Chapter 656: Ready or not
“I assume Seul-ki is alright?”
Mason blinked away the Fey as he emerged back in the prime. Blake was sitting in front of the baby great tree outside the holy city in a weird, constructed chair. There was an equally weird umbrella giving him shade, a drink in his hand. It looked like he’d been waiting awhile.
“Uh.” Mason ran a hand through his short hair, feeling a little guilty. “She’s fine.” Then he remembered his brother had lied about finding her, and sent her back to his orc tower without a word. He stuck out a finger. “You’re lucky I didn’t choke the life out of her. You should have told me you found her. And how did you know I’d…you know what? Never mind.”
Blake smiled his most punchable smile.
“Kill a pregnant woman, brother? Please. I knew mentioning dangerous goblins would send you right over. I assume you’re all set now. Wedding’s on. Tower’s safe. Ready to head over?”
Mason worked hard to stop his jaw from clenching. Ilya had assured him the goblins were trapped to their level and couldn’t get anywhere near his people.
“Maybe one day consider just talking to me. Like a regular human. Instead of mind fucking me into what you want.”
Blake flicked a hand like this was getting tedious.
“I know. I’m insufferable. Now, I need your help.”
“You really are fucking incredible.”
“I wasn’t kidding about the ‘fight three orcs’ thing and getting my ass kicked.” Blake stood and stretched with a groan. “There’s no way around it, because magic is out. I was hoping maybe we could…’group’, or something. You know, so I can get those lovely passives of yours, however it is you do that. If just for a minute. It’s technically a dungeon in the tower. I think it should work?”
Mason watched his brother shrink, and saw real fear. A little crack in that bravado armor. So that pleasant, at least. He took a breath.
“Maybe. My passives will help you heal. Though I wouldn’t go losing all your teeth.”
Actually he wasn’t sure what his passives would do after his massive upgrades. There was a chance Duality of Strength gave a big improvement now. It reminded him to pay attention to his ‘group’ for whatever the end event was. If it helped Blake escape another deserved beat down, though, he had mixed feelings.
He turned toward the palace without another word. Blake fell in beside him, silent for once. The baby great tree seemed to call out behind him, leaves rustling in the late-afternoon breeze like it was saying goodbye. He wondered if the tree was technically more related to him than Blake.
They walked the rest of the way in tense quiet. There was a distance between them now, and Mason wasn’t even sure he felt like crossing it. He was quickly lost in his own thoughts, mind replaying the feel of Seul-ki’s throat under his fingers. The way she’d looked at him like she expected mercy. Just like Blake had expected it.
A part of him hated that he’d given it.
Walking was painful now that he could fly, but he didn’t feel like carrying Blake. They walked through the city, and he tried not to smell the condensed stink of massed humanity.
“It’s really quite a nice city,” Blake was saying over the noise. “Once you get used to things.”
Mason grunted. He was imagining a fur blanket on the hard ground somewhere in a dark cave, covered in his women. All of them naked and squirming and reaching for him.
By the time they reached the private wing of the palace, it had shifted into full wedding-prep chaos. Servants—Eastern ones mostly, still half-terrified of him—scurried with trays of robes, jewelry, and bottles, presumably for his ‘wedding gifts’.
Haley stood in the middle of it all like a conductor, directing traffic with calm authority. She spotted him and Blake and raised a perfect brow.
“You’re back early.”
“You should have just asked him how long I’d take,” Mason muttered. “He was waiting like a stalker.”
“A lucky guess, I assure you.” Blake smiled for Haley’s benefit. “I was concerned my kingly brother might murder my fiancée. Or her guest.”
Haley’s eyes flicked to Mason in question, and he gave the tiniest shake of his head. Later. She read him and let it drop. Blake sensed he’d gone as far as he was welcome, and left them all with a smile and a promise to prepare the tower.
The other girls were gathered in their private room. Rosa lounged on a wide couch in shorts and a cropped top, legs kicked up, sipping something. Lexi stood near a window in a half-finished dress—cream silk with gold embroidery—fussing with the hem like she wasn’t sure it was modest enough. Becky was shirtless, wrestling a too-tight leather vest over her head while cursing. Demi sat cross-legged on the floor in jeans and a loose tank, braiding flowers into her hair.
Naya and her mother were gone. Back in Nassau with Ayet for Dariya’s death rites, presumably. Lodie came in literally buzzing on a new scooter and in a puffy dress. To a chorus of servant shrieks. She hopped off and bowed towards Mason, coming up with a big grin.
“I can’t believe I’ll meet orcs. And new goblins! This is so exciting.”
