretely watching him.

"Scorchy?"

Scorch looked at his friend helplessly. He toyed with the ring in his pocket, caressing over the ridges. It was set in the design of a flower that reminded him of one that Nir wore the first night they had dinner together.

Elf turned to his back was to Nir and leaned over to Scorch. He kissed Scorch's shoulder. There was a faint smile on his lips. "Just think of it as the first time you blew someone. Just, take a deep breath and swallow."

Scorch glared at Elf who blew him a kiss. Taking a deep breath, he stepped away from Elf and up to Nir.

Nir lifted her eyes up to him, tears still running down her cheeks. "Why did she come back? I don't want to go home. She can't make me, can she?"

He fumbled with the words for a moment, his stomach twisting and knotting inside him. With tears in his own eyes, he pulled out the ring and knelt down in front of her.

Her mouth opened in shock as she stared.

"Y-You don't have to ever go back to her."

Pristine let out a soft gasp and Elf began to cry loudly.

"Nir, my Nir, will you---"

"Yes," she whispered.

Scorch blushed. "Um, could I finish?"

Nir was sobbing again, but there were tears in her eyes. "O-Okay."

"Will you..." He had a thousand things he wanted to say, all of them more poetic when they were in his head. He couldn't say them. His throat was dry and his mind empty. With a groan, he said, "Fuck it. Marry me?"

"Y-Yes, of course," she whispered as she threw herself into his arms. The ring fell out of Scorch's hands but Pristine caught it before it hit the ground. She flipped it over and discretely set it down on Nir's arms, not the girl noticed as she peppered Scorch's face with kisses.

The other members of the guild were smiling and Elf was bawling with happiness. He grabbed a butterfly fluttering around him and used it as a handkerchief before grabbing another.

Merrie smiled and felt sympathetic tears welling in her eyes.

"Fuck me," said Claston only centimeters away from Merrie. He leaned over the railing as he stared. "Did someone just propose? In the Royal Court? Apparently the guy hasn't heard of romance. Maybe he's Rakin... no, he would be in chains. No..." his voice trailed off as he leaned on his elbows and peered over the railing. His eyes, a bright brown, grew unfocused. A moment later, he snapped his fingers and he gasped. "Scorch!" He beamed to himself. "I remember now. That means that the girl is Natalie Mirson. No magic skills herself but she ran away from home a few years ago. And Rakin tried to kidnap her but she was rescued by... someone." He chuckled. "Mum makes it look so easy." He stood up with a broad smile. "Okay, so if that is Scorch and Nir, that would be... Pristine, a former royal guard." His eyes came into sharp focus. "Fuck, I remember her. She used to be one of mum's. Damn, she's still hot."

Merrie glanced up at the prince and back down. Nir was still kissing Scorch but the others were getting anxious to congratulate both of them. Merrie worried her lip for a moment and then send a brief thought toward both of them to remind them that others wanted to join in the celebration.

Nir jerked and looked up. "Oh, I'm sorry." She pulled herself free and flung herself at Kirin. "Thank you!"

Scorch, face as red as his flames, stood up. And then yelped as Elf grabbed him in a bear hug and picked him off the ground. He tried to hug Elf back, but the large man was spinning him around and squealing.

"Lucky bastard," muttered Claston, "at least he gets to choose who he loves. I'm betrothed to a woman who won't come of age for another year." He turned toward Merrie as he headed for his chair, but then stopped.

Merrie felt a tingle of fear course along her skin, as if something was poised to attack her. She lifted her attention up to see Claston staring directly at her. With a gasp, she realized her shade had somehow dropped with her concentration on Scorch's internal struggle to propose. She yelped and drew the shadows around her, stepping across with a frantic burst of energy.

The shadow of Claston stumbled back, falling to the ground. She couldn't hear him but she could tell he was yelling out for help. His hand flailed around, protecting against an attack that never came.

There was an explosion of energy as the armored knight appeared in the room. The protective energies of the armor were visible even in the Shadows. It warped the darkness and peeled it back with a golden flame in the shape of the armor.

Merrie's heart thumped painfully in her ears as she watched the knight inspect the balcony. Energies flared around her as her visor glowed. And then the woman was looking into the Shadows. The visor was pure white and a beam of energy stretched out like a spear.

Terrified, Merrie ducked through the wall as the light swung toward her. It pierced the shadows and even cut through the walls and floor. Merrie threw herself underneath it and held her breath as it cut through the dark above her.

A moment later, the female knight's vision came swinging back but a meter higher. Merrie whimpered as she cowered against the shadows of another chair in the adjoining balcony. She clutched the side as she watched the magical vision spread out for a moment before fading away.

(Are you safe, Alpha?)

Merrie trembled as she stared at the wall. She couldn't see into the balcony with the prince, but her brush with the knight had knotted her stomach. She felt sick and wanted to throw up. (Y-Yes, but I need to move.)

Tamin sent an image of another balcony on the far side of the hall. (This appears to be abandoned.)

Glancing back, Merrie transformed into a hound and raced around the upper floor of the court hall, past dozens of doors leading to privacy balconies before she came up to the one Tamin pointed out. Stepping through the door, she looked around before letting out a long sigh of relief.

Tamin panted from the corner. (You smell like prey.) He was amused and his thoughts were tinged with lust.

Merrie crawled over and licked his face before returning to her human form. She settled down next to his form and let the Shadows fade away. The second balcony wasn't as comfortable as the first, but the hard floor felt safer than being near the prince.

She watched the knight and the prince as they spoke for a moment. Then the knight guided the prince out of the room. Merrie shook her head and leaned into Tamin. (That was close.) She giggled.

(I'll protect you.)

(I'd rather not find out what an Alpha and her shadow hound could do against one of the most powerful fighters in the country. Best to run away.)

(Why aren't you still running?)

Merrie looked down at the balcony. The seats were almost filled. Two of the judges, both older men, were already sitting. The third second, on the right, remained empty. Four guards, all in green armor, stood surrounding the pedestal. None of them were the royal guard, but they were still impressive-looking. (Because of Rakin.)

"Listen, Boz," the prince's voice came drifting through the door and Merrie tensed, "I'm telling you, it wasn't an assassin. I mean, she was naked! And she was... on her hands and knees. No... she didn't have hands. I mean, I didn't see hands."

"Loyal Alestri is quite insistent. We will quietly move, sire, and maybe not attract any attention. I have notified the seneschal of our new location, but he will keep secrets." Their voices grew softer as they walked past the door.

Merrie let out a sigh of relief.

The door to a balcony two down opened and Claston shuffled in. With a mutter, he sank down on the chair. "At least these aren't dusty."

"Your wine, sire. But, if you are seeing things, I recommend---"

"Thanks, Boz. Go away," snapped Claston.

"Yes, sire."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything stupid."

A moment later, the door squeaked as it opened. "Um, sire, you're about to have guests."

"Guests? Who?"

"Baron Falon, loosely affiliated with Rakin's properties in the south and a well-known horse racer. And then many others."

"Falon? What does he want?"

"I'm guessing to request you pardon Rakin."

"Why? Why would he ask."

"Influence and favors, the blood of politics. Mard Rakin still retains a great deal of power in this world and many are looking to choose sides. Being responsible for his safety would give some basis for Rakin owing Falon a favor."

Claston swore under his breath. "Are there going to be a lot of these?"

"I suspect about thirty or forty of them in the next hour."

"Is this why mum isn't here, right?"

"See? Already learning your new role. Don't worry, the Loyal is outside the door. If anyone gives you trouble or if you see any puppy girls---"

"She wasn't a puppy, Boz. I mean... what?"

"Sorry, sire. You mentioned a naked woman with dogs ears and a tail. There are some nobility that have an interest in that specific fetish. It is called pet play and there are a number of groups here in the city that find that... appealing."

Claston chuckled. "Is that your thing?"

"No, sire, the only pleasure I get comes from serving the Royal Family greatest son and prince of the realm." And then the door shut with the finality of an ended discussion.

"Pervert," said Claston with a laugh, "probably was jacking off when I was skinny dipping at age eight."

Merrie smirked and her tail wagged back and forth. She didn't think she would like the prince, but he seemed to have a sense of humor. And she was surprised he knew who Pristine and Natalie where.

Less than a minute after Boz left, there was a knocking on the door for the prince. It creaked open a few seconds later and the baron introduced himself. Merrie rolled her eyes at the baron's language. It was flowery and thick, saying something in a thousand words where three would have done. She knew what he wanted, she could feel it in his thoughts, but it took him almost ten minutes to request the prince to pardon Rakin. The baron took another ten minutes to discretely offer the prince tens of thousand marks and "choice deals" with the baron's associates.

As soon as the baron left, there was another knock. Merrie's ear perked up as the next visitor came and did the same thing Baron Falon did. The words were different as were the request, to have Rakin executed but in hundreds of words. Promises of elegant parties for the prince were floated around him before the supplicant slipped away.

More men and women came. Some wanted to see Rakin back in power, others offered millions for Rakin to disappear forever. But, as unexpected was the blatant requests for Rakin's fate, it was the prince that surprised her. Claston, when in front of people, became a new person. His words were smooth and eloquent. He spoke with a grace that managed to say all the right words but somehow managed to agree to nothing.

(He could put the Shadows to shame,) projected Tamin, (he is impossible to pin down. There is more to him than a childish mind.)

(And a young body.)

(He would squeal if I mounted him,) came the playful response along with an image of Claston bent over the balcony with Tamin pounding his cock with a huge cock.

A bell rang out across the hall and Merrie held her breath. The three judges were in place, the final one being a female Sivlir silfae with long gray hair. Eight guards protected the pedestal and another eight for the judges. The room was packed, with people standing on the sides, but it was silent.

Rakin walked from the side door surrounded by two royal knights. He wore only a loin cloth, bare to the eye of justice as the tradition went. The half month since she had seen him had taken their toll on his frame. He was thin, almost skeletal, and his eyes were dark and inset. Bruises covered his skin and his ribs were visible underneath his stretched skin. His ruined arm shook violently in the adamantite manacles that bound his wrists together.

The silence in the hall was punctuated by the scuff of his bare feet. A storm of emotions rose up as people saw the formerly powerful count being lead to the pedestal. There was anger, rage, and pity. She felt disgust and glee swirling around as everyone was lost in their own opinions of the broken man.

He walked up the stairs for the platform and turned to the judges. With a deep breath, he stood up straight.

"Mard Rakin," said the center judge, "you stand before us accused by an anonymous member of the Companion's Guide of Franome---"

Kirin stood up and put her hands behind her back.

"---proxied by Guild Master... Mistress Kirin. How do you plead to accusation of kidnapping by the proxy?"

Everyone held their breath as they stared at Rakin. Everyone knew he would refute the accusation. Almost all of the crimes were against an anonymous whore, no one of note in polite society.

Merrie tensed at the thoughts. She could feel the disgust and disbelief aimed toward her, despite that no one knew who she was. They saw Kirin as trying to destroy Rakin, but too cowardly to bring forth the person who Rakin supposedly kidnapped, raped, and tortured.

He stood straight on the pedestal and took a deep breath. Merrie could feel his thoughts as he struggled with fear, pride, and determination. Almost every emotion washed across his thoughts except one, anger. He closed his eyes for a long moment, then opened them to stare at the judges. His body trembled as the words rose up.

"Guilty."

The room exploded into surprise. People stood up shaking their hands, yelling at the top of their lungs. They were yelling at Rakin, the judges, and Kirin.

The lead judge stood up and held out his hands for silence. When that didn't work, he banged a stone block against a striking board. It ran out across the hall, magnified by illusionary magic, but still the noise didn't die down.

Merrie stared in shock at Rakin. It was the last thing she expected him to say.

An explosion of air caught her attention. It was the royal knight that almost caught Merrie. Before the air rippled away, she slammed her spear down on the ground and bellowed at the top of her lungs. "Loyal Alestri says SILENCE!" Her voice slammed into the room, cutting through the din, but it was powered by the strongest domination spell Merrie had ever seen. It exploded from the royal knight, freeing the throats of everyone as it exploded out from her. As one, those crying out sat down heavily in their chairs.

The spell slammed into Merrie and she was overwhelmed with the force of the command. Her body spasm from an intense orgasms and she struggled to keep the pleasure inside her. The words echoed endlessly in her head, freezing her throat as if she had been gagged. She couldn't whimper or even whine. Her throat refused to move with the command forcing obedience. She cried out silently as flames ran along her veins, searing her from tip to ankle.

The resulting silence was painful.

Rakin turned to the knight. "Thank you."

Alestri turned and even though her face wasn't visible, Merrie could almost see the glare.

The lead just cleared his throat. "Mard Rakin, please repeat your response."

"Guilty." Rakin's fear spiked inside him, swirling around him as he contemplated his future.

"You are accused of torture by the proxy, how do you plea?"

"Guilty."

Merrie shook as she listened to Rakin responding to guilty to every crime the judge brought up. She couldn't speak with the echoes of the domination spell ringing out in her head, but she didn't know what to do. She expected Rakin to scream and fight with tooth and nail. She remembered how he refused to give up at the fair when he tried to purchase her, the single-minded obsession that drove him to abandon his title and sanity in his quest for her.

The man standing on the pedestal wasn't Rakin, but she knew it was. His mind was clear of all anger and rage. She had broken him just as he broke her, but where she recovered in a few weeks, there was no healing the burned out husk in his head. He had been beaten.

She felt sadness for the man who haunted her. She was so terrified by him, but now he was the one without the power. There was nothing left in his life, no magic flowed through his veins and his mind was clear of the very nature that fueled his life.

Borias nodded. "They all did. We call them spit muffins and I be a cannibal. Me magic," he held out his hand, "and me lusts are the same. I need their desire, I need them to want it. But," he looked away toward his cooking area, "I also be needing them to die. And I be needing to cook and be eating them."

She shuddered at the thought. She could almost feel the same desire, a hunger to feel the knife against her throat. It was different than Grange. Borias would love her, touch her, make her cum, and then end it in one single---

Merrie looked away sharply, her tail snapping with her emotions. Tears burned in her eyes. Rakin's power came from anger, just as Borias came from cannibalism and she gained power from submission. But, she had taken away Rakin's magic just as a geas stole Borias'. Borias had a chance, though rare, that he would be pardon, but as she looked into Rakin's mind, she knew he would never feel magic on his fingertips again.

She wanted to cry out, to scream for him to stop. To beg him to rise up with anger, to fight with the last of his life. But, her throat refused to move. She couldn't make a sound with the domination spell still echoing in her mind.

The rest of the room quickly shed off the royal knight's command. After a few minutes, whispers started to rise up. Two balcony over, the steady stream of petitioners resumed. The bribes grew more extravagant and the requests more desperate. Rakin's acceptance had set off a wild fire among the powers that ruled the city with politics and relationships.

She watched Rakin standing on the pedestal, calmly agreeing to every crime he was accused of. She hated every word and flinched as he spoke.

When the judge finished with what he did to her, the judges brought up Natalie. The young girl was trembling with fear as she stood there, unable to look at Rakin and terrified that she was standing in the Royal Courts. But, just like the earlier accusations, the fallen count refused to deny anything. He just repeated the same word over and over again: guilty, guilty, guilty.

At the prince's balcony, there was another knock.

"Come on," muttered Claston, "stop asking for favors. I don't need any more parties, money, or naked women!" He groaned and opened the door and his voice instantly turned to the flowered smoothness of his public persona. "Yes?"

"Excuse me," Merrie froze as she heard Jacir, "sire, could I please have only a minute of your time."

"Of course," Claston's speech was back to the false joy that he used with the petitioners. "Come on in. You're Baron Pollium, right?"

"Yes, my lord."

Claston chuckled. "Don't let Boz hear that. You're suppose to call me sire or highness."

"S-Sorry, my sire."

"Close enough. Come on in, you're shaking as hard as a leaf. I don't bite, you know."

"I-I've never done this, but I... I have no choice."

Merrie reached out with her mind. Fear and nervousness burned in his mind, along with flashes of Pris and Merrie acting as his fiancé. She calmed his thoughts, smoothing down the fear and letting him take a breath before he spoke.

Jacir calmed down almost instantly. He looked up at the prince and said, "I'm not a man of fancy words or of great means. But, if you have a chance, I would humbly... request, that if Rakin asks for pardon, you understand that he hurt a lot more than the people accusing him today. I would never insult the highness by asking for something specific, but I have no other recourse."

Claston said nothing for a moment. "What do you mean?"

"He murdered my fiancé almost twenty years ago."

"Murdered?"

"Yes, raped and tortured before he cut her throat." Jacir fought back a sob. He struggled with the words. "B-But it was in Blood County and he was in his legal right. But, I love her with all my heart. And I made a promise to the old baron that I would do anything to... to... for her memory."

"Hold on. I remember that in the books. Marcus Pollium willed his title to you, after his wife and daughter died. That was... about twelve years ago, wasn't it?"

Merrie got up. Moving with silence, she slipped into the Shadows and crossed the distance to the other balcony. Slipping down, she wrapped the shade spell tightly over her body and kept to the shadows of the carved railing.

Jacir sniffed and wiped his face. He was wearing his finest outfit. It was the same he wore to the day he was given the title and the memories burned brightly in his thoughts. "Patrica killed herself after we found out Pris had been killed. It was her idea to let this... evil man turn her into a puppy slave and then have me---"

Claston jerked as he sat up. "Puppy? You mean a puppy girl with a tail and ears?"

Blanching, Jacir nodded. "Y-Yes. And he cut off her arms and legs."

Standing up sharply, Claston rushed over to Jacir, stopping only a few centimeters away. He grabbed Jacir's hands and held them tight. "Did she have white hair and a silver tail? With bright blue eyes? She's real!?"

Confused, Merrie looked up at her hair. She never realized but it was almost white, just like her tail. Something had bleached out the blonde until it was almost the purest white.

"No, that's Bitch." Jacir blushed hotly and looked away. "She isn't Pris. Pris had brown hair and was... curvier. She died but we never recovered her body, but I swear she doesn't have silver hair.."

Merrie cringed at someone naming her. Even though it was just a title, it was another anchor, a pin that kept her shadows from shifting.

"Oh," Claston stepped back with a frown on his face. He gestured across the court hall to his original balcony. "I thought I saw... someone in the shadows."

Jacir's cheeks were red. "If you're talking about Bitch, she has a tendency to appear when you aren't looking. Even in locked rooms. She is very discrete---" He stopped in mid-word and clamped his mouth shut for a moment. "I'm sorry, sire."

"Really? And her name is really Bitch?"

"I didn't mean to be so forward with his highness."

Releasing Jacir, Claston stepped away. "Sorry, it's been a strange day. So, you're asking for...?"

Jacir clasped his hands together. "Just to think of my Pris if he asks."

"I assume you're offering... you're a textile merchant. Clothes? A suit?"

"No, your highness, I wouldn't offer a bribe. That isn't my place and I'm not comfortable with fancy words. But, if you want something in return, I'll give you anything you want. My title as a baron if his highness wishes."

With a gasp, Claston turned back. "You'd give up that? Why?"

"Marcus willed it to me in hopes that I would be able to do something for Pris. And to continue his line. If Rakin is appropriately punished, even if it isn't for my Pris, then I'm willing to put myself in the poor house. A title doesn't mean anything if you can't cherish your loved ones."

