Nyna lifted her eyes and studied my face. She looked away when Yaltu wrapped an arm around my waist.
I brought Yaltu with me and put my arm around Nyna’s shoulder. She stiffened for a second, then relaxed when Yaltu put her arm around Nyna’s shoulders too.
“We don’t fear you,” Yaltu whispered. “You’re welcome among us.”
I took the opportunity of one of the sentries passing by to warn him of Skrew and the mech. He bowed and returned to his post to spread the news.
I suddenly felt a soft touch on my back and warm breath in my ear.
“Jacob,” Yaltu whispered, her hand warming the small of my back. “I need some… attention.”
I turned to her, a question on my lips, but once I saw the dreamy look in her eye and the small smile curling her lips, I knew exactly what she meant.
“Oh—” I started.
“And so does Nyna,” she said. “I have told her we don’t mind that we share you among us. I’ve also told her you could handle us.”
At first, I wasn’t certain I understood what she was talking about. I glanced at Nyna and saw how she drank me in as she bit her bottom lip, stopping more than once at my crotch.
The Paladin, the priestess, and the seductress, I thought, laughing out loud.
Yaltu giggled and motioned for Nyna to follow as she dragged me toward our small hut by my hand. When the priestess caught up, Yaltu took her hand as well, only letting go when we reached the short stairs and had to walk single file into the hut.
Yaltu closed the door and approached Nyna, who was standing stark still, staring at me like she wasn’t sure what to do. Yaltu wrapped her arms around the younger woman from behind with a lopsided smile on her face. Without a word, she deftly opened Nyna’s trouser buttons, making sure to take her time and let her hand gently slide around the region, and let the garment fall to the floor.
Nyna’s body was beyond any beauty I could have imagined. Her skin was flawless, smooth. Her legs were toned and shapely, and I immediately pictured them wrapped around my hips, me gripping her ass as she held me inside of her with a strength that almost hurt.
I must’ve made a face, because when my eyes met Yaltu’s, she held onto my gaze and slowly, very slowly, began pulling Nyna’s shirt up and over her head. At a moment that couldn’t be timed any better, just when the shirt was about to reveal them, her breasts fell free and bounced once. Her nipples were small, pink, and boy were they stiff. No wonder—I knew what Yaltu’s touch could do to you.
It took me a moment to catch my breath and remember my part in this. I almost laughed when I realized how I’d been standing there, feeling too lucky to believe it was real, but I played it cool. It was a moment I wanted to savor.
Yaltu watched as I removed my shirt and trousers. She whispered softly in Nyna’s ear as she removed her own clothes, then gently moved her hands over the younger woman’s body, caressing curves and hair, occasionally squeezing softly. “Go to him,” I heard her say.
Nyna looked like she wanted to pounce on me—like she wanted to run, tackle me, and make me her own. As she took her first step, I noticed how hard she was breathing. She took another, unclenched fists I only then realized she’d made, and pounced. I made no effort to avoid her as we collapsed to the blankets and furs piled on the floor.
The rest of the night was filled with frantic hands, thrusting bodies, and Yaltu’s very satisfied face.
In the morning, I awoke to find myself completely surrounded by naked women. The heat from the bodies pressing together was like an oven, and I wondered how I’d managed to sleep so long. Then, I remembered the amount of effort I’d contributed to the scene the night before. I’d been exhausted, completely tapped of all physical resources. I smiled and wondered if I could have done that before the Lakunae changed me. The five satisfied, sleeping women around me confirmed it didn’t matter. I was happy, and so were they.
I extracted myself as slowly and as quietly as I could. Nyna woke for a moment before I covered her with a fur blanket. Reaver scooted over to the spot I’d vacated and wrapped an arm around the priestess, who returned the embrace before going back to sleep. All I could do was shake my head and smile before I got dressed and headed outside into the cool morning air.
I hadn’t fully appreciated that the Ish-Nul had built more than just the palisade. What I’d absently assumed might be new homes near the corners of the village I then recognized as ballistae, similar to the ones the Ish-Nul used to harpoon huge fish and drag them from the ocean. The design and shape of the ballistae suggested they could be lifted with only a moment’s notice, so they could be fired over the defensive wall, then lowered to keep them safe from return fire or to be reloaded, or both.
“What do you think?” Timo-Ran said from behind me.
“I think you did great work,” I said. “These ballistae are large enough to knock down a decent-sized hovership—maybe even a hovertank. The fact that you’ve got them concealed behind the wall will add an element of surprise that our enemies won’t be expecting.”
“It is good work,” Timo-Ran said as he stopped beside me. “And now we have defenses, I have warriors who are ready to fight alongside your growing army. We wish to free our kin from Thaz’red. We are ready to fight beside you and die in your service. And, with our defenses in place, I am confident my people will be safe while some of the warriors are away.”
I wished I was more shocked, but I’d been expecting
