Despite catching Kirin in the aftermath of the battle, with her infernal marks glowing brightly and surrounded by destruction and corrosion, Alestri obviously didn't consider the guild mistress to be a threat. Instead, she assigned a single Resolute, a lesser-ranked knight, to guard her and promptly ignored the naked woman.

Kirin gracefully ignored the Loyal and barely acknowledged the Resolute as she strode forward down a featureless hall, leading the group of seven knights, Merrie, and herself into the darkness. She appeared to know where she was going. Every few steps, she casually drank from a bottle held between two knuckles and the manacles around her wrists clinked.

Next to her, the Resolute flinched every time and Kirin only chuckled at his discomfort.

Merrie, on the other hand, was surrounded by the remaining six knights and she was feeling very nervous at the brandished weapons above her.

Alestri marched on one side of her. With every step, the heavy thud of her spear struck the ground and flashes of power curled up from the impact. The armor barely made a whisper of noise, only the faint scuff of metal on crystal. If Merrie wasn't less than a meter away from it, she would have missed it under the scrape of metal from the Resolute's armor.

There was another Loyal on the other side of her, a man of some sort wielding a heavy hammer.

Like the Loyals, Resolutes wore plate armor engraved with leaf and vine patterns and tinged green. But, the similarities ended there. While the Loyal's armor was graceful and elegant, the Resolute's plate mail was ponderous and loud. It also, Merrie noticed, had considerably less protection spells embedded into the metal.

Merrie was too tired to look further. The exhaustion from the fighting and the agony of her collaring had left her weak and trembling. But, every time she stumbled, one of the Resolutes would smack her naked ass or thigh with their scabbard to encourage her to keep crawling down the hall. It stung, but there was nothing to do besides trudge down the hall. She didn't even have enough energy to be submissive and she couldn't stir the will to keep her ears and tail from drooping.

Tamin followed her in the Shadows, poised to strike. They both knew that neither would survive a fight against a Loyal, much less two. It didn't stop his nervousness and protectiveness from seeping into her thoughts.

She yawned, but stumbled when a wave of dizziness slammed into her. She staggered to the side and bumped against Alestri's thigh. The metal was hot against her skin before the Loyal kicked her back into the center of the hall.

Whimpering softly, Merrie hung her head and focused on crawling. Her muscles trembled with the effort and her eyes no longer focused. But, despite her exhaustion, she couldn't miss the weight around her neck. The heavy collar rested against the back of her neck and the heavy ring bumped against her collar with every step. It was an erratic beat and she was reminded of her first master's triple beat against her clitoris every time he fingered her. A smile curled the corner of her lip as she remembered how he pushed her into an orgasm with nothing but his fingers.

Her body responded to her thoughts, a heated pleasure tickling her sex and a quickening of her breath. The collar was more than just a ring of heavy metal, the spells had sunk into her mind and body and bound her in a way she had never felt before. The heat inside her rose up and she let out a soft moan of need.

Instantly, the six knight's gripped their weapons tightly and the tension bore down on her. They were afraid of her. No, the Resolutes were afraid of her. The Loyals were wary and ready to strike. She shivered at the thought that the two knights were capable of slaughtering her before she even got a single spell off.

Merrie glanced up at Kirin. (Why am I the one surrounded? I don't have anything left to cast.)

Kirin looked over her shoulder. Her hair fluttered and her eyes were an intense sapphire as she looked over Merrie. “Maybe they think you're still a threat?”

Alestri growled. “No speaking.”

Kirin's gaze shifted over to the Loyal. “Technically, Bitch is telepathic.”

“I know,” came the sharp response, “but Loyal Alestri doesn't have the words to describe what she does. Speaking is sufficient for reasonable intelligent individuals.”

Merrie looked at the Loyal with surprise, then fought back a sudden yawn. She failed and stumbled.

Behind her, one of the Resolutes bumped her ass with his spear to encourage her to walk. She was tempted to snap back, but she heard the creak of Loyal Alestri's gauntlets around the haft of her spear. Energy crawled around her, setting her hairs on end from the hundreds of layered spells that were enchanted into the knight's armor and her weapon.

She withdrew into her own thoughts and explored the collar. The circuit that had almost destroyed had forged a connection in her mind. It wasn't the bond she had with her master or the one with Tamin, but it felt similar. Instead of being organic, the new connection felt crystalline like a psionic spell. It was the connection to her master, but she was her own Alpha. Concentrating, she sent a pulse of curiosity through the connection.

She felt it coursing into the collar and then out again, blossoming in her mind from a second connection to the collar. To her surprise, what she felt wasn't her mind anymore. Somehow, by being passed through the shadow stone in the ring, it had changed to the point it felt like another mind had just projected into her. Her heart pulsed from the heat of it and she let out a long, gasping breath.

Alestri's helm turned to look at her, but Merrie gave her a weak smile before concentrating on the collar again. With a twist of her thoughts, she managed to isolate the two new connections. They were raw, as if she was freshly pierced. Tentatively, she concentrated on one and sent out a projected though. (Good… girl?)

No thought came through the connection. She sighed, wondering if somehow something was ruined by the shadow stone. Then, she sent the same thought through the other. (Good girl.)

It came through as a command, but it wasn't her thoughts. The smokey words echoed across her mind and her sex clamped at the familiarity of it. Her master had spoken and she had to obey.

Elation filled her and her tail wagged weakly across her naked rump. Pushing back the fuzziness of her exhaustion, she sent a command through the first one. (Speak.)

Nothing came through, the thought didn't pass through the collar. Tentatively, she sent it across the other. It blossomed across her mind and she was driven to obey before she could even comprehend the words. Her throat sized up for a moment before she barked loudly in the hallway.

Instantly, the knights stepped back. The Resolutes' were unskilled and bumped against the walls, but both Loyals went instantly into a defensive maneuver. Energy rolled off their weapons and their armor, the power around her pressing down on her senses and sending a tremor of fear through her veins.

Sheepishly, Merrie drooped her ears and tail. (Sorry.)

“Loyal Alestri says keep silent.” There was a pulse of a domination spell, a magical command. It washed over Merrie's thoughts, demanding to be obeyed, but for the first time in many years, Merrie realized she didn't have to obey. She had a mistress now, someone with absolute control over her, and she would only obey if her mistress commanded her to. Though, the collar didn't stop the yearning to obey.

Merrie's smile grew wider and she gave a soft, gasping bark before crawling after Kirin.

The guild mistress grinned before she turned to the side. She handed the empty wine bottle to her Resolute. “Take this,” she ordered before accelerating down the hall.

The guard stared at the bottle in his hand for a moment, then rushed after her with it still in his hand.

A few minutes later, they came up to the end of the hallway. Like the entrance, there was a single door at the end, but there were no visible handle or hinges. Kirin's guard continued forward and used his free hand to press against the center of the door. Runes flared to life in the wooden carvings and the door clicked open from eight bolts. With a creak, it swung open and Merrie saw another hallway but one lined with doors. At the far end was another handle-less door.

