The soft light of the safe house flickered gently across the room. Outside, rain whispered against the windows, but inside, silence reigned. At the center of it all lay Kuina, unconscious, her body still radiating the energy of the massive attack she had unleashed.
Kylie dropped to her knees beside her, eyes wide with fear and desire. "No... no no no... Kuina!" she whispered, then took a shaky breath and leaned down.
At first, it was gentle. A proper mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, her breath passing carefully between their lips. But then, she saw Kuina's eye twitch. Her chest rose naturally. She was breathing. Awake.
Kylie didn't stop.
Instead, her lips pressed harder. Her tongue slipped forward, and in a second, it was no longer a rescue; it was a full, desperate kiss. Deep, messy, passionate. She moaned slightly into Kuina's mouth as if she had waited hours for this.
"Whoa," Molly blinked, stunned. "What is wrong with this goth lunatic?"
Mira tilted her head, arms crossed. "Don't ask. She seduced me, too. True story."
Suddenly, Kuina's eyes shot open. She blinked, confused, and found Kylie still kissing her, still licking her lips like a woman possessed.
"What the hell?!" Kuina shoved her back, gasping. "Kylie?! What are you doing?"
Kylie sat back, unfazed. She licked her lips slowly and stood up. With a single finger snap, her clothes vanished. "I missed you, babe. You've been out for like, four hours. I almost died from worry... Now that you're up, how about we make love, right here, in front of everyone?"
The rest of the harem stood frozen.
Piper snorted. "Can I join?"
Mortis the unicorn raised a single eye. "I'm gonna go take a dump. Y'all are insane."
"Enough!" Kuina shouted, sitting up fully. "Listen! I'm going to sleep. I just nearly died, remember? Talk to me when I'm not ready to kill someone."
She stormed off to her room. Kylie's smirk faded instantly. She snapped her fingers again and her clothes reappeared, black dress sliding back over her curves like magic.
She stared down at the floor. "So she really doesn't love me anymore…"
Then, she turned sharply to Molly.
"You!" Kylie hissed. "What did you do to her? You messed up her vibe, didn't you? Want me to mess with your little pigtail brain, huh?"
Molly stood perfectly calm. "Oh, please. Chill, you crazy raven. I'm out of here. Unlike you, I've got priorities."
She turned toward Piper. "Didn't you say you were going to leave before I stopped you?"
Piper's eyes lit up. "Oh right! You're a lifesaver, Barbie girl!"
She ran to the balcony, calling out. "Mortis! Get your sexy unicorn butt over here!"
Meanwhile, Lika had stayed quiet the entire time, sitting alone on the chair like a gentle ghost. She finally stood and walked slowly to Kuina's door. Her voice was soft.
"Um… Kuina? Can I talk to you?"
"Later, Lika," Kuina called out from behind the door. "Please, I need air. The system's finally shut up for once."
Lika lowered her eyes. A small tear rolled down her cheek as she turned away.
Mira noticed and quickly followed her.
"Hey, hey," Mira whispered, catching up. "What happened, Lika? Wanna talk to Miss Fireheart?"
"I just wanted to hug her," Lika mumbled. "That's all. To say thank you…"
Mira smiled warmly, then opened her arms and pulled Lika close. "Well then come here, tiny one."
Lika gasped quietly as Mira hugged her tight.
Meanwhile, behind closed doors, Kuina stood naked under the shower, hot water running down her blood-streaked skin. Her muscles ached. Her thoughts burned.
"Every day is life or death," she murmured. "I've crossed so many lines... fought more battles, had more sex than I did in ten years back home. What the hell is happening to me?"
She leaned against the tile.
"Maybe I shouldn't have drunk that bottle. But those men deserved to die. All of them. Still... the women here. Kylie. Mira. Piper. Lika. Even Molly. Why do I feel drawn to them all?"
She paused, frowning.
"Is this place laced with some hormone spell? Or is the system just ridiculously horny?"
As if on cue, the system's voice chimed:
"Incoming quest in 12 hours: Kingdom of Fire – Visiting Mira's homeland.Mandatory Condition: You must travel with Mira alone.Goal: Assist her with the secret conflict involving her brother.Reward: 500 Levels, one candlelit romantic moment with Mira, and the Flameheart ability."
Kuina groaned, rolling her eyes. "Of course. Just when I thought I'd catch a break."
Elsewhere in the house, Mira also received the alert. She exhaled sharply, staring into the distance. "Michael... please don't screw things up while I'm gone."
On the balcony, Molly sipped a cup of coffee and looked down.
Piper sat on the grass, stroking Mortis who had curled up like a fat, sassy cat.
"Hey, Barbie," Piper grinned. "Come to say goodbye?"
Molly hesitated. "How'd you know I was planning to leave?"
"Please," Piper scoffed. "You don't really wanna glue yourself to Kuina's drama, do you? You barely know her."
"I'm... shy around her," Molly admitted. "And honestly? This place is too much. All the kissing. The sex. Is that... normal here?"
Piper gave her a slow, teasing wink. "Depends on the day, darling. We just follow the heat."
Molly lowered her eyes. "I'm thirty. Never had sex. Never even kissed someone."
Piper stood, genuinely shocked. She stepped closer, their faces inches apart.
"Then let me be your first, Barbie."
She leaned in, lips parting—when suddenly, Molly teleported away in a flash.
"No lip gloss! I'm allergic, sorry!"
In her place, a small note drifted down.
Piper caught it and read:
"Tell Kuina I'll be in the Kingdom of Fire. And thanks, Lip Gloss, for the sweet offer."
Piper laughed to herself. "That Barbie's a cold one. But hot, too."
Three hours later…
Kylie sat alone on the rooftop, hugging her knees.
Kuina climbed up the ladder, sighing. "Kylie? Can we talk?"
Silence.
She took another step closer. "Look, I'm sorry I snapped. I was exhausted, okay? And sometimes… your affection is overwhelming. You have no brakes."
Kylie didn't answer.
Kuina noticed the blood.
"Wait—are you bleeding?"
Kylie didn't flinch. "Bit my hand. It's a thing I do when I'm sad."
Kuina tensed. "So you're mad at me now?"
Still no eye contact.
"Do you always expect me to want you? Right after nearly dying? I can't just jump into your arms on command, Kylie."
"You don't know me," Kylie said quietly. "Not really. But I know myself. I fall fast. I meant everything I ever did with you. It was real. I loved you."
She finally looked up, eyes glassy. "But if you don't love me… just say it. I'll stop."
Kuina stepped forward, crouching down beside her.
"I care about you, Kylie. I really do. And I—"
"Care?" Kylie interrupted. "You care? That's it? You don't love me. Not even a little?"
Kuina hesitated, heart thudding.
"God," she thought. "What mess did I fall into?"
Kylie stood up.
"Until I hear the words, we're done. Understood?"
Without another glance, she leapt off the roof and vanished.
Kuina stayed crouched on the rooftop, dazed.
She whispered into the night, "Women…"
To be continued