Kael Ashvane drove his cock deep into Violet Farwyn again, the tight heat of her body squeezing around him like wet velvet. The cramped tree hollow reeked of sweat, sex, and crushed leaves. Dawn light filtered through the cracks in the bark, painting the sisters' bare skin in pale gold. Azure Farwyn lay sprawled beside them, chest heaving, thighs slick with her own spend.
Violet's purple wings fluttered weakly against the wooden wall. Her eyes rolled back as another climax ripped through her. "Again... fuck... he's pulling it out of me—"
Kael felt the Draw Formula surge inside the Nine-Vessel Reclamation. His Essence Gate stayed locked tight as iron while he sucked the Lunar Essence straight from her core. Rich, sweet power flooded his channels, hot and feminine, sharpening his senses and hardening his already brutal erection. The Dracoiling stirred along his shaft—veins of living fire coiling under the skin, swelling thicker, pulsing with heat that made Violet scream.
"Another one?" Azure gasped, pushing herself up on shaky arms. Her blue-green hair stuck to her sweat-slick breasts. "I told you to switch, you stubborn bitch. Look at you now."
Violet could only moan, body convulsing as Kael kept thrusting through her orgasm, milking her dry. Her Lunar Essence poured into him in thick waves. She looked half-dead with pleasure, limbs limp, mouth open in a silent cry.
Azure shoved her sister aside with a jealous snarl. "My turn, little thief." She climbed on, impaling herself in one desperate motion. Her inner walls were still fluttering from her last loss, but she rode him hard, hips rolling with practiced skill, trying to drain him with every squeeze of her specialized arts.
It didn't work.
Kael gripped her ass and met her thrust for thrust, the Draw Formula answering her every attempt with merciless suction. Azure lasted barely a dozen strokes before she shattered, crying out as her Lunar Essence flooded into him. Her body went boneless. She slumped forward, panting against his chest.
"Damn you..." she whimpered. "He's getting stronger."
They traded places again and again. The sisters attacked in turns, then together, mouths and hands and dripping cunts working to break him. Kael answered every assault with raw power and the flawless execution of the Nine-Vessel Reclamation. His Primal Vigour Constitution fed him endless stamina. Each time he pulled their Lunar Essence, his own reserves swelled. The technique flowed smoother, the Draw Formula quicker, until he could trigger it with nothing more than a thought.
By the time true morning light filled the hollow, both Farwyn sisters were wrecked—naked, glistening, trembling heaps of exhausted beauty. Kael couldn't tell whose legs were whose anymore. He fucked them in a frenzy, switching holes, pounding one while fingering the other, then flipping them over and taking them from behind. Their moans blended into one desperate song of defeat.
The little spirits had met something far beyond their draining tricks. Kael's thick, blazing cock ravaged them without mercy, the Dracoiling ridges dragging against every sensitive ridge inside them until they came apart again and again.
Finally, they broke.
"Enough... good brother, we can't take anymore," Violet gasped, voice hoarse.
"Spare us," Azure added, tears of overstimulation streaking her flushed cheeks.
Kael loomed over them, cock still buried deep in Violet, hips rolling lazily. "You surrender?"
"Yes! We surrender!" they cried together.
"You going to mess with me again?" He gave a sharp thrust that made Violet's eyes cross.
Violet's voice cracked. "Little White brother... I've already lost months of foundation to you. If you're that cruel, just take the rest. Drain me dry."
Kael froze. "What?"
"You heard her," Azure whimpered, fresh tears spilling. "We thought we were playing with you. Turns out you know Sapping Arts too. You tricked us so sweetly... and now we've lost so much."
"I didn't mean to," Kael muttered, a flicker of guilt cutting through the haze of power and lust. "I didn't know it would hit you this hard."
Azure started crying outright, big wracking sobs. "We worked so long to build our cultivation... and you just... took it..."
Violet joined her, sniffling. "We really do care for you, you heartless bastard."
Kael's chest tightened. He brushed damp hair from their faces, suddenly gentle. "Stop crying. Let me think." An idea struck him—something from the healing sessions he'd shared with Lyra Farrow. "What if I give some back? Would that help?"
Their eyes lit up through the tears.
"Yes!" Azure said quickly. "If you show a little mercy, we can recover a lot."
