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“Oh, it is so nice to be properly dressed again,” Karniel said as he donned clothes newly tailored for his size. Despite whatever misgivings they had with Governor Gilian, they remained guests at the manor for a whole week without issue. Mathus finally regained the weight he lost traveling on the road, and both got a chance to spend their days in leisure.

“You look almost as good as you do out of clothing,” Mathus commented, watching his lover from where he sat on the bed. The human wore a teal and navy-accented tunic. Leather pants dyed brown, and recently cobbled shoes to replace his old ones. Karniel meanwhile sported a waistcoat, crisp white offsetting his brown fur with a dark red vest and matching silk pants that were still just a little tight on the bat’s crotch. Not that Mathus minded.

There was a knock on the door.

“Enter,” Karniel said.

They both faced Governor Gilian as he came in. “Ah, good to see you both awake and dressed. Might you be able to spare a moment, Lord Karniel?”

The bat flashed a friendly, fanged smile. “It is the least we can do to repay your generosity, Governor.”

“Excellent, there is… an issue at one of our warehouses and we would like to call upon your expertise.”

Karniel and Mathus exchanged a glance before Karniel said, “Go on.”

“This morning a ship came in from the Port of Mauban, its cargo was offloaded but something not on the ship’s manifest was found. We stored it in a warehouse, but the workmen who handled it shortly went mad. It did not take us long to realize some cursed object had been smuggled onto the ship.”

“I see,” Karniel said. “You wish for my counsel.”

“Exactly,” Gilian nodded. “We sent a messenger to Mauban to inquire about the object, but it will be a few days before we hear word.”

Karniel studied his black, trimmed and filed nails as he said, “What kind of madness afflicted the work crew and how many?”

“Er, does it matter?” Gilian’s tail kinked to the left.

“Of course it matters,” Karniel said, “Do you not know?”

“I do, of course I do,” Gilian muttered, tail still twitching back and forth. He coughed, cleared his throat, and said, “They attacked strangers in the street. They were driven into a senseless rage. Four of them in all.”

“Hmm, sounds serious,” Karniel said. “I know a number of objects that might cause such a reaction. My suggestion is you burn the warehouse to the ground or, if there is a good wizard in this city, he might have the tools needed to destroy the item.”

“Uh, but Lord Karniel, can’t you do something about it?”

“I could, but the most prudent action is to burn the warehouse down, seal off the grounds for at least a year, then clear the rubble to a site outside the city,” Karniel said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Gilian chewed his lip for a moment, clearly trying to come up with something to say. Karniel watched him, bemused. Gilian said, “The fortunes of several different powerful merchants are housed there right now. Goods and supplies the city needs. Lord Karniel we cannot afford to burn down the place without serious repercussions.”

Karniel sighed, “Fine, but I will expect coin for my services.”

Gilian nodded quickly. “Yes, of course. Name your price.”

Karniel asked Mathus, “Well darling, what is our price?”

“Um, ten… silvers?”

“Triple that,” Karniel told Gilian.

The cougar said, “I graciously accept.” The governor bowed and backed towards the open door, “I will fetch an escort to take you to the warehouse and will have payment waiting when you return.”

The door shut and Karniel said, “Pack your belongings, Mathus.”

Mathus was no fool. “You think this is some trap?”

“Cursed artifacts do not drop from the sky,” Karniel said. “I believe our dear Korlyon is finally making a move on us.”

Mathus frowned. “Do you really think Korlyon would do such a thing?”

“That is very generous of you to ask, darling, but these sorts of schemes are the lifeblood of hunters,” Karniel said as he retrieved their rucksack from a closet.

Mathus stood, fists balled at his sides. “I think we should go to the warehouse.”

Karniel stopped, reaching for the wardrobe that held their new clothes and Mathus’ books. The bat sighed, “I see that look in your eyes.”

“What look?”

“That look you first gave me when we met in the woods,” Karniel said. He shook his head and opened the wardrobe and continued packing their things. “You really think we should go?”

“If Gilian was telling the truth, we owe him for all he’s done to solve this problem for him.”

“Fine,” Karniel said. He threw Mathus’ books on top of everything else and cinched the drawstring at the top of the sack. “We will take our things with us, so when this does turn out to be a trap we will be able to leave.”

***

The warehouse in question was on the eastern end of the city. Karniel carried their things as they walked with eight city watchmen. The guards carried short swords at their belts and crossbows in their hands. When they reached the large, two story building made of that blue-grey stone, a perimeter of watchmen had been set up. Karniel counted two dozen guards milling about and expected more waited on the other side of this building.

Townspeople watched and gawked as Karniel and Mathus approached a set of double doors big enough for carts and wagons to fit through. The guards backed off, and Karniel muttered to Mathus, “Still think this isn’t a trap?”

“You can wait till after to rub it in. We will deal with this curse first,” Mathus said. They opened the door and stepped inside. The warehouse was a large open-roomed building one hundred by fifty paces. It was fairly cleaned out, a few stacks of barrels, crates, and timber lined along one wall. Aside from a smattering of wagons and support beams, the space was empty except for a small chest in the middle of the room.

“Honestly this is just sad,” Karniel said. He called out as they stepped a few paces inside. “Alright Korlyon here is your Scourge. Do come out, traps like these hardly suit your approach.”

Silence. Karniel slung their rucksack off to the side. Mathus grabbed his hand and pulled them both toward the chest. “See?” the apothecary asked. “Sometimes, Karniel, we can trust those around us.”

The doors they came through slammed shut. They both wheeled about but no one stood beside the doors. Karniel said, “Oh it is simply exhausting to be right all of the time.”

“There is nowhere to run, Scourge,” Korlyon proclaimed, emerging from behind one of the wagons.

“Mmm, see, dear Korlyon, that is what we know you for: loudly announcing yourself so everyone can cringe at your arrival.”

Korlyon simply glared at Karniel. Mathus tugged his elbow and asked, “Who is that?”

To Karniel’s left emerged another hunter, wearing grey leather armor and holding a staff with a large, obsidian orb mounted to it. “You brought a friend, Korlyon?” Karniel asked before speaking to the mage directly, “I suppose you lost faith in the pup here.”

The mage said, “This warehouse is sealed. You cannot leave, Scourge. Even all your strength will not smash down the wards I’ve placed on this building. Surrender, less you put the life of your lover at risk.”

One of Karniel’s ears swiveled towards Korlyon while he kept his eyes on the mage. His keen hearing kept track of the wolf’s footsteps as he drew nearer. Karniel whispered to Mathus, “The orb on that mage’s staff? That is his conduit, we break it or the mage’s connection to it, and the wards on this building will be lifted.”

“Karniel, we do not need to fight,” Mathus said. While Karniel faced the mage, Mathus stepped out to meet Korlyon. He offered the wolf a hand and said, “Korlyon, I know you do not want to hurt us.”

Korlyon stood only twenty paces away. He drew one of his swords and quietly said, “Please… do not make this more difficult than it has to be.”

“No,” Mathus stamped his foot., “just stand down and no one needs to get hurt.”

Karniel charged the mage. He did not need to hurt the other hunter, just destroy his staff. Behind him he heard Korlyon and Mathus both give chase. Karniel reached the mage in two breaths, but the grey hunter stabbed his staff into the ground. A wave of shocking force washed over Karniel, making the bat lock up a moment, snarling, muscles in spasm. The mage backpedaled and when Karniel recovered he wheeled around to sidestep a slash from Korlyon. The wolf spun, his blade sweeping, Karniel used his superior reach to catch the wolf’s wrist. Korlyon drew his other blade and sliced into Karniel’s forearm with a single motion. He grunted, releasing the wolf and stepping back. Korlyon stepped in to press the attack but then Mathus was between them and the wolf froze, a sword mid-swing.

