The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

“Later baby. Always later.”

Together they got out of the uncomfortable cot, but once they were dressed she pulled him close again, leaning down to press her soft pink lips against his for a moment.

“My master, before I met you I didn’t know what I was meant to do, or to be. I do now. We’re here to save as many as we can. Like that Katje, Neru. And that poor Lambda before, the one with the glasses.” She sniffed suddenly and he was surprised to see her eyes wet with sudden emotion; “And like those poor girls yesterday. And Erica and Nina.”

“Milly, I’m-”

“I don’t remember if I ever thanked you Master.” She whispered suddenly as she blinked back her tears; “Thanked you for saving my sister.”

Nameless laughed suddenly, causing her to flinch before he put both hands on her cheeks, his thumbs gently grazing below her eyes to wipe away the moisture.

“You thanked me, just by being in my life you thanked me.”

As he stood on his toes for another kiss his hands shifted from her cheeks to the sides of her head, cupping her floppy ears and stroking them gently as they made out with easy intimacy.

When they broke apart once more his hands fell from her face, briefly pausing to give her massive tits a hearty grope through her shirt before he stepped away from her.

“When this is over. We’ll go back to our cottage in Kettering, I’ll start in on that garden like Ophelia wanted, and spend my days watching you in the field. Grazing and basking in the light with your bond-sisters.”

She smiled, knowing full well that he was telling her a lie, or at best a hopeful fantasy of the life they both longed for.

“That sounds nice. Erica is really good at basking. It might take some doing with Nina though.”

“We can teach her together.” He promised.

Her fingers intertwined with his and, refreshed once more, Nameless and his loyal cow stepped out into the city, ready to face whatever was to come.

__________

“Aegis Holt! You are a hard woman to find amidst this chaos! We have been searching for you since yesterday!”

Miranda’s head snapped up at hearing her name, her eyes scanning the bustling street for the source.

When she found it, her jaw dropped.

“Alcaia! What the hell are you doing here? Did Escrya get word to you?”

The warleader had come with Adrian and Olena along with a half-dozen of her people, and together they closed the distance quickly.

She was frowning though by the time she stood before Miranda.

“I was not aware that she was looking for me.”

The gruff Aegis operative scratched at her chin as she measured the group of monster girls, until her brow furrowed when she saw the scruffy-looking man in the midst of them.

He let out a sigh, understanding her confusion.

“Miranda Holt?” He extended his hand to clasp hers; “Adrian Shaw, with the ordinance disposal unit.”

She had shaken the man’s hand out of reflex, but with his unshaven face and unwashed state, she nearly didn’t recognize the tattered uniform he wore.

“Right. You are way overdue. And I think you lot have a story to tell.”

“From the irate Ogre we met when coming into the city, not to mention everything we have heard since, I think so do you.” Alcaia responded pointedly as she and her warriors took in the ever-present signs of destruction.

Miranda slowly nodded.

“We’d better get you to the Bastion.”

The building had at last been pronounced sound, and so the Aegis had reoccupied it.

A short while later, Adrian and the others were standing in front of the provisional Aegis council, though out of respect for the dead they weren’t meeting in the usual council chamber.

Booker was still part of it; despite his injuries and Juni’s strident objections the stubborn man was hobbling around on a crutch and glaring at anyone who tried to help him. Meanwhile Theo Holbrook had taken Margaret Bloom’s seat as headmaster of the academy, while Commander Dawn Morrow was spearheading the Aegis response to the crisis under the leadership of Volka, with Tiana serving as a representative of the monster girls that had already been following the Valkyrie.

“Tristan Grove. Bethany Sinclair’s ex-husband and business partner.” Miranda noted with grim satisfaction when Adrian and the others had finished their tale; “The last big question-mark left over after the machine shop in Algrade.”

“It seems that you and Aegis Holt had been working two sides of the same case.” Booker observed, but then he let out a heavy sigh; “The whole team is gone?”

Wearing a fresh uniform for the first time in months, Adrian simply nodded.

“This is... a blow. I knew Derrick Killian since he was at the academy.”

Juni reached out with one wet hand and rubbed at his shoulder to console him.

So many friends, gone.

Booker patted her finger and shook off his melancholy as he turned to face the dark haired woman standing next to Adrian.

“And you? Olena, correct?”

“I’m afraid it must be.” The Witch said placidly.

“How are you involved with this? We reached out to the covens months ago to help combat Evadne’s magic but haven’t heard anything from them since.”

Olena frowned.

“That is not unexpected. There is a reason I stand alone. After the devastation their magic caused during the war the covens vowed to protect themselves and their bond-mates above all others. If what you have told me is true and entropy is spreading across this world, I think it unlikely you will receive much aid from them, not until they themselves are under threat.”

“How about you? Can you help us?” Miranda asked.

The Witch looked long into her eyes, neither of them blinking.

“I do not know. Entropy is one of the primal forces that