16

  Plots & Desire

  “Have you learned anything more about the boy?”

  The question hung unanswered in the air for some time as Lothar Djed, the hand of the King, stared at Julius with a frown from behind his desk. He’d grown to despise asking that question, because each time he did, he got no answer. And from the almost bored look on Julius’s face, it didn’t seem like this time would be any different at all.

  “No,” Julius responded. “Nothing yet. I’m still looking.”

  His jaw tightened. “Why is it taking so long?”

  Julius shrugged. “There’s nothing concrete to pursue,” he said. “Elsa lodged him at the inn with those two she’s so attached to, and we know neither of them is a spy. Beyond that, he meets only with a woman who runs an orphanage, and she’s not a spy either. He’s had no contact with anyone of interest, no ties that might tell us where he came from.”

  “Perhaps he’s working alone, then?” Lothar asked sharply.

  The Gold-Rank knight leaned back into his seat and sighed. “Perhaps, but we cannot confirm that,” he said. “Just as we cannot confirm how someone seemingly ordinary killed three of my men and caused an explosion that was heard by almost half the kingdom. And if he had such immense power, why allow himself to be tortured?”

  “Does it matter? He all but claimed responsibility for the explosion.”

  “He did, but can we really trust his words? That could have been a lie to protect the real culprit. It’s quite surprising that someone of your position can be so… trusting.”

  Lothar’s face twisted into a deep frown. He recognized the slight in the knight’s last words, but he had to force himself to ignore it, responding would accomplish nothing here.

  “What about Elsa? Are you certain she was not involved?” he asked.

  Julius gave a shake of his head. “I thought she could be as well, but I’ve confirmed her story,” he replied easily. “Many saw her arrive at the scene after the explosion.”

  “What kind of power caused it?” he asked.

  Julius shrugged again. “That is also a mystery,” he said with a smile as he drummed his fingers against the desk. “Which brings us back… there’s nothing concrete to pursue.”

  “Is there anything you fucking know?!” Lothar snapped in frustration.

  At his outburst, Julius shifted and gave him a cold, utterly humorless look. The faint smile he had vanished from his face as if it had never been there at all, and for a heartbeat, the room seemed to squeeze closer around them, the air pressing down with the weight of an unspoken threat. Lothar stiffened, then, almost despite himself, his hand slid back down from where it had risen and his gaze drifted away in fear and submission.

  Then, just as quickly as it rose, the tension dissolved and Julius’s face stretched with a smile again. “I apologize for my failure, my lord,” he said, and added a small bow.

  The gesture was as false as the smile. Lothar knew the man didn’t truly respect or fear him, and his loyalty was not to him. It was to the partners who had positioned him as an intermediary. Everything Julius did was to serve them and protect their needs. That was why he had taken the initiative to release the children; he had thought it best to protect the partners from an unknown quantity, as they were always his priority. Lothar had only been informed after the fact, and he’d gone along with it, even though he didn’t like it.

  The partners were cautious, preferring to work from the shadows. They had already been unsettled by Arryn; the appearance of the boy—this Adam—and the recent explosion had only worsened their unease. They had commended Julius’s quick judgment to return the children, supporting the plan to lie low for now. The entire operation was on hold until they knew exactly who the boy was, where he came from, and what he wanted. But it had been days and they had been unable to learn anything, or maybe they had and just weren’t telling him. Each time Julius insisted he knew nothing yet, Lothar’s doubt grew.

  He’d begun to suspect that they would only tell him if the danger the boy posed was manageable, if he was small enough that they could crush quietly. But if he was something else, something dangerous, they wouldn’t tell him. Someone would need to be responsible for any crimes that might be uncovered. A head would need to be on the chopping block.

  And it would be his head. They would bury him and their involvement.

  Lothar knew that he wouldn’t be able to fight it. The partners were powerful, more powerful than anyone in the kingdom, even the Crown itself. They ran the entire kingdom from the shadows. He only held his position as Hand of the King because they had made it possible, and his purpose was to serve their interests. They were not truly partners, though that was how the relationship appeared from the outside and what he called them. In truth, they were his masters. And however useful he might be to them, they would not hesitate to discard him if it became necessary. He’d recognized long ago that it was part of the reason they’d placed Julius as the go-between. The man’s role wasn’t limited to just intermediary and helper; he was also a spy for them… and his potential executioner.

