Eric glared thoughtfully at the whimpering wolf in his arms, just seconds away from the portal, the creature only now shaking out of its gaze to glare and snap deadly teeth at Eric, seemingly unfazed by its dangling legs, lowered core body temperature, and perforated organs.

  It’s furious howl made it clear that it would settle for nothing less than Eric’s lifeblood when it tried to snap its jaws right around Eric’s—

  “Repudio!”

  Contest of skills: Rank 8 Transcendant Abjuration enhanced by Rank 4 Essence of Dominion.

  You have RUPTURED Contender’s Boon (enhanced by 1 Rank of Essence of Sharpness on recipient’s end.)

  20 Points of temporary Quickness and Vitality have been maintained!

  You have already placed all your valuables within your ES Space!

  You have no enchantments or artifacts left to dispel!

  The wolf’s eyes bulged as his yip turned into a groan, seeming to wither and deflate before Eric’s eyes in only a second’s time.

  What was now a large, pale-faced and exhausted-looking man gazed up at Eric in shocked dismay.

  “How? How did you abjure my gift?”

  Eric flashed a fierce smile. “That’s not what’s important,” he said as they both raced toward the gate, the sound of cannon fire, explosives, blasters, and the feral howls of a dozen wolves growing ever more distant before cutting off altogether as they crashed through the door-sized portal of absolute darkness.

  Before stumbling into a grassy clearing under a moonlit sky covered in bones and mummified corpses.

  “What matters is that your blood is rich, and your Bronze core very much intact,” Eric finished as the transformed man’s eyes took in the crimson pentagram and the pulsating blobs of sanguine horror and absolute darkness slithering forward even now.

  “No, this is our home! What are those horrors… no!”

  The hapless Bronze screamed and lurched back, but it was already too late as swirling crimson death latched upon his throat and began to feed, panicked eyes bulging horrifically as he gave a final desperate wheeze before his body withered from powerfully built warrior to desiccated beggar in just seconds… a formerly thick full head of hair now drained of all color and brittle as ash as he gave a despairing wheeze.

  The doomed man’s eyes grew milky white before deflating like raisins with his dying gurgle before he crumpled into a surprisingly small pile of skin and bones.

  Eric’s fierce, satisfied smile became an anxious grimace as he caught sight of his distressed familiar and a solemn-faced Grim.

  “How are they?” Eric’s stomach clenched, eyes widening at the sight of Drake and Louie’s painfully still forms. But Bunbun’s solemn nod at least let him know that they would be okay. Or so he prayed, heart already overwhelmed and wishing he could take back the queston and just lose himself in bringing as many ripe succulents as he could, doing all that he could… relief in action, but already knowing from his familiar’s exhausted head shake that it just wasn’t—

  “Drake and Louie just need an hour’s rest. Grim’s stabilizing magic is all that they needed. But as for Alice and Morlekai…” His familiar sobbed, imploring eyes locking with his own. “I’m sorry, Eric. I’m doing everything I can. Even at the cost of my own potency!”

  Eric forced a desperate smile. “No. Don’t give me that, Bun. Your potency is strong. So fucking strong! We can still save them!”

  Bunbun lowered her head, as if ashamed to be the source of Eric’s clenched fists.

  Surprisingly, it was Grim who answered as his graceful fingers soothingly stroked Bunbun’s head.

  “We’ve done all we could, Eric. Drake and Louie are in stasis. Your familiar… her talents… Soul Points sacrificed for the sake of my kin… everything I could want in a loyal servant and friend.”

  Eric choked back a keening wale, gazing at the shifting piles of crimson and darkness and pain. So much pain he could sense, howling in the ether.

  “Their souls… their gifts… it’s tormenting them. They want to hold on… they’re desperate to break free!”