Haley smiled at the goblin girl, then closed the door and crossed to him, rising on her toes to kiss his cheek.
“You look…bothered,” she murmured against his skin. “Want to talk about it?”
“It’s nothing,” he lied, hand on the small of her back, thumb brushing the bare skin where her dress dipped low. “A night with you girls and I’ll be good as new.”
She searched his face, then grinned.
“Then let’s get you cleaned up. Are we going with civilized, modern man, or scary nature king?”
He rolled his eyes, not caring one way or the other. Becky finally yanked the vest down with a triumphant grunt.
“Party time! I think I’ll try and get drunk. You pick a fight with them orcs already?”
She sauntered towards him with her hands on her hips, pretending to be a model on a runway. When he shook his head and smiled she ran and leapt for his chest.
“No bodies, no problem,” he said, catching her easily.
For a moment he wondered if she was pregnant without knowing it. She had the player protection, but with his ridiculous fertility titles that didn’t seem enough—or at least it hadn’t helped Demi. Though she was maybe a special case. He figured the system would let her know, and tried not to worry.
“Good.” She wrapped her long legs around him and wiggled her eyebrows. “You figure they dance? Maybe I’ll show y’all how we do it country.” She kissed him hard, already tasting of whiskey, then dropped back to her feet. “You really gonna let Blake get his ass handed to him tonight? Please say yes.”
He nodded, and she looked more excited about that then the wedding itself.
Rosa unfolded from the couch and came over next. She had that look in her dark eyes, like she was up to trouble. She leaned her head against Haley’s shoulder and slid a hand up his chest.
“You look tense. Maybe we should…all relax a little, before we go?”
Mason felt the pull, that was for damn sure. But he didn’t want his night interrupted.
“Later,” he said, voice rougher than intended. “When the nonsense is over.”
Rosa’s eyes sparkled at his tone, like she had him on the ropes. Lexi drifted closer like she smelled blood. She’d finished with the dress, and when she moved it hugged her curves like it was painted on. She looked up at him through extended lashes.
“Is it too much? I feel kind of slutty.”
God. They were killing him. The fabric made the little Brit’s skin glow. But he could tell she was nervous. Was it about the orcs? Something else? He knew they still all needed alone time. He cupped her cheek, thumb brushing her lower lip.
“You’re mine. That’s all anyone needs to know.”
Her breath hitched, and she leaned into his hand, looking ready to find a finger to suck. Demi rose up with a stretch, padding over barefoot, flowers now half-braided in her dark hair. She didn’t speak—just pressed herself against his side, head tucking under his chin. Lodie came running like she didn’t want to be left out, squeezing in like it was a team huddle.
He supposed it was. He breathed in through his nose, letting the warmth and scent of them all sink in. He was pretty much defeated. One more sexy word or aggressive touch and he was done. Orcs and weddings and Blake be damned.
“Alright, that’s enough, finish getting ready.” Haley slapped Rosa’s ass and gave poor little Lexi a shove. “We leave in thirty. Mason, I suggest a bath.”
They all groaned and pulled away like Mom was home, and he didn’t argue. He was saved. At least for now.
The shower was quick, and when he emerged he found a fresh black…tunic? And green trousers with a note that read ‘kingly but not trying too hard’, then a half dozen hearts and kisses.
He grinned and put them on, not shocked at the perfect fit. When he came out the girls were mostly assembled.
They were now all in a mix of sexy, elegant gowns (except Becky, who looked…well, like a fancier cowgirl). They all looked and smelled amazing, and he took a moment to just stare in lust filled wonder. They smiled or ruffled themselves or blushed, according to their personalities.
Haley got them all out of the private wing without anyone getting stripped. Then they gathered in the now expanded teleport beacon. Half a dozen of his players and some easterners came too.
“Dressed up for bloody orcs and goblins,” Carl said as Sylvie fussed with his shirt. “I guess it beats being trapped in a worm tunnel, hey kid? Do I look stupid? Syl I told you cufflinks were way too much. Look at Mason! God damnit.”
Mason grinned at the dangerous assassin and his second in command, glad he was coming along. Phuong and Garet showed up too, the former with his son and young new wife, the latter with a girl who looked like an Indian model.
He did his best to exchange a word with everyone. They all carried gifts: barrels of booze, crates of smoked meat, weapons and armor, clothes, all made by the crafters. He approved it all with a nod. If you were going to make a ridiculous alliance with green skinned monsters, you might as well do it right.
Haley and Demi eventually stepped up beside him, slipping their hands into his.
“Ready?” Haley asked.
“No.” He let out a breath. “But let’s go anyway.”
She grinned, and channeled her power through his authority, and the beacon flared blue-white.