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

She couldn’t suppress a hiss when she voiced it.

“Why? It’s not yoursss.”

The most aggressive and largest of them stood and shook his head at her.

“It is now. Mind your own business.”

Though world-wise, Kriss was still young, and so she didn’t handle the situation as well as she otherwise might have.

“I’m making it my business.” She kicked the bag again, harder this time; “Return what you took, or I will.”

The problem with teenage boys is that they think they’re invincible, and with their leader standing up to her, the others united behind him.

“You might be a monster girl, but there are four of us.”

“Four scrawny little thieves.” She snapped back immediately; “Four children, taking what isn’t theirsss.”

Tension mounted ever higher at the blatant accusation and out of the corner of her eye she saw one of them trying to angle around behind her, a thick branch in his hand.

She shrugged, raising the hilt of her blade to more easily get a grip on it, deciding that it was past time for her to draw the weapon.

“You want to threaten me with a stick? I hope you are willing to accept the consequences.”

They were little more than children, but after listening and talking, she could plainly see the mean streak in them and had no qualms about possibly using her weapon.

But while she was distracted by the improvised cudgel, the aggressive one pointed an odd black stick of his own at her.

A moment later the Trog seized up when blue lightening shot into her and a moment after that she collapsed to the ground, her minute scales presenting every colour imaginable as her body reacted to the shock.

She heard footsteps and felt the presence of the four teens around her.

“What are we going to do with you then?” Fister asked while gnawing at his lip.

Meanwhile, down at the river Tora waited, happily splashing her feet to stay cool in the warm sun.

Chapter 20:Longinus

It had been a few days since Nameless started work at the auction house, and if it weren’t for that constant edge of fear he felt from the girls whose hearts he handled he would be greatly enjoying himself.

Bringing monsters and humans together was what the Empaths were created to do, and he swelled with pride with each successful match-up, the monster girls joyful smiles alone nearly enough to sustain his soul.

It was a bit of wishful thinking, but Nameless couldn’t help but imagine all the girls who would now find bond-mates because of him.

Despite the sense of fulfillment he was finding with his work though, it still seemed to him as if he’d been sidelined.

He couldn’t quite account for it, but whether it was the journey east into the Sansee or working with the task-force in Algrade, it always seemed like he was at least near the center of things.

Now the center of things seemed to be Volka, and she was far too often absent from his side.

Usually one or two of the girls would come with him to help out with the work at the auction house, Erica being a constant while Nina, Milly and Ophelia took it in turns as they kept at their respective training.

After helping Baron and Ginger close up for the day, Nameless, Milly and Erica headed home.

Despite their new assignment, every day Nameless and his bond-mates anxiously waited for news of another attack or word of a Tenebrae in need of saving, and each day that went by without it added to the knot of anxiety living in their bellies.

So they did their best to alleviate the stress, whether that be with intensive training and discipline, or with stolen moments of passion.

And they weren’t the only ones.

The private rooms upstairs in the auction house were pretty much in constant use and more than once they had overheard cries of ecstasy while walking through the streets of Garland, tamers and Aegis operatives alike striving to help their agitated monster girls find relief.

Because as horrible as the constant fear was for their human companions, it was so much worse for the monster girls: death was preferable than the utter blackness that Jonathan brought.

Today though there was a different sort of distraction.

Every major road in the city inevitably found its way to Divinity Square and the Bastion beside it, with numerous side streets weaving laterally to connect them like a Drider’s web.

As they were emerging from one of those side streets they caught wind of a commotion ahead.

“What’s going on over there?” Nameless wondered aloud.

Erica’s tail swished behind her with her agitation and her ears twisted on her head as she sought to hear whatever it was.

“Something big! Let’s go and see!” She urged them.

“Wait Erica!” Milly called, but gave up immediately as her bond-sister disappeared into the gathering crowd of people coming out of their homes and businesses to investigate.

Tired from a long day of work, Nameless sighed and took hold of his Minotaur’s hand.

“Come on baby. We better check it out, whatever it is.”

They chased after the curious cat, pushing through the crowd of onlookers to reach the edge of one of the main boulevards.

They caught up with her again, but there was no time to chastise her as they took in the sight.

Volka, you better get over here. Something big is happening.

Nameless repeated Erica’s words from earlier as he reached out to the Valkyrie.

It was a moment before she replied.

Is there a crisis my love?”

He shook his head, though she couldn’t see it, and communicated to her what he was seeing.

A host of Antlion soldiers were marching through the boulevard, approaching Divinity Square in lockstep, their booted feet sounding a unified crunch every half second of