“There’s one more thing I think would suit you rather well.” Asterios smirked at his demon lover. “We could use someone experienced and knowledgeable for any dealings related to education. Who’s better than one of the best professors of Rosewind’s Academy to look over our schools?”

  “Buttering me up will get you nowhere, good sir.” She scoffed at him, crossing her arms under her perky chest and leveling him with a glare. “Ugh, what would you do without me? Fine, I’ll do it. But my efforts better be rewarded properly. I expect double if not triple my current payments.”

  Licking her lips, she roamed her gaze all over Ast’s figure, pausing just briefly at a certain point. When their eyes met, hers were smiling mischievously, full of expectant hunger.

  “You will have to negotiate that with my mother.” He winked at her slyly. “She’ll definitely be happy to take over the finances and mercantile concerns alongside Esotvi. Salaries fall under that category, no?”

  Grea groaned in dismay as others laughed at her pain.

  “Who do we have left?” Asterios continued, taking a peek at the rest of his beloved women. “Selene? Considering your previous position back in your realm and the fact that you were almost your own nation’s queen, you wouldn’t perchance want to handle general community matters with me?”

  “It would honor me, my Lord.” The fox lady curtsied politely. “My experience in dealing with various guilds, sects, and organizations should prove useful to you. I do feel like we work rather well with Danny. And, when you inevitably start becoming worshiped like the god you are, I shall do my best to lead your followers on their path of reverence.”

  “We are starting no cults.” He shuddered.

  She simply kept smiling at him innocently, but the foxy spark in her dazzling blue eyes told a different story.

  “If I may, Master.” Bryn raised a hand and he turned to the winged beauty. “I would like to offer my aid with international affairs. If you require it, I shall represent us on external fronts and negotiate on our behalf. Naturally, with Silvia’s assistance and guidance when it comes to certain cultural aspects of this realm.”

  “That would be amazing!” Miria beamed at her, rocking on her soles. “Bryn is already doing that with her people! She is good, isn’t she, Master?”

  “Definitely,” Asterios agreed.

  “Meanwhile, I can’t think of anything I could be good at…” Her ears flopped down as she looked to the ground.

  He grazed her cheek and pulled her chin up to meet her gloomy eyes. “Now, that’s not true and we all know it. Everyone here brings something valuable to the table.”

  “What do I bring in, then?” she asked timidly.

  “First of all, knowledge and experience as a hunter. It can be of great help in many aspects of our new life. But, there’s also one other thing I feel like you were always meant to take charge of. Can you guess what it is?” He grinned at her.

  Miria shook her head, her ears perking back up as her curiosity increased.

  “Adventuring.” Asterios pecked her pouty lips. “You are courageous, bold, and expeditious. Considering the recent developments in our neighboring area, I say that we are lucky to have you. Wouldn’t you love to work alongside Guildmaster Suanori in managing and assisting adventurers? She from her office in the guild, you from the open field where you belong to? Newbies could use an experienced delver to coach them.”

  “Do you really think I’m smart and experienced enough?” She blinked a few times while pushing herself more into him.

  The other girls moved closer too and surrounded them with a big hug.

  “We all know it,” he responded, nuzzling his cheek into hers. “How many people can boast downing a Skeletal Dragon, hm?”

  Miria giggled adorably and grinned at them. After some comfortable cuddling, they separated briefly. Asterios was approached by the other rulers as he was chatting about some of the laws with Silvia.

  “A moment of your time, young man?” Welrond raised a glass of wine at them and they mirrored the motion.

  “Regarding the tremor, I assume?” Asterios replied after taking a sip with everyone.

  “Correct.” Zegion nodded. “A decent speech to reassure people but you need a bit more experience. I suggest you let Welrond’s girl do those for you.”

  “I’ll try to remember that. Silvia definitely has a way with her words.” Asterios exchanged glances with her and they both smiled. “Now, her father is already aware, but not all of you might be. It looks like a dungeon has formed where the source of our past troubles was located. It chose that moment earlier to come out and say hello.”