Mathus said, “Stay behind me, Karniel.”

Karniel squeezed the cut on his arm. It was deep, but already the wound sealed itself as blood spread through the torn sleeve of his shirt. Karniel growled, “And I just got this.”

“Are you okay, dear?”

“Aside from the pain of losing custom tailored clothing? Fine,” Karniel said, taking a step back as he scanned the room for the mage. He had gone into cover. Karniel noticed then the wound on his arm not quite healing as fast as it should, which meant Korlyon’s weapons, whether imbued in the steel or channeled by this mage, had been enchanted. This encounter became more dangerous by the moment.

Korlyon ordered, “Mathus step aside.”

Both Mathus and Karniel took a step back. “I would rather die,” Mathus said flatly.

“No one is dying,” Karniel said, “Least of all us.”

“Least of all everyone, Karniel. We can all walk away from this,” Mathus told him.

“Someone must die,” Korlyon said, stepping forward with both blades raised. “The Rite of Hunt has been proclaimed on these grounds. Till our quarry is killed or the one who called the Rite is killed, no one will be able to leave.”

“Shit,” Karniel put a hand on Mathus’ shoulder. “I have dealt with this ritual before. What Korlyon says is true.”

Mathus took a step towards Korlyon, making the wolf still. Even his tail remained raised and motionless. Mathus said to him, “What I say still stands. I would rather die than see anyone else come to harm.”

Karniel scoffed. “Well, at the very least I think the hunter and I can agree we want that outcome the least. You cannot martyr your way out of this Mathus.”

Korlyon said, “The Scourge must pay for his crimes. His presence in this world has killed hundreds of thousands—we save an untold number of lives by ending him here.”

Karniel let the two argue. What mattered was the mage. He finally spotted a set of feet under one of the wagons. Karniel leaned forward and whispered in Mathus’ ear. “I am going to go for the mage’s staff again. Charge into Korylon, he will not hurt you but it will distract him long enough to buy me some time.”

Mathus reached up behind him and pulled Karniel down to kiss his cheek. “I love you.” The apothecary lunged at the wolf. Korlyon fumbled any response, letting Mathus embrace him. A tight, clinging hug, Mathus’ cheek pressed to warm leather. Close enough he could smell the wolf under the armor.

Karniel charged past them.

“Let go!” Korlyon snapped.

“No, Karniel will not hurt anyone.”

A blast of air surged past them both and the wagon Bale had been behind came flying towards them. Bale had shot it at Karniel but the bat easily dodged. Korlyon could get out the way, but Mathus—

Mathus never figured out what happened. One moment he held onto the wolf, the next the wolf laid on top him before something crashed onto them both.

Rage like he never knew boiled through Karniel when he saw the wagon fall on both Korlyon and Mathus. With a howl he charged the mage, who tried to stop Karniel with the same trick as before. The shock barely made Karniel’s nose twitch this time. He grabbed the mage by his helmeted and masked head and squeezed with the intent to crush his skull. Some infuriating enchantment on the armor resisted his vice grip, so the bat settled for punching hard into the mage’s sternum. The man’s body jolted like a ragdoll, and Karniel, snarling, flung the mage across the warehouse. His body sailed through the air, landed, rolled, and slammed into a set of crates.

And no pain came for Karniel.

He knew to expect it. As one might the ripples from a stone dropped in water. Nothing came.

Nothing came.

And in the moment, Karniel could not care. He ran back to the wrecked wagon. Most of it shattered on impact and spilled elsewhere. He only needed to throw a few boards off Korlyon’s back before he found the two. Karniel pulled them both out, found wolf and human clinging to each other. Dazed, Mathus’ tunic torn and hands scraped up, but both were safe.

Mathus found himself hugged by Karniel. The bat quaking a little as he said, “Oh thank the gods you are alright, Mathus.”

The apothecary coughed, whole body sore and aching. He felt bruised all over. “How is Korlyon?” Mathus asked, face buried in Karniel’s shoulder.

“Fuck, I am fine,” the wolf said. “My armor is enchanted to take worse. Where is—” Mathus heard the wolf gasp and shout, “Master Bale!” and started running for the other end of the warehouse.

“Karniel, what happened?”

“That bastard hunter threw a wagon at you both,” Karniel said. “Korlyon protected you and when I saw what happened, Mathus, I flew into a rage and attacked the mage.” Mathus saw Korlyon reach the other side of the warehouse where Master Bale struggled to clamber out a wreckage of crates he crashed into.

“You did that?” Mathus asked. “What about your curse?”

“Mathus…” Karniel took a breath, afraid to say it, “It did not trigger.”

“It did not trigger… Karniel what does that mean?”

The bat squeezed his shoulders and said, “I think it means I am free.”

Korlyon grabbed Bale’s hand and helped steady the human against him. Bale was wheezing beneath his mask. Korlyon asked, “Master, what happened?

“Fuck,” Bale cursed, “That bat happened. He did this to me.”

“But the curse—”

“A lie,” Bale spat.

Korlyon shook his head. “No, Mathus would not lie about that. And we know from Gavalon what was done to Karniel—there is no way—”

“Then explain, ugh,” Bale shuddered, “why I feel my ribs broken in places.”

Korlyon looked across the warehouse, ears pinned back, stunned. “They broke the curse?”

Mathus pulled down the collar of his tunic, exposing the pale skin of his clavicle. He said, “Do it.”

“You sure?”

“Yes,” Mathus said before Karniel leaned in. Fangs pierced Mathus’ skin. The bat moaned as blood flowed into his hungry mouth. Mathus wrapped an arm around Karniel’s neck to hug him there. He gasped, the pain sharp but also somehow sweet. The bat shuddered and released him, fangs and lips coated in blood till he licked them clean.

Karniel laughed and proclaimed, “I can feed again!”

“You have always been able to feed,” Mathus said, hand over the bleeding bite.

“I made sure not to pierce anything vital, you should be fine so long as you keep pressure on it,” Karniel said. He laughed again, giddy. “Mathus the curse is fucking broken!”

“Yes, but… how Karniel?”

Bale managed to get to his feet, staff in one hand, arm over Korlyon’s shoulder. He said, “It must be that human who broke the curse.”

“Mathus?” Korlyon shook his head, “He is nothing special.”

“No, there is something off about him. I sensed it the moment he walked inside.”

Korlyon frowned, tail tucking. Across the warehouse Karniel was laughing as if he too knew for certain the curse was lifted. Korlyon said, “Nothing in my time tracking these two alerted me to anything.”

“You are not attuned to a conduit, either.” Bale glanced at the orb set on the top of his staff. The obsidian ball was about the size of Korlyon’s fist and swirled with a violet light. “Mathus here is… it feels like what standing before a very powerful conduit feels like.” Bale grunted and pulled himself away from Korlyon, standing on his own. “We will have to kill them both.”

Korlyon sputtered and said, “But Mathus is not—”

“He is not your quarry, yes. But I am making him mine now. I thought I might ignore him if we killed Karniel, but it is clear whatever power he possesses will let the Scourge go on to commit greater evils.”

Korlyon grabbed Bale by the wrist. “You cannot. The Council determines who is quarry.”

“In times of emergency, we may proclaim a hunt to protect others. I am calling on that right. Mathus is quarry now and it is our duty as hunters—”

“No!” Korlyon tugged Bale around to face him. “Mortel preserve us, Master Bale. That human is helpless. He cannot even hunt game much less be a danger to other mortals.”

Master Bale’s staff crackled with electricity. He warned, “Are you interfering with my hunt, boy?”

