“Do you remember The Slithering Crypt? Going back in and facing the dungeon lady?”
“I remember she had you under her spell…” Her brow furrowed, a flash of anger in her that Keaton felt as keenly as he might feel his own.
That’s so strange. Not unpleasant, but… strange.
“She hurt you. Badly. You were… dying,” he managed, “and we’ve been trying all day to bring you back.”
It was Adriana’s turn to search his eyes. Her hands came up to frame his face, her palms warm against his cheeks.
“What did you do, L— Keaton?”
“Nothing else was working, so I had the idea to channel my life force through the crystal.” He couldn’t tell if her sudden gasp was a good or bad thing. “I thought—”
Keaton wasn’t able to finish his babbling. Her lips were suddenly on his, warm and full and eager, expressing a depth of emotion he wasn’t sure he’d felt before. He responded immediately, his arms tightening around her once more, drawing her close.
The kiss was one of gratitude from both parties. Adriana thankful for what he’d done, apparently, and Keaton thankful she was alive. Alive and feeling courageous enough to initiate such affection, something he’d yearned for longer than he cared to admit. There was something sweet about it; almost innocent. The way her tongue swept questioningly over the seam of his mouth, the gasp of pleasure as he did the same to her, slipping his own tongue inside for a slow, gentle caress.
He could have lost himself in that kiss; let it linger on forever, with no care for anything else. It was probably a good thing, then, that Adriana was the one to have some sense and break it off.
Keaton searched her expression, looking for signs of regret, but found none. She was smiling, her bottom lip drawn between her teeth. Her cheeks were rounded, eyes were gleaming, and a pretty blush colored her cheeks.
“That was very impulsive of me, I apologize, but I—”
“Don’t apologize,” Keaton said, resting his hand atop hers. “It was nice.”
It’d been many years since he’d had his first kiss, but he felt like that again now. Flustered and floaty, his own cheeks heating. He almost couldn’t look at her without breaking into a fit of ridiculous, boyish giggles.
“What you did, Keaton… I do not know that you truly understand the gravity of it.”
“I did what I had to do,” he said softly, his eyes never straying from hers.
The cynical part of his mind told him he was a fool, but Keaton ignored it.
“Do you… remember how I said there are other ways to complete the bonding ritual?”
He nodded absently, his mind busy figuring out just how he might be able to coax another kiss out of her. When he finally thought about what she’d said, though, his brows rose in surprise.
“You’re saying that’s what happened? I just bonded with you?”
Her blush grew even deeper, managing to spread into her long, elf-like ears.
“Then you’re my lieutenant now?”
“Only if you wish me to be,” Adriana said hurriedly. “I know you did not do this knowingly, and I will not be upset if—”
“Adriana.”
She stopped rambling, her eyes on his. Keaton smiled, a warmth blooming in his chest as she slowly returned it.
“I’ve always wanted you as a lieutenant, I just wanted to do it on your terms. If you’re okay with this, then so am I.”
“Of course I am okay with it!” she exclaimed, seeming utterly bewildered by the very suggestion. “You gave me a piece of your heart, your soul, your essence. We are as one now, and I—” She stopped herself, her gaze casting downward. “I am getting carried away.”
Keaton laughed softly, his smile seeming to be a permanent fixture. He was just… so relieved she was alive and well. He hadn’t even needed to resort to the daemon’s tricks. He’d been able to figure it out on his own, and so far there weren’t any negative consequences.
“We should go tell the others. You’ll need your rest,” Keaton said, reluctantly pulling back from her.
“Adriana.” Cassia’s voice carried from the entrance to the Crystal Chamber. Her relief was palpable, even before Keaton caught her expression. “I’m glad to see you back among the living.”
“Thank you,” she said softly, gaze retreating from the Emvola lieutenant’s before it returned. “I am sorry if I worried you.”
“All is well now,” the woman said with a small smile. “I saw the message that The Labyrinth had a new lieutenant and I was curious to see what happened.”
“Ah. Yeah, apparently the harebrained idea I—”
Keaton tried to stand, pushing himself up on shaky legs. He attributed that to the surge of adrenaline and flood of relief that followed, assuming he just needed a moment to get his bearings. But he swayed on the way up, the edges of his visions going blurry. His legs weren’t just shaky, it felt like they couldn’t support his weight. He found himself falling before he even realized what was happening.
“Lord Keaton!” Adriana said with a yelp, grabbing for him.
Cassia was there, too, one arm braced behind him. Keaton leaned his weight against her and put the other arm around Adriana’s offered shoulders as she stood without issue.
“He channeled his life force through the crystal,” Adriana explained. “It is greatly diminished now. He needs a way to get it back, and fast.”
“The quickest way I know is through reaffirming the bond you have with your lieutenants,” she said, the words spoken so casually that at first Keaton didn’t catch on.
“I don’t think I’m in any state for that,” he muttered, the blush returning to his cheeks.
“You’ll perk up once we begin. Come on. Let’s get you somewhere private.”
Keaton found himself being all but dragged through the Crystal Chamber. Not because he was digging his boots into the ground in protest, but because he just couldn’t seem to stand on his own. It was too much effort. Breathing was too much effort right now, and he had no idea how he was supposed to manage to fuck anyone.
Wait. I can’t do this.
“Cassia, hold on,” he said, his voice firm.
She stopped immediately, still supporting him, but not attempting to move him.
“You and I haven’t been on the best terms lately. I don’t want you to do this as… I don’t know, some kind of service to me,” he said, feeling a shudder run down his spine.
It was an awful way to think of sex, but he was sure many dungeon lords saw it as just that. Almost like asking their minions to patch up their wounds. Just another duty; a transaction to be carried out, where the dungeon lord expected it of his lieutenants just because of the pact they’d made. Keaton wanted no part of it.
But Cassia just let out a low chuckle, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “You and I have butted heads, yes, and I’m sure we will in the future. We are both stubborn and inclined to do what we feel is right. But I assure you, this isn’t a chore.” She gave him a slow once-over that sent flames licking up and down his body. “When we completed the ritual the first time, you told me you did not want me to be passive. I took that to mean you don’t want me to be docile and to bend to your every whim, in and out of the bedroom.”
Keaton nodded, that rush of heat traveling downward. He felt his cock throb painfully, his erection beginning to press against the seam of his pants.
“Then trust me, I won’t ever do this just because I feel it’s my duty.” Her green eyes darkened, her pupils blown. “In truth, I’ve wanted to suggest another round, but we’ve been otherwise occupied.”
“…Oh,” Keaton said, swallowing hard.
It would have been fine if Cassia was the only one. Parts of his body were certainly ready, and the mere prospect of sex did seem to perk him up, just like she’d promised. But…