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"All I wanted... All I ever wanted... was to open his heart... just a little."

A crease appeared along Hawke's brow, the whisper of words tingling through his memories.

Jadd had bounced back from its occupation of the Beastmen of Ferolia, returning to its natural state as a bustling port city, such that its populace had filled the area with its usual noises- laughter, arguing over prices, haggling in the alleyways, and greetings and farewells of every variance. The desert thief prince of Nevarl had expected it; a lifetime of living in a nearly waterless wasteland had taught him that even in the deadliest and driest of places, one could survive and return. Jadd, and even the once-destroyed city of Astoria had demonstrated it too.

He supposed this, then, was how his thoughts had trailed to Belladonna.

"Hey."

Hawke flinched, turning his stare to his right. A beautiful, pale face framed with blonde hair sat near him, her blue eyes curious. The couple were seated at a shaded table front of a restaurant, still waiting on their Beastman companion to return with food He managed a smile, one he was was not at all convincing- anticipating her question, he spoke first.

"Just thinking- place could use a lot more guards in case a few thugs from Nevarl decide to pilfer a bit," he chuckled.

"You wear many faces, Hawk," Riesz said patiently. "Over the time we've spent adventuring, facing unspeakable dangers, and--"

"Getting intimate," he interrupted her with a grin.

"Er... yes, growing close," she chuckled nervously, blushing. "But over that time I feel I've come to understand those faces, those masks you wear when something is troubling you. In this case, you seem to look... guilty."

Hawke held up his hands. "Hey now, I promised I wouldn't turn to banditry, remember? At least not unless they're super-wealthy and can afford to lose a few chests of gold," he admitted with that same grin.

It had the intended effect, the princess of the Wind Kingdom giggling.

"I suppose you're hear no argument from me. But seriously, Hawke... you know you can tell me anything." She favored him with the kind smile that, many times over, had stolen the thief's heart, reaching out and touching his hand.

It was enough to drop the act. With a sigh he leaned back in his seat.

"Didja ever feel bad for... Belladonna?" he asked.

Her features hardened for a moment before softening. "She... murdered my father. For that, I could never forgive her; a sin that she'll bear on her soul no matter what."

"And I'm not saying you oughta forgive her," Hawke assured her. "But... I dunno, after hearing about the Dark Majesty's story and how she just wanted to get a little bit of love? I can't help but feel just a tiny bit sorry for both of them." He stared up into the sky. "The guy turned out to be a heartless bastard, but maybe that comes with a lifetime of being locked away by your folks and hated because a prophecy says 'you _might_become a world-ending tyrant.' And Belladonna... I mean, all she wanted was a bit of affection."

"Yet Dark Majesty merely dismissed her as a 'worthless pawn,'" Riesz nodded with a sigh. "I remember. And putting it that way, I suppose... I do have a little sympathy for her, demon though she was." She cocked her head to the side. "Still... what's done is done, yes? She was slain, there's little we can do for it."

Hawke said nothing for nearly a minute, still thinking of the desert wastes of Nevarl. It was a place his companions had traveled in order to save the world, yet he knew they were not the only ones doing so- for the world was beset, not by one, but three threats. Words from a curious little girl from Wendel had stuck with him, relating to them her battle against a soul-eating demon.

"Charlotte told us that... when she and Kevin fought Goremand and won, he disappeared. They thought they had killed him, but they both said that Goremand spoke to them, saying he'd return."

"Charlotte has a bit of an imagination, don't you think?" Riesz pointed out.

"She's smarter than we give her credit for- even if she doesn't talk like it," Hawke countered. "We don't really know what happens to demons when they die, or if they even die at all. Dark Majesty needed a body to return to after his ritual, which to me says that they can stick around after dying- it would make Charlotte's story make sense."

Riesz blinked, her expression turning to one of consideration. "I... hadn't thought about that, actually. But you're right." She gave him a sympathetic stare. "So you're wondering perhaps if Belladonna's spirit might exist as well?"

Hawke sighed, shrugging. "I dunno... I guess a part of me just hopes so. Maybe that she'll find _some_happiness in the end. Who knows, maybe it'll be just the thing to prevent her from coming back and causing more destruction." He paused. "Or at least be put in a position where she can't hurt anybody."

Riesz moved to speak, only to be interrupted as a platter holding a fully cooked chicken was unceremoniously dropped onto the table between them. Both adventurers yelped and jumped back at the unexpected intrusion, looking up just in time to see a powerful and trained youth grab one of the leg quarters and tear it off. A second later Kevin was gulping down his food and grinning at the pair.

"Aaahh, don't worry about that mean cat lady!" he laughed. "Beat her before and saved the world- can do it again! Now, no more worrying! Gotta eat, you guys- you won't catch up to me if you are famished!"

Hawke and Riesz traded looks, then laughed and shrugged. There was no point in telling their Beastman friend that they would not always be around to save the world; but nor could they disagree that, at least for now, it was time for them to enjoy their hard-won peace.

"All I wanted... was to open his heart... just a little..."

SLAM!

"It was all I wanted..."

SLAM!

"... And now he's gone!"