  The partners always protected themselves first.

  “It’s fine,” Lothar said and cleared his throat, as if to smooth over the moment. “Just let me know when you have learned something.”

  Julius took that as dismissal and stood to leave. “You’ll be the first to know.”

  As the knight left his office, Lothar remained frozen behind his desk, staring at the closed door long after his footsteps had faded. The silence that ensued was suffocating. For a moment, he did nothing, just sat still, then his composure shattered. He slammed his hand down onto the desk, hard. “Damn you!” he hissed bitterly, though whether the words were meant for Julius, the boy, or the partners, even he didn’t know.

  ***

  It was mid-afternoon when Adam arrived at Lorelei’s home. He knocked once, but before he could knock a second time, her voice floated from behind the house, asking whoever it was to come around. Adam followed the path around the side of the house and found her kneeling in a small garden, her hands buried in the soil. Rows of flowers—each a different kind—stretched out before her. She looked up and smiled softly when she saw him, then quickly wiped her hands on her apron before rising to her feet.

  “Oh Adam, it’s you,” she said. “I thought it might be.”

  Adam returned her smile. “Hey,” he said back and his gaze drifted around the fenced yard again. From the sweet, floral scent he’d noticed in her room that day—the same scent that lingered on her—he’d guessed she was into gardening. But he hadn’t expected to find something this well-kept. “I didn’t know you had something like this here.”

  Lorelei followed his gaze. “It’s only a hobby, though it earns me a little sometimes,” she said. “I suppose, with everything that’s happened, I haven’t had time to show.”

  He didn’t know much, or anything at all really, about gardening, but judging by how colorful, well-kept, and meticulously groomed it was, this place must have required a great deal of time, effort, love, and care. He found himself wondering when she found the time to actually tend to it, especially while looking after so many children, and somehow also keeping them away from it. He knew children could be monsters sometimes.

  “It must be difficult to maintain,” Adam said, voicing the thoughts in his head and shooting a glance toward the house. “Especially with the children.”

  She smiled faintly. “The gentler ones help, they know what to do,” she replied. “The rougher ones know better than to play too close. I can get very upset.”

  Her upset? What was that like?

  “Would you like to help me? It’s not as thrilling as adventuring, but you might enjoy it more than you think.” Her smile never faded, and her blue eyes were steady on his. Then, as if realizing he might have more important reasons to be here, her eyes widened and she gave a small shake of her head, chiding herself. “Oh… sorry, you must want the book.”

  “No, it’s fine. I can help for a while,” Adam said to ease her worry.

  “Really?” she asked, eyes still wide, but now in surprise.

  He nodded and gave a gentle smile.

  Lorelei beamed wide, then handed him a small trowel and pointed to an empty patch between two rows. Adam crouched beside her, mimicking the way she loosened the soil, a little too forceful at first. Dirt scattered onto his sleeve. Lorelei reached over, guiding his wrist gently, showing him how to turn the earth without forcing it. He nodded, pouring his focus into it, his eyes slightly narrowed and his jaw tensed as he tried again.

  When he finally managed it without making a mess, Lorelei chuckled, a soft, warm sound he really enjoyed hearing. “Well, look at that,” she said in a light voice as she wiped the dirt from her palms on her apron. “We’ll make a gardener out of you in no time at all.”

  Adam smiled. “Guess I have a fallback if adventuring doesn’t work out.”

  He glanced down at his hand to see it was smeared with dirt, but before he could do anything, Lorelei caught his hands and wiped it clean with the front of her apron, slow and absentminded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her hand lingered a moment too long, then they looked up at the same time, she quickly realized and stepped away.

  Adam smiled, her awkwardness was always fun to watch. It was clear that their brief handholding had brought back the memories of their last meeting. Neither of them had said anything about the kiss—or his request to continue it later, even though it was on both their minds, sitting like a proverbial elephant in the room. Adam hadn’t raised the topic yet, not out of discomfort or shyness, but because he wanted to deal with the more important issue first, to take care of what had really brought him here; which was to finish the book.

