Feral Mage Book 2: Chapter 32

Bryce awoke to something soft dragging across his chest. His eyes opened and took in the low light of his room in the guild. Janna lay next to him, still nude from last night, with a smile on her face. He watched as her tails ran down his chest, then he put his arm around her and pulled her close to him.

“Bryce!” she giggled as he started kissing along her neck. “We don’t have time for this! Vex will probably barge through the door any second. She let me have the night with you, but I doubt that includes the morning.”

Bryce shrugged.

“It’s a big bed,” he said before resuming kissing her.

Janna laughed again and her tails playfully swatted at him.

“Don’t make me dump the water in the wash basin on you,” Janna threatened. “Naughty Bryce.”

He sighed and, with a final kiss, released his kitsune. Janna rolled out of bed and moved to where her clothes were tossed from last night. He watched as she swayed her hips in time with her tails to tease him into thinking he would catch a glimpse. He caught her watching him, a sly smile on her face.

“And you say I’m the naughty one?” he said, still staring at her ass.

Her tails moved to give him a peek as she bent over, grabbing their clothes. His wonderful early morning view was interrupted when she tossed him his tunic and pants. Bryce caught them and, with much reluctance, got dressed to start his day.

When they entered the guildhall tavern, they caught sight of Vex and the twins sitting at a table. He could tell they were conversing in beastkin as they drew near and even picked out a few words which told him the conversation was about food. Most likely, the bacon Vex was currently eating, and a warning given by the death grip on her fork.

“You two slept in late,” Nicole said, sipping a cup of tea. “Usually, Bryce gets up with Vex, if not before.”

Vex hopped out of her seat and raced over to him, embracing him and burying her face into his chest. He held her for a few seconds before she broke away and, to his surprise, hugged Janna. When she broke the hug, the wolfkin smiled at both of them.

“Good, you mated,” she said proudly.

Nicole spewed her tea across the table and started coughing, Olivia smacking her on the back.

“Congrats, you two,” Olivia said, red-faced as she tried to help her choking sister.

***

An hour later, Bryce and the girls were walking down the streets of Witchbrook, shopping for supplies for their upcoming mission. Nicole had recovered from her coughing fit and, as per her usual self, proceeded to tease Bryce and Janna about their new relationship. However, some good did come from running into the twins this morning.

“How are your hands?” Bryce asked Janna

She smiled as she lifted her hands, the burn marks from the fireball gone without even a scar.

“Olivia did an amazing job,” Janna answered.

Bryce nodded.

That she did.

He knew a year ago her magic couldn’t have healed an injury like that without at least leaving a few scars. It seemed the twins were getting stronger, and Bryce wondered how long it would be before they were steel rank as well.

“Where are we going first?” Vex asked as she walked with Omelet.

The feathered fiend was doing his best to test the limits of his leash, and he was starting to get big enough that he could drag Vex wherever he wanted to go, in theory at least. The reality was that when Omelet began to get too much out of line, Vex would give a command in beastkin, and the griffin chick would straighten up.

It’s good that she’s trained him now. A few more months and he’ll be big enough for her to ride.

“The bookstore,” Janna answered.

Vex looked back at him and narrowed her eyes.

He shook his head, already knowing the look was her thinking he planned to get another beastkin book.

“We’re looking for manuals on spear and polearm techniques for Janna,” Bryce answered.

Vex smiled and nodded her head.

As they neared the bookstore, Bryce knew Vex wouldn’t be joining them inside. A small crowd was gathered around a performer putting on a puppet show across the street. He recalled how much the wolfkin had enjoyed the one they saw in Stonewall.

Sure enough, Vex let out a gasp when she saw it, and Bryce watched her tail start to wag. She looked back at him with a hopeful expression.

“Sure, Vex. We’ll get you once we’re done shopping,” Bryce said.

Vex hurried to join the crowd of watchers, Omelet trotting along beside her. Bryce and Janna shared a small chuckle at Vex’s excitement before entering the bookstore.

“How might I help you folks today?” an old woman greeted from behind the desk.

The scent of parchment and dried ink filled the air. Vex might be excited about the puppet show, but Janna was excited about books. He smirked as he watched her scan the shelves while her tails swished about.

“We’re looking for weapon manuals,” Bryce stated.

He saw the owner’s eyes land on the dog tags around their necks. Her lips thinned, but she pointed to a set of shelves in the back.

Bryce gave a nod in thanks before moving toward them with Janna.

“So, what do we get?” Janna asked. “I doubt they’ll have a manual on any weapons from the Ember Islands.”

