Fear

As Lailah walked towards the women's bathroom with Bekka, neither of them had uttered a single word since they'd left the training grounds.

It was easy to tell the girls were deep in thought over Exedra's words. 

They had almost bumped into several structures and people as they traveled about aimlessly through the castle.

When they reached the bath, Bekka and Lailah immediately got undressed, showing off their bodies that were polar opposites yet equally alluring. 

Lailah had more of a dainty figure, with moderate sized breasts but an ass that was round and perky enough to sit a cup on. 

Bekka's body was more pronounced with large breasts, a nicely toned ass and a well defined six pack. 

As always, Lailah gazed at Bekka's body and subsequently wondered if she would look better with a body like that as well. 

'I want to ask her to train me but... I really like sweets.' She thought bitterly.

"You know, I've never been looked at like that."Bekka suddenly said.

"Hmm?" 

"He looked at us like we were treasures.. It feels a bit strange."

Lailah nodded, immediately understanding what Bekka meant. 

While both girls had grown up in different environments, the treatment they'd received was virtually the same. 

Neither one of them had ever been looked at as anything other than an unnecessary burden, so for Exedra to suddenly start behaving in this manner was rather strange indeed. 

The girls sat in silence once more, letting the steam and the hot water envelop their seductive bodies in the hopes that it would melt all of their troubles away. 

"I must admit, I'm a bit scared…" Lailah meekly said.

"Eh? Why? It's not even dark in here?" 

Bekka began to look around the room frantically, as if she would find some sort of boogeyman in the bath with them.

Lailah had to admit, Bekka's amusing nature made her easily likable.

"I am already happy and I feel like wanting more is selfish of me… I am not even sure if I would make a good wife." She finally said.

Compared to her old life, being in Antares was like a dream. 

No one was going to beat her, nobody locked her in a closet for days on end, and she was allowed to do virtually whatever she wanted. 

So did she have a right to wish for more?

She had never considered herself to be a greedy person so naturally she was more than content to live out the rest of her days like this if she had to. 

Lailah suddenly heard water splashing before two muscular arms wrapped around her. 

Her eyes met Bekka's and she had to admit that she was touched by the gentle look on the face of her first friend. 

"Do you worry we will be thrown away again?" Bekka's tone had become so calm and motherly, it was a complete differential from her usual manner of speaking.

Bekka's tears had unknowingly struck a soft spot within Lailah and before she knew it, small tears had fallen from her eyes. 

Slowly, Bekka wiped her tears with her clawed fingers before she softly said, "Our husband is not that kind of man."

"But how can you know?" 

Lailah did not want to be pessimistic, but a lifetime of abuse had left her unable to believe that she could be wanted by anyone, much less someone like Exedra who clearly had a bright future. 

And even if he did want her in this moment, who was to say that he would want her forever?

'I don't want to know love if it will not last...'

Bekka was silent for a while and when she finally spoke, Lailah expected to hear some deeply thought out words of wisdom.

"Hmm..because I just know? I feel it in my bones!" She said proudly.

"..."

"...What?"

"...Nothing." Lailah muttered. 

Bekka chuckled when she sensed that Lailah was not immediately reassured by her answer. "Come here and let me wash your hair."

Lailah obliged and she moved to sit between her friend's legs and let her wash her hair as she hummed a soft and enchanting melody. 

The young witch had to admit, this was helping to soothe her nerves if even a little bit.

After she finished washing the soap out of Lailah's hair, Bekka gave her a warm hug from behind. "Just trust me, but most importantly trust in our husband."

Those words consistently echoed within Lailah's young mind.

The rest of the time in the bath was spent just like that, both girls comforting each other motionlessly as they contemplated the possible future in front of them.

As the girls got dressed and prepared to meet Yara and Exedra for dinner, Lailah finally made a resolution within her mind.

'I will trust in him but... It wouldn't hurt to make myself useful to him as well...'

Anything that she could do to secure a happy future for herself, she would do without question. 

She just hoped that her plan would go as expected.