The prince stared for a long moment. "No, I guess you can't."

For a long moment, neither said anything. Then, Claston looked up and waved him away. "You can go now."

Jacir bowed deeply, despair choking his thoughts. "I'm sorry for taking your time, sire. Thank... thank you."

Merrie watched as Jacir stepped out of the room and closed the door. She followed, using the Shadows to pass through the door. On the other side, she watched as Jacir leaned against the wall and began to sob. The tears poured out from his fingers as he slid down the ground. "Pris, Pris... I tried, love. I really tried."

Tears burned in her eyes as she crawled over to him. Spreading the shade over both of them, she nestled against him.

Jacir looked up with a sharp jerk, then sniffed. He gave her a sad smile. "I was just talking about you."

Merrie smiled and bumped her head against his head.

He lifted his arm and pulled her close, pressing her naked breast against his thigh. "I tried, Pris. I really did, but what else can I do? I'm not rich like Falon or any of those guys. What can a merchant's son do?"

She stroked his thigh with one arm. Her tail curled around his back, following the line of his spine. She knew it gave him comfort, when she couldn't give him anything else.

"I-I think, after all this, I might need to hire you a few more times. Is that okay? I miss her so much right now."

Panting silently, she lifted her head and brought her lips to his. Her body felt hot and slick as she kissed him. And, as she broke the kiss, she barked silently, her lips moving against his own. She still couldn't make a sound, not with the Loyal's command echoing in her mind.

Jacir smiled. "Thank you, Bitch."

He held her for a few minutes, but then a bell rang out. The clear tones shook the hallways and rattled the doors. Jacir looked up and then struggled to his feet. "I better go, that means they are about to pass judgment on him." He straightened his shirt and wiped the tears from his face. "Thank you."

She smiled and wagged her tail. She wanted to bark, but she couldn't make a noise. The domination spell still held her throat in silence.

As soon as he turned away, she stepped back into the Shadows and dove through the wall. Coming out on her own balcony, she landed next to Tamin and peered down into the hall.

The court hall was silence except for a few coughs. Rakin stood on the pedestal, but everyone else was sitting down. The three judges were missing but their chairs were tilted as if they would come back in mere seconds.

Minutes passed and Merrie felt the tension in the hall. Even though Rakin didn't contest a single charge, there was always the possibility that the judges would give him a lighter sentence. She could hear the thoughts of most of the room waiting for the judges to forgive him due to some hidden deal that would never see the light of the day. Corrupted judges were a part of life in Franome City.

It was almost a half hour before the three judges came out. They stood in front of their seats. The lead judge spoke. "Mard Rakin, we have judged you guilty before the eyes of justice and the laws of this country."

The crowds started to stir, but Loyal Alestri slammed her spear down and the room grew silent.

The judge continued, "You have not contested any of the accusations, is this correct?"

"No," Rakin said, "I don't deny anything. I'm guilty of everything you brought before me." His voice was broken and rough, but calm.

"Then we sentence you to death by hanging to take place no longer than noon---"

"Hold on!" Claston's voice carried out over the hall. People looked up in surprise, first to where he was suppose to sit and then turning until they saw the prince hanging over the railing. He pulled back and spoke over his shoulder. "Wait, Boz, I'm allow to stop it, right?"

"You already have, sire," came the deadpanned response, "I recommend you continue forward before you really embarrass yourself."

Claston turned and pointed to Rakin. "Why are you giving up?"

The whispers grew louder. Some were confused and others were impatient, but everyone was stunned that the prince had interrupted.

Rakin turned to face the prince, his chains rattling. "I'm sorry, your highness, but this is how it must be."

"The Mard Rakin that people talk about in whispers and in legends is not on that pedestal."

Rakin shrugged and gave a weak smile.

"Everyone knows about you. You've been a hero for three generations. In my classes, they made me study your strategy when you defended this country against the armies of Blood River, destroyed the Thrice-Fold Prince of Storms, and even destroyed the Lich-Queen from Belife."

"That was my first wife, sire."

"Yes, but you still destroyed her. There is six songs written about that alone. I had one of those at my sixteenth birthday."

Rakin shrugged again.

Claston leaned further over and pointed again. "So, why is the infamous Mard Rakin rolling over without a fight?"

Bowing his head, Rakin spoke clearly. "Because she won."

"Who?"

"Her name isn't important. And I will honor her attempts to stay in the shadows."

Merrie flinched again. She was afraid someone would call out her name after being singled out as Rakin did. She closed her eyes, afraid to hear the words that came next.

Claston shook his head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Rakin lifted his eyes. There was no anger in his gaze as he stared up at the prince. "It takes a strong man to break his opponents, but it takes a broken one to lose. In the three centuries that I've been walking this country, I have destroyed more lives than you have ever known. I took great pride in not killing them, but ruining them to the point their shattered morals and minds could no longer recover."

"T-That," said the prince, "isn't exactly something to be proud of."

"But, you sang of me, didn't you? When the Warlord was destroyed, people cheered me as I led an army into Blood River and killed every single living silfae in those woods. When the assassins attempted to kill your own father, they made songs of my efforts to hunt down every living relative of those two men and kill them."

Claston, and many people in the hall, looked uncomfortable.

"Your highness, my obsession is what made me a legend. But, even with Emberka poised to wage war on our country, there are no more battles for me to fight. So, I found other obsessions to keep me up at night. For sixteen years, it was a bitch owned by a man who pretends to be evil. I bought her, like a common dog, but she ran away. She ran back to him."

As Merrie listened to his speech, she was haunted not by his words but the dispassionate tone, the calmness that he addressed a man capable of killing him with a flick of his finger.

"I won that fight. I brought an army and broke him. But, I didn't kill the thief. He was a man who gained power with promises, so I broke his oaths. He promised not to let blood spill on the ground, I spilled his. I promised to protect the women he had turned into slaves and dogs. I broke that promise."

"How?" asked Claston.

Rakin flinched but continued. "I tortured them so he could hear their screams. I raped them until he begged for me to stop. I pressed their broken, bleeding bodies against his chest and cut their throats so he would be stained by their blood. I broke that man until he begged for death. I heard him pray to a goddess who abandoned him and laughed when no answer came."

Merrie glanced through the railing at Claston. The prince was pale and clutching the railing with white knuckles. She shivered at the images that came welling up from Rakin's mind, of the very things he did to Bass so many years ago.

"You killed women."

"They were bitches. Kidnapped and broken, nothing more than animals."

"You mean like Pris Pollium?"

Below the balcony, a sob rose up from the seats. Merrie peered down to see Jacir crying into his hands. People next to him were staring at him with shock and confusion, but he didn't care. He peeked up at the prince, tears pouring down, and fought to quiet himself.

Rakin frowned and shook his head. "I don't know---"

Merrie reached out for Rakin, pouring in every memory of Jacir had of Pris into his head.

The former count jerked and then sighed. (I knew you were here, Merrie.) To the prince, he nodded. "Yes, even Pris Pollium. I remember killing her."

A gasp of shock rippled through the court until Loyal Alestri struck her spear again.

Cringing, Merrie pressed her self against Tamin. Rakin's words echoed in her head for a moment, devoid of any anger or hatred. It echoed in her mind, intimate and close. There were no shields between them anymore.

"So why aren't you fighting back?"

"Because, I lost. I thought I would break her like all of my other opponents, destroy everything in her life. That girl," he pointed to Nir who cringed, "that man, and that one, and that one," he pointed to Scorch, Elf, and then Kirin. "I was going to kill them to get to her, to break her. I was going to take Natalie with me to break in front of her because she would do anything to save the teenager."

Nir whimpered and shook her head. Her lips moved silently as she sobbed.

Scorch's face was a mask of rage and the heat rose around him.

Moving gracefully, Kirin rested a hand on his shoulder and shook her head.

Rakin continued without faltering, "She was nothing more than a bitch, the Bitch when you think about it. She should have been helpless. She should have obeyed every command I gave her, I knew what I was doing. I had the spells, I had the defenses, I knew her more than she knew herself. There was no way she could have resisted. But," Rakin sighed and looked a century old for a moment, "she found a strength where others would have broke."

He looked down and swallowed hard. "She defeated me. You see, your highness, there is nothing you can do to me that she hasn't done already. Kill me? I'm already dead inside. Torture? For three days she raped me as I raped her. The healers couldn't save my manhood and I will never fuck again. Even if I could get it hard, it would be agony. I have no anger left, I have no hatred. There is nothing inside left to keep living, but I can't even kill myself because I know she won't let me. In the end, I have nothing to fear because she has done what I have done to a thousand others."

"You fear nothing from me?"

Rakin shook his head. "No, but I think it is fitting that my life be destroyed when I lose. Just as I destroyed the lives I defeated, I insist that she do the same to me. But, she would never do it herself, so I took it upon myself to finish the job." (Merrie.)

Merrie tensed at his voice. (What?)

(You have no reason to trust me, but I promise what I say is true. I owe you something, the prize for the victor.)

He held the adamantite collar in his fingers, anxious for the day he would clip it around Merrie's throat and make her his Alpha forever. Soon she would be his. He set it down on the velvet and closed the box. Setting it into a safe hidden behind a set of cages, he whispered the words to seal it shut.

(The magic in that collar is keyed to you and only you. It will not work for anyone else and it never will. But, if you put it on, you will be bonded to the owner of the collar. Take it. Take it and destroy it. Or find a good master, one who loves you, and have them put it on. But find a real master, someone who will teach you the whip and submission instead of pissing you away on the occasional fuck and leaving you caged in a mansion.)

Merrie's tail pressed against her thigh. During Rakin's rape, the memory of the collar haunted her. It drove her to stop him, but now he was offering it to her. She tensed as she projected back, (Why? This is a trap, isn't it?)

(Take it to your guild. Send it to be investigated and identified. You'll see what I'm staying is true. That collar can bond you again, as close as the mortal magic can reforge a broken bond between an Alpha and her master.)

(Why? Why are you doing this?)

Rakin turned to look at her, seeing her not through his eyes but through the connection they shared. (We must end. I cannot have my life tied to you because I will drag you down into my hell. Today, I will either be executed or sent to Abbinkey. If I live, I will have no more power and no magic. But, if I still possess that collar, it will give me focus. It may take me years to recover, but if I have it, I can not let you go. I know this.)

She whimpered silently and huddled against Tamin, who growled as he felt her fear.

(Take it, Merrie. Steal it. Destroy it. I don't care what you do, but do not let me keep it.)

He knelt on the ritual circle, holding the adamantite collar. He needed a trigger for the spell, something that would bind their minds together forever. He smiled as he looked down at his hands. "Blood," he whispered, "I'm going to make her bleed for this.

(The sealing spell is triggered by a master's blood. Any blood, but choose careful. You have a limited chance to choose your bond. The control over your heart and soul can be stolen by precious blood. The closer the cut is to the heart, the tighter the bond.)

Merrie's breath came faster. She felt a craving for the closeness she felt for her master. The magic he offered her was promising but it terrified her to.

(You killed me, Merrie, my body just hasn't figured it out yet.)

She saw the pain in his eyes, the despair and ache. It was the same look in Borias' eyes when he talked about not being able to access his magic, to not see a loving death. She had taken Rakin's power away from him when she destroy his anger. He was a shell of a man, but she felt no joy at the emptiness inside him.

Rakin pictured the spells used to release the safe. And then he returned his attention to the prince. "Do what you will. I will accept any punishment."

Claston cleared his throat and glanced toward the balcony where Merrie laid on the floor and Rakin was watching. He addressed Rakin. "Then, since you killed Pris, I'm---"

The other male judge stood up. "Excuse me, your highness? This trial is not for Pris Pollium. That cannot be admitted as proof of guilt."

Merrie glanced at Jacir who was staring at the prince, the tears glistening on his pale face.

Claston rolled his eyes. "He just said he killed her."

"That is not the law. He cannot be judged on crimes---"

"Fine," growled Claston, "for the kidnapping, rape, and torture of Bitch---"

Both Rakin and Merrie jerked at the name. Down below, the members of the Whore's Guild looked at Kirin with pale looks themselves.

Merrie gulped and stared at him, trying to remember who told him her name and associated her with the Rakin's torture.

"---I sentence you to one thousand years in Abbinkey Prison, to remain with your magic sealed away forever. And I," Claston addressed the judge in a sharp tone, "can sentence him for that, can't I? That's the crime he's being accused of, isn't it?"

The judge bowed. "Yes, your highness. That is your right."

"Then," Claston said as he leaned back, "I'd suggest the gods have mercy on your soul, but you don't have one."

"No, your highness, not anymore."

Merrie sat up, her breasts rising and falling with her silent pants. Everything spun around her as she stared down at Rakin.

He turned and looked at her. "Goodbye." His lips finished the last words silently, "You're a good girl, Merrie."

Her body tensed as an orgasm ran through her, the forbidden name echoing in her head. She replayed it and shivered again, her breath catching in her throat.

And then hidden runes on the pedestal flared bright. They were sick and twisted curls of power as they rose up to surround Rakin. She could feel his pain as he struggled to remain standing. She couldn't look at the spell, it was foul and nasty. She knew what it was, a geas, but it was like no spell she had seen before.

The telepathic connection between them snapped and she was throw back. A backlash seared along her, but Tamin took her pain with a soft whimper.

Rakin tensed as runes crawled up his legs, burning their way into his skin and leaving charred trails. They continued to burn their way until they covered every centimeter of his flesh.

Somewhere, the judges were declaring the conditions of the geas, but it didn't matter. Rakin would never survive to receive a pardon. He would spend the last of his days in Abbinkey, locked away to never see freedom again.

The magic exploded into light and Rakin finally screamed as the runes were burned into his flesh, sinking down through aching muscles to etch themselves against his bones. His voice cracked as he screamed shrilly.

And then the light faded and Rakin collapsed to the ground, a husk of a man who would never haunt Merrie's dreams again.

I love that I am still amazed by this story, even after over a year of reading it

It was the beginning of summer and the city celebrated well into the night, but it was not dark. The year's theme was Brilliance and Flowers and the illusionary gardens that hung over the streets cast everything in a rippling glow of spectral petals. It reflected off the windows and created a halo of sparkling pollen that swirled behind anyone who moved.

Merrie smiled as she crawled along the sidewalk. She left a trail of sparks behind her, but the colors leached out as her white tail swirled through them, leaving a pale trail in the bright colors. Her skin crawled and she felt vulnerable with exposing herself, but seeing how the illusions were corrupted by her magic brought a smile to her lips. She couldn't stop playing with them, just to see them fade into white.

(I don't like the light and I don't like the people,) muttered Tamin. The hound paced next to her, leaving no hint of his presence. The pollen and petals didn't reflect off his flat black body and there was no swirl to mark his passing. He didn't approve of her playing with the light, but he didn't need to form words to express it.

She leaned against him. (It's safe for just a few minutes.)

(You're exposed and vulnerable. We should be in the Shadows, not in the light.)

Merrie glanced at him and sent a pulse of wave. (I have you, therefore I am safer than I ever been before.)

It had been five months since the beginning of winter and four since Rakin was placed on the armored wagon to spend the rest of his life in Abbinkey. For weeks after both events, Merrie expected someone to come for her and the dread hung over her like a cloud. But, nothing happened. No disturbances in the Shadows or even the hint of being followed. The hair on her neck didn't rise up and she didn't have the sense she was being followed. Everything had settled down into the easy pulse of sex and shadows.

When the prince mentioned her name at Rakin's trial, she was afraid that people would come hunting for her. They did, but not to kill her, but to slyly find out who "Bitch" was and what she did as a whore. The Guild chased off most of them, but her clientele increased substantially by those who found out she was a cropped bitch and found themselves intrigued into dominating her. Others drifted in after fleeing in disgust, drawn by the lure of her sexuality and their own hidden desires.

After Scorch's marriage proposal and the nightmares of Rakin's attack, Nir asked to be pulled off the streets. Kirin agreed and made Nir Merrie's personal assistant. Now, the teenage girl was responsible for coordinating the steady stream of customers for Merrie and keeping the accounting. Surprising everyone, Nir showed a talent and blossomed in her new role. She also catered to customers, but now it was in the protection of a guild brothel instead of exposed on the street.

(I like her,) Tamin projected, (even if she won't let me mount her properly.)

Merrie giggled and bumped against him. (Scorch would have a problem with that.)

(I will hump his face,) came the amused response, (and make him submit like the bitch he is.)

(He'd singe your dick and fur, silly pup. Don't worry, you can fuck me whenever you want.)

(Whenever?) he said with thoughts tinged with lust.

Merrie squeezed her legs together and shivered at the cum that dribbled out of her pussy. Like almost every visit with Eolis, he gave her a large hunk of money and sent her to someone who needed her services. They were men like Jacir or, in the case of that night, a bachelor's party for a noble's marriage. The night consisted of drunk men giving her orders, fucking her silly, and dressing her up like a bitch. It ended with a gang-bang and Merrie radiated with the afterglow of being filled with cum in all three of her holes. She managed to keep it in her head though after remembering Eolis' command.

(You're still wearing the collar,) came a sullen thought from Tamin.

Merrie stopped and tried to look down. She could barely feel light pressure around her neck from a fake collar made from a ribbon, but its presence had set off a series of orgasms that threatened to take over the city. She sat down in the middle of the sidewalk and stroked with the end of her arm.

It had been years since she wore anything around her neck. Her master never bought her one and no one ever put one on her before, even for role-playing. But, as she stroked the ribbon, her pussy clenched with need. She ached to have something around her neck, to remind the world and herself that she was owned. The impromptu collar, made from a ribbon, was a poor substitute for what she craved with every fiber of her being. No matter how much she enjoyed being a whore, none of her customers were the dominate she needed.

She continued to run her wrist against the sharp edge of the ribbon. There was another collar that called to her, even in her dreams. Adamantite and terrifying, it was the bondage that she dreamed of. Rakin's final gift had been locked away in the guild's vaults, to keep anyone besides Monk from touching it. Even then, he wore heavy gloves in fear of accidentally getting blood on it. Neither Kirin nor Monk wanted to be Merrie's master and she understood why. There was a price to having an Alpha, one that her first master had learned with his life.

A tear rolled down her cheek. Tamin stepped forward and she looked up into his eyes. She could feel the Shadows around him, a cloud of darkness that enveloped her in icy comfort. She smiled and tilted her head up so he could lick the tears from her face. (Don't cry, Alpha.) She knew he was thinking about the collar himself; Tamin wanted to destroy Rakin's collar when they pulled it out of the hidden vault. As far as he was concerned, she had no alpha of her own.

Merrie leaned into him, letting his cold breath wash over her face. She kissed the bottom of his jaw, then lifted her head more to nuzzle the ridge of his muzzle. Her tail wagged slowly, shifting back and forth as she lost herself in his black eyes.

Wiping the tears away with her arm, she exposed her neck. Tamin moved with the silent command bit off the ribbon. She shuddered with the feeling of loss as she watched him toss it into the street where it was quickly trampled by passing wagons and horses.

With a sigh, she turned away and crawled down the street, letting her mind open to listen to the thoughts around her.

