---
The great hall of Verdant Keep roared with the thunder of victory. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat, spilled ale, and the musk of sweating, exultant bodies. Monster-kings and demon lords, their forms as varied as the stars, clinked their cups and bellowed songs of war and triumph. The firelight flickered across scales, fur, and bare skin, casting long, dancing shadows on the stone walls.
Eya Verdane sat at the high table, her emerald eyes sharp as blades, her dark hair loose and wild around her shoulders. The weight of the day's triumph pressed on her, but it was a weight she bore with pride. The Thousand-Armed Ancient was dead. Her people were avenged. And yet, the arrival of Crown Prince Aldas threatened to sour the sweetness of victory.
A female guard, her armor gleaming under the torchlight, leaned in close. "The Crown Prince says he brings a great gift, to honor the Court Mistress."
Eya's face darkened. "No. Tell him to leave."
The guard hesitated, her confidence wavering. "The Crown Prince… he has brought many with him. We cannot bar his way."
Eya stood abruptly, her fingers curling into fists. "Then take me to him."
Kael, lounging beside her with a half-empty goblet in hand, shot to his feet. "What's wrong?"
Eya's voice was firm, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. "Nothing. I'll handle it. Stay here."
Kael's brow furrowed. "Who is this Crown Prince Aldas?"
Eya forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "A meddlesome nuisance. I'll send him packing. You enjoy the feast—drink your fill tonight."
"Eya…" Kael began, but she was already turning away, her voice rising to cut through the din of the hall.
"Attention, all!" she called, her voice soft yet carrying to every corner. The hall fell silent, the monster-kings and demon lords turning their gaze toward her.
"Today, we reclaimed our home and avenged our kin," Eya declared, her voice steady. "You all know the Thousand-Armed Ancient has fallen. And now, I tell you this—the one who struck the killing blow was none other than…" She paused, gesturing to Kael with a flourish. "My companion here—Cairn White, the gallant!"
The hall erupted. Cheers, roars, and the clatter of cups slamming onto tables filled the air. Dozens of monster-kings surged forward, goblets raised high, their eyes alight with admiration and curiosity. Kael, caught off guard by the sudden attention, barely had time to raise his own cup in response before he was surrounded by a sea of well-wishers.
The Shadowstride King, a towering figure with a cloak that seemed to drink in the light, was the first to press forward. "To Cairn White!" he bellowed, his voice like rolling thunder. "The slayer of the Ancient!"
The Mountainbreaker King, his body as rugged as the peaks he ruled, clapped Kael on the back hard enough to rattle his teeth. "A man after my own heart! Drink, brother!"
The Sunpecker King, his beak clicking with laughter, leaned in with a leering grin. "So you're the Carefree Young Lord! I've heard tales—oh, the tales I've heard!"
Kael's stomach twisted. Carefree Young Lord? He had no time to dwell on it. The toasts came in waves, each monster-king and demon lord eager to honor the man who had felled their ancient enemy. Lyria Snowmere, her ice-blue eyes glinting with amusement, raised her cup from across the hall. Even Grimhog, his massive bear form barely contained by the bench he sat on, roared in approval, though his eyes darted nervously toward the door, as if expecting Selene Voss to appear at any moment.
Kael drank. And drank. And drank some more. The ale was strong, the company boisterous, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a strange, warm kinship with the creatures around him. It reminded him of the nights he'd spent in the Jade Peaks, carousing with Grimhog, the Flying Marshal, and the Sea-Disturbing Marshal. If only they were here, he thought, a pang of nostalgia cutting through the haze of alcohol. This night would be perfect.
But the night was far from over.
---
The toasts slowed as the hall emptied, monster-kings collapsing into drunken heaps or stumbling off to their chambers. Kael, his vision swimming, slumped against the table, his body heavy with exhaustion and ale. The world around him blurred, the roaring fire now a smudge of orange and gold.
Then, two faces swam into view—bright, mischievous, and far too close.
"Brother White," Azure Farwyn purred, her voice like a summer breeze. "We want to toast you too."
