by Joe Kuster
“No… Fuck no… Rachel…” he cried out.
Needing to know for sure, he gripped her limp hand tight and reached inward. There was a small amount of magic seeping around the edges, most likely from the alcohol. Focusing with every part of his being, he wove a needle-thin thread into Rachel’s body.
Her heart beat unevenly, and her lungs sucked in an almost non-existent breath. He pumped whatever he had into healing her, but he didn’t know where to start. She had punctured organs, torn arteries, and open wounds on both her abdomen and neck. She was all but gone.
As his magic reached out, he felt something warm inside her. His magic slipped around it, confused. Whatever it was, it hadn’t been there a moment ago. Pushing a little more, he eased inside and found… essence. She was full to the brim with magic. Twisting it around his own, he built a bridge between them. He’d expected it to resist, but instead, it latched on hard, turning and twining its way into him. It clung to him desperately, begging to be used.
TJ’s heart soared as he reached in and began redirecting it. Her skin knitted shut, and her organs shifted. The chunks the beast had removed reformed, and the toxic acid from her stomach being ruptured was neutralized. He wavered under strain, but he used every trick he could think of to stabilize her. He nearly fainted again, but somehow held it together.
Still shivering like he’d been dunked in ice water, he checked her vitals and found her heartbeat had strengthened, but only by a little. She had a lot going wrong. Her blood still had toxic stuff in it as well as significant internal bleeding. But there was a chance.
Stumbling to his feet, he struggled to lift her. Gritting his teeth, he thrust his foot forward, then the next. He nearly fell but caught himself. He tried again and managed to push through the weakness and get moving in the right direction.
Despite being depleted, he could feel his magic desperately trying to communicate, but his brain was too fuzzy to understand it. Not knowing what else to do, he kept slogging forward.
As he approached the bridge, he debated if he should turn toward the church or the guard barracks. Neither were close. It was also unlikely that the remaining guards or Gerald could assist in any meaningful manner. Without being a follower, he doubted the priest could do more than mend a few of her cuts. Still, he had to do something.
He started that way, but his magic stabbed him sharply, then prodded toward the tavern.
“Damn it, I don’t have time for you. She needs help,” TJ yelled.
It stabbed him again, then slapped him in the groin.
Hissing in pain, TJ cursed. Then he realized what it was trying to say.
“Oh… She’s not going to like this.”
Chapter 13
<❤️>
TJ panted as Bethany continued her task. Her tongue worked his cock with the furious pace that only a prostitute in a hurry could manage. The lamplight’s soft yellow glow showed a sheen of sweat on her forehead as she kept up an impressive tempo. Abby squeezed her breasts into his body and bit into his neck with a throaty moan.
Breath quickening, he nodded his head as he gave a soft groan.
The blonde between his knees forced his cock to the back of her throat and gently squeezed his balls as he found his third release for the evening. She fought back a cough and kept sucking his shaft as deep as she could manage. Her tongue rolled around his hardness as she continued to press into his jewels.
Bethany came up for air, chest hammering as Abby wordlessly shifted to take her place.
As the magic rushed into his body, he poured it straight back into the limp body in the bed next to him. He only spared enough to keep himself going and avoid any problems with a refractory period. Within seconds, he felt the familiar desperate need of being drained building.
Abby pulled her hair of polished copper back, then slid his cock between her lips. She nibbled and sucked on the underside while she began stroking him with her hand.
“This had better work,” Bethany panted as she wiped beads of sweat from her brow.
TJ nodded. “It will. I got the last of the torn blood vessels with that one. I think I just need to replace the blood she lost.”
Dipping her head, Abigail began sucking deeply on his shaft and rubbing the spot just under his balls, eliciting a grumble of pleasure.
Bethany sat on the bed and began running a cold cloth over Rachel’s forehead, then wiped at the dried blood stuck in her hair. “Her color is returning, and she’s breathing better.”