The floor of the hallways began to glow. Ripples of power radiated from the door that just opened, coursing down the length of the hall and past the furthest door. A soft voice spoke up from nowhere, echoing down the hall in a whisper. “The Sun Crest Door has opened. Eight knights, two strangers, one unnatural creature. The Sun Crest Door has opened. Eight knights, two strangers, one unnatural creature. The Sun—” The voice continued and Merrie shivered at the sound of it. It was just at the edge of her hearing and it felt like the words were burrowing into her head.

Alestri and the other Loyal spun around. Their visors glowed for a moment as they stared into the hallway and through the walls around them.

Merrie followed their gaze, pushing her senses past the thin barrier of Shadows to where Tamin stood there, a black form among the darkness. (Tamin, they can detect you.)

Tamin stepped back, but the dual beams of the crystalline visors caught him and he froze.

“It is the shadow dog,” said the other Loyal, his voice just as crystalline as Alestri's. “A threat?”

“Yes,” said Alestri. She turned to Merrie. “Loyal Alestri says get rid of him.”

Merrie looked up, a faint tremor rippling through her body. She was about to shake her head when she noticed Kirin watching her. She shifted her attention over to her guild mistress who shook her head and made a shooing gesture.

Not wanting to abandon her hound, Merrie reached out. (Why do I have to send him away? He's my protector.)

“Bitch, send him away.”

(Why?)

“Because, I've been here before and I know what's beyond this door. Trust me, he isn't needed here nor will he be able to stop the Loyals if they decide to kill you.”

She glanced at the Loyals and then to Tamin. She could see him as clearly as if he was standing next to her. (Keep close?)

(I can't, Alpha,) his thoughts were filled with frustration. He projected what he saw. There was no door in the hallway, just a solid wall. There was no hint of the door or even the opening. There was nothing. (I need to stay near you.)

She sent a pulse of sadness. (I know, but not this time. I have to trust Kirin.)

For a long moment, Tamin did nothing. Then he got up and started to walk away. (If you get hurt, I will kill her.) His thoughts were tight and angry, but Merrie knew why. He was going to protect her until the day he died and the dread of that moment hung over both of them.

She sent a pulse of love. (Be safe.)

He responded with a wave of affection and then he was gone.

Merrie turned and looked at Kirin.

Kirin nodded and said, “Good girl.” The words gave her no comfort.

The knights led both Kirin and Merrie into one of the rooms off the second hallway. It was large room, about four meters by three, with a table in the center. Four chairs had been lined up against the wall.

“Loyal Alestri,” announced the knight, “says stay here.”

Kirin bowed briefly. “Of course, Loyal. Could I get something to drink? Maybe a nice bottle from the 800s?”

Alestri shook her head and tapped her spear against the ground.

“Why?” Kirin's smirk curled the edge of her lip.

“You gain power from alcohol. It would not be wise of Loyal Alestri to arm her enemies. Loyal Alestri demands that you do not engage in fornication or any other triggers for your infernal powers.”

“Come now,” Kirin said with a smile and a twinkle of blue in her eyes, “do you really think I'm that much of a threat?”

“Everyone is a threat.” The knight spun on her heels and strode out of the room. The other knights followed. The door slammed shut, the impact shaking the air. A moment later, the walls glowed as wards were placed around the room, sealing the two of them inside. Layers of spell added to the wards, glowing brilliantly in Merrie's mind. After a few seconds, the energy was blinding and she had to withdraw her senses to see anything else.

Kirin's smirk dropped instantly. “I swear to the devils that own my soul, that girl shoves that spear further up her ass every time I meet her. A few more times and we'll be able to spit-roast her.”

Merrie sat down, her bare ass against the cold wood. She felt tiny and vulnerable in the room, cut off from the Shadows and alone except for her naked guild mistress.

“How are you doing, Bitch?”

She fought a yawn and failed. (Exhausted and everything aches.) She rotated her shoulders. (Where are we?)

“In the roots of the World Tree, in a place that most people don't know about.”

(Have you've ever been here?)

Kirin nodded as she strolled over to the table with food. Her cock swung back and forth with her movements and the infernal runes on her belly pulsed softly with her heartbeat. “Yes, about thirty years ago.” She stopped and sighed with a little shake of her head.

(What happened?)

Sadness hung over Kirin in a cloud. “I shouldn't have said that. I forgot how much it hurts to think about Coe. But,” she looked at Merrie with a sad smile, “compared to what you've gone through and how strong you've remained, well…”

She was on her back, lost in mounds of pillows. Pleasure filled her, hot and sharp. It throbbed the rune of sex on her stomach, the only one she would ever accept. Just having him was enough and worth the price of the single mark. She moaned and spread her legs further. "More, lick it harder."

Coe, beautiful Coe, knelt between her legs with one knee on his shoulder. When he lifted his head, his face glistened with her juices. He opened his mouth, revealing the sharp teeth and thick, long tongue. Not a word was needed as he delved back down. A heartbeat later, his tongue was snaking into her, reaching the places she could only dream of.

Merrie's pussy clenched at the polished memory. It had the haze of constant remembrance and the sense of importance in Kirin's life. (You didn't have a cock then.)

“No, that was before my next mistake. A few months later, I was sitting right there,” she gestured to the table, “sobbing with Coe's blood and ichor on my hands. He tried to start a revolt against the Royal Family and dragged me along.”

Sadness loomed over her as Kirin grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the table. “I had to kill him. My best friend and lover. He gave me purpose in life, but he was going to take me down a path I couldn't go. The same thing that drove me to get these,” she tapped the runes on her belly. “We all make mistakes. We all have to make decisions. They say it is easy to make a choice. It should be obvious. But, when you're in the middle of… all of it, you'll find that what you should have done,” she looked up and a tear ran down her cheek, “isn't obvious.”

Merrie crawled over to her, sitting down next to her chair. (I'm sorry.)

Kirin took a deep breath. “It's in the past.”

(Why didn't they…,) she struggled with the thought.

“Kill me for treason? Oh, it got close to that. I was so frightened as they threatened me with Abbinkey, execution, you name it. I think I was down here for days before I cracked. What I didn't know is that if I was in this room,” she tapped the table, “then I was actually in pretty good shape.”

(Why?)

“The Loyals are the sword of the Royal Family. Just as the Family can interrupt court cases, like Claston did with Rakin, they can find people guilty without a lot of legal wrangling. If you were truly a threat to the country or the Royal Family, they would have just killed you right then and there.”

(So, I should be happy that I'm locked in a room in a hidden dungeon that no one knows about?)

Kirin's eyes twinkled. “I would be.”

Merrie shivered at the realization how close she got to death. (But, I destroyed part of the World Tree. And summoned the Lord of Shadows and… made it bigger.)

