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The Seduction of Seleste

From the world of the mating season

Get Over It

Chapter 75

The rain stopped in the morning, but the tremors grew even worse.

They packed up camp and proceeded on, and as they went, the ground began to shake. If it had been happening before, it must've been fairly faint. But now? Now the leaves vibrated in the trees, muddy puddles leapt, bricks chipped from buildings and shattered with a bang in their path. The closer they drew to the palace, the more intense, the more violent the tremors. And the more frequent.

As they were approaching the great bridge, a tree fell over with a mighty crack, and Keme just barely managed to tackle Mio and LiAnh out of harm's away. Mio came out of the incident unscathed, but LiAnh had a nasty cut across his cheek. A frantic Nizhoni set Aayan down and scrambled to heal LiAnh, but one touch on his face reminded her that she no longer had powers. She stepped back and watched bitterly as Seleste healed LiAnh's slash.

"There," Seleste whispered when the wound was sealed. She and LiAnh smiled at each other. She caught the fox's sour stare and turned away. Sheesh. Nizhoni had had it out for her since their arrival, and Seleste was starting to realize it had nothing to do with her being a frost wolf "slave."

When they came to the bridge, Seleste clung to Keme's arm and swallowed hard. Bricks were chipping off and tumbling away into the river below. The wind was roaring, the world was shaking, fallen leaves were spiraling everywhere, and dust rose to choke them. On the other side, a gigantic tree had fallen, hanging half over the bridge and reaching into the river. Even if they made it to the other side, they would have to climb over the tree - which would have been akin to climbing over a building.

"This is getting too dangerous," LiAnh said and looked anxiously at Nizhoni and Aayan.

"It's almost like something doesn't want us to come," Keme observed darkly.

"It's doesn't," Seleste confirmed. Everyone looked at her. She bit her lip. She didn't know how to explain it, but she could feel the great crystal Nizhoni had spoken of. She could feel it now, its anger, its pain. She could feel its radiating fury . . . as she'd felt the sadness of the ones on the ice.

The dust was settling, but another quake would happen soon. Glancing around, Seleste saw the vines and trees moving slowly, righting what had fallen as they cradled the sleeping foxes close. It still amazed Seleste to think that the plants were conscious beings. She saw one place a sleeping fox higher in its branches and smiled.

"Alright, all of us can't get across, apparently," LiAnh said and eyed Aayan. "Some of us will have to stay back with Nizhoni and --"

A resounding crack tore the air. They staggered back as the earth shook again. The new quake came so hard, they were knocked on their backs. Dragging themselves up, they watched in alarm as the great bridge crumbled away into the river. Its bricks sank at once out of sight, leaving the jutting ends of each side to reach forlorn over the water.

"Shit!" LiAnh swore and scrambled to his feet. Nizhoni staggered beside him as she held Aayan, and he grabbed her arm to steady her.

They looked at each other in dismay, their manes beating about their faces.

"Well, what now?" Zee shouted over the wind.

"Take care of them, Li," Inden said. Seleste couldn't understand it when he threw down his spear.

LiAnh seemed to understand. He nodded at Inden dutifully, then he wrapped Nizhoni in his arm and ran, leading her and Aayan toward shelter. Mio and Zee also nodded at Inden before following.

Seleste gasped when she felt Inden's big arm close around her waist, and then she was swept away into the air. Her mane slapped her in the eyes and she pushed it back, watching with a shrinking heart as the others grew smaller and smaller below. It took her a moment to realize Keme was being carried as well: Inden had swept them both into the sky.

Seleste was terrified of heights. Back at the summer village when a child, she'd never even dared to climb a tree. She clung to Inden's neck and buried her face. She could feel the jerk of his wings as they spread wide, and then they were gliding smooth against the wind. Swallowing hard, she chanced a peek and her head spun: the river had already sped by beneath them, and now, the white stairs leading to the palace were flitting by in a blur.

Inden lowered one wing, and Seleste knew he was going to turn. She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face again. His muscly arm was an iron bar around her, but she was still terrified she might fall. The feel of absolutely nothing beneath her dangling feet was a constant reminder: she was thousands of feet in the air!