  Grim sighed. “That is correct, Eric. Their greatest gifts are also their bane at death’s edge. Where a mortal might be frozen to stillness, a Terran adventurer needing only perfect stillness and internal stabilization and cessation of bloodloss to survive that golden hour whereupon all is reset…”

  “It’s different for them,” Eric whispered, swallowing the awful lump in his throat as naked feet tingled with the feel of dew-slicked grass, He furiously rubbed away his bitter tears. “I remember, poor Morlekai, how badly he needed blood when he was nearly killed by a Shaman’s explosive death ward.”

  Grim steepled his fingers, dipping his head. “If only their mother were here. But, alas, she is unable to cross the shadow realms that have become New Yorks manifold layers, and my descendants are far too fragile to move.” He sighed. “We but buy them time, and it is time in torment, I’m afraid.”

  Solemn brown eyes caught Eric’s own. “I think you understand what must be—”

  Eric quickly raised his hand. “Wait. You said if only Natasha were here. I know she’s their mother, but how could she save them where we can’t?”

  “Of course. Forgive me for not clarifying. She has primal blood in her veins. Blood aligned to their elements and affinities, and a Silver’s potency as well.”

  Eric’s heart pounded in his chest as he locked stares with the ancient lich. “Wait, wait! Are you saying that it’s a matter of affinities or potency?”

  Grim sighed. “Best if it’s a perfect match, Eric. The potency needed otherwise is… considerable.”

  Eric swallowed. “But the sip of my blood. A Contender’s blood… will it stabilize them at least sufficient for me to bring the home?”

  Grim froze.

  Bunbun’s ears perked up. “Shit, Eric, you might be on to something!”

  Grim slowly nodded, a flash of hope gracing his stoic features. “It just might, at that. And you would have my eternal gratitude just for your attempt. But please be careful, dear champion of my house. Once my grandchildren begin to feed…”

  “I understand.”

  Heart pounding, Eric forced himself close to his friends.

  Looking past the monstrously warped and distorted swarms of inky darkness and blood and eyes and teeth and agonized screams.

  Looked instead at the souls burning bright with desperation and despair.

  Souls growing painfully dim.

  “Eric? Be careful, fearless leader. If Grim and I weren’t already dead… Eric!”

  “It’s okay, Bun,” he said, blinking back tears as he tore open his own wrist with his mithril blade… or tried to. “Fuck. Fuck!”

  “My, how impressive,” Grim solemnly said, when it was clear that the deadliest weapon Eric had, a mithril blade, could no longer even mark his flesh.

  Then Eric took a shuddering breath, stiffened his resolve, and simply willed his blood to bubble up from underneath his skin.

  “Truly impressive,” Grim whispered at the sight.

  “Well it should be, my boy has Rank 37 Blood Mastery now, and over 600 Physical Resistance!”

  Eric flashed an anxious smile at the quip, feeling an odd mixture of hope and apprehension when both bodies of darkness, blood, and pain, tilted his way.

  The air rang with their desperate howls.

  Eric swallowed, forcing arms that had no business trembling with over 1000 Finesse before him. “It’s okay, guys. Drink up. I’m offering you ye—FUCK that HURTS!”

  “Eric!”

  “It’s okay, Bunz,” he groaned as the pair of ravenous creatures latched onto him and began to feed. “Trust me.”

  Even Grim looked alarmed. “Eric, you must be careful!”

  “I know,” he said, closing his eyes, forcing himself to gaze upon the messages flickering across his interface.

  WARNING! Multiple Nosferatu are attempting to CLAIM a portion of your potency!

  Rank 4 Essence of Dominion effortlessly resists—you have intentionally bypassed resistance checks!

  For a heartbeat, Eric sensed his peril. What his body so easily resisted surrendering, even as he freely gave his blood.

  Blood his formerly cognizant friends so desperately drank, to his peril… yet he understood that that wasn’t truly what they wanted.

  What the needed so desperately was his life force. His potency.

  That which, in a sudden flash, he had given to his friend Morlekai so freely, before he had much of any core at all to saturate, so could surrender what had been a relatively tiny portion so freely.