Her fist stopped short of the cliff wall, trembling an inch from it; it was stained with blood, had been for at least a good fifteen minutes since she'd broken down and let out all her rage. Eyes red from non-stop crying, face wet with tears that had ceased minutes earlier, Belladonna stared at her knuckles; now so injured that the flesh beneath was visible.

It didn't matter. Nothing did.

With the barest amount of concentration, the skin and fur along her cat-like hand healed over in a matter of seconds, made completely new- more than she could say for her heart and spirit, both fragile; the latter from the crucible of death and rebirth, the former for the loss of the one being in all existence she had dared to love.

Her face hardened, grief turning to rage- for she'd persisted after death long enough to hear his words.

"...Worthless pawn."

Belladonna turned away from the wall and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder and continuing her trek up the trail, staring up at Dark Castle.

A year ago it would have been more difficult for her to make the trip on foot, so accustomed to a frail human body that she required her magic to get around more easily; not that wearing high heels and adorned in desert harem clothing helped. But her new body, this one having once been a fresh corpse of a merchant cat race female, was better suited to traveling and thus more athletic. In many ways, it matched her true form, the feline limbs and senses similar to those of her cat-demon form- even her fur color and eyes seemed the same.

It was hard to appreciate anything these days, yet as she neared her destination she breathed a silent thanks that this body, along with her innate magic skills, had allowed her to survive such a vicious world- for even with the Dark Lord gone, the Goremand vanquished, and the Dragon Lord slain, many monsters lingered the wild roads and dark places of Fa'Diel; those who did not attack her would still stalk her. Even now, she kept looking over her shoulder, certain that she was being watched, perhaps even followed. It only stopped once she reached the narrow stone bridge leading to the main gate.

She reached the front door to the castle, stopping and staring up at the ominous structure. Her destination had been reached, a trip that had taken months- more than enough time for her to form a plan.

And yet... she still did not have one. With a frustrated sigh, she pushed the door open.

She was immortal. She had more than enough time to think of one.

The merchant cats of Fa'Diel possessed no shortage of supplies; nomads by nature, their entire lives were slung over their shoulders, tucked in their satchels, or tied to their belts. The body Belladonna had claimed as her own was no different, a key reason why she could afford to stay away from cities and towns, her bag laden with food and healing items. Most useful in this sack was a bedroll, upon which the feline was now resting.

Which wasn't to say that she was sleeping.

Even with her eyes closed, her ears remained alert. Noises, or the whisper of noise, fluttered through the empty halls of the castle. She had done a thorough check of each room, from the armory to the kitchen, finding little more than rats and dust. What weapons and treasures had once filled the halls and walls of the fortress were now barren, having long-since been looted by thieves and the fleeing armies that once served the Dark Lord.

But it's emptiness also allowed sound to travel more easily. Now she could detect the unmistakable sound of footsteps; decidedly not vermin in nature.

The steps neared and she tensed, keeping still on her bedroll while he claws slid from her paws. The sound ceased, followed by a subtle intake of air from near the door. Belladonna cursed silently, knowing she had been spotted and regretting that she had decided to shed her clothing, the knives she'd used as weapons nestled within her bundled shirt several feet away.

The steps resumed, getting nearer. Her claws would have to do.

She sprang from the bedroll, throwing the blanket she'd been using toward the intruder, glancing at the figure just long enough to see a flash of torchlight before it disappeared under the blanket. With a snarl she lunged forward and swung her foot out, catching the intruder where their head would be; it caught against something hard, yet her strength was enough that the figure slid back several feet, the blanket flying off at the same time.

She rolled back into a fighting stance, ready to fight- only to freeze as the torch illuminated the figure's face. It was not unlike her own, feline in shape, bearing black and white fur; though she could sense this one was male, his build a mix of agile and strong, suited for fighting. He bore a curious expression, his left arm held up in a block. She realized he must have anticipated the kick, or at least thought to protect his head, yet she did not lower her guard.

"Who are you?!" she hissed.

The male held up his palms. "Easy there, miss. I'm Simon. I came here to scavenge these ruins."

"You are not welcome here!" Belladonna snarled, baring her fangs and claws; with a snap of her fingers the room's magi torch sconces illuminated the room. "If you don't leave now I will stain these halls with your blood!"

She had expected him to recoil in fear, perhaps stammer and offer an excuse; for some reason she stayed her hand, not wanting to strike at the intruder. What she did not expect was for him to begin laughing, a warm and calm chuckle that bore no tone of ill will.

"Is that so? Well I won't lie, this place _could_use a paint job, but I doubt there's enough in me to cover for this room, at least," he said with a smile, looking around. "The Dark Lord's bedroom... do you think he would have liked that color? I can only assume so, seeing as he wanted to throw the world into darkness."

"Do not speak to me of that name!" she snarled again. "That-- he--" She trembled, trying to keep her face from falling into anguish. "I'm warning you right now, just... leave!"

Simon considered her carefully, though not without an amused smile. "You certainly look ready to kill," he admitted, gesturing to her. "But you're not exactly what I'd call dressed for the occasion."

A frown creased her brow as he seemed to take in her naked form with interest, his eyes tracing the full curves of her heavy breasts, the purple-tinted nipples that peaked those impressive mounds, and then sliding down her toned belly and exposed pussy, barely concealed by a tuft of creamy white pubic fur.

His right brow arched and he smiled.

