Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

There was a little over two months of peace after the Chainer family was dealt with. The only time they ran into any slavers was when the newest groups headed out. Gregory was glad for that, as he was still unsure how he would handle meeting newly-captured eurtik that he couldn’t legally free. The groups they ran into were quick to show their paperwork, which Gregory then verified, reminding them about the limits on the documents.

They were attacked by bane beasts twice in that time. A skulk of foxes harassed them, the wily creatures even quicker and nimbler than the non-bane versions. They managed to trip one of the men, costing him the tip of his nose when it got bitten off. Thankfully, Gregory had a salve that helped him only have a scar instead of a missing chunk. The second attack was by a heavily pregnant bane moose. Gregory tried to just drive her off, but she wanted his heart for her baby and refused to retreat. He felt terrible for killing the moose and her unborn calf, but the calf wouldn’t survive without its mother, so he made sure she died quickly.

That left the unit with three months of patrols. Their latest stop was in Icelake, where Magus Justina Smitton had no contact with Gregory. Commander Trida was disgruntled that half of his command had been corrupt, but purged everyone he could. His replacements arrived just a couple of weeks ago and were still settling in. Both Tinessa Chainer and Rustin Chainer had offered Gregory free service at their businesses, only to be lightly rebuffed. He made sure they knew he had no hard feelings toward them, but wasn’t inclined to partake of their establishments. The new heads of the Chainer family were eager enough to never have to deal with him again, making sure their slaver groups had all the proper paperwork they needed to appease him.

~*~*~

“Closer and closer, my lovely dark heart,” Gregory said, rolling over to the edge of the bed.

“So close…” Darkness whispered with longing. “Only two more ranks and I will be revealed to you.”

“I’m looking forward to it. You slowed down my growth again, didn’t you?”

“Yes. If you touch magus-tier before you finish this posting, it would reach those we would rather not let know.”

“I’m sad because it means I can’t see you sooner, but I understand.”

“It tore at me to do it,” Darkness admitted. “I could make you a magus so much sooner, but… the futures touching that are not good for our family.”

“Then we wait, even if we’d rather not. Like I did with Yuki.”

“It is similar.”

“This is Claudia’s resonance?” Gregory asked to move the topic away from the longing they both felt.

“Yes. I will bring her and your wives here shortly. This one will be harder for me, but that is another reason I stretched out your last rank. Do not linger on the kiss.”

Gregory chuckled. “Understood, dear one.”

Yukiko, Jenn, Mindie, and Claudia all appeared together. Yukiko was behind Claudia and was quick to embrace the blonde. Jenn leaned over, not wasting any time in getting the first kiss, as she was the lone single point of the triangle the group made. Mindie hugged Gregory, her naked body pressing into his back as she watched the others.

“We need to be quick. This is taxing for our dark heart,” Yukiko said.

Jenn broke the kiss when she spoke, so Yukiko turned Claudia’s chin to claim the second kiss. Mindie was quick to lean around Gregory and get the third as her own. Gregory was the last of the four, and he didn’t linger, just as Darkness had asked him.

“We’re eager for you to join us when it can happen, Claudia. But for now, focus. Resonance,” Gregory said.

Face flushed and her body squirming against Yukiko’s naked chest pressed to her back, Claudia took a deep breath. “Fear begins the trial. Mine is being marginalized. I was always just a prize to be used by my family for more money or power. Now, it’s the fact that we won’t marry for at least five years or more. What if you no longer want me by then?”

“Fear doesn’t have to be rational,” Gregory said.

“He’d never forget you, nor will we,” Yukiko murmured, lightly caressing Claudia’s belly. “We’ll prove it to you in time.”

“Yes…” Claudia exhaled, the words helping soothe her. “Weakness comes after fear. Pride has always been mine. I strive to be the best in all things, just like I was taught to be. I’m doing my best to consider that I might not be, but I know it’s something I’ll work on my entire life.”

“We all have things to work on, so you aren’t alone,” Mindie smiled at her, looking over Gregory’s shoulder.

“Strength followed weakness, and mine ties into my pride. Charisma is my strength. I always take over things, even when I shouldn’t.”

“Like when you dominated most of the conversations when we first met?” Jenn snickered.

