The rain had stopped, but the scent of wet earth clung to the air.
Kuina landed hard, sword out, eyes wide with fury.
"Kylie!"
She saw her.
Collapsed in the mud, face turned to the side, wings twitching like a dying bird. An arrow stuck in her shoulder, blood dripping.
Kuina didn't hesitate. Her breath hitched. Her grip tightened.
From the treeline, three men in cloaks, bows drawn. One of them laughed.
"Looks like the other one's here. Jackpot."
The second one smirked. "Two for one."
Kuina's eyes flashed.
"You picked the wrong bitch."
She raised her sword.
A flash of pink light exploded from the blade.
With a roar, she slashed through the air.
The wave of energy tore through the forest, slicing tree trunks like paper. Bark and leaves flew everywhere. The ground trembled.
The hunters screamed, diving to the side.
And then, she appeared.
Molly.
No warning. No sound. Just there.
In one movement, she snapped the first hunter's neck with a twist of her wrist. He dropped like dead weight.
The second leaped, flipped mid-air, and fired.
Molly dodged like it was nothing.
No blink. No flinch. Just a tilt of her head.
She landed behind him, smiled cold.
"Bang."
She flicked his forehead.
The sound echoed like a gunshot.
The guy shot backward like a missile, body cracking trees, disappearing into the sky.
Gone.
The third dropped his bow, shaking.
"I surrender! They made me do it! We thought she was just prey! I swear!"
Molly didn't blink.
She kicked him straight in the balls. Hard.
"Don't care."
He hit the ground groaning, curling in on himself.
She spit on him, stepped on his neck, and pressed down.
Snap.
Silence.
Kuina dropped to her knees next to Kylie, panting.
"Shit… shit… okay, stay with me."
She yanked the arrow out in one swift pull. Kylie didn't move.
Blood oozed, but Kuina dug in her pocket, pulled out a gray paste that hardened into a seal.
She cleaned the area quickly, pressing the makeshift bandage.
"Kylie… come on… wake up."
Still nothing.
Kuina's voice dropped.
"I'm… sorry. For earlier. For being distant. I didn't know how to handle what you feel for me. I've never been loved like that. Ever."
She held Kylie's hand.
"But I want to try. I want to love you back. Give me a chance. Please. You're… officially my girlfriend now, okay? And I love you."
Kylie's eyelid fluttered.
Then opened.
She blinked, groggy. "...What?"
Kuina smiled in relief. "You're awake."
Without another word, Kylie pushed herself up, leaned forward—
And kissed her.
Hard.
Their lips locked, breath shallow, soaked in rain and emotion.
Kuina froze for half a second. Then melted.
She closed her eyes, kissed back. Gentle, slow.
French. Deep.
Kylie whispered between kisses.
"I love you so much. You made me feel something real again. You're mine. Mine, mine, mine."
She started peppering kisses across Kuina's cheeks, her forehead, her mouth. Over and over.
Kuina just smiled, heart pounding.
"As long as you don't pull another dramatic scene, Kylie…"
Kylie giggled.
"Too late."
She raised a hand.
Her clothes vanished in a blink. Magic shimmered around her skin.
Kuina blinked. "What the, Kylie!"
"Make love to me. Here. Now. In the forest."
"We're literally in the open!"
DING.
System Alert:"One-hour Love Ritual. Required. Refusal = Heart Attack. You have 60 seconds to comply."
Kuina stared up at the glowing red text.
"...Are you fucking serious?"
Kylie wiggled her eyebrows. "System says listen to me."
Kuina sighed.
"Fine."
Her own clothes vanished.
They pulled into each other like magnets.
Kuina on top. Kylie underneath, looking up with nothing but hunger and softness.
"This is our second time," Kylie whispered. "But this time… you're really mine, baby."
Their lips met again, fiercer.
Their bodies tangled under the trees, soaked in the glow of pink moonlight. Lips exploring. Hands trembling, then confident. Moans slipping between breathless kisses.
Kuina kissed her neck. Kylie let out a sigh.