"Hold on," Inden grunted.

Seleste didn't want to but opened her eyes to see why she should. Her heart about stopped: Inden was soaring without pause toward a very narrow window. The window stood in the side of the palace, on one of the top floors, slim and arched, and if Inden turned sideways, he could just fit through with them. Oh god. Seleste hid her face again, and glass crashed around them as it happened: Inden slammed full force through the window.

Seleste screamed. She could feel the tiny cuts ripping her open as they tumbled across the smooth polished floor. She hurtled free of Inden's arm, spinning away from him wildly. She felt Keme trying to stop himself as he rolled into her. He managed to lessen the impact but slammed her nonetheless. She slid away further, shattered glass scattering as her slender body crashed into a tall, wooden bedpost.

Seleste was so dazed from the impact, it took her a moment to realize Keme was patting her paw, trying to bring her back. He carefully helped her to her feet, his anxious green gaze peering into her face. She was too aching and confused to answer when he asked if she was alright.

"Where is this?" Inden wondered impatiently.

Keme looked around and shrugged. "Some random room of the palace? We'll find Wynn. Don't worry."

Seleste looked around. They were in a bedroom with white, polished marble floors. Purple curtains hung around the window through which they'd just crashed, dangling as if they would give at any moment. Matching purple sheets were on the wide bed that stood behind Seleste. She turned and nearly blushed to see two naked foxes in the bed, lovers who had fallen asleep in each other's arms, never to wake again.

"Alright, your highness?" Inden said to Seleste, and she almost laughed: his dark eyes were carefully avoiding the naked lovers on the bed.

Seleste nodded breathlessly. She had a few cuts but she was fine.

Inden nodded. "Good. Let's go."

They made their way through the palace, and here, it was much the same as the rest of the kingdom: servants had dropped to the floor mid-step, their trays beside them and the contents scattered; maids were slumped over with feather dusters; the chefs in the grand kitchens dozed on stools and facedown in bowls - it was a wonder no one had drowned.

The palace, meanwhile, was exquisite. Everything was elegantly carved, sewn, and crafted. Fountains bubbled softly in every corner, plants in carefully painted pots loomed everywhere, tapestries and paintings stared from the walls. All the floors were polished marble, so clean and so smooth Seleste could see herself when she looked down. Pillars towered in rows, carved of the same marble and reflecting them as they passed. Wide verandas looked out on the kingdom, and little birds danced in basins there, chirruping as they pecked up the plates of food left by the foxes who slept nearby. Another fox on the veranda had been playing the harp, but now she dozed against it, one fat cheek rising in her eye.

Seleste could feel the giant crystal ever stronger than before. She led the other two as she followed its vibrations up a set of great white stairs. The higher up they traveled, the more lightheaded Seleste became. Many windows lined the walls, and glancing out of one, she gasped to see a cloud go drifting by.

"Just how high does the palace go?" Keme wondered. His voice was hushed. For some reason, they'd all felt compelled to whisper. To break the stillness would have been unnerving.

At the top of the stairs, a new landing opened upon a room. White curtains fell transparent across the wide archway, lifting and falling on the breeze that came through the windows. Seleste could smell incense and flowers. Beyond the curtain, she could barely make out the shapes of furniture: a couch, a desk, a wide lavish bed. On one side of the room, a great window opened on the blue sky. Birds flitted back and forth through it, and Seleste could see that a basin had been fitted on the windowsill for them. Fascinated, she pushed her way through the curtain and sighed. The room was breathtaking.

_ _

Keme gave a low whistle. "My sister was livin' in style."

But for all its beauty and elegance, the bedchamber had a certain dreary pall cast over it. Everything seemed to be pulsing red, like a heartbeat, brighter then duller. And then . . . Seleste saw it. The great crystal stood on a dais in the center of the room. It was unlike any of the crystals she had seen so far. It was a dark bloody red, and a nasty crack ran up its side. It was sick. Seleste could feel the anger and sadness. When she drew near, it began to glow.

