Bonded Spirits: Book Three Read online

  Isobel dodged a right fist from Gwen and spun, whipping her bushy wolf tail up into the satyr’s face, catching her off guard. She took advantage of Gwen’s momentary lapse of concentration and kicked her feet out from underneath her, sending the satyr crashing to the ground onto her back. “Ah ha! Finally!” the wolf-girl screamed out victoriously.

  Gwen flopped her arms out to her sides and was laughing. My eyes remained locked on her face as she tried to compose herself. Her laugh was infectious and within seconds everyone else gathered around was laughing as well. It was a welcome reprieve from all the seriousness that had taken over recently.

  I walked up and smiled down at Gwen. “Need a hand?”

  She shot up her hand with an exhausted smile, her breasts heaving wildly as she tried to catch her breath from her sparring session. “Thanks.”

  I helped her up and brushed her semi-damp, loose strands of hair back behind her ears. She leaned forward and kissed my lips. Her fiery breath washed across my mouth and sent an anticipatory shiver through my body. All the women looked like they had put in some extensive work, each sweaty, with streaks of dirt across their faces.

  Between the four of them, though, Chloe had improved the most. She said that she trained to help her keep the unruly patrons at the tavern in check. That may have been partially true, but I knew it was more than that. Especially as I’d spent more time with her recently.

  After the tournament, when we had arrived back from the Capitol, Chloe was pale and shaky, and could barely get out of bed. It was completely unlike her. Wofferd said that she had worried herself into a frenzy and was beating herself up about staying behind while we continued on.

  The day we arrived back home, after she helped bandage my shoulder, she showed me just how much she missed me. That night, she kept her hand wrapped around my shaft tightly throughout the night as if she were afraid that I, or rather it, was going to disappear.

  Chloe was definitely the most aggressive of all my women in bed, and would initiate sex at all times of the day, at any place. Not that I was complaining, of course. Her insistence on jumping me every chance she had allowed me to level to Grand Master rank in Charge, which actually gave my base skills a bit of a boost as well.

  “Logan! There you are, you crazy son of a bitch!” I turned and saw Amos walking with Mona by his side. He leaned on his cane with his only remaining arm. “Hell of a morning, isn’t it?”

  Mona gave me a seductive smile as they approached and ignored the other girls. The others still hadn’t forgiven her for her part in drugging them and hauling them out in the middle of the training labyrinth, but with each new day tensions eased slightly. She brushed her hair back behind an ear as they neared. “Good morning, Logan.”

  I gave them a small nod. “Hey there.” I fixed my eyes on Amos’s missing arm. “Good to see you up and moving around again. How’s your wound healing?”

  “Actually, that’s why I’m here right now. Ellie sent word my new arm is ready. I can’t wait to see her handiwork,” he said excitedly.

  Fapplejack burst from the shop, his mechanical legs on full display under his apprentice’s apron. “Amos, sir! Step on up, let’s get this thing of wonder installed.”

  Amos turned and Mona helped him remove his white suit coat. His brother had cut off Amos’s arm just above the elbow. It had healed amazingly well with a new salve that Dahlia learned to create by mixing her nectar with Chloe’s milk at the rabbit coven’s shop. The salve had actually earned us more gold as well. Visitors from all over heard of the mystery salve we were creating and couldn’t get enough. It healed wounds almost on contact.

  Amos stepped forward and was almost giddy. “I can’t wait to try it on.”

  Ellie exited the shop and smiled. “Let’s get that bandage off.” She pulled the tightly wrapped linen cloth bandage at the end of his arm. The only sign that it was still not completely healed was a little spot of pink skin. Fapplejack handed her the new prosthetic arm, and she slid it into place. Pushing her red hair behind her ears, she scrunched her freckled nose as she inspected its fit.

  After thinking Ellie was a human the entire time, when I glanced at her pointed ears, I realized she was actually an elf. She whispered a soft incantation and the arm glowed with vibrant hues of orange and yellow while strands of spirits whipped wildly around its circumference.