“If I didn't have an incredibly tight sphincter at that moment, I probably would have shitted myself. I don't think I had ever seen anything that…” (evil,) finished the guilty thought.

(I've seen them before, they hang around me. I,) she remember the Lord's only coherent though, (feed them.)

Kirin stroked Merrie's head. “I can't imagine being close to anything that destructive. Which makes it strange that you are comfortable with a creature of darkness and destruction, but a mere Loyal terrifies you.”

Merrie thought about the Lord's final thoughts, a brief moment where its mind and hers could understand each other. She tensed at the thought and shook her head to clear her mind. (I think I know what it wants.)

“Well, I'm going to insist it pays ten times your usual rate if you're going to fuck it.”

Surprised, Merrie looked at Kirin for a moment, then began to giggle.

Kirin smirked and then began to laugh. It was a dry, exhausted laugh that sounded thin in the room, but the brief moment of humor seemed to lighten both of their spirits. After it died down, Kirin and clutched her head, “I seriously need a drink.”

Merrie sighed and leaned against the chair and Kirin's thigh. (I need to crawl into my cage and sleep for a week.)

Kirin chuckled again and leaned back. Her hand remained on Merrie's head, stroking the ridge of Merrie's ear with slow, sensual strokes.

With a moan, Merrie closed her eyes and wished that sleep would grab her. But, after a few moments, she became aware of her collar again and her attention focused on the heavy weight. (Kirin?)

“Yes, Bitch?”

(How did you know I was in trouble?)

“You're always in trouble.”

Merrie rolled her eyes. (I wasn't last week when I was doing that ten thriban gang-bang.)

“Yes, but that delivery girl is never going to deliver again.”

(Sure she will, that's why she joined the guild, isn't it?) Merrie smirked at the thought of the young woman who came to deliver food and ended up being in a sandwich of her own.

“Yes, And she's turning out to be a size queen at that.” Kirin took a deep breath and tapped the table. “Speaking of which, up on the table.”

(Why?) Merrie could feel the anticipation rising and her ears perked up with a flush of heat that tickled her senses.

Kirin grinned. “Because you're exhausted and drained. And, uptight Loyal or not, it is my duty to serve my members. And you need to fuck.”

Grinning, Merrie crawled up on a chair and then on the table. The order was already brimming in Kirin's mind and she let it wash over her, submitting to the silent command. Her knees spread apart as she stopped in front of her, turning around to present herself to the guild mistress.

“Present.”

Merrie moaned at the command as it echoed in the room. She parted her knees as far as she could and lifted her ass off the table. The familiar rush of cooler air against her sex almost pushed her into an orgasm as she pushed herself to her limits. Her outer labia spread open, letting the air caress her clitoris and opening.

“I find it fascinating,” two fingers caressed along Merrie's inner folds and she found it hard to concentrate, “that you are so subtle when you do that. Most of the time, I know when you're reading my mind, but when I'm about to give an order, you are already moving. Though,” she chuckled as she stroked Merrie's clitoris, “I don't really order you like this.”

Merrie moaned and ground her breasts into the table. It was cool to the touch but it was the hardness against her nipples that added to the delicate caresses. She pushed back with soft whimpers, unwilling to project or communicate as anything but a bitch.

“And, to answer your question, I knew there was something wrong when a baby paladin—” Kirin jammed her finger into Merrie's sex, burying it to the second knuckle with one hard stroke.

With a gasp, Merrie clutched the table with her wrists, splaying out her legs and pushing back. Kirin's fingers felt good against her insides, the guild mistress knew how to touch a woman and Merrie was soon rocking her hips in time with the short strokes.

“—came into the guild hall. Young man, maybe in his early twenties. He was so desperate to tell me about all the power I would gain if I somehow collared this woman in the Shadowed District.”

Merrie tensed sharply, her pussy clamping down on Kirin's finger, but the guild mistress just added a third finger and jammed in harder. The pleasure was distracting from the dread that began to rise up. (Paladin? Of Lemetri?)

“Yes, though I'm surprised you've heard of them.”

(They killed my master.) With her thoughts came a flash of the memories of the night he died.

Kirin's thrusting faltered for a moment and then she stopped. “Oh, poor girl, I'm so sorry. I didn't know.”

Merrie rested her cheek against the table. (It was… it was hard to get over.)

“You don't talk about it much. I knew you created the Shadowed District. Was that because of his death?”

A blush burned Merrie's cheeks. (I didn't want to forget him. It was a grave.)

“I remember your master, from the memory that you just showed me. He seemed like a nice guy, but it was his companion that caught my attention.” Kirin let out a little laugh. “I don't know how she did it and I never saw her get within a meter of him, but she managed to steal the pants off Claston.”

Merrie grinned at the memory that welled up, of her master…. She frowned at a strange thought. Whenever she thought of him, there was a blurring of identities which is why she thought of him as her master. But, she had a new mistress now and the closeness she felt with Kine had separated when she collared herself. With a start, she realized she could think of his name again. A bitter loss slammed into her and she closed her eyes tightly.

Kirin returned to her stroking, pumping in and out with wet strokes. With her other hand, she grabbed the base of Merrie's tail and circle her finger around her tightly clenched asshole. “I think this room just brings up bad memories.”

A tingle of power coursed over Merrie's senses. She reached out with her mind even as she pushed back on the fingers, fucking herself as fast as Kirin plunged three fingers into her sex. The sensations were a sweet balm against her exhaustion and the trickle of energy began to spread out across her body. She used it to push out harder, exploring the wards. The magic was blinding around her but she felt around looking for a weakness. The wards were as powerful as they weren't subtle. She gave up after a few minutes. They were both locked in until someone freed them.

Kirin's thrust faster, plunging four fingers into Merrie's sex. Her fingers were everywhere: caressing Merrie's labia, tickling her insides, even the light touches against her clitoris all brought her rushing toward an orgasm.

Merrie braced herself on the table and pushed back, unable to do anything other than let the guild mistress hold her by her tail and finger her. She whimpered softly. Her legs trembled with the effort to keep her knees parted and she strained to squeeze down on the fingers.

With a soft chuckle, Kirin added her thumb and ground against Merrie's sex. “I've seen how many thriban you fuck. This should just…” she shoved hard. Her fist stretched Merrie's lips, pushing them almost to the point of discomfort.

The growing pain only added to Merrie's pleasure. With a cry, she shoved back and then let out a loud, guttural whine as she felt the knuckles slide past the ring of her sex and, with a sucking sensation, Kirin's entire fist sinking into her tight, slick hole.

“What a slut,” said Kirin with a laugh. She ground down on Merrie's tail, holding it still as she shoved her fingers deep into Merrie, exploring her insides before drawing it back out. Clear liquid dribbled down Merrie's thighs as she was shoved and pulled by the fist impaling her.

(You,) Merrie moaned again, (were saying?)

“Way to ruin the mood, Bitch.”

