Bonds of Power
Copyright© 2025 by SomethingLewd
Chapter 35: Cognitive Dissonance
Science Fiction Sex Story: Chapter 35: Cognitive Dissonance - Dungeon incursions threaten humanity. Ethan’s rare S-rank Essence Bonder Class grants permanent growth and demands multi-partner bonds, powering his abilities with essence created by intimacy, pushing his team into a harem dynamic none expected. As they navigate stigma and personal boundaries, political pressure mounts: many claim Ethan owes society his power, not loyalty to his D-ranked sister and girlfriend. Torn between duty and choice, he must justify the team he refuses to abandon.
Caution: This Science Fiction Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Ma/Fa Fa/Fa Lesbian Heterosexual Fiction GameLit High Fantasy School Science Fiction Magic Sharing Incest Brother Sister Group Sex Harem Polygamy/Polyamory Cream Pie Exhibitionism Facial Masturbation Oral Sex Voyeurism
The next morning, the team gathered at their usual training facility, the air thick with anticipation. The hearing had left them all on edge, each replaying their testimonies in their minds.
Dr. Kade arrived a short time later, her tablet in hand and a determined look on her face. “Good morning,” she greeted, her voice clipped but not unkind. “I have news from the committee.”
Ethan straightened, his gaze locking onto Dr. Kade’s. The others gathered closer, their expressions a mix of hope and apprehension.
“Both Marcus and his father have been placed on administrative leave, pending further investigations,” Dr. Kade announced. “The committee found enough to be suspicious of, and this is only the first step in holding them accountable.”
Ethan let out a breath she hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He looked at grace and saw relief washed over her, but it was tempered by the knowledge that this was far from over.
Dr. Kade continued, “There was quite a fight within the committee. The vote to continue the investigation was three to two against Marcus and his father.”
Penny frowned. “Only three to two? That’s not a landslide.”
Dr. Kade nodded. “No, it’s not. But given the circumstances, it’s more than we could have hoped for. The two who held in favor of Marcus have some suspected ties to the Hale family. It’s not uncommon for political families to have influence, but in this case, it worked against them.”
Alice crossed her arms. “How so?”
“Because of Tony Hale’s hubris,” Dr. Kade explained. “The offer he made to Ethan was included in my testimony. It was the deciding factor for one of the committee members to vote for further investigations. It’s considered extremely bad form for state guild officials to poach S-ranks from each other.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow. “So, his attempt to recruit me backfired?”
Dr. Kade nodded. “In a manner of speaking. He underestimated the committee’s sense of decorum and professionalism. His actions were seen as not just unethical but also politically tone-deaf.”
Mei let out a low whistle. “So, he dug his own grave.”
“Precisely,” Dr. Kade agreed. “Now, we need to focus on what comes next. The investigation will continue, and there will likely be further hearings. In the meantime, I suggest you all return to your training and duties. Stay vigilant, but don’t let this distract you from your goals.”
The team nodded in unison, a sense of determination filling the air.
“Good,” Dr. Kade said. “I’ll keep you updated as more information comes in. For now, let’s get back to work.”
As Dr. Kade left, the team turned to each other, their expressions a mix of relief and resolve.
“We did it,” Grace said with a sense of disbelief in her voice.
Ethan smiled at her, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. “We did. But we’re not done yet.”
Alice nodded. “So, what’s next?”
Penny grinned. “Back to training. And maybe a little celebration later.”
Mei chuckled. “I can get behind that. But first, let’s show them what we’re made of.”
The team gathered in the center of the training yard, their determination palpable.
“Alright,” Ethan said, his voice steady and sure. “Let’s train.”
The restaurant buzzed with lively chatter and clinking glasses, the warm glow of overhead lights casting a cozy ambiance over the team’s celebration dinner. The table was laden with half-eaten plates of pasta, garlic bread, and an assortment of drinks. Ethan’s glass of red wine untouched, Grace’s soda half-finished, Penny’s cocktail already empty.
Grace laughed at something Alice said, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I can’t believe you tried to use a chair as a shield,” she teased, nudging Alice with her elbow.
Alice grinned, leaning back in her seat. “Hey, it worked! Sort of.”
Mei rolled her eyes but smiled, swirling her wine glass. “Barely. You looked like a turtle trying to hide in its shell.”
Penny cackled, pointing at Alice. “A very slow turtle.”
Ethan chuckled, finally picking up his wine glass and taking a sip. The rich, bold flavor rolled over his tongue, and he savored it while enjoying the banter at the table. For the first time in weeks, he felt something akin to peace. The weight of Marcus’ threats and manipulations had been lifted, at least for now.
The team’s laughter filled the air, their voices overlapping as they recounted stories from their training sessions and recent dungeon raids. The mood was light, the tension that had clung to them like a second skin finally easing.
But then, the atmosphere shifted.
A shadow fell over their table, and the laughter died down as one by one, they looked up to see Marcus Hale standing there, his expression a mix of exasperation and anger. His polished exterior was still intact—his suit immaculate, his hair perfectly styled—but there was a wildness in his eyes that betrayed his composure.
“Grace,” he said, his voice low and firm, as if addressing a disobedient child. “We need to talk.”
Grace’s smile vanished, her grip tightening around her glass. She didn’t respond, her gaze locked onto Marcus’s, her expression unreadable.
Marcus sighed, as if dealing with a particularly stubborn pet. “Come on, Grace. This has gone on long enough. You’re making a scene, and it’s embarrassing.”
The team exchanged glances, their earlier levity replaced by a simmering anger. Ethan stood first, his chair scraping against the floor. Alice and Mei followed suit, their bodies tensed and ready.