  Amos chuckled nervously as he looked down at his arm. “That is, um, normal, yes?”

  Ellie remained focused on the arm as it glowed brighter. “Shh,” she whispered sweetly.

  Fapplejack handed Amos a thick length of rope. “Bite down on that.”

  Amos accepted the rope cautiously and shifted uncomfortably. After contemplating it for a second, he lifted the rope to his mouth and bit down. Not even a second after he had it in place, his jaw locked and tears sprung to his eyes as his muffled screams echoed across the lake.

  Amos laid passed out on the ground as Ellie finished. Mona laughed and fanned him with her hand. “He isn’t much for pain.”

  Ellie brushed her hands together and stood. “Take care of him. He’s going to need to rest for a couple days before he regains enough strength to use it effectively.” She glanced at Mona and gave her a smile. “I didn’t want to let him know how painful the process was going to be. Better to just do it before they’ve had a chance to dwell. I’ll be by to check on him occasionally to ensure the fusion took.” Fapplejack moved to her side and they exchanged a small fist bump, presumably for a job well done.

  Mona stayed by Amos’s side as my bonded and I followed the path around the lake and up to the Heart of the Vale. It was already late afternoon by the time we finally arrived. The days around the manor had turned noticeably shorter, as the sun had already fallen low in the sky.

  The Heart of the Vale acted as the central hub of the Mystic Vale. There were several buildings that stood empty and had been neglected for years under the King’s control. Now, however, they were all close to being fully repaired. The best part, the Heart, was only about a fifteen-minute walk from the lake and our manor. I’d not scouted it earlier because of the dense fog and trees that prevented me from seeing inside. I felt it was too risky to venture into the Vale when I first arrived, but I couldn’t have been happier to add it to my owned land. Every day I found a little more to get excited about.

  By the time we arrived, the shops were closing down for the evening and the normal vibrant glow from the newly renovated smithy had died down as the husky bear-man who ran it had cleaned his tools for the day.

  I pulled out the notice that Alysain had given me earlier with the reward and showed Gwen. “Have you heard about this?”

  Gwen smiled and shrugged. “My sisters may have mentioned they put a price on your head, but I wasn’t going to say anything until it was at least doubled. They’re seriously undervaluing you.”

  I chuckled and tucked the paper back into my pocket. “I appreciate your vote of confidence.”

  Chloe walked up to my opposite side and grabbed my arm. “I wanted to tell you before I forgot. A couple dwarves stopped into the tavern this morning and were going on about the King’s funeral. I guess Aether’s planning on delivering a big announcement that day.”

  “Did they have any idea what the announcement may be?” I asked.

  “They didn’t say, but they didn’t sound hopeful. Both dwarves only had one drink before heading on their way. Do you have any idea how uncommon that is for them?! Those dwarf girls can drink more than Gwen!”

  Gwen rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Not a chance…”

  I chuckled and shook my head. “Oh, trust me, I know. I tried to keep up with a couple of them the other night, if you remember. I think I made it to ten rounds before you had to help me to bed.”

  She gave me a sly smile. “Oh yes, I remember that night well.” Without a moment’s hesitation she shot her hand down the front of my pants, wrapped it around my length, giving it a couple of playful pumps, just enough to rouse it from its
slumber. She pulled her hand back out before any of the other girls noticed and licked her lips. “That reminds me, I need help with a few things around the tavern later, if you get a little time.”

  I adjusted my package and nodded. “I may do that.”

  Chapter Four

  Dahlia ran a hand along a flower box hanging outside one of the shop’s windows, and a row of fuchsia flowers sprouted in a neat line and spread, filling the entire planter. She smiled and continued down the row, bringing each of the planters back to life.

  We followed the worn path for several minutes and the sounds of music and cheering rose from nearby. I wasn’t able to see over the buildings, but I’d figured it was the local goblin clan celebrating another day of a job well done.

