by Natalie Wish
Saainren gave himself only a few second to enjoy the shiver of pleasure, the aftermath of such a glorious high, before he was scrambling to loosen the corsets ties.
Mexi heaved a grateful breath and collapsed onto the bed.
He was absolutely ravaged and Saainren felt a glow of accomplishment at wrecking him so thoroughly.
As he fussed over his subs, his mind was already wondering how else could he deprive Mexi of his breath, if the elf wanted a repeated performance.
Chapter Six
∞∞∞
Mexi was the obvious choice to be sent to finish the deal with the Alkasian family, but as he made the first contact under the guise... he had to wear the dress again and considering what happened the last time he wore it (or stopped wearing it), he had trouble keeping his mind out of the gutter.
He kinda regretted the subterfuge as the dwarven girl was really someone he could see becoming his friend. Funny and clever, not afraid to voice her opinions...
Lorena Alkasian set her teacup firmly down and drilled her brown eyes into him.
“As much as I’m enjoying our talk, I have a feeling that you didn’t come here just for my outstanding gossip skills.”
Ah yes, she was also no-nonsense and didn’t like to waste time.
“I hinted at interest in your great-grandfather’s work the last time we met... but I didn’t have anything concrete to offer. Now I do,” he pulled a rolled-up scroll from between the white layers of the dress, reaching into one of the hidden pockets, and pushed it toward the young girl.
She scrutinized both the scroll and Mexi.
“What is it?”
“Your chance to get the research you want back.” Mexi smiled at her. “My friends pulled some strings and if you present this to the Imperial Guards you will be allowed to take back the books, drawings, and notes you need from what was confiscated.”
It was good to be, hmm, not friends but beneficial allies with the new Hero of the Empire.
“My family will be able to get back those things, you mean.” She stated warily.
“No. The scroll has only your name on it. The research will be transferred into your sole custody.”
The girl’s eyes sparkled as Mexi knew they would. From what he gathered the priceless research was often held beyond the youngest generation’s reach, coveted and harbored like a dragon’s hoard by the elders of the family, used as one of the things to keep hopeful new architects in line and dependent on the older generations.
“What is your price for this?” Lorena asked suspiciously.
Hook, line, and sinker.
“Only access to the research. Possibility to study it,” Mexi tried to assuage the girl’s fears.
“There are multiple patents and secrets of my family buried in those notes. Studying all of them takes years of committing to this task everyday. If you, or somebody else wants to follow my ancestor’s path so badly... I would suggest applying for an apprentice position. This knowledge is open to others... but under my family guidance and to those who prove themselves worthy.”
Uh oh, it wouldn’t be so easy to convince her.
“Ah, what if I’m only interested in particular parts of the research and not the whole of it?”
“Then you better specify which parts, because what got us in this whole mess in the first place is a suspicion that my perpetually drunk uncle provided the Imperial Vault designs to the savages that tried to rob it,” she said sharply.
Mexi wasn’t good at negotiations. Gods, why did they send him to do this? Oh, that’s right, he volunteered, the fool he was. He bit his lip, thinking hard and decided to take the plunge.
“I need information about the Dungeon,” Mexi confessed.
Lorena raised an unimpressed brow.
“There are plenty of dungeons my great-grandfather worked on.”
“Not a dungeon. The Dungeon,” Mexi stressed and watched as the dwarven girl froze for the tiniest moment. A second later she was back to her nonchalant demeanor, saying:
“What do you mean by that?”
Mexi covered his face and mumbled through his fingers.
“Don’t make me say it.” But when only silence followed, he sighed and spoke anyway. “You know. The sex dungeon. The Trial? Please, tell me you know.”
She drummed her fingers in a nervous gesture.
“I know. But how do YOU know? The existence of this place is a fact known in certain circles, but my great-grandfather’s connection to it was never made public. If you only want to find it, then I’m afraid I can’t help you. I have no idea of its current location.”
“Ah, that’s not a problem, I know where it is,” Mexi waved a hand and only then realized what he had said.
Lorena’s eyes grew huge.
“You do? Tell me! I always wanted to see how exactly those interdimensional connections were made. And the relocation system! And the map of the rooms! And-”
“You know what you have to do when you are inside?” Mexi asked, cutting off her enthusiasm.
The girl slumped.
“Uh, you are right. I’m not into that.” But then a look of determination crossed her face. “But I would do it for research.”
Mexi was horrified to see this kind of reckless drive, but also, he had to admit to himself, a bit impressed.
“How about studying the Dungeon without passing the trial?” he smiled at her. “I think I can arrange that.”
∞∞∞
Mexi did arrange the meeting at the Dungeon the very next day. He escorted the dwarven girl onto the not very well kept, but somehow still standing, property. Both of them looked kinda out of place in their pretty dresses.
“If you kill me here, I’m going to hunt you forever as a ghost and sing the most annoying songs I know all the time. And I know all one hundred seventy verses of the Ballad of the Happy Fish,” she threatened at the sight.
“Huh, I don’t know that one,” Mexi admitted.