  For a heartbeat he despaired, sensing not only the shocking potency of 3rd Tier Core saturation… but that it was so firmly and utterly locked away that the odds of anything claiming it was pretty much nil.

  “Eric, you have to stop! They’re taking too much!” Bunbun’s warning cry was faint. A world away, as the phoenix soared upon impossibly distant skies, already understanding what he had to do as his heart pounded with desperate fervor, and his soul began to blaze.

  Blaze as his wings had blazed when he had for a brief handful of seconds, boosted his speed and the speed of an entire army to MACH 30. Directly tapping into his own core saturation.

  Saturation he now surrendered freely as he allowed his blood to infuse his dearest friends with a phoenix’s fire.

  The essence of ultimate fiery destruction… and life itself.

  Willpower check: Success! You have successfully transferred a portion of your Potency to your friends!

  Will of the Contender Manifest.

  Shape your realm as you see fit!

  The Fires of Life now fill your friends!

  Saving throw: Successful! Your Essences blazes brightly!

  3rd Tier Core Saturation is now 91.87%!

  3rd Tier Core Saturation is now 91.75%!

  3rd Tier Core Saturation is now 91.60%!

  3rd Tier Core Saturation is now 91.59%!

  3rd Tier Core Saturation is now stable!

  You are now embracing Unified Restoration.

  Your health has been successfully stabilized!

  His dream of the blazing phoenix soaring the heavens gently faded.

  Eric only became aware of his mortal body once more as he took one shuddering, painful breath after another, blinking in bemusement to see Grim himself spooning hot chicken soup from who knew where into his mouth.

  “Ah. Back with us once more? Wonderful.”

  Eric swallowed the lump in his throat, refusing to take his eyes off the gentle countenance gazing into his own.

  Swallowing the soup before forcing himself to ask the question. “Lord Grim… Morlekai. Alice. Are they… stable?” He blinked back the hot sting in his eyes. “Stable enough for me to bring to their mother’s realm?”

  The man solemnly nodded. “Come, hero of my house. Let’s head back to Natasha’s realm.”

  Eric swallowed and nodded, forcing himself back to his feet.

  “Careful, Fearless Leader. You lost a lot of blood!”

  Eric chuckled as a flash of dizziness came and went, smiling fondly at his familiar as Grim handed him a crock of soup he quickly downed, his belly filling with happiness, making immediate use of the sustenance.

  “It’s alright, Bun. I heal pretty… Morlekai!”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Eric swallowed the lump in his throat as he put down the delicious crock of stew, now having eyes only for his exhausted and too pale friend holding his unconscious sister close.

  Haunted eyes gazed into Eric’s own. “Thank you, Eric. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

  Eric couldn’t wipe the silly grin off his features as he gently lifted his friend, still holding his sister in his arms. “It’s okay, Morlekai. I know you’d do the same for me.”

  He exchanged a worried glance with his familiar. “Now come on. Assuming Song didn’t finish Mord off… I don’t exactly feel 100% ready to face off against a 2000 Quickness asshole. So let’s get out of his own back yard, shall we?”

  This earned as solemn nod from Grim.

  “Wait, two thousand?” Said Eric’s alarmed rabbit and friend simultaneously.

  Eric chuckled and shrugged. “Well, that was my sense of it, anyway. Could be a bit lower. Or higher. My Identify skill doesn’t work as fast as people with a knack for that skill. It would also alert my target. Besides, Mord’s way way too powerful for my shit-level skill. But that scary shit is quicker than I am in his werewolf form, and that’s all I need to know.”

  Bunbun blinked, looking genuinely alarmed. “Eric, if the alpha werewolf is faster than you… stronger than you?”

  “Unknown”

  “Anyway, yeah. That’s bad news we really don’t need right now.” She turned to glare at their gory sacrificial sight covered in dried blood, sigils, and desiccated corpses. “And considering the calling card we’re leaving behind…”

  “It won’t be a problem,” Grim assured as a comatose Drake and Louie floated behind Grim upon a pair of bone gurneys. “Come. We have absolutely no time to waste.”

