Moral Stand (Aether’s Revival Book 7)

“My dark heart, I’m always happy to be shrouded in your glory,” Gregory chuckled as he rolled to the edge of the bed to face her.

A happy giggle came from the silhouette. “Dear one, I love being almost seen by you, too.”

“Rank six? Hmm… it feels like we’ve slowed down, but not by much.”

“Not much, no. I wanted to make sure that, if the magi move against you, you can handle them. Because of that, you are actually rank seven. If you do go face them, remove your medallion before you do. That will keep your true power hidden longer.”

“I will do as my wife asks.” He gave her a loving smile. “Thank you for passing messages between us.”

“You are welcome, dearest. Everyone has thanked me for doing so. I will pass along anything of import in the future, including your actions, as that is what they are most worried about.”

“That’s for the best,” Gregory murmured.

“It is time to bring Victoria to you, along with your wives. Do your best to keep her on track, please.”

“As you need, my dark heart.”

Four naked women were suddenly on the bed beside him when he turned to face the headboard. Mindie pressed into his back while Jenn placed her hands on both his knee and Victoria’s. Yukiko pushed into Victoria’s back, giving Gregory a bright smile and wink. Victoria was the one in front of him, naked as the rest. Her face was red, and she chewed on her lip as she met his eyes.

“First, kisses,” Gregory murmured, leaning forward.

Victoria melted into the kiss, wanting to press herself against him, but Yukiko held her firmly. She let out a soft whine of denial when Gregory pulled away. The whine stopped when Jenn turned her face to kiss her. Mindie followed Jenn, with Yukiko the last to claim hers. When Yukiko broke the kiss, she gave Victoria a small pinch on a nipple.

“Focus, Vicky,” Yukiko snickered.

Gasping, Victoria shivered in Yukiko’s arms. “Yes! Resonance. Fear is always first. This ties into my magic, that I’ll never be where I’m needed. Even with spatial magic, I have a limit on how far I can travel. What if I can’t make it to our family when they need me most?”

“Fears don’t have to be rational or factual…” Yukiko murmured as she held Victoria around the waist. “It’s okay to be afraid, as long as you don’t let your fear control you.”

“Thank you, Yuki…” Victoria whispered, closing her eyes. “Weakness is next, and that’s simple: my upbringing. I’m a fringer, just like Greg. I do my best to push myself so people can’t look down on my humble beginnings, but I know in some things, I’m just behind my lovers and all of you.”

“I understand,” Gregory whispered, taking her hands in his. “I doubt anyone even knows enough to bring it up, do they?”

“No, but it’s still there, like a millstone around my neck.”

“Nessa and Daciana will help the feeling fade, just as Yuki and Jenn helped me. You’ll overcome it.”

“Like I’m working on overcoming my pacifistic nature,” Mindie said.

“Strengths?” Jenn murmured to bring them on track.

“A voracious need to improve myself,” Victoria said. “It balances out my weakness. I push myself to learn, to adapt, to improve in any way I can. Nessa and Daciana push themselves, too, but I always try to do a little bit more to make up for my upbringing.”

“We accept you as you are, but the strength to push for more is good,” Mindie said, smiling at Victoria over Gregory’s shoulder. She’d had to slide over to be visible behind him, but that just let her press into Gregory more.

“Desires…” Victoria whispered, her face flushing. “Umm… yes.” She cleared her throat. “I… I want to be filled with your seed. Eventually to have children— many children— but until that day’s possible, I just want to be stuffed full. I want the feeling that you desire to make me pregnant every time we’re together.”

Gregory blinked at her dumbly at the mental image of her begging for even more, even though he’d finished inside her twice already. “Umm!” His face burned as he tried to speak.

“Oh, I see…” Yukiko murmured. Her hand drifted south, stopping right above Victoria’s sex. “Filled until you leak all day?”

Victoria shuddered, gasping as her hips bucked. “Yes, oh yes! Please, Yuki… Let him fill me to the brim…”

“Even if we have to push it into you ourselves if he got too excited?” Yukiko whispered, kissing Victoria’s neck.

“Uhmf!” Victoria bit her lip, her body shaking violently.

“That was a yes,” Jenn giggled.

Mindie began kissing Gregory’s neck. “So hot…” Her words tickled his freshly-kissed skin.

“It really is,” Gregory whispered, watching Victoria orgasm at the thought.

Victoria vanished in the next moment, making Yukiko lurch forward slightly when there was suddenly no resistance in front of her. “Kisses. I have to let you all go,” Darkness said tightly. They gave each other quick pecks before his wives vanished, leaving Gregory with just Darkness in the room.

“Are you okay?” Gregory asked.

“Now, yes…” Darkness exhaled roughly. “Only once more, but that is not for months yet. I will be fine by then.”

“I never would’ve expected that from her,” Gregory coughed, his mind wanting to supply different positions to stuff Victoria full.

“She wants to be bred, dearest. None of us can fault her for wanting your children. They would all love that, just as they all know Yuki will have your first child. It was going to be the first two, but Yuki has relented on that stance with Jenn.”

“Oh! I… uh…”

Darkness giggled. “It is okay. It will be over a decade from now at the least, dear one.”

“Okay…” Gregory exhaled slowly. He wanted children, to raise a son or daughter with each of his wives. Only his obligation to the empire and what he’d likely face in the future tempered that desire.

“Your younger friends are going to have a lot of fun with Mindie now,” Darkness grinned, sidetracking him.

That sentence conjured up a whole slew of new images. “Hmm… we did say she could.”

“Mm-hmm,” Darkness purred. “Dream of all those wondrous ideas and then finally of me, my love.”

Gregory could hear her farewell, so he acted on reflex. The shadows had been prepared for him ahead of time, so he didn’t get as far as before. Shadows still snapped as he struggled, but he was doomed to failure.

Darkness’ heart swelled as she watched him strive, even as she started to reach out for him. She pulled her hand back before he could reach it, but the moment he vanished, she flung herself onto the bed. Breathing deeply, she let the ache out, tears spilling though she’d done the right thing— every step forward Gregory took made it harder to resist the temptation of even a gentle touch.

Will he accept me when he finally sees me? The thought made the ache and worry redouble as she struggled to calm herself in the forgotten room.