Penny was the last to stand, her eyes narrowing as she looked Marcus up and down. “You’ve got some nerve showing up here,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “You’re breaking your restraining order, you know that, right?”
Marcus ignored her, his focus solely on Grace. He reached out, his hand closing around her upper arm. “Grace, let’s go. We can sort this out like adults.”
Grace yanked her arm away, her voice sharp and cold. “Don’t touch me.”
The team stepped closer, forming a protective barrier between Grace and Marcus. Ethan’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his jaw tight.
Marcus’s expression darkened, his mask of politeness slipping. “You’re being ridiculous, Grace. You let these people poison you against me. They’re influencing you, making you see things that aren’t there.”
Penny scoffed, stepping forward until she was mere inches from Marcus. “Oh, please. Stalking her, interfering with our admin work, sabotaging dungeon equipment—what’s next? Hiring a hitman?”
Marcus’s eyes flickered with something unreadable—anger, embarrassment, perhaps a hint of fear. But then his expression hardened, his voice rising as he pointed a finger at Grace. “This is your fault. You let them turn you against me. You’re being manipulated, and you’re too blind to see it.”
Ethan stepped between them, his voice low and dangerous. “That’s enough, Marcus. You need to leave. Now.”
Marcus ignored him, his gaze still locked onto Grace. “You think you can just walk away from me? From us? You think these people care about you? They’re using you, Grace. Can’t you see that?”
Grace stood her ground, her voice steady and sure. “I see plenty. I see a man who can’t accept that I don’t want him anymore. A man who’s willing to hurt others to get what he wants.”
Marcus’s expression twisted, his anger boiling over. “Hurt others? Is that what you think of me? After everything I’ve done for you?”
Penny snorted, crossing her arms. “Oh, please. You’re a disgrace of a man, Marcus. I’ve met plenty of mediocre men in my life, but you can’t even meet that low standard.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
Penny smirked, undeterred. “Oh, I think I do. And let me tell you, your little sabotage trick didn’t work. We survived the dungeon, and now we have proof that you were behind it. So, how does it feel, Marcus? Knowing that you failed?”
Marcus’s expression flickered, a moment of uncertainty crossing his features. But then his anger surged back, his voice rising as he pointed an accusing finger at Penny. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Penny raised an eyebrow, her tone mocking. “Oh, really? Then how do you explain the sabotaged equipment? The altered dungeon identification? It’s not exactly rocket science, Marcus. And let me ask you this—was your goal to kill Grace? Is that why you did it? Because if you can’t have her, nobody can?”
Marcus’s expression darkened, his voice a low growl. “You’re twisting my words.”
Penny shook her head, her tone scornful. “No, I’m just stating the facts. And the facts are that you’re a pathetic, manipulative excuse for a man. You couldn’t handle Grace leaving you, so you decided to what? Punish her? Kill her?”
Marcus’s expression twisted, his anger boiling over. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he spat, taking a step back.
The restaurant manager approached, her expression concerned. “Is everything alright here?” she asked, looking at the team and then at Marcus.
Penny turned to her, her voice steady. “No, it’s not. This man is harassing us. He’s breaking a restraining order, and he needs to leave.”
The manager looked at Marcus, her expression hardening. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Marcus glanced around, realizing the attention he was drawing. His expression twisted in frustration, but he knew he was beaten—for now.
“This isn’t over,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You think you can hide behind Guildmaster Warren? Behind your little team? You’re wrong. This isn’t over.”
With that, he turned and stormed out of the restaurant, leaving a tense silence in his wake.
The team exhaled collectively, their bodies relaxing as the tension eased. The manager looked at them, her expression sympathetic. “I’m sorry about that,” she said. “Can I get you anything? Another drink, perhaps?”
Ethan shook his head, forcing a smile. “No, thank you. We appreciate your help.”
The manager nodded, giving them a small smile before walking away.
Penny pulled out her phone, her fingers flying over the screen. “I’m texting Kade,” she said, her voice steady. “We need to report this.”
Ethan nodded, his mind racing. He looked at Grace, who was still standing, her expression unreadable. He reached out, his hand closing around hers. “Are you okay?”
Grace looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions—anger, fear, determination. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice steady. “But this isn’t over.”
Penny looked up from her phone, her expression grim. “No, it’s not. But we’re ready for it.”
The team exchanged glances, their determination palpable. They had faced Marcus before, and they would face him again. But this time, they were prepared.
Penny’s phone beeped, and she looked down at the screen. “Kade wants a recording,” she said, her fingers already moving to pull up the video she had taken.
Ethan nodded, his voice steady. “Send it to her. Let’s give her everything we have.”
As Penny sent the recording, and the team returned to their seats to finish their meal in tense silence, the earlier levity replaced by a heavy unease. The restaurant manager kept a watchful eye on them as they paid the bill and stood to leave.
The night air was cool as they stepped outside, the hum of the city a stark contrast to the tension that hung over them. Grace walked close to Ethan, her hand wrapped around his, her grip tight enough to betray the anxiety she was trying to hide.
They had made it half a block when Marcus stepped out from the shadows between two buildings. His polished exterior was gone. His suit jacket was rumpled, shirt untucked on one side, tie loosened and hanging askew. His hair, usually perfectly styled, stuck up at odd angles as if he’d been running his hands through it repeatedly. His eyes were bloodshot and wild, pupils dilated in the streetlight.
“Grace,” he said, voice rough and unsteady. “Grace, please. Just ... just listen to me for one minute.”
Grace stopped, her entire body tensing. Ethan felt it through their joined hands. The spike of fear, the instinctive freeze response. He moved slightly in front of her, protective.