It was that gesture that affected her the most. The anger she'd felt from this stranger for his intrusion was now morphing into curiosity for his presence; and perhaps some slight satisfaction that Simon seemed to regard her form as attractive.

The Dark Lord never looked at me that way...

She shook her head, fighting back the words and emotions- and trying to regain control of the situation. "I don't care if I'm naked, I'm practically used to it. What are you doing here?" she repeated firmly, still keeping her claws held up. "Nobody but monsters live in the Night Caverns. Merchant cats never come this way."

"Which makes your presence here strange," he replied, still smiling. "But I'll get to that in a moment, Belladonna."

Her eyes widened at the sound of her name. "You... how do you know that name?"

"I think it's more important that you ask me how I know who you are," Simon answered. "And I'll tell you both after I answer your first question. If you'll allow me?"

Belladonna stared at him for a full minute, trying to read him. None, save those with magic or deep knowledge of the land, could have entered Night Cavern, yet she could sense neither from him. While it was not impossible for one to conceal their power from others, the man standing before her did not seem at all out of the ordinary, nor could she sense him as a threat. It was in looking at his warm smile and kind eyes that she finally relaxed, breathing out a sigh and nodding.

"Quickly, then," she said shortly.

Simon grinned, taking off his oversized backpack. "Excellent! If you'd like to put on a shirt while I show you my trade?"

"I'm fine," she said in a curt tone. "Just get on with it so I can throw you out afterward."

"If you'd like," he said, digging into his bag and pulling out a tome. "Though I don't think you will once you see what I can offer!"

"I'm not buying," she said coldly, folding her arms. "And if that's all you mean to do then just tell me now so I can cast you back into the caves."

"Patience, my dear!" he laughed, now pulling out a sheathed, black-handled sword with a smile. "I am a trader, yes, but I sell far more powerful wares that most of my kind ever would. They may carry their blessed tiger bikinis for impressive defense and their falchions and kukri for the well-equipped adventurers; but _I_prefer to make my wares."

He threw the book to the floor and Belladonna's eyes widened; the cover was made in what was unmistakably human skin. "I've seen that book... long ago," she muttered.

"The Tome of Gova," Simon said proudly. "The Ghost Ship still sails to this day, even with Mana disappearing from the world. It's one of the items I need for my trade, forging magic weapons- a trick I picked up from the Dwarves."

He drew the sword from its sheath and Belladonna stared at it in wonder; black as the void of night, with the subtle shimmer of energy dancing along its blade. She peered closer at it, see that each shimmer was a tormented, screaming face, issuing no sound but clearly in immense pain and suffering.

"This sword once belonged to the Darkshine Knight, an enemy to your master," he explained. "A powerful blade on its own, but with a little bit of reforging and intelligence it has a power that I expect would even cause the fabled Sword of Mana to lose its luster." He gave it a sharp swing, and at once an echo of a tortured howl sang through the air, accompanied by a sharp flare in Belladonna's senses- she could feel the raw power of death surging from its edge as it thirsted for a life to end.

"You make cursed items, then?" she asked, now curious enough to step forward.

"Cursed_and_ blessed," he nodded. "The power of Mana may be receding, but I found that it's very much possible to trap what power is left in these artifacts." He gestured around him. "I've been here three times before, each time to scavenge for parts or relics that have been overlooked. The monsters that once roamed these halls had no use for them, and to my knowledge none ever returned to this place."

He leveled a stare at her.

"Until you, Belladonna."

She frowned again. "Alright, you answered my first question. Now answer my second."

He nodded, sheathing the sword again and picking up the book, sliding both into his bag and pulling out a small, foldout table. "The tales of the heroes of Mana have spread since the fall of... well, you know," he said quietly, as he started to pull out more items; a necklace, a bracelet, a pair of armored gloves, a length of silver rope. "Among them was the defeat of a beautiful cat demon of Mavolia, the brilliant mind behind the Nevarl power-play. You bear the look of a merchant cat, but you carry yourself with a stance of power, like someone who doesn't fear mere mortals; and you found your way here despite the Night Caverns being difficult to access for anyone not bearing a good bit of magical knowledge."

She glowered at him, but did not speak to deny it.

"I kept my distance as you approached, not really sure what to make of you," he continued, "but I didn't try to approach you until you set up your kit. Here," he added, looking around them. "The Dark Lord's own chambers."

"Do not speak his name," she growled.

"I apologize," he said quickly. "But all this, plus your reaction to his name- it's apparent enough to me who you are. Clearly, defeating you was not enough to banish you back to Mavolia."

"There is no other way for a Mavole," she muttered bitterly. "Our spirits are strong. We return in some way or another." She paused. "Well... most of us, anyway."

She sighed, turning away from him and looking around the barren room- there was once a bed there, a place she dreamed to spend an evening in, held in the embrace of the Dark Lord. Despite that deep love having rotted into hatred, a pang of sadness poured from her heart- perhaps if she'd pushed a little further, he'd have shown some love back.

And now the full brunt of his absence hit her, a sharp inhale as she struggled to master her emotions again. The circumstance of his death at the hands of the power of Mana meant he was never coming back. His armies were, if not dead at the hands of heroes, scattered throughout the world and weak. Malocchio was nowhere to be found, even if she wished for his aid again.