  When we rounded the corner and reached the Heart of the Vale, my jaw dropped. Where there had been a damaged and rotted tree when we first visited the Vale, was now a vibrant, glowing tree that stood taller than anything else around us. Wisps of colorful spirit danced around the leafy foliage toward the top, and the bark along the enormous trunk seemed to sparkle with streaks of luminescence in the fading daylight.

  I stared up in wonder at the amazing tree and watched the small lightning bug-like flashes streak across the upper branches. I furrowed my brow as I realized they were more than just strands of spirit. “What are those things up there?” I asked.

  Dahlia joined my side, with a look of complete wonder splashed across her face. “This is simply amazing.” She kept her eyes locked skyward and took a few steps forward.

  Isobel joined my side and pointed toward the top of the tree. “Fairies!”

  I whipped my head toward the wolf-woman, who had a small smirk on her face. “Did you say fairies?”

  Gwen giggled and twirled and danced along to the music that filled the area. “Yes, this Is great!” She grabbed my hands and pulled me toward the tree excitedly. “Fairies were thought to have abandoned Aurilon after the Whitehalls were defeated, but they’re back!”

  Gwen released my hands and continued to dance. She circled Isobel a few times, trying to coerce her into joining, before settling on Chloe and Dahlia. The three of them danced excitedly with many other of the new inhabitants of the Vale. I may not have known what role fairies played in everyday monster life, but I could tell they were very important.

  I walked closer to the tree with Isobel at my side, while the other women continued to dance and laugh. As we neared, several of the flashing lights grew brighter, almost as if they were welcoming us.

  We stopped a short distance away from the base of the trunk. Isobel had a smile she couldn’t hide painted across her face. “After the Corlinius rose to power, the fairies told both monsters and humans that they no longer felt safe living in Aurilon. Nobody has seen them since then. Until now.”

  “Where did they go?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the flashes above.

  Before Isobel could answer, a small, high-pitched voice interrupted us. “Somewhere we could protect our magic.”

  I turned, and my eyes met a small flying woman about the size of a monarch butterfly. I blinked to refocus my eyes, and the woman’s features slowly became visible. I gave her a smile as her wings fluttered wildly. “Hello there. I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I’m Logan.”

  The fairy circled around me and stopped a few inches from my nose. Her body was completely golden, and she was completely naked. She had much larger breasts than I thought fairies would have, along with the nicest, albeit smallest, ass I’d ever seen. “My name is Jun, and I am Queen of the Fairies of the Vale. It is because of you we could return safely.”

  “Where have you been?” I asked and held my hand out.

  She glanced at my outstretched hand and lowered carefully onto my palm. “The fairy realm. We pulled our magic from this world and have been waiting for the right time to return. Time moves very quickly in the fairy realm compared to here in Aurilon. Although we’ve been gone for hundreds of years in the fairy realm, it has only been a fraction of the time here.” Lifting back into the air, she flew close to my face and kissed my cheek. “We’ve heard of your bravery. Thank you for freeing the Mystic Vale from the tyrant king.”

  I nodded. “Of course. I’m glad you and the other fairies felt it was safe enough to return. I will do my best to ensure you’re protected at all times.”

  Queen Jun lifted into the air and nearly twenty additional fairies streaked down from the tree to join her. “Our magic is available for you to use as you wish.” She bowed and the other fairies joined her.

  Gwen let out a small chuckle. “How about your bodies?”

  Jun shrugged and gave me a small smile. “That could be arranged.” She paused as if waiting to see how I would respond.

  I furrowed my brow and looked the fairy up and down. “I’m sorry but my dick alone is at least three times your size.”

  Gwen cleared her throat from nearby. “Try five or six.”

  Jun remained focused on me. “Oh, trust me, there is much more to us than our size. There are… ways that fairies can please a human.”

  Isobel gave me an elbow in the side. “I’d take her up on it.”

  I couldn’t tell if she was joking or completely serious. Before I could think about it any longer, the queen continued. “There is a significant amount of tainted spirit still hanging over the land. It will not be easy to cleanse and is extremely dangerous.”