  With those words they hurried through a woodland path, Eric holding his friends as carefully as he could, no matter Morlekai’s gentle insistence that he could walk as the trees grew thicker, the lush overhead foliage rustling with life and odd anticipation and with a flash of dizziness that passed as soon as it came, even though Eric’s Health pool and Vitality had already reached peak… he found himself in the heart of a garden maze and not proper woods at all.

  He resisted the temptation to just race through the air, instead emerging before the wisteria-lined trellis leading that had such a nice view of the lush garden beds that Lady Thorn clearly favored. Within seconds, they were before the palatial castle once more.

  Eric couldn’t wipe the grin of relief off his features, though he froze when Grim raised his hand, closed his eyes and went perfectly still… before his features eased once more.

  “Excellent. No foe lies in wait, and Natasha has been informed of the—”

  “My babies! You idiot, Grim! What happened to my babies?”

  And suddenly the strikingly beautiful Natasha was right before Eric, a look of such desperate worry in her beautiful ruby eyes as Morlekai, still in Eric’s protective arms, gave a weak chuckle.

  “It’s alright, Mother. The heist didn’t go quite as expected, but we made it. That’s what matters, right?”

  Natasha’s petite hands gently cupped her son’s features. “Oh my beautiful, beautiful boy. How close did you come to—” She swallowed, shaking her head, before gently taking the still unconscious Alice in her arms and holding her close, a look of such tenderness upon her features that Eric had to blink away the sting from his eyes.

  “Thank you, Eric,” Natasha said as she caught his gaze with her own, filling his world with her brilliant smile. “I don’t know precisely what happened, but somehow I just know that I have you to thank.”

  Eric solemnly shook his head, instead lifting up his familiar for the succubus queen’s inspection. “Nope! Bunbun gets all the credit. She’s the one who snuck, in all mission impossible style, popped their collars while I distracted the guards with death, and raced through the fog to get to the portal. Even when the now extremely drained assholes dared to ambush her and open fire, she didn’t hesitate to get them all through the portal and stabilize them at great cost to herself.”

  Lilly seemed to puff up with Eric’s beaming praise, happily nodding her head. “Yup, it’s true. The Bunz is awesome and always pulls through—hey! Careful with the ears! Ooh… so soft.”

  She purred when Natasha gently claimed Eric’s familiar and placed her against her chest, stroking and cooing before kissing her soft fur.

  “My heroic and adorable familiar. Your master is very, very lucky to have you.”

  “You know it!” Bunbun cheekily declared. “Now scratch a little lower… perfect!”

  Lilly purred with happiness with the belly rub.

  Natasha gave Eric a look.

  He shrugged.

  “She wants to purr? She’s her own person. I don’t mind.”

  Natasha’s relieved, throaty laughter washed over them all. “Neither do I.”

  Tears were in her eyes. A gentle fingertip caressed Eric’s cheek as she traded his ecstatically pleased rabbit for the brother and sister Eric was so effortlessly carrying. “Thank you, hero. Come. Let’s put the children to bed, then you can tell me everything.”

  Morlekai’s cheeks flushed. “I’m no damsel. Mother, I feel—”

  “Hush, child. I know not what you endured but the tole it took is clear enough. You will rest, recover, and then we will figure out how to get you and my daughter safely back home.” She sighed. “I fear New York is as perilous as it ever was, and with the portal closed until the next full moon...”

  Eric gave his friend a reassuring smile as they quickly made their way back inside the luxuriously appointed palace. “They can always take Eric express… and who knows? If we manage to recover all the keys, there might be other means of travel, exceedingly convenient means of travel, in the very near future.”

  Morlekai gave a tired chuckle. “Eric express indeed. I wanted to ask how you managed the travel safely through so many wildly erupting territories. I don’t suppose you have access to an artifact like our own?”

  “Nope! I just race through the territories as fast as I can.”