Korlyon, under the mask, had almost forgot his age. It came as a slap in the face to have this human remind him now of their difference in rank, seniority, age…

“Master,” Korlyon let Bale go, “I am unarmed. I let go of my swords to protect that human when the wagon fell on us. I cannot stop you, but I am begging you not to do this.”

“He is my quarry. Only my death or his will stop me.” The elder hunter faced Mathus and Karniel. He stood up straight, and the lightning crackling off his conduit grew and grew. Korlyon knew Bale channeled a spell he meant to save for when Karniel had been pinned by the wolf’s swords. Now he would simply unleash it on Mathus. Sparks of blue light arced off Master Bale. Their armor protected them both as the air grew hot. Snaps and pops began to erupt all over the warehouse. Karniel pushed Mathus away and ordered him to get into cover while the bat ran the opposite direction. The Scourge knew the spell coming would harm Mathus unless the human well away from where the bolt of lightning landed. But Karniel assumed the lightning for him.

Korlyon could not allow an innocent man to die needlessly. He reached and grabbed Master Bale’s helmet. He tugged Bale to the left and backwards, stretching his armor so the leather padding on his neck revealed bare skin. Bare skin torn open by Korlyon’s teeth. All the stored energy of the spell released around them. Crates and barrels and timber on the ceiling caught fire from the whipping tendrils of heat and energy. All while Bale struggled and Korlyon’s jaws clamped tighter. There were old ways his species knew to kill another, and a wolf never forgot. Blood filled his maw, smeared across his mask and jaw. Korlyon’s teeth shredded artery and airway both, snarling as Bale pushed weakly against him. The hunter’s spell and staff forgotten, just the blind struggle of any beast trying to free itself from a killing bite.

Korlyon did not release Bale till the man stopped moving. When his arms finally went limp, Korlyon let Master Bale fall into the dirt.

The wolf only then noticed that Karniel now stood beside them. “Not as clean as I would have done it, but still, I admire your work.” The Scourge picked up the staff, turned it over, and smashed it into the ground. The conduit split in half with an explosion of wind and force rattling through the building. Many of the flames were blown out, but Korlyon could only stare down at Master Bale. A master of their order, one of perhaps ten left. And Korlyon killed him.

“What have I done?”

“Saved us all, by the looks of it,” Karniel said.

“Korlyon!” Mathus called out as he ran towards them both. “Are you okay?”

Korlyon shook his head. This betrayal… not only would the order have him expelled. They would have him killed.

Then Mathus was beside him, cupping the wolf’s bloody jaw to turn it toward him. Concern lit in those blue eyes as he asked, “Why did you do that? You didn’t—”

“He made you his quarry,” Korlyon muttered.

“Gods,” Karniel whispered. “That spell was for Mathus, wasn’t it?”

Korlyon’s voice cracked, “I—I didn’t know how else to stop him.”

Mathus hugged the wolf, cradling his muzzle against the smaller man’s shoulder. “It’s okay. Thank you.”

“I am a traitor.”

“No, no,” Mathus cooed. “You saved us both.”

“I have… nothing now.”

“No, Korlyon, no,” Mathus rubbed up and down his back. “You have us. We are here for you.”

Korlyon pulled away to look at the human.

Mathus heart ached seeing all the fear and anguish in the wolf’s eyes.

“Mathus, darling, your determination to adopt strays truly is touching. I know you and I would not be here together if not for that, but we need to figure out what happens next.”

Korlyon pinned his ears backwards. “You two should go. I must turn myself in.”

Karniel touched Mathus’ shoulder. “He is right. When the city watch realizes the fighting has ended they will come for us. And, much as I would like the exercise, I do not want to slaughter these men.”

“Can we escape the city?”

“Easily. Once we break through the perimeter they have set up, I will be able to be in the countryside before they can get a search party together.”

Mathus nodded. “Alright.” He said to Korlyon, “Please don’t turn yourself in for this. They will hang you.”

Korlyon shrugged. “It is fitting my neck break for what I did to Master Bale’s.”

“No!” Mathus grabbed Korlyon by the shoulders and shook him. “Look at me, listen to me. Whatever wrong you feel you have committed, live so you may atone for it. I did not let Karniel kill himself and I won’t let you either—even if I have to tie you down to Karniel’s back and carry you out, dammit.”

“I beg your pardon, I am not some donkey that—”

Mathus cut Karniel off with a glare.

“Er, very well, go on then.”

Mathus said to Korlyon, “There is still so much good you can do. You’ve saved my life twice now. You are good, Korlyon. I can feel it, and I know you can feel it, too.”

The wolf studied him a moment before asking, “Why do you care so much?”

Mathus had not expected that. Blushing, he said, “I… hmm,” he cleared his throat, “You have been our companion on the road. I do not want to lose you.”

A tangle of emotion worked through Korlyon. Guilt and honor told him he needed to face justice for what he had done—but was it just an excuse to punish himself? He hated himself. Letting go this monster and killing his master all because… all because this man… this man…

“No one has ever looked at me like you do,” Korlyon spoke his thoughts aloud, embarrassed to say them soon as he had. Mathus’ blush deepened and Korlyon quickly added, “I will stay, to make sure Master Bale has his last rites, then I will leave.”

Mathus grabbed his hands and asked, “Is there a place we might meet up?”

The wolf nodded and said, “Our Order is used to setting up for when creatures like Karniel might turn the law against us. We have a safe house ten miles south of here, in a mined out quarry along the main road. There, next to three large oaks planted exactly ten paces apart, is a wall of smooth stone. You will notice three veins of color along it, red, blue, and green. Run your finger along the veins from left to right in this order: red, green, blue, blue, red, red, green, red. The way will open to you once you have.”

Mathus shook his head. “I’m not sure I can remember that.”

“You may not, but he can,” Korlyon said to Karniel.

The Scourge flashed a fanged grin. “Thank goodness someone does not underestimate my intellect. Stay here, Mathus.” Karniel went back to the front of the warehouse and retrieved their rucksack.

“Did you mean what you said earlier?” Korlyon asked when Karniel was across the warehouse. “About not wanting to lose me?”

Mathus smiled softly. “Of course, when we stayed in the Garden District I worried about you every day.”

Korlyon’s tail wagged a little. “I do not understand you at all, Mathus of Morgen’s Rest. But I am very grateful to have met you.”

“Hehe, I seem to have that impression on others.”

Karniel returned, with Korlyon’s swords in hand. The wolf took them and asked, “What are these for?”

Karniel said as he kneeled down beside Bale’s body, “If you want to perform your rites and still leave this city without trouble, we will need to make this look good.”

***

The doors to the warehouse blew open and the city watch panicked. Karniel grabbed one side of the double doors, thrown off its shattered hinges, and hefted it in front of him. About a dozen crossbow bolts fired into the wood. Karniel dropped the door and faced the guards. They saw him with Bale’s corpse, hanging by the throat from Karniel’s fangs.

Karniel spat the man out his jaws and Mathus ran outside with Korlyon on his heels. Karniel kicked the wolf back into the warehouse and scooped Mathus into his arms, rucksack on his back. He proclaimed to all those watching, “I am Karniel the Great! And if you do not wish to meet the same fate as this pathetic hunter, you will let me pass.”

And, while stunned watchmen tried to reload their crossbows, Karniel blitzed passed them light and fast as a diving bird of prey.

When they got outside the city limits, Karniel slowed his pace, asking, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, you?”

“A little tired but fine. I cannot wait to wash this taste from my mouth, though.”

Karniel kept at a jog, squeezing Mathus tight as they practically galloped down the road. Mathus asked him, “I thought you loved the taste of blood?”

“I like your blood, but most humans, they’re sour.”

“Sour?”