Kael released the locks on his Essence Gate. The pressure that had built through the long night of endless fucking surged forward. He drove into Violet with a final savage series of strokes and came hard, flooding her deepest reaches with thick, burning ropes of his Primordial Virilic Essence.
Violet wailed in ecstasy, her body seizing as the potent seed filled her. The essence hit her channels like liquid fire and pure restoration at once. She came again just from the sensation, then sagged with a blissful, stupid smile. "Gods... it's really that—Primordial stuff. So hot... so full..."
Azure pressed in immediately, kissing his neck, begging. Kael pulled out of her sister and took her next, pumping another heavy load into her clenching pussy. Both sisters glowed with renewed vitality, the warm rush of his gift soothing their depleted foundations.
Exhausted but sated, they curled against him like kittens, soft breasts and thighs pressing close, and drifted into sleep.
---
Kael woke them hours later, the sun high overhead.
"Time to move. It's nearly noon."
Azure mumbled sleepily and tried to burrow deeper into his chest. "Five more minutes..."
"Fine. Stay here and sleep. I'm leaving." He started to pull away.
"Wait!" Both sisters shot upright, suddenly wide awake. Violet wrapped her arms around his waist. "Where are you going?"
"To find that old bastard," Kael growled, face darkening. "This forest is cursed. No matter which way we go, we loop back to his huts. He's playing games with us."
"You want us to come?" Azure asked.
"Yeah. You coming or not?"
"Of course!" they answered at once. Violet smiled. "Wherever you go, we follow."
They dressed slowly—complaining about missing underclothes and sore bodies—while Kael waited outside. Eventually they emerged, still flushed and walking gingerly. He summoned the Griffin Carriage from the Wardian Satchel. The sisters climbed in and immediately pressed close on either side of him, soft and affectionate now, trading lazy kisses and teasing touches as the carriage flew forward.
The mood between them had become syrupy sweet after the long night of shared pleasure and essence exchange.
"Little White brother," Violet asked after a while, tracing a finger along his arm, "where exactly did you come from?"
Kael's expression darkened. He said nothing.
Azure pouted. "We've been that intimate with you and you still won't tell us? Not fair."
He stayed quiet, mind drifting back to Vane's Summit, the familiar peaks and training grounds he'd left behind.
The sisters exchanged a glance. Violet tried again, softer. "Those people chasing you yesterday... enemies?"
He gave a short nod.
"They looked dangerous," Azure said. "Maybe you should find somewhere quiet to hide for a while."
Kael gave a bitter laugh. "I came to Vessel Town to hide. Looks like trouble followed me anyway."
Violet's eyes sparkled with an idea. "I know a perfect place. Safe. Outsiders don't dare enter. We could take you there—keep you company."
Kael shook his head. "I need to get out of this damned wood and back to the inn. Lyra's probably losing her mind."
"The scenery there is beautiful," Violet cooed, pressing her breasts against his arm. "Perfect for clearing your head. And we'd keep you very happy..."
"Thanks. But no."
Violet looked disappointed but said nothing more.
Kael drove the carriage forward without regard for direction. Sure enough, the trees soon parted and the crooked little huts of Elder Greymantle appeared again.
He brought the carriage to a stop, stored it away, and marched toward the buildings with murder in his eyes. The sisters started to follow, but Violet tugged Azure's sleeve. They hung back.
Once Kael was out of earshot, Azure whispered, "What is it?"
"That boy is strange," Violet murmured, watching his back. "Very strange."
"Powerful too," Azure agreed, cheeks still faintly pink. "Managed to fool both of us."
"And that Primal Vigour of his..." Violet bit her lip, voice dropping. "Master always said essence like that is incredibly rare. Best nourishment possible for women who walk our path."
Azure shivered in memory. "And that cock... every thrust nearly broke us."
"Lucky he didn't have worse intentions," Violet said quietly. "We would've been ruined."
The sisters stood together a moment longer, flushed and thoughtful, before hurrying after him.
"The scenery there is beautiful," Violet cooed, pressing her breasts against his arm. "Perfect for clearing your head. And we'd keep you very happy..."
"Thanks. But no."
