Morgana watched the interesting human known as Jack climb the ladder. “I will keep an eye on you Morgana. We both know he will be a catalyst for change. Whether the change is beneficial or not will depend on those around him.” Tod said in the fey tongue, if anyone from earth had heard it they would think it sounded like an odd combination of Irish and Scottish dialects of Gaelic with a large helping of Welsh.

  “You just want him to help the Seelie.” She accused. “I simply find him interesting.”

  “And a potential pawn in your games.” Tod said. When Morgana simply grinned in reply, Tod sighed, “Fine, I will not interfere with your personal contracts but know Jack has the backing of the Seelie.” When he finished Tod did the equivalent of a fey stomping off in a huff, though to any other race it simply looked like they floated away slightly faster than normal.

  Morgana giggled then thought about the taste of Jack’s mana rich blood. He has more power than some of the fey in either court. She thought to herself as plans within plans danced through her mind.

  ***

  Ingra was glaring daggers at the dark fey. She wasn’t sure why she was angry but when the bitch kissed Jack something in her snapped. He’s just a human. She repeated to herself again.

  “Daughter we should get some rest before our shift in the mine.” Talka said placing a hand on her arm and guiding her to a grouping of beast-kin of various races piled on top of each other as they slept.

  “We didn’t have enough blankets for everyone. The elves and dwarves need them more than us.” Talka explained as he crawled into the pile to find a warm spot to sleep.

  Ingra sighed, this wasn’t the first pile of bodies she had slept in and she didn’t think it would be her last. Without another thought she crawled in and tried to get comfortable, soon drifting off to some semblance of sleep.

  ***

  Jack woke to find Merrow’s naked form sprawled on top of him. With a resigned sigh, he tried not to think about what she had said the night before. “Jack is part of my clowder and my future mate.” The words rang through his head unbidden. His face grew red and another part of him began to react, much to his discomfort.

  Jack decided to get moving before she woke up and got the wrong idea. “Merrow we need to get up and meet with Octavian.” Jack said as he gingerly rolled her off him.

  “Five more minutes.” She grumbled.

  “Get up and I’ll give you tail scritches.” Jack tried. Her reaction was instant she leapt from the bed and snatched her clothes so fast she almost ripped them in her haste to get dressed. Jack chuckled as he dressed at a more leisurely pace.

  He wasn’t sure why she liked getting scratched at the base of her tail but he knew that offering that got her moving rapidly. It also made her become more affectionate than usual. So he tried to use the offer sparingly instead offering ear scratches whenever he could.

  The pair were soon out the door of his private suite, that Octavian had assigned to him. The pair were walking toward the gate when Tod and Morgana came limping from the direction of the mine. For a moment Jack was confused, when he noticed what looked like the iron bands he had destroyed earlier only made the confusion grow.

  “Tod, Morgana.” Jack called jogging towards the pair. “What’s happened?”

  “There’s been a cave-in. Several of the dwarves and beast-kin, including Talka are trapped.” Tod said.

  Morgana gave Tod a glare before whispering, “What’s more important is that before the collapse they found a large vein of mithril ore. If we are careful we can use that vein sparingly to fill the quota with less work.”

  Tod gave her an exacerbated look but didn’t comment. “First make sure the others are safe then we worry about what to do with that section of the mine.” Jack replied quickly. “What do you need to get that done?” Jack asked.

  “Either more manpower or…” Tod started before glancing worriedly towards Morgana.

  “What the Seelie doesn’t want to explain is if you lend us a portion of your power we could clear the collapse and reinforce the tunnel ceiling making sure there won’t be any more risk to the miners.” Morgana said rolling her eyes.

  Tod sighed they gave her a glare as they added, “What she’s not telling you is that if we do that you will be physically drained for several hours possibly the rest of the day.”

  “We’ll do it after I bid Octavian farewell.” Jack said, “I’ll meet you in the mine.”

  “What is going on?” A gravely voice barked. Turning Jack spotted the man he assumed was Octavian’s nephew Gaius.

  “These two were informing me of a collapse in the mine. I was going to look into it as soon as I bid the Dominus safe travels.” Jack said with a slight bow, hands behind his back hiding the fact that he was waving the pair off in hopes they would be overlooked.

  The man groaned before sighing. “If you need some guards to help with the rubble let me know we can’t afford to lose any more workers.”

  Jack nodded and made his way to the carriage that had just left the stables. “Of course captain. I will send my assistant with the news as soon as I have it.” He said gesturing to Merrow. When the man raised an eyebrow Jack answered the unasked question. “She is faster on her feet than I am.”