She was truly alone.

A shiver caused her to tremble for a moment, until she steeled herself and turned back to the merchant. "Whatever you came here to find... it's not here," she told him huskily.

Simon cocked his head, his brow furrowed. "Perhaps not. But perhaps whatever you might _need_can be found with me."

"There is nothing you can offer me that would compare to everything I have lost," she replied, and she found it impossible to hide the aching tone of sadness she felt. "I... I would have destroyed all of existence for the one thing I sought. I never possessed that kind of power- but everything I was, every skill I cultivated... I toppled _nations_and challenged _gods_for the one thing I wanted."

Simon nodded, listening intently. "And what was that?"

Her face hardened at the query. But while she resented being asked, she could not feel it in herself to attack him still. Whether it was the genuine politeness he was using or the fact that he was hearing it out, she felt strangely calm around him already.

"That... is my business," she said coldly. "And kind as it is for you to offer me your wares, it's a poor sales pitch to use on someone who still has enough power to vaporize everything in this room."

The black cat merely smiled. "Of that, I have no doubt. But I think I can still impress. Consider it recompense for intruding what is, by all rights, your property. My newest creation, in fact!" he said pleasantly, digging through his bag. "That blade I showed you is but an example of a fraction of my potential as an arcane smith."

It was with no shortage of hesitance that Belladonna finally sighed and approached, her arms still folded. Deciding the merchant cat was skilled but overall harmless, she gave him a glance before peering at the artifacts he'd laid out. All of them seemed to resonate with magic, imbued with the power of the Mana spirits- save one, the bracelet at the center, its jewel that of a clear diamond mounted within silver. Within the armlet itself was a fingerless glove to which it had been sewn into, clearly tailored to fit a female cat's paw.

She frowned, cocking her head while regarding it. Clearly there was some magic within, yet not one she could place. It seemed quite unlike any source of power she had ever felt, though she could feel ripples emanating from it- a surge of untapped potential not yet accessed.

She looked up to see Simon smiling warmly. "Thought you might like that one."

"What is it?" she said with genuine curiosity, all traces of animosity gone.

"I call it the Bangle of Dominion," he said proudly, holding his head high. "When worn, it will give its user a massive increase in their powers, be it in strength of arms or in the magical arts. Very dangerous in the wrong hands, but with great potential."

"Perhaps you should not offer it so freely to one like me," Belladonna suggested with an amused smirk. "You are no doubt aware of chaos I have caused with my power as it is?"

"Certainly," Simon nodded. "Just as I'm aware that you serve no purpose any longer. Maybe you'll find your own purpose, or something to live on for, by using this."

She raised an eyebrow at his offer, sensing nothing but genuine warmth from tone and body language, and turned her eyes back to the bangle. With a slight shrug she picked it up, holding it to the light. The tingling of that magic she'd sensed now seemed to throb in her palm; and without a second thought she slid the bangle on.

The glove itself was smooth and silky, almost as if tailored to fit her paw, neither loose nor tight; the bracelet itself seemed to lock around her wrist snugly. But it was the surge of energy she felt coursing through her body that elicited her gasp, feeling a shock that ran through her spine and nerves; curiously causing her pussy and nipples to burn in arousal.

"By... the darkness," she moaned as her knees shook. "It feels so_good_. I can feel all my power welling within me!"

Simon was now grinning. "Excellent, my dear. Show me your power now, on the far wall."

The suggestion alone enticed her, the Mavole cat-demoness turning on the spot and raising her paw high above her. With a snarl she slashed through the air, releasing a trio of bright-yellow crescents of moon energy that flew through the air and slammed into the farthest wall. The castle shook around them as the beams of light sliced through the magically-durable marble and cobblestone, rending three vicious lines three meters long through the wall. Yet they did not cease, the sound of crashing and rumbling beyond the wall signaling that they had penetrated through at least two other rooms.

Belladonna dropped to her knees, astounded by what she'd done. Never before had she released power so destructive from her own reserves of Mana, nor by using the Mana of others. She swallowed, looking up to Simon as he strode to her.

"Very impressive, love," he purred, reaching out and caressing her ears. "With such power, you could easily topple the very kingdoms that stole your dreams away."

"I.. I could," she agreed, grinning evilly at the prospect.

"But... you don't really want to do that," he added.

The grin softened into a warm smile as she shook her head. "No, I don't want to," she agreed. "I mean... there's no point." The dull ache in her heart was still present, yet oddly distant, as it a wound nearly healed.

"Tell me what you were looking for here," Simon told her, kneeling down to her level. "Tell my why you were looking for it."

The pain flared, tears forming on her eyes. "I... loved him," she admitted. "At least, I loved who he could be. They call us Mavoles heartless, but I knew of his life and his torment- yet I still wanted better for him. Just like him, I yearned for love, and affection. I just... wasn't aware how far gone he was. That he was truly dead." She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I just... I wanted to open his heart to me, to give each other warmth- I would have ended the world for it. And now..." She shook her head.

"He's gone," Simon said quietly. "And he won't come back."

She shivered and nodded. "I came here thinking I could maybe reverse all this. But I'm deluding myself. Now, I... I have no purpose," she said in a defeated voice.