“The blood of all species of mortals taste different, darling. I tended not to feed on humans in the past because I found their blood unpleasant. In fact, it had been so long I almost forgot what it tasted like.”

“Then why is mine different?”

“Mathus, darling, in my experience it would not be the first thing unique about you.”

***

An hour after Korlyon killed Master Bale, Karniel got both of them to the quarry. They found the safe house in short order, Karniel putting in the code and feeling the tingle of magic as it responded to his touch. The rock wall Karniel ran his finger along ended up being a magical barrier that sealed a tunnel down into the earth. Inside they found a shrine to Mortel that Karniel summarily spat on before they passed through into a cozy looking chamber. Three bunks with mattresses had been carved into the rock wall. A well on the edge of the room provided freshwater. There was a writing desk, dining table and stocked larder, road supplies, a weapons cache, coinage, even an oven that used magic to heat it so there would be no need to vent smoke or let it build up in the chamber.

Karniel dropped their things by one of the bunks while Mathus investigated the books on the writing desk. Karniel eyed the beds carved into the rock. He was, frankly, too big to fit in one without curling up. He said, “Is it too late to return to Leday? With my powers again unhindered I could take over the city in a day.”

“We are not taking over anything,” Mathus said. He kept his back to Karniel, paging through one of the books he found.

“Oh come on, you cannot have really meant—”

“We agreed you were no longer a monster. If you become one again, I will not remain by your side.”

Karniel folded his arms and pouted, but Mathus continued reading. “Fine. Being nice is just so terribly boring and unrefined. You know rulers do not get castles built, soft mattresses, and fine clothes by being nice, right?” Still ignored, Karniel crossed the room to Mathus, his navel pressing between the human’s shoulder-blades before he asked. “What are you reading?”

“Trying to find out more on this Mortel fellow Korlyon is sworn to.”

“Mmm, he is not sworn to Mortel, darling. The Order of the Faceless are his keepers.”

“Right,” Mathus shut the book. He turned around and leaned back against the desk. “I suppose you do know everything.”

“Mostly. I did not know Korlyon would have the nerve to kill his master for you. Though, I did know his feelings for you.”

Mathus blushed and touched his chest. “Uh, why me?”

Karniel rolled his eyes. “We have already been over how fetching and pretty you are. Honestly your lack of self-esteem really is unbecoming—I would have assumed you would have adopted some of my confidence by now.”

“I am just trying not to adopt some of your arrogance at the same time,” Mathus said. He added quickly so they did not get off track, “You think Korlyon has feelings for me?”

“Mathus he betrayed his order to protect you. Besides, not that you were privy to the conversation, but while you were busy tending to those wounded workmen a week ago, I got him to admit he was jealous of me.”

Mathus hopped onto the desk to sit down. He nudged Karniel with his foot and asked, “Does it not bother you that he is smitten with me?”

“Hardly. I am exceptional in every meaning of the word. His desires for you just prove how excellent my taste is.”

“You seem a little too pleased to be the envy of others.”

“Heh,” Karniel leaned in and whispered, “It is a sign I am in possession of something very special.”

They kissed, a teasing brush of lip and fang before Mathus asked, “Is that what I am, your possession?”

“Mmm, my most prized one.” They kissed again, Karniel holding the back of Mathus’ head. The bat’s tongue filled his mouth, the smooth muscle sliding against his. Mathus ran his hands over Karniel’s neck, the soft fur warm and welcoming for his palm. He leaned up and into the bat. He took a deep breath of Karniel’s scent. His exertion getting them here had left a light sheen of musk and sweat.

When they released each other, Mathus’ face had become red. Karniel cleared his throat and said, “I believe we got off track.”

“I can’t help it if you’re so kissable.”

Karniel smirked and caressed Mathus’ cheek. “Who can?”

Mathus grabbed Karniel’s hand to keep it against his face. He turned and, eyes watching the bat’s, sucked Karniel’s thumb into his mouth. Mathus suckled on it, tongue running up and down. Nothing but blissful worship in his expression. It left Karniel a little lost for words. Till Mathus snickered and spat out the thumb, laughing at the bat. “You are so easy!”

Karniel growled, “Tease!” And swept Mathus off the desk. Karniel crossed the room and dropped him on the dining table. “I should fuck you right here and let Korlyon find you like that.”

Mathus pointed at the ceiling. “Long as you are okay with having an audience.”

Karniel glanced up and saw at the center of the ceiling was a mural of Mortel. “Ugh, him again.”

“Didn’t you say you killed Mortel?”

“Yes, it is rather annoying that even after killing him I cannot escape the bastard.”

“What do you mean?” Mathus asked. He sat up and studied Karniel’s face. “You two had a history, didn’t you?”

“Let’s just say he is the reason I hate foxes so much.”

“But you seduced his son?”

“To get back at him, yes.”

Mathus leaned in, feeling his lover kept an embarrassing secret. “For?”

“It is nothing, really,” Karniel said dismissively. He chewed his bottom lip a moment and added, “It was a mutual disagreement between two very powerful beings.”

“Karniel…”

“What Mathus?”

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

“That does not mean I should tell you everything,” Karniel said, turning his back. “And this line of inquiry is—”

“Were Mortel and you lovers?”

Karniel winced.

“You were weren’t you?”

“Listen Mathus,” Karniel spun around, “some things are best left to being forgotten or ignored by historians.”

“So you slept with his son because…”

Karniel sighed, theatrically exasperated. “Fine, yes, Mortel and I kept regular liaisons for nearly a century. I was very fond of him, but eventually he decided that associating with me was too much of a risk. I being the Scourge while he tried to cultivate the image of some benevolent god.”

“Oh, Karniel,” Mathus scooted off the table and took the bat’s hand, “It is okay to say someone hurt you.”

Karniel scoffed. “As if I cared that much—I just do not stand for anyone slighting me, be they god or mortal. So I seduced his son, not just his son but his heir, and made sure word got out that Mortel’s handpicked heir was my personal slut. Things… uh, escalated from there.”

“Gods,” Mathus hugged Karniel. “I do not really know what to say, but… you are not that person anymore. And it will be okay. Is his son still alive?”

“Oh who can keep track of a fox?” Karniel said dismissively. “History just remembers me as the one who took Mortel’s son hostage in order to draw him out and kill him. It adds quite a lovely touch to my legend, but…” Karniel glanced at the ceiling, “In the end Mortel was a martyr who became even more popular after his death.”

“What was he the deity of?”

Karniel shook his head. “He did not try to lay claim to any domains of nature. He instead was a powerful mage, charismatic enough to gain a large following. But Mortel, unlike other mages of his caliber, also managed to create a plane of existence for the departed souls of his flock. He used it to harvest their power to grow his influence on the material plane.”

Mathus felt a little sick. “He harvested them?”

“Oh sweet Mathus, all those books in your home and not a single useful one,” Karniel kept Mathus held close, rubbing his back. “All mages use conduits to call on their spells and magic. All conduits are made by trapping souls inside them and consuming their essence.”

Mathus quaked, throat a little dry. “That’s horrific.”

Karniel shrugged. “I feed on the living. They use souls. You eat hens. All things are consumed by someone else.”

Mathus’ hands curled into fists, clutching Karniel’s waistcoat. He said, “Perhaps it is a good thing Bale died, then.”

Karniel cocked his head and observed, “Maybe you are not totally hopeless.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You admitted it was good that someone in our path died.”

“I would have rather—”

“Mathus,” Karniel held the human away from him and stooped down so their faces were level. “There are killers in this world—killers like me. Now, for you, because it is you asking, I will do my best not to hurt anyone else. But when another killer walks into our path, there will be no talking or convincing. You must accept that sometimes, especially for a powerful being like myself, we have to kill to protect ourselves.” Mathus pursed his lips and Karniel sighed. He added, “I know it is not what you want to hear. Especially given all I have done for you, but you found me at the lowest point in my life and healed me. Most killers will never give you that chance.”

