11-12

Kat PoV

I chuckled at Anput, who was cracking jokes one after another about the so called 'pests' and 'lambs' of the nobility before us.

Her utter disdain, and how open she was with it, was refreshing.

We passed the time talking to one another, my eyes normally glued to Jahi's surroundings now flickering to the exotic woman standing beside me.

Anput leaned against the wall, her muscular midriff in full display as she drank yet another glass.

"You are aware of the various gazes being sent your way, yes?"

Anput scoffed, looking at me before looking over the nobles with a sneer.

"That the weaklings before us wish to bed me? Ha! In their dreams they may, but they'll lose a hand if they even try anything in reality."

I covered my mouth again, masking the large grin that I wore as she said that.

Sliding over to me, Anput whispered "Y'know, a few of the nobles who have just reappeared smell very~ interesting. Wonder what they were doing, hmm?"

Looking around, I saw a woman in a dress straighten her tie, winking at the last woman wearing a frilly pink dress before making her way back into the mix.

The girl in the dress was flushed, and as she walked in front of us I caught the familiar whiff of someone who just got done having 'fun'.

Tracing her finger up my arm, Anput whispered "Now that seems more fun than just standing here, yeah?"

Raising a brow, I looked at Anput with a polite smile, saying "Yes, maybe I should go get Jahi and find somewhere private. Wouldn't you agree?"

Anput chuckled, before taking a step away, taking yet another sip of her drink.

Silence fell over the event, and we looked towards the stage, where the host, a rotund man by the name Count Harin, announced "Find your partners, as the ball is about to start!"

Anput chuckled, handing me her glass as she said "You are right~ Maybe Jahi and I should dance, before finding somewhere private to enjoy ourselves~"

I gave her a dry look, watching as she smirked at me before walking onto the floor, parting the crowd of nobles with ease.

Some gathered the courage to ask her to dance, only to be either ignored or scoffed at.

Reaching Jahi, I saw Anput's tail swish faster as she offered her hand.

~~~

Jahi PoV

"May I have this dance, Lady Asmodia?

𝙞𝓷𝒏ｒ𝗲𝑎𝙙*𝘤o𝑚

"Please dance with me, Lady Asmodia!

"Ahem, she should dance with ME!"

I sighed, hating this part the most

All the nobles crowding around me asked. desperately for a dance, and as I looked around to try and find the one I disliked the least, I heard a familiar chuckle.

Turning, I saw the familiar slim, lithe figure of Anput, her blue attire hugging her modest breasts and slim waist.

Seeing her offered hand, I took it, bowing as I lowered my lips to it.

Smiling at me, Anput squeezed my hand, and I saw her tail swishing.

"It would be an honor, Begum Sera."

Her obsidian eyes gleamed with mirth as I gently wrapped my arm around her waist, guiding her towards the center of the dance floor.

"Hah, I don't know how you can deal with it. Back in the Sultanate, no one risks being this… forward with us. They know that unless they have the strength to 'tame' us, they stand no chance."

"Well, the Sultanate is a place where only the strong survive, so it makes sense there. As for here… well, these people control the trade routes, various mines, large farmlands, and more. They are all important, however they got their power from their ancestors achievements. If they can keep their power is a different story altogether."

Anput nodded, before shrugging.

"Well, at least I know the house I marry into is one of strength."

I looked at her, my brow raised as I set my hands on her waist and shoulder, saying "Since when did I say I would marry you?"

Anput chuckled in amusement, clinging closer to me as she purred "Well, since I've felt your 'interest' in me multiple times…"

As she pressed herself into me, she looked up, her eyes had lidded as she said "And I feel your 'interest' even now. After all, your hands aren't where they are supposed to be~"

Without realizing it, my hand. had lowered from her waist, and I quickly placed it back on her waist.

Taking a few breaths, I remained silent as I felt Anput looking up at me with amused eyes. pan(da-n0vel.c)om

Going through the movements of the dance, I felt Anput lean her head on my chest, looking up at me still.

"What?"

She shook her head, saying "Nothing. It just… feels nice, in your arms."

A rare look of weakness was in her eyes as she leaned into me, her thin lips pursed as she looked down.

I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her closer as I gently stroked her silky hair.

"Well, here's a proposition for you. After this event, you and I spar three times. You win twice, and you can marry into my family. I win, we remain friends, until you can thoroughly convince Kat to let you join us."

Smirking, Anput regained her normal confident look, saying "Well, that seems like a win win for me, 'darling'~"

Tracing her hand over my stomach, she chuckled before letting me go, slipping from my arms as she whispered "Well, the dance is over~ Maybe I should get a head start with that maid of yours, hmm?"

I gave her a wry smile, watching her lithe figure walk away elegantly, before my sight of her was blocked by the various nobles pining for a dance with me.

Sighing, I plastered a smile on my lips while I looked around my 'peers', trying to find at least one I found attractive.

~~~

Anput PoV

After getting a good promise out of Jahi, I took my leave of the dance floor, deciding that anymore time spent in her embrace would light a fire that couldn't be quenched.

I made my way back towards Kat, the other half that made up 'Jahi's Family'.