TJ couldn’t manage more than a nod. Abigail didn’t just work her mouth, but somehow managed to put her entire body into the performance as she rubbed, sucked, stroked, and otherwise tantalized him. There were no cold, mechanical movements to her. She put everything she could into keeping his mind fixated on what she was doing. He barely noticed when Bethany looped her arms over his shoulders and clung to him.
Not resisting the pull or pressure building, he began to whimper.
“Oh, fuck… damn…” TJ hissed.
Abby withdrew him just enough so he could watch himself empty into her mouth and splash across her cheeks. The redhead claimed her reward with a grin. She then began lapping at his seed and generally making a mess of it across her face. She flashed a gorgeous smile as she continued her erotic display of indulgence.
Repeating the process he’d been doing for the last hour, he fed a small trickle of healing back into himself, then dumped the tidal wave of power into Rachel’s body.
“Need me to take over?” Bethany asked as she buried her face in TJ’s neck and began carding her fingers through his hair.
Abby shook her head, then shoved his cock down her throat to the point she could lap at his balls. She then started rubbing things he hadn’t expected, but he decided not to complain. She’d already proven herself able to make him pop faster than any other partner he’d ever had, and this was a case where quantity was far more important than quality. Or his personal boundaries.
Abby reached out her free hand and began pulling Bethany behind her. The blonde blushed for a moment as she realized what was being requested.
“I think she wants to give you a show to speed things along,” Bethany said as she slid behind the redhead. Giving TJ full eye contact, the blonde began kissing her way down Abby’s bared hips and began to fondle Abby’s breasts. Bethany grinned, then began trailing her tongue toward the other woman’s center.
The blonde teased, “Ooh, it looks like you already left her absolutely overflowing.” She then dipped and lapped at Abby top to bottom then all the way back up, twirling her tongue as she went.
Abby gave a throaty moan as she spread her thighs wider and arched her back as Bethany’s tongue began working her sex for real. Rocking back and forth between them, the redhead seemed to be locked in bliss as she sucked him down while her partner in crime stroked and licked her pussy.
He couldn’t see everything that Bethany was doing, but he could feel the rhythmic motion of her hands at work on Abby’s clit, and her blue eyes were mischievous as she lapped at everything Abby presented, holding nothing back. Abby whimpered as Bethany shoved her tongue in deep while working the little pucker of her ass. TJ took it all in, enjoying every bit of the decadent exhibition.
He took a moment to pull the blankets close to his chest, trying to warm himself. He’d been shivering nonstop since he’d awoken. As he did so, he tried to force his mind away from Rachel’s battered form next to him. This was a case where being selfish was better for everyone involved.
The beautiful redhead continued her intimate kiss as the minutes stretched. Proving she wasn’t there just for show, Bethany lost herself as she dove into her task. After only a few minutes, Abby began thrusting and bucking as she began to climax.
She panted around his girth, saliva dripping free. As she rocked back and forth, she deepthroated him to the hilt with each thrust. Bethany’s hand sped up as she rubbed her palm across the other woman’s opening. Abby squeaked and convulsed as she found her re
lease but didn’t stop working him. The woman was so enthralled that her pleasure caused an instant reaction, and TJ panted under her tender mercies.
There was a soft groan from Rachel as she shifted.
Her voice was barely a whisper. “What… what’s going on? I… I feel tingly.”
TJ’s body tensed as Abby coaxed more of his seed from his body. Her green eyes flashed naughtily as she rolled it around on her tongue before she swallowed his cum with a happy moan.
He wobbled, unsteadily, then fed yet another magical surge of healing into Rachel’s body as fast as it hit him.
Gasping, Rachel tried to sit up, but Bethany broke away to hold her in her place.
Bethany said, “Uh, TJ? You should probably check on her.”
Nudging the redhead still suckling his flesh, he nodded toward the bed.
Abby slid from her kneeling position and licked her lips. She showed off a brilliant smile. “Zat was fun, no?”
“You were amazing. There’s no way I can tell you how thankful I am, Abby. You too, Bethany,” TJ said.