  “Ha! This place has literally everything! A free dungeon on the day of its founding! Ancestors be damned!” Grotger laughed haughtily.

  “Do you require our help with it?” Civienne asked.

  “Thank you for your offer but I’m confident we can handle it this time.” Asterios nodded his head respectfully. “It’s a new dungeon so it shouldn’t pose that much of a problem, but we aren’t going to take it lightly either. That area has a history of twisting things so we are expecting some deviations in its case too. Even the entrance looks like a pool of shadows. I promise to share the details with all of you as soon as we conclude our initial investigation tomorrow.”

  “That’s good. It’s an amazing opportunity for the town. And, knowing you, it will turn into something outrageous.” Welrond chuckled.

  “We’ll see about that, Dad. But, in the end, all of us should benefit from this development.” Silvia chuckled with him.

  They continued to discuss some of their expectations and predictions regarding the dungeon, even going as far as to make some bets amongst themselves to spice up the waiting game. Asterios could only shake his head with a wry smile while watching the mighty rulers act so casually with each other.

  Just as Grotger and Zegion were arguing about the number of floors, something caught Ast’s attention and he turned to one of the double doors leading out of the audience hall, catching a fleeting bit of light blue dress in the closing gap. Curious, he excused himself from the discussion and followed the unusual trail that seemed to call for him.

  Stepping out of the chamber, he again caught the last bits of someone’s figure disappearing behind a corner this time. But, the sight he’d witnessed made his brows rise in surprise and confusion. If his mind wasn’t planning tricks on him, a plump, petite rump was the last thing he’d spotted.

  Arriving at the intersection and peering into another hallway, his suspicions were proven right. He caught a little bit more this time, in the form of a soft thigh and a wisp of dark azure hair. Glancing down at his feet, he found a discarded sky-colored robe lying in a messy heap.

  Picking it off the floor, he stood up, noticing a single eye staring at him inquisitively from another bend ahead. It disappeared immediately along with the rest of its blue-haired head and a quiet giggle.

  Asterios smirked to himself and picked up his pace.

  A certain someone seemed to feel a tiny bit playful tonight.

  Chapter 28

  Bundle of Delight ❤

  Storing the pretty dress in his spatial storage, Asterios resumed his pursuit. But, he knew that his target was abusing their deep connection to always remain a single step ahead, showing off only the intended tidbits to him. If they continued like that, he wouldn’t get anywhere.

  Therefore, recalling the short lessons he had already shared with his wise mentor, Asterios tuned himself out of the mental connection he shared with the girls and focused his efforts on erasing his spiritual presence. Succeeding at that task wasn’t yet simple for him due to all that powerful draconic energy coursing through his body, but he was slowly getting there.

  Taking slow, deliberate steps, Asterios channeled all his mana back to its roots, his spiritual sources. He could feel relatively weaker and more sluggish as the constant reinforcement of the black, red, and now green energies gradually dissipated. He had already gotten used to their availability, which was tough at the very beginning too.

  Reaching a satisfying level, he slowed down even more, approaching the edge of the corridor carefully. Arriving at the bend, he waited for a few long seconds before thrusting himself into the open intersection.

  A surprised gasp welcomed him as Tina had been aiming to check on his progress just then and almost walked face-first into his chest. As he had expected, her charming, soft body was kept semi-decent only by the thin red tape artfully covering her girly bits. It was hard not to admire her clearly accentuated beauty.

  “What are you playing at?” Asterios asked, taking a step closer.

  Tina’s cheeks burned crimson as she smiled mischievously and suddenly pushed his chest with all her strength.

  “Catch me if you can!” she shouted while bolting off in the opposite direction.

