CHAPTER 377: UNITED IN CELEBRATION, PART FIVE

"The Celestial Springs, Lady Blackflame." The servant bowed before walking away unceremoniously. The door in front of Melisa shimmered. Melisa swallowed, unsure about what she was about to see.

The instant she pushed the doors open, she understood why they were called celestial.

The chamber stretched out before her, carved from what looked like a single piece of white stone. Steam rose from three interconnected pools, each one glowing faintly blue from the magical minerals dissolved in the water. There was no ceiling either, and, just beyond the water, Melisa could see most of Yalmir, bathed by the setting sun, in all its glory.

And then there was her.

"Ah, Melisa! Perfect timing!"

The Matriarch’s voice drew Melisa’s attention to the largest pool, and her brain immediately short-circuited.

Silviana lounged against the pool’s edge, completely naked, with her moonlight-colored hair fanned out behind her like liquid silver. Her breasts floated in the water, each one easily the size of Melisa’s head. Nine tails swayed lazily behind her, creating gentle ripples across the surface.

[That’s a lot of woman.]

That being said, between her legs, even through the distortion of the water, Melisa could see the outline of something that made her mouth go dry.

[Oh god.] She stared at it like she was looking at the fucking Loch Ness’s head. [Holy shit, that thing could kill someone.]

"Well don’t just stand there, darling! Come in!"

That’s when Melisa noticed the other person in the pool.

Queen Aria sat on the opposite side, her small frame looking even more delicate next to the Matriarch. She had her arms crossed over her chest, her white hair tied up in a messy bun, and her grey eyes locked firmly on a spot about three feet above Silviana’s head. The water came up to just below her collarbone, and her entire body was rigid with the effort of not looking down.

"... Your Majesty," Melisa said, bowing slightly.

"Melisa." Aria’s voice came out strained. "The Matriarch wanted to discuss... trade routes."

Silviana laughed, a rich sound that made her tits shake.

"Among other things! But first, clothes off. House rules."

"R-Right." Melisa was glad not to have a dick right about now. That would have made this moment way, WAY more embarrassing.

[... How much milk must she have in those things?]

Melisa started undressing, trying to match Aria’s determination to look anywhere but directly at the fertility goddess in front of them. She failed within seconds. Her eyes kept drifting down to those massive breasts, then lower to where Silviana’s cock rested against her thigh even while soft.

[How is that thing soft? It’s bigger than most people’s arms!]

She folded her clothes and set them on a nearby bench, then slipped into the water. The heat immediately seeped into her muscles, and she had to bite back a moan. The water had a strange tingle to it, like carbonation against her skin.

"There we go!" Silviana stretched. "Much better. You can’t have a proper conversation with so many clothes on."

"I fail to see how nudity improves diplomatic discussions," Aria said, her voice still tight.

"Because when everyone’s naked, nobody can hide anything!" Silviana’s tails splashed playfully. "No hidden weapons, no secret documents, just honest conversation between three beautiful women."

Melisa settled opposite the Matriarch, close enough to Aria that their knees almost touched under the water. She could feel the queen’s tension radiating off her in waves.

"So," Melisa said, desperate to focus on something other than the way the steam made Silviana’s skin glow. "You wanted to talk about the festival?"

"Eventually!" Silviana leaned forward, which brought her breasts dangerously close to breaking the water’s surface. "But first, I wanted to get to know you both better. Aria and I have met before, of course, but never like this."

"We’ve had three diplomatic summits," Aria said flatly.

"Yes, but you were wearing armor for all of them! Very intimidating. Very unsexy." Silviana pouted. "This is much nicer. I can see the real you."

Aria’s eye twitched.

"The real me is exactly the same whether I’m wearing armor or not."

"Is it though?" Silviana’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Because the Aria in armor never blushed this much."

Aria’s face went red, which only proved the Matriarch’s point.

[This is going to be a long conversation.]

---

{Sirah}

Sirah sat on the floor of her guest room, staring at the stump where her left hand used to be.

The phantom pain had mostly stopped, but sometimes she still tried to flex fingers that weren’t there. She’d been a two-handed fighter her whole life. Now she had to relearn everything with just her right.

[Worth it though.]

She thought of Melisa’s face when she’d shown up at her doorstep. The shock, the anger, the tiny bit of relief she’d tried to hide. Melisa could pretend all she wanted, but Sirah knew the nim wanted her here.

A knock at the door interrupted her brooding.

"Come in."

Margaret Blackflame walked in, and Sirah immediately understood where Melisa got her looks from. The older nim had the same black hair, the same red eyes, the same curves that made Sirah’s cock twitch with interest. The main difference was Margaret’s breasts, which were somehow even bigger than her daughter’s.

It was enough to make Sirah’s mouth water.

"Sirah, right?" Margaret’s voice had a maternal warmth to it.

"Yes... ma’am." That polite word felt strange on Sirah’s tongue.

"The others are training in the courtyard," Margaret stated. "Thought you might want to join."