Fang held the hammer tight as he trudged down the street. He felt dead inside, as if all the life and joy had been extinguished in the years since she left. He wanted to go back and put up more notices, in desperate hope that someone had seen her, but he couldn't. He spent his entire month's paycheck on what he posted that night and there were no more papers to cut his fingers or nails to pound into the message boards. There was nothing but a well-worn hammer that his father gave him when he left for Franome City.

As he walked, he could barely see the sidewalk in front of him. He knew the route from the endless times he walked them as a guard, but it still felt like the final path leading up to a prison wagon when he went to visit the message boards.

He couldn't wait to get home. He had two bottles of the strongest rot-gut he could afford and planned on drinking until he couldn't remember her anymore. It was how he handled every festival since she disappeared, and it would be until he found her again.

Merrie jerked at the darkness in Fang's mind. The guard was a few streets over, slowly working his away against the crowds as he headed for his small apartment in the southern part of the city. She felt the despair around him, a shallow darkness compared to what used to plague Merrie, but it left an ache in her heart.

Getting on her wrists and knees, she crawled after him. Once she caught up, she paced with him but didn't let the shade spell drop. Like Tai, the city guards couldn't be seen with whores. It wasn't against the rules or laws, but it was discouraged to avoid showing favoritism with the guild. It also prevented the distrust from those who couldn't separate the personal life of a guard with their professional one.

As they made their way out of the celebrations, the streets grew quiet and dark. The storefronts became houses and then apartment buildings. Around her, she could feel a city celebrating but in more private ways: parties in hallways, fucking in bedrooms. Two of the Guild whores were having a suck-off with a party. Further down, she felt the thoughts of a man who was claiming he wasn't a whore, even as he was eyeing a pile of money and being fucked in the ass by a woman with a spiked strapped on. A blow job in an alley caught her attention and she smiled, she knew both people who were just enjoying the heat of the moment and a bottle of lager while guiltily thinking about both of their spouses.

Merrie tried to delicately reach into Fang's mind, to find the source of his despair. He wasn't shielded, at least nothing she couldn't break, but his mind was torn and ragged, a wound that was festering inside his head. It tore him inside and every time she tried to pluck her way through, it brought up new images into his consciousness. His depression grew darker and he began to think about the swords and knives in his room. Two years ago, he almost killed himself when the depression took hold during his attempt to drown himself in alcohol.

She pulled back, the guilt and despair leaking into her own mind. She didn't dare probe deeper, in fears of bringing forth her own despair. Rakin's anger had sealed it and she desperately wanted to keep it that way. She was dangerous to everyone if she let herself grieve.

Being unable to search his thoughts drew her closer to him. She was curious to know what haunted Fang. She also hoped that she could give him some relief, like she did with Jacir and others. Her body warmed at the thought and she continued to crawl next to him, moving in the silence of his shadow.

Fangs lived in the poor part of town, in a twelve-story apartment complex with each flat barely five meters across. There were hundreds of people in his building, packed in tight and brimming with emotions. He didn't pay for his apartment because the landlords knew that having a city guard on the premises would save more in bribes and insurance payments than the loss of a single apartment's rent.

He lived right inside the entrance, on the first floor. With a sigh, he unlocked the door and stepped inside.

Merrie held back and watched as he closed the door. It was a sense of privacy, but she also knew that most people screamed when they noticed her appearing in their private rooms. She smiled at the night when she surprised Nir in the guild apartment, though the night ended in blood and rape.

Her cloak reached up, forming a huge, malformed fist in its folds. It pounded on the door twice before sliding off her skin. The fetid air of the apartment swirled around her naked skin as the cloak wrapped itself around Tamin.

(Alpha, be safe.) Tamin sent his love before he and the cloak faded into the darkness.

Fang's door creaked open. "Come on, it's late..." his voice trailed off as he stared into the nearly empty hallway.

Merrie dropped her shade spell and drew his attention to her.

His brown-green eyes focused on her. For a long moment, he stared at her in shock, and then he inhaled sharply. Guilty thoughts flashed across his mind as he looked down the hallway and out the door. Leaning forward, he whispered to her. "What are you doing here? I paid you and the others! I don't owe you anything."

She drew her wrists up to her neck and begged. The floor was sticky underneath her knees as they spread apart, but Merrie had fucked in far worse places. She smiled and barked softly, bobbing her head as she did.

He looked back again. "I can't be seen with you. I'm just a Truste, I'm not allow to have a whore."

Merrie barked again, reaching out with his mind to find the lust. She found it, buried underneath his despair. With a little push, she let it drift up through his thoughts.

Fang groaned and clutched the door. "A-Alright, but keep quiet, okay?"

She whispered her bark before crawling into his apartment. She looked around as Fang closed the door. It was filthy, with food containers stack up high and dirty clothes everywhere. A path had been cleared out between the door, his bed, and a small kitchen area. Ward spells covered the room, to keep away the maggots and smell, but they were cracking under their age.

The door clicked loudly behind her. "Sorry, I don't usually... ever let anyone in here." Guilt burned in his thoughts as he circled around her and lead the way toward his bed. "I really should clean up, but..." (I was planning on drinking myself to unconscious. Why is she here? Did I forget to pay something? Why tonight?)

Merrie saw his hammer on a kitchen table along with a small stack of papers. She continued down the path to his bed.

His apartment reminded her of her master's mansion. When she first arrive, it was a mess with paths leading from one place to the other. The smell was the same. The only difference was that her master collected gold and diamonds and Fang simply didn't clean up after himself. The similarity hung a cloud over her, a pain of memories and longing.

He grabbed a cleaner blanket from a basket by the bed and draped it over his bed, smoothing over the bumps before gesturing for her. "I... I don't have enough money this week. Not for even a blow job. And," he looked around with a sheepish look, "I can't exactly run away here."

She nodded and crawled on the bed. It sagged underneath her weight as she circled around three times, because he thought she would, before getting into a begging position. She looked up through her white hair at him, smiling as she felt the lust boiling inside him.

"I can't afford this," he said in a whisper. He wanted it, he craved her body, but he also knew what would happen if he didn't pay.

Merrie shook her head. (Tonight, it's free.)

He jerked as if she stabbed him. (Oh, dear Madock, I'm going insane.) Panic burned in his mind, but Merrie suppressed it. It was the same panic that most people had when first encountering a telepath.

(It's okay, you aren't going on insane. I just can't talk. In fact, I'm going to bark right now to let you know that.) She barked softly, a smile on her lips.

Fang stumbled back, an incredulous look on his face. "Y-You can... I can hear you."

She nodded and giggled softly.

"I can handle this. It's just like listening to Gail, right?"

Merrie brought up the memory of Tai's lover and found the same comfort Fang had with her. She was a Guard Observant as much as Tai was the Guard Vigilant, both higher ranks, but Fang was used to hearing the telepath's thoughts in his head.

"You're a telepath too?"

She nodded.

"Why don't you use it all the time? I've seen you with Tai and Gail more than a few times. You are always barking... wait, are you talking to them in your head?"

Merrie shook her head, but didn't project any words.

"Why don't you speak? Or project all the time."

She shrugged and wiggled her shoulders, causing her breasts to shift. His eyes flickered down to see them and then back up to her face with a flush of embarrassment. She wondered it herself, but she didn't like to project outside of her connection with Tamin. It didn't feel right to speak up when she was suppose to be submitting.

Fang rubbed his head, his fingers trailing through the wispy hair. He started to think about balding even more and dropped his hand. "Y-You said, free? You mean a free fuck? Not just a blow job?"

Wagging her tail, she nodded and barked.

It only took him a few moments of hesitation. Mind brimming with guilty thoughts, he stripped out of his clothes and tossed them to the side. He wasn't in the peak of his health, but the city guards required at least a certain amount of fitness to remain a street guard.

Underneath the slight pouch of his belly, his cock stood out straight. She remembered it from the alleys but he didn't know that she could see in the dark. She moaned softly as she stared at it in lust, knowing that being exposed in the light would add to the excitement he felt rising in his belly. His cock bobbed with his thoughts and pre-cum oozed from the tip.

His doubts radiated from his mind and she could feel it start against her thoughts. (I'm ugly. She's going to run away now. She would never give me a free fuck if she knew what I looked like.)

Merrie licked her lips and let out a soft growl of desire. The effect was immediate, his cock bobbed a sudden beat of his heart and the doubt melted away.

Lowering herself and raising her tail, she crawled over to the edge of the bed and opened her mouth. With a soft gasp, she rocked her hips back and forth and let her tail swirl around her.

He inched forward, aiming his cock for her mouth. It slid past her lips with a flush of heat and the slick taste of pre-cum. He released his shaft and it bumped against her lower lip. Trembling, Fang stroked her ears and pushed his entire length into her mouth.

Merrie moaned at as he teased the sensitive ridges of her ears. His fingers trembled as he held himself there, afraid to grab tightly. She sent out a mental command and he unconsciously obeyed, grabbing her ears tightly and thrusting forward.

With a groan, he pulled back. She clamped her lips around his length and traced out every ridge of his pulsating cock. As his glans teased her lips, he held himself still and looked down. He gasped at the sight of his cock between her lips, the warmth of her mouth seeping into his burning skin. Despair rose up inside him, guilt and fear. He pushed into her mouth, watching with wide-eye fascination as his length disappeared into her mouth.

She moaned softly and wiggled her ass, encouraging him. She remembered the taste of his cock, thick and musky, but also sweet. She bobbed when he faltered but soon Fang was pounding her mouth with hard, desperate strokes.

His grip tightened on her ears, crushing them in his fingers. She moaned at the pleasure and pain, squirming as she felt an orgasm rising up inside him. His cock pulsed as it slid in and out and she tightened the ring of her lips to give him more resistance.

It was enough and he froze as he came. The cum poured out of his length and pooled on her tongue. She moaned with her own orgasm as she felt the heated liquid spreading out and then sliding down her throat. She sucked on his length, bobbing gently until he pulled out with a gasp.

He didn't say anything for a long moment. Instead, he stared down at his bobbing cock. The only sex he got in the last few years was from Nir and Merrie. He felt guilty with every orgasm, as if he was betraying some memory.

A shadowy memory rose up, of a woman, but then he buried it before Merrie could focus on it. His thoughts were raw and his despair was still too deep. Merrie could feel it rising up but he struggled to control his thoughts. She could feel the ache in her own heart as she tried to find some way of giving him relief from his sorrow.

She rested an arm on his hip and barked again.

Fang stirred himself from his thoughts. "More?"

She nodded and barked.

"I-I'm a bit sensitive," he gestured to his cock, "but, do you think I could maybe do something for you?" A curiosity rose up in his thoughts, he wanted to know if she was clean enough to lick. Not only her pussy, but her ass. He never did it before, but he was afraid that she would have a shit-covered hole.

Merrie nodded and rolled back. Sinking her body into the sagging mattress, she rolled over on her belly and brought her knees underneath her.

"No, I was thinking on your..." The words trailed off as she lifted her ass and presented herself, giving him a full view of her ass and pussy. She was clean, the cleansing rune ensured that, but she was also slick and wet with excitement.

The mattress sank with his weight. "I-I've never," he gulped and sighed, "I've never done this."

She wiggled her ass for encouragement.

It took a long moment for him to bring his mouth to her sex, but when she felt his hot breath against her labia, she moaned. He leaned forward and gave her a delicate lick. She giggled and spread her legs further, parting her labia to her sex.

Encouraged, Fang licked firmly. "Y-You kind of taste taste like alcohol."

Merrie remembered the ethereal smell that surrounded her master. She couldn't smell it anymore, no doubt because it was part of her. She moaned and nodded.

"Kind of nice." He licked again and thought about drinking himself into a blackout. The tip of his tongue found her clitoris and he traced one of her inner labia up to her ass. He hesitated at the puckered opening, but she let out a moan and pushed back until his tongue caressed her ring.

She almost came as he lapped. Pulling back, he gasped. "Is this okay?"

She bumped against him with a moan.

Fang returned to her asshole, caressing it with his tongue. She could feel his surprise that it was as sweet as the rest of her. His saliva soon coated her opening as he traced each fold as it aimed for the opening before circling around. He gave a hesitant push at the sphincter and then lapped harder at it.

Merrie moaned and shivered, her severed arm and nipples rubbing against the blanket as she writhed. For a newcomer to rimming, his explorations felt good. Her tail wagged back and forth until he grabbed it and pushed it aside to get more access to her tight anal ring.

His other fingers drew up to her pussy, sliding one digit into her soaked sex. It sank clear to the knuckles and she moaned even louder. He lapped at her asshole, lubricating it as he dreamed of shoving his cock into there.

She came at his ministrations and bit down on his pillow, enjoying every pleasure as he lapped and fingered her into two more quick orgasms. Soon, her pussy was dripping with her excitement and she needed more than tongue. She held off, though, until he got his fill of rimming her.

Pulling back, he panted with excitement. "That was amazing. I've never... I mean, I've always wanted to do it." He groaned as he wrapped his dripping fingers around his cock, the hardness aching to be buried into her hot body.

Merrie rolled on her back and spread her legs. With her arm, she made a come-hither gesture.

Fang didn't need a second invitation. He crawled over to her. His eyes roamed her shortened limbs, painfully aware that she was cropped but it wasn't a turn-on or turn-off. It was just simply part of the Bitch he knew.

He grabbed his cock and aimed it for her pussy.

Merrie lifted her hips and his cock brushed against the ring of her ass.

Fang froze and looked up with desperate hope. "Are you sure?"

She barked with a smile.

His cock speared her asshole, sliding deep into her tight opening. Merrie moaned loudly and reached out for him, pulling him into her body as he sank his length into her. It was hot and tight. She could feel every ridge of his length as it slid deep, lubricated by his saliva and his need.

Her hips rose and she hooked her knees on his hips, giving him more access to her body. Her tail wagged back and forth, tickling his balls with every movement. She could feel the play of muscles trembling along her body as he continued to sink into her.

Fang's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he focused on his senses. He shuddered and fought the urge to come. He gripped her thighs tightly as he forced the length of his hardness into her ass and held it there. Gasping, he struggled against his own body before drawing out. He only made it a few centimeters before he drove it back into her, nearly folding her in half with the force of his thrust.

Merrie moaned loudly from the sensation of being impaled. She rocked into his thrusts, squeezing down so the tightness clamped around his cock.

He began to take deeper strokes, sliding half of his length out before slamming it in. His orgasm was rushing up faster than he wanted, it had been too long since he had sex and never before in a woman's ass. He whimpered as he struggled to pull back, to stop it, but it was too late. With a cry, he came inside her ass, soaking her rectum with his hot, slick cum.

His face turned purple as he held himself there. And then, with a loud gasp, he slumped into her. "Thank you."

Merrie smiled and hugged him tightly, holding him into her as she enjoyed the afterglow.

Fang was sitting in Commandant Pidor's office, with two Vigilants standing next to him. One of them was a muscular man armed with two swords. The other was a short-haired woman who introduced herself as Tai, but she seemed more disgusted by his presence when he offered his hand. That was seconds before he was ushered across town into the commandant's office.

"Truste Fang, do you know why you're here?"

He did, but he couldn't say it. He knew that he was abusing his privileges as a city guard, not to mention asking favors from anyone who could help. With a deep breath, Fang shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir, I'm not sure."

The muscular Vigilant snorted.

The commandant shook his head. "We don't lie to each other, boy. This is serious. You've been tying up guard resources for this search and we can't afford to have you and your friends looking around for this woman---"

Fang stood up with a cry. Both of the Vigilants grabbed him by his shoulder and shoved him back down to his seat. He gulped to calm his emotions before he spoke. "It isn't just a woman, it's my little sister. She was kidnapped, I know that. She was on that street when it was teleported away!"

"We are still investigating, Truste."

"You know where the bodies are. You arrested those two men! Just let me look! Let me see if my Sama is among them!"

Merrie jerked at his thoughts. The name swirled in her head, Sama. Tensing, she held Fang tight and delved into his thoughts, spreading out to suppress his despair as she ceased to be subtle about her probing.

In her grip, Fang whimpered, but Merrie threw herself into his memories as they welled up in his mind.

Fang felt as if his heart had been ripped out. After three hours of looking through the corpses, Sama wasn't there. He didn't know to be relieved or saddened by the fact. He shook his head and leaned against the door.

"I'm sorry," said Tai as she handed him a steaming cup of tea. The spells that kept the corpses froze ached his skin, but he didn't realize that until he held the cup.

"Thank you, Vigilant."

"What are you going to do?" She looked sad as she looked into his face. He could see the compassion and sympathy in her, both now and when she spoke for him in the commandant's office.

"Keep looking. What else I can do?"

Tai patted his shoulder. "Your job?"

"Well, yeah," Fang chuckled and sipped at the drink, "but what's the point? I couldn't even save her when I needed to. The whole reason I became a guard was to protect her."

"She isn't dead, Fang. You know that."

He shook his head. A month's paycheck went into purchasing a spell to find her. The seer couldn't identify where she was, but at least he knew she was alive. Somewhere. He knew she was in trouble. He needed to save her but he there was nothing he could do. He didn't know where to run to save her, who to fight, where to do anything. A sob rose up in his throat and he fought it.

"Join my team."

He looked up with surprise.

Tai gave him a comforting smile. "Gom and Snick could use some company. We're up in a slightly fancier part of town, but then you can do your job. And... if you need to take a few hours off here and there, I won't tell the commandant."

Fang tightened his grip as he buried his face in her shoulder. A sob ripped out of his body as he clung to Merrie. "Please stop. Please stop making me remember."

Merrie pulled back and let her thoughts drift in her mind. She held him tight as the tears ran down her cheeks. (I know her.)

He stiffened. "What?" came his muffled voice.

Merrie was shoved up against the girl and ordered to stay. Three guards surrounded them. Merrie turned to the girl and whispered, "Hi."

The brunette looked at her, tears rolling down her face, whispered back. "What is going on?"

"I don't know. I'm Merrie."

"Sama. I was just going to visit the museum for the day. Why are they doing---"

Fang slammed his hands on either side of Merrie's head. "You know Sama!? You saw her? Where? When!?" There was such pain and desperation in his voice that Merrie flinched.

(Yes, she was on that street with me.) She sent the images of being teleported and the first day as they were shoved into wagons and taken across the countryside to the dairy farm and then later to the Puppy Mill. The memories came in a rush, ending sharply before she remembered how Bass raped her in front of the mill house.

He grabbed her shoulders and his cock slipped from her ass as he got on his knees. Naked hope clutched his thoughts and his eyes were a mask of desperation. He dug his fingers into her, almost breaking the skin, and pulled her close. "What happened to her? Where is she? Tell me!"

Merrie hesitated and then gave him her memories, from the first time she met Sama until the final one she had of her body.

Time stretched slowly and Merrie continued into a spiral of despair. She felt her thoughts growing dark with depression and she realized she was berating herself. To her mind away, she pushed herself to her knees and wrists. Careful to circle around Bass, she pushed her way through the grasses and past the burial markers. She didn't know where she was going but she had to be somewhere.

And then she came on Sama's body. The sheet had sunk against the corpse and Merrie could see Sama's tail and her limbs outlined by the stained fabric. A lock of hair stuck out one end and her toes from another.