  Asterios regained his balance and watched her almost naked figure make a dash for it to the accompaniment of soft plops created by Tina’s bare feet hitting the ceramic tiles. She was going fast, and if he just kept standing there appreciating her mesmerizing curves and enchanting hair, he would be left in the dust. Reenabling his spiritual circulation, he shook his head and began his hunt.

  He chased after the quick-footed Summoner girl for a good minute before getting close. They passed through numerous hallways and chambers, which had initially surprised him. But, considering Tina’s usual shyness, he knew she wouldn’t have done something so bold if she wasn’t certain they wouldn’t run into anyone from the staff. Otherwise, she would have straight up fainted from embarrassment.

  Thankfully, most if not all of the servants were busy tending to the guests and she had chosen the least crowded section of the castle for their unexpected contest.

  When he was finally at arm’s length of his escaping prey, Tina made a sharp turn at another intersection and surprised him with a splash of water covering the ground right after it. She laughed charmingly as he fought not to slip and instead slid to the other wall. Shooting him one last grin, she disappeared ahead again.

  If Tina was going to play dirty, so would he.

  Materializing his wings, Asterios shot forward, doing his best to remain as quiet as possible. His shoes no longer squeaked and thudded on the solid floor, depriving his mischievous lover of the sound cues. Enhancing his hearing with draconic mana, he could accurately track and even predict her movements from the light noise her feet made as she ran and shifted weight in preparation for a turn.

  Having all those details in mind, Asterios took a different route than her and soon arrived at the edge of the castle’s corridors, represented by a decorative wall full of wide, empty arches looking right at the inner gardens. He didn’t slow down as he reached the fancy portals and burst right through one of the gaps.

  Tina completely hadn’t expected him to suddenly charge at her from that lucky angle as she was still looking back over her shoulder to locate him. Her head snapped to the side just in time to catch a glimpse of his speeding figure and her eyes widened in shock moments before they collided.

  Naturally, as much as Asterios wanted to simply slam into her and catch the elusive quarry, he wasn’t going to hurt his short lover. He hugged Tina dearly and wrapped them up with his wings, cushioning their fall. They bounced off the grassy ground a few times before being stopped by a nearby hedge, a muffled chuckle leaving the sealed confines of his draconic appendages.

  Lying on his back, he retracted his wings to shine some moonlight on the lady in his arms and found Tina resting on his chest while panting heavily. An amused smile decorated her delicious lips along with an alluring flush all over her cheeks. She stared down into Ast’s eyes with as much intensity as he directed back at her.

  Before they exchanged any words, Tina wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned down to join their lips in a sensual moment. Asterios reciprocated her honest efforts with his own passionate kisses while sitting them both up. Even Tina’s legs found their way to lock him up in her affectionate hug, winding together behind his back.

  When they finally had enough of each other’s lips, he stood up and helped Tina to her feet. She reluctantly slid off him with one last peck and kept blushing timidly from up close.

  “What suddenly brought this up if I may ask?” Asterios raised a curious brow at the almost nude lady.

  “Well, it’s been hours since the morning and you still haven’t unpacked this present of yours.” She nibbled on her bottom lip gently. “But, honestly, I was slowly starting to lose my mind.”

  Seeing how she fidgeted in his arms, stepping from foot to foot, he understood clearly what she meant and chuckled warmly.

  “As I said earlier, you really didn’t have to go along with Grea’s teasing for this long.” Asterios brushed a lock of her azure hair behind her ear.

  “That wouldn’t have been fair. I did lose that bet. We all agreed to wear this ribbon until you take it off yourself.” She pushed her cheek into his palm.

  “Then you should have tried to tempt me much earlier.” He smirked softly. “Or were the little glimpses of your pretty parts covered by this red tape just that and I was too slow to pick up on it?”

  Tina’s face turned all rosy as she let out a barely audible, timid giggle. “Maybe I did tease you a bit too much. I didn’t expect it to be so… fun and thrilling. To think that someone could have noticed… I still shudder at the very thought.”

  They laughed together and shared one more light kiss.