Kael squinted, his mind sluggish. Violet and Azure. The butterfly demons. Their wings, usually hidden, shimmered faintly in the firelight, their colors shifting between purple and blue-green. "Taking advantage of a drunk man, are we?" he slurred, raising his cup with unsteady hands. "Fine. Let's see who falls first!"
Violet laughed, her fingers pinching his cheek. "You're even cuter when you're drunk."
"Hey! Show some respect!" Kael protested, but his words lacked bite.
Violet's grin widened. "Oh, so this is the infamous Carefree Young Lord? You've caused us so much trouble!"
Kael's heart lurched. What in the hells? But before he could dwell on it, Azure pressed closer, her arm slipping around his. "Eya's not here," she whispered, her breath warm against his ear.
Kael's mind raced, though his body refused to cooperate. "Sit properly, both of you! This isn't the place for—"
"There's no one left to see," Violet teased, her body pressing against his side. "And those who are still awake won't care."
"Or remember," Azure added, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his arm.
Kael's throat tightened. "Stop this. We're just here to drink."
Violet's laughter was a melody, dark and sweet. "Oh, Brother White. You slept with us. And now you want to play the noble?"
Azure's voice was a purr. "Do you remember that night? The way you left us breathless? Gasping?"
Kael's face burned. He did remember. The forest. The wine. The way their bodies had moved together, wild and unrestrained. But that had been different. That had been… a mistake. "That was—we were all drunk! It just… happened!"
"And then you were very awake," Violet murmured, her hand slipping beneath his collar. "Don't worry. We won't tell Eya."
Kael swallowed hard. "I don't care if you tell her."
Azure's laughter was a chime. "Oh, but you do. I've never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at you. If she finds out…" She let the threat hang in the air.
Kael's mind reeled. "Blackmail? Really?"
Violet's fingers tightened on his arm. "Call it… reparation. For that night. You owe us, Brother White."
Azure's lips brushed his ear. "We want revenge. For the countless arrows you loosed upon us."
Kael's pulse spiked.
His mouth went dry.
"If you don't come," Azure whispered, "we'll tell Eya everything. How you took us both. How you left us trembling."
Kael's resistance crumbled. "Fine. Fine! I'll come. But not now. I'm exhausted. Tomorrow—"
"Tonight," Violet said, her voice brooking no argument. "Now. Raindream Terrace. The highest point in the keep."
Kael groaned. "It's the middle of the night. I can't even see the path!"
Violet's grin was wicked. "You don't need to see. Just fly up. It's the highest place here."
Azure's tongue flicked over her lips. "And we'll be waiting."
---
Another toast. Another cup pressed into his hand. Joran Three, the ancient land spirit of the Vale, his wrinkled face split in a grin, offered Kael a drink. "To the hero of the hour, Little Warden!"
Kael drank, his mind a whirlwind of alcohol and dread. The butterfly sisters' words echoed in his skull. Raindream Terrace. Tonight.
He had to admit, the thought sent a thrill through him, despite the danger. Eya would skin him alive if she found out. But the memory of that night—their bodies, their moans, the way they'd clung to him—was intoxicating.
Damn it.
---
The world spun as Kael stumbled out into the night air. The moon hung high, casting silver light over the Verdant Keep. He took a deep breath, the cool breeze doing little to clear his head. Raindream Terrace. He squinted upward. The highest point. A circular basin of water, open to the sky.
He gathered his Vitae, the Sundering Flame path flaring to life within him, and launched himself into the air. The wind rushed past his face, the ground falling away beneath him. For a moment, the dizziness of drink and flight merged, and he wobbled, nearly losing his balance. But he righted himself, soaring higher, the torchlight of the keep shrinking below him.
The terrace was a dark smudge against the stars. He landed heavily, his knees buckling as he touched down on the stone. The basin of water glistened in the moonlight, its surface still as glass.
But there was no sign of the terrace itself.
Kael frowned, swaying on his feet. "Where in the—?"