Seeing Sama, sorrow welled up inside her. Merrie bit back a sob and backed away. She let the grasses bounce back between her and the body, a shield against the death she was responsible for.

Merrie stopped. She couldn't back away, not after failing Sama. With tears in her eyes, she inched forward. The grass cut along her nipples and side as she crawled through it. Reaching Sama's body, she looked over the prone form and realized she would never lick Sama's cunt or ride her face again. They were strangers only a few weeks before, but she was part of her life now, her pack, her bitch.

"No," Fang said with tears running down his cheeks. "No, no, no!" He yanked her up and slammed her down on the bed. A spring snapped underneath her and the metal dug into her back. He cried out again and slammed her again, each word punctuated by him pounding her into the bed. "No, no, no! It's a lie!"

With a growl, he threw her down and slapped her hard. "She isn't dead! She can't be!"

Merrie tasted blood on her mouth. She held her mouth shut, unable to do or say anything to stop the rage that burned him.

Fang cried out and punched her, his knuckles catching the side of her jaw. The blow almost cracked bone. "No, no!"

Shadows surged and Tamin slammed into him. The impact threw the guard off the bed and into the wall. Magic poured off the hound's as the Shadows peeled back and the strength spell burned in his veins. His pitch black eyes were locked on the guard and his lips were pulled back in a snarl.

With a groan, Fang slid out of the cracked wall of his apartment and hit the ground. His cock, still dripping from his cum, scraped on the floor but he didn't even cringe. Plaster poured down around him as he looked up. "Why?"

Merrie looked up at her protective hound. She pushed Tamin away with a thought, but the dog resisted before she pushed harder. (Sit.)

Tamin sat down heavily but didn't stop snarling.

She got on her knees and rubbed her chin. (Because of Grange, he wanted to get back at Bass.)

"No," Fang said as he stood up. There was a rasp of metal on leather and she realized he had pulled out his sword. "Why did you live? I saw your memories. You could have saved her. You could have killed that man before he killed my sister."

(Alpha, he is going to attack.)

(Don't hurt him,) she commanded.

(He hurt you. He must---)

(Sit!)

Tamin shuddered at the command.

Unaware of their mental thoughts, Fang rushed forward. His sword flashed out and Merrie saw it coming for her. She flowed out of the side, shifting barely out of the way.

The blade slammed into the mattress, slicing through the blanket and snapping rusted springs.

Merrie reached out and pressed the smooth end of her wrist against his. A quick spell rose up and she froze his arm, preventing him from pulling his sword out.

Fang grunted and pulled at his weapon. When it didn't slid out, he batted her wrist away and tried to use both hands. Merrie's spell kept him pinned in place.

(Fang, I didn't have that power. I was a Beta then, I had no master.)

"I don't care!" He screamed, "You killed my sister as much as those other bitches did. All of you could have saved her, but you let him rape her!"

(I couldn't stop him.)

"Horseshit! I saw those memories. You wanted to get fucked. You wanted it every time that he rammed his cock in your fucking holes. You were begging just like that Sable bitch!"

Merrie shook her head. She hated Bass, he raped her. There was no joy for her at the mill. (Tamin?)

The hound glanced at her. (I don't know what he's talking about, Alpha. I've seen none of that.)

She forced her mind into his, pushing into his thoughts. Strange, alien memories rose up in his head: of her longing for Bass, the tender moments in a bathtub, and even the tear-filled goodbyes. They were false memories, but there was no way Fang could have faked them. Not with the intimate sensations of flesh and bone, of sex and pussy. They felt like her memories but they couldn't be real.

"You killed her," he gasped as he sank to his knees. "You killed her just as much as Grange did. You and the others at that... place."

She couldn't respond as the guilt crushed her. She couldn't separate the memories of what she had become, the Lost Alpha, with her time at the mill. She knew she had power, but if she had just come into force earlier, she could have saved Sama. She could have stopped Grange from taking her. The memories came rushing back, reflected off Fang's thoughts. She opened her mouth but then closed it.

He sobbed as he buried his face into the blankets. "Why did she have to die?"

Merrie reached out for him, but stopped centimeters away from him. The pain and anguish rolled off him, surrounding her thoughts in a cloud. The guilt from Sama's death burned in her mind, reminding her of her own failures.

Even as she stared at him, she could feel the happy memories of the mill crumbling. She didn't know why, but it came with the same sense of loss she felt every time she left Lady Anasome's perfume store.

Pulling back her arm, she reached into his mind. She found the rising despair and cast a spell against it, letting it run its course but preventing him from killing himself or drinking himself into oblivion. She survived the agony of losing her master and it hurt almost as much as Fang's pain of finally losing his sister.

(I'm sorry.) Her words came with the full force of her guilt and regret. She failed him and Sama that night, she just didn't know it until now.

Her emotions were lost in his agony. She knew she could force him to listen, but it was wrong. Pain and loss had to be eased out, just like Jacir and Pris. She didn't expect the intensity of his emotions but she knew it too well.

A memory rose up from Sama's childhood, of her older brother kneeling next to her as Sama clutched her broken arm. He had the same color hair but there were scratches on his face. It was his words, not clearly remembered but the intent came through. He was telling Sama what happened when he broke his arm, the pain but also how the bone-setter put it back. He went into detail about his healing and promising she would be healed in the same way. It gave her hope that the pain would end.

Fang tensed up.

Merrie closed her eyes and showed him her pain. She kept the worst of the agony filtered from crushing his mind, but she brought him through the moment of losing her master to the moment she knelt on the edge of the bridge, ready to kill herself. Every pain, every moment she broke down, she gave to him. It was a painful to remember and she feared breaking the seal on her despair.

It was almost morning when she finished. Fang rested against the bed, sobbing as he stared at the floor but saw nothing.

(I loved her with all my heart. She was my pack, my friend, and my bitch. If I could, I would have killed myself to save her. But, I couldn't.)

"S-She was my sister." Fang's voice was hoarse and cracked.

She sent a wave of love toward him, wrapping his thoughts.

Fang shuddered and curled up against the floor, ignoring his own nudity. "Just... just go away."

Merrie closed her eyes, the dismissal striking like a knife. She nodded once. (Come find me at the Guild if you need me or any of us. Ask for Kirin and tell her Bitch sent you.)

He said nothing.

With a heavy heart, Merrie melted into the shadows.

Holy Shit

Came for the kinks stayed for the amazing story. Did you have any inspiration for the magic in your world? Please keep writing this forever thanks in advance

>>687
> Came for the kinks stayed for the amazing story. Did you have any inspiration for the magic in your world?

Just various games, RPGs, and stories I've written over the last decade or so. Most of the stories can be found at http://tsade.com/settings/nine-sisters/ but otherwise, it is just out of my head.

The magic is somewhat D&D inspired, along with a fair amount of HERO games in there. I also like when magic has internal rules, so there are things behind the scenes that I try not to explain.

> Please keep writing this forever thanks in advance

I'd love to, but I'm about done with this story. Right now, the end is somewhere around chapter 86-ish. I've been posting basically once a week for the last 75 weeks.

Thank you for reading though, it makes my day.

By law, every guild in Franome City must not perform business for three days out of every ten day week. The law came over six hundred years before, when merchants ruled the city through fiscal force and the lower classes were about to boil over into revolt. In a desperate measure, the Royal Family declared a law that established the weekend for all guilds and prevented war.

There were exceptions. There were always exceptions. The guilds that were deemed to be critical to the safety and smooth operation of the city could not shut down for more than a single moment. The city guard, technically a guild, was one of them as were the Fire Tenders Guild. And, though no one remembered why, the Whore's Guild was part of that short list.

Because of the law, the Guild operated all twenty hours of the day, ten days a week, and ten weeks a month, and ten months a year. It was open day or night for anyone who needed a quick orgasm, an obscure fetish fulfilled, or simply the comfort of a warm body.

To pull the whores from the streets and lock the brothel doors required posting notices, hundreds of permits, and contingency plans filed with the city. The guild masters of the Whore's Guild rarely took the effort. There was always someone who needed to fuck. But, on a bright summer day, Kirin closed the doors to the guild for a single day. She timed it perfectly when the World Tree rained down petals across the city and the perfumed air was thick without being overpowering.

Officially, the proclamation listed thirty reasons why the Guild needed to shut down, but as far as the members were concerned there was only one reason: Scorch and Nir. The other needs would have been handled with less than an hour of voting, if everyone wasn't drinking until they couldn't stand up.

It was early evening and, despite partying for close to sixteen hours, the Guild was out on the streets surrounding the hall. Shut off from the general public, the guild members let everything free to the fading sun and the warm air. Discarded clothes lined the street and hung from street lamps. Every horizontal surface not used to fuck was filled with discarded mugs of lager and forgotten plates of food. Sex ran just as freely as the alcohol. There was fucking and fingering and fighting, all in good fun.

Merrie was almost overwhelmed by the sexuality surrounding the hall was intense: everyone seemed to be fucking. She saw blow jobs on the corners, fingering against the table, and even twelve men in a fuck chain of cocks and assholes. Surrounding it all were other guild members, laughing and critiquing and drinking heavily.

She panted as she struggled to get through the streets to the hall. Normally her shade was strong enough to push everyone away, but the closeness of the Guild ground down on her desire to be separate. She wanted to reach out and be touched, to be stroked and fingered. She paused long enough to feel jealousy for one of the gang-bang queens who was trying to get a sixth cock into her at the same time. Everyone else was laughing so hard, they were bent over... a dangerous proposition on a street filled with horny whores.

(There are too many people,) grumbled Tamin, (this is not safe.) He walked next to her, shading her from the sun and blocking anyone from stumbling into her. His presence was a comfort, but his discomfort was a sharp pain in her mind. As much as he knew what she wanted, he also needed to protect her. It didn't matter if no one had tried to kill or kidnap her in weeks, he was the constant reminder of the night they killed her master.

Merrie was thankful for his presence and his thoughts. She sent out a pulse of warmth and love to him. (We're safe here. We'll be okay for tonight. And then, we'll return to the shadows.)

They managed to get closer to the guild hall. Through the press of legs, she could see that the windows and doors were packed with people. They were sitting on the windowsills, flashing any and all who asked for it. There were others making out against the columns by the front door.

She spotted a rambunctious game of Queen Says, but the losers had to blow the winners. Though, it was obvious there were no losers in that game. There was also Pin the Tail using cocks and glory holes. The thribans were winning with enthusiasm but the silfae were keeping up with skill and fingering. The street was filled with moans and wet slurps.

Elf was in the middle of one of the catered tables in the streets, spread out naked on a table and covered in sliced fruits. Other prostitutes were plucking the slices off him as he squirmed and giggled. One of the more dour of whores sat on the table, peering over her wire-frame glasses and counting the number of times Elf didn't remain still. He would be punished every time, but everyone knew that Elf was looking forward to being strapped to a table and gang-banged until his wings fluttered.

On the far side, she could see Pristine showing off her skill with her glowing whip. The line of force flicked coins off whore's nipples as they tried to drink while laughing.

Merrie couldn't spot Scorch or Nir, but it was almost impossible with the press of naked flesh. She reached out with her mind, scanning the hall until she sensed Nir sitting on the bar inside the hall, crying with joy and drinking heavily. Scorch sat next to her and burned with pride. His thoughts were blurred with love and beer.

(Alpha, please let me wait for you in the Shadows,) projected Tamin. His discomfort was an ache against her senses. He didn't want to leave her, but he couldn't take it anymore.

She reached over and kissed him. (Be safe.)

He sent a wave of love and affection as he stepped through into the darkness.

Merrie smiled and let the shade spell burn away in the sunlight, exposing her naked body to everyone around her. The crowds pressed in faster than she expected. She whimpered as people stepped closer, no longer being held back by her magic. But, they also didn't see her on her wrists and knees.

Her ears pressing against her head as she looked up at naked cocks and shaved pussies. She tried to reverse the shade, to bring attention to her, but then a man wearing nothing but a cock ring stepped on her tail. She yelped and pulled away, bumping into someone's legs. She slid off and bumped on the ground. Before she could regain her senses, more feet bumped into her and someone stepped on her shin.

As people yelped and jerked back, Merrie fled for a safer spot enough to focus on a Presence spell. She almost made it, but then someone jostled her into the side of a table. She hit the leg with a loud thump and it cracked. A moment later, the table began to buckle as the leg collapsed.

"Oopsie!" cried Elf as he began to fall off the crumbling table.

Merrie looked up to see three meters worth of food sliding toward her in a wave. With a yelp of her own, she tried to jump out of the way, but her body didn't move like she expected it to. Instead, it felt like it melted and flowed into place, pouring into the shadows of the next table without needing more than a millimeter of clearance.

She came to a stop underneath the table and shivered as her body grew solid and thick again, settling down into the familiar shape of two arms, two legs, and the rest of her body. She gasped for breath as she stared through the tablecloth at the devastation the collapsed table had done to the street. There was food everywhere and Elf was in the middle, giggling loudly as he promptly started a food fight.

With a giggle, Merrie concentrated on the liquid feeling of her body. She had experienced it before, but only in combat when someone was about to kill her. Her body never moved that way when she wasn't in danger, but surrounded by waves of sex and excitement, it felt like she was about to turn liquid with nothing but a thought. She licked her lips and concentrated on the flowing sensation, letting it slide across her body and sink into her skin. It was cool and pulsating, like stepping into the Shadows but pulling back right before she crossed over.

Her body tingled as she sank into her spell, feeling herself growing thin along the ground. Her perceptions shifted and she found herself wanting to move, to slid, to crawl. She reached out and she was suddenly rushing across the ground faster than she had ever moved before.

She shot out through the crowds and raced for the hall. Her body felt thin as she curled around legs and arms. With a silent giggle, she rose up along the bodies and ran along breasts and cocks, stroking each one against her skin. It left a wave of pleasure that filled her, not quite an orgasm but enough to put her on edge.

Inside the hall, she dove between legs until she reached the bar at the back. Sliding up, she ran between empty glasses and plates of food until she was next to Nir. It took her a heartbeat to figure out how to release the spell. As it peeled away from her body, her flesh solidified and she filled back into her form. She watched as the shadows faded away to reveal her pale skin and paler hair.

Nir sat on the edge of the bar next to Scorch. She wore nothing but a veil and her body glistened with sweat, pussy juices, and semen. It stuck to her hair and the sheer fabric of the veil clung to her cheek as she held up a large glass of lager and saluted the suddenly silent room.

With his hand on her thigh, Scorch was wearing even less. His cock was half-hard and bobbing with his movements. He had a broad smile, but that was also because his fingers were between Nir's legs, stroking her sex with slow, teasing movements.

Merrie nestled closer to Nir, moving with perfect silence. The room grew hushed as a thousand eyes stared at her. Burning with lust and the need to fuck, she leaned over and delicately kissed Nir's ear.

Nir glanced toward Merrie as she brushed her ear. And then did a double take as Merrie smiled at her. She jerked back into Scorch with a scream that brought laughter from the crowds.

She looked around in confusion before her eyes focused on Merrie. A smile crossed her face. "Bitch!" she squealed and threw herself on Merrie, pulling her into a tight hug. Her small breasts ground against Merrie's larger ones and the movement left little sticky marks along Merrie's body.

On the opposite side, the smell of fire tickled Merrie's senses. Through the curtain of Nir's hair, Merrie saw Scorch glaring at her. He muttered in a low voice, "Damn it, Bitch, don't make her scream like that."

Merrie gave him an evil smile and nipped Nir's shoulder.

Nir squealed and jerked away.

Scorch rolled his eyes and pulled Nir from Merrie. "Bad girl."

Merrie's tail wagged back and forth from the curl of pleasure rising up from her pussy. Her skin prickled with excitement and she let her tongue hang out as she panted.

Lifting her leg slightly so she could perch on her husband-to-be, Nir said, "Now, be nice to my bridesmaid."

"You mean, bride-bitch?"

Nir giggled and pulled close, whispering to Scorch. "I'll make you my bitch."

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "I like to see you try."

They kissed and their affection broke the silence. The crowds roared with cheering.

Merrie felt a presence drawing her attention and turned to look across the room. Mid-way up the stairs, Kirin stood looking at Merrie. Kirin wore her customary corset and nothing else. Her cock swung between her legs, reaching past her knees, and the tip glistened in the light. When their eyes met, the guild mistress lifted her half-full wineglass and gestured for Merrie to follow.

Her tail still wagging, Merrie got on her knees and crawled away. She barely got a step in when two hands grabbed her tail and pulled her back. Whimpering, she turned to see both Scorch and Nir held on to her white tail. As one, they pushed her ass down to the bar and dragged her close.

Merrie's heart thumped louder. Nir leaned into Scorch's shoulder as the fire mage said, "You know we both love you, right?"

She could feel it in their hearts, the warm and compassion for her. They both knew that Merrie was one reason they were together. And their relationship blossomed around her. She smiled and fought the tears. Turning on her ass, she reached up and kissed both of them on the lips. (I love you two.)

Nir peeked out from Scorch's neck. "You have such a pretty voice, it's... rough but sexy."

Merrie thought about Sable's thoughts. (Smoke and whiskey?)

The teenage girl pulled Merrie into a long kiss, their tongues teasing each other for a moment. As they broke, Nir whispered into the tiny space between their lips. "I would have never been happy if it wasn't for you, my bitch of smoke and shadows. It is the greatest gift you could ever give me: freedom and love."

Merrie smiled and sent a pulse of love toward both of them. They released her tail and she crawled away. She had to pick her way over half-empty glasses on the bar, but no one questioned her as she traversed the entire length and jumped down at the far end. It was only a few short meters before she was looking up at the guild mistress.

"They are both good kids," said Kirin, "but I think you and me and Monk need to have a talk."

Merrie nodded.

From the crowds, someone called out to Kirin. "Mistress! It's time for another round for the marriage gifts? How will they earn it?"

Kirin turned around, her eyes gold with streaks of blue in it. She look at the gathered whores and smiled. "One mark for every crack against the ass. Open handed and there better be a red mark---"

The roof shook with the cheers.

"... on both of their asses."

Scorch shook his head. "No, no. Not me, please---"

"Oh, Scorchy-poo!" cried Elf as he came bounding in with a fistful of marks and dripping food.

With a groan, Scorch slipped off the bar and bent over. "No butterflies this time!"

The laughter followed Merrie and Kirin as they headed up to Kirin's private office. As they mounted the stairs, the noise quieted until it was barely a whisper at the top of the stairs. The air still shook from the party below, but the sound suppression spells managed to keep the din down. It even muffled the sounds of fucking from the member's rooms.

Kirin stopped at the threshold of her quarters and held up her glass.

Merrie paused, but Kirin gestured her through. Confusion, Merrie stepped across and turned around to watch curiously.

With a wide sweep of her arm, Kirin splashed a line of red wine across the white marble floor. It was a shocking contrast, like blood spilled out on the ground. Coming to the end of the arch, she drained the rest of the glass and took a deep breath.

The floor began to vibrate and Merrie felt power rising up. It felt like a thousand worms crawling along her skin as it rose up and pressed down on her. Her tail dropped to cover her sex and ass even though she knew it was magic and not real creatures dropping on her.