Merrie grinned. (Then fuck me harder.)

“No.” Kirin slowed down and Merrie whimpered. “But, where was I? In the story?”

(Lemetri.) Merrie hated even thinking the name of the goddess who killed Kine.

“Yeah. So, this baby paladin comes in trying to sell me all the powers in the world. The problem is, his masters made a rather… significant mistake by not telling him about the guild's relationship with their bitch. You see, the Whore's Guild and Lemetri have been at odds for years, ever since the purge of the old guards, we've been fighting through politics and—”

An icy shiver coursed down Merrie's spine. She froze, fighting against Kirin's pumping. (Purge?)

“You probably don't remember that. Back when I was a little slut and junior member of the guild, Lemetri used to be known as one of the party goddesses. She was one hell of a slut and so were her followers. They threw the biggest parties, ordered lagers by the barrels and whores by the dozen. And then, after spending a night of drinking and fucking, then went out and destroyed evil. Usually drunk and high.”

Merrie frowned. Kirin's description didn't seem to match anything she had seen of Lemetri.

“Their paladins were amazing. Lemetri gave them healing and stamina powers and they would,” Kirin let out a soft moan, “pound and fuck for hours.” She empathized the point by ramming her fist into Merrie, shoving until her knuckles smacked against Merrie's cervix, then pulling out.

Every millimeter of movement brought waves of pleasure and Merrie almost lost her balance. She braced herself against the table, listening through the soft moans escaping her throat and the tremors that shook her exhausted muscles.

“They could come on a dime and, when they did, they kept coming and coming. And Lemetri liked them big, really big. That goddess had a thing for huge cocks, if you know what I mean. And, liked it nice and rough too.”

Merrie's tail began to wag faster. She panted as she imagined Bass fucking a slender girl, pounding as the yellow-green healing energies rolled off their bodies.

“Like most paladins, they were oath-bound. They had the usual promises not to hurt innocent and defeat evil, but when you can heal as fast as you can fuck, there is a bit more leniency. A little blood didn't matter when the next stroke would heal it right back up. And Lemetri encouraged it. Fuck, she was doing it herself. Taking on dragons and giants, fucking them until they passed out and then cutting their throats. During those times, the Whore's Guild and her followers were in bed with each other. By royal decree, we even rented out the entire guild to them when they came back from the Blood River War.”

She said nothing for a long moment, just pumped her fingers in and out. The strokes were fast and deep, caressing every nerve in Merrie's body. An orgasm burned its way through Merrie's veins, but Kirin kept it flaring with more strokes and twisting that never stopped the pleasure.

Merrie's submission to her guild mistress added to her pleasure. She didn't want to stop, couldn't stop. She knew she could, by giving herself an order, but she didn't want to. Pleasure coursed through her veins and pushed away the exhaustion.

“It was a late night party. Me and seven others were taking on three of Lemetri's. The wine and cum was flowing and everyone was having a grand time.” She sighed. “Six of them came in, all paladins of Lemetri and armored for battle. At first, we thought they were going to join in, but they just… killed their own. They didn't say a word and didn't give anyone a chance to speak. Just walked in,” Kirin's stroking paused, “and killed them. And all the other whores too. I only got away because I was buried underneath a bunch of pillows and two of the bodies.”

Kirin inhaled with a shuddering gasp. “I thought they were coating me with cum. I didn't know it was their own blood. When I finally realized it, though, they were gone. It wasn't until later that I found out that Lemetri was tired of being known as a slut, so she came up with a new image. She was going to be the goddess of justice and honor… well, one of six gods currently in that domain. But, a reputation for being clean-cut and honorable doesn't really fit with someone known for partying hard. She came up with a new image, but she had to make the world forget. So, in a single night, she withdrew her healing powers from the old guard and sent her new paladins to purge them from the world.” Kirin's voice grew tense and angry.

“After that, she was all about the traitors to justice and how she finally saw through the corruption. Sickening, to say the least.”

Merrie stared at the table top, the afterglow growing sour. She thought about the horror that Bass felt in his memories when a girl died on his cock. She never wondered why Lemetri had abandoned him, but she assumed he had done something to earn it. Now, she wasn't sure.

Deep inside, something stirred. She couldn't go back to find out. Nothing in the world would force her to return to the Puppy Mill. But, for the briefest of moments she wished she could comfort her rapist.

“Now, there are no more old paladins of Lemetri. Every single one was killed that night. Ever since, Lemetri's paladins are straight-laced assholes who will do anything for the greater good. Of course,” Kirin said in a soft voice, “in the years since then, everyone forgot that Lemetri was another goddess entirely. And that poor baby paladin didn't know that the Whore's Guild is one place Lemetri would never welcomed.”

Merrie thought about Bass, hiding at the Puppy Mill. He had been attacked more than once by the paladins of Lemetri. No doubt, to truly remove any chance the public would remember Lemetri's old reputation. She thought about the violence and horror, all to polish a goddess' past. (What happened to the baby paladin?)

“He,” Kirin's voice was tense, “was a threat to my guild.”

No more questions were needed for a long moment. Merrie came hard twice before Kirin pulled her dripping hand out.

“Turn around.”

Merrie obeyed and knelt down, opening her mouth so Kirin could place the heated fingers in her mouth. With a soft moan vibrating in her throat, Merrie licked Kirin's fingers clean, lapping between the digits and along the palm until she could no longer taste herself. As she did, her collar bumped against Kirin's wrist and Merrie felt it catching on the engagement ring.

(Why did you put the ring on my collar?)

Kirin frowned as she pulled back her hand. She rested it on her belly where the infernal mark for sex pulsed weakly against her pale skin. The rune appeared to be melted into the skin with gold and sapphire, but there was no wound or bump where flesh ended and metal began.

“The ring?” Kirin's eyes flickered down to Merrie's collar. “But, it was already on the collar.”

Merrie shook her head, a minute maneuver that she wasn't sure she even made it.

Kirin's eyes widened. With a gasp, she held her hand over her mouth. “Oh, I'm so sorry. I-I thought you were doing that on purpose. I would have never done that… do you think that is why the Lord and… all that damage?” She leaned back. “Fuck, I did destroy the World Tree, didn't I? It's all my fault.”

Gulping, Merrie reached out and rested her wrist against Kirin's shoulder. (No, actually, you saved me.)

Kirin's face was pale as she stared at Merrie. “You're just saying that.”

Merrie shook her head. She gathered up the memories of those last moments, when the Lord somehow interjected the engagement ring into the painful feedback circuit that was destroying her mind. She peeled away the pain and agony before gently pushing it into Kirin's thoughts.

The guild mistress tensed as she struggled with the sudden memories. Merrie had not projected to her often and almost everyone struggled with the foreign thoughts mixing in with their own. As the last of the memory sank in, Kirin let out a soft grunting noise. “You scare me, Bitch, do you know that?”