I wouldn't lie to myself; I truly couldn't pick one or the other.

Jahi stoked the more feminine side of my Sultanate upbringing; find yourself a strong mate to protect you and bear them a lot of kids.

That side of me was quite… aroused by the spars Jahi and I had. The way she moved, her strength and control over her blade…

I was aware that some of my wins were just because she had decided to let me get close enough to hold me.

Now, as for Kat…

Every time I saw her I felt my more masculine side being aroused; find a woman who will support you, who will give you children.

Kat was utterly gorgeous; her amber eyes were captivating, her figure was curvy, and I enjoyed the scent she unknowingly released whenever she was near Jahi.

It was like a mix of roses that were sprinkled with blood.

She was such a possessive woman too. The way her eyes would dull whenever I got closer to Jahi, the way she always swooped in after we spared to take Jahi away, her plump lips pulled up in a grin as she lorded her place in Jahi's heart over me.

It was so… enticing.

To have a woman so devoted to you…

Ready to do anything for you…

That was so very, very arousing for me.

Especially after we took a trip to Fovos Forest.

Her utter lethality, the smile she wore as blood splattered over her delectable figure…

She was exactly like what my mother had attracted my mom with.

The Sultana had found my mother wandering the desert, hunting a Dune Worm.

Mom told me many times that the reason she had chosen Mother as her mate was because, as she fought against the Dune Worm, she weaved around the beast with her dual swords and slowly took chunks of flesh from beast, bathing in its blood.

Mom said that that sight of Mother drenched in blood caught her attention, but what caught her heart was the small smile Mother wore as she looked over the corpse of the Dune Worm she had hunted.

After that, Mom pined after Mother, almost pleading for her to marry her.

Both of them told me that if I was anything like them, I would likely find myself captivated by a similar sight, and how right they were.

Kat charged in against that Vermillion Bird with a smile on her lips, and I found that sight making my heart throb.

Seeing the familiar black and red dress, with the long brown hair pulled into a bun, I smiled speeding up as I planned on chipping away at her defenses.

However, before I could reach her I heard screams.

Turning back, I saw something standing on the stage, lurking in a cloud of smoke.

A bit late but thanks for 300K Views!

—

Jahi PoV

As I danced with Fredrika I felt her yet again press herself into me, looking up at me with lidded eyes as she whispered "Are you sure you don't want to take this dance somewhere a little more… secluded? I think we would hit it off, Lady Asmodia~"

Her hand glided further down, and I took a deep breath before smiling down at the woman in my arms.

Seeing that, Fredrika smiled up at me, only to frown when I said "Sorry, but I'm not interested in easy women."

As she took a breath to respond, we heard screams coming from the stage.

Glancing at the commotion, I grinned as I saw the large cloud of smoke, with some… thing lurking inside of it.

Fredrika shivered in my arms, her eyes wide with fear as she looked up at me.

"L-Lady Asmodia… wh-what is that!?"

Shaking my head, I grinned down at her, pushing her away as I said "Dunno, but I am certainly more excited to have attended this event now than ever before!"

Stumbling away, Fredrika scurried towards an exit, sending glances over her shoulder as she ran from the creature.

Shrugging, I started moving towards it, watching as it grabbed a musician on the stage and bit into their neck, blood spraying from the wound.

The musician screamed in its grasp, falling silent as the creature ripped out another chunk of their throat.

Quickly tracing the runes for my light blade, I nodded in appreciation at the familiar feeling of a blade in hand.

The smoke slowly cleared, revealing the large figure of what looked like a Spartoi, a skeleton monster.

Normal Spartoi were created from human remains, specifically from strong warriors. Human mages specializing in the darker side of magic had found a way to use different kinds of mana to bind the bones together and bring 'life' to the skeleton, creating Spartoi.

However, the one currently tearing out a mans throat was no human; it was much larger, with bones twice as thick as the average human. Besides that, the skull was the main giveaway; two large tusks rose from the lower jaw, all the other teeth resembling fangs. On the crown of the skull were two rows of small spikes.

This was someone reanimating an Orc; a large one at that.

It looked to be taller than me, probably standing at Moms height.

The bones were inscribed with silver runes, and they were surrounded by a green energy, likely wind mana.

Holding a large axe in one hand, the Orc Spartoi turned towards me, still drinking the blood from the musician, before tossing him away like a doll.

The sound of bones scraping against each other cut through the various screams coming from the nobles, and the Orc Spartoi tilted its head as it looked at me.

Raising its axe and pointing at me, the Orc Spartoi lumbered closer to me, gradually increasing its speed as it raised the axe in both hands, slamming it down towards me.

Jumping to the side, I raised my blade and slashed towards it, frowning when it clanged off the mana coated bones.

Taking a few steps back, I channeled more mana into the blade, making it flare and grow longer.

The Orc Spartoi lumbered towards me again, the axe swinging towards my stomach.

Preparing to parry the blow, I planted my feet and raised my blade, only to watch as a silver blur flew in front of me, knocking the axe to the side.

Anput stood between me and the Orc Spartoi, her arms coated in metal gripping a blade that fused to her arms.