The floor split along the line of wine. Obsidian tendrils stretched out of the crawl, intertwining with each other as they reached for the arch. Merrie's skin crawl with some deep-set fear she didn't know she had. Around Kirin's quarters, she felt warding spells rising up inside the walls and along the floor and ceiling.

The tendrils began to swell out, blocking the entrance completely. They twisted and bulged into obscene shapes, of men and women being impaled by tentacles. Merrie clamped her tail tighter against her nether holes. Even as she watched, she could imagine herself impaled by the very tentacles before her.

The obsidian froze in place. It looked solid as a rock. Warding spells pulsed along the tendrils, protecting the room. Merrie glanced over to the windows and saw more black tendrils blocking every opening. She reached out for the Shadows, but couldn't reach through the sensation of solid walls even between the barriers.

Kirin patted her head as she passed. "I need more wine," she said. "The wards in this room always take so much energy, but it will stop any eavesdroppers, teleporters, and even," she looked over her shoulder to smile at Merrie, "little bitches who can step into other dimensions."

Merrie smiled and blushed. She padded further into the room, following Kirin. As she came around a large couch, she saw it.

A black box sitting in the middle of the table. She had only seen it a few times, mostly in Rakin's memories, but she knew what was inside. Rakin's collar. Her tail clamped even tighter against her body, burrowing its length against her sex as she whimpered.

"Scary isn't it?" said Monk. "It looks so plain, that collar, but it is more terrifying that anything I can comprehend." The red robed man sat in a chair, his hands steepled together. His lips were turned into a frown, but Merrie couldn't see through the red cloth to see if it reached his eyes.

She gulped and nodded, her eyes drifting back to the box.

Kirin sat down in her chair, opposite of Monk. With a twist of her hip, she set her feet down on the table and stretched her massive cock along her thighs. The flared tip rested on her knees. "And yet here we are, talking about it."

Merrie's heart pounded in her chest. She inched closer to the box, afraid and drawn to it. Her skin felt tight and tingling as she stared at the plain box. She could picture the collar perfectly, as if it had been burned into her mind. A simple black metal ring split open. It was about as thick as Kirin's smallest finger without a single rune or decoration. She couldn't even feel magic from it, even though she knew from Rakin's memories that there were hundreds of spells enchanting it.

"Remember Monk," started Kirin, "this isn't our choice."

Merrie looked up with confusion, first to Kirin and to Monk.

Monk shook his head sharply. "It should be destroyed."

With a shrug and a nod, Kirin gestured to Merrie. "Tell us, please?"

"I already told you."

"Yes," Kirin said as she sipped her wine, "but as the future guild master, you need to learn how to explain to others your opinions. And Bitch needs to know why."

Monk sighed and leaned forward. "I've been identifying the magics on this collar for the last two months. I've had to bring in more than a few experts, all under oath and geas, for the more esoteric enchantments. But, frankly this thing should be---"

"Monk..." interrupted Kirin.

His head tilted to look at her. "I don't think she is qualified to make this choice."

"I disagree. Do we need Sari?"

Monk's lips pressed into a thin line. "No," he said sullenly, "we don't."

Merrie looked back and forth between them. There was a tension in the air that brought dread rising up from her gut. She glanced at the box. She knew it was terrifying, but Monk's concerns bothered her more.

"I'll start with the beneficial effects, but they are all combined together into a single enchantment that cannot be separated. The good comes with the bad, or more accurately there are some benefits to the collar's horror."

"So dramatic."

Monk glared at Kirin. He turned back to Merrie. "For starters, the collar has two regeneration spells."

Merrie's heart skipped a beat as she remembered the charm at the mill.

"The first is a third circle regeneration bound into the collar. Your healing speed is roughly doubled which will cut recovery time from physical injuries in half. The other regeneration," he frowned, "is nastier. It is much more powerful, about a hundred-fold increase in healing, but it only triggers with your death."

Suddenly, Merrie's sphincter was tight enough to break wood. She whimpered and stared at Monk in shock. The hope that rose up with the first spell was utterly crushed as Monk described how it worked.

"It basically keeps your mind alive until your body recovers. However, there is no pain suppression, which means you'll experience the agony of healing at high speed until your own body is capable of surviving on its own. It will be, for a better word, torture."

"Can it be disrupted? asked Kirin, her eyes were now a brilliant gold.

Monk shook his head. "None of the spells in the collar are breakable by anything short of a god. In fact, it would take a god to kill her permanently. There are also longevity spells buried inside it for both her and her master. He added spells to handle death by asphyxiation and starvation, two weaknesses of most regeneration spells. That isn't to say she can't be killed by choking or starvation. She can be killed, and it would be agony as she died, but she won't remain dead. Once she regains consciousness, though, the one regeneration ceases to function and the lesser-powered regeneration will take over. In the end, she will be nearly impossible to kill but every recovery would be torture."

Sweat trickled down Merrie's back as she stared at the box. It didn't matter that Monk wasn't addressing her, she could barely focus as she tried to think of the implications Rakin had for her. He was going to hurt her, kill her even. The fantasies of spiking her to the ground or cutting open her stomach were more than an idle fantasy, it was a plan he had prepared for her. Her stomach twisted violently and she trembled with fear.

Monk continued with a wave of his hand. "The second group is a series of enhancement spells that are a felony to use inside Franome outside of war. Rakin must have blown a lot of favors to get some of these, including casting a few of his own. They are tailored specifically for her," his frown deepened, "including her shadow and psionic magic. There are also physical armor, a secondary mental shield, and enough energy storage for a tenth circle spell. All of them, I'll repeat, are illegal to have active in the city."

Merrie finally tore her eyes away from box. (How powerful is an tenth circle spell?) She didn't know anything about the formal classification of magic, she just always fucked until she could cast a spell.

"Enough to destroy Franome City," came the deadpanned response. "It is acknowledged that the first World Tree was created with a tenth circle spell."

"Please don't do that, Bitch," chuckled Kirin. "The destroying bit or the creating World Trees."

Merrie made a strained giggle. (I'm done with destroying hunks of Franome City.)

"We'll see," muttered Monk. He sighed and gestured to the box. "That's the benefits of the collar, but when compared to the curses in the collar, they are insignificant. I'll start with the most obvious: the geas."

Merrie whimpered and her tail pressed tighter against her body. (Geas?)

"This is actually the capstone to the collar and why nothing can be taken out without destroying the collar. There is divine magic sealing it. Rakin must have bribed a god to finish the enchantment, but it is still a geas. The only problem is that the geas doesn't allow choice."

"Choice?" Kirin got up to refill her glass. Merrie didn't remember her drinking it.

"Yes, choice," sighed Monk. He got up and rubbed his head. "Mortal magic has limits. Every known geas spell has some way of breaking it with varying requirements on the conditions. The geas that currently affects her is released by a simple action instead of the more poetic ones from history. This one has a simple rule---"

(Obey the master of the collar.) Merrie knew it from Rakin's thoughts.

Monk nodded. "Yes, but you won't have a choice. You can't fight until your organs explode out of your body, your skin ignites into flame or melts off, or let your mind crumble like every other geas I'm aware of. You," he pointed accusingly, "will not have a choice. You will," he spat out the word, "obey the collar's owner. I can't---"

"Monk," Kirin said, "please."

Monk turned on the guild mistress. "No, this is important. She can't say no. If her owner says kill herself, she will. If he says fuck, she will. If he says destroy Franome City, she will kill every living being within fifty kilometers of here until someone stops her, if they can!" Monk's voice cracked as it rose. "She already has enough power to send all of Franome City into the Shadows and this collar will only give her more! She can't---"

Kirin slammed her glass down and barked out his name.

His red robe fluttered and Merrie thought she saw a crimson glow around him, but he didn't say anything. He held out his hand and took a deep breath. And then a second and a third.

The world spun around Merrie. She could barely hear him speak as she stared at the collar, feeling it drawing her attention into it. It scared her more than with every passing second, every spell that Rakin had shoved into it. He was going to bind her forever with it and she barely survived keeping him away. She didn't know and she whimpered loudly as she tried to comprehend the consequences of putting on the collar.

"I'm sorry," Monk's voice was calm once again, "guild mistress. We're the Whore's Guild. This is a matter of the Artificer's Guild, except they would arrest Bitch as soon as they got the collar. And... I don't trust them not to put it on her. Or sell her to someone to become her owner."

"I suspected. That is why I asked you to keep it secret."

"I don't want this responsibility, mistress."

Kirin smiled and set down a bottle of wine on the table next to her. "I know, Monk, but it is one all three of us have. Do you know which god?"

"One of the intermediate gods of magic is my guess. I'm guessing Misyr or Quinsolin."

Kirin stared at Merrie in shock.

Merrie knew the answer, though. She didn't understand it from Rakin's memories when she first picked it up, but it welled up. (Misyr.)

"H-How," Kirin gulped before she continued, "did Rakin get Misyr to help?"

"I don't know, but that is the only way I think that a geas this powerful could be created. It basically duplicates the submission aspect of True Submissives. The collar also creates a telepathic bond, strong enough to cross dimensions and into the Shadows. The range is... well, she won't get out of range. It also removes any chance of free will, that is the part that required a god."

He sighed and gestured to the black box. "That's it. A very powerful combat charm and effective immortality but you have to give up all free will and all choice when you put it on. And... once you do, it will never come off."

Merrie's throat was dry. She tried to swallow but couldn't. A whimper rose in her throat as she stared down at the box, trying to wrap her mind around the power the simple, black collar held. The regeneration and enhancements appealed to her, but it was the geas that her mind kept drawing back to. She would lose all choice as she submitted to her master. Rakin wanted to be her master, he wanted to give her a command and know that she would obey it. But she also knew that he wanted her to know she couldn't choose. It was the important part of being an Alpha. She had to submit. If anyone knew that, it would be Rakin. He needed there to be a choice for her powers, but the threat of absolute submission was an effective leash.

She could imagine how he would use it, like a stick if she disobeyed. He would start with simple commands, suck on his cock or lick his ass, but it would quick turn into self-mutilation and suicide.

A tremor coursed through her body followed by a wave of heat. Her skin crawled and began to tingle, just like the days before she bonded. He wasn't going to force the collar on her, he was going to make her submit to it. Break her until she begged to put it around her own neck.

Her lips parted as she began to pant. Rakin was going to give her a choice. He would have told her everything the collar did, because he wanted to see the look in her eyes as she submitted. He would give her a single choice that would change everything.

Merrie couldn't take her eyes off the box. She could feel the power boiling inside her, a heat that burned her from the inside. It wasn't focused on her pussy or her clitoris, but seemed to gather in her heart and chest. It hurt to breathe, but she couldn't stop staring at it.

She had a chance of getting another master. It was a false bond, but it was still closer to anything she had since her master died. She would feel that intimacy again, that need to obey that drove every moment of her life.

"There is---"

"Quiet, Monk, she needs time."

"She's dripping," came the icy response.

Merrie continued to stare at the box, but she dropped one arm to her belly. The smooth end of her wrist ran along the taut skin down to her hip. The heat from her sex rose up around her, tickling her senses, but she continued to shift down until her wrist encountered the soaked opening of her sex. It was like fingering a stranger, she couldn't keep both her mind on the painful pleasure and the box at the same time. But, her pussy felt liquid as it drooled around her wrist. The wet splatters of excitement filled the air and sent whiffs of perfumed excitement past her nose.

The lure of having a new master was a drug. She remembered the agony she felt at missing her former master and how much she wanted it back. The despair had been sealed away, but she knew that the collar would heal that wound forever. She would willingly become a slave again, if she found the right master.

"Bitch?" Kirin's voice interrupted her.

Merrie blinked and tore her eyes away from the box. She looked up to see Kirin kneeling next to her, the guild mistress' cock resting on the white marble floor.

"Bitch, are you okay?"

Merrie glanced back at the box with her collar. It was everything she wanted in her life, more than fucking and more than even Tamin. It was submission in a simple black collar. Gulping, she sniffed at the tears in her eyes, but she didn't remember when she started crying.

Kirin smiled and reached up with her hand to brush the tears from Merrie's cheeks. "It's okay. You don't have to choose right now."

"Actually," Monk started, "she probably has to choose soon."

(Why?)

Monk sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I had to get a number of experts to investigate the collar. The spells were far beyond my ken and most of the people I trusted. I found them and offered them a choice, a geas to keep it a secret. Those who refused, I didn't work with. Those who did, I paid for it from guild funds---"

Kirin rolled her eyes and gave a weak chuckle.

"---and gave them the time they needed with the collar. I'm not worried about most of them, but..." He looked down at his lap. "Two days ago, one of my experts was found dead. She," he sighed and shook his head, "had been tortured into giving up the secrets. Her sisters at the covenant found her when she didn't come down for morning prayer."

The tingle that coursed along Merrie's skin turned to ice. She could feel dread filling the air and tensed. Monk was about to tell her something terrible.

She could feel his attention on her. He dug into his pocket and pulled out an envelop. "She gave me this along with her report on the collar. Her identification was probably one of the most expensive, I'll admit, but it was modeled after her own work. She also admitted to trying to destroy it, but she couldn't."

Merrie looked at the envelope. It had only two words written on the front of it: Merrie Golddother. A whine rose in her throat as she began to shake her head. She knew who had died for her, the only woman who knew magical collars and Merrie's true name, Rendi Kivas.

She shook her head as the tears ran down her cheeks. She wanted to deny it, to pretend that Rendi hadn't suffered because of her, but she knew it was true. She could feel it in Monk's words, his thoughts. She sobbed and shook her head, unable to grab the envelope held in front of her.

"Monk?"

Monk set the envelope on the black box. "I'm sorry... Merrie."

Merrie choked at her name, the pleasure never coming. She shook her head violent. (I never wanted to hurt anyone.) With her thoughts came the memories of Rendi at the mill, including the final days when it became too much for her. (She tried to leave the mill and... because of me, it killed her.)

Kirin wrapped her arms around Merrie. "It will be okay, puppy girl."

Merrie shook her head, then buried her face into Kirin's shoulder. (She died because of me.)

No one said anything, because there was nothing to say.

She wished that her despair would come back, the horrible darkness that would erase the world. But, she was left alone, caught by something she couldn't stop.

Monk sighed and squeezed his hands together. "I... suggested that we have the guild votes and the marriage ceremony to give us a chance to discuss this in private. I'm afraid..."

Merrie looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted to lash out at him, for including Rendi, but she knew he did the best he could. She could feel it in his thoughts but it didn't make the gnawing grief any easier to stomach.

"Monk?"

"Someone was willing to kill a wizard-priest to find out about the collar, torture her to get through the geas. We already know that Mer... Bitch is capable of incredible damage and destruction. History has proven that wars were fought over True Submissives, but she is something else, she's a... an Omega, for a lack of a better word. She is more powerful than any Alpha recorded and she survived the death of her master." He swallowed. "And now she can bond again. That collar," he pointed to the box, "will make a king or a dictator. With her powers, the natural enhancement of her master's powers and her own magic, she can destroy a country or make one."

Kirin's arm around Merrie tightened. "And you don't think the Guild can survive it?"

"Our vault isn't strong enough to stop someone truly dedicated to getting her. And anyone capable of breaking into our vault will kill anyone that gets in their way. That collar and her, as long as she is unbonded, it is a threat. Not only to Bitch's free will, but the safety of this guild and this country. Please don't make her choose, Kirin." Monk held his hands in a begging position, fingers steepled together.

Merrie pulled herself away from Kirin's group. She gathered up as much determination she could dredge up. (It's my collar.)

"Destroy---"

(I'll,) she interrupted, (will make that choice.)

"There are forces out there after you. It is dangerous to leave anywhere, not even inside the World Tree. You need to destroy it and soon."

Merrie stared at the box. (Give me a day. Two at the most and I'll figure out what to do.)

"Bitch," Kirin whispered, "if you do decide to destroy it, a number of gods of sex owe the guild some favors. They are, as a whole, pretty much useless for these things, but they sleep around as much as we do and would know which powers would be willing to help. It's a long shot, but the Guild is behind you."

Merrie nodded without smiling. She knew what Kirin and Monk suggested, but she couldn't stomach the idea of destroying it. The lure of having a master again was too great and the others knew it. The only question was, who would she choose to be her master for the rest of her life.

Merrie stretched her legs across the slightly dusty blankets of her master's bed until the ends of her ankles pressed against the carved headboard. The icy wood felt good against her skin, an anchor for the disbelief and anticipation that burned hotly through her veins. She pushed herself up on her elbows and up to her knees. Her nipples dragged along the blanket's folds, reminding her of her physical body.

Her eyes never left the collar. The heavy black ring sank into the bed, creating a depression that drew her eyes toward it. It was exactly like she remembered, black as the Lord of Shadows without a single scratch, ridge or decoration. Rakin didn't need to prove his ownership with a name or fancy symbols; he would have demonstrated it to the world by his complete mastery of her. The collar was barely a finger thick, but far heavier than the iron collars they shackled on her at the Puppy Mill.

It was sensual and terrifying. The only thing that broke the perfection was the missing segment of the collar. There were no latches or hooks, only two smooth ends of the adamantite ring. She knew from Rakin's memories that it would seal up as soon as he put it around her neck. And, once in place, it would never be removed. The idea of being collared forever kept a heat boiling inside her.

She peered down her body, past her hanging breasts to her thighs. The insides were glistening with her juices and strands of the clear fluid stuck to her labia and legs. The strands slowly slid down, but there was always more liquid oozing out of her pussy. Below, the blankets were soaked with her excitement, a large damp spot almost as large as herself.

It had been five minutes since she last masturbated, imagining someone collaring her. The person was always different but, while it quickly brought her to a screaming orgasm, it faded as soon as she stopped fantasizing about it. None of the people around her were strong enough for her. None were the master or mistress she needed.

(If they collar you,) Tamin projected sullenly, (it won't matter.) He was at the foot of the bed, curled up and dozing. He hated the collar and she could feel the jealousy bubbling in his thoughts. She remembered the same jealousy from Sable and Dixie, the bonded never shared their masters. And Tamin didn't want to be shared with another Alpha. His mind couldn't handle the idea of an alpha of an alpha.

Merrie sighed. It was an old argument now. Shifting over to a drier spot, she thudded back to the blankets and stared at it. Trembling, she reached out to stroking it, enjoying the faint tingle that coursed along her nerves when she touched it. The collar somehow knew her. She could feel the magic reaching out for her, ready to bind her forever. (But, if I get someone like Tai, she won't push me. I'd wither. She can't command me.)

(You already said no to Gail and Tai.)

(And Jacir or any of my other customers. They are sweet but, no one commanded me like...)

Tamin sent an image of Rakin standing over her, commanding her as she exploded into orgasm.

Merrie whimpered and dropped her head into the blankets, tilting so she could still stare at the collar. (Yes.) It tore her to think about it, but Rakin was her perfect master. He knew how to push her to her limits, how to force her submission and then fuck her until she couldn't stop coming.

(Maybe that's his curse? He's the only true master for you. He's the only one who can truly dominate you.)

She closed her eyes slowly. She ached from staying up all night and afternoon. She didn't dare let it out of her sight, but she couldn't find the answer. It was too big of a choice, too important to make frivolously. She needed a master, but there were none in her life. (Why did I say two days?)