  This earned an alarmed blink. “I know you’re strong… both of you,” he said with a respectful nod to a preening Lilly. “But Red Tier regions are no joke. What did you do when you encountered swarms of high level abominations?”

  Bunbun exchanged a snort with Eric. “Same thing we do whenever we encounter high level opposition… we FUCKED THEM UP!”

  Morlekai blinked at this.

  Grim cleared his throat. “I know how diligently you’ve been focused on your mission… your objectives… much to your credit. But are you truly not cognizant of the army that a certain Ernest Edgelord can now bring to bear?”

  Morlekai frowned at this, before he flinched, eyes widening as he gazed at a winking Eric, before slowly shaking his head. “Truly? That was… is… you, Eric?”

  Eric chuckled. “Who can say? I got here, that’s what matters, and I won’t be relying on any assistance in claiming New York. Because this beautiful beautiful realm is like a priceless rose that I refuse to let get trampled by overbearing cavalry,” he declared as he followed Natasha into a luxuriously appointed bedroom graced with stained glass windows, silk banners, wood stands filled with jade figurines and intricately carved hardwood furniture polished to a warm gloss, with a plush four poster bed centerpiece, not to mention a rather impressive series of hardwood bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes that tasted of forbidden arts and wonder, whereupon she gently put her daughter to bed before having Eric escort her to near identical quarters that were clearly Morlekai’s own.

  Eric whistled in admiration for the even more impressive collection of tomes.

  “I’ll be there are all sorts of treasures buried in those book stacks,” he declared as Natasha tucked her too pale son to bed.

  “Rest, my beloved boy. A servant will be by shortly to take care of all your needs.”

  Morlekai flushed at that. “Mother, I don’t…”

  “It’s alright, love. She’s a forty ninth level adventurer who has given me her oath of service. She has a very high Vitality including an absolutely delicious node perk allowing her heart to transform her experience pool directly into blood at a gloriously efficient rate, protecting her from so many of the hazards and perils of being a front-line fighter, while providing a veritable font of first-generation potency to those that she favors, such as our clan. She is also plagued with an uncertain outlook as to her own future, as she’s tired of getting battered as an unappreciated tank, and is taking to our courtly life with gusto.”

  Her eyes twinkled with warm bemusement. “She was wise indeed to court my interest, and I fortunate to find her. All the more so just before her fiftieth level class evolution. With our help and guidance, she shall blossom into someone truly spectacular, worthy of her dedication and service to us. And quite unlike a certain individual whose already fled for his life, I believe her overtures about sharing our bloodline are quite genuine. And I believe I have found a path that she can embrace that will make her one of ours while still blessing us with the most glorious font of life that is her blood. She will bless our family with her boon, and have no need of feedings at all, merely basking in the glory of her well-earned power.”

  Morlekai’s tired smile turned to something hard and cold. “Jim! That man will pay for his betrayal, I swear—” His words were cut off by her mother’s graceful hand covering his lips.

  “Hush. It is done.”

  Morlekai furrowed his brow. Her mother lifted his hand. “Explain.”

  Natasha sighed. “He was brought here by Mord himself. A broken, dying thing. Eric saved his life. In return he… admitted the nature of the trap and what to expect. Had Jim kept his mouth closed and simply scurried away with us none the wiser, I would...” Her eyes grew round, tearing up with crimson drops. “I would have lost you both. So when Eric declared that he had earned clemency for his confession… I chose to honor it.”

  Morlekai’s eyes flashed with sudden heat. “He betrayed us!”

  Eric winced, but dipped his head. “I know. Just as I know that the man who gazed at me so desperately when his life was in my hands… felt genuine contrition. And shame. Knowing he was imperiling himself even as he played the innocent fool, still revealing all that we needed to see the trap for what it was and slip you free.

  “Had he just said ‘thank you’ and left… had his own wildcard nature made it clear to him that a final act of kindness would see him dead… what man or woman waking up into that role, no matter how redeemed he felt in that moment, would risk a fresh chance at life for certain death?”