Rachel stared at him, impossibly wide-eyed. Then her eyes dipped to his still slick member in Abby’s hand.
“Oh, right.” TJ pulled his robes over his crotch and covered his erection.
Rachel gave a shuddering breath, then slumped to the pillows with her arms held tight to her chest. She appeared to be struggling to process things.
“Uh, ladies, could you give us a bit?” TJ asked.
Giving a surprisingly genuine smile, Bethany rose, slipped into her robe, and belted it shut. “I’ll find her a dress. Hers won’t be salvageable, but it wouldn’t be fitting for her to leave here wearing nothing more than a traveling cloak.”
Abby offered, “I’ll fetch food and water for you both.”
“Appreciated. Also… please don’t mention this to anyone. I don’t want Rachel’s reputation to suffer because of how my magic works. People will assume we’re doing things we weren’t,” TJ said.
Both women bowed their heads. “None shall disparage House Blackstone under this roof.”
They had said it in unison as though they’d discussed and rehearsed it. He supposed they might have. He’d left them alone for much of the day. Of course, perhaps that was the going line based on Rachel’s father’s patronage. That thought raised weird questions that he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to.
He gave Rachel a gentle smile as he brushed dark hair out of her face. “Hey… it’s ok. It’s all ok.”
Rachel worked her lips, trying to find her words. “I died.”
“No. You were really close, though,” he said.
“I died. My soul left my body. Serina… she’s… it really is like looking in a mirror, but she has pretty red eyes and silver-blue skin,” Rachel said.
“Oh,” TJ said lamely.
Rachel reached for TJ’s hand and squeezed it.
Stunned, he sat in silence while his mind spun in a loop like a dog chasing its tail. He’d thought he’d healed Rachel from the brink of death, but he’d failed. She’d bound her life and soul to him, and then she’d died. He hadn’t saved her at all. Serina must have somehow been able to step in. Divine intervention on that level must have cost the young Deva dearly, which meant…
TJ pinched his eyes tight, terrified of the answer, but asked anyway, “This didn’t come cheap. What did it cost you? Or what do I owe her?”
“I… well… nothing, really. She said what’s yours is hers. She didn’t command anything, but she did accept my binding and promised me a better afterlife than I was going to get otherwise. She also suggested a few things, but… those aren’t for your ears,” she replied.
He failed to hold back the desperate tinge in his words as he asked, “Is she ok? What happened when I left? What about my parents? I… I’ve got a thousand questions, but I doubt she’d have answers to all of them. What did she tell you?”
“She was a lot more worried about me, to be honest. I was kind of a mess, since I’d just died, and she had nowhere to put my soul. She said she couldn’t keep me, so… well, I don’t really understand what she did. I don’t feel any different, but supposedly I’m in you, not my body,” Rachel said.
TJ groaned. “A while back, she built some sort of storage thing and shoved it into one of my bones. She yanked my soul out and found out that they don’t go back in the same way. So… I guess we’re roommates now. I have no idea if that makes us both reanimated flesh golems, liches, or run-of-the-mill resurrected. It’s bizarre to think about, but it doesn’t affect anything as far as I can tell. What else did she say?”
“We talked for a long time. At least it felt like a long time. It seemed like days or maybe even weeks. Anyway, she said you’d be worried, but Serina didn’t fight her family. Once your portal closed, she surrendered. She said she’s been placed under house arrest for at least the next few years,” Rachel replied.
“Anything else?”
“Mostly? That she loves you and doesn’t regret it,” Rachel said. “That, and she’s happy for us. Serina has a better idea of where to look for you now. She also called you a lovesick fool for hopping out of the portal where you did. She’ll be sending you a Book of Shadows as soon as she can put one together. Also, she knew you’d ask, but she doesn’t know anything about your family’s situation.”
TJ rubbed at his eyes for nearly a minute as he digested her words. “So, what does she want me to do?”
Rachel shrugged. “About what you’d suspect. She said you need to become powerful as fast as possible. She also said to focus on your own affairs for now and not to worry about her. She didn’t say anything, but I suspect she already has plans in motion.”