Tamin said nothing.

(I wish the answer was obvious.)

His tail thumped against the ground. (If it was, then it wouldn't be a choice. And if it wasn't a choice, then it would be meaningless.)

(Stop being so smart.) Merrie let out her breath in a rush and rolled over on her back. The letter from Rendi crinkled underneath her, but she ignored it for a moment while staring at the ceiling.

(You made me that way, Alpha.)

She smiled and looked at his wagging tail. (I love you so much. What would you do?)

Frustration burned along their connection. It was too hard to keep his needs from her own. She knew he was jealous, but he also wanted her happy. He didn't have the answers either. Neither of them did, which is why Merrie remained on the bed staring at it.

She felt thin and stretched out, like her cloak. She finally had a chance of having a master and suddenly, there were too many choices. Almost none of them appealed to her.

(What about Borias? Regardless of that letter?)

Merrie rolled over and pushed herself down to bring the letter in front of her. She smoothed it out with her wrist and read the familiar words she had been reading for hours.

> Before I even identified that... thing, I knew it was for you and I know who made it. Only one man would create such a horrifying artifact to utterly dominate a single person. I can't write his name because of this geas, but you already know who it is. He had so much power in his life. He protected this country for centuries, but everyone looked away when his thoughts turned to obsession. What was one woman to a hero? What are the girls he murdered when he invaded the... sorry, the geas makes it hard to identify him. But, I know you asked Borias about it, so you know what I'm talking about. Being a hero is not forever and it tears my heart open to know that he had turned his obsession on you.

> This artifact is so much more than the spells that enchant it. Part of me is in there. I don't know how, but he stole me. Just like the collars I crafted for Bass, part of my soul is in there. It binds the spells to the metal, just as my god's power flows through its metal. I prayed for understanding of My Great Lord Misyr, but for once, I have no answers.

> I also prayed for this item's destruction, since the geas won't let me do it myself. And my prayers were unanswered. No doubt, this my punishment for the horrors I did at the Mill. I will accept them as Misyr demands, but it doesn't make my penance any easier.

Merrie shivered at the words. It felt like Rendi was talking to her from the grave, not knowing she was going to be murdered days after penning the letter.

> I'd be a fool to think you will destroy that accursed device. I know what you are and what you need. It is your nature and if I was in your position, I assume I would do the same thing. I'm only thankful that I'm not in your position. The only thing I can do is ask you to destroy it, fully knowing you will never do such a thing.

> Instead, I beg your favor. One that is desperately close to my own heart. Please, please don't choose my son. I love him with all my soul, but if you bond with him, you will be killing both of you. He cannot ever tap into that magic again, he cannot feed the monster inside him. With your closeness and your need to serve, you two will make mistakes that would haunt me until my grave.

> It has been thirteen years since he was sealed away from his magic and sent to the prison that has cursed my family for centuries. The Kivas have always been known by the two doors leading into Abbinkey. It almost killed me knowing he entered the red door as a prisoner, instead of the white like I did. When I found out you were what you were, I dreaded hearing news that he had bonded with you. Every time you looked into his eyes, I wondered if it was the last time I would see my son happy. Even after I left, I had nightmares. Terrible, terrible nightmares that haunted me every night. I was afraid that at the last minute, he bonded with you. By some random chance or choice, I was terrified that day would come. When you were sold away, I let out a pray of relief and thanked Misyr. I thought it was over. But, now as I hold this item in my hand, I realize that I'll be visited by the mares tonight.

> His geas won't work with this collar. I'm sure of it, but I doubt neither of you would spend the time to research the geas with your collar, to know if the knowledge that you can't stay dead is powerful enough to get around the limitations of death. Even if it could, if it was cast to detect intent instead of status, then it would take just a single thought that one of your deaths was permanent to kill him. A single though, a single doubt, and I would lose my son forever.

> I love my son. And I beg you with everything I can, everything I can give you. Don't pick him.

> --- Sister Rendi Kivas, Wizard-Priest of Misyr

Merrie clamped her eyes tightly shut as the guilt slammed into her. (No, not Borias. Even if I knew how to get back to the Mill, I couldn't pick him.)

Unspoken was the other two masters at the Mill.

Tabitha was have been perfect and she had no doubt that she would be submissive to both her and Dixie. It would be a world of being hunted down, raped and torn apart. But knowing that she couldn't die would take the edge off the hunting and Merrie could see Tabitha growing more violent and frustrated with that knowledge.

Bass, on the other hand, would have been another perfect master, but she would never go back to the Mill. She couldn't, not now, not ever. She glanced up at the door to the bedroom, it was cracked and hung from one hinge. A large hole in the far side of the hall was a meter off the ground and still dripping plaster and shards of wood. She closed her eyes.

(I will never go back!)

Merrie hadn't moved, but she was surrounded by hundreds of black tendrils of shadows. They rose up from every bit of darkness in the room, from the gaps between the dressers and the darkness underneath the bed. They were rooted even from her cloak, using the folds for purchase in reality.

Dust filled the room as she stared in shock out the door. Tamin's body slid out of the hole in the wall. Black blood dripped down the plaster and soaked into the dust.

(It didn't hurt that much.)

Merrie's ears drooped. (I don't know why I did that.)

Tamin sent a pulse of affection that brought tears to her eyes. (It wasn't much different than our foreplay.) Being thrown through a wall or across a street wasn't much different than how they wrestled in the streets. Both of them had been tossed into wheels of wagons, brick walls, and through trees. It was just foreplay to them, a violent sexy start for sex that mixed blood and cum.

(Later,) she smiled.

(What about... the prince?) Claston was one of the few people who Merrie suspected could be her master, but she didn't know for sure. It seemed like a long-shot to choose someone so public when even the city guards couldn't be seen around her. He had secrets, that far she knew, and a strength of will, but she didn't know if he could dominate her.

(Gillette?)

Merrie tensed at the name of the shadow hunter. He was powerful and charismatic. She had seen him fight against the Reaper and the hordes of the shadows and win. He was commanding, but she never saw even a hint of sexuality in his actions. But, he was powerful and strong. He had a force of will and charisma.

(You could see yourself serving him.)

She moaned softly. (Yes.) Fantasies rose up of her fighting in the shadows next to him. She knew the sex would come, with her thoughts mixing in with his, they would become more than just companions.

Tamin rolled over and gave a dramatic sight. (Going to masturbate again, Alpha?)

Merrie blushed and smiled. She dropped her arms down to her pussy, enjoying the slick heat of her excitement. Pressing her wrists together, she stroked her clitoris and enjoyed the curls of heat. Her juices clung to her skin, tickling her as she began to build up the slow pleasures.

As she stroked her pussy with both wrists, she turned and stared at the collar. She couldn't wait until someone placed it around her neck and sealed her forever. An orgasm sparked inside her, but she arched her back and stroke faster, trying to lose herself in a fantasy of Gillette dominating her.

Just as she was reaching a fifth orgasm, a heat washed over the room. A moment later, the crackle and smell of burning wood filled the room. Without hesitation, she flipped over to her knees.

Her cloak crawled out from underneath the bed, grabbing the adamantite collar as it passed and wrapped around her. The heavy metal ring pressed against her breast as the cloak tightened protectively around her. She let out a soft gasp of relief knowing that the collar wouldn't be lost.

On the floor, Tamin was already on his feet and growling. (Intruders!)

She sent out a pulse to investigate. At the same time, she began to cast strength and speed spells into both of them. It could be a false alarm, but after the attack against her master and Rakin's ambush, she decided to fight first and question later. She only hoped it was her imagination, but the pounding in her heart told her otherwise.

The ripples of her senses came back. Four people were within a hundred meters of her. Three were wrapped in fire magic cast by the same mage and they were protected against her psionics. The fourth stood in the shadows at the corner of the house, a shade spell draped over their body to hide them from sight. Unlike the other three, there was the foul taste of necromancy and the sharp sweetness of some other type of magic. Sweat prickled her skin as the fear burned along her veins. She didn't think they would be coming for her like this or so soon.

(Alpha, the Shadows are burning.)

Calligraphic spells of protection ran across her mind as she pushed her senses beyond the barrier of the worlds and into the Shadows. The familiar shifting walls of the mansion were on fire, the flames as brilliant as the sun. She pulled back and shook her head. (Too dangerous.)

His ears perked up. (They're coming through the wall.) With his thoughts, his senses connected with her own. She could hear a roaring through the wall and the smell the smoldering wall beyond the dressers set up along the outer wall. Another wave of heat rolled through the room and flames flickered in the cracks between the furniture.

A blast of magic burned along her senses as it rushed toward the wall. She could feel the destructive energies burning her mind as it came up.

Merrie sent out a quick order as she used her cloak to grab the edges of the bed. (Tamin, circle around and kill the hiding one.)

(Yes, Alpha!) His dark form shot out the door. He bounced off the far wall and sprinted down the hall.

Merrie yanked the bed up, using magical strength and the cloak to lever the hundred kilogram frame on two legs and then brought it down on the side. Her cloak released the bed and spread out in a shield as the wall of her bedroom exploded inward.

The concussion blast slammed the bed back. Merrie yelped and planted her knees on the frame as it rushed toward the far wall. Her cloak shoved back on the bed, bracing her and stopping the mattress from crushing her. Burning blankets rained down on her head and she flowed out from the bed to escape them.

"There you are," declared a man with a deep voice. He was a powerfully built man in black plate armor that had runes that glowed like embers. He wielded a large one-handed sword that burned with black flames. "Time for your new master---"

Her cloak burst out of the burning remains of the bed and slammed into his helm. There was a wet sucking noise as it disappeared through the visor and the man staggered back. His muffled scream rose in the air before a wet crunch silenced him.

Merrie raced past the first attacker and into the yard. The entire side of the house was on fire, burning brightly and sparking from the magical flames. There were two more attackers left.

Tamin came around the corner of the house, moving with the silence of shadows. His feet flowed along the ground as he came up behind an archer with a glowing bow. It was a young woman with slender hips, but it didn't matter as he bit down on the back of her neck and flipped over. A muffled pop noise came as her spine snapped and she went limp.

(You know, Alpha, all of these people want to be your master. Maybe one of these can make you their bitch?)

Grinning at Tamin's humor. (The first two already failed the try-outs.)

(Good idea. We try to kill them and if anyone wins, they get to be your master.)

Merrie transformed into a hound and raced for the nearest attacker. It was a heavy-set man sheathed in fire magic that wasn't his own. He had a staff in his hand, but his face was pale and dripping with sweat.

As he saw her coming, he stumbled back. "S-Sit!" With a gulp, he tried again. "You have to obey! Sit!"

His stuttered words had no dominance over her. Merrie snarled as she jumped at him. (You failed.)

She landed on his chest, throwing him back against the wall. She bit down, tearing open his belly and yanking out a meter of intestine before jumping away to avoid a sword slash from the third attacker, a man in scaled armor.

"Help me," croaked the disemboweled man.

"I'm trying to!" snapped the other man as he tried to stab her. "Try to pin her down. Can you see the collar?"

The fallen man shook his head. His hands were bloody as he tried to shove his organs back into his stomach. "No... wait. I think I see it in her---"

Merrie tore out his throat before he could continue. Her cloak, dripping blood, wrapped around her. It was hot and sticky, but she focused on it long enough to feel the heavy collar press against her chest.

"Fuck this, this bitch will heal after I collar her." Magic exploded from his body and his attacks became a blur, his blade screaming through the air as he attacked Merrie.

She dodged as quickly as she could, flowing around the slashes, but the blows kept coming and he was better skilled than she was. She shifted from one side to another, trying to get a opening to attack through his armor.

But, her opponent was too fast. His sword flashed across her and sliced along her shoulder, and then her side. Another attack caught her ear, slicing it open. As the blood began to soak into her fur, more attacks slashed her collar, paws, and chest. It tore through her cloak and the shreds of black fluttered to the ground.

Merrie stopped trying to attack him and tried to back away, but he followed her. Her body blurred and flowed away, but he slammed the sword down into her cloak and she was flipped over. The impact threw her back into physical form and she struggled to get back on her paws.

He yanked out the sword and slashed again, this time it struck the adamantite collar and it rang out like a heavy bell. "I got it!" he struck again, cutting into the cloak and slicing into her furry chest. Blood poured out as the collar fell out and hit the ground.

With a gasp, she lurched for it.

The fighter drove his sword into the cloak and pinned it to the ground again. His steel-toed boot caught her in the wrist, kicking her away from the collar. Spinning around, he followed up with another blow to her head.

Stars exploded across her vision. Merrie's heart pounded loudly in her ears as she shifted into shadow form and slid toward the collar. But, despite her speed, the fighter stepped over to it and bent over to scoop it off the ground.

A heavy boot slammed the collar back to the ground.

Merrie looked up just as Gillette pull back and punch the man across the chin. As Merrie's opponent staggered back, Gillette spun around and his scythe flashed out. The sharp, curved point caught the man between the ribs and it sliced through his armor like butter. The massive blade flashed out the other side with a spurt of blood.

Gillette looked down at her. "You looked in trouble."

The attacker's upper body hit the ground with a wet smack and a spray of blood.

Panting, Merrie nodded and barked once.

"I saw a number of groups heading this way, all of them armed for war. At least two groups are fighting over you a few streets over. This is just the first wave, Shades."

Merrie moaned and pressed her wrist against her breast. The blade had cut a line from her collar to her opposing leg. The agony burned along her senses and crimson blood splashed on the ground beneath her. She leaned to the side just as Tamin sat down next to her and caught her.

(Alpha, I found two assassins in the shadows. Neither are among the living now, but one was a shadow dancer and is currently feeding a Lord of Shadows.)

Merrie shivered at the memory of her master dying. She bumped her head against his chest. (Are the Shadows safe now?)

As the Lord of Shadows feasted on the soul of the shadow dancer, the Shadow version of the mansion crumbled around it. The dark energies rotted away at the fires and extinguish them. It finished consuming the soul but instead of splitting as it did with Merrie's master and the creatures of the forest, it did nothing. There wasn't enough power in the assassin's soul to let it reproduce.

Gillette grunted as he wiped his blade clean. "Do you know why they're attacking?"

Merrie glanced down at the collar still underneath his boot. To him, it was just a black ring and had no significance. To her, it was her entire world. Slowly, she dragged her eyes up along his muscular thigh and powerful chest. He was the warrior she could dream of bonding to. And, in person, her fantasies bubbled in the bottom of her thoughts.

Her skin tingled with anticipation. He could be her master. Her throat was dry and her heart pounded loudly in her chest. The pains of her injuries faded away as she stared at him, seeing him for what she wanted and aching to feel him against her mind. She just had to ask.

Taking a deep breath, she projected the thoughts. (Will you be my master?)

Gillette blanched and his thoughts wavered with shock. He turned sharply away. "W-What?" he choked.

She sent an image of the collar he was standing on along with the memories of what it was: the conference with Kirin and Monk, Rakin's own thoughts, and even the letter from Rendi. (I need a master and that collar gives me one. These attackers,) she gestured to the disemboweled man dying behind her, (are willing to kill to own me.)

He stepped sharply away from the collar as if it burned him. "This isn't the place or the time."

Her fantasies were crushed in an instant with the sharpness of his rejection. There was a finality in his voice, a promise that he would never be hers. She whimpered softly as she started at him, struggling with the devastation that slammed into her.

Tamin tensed next to her.

Gillette glanced at her and then sighed. He spoke in a sharp voice but there was none of the vibrancy of his southern accent. "Decisions like that should not be made in the heat of battle. We'll defeat your opponents and then we'll talk."

She reached out to read his thoughts, but there was nothing.

He turned away from her and headed toward the front gate. "There are more attackers coming. Send your dog to handle the ones in the back. Come with me and we'll take out the frontal assault."

Merrie shivered at the command, the pleasure rising up. Maybe he would accept her after the fight. She barked once and followed after him, shifting into her human form and then back into a hound, erasing most of her injuries.

"Useful trick," Gillette said with a grim smile.

(I have a few more.)

Three men stepped out on the street. She recognized one of them as Baron Falon from the day Rakin was convicted. Falon gestured toward her. "Kill the man and break her legs. I get the collar."

The two men flanking Falon held out their hands and bright flames blossomed around their fists. It stretched over their bodies as they dropped into a defensive position.

"Those tricks," Gillette said in a low voice, "any of them useful in combat?"

She barked cheerfully.

"Then we might get through this. Take the one on the right, I'll handle the left."

He slammed his scythe once on the ground and then charged forward. Merrie chased after him, spells surging through her veins.

Twenty-five minutes later, the streets were on fire and blood poured through the gutters. Merrie stepped over Falon's corpse as she limped back to the front gate. She barely remembered ripping out Falon's guts when the next attack game. Four separate groups later had blurred her memories. Fortunately, the last two fought against each other as much as her and Gillette.

Her body ached from the battle and her efforts to heal herself. She sighed and leaned against the shattered remains of her front gate and looked at the house. The north wing burned brightly and part of the gardens were razed to the ground.

Gillette groaned and leaned against his scythe. He was covered in cuts and bruises. His hand smoked from an acid attack and he had torn part of his shirt to use as a bandage for a head wound. "You know, Shades, you are a pretty good fighter."

She nodded and sighed. (Tamin, how are you?)

The hound sent a wave of love mixed in with exhaustion. (Two more archers killed and someone from the Assassin's Guild.)

(Good boy.)

His thoughts burned with affection and pride.

"I think every single adventurer and villain in this town is coming after you." Gillette shook his head. "Someone has been talking. Any idea who?"

The images of Monk and Kirin flashed past, but she knew neither would have spilled. Someone, and she would kill them when she found out, had told the city that she had the collar and how to find her. Her lips pulled back in a snarl.

"Are you really that powerful?"

Merrie blushed and looked away. (I did create the Shadowed District.)

"But you destroyed it and that is what matters. Why would the evil people," he kicked Falon's corpse, "be after you?"

(Because my power comes from submission. When I submit to my master's will, I both gain and enhance their powers. The more powerful they are, the more powerful I become.)

He slammed his scythe on the ground and blood on his blade dripped off, leaving it clean and polished. "But, you're good."

(I'm what my master demands of me.) She tried to hold back the desperate hope that he would accept her. Her cloak tightened around her, holding the adamantite collar firmly against her chest.

"So, if the person that collars you is evil, you'll become evil?"

She nodded. (And if they are good and noble,) she fought the urge to picture him, (I would remain the way I am now.)

Gillette grunted. "That's a pretty big choice."

She nodded.

"You would be a dangerous opponent."

(Alpha, there are more coming.)

Merrie let her hound form slip off, leaving her exposed and naked. She noticed Gillette peeking at her, a blush on his cheeks. With a smile, she shimmied her body before letting the hound form wrap around her again.

"You always go naked like that?"

She panted and began to cast her combat spells again. (It is part of who I am, sex and submission.) Her ears drooped. (Is that a problem?)

He chuckled and shook his head. "I was married to two women at the same time. I can understand that. It's just... strange to see a beautiful, naked woman in the middle of combat."

A blush burned her cheeks.

With a smile, he stood up straighter. "Seeing you transform, I presume there are more coming?"