Mathus rested his hand on Karniel’s wrist. “I know, Karniel… Given how much danger your past deeds have already brought down on us both, I know we cannot just be pacifist in this world.” He looked down at the floor. “I wish we could, but…”

“Oh darling,” Karniel hugged him again. “The world is hardly what anyone wants.”

“We will do as much good as we can, Karniel,” Mathus swore, holding the bat tight. “And maybe a lifetime of good will balance the scales some.”

Karniel snorted. “If you want to even dent that debt we will need to work day and night.”

Mathus gave a playful, exasperated groan. “Did you have to be so evil before we met.”

“Hehe, evil, darling, is a matter of perspective.”

***

Korlyon took Bale to the local Church of Mortel and stood with the priest to help with Bale’s last rites. It made him sick standing there as if he had not done this, but he swallowed his guilt. He kept thinking of Mathus. The human would be there waiting for him. Cared about him. Along with the Scourge. Korlyon did not know what the future held exactly, but he realized, with some trepidation, his would involve the bat a great deal more than he ever expected.

It was dusk by the time Korlyon was able to reach the quarry. When he entered the safe house, Karniel’s keen hearing picked up on his footsteps. The bat met Korlyon at the entrance and said, “Oh good, it’s just you.” He called over his shoulder, “It’s just your pet wolf, Mathus. We are safe.”

Said wolf scowled and opened his mouth to say something to Karniel, but was cut off when Mathus yelled, “Korlyon!” and rushed through the door. His tail wagged before the human even reached him. Mathus hugged him tight, and Korlyon shuddered, a little uncertain what to do. He reluctantly returned the embrace. “I’m so glad you’re safe,” Mathus said into the wolf’s chest.

“I, um… thank you, Mathus,” Korlyon muttered. He wanted to say more but did not know how to say it.

Mathus released him and grabbed the wolf’s hand, “Come on inside.” Flustered, the wolf followed the human and bat, who kept this smirk on his face. His obvious amusement embarrassed Korlyon all the more.

Mathus led them to the table and sat Korlyon down. The human grabbed one of the other chairs and sat in front of Korlyon. Karniel leaned against a wall, arms folded over his chest. Mathus touched the wolf’s knee, padded in the red leather armor Korlyon always wore. “You must be exhausted wearing this all the time. Why don’t you take it off? We’re safe now.”

Korlyon spoke around a lump in his throat. “I cannot Mathus of Morgen’s—”

“Just call me Mathus.”

The wolf’s ears pinned back. “Mathus…” he whined, “I cannot let anyone see me without my armor.”

Mathus blinked. “I’m sorry?”

“They are called the Order of the Faceless for a reason, darling,” Karniel said.

“Ah,” Mathus hand reluctantly pulled away from Korlyon’s leg. “This is one of your codes.”

Korlyon nodded. “Since I have taken the oath, no mortal has seen my face.”

Mathus frowned. “How long has it been?”

The wolf, a bit embarrassed, admitted, “Only five years.”

For different reasons, both Karniel and Mathus repeated, “Five years?” Korlyon’s tail tucked underneath the chair as Karniel added, “You mean to tell me the order sent a pup to hunt me? That might be the most hurtful thing they’ve ever done to me.”

“Pup?” Mathus asked Karniel.

“The order makes members take the oath when they are thirteen. Our friend Korlyon here is barely an adult.”

“My training more than prepared me to face you,” Korlyon snapped. He stood and glared at the bat. “You’re the whole reason I became inducted in the order in the first place.”

Mathus grabbed Korlyon’s elbow and pulled him back into his chair. “We are done fighting today, Korlyon. Focus on me, okay? Can you tell me what happened? I know so little about your order.”

Chest simmering with old bitterness, he said, “My parents, along with most of the adults in my village, were pressed into service for the campaign to kill Karniel. They were taken from our lands, trained to be soldiers, and were two of the thousands who perished in the Battle of Gavalon.” Across the room, Karniel muttered a curse. Korlyon continued, “The Church of Mortel adopted those of us that had no one else and nowhere to go, and because of my age and relative fitness, they sent me to a temple where I was trained to be a member of the order.”

“Gods,” Mathus shook his head, “Korlyon I am so sorry.” He took the wolf’s gloved hand and squeezed it. “I know it is easy to blame Karniel for why your life was so radically altered, but we both know Karniel did not press your parents into service. You do not need to seek vengeance on him, not anymore.”

“Then what do I do with my life?” Korlyon rasped. “I cannot return to the order—”

Mathus offered the wolf a smile and said, “We will figure it out together. I promise.” He caressed Korlyon’s mask and said, “You are not part of the order anymore. You do not need to hide yourself from us. Is it alright if I take this off?”

Trembling, Korlyon nodded. Mathus began to undo the clasps that kept the leather mask around his face. Korlyon’s heart raced—he could not remember ever being so short of breath. So nervous. It made him a little dizzy as Mathus muttered, “There we go,” and gently removed the mask.

Mathus set it on the table and finally got a look at the wolf’s face. Along his brow, a sandy blond patch of fur went across one eye, around his ear, and down the back of his head. It made a crescent shape, striking on his grey and blue-undertoned fur. Mathus and Korlyon both felt flush. Korlyon’s ears getting a little pink while Mathus’ cheeks did the same.

“Yo-you are really handsome, actually,” Mathus said.

Korlyon’s mouth opened but no words came out. He swallowed the lump in his throat, shut his eyes, and moved in to kiss the human.

Mathus grabbed his shoulder, saying, “Wait, Korlyon—”

Korlyon’s eyes snapped open. “I… I… just thought with everything that’s happened…”

“I am with Karniel,” Mathus said, but soon as he said it Karniel was behind him.

The bat crouched to whisper in Mathus’ ear, “Come on, darling, who are we to deny this pup, hmm?”

“Are you sure?”

“After today, we could all use this.”

Mathus, butterflies boiling in his chest, leaned in.

Korlyon’s eagerness overcame any nerves Mathus might have had. The wolf’s lips were soft, but not as full. His mouth opened and the canine’s larger tongue lapped inside Mathus’ mouth. Korlyon turned his head to kiss the apothecary. The teenager trembled next to Mathus, tail wagging, eyes closed… till he felt a pair of much larger hands fiddling with the straps of his vambraces.

The wolf started, yanking away from Karniel and Mathus both.

“What?” Karniel asked. “Did you think I would just leave the two of you to gallivant about while I watched on—applauding like some voyeuristic cuck?”

Mathus, blushing up to his ears, nodded, “I… I need Karniel involved, too.”

Flustered, embarrassed, but extremely worked up after being touched for the first time in so long, Korlyon did not put up a fight. “Alright,” he whispered, “but how do we do this?”

Both Mathus and Korlyon looked at Karniel. He sneered. “Oh I see now my expertise is worth calling upon. Very well, we should start by getting all this armor off you, pup—”

“Don’t call me a pup,” Korlyon snarled.

Mathus put his hands up between them. “Easy, no more fighting today.”

“Fine,” Karniel said in an exasperated sigh. “Korlyon, I know you are not keen on doing it with me around, but your armor should come off.”

Korlyon began working on it while Mathus and Karniel stripped out of the clothes they wore. Mathus took a moment to admire Karniel’s body again, stepping forward and touching the soft brown fur on Karniel’s lean abdomen. The hard muscle just beneath was a testament to the bat’s strength. His fingers traced down to the thicker patch of pubic fur before he rubbed the familiar, flaccid shaft. Karniel tapped his chin, and Mathus stood on the toes to meet Karniel for a kiss. His back and neck craned up as Karniel skillfully kissed him.