  After that, he could give her his full, undivided attention. And he suspected that she would wait until he brought it up himself. She was likely still unsure about everything that had happened, and given his age and hers, it was only normal. She was probably wondering whether it was appropriate, a spur of the moment impulse, or something more. If he didn’t bring it up, he knew she would pretend nothing had happened. But he didn’t intend to just let it go. They would talk, then decide if anything more would happen between them.

  “I suppose you want the book now, I’ll go get it,” she said. “You can stay inside, or you can read it out here. Though the view here might be nicer.”

  “I’ll stay out here,” Adam replied. “It’s fine.”

  Lorelei smiled and gave a gentle nod, then brushed the last clinging bits of soil from her apron. “Alright, I’ll just be a moment,” she said, already turning away.

  Adam watched her disappear through the back door, then let out a breath. He moved to the wooden steps outside the door and sat down, peering at the garden as he waited for her to return. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long. The back door opened softly behind him and he turned as Lorelei stepped out, the book tucked against her chest.

  “Here you are.” She held it out. “If you need anything else, just let me know,”

  He took it and their fingers brushed briefly. “Thanks.”

  She gave him a small, warm smile, then turned back toward the garden. Adam didn’t waste time as she left. He opened the book and flipped straight to the page he was looking for—he’d glimpsed it before and knew exactly where to go. He still remembered what Elsa had told him, that his magic wasn’t mana-based, but he just needed an idea to work with. He wanted to understand why his power felt so much weaker than the first time he’d used it, and there might be something here that could help him. Besides, even if he didn’t use mana himself, everyone else in this world did. For his own safety, he needed to learn.

  When he reached the page, he leaned in. He’d learned that first day that mana itself didn’t consume energy, drawing on it did. Shaping it, manipulating it, pulling too much of it too quickly, that was what drained the user. Casting heavier magic burned through energy faster, and when that energy ran completely dry, the magic began feeding on the user’s life instead. It was called Drain, signs of it included bleeding, impaired vision, headache, and death. That was new information, he hadn’t read this far before.

  He pictured it again as a fuel tank—running on empty, the engine starting to knock, and in the worst case scenario, breaking down completely. Was that what had happened to him? Had he drawn too deeply on whatever he used in place of mana, expending too much of his energy in the process and pushing his life, or rather, his engine to the brink?

  Adam’s mind drifted back to the night his power had emerged, it really felt like he’d drawn too much of “something”, it had been impossible to contain, then the explosion had happened. He didn’t even know how he’d done that, was it some kind of fail-safe he didn’t know about? Like he’d drawn more of that “something” than he could possibly handle, and his body had just known to forcibly expel it on its own.

  From what he’d just read, that clearly wasn’t the case with most magic users. If they drew on too much mana, it burned through their energy quickly, and they risked their own death. It seemed he operated differently. While he had drawn too much of that “something”, it hadn’t felt like it had cost him any energy. He remembered how easy he had killed those three knights, and how he felt like it hadn’t taken anything from him at all. Either his energy was incredibly vast, like Elsa’s, maybe more, and doing all he’d done had only been a drop in the ocean, or energy wasn’t the cost of his magic. But he had passed out from exhaustion after the explosion. Was that from releasing the power? Or just physical shock?

  A new image formed in his mind right then, a volcano. While other magic users had energy tanks that could run dry and damage their engine, he was more like a volcano, when filled with too much pressure from that “something”, instead of burning through his energy, he erupted. It would even explain how he could still use his magic, even though his power now felt much weaker. From the little he knew about volcanoes, they never fully emptied; eruptions only temporarily reduced the magma, while the underground reservoir remained and could refill over time. That would also explain why he tired so much quicker now when he used magic, when he hadn’t that night; it took far more effort to reach it.

  But as some things became explained, new questions formed, and at the center of it was whether he could wield his power like that night without triggering an explosion. But he decided to leave that question, as well as the others, for later. Everything he’d assumed was only hypothetical, he couldn’t fully believe it yet. But until he learned more about this power, it was all he had, and it was better than having no explanation at all.

  Adam heard footsteps and lifted his head to see Lorelei approaching, apparently finished with her gardening as she loosened the apron from her clothes. Her face was lightly flushed from the afternoon sun, and beads of sweat clung to her forehead.