Merrie sent a pulse to identify the attackers. She nodded and let more magic flow through her veins. The mental wave came back and she smiled at the familiar minds. It was Tai, Fang, Gom, and Snick. Her tail wagged back and forth as the transformation spell burned away, leaving her naked and squirming.

"What are you...? Are they enemies?"

(No, they're allies.) As the guards came around the corner, she presented their names to Gillette.

"Lacy!" called out Tai as she strode closer. Her boots splashed through the blood and debris. With a grin, she dropped to her knee and hugged Merrie tightly. "Gail sent us. There is a rumor through the whole city about your collar. Everyone is coming for you."

Merrie licked her face. Over Tai's shoulder, she caught Fang looking embarrassed. She sent a delicate thought to him. (I'm sorry.)

Fang nodded. He opened his mouth, but then closed it. After gulping, he whispered. "Can we talk later?"

She sent a wave of agreement before wrapping her arm over Tai's shoulder.

"What's happening, girl?"

Merrie sent a compressed wave of memories to all four of the guards. The other three flinched at her intruding thoughts, but Tai was used to it already.

Tai stood up and turned to Gillette. "You're Gillette?"

Gillette came to a stop next to them. "Yes, Shades told you who I am?"

Merrie quirked at the two names they had given her. She could feel the confusion in their minds. (Both names work.)

Tai patted Merrie on the head. "Yes. She says... thinks... that you are excellent at strategy. Where do you want us?"

Gillette looked surprised for a moment, then cocked his head with a nod. "I am. Shades, who is coming?"

Merrie sent out four pulses in the directions, stretching out as far as she could. The wave of power rippled out across her mind, reflecting thoughts of submissives and people in the city. But then more ripples came back, of people draped in protective energies and brimming with enhancement spells. She could feel magical weapons and combat spells being prepared. And through all the thoughts was the lust for power. Her heart beating faster, she informed the others in her group.

"Very well, you and you," he pointed to Gom and Snick, "in the back with the black dog. Protect our flanks but don't do anything stupid."

Gom smirked and batted Snick. "Don't worry, we never do."

His eyes scanned over both of the guards. "The dog is a better fighter than both of you combined," he said in a sharp voice. "Let him handle the bigger fighters and mages."

Both of their smiles dropped. There was a prickle of annoyance, but then respect. They both saluted him. "Yes, sir."

Gillette turned to Tai and Fang. "All three of us are pure fighters. There's going to be a lot of magic flying around. I know the guards have anti-magic charms, but be careful. We'll use Shades to handle the mages and airborne attackers."

"Yes, sir," came the response.

Merrie got on her knees and barked. She squirmed her hips, enjoying the heat that boiled inside her. Her cloak rippled along her body, pressing the heavy metal ring to her breast. Soon, he would be her master.

An explosion rocked the house across the street from the mansion. It exploded into a column of flames. Shards of the house shot across the street but the shrapnel hit the ground before her feet.

"So, Shades," Gillette said as he slammed his scythe against the ground. "If they want you so badly, why are they coming to kill?"

Merrie shook as she transformed into a hound. (Because if I'm collared, I can't die.) She shot forward, her body becoming liquid shadow as she raced toward a man stepping out of the flames wearing robes and sparkling with magic. (And, I like it rough.)

"I saw the snow and blood," Gillette said as he raced after her. "I'm not into that, you know."

She beamed as she lashed out at the mage. She bounced off a force field, but her cloak snapped out to grab the man's leg. Gillette's words burned in her mind. He was still considering her request. The heat and passion rose up, fueling her magic and she punched out with her mind, shattering the mage's shields and dominating him.

The sparkling mage froze in place, his eyes glazing over.

Gillette gutted him from groin to throat. The blood splattered everywhere, misting into the air.

Merrie flinched and turned away, the cloak rippling to protected the collar from blood. She didn't know if it could be activated by a dead man, but she wasn't going to take any chances.

"Incoming," Tai snapped, "from the south!"

"And above!" yelled Fang.

Merrie spun around and peered down the street. There was a man wrapped in white cloth from head to toe. He was running low across the ground, a curved blade dripping as he followed the wall. Behind him, there was another man still falling to the ground clutching his cut throat. She snapped her head up to see a thousand arrows raining down on her. Each one burned brilliantly with elemental magic. With a gasp, she turned to Gillette.

"Get the others," he commanded. Grabbing his scythe with two hands, he spun it above his head and the blade screamed as it blurred into a disk.

She flowed back across the cobblestones, reaching Fang and Tai in an instant. As her body solidified, her cloak spread out over them into two wide wings.

The arrows slammed down into the ground, shattering cobblestones and piercing rocks. The magic punched holes into her cloak, shredding it. She whimpered as the contents of the pockets rained down on her, the ill-gotten goods of her cloak's kleptomania: rings and necklaces, thousands of marks in coins and bills, even fruit and clothes. The prince's underwear, the one that Rimmy stole, landed in a puddle of blood. More of it came down, mixing in with the shredded remains of her cloak.

And the arrows kept piercing her cloak and shattering the rocks around her. Magic burst around her, tiny explosions of concussion punching her from all directions.

She twisted her cloak, deflecting the arrows from Tai and Fang, but she couldn't dodge and protect all three of them at the same time. Agony burst along her senses as an arrowhead slammed into her thigh, digging deep into the muscle and cracking the cobblestone underneath her paws. Another caught her tail while a third clipped her neck.

"Bitch!" cried Tai as she covered her head protectively.

Merrie whined at the pain, but kept protecting the two guards until the storm of arrows ended. She shuddered as the cloak wrapped back around her, the fabric almost ruined by the attack. She brought the collar back to her breast, but as she did, she heard it rip.

Gasping, she looked down as the collar slipped out of the torn fabric. It hit the ground and rang out loudly. Her heart stopped at the noise. It rolled over the stone, narrowly avoiding puddles of blood.

(No!) she screamed as she crawled after it.

"I got it!" Fang yelled as he raced after it. He jumped over a man's corpse, stomping on the ground trying to stop it. He tripped over Falon's outstretched arm and fell forward. He caught the ring as he slammed into the street.

Gillette's scythe came down on the collar, punching through the gap in the ring and into Fang's hand. A splatter of crimson blood spurted out in all directions, splashing on the collar and splattering the cobblestones.

Fang and Merrie screamed as one. Her voice tore through her throat, not quite a human's words but the scream of a dog being tortured.

The collar rang out like a bell, vibrating in Fang's ruined hand. It began to glow crimson as a line burst out of it and slammed into Merrie's heart. She shuddered at the impact but then crying out as she felt spells beginning to wrap around her soul. Runes raced across her mind, flashing with dizzying speed.

"Fang!" snapped Tai.

"You fucker!" sobbed Fang. He clutched his hand. Blood pouring down on the ground with wet splatters. Gillette's scythe had sliced his hand in half, almost completely cutting off his long finger and thumb from the rest of his palm.

Gillette yanked the scythe out of the ground. "Damn!" Blood dripped from the blade. He stepped forward and helped Fang up. "I thought it was getting away. Tai! Where is the nearest healer?"

Merrie could hear Tai yelling, but her eyes were locked on the collar. It was glowing bright red and whispers of power rolled through her senses. She whimpered as she looked up at Fang. He couldn't be her master. He didn't have the will or strength. She let out a sob, it couldn't be him.

(Alpha!) Tamin's concerned burned in her mind.

(No, no, it can't be him.) The transformation spell slipped away from her, leaving her naked and alone.

Fang dropped to his knees. He looked at her, his body trembling. "I'm sorry, Bitch. I didn't mean to do that."

"You didn't," snapped Tai as she glared at Gillette.

Merrie whimpered as she shook her head. (No, not him.) She looked down at the blood-covered collar.

"I-I don't want to be her master," Fang whispered. "I'm not good enough. Not for her, I can't be hers."

The sound of marching filled the street. Merrie looked up to see armed statues streaming in from a few blocks away. They were moving in perfect synchronization and commanded by two women in the center of the statues.

Down the other street, another woman wearing only a cloth over her breasts and one over her hips came sprinting down the street. Her body blurred as she held a huge, large-blade spear behind her.

Merrie looked up at Gillette. (Please, be my master. If you use more precious blood, you can---)

"No." Gillette turned his back on her and slammed his scythe against the ground. "Sorry, but I can't make that choice. Not right now, not in the middle of battle." In the stunned silence, he charged toward the statues with his scythe held high above his head.

Her heart broke in half. Merrie reached out for him but he was too far away and no longer listening to her projections. She closed her eyes tightly and let the sob tear out of her throat.

Tai cleared her throat. "Is... is there anything we can do?"

Merrie's ass hit the ground. (No, it's too late. The only thing else I can do is find someone willing to give up more precious blood and bind me.)

Her stomach twisted in agony but her pussy throbbed with need. She was going to be bound again, though it wasn't to anyone she even considered a possibility.

"Is there," Fang leaned against Tai as he stood up, "anyone else? Any other masters you wanted?"

(The prince?) came Tamin's thought as the hound bit through someone's leg.

(The prince?) repeated Merrie.

"The prince?" Tai said with a shock. "You know the prince?"

Merrie's ears drooped. (Sort of. No, not really. But, it was the only other person I could think of who could be my master. I can't get to Borias in time. I don't know how to get to Blood County from here. No... no, the prince is the only one left.)

Tai nodded and stepped back. She closed her eyes and called for Gail. The psionic call was harsh against Merrie's senses, but Gail responded almost immediately.

Fang groaned and clutched his sword. "Pardon the Vigilant's pardon, but we have company." Grabbing his sword with his off-hand, he shoved past Merrie to intercept the woman attacking from the far side. "Get out of the way, Bitch. Hide the collar and don't put it on! I like you, but I really don't want to be your fucking master!"

Merrie raced over to the collar and scooped it off the ground. Fang's blood was sharp in her mouth. Transforming back into a hound and wrapping her cloak tightly around her, she raced for the house. Part of house was burning, but the protection spells would shield her from detection long enough for her to find a gap to slip into the Shadows. She only hoped that the Lord of Shadows had stopped the fires and whatever prevented her from stepping across.

The heavy collar slapped her chin as she sprinted for the comfort of her bedroom. She jumped through the burning hole in the side and into the hallway. Wrapping herself with every repulsion and shade spell she could, she raced for the back room, the room where she had bonded the first time. It was quiet and safe from sight. And, besides the porch, it was the other place that the barriers between the worlds were thinnest.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she dropped the glowing collar on the ground. It rang out loudly until she stepped on it. Her transformation slipped away and she was once again naked, but covered in cuts and bruises. She was exhausted, but the terror in her mind continued to burn through her.

The spells on the collar were wrapping around her thoughts. She could feel the desire to put on the collar, a hunger that was rising up in her thoughts. She would have a master. Fang was like her first master, but she knew what she wanted now. She could work with him, teach him.

Trembling, she reached out for the collar but pulled back. She couldn't put it on, not until the prince came. Maybe he would be her master, but she knew he wouldn't accept it. Her ears drooped with her thoughts. He was the prince of the country, one of the most powerful people in the country, and he wasn't willing to bind himself forever to a bitch like herself.

Tears splashed down on the floor, puddling underneath her. She shook her head.

(Fang will be a poor alpha, Alpha.)

She sniffed. (I know, but what can I do?)

(What if the prince doesn't agree?)

Merrie couldn't think of it. (What choice will I have? I'll be bonded to Fang.)

She bowed her head and stared at the collar. The magic was pulling her attention, begging for her to put on the collar. It was seductive, a promise of an orgasm that would never end. She shook her head as she stroked the heavy metal.

A droplet of blood dripped off her ear and splashed down on the ground next to it. A moment later, the soft splatter of more blood came coursing down her cheeks, mixing in with the tears before landing on the ground.

She stared at it, her heart speeding up. The crimson splatters were stark against the black ring and the stained wood underneath. Tamin's words came up through her head.

(You bleed crimson, not black.)

Merrie whimpered as she stared at the blood. She lifted her arm to her ear, stroking it and bringing it down. The smears of crimson coated her wrist, reminding her of both her cropping and her mortality. There was another master, one that she never considered before: herself.

She gulped. (Tamin?)

He was in the middle of fighting, dancing from the shadows as he lashed out at an assassin. (If you make a mistake, your alpha will be Fang.)

(What if the prince doesn't agree?)

(Then your master will be Fang or the person who defeats you.)

She shook her head and slumped to the ground. (I have to wait.) She shivered and curled up, clutching the ring to her breast. Her body ached from the fighting and her exhaustion. All her plans were ruined by Gillette's sharp words and the agony of rejection cut at her heart.

The house shuddered from an explosion.

(Stone golem is attacking from the back wall. Gillette is back here fighting it.)

She felt useless cowering in the shadows. (Is Tai and Fang okay?)

(Yes, I'm in the front with them. Fang is struggling but, I'm keeping him alive. He refuses to go to a healer and he will probably be scarred for life.)

Merrie curled tighter. (Thank you.)

(Be safe, Alpha. My own meaning in existence is your happiness.)

She sent a pulse of love and then wrapped the shade tighter around herself. She would hide, at least until she got the answer.

Time passed painfully slow, punctuated only by the pulse of her heart. She activated her time spell for five minutes and counted the seconds until it passed. She did it again and again. Outside, the fighting continued to rage. She could feel Tamin's exhaustion and sent him spells to bolster him, but she wasn't out there fighting. She was helpless.

Gail's thoughts drifted across hers. (Black Lace?)

Merrie could feel regret and sorrow in the telepath's mind. She closed her eyes tightly and a tear ran down her cheek.

(I'm sorry. We couldn't get to him, he is in a private conference with the king and queen.)

Slowly, Merrie opened her eyes. She felt dead inside for a moment, the regret and fear burning in her mind. Sending out a wave of thanks, she wrapped her shields tightly around herself.

Trembling, she got on her knees, with the ring between her thighs. She took a long deep breath and looked down at the collar. (Tamin? Can I be my own master?)

(You already are, Alpha, for years now you have answered to no one but yourself.)

(What if it doesn't work?)

(Then, we'll teach him how to hunt.) There was sadness and trepidation in the hound's thoughts, but he was willing to risk everything for her.

Hesitation and fear stopped her. She looked down at her blood-streaked thighs and focused on the glowing red collar. Guilt burned inside her, she didn't know if having Fang or no master was better than the other. Could she, as an alpha and a submissive, have no master?

Her throat was dry and her chest hurt. She didn't want to make a choice but she had to. Both she and Fang knew that they couldn't remain bonded.

Steeling herself, she caught the ring between her wrists and held it up.

Her cloak slipped from her body and flowed across the floor to a fire and dove into it. The flames flared up and then died away, but it was enough to burn away any blood that clung to the ripping fabric. It came back, smoking and ripping. It wouldn't last much longer, but she only needed it for one last thing.

It rose up behind her, forming the snake-like head with two black eyes. She concentrated until its head became a long, sharp point. When she was threatened, it was poised to strike her enemies. It had ripped through internal organs and shredded her opponents from the inside. Now, it was the only way she could get the most precious blood she could, from her heart.

Closing her eyes tightly, she held the collar up in front of her. Her breasts rose and fell with her thoughts, the sweat and blood drying on her skin. Her nipples were hard and aching, just as her pussy burned with anticipation. She was going to bind and, one way or the other, she would have a master.

(Tamin, if this fails...)

(I will love you always, Alpha. For the rest of my life. It matters not if you bind with yourself or Fang, I will defend you. If you die, then I will die with you.)

The cloak snapped forward, the long point punching into her back, just left of the spine. It burst out of her breast as a black sword of animated cloth.

Agony exploded across Merrie's senses and her heart skipped a beat. It began to beat faster and blood spurted out of her chest, soaking her arms and legs. It poured out on the collar.

The crimson glow became a burning light, searing bright enough she could see it through her wrists and even her bones. It speared through the room and burned away the shadows.

The cloak burned away from the light, fading away as if it was nothing more than shadow itself. With it passing, the hole in her chest ripped open and blood spurted out and coated the floor, her arms, and the collar with more blood.

Dizziness slammed into her and she swayed forward. It was hard to breathe and her heart was beating too fast. It rammed against her ribs and she gaped for breath. Her arms shook and the collar slipped from her grip. It rang out loudly on the wooden floor and rolled away from her, a blood-red sun that she couldn't focus on.

Merrie tried to crawl after it, but the strength fled her and she slumped to the ground. Blood continued to spurt out of her, pooling underneath her body and spreading out in a puddle of her life. She forced herself to her wrists and crawled toward the light.

She slipped in her own blood and slammed into the ground. Sobbing, she tried to get purchase on the wooden floor, but it was too slippery.

(Tamin... help...) Her thoughts faded as her vision grew black.

Tamin spun on his heels and raced back toward the house. But, before he could reach the house, a concussion blast threw him across the garden. He hit the ground twice before flipping over the rotted fence into the next yard. He limped as he got back to his feet. (Alpha, I'm coming!)

Merrie strained to reach the bright star of the collar. It was the only thing she could see anymore. Everything else was pitch black.

A tapping filled the room. And then the light rose up from the ground. Merrie whimpered as she reached up for it, her body shaking with the effort to lift herself off the ground. Searing hot blood dripped off her breasts and sluiced down her stomach. It followed the line of her sex before splashing to the ground.

"When a normal person," said Kirin in a sad voice, "is presented with artifact that destroys their will, they throw it away and beg to have it destroyed." The guild mistress crouched down in front of her, her thick cock splashing in the blood. She wiped Merrie's cheek before pushing her up into a kneeling position. "There you go, Merrie, on your knees. Remember, bitches kneel."

Merrie sobbed, blind to everything but the crimson star. She reached out for it. (P-Please?)

(Alpha,) Tamin's thoughts came cutting through the darkness, (the guild fighters are here. I'm coming.) Images of Elf and Pristine fighting flashed by, along with Scorch putting out the fires in the mansion.

(Kirin is here.)

There was a soft shudder of the Shadows and Tamin was there, leaning his icy body against hers. (As is Monk.)

Kirin set the adamantite collar into Merrie's arms. It slipped from her grip and hung on her right arm. "When an Alpha is given a collar, I bet she came so many times as she tried to decide on a master."

Merrie gulped and clutched the collar, trying to lever it up to her neck. She needed to put it on. If she could collar herself, she would be safe. It slipped and she gaped with need. She reached out for Tamin, borrowing his senses.

Kirin wore a gold corset, matching heels, and nothing else. Her hair was done up as if she was at a party, but she stood in the pool of Merrie's blood as if it was something she did ever day.

Next to her, Monk stood in his red robes. His lips were pressed into a thin line and he looked uncomfortable.

Kirin pressed the collar between Merrie's wrist. When Merrie tried to pull it up, she held it down. "When people like you and me are given such terrible things like this, we do the unexpected." She smiled. "But, we need a few more seconds before you put it on."

Merrie gaped, her lungs burned and her heart pounded against her ribs. Every slam tore her breath away and she sobbed silently, her throat no longer making any noise. Blood spurted out of her chest and poured down her chest and thighs. It felt like she was coming, but it came with a cold pain that spread out across her senses.