  I nodded. “I’ve had a few experiences with it so far. I’d hate to see what happens if someone could cultivate it effectively.”

  Jun glanced at the other fairies before returning her focus to me. “Fairies are uniquely affected by tainted spirit.” She paused and gave me a small smile. “Let’s just hope, for your sake, that you do not have to experience that.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Isobel laughed and exchanged a knowing glance with Jun. “Well, let’s just say it affects fairies in a… very peculiar way.”

  “Hmm, all right then. I’ll take your word for it.” I smiled and walked up to the massive fairy tree. Fluttering above me, at least forty fairies sent glittering dust down off their wings. Looking up, the dust reminded me of snowflakes. I circled around the base of the tree and stopped to inspect the glittering bark.

  Jun flew over and grabbed onto the side of the tree, eyeing me carefully. “You are unique, Logan. I haven’t seen a human like you in years. If my fairies and I were at full strength, I would take you for a tour, but we still have a lot of cultivating to do before we get back to where we were before we crossed to the fairy realm.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small vial about the size of a penny. “Here, take this.”

  I grabbed it and held it close to the glowing light of the tree. As I moved my hand forward, the contents of the small bottle lit brightly. “Thank you. What is it?”

  “Fairy dust,” Jun replied and landed next to the bottle as several other fairies darted in between the bark to hide and get a better view of our conversation. The queen pointed toward the bottle with her small hand. “It’s incredibly powerful and holds great magic. Use it sparingly.”

  “Is this like the spirit powder they found in the mines?” I asked as I watched the brilliant colors shift and transform.

  Jun paused for a second before nodding. “Spirit powder is incredibly useful, I will grant you that. Fairy dust, however, well, try a small dab of it on your tongue the next time you have relations with your wolf-kin. You will see why it is one of the most highly sought after reagents in Aurilon.”

  I turned and glanced at Isobel, who was watching me curiously. Her bushy tail brushed lazily back and forth behind her, and her ears twitched slightly as she furrowed her brow. “I’ll do that. Thank you, Jun, it was great meeting you, and I’m happy that you and the other fairies believe in me enough to ensure your safety. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you or the rest of the fairies.”

  Jun fluttered up and kissed me on the lips. As her mouth met mi
ne, I felt a jolt of energy course through my body as if I’d just stuck my cock on an electric fence. “Thank you. I appreciate your offer. In return for your hospitality, I give you the support of the entire Night Willow Kingdom.”

  I concentrated on ensuring all my parts were still in place, as all the fairies around the tree shot toward the top in unison. Several seconds later, branches erupted from high at the top of the tree. Vine-like branches spilled in an explosion of colors out from the top and curved down toward the ground.

  After a few seconds, hundreds of branches created a massive, colorful canopy that surrounded the entire trunk of the tree. I looked around and felt as if I were inside the largest weeping willow known to man. Each individual branch glowed as if it were lit by electricity. The fairies swooped down, each laughing and many giving me a kiss as they returned to the top. I glanced to my side and spotted Gwen, Dahlia, and Chloe as they pushed through the long branches and joined me inside.

  Dahlia wore a contented smile on her face as she let the branches slide through her hands as she walked.

  Chloe pushed her massive breasts up against me. “All this talk of fairy sex has got me ready for a piece of your sweet cock.” She paused and licked her lips. “Are you ready to head back for the night?”

  Isobel rolled her eyes playfully. She still didn’t quite know how to handle Chloe’s brashness. She turned to the holstaur and cocked her head. “You are a strange monster, you know that?”

  Chloe laughed and squeezed Isobel’s left breast through her armor. “Come on Wolfy, you know you love to nip off a little of my milk every once in a while.”

  Isobel immediately blushed the shade of her scarlet armor and used her long black hair to obscure a portion of her face.

  Gwen danced in and out of the glowing branches and laughed sweetly as she reached us. “Oh, this is probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” She spun again and wrapped her arm in mine. “I’m so happy. I can’t even tell you how much you’ve changed my life.”