TJ pondered that, unsure of what to do about any of it. Blowing out a long deep breath, he dropped his head onto the bed about the time that there was a soft knock at the door.
“It’s Bethany,” the voice called out.
TJ replied, “Come in.”
Bethany strode into the room with a navy-blue satin gown over one arm and a traveling cloak in the other. Behind her, Abby carried a silver tea set and a stack of bread and meats. They placed the refreshments on the bedside table with the utmost care and the clothing on a hanger beside the changing curtain. Abby prepared two cups of tea with artful precision. They both bowed again, then moved to leave the room.
“Wait,” Rachel said softly. “Please, ladies…”
Both women came to the bedside and clasped their hands in front.
“How much do you know about TJ’s powers?” she asked.
Both women gave amused smiles that lit up the dim room as they suppressed a laugh.
Bethany began, “His magic is powered by sex and indulgence.”
“Zat, and he’s insatiable. With his appetites and abilities, mortal wounds are no problem for one such as him,” Abby said.
“I see that Madam Cintra has trained you in the basics of etiquette?” Rachel asked.
Both women nodded their confirmation.
Rachel sat up, shifting to lean against the headboard. Despite being in a bloodied and tattered mess of a dress with only a thin blanket covering her, she somehow exuded a prim and proper bearing. “First, you have my sincere thanks for assisting in my recovery. As salacious as your role might have been, I…” she paused, as though gathering her courage. “I find I’m able to forgive much, considering that my life was at stake. I was beyond traditional medical care or the magical abilities of all but the king’s royal healer. This, unfortunately, points out a glaring oversight in my plans.”
Giving a long sigh, Rachel said, “My intended has unique needs. Needs which would not be acceptable for me to fulfill for the time being. I also find that I’ll be traveling for some time and assisting him in establishing House Lightfoot. As such, I require both surrogates for his oaths and retainers of my own.
“Thus, I must ask, are you interested in accompanying us to Ardsville, likely north to the elven lands, and possi
bly beyond? We must visit the Duchess soon, and I cannot show up unaccompanied. However, anyone from Blackstone manor wouldn’t approve of TJ’s commitments. I can assure you an appropriate wage, and at the end of your term, you will have safe passage arranged back to Larton if you wish.”
As Rachel spoke, Abby’s expression progressively became more serious.
Speaking as though she were putting every ounce of herself into her words, Abby replied. “Mistress, more zan anything, I wish to stay by TJ’s side. If he does not wish my ongoing company, I may instead use zis as an opportunity to find a new home along ze way. Zis town is dying, and I had yet to meet an appropriate candidate until he arrived. I’m sure we can negotiate an amenable set of duties and wages. I refuse to provide company to those zat do not meet my… requirements, but I may not have a choice for long. I do not know ze correct words for what role I thought zis would be. Madam has been patient with me, but nightly arrangements were never my intent.”
TJ gave her a kind smile. “The role you were looking for is probably a concubine or courtesan, and… yeah, I understand the difference. Probably better than you’d guess. That’s pretty much what I need, but you’d be Rachel’s attendant as well.”
Abby gave a small bow of her head. “Zen I look forward to our arrangement. Hopefully permanent, or temporary if needs demand it.”
“How about you, Bethany? Up for a bit of adventure?” TJ asked.
Bethany looked crestfallen. “I’m sorry, TJ. I would need to discuss it with my family first. My mother has talked about leaving Larton, but my brother Sven is pledged as an acolyte and… the rituals aren’t going well. They won’t tell me what is going on, but I don’t think I could leave right now. All that I know is that he’s becoming more unstable with each rite. Please don’t think ill of me, but I don’t see how I could leave Larton until things improve.”
“Of course, Bethany,” Rachel replied. “Sorry. I should have guessed when I saw him at the church. That probably explains the shift in behavior. He was always mousy and quiet, but he seems like he has a chip on his shoulder lately. At any rate, we’ll be gone for some time, but I don’t intend to abandon Larton entirely.