Simon nodded, then brought his paw to her face, cupping it gently. A flash of light glinted through his eyes, his warmth now laced with something else.

Something dark.

"I can give you purpose."

The impulse to draw away from his touch jerked at her mind- but she did not move.

Something was wrong.

"You... can give me purpose?" she repeated, tensing up. Her body tried to move away, but something felt like it was holding her back.

"I can give you purpose, and what you want most- what you _need_most," he said again, his gaze darker as he placed his other paw on her hip.

"W... wait," she said in a trembling voice, finally starting to become nervous- her body swayed back, moving away from him. "What are you--"

"Don't run," he said firmly.

She jerked in place, eyes widening as her back flexed and she sat upright. The urge to run subsided dully, but her fear rose all the same. "What... what did you do to me?!" she trilled, trembling as he drew near. "Why can't I--"

"I told you," he smiled, his tone laced with a growl. "It is called the Bangle of Dominion. It gave you greater control and power over your magic- but as you should well know, all magic comes with a cost. And the price for yours, my love, is your choice."

"No... no!" she mewled, trying to fight the hold her. Her left paw clutched at the bracelet, frantically trying to pull the ornament off

The moment she pulled at it a surge of hot arousal flushed through her body. What felt like a massive blast of hot liquid burned in her belly and loins, a flood of ecstasy that caused her to cry out and fall over. Heaving gasps of pleasure caused her heavy breasts to rise and fall, the mounds burning with need such that she reflexively reached up and groped her tits. The dark-purple peaks hardened at her touch, causing a delicious ache as her fingers grazed over them, each touch sending jolts through her chest and heart.

"O-oh by... the darkness!" she moaned, staring up at Simon. Fear flared within her as he saw him standing over him, now no longer dressed in his merchant attire.

His baggy attire had hidden the truth of his form from her. Beneath the tunic and trousers was indeed the body of a trained smith, strong and well-practiced- and currently completely disrobed. There was no trace of shame in his features, and she knew precisely why when her eyes trailed down past his abs and widened at the sight of an fully-erect cock far larger than any she'd borne witness to; his pale pink flesh throbbed visibly, twitching as a large bead of precum formed at the tip, his heavy balls swaying as he folded his arms and stood before her with a dark smirk, his eyes tainted with lust.

The unbidden memory of the Dark Lord flashed before her eyes, yet only to serve as a comparison to what she saw now; a moment where she had caught a glimpse of the Dark Lord's maleness, which now could not hold up to the spire she was looking up at now. What pathetic body her former master had once inhabited was nothing to the feline before her; in terms of girth and length, the man was nothing short of pitiful- and even now she was wondering what she even saw in him physically.

But the resistance remained, and she grabbed at the bracelet again. Another wave of bliss splashed against her and she moaned again, her pussy contracting and quivering. A splash of vaginal nectar sprayed past her quivering lips, splattering and pooling on the floor as she writhed and squirmed around, still trying desperately to remove the bangle; though now her movements felt weaker.

"I'd suggest not attempting to remove the bracelet," Simon offered, leaning down and grabbing Belladonna by the upper arms, hoisting her to her feet. "I've spent quite a bit of time designing this piece, specifically for this purpose. As you can imagine, I had to protect that investment in some way. Every time to try to resist, your arousal will spike until you can no longer stand it." He smiled down at her. "Much the best way to disable a Movole, snaring them in their own basic instincts."

With a rebellious yowl she glared at him, raising her claw to strike.

"You don't want to hurt me."

Her paw went limp and she whimpered, trembling as she fought to keep upright on her unsteady legs. "N-no... please... please don't--" Part of her mind screamed for escape, to resist what was happening, to remain in control. The other part, coupled with her body, could not fight hard enough against the enchantment. In her entire existence she had never once feared anything, always in control of her minions and circumstances, always the puppeteer moving the strings behind the scenes. Her mind and beauty were the only assets she needed to control entire nations; the greatest power in her mind was that of being able to control other people.

To be on the other side, lacking any control and at the mercy of another, was the most terrifying thing she could experience. And yet somehow... it was also satisfyingly thrilling.

Tears formed in her eyes, her breathing panicked and her voice shrill as she pleaded with him. "Leave... leave my mind alone!"

He leaned in close, lips only inches from hers, staring into her eyes as he spoke in a calm, soothing voice.

"I will not change your mind, Belladonna. I will only change your heart. And I will not need the bangle to do it."

The urge to scream died in her throat as he leaned in the rest of the way, his muzzle meeting hers in a deep kiss. Belladonna's eyes widened at her captor's sheer boldness, the scream reducing into a squeak of surprise. The trembling she'd felt vanished in the space of a moment at the alien sensation, having never once experienced a kiss in her life. Her body relaxed in his grip, a soft sigh escaping her as the pleasant feeling roiled through her chest into a gentle purr.

He pulled away, treating her to another smile. "See? That wasn't so bad."

She stared at him, mouth moving yet issuing no words- the act had left her completely speechless.

"Your first time? Then this should be very enjoyable for you," he grinned picking her up.

She gasped and clung to him reflexively, feeling no urge to move away as he carried her to the bedroll she'd used. He set her down and she looked up to him, frowning. "You're... not going to hurt me?"

"I hope not," Simon told her. "That's the last thing I want to do. But I will make you mine."