A dense bamboo grove loomed before him, its leaves rustling in the night breeze. He blinked. This isn't right. He'd flown straight up. There should be nothing but open sky and the terrace.
A gust of cold wind hit him, and his stomach lurched. The ale churned within him, and for a moment, he thought he might retch. He staggered, his vision swimming, and then—
Thump.
He fell, not onto stone, but onto soft grass. The bamboo grove stretched endlessly around him, the moonlight filtering through the leaves in dappled patterns. The air smelled of earth and green things, and for a moment, he was back in the Jade Peaks, back in the days when he'd run wild with Grimhog and the others.
A wave of nostalgia crashed over him. He flopped onto his back, staring up at the moon, his mind adrift. A song rose in his throat, unbidden. He belted it out, his voice rough but true:
"Green the peaks, blue the streams,
The maidens of Jade Peaks, fair as the waters,
The lads of Jade Peaks, strong as the mountains—
Ahhh—
Green peaks everlasting, blue streams ever flowing,
The maid and the lad, forever as one,
As the waters wind round the mountains…"
His voice echoed through the grove, raw and emotional. For a moment, he forgot where he was. Forgot Eya. Forgot the butterfly sisters. Forgot everything but the memory of simpler days.
"What in the hells are you doing, bellowing like a wounded beast?"
Kael blinked. Violet and Azure knelt beside him, their eyes gleaming with amusement.
"I can't find Raindream Terrace," he muttered.
Violet rolled her eyes. "It's right through the grove. Can't you hear the water?"
Kael listened. Faintly, he could make out the sound of rushing water. He grinned, drunkenly. "Then let's go."
He tried to stand, but Violet pressed a hand to his chest, pushing him back down. "Stay. It's nice here."
Kael groaned. "I'm sweating like a pig. I need to cool off."
Azure's voice was a whisper, thick with promise. "You'll sweat more soon. Much more."
Kael's heart hammered.
Azure pressed against his side, her body warm. "You wretch," she murmured. "To think you're the one who nearly ruined us that night."
"I didn't—" Kael began, but Violet cut him off, her lips brushing his ear.
"Liar. We know what you are. The Carefree Young Lord. The man who takes what he wants."
Kael's throat tightened. "I'm not—"
"Then prove it," Azure challenged, her tongue tracing the shell of his ear. "Prove you're not the deviant we know you to be."
Kael's resistance wavered. The alcohol, the night, the memory of their bodies—it was all too much. "We shouldn't—"
"Why not?" Azure's teeth grazed his neck. "You did it before."
"That was… different," Kael stammered. "We were all drunk."
Violet's hand slipped beneath his shirt, her fingers cool against his skin. "And now we're sober."
Kael's mind raced. Eya. The consequences. The way she'd look at him if she found out. But the sisters' touches were intoxicating, their bodies pressed against his, their breath hot on his skin.
"If we tell Eya," Azure whispered, "she'll have your balls on a platter. I've never seen her care for anyone the way she cares for you."
Kael's stomach twisted. He tried to sit up, but the sisters pressed him down, their strength surprising.
"Where is she?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"Asleep," Azure said, her eyes gleaming. "And she won't wake up."
Violet's laugh was a dark chime. "So. No one will know."
Kael's mind screamed at him to run. But his body betrayed him, his flesh responding to their touches, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I'm tired. I need to sleep."
Azure's laughter was a purr. "Then sleep. The grass is soft. The breeze is cool. Sleep all you want." Her hand slid lower, her fingers deft. "We'll just… play."
Violet's voice was a whisper. "Or we could go tell Eya. Right now."
Kael's resolve shattered.
---
The sisters worked quickly, their hands stripping him of his clothes with practiced ease. The night air was cool against his skin, but their bodies were warm, their touches electric.
"Oh?" Azure's voice was a tease. "Looks like someone's eager."
Violet's laughter was soft. "He's tenting my leg."
Kael groaned, his face burning. The alcohol had dulled his senses, but not enough to stop the fire their touches ignited.