In response, Merrie flatted her ears against her head and pulled back.

Kirin grabbed her by the collar but then snatched her hand away. “Sorry. No, it isn't that bad of a thing. I mean, you do scare me. I've only gotten hints of what you're capable of doing. You're powerful, more powerful than probably anyone in the Whore's Guild. But, what scares me more is that the more you are ground into the earth, the more you shine.”

She gave a smile and teased Merrie's ears into standing up again. “We were so worried when you were gone for three days. For three days you were raped by Rakin and when we finally found you, you had saved yourself. And, ever since, I can feel the power inside you. It is dark and sexy and sweet and wonderful.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “And while I will probably never know what you're capable of doing, I'm just utterly happy that I've seen you blossom in a beautiful woman who has survived when almost anyone else would have jumped off a bridge.”

Merrie blushed. (I tried that, it didn't work.)

“See, just one more reason… wait,” Kirin stared at her in shock, “you tried to kill yourself?”

Sighing, Merrie nodded. (I failed. There is an enchantment on me that prevents me from killing myself. It was put on because I was going to be sold to Rakin five years ago, but like everything else, it doesn't seem to go away.)

“I wonder why.”

(I survive because I have no choice. I'm not that strong.)

Kirin pulled her close and kissed her lips. “Bad girl,” she whispered. “You're still incredible. And I would do anything for you.”

Merrie leaned forward until their lips caressed. She parted her lips and kissed harder, her tongue slipping out slightly to taste the alcohol on Kirin's lips and the warmth of the woman's breath.

As they kissed, Merrie felt the curls of need rising up inside Kirin. It was a longing but she was fighting it. Curious, Merrie delved deeper into the guild mistress' mind, working her way past the insecurities and fetishes looking for the source of the longing.

Kirin was horny. Not just the urge to fuck, but a craving for power. She felt it before, it was the same need that Borias and Rakin both longed for. But, where Borias desired death and Rakin embraced his anger, Kirin was driven by more than just one desire. She could feel the infernal marks tugging on Kirin's mind: begging her to rape Merrie, to drown her in wine, to rip her open on the cock, and to burn her with acid. Even the marks of gold and sapphire tugged on her, all of them whispering in the back of Kirin's mind with barely heard voices.

The guild mistress was exhausted and even Merrie could pick up on the voices. They were guttural and slithering, tugging on her mind with their closeness. Kirin was better at hiding it from her face, but she was almost drained to her limits when she protected the city from Merrie's pain.

Kirin broke the kiss and pushed back. “No, we can't be doing that right now. The Loyal told us not to.”

Merrie didn't need to read Kirin's mind to know that she was lying. Her tail wagged back and forth as she knew what she was going to do. A smile quirked the corner of her lip as she looked over her mistress from head to cock. As she focused on Kirin's thick, horse-like cock, her tail wagged faster.

“What are you doing?”

(Serving my mistress.)

Kirin stepped back. “No, we aren't doing that. Do you know what I do to my lovers?”

Her tail tagging faster, Merrie smiled at her. (You said anything.)

“No,” Kirin said with a whisper, but there was hope in her voice.

(I can regenerate.)

“It isn't that fast. When I blow, it's pure acid, Bitch. It will burn you out from the inside. I've sent more than one lover to the healers that way.”

Merrie inched forward, scooting on her rear until her wrists rested on the edge of the table. (I want your cock.)

“You're always horny,” whimpered Kirin. Her breath came faster and her large breasts rose and fall as she struggled with her need and self-control.

(And you're exhausted too. I can't give you wine or spirits, but I know that three of these—) Merrie reached out and caressed Kirin's belly with the end of her arm. As she did, the three pulsating runes glowed underneath the touch. (—will respond to shoving this into me.) She lowered her wrist down to the cock swelling between Kirin's legs.

“A-Are you sure?”

Merrie panted softly as she stared into Kirin's sapphire eyes. (You just said that I gain power from being ground down.)

“I didn't mean pouring acid into your ass.”

Merrie pulled back and turned around. She presented herself to Kirin, with her knees spread out as far as she could and her pubic mound only centimeters from the table. She knew that she was at exactly the right height for Kirin to aim her cock into the tight sphincter. The anticipation beat loudly in her ears and she rested on the cool surface of the table. (Fuck me,) she ordered.

The adamantite collar shifted against the table. The heavy weight bore down on her. With a grin, she reached out for the shadows underneath her body and gave them animation. Tendrils, each one no longer than Kirin's finger, rose up underneath Merrie's breast and caught the collar. With a thunk, the tendrils held it to the table and Merrie was helpless to do anything but keep her head tight to the wood.

The submission, even to herself, brought an intensity to her position. Her nipples grew hard with anticipation and she panted as she held herself still.

Kirin moaned. “A-Are you sure?”

Merrie wagged her tail and stretched as far as she could. Her asshole was open and ready. She could feel Kirin's eyes on it, the hungry desperation and self-control beginning to crumble under the infernal whispers in the back of her mind.

Kirin's hand caressed Merrie's buttocks, a light touch of a virgin and not the mistress of whores. There was a hesitation and fear, but there was also excitement and lust. The smells of Kirin's cock filled the room, the musky scent mixing with perfume from Lady Anasome and Kirin's femininity. It was a heady mixture and Merrie took a deep breath to enjoy it.

The table thumped. Merrie jerked at the sensation.

“Sorry, my cock got hard.”

Merrie giggled and wiggled her ass. (Show me.)

There was a laugh and a wet scraping noise as Kirin re-positioned her cock. “Getting awfully bossy since you put on that collar.” There was a thick smack as the cock landed on Merrie's buttock, a solid shaft of hot flesh. It was huge, longer than anything Merrie had ever had inside her. It was also as thick as a large thriban but didn't nearly drool as much.

Kirin's fingers caressed Merrie's sex, the backs of her fingernails trailing through the dripping folds and transferring the hot liquid to her anal ring. “This is going to hurt, in a lot of ways.”

Merrie's stomach clenched at the thought and her pussy grew wetter at the thought. She wanted to feel the pain and ecstasy blurring together. It wasn't a matter of if anymore, but when Kirin would ram that cock into her. She whimpered for it, begging for the thick cock to be rammed into her tight body.

The fear spiked for a moment and then Kirin's cock was against Merrie's asshole. The tip was large and flat, just like a horse's. The heat radiated from its length and the first touch of the burning pre-cum itched her sphincter.

Merrie could feel the guild mistress hesitating. She took a deep breath and pushed back, forcing the thick head against her tight anal ring. It was large and there wasn't a wedge to ease it in. Merrie felt tiny with it pressed against her dusky opening. She moaned and pushed back, straining against the collar pinning her to the table.

“Bitch, what are you—”

Grabbing the excitement, Merrie slammed it through a strength spell. The dark power coursed through her muscles for only a heartbeat before she shoved back with all her might.