The words turned her purr into a warning growl. "I... am no one's slave. Not even with your cursed shackle." She reached once again for the bangle and tugged at it- the effect was immediate, her pussy twitching and her legs crossed tight as her loins were struck with deep pleasure.

He chuckled and leveled a confident stare at her. "By the time I'm done, you will call me master. Now... spread your legs for me, kitten."

She gasped, obeying without a thought and parting her legs, giving her feline captor a clear look at her sopping wet gash. The fear returned, but with it came a wild excitement, a deep curiosity of what he intended to do as he slid up to her, his right paw caressing her belly. The purr returned as he stroked the area, eliciting quiet whimpers as he smoothed her fur downward, until his fingers grazed along the surface of her swollen netherlips. The sensation was like a current of energy, a gentle series of shocks not strong enough to make her scream, but potent enough to make her moan. Whether it was because of the power of her captor's shackle, her needless celibacy waiting for the Dark Lord's touch, or because the body she'd possessed was unused to such treatment, such a simple act was enough to inspire a wave of hot lust in her belly, as he parted her folds and exposed her slick fuckhole.

He moved between her legs and the fear spiked once more, her eyes locked on his proud length. Another startled mewl poured from her as he placed the fat head of his cock against her folds, grazing against the slickened slit and drooling precum against her clit as he teased her with gentle thrusts with the underside of his cock. Between heady moans and gasps she managed to speak. "W-wait! It's too big, it'll never-- I-I mean I've never-- not even with--"

He placed a paw on her lips and she ceased speaking. "Easy, Belladonna. You'd be surprised. Just breath in- and accept me."

Before she could reply he drove his hips into her, filling her core with throbbing cock in a single smooth, powerful thrust. Her deep gasp had not been from him ordering her to breath in, she knew; it was from the delicious feel of every nerve in her cunny crying out in bliss, quivering and bearing down around his trobbing girth on instinct. She arched her back and nearly sat up, only to be caught in his arms and embraced. A cry tore through her as she met his hips with a roll of her own, her mind fogging from a thick haze of lust.

He groaned, grinning down at her. "Lay back down, kitten. I'll take it from here."

She spared only a moment to stare at the sight of his cock lodged between her splayed cunny lips before obliging, still panting as her inner walls unconsciously flexed and squeezed around his buried length. The dull burn of the loss of her virginity was barely perceptible to her, yet the knowledge that a mere mortal had claimed it spiked her heat even higher; there was something about having given her body to a lesser being that was so wrong, yet so delicious, enough so that when he finally started to draw his cock out of her folds she could only barely remember that he had _taken_it.

And she did not care. Not anymore.

It was like a feeling of erotic loss, almost sadness when he pulled all but an inch from her cleft, feeling empty. When he slid back in with another powerful stroke she let out another cry, this one a note of pure joy as he rocked her body with a steady rhythm of rolling thrusts. Overwhelmed by the bliss flaring in her lower belly she reached out and grabbed his shoulders, clinging to dear life as he speared his mast into her belly, over and over. She stared up at him with lust-glazed eyes, mewling and moaning beneath him, suffering his thrusts once every second, his heavy balls clapping against her ass every time his hips met her inner thighs.

"By... the g-goddess..." she panted. "You're..."

"I'm not... even close to done," he purred loudly, smiling down at her.

An pleasant, foreign warmth seeped into her chest as he drew in close and held her, their purrs rumbling between them as he continued to nail his cock ever deeper into her core. Every second the pool of nectar and precum widened on the floor beneath them, the room now bearing the scent of sex and sweat; every beat of the feline stud's hips was matched with a mewling cry, Belladonna's voice echoing through the vast halls of the fortress.

A tightness formed in her lower belly, a roiling, burning sensation that sent a hot shiver through her spine. It was a feeling she'd never experienced in her existence, not in Mavolia nor Fa'Diel, the churning feeling of an impending orgasm- a sensation that only grew in intensity every time Simon battered his cock into her sweltering, squeezing depths. Even burdened with a fog of lust addling her senses, she could feel every massive inch as it buried into her cleft, grinding past her sensitive inner walls and stopping just short of where she imagined her unguarded womb would be.

A jolt of ecstasy burned her loins and she screamed, sitting up with an erotic yowl and looking down just in time. Simon had placed a thumb and forefinger against her tender clit, rubbing and kneading it gently; yet those minute ministrations were enough that her pussy clamped around his girth and spasmed, a gush of hot feminine honey blasting from her netherlips and splashing against the floor. The cat-demon gasped and moaned as the deluge continued, barely aware that Simon was growling within his breathing, grunting as he continued his merciless sexual onslaught.

Until it ceased.

A victorious snarl issued from him as he arched his back and slammed his cock into her cleft one final time, grinding the head against her cervical entrance. A shiver and a gasp ran through her as she felt the rhythmic throbbing of her lover's girth, the thick cumvein expanding and pulsing for several seconds. Without warning the full blast of his searing hot seed flooded her heated womb, the feline's cry a mix of anguish and bliss as thick, ropy ribbons of cum poured into her trembling belly until she was utterly filled- yet it did not cease immediately. What copious amounts could not fit within her fertile womb gushed from around the stud's cock, staining his balls, her backside, and her tail as it pooled beneath her.