  “All done for today, I think the garden will forgive me for a little rest,” she said and glanced at him. “I’m going to go clean up, would you like some tea while I do?”

  Adam shook his head. “No, I’m fine, thanks,” he said.

  Lorelei gave a small nod, then turned and disappeared inside. Adam exhaled slowly, returning his attention to the pages. He absorbed as much as he could, forming one theory after another. The process felt familiar, no different at all from how he’d always approached engineering problems he encountered. You broke a system down, figured out what went in and what came out, and tested assumptions until something finally made sense. Whether it was steel and circuits or magic, a problem was still a problem.

  Time slipped by swiftly, and when he finally reached his limit, he set the book aside, released a breath, and stared ahead, his thoughts still quietly turning.

  As he watched the garden, his thoughts slowly began to drift toward more simpler things; the heavy scent of earth and florals mingling in the air, and the variety of unfamiliar flowers lending the place a quiet, charming beauty. He liked it, found it soothing in a way he’d never really thought he would. It was calm, peaceful. When he heard footsteps again, he knew Lorelei had returned, but he didn’t turn. Seeing the book set aside, she joined him, sitting close to his side but saying nothing, seeming content to just share the space.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “It’s really beautiful…” Adam said, breaking the silence. “And quiet.”

  “Thank you,” she replied. “I like to spend time here as well. I find that it helps calm the worst of my worries, and it reminds me that the world can be a lovely place.” A fond smile crossed her lips then, and she shook her head gently. “But it’s not always this quiet. When the children are around, it sometimes feels impossible to hear yourself think.”

  “Where are they anyway?” Adam asked.

  “They are at the church for afternoon prayers,” she answered.

  Hearing about the church sparked his curiosity to life and Adam finally decided to ask some of the questions that had been sitting on his mind. Back on Earth, he knew people lost all reason when it came to their chosen faith, so he had been hesitant to engage anyone about it. But he reasoned that Lorelei was the safest person in this world he could ask. Even if she was a devout follower, he’d done a lot for her to earn some goodwill, so if he crossed some invisible line he didn’t know about, he should hopefully still be fine.

  Elsa and Katryn were the only other considerable options, but he’d heard the words “by the Divine” fly out of Elsa’s mouth too many times to ignore. And after all he’d already told her about himself, he was in no hurry to further test his luck.

  Katryn might have been a good choice to ask, but she was just too unpredictable.

  So… it was down to Lorelei.

  “Can I ask you a question?” he began slowly, then waited till she gave a nod before proceeding with the question. “What’s the church like?”

  She frowned. “You don’t know about the church of the Divine?”

  “I’m not from around here, and I haven’t been in the city too long,” he lied.

  Lorelei cast a sharp glance at him, her eyes widened in shock, as though he’d just uttered words that were forbidden. “I thought you were just a new adventurer, I didn’t know you were also new to the city. I never would have…” Her voice faltered, and she shook her head, overwhelmed by her emotions. “I really owe you more than thanks for what you did.”

  “Tell me about the church, and we’re even.” Adam smiled.

  She hesitated, then nodded. “Alright,” she said. “The church is… well, it’s the heart of this city in more ways than one. It’s not only a place where we gather to pray; it’s where we find guidance, where the Crown itself looks for counsel, and where the Divine’s will is interpreted and upheld.” She paused, carefully weighing every word. “The church teaches that everything—law, order, even leadership—should reflect the Divine’s truth. It’s why the Crown adheres so closely to what the priests and high clerics decree.”

  Adam’s eyebrow lifted. From her words, it sounded as though the church was more powerful than the Crown, as if they were the ones truly running the kingdom. They led the masses, and even the King followed their word. If all of that was right, then it was less of a monarchy and more of a hidden theocracy. And everyone just seemed to accept it.

  “So, the Crown takes orders from the church?” he asked slowly.

  Lorelei tilted her head to the side, thinking for a short moment. “Not exactly orders, but it’s more… an advisory relationship. The Crown is expected to govern justly, but within the framework the church sets. It’s complicated, sometimes it works beautifully, sometimes not so much. But most people respect that. Faith is woven into our society, our laws, even our festivals. For example, the harvest festival isn’t just a celebration; it’s a sacred custom honoring Lord Dothar, god of harvest. Every year, the Crown decrees that the first fruits must be offered at the church, and the entire city comes together to give thanks. That’s the kind of guidance the church provides, it shapes laws and our daily lives.”