Then the bat turned Mathus around. Korylon worked faster than Mathus expected. The wolf had piled his armor beside one of the bunks and now stood next to the dining table. He was not as large as Karniel of course, and his youth now became more apparent. Though Korlyon’s wiry muscle was not unattractive on his lithe body. His fur was that greyish blue with a white underbelly that went down to a very plump looking sheath and set of balls. The red tip of the cock poked out just so. The wolf stood a bit bashfully, legs tucked inward, ears pinned down. The sudden shyness of the pup surprised Mathus.

Korlyon said, “I can’t remember the last time someone saw me naked.”

Karniel leaned down and whispered in Mathus’ ear, loud enough for the wolf to hear, “He looks good, doesn’t he, Mathus?”

Mathus nodded, which made Korlyon’s tail wag just a little.

“You want him to fuck you, don’t you?” Karniel asked.

“Yes,” the human breathed.

“All that youthful vigor, all that pent up need,” Karniel said. The bat started fondling Mathus, making the man’s cock come to life. “You want all of it, don’t you?”

“Fuck, Karniel,” Mathus whined.

Korlyon watched the two of them, lost for words but his sheath throbbing.

Karniel shoved Mathus towards the wolf. Korlyon caught him with a grunt. The wolf was only a head taller than the human, so when he looked down Mathus was already pressing his lips to the wolf’s. Korlyon’s chest fur was thicker than Karniel’s, the scent dustier, with undertones of the leather the wolf wore. Mathus pushed into the wolf’s body, his cock grinding into Korlyon’s sheath. Underneath the dust and the leather, Mathus smelled maleness, musk. It was sharper than Karniel’s scent. Ripe, almost. Mathus’ kiss with Korlyon was broken when Karniel stepped up to the human’s back. Korlyon was made to look up then receive Karniel’s lips. He shuddered. Karniel held the wolf close, his longer tongue meeting the canine’s. He teased in and out the pup’s mouth with, licking the fangs that killed Bale. Karniel’s heightened senses could still taste the man’s blood.

There was something perverted and taboo in taking pleasure from his enemy. Korlyon was supposed to kill Karniel, and here he was, enraptured by a kiss with the seductive bat. Mathus, meanwhile, was lost between their two warm bodies. He nuzzled into Korlyon’s throat, where the fur grew a little thicker. His hands roved the wolf’s back, one palm teasing Korlyon’s firm, teenage butt. His cock still rubbed along Korlyon’s sheath while the slick, red shaft smeared fluid across Mathus’ stomach and Karniel’s still-soft endowment pressed warmly to the small of the human’s back.

Karniel broke the kiss and smirked down at the wolf. He rested a hand on Mathus’ shoulder and ordered, “Darling, how about you lie back on the table and present yourself for the pup.”

A twinge of annoyance, but Korlyon was too far gone to protest what Karniel called him.

Quickly, Mathus got up onto the table, lying back across it and spreading his legs. The human’s puffy, pink pucker was well used and clean. He reached down and spread his butt to stretch his hole for both males. The full, pale flesh a little darker down his taint to his rim. He clenched his hole for them. Korlyon practically drooled. His red shaft had bloomed fully from his sheath. The ten inch length dripping and filling the room with acrid, canine musk.

Karniel spanked Korlyon and asked, “What are you waiting for?”

The wolf came to the table and started trying to mount Mathus, but Karniel quickly stopped him. He said, “Come on, prepare him first!” A little cowed, the wolf got on his knees in front of the table—muzzle inches from Mathus’ butt. He smelled the human’s earthy musk, a tinge of need within it. Teeth nearly chattering, he kissed Mathus hard. The asshole quivered against his lips. His wet nose pushed into the human’s taint and he took another deep breath. Mathus’ body screamed need. Korlyon growled a little, tail wagging. He dragged his tongue across Mathus’ crack. The human moaned sweetly. Korlyon grabbed his thighs and squeezed tight. His tongue lapped and down, broad thing pushing and prodding against Mathus. He needed to get the man prepped and ready. Needed to fuck him as quickly as possible. His tapered cock squirted a line of watery precum beneath the table.

When Karniel crossed the other side of the table, Mathus looked up at him with a sultry smile. The human reached down to hold Korlyon’s head against him while his other hand fondled Karniel’s meaty dick. The bat did not need to say anything. Mathus had practically been trained. The human licked the underside of the swelling shaft. He peeled back the foreskin and teased Karniel’s urethra with his tongue a moment, then kissed the tip, trailed kisses down to the base. Mathus nuzzled into the bat’s massive orbs. The comforting, heavy smell of musk and sage aroused Mathus and pleasantly dazed him at the same time. As if Karniel’s scent trained the human’s whole body to relax and accept whatever pleasure might come. And while he sucked on one of those huge testicles, Korlyon’s tongue teased, pressed, and finally forced Mathus open. Karniel’s balls muffled the human’s moan as Korlyon lapped in and out.

Korlyon had opened his mouth, teeth pushing up a little against tender flesh just to get his tongue deeper inside Mathus. The apothecary squirmed on the table. His soft walls clenched on Korlyon’s tongue. The wolf pushed as much spit as he could inside Mathus. Till the human’s asshole dripped with canine drool. The saliva slipping down his skin and onto the table. That oral muscle massaged the rim till it loosened and relaxed. Mathus tried to roll his hips into Korlyon’s muzzle. Huffing, panting, moaning, and doing whatever he might to encourage the voracious wolf.

By the time Karniel allowed himself to get hard, Mathus had precum dripping onto his stomach. The human’s legs quivered, and Karniel knew his lover more than ready for the pup. Karniel knelt down beside the red-faced Mathus and whispered, “Beg him to fuck you.”

Groaning, Mathus pleaded, “That’s enough Korlyon. Please, I need you inside me. I want to feel your cock.”

Karniel smirked as the pup got to his feet.

Korlyon wasted no time positioning his leaky taper next to Mathus’ drooling pucker. The ring of flesh winked, begged for entry. Mathus whole body was one tense line of heat and need. Only one thing that could relax that tension. Korylon pushed, and gasped as his cock entered the human. Mathus was soft and wet and hot. The apothecary moaned. Dick filled his passage, one inch to four to eight. The eager wolf humping while Mathus grit his teeth. It hurt a little to be fucked open so quickly, but that intoxicating fullness, the pleasurable ache sated by all that flesh rubbing his rim—it felt too good to deny. Mathus’ back arched while Korlyon shivered.

The wolf felt his knot quickly begin to inflate. He had been pent up for so long... untouched for so long. The human’s slick passage of course brought him to his peak early. Both Mathus and Karniel noticed it: the struggle for breath, grip on Mathus legs tightening, the wolf’s keening moan. Korlyon’s tongue lolled out his mouth, drool dripping on Mathus while he rubbed his knot against the human’s entrance. He humped raggedly on Mathus’ backside before he started cumming. Mathus tried his best to milk the younger male. Potent, lupine spunk filled his passage. Korlyon’s eyes glazed over for a moment. There was just the tight heat of Mathus’ body, his cock jerking and throbbing in that passage, the human taking load after load of cum. Till the creampie flooded out around the red shaft.

Karniel laughed, which brought Korlyon back to his senses. “Don’t tell me that’s all you plan to do, pup. You’ll never get poor Mathus off if that’s the case.”

Korlyon bared his teeth, but before he might retort, Mathus wrapped his legs around the wolf’s waist. Mathus said, looking the wolf in the eyes, “He’s not done yet. Are you Korlyon?”