Exhaustion overtook her and she fell backwards, puffing with short, panting mewls as Simon leaned in and kissed at her neck and breasts. It took minutes for her to catch her breath, time in which her captor had tended to her with affection.

It caused her heart to burn. And she couldn't figure out why- though she did not want it to stop.

"That... was amazing," she shivered, going limp beneath him. "I... I had no idea..."

"I expected you hadn't," Simon murmured gently. "I have to be this good if I'm to make you mine."

The words brought a mix of a growl and a purr from her chest, her eyes narrowing as she smirked. "You... arrogant bastard," she panted. "Just because... you got me to climax... doesn't mean I'm your slave."

The merchant treated her to a roguish smile in response.

"You're right. Not yet, anyway."

He pulled out and she moaned, feeling his cum oozing out of her abused fuckhole- though she could still feel the excess of his load burning in her belly, seeking an ovum to fertilize. Before she could dwell on consequences, however, Simon spoke.

"Now... open your pretty little mouth."

She let out another squeak as her body obeyed, her tongue sticking out in anticipation to his will, even though the though of what was coming mentally repulsed her. Simon got to his feet and stood before her, flaunting his massive, cum-stained length proudly and giving her an explicit idea of how much he was going to feed her.

"Taste my cock, Belladonna."

A dark, vicious thought flashed in her head, a way out of her predicament if she could only obey with a malicious compliance. She grinned, baring her fangs for a second before diving into his loins.

Only for her lips and tongue to begin lapping and kissing his tool.

The idea soured in only moments, as she became aware that her body would obey his command exactly how he meant it- even an ambiguous command could not be twisted to her favor. She whimpered as she tasted him, her tongue slurping at the rich, savory veneer of potent seed and femcum on his girth. A purr still rolled in her chest; the thrill of having lost control to a lesser being was still gnawing at her, the taste of his throbbing maleness so delicious and perverse. She suckled at the tip, the taste of his sweet precum spreading along her tongue and painting her inner cheeks, no longer filled with revulsion.

It was so wrong. So maddeningly... good.

"Good kitten," he purred, petting her ears- which now burned with shame and appreciation. "Now... swallow it. Show me how much cock your muzzle can handle."

It took a few moments for her to do as he told her. And once she did, she realized that he hadn't issued an order through the bangle. Her eyes widened as she leaned in and obeyed, moaning as half his cock disappeared into her muzzle. Her face burned in anxiety and thrill, realizing that she had done this through her own choice- that in this moment, she was in control of what she was doing and what she wanted.

She wanted his cock.

In seconds she was feasting on his cock, moaning and mewling around his length as her lips and tongue worked the shaft, getting past the halfway point of his length. Simon groaned and purred, reaching down with a paw and stroking her ears, treating her with gentle affection- the burn in her heart built and she smiled around his cock, eager to take more of his length. The head of his length grazed the back of her throat and she hiccuped, breathing in sharp- but Simon caught her head carefully, looking down at her with concern.

"Easy, kitten... take it slow. We have the rest of our lives for you to get it right."

But she steeled herself, determined to push forward- she would not have it said by a mere mortal that she was lacking, not even sexually. With a deep breath and clenched paws she dove forward, relaxing her throat and moaning as the remainder of his cock slid past her cum-stained lips, the head easily gliding down her throat. She purred, breathing in the musky scent of his public fluff, her paws reaching below her chin and cupping his heavy nuts- she could feel every powerful throb of his cock stretching her throat. Above her she could hear Simon gasp in awe, groaning as she completed a perfect deep-throat.

He hissed a command. "O-okay, kitten... pull back for now."

This time it was a command, though if her muzzle hadn't been full of cock she would have told him it wasn't necessary. She was robbed of any chance to say anything, as the act caused his balls to clench and his cock to throb once more, issuing a heavy spurt of cum past her lips. She shivered, mewling happily as she experienced the full flavor of his cum.

"Wow... you must have loved that," he said with a chuckle.

"I'm a woman of fine tastes," she purred coquettishly, kneeling before him and waiting.

"Get on your hands and knees; lift your tail and spread your legs apart."

It was an unconscious movement, done on reflex without any control from her- but she didn't care, getting into position with a purr. After his previous performance, she was certain she would have obliged even if she weren't under mind control. His cum continued to pour from her, a warm trickle that tingled against her clit; yet before she could tell him to wait until she was ready, he attacked once more.

Her cries rang through the halls once again, the cat-demoness arching her back and pushing against her captor's hips as he ravished her once again with renewed vigor, as if he hadn't yet been exhausted from his efforts. Her vaginal walls tightened around his prick every time it slid in, gripping and suckling his flesh as he pulled out; combined with his powerful strokes that made her cum-flooded womb ripple with pleasure, the demoness could only issue wordless, begging mewls.

And after minutes of passionate fucking, he answered those mewls.

"This is the moment, kitten," he growled into her ear, his strong body keeping her pinned. "You know it is. Don't fight it."

"N... never," she moaned.

"You know what happened. Tell me what happened."

It was a command she gladly obeyed.

"The bangle... it made me fertile... when I tried to pull it off," she whimpered, grinding her ass into his hips.