  Adam could see how a system like that worked. If the Divine was believed to shape every aspect of existence, then its presence in daily life was inevitable. It also felt less rigid than the religions on Earth, maybe because the Divine here was not a single, absolute being, but a pantheon of many voices. Gods of harvest, justice, sun, even lust and desire, they had their place, weaving belief into everyday life without one dominating the others.

  In that way, it reminded him a little of ancient Greek mythology.

  He asked a few more questions, nothing too probing, just surface-level curiosities, but he still learned quite a bit. The church’s founder had died long ago and was believed to have communed directly with the Divine. There were hundreds of priests, organized into varying ranks, and branches of the church spread throughout the kingdom. The cathedral he had seen was the church’s central seat, the heart of its authority and faith.

  He wanted to ask riskier questions, like whether any priest had ever been implicated in conspiracy or corruption, or if they were people in the city against the church, but he bit that impulse. That was something he was better off looking into on his own.

  “It’s strange that I only now learned you’re not from this city,” she said after silence fell when his questions ceased. “It’s like I know you, but at the same time, I don’t… at all.”

  “I don’t like talking about myself,” he said. “It’s a hard habit to break.”

  Lorelei nodded, then let her eyes linger on him, studying him with a quiet intensity for a moment. “I’ll hope it can change someday. I think you’re a wonderful person.”

  “Yeah,” he said in a murmur. “Thanks,”

  With a sigh, she pushed to her feet and picked up the book. “I’ll just take this back inside,” she said. “Please come in too, I’ve kept you outside too long.”

  Adam nodded and followed her inside, watching as she quickly crossed the room to place the book back into the box, then she turned to face him once more.

  “Will you stay for lunch today? Or just for tea?” she asked, her voice almost insistent as her eyes held his. “Please, I’ll go mad if you don’t let me do something for you.”

  A faint smile lifted Adam’s lips as he finally decided it was time they addressed the elephant in the room. He’d accomplished all he’d set out today, and there was no reason to hurry back to the inn. “I can stay, “ he said and took a small step toward her.

  “Truly?” she responded in pleasant surprise.

  Adam nodded. “We left some things unfinished the other day,” he said softly. It was still oddly strange hearing himself say things like this. Not that he was usually shy, or that he lacked the confidence to speak when necessary, he just had never liked connecting with others. People were difficult, he always thought; it was easier to avoid them, their emotions, their drama. He had always preferred being alone, and had been that way for as long as he could remember. But being in this world was beginning to change that.

  Elsa, Lorelei, even Katryn and her mother, Yara, these were people he found himself steadily growing attached to, and he was no longer fighting against it.

  “Oh… that,” Lorelei said quietly, her gaze darting away, as though suddenly aware they were alone together. She didn’t move an inch from the wooden box, seeming unsure of herself, of what would happen if she did move. “Yes… I suppose you’re right.”

  He enjoyed her awkwardness, but as he watched her now, he couldn’t help but begin to wonder why it happened. She was older than he was, she’d even been married, and she was no doubt more experienced than him. How long ago had her husband passed? Maybe she hadn’t been with anyone in that time? That would certainly explain her nerves.

  Adam hesitated for a heartbeat, just taking her in, the golden-yellow fall of her hair, the long, foxlike ears twitching with quiet nerves, the depth of her blue eyes, and her soft, gentle, delicate face. Slowly, he stepped closer, closing the small space between them. His hand lifted to cup her cheek, and he leaned in, his lips brushing hers, lightly at first, offering her a chance to pull away. But she didn’t. Emboldened, Adam pressed forward, deepening the kiss and he felt her return it, her lips parting to fully accept him. But just as soon as it had started, it ended. Lorelei’s hands rose softly to rest on his chest, and she softly pushed him back, just enough to create a little space between, but she didn’t pull her arms away.

  “Adam…” She sighed, her eyes lifting to meet his. “We have to talk.”