  The cat-kin had remained uncharacteristically quiet while he talked to the pair of fey. Though he suspected she had spent the time glaring at Morgana if the woman’s smug smile was any indication.

  As soon as he got to the carriage Octavian stepped out of the large stone manor. “Good you were sure to arrive on time.” He said, as the sun peaked over the horizon. “Jack the quota is as we discussed each week, I need a full cartload of processed ore sent to the city. I don’t care how you come by it as long as it leaves here at the end of each week.” Octavian said. Without another word the man boarded the carriage and it began to trundle along back to the city of Primum Castra.

  Jack waited a few moments as the carriage started on its way before he turned and walked to the mine. His movement was swift but unhurried, the last thing he wanted to do was worry Octavian. It wasn’t long before Jack was again inside the darkened underground space and standing before the two fey who had inserted themselves as leaders, or messengers, of the miners.

  “How do we get this magical extraction going?” Jack asked without preamble only to stop when he saw the Iron bands were once again gone. Raising a hand he asked, “First are you using illusions to hide the fact that your bonds are gone?” a mixture of confusion and interest in his tone.

  “Well it was that or never leave this damned mine. And I am not going to stay here the rest of my long life.” Morgana said, giving him a sultry smile, her teeth once again human rather than predatory. “Besides how am I going to sneak into your room if I don’t use Illusions?” she said outright flirting with Jack.

  “Than you for the complement Lady Morgana, however I already have someone who insists on being in my room regardless of what I want. I don’t need another.” With a clap of his hands he changed the subject. “Now how are you going to extract my mana?”

  Morgana grinned her teeth resembling a vampires but Tod spoke before she could do anything. “First we make a contract as to how much power we can extract and how it may be used.” They said keeping their eyes on Morgana.

  “Ok, you may take as much as you need to clear the blockage and reinforce the necessary tunnels to keep the miners safe while they extract the mithril deposit.” Jack said, then looking at Morgana he added, “and yes we will be stockpiling any extra to allow for the others to get as much rest as they can while they look for more ore veins.”

  Morgana looked impressed at the both the finely worded offer and the fact that he was devious enough to make proper, in her opinion, use of the mithril vein. Even still she couldn’t help herself and made a counter to his offer, “I would like to take some extra magical energy for personal use. Aside from what I am due in our contract and what is necessary to do as you said.”

  Jack gave it a moments thought and nodded, “as long as the energy won’t be used to harm anyone within the mining compound and taking it won’t risk my life.” He said, causing Morgana’s grin to grow wider and as she nodded. In a flash she was at his side gripping his arm like a vice and had her elongated canines buried into the flesh of his forearm.

  Tod sighed and laid his right hand over Jack’s heart the other raised to keep Merrow from moving. “Don’t worry little one she isn’t harming him. Though I will never understand why the Unseelie need to drink blood to gain the mana of others it is normal for her kind. I will make sure the wound is healed in either case.” He said this both to placate the hissing Merrow and explain what was happening to the wide eyed Jack, who had tried, and failed, to jerk his arm away from the Unseelie’s grip.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Moments later Morgana released Jack’s arm after giving the wound a few licks. As she did the wounds disappeared along with the blood on his skin. Giving him a grin and licking her still bloody lips she said, “Your blood is quite tasty and rich in mana. I have never tasted its like before.” Morgana gave Tod a smirk and teased, “The prissy one also won’t need to heal you.”

  The fey in question also removed their hand from Jack’s chest. “He is quite a bit more powerful than I thought.” Tod mused before asking, “How are you feeling Jack?”

  The human in question felt a little light headed and almost like he was drunk, “I’m fiiine.” He slurred lurching to the left only for Merrow to catch him.

  Morgana looked impressed while Tod looked concerned. “He’s still able to speak and remain awake after we took that much from him?” Morgana asked no one in particular. “I might have to see if he would take an Unseelie wife. His power would rival ours with some actual training.”

  “Don’t get any ideas you hussy, he’s going to be my mate and there’s no room for you.” Merrow hissed out clutching Jack around the waist.

  “Your coloring is soo pretty Row.” Jack said as he began to glide down her back before stopping at the base of her tail where he started to scratch.

  “Jack not now. I’m trying to be intimidating.” Merrow complained as she began purring involuntarily pushing her rear into his fingers.

  “But it makes you haaapppy when I scrittch you here.” Jack countered pushing a bit harder as he rubbed his fingers right where her tail met her back. Morgana giggled at the display while Tod seemed stuck between offended and sympathetic.

  “Jack please stop.” Merrow begged, her fur puffed out tail twitching, clear signs to any other cat-kin that she was beyond embarrassed and a little bit aroused.