"Don't touch it, Seleste," Keme warned.

"But it's sick!" Seleste cried irritably.

Before Keme could answer, they heard Inden shout, "Wynn!" Seleste saw him run to the bed, leaving dark feathers floating in his wake.

The bed was canopied and the curtains had been pulled shut, but Seleste could see a female's curves behind them. She went to the bed and pulled the rope, drawing the curtains open. Inden had already thrown himself through the curtains and down on the bed and was gathering the female in his arms. He held her to his chest and touched her face, whispered her name.

Seleste sat absently on the end of the bed as she watched. The female was quite beautiful. She was a fox, rusty red, with high breasts and round hips. Her paws and ears were black, and she had one slender tail that curled fluffy under her. Her breasts were smashed together as Inden held her tight. He kissed her forehead, and her pretty, slanted eyes raced under her lowered lashes in response.

"Wynn . . . come back," Inden whispered miserably. "Can you hear me? It's Inden. I'm here. I said I'd look after you . . ." Inden's face hardened and he whispered darkly, "He'll never touch you again!"

Keme stood over the scene, his ears flattened sympathetically. He looked at Seleste as if he didn't know what to do. His eyes went past her, then filled with recognition. "Sylas!"

Seleste looked over her shoulder. A white fox sat slumped in a chair beside the bed, a worried expression on his brow, his body sagging, his circlet askew under tendrils of white mane. He was clad in a white skirt with gold trim; it fell to mid-thigh and clung to the suggestive shape in his lap. He was handsome and toned and had all the odd features of a fox: a short muzzle, large ears, and an excess of soft fur on the cheeks. Ah, but he was beautiful in spite of it all. His thick lashes were lowered: a sleeping king. His sculpted chest rose and fell gently as he slept. Looking at his gorgeous body, Seleste had half a mind to kiss him and break the spell.

"You bastard!" Inden spat. Seleste looked over at him and realized he was talking to Sylas. "You were supposed to protect her . . ." He looked down at Wynn again and his dark eyes filled with sadness.

Seleste's ears flattened. She reached over and smoothed her paw over Inden's arm. "Inden," she said soothingly, "I'm going to try something."

Keme's ears pricked forward suspiciously. "Seleste. . . ." he began.

"I'm going to try and go astral, bring her back," Seleste said over Keme. She looked at them both in earnest. "Don't you remember what Kitari said? Wynn went off and didn't come back because she doesn't want to come back. I'm sure that she hid from Sylas when he went after her. She won't hide from me. I'm a stranger."

Keme and Inden glanced at each other, then as if it took all his being to do it, Keme heaved a sigh and nodded. "Fine," he said. "But if you don't come back in ten minutes --"

Seleste laughed at his concern. "I doubt this will take ten minutes. I'll be back, Keme, stop worrying! Inden, if you would . . ." Seleste glanced at Wynn.

Clearing his throat, Inden nodded and carefully laid Wynn on the bed again. He adjusted her arms and smoothed down her black mane with great care, his eyes warm with an affection that made Seleste smile.

Seleste hesitated. She didn't quite know what to do. She had never gone astral before! Keme had described the sensation to her, and after peeking in the books in Nahimana's tower, attempting such a thing had intrigued her. After all, astral projection meant traveling great distances in a blink, entering the dreams of others, _spying_on others while they believed you slept. She had wanted for Nahimana to teach her, but she'd never gotten around to asking.

After watching Wynn uncertainly for a moment, Seleste lay down beside her. She could feel Keme and Inden watching hopefully. She wanted them to stop: it was breaking her concentration! But maybe she didn't need to concentrate. Maybe . . . Seleste closed her eyes and took Wynn's black paw in her own. The fox queen's fingers were limp and drooping in her grasp, and Seleste reflected sadly that she had looked like a ragdoll as Inden was holding her.