  He took a deep breath to steady himself, then he stepped back, giving her a nod. He knew she strongly affected him, but he was always surprised by it. Just now, he had nearly forgotten the conversation he wanted them to have. It was a good thing she’d stopped the kiss so quickly, otherwise he might have lost control of himself again.

  Lorelei straightened herself, drawing another slow breath, then finally let her hands drop from his chest. “Adam…” she began, her voice steady despite her nerves. “Before my husband, I had never been with anyone, and since he passed, five years ago, there has been no one else.” She swallowed hard, her shoulders tensing as if bracing herself. “I know I can’t ask for your whole heart, because I can’t give you all of mine. A part of it will always belong to him. But the thought of being only a body to bring you comfort, of being another woman to be conquered and left behind… it doesn’t fill me with excitement. If that is what you desire, then I don’t… I’m not certain of what will become of this… of us.”

  Adam had never once claimed to be an expert on women, but it didn’t take one to understand what she was telling him. She wanted something serious, something that carried a little weight. She might never love him the way she had loved her late husband, and to be fair, she wasn’t asking to be loved with that same depth in return, but she wanted more than something casual and meaningless. She was looking for something in the shape of a relationship, however imperfect it might be, not the alternative of being nothing more than a convenient body to fuck. That was something she was not willing to be at all.

  That was all her cards on the table… It was time for his.

  “There are others,” he said, deciding to just rip the bandage off.

  She tilted her head slightly. “What?”

  “Other women, or there might be… I don’t know yet.”

  Her blue eyes dimmed and dropped to the floor as if the light had gone out of them, and her foxlike ears slowly sank, folding back in hurt. “I see,” she muttered silently. “Thank you for telling me the truth, I don’t think many others would be so kind.”

  Seeing her hurt face made his chest ache in a way that surprised him. He didn’t want things between them to end on a sour note… even if she did reject him.

  Adam’s jaw clenched tight. “I don’t see you as just a warm body, or someone to be conquered and left behind,” he said, his voice low and serious. “You’re more than that. I’m not good at saying things like this… but you matter to me. More than I expected.”

  At his words, Lorelei lifted her gaze and stared into his eyes for a few seconds, as if searching for the honesty in his words, contemplating them, then she let out a sigh. “You’re rather greedy, Adam,” she said in a surprising light voice. “You have others, or might have others, yet you still want me. You’re really not from here. I’ve heard such relationships are common in some places, but I never thought I’d ever be in a situation to ever consider it.”

  He smiled. “It’s not often I get called greedy… but I agree here.”

  Lorelei hesitated for a moment and her gaze drifted away in thought before returning to him. “I imagine you wouldn’t like me taking other lovers,” she posed.

  The mere thought roused a deep jealousy inside of him, and it showed plainly on his face before he could stop it. It was hypocritical, he knew that, but the idea of sharing her with anyone else left him cold inside. Maybe it was some primitive, territorial male instinct asserting itself, but it rose sharp within him despite everything he knew better.

  Lorelei chuckled softly. “I imagined not… you have an amusingly distressed look on your face,” she teased. “But you don’t have to worry yourself so much. With all the time I spend on gardening and looking after the children, I simply don’t have the energy to keep lovers. I hadn’t plan on having any at all… until you came along.” She looked at him.

  Adam paused, wanting to be sure of what he heard. “You’re fine with—”

  “Being yours?” she asked with a lifted brow. “I think I’m becoming less resistant to the idea. You were honest with me… it makes me believe I really do matter to you. That’s all I want. So, while I’m uncertain about how this will work, I’m willing to try because you matter to me as well.” She raised her hand and softly rested her palm against his chest once more, hesitating. “I told you I can’t give you all of my heart, so I won’t ask for yours. But perhaps we can reach an agreement… a piece of mine, for a piece of yours.”

  Adam’s heart thudded hard against his ribs as her words settled between them. She’d given her terms; a piece of her heart for a piece of his. He had not quite anticipated any of this to happen today, but it was an easy decision to make. He closed the distance between them again, even slower this time, as if rushing things might cause her mind to change. But with the way she was looking at him, her blue eyes steady on his, her lips slightly parted, he didn’t think there was much he could do that would cause her to change her mind.