Peering over her shoulder, Anput gave me a smirk as she said "Maybe this can change your mind about our union~?"

I shook my head, smiling at her wryly, watching as she flicked her blade towards the incoming axe and sent it to the side.

Rushing forwards, I felt my body grow lighter, a similar green glow covering me just like the Orc Spartoi.

Stabbing my blade towards its skull, the monster swayed to the side, not fast enough to entirely avoid my strike as I scored a deep gouge on its cheekbone.

It stumbled backwards, a hand going to the wound before glaring at me, the green energy gathering in its eye sockets flaring.

Anput and I stood together, and I noticed she also had a green aura surrounding her, making me glance over my shoulder.

Seeing the familiar silhouette of Kat shrouded in a green glow, her arms outstretched as runes flickered around her, I smiled.

Turning my attention back to the monster before us, I traced a rune in the air, creating a sphere of light.

Sending it hurtling towards the Orc Spartoi, I rushed behind it, using it as a distraction to slip behind the monster.

Covering its eyes, the Orc Spartoi swung its axe blindly, hoping to score a hit.

Sadly, it only hit the air, as I ducked beneath one swing and lanced my blade into its ribcage, grunting at the force of the impact as my magic pierced the mana surrounding the monsters body.

Anput moved behind the Orc Spartoi, her blade digging deep into the neck before completely shattering the bones, sending the head rolling to the floor.

The mana surrounding the monster slowly dissipated, and I started observing the surroundings, trying to find whoever summoned the Orc Spartoi.

~~~ pan(da-n0vel.c)om

Kat PoV

I felt my mana slowly drain from my core as I kept the support spell up.

Although simple, it was quite a useful spell; it increased the movement speed and attack speed of the recipient, as well as adding a little extra piercing power to their blows.

Jahi and Anput easily dispatched the monster, Jahi utilizing her light magic to blind it before slipping under its blows, piercing it in the ribs.

As for Anput, she had lodged her blade into the Orc Spartoi's neck, wrenching its head clean off.

Cancelling my spell, I took in a breath and marveled at how I could feel mana slowly entering my core, replenishing what I had just used.

Seeing Jahi scanning her surroundings, I also started looking around, before grinning.

Hearing someone trying to sneak behind me, I carefully palmed the dagger I had started carrying with me everywhere, unsheathing the blade as the steps got closer.

Grinning, I chuckled when I felt someone try to wrap their arms around my neck, groaning in shock when I slammed my foot onto theirs and pivoted.

Bringing my dagger to their throat, I tilted my head as I asked "So, who're you?"

Standing in front of me was a middle aged man, his patchy beard and creased eyes making him look much older.

Lanky, dressed in patchwork clothes, and with weathered skin, he looked like your average laborer.

Glaring at me, he shouted "Why're you defendin' them stuck up nobles!? Aren't you tired of having' to follow orders all the time!?"

I looked at him, confused, before saying "No, not really. I actually quite like my job."

He sneered, spitting on my face as he said "So they brainwashed you! Damn nob-"

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down, however…

Burying the dagger into his shoulder, I threw him to the ground, sitting on his chest as I twisted the blade.

Screaming in pain, he looked up at me in fear.

Wiping off the spit, I stared down at him, tilting my head as I said "Spitting on people is rude, y'know? Did your mother never tell you that?"

Panting, the man stuttered "M-Monster… Y-You're a damn MONSTER!"

Shaking my head with a sigh, I slide the blade from his shoulder, making him groan in pain, however he looked relieved.

Sadly for him, my blade sunk deeper into his other shoulder, making him scream again.

Coating my finger in wind mana, I pressed it to his open wound, grinning as he squirmed under me.

"Well, let's start with a question. Why'd you do this?"

Removing my finger, the man blinked a few times, his eyes radiating fear as he said "I-I don' know his name… ju-just that h-he told me to sm-smuggle an Orc tusk into the venue…"

I sighed, saying "Well, if you don't remember anything useful, I'll just have to…"

Coating my finger again, I waved it in front of his face, chuckling as he blanched.

However, even as he sputtered out a jumble of words, I felt someone gently touch my shoulder.

Looking up, I saw Jahi staring down at me with golden eyes, smirking at me.

"Why not turn him over to the authorities, like we're supposed to?"

Sighing, I removed the dagger again, taking Jahi's hand and standing up.

Pulling me into her, I smiled before clinging to her body, enjoying her warmth.

Stroking my hair, Jahi kept me close, looking towards Anput and saying "Are the guards here yet? I really don't feel like dealing with either them or this psycho."

Chuckling, Anput replied "Yeah, sounds like they're close."

Scooping me into her arms, Jahi made her way towards the exit, where our carriages waited.

Looking over at Anput with a smug grin, I watched as she pursed her lips before entering her own carriage.

Jahi stared down at me, a smirk on her lips as she said "Well, I guess my puppy deserves a reward, hmm? After all, she managed to take down the culprit of this 'heinous event'!"

I chuckled as she spoke in an exaggerated manner, before smiling up at her.

"Yes, I guess I do deserve a reward, hm?"

—

Lemon next