“Yes. I will apologize for that, but he… drew me like a moth to flame.”

“We know how that is,” Yukiko giggled, then pinched Claudia’s nipples. “Focus. It’s time for your desires.”

Claudia let out a small squeal, biting her lip as her eyelids fluttered. “Oh, goodness, yes. Umm… m-mine is… umm…” Claudia stammered, her face going crimson. “I’ve always had to be the proper noble. My desire… is to not be that. I want to be wanton, to be unrespectable. I want to be disgraceful, one who’ll be used anywhere our husband wishes. In bed, on the balcony, even under the table at a banquet… just anywhere Gregory wants me to be. For us alone or in front of everyone… especially in front of others.”

Everyone was a little shocked at her desire; none of them had figured her wanting that.

“Oh! Er… yeah. O-okay,” Gregory stumbled, his face as red as hers. “I’m not sure I’ll ever put you on public display, but I will try to meet your desires.”

“We all will,” Yukiko said huskily, her mind already racing with ways that she could help Claudia find her desires while pleasing Gregory. “Our broken little noble will be a little slut for our husband. Maybe I’ll have him take you with the windows open so your cries of pleasure can be heard by anyone…”

Claudia leaned back into Yukiko, her body vibrating on the edge of orgasm. “Oh, goodness, yes! I’ll even beg…!”

Claudia was gone in the next moment, and Darkness exhaled. “I am sorry. That was taxing. She will be dreaming of just that all night. She will need Griselda to help her in the morning. She was very worked up.”

Gregory’s mind supplied that image: the young woman maid kneeling to help Claudia find release. The idea had him wanting to see it in person.

Yukiko’s hand grasped his hard shaft as she leaned in to whisper to him, “We’ll be more than happy to help our future wife, dearest. Dream of us tonight… all of us. Your wives and future wives. I know I will be.”

The pair kissed passionately before she was suddenly gone. Jenn was there in the next instant, her lips meeting his with desperate need. She vanished a few seconds later while Mindie kissed his neck, her hand having gone around to stroke him.

“Dream well, our heart,” Mindie whispered before she was gone, too.

Gregory sat there, shaking, his whole body on fire with desire. A small sound from the darkness got his attention. It was a soft moan of need; the silhouette of shadow was clearly not sitting still, as both her hands were thrust toward her groin.

Throwing himself off the bed, his whole body burned with blue flame. The shadows snapped one after another as his passion lent him even more strength.

“Yes, please!” Darkness moaned, one hand reaching out to him.

Gregory fought the sapping of his aether from the shadow tendrils, but he was losing steam quickly. He growled in anger at being kept from his wife, a fragmented memory there and gone in an instant. Just before his fingers could touch hers, he vanished as Darkness forced him out.

Sobbing, her body shaking with release, Darkness collapsed to her knees in front of her chair. She’d nearly let him, chanced hurting him just to touch his hand for a moment. His growl had caused her to slacken pulling his aether away, the command in his mind almost forcing her to let him reach her. Instead of lulling him to sleep like normal, she’d had to force him out, and it had taken everything she had to do so.

“Forgive me, dear one! Please… forgive me…” Darkness sobbed quietly. She fell to the floor, trying to bow to the man who was no longer there.

Gregory snapped awake in the dark room. His whole body ached as blue aether flame covered him. Snuffing it out, he lay there, panting, his heart racing. “Fuck… so close…” His body had demands of him, but he refused to give in to it. He’d nearly caused problems by giving in to his desires with her. “I hope you’re okay, my dear dark heart… Please be okay.” He thought the words as he spoke them, trying to convey them to his unique wife.

Gregory’s thoughts reached her, allowing her to calm herself in the forgotten room. Sniffling, she trembled with weariness at having to keep him away from her. “Soon, my heart.”

Lying in bed, refusing to give in to physical wants, Gregory slowed his breathing, doing his best to find meditation so he could relax. He might need to not reach for her the next time they spoke, just so he wouldn’t push too hard again. As soon as he thought that, he immediately dismissed it. He was sure by not trying at all, he would hurt Darkness even more than reaching her. In time, he found his cavern and the peace needed to relax.