“Oooh, you asked for it,” she grinned and burst into a hearty song that carried through the empty mansion.
“A fish is happy, is happy when
There’s plenty of food and then, and then
A fish is happy, is happy when
The water is clear and then, and then
A fish is happy...”
“By all stars, isn’t it enough that your great-grandfather tortured me with that blasted song?” a groan interrupted the happy melody as Vitorous emerged from around the corner.
“Gambel Alkasian... sang that to you?” Lorena said slowly, taking in Vitorous’ young elven form doubtfully.
“Oh yes, he did. You would think he would sit quietly when sketching or parsing through equations and magical formulas, but no, he was constantly humming that song. And when he was wrestling with a particularly hard problem he sang it at a volume that nearly killed my poor eardrums.”
“Who are you?” the girl asked, evidently surprised at the level of detail the new person was giving.
The mage bowed slightly.
“I’m Vitorous Axaan. And this...” he moved to one of the normal looking doors of the mansion and dispelled the illusion on it, showing the swirling magical portal. “...is my Dungeon.”
It was fun watching Lorena’s reactions. She bounced between elation, suspicion, and disbelief, all the way through the various rooms of the Dungeon. But in the end she was a logical person and could see that Vitorous had both the mastery of the Dungeon and information pertaining to her Grandfather that nobody outside the family and their closest friends should know. She agreed to come back to the Dungeon with the research when she got it back and Mexi felt proud for successfully finishing his task, even if they hadn’t planned on revealing so much to Lorena. Privately he thought she would be good for Vitorous. That man really needed somebody who wouldn’t bend unde
r his whims. Speaking of that...
Weix was serving them tea again, like a common servant, while he kept glancing at Vitorous and how he tried to flirt with Lorena. She wasn’t having it, but the mage didn’t seem dissuaded by it.
“Weix, can we talk for a moment?” Mexi asked the dragon.
The man blinked at him in surprise, but then smiled softly. One of those demure smiles that made him so loved and trusted in his Clan.
“Of course. If you will excuse us,” he addressed the room.
Mexi wasn’t sure where to lead him, as their room was basically one giant bedroom and what he knew as the common area of the dining room was already occupied, but the ever-attentive man guessed his dilemma and offered:
“Let’s go to my room.”
Arguably his room was more functional than Mexi’s. It had a proper desk, a table with chairs, some shelves with books on them... it was a proper day room if one didn’t count the folding screen and the bed Mexi assumed was behind it.
“I think I have some pastries around here-” Weix started fussing.
“No need, man, please don’t. Let’s just sit down.” Mexi took a hold of his wide sleeve and steered him toward the table. “You know, you don’t have to do that with me.”
The man didn’t give him the discourtesy of pretending he didn’t know what Mexi was talking about.
“I know. But I like feeling useful,” Weix admitted.
“You are.” The earnestness of his praise wasn’t faked. “We wouldn’t be able to achieve any progress if not for you paving the way for us, getting information, arranging everything. You are irreplaceable.”
“Am I?” the cleric asked softly, in a way that made Mexi think that the dragon had already made up his mind what the answer to that question was, and what was even worse, accepted it.
He had half a mind to offer the man affirming platitudes, but from what he had seen... He feared that at least in Vitorous’ mind Weix was indeed easy to replace by somebody else, especially after he would be free from the Dungeon and he would have the whole world open to him again.
“You are, to me and my team,” He finally answered. “And if somebody else doesn’t appreciate your commitment maybe they don’t deserve you.”
Weix’s gaze turned a bit wistful.
“Sometimes it’s not about deserving. Don’t you know that? With all the dark truths you four keep hidden? I don’t have to know their exact nature, to be aware they are there.” Weix’s words were like a gentle punch to the face. “Sometimes it’s about having things to give and them being accepted. Not given back. Just taken away from you, because keeping them inside feels worse than pouring them into someone and watching how they inevitably drip out.”
“But doesn’t that hurt?” Mexi asked, throat tight.
Weix laughed softly in response.
“Of course, it does. But pain isn’t enough to deter me from what I want.”
“I don’t like seeing you suffer,” Mexi huffed.
“Then think about it like this: I have a choice. I can walk away. I’m sure my Clan would already consider our debt to the Crystal Clan creator’s friend paid in full. I have the power equivalent to saying a safeword... and I’m choosing not to use it.”
“Hmpf. But you should frequently check in to see how the sub is doing and if they don’t want to say their safeword, so don’t think I won’t bother you again,” Mexi threatened.
Weix smiled and patted Mexi’s hand with his own, the contrast between pale and dark skin stark.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, friend.”
∞∞∞
The next day Saainren came to the dining room to see Weix already bustling around.
“You’re up, good, just in time for breakfast,” the cleric greeted him, while he set the table. “You should get the others, so we can eat together,”
“No need. They will be coming soon.”
“Good. Then sit down and don’t get in my way,” Weix requested gently.