"Let's take care of that," Azure murmured, her fingers wrapping around him.
Kael gasped as her hand began to move, her touch sending jolts of pleasure through him. Violet's lips found his, her kiss hungry, her tongue probing his mouth as her sister worked him below.
"So hard already," Violet breathed against his lips. "And we've barely started."
Azure's tongue flicked over the tip of him, and Kael's hips jerked. "Fuck—"
"Shhh," Azure chided, her voice muffled. "You'll wake the whole keep."
Violet's hands joined Azure's, their fingers intertwining as they stroked him, their touches alternating between gentle and firm. Kael's mind was a haze of pleasure, the world reduced to their hands, their mouths, their bodies pressed against his.
"Still think you're not a deviant?" Violet whispered, her lips trailing down his chest.
Kael could only groan in response, his body arching into their touches.
Azure's mouth enclosed around him, her tongue swirling, and Kael's thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind. There was no Eya. No consequences. Only the night, the grass beneath him, and the two women who were determined to have their revenge.
And Kael, for all his protests, was powerless to stop them.
---
Violet's laughter was a purr, thick with mischief. "Such a tempting sound," she murmured, her voice dripping with wicked delight. "Let's make him scream."
Azure understood at once. The sisters leaned in, their tongues slithering out like serpents, glistening and supple. Kael felt the wet, sinuous heat of them as they coiled around his shaft—one from above, one from below—twisting, flicking, swirling in a dance of torment. The sensation was maddening, each stroke and swirl sending jolts of pleasure through him, his body tensing like a drawn bow.
He gritted his teeth, determined not to make a sound, but Azure's voice cut through his resistance. "He won't give us what we want," she teased.
Violet hummed, low and knowing. "Then we'll take it." She drew out the word take like a promise, her tongue tracing the underside of his length. "Together."
"Like this?" Azure asked, her breath hot against his skin.
"Mmm." Violet's eyes sparkled with devilry.
Kael realized their intent a heartbeat before they acted. Their tongues retreated, replaced by the soft, plush press of their lips. They clamped around him, their mouths working in unison—up and down, sucking, sliding, their lips gliding along his length in a rhythm that stole his breath. He had never felt anything like it. His fists clenched, his chest heaving as he fought to keep his voice from breaking.
The sisters worked him with relentless precision, their saliva quickly slicking his cock until it gleamed, swollen and flushed a deep, throbbing crimson. The veins along its length pulsed, the head engorged like a ripe fruit, the shaft thick and veined like an enraged dragon. Azure and Violet exchanged a glance, their own breaths quickening at the sight.
"Sister…" Azure's voice was a whisper, thick with need. "I can't wait."
Violet's reply was a murmur, so low Kael barely caught it. "Patience. Or you'll lose again." Then, louder, her voice a velvet taunt: "If he won't scream for us, we'll make him."
She shifted, her tongue darting out to tease the sensitive underside of his tip. "Let's try something new, Azure."
"Who goes below?" Azure asked, her fingers already tracing patterns on his thighs.
"I will. We'll switch later."
The sisters moved with a wordless understanding, their bodies shifting as they spread his legs apart. Kael gasped as something delicate—feather-light—brushed against his entrance. Then, a wet, insistent pressure. He jolted, his back arching off the grass as Violet's tongue pressed, circled, probed. The sensation was alien, intimate, forbidden. His mind reeled.
"W-what—? That's—" His voice cracked. "That's not clean!"
Violet ignored him, her arms locking around his thighs to keep him open, her tongue working with wicked skill. Kael's body trembled, his mind short-circuiting between shock and a dark, shameful thrill.
Azure, meanwhile, slithered up his body, her lips parting to reveal the glistening tip of her tongue. She leaned in, offering it to him like a sacred offering. Kael, half-mad with sensation, opened his mouth without thinking. Their tongues met, Azure's sliding into his mouth with a boldness that left him breathless. She explored him thoroughly—teasing, swirling, tangling with his own, even feeding him the sweetness of her saliva.