Eyes still closed, Seleste took a breath and sat up. She heard her own sigh echo and a strange mist spread over the black insides of her eyelids. When she opened her eyes again, she was still in the grand bedchamber. She looked past the bed canopy and could see all the lovely furniture, the bookshelves, the paintings. Keme stood over the bed as before, and Inden was pacing up and down, his wings flexing and twitching nervously. Wynn's limp body was still calm and expressionless on the bed and . . . Seleste gasped.

Heart pounding, she scrambled across the bed, burst clumsily through the canopy, and barely regained her balance. Her body . . . her body was lying on the bed beside Wynn's! And yet she was also standing here -- it had worked!

Seleste laughed and looked around. Now where to start looking? "Hmm, if I was Wynn, where would I . . .?" Seleste took a step and halted.

A young black wolf stood beside the red crystal. She was lovely. Her black mane spilled in curls to her teeny waist, and her slanted green eyes echoed with sadness. But they snapped with anger as well. With a forlorn sigh, she sat on the dais beneath the crystal, and her shapely thighs and buttocks flexed as she twisted into the position. Her breasts were high and sharp, her legs long, her black nails glistening. She seemed very young. Perhaps fifteen or sixteen. And she also seemed . . . very familiar.

How was it that this girl - a young black wolf - had come to be here? Wolves could not live in Miras Eii! And she was naked. That meant she was low in society, a peasant girl from a nearby village, perhaps. Perhaps she was a mountain wolf.

"Um. . ." Seleste clasped her paws together and took an uncertain step toward the stranger. She tilted her head and smiled. "Hello."

The black wolf had been staring at the bed. She glanced at Seleste but her eyes turned away again. Her eyes were wet with tears and bright with fear. Seleste followed her gaze. The stranger was staring at the fox queen, at Inden who paced nearby, at Keme, who stared at Seleste's body and clenched his paws nervously.

Looking at the girl, it finally hit Seleste. ". . . Wynn?"

The young female glanced at Seleste again and afforded her a sad smile.

So it was Wynn. This was how she'd looked before the transformation! Looking down at her, Seleste saw the pretty shape of Kilyan's eyes in her face.

"But . . ." Seleste began uncertainly. "They said you went away, but you're here. Were you here all the time?"

Wynn lowered her head and her pretty black curls spilled forward. Seleste could see the tip of her long lashes around the sweep of her curls. "No. Not all the time," she said. "I came back."

Seleste shook her head. "So what are you waiting for? Do you see what your absence has done to the kingdom? Get in your body!"

Wynn sighed again. "I . . . can't."

Seleste frowned. "Why not!"

Wynn lifted her face and her pretty eyes snapped with anger. "I know you," she said and her eyes danced over Seleste, bright with derision. "You're the princess. The little one from the summer village!"

Seleste suddenly felt sheepish. She rubbed her arm. "Y-Yes, that was me."

Wynn heaved a sarcastic laugh and her high breasts jiggled. "Well, your highness," she sneered and jerked to her feet with a toss of her curls, "have you ever been raped? Brutally raped?!" She raised her voice, her green eyes bright with rage. Behind her, the crystal's crack split down a little further. Seleste saw Keme and Inden stumble and knew a tremor had happened. The crystal . . . was reacting to Wynn.

"You have to calm down," Seleste cautioned, but her frightened eyes were fixed on the crystal.

"Calm down!" Wynn repeated contemptuously. "Why are you here?" she demanded with blazing eyes. "Are the wolves already invading? Think you're going to take the kingdom?" She started marching toward Seleste, and she moved so fast, she nearly trod on her feet. Her fangs were flashing and spit was flying and Seleste could see her slender fingers balling into fists. She backed away from Wynn until her back hit the bedpost. They stood nose to nose. Wynn sneered at her.

"What do you know of suffering?" Wynn demanded. "You're a princess. I know what your life was like. I was just like you once, sitting on my ass, doing nothing, wanting nothing, protected by a thousand guards and spanked on the tail if I looked at a dick twice. You've been protected all your life. You don't know what it's like to have a male . . ." She gulped down a sob, but the anger returned in a flash. "You don't know."

"Yes, I do," Seleste said quietly.