Violet looked disappointed but said nothing more. Kael drove the carriage forward without regard for direction. Sure enough, the trees soon parted and the crooked little huts of Elder Greymantle appeared again. He brought the carriage to a stop, stored it away, and marched toward the buildings with murder in his eyes. The sisters started to follow, but Violet tugged Azure's sleeve. They hung back. Once Kael was out of earshot, Azure whispered, "What is it?"
"That boy is strange," Violet murmured, watching his back. "Very strange."
"Powerful too," Azure agreed, cheeks still faintly pink. "Managed to fool both of us."
"And that Primal Vigour of his..." Violet bit her lip, voice dropping. "Master always said essence like that is incredibly rare. Best nourishment possible for women who walk our path."
Azure shivered in memory. "And that cock... every thrust nearly broke us."
"Lucky he didn't have worse intentions," Violet said quietly. "We would've been ruined."
The sisters stood together a moment longer, flushed and thoughtful, before hurrying after him. But they never caught up.
"Isn't it strange?" Azure said later, when they had slipped away from the huts and found a quiet spot beneath the ancient trees. "Last night I thought for sure my Lunar Essence was wrecked after he drained me dry so many times. But when he pushed his own Primordial Virilic Essence back into me... gods, I felt warm all over. Better than I've ever felt. Like every ache just melted away."
"Sister," Violet said, eyes gleaming with sudden hunger. "A prize like that... can we really let him slip away?"
The two butterfly demons shared a knowing look. Azure's eyes brightened. "You mean..."
"He's got no real schemes twisting in his head, and he's on the run. Why not sweet-talk him into coming back to our valley with us? We could ride that cock day and night, draw on that fire whenever we wanted."
Azure's pretty face flushed crimson. "Yes! That would be perfect."
Violet's lips curved. "He isn't as handsome as Crown Prince Aldas, and he doesn't carry the same weight. But damn me if I don't just... like him. My body keeps remembering."
"Me too," Azure whispered, eyes half-closed. "At first I didn't feel it, but the more I looked, the more I wanted. Being with him feels different than with the prince. Deeper somehow."
"It's strange," Violet agreed. "I thought Aldas was the only one who could stir me. Yet here we are..."
A low chuckle cut through the air. "Nothing strange about it, girls. The Shadow Fox blood runs hot with primal charm. No woman born of yin can resist it for long. Not even clever little spirits like you."
The sisters whirled. Elder Greymantle stood a short distance away, white brows hanging like frost-covered vines, a knowing smirk on his wrinkled face. They flushed with shame and fury.
"You dirty old bastard!" Violet snapped. "Sneaking around and eavesdropping on us?"
"Eavesdropping?" Greymantle laughed softly. "These are my woods, my huts. Every whisper, every sigh, reaches me whether I want it or not."
"Shameless!" Azure hissed. "Listening and then pretending you didn't!"
Greymantle's smile widened. "Afraid someone else might hear your little plot, are you?"
Violet's cheeks burned. "We aren't planning to hurt him. But you... you're up to something. Why do we keep circling back here no matter which way we walk?"
The old man sighed. "That little fox isn't prey for the likes of you. If you don't want broken hearts later, best leave him be."
"Little fox?" Azure demanded, voice rising. "What nonsense are you spitting now?"
"Enough," Greymantle said, waving a hand. "Too many troubles brewing today. Time for you two to leave."
"Leave?" Violet echoed. "And go where?"
"Back where you came from. This place isn't for you."
The sisters bristled. Azure's brows shot up. "Who are you to order us? We'll leave when we damn well please."
"Forget him, sister," Violet said. "We'll find Kael ourselves."
"No more chatter." Greymantle flicked his sleeve. A savage wind howled out of nowhere, roaring like a tidal wave. The sisters snatched for their weapons, but the gale struck too fast. They screamed as it ripped them from the ground and hurled them skyward, tumbling helplessly until the forest swallowed them whole.
Greymantle lowered his arm and sighed again. "All for your own good, little demons."
Kael stormed through the crooked huts, shoving open doors and finding nothing but dust and strange herbs. His stomach growled angrily. Then a rich, mouth-watering aroma drifted from one of the back buildings. He followed it into what looked like a simple kitchen. Several dishes steamed on the rough table, freshly prepared, their scents thick enough to make his knees weak.