“No,” the wolf growled. Tail trembling, cock still a little sensitive, the wolf began to pull out. When he slammed back in, Mathus moaned an encouraging, “Yes!” Panting, Korlyon fucked in and out of Mathus’ messy ass. Each thrust churned up the cum inside him and made more spill around that pummeling red shaft.

Karniel said, “That’s it, pup.”

Mathus grabbed the bat’s dick, “Stop, ah, provoking him and fuck my face.”

“Heh, if you insist, darling,” Karniel moved his mushroom head to Mathus’ lips. His mouth opened, and cock filled it. That meaty, maroon head stretched Mathus’ jaw wide. The foreskin peeled back a little by his lips. The salty flavor made his toes curl. Mathus wrapped his arms around Karniel’s hips. Encouraged, the bat forced his cock down the man’s throat. It left a swollen lump at the top of Mathus’ neck. Karniel was just so big. Doing this always made Mathus sore after, but he didn’t care. He wanted these two hung males to treat him like a piece of meat. Fuck him into a dazed oblivion. Mathus took a deep breath before Karniel hilted inside his mouth. The bat’s heavy balls rested against his brow. Karniel sighed, smothering and choking Mathus with cock while the human obediently sucked and swallowed.

Korlyon found his second wind. He stooped over a little, tail raised, hands on Mathus’ trim waist. He pumped his hips hard and fast. That red, cum-slick shaft flashed in and out of Mathus abused asshole. The pucker swollen from all the stimulation, caving in each time Korlyon’s knot slapped against it. The bulb never went down. Pulsing, with the need, the pup fucked with a feral hunger. His eyes were a little glazed over as he watched the slutty, red-faced human. Tears streaked down Mathus’ cheeks, cock leaking profusely across his stomach.

The pup didn’t always hit it, being desperate and inexperienced, but every few strokes his dick slammed Mathus’ prostate. The human felt pressure thrust down his dick. Shaft aching from the fuck. All while Karniel took long, slow strokes in and out his mouth. The bat deliberately fucked Mathus’ face, the act putting the human in a stupor. Something about servicing cock always did this to him. Made him buzz with heat and pleasure, heat pushed to boiling by the horny teenage wolf desperately trying to knot him. All while meaty dick slid up and down his tongue, flooding even his sinuses with the taste of precum and salty cockflesh.

Mathus’ rim slowly started to get caved in by that knot. Lupine cum had been churned to a frothy mess inside him—it practically bubbled around the red bulb. The flesh—stretching, yielding—was beaten into submission. The knot was thick as Korlyon’s fist. Mathus rocked to each thrust. He felt his asshole stretched beyond what even Karniel did to him. That burning ache intoxicated him, made him want to beg Korlyon to knot him. But he didn’t need to beg.

Suddenly it just popped inside of him. His asshole clamped shut around the wolf. Korlyon whined again, orgasm racing towards him. He clenched his abdomen to try and hold it back, all while humping what little he could to make that tight ass tug on his knot. Mathus’ hot tunnel gripped up and down the shaft, while he moaned around Karniel’s cock. The knot throbbed and pushed tight against the human’s prostate. He felt its pulse. Then a jolt rocked Korlyon’s body and he started cumming again. The wolf moaned, still humping raggedly while his taper spewed another thick load of cum. The furry sheath against his ass, those balls flexing against it, the knot rubbing, twitching flexing, stimulating Mathus nonstop while hot cum filled him. It was too much.

Karniel saw it coming. Hungry, the bat hilted Mathus’ face and doubled over the table. He pushed the human’s cock into his mouth, only needing to suck once. Mathus hips bucked upward, tugging hard on Korlyon. The pup nearly yelped, almost fell on top Karniel. The bat groaned, his mouth filling with his lover’s seed. That potent mixture sweet and salty sperm. Karniel’s balls leapt, and suddenly he rewarded Mathus his own helping. Thick wads of cum dumped down Mathus’ throat. Karniel’s back half shuddered. His body filled with the pleasure of feeding. He practically purred as he suckled the last of the human’s load out his dick. When he did, Karniel pushed himself off the table. He stepped back, dragging his still cumming dick out of the human. The bat’s cock, in a single spurt, filled Mathus’ mouth with cum. He quickly swallowed, panting for breath, throat ragged while the bat stroked his shaft. Hot ropes of seed were sprayed across the human. The room quickly smelled of Karniel’s potent cum.

All of this, Korlyon watched a little in awe. Mathus panted, legs twitching. He squeezed the wolf’s waist with his legs, holding him tight. “Fuck Karniel,” Mathus moaned, “he’s still cumming.” Mathus meant Korlyon. The man apparently all too pleased by the gentle swell along his abdomen as Korlyon’s cock now slowly dripped inside Mathus.

Karniel licked his fangs and said, “I’m still hungry, Mathus.”

Korlyon, alarmed the bat was about to bite him, asked, “Wh-what do you mean?”

Mathus, ragged and out of breath, said, “Our Scourge here can feed on others’ cum.”

Karniel gave the pup a hungry, fanged grin. “I wonder what your essence taste like, pup.”

Korlyon felt a little cowed. The bat came around the table to him and kneeled beside the wolf. Karniel grabbed Mathus’ ass and spread it wide as possible. His asshole, crack, and taint were all smeared with the cum of Korlyon’s first load. Karniel might have licked that up, but he had something else in mind. Keenly watching Mathus’ asshole, Karniel ordered, “Pull out, pup.”

Korlyon gasped. “B-but my knot.”

“Do it, pup, or I will do it for you.”

Whining, while Karniel kept Mathus as spread as possible, the wolf began to pull out. Mathus felt a burning in his rim, after cumming he was incredibly sensitive all over. The pressure hurt, but the pain felt enticingly sweet, too. His cock, half-hard, began to twitch with life again. His pucker started to yawn open, the red bulb revealing itself. It emerged more and more while Korlyon whimpered. He slowly pulled backwards, sheath hurting a little, cock sore, but he obeyed Karniel. Both bat and wolf watched, wide-eyed, as Mathus stretched wider and wider. That knot looking like a lewd plug in the man’s ass. Karniel whispered, “That’s it, pup.” Korlyon huffed. He felt that flesh cling to less and less of his bulb. The air almost cold on his red dick. Then he reached the largest point, and the rest of it popped out of Mathus. He groaned.

Karniel shoved Korlyon back. His cock, still dripping, suddenly all came out of the human. The bat growled and kissed his lover’s gaping hole. Hot cum pushed out of Mathus into Karniel. The warm, lupine seed made Karniel groan. He pushed his tongue inside Mathus, feeding on the man’s asshole. He ate out the cum filled hole. Even this was a first for Karniel. A filthy, hunger driven act that filled him with heat and need and satiation all at once. To be sated by lower lifeforms like this should have humiliated him. But Karniel loved it, wriggling his tongue inside Mathus and scooping wads of lupine sperm inside his mouth.

Watching that slut bat rub his face into Mathus’ ass, all while the human huffed and squirmed on the table, made Korlyon realize he was not finished either. His knot did not go down. His cock throbbed in the air, slick and dripping with cum. And there was that fucking bat. Acting all high and mighty, calling Korlyon a pup, condescending him. On his knees lapping up wolf cum.

Well if Karniel wanted it, Korlyon would give it to him.

Karniel got so caught up in the bliss of feeding he was practically helpless when Korlyon grabbed the scruff of his neck. The wolf yanked Karniel up and shoved him onto the table. Karniel fell across Mathus, gasping before he felt a pair of hands on his hips. He looked over his shoulder, asking, “What the—ah!” Korlyon forced his cock inside Karniel. The wolf was bigger than Mathus, and it had been a few days since Karniel had last been penetrated. Without preparation. But, covered in cum as lube, it felt humiliatingly good when the wolf’s dick pushed inside him.

