“Size isn’t everything,” Bayn said, and coming from that massive man, that meant something. “Heart is what really matters. And you’ve got the biggest heart I’ve ever seen.”
“You mean balls,” Rook corrected.
“That too,” Bayn conceded.
Myel smiled at all of them then turned to me. “The terrified little shifter boy is gone,” he said, voice regaining strength. “I know my worth.”
“And so does everyone else,” I said, kissing his dirt-smeared forehead.
I helped him up and pushed through the wall of lovers. “Now let’s make sure this fight is over and our friends are safe.”
“Yes, my queen,” Koar said stoically.
Huh… I guessed there was no denying it now. I was queen. I’d definitely earned it.
Time to change this world for the better.
AMARHUK(ROOK)
Lhorine and Zorafound us limping along, checking in on various battle sites to ensure the fighting had stopped.
They confirmed the enemy had fully surrendered and escorted us back to the command center. Zora gave us a report on how the other forces had done. The addition of the titans had helped immensely. Their earth magic, along with all the fortifications prepared ahead of time, had helped save thousands of lives. Still, the news wasn’t what any of us would call “good.” Tens of thousands had died on both sides. This had been the most devastating conflict since the last titan war.
Izzy beat herself up, of course, despite our victory. She kept mumbling about how if we’d planned for the sylphim mental attacks we might have won sooner, thatshemight have defeated Valnea and stopped the war sooner. In many ways, that was the day Izzy truly became queen, bearing the burden of leadership and the care of all her people with the solemnity that such an obligation deserved.
Luckily, Izzy was so drained that Lhorine and Olinaraand Zora didn’t have to work too hard to convince her to rest and recover before she helped them rebuild a nation.
And so, we six returned to Izzy’s residence, showered just enough to clean off the dirt and blood, then fell into bed.
Our recovery took time. We all had new wounds, both physical and mental to heal. I woke first the next day, other than Myel who seemed to have been up for a while. But he wasn’t the only one in the room…
…My mother was puttering around Izzy’s quarters.
“Mother? What are you doing here?” I asked in shock, drawing her aside.
Her smile held a note of mischief.
“I have accepted the position of head lady in waiting for our new queen,” she said. I knew instantly she hadn’t been offered this position. She’d probably found Lhorine and the others and demanded it. Not that she’d be bad in that role, but…
“Why? I thought you were happy with your life.” Despite her youthful appearance, she was nearly ninety and had been retired from active service for years. And yes, in Urval, “active service” for a succubus meant exactly what you might think.
“I was, but now I want more.” She beamed at me, before her smile faltered and faded. “And maybe… I want to be closer to my son. Since we are free to live wherever we like now, Seial seemedsafer.” That was true enough. “And I might have been a bit curious to see the woman who’d stolen your heart.”
She peeked back over my shoulder to the bed. I turned and followed her gaze. Izzy was naked, having had no energy to put anything on after her shower. She’d fallen into bed as she was. She was also half-covered by other men,who were also naked. It looked like the aftermath of a small orgy.
“She’s quite something,” my mother breathed in awe.
I knew that tone. Turning back to her I gave her my bestdon’t-you-darelook.
“I don’t think she’s into women, and even if she was, I’mnotsharing her withmy mother!” The practice wasn’t entirely uncommon in Urval, the sharing of partners with adult children, but it wasn’t for me. I may have fucked pretty much anything before I met Izzy, but I still liked to think I had some standards and boundaries.
She shrugged. “I don’t think you get to make decisions for her. Why don’t we let her decide?”
I sighed and facepalmed, then shook my head. “Can we talk about something else.”
When my mother spoke again, her voice was far less coquettish and far more serious. “I also came… to say I’m sorry.”
I looked up at her. Her gaze was distant and I knew instantly who she was thinking of and why she wanted to apologize.