Saainren placed himself at the table, sensing that the offer to help wouldn’t be welcome, and just observed the other man, who brought out more and more dishes from another hidden room that had to be a kitchen. Was it there before? Saainren wasn’t sure with how this place could change without any notice.
He heard a noise from the portal door and saw Vitorous entering with Lorena at his side, both engaged in an animated conversation.
Huh, he didn’t expect to see her at the breakfast. That meant she had stayed the night.
“Good morning,” he greeted them, while he cast a glance at Weix, but the man remained steady in his preparations.
“Good morn to you as well,” Vitorous answered, tone brisk and fresh, despite the hint of bags under his eyes.
“Good morning Lady Alkasian, Lord Vitorous,” Weix greeted and the dwarven girl answered him with a curtsy, still in the same dress as the last day.
Saainren missed when the rest of their team entered in their flurry of increasingly formal greetings.
“Hi,” Xanran deadpanned, breaking the formal spiral.
Mexi giggled at his unapologetic behavior.
The noise made Lorena zero onto the young elf. The young elf and his decidedly male form and clothes.
They all seemed to realize it at the same time, because somebody cursed and Mexi definitely squeaked and hid a bit behind Rogan.
“Hi, Mexia,” Lorena smiled at the unsure redhead.
“Um, hello... You... I m-mean, I...” he stammered adorably.
“Hmm, you are not surprised,” Xanran stated, arching his brows at the dwarven girl.
“Should I be?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Then maybe you shouldn’t forget to put on the chocker that hid your neck when we last met.”
Saainren’s eyes were inevitably drawn to the pale column of flesh. It was slender and could look feminine, but yes, the adam’s apple gave it away.
Mexi groaned.
“You knew? And you didn’t say anything?”
Lorena shrugged.
“Why would I? I just assumed you are like one of my friends who was born male but is a girl now.”
“Are you a girl, Mexi?” Xanran teased.
“I’m someone who can kick your ass,” the small elf glared at the dragon and then returned his embarrassed stare to Lorena. “I’m a man. I just like to...” he mumbled some words so quietly Saainren couldn’t hear him.
“You should speak louder, honey,” Xanran was unrelenting in his teasing.
Mexi punched him in the side.
“I don’t need to know. That’s your business,” Lorena declared. “Just know that I don’t mind.” She shrugged.
“Thanks.” Mexi smiled, the tension dropping from his shoulders. “We should eat!” he said, effectively changing the topic as everybody crowded at the table.
The dishes were delicious and Saainren didn’t skim on praise for Weix, who blushed so sweetly when complimented. They talked about many subjects and he learned that Vitorous and Lorena stayed up all night, talking about the Dungeon and exploring its many parts. She readily agreed to come back once she took back the research and left with the scroll that would give her the promised Imperial Hero approved access. Once she left, Saainren turned to the owner of the Dungeon.
“That went well. Is there anything else you need us to do?”
“Oh yes, I need you to get the legs of the Nightmare Centipede, infiltrate the Kadesh Assassins, steal an artefact from Imperial Archmage...”
Weix slapped Vitorous lightly on the shoulder.
“Don’t be mean.” The dragon turned to the group. “Nothing so dangerous this time. I dare to hope that you may even find some enjoyment in this task. For the final ritual we need a lot of energy for the Dungeon.”
“So, you want us to fuck like bunnies?” Rogan asked
crudely.
“Hey, don’t bring my precious, innocent, little bunnies in it!” Xanran protested.
Rogan looked him straight into an eye, smirking.
“Your BunBun probably has a collection of little bunnies of his own making by now.”
Xanran clutched at his heart, stunned.
“Are you telling me I could be a grandfather?” he exclaimed, evidently having a crisis.
Weix laughed at him.
“I will be sure to ask about that in my next letter to the Clan.”
“My tiny baby bunny... A grandfather...” Xanran murmured under his nose, brain still short circuiting.
“But coming back to the subject...” the cleric began once again. “...I’m afraid we need a lot more than you four can generate.”
“You want us to organize an orgy here?” Rogan asked doubtfully.
“It would be ill-advised to bring even more people here... And nobody had to organize anything, seeing as there are people who do that already in this city,” Weix explained serenely. “My best idea is to provide you with a device that will collect the sexual energy from a place where a lot of it is created.”
“Are you sending us to a sex club?” Mexi asked with disbelief.
“Unless you have any other ideas then yes, indeed I am.” Weix smiled in that charming way, that you couldn’t say no to.
Chapter Seven
∞∞∞
Rotedem was a sprawling capital city of the Rederon Empire, so it was no wonder that if you searched diligently enough you could find anything your mind conjured up there. And for a city full of stuffy nobles and officials it had an impressive plethora of erotic entertainment. Or maybe it was because of and not in spite of those groups, considering Xanran heard rumors of highborn men and women throwing parties of stunning decadence. He would like to see one of those, but for their purposes it was too high profile to risk getting tangled in the Court drama. No, a sex club accessible to everyone was needed. One that had standards and didn’t admit just anyone, but a place that could be accessed without an invitation.
Here they were outside one of these and Xanran was eager to see what awaited them.