The three had been walking away from Solace territory for hours now, long enough for the sun to climb its lazy arc and begin bleeding gold across the western hills. None of them carried a single coin; every step was paid for in dust and silence. Ash could have flown, could have gathered the wind beneath his feet and carried both women across the sky like a god ferrying his chosen, but he chose the road instead. Bonding time, he had told himself that afternoon with a soft smile.
He was wrong.
Three hours of nothing but the crunch of gravel and the occasional scorching glare Nia shot at the tiny black fox curled on his shoulder like a living crown of midnight. The little creature's ten miniature tails flicked with smug satisfaction every time Nia's flames flared in irritation.
Ash finally shook his head, lips twitching with barely contained amusement.
"Don't you think it's time the two of you actually meet?"
Nia peeled herself off his arm, brow furrowed in that adorable confusion she wore whenever the world refused to make sense.
"Hmm? Ashy, what are you talking about?"
He didn't answer with words.
The little fox gave an exaggerated pout, golden eyes narrowing in mock offense, then leapt from his shoulder. Mid-air, shadow and moonlight detonated outward in a silent supernova. The tiny creature expanded, unfolded, became the woman.
Long abyssal hair spilled down her back like liquid night, brushing hips that swayed with ancient, deliberate grace. Skin the color of polished starlight caught the dying sun and threw it back in soft silver. Ten magnificent tails unfurled behind her like living banners of void and moon, each one edged in white fire. The luminous full moon branded on her forehead glowed soft and proud, a second celestial body daring the sky to compete. Black-and-white-tipped ears twitched once in greeting, elegant and predatory.
Nia's eyes narrowed to molten slits.
She stepped in front of Ash so fast the air cracked, hand snapping to the hilt of her sword, golden flames roaring up her forearm in a possessive blaze.
"I knew something was off about you."
Vaeloria's lips curved in lazy, regal amusement. A Late B-rank human threatening the Last Sovereign of the Silver Court would have been comical even years ago. Now it was simply… cute.
"Ashy…" Nia's voice dropped to a possessive growl that could have melted steel. "He's mine."
Both Ash and Vaeloria froze.
Then Ash threw his head back and laughed, loud, free, the sound rolling across the empty road like summer thunder chasing lightning.
'Seriously? First time seeing a non-human and her opening line is a territory claim?'
He wiped a tear, still chuckling, and gently tugged Nia back by her waist before she could actually draw steel.
"Little Nia, relax. This is Vaeloria Lunareth, Ten-Tailed Celestial Fox, my master… and my lover."
He gestured grandly, like a showman unveiling the star of the night. Nia's brain short-circuited for half a second, then the frown returned twice as deep, flames flaring brighter.
"A f-fox? And what do you mean lover?!"
Vaeloria tilted her head, golden eyes glittering with quiet curiosity.
'Why is she acting like the fox race is brand new?'
She kept the thought to herself.
Ash continued, utterly unbothered.
"Vaeloria, meet Nia Solace, my younger sister… and also my lover."
Vaeloria's expression didn't change; she had watched them kiss in the throne room, after all. The two women simply stared, sparks practically visible in the air between them, the road itself seeming to heat under the pressure of their combined possessiveness.
Ash face-palmed, then slipped his arms through both of theirs and started walking again, forcing them to move with him. His voice dropped into that natural, honeyed melody that made the world feel softer, safer, truer, like every word was being sung by the universe itself.
"Look, I know the idea of me having multiple lovers is… a lot. But it's not something I can switch off. Literally."
He flashed a wry, helpless smile that somehow made the confession feel like a promise instead of an apology.
"Six months ago, I stopped being purely human. I became the embodiment of a concept."
Both women blinked.
"A concept?" they echoed together, voices overlapping in perfect, startled unison. Neither of them had ever heard the term used that way. Hell, until a few moments ago Nia had only known humans existed. The realization was still settling into her bones like frost.
Ash nodded.
"Think of it like an affinity, except older, primal, woven into the root of existence itself. And the concept I am… is Lust."
He met their eyes, unflinching.
"I will always attract and be attracted. Going against it would be like asking fire not to burn. So yes, there will be others. But never random. Never meaningless."
Silence for three heartbeats, heavy as the dusk.
Then, at the exact same moment:
"Fine, but…"
"Fine, however…"
They whipped their heads toward each other, glares clashing like swords drawn for blood. Nia exhaled first, flames settling into a low, protective simmer.
"It's fine, but if you ever bring someone into our bed, into our family, you better actually love them, okay? Not just because they're pretty."
Vaeloria's brow arched, a flicker of genuine respect passing through those ancient golden eyes.
'That's exactly what I would have demanded.'
Ash's smile turned soft, devastatingly soft.
He pressed a lingering kiss to Nia's forehead, lips warm against her skin, then turned and brushed another to the glowing moon mark on Vaeloria's brow, reverence and hunger in equal measure.
"I love you two."
Warmth and fierce devotion answered him from both sides, a silent vow that needed no words.
They walked like that, three abreast, arms linked, until the border stones of Velora territory rose ahead like ancient sentinels, deep-indigo banners fluttering in the evening wind. Nia glanced at the distant walls, then back at him, voice small but steady.
"So… what are we doing in Velora territory, Ashy?"
Ash let go of their waists, rolled his shoulders, and started walking forward alone, coat flaring behind him like wings of living night.
"Well, today we're starting our own kingdom."
He glanced back with the most casual, arrogant shrug imaginable, as if he'd just announced they were stopping for lunch.
"And what better foundation than something already good and established?"
The sheer, effortless boldness of it hit both women like a physical caress. Nia's breath caught, cheeks flushing crimson, a helpless little sound escaping her throat as heat pooled low in her belly.
Vaeloria's ten tails curled tight, thighs pressing together as a shiver raced through her blood, ancient and primal. They exchanged one quick, heated glance, mutual understanding flashing between human and fox, like lightning between storm clouds, then hurried after their beautiful, impossible man.
Today, a kingdom would fall.
Tomorrow, an empire would rise.
And neither of them intended to share the view with anyone unworthy.