  “Ok.” Jack pouted for a moment before turning to a new figure that seemed to materialize. “Do you want pets Ingra?” he asked with a stupid smile.

  Ingra growled, her teeth bared and ear’s erect, “My father is stuck behind a cave-in possibly dead. And you’re drunk?”

  Tod stepped between the infuriated wolf and the inebriated Jack, who was looking more confused than anything, hands raised in a placating gesture. “He hasn’t been drinking. He is like this from giving Morgana and I the power we need to save your father and the other trapped miners.” xei said.

  “I got some extra to help finish my transition but the rest is as Tod said.” Morgana added walking over to Jack and placing a hand over his shoulders. “Besides I have laid claim to this human.

  Threaten him at your own peril.” She said in a sultry purr, her sharp toothed grin belying the true threat in her words. Even as Merrow tried to hold jack and bat away the fey’s arm ineffectually.

  Ingra’s anger evaporated replaced in an instant by concern, “Will he be ok?” She asked moving over to him and slipping between Jack and Morgana, the fey looking mildly irritated but mostly impressed.

  “He will be fine. Based on how he reacted to the amount of power we took he should be back to normal in around two or three hours. Though, I have never met a human as powerful as he is so I don’t truly know. In either case the best thing for him would be sleep.” Tod said before turning to Merrow. “You however young cat should return to the guard captain and inform him that Jack has the cave-in handled and we don’t need the guards help.”

  Merrow gave Morgana the side eye for a moment before telling Ingra, “You are part of the clowder. Protect Jack and keep that fey hussy from laying a hand on him.” Before ducking out from under Jack’s arm and darting up the ladder fast enough to leave a blurred after image behind.

  “Come Morgana we should get the collapse fixed and heal any wounded.” Tod said earning a scoff from Morgana.

  “I agreed to fix the collapse and reinforce the ceiling. I never said anything about healing any of the mortals.” She countered.

  Tod sighed, and instead of arguing simply nodded, “Either way let’s get it taken care of then you can go play with your new human toy.” Tod said before muttering, “Not that you would listen to me if I told you not to.”

  ***

  Ingra watched as the two powerful fey royals left her alone with a drunk Jack. “Are you sure you don’t want pets?” Jack asked. “Row says I’m good at giving petsss. Shhe especially likess it when I give her a belly rub.”

  Ingra looked at him incredulously for a few moments before Jack’s face went bright red. “Oh my gooood! Sshhe liked me plaayyin wit’ her nipples.” He blurted.

  Ingra sighed, “let’s get you laying down to get some sleep down here. I’ll make sure you stay warm until you are back to normal.”

  “I like your soft fur.” Jack said as he began rubbing his face in the fur by her neck.

  Ingra pushed down the sudden elation at both the contact and the compliment. Instead focusing on getting Jack back to normal. “You can enjoy my fur once we get you laid down. I’ll even sleep next to you to keep you warm.” She said, trying to ignore how her tail whipped around behind her.

  Jack yawned. “That would be nice. I’m glad you don’t hate me anymore. It’s also good I was able to keep them from sending you to a bro-brot-broth… whorehouse. No one deserves that.” Jack said as they lumbered down the corridor. “I feel safe with you and Row. I don’t usually feel safe but when Row cuddles up next to me. I feel safe.” He said leaning into Ingra almost to the point where she was carrying him.

  “I think you would make a good cuddler. Your fur is soooo soooft and silky even when you aren’t allowed to bathe often enough.” Jack muttered then suddenly lifted his head as if he got a boost of energy. “I’ll get the guards to let you bathe in the baths. Would that make you happy?” He slurred with a giddy grin.

  Ingra just nodded, periodically saying something along the lines of “Really?” and “Of course.” While doing her best to ignore him as he continued to babble. Though she started to allow herself to acknowledge the self-satisfaction in that he hadn’t said Merrow’s fur was soft. One thing she refused to acknowledge the entire time was her furiously wagging tail as Jack continued to give her overt affection.

  It wasn’t long before Jack and Ingra got to the portion of the cave that housed the Dwarves and Elves. Even still jack kept babbling like a drunkard. “The hell you bringing a drunk human here for girl?” A dwarf Barked their biting words the perfect accompaniment to the scathing glare he shot the pair.

  “He seems to be mana starved not drunk.” A fey said as they floated over. “Lord Tod and Lady Morgana were able to convince Gentle Jack to gift them a portion of his power? They couldn’t have gotten much if he is only in this state.” The fey commented unimpressed.

  “I’ll have you know I have plenty of mana. Morgana even got some extra after she and Tod extracted enough to clear the blockage and reinforce the ceilings.” Jack declared, offended.