It was nearly noon. The smell hit him like a hammer. Without thinking, he dropped into a chair and attacked the food like a starving wolf.
These weren't the plain fare from yesterday. These were rich, fragrant masterpieces. One plate held braised meat so tender it fell apart, juices bursting with deep, savory flavor. Another offered sauced tongue—crisp yet melting, packed with spice and chew. The third was eggplant strips simmered in a glossy sauce, silky and addictive.
"Shit, this is incredible," Kael muttered between bites. "If there was wine, I'd die happy."
He tore into the meal with both hands, sleeves rolled up, juices running down his chin. Every bite tasted better than the last.
"How's the food?" a calm voice asked.
Kael looked up. Elder Greymantle stood beside the table, watching him with mild amusement.
Kael had stormed here to raise hell, but with his mouth full and the plates already half-empty, the fight drained out of him. He forced a sheepish grin. "I was starving, so... I started without asking. Sorry about that."
"No matter," Greymantle said easily.
Kael had devoured the sauced tongue completely. He laughed awkwardly. "Got carried away and didn't leave you any."
"Eat it all if you like. I'm glad it pleases you."
Kael felt a pang of guilt at the old man's generosity. "It's the best thing I've ever tasted. Must've used some rare ingredients, right?"
"Nothing too shabby."
"What is it, exactly?" Kael asked, still chewing.
"Verdant phoenix," Greymantle said, pointing at each dish. "Braised phoenix flesh. Sauced phoenix tongue. Phoenix-juice eggplant strips."
Kael froze mid-bite. "Phoenix?"
"That's right."
The smile died on Kael's face. "You... you had a phoenix?"
"I didn't," Greymantle replied cheerfully. "But you left one here yesterday, remember?"
Kael shot up from his chair, mouth still full. "You cooked my phoenix?!"
"The meat was excellent," the old man said, nodding sagely.
"You bastard! I gave it to you for materials! You turned a thousand-year sacred phoenix into dinner?!"
"It refined nicely," Greymantle said with a lazy shrug. "And you seemed to enjoy it."
Kael's finger shook as he pointed at the elder, fury choking his words.
"It's only one phoenix," Greymantle said, rolling his eyes. "No need to act like the world ended."
"You don't understand how rare it was! A divine beast, body full of treasures!"
"Gold and jewels are just passing clouds. Good food and wine—that's the real truth of life." Greymantle gave him a pointed look. "Someone once told me that very thing."
Kael's face twisted with rage. "You hypocritical old shit! Wasting my prize and acting smug about it!" He sucked in a breath. "And another thing—was it you? Why the hell do we keep looping back here no matter which way we go?"
"Miss me already?" Greymantle asked innocently.
Kael remembered the sisters and spun toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To find them!"
"No need. I already sent them away."
Kael stopped dead. "Sent them away?"
"This isn't a place for just anyone. They don't belong here."
Kael's face darkened. "And me? Do I belong?"
"You must stay." The answer came without hesitation.
"You crazy old bastard!" Kael snarled, glaring at the elder's wild white hair. "I knew you were behind this! Keep it up and I'll tear these shitty huts down right now, Little Saint-Lord's word on it!"
"Little fox," Greymantle said calmly, "you aren't strong enough to touch me yet."
The words hit like cold water. Kael's heart stuttered. "What did you just call me?"
"Little fox." Greymantle smiled, something ancient and unreadable flickering in his eyes.
Shame and anger boiled up in Kael's chest. "You wrinkly fuck! How dare you—"
The words died as Greymantle's brows suddenly furrowed. His eyes flashed with sharp light. A deafening crack split the air. The entire hut exploded outward in a storm of splintered wood and stone. Dust choked the room as invisible forces slammed into Kael from every side.
He tried to summon his Vitae, but the pressure crushed down like a mountain, pinning him in place. His limbs refused to move. His chest tightened until breathing became agony. Strange lights flickered through the collapsing ruin, and a howling wind tore across the space like thunder.
Then he saw it—an invisible presence drifting toward him, slow and relentless. Wherever it passed, wood and stone dissolved into drifting ash and powder. Pure terror gripped Kael for the first time in days. He strained against the binding force, but his body was locked solid. The deadly presence glided closer, aimed straight for the center of his forehead.