The thick head tore through her asshole and impaled almost a third of its length into Merrie's clenching rectum. Sharp pain tore through her and she let out a scream of pain.

It was almost to much for her, but Merrie couldn't stop. She focused her thoughts on her collar and sent herself an order. (Fuck her!)

It came barreling through her mind, a command that she could not resist. Biting down on her lip, she pulled herself up the cock, feeling every ridge of the hot shaft as it clung to her tight ring. She pulled out a few centimeters and then slammed back, using her magical might to drive the cock deep into her body.

Her world became agony and pleasure, the feeling of being fulfilled blurring with the heady sense of submission. She was being commanded by her mistress and she couldn't disobey. She had to fuck, because her mistress ordered her to.

Merrie clenched her inner muscles around the cock. It felt like it was up in her stomach, shoving organs out of the way and stretching her intestine into a tight glove around the pulsating length. It hurt but she could feel the orgasm rising up inside her, her body trembling as she felt the icy touch of pleasure pouring through her veins. She pulled forward and then slammed back, using her pinned collar as the hinge of her movement.

Kirin staggered back. She clamped her hands on Merrie's hip for balance and the final centimeters of Merrie's thrust rammed the cock deep into her stomach. Kirin's cock surged and a burning pain spread out through Merrie's insides. “Fuck! Don't do that again!”

But, Kirin wasn't pulling her cock out.

Merrie moaned and rocked her hips, enjoying the ache of having something so large inside of her. She leaned forward and pulled Kirin's cock out; her insides clung to the horse-like cock and she clamped down as tightly as she could to give Kirin as much pleasure as possible.

“Bitch, you're bleeding.” Kirin's voice was a low whine. “You need to stop this before you get badly hurt.”

Merrie lifted her head as much as she could and glanced down between the valley of her breasts. Dark crimson dribbled down her thighs and she could feel where her anal ring had torn around Kirin's shaft. She had never impaled her ass on anything so large, and she had never used magic to do it before. She let out a soft chuckle as she stared at it.

She grew aware of the collar. It didn't flash and there was no change in temperature, but suddenly she realized the regeneration was working. It was subtle and powerful, repairing her body without even a hint that she was being healed.

It didn't stop the pain, though. She could feel the burning spreading out inside her, the acid tearing at her insides. The searing sharpness added a painful edge to her pleasure.

Gasping, she leaned forward a few more centimeters and than rammed back with all her might. The massive cock tore into her, ripping into her guts and deep into her body. She felt it impact something deep in her chest and her breath came out in a rush.

“Fuck!” Kirin sounded surprised. She grip tighter, her fingernails digging into Merrie's hip. Her body shook violently and Merrie could feel every tremble that coursed through the guild mistress' body.

The room began to flicker with a strange, multi-colored lights. As Merrie looked around, she saw the light shifting and twisting, moving like candles but she knew there was no flames in the room. Her heart beat faster as she lifted her head again and looked down her taut belly and large breasts. Beyond her body, she could see the light was above the burning cock impaling her ass. She twisted her head and peeked over her shoulder.

Kirin's belly was glowing. Three of the runes flickered and twisted, somehow crawling in on themselves with a steady animation that brought an instant headache to Merrie's thoughts. The largest, the one of sex, glowed the brightest, but the horse and acid runes were almost as bright. They pulsed in time with Merrie's heartbeat, not Kirin's. The runes were responding to her pain and discomfort.

Merrie took a couple short breaths and rammed back hard again, driving the cock deeper into her body. Her insides molded around the thick veins and rigid shaft. She clamped down and rammed herself again and again, pumping it harder and deeper until the shaft was forcing the air out of her lungs with every stroke.

She was sure she had torn something inside her and the wet splatters were more than just her pussy drooling with excitement. The stench of blood, coppery and hot, wafted around her. It added to the pain and submission. Merrie knew that she could die on Kirin's cock and come back, but she was terrified to learn the agony of recovery.

But, her mistress had ordered her to fuck. Yanking forward, Merrie felt her insides tearing around the thick cock. She planted her wrists hard on the table. The shadows blossomed around her wrists and ankles, tying her down into place. She grunted and slammed back, spearing the cock deep into her. Before it finished piercing her insides, she pulled out and slammed home again. Each thrust drove it deeper inside her, ripping at her organs and punching the thick spear of flesh further toward her throat.

Blood and acid poured down her thighs. It seared her skin just as it burned her insides. The pain was building quickly as was the light from Kirin's belly. The infernal energy wrapped around her as the guild mistress drank in the agony. With every shuddering thrust, power crackled in the air.

Her pussy burned with need, the clear juices of her sex mixing in with the blood and acid. It filled the room with the sharp smells, overwhelming and comforting at the same time.

“Bitch, I can't take much more.”

Merrie slammed back with all her might. The table shuddered from the impact as the cock drove deep inside her, tearing her insides. And, for the first time, Merrie's ass slammed against the base of Kirin's cock and the two large balls smacked against her sex. The impact was heavy and wet, a thud that shoved Merrie instantly into an orgasm.

Black ecstasy poured into her body, blossoming from the agony in her ass and the heat in her pussy. It turned into a storm that ripped along her nerves, setting every one on fire. Merrie jerked violently as her body tensed up, but the shadowy tendrils pinning in her in place kept her fixed on Kirin's cock. The helplessness added to the intensity of the orgasm and she cried out shrilly as she lost herself in the pleasure.

Kirin cried out a moment later, her fingers digging painfully into Merrie's hips as she drove forward herself. Her cock and balls slammed into Merrie before she pulled out half of its length.

Every stroke impaled Merrie from tail to tip. The collar pinning her to the table yanked at her neck, pinning her down to take every centimeter of Kirin's cock. She gasped with the impact of the cock against her lungs and the feeling that she was swallowing the entire length of the burning shaft.

“I-I'm… I'm sorry!” Kirin cried out and punched it hard into Merrie. The thick shaft tore wetly into Merrie. It swelled inside her, tearing a large hole into Merrie's ass. And then, with terrifying clarity, Kirin came.

The first blast of cum was hot like Merrie expected. But as the second and third came, the heat continued to build. It became a liquid inferno that burned her insides, spreading out to fill hidden gaps and spaces that she didn't know existed. Hot jet after jet pierced her insides and Merrie could taste it on the back of her throat.

More of it spurted out of Merrie's tightly-stretched asshole. It splashed on Kirin's belly before hitting the table. Almost instantly, the table began to smoke. Large holes burned away from the wood and the entire structure shuddered as the rents widened.

Merrie cried out, swimming in the pain and submission. She could feel the energy building inside her and threatening to burst out of her mind. Remembering something Monk said, she poured it into the collar and felt it gather there, a storage of pure energy for later.

Shuddering, Kirin shoved herself out of Merrie and staggered back. Her cock continued to splatter cum everywhere. It left ropes along Merrie's back and tail, along the table and floor.