  The fey floated back in shock. “And he is still conscious?” They asked in utter amazement.

  “I was hopping to borrow one of the blankets so Jack can stay warm.” Ingra said, ignoring the flabbergasted fey instead focusing on the Dwarf.

  “I thought you were going to cuddle up to me and keep me warm.” Jack said, giving Ingra a confused pout producing roars of laughter from the dwarves around them, and even some restrained giggles from the elves and fey.

  “Leave her alone. Jack has shown he cares more for others than himself.” Illiana admonished, though she couldn’t hide the upward curve of her lips. She was carrying a blanket and tilted her head for Ingra to follow her. “You can use the chamber I have claimed as mine.”

  ***

  Jack awoke with a splitting headache and a warm fluffy weight on his chest. “Row please get off me I’m in no mood for your antics right now.” He grunted as he held his head with one hand and tried to push the furry body off of him with the other. Though the fur seemed longer and softer than Merrow’s was.

  “Finally awake, human?” Ingra’s voice asked with some amusement.

  Jack groaned pressing his hands to his head. “Please don’t speak so loud.” He begged.

  Ingra chuckled then surprised him by giving Jack an affectionate lick on the cheek. “I’ll get you some water while you rest. Merrow came back to check on you an hour ago but had to return to the surface when a guard came looking. She’s acting as your intermediary while you recover.” Ingra explained a bit softer than before.

  Jack nodded regretting the action instantly. It felt like he had the hangover from hell, though he was glad his stomach still felt fine. “Thanks Ingra.” He muttered as he closed his eyes and started to drift back to sleep.

  ***

  Ingra looked down on Jack’s sleeping form and giggled. He’s actually kinda cute. She thought then immediately smothered it. He is a human and Merrow already claimed him as a mate. She admonished herself.

  She carefully stood and made sure the blanket was draped over him before she left the small side passage and went back to the main shaft.

  “How is my human doing?” Morgana asked with her predatory grin, the fey having been standing over the pair as Ingra been leaning over Jack’s sleeping form.

  Ingra huffed in irritation. “He’s not yours. He is part of Merrow’s clowder and my pack.” She said not realizing what she was saying before it was already out of her mouth. When she did the fur on her tail and neck puffed out in a wolf-kin equivalent of a blush.

  “I don’t care how many lovers he has as long as I can keep my claim to him and his magic.” Morgana chuckled relishing how Ingra reacted.

  “He’s not my lover.” Ingra spluttered as Morgana’s chuckle turned to laughter.

  “If you say so little wolf. I’m going to check on him and make sure he is healthy. Can’t let my pet human become sickly now can I?” she said as she slipped by the flustered wolf-kin.

  Ingra stood there stunned for a moment more before scrambling back into the alcove seeing Morgana flitting under the blanket next to Jack, the fabric hiding the pairs bare skin as it fell back in place. Ingra growled and stalked forward only to see a faint glow emanating from the pair.

  Once she got closer she saw Morgana was cuddling up to Jack. Jack was shirtless and the fey had doffed her ruff spun tunic. Ingra watched as a soft amber glow flowed from her to him. “What are you doing?” Ingra hissed as quietly as she could not wanting to wake Jack.

  “I’m transferring some mana to him.” She said unabashedly. “It works best with direct skin contact. If he was conscious I could feed him some of my blood, not that I think he would let me, but in his current state he might choke if I tried that.”

  Ingra held in a growl as she took deep calming breaths… that did nothing to calm her. “And what are you expecting in return for this?” Ingra asked. When Morgana gave her a glare she added, “Lady Morgana?” through snarling teeth.

  Morgana smiled, “At the moment nothing. He has intrigued me and his blood is delicious. Even if I am only allowed a few drops a month keeping him around is worth returning a small portion of the mana he gave me.”

  Ingra bristled but couldn’t think of a reason to argue. Instead she got down and tried to get under the blanket, and keep her from trying anything more than what she claimed she was doing, only for it to stay firmly in place against the stone. “No clothes are allowed under the blanket puppy.” Morgan cooed.

  Ingra bristled, growled then pulled the tunic over her head fully exposing the rest of her fur covered body. “Fine now let me under I need to be sure you aren’t doing anything untoward.” She snarled, her fur standing in, what anyone who had owned dogs recognize as a sign of being pissed off.

  “Oh, if that’s all. Of course I’m doing something you mortals would consider untoward.” She said casually watching Ingra’s reaction. When the wolf-kin shot under the blanket she finished, “I’m cuddling naked with someone below my station.” Ingra’s fur bushed out again and she let out a soft whine while Morgana began to cackle.