  Morlekai blinked at that, before closing his eyes and cursing softly under his breath.

  “Do you understand, my son?” Natasha asked gently, cupping his cheek.

  Morlekai scowled, but nodded. “Jim’s a Contender. No telling what his gifts are. If his gut told him that all he’d get for trying to be the better man was a brutal death, better he flee and say nothing at all.”

  Eric dipped his head. “Which is why he will be safely permitted to start life fresh in Ashland, should he choose. Previous sins forgiven. In case it was only the sense of that happy ending that had a certain Contender imperil himself with a confession that revealed what I needed to know. The fact that your peril was his own damned fault is sadly beside the point.”

  Morlekai scowled. “Even so, were that bastard before me…”

  “Morlekai!” Natasha hissed.

  He sighed, sinking into the soft, down-filled pillow, Natasha’s arts somehow having him perfectly clean in fresh linen bedclothes so fast Eric hadn’t even registered the transformation.

  “I understand.” His clenched jaw eased in a defeated sigh. “I won’t pursue the matter.”

  Eric chuckled coldly. “Believe me. I feel just as you do. But for the sake of karma, I’m honoring my word. And considering all the blood on my fucking hands… redemption has to matter, or there’s no hope for me at all.”

  Natasha gently kissed her son’s brow. Eric’s eyes widened, sensing gentle healing magics unlike anything he had experienced before, reminded once more that there were no doubt countless potencies and arts that he had never experienced before. Of course he knew he shouldn’t be surprised. He was just a fledgling Contender, no matter how quickly he had grown, and Natasha was, after all, a Silver.

  A truth that had his guts roiling with a sudden sharp spike of dread… knowing what was coming. What he had to take care of. And just how perilous the encounter would be.

  Of course Lilly could sense his growing anxiety. “Fearless Leader?”

  Eric, said nothing, merely stroked Bun’s ears before patting Morlekai’s shoulder. “Get well my friend.”

  Morlekai smirked. “You know I will. Dare I even ask what you’ll be doing now?”

  Eric winked. “Wrapping things up at my end, of course.”

  This earned a snort. “More like collecting priceless keys. Because while I struggled to claim a single treasure… you’ll be robbing New York in its entirety, claiming the entire vault as your prize.”

  He gave Eric a pointed look. “Tell me I’m wrong, Eric. I dare you.”

  Eric laughed aloud, eyes flashing with avarice and glee. “Damn right I will!” He cracked his neck. “Just as soon as I throw out a few bad apples.”

  Morlekai sighed. “Please be careful, Eric. This is a lot to put on your plate. I know.”

  “No problem, buddy. You rest now, and enjoy your dinner date.”

  Morlekai’s eyes twinkled. He swallowed, hand reaching up to grasp Eric’s own.

  “Thank you, brother,” he whispered, the world in his eyes. “Thank you for saving me and mine yet again.”

  Eric winked. “It’s what friends are for. Get some rest, my friend. We’ll talk later.”

  “What will you do now?” Natasha quietly asked.

  Eric’s heart swelled, struck anew by her beauty, her vulnerability, and the sweet sharp taste of her power.

  He held the succubus’s gaze. “Plan hasn’t changed. I’m collecting those keys.”

  Natasha gave a relieved smile. “Good. I know Maybel has been patiently waiting. With her aid, the Enigmatic’s key will hopefully be one we can claim quickly and efficiently, before that party even knew we were there. As for the dwarven faction… I’ve worked out a few trade proposals that I have high hopes they’ll find intriguing.”

  Eric blinked at this. “So, economic enticements will work with the dwarven faction? I didn’t even realize we were dealing with a dwarven faction!”

  This earned a warm chuckle, Natasha leaning close, gently claiming his hand. “Indeed we are. And best we be prudent, careful, and respectful. For as odd as their mastery over steam and metallurgy might be… within their own realm, their golems are every bit as devastating as the battle mechs that Lord Songs offworld elites favor.