“Shut up, slut,” Korlyon snarled. “It’s about fucking time someone put you in your place.”

The teenager’s dick still dripping from his previous orgasm, Karniel felt the tantalizing pleasure of feeding. Mixed with the pleasurable pain of being forced open, it left him limp and ragged. He groaned when Korlyon hilted Karniel to the knot. Karniel tried to push himself off the table, but Mathus wrapped his arms around the bat’s neck. Karniel looked down in shock, the red-faced, cum covered human smiled up at him.

“It feels good, doesn’t it?” Mathus whispered. “I can feel your dick throbbing on mine.” It was true, each time Korlyon’s hips smacked his backside, Karniel’s hard shaft rubbed up and down Mathus’ cock and stomach. Cum from Karniel’s previous orgasm made the frottage slick and warm. Mathus said, “It’s okay to submit, Karniel.”

No! He was not—Korlyon mashed into the bat’s prostate. Any pride inside Karniel exploded. His back arched with a moan. It did feel so good. He did not want this pleasure to end. He did not want Korlyon to stop fucking him. Those eight inches fucking in and out of his hole stirred him up so nicely. It made his legs quake. The wolf rutted Karniel like the bat was some bitch in heat and the longer Korlyon did the more he wanted it.

Mathus kissed Karniel, the bat’s eyes shuttering as he made out with his lover. The wolf would take them both. Knot them both. The young teenager would make sluts of them both. He did not care. He tasted his cum on Mathus’ tongue and knew Mathus tasted the wolf’s cum in Karniel’s mouth. They kissed hotly and sweetly. All while their dicks rubbed up and down each other. Bat and human both leaking.

Mathus broke the kiss and said, “See?” He reached down and squeezed the maroon head of Karniel’s dick. The bat moaned while Mathus said, “See how good it is? You want this so bad.”

Karniel bit his lip, trying to hold back. His tunnel had become a chamber of pleasure. Stroked and stoked up and down. All that heat with the rubbing on his cock brought him embarrassingly close to his orgasm already. Then Mathus called out, “Make him beg, Korlyon.”

The wolf snarled. He reached down and grabbed the bat’s scruff again. He made Karniel chest push out, back arced. He gasped as the wolf’s blunted claws dug into his flesh. Korlyon pulled Karniel backwards on his dick, his knot pounding at the bat’s dark entrance.

“Beg for my knot, slut,” Korlyon growled.

“F-fuck you—ah fuck!” Karniel screamed. Those claws dug deeper. The smack smack smack of his abused ass a constant. But Karniel also rolled his hips back, ground into that knot willingly.

He groaned, whimpered, and Korlyon yelled, “What are you waiting for?”

“Fuck please!” Karniel groaned. “Knot me—I need it. I need your cum.”

“What are you to me, bitch?”

Karniel, humiliated, defeated, yelled, “A slut! A toy! Fuck!” The bat made a long, rakish moan as he came. It was too much. Seed flooded between him and Mathus. Cum throbbed and smeared against their stomachs. His asshole flexed and rippled and relaxed just a moment. Suddenly Karniel felt his ass caved in. A knot inside him, smothering his prostate. The wolf bent over and snarled, “Your mine now, bitch,” before biting down on Karniel’s shoulder. He had been claimed. Seed flooded the bat’s backside. The teenager was potent, virile, and full of youth. His third orgasm flooded Karniel almost as much as his previous two nuts. He humped into the bat, a feral animal in the moment. Karniel’s eyes rolled backwards, mouth hanging open, tongue lolling out. All while Mathus milked his traitorous cock. His body pushed above and beyond normal heights by this humiliation. He was barely aware of being sandwiched between Mathus and Korlyon. All Karniel sensed was his hips, rear, cock, balls, stomach, thighs, all of it boiling with heat and pleasure that left him limp.

Had the table not held him up he would have fallen over.

***

“I will forgive your insolence just this once,” Karniel said, sitting with Korlyon at the edge of a pond. In the back of the quarry, a pit had filled in with water over time and offered a place for all of them to wash up.

The wolf smirked, an annoying amount of confidence in him now. He said, “Sure thing, Scourge.”

Karniel glared at him, but Mathus said from the water, “Play nice, you two.”

Karniel spared the pup a sneer. They were all still naked. Mathus floated backwards in the water, Karniel and Korlyon sitting at the lip of the rock.

Korlyon said, “I don’t think we can make any promises.”

“Then don’t kill each other,” Mathus said.

“As if this pup would ever be able to hurt me,” Karniel scoffed. “Are you done yet, Mathus?”

“Mmm, I don’t remember the last time I took a swim.” He lazily paddled backwards on his back.

While Karniel rolled his eyes, Korlyon asked, “So what happens now?”

“Good question,” Karniel said.

Mathus righted himself in the water, he stood on his toes to keep his head above the surface. He wiped his dark hair out his face and asked, “What do you want to happen, Korlyon?”

The wolf shrugged. “I am utterly lost, an exile to my order, and living a hemisphere away from my original home. I would like to know I have somewhere to go.”

Karniel groaned. “Just ask rather than putting on this pitiful show.”

Mathus said what Korlyon wanted to hear, “You can travel with us, if you would like.”

Karniel leaned back onto his palms, looking up at a cloudy sky. He said, “Mathus you do know you can’t adopt every stray you meet.”

“Don’t call me some mutt lost on the road,” Korlyon warned.

Karniel smirked up to the clouds, “It is how he found me.” Karniel leaned forward, “Isn’t it Mathus?”

The human grinned. “Could say I have a type.”

Korlyon shook his head, “This is not what I meant earlier. Karniel’s curse is broken. What happens now?”

Karniel touched the back of his neck. He said, sharing a look with Mathus, “I believe we have no plans for what comes next.”

“For now, we keep traveling,” Mathus answered.

“And do either of you care exactly how the curse was broken?” Korlyon pushed. “I doubt it just faded with time.”

Karniel shook his head. “It is broken, that is all that matters.”

Korlyon did not let it go, however. “I think it does,” he said to Mathus, “Master Bale thought you were responsible, Mathus.”

The apothecary frowned. “How? Karniel has hurt me before and the curse activated.”

Korlyon shook his head. “I am not sure. Bale said you felt off—like you were some kind of conduit.”

For the first time Mathus saw Karniel look shocked. The bat grabbed Korlyon’s arm and asked, “You’re sure that is what he said?”

“Karniel?” Mathus asked.

Korlyon nodded.

Karniel, brow furrowed, asked Mathus, “Darling, what can you tell me about your parents?”

Mathus did, climbing out of the water to sit between the two anthros. His parents moved to Morgen’s Rest shortly after Mathus was born. They set up their apothecary, and by the age of four Mathus began helping around the store. When his parents were found dead in the wild, attacked by wolves or a bear, Mathus took over the apothecary. He was only fifteen at the time, but his parents had passed on their trade by that point. He survived.

“That was all twenty years ago, at this point.”

Karniel gawked. “Wait, you’re thirty-five?”

“Yes?”

Karniel touched his face. The boyish features still apparent. Karniel said, “Mathus, darling, I thought you were no older than twenty-five.”

Mathus blushed and admitted, “I’ve always been told I was young looking…”

“No, darling,” Karniel shook his head. “I did not think anything of it, but—your blood doesn’t taste like other humans.”

Korlyon and Mathus both studied Karniel carefully. Korlyon asked, “What are you getting at?”

Karniel caressed Mathus’ cheek. “Mathus, you may not be human.”