Wynn's brows went up in surprise, but the surprise left as quick as it came. Her face settled back into derision. "So what then? You come here to hug me? Are we going to have girl time? Or are you going to tell me to get over it and to get the hell back in my body?"

"That last bit sounds good," Seleste said and folded her arms.

"Tch," Wynn said with a sneer. She turned away and hugged herself.

Looking at that stiff angry back and all the black curls that cloaked it, Seleste was beginning to see what sort of fiery, temperamental, shrew for a sister LiAnh had grown up with. But it was also . . . kind of hot. She closed her eyes, hating herself for that last thought.

"You're afraid to face Inden," Seleste said softly, slowly. It was a gentle provocation. But she knew it would be enough. She was right.

Wynn stiffened. And looming nearby, the crystal fizzled with red light.

"I know how he feels about you," went on Seleste. "And Sylas . . . you don't want to look your husband in the eye. You don't want him to know you liked what Kitari did."

Wynn whirled. Seleste ducked just in time. Wynn's black paw swung and hit the bedpost instead. Seleste blinked in surprise when her paw went right through. She straightened up, staring in amazement. Could they go through things like ghosts? Her amazement cost her dearly: Wynn whirled again without hesitating, and this time, she managed to give Seleste the back of her paw.

Seleste touched her mouth, then looked at her fingers. Blood! She glared at Wynn. "You bitch!"

Before she knew it, Seleste was lunging. Wynn easily stepped aside and she sailed right through the wall. Seleste whirled and caught her balance. She was in another room entirely, a bath that adjoined the bedchamber. She could hear Wynn laughing before she saw her: Keme's sister stepped through the wall and stopped to regard Seleste, one paw on her hip.

"Not as timid and mousey as I thought you were," Wynn said, delighted.

"Don't come near me," Seleste warned. "I didn't lose my power like everyone else here!"

Wynn lifted her brows. "Ooo, and the mousey has claws. Unexpected."

"If you don't get over this and get back in your body," Seleste snarled, "everyone is going to die!"

Wynn smirked. "Look at you, so noble and determined. You don't have a clue what's really going on here."

Seleste watched stiffly as Wynn strutted into the room, breasts riding, hips swaying, curls bouncing. Her slanted green eyes were fixed on Seleste, twinkling with mischief, bright with admiration. Seleste gulped: she was really starting to see Wynn's appeal. She went very still when they were face to face. They stared each other down for a long moment, and Seleste was surprised when Wynn's eyes suddenly dropped away.

"You're right. I . . ." Wynn made a face, "liked it." She turned away, hugging herself again. "But not the first time. The first time, I was carrying Aayan. He climbed on me in my bed . . . held me down by the throat. . . ." She shivered. "I fought him but I - I couldn't. He was too strong. All my life, I've had the strength of a shemale, but after the transformation?" She looked at Seleste over her shoulder, the green eyes miserable. "I was so weak. And I couldn't stop him. I couldn't stop what he did to me."

"And Aayan was born early," Seleste said sympathetically. "Because of the nightmare."

"He had me under some spell," Wynn whispered. "I couldn't wake, and I couldn't stop thinking of him. I followed him for years and years . . . all time seemed to stop . . . and I just kept going. Sometimes, he would find me, and we'd do it again." She suddenly squatted down, pressed her knees together, and held herself. Looking at her, Seleste felt a surge of sympathy. Wynn looked so small and helpless. She had gone through this alone - for years.

"Again and again," Wynn whispered to herself and rocked. "He fucked me, bent me over, sat me on him . . . and I liked it. I liked it . . ." She sobbed. "I couldn't stop following him. It was like . . . I was on his leash. And I could hear Sylas calling . . . but I couldn't go back. Kitari . . . he said I was his. He wanted to keep me forever, said he'd kill anyone who tried to save me. I broke the bridge. I thought . . . I thought I was protecting you from Kitari."

Seleste took a careful step toward her. "It's okay. It's over now - he's dead."

Wynn only sniffed and buried her face in her lap, trembling with guilt and shame. Seleste's ears pricked forward when she heard her crying. She went to her, and kneeling beside her, she rubbed her back soothingly. Wynn cried harder. Eventually, she lifted her face and it was streaked with tears.