  Eric smirked. “Well in that case, good thing that I’m all about negotiation and spreading the economic love to all interested parties.”

  Natasha’s arms wrapped about him as they stepped outside of Alice’s room. “Ah, my dear hero. You absolutely radiate such glorious competence. So, tell me, my darling boy, what treasures would you negotiate from your Crimson Queen after rescuing my two greatest treasures?”

  Eric chuckled, earning a surprised gasp as he gently drew Natasha in his arms and kissed her brow. “Nothing, beautiful one. Because my job is far from done.”

  This earned a confused look. “Eric?”

  He flashed a bitter smile. “I left a perilous mess behind, and if a certain asshole figures out who played him for a fool… an asshole who’s far more powerful than I gave him credit for, which was damned stupid, considering he’s a Silver Tier Contender, and even the lowest rungs of Silver are more than enough to slaughter nearly everyone on the entire continent one furious spree killing at a time… well, let’s just say that’s one enemy I refuse to leave at my back.”

  Natasha paled, taking a shuddering breath. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

  Refusing to mince words, knowing he was pressed for time, he did so as succinctly as he could, Natasha’s sensual features going deathly pale.

  “So it wasn’t Song alone. Mord was there, riled up, and Song has him trapped like an animal for slaughter… and that fool doesn’t think Mord won’t embrace his darkest gifts, break free, and destroy the entire city?”

  Eric winced. “Shit. Just what should I expect?”

  This earned an arch look. “I’ll be honest, Eric. I had hoped…” She shook her head. “I had hoped that if we could claim three of the keys… and you and Mord could negotiate and take out Song together. But that was foolish. Foolish to think that two powerful Contenders could be bound by things so mundane as oaths given and mutual economic profit.”

  Eric flashed a bleak smile. “Normally, I’d be all about that. But I’ve seen the furious hate in that werewolf’s eyes. And considering all his lackeys whose blood your children now has running through their veins… yeah. There’s only one way this can end, and I think we both know it.”

  “And let’s not forget that motherfucker has 2000 Quickness!” Bun quickly reminded from on top of Eric’s head.

  Natasha paled. “He’s even more powerful than I thought.”

  “I know. And it doesn’t matter. I still have to face him.”

  The succubus gave him a pitying look, delicate hand as strong as steel pressing against his chest. “Eric, I can feel the way your heart hammers with delicious blood. The spike of fear in your—”

  Eric shook his head, ignoring the roaring in his skull. “That isn’t dread. It’s fucking exhilaration. Time to embrace Peril’s Path and level the fuck up! What do you think, Bunbun?”

  “You know it, Fearless Leader!” Lilly raised a tiny fist. “Here’s to not dying!”

  Natasha’s sultry gaze pinned his own. “You’re being a fool, beautiful boy. Mord’s a monster. He has powers you can scarce comprehend! And I…” Her eyes filled with very human tears. “I have absolutely no desire to see someone so dear to me fall to a—”

  She gasped with surprise when he leaned in to kiss her, showing just how quick and precised he was with 1800 Quickness and fully integrated Battletime.

  And perhaps she understood, even as Eric broke off his sweet, savage kiss in the time it took her to wrap her arms around his armored chest… before he effortlessly slipped free.

  He flashed a sad, regretful smile. “I’m sorry I can’t stay longer. But seeing as how the biggest threat to your safety, to my friends’ safety, is a Contender like me that can move about these shadow realms at will… I’d best seize the Vor before he can seize your throats.”

  Natasha paled at the description, the sultry lust in her eyes replaced with fierce resolve. “Do that. And go with my gratitude.” She flashed a heart-stopping smile. “Put down that beast, Eric, and assure the safety of my clan. Should you do that… I will give you a boon so sweet that nothing and no one can compare.” Sultry eyes claimed his own. “A boon that you may claim any time you like, as often as you like, so long as my children are safe.”