Kael groaned, his hand reaching for her, but Azure pulled back with a smirk. She pressed him down, her voice a purr. "Tonight, you're ours to enjoy."
Then her lips trailed down his throat, each kiss a brand. She lingered at his pulse, then lower—over his collarbone, his chest, her tongue leaving a glistening path down his sternum. She circled his navel, her breath hot, before finally reaching his cock. She lapped at the length, her tongue tracing every vein, every ridge, before her lips parted. With effort, she took the thick, bulbous head into her mouth, her lips stretching around the girth.
Kael's entire body tensed, a groan tearing from his throat as she worked him, her throat fluttering as she tried to take more. But he was too much—too long, too thick. She gagged, tears pricking at her eyes, and pulled back, switching to shallow, rapid strokes. Her lips and teeth worked the upper half, her tongue swirling around the crown, while her hands gripped the base, pumping in time with her mouth.
Below, Violet had changed her approach. Her lips sealed around his entrance, her suction growing stronger, her tongue delving deeper. The dual sensations—Azure's mouth on his cock, Violet's on his other hole—sent Kael spiraling. His hips jerked, his mind a storm of pleasure and disbelief.
He couldn't take it. With a growl, he sat up, dragging Azure against him. His hand cupped her breast through the thin fabric of her dress, kneading roughly before he yanked the neckline aside. The green undergarment beneath was no barrier. He dipped his head, capturing a stiff, rosy nipple between his lips, his tongue lashing the sensitive peak.
Azure moaned, her body arching into his touch. "Kael…" she breathed, her voice thick with desire. "Do you like this? Do you like us?"
He didn't answer, too lost in the taste of her, the feel of her. His fingers dug into the soft flesh of her waist, then slid lower, slipping beneath the waistband of her skirt. The skin there was hot, slick. He groaned against her breast as his fingers found her folds, already drenched.
Azure bit her lip, her eyes locked on his, burning with a mix of need and something deeper—something almost pleading. "Would you… would you come with us?" she panted. "Let us serve you every night. No—more than that."
Kael hesitated, his fingers stilling for a fraction of a second. The question hung between them, heavy with implication.
The shift in position had forced Violet to abandon her previous target. She didn't miss a beat. She crawled up, replacing Azure's mouth with her own, her lips sealing around his cock with a wet, eager sound.
Kael hissed, his fingers pushing through the soft curls between Azure's legs. He found her entrance, slick and ready, and without hesitation, he plunged two fingers inside.
Azure cried out, her nails digging into his shoulders. Her hips rocked against his hand, her body trembling. "K-Kael—!"
He worked her ruthlessly, his fingers curling, stroking, owning her from the inside. His thumb found her clit, rubbing in tight, demanding circles. Azure's dress had slipped, baring one creamy shoulder to the moonlight. The sight of her—half-dressed, wanton, his—sent a fresh wave of lust crashing through him.
Then, with a snarl, he flipped her onto her back, pinning her beneath him.
"Mmph!" Violet protested, her mouth full, a thread of saliva dripping from her lips as she pulled off with a wet pop. She wiped her mouth, glaring up at him. "A little warning next time, you brute! You nearly choked me!"
Kael only grunted, his gaze locked on Azure. The girl's hair was a mess, her brows knit in a way that only made her more alluring. He hauled her up, pressing her down beside Violet.
"You little vixens," Azure panted, her skirt and undergarments already pushed down to her thighs, revealing the pale, tempting curve of her ass. The dark triangle of hair between her legs peeked out, glistening with arousal. "Which one of us do you want first?"
Kael's answer was a growl. "You."
He yanked her skirt the rest of the way down, baring her completely. Then he was between her thighs, the thick head of his cock pressing against her slick, trembling entrance. With a single, powerful thrust, he buried himself to the hilt.
"Ah—!" Azure's back arched, her nails raking the grass as she cried out. "Fuck—! Right to the core—!"
Kael didn't give her time to adjust. He pulled back and slammed into her again, each stroke deep, punishing. Azure's body bowed, her thighs trembling as she struggled to take him. Her juices gushed, coating his cock, his balls, the grass beneath them.