"Who are you really? Am I hallucinating?"

Seleste smiled at her and shook her head. "No. I'm Seleste. I'm - a friend of your brother."

"So that's really my brother out there? He looks just like Dad -- I almost thought it was Dad - oh god, is Dad here?" Her eyes grew wide.

Seleste nodded reluctantly, and she was saddened when Wynn buried her face in her lap and cried again.

"Wynn . . ."

"I can't let Dad see me like this!" she sobbed. "When Kitari took me, I was bleeding, I was sore, it h-hurt, and I - I don't want him to see!"

Seleste stroked her curls down. "No, no, Kilyan's not here in the palace! He's not! He's down in one of the houses. Your mother came with him --"

"Oh god," Wynn moaned. "Keep them away! Don't let them see me like this! It's bad enough Inden . . ." She averted her eyes and whispered, "Why did Inden come here?"

Seleste smiled. "Because he loves you. But there's nothing to worry about. Your body isn't bloody or beaten. Sylas kept you clean, he cared for you."

Wynn looked at Seleste with her frightened green eyes. "And Aayan? I haven't seen him --"

"With your brother - with LiAnh."

Wynn made a face. "The little brat came to help me?"

Seleste laughed. "Yes. LiAnh came to help you."

Wynn laughed incredulously and sniffed as she wiped away a tear. Gazing at her, Seleste thought the tears shining in her eyes made them incredibly green.

"Sorry I slapped you," Wynn said after a pause. She stood. "I thought I was seeing things. I thought it was over and that everyone was going to die . . . I would stand over Sylas, touch him, try to wake him. . . ." Her eyes went around the room, and Seleste looked around as well. She had nearly forgotten they were in the bath.

"Come on," Wynn said. She smiled at Seleste. "Let's go back."

Seleste smiled. "Okay."

They went through the wall together and back into the bedchamber. Inden had taken a seat on the bed and was holding Wynn's paw. Keme stood with his back to the room, his paws clasped behind his head, his head back as he gazed at the ceiling.

Seleste and Wynn stood at the end of the bed, regarding their still bodies. Seleste made a move but stopped when she realized Wynn wasn't climbing into her body.

"What is it?" Seleste asked patiently.

"Sylas lied to us, you know," Wynn whispered. She didn't look at Seleste but at the chair where her husband's white body was slouched. "He lied to my family, he lied to me . . ."

Seleste frowned. "Why? And what about?"

"Why?" Wynn laughed softly, and her eyes grew warm with affection as she looked at her husband. "Because he wanted me. He told my family that because he'd chosen me, there would be no stopping it: I would have to come here. That wasn't the truth. I always had a choice. He just . . . wanted to make sure I came."

Seleste's frowned deepened. "How could he lie to you like that! You gave up your whole family to --"

"I would have anyway," Wynn said. She was still looking at Sylas, still smiling. She looked at Seleste in amusement. "And a wolf would be a fool to expect any less from a fox. Liars, the lot of them. They whisk away daughters and pups, trick kings out of their kingdoms . . . and enslave frost wolves."

Seleste scowled. "And what have you done about it?"

Wynn laughed at her. "You mean while I've been pregnant? Or while I was being raped? Or both?"

Seleste folded her arms. "Touché."

"I didn't know about the frost wolves for some time," Wynn told her. "I knew about them. I saw them out on the ice when I first came here. But I did not know of their true nature. When Sylas explained, he made them seem like mindless bees who take pleasure in their work. I don't think he understands what they truly are. He didn't grow up in Miras Eii."

"A liar and a fool," Seleste said in disgust.

Wynn watched her with the same amusement. "Well, now's your chance to appeal to him."

Seleste raised her brows and gestured at their bodies. "Shall we?"

"When I enter my body . . . I'll be under the spell. I won't wake."

"But . . . won't getting you back in your body break the spell!"

"No . . ." Wynn's eyes went to the great crystal. "But stopping the crystal will."