Kai POV
I couldn't say what time it was when I finally peeled myself away from Yuki. We'd had the most intimate night I'd ever shared with someone — in this world or the last.
No rush. No frantic tearing of clothes. Just stories traded between long, quiet kisses. One especially deep one after talking about our first meeting, and the fight that nearly killed us both. It felt like an "I'm sorry" and a "you're welcome" rolled into one.
She was criminally captivating. Worse, she didn't even realize it.
I brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, and for a dangerous second, I almost slipped back into bed. But the moment had passed, and I couldn't let myself sink into comfort. Not again.
I lingered a moment longer, watching the rise and fall of her chest match my own. Warmth bloomed in my chest.
Is this what falling in love feels like?
Not bad. Not bad at all.
⸻
The walk back through the cave was quiet. Sleep was calling, and all I wanted was my own bed and a body pillow. Preferably Nyla-shaped. The Shyara model could work in a pinch.
"Yeah right," I muttered to myself. "Like those two would let me sleep."
I stepped into my room—
And froze.
The smell hit first. That intoxicating, slightly sour note that could drive a man to glory or ruin. Thick enough in the air to chew on.
Then my eyes caught up.
My bed looked like it had been the site of a wild animal attack. Sheets shredded, pillow stuffing drifting like snow, claw marks gouged deep into the wood frame.
And sprawled in the wreckage like a nature documentary gone wrong… Nyla and Shyara.
Nyla was a mess of tousled hair and half-lidded eyes, fur ruffled in uneven patches where teeth had clearly been involved. Her tails twitched lazily, predator satisfaction in every flick.
Shyara… looked like someone had tried to eat her and changed their mind halfway through. Bite marks everywhere. Clothes hanging on for dear life. And yet she smiled — the kind of smile you wear when you know you've gotten away with something.
"…What," I said slowly, "in the actual hell happened here?"
Shyara propped herself up, casual as you please. "Bonding."
Nyla purred — purred — into my pillow. "Smells like you," she murmured, ignoring me completely.
I dragged a hand down my face. "Right. Well, you two have fun with that. I require sleep, so turn the horny down about seven notches. Thanks."
I dropped onto the ruined cot — or more accurately, onto Nyla. Soft enough. Comfortable enough.
"Not gonna ask?" Shyara asked, still not moving.
"No need. I