No other woman had ever responded like this. The sound of their bodies slapping together, the slick, obscene noises of her arousal—it all fed the fire in his veins. He leaned over her, pressing her legs forward until her knees nearly touched her chest, bending her into a lewd, obscene shape. The new angle let him drive even deeper, each thrust hitting the very end of her.
Violet, watching from the side, couldn't contain herself. She crawled over, her lips and tongue trailing over Kael's chest, his arms, his neck—anywhere she could reach.
"J-just like that—! Kael—! Oh gods, yes—! Fuck me—! Fuck me harder—!" Azure's voice was a broken litany of need, her hips lifting to meet each thrust, her body a trembling, desperate thing beneath him.
Kael looked down between them, watching as his cock stretched her open, her pink lips clinging to his length. Every withdrawal dragged her inner flesh out with him, only for it to snap back as he plunged in again. Her arousal coated him, thick and white, stretching into glistening strings as he pulled back.
Then, with a cry, Azure's body clenched around him, her back arching as her climax crashed over her. A gush of fluid sprayed from her, splashing against his cock, his balls, the grass beneath them.
Both of them groaned, Azure's arms flying around him as she clutched at him, her body trembling as she rode out the waves of pleasure. "I—I can't—! It's too much—!" she gasped, her voice breaking.
"What's wrong?" Violet asked, her own breath ragged.
"I—I came too fast—!" Azure's face was flushed, her body still shuddering. "I tried to hold it—!"
"Let go!" Kael barked, his cock twitching inside her, the sensation of her climax making it impossible to stay still.
"W-wait—! Don't—! I'll—! I'll come again—!" Azure's voice was desperate, her body tensing as if bracing for impact.
Kael didn't listen. He began to move again, his thrusts even more brutal than before.
"Damn you—!" Azure wailed, her body already trembling on the edge of another release.
"Stop whining," Kael growled, his hips snapping against hers.
"How can you—! Ah—! You're too much—! I can't—! I can't stop—!" Azure's face was a mask of ecstasy and torment, her body slick with sweat as she thrashed beneath him.
Then, her eyes widened. "K-Kael—! It's—! It's happening again—!"
Violet followed her gaze, her own breath catching as she saw the base of Kael's cock. The veins there had swollen, the skin flushing a deep, burning crimson. Then, as she watched, the dragon-like patterns began to coil around his length, the veins twisting like living things, the head flaring as if on fire.
Violet's eyes lit up with recognition. "It's true—! Just like Master said—! The Dracoiling—!"
Azure, lost in the storm of pleasure, could only whimper. She propped herself up on her elbows, her fingers clawing at the grass as she panted, "Hurry—! The fish—! I need the fish—!"
Kael, drunk on lust and the sight of her, barely registered her words. Fish? What the hell was she—?
Then he saw Violet's hand moving to her waist, her lips moving in a silent incantation. A small, embroidered pouch appeared in her hand.
"Quick—! I can't—! I can't hold it—!" Azure's voice was frantic, her legs trembling, her hips bucking up to meet his thrusts.
Kael, lost in the haze of pleasure, barely heard her. The sight of her—wild, wanton, his—only spurred him on. He hauled her up against him, his hands gripping her ass as he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist. Then he was fucking her, each thrust driving deep, his cock pounding into her core.
"Nnngh—! Can't—! Can't take it—!" Azure's head thrashed, her hair a wild halo around her as she clung to him, her body a trembling, desperate thing in his arms.
"Here!" Violet finally pulled something from the pouch—a small, translucent fish, its scales shimmering with an eerie, greenish light. It looked alive, its fins fluttering as she pressed it to Azure's lips.
Azure, on the verge of collapse, turned her head, her mouth closing around the fish. It vanished between her lips, its tail flicking as it disappeared.
And then—
Kael's cock twitched, the head pressing against something deep inside her. A jolt of pleasure-pain shot through him, his vision whiting out for a heartbeat.