The table underneath her groaned as the acid left smoking holes in the surface. More of it dribbled down the legs and Merrie could feel it about to crumble. She tried to push up from the surface, but her collar was still pinned. Her right side drooped as the table creaked again and her breasts ground into puddles of acid and cum.

With a groan, the table collapsed underneath her and Merrie was thrown to the ground. She hit with a smack that left stars swimming across her vision. She moaned at the impact and shuddered as the pleasure continued to blend with the agony of being burned from the inside.

“Bitch? Are you okay?”

Merrie glanced over her shoulder as she released her body from the remains of the table. She let out a soft giggle. (It hurts.)

“I told you.” Kirin whimpered and rushed for the door. “I'll get a healer.”

Feeling full of energy, Merrie gathered the darkness around her and transformed into a hound and back into a human. The burns on her skin faded and the agony inside her lessened. With a surge of power, she shifted again and again until her outsides were pristine as the day she first saw the collar.

Her shape-shifting couldn't stop the acid in her guts, only lessen it. She could still feel the itch and burn inside her, but the acid cum no longer tore at her guts. She let out a long sigh and crawled out of the smoking remains of the table. (Well, that was fun.)

Kirin stopped pounding on the door and looked around, surprise on her face. “B-Bitch? You're… okay?”

Merrie squirmed a little, the itch came from everywhere and nowhere. She wanted to scratch, but she knew it was inside her. She smiled as she focused on Kirin's belly, where the acid rune continued to flicker in time with the itching sensation. The other two runes had quieted, but she could feel the energy inside Kirin.

Kirin reached out. “You're really okay?” There were tears in her eyes.

Merrie crawled forward and pressed her head to Kirin's palm. (I'm going to have to charge you more, though.)

With a gasp of relief, Kirin sank down to her knees and yanked Merrie into a hug. “I'll pay you eight times your normal rate, you still little bitch.”

(Eight?)

“On a scale of one to ten, where ten is the Lord of Shadows, I think I rate an eight.”

Merrie's tail wagged. (Probably only a six then.)

Kirin pulled back with mock annoyance. “What have you fucked that makes me a six?”

With a grin, Merrie licked Kirin's face. (Rakin.)

“Oh, I'll pay you six times your normal rate.” Kirin kissed her again and held her tight. “Thank you, thank you.”

Merrie leaned her head on Kirin's shoulder and held her tight. Their breasts rubbed against each other and Merrie rested her knee on Kirin's cock in hopes that it would get hard again. She couldn't take it quite yet, not until the itching faded inside her guts.

They held each other for a long time, breathing in the smells of acid, cum, and Merrie. The table gave up its last legs and burned to the ground.

“I know it was a mistake, but I'm glad that ring saved you. But, I would never,” she kissed Merrie's head, “ever,” another kiss, “hurt you.”

Wagging her tail, Merrie sent a pulse of affection and love.

Kirin tensed briefly. “Think you're ready for company?”

(I'm not dressed.)

“Silly bitch. Someone is coming with really good wine.” She tapped her belly where the rune for wine began to glow faintly.

(Who is it?)

Amusement radiated from Kirin as she stood up and faced the door. “Just remember, when you are in front of royalty, bow very low and keep quiet. Loyal Alestri will probably kill you if you use telepathy. So, keep your thoughts in your own head.”

Merrie blinked in confusion. (Why?)

The door creaked open and the two Loyals entered. They stood on each side of the opening and slammed their weapons down on the ground. Loyal Alestri spoke sullenly, the tone coming through even through the crystalline voice. “Announcing Her Royal Highness, Queen Vikia Pador.”

Merrie's jaw opened in shock as the queen of the country stepped into the room. She had only seen Vikia in paintings and drawings. She was a slender woman barely a meter and a half in height. She wore a deep green dress, the official color of the crown, and the cut showed off her narrow hips and small, high breasts. Underneath the mid-cut collar, Merrie could see that she wore a cream-colored slip that gave a hint of the femininity beneath. Vikia's long, white hair was piled high on her head, exposing the delicate nape of her neck and the elegance of her chin. Merrie wondered how long it was; she had never seen the queen with her hair down.

In Vikia's hand was two bottles of wine, both covered in a thick layer of dust. She smiled brilliantly, little flashes of teeth, as she strode up to Kirin. “Kirin,” she said in a soft, clear voice.

“Your Majesty.”

Merrie followed the queen with her eyes, lifting her head as the woman stopped less than a meter away from her. She was stunned, but it took her a moment to realize that it was more than the queen's grace and appearance, but a natural Presence that drew her attention. Like Claston, the queen didn't need magic to draw attention to her, but her presence in the room demanded it.

Trembling, she bowed as low as she could.

“Vikia,” breathed Kirin as they kissed each other's cheeks. “I'm so sorry for coming to you like this.”

“It isn't the first time, Kir.” the queen leaned to the side to look at the remains of the table. “I would have hoped you wouldn't have passed the time ruining my furniture.”

Kirin looked sheepish. “Sorry, your highness. Bitch here,” she gestured to Merrie who bowed again, “was insistent.”

The queen didn't even glance at Merrie. Instead, she stepped forward and grabbed Kirin's head with both hands, the bottles resting on Kirin's shoulders, and pulled her into a kiss.

Merrie's mouth opened in shock and her tail smacked the ground. She watched as the queen and guild mistress kissed passionately. There was a flash of tongue, she didn't know whose, but then the queen broke the embrace and handed the two bottles of wine to Kirin. “Here you go, you're probably drained.”

Eyes glittering gold, Kirin took the bottles. “Thank you, luv.”

The queen looked around the room with a disappointed look. Reflexively, Merrie draped the shade around herself, but the queen's eyes focused directly on her. “And, let's see what all the trouble is about?”

Merrie felt humiliated at how easily the queen looked through her spell. Her ears pressed against her head. Trembling, she held her breath as the queen strolled closer.

At the entrance of the room, there was a flash from both Loyals. Merrie flinched, but they didn't attack. Instead, she felt hundreds of spells activating: strength and speed, but also ones that made her head hurt. She glanced over and took a double-take. They were moving, but faster than she thought possible. Their bodies vibrated, shifting from one position to the other, without crossing the intervening space.

The queen didn't acknowledge the spells or the Loyals. She knelt down delicately on the ground, every movement somehow reminding Merrie of her grace.

Vikia gently touched Merrie's ear, a light touch that sent a shiver of pleasure coursing through her body. She traced the line of Merrie's chin and down to her collar. Merrie tensed as the queen's fingers got close to the metal, afraid of what would happen, but the queen lifted her fingers and brought it down to Merrie's nipple. The light touch, smooth and curious, circled around her nipple until it crinkled with anticipation.

Never in Merrie's life, and she assumed in her lost memories, did she think she would be touched by the queen of the country that way, with the royal fingers on her aching nipples. Merrie's breath came faster, panting, as the queen trailed her fingers down to Merrie's belly.