  Slowly, he cupped her cheek once more, leaning in gently and she rose on her tiptoes to meet him. The kiss started slow, testing, unhurried, but it ignited fast. Her mouth opened under his with a sigh, and the moment their tongues brushed, Adam’s restraint cracked. He slid one hand to the small of her back, pulling her close against him, while the other tangled in her golden hair. She tasted faintly of tea and something else he didn’t recognize, and the soft sound she made when he deepened the kiss went straight to his cock.

  Lorelei’s hands clutched at his shirt, as if she needed him to stand upright. His palm drifted lower, boldly cupping the soft curve of her bottom through her skirt, and she pressed closer to him, both their hips almost joining together. He squeezed her hard and she moaned into his mouth, a quiet sound that made his cock twitch harder against his trousers.

  Lost in desire, Adam’s other hand moved up her side, thumb brushing the underside of her breast before he held it fully. Even through the layers of her dress, he could feel how soft and full it was, her nipple already stiff against his palm. He kneaded gently, then harder when she arched her back and let out another breathless moan against his mouth.

  She broke the kiss only long enough to gasp, her cheeks flushed deep and eyes dark with want. “Upstairs,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Please… upstairs.”

  Adam didn’t hesitate. He bent quickly and swept her into his arms, lifting her bridal-style and she chuckled softly against his neck. He had expected some weight, but she was so light in his hands, much lighter than a full-grown adult woman should be. Had he gotten stronger? He cleared the thoughts from his mind. It didn’t matter right now, he would think about it later. He carried her up the narrow staircase, her arms looped loosely around his shoulders, her foxlike ears brushing his cheek with every step. The scent of her, of flowers and soil, filled his lungs, affecting his mind. As he reached the top of the stairs, he nudged open the door to her bedroom with his shoulder and stepped inside.

  The room was brightly lit with sunlight pouring in through thin curtains. He lowered her onto the neatly made bed, but she tugged him down with her, unwilling to let even an inch of space exist between them. They knelt facing each other on the bed, kissing again, hungrier now, their hands roaming. Adam fumbled with the drawstrings of her dress as she tugged at the buttons of his shirt. Fabric fell away to the floor piece by piece: his shirt, her simple dress sliding down her shoulders to reveal pale skin and the generous swell of her breasts cradled in a thin shift. When he peeled that away too, he paused just to look at her, to drink her in and fully appreciate the sight of her nakedness.

  Her breasts were full and heavy, nipples a bright rose color, and already erect with arousal. Her waist curved gently into hips made for gripping, and between her thighs a neat triangle of golden curls glistened with slick wetness, the lips of her pussy swollen and pink, already parting as if inviting him in. She was beautiful, soft… womanly.

  Lorelei’s hands shook only a little as she stripped him bare. When his cock sprang free—thick, rigid, a bead of precum glistening at the tip—her eyes widened and her breath caught audibly. She reached out, fingers wrapping around his shaft with awe.

  “So warm,” she whispered, voice hushed and wondering, stroking slowly from root to crown. Her palm was so soft, not even slightly calloused. Her thumb swept over the slick head, spreading the precum in slow circles, and his hips jerked involuntarily into her grip.

  “Lorelei…” The word came out rough, almost pleading.

  She guided him down over her, lying back against the pillows. Spreading her thighs, she drew him between them, still holding onto his cock. His head nudged her slick, swollen folds, and they both shuddered. He pushed forward slowly, sinking into tight, wet heat inch by inch. She was impossibly soft inside, clenching around him like velvet. When he was fully flush inside her, buried to the hilt, they both stilled, breathing hard.

  Lorelei’s nails dug into his shoulders. “Wait,” she gasped. “Just… stay.”

  Adam dropped his forehead to hers, fighting the primal urge to thrust. He just stayed buried deep, pulsing gently with every heartbeat. They kissed again, slow, languid, tongues sliding together as his hands roamed her body. He caught one of her breast, so full it barely fit in his palm, kneading, rolling the nipple between thumb and finger until she whimpered into his mouth. Then he lowered his head, drawing the rosy peak into his mouth.

  He sucked gently and flicked with his tongue. Lorelei’s back arched, a broken moan spilling from her lips as her inner walls clenched tighter around his cock, milking him, and he felt her grow even wetter. Unable to hold himself back any longer, Adam drew his hips back and thrust, just once, deeply. Lorelei’s eyes squeezed shut, her mouth falling open in a silent gasp, and her ears flattening against her golden hair.