"Just a few more seconds, Merrie. Just hold on, just a few seconds." Kirin's soothing voice blurred with the guild mistress' Presence. It forced her to pay attention, to match her gasps with Kirin's words.

A flash of magic filled the room. Tamin spun around, snarling, but stopped when he saw Sari, the ghostly former guild master of the Whore's Guild. "Greetings to the current and still living guild mistress." The four-armed ghost bowed and turned to Monk. "And the future and still living guild master."

Monk blushed almost as red as his robes.

Kirin held Merrie firmly. "Sari, has the tree been warned?"

"Yes, the branches of the World Tree above us have been evacuated. Furthermore, you have been ordered by Her Royal Highness to present yourself at the fifth bell on pain of treason."

Kirin chuckled dryly. "Monk, clear my schedule. I think the queen is going to need a bit of kissing up after this." She kissed Merrie on the forehead before speaking again. "Tamin, if you can, join the fight and help. If you can't, then protect yourself. I'm not going to have Bitch's bitch getting hurt if I can help it."

Tamin snarled at her. (I'm going to hump her face until she chokes.)

Merrie swooned with the dizziness and a high-pitch whine filled her ears. (Why don't they collar me?)

(They have their reason. But, I'll remain and you will give me your pain.)

Merrie gaped and let the agony fill Tamin. The large hound shuddered at the pain, the muscles underneath his fur bunching up, but he remained in place, acting as her ears and eyes.

"Monk? Go to my right. Sari, left. Get your force shields up. We probably," she pressed her hand against Merrie's chest, "have less than a minute. Just keep breathing. But, first things first..."

With one hand, Kirin reached back and grabbed a large, two liter bottle of wine. Using her thumb, she ground into the side of the neck until the top of the bottle snapped off. Shards of glass flew everywhere but Kirin didn't seem to be bothered by the sharp edges. She wrapped her lips around the end and chugged it.

Merrie stared at her with shock, using Tamin's eyes, as the gulping noises filled the room. She could barely hear it over her own frantic heartbeats, but she couldn't do anything besides watch as the guild mistress finished the bottle.

Kirin tossed the bottle aside with a gasp. "One more." She reached back and grabbed an identical bottle. Snapping off the top, she started to chug it.

Monk stood about a meter or so to Merrie's side. He held out his hands and was chanting underneath his breath. Lines appeared before him, swirling around as they sank into unrecognizable letters and strange symbols. The bright red lines were paled compared to the brilliance of the collar in her lap, but she watched as they filled up into a wide circle, three meters across. There wasn't even a millimeter of space between the lines. The smell of incense and ozone filled the air and sparks crackled along the shield.

"One more bottle..."

Sari, on the other hand, just stood there with his four hands clasped together and a faint smile on his lips. The translucent ghost looked unworried as he watched Monk.

With a sigh, Monk spoke sharply. "I'm not as fast as you, okay?"

The dead guild master shrugged. "Speed and strength comes with practice and need. If you want, I'm sure you can take a leave of absence and go to the battle lines for a few months. When you come back, I'm sure you'll be faster."

Monk shuddered. "I'm a lover, not a fighter."

Sari stretched his fingers and shrugged.

The world spun around Merrie. Her connection with Tamin faded out and he trembled to take her pain. She gaped and leaned into Kirin as the guild mistress finished her third bottle. (It hurts.)

Tamin growled and barked impatiently for her, speaking where Merrie couldn't.

Kirin gasped and tossed the bottle to the side. The glass shattered against the wall, but there wasn't even a drop as it fell to the ground. "Okay!" Her breath stank of strong wine, "Needed to get sloshed for this. Merrie," her smile dropped, "I know you're scared and bleeding everywhere, but trust me. Please?"

Merrie whimpered, it was getting hard to think through a dark haze filling her mind. The only thing that kept her from slipping away was Tamin's presence. He was an anchor in her mind, holding her down and in her body.

"But, this is important. We are dealing with very powerful magic right now, both your powers and that collar. If everything goes perfectly, nothing will happen, but not even Rakin planned for you to put the collar on yourself. It could create a feedback loop that causes one or both of you to explode. And maybe take out the city."

Blanching, Merrie shook her head.

"Don't worry. The Guild takes care of its own and we'll fulfill our duties to the crown. The three of us are an insurance against that. If anything explodes, it won't take out the city... just the tree above us."

"Destruction of the World Tree is---"

"Monk, honey," Kirin's eyes flashed gold, "if you finish that sentence, I'm going to rape your ass until Dith is are pregnant."

Monk snapped his mouth shut.

"So, I'm going to help you put the collar on yourself. I'm not going to touch it. I'm not going to bleed on it or do anything to get involved. And, if anything blows up, I want you to aim up, okay? And," she smiled, "if you have to lash out, hit me. Do you understand?"

Merrie couldn't breath. Her mouth was open, but her lungs were no longer working. The frantic beating of her heart had grown erratic and the blood wasn't flowing as fast as anymore. She couldn't feel her limbs and her thoughts were quickly growing dark.

Tamin barked for Merrie.

She felt Kirin pressing her wrists against the collar again, moving her limbs for her. The sure grip of the guild mistress was an anchor, it felt unreal and graceful as the mistress held the heavy adamantite collar between her wrists and brought it up to her neck.

The glowing metal burned at her skin. The two ends were brands right along her throat and she could feel the spells pulsating. Her blindness only intensified the sensations and her entire existence became nothing but the collar. It was hers and it would bind her forever.

Despite adamantite being the strong metal known, somehow it fitted around her neck. One moment it was pressing against her throat, the next it was drawing two burning lines on each side of her neck, tracing the sensitive sides of her neck.

She froze as she felt the metal starting to pull together. It felt like a large cock pressed against her ass, that moment where another millimeter thrust would force the glans inside and everything would slurp into place. She was at the moment, the final moment without a collar.

Kirin's hands pulled away from her own.

Merrie was alone in her world, blind and deaf to everything. She was dying and yet she had her salvation pressed against her neck. With one little push, she would be owned... by herself.

She whimpered and shook her head. She couldn't feel anything, not even Tamin. It was her choice, her only choice.

A dark thought rose up. If she held it there, she would die. The pain would end and oblivion would take her. Her soul would be safe from the Lord of Shadows. She would simply cease to exist.

Her heart stopped.

Her ears stopped ringing.

The silence was deafening.

And then she was falling back.

She was sure someone was screaming.

And Tamin was calling for her.

With the smallest push, she let the collar come free of her neck. Metal seared along her skin as the adamantite sealed itself around her neck forever. Spells, hundreds of them, slammed across her mind as power coursed through her. She felt it stretched out from her throat and down into her body, seeping into every fiber of her muscles, every shard of bone, and every tendon. The spells kept coming, burning their way into her body and mind. She could taste the casters but could only identify Rendi's sweetness and the endless rage of Rakin. The others were just tastes and smells and feels as they forced their way through her nerves and dominated her.

She opened her eyes and saw again. Her vision was clear as she traced the swirls of plaster on the ceiling.

"Merrie?" Kirin whispered. "Merrie, are you okay?"

Kirin knelt on one side of her and Tamin sat on the other. Both looked down at her with concern radiating from their minds. There was a clarity of her senses, a sharpness in Kirin's emotions. Fear, hope, and desperation. The guild mistress loved her, but it was the same love she had for Nir and the others. Merrie was a daughter to her just like the rest of the guild. It was the only family Kirin could ever have.

Merrie's chest burned with yellow-green flames. As she took a breath, the flames faded into a dull pulse as the regeneration spell took hold. She could breath, but it ached as the hole began to seal up, crusting over the edges. She was sick to her stomach and every part of her body screamed out, but she was alive.

Shuddering, she tried to sit up but failed.

"Let me." Kirin scooped her up and brought her into a sitting position. "Do you want to kneel?"

Merrie nodded and then winced as Kirin and Tamin pushed her into her natural position, kneeling in front of others. The collar settled around her neck, a heavy weight that bore down on her.

She gasped and reached up for it, caressing the ridge. Her wrist caught on something, a bump on the otherwise smooth surface. She frowned and touched it again. It felt like something had melted onto the ring. Frowning, she tried to identify it but the collar was forever around her neck and out of her sight.

Desperate to know what happened, she reached out for Tamin. (L---)

Her world exploded into agony. The projected thought came rippling back, echoing in her head and building up with power. She could feel it channeling through the collar and back into her own head, building up power until she was screaming in agony.

Energy burst out of her, black shadow tendrils that burst out of every darkness in the room. She couldn't escape it and every heartbeat increased its power. It was the same pulse Dixie sent to Tabitha for power, but it wasn't seconds to gain power but an instant magnification. The power flowed out of her and reflected back magnified, but then as she accepted it, she magnified it again and again. The power tore at her senses until she was blind to everything but the power rising inside her.

Tamin's thought reached into her and suddenly there was a place for her agony. She let it pour into her companion and he screamed out of his own. He was in agony, but he refused to pull back. (G-Give,) he tried to command, his mind barely able to handle the pain that flowed through their connection.

"... guess... we... problem." Kirin stood as she spoke, her words barely audible over Merrie's screaming. Plaster and dust poured off her body and her forehead was bleeding. She strode forward holding two bottles in her hands. She slammed her feet into place and smashed the glass in front of her. The wine exploded into air, splattering in all directions, but then froze in place. Kirin's eyes glowed a brilliant gold as she snapped her hands out.

The suspended wine followed the movement, forming a massive shield of infernal runes in front of the guild mistress. The symbols crawled in the air, moving in ways that plucked at Merrie's sanity.

Merrie kept screaming as the power built up, feeding in on itself until it burned through her body. The regeneration spell blossomed to life, filling her with yellow-green healing, but the feedback tore through it, damaging her faster than it could heal her.

It began to seep out of her mind and she cringed. The city couldn't handle what she was experiencing. She tried to keep it inside her, but the energy burned away at her control and with a sickening lurch, it burst out of her mind.

The energy was visible as it exploded from her. It slammed into the shields and all three of them staggered back from the impact.

Monk's shield began to crack almost instantly, the runes snuffing out as her agony tore at it.

Sari's body began to burn, the ghostly form wavering in and out as he frowned. All four of his hands were held in front of him and they glowed brightly, but she could tell that he would also fall soon.

Remembering Kirin's command, Merrie focused the insanity pouring out of her toward Kirin, forcing it into a wedge aimed for the wine held in the air.

Kirin groaned and held out her hands, bracing herself as the force increased. The floor tore up from the energy rolling off Merrie and it rotted before her eyes. She could feel the agony turn to darkness and she felt the corrupting force of the Shadow pour through her. It dissolved the floor and then began to tear at the rocks underneath the house. Above her, the ceiling crumbled away as the energy boiled between the three shields.

Blood dripped from Kirin's nose as she held herself. Underneath her corset, light began to glow through the fabric. At first, it was just a glow of colors but as it grew brighter, the corset burnt away and then fell off.

Six symbols glowed on Kirin's stomach, a circle of five with a sixth in the middle. There was space for a seventh, but no rune glowed right above her pubic mound. The runes crawled in place on Kirin's skin as they shone brighter. They were words that caused Merrie pain to look at, but they were not intended for mortal men to see. They were her Infernal Marks, the contracts of a mortal who surrendered their soul for powers.

Merrie had never seen them before, but she could feel their meaning coming from Kirin's mind. The middle was from the Demon Lord of Sex, the corruption of pleasure into agony. There were others and as she realized what they were, the aspects of Kirin's life began to fall into place. Wine for her constant drinking and her ability to use it as a shield. Her massive cock came from the Demons of Horses, both terror and pain. There was also Acid, Gold, and Sapphires. They represented the source of Kirin's power, corrupted by evil. When someone was raped, or drowning their sorrows, or even obsessed with gold, Kirin gained power. The ever-present wine glass wasn't alcoholism, it was power in the guild mistress's hands.

Behind Kirin, her other bottles exploded. The wine streamed out of the shattered glass and surrounded the guild mistress, reinforcing her shield as Merrie's agony tore at it.

Next to Merrie, Tamin collapsed and his mind went black.

Merrie's throat burned as the despair rose up insider her. She killed her pack. It slammed against the seal that Rakin's anger had built and she could feel the threat of destruction looming above her. She couldn't fear him, not now, not ever.

Straining with all her might, she forced herself into her agony. She could barely see straight. She focused on Kirin's runes, using them as an anchor as she delved inside her. The agony was coming from herself, the power of an Alpha and her own psionics working through the collar. She remembered how it was suppose to enhance her master, but she was now the master of herself. The power was ricocheting back and forth, building up until it tore at the world around her.

She tried to stop the circuit but it was too tight, to intimate. It continued to build up. She concentrated on the power, trying to find some way of interrupting the power. She accidentally called up some Shadow magic and felt it pour through the collar and back into herself. It built up until the world around them grew black.

And then she became aware of the Lord of Shadows. It was above her, swirling around like it did for all the others. It was coming for her soul, though her blood still ran crimson. She bit hard on her lip until she tasted it on her tongue. She could force it into the Lord, maybe feed it and give her a chance to stop the endless loop of power.

With all her willpower, she poured shadow magic into the collar. Around her, the world burst into darkness as the shadows animated. She felt creatures of the dark stepping through. A Reaper appeared on the street and began to slaughter her enemies. Shadows of long-dead creatures burst out of the alleys and attacked the fighters, leaving her allies alone as they tore into those who came for her. It wasn't enough.

Screaming and screaming, Merrie forced her attention up. The energy burst out of her in a column of darkness. The ceiling of the room and the roof above her rotted away in an instant. The column of darkness speared toward the World Tree.

And then the Lord of Shadows ripped through the barrier between worlds between her and the World Tree. The column pierced into the absolute darkness. Shadow energy, as pure as anything else, poured into the original Lord and it blossomed in size. She watched as it tore in half and then again, but more energy kept pouring in. The pieces turned on themselves, splitting before swallowing each other. A boiling maelstrom of darkness spread out above the mansion, rotting the lower branches of the World Tree.

Alien personalities formed and were eaten. They blurred and mixed together, becoming darker until it felt the Abyss itself was looking at her. It began to gather once again, a single entity of unfathomable darkness focused on her. It continued to split. The new, smaller Lords raced away. Those that didn't move fast enough were swallowed by their creator and the original Lord of Shadows grew.

The holy leaves of the tree withered and fell down, crumbling to dust before they reached the city. The fading light was snuffed out by the darkness that consumed everything.

Merrie reached out for the Lord, trying to find relief from the power that tore through her. (Help me!) Her telepathic project reflected back on itself, but she channeled it up into the alien being above her. It would help or it would destroy her, but she couldn't do anything else.

The Lord shuddered. With claws of indeterminate size, it reached down. The remains of her mansion crumbled away as it pushed through wood and stone like mist.

Terrified beyond comprehension, Merrie held herself still as the Lord's claws grabbed her by her collar. Mist poured out of the connection of their bodies. Black blood formed and splashed down, coating her in obsidian and burning her skin. It seeped into the ring and she was suddenly terrified and relieved it was trying to bind her.

With a sickening wrench, the circuit ripped apart. She felt the connection snapping and reforming, but there was something else in the loop. Something that stopped the constant reflection. It glowed blackly in the darkness of the Lord of Shadows.

Merrie sobbed at the sudden relief. She slumped forward, hitting the ground hard. For a moment, she thought it had bonded with her. She could feel the Lord's alien thoughts, but they weren't intimately in her head. Hesitantly, she pushed out along the strange metallic connection, the leash of an Alpha, that had formed through the collar. But, on the other side was herself, seeing as an Alpha sees its master.

The Lord's claws pulled back. (FEED. SHADOW MAKER. LIGHT SNUFFER. FEED US.) Each thought crashed into her, battering against her sanity. She lifted her head, expecting to see a shadowy leash connecting them, but there was none.

With a wrench of the world, the Lord returned to the Shadows.

Merrie slumped back down, gasping for breath. The air around her stunk of blood and magic and shadow. It burned at her lungs, but she was breathing. She took a hesitate breath and then another.

(A-Alpha?) Tamin whimpered as he opened his eyes. (Your collar, it's melted.)

(Show me,) she commanded. When her world didn't explode into agony, she repeated the command.

Sinking her senses into Tamin, she focused on the collar where the Lord touched her, at the imperfection that had formed along its length. It took her a heartbeat to realize what it was.

She stared at the ring. It was the thing she was looking for. A reminder of her happiness and hope, a sign of both her master and mistress. She grabbed it with both arms and inched out from underneath the bed. The heavy ring rolled along the ground until she could sit up, dust drifting around her in a cloud. There was so much hope and love in that moment he handed the ring. She remembered the warmth that all of them felt that night, before the paladin came.

Merrie brought it up to her lips and kissed it. (I do,) she projected as she remembered the words that both of them would say when they married.

It was the shadow stone engagement ring. It had melted into the collar and the Lord had fused it into place. It was the thing that saved her, the part of her first master that stopped the circuit from destroying her.

Kirin moaned as she slumped down. She looked around at the shattered glass bottles. "I need a drink, now."

Merrie reached out with her mind and Tamin obeyed. The dark form of the hound limped away and came back a moment later with a scorched bottle of wine. It was a Yurik Gold, of the same year that her master had stolen from Claston years ago. He set it down next to Kirin and headed for Merrie.

With a chuckle, Kirin snapped the top off and drained it. "Fuck, that's good." She focused on Merrie, her eyes still burning gold. "Are we still there?"

Merrie barked, but no noise came out of her ruined throat. Next to her, Tamin stirred and barked for her.

"Good." She panted. "Monk?"

"I," groaned the mage, "hate you."

Kirin chuckled. "Sari?"

The dead guild master was gone. Merrie didn't know if he had been destroyed or returned to where he remained, but there was an empty place where he stood.

With a sigh, Kirin bowed her head. "Fuck."

(I'm sorry,) Merrie projected.

Kirin shook her head. "No, this is the price we pay. We all knew what could happen when I called on him."

Dust swirled around as the rest of the defenders came up, each one covered in blood and injuries. Elf and Scorch held each other as they limped. Tai held Fang up and Pristine staggered with blood coating her side and legs. They looked exhausted and beaten, but alive.

The only one missing was Gillette, but Merrie could feel him walking away, lost in thought. She sent a quick thought to him. (Thank you.)

(Take care, Shades,) came the clear thought back and then he was gone.

Fang gasped as Tai came to a stop. "What just happened---?"

An explosion of air slammed into them as someone teleported next to Merrie. A shaft slammed down next to her, kicking up black dust and grime. For a moment, Merrie thought that somehow Gillette had teleported, but as the dust cleared, she was looking up at a woman in green plate armor glowing with powerful magic.

"Loyal Alestri says freeze!" came the crystalline command but there were no walls around them for her voice to echo. The power of her voice kicked up the dust and it blasted away from her, driven by the force of her domination.

The command slammed into Merrie, but she realized she had a choice to obey it. The collar shielded her, but she didn't want to resist. She let the submission wash over her, the ripple of orgasm replenishing the energy that flowed through her veins. She shuddered at the pleasure and sank into it, enjoying the trick of energy that filled her.

"By the orders of Her Royal Highness," continued the Loyal, "you are under arrest for the destruction of public and private property, treason for destruction of the World Tree and for summoning the forces of darkness."