[81.3] Alora POV: The Beginning of the End

As my eyes darkened, he let out a laugh and placed his head on my lap. He cutely batted his eyes without realizing just how close he came to triggering my murderous fury, "Maybe at first. But now I see you're nice!"

*ba-dump*

"You think I'm nice?"

"Duh!"

*ba-dump*

My eyes trembled slightly, "Do you like me then?"

He beamed at me with a smile that made my heart tighten, "I like you very much!"

*ba-dump*

*ba-dump*

*ba-dump*

I slowly reached down to touch his hair. Although there were a few knots, it was incredibly soft. As I stroked it, a purr echoed off the cave walls as he snuggled closer to me. I felt something constricting my chest and my eyes trembling as I stared at his affectionate attitude.

I had such a strong urge to chain him to me so that he could never escape from me.

And if anyone ever saw this expression on his face…

Then I would kill them without hesitation because-

He.

Is.

Mine.

My voice cracked as I tried to push down this new feeling, "What's it like with your Master?"

"Oh! It's amazing! I get to eat candy and every night we have story time! Then she tucks us in and gives us a kiss on the forehead!"

"Tuck in? What's that?"

"Your parents never did that before?"

I stared at him silently.

"Ah… Sorry. Um, 'tucking in' is when you get into bed at night and she comes to put the blankets on you all tight and securely. She even checks under the bed for monsters! It's really nice."

"There are monsters under your bed?"

"Well… I only see them when I wake up in the middle of the night, but Master will come to chase them away if I cry loud enough."

"Ah… That sounds scary." My mind started turning as I thought of a way to completely chain him to me, "If I go with you, can I stay in your room with you?"

"Master says boys and girls must sleep separately until they are married. That's why she always makes Koale-"

His face suddenly twisted somberly, "That's why she used to make Koale sleep alone."

This sleeping nonsense again? The disgraced priestess also slept with a demon, but no one explained to me why it was bad…

But if that's true, then it's even better for me. I can get him to get married to me.

I forced myself to hide my cunning plan and led him there gently, "Haven't we already slept together? What's the difference?"

Just like a fish biting a worm, he took the bait.

He gasped, "You're right! I have to take responsibility!"

I feigned ignorance, "What does that mean?"

"Master said you can't sleep together unless you will take responsibility and get married. So I guess we will have to get married!"

I can already see the chains around his wrists.

"We will?"

He nodded, but paused, "Ah… But we need rings and I don't have any."

Too bad I don't have chains prepared.

I wonder if I can make some out of Holy Magic?

"Hm… I don't have a ring, but I can give you this." I pulled out a blood-red gem and placed it in his hand, "I found it when I was getting water. It reminded me of your eyes."

"You're… Giving it to me?"

"Yes."

"And I don't have to share it with anyone?"

I looked at him in confusion, "Do you usually share these things?"

I watched as his expression lit up like a bright light. His tail wagged back and forth and his ears jolted around as if dancing.

I couldn't pull my eyes away from that expression of his.

As I indulged in that innocent and pure reaction, his face suddenly froze and twisted as he thought about something. I lifted an eyebrow trying to make sense of his actions as his head jolted around the cave looking for something. He finally found something, judging by the sparkles in his eyes, and reached down to pick up a sharp rock. I watched silently as he used it to poorly cut off a chunk of hair and then grabbed onto my hand.

My heart trembled as he tied his hair in a knot around my ring finger. He flashed a toothy grin, "Now we are married!"

I looked at the hair wrapped around my finger as an overwhelming urge to kidnap him caused my hands to tremble, "It's… Soft."

"Duh! It's fox hair! We have the softest hair around."

"Really?"

My eyes stared at his twitching ears and I could no longer hold back my sinful desires.

I reached out and rubbed his ears, completely unaware that he was trembling from my touch.

"It is soft." I finally regained control over myself and pulled my hand back, "What should we do now that we are married?"

"Um… I guess we should have children?"

"Children?"

"Yup! Let's have a big BIG family!"

I blinked a few times before asking, "How do you make children?"

"Oh… Um. My Master said adults hug at night." I held out my arms, "So let's hug!"

Really?

That makes children?

Well…

If it does or doesn't, it sounds good to me. 

He can't escape if he's in my embrace.

Once he spread out his arms, I did the same and pulled him closer to me. My arms clamped firmly around him, preventing any escape. He didn't seem to mind the tight hug and snuggled in.

"Once I'm better, we can go tell Master and get her blessings. Then you'll be able to sleep and hug me every night!"

"...Okay." 

I laid down on my back and pulled him on top. I didn't mind the rough cave floor since I've slept on worse, but this spoiled fox had clearly never experienced suffering, so it was only right for me to endure.

I smelled an enticing smell from his head and lowered my head to breathe it in deeply. My heart was spilling over as an obsession to keep him beside me was taking over my reasoning.

I whispered, "Thank you. Zephyr."

His cheeks turned pink, "If we are ever alone… You can call me Zephyrus."

I didn't know the implications of having this name and repeated back, "Zephyrus…"

He buried his head deeper into my chest.