She kissed her chest, traced her collarbone, her shoulder, her skin flushed and glowing.
Kylie groaned, hands in Kuina's hair.
They moved together in rhythm, slow at first, then more desperate.
Unaware, deep in the woods,
Molly returned.
She stopped dead.
Eyes wide.
"...What the hell."
She stared.
She couldn't look away.
Kylie moaned again. Loud.
Molly flinched, slapped her own cheeks. "Nope. Nope. This isn't happening."
But she didn't move.
She hid behind a tree, peeking.
Then whispered to herself, stunned.
"That's what the redhead looks like naked? She's… goddamn gorgeous."
She swallowed hard. "And Kylie too? What is happening? I was gone for a minute."
From her hiding spot, she could see everything. The way Kuina held her. The way Kylie kissed her like she'd die without it.
She felt… something. Warm. Weird.
Jealous?
Confused?
Turned on?
All of it.
She tried to say something, but nothing came out.
She just stood there.
Kylie moaned again, this time louder.
Molly jumped.
"Shit."
She turned and vanished into the woods, face bright red, heart pounding.
Back under the trees, the ritual went on.
Lips. Fingers. Whispered names. Soft gropes. Bodies sliding together in tangled harmony.
Kylie kissed Kuina everywhere. "You're mine forever. Even when you leave to that fire bitch. Remember. I'm yours. And you're mine."
Kuina blinked, red in the cheeks.
"You don't… I don't deserve this much love."
Kylie held her face gently.
"You do. You just don't know it yet."
They kissed one last time.
Then the hour ended.
Clothes reappeared.
They lay side by side in the damp grass, staring up at the sky.
Three hours till the next mission.
Kylie looked over, brushing Kuina's hair from her face.
DING.
System Alert:Level Up: +200 Levels. Current: 5500.
She grinned.
"You got your reward, baby. Mwah."
She kissed Kuina on the cheek.
Kuina exhaled, looking at the sky.
"Kylie… I don't know how to handle this. I'm starting to feel real things for you. But also for the others."
Kylie nodded.
"Of course you are. They're all hot as hell. Like, supermodel-level hot. I'd fall for them too."
She smirked.
"But as long as you love me, I'm happy. My hot ginger goddess."
Kuina gave her a look. "You're so cringey sometimes."
Kylie grinned. "Is that a word you made up?"
Kuina stood, offered her a hand.
"I wish I did."
Kylie took it. As she got pulled up, she crashed into Kuina's chest and hugged her tight.
Kuina blinked.
"Kylie… what now?"
"I can't help it. I love you too much. But don't think I'm weak. I'm only soft for you. If anyone hurts you, I'll know. And I'll kill them. Got it?"
Kuina gave her a neutral look. "...You're terrifying."
Kylie smiled. Kissed her.
"See you later, babe. Good luck with Fire Bitch."
She flew off, giggling.
Kuina sighed, hair a mess, heart still racing.
"...She's so weird. But damn. I feel good."
Suddenly,
Molly appeared right in front of her.
"Yo. Ginger."
Kuina blinked. "Oh hey, Molly, right?"
Molly nodded, then turned red.
"I… I saw what you two did. In the forest. Earlier. While I was off handling those hunters."
Kuina tilted her head. "...Right. That."
"It was life and death, okay?" she explained. "System forced it. I thought those guys were dead already. Priorities."
"You serious?!" Molly snapped. "What if there were more? You were literally naked. Screwing. In enemy territory."
Kuina smirked. "Aww, you'd protect us, right?"
She winked.
Molly stared. Glitched.
"...What the hell's wrong with you?"
Kuina flew off toward the safehouse.
Molly stood alone.
Blushing.
Mumbling.
"What the hell is happening to me?"
An hour later.
The safehouse stood quiet.
Mira waited outside, glowing with heat.
Kuina landed softly behind her.
"Ready?"
Mira turned, eyes lit up.
She leapt onto Kuina with a hug.
"Yes! Finally! Just us two."
She kissed her cheek.
Kuina sighed.
"Great. Another one."
TO BE CONTINUED