Chapter 17: Taking Care Of Business (Vixen)

I woke Wumtug when my watch ended. He still seemed a bit shell-shocked, but that was understandable. My Queen had been blunt when she informed everyone that a powerful mage would ambush us before we left the dungeon. Wumtug didn’t ask about running. He had earned my protection, as long as it doesn’t endanger My Queen or her pleasure.

My Queen slept with Kitten trapped in her arms, both smelling of lust and arousal. I smiled and spent several long minutes enjoying the view before slipping into stealth and turning away.

Just like I taught Kitten, it was time to teach Violet. Then give her some time to accept the truth and to understand her place in Ciarra’s harem. As incredible as My Queen is, she doesn’t seem to understand mortals. Kitten appears to have accepted her position, but Violet is a different story. Hopefully, she doesn’t force me to kill her, but our deaths would be a small price to pay for My Queen’s pleasure.

Kolra swore that when we were successful, Ciarra would become the prime deity of our world. My vision blurred. Whatever it took, at any cost, I would make that happen.

When I found the human woman, she was lying on her side, back against the wall. As far from Ciarra as she could get without leaving the protection of our camp. Still awake. Still crying. It wasn’t a good sign, but the first day is overwhelming.

You have earned a rank. [Sneak II] has become [Sneak III]

Her unbuttoned shirt had fallen open, exposing a breast through her bedroll. My Queen had certainly made them quite ... significant. I’ve seen more generous ones, but only on a minotaur. Do they produce milk like minotaurs are rumored to? My cheeks heated. I’d never considered it before, but now I couldn’t help imagining drinking directly from the source. If she didn’t make that change to Violet, I could ask her to change Kitten. But, it feels wrong to ask My Queen for anything. We exist to serve, not to beg for favors.

I put the thought out of my mind. I was here for something far more crucial...

“You’re awake,” I said, dropping out of stealth right in front of her.

“Wha... , “ she flinched. “Oh, it’s you.”

Violet grumbled, “Is it time for my watch already?”

“No, but we need to talk.”

“Are you here to threaten and bully me?” she asked, trying to sound unconcerned. Only the slight tremor of fear in her voice gave her away. She’s brave and smart. Perhaps this conversation will be all she requires.

“You must have questions. I’m here to help you find the answers you need.”

“You can’t help. Not with this,” Violet said, looking at Ciarra’s sleeping form. “Sometimes Lionel was arrogant, but he was a good man. He saved me, and now I’m oathbound to be the ‘pet’ of the woman that killed him. How can I let that go?”

Interesting that she starts here. I expected her to ask about the changes to her body and stats first. Asking about Lionel first says a lot about her. She’s loyal, even though she didn’t like him.

“Kolra, Goddess of Domination and Control, suggested that you bargain with Ciarra for your lives. How did you think Our Queen would save you and your sister?”

She started to speak a few times, then shook her head, “I never asked, but I assumed that Ciarra would send some of Kolra’s clergy. A few powerful paladins and clerics could probably stop him. Lionel probably thought the same thing.”

“That’s the assumption that caused his death.”

That got her attention.

Her eyes snapped to mine, and she jumped to her feet and glared down at me.

She tried to cross her arms, but her new bust was too large for that. After several attempts, she crossed her arms under her breasts. I carefully held back my smile, I didn’t want to alienate her, but it was amusing. My Queens power was strange. The changes she makes feel so natural that you don’t even notice them most of the time. Then something like this happens, and you can’t help but notice. Not that I had experienced that problem with my more modest bosom.

Violet towered over me. She was at least twice my height. As hard as she tried, her glare wasn’t intimidating. At least to me. After all, I could simply kill her before she even realized she was in danger. More importantly, death no longer scared me. Nor did torture. The only thing I feared was failing My Queen.

“If this cavern held a dragon, and I poked it with a stick. Would you blame the dragon for my death?”

She continued glaring with flat eyes.

I grinned up at her innocently.

“Okay,” she finally said, “I’ll bite. I wouldn’t blame him, and that’s obviously what you want me to say.”

“You both assumed Ciarra was a lizardkin, but Our Queen is far more than she appears to be. Ciarra isn’t a lizardkin, she’s a dragon. More than that, she’s a primordial dragon.