He made a noise, a grunt of satisfaction. "He's not coming back. You know this."

What had once given her grief was now only a trivial memory. The desire she'd felt for the Dark Lord had long since flickered away, extinguished by the knowledge that he'd never once felt anything for her.

Simon was right- he had what she needed. Affection, approval, and acceptance. When he leaned over to kiss her, she accepted his lips without hesitation.

"This is still your choice," he murmured, trailing his lips from her muzzle to her temple, then kissing her ear and making her shiver, his hips still working to drive his cock through her trembling folds. "Tell me what you want me to do."

Her answer was immediate, clear, and needful.

"Breed me. Claim me. Sire my young."

"You forgot something," he growled.

She arched her back again, moaning. "Breed me... Master!"

And suddenly her ability to speak was taken from her again, as her captor- her lover- obeyed her command and poured all his effort into every thrust. His hands pawed at her breasts, each beautiful globe contrasted by her hard nipples. He finally settled one paw on her belly, still full of his first load and soon to be joined by a second- one she knew would carry the seed that would sire her child.

She felt him seize up, slamming his prick into her depths a final time; another long, blissful moan welled up in her chest and poured from her, a feral cry of a feline in heat getting the breeding she needed. Her already-filled womb seemed to distend, a strange yet erotically pleasurable sensation of her belly distending ever so slightly, doomed to curve with the offspring of the one male who had bested her.

The only mortal on Fa'Diel who deserved to claim her womb.

Minutes passed before the tide settled again, at which point Simon rolled the both of them to the side and onto her bedroll. The panting, mewling cat-demoness caressed her belly with her shackled paw, purring deeply as Simon nuzzled her, enjoying the afterglow of wonderful sex- though not nearly as much as she enjoyed the simple, genuine affection her lover was giving her.

"That... was wonderful, Master," she whispered.

"It won't be the last time, Belladonna," he breathed into her ear. "Like I said... you belong to me, now."

"Yes, Master," she smiled. "But... you know I don't... love you."

"I know," he smiled. "Not yet, at least."

"... Not yet," she agreed, blushing.

"That will come with time. And we both have plenty of it," he assured her.

Months Later...

The Dark Castle had, in ages past, been the Castle of Light, and birthplace to the Dark Majesty, once heir and prince to its kingdom. A prophecy foretold the child being corrupted, destined to destroy his own homeland, and his parents imprisoned him away from the light. Their hubris, their inability to love their own son, provided the catalyst for the prophecy to be fulfilled; the king of Mavolia preyed on his mind and turned him to the dark, empowering him with evil magic. It was only when the Dark Majesty fulfilled his role and destroyed the kingdom that he corrupted the castle itself, turning it into a fortress for his minions and befouling the land around it. At the height of its power, on the cusp of his return, the castle was both beautiful and terrible to behold.

Belladonna sighed, shifting slightly in her chair and examining her surroundings with a warm smile. To her right was a crackling fireplace, warm and bright; to her left, luxurious and well-crafted furniture befitting a queen. The footsteps of a servant passed by her door before quieting into silence again. With a short stretch she looked out to a nearby window, up at an patchy, overcast sky and spotting stars overhead- stars that had not been seen in the land since its downfall. She smiled.

It had taken work- but it was slowly, finally, becoming a place of light again.

The door handle clicked and she sat up, her heart skipping. In walked Simon, a roguish smile on his face as always, setting his bag to the floor. "Nono, don't get up," he advised with a chuckle, crossing the room quickly. "You need to take it easy in your condition."

Belladonna smiled back, reclining in her chair and sliding a paw over her gravid belly. A bump against her palm made her giggle, the life within causing her heart to burn again with a sensation she'd once wondered at and had long since identified- that of love and care for others.

"Love... you're talking to the woman who toppled entire nations with her magic and beauty," she replied. "I'm not frail."

"Maybe not," he agreed, kneeling and placing a paw on her stomach before kissing him. "But we should be careful all the same."

She nodded, rubbing her belly again. "Was your trip safe, Master?" she asked, nuzzling him.

"It was, my pet," he told her. "Beiser's night market took my goods as always, I picked up a few more items for the baby."

The first time he had left her, she had secretly worried he would not return, that his affections had only been to placate her, leave her unguarded. When he returned a day later she had cried and clung to him, soothed only by assurances that he was always return to her. In that time he had been true to his word, never leaving for longer than a week, and always remaining with her for three weeks on his return.

"I can't wait to give birth. I want to hold them and love them as you have me. And I want something more," she added, giggling again as she placed a paw on her bangle- which she had in recent weeks been allowed to remove it whenever she wanted. She had donned it once again, anticipating his return.

He grinned, arching an eyebrow in amusement as she tugged at it, moaning as the bangle's magic stirred her loins. "Oh? What is that, my pet?" he asked, beginning to shed his clothing as a noticeable bulge formed in his trousers.

She looked up at him with a smile, spreading her legs over the arms of her chair and leaning back with her dripping folds exposed, ready to obey his command- with or without the bangle, she knew.

"I want you to get me pregnant again, Master. I want you to knock me up every year."

He grinned and dropped his trousers, getting into position and sliding his cock into her pussy, catching her muzzle with a brief kiss as she mewled.

"As you wish, my pet queen."