  “But, I kind of enjoyed… this.” She glanced down at the red paths running all over her delicate skin.

  “By this, do you mean this?” Asterios trailed his fingers down her front and slipped one underneath the strap heading straight south.

  Tina raised her eyes and observed him with anticipation. When he tugged on the scarlet material a little bit, her mouth opened adorably and a quiet gasp escaped her lips. She tried to seal them shut by biting into her lower lip, but the more he dragged the band up and down, the louder her gasps and enticing whimpers became.

  Her mouth fell completely open, contrary to all her wishes, the moment he put more strength into it, bringing the tape up enough to almost cause the petals of her covered flower to slip past the material’s edges. Tina’s gasps turned sharp and quick as she raised herself to her tiptoes, fighting off the pleasant pressure wedging into her sensitive parts.

  She sighed shakily when he let go, a light tremble passing through her entire body. Her thighs clamped together and Asterios lent her his chest to regain balance, lovingly trailing his palm over her back. When Tina finally looked up at him, he pecked her on the forehead.

  “I would say you endured enough of this torture, don’t you agree?” He smiled playfully.

  Swallowing her saliva, Tina nodded slowly. Asterios wrapped her up with his arms and pulled her into a devoted kiss, making his beloved colleague hum appreciatively. She invited his tongue to lead hers and relished the way he made them dance together while his fingers explored her tender bottom.

  But, the time to part came too soon and she stared longingly at Ast’s face as it drew back and began heading south with a mischievous expression. She took a deep breath as he started leaving a sucky trail on the side of her neck and then over her shoulders. As it arrived in front of the crisscrossing material over her considerable peaks, he used his tongue to drag it aside.

  “Mmmm…” Tina let out a quiet moan when he played with her generous breast.

  After a whole day of rubbing against the soft and delicate fabric, she felt like she could cum just from having her nipples caressed with the gentlest care. Ast’s slow and steady licks were a blessing and a curse at the same time. She threaded her fingers into his white hair and held him close to her breast, nudging one of his hands towards the other one. He complied with her request and brushed against her erect nipple with the tip of his finger too, tracing circles around it.

  “Yes…” she whispered into the air. “But there are three strips you need to cut…”

  He looked up to meet her eyes and held her gaze while moving lower and lower. She widened her stance just a little bit, allowing him a more comfortable access to her valley below. Asterios arrived at the apex of her thighs and kept kissing all around it. When the hint of anticipation started slowly turning into a note of frustration, he bit into the red line and tore it in half with his sharp teeth, noting its quite damp state.

  The moment the two separate ends swung apart, multiple droplets of Tina’s eagerness rained down on Ast’s chin and the grass below them. She was positively leaking liquid yearning and he could feel the heat emanating from her sealed, slightly reddened slit. Without further ado, he unhurriedly lapped his tongue from the bottom to the top, scooping all the fragrant nectar on his way.

  “Ooooooohhhhhhh…” Tina sighed dreamily and shook again, digging her fingers into his scalp for support.

  Spreading her beautiful pussy with his fingers, he repeated the motion, this time caressing her inner flesh too. Tina jumped when the tip of his tongue stumbled on her clit and her legs clamped around his head.

  “Ah! Wait! Ah, ah, ah, ah, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

  She suddenly convulsed strongly as he lightly suckled on her shy pearl and a warm trickle of nectar gushed at his lips. He continued to caress Tina’s pink lily through her strong high, unbothered by the mighty squeezing her soft thighs assaulted his cheeks with. Tina shivered once more before releasing a delighted sigh.

  “I’m so sorry… Because it’s been rubbing against me for so long, I’m so damn sensitive down there… I came like the moment you touched me…” She breathed heavily, looking down at him with an embarrassed smile.

  “That’s good. I can reward your dedication with so many orgasms.” He smirked at her from between her folds.

  “Wha—Ah!” Tina squealed joyfully as he lifted her without a warning and pressed her back into a nearby column.