Bryce began scanning the spines of books, looking for any with names he recognized. He knew a few that other mercenaries had considered reputable and many that were the butt of jokes in the guildhall. Anyone could claim to know something, it’s just shitty to find out they were wrong when it’s something that your life depended on.

“No, but there are weapons similar to your naginata. We’re looking for books to lay a foundation and some training exercises for you while we’re on this job with Bellamy. When this contract is done, I’ll ask around the guildhall for someone to work with you.”

Bryce pulled a few books from the shelf.

“This will do for now,” he said.

When they exited the bookstore, Bryce froze as he looked across the street. Vex stood there still watching the puppet show with Omelet sitting beside her, but she wasn’t alone.

Laughter erupted from the crowd except for one. A sea elf woman, given her fin-like ears, wearing a white fur coat with bright red curly hair.

“This is so violent!” Isabelle gasped as Vex laughed beside her. “I don’t think children should be watching this.”

Bryce and Janna exchanged a look. He handed her the books they had purchased and crossed the street.

“Isabelle,” he said. “It’s odd to see you on this side of the city.”

Her curls bounced as she turned and smiled at him.

“Yeah, I don’t come this way too often. Kind of stuffy on this side, but I heard you’d be shopping this way, Darling.”

Bryce narrowed his eyes.

“So you’re admitting to stalking me.”

Isabelle nodded.

“I got eyes and ears all over the city,” she said, then pouted. “Don’t make the grumpy face. I just wanted to talk to you before you left.”

Bryce’s lips thinned at the fact that Isabelle knew that.

“Okay, let’s talk,” Bryce said, both curious and dreading what this was about.

He frowned as she rocked back and forth on her heels.

“Not out here,” Isabelle said, pointing at an alleyway. “I’m really a shy girl at heart.”

She started moving toward it, and Bryce followed, casting a quick glance at Janna since Vex was still absorbed in her puppet show. He wondered why the wolfkin hadn’t reacted to Isabelle, but that spurred a whole new line of worries for him. Mostly related to how much the word ‘pack’ came up in the conversation the two had in beastkin the other day.

Isabelle leaned against the wall of the alleyway once they stepped into it, and Bryce did the same on the opposite side. He could still see Janna clearly as well as Vex.

“Not much different here than where we were at,” Bryce said, still hearing the laughter.

“In the Goddess's name, Hush,” Isabelle said softly.

Her voice had a strange echo to it, and he knew she was casting a spell. The laughter died away, as did every other sound around them.

“That’s better. Now we can talk,” Isabelle said with a sigh.

Bryce looked at the crowd in front of the puppet show. They were still laughing, but he heard nothing, not even muffled voices.

“What goddess do you worship?” Bryce asked.

The mirth left her for a savage grin.

“Not one whose statue would be found in any temple in this city, and I certainly don’t offer her coins to gain her favor.”

He narrowed his eyes as her smile shifted back.

“So did you and Foxy have a good shopping date?” Isabelle asked. “Vex told me you two had a very active night.”

Bryce stared sternly at Isabelle. The gang boss rolled her eyes after a moment.

“Fine, we can do business first,” she said, sticking out her tongue. “The tunnels are my turf now. I have sentries posted at every entrance.”

Bryce let out a sigh of relief. Hopefully, with Isabelle controlling the entrance and the defenses Mark was putting up under the guildhall, Alice would be safe.

“Good to know. Thank you, Isabelle.”

The gang boss beamed at him.

“I’ll make sure the princess stays safe while you go hunting,” Isabelle said as she stepped away from the wall.

Bryce thought she was about to leave, only for Isabelle to rush him. He pulled on his Primal Troll Aspect as he started to draw his sword. Isabelle clasped her hand onto his hand with the blade a quarter of the way out of its sheath. She leaned against him, her other hand coming up to toy with his hair. He could smell the rose-scented perfume coming from her skin.

“I rather like this Aspect,” she said, licking her lips as she ran her eyes up and down him.

Bryce glared at her.

“You have three seconds to back off, Isabelle,” he warned.

She smirked.

“One…two…” Isabelle teased, then Bryce heard a snip.

The gang boss stepped back from him. An innocent smile on her face as the hand that had been toying with his hair now held a lock of hair and a small pair of scissors.

“And that’s three,” she said.

Bryce’s hand came up and felt the spot she had cut it from. He was about to say something, but Isabelle was already walking away from him. She paused at the alleyway’s entrance, looking back at him.

“Don’t stay gone too long, Darling,” Isabelle said as she ran the lock of his hair under her nose. “I thought I was a patient girl, but then I met you.”

Bryce frowned as Isabelle snapped her fingers, ending the spell. Laughter and every other noise flooded back into his sense of hearing as the gang boss stepped out into the street.