  He thrust again, harder, grinding deep. She moaned loud this time, long, trembling, utterly abandoned. “Adam…” she murmured breathily. “…Don’t stop.”

  He set a steady pace, each stroke dragging over the one specific spot inside her that seemed to make her sob with pleasure. The bed creaked beneath them; her breasts bounced with every impact, nipples brushing against his chest. Need built fast, coiling tighter and tighter in his gut. Adam slid an arm under her lower back, tilting her hips so he could drive even deeper and her legs wrapped tight around his waist as she urged him on. Every thrust drew new sound from her, soft cries, breathless pleas, broken moans of his name. Her walls clutched tight, growing impossibly wetter, hotter and he sensed that she was close.

  “I’m close,” he warned, voice ragged. “Lorel…”

  “Inside,” she gasped, heels digging into his back. “Please… inside me—”

  Adam lost complete control of himself. He buried himself to the root and came with a low groan, pulsing thick, hot ropes deep inside her. Lorelei’s cry followed instantly, her body clenching hard around him, milking every drop of his seed as her own orgasm crashed through her, making her ears tremble and her tail thrash against the sheets.

  They rode the intense waves together, trembling, until the last shudder faded. Adam collapsed to the side, pulling her with him so they stayed joined, his softening length still nestled inside her warmth. Lorelei curled into his chest, breathing hard, one leg draped over his thigh and her fluffy tail resting lazily. Minutes passed by in warm silence, broken only by their slow breaths and the distant hum of afternoon insects outside. Adam stroked her back slowly, then reached up to her ears; they were soft, like a cat’s, and she seemed to enjoy it as she nuzzled even closer, moaning and pressing soft kisses to his collarbone.

  Eventually she lifted her head, cheeks still flushed, and eyes soft. “That was…” She laughed quietly, a little disbelieving. “I’d almost forgotten it could be like that.”

  “Well… I won’t mind reminding you if you ever forget again.”

  She chuckled and rested her head back on him. “Of course, you wouldn’t.”

  Adam sighed, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction that reached down to his bones. It wasn’t only about the sex—though it had been more than great. He’d gained deeper insight into his magic, into the church, so today had been a bit more fulfilling than usual. The only thing that left bitterness in his chest was Julius… but that never really left.

  “Lorel, can I ask you a favor?” Adam asked.

  He felt her give a nod. “Of course, what is it?” she inquired.

  “Do you remember the knight who found the children?”

  Instantly, Lorelei pushed herself up from his chest to stare at his face, her expression shifting from one of her utter satisfaction to creeping curiosity. “Yes, Julius Darro.”

  Adam nodded. “I want to know more about him,” he said. “Anything you pick up, gossip from the traders, stuff floating around the market, whatever people are saying in the taverns. Doesn’t matter how random or tiny it is, just pass it along to me. The Gold-Rank knight that saved a bunch of children has gotta be the talk of the town, right?”

  It was a strange request, he knew that. But Lorelei had probably lived here her whole life, he figured she’d have an easier time gathering information than he would. And there was no danger involved. He wasn’t asking her to break into places or bribe guards, just to keep her ears open while she went about her day. He would do his own poking around too, ask a few questions here and there like a traveler might. But two people listening was way better than one. He’d get the information he needed faster that way.

  He braced for questions. Why this knight in particular? For what reason? But Lorelei only studied his face in the afternoon light, her blue eyes steady. After a long moment, she nodded once. “Alright,” she said, the word barely louder than breath.

  Adam lifted an eyebrow. “Just like that?”

  “I trust you, Adam. If you’re asking me to do this, then it must be important, and for a good reason. Also, it’s a chance to finally do something for you,” she said. “But I have just one question, does it have anything to do with what happened to the children?”

  He shook his head. “No, it’s more personal than that.”

  Lorelei watched him, and he could see the curiosity in her eyes. “I see,” she said. “I won’t ask you for the reason, but I’ll hope you can tell me someday.”

  “I will… someday.” Adam muttered.

  She gave him a warm smile and she leaned down, pulling him into a deep kiss.

  *****