Raising herself up into a begging position, Merrie fought the whimpers as the queen trailed her fingers down the taut belly, over to the hip, and then up her side. The tickle along her flanks was intense, just knowing who was touching her.

“Pity,” the queen said, “I thought she would have been prettier.”

Merrie stared in shock.

Vikia looked over at Kirin who was downing one of the bottles. A brief frown crossed her face and the infernal rune of wine flashed. She turned back to Merrie. “You would have been a pretty girl except for these,” she plucked at Merrie's ear, “and these,” she brought her finger to the end of Merrie's amputated wrist. She sighed. “Oh well. I'm sure someone finds you attractive.”

With a whimper, Merrie looked back and forth between the queen and Kirin. She felt as if someone had just rejected her in the cruelest possible manner. She wanted to reach out and find out if it was a cruel joke, but the power radiating from the two Loyals stopped her.

The queen caught Merrie's chin and tilted it so Merrie was looking at her. “You are loyal to the crown?”

Merrie never thought about loyalty. She was a citizen of the country, but she never thought about how much she loved her country. It was her home, the only one she knew. She opened her mouth, but she didn't have the words. Closing her mouth, she looked up with a sheepish look.

“You can bark, I've read the reports. A bark is the same thing as yes, correct?”

Gulping, Merrie gave a soft bark.

“Are you loyal to the crown?”

She gave another soft bark, unwilling to lie about her lack of patriotism.

The queen's eyes, the same deep green as her dress, bore into her. “Are you against the crown?”

Merrie shook her head, desperate to deny it.

“At least you have some honesty going for you.” A faint smile crooked the corner of the queen's lips. “You have choice, right now and here. And remember, I don't make threats, do you understand?”

A whimpering bark.

“You are too powerful to be free in this city.” The queen's voice struck Merrie and she could do nothing but stare into the green eyes that held her in place. “There are beings like you in the city and in the country, but they are loyal to the crown. And I don't mean lip service or idle promises. I mean an oath of loyalty, what you call a geas.”

Merrie's sphincter tightened painfully and she whined. Her pulse came faster, pounding in her chest and beating in her ears.

“I know you have one already, the one that keeps you from talking. But, a creature like you cannot remain in my country without some assurances. If you refuse, you will die in this room.”

The Loyal's power increased and the air grew tight with tension.

Shaking violently, Merrie tried to look at Kirin, but the queen's presence was too strong. A tear welled in her eye as she stared into the dark green eyes. She knew what she had to say, but the idea of being bound forever terrified her. But, she also knew that the queen would only accept one of two answers.

She barked.

Queen Vikia nodded once. “Do you swear loyalty to Franome, the crown, and the land, for the rest of your days?” It was the oath of loyalty every child said in school, but when the queen said it, the air beat with power and Merrie felt energy swirling around her.

Her throat dry, Merrie tried to swallow, but couldn't. She barked, a little louder than before.

“Do you swear to protect it with your will, your pride, your power, and your life?”

The swirls of energy shimmered into existence, forming runes in the branches of a giant tree that filled the room. Merrie whimpered as she felt it sinking into her mind, exploding with intensity as her true nature took the oath and made it something more powerful than a mere geas. It took almost all of her effort to bark again.

“Do you swear to keep its secrets until the end of time?”

She had never heard that phrase in the oath, but she barked again.

“Do you swear to guard the Royal Family from all harm, inside and out?”

Merrie gasped as she barked, her body tingling. The geas poured into her, spreading out to sink into every cell of her body. She expected it to taste like shit, but there was nothing but the hint of flowers and leaves on her tongue.

“Do you swear to serve until released by the Royal family?”

She barked loudly, a single sharp noise. Around her, the oath spell exploded and sucked into her, burning into her mind and body. It didn't hurt, but there was an intense rush as if she had been electrocuted during an orgasm. It just kept rippling through her body, threatening to explode out, but she clutched to it until it spread out through her body and sank into her bones.

The queen released her chin and stepped back. A trickle of sweat ran down her brow. “I'm satisfied. Loyal Gistor?”

The male Loyal stamped his foot. “Yes, my queen?”

“Finish erasing the other guild member's memories of the event and let them go. Make sure they know that both Kirin and…” Vikia gestured to Merrie, “are both safe but currently being interrogated by the royal knights. Start spreading rumors that someone was arrested, that will give us a few hours to find a scapegoat.”

“What about former Resolute Pristine?”

“She's still bound by oath. Just remind her of her duty. She will assist in the lie.”

The Loyal bowed and stepped out of the room. As soon as the door shut, there was a bang as he teleported away.

Flickers of light ran along the floor underneath the table. “Teleportation near the Sun Crest door. One knight. Teleportation near the Sun Crest door. One knight. Teleportation…”

The queen turned back to Merrie. “The Royal Family does not associate with the Whore's Guild, do you understand?”

Confused at the queen's orders, Merrie glanced over at Kirin who was polishing off the second bottle.

“Even if,” Vikia's voice grew tense, “they have the gall to chug a bottle of thousand year old wine with the grace of a drunken teenager.”

Kirin lowered the bottle and licked the black wine from her lips. She gave a sheepish smile and shrugged. On her belly, the infernal rune for wine glowed brightly, pulsing with a rapid beat.

“And, while I appreciate you considering my son to be bonded to you—”

Merrie cringed at the tense words directed at her.

“—it would not be in his, yours, or his betrothed's best interest to let a naked slut join that part of his life. And I don't trust him to do the right thing and say no, which is why I refuse to let him go to you. The Crown must remain free of any obligation that doesn't further this country's greatness.”

Her jaw dropping, Merrie stared at the queen. Claston heard her request? He was considering it? A heat spread out along her body as she realized how close she was to bonding with him.

“And, it would be treason, not to mention a violation of your oath, if it becomes known that the Royal Family does associate with the Whore's Guild in any capacity besides professional. Do you understand?”

Merrie barked, unable to do anything else.

“But, unofficially, you must be oath-bound to secrecy if you do service the Royal Family in your…” she looked over Merrie again, “capacity.”

The queen stood up and straightened her dress. Turning to face Kirin, her dress swirled around. She held out her hand. “I'm done here. Shall we have dinner? I want to hear everything.”

Kirin held the last bottle in her fingers. “Bitch would give a better accounting.”

The queen shook her head and held out her arm. “I'll send someone to interrogate her. I want to hear your part, Kir.” There was something else in the queen's voice, a sound that Merrie had heard from many customers and lovers. The queen wanted Kirin.

Kirin set down the empty bottles and bowed. “Of course, my queen.” She took Vikia's arm and they strolled out of the room.

Loyal Alestri stayed behind, but Merrie saw two other Loyals in the hallway turn to follow the queen of the country and the guild mistress. Behind them, the door slammed shut.

Merrie felt very alone.