That caught Sirah’s interest.

"Training?"

"The kitsune warriors offered to spar with Isabella and the others. Good practice before the festival."

Sirah stood up, towering over Margaret.

"Sure. Lead the way."

They walked through the palace corridors, passing nim servants who kept their heads down and kitsune guards who watched them with barely concealed suspicion.

"So," Margaret said, "have you felt like going back to Rhaya at all?"

"Not at all."

"Because of Melisa?"

"Because my tribe are idiots who don’t understand what’s important."

Margaret hummed thoughtfully.

"And what’s important to you?"

"... Well, Melisa."

Margaret snickered.

"Just Melisa?"

Sirah thought about it.

"Strength. Honor. Good fights. Great sex. But mostly Melisa."

"You know she’s not going to be exclusive with you, right? My daughter loves too many people to be tied down to one."

"... I’m learning to deal with that."

[Or, perhaps figuring out if I even can is more accurate.]

They emerged into a courtyard where the sounds of combat echoed off stone walls.

Isabella was locked in combat with a kitsune warrior, both of them wielding wooden swords. The kitsune had better form, but Isabella fought dirty, using her tail to trip her opponent.

Armia faced off against two opponents at once, her massive frame allowing her to overpower them even with practice weapons. Her white hair whipped around as she spun, catching one warrior in the ribs while blocking the other’s strike.

Raven sat on a bench, watching with those blank, grey eyes of hers. She wasn’t participating, just observing. She was the first to notice Sirah coming.

"Your left side’s open," Raven said as Isabella barely dodged a thrust, placing her attention back on her friend.

"Shut up and help then!" Isabella shot back.

"No."

Kimiko lounged nearby.

"Sirah!" She waved cheerfully. "Come to watch my daughter get her ass kicked?"

"Fuck you, Mom!" Isabella yelled, then yelped as the kitsune warrior smacked her shoulder.

"Maybe later, dear!" Kimiko called back.

Shrugging, Sirah sat with Kimiko.

"So, we haven’t gotten to speak much, you and I," Kimiko said, stretching in a way that made her robe fall open carelessly. "You’re the one who kidnapped my niece."

"I didn’t kidnap her. I claimed her."

"Right, right. Darian customs." Kimiko’s tail swayed behind her. "Though from what I heard, you didn’t get to finish claiming her before they cut your hand off."

Sirah’s jaw tightened.

"That’s none of your business."

"Oh honey, everything involving people who may potentially fuck my daughter is my business." Kimiko leaned closer, and Sirah caught a whiff of her scent. Sweet, like Isabella’s, but with something earthier underneath. "Besides, you seem tense. When’s the last time you got laid?"

"What?"

"Simple question. You’ve been following Melisa around like a lost puppy for days now. That sexual frustration has to be building up."

Sirah shifted uncomfortably. She hadn’t even touched herself since arriving in Syux. It felt wrong somehow, getting off while Melisa was right there but not interested.

"I’m fine."

"No, you’re not." Kimiko’s hand landed on Sirah’s thigh. "You’re wound so tight you’re about to snap. And that’s not good for anyone."

Sirah grabbed Kimiko’s wrist.

"I belong to Melisa."

"Do you though?" Kimiko didn’t pull her hand away. "Because from what I’ve seen, Melisa hasn’t claimed you at all. She’s just letting you hang around because you’re a good combat tutor."

That stung because it was true.

"Besides," Kimiko continued, her thumb rubbing small circles on Sirah’s thigh, "Melisa wouldn’t mind if you did a little bonding with the rest of us. She’s very open-minded about these things."

Sirah nodded.

"... She said if I got jealous about her fucking others, she’d send me back to Rhaya."

"Exactly! You want a chance at gaining a spot in her heart? It would help if you tried to adapt to how we do things here." Kimiko’s hand slid higher. "And how we do things here involves a lot of sharing."

Sirah’s cock was starting to respond, and she hated it. This wasn’t how things worked in her tribe. You claimed someone, they were yours, end of story.

"I can smell your arousal, you know," Kimiko whispered. "Kitsune have very good noses."

Sirah looked at the kitsune. Really looked at her. The casual confidence, the knowing smile, the way she didn’t give a shit about propriety or rules.

"This is weird," Sirah said.

"Everything’s weird if you think about it too hard." Kimiko pulled her hand back but winked. "The offer stands though. If you ever want to blow off some steam, my door’s always open."

"Why?"

"Because you’re hot and you’re hung. That’s all I need." Kimiko stood up, her robe barely staying closed. "Plus, I’ve never fucked a darian with one hand before. Could be fun to see how you compensate."

Before Sirah could respond, one of the kitsune warriors walked over.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Want to spar? I’m curious how you fight with one arm."

Sirah grinned, grateful for the distraction from Kimiko’s offer and her own throbbing erection.

"You sure about that?"

"Very."

Someone tossed Sirah a practice sword. She caught it easily, testing its weight. Lighter than her usual blade, but it would do.