“Impossible,” Violet said flatly. “She’s lying.”

I snarled as I released [Terrifying Arua], sculpting the area of effect so that only Violet was affected. She whimpered and backed away, shivering with fear as she slid along the wall. I stalked after her, flaring my aura, twisting it around her so that she drowned in terror.

It wasn’t enough.

My aura crashed down on the unfaithful bitch with an almost audible impact. Violet collapsed to her knees, weeping and begging, out of her mind with terror. She wasn’t worthy of My Queen’s attention.

What am I doing? It’s My Queen’s decision, not mine! And ... Violet doesn’t know any better. Teaching Violet the truth about Our Queen is the right answer, not killing her for lacking that knowledge.

I released my aura, freeing her from its grip.

Several long minutes later, she had recovered enough to continue. To my surprise, she managed to glare at me, although she still shivered with fear. It proved that she was much tougher than she initially seemed.

Your skill has evolved. [Terrifying Aura] has become [Undeniable Presence]
You have earned three ranks. [Undeniable Presence IV] has become [Undeniable Presence VII]

Only when the divine notification appeared did I realize what I had done. Somehow, I shaped [Terrifying Aura] so that it only hit who I wanted it to affect, and then used it as a weapon.

Against one of My Queen’s pets.

I bowed low, “I apologize, I reacted inappropriately. You did not deserve that, and I owe you a favor.”

She nodded but didn’t actually accept my apology, so I let the subject drop. Even My Queen couldn’t change the past.

Returning to the topic, I said, “I’ve seen her character sheet, and I’ve heard the truth from Kolra herself. Ciarra is a primordial dragon. She was there when the gods created the world, and she was ancient long before our ancestors discovered fire.

“That incredible being,” I gestured at Ciarra’s sleeping figure, “is in the process of becoming a goddess. Defeating this champion is one step along that path. When we finish, she will become a goddess, and you have an opportunity to be with her when that happens. Serving Our Queen is an incredible gift. She has chosen you. Giving you the chance to be part of the most important events our world will ever experience. The birth of its new goddess.

“I’m the first member of her harem. You are the second.”

Her lips twisted in distaste as soon as I mentioned the word harem. Holding back my anger, I tried to explain.

“You instinctively hate the idea. That’s foolish. Yes, we exist to give Our Queen pleasure. But, remember the new stats she gave you. Do your stats belong to a pleasure slave in a foolish mortal ruler’s harem, or do they belong to the Grand Runemaster of a Goddess?”

“But...” she started to object.

“Our Queen asked you which stats were most relevant for a Runecrafter. You said Mind and Will. She gave you 85 Mind and Will. Has any Runecrafter ever had even half your stats? There is absolutely no question. She expects you to become much more than any other Runecrafter ever has. You are Our Queen’s Grand Runemaster.

“Serve Ciarra well, and you will become the greatest runecrafter that has ever lived. You will know every rune, and have every runecrafting ability at rank ten. You receive all of this by simply serving to the best of your ability. You don’t even need to forgive her. Alternatively, or you can continue to rage against a Demigod for killing someone that angered her. Repeatedly. And throw all of that away.”

Eyes wide, she stared at me, and I could almost feel her slowly coming to believe the truth of my words.

Striding forward, I invaded her personal space. Violet fell back and tripped over her own feet. Before she landed, I moved past her falling body. When she landed on her back, I stood on her chest. Now, I was the one that towered over her.

“Ciarra said she would make your fantasies come true, and I think you assumed it was an unimportant comment. But I know better. When she didn’t explain the oathbinding in detail, I presume your fantasies are quite ... intriguing.

“You see, Ciarra is utterly honorable. She would never oathbind anyone without explaining exactly what they had agreed to ... Unless they had already agreed to something worse. So, I can’t help but wonder. What do you fantasize about that’s worse than being oathbound as a literal pet?”

Violet flushed and looked away. “She couldn’t know,” she said quietly.

“Ciarra has [Sexual Insight]. The ability gives her an innate understanding of fantasies and sexual desires. It’s rank ten. Trust me; she knows everything. When she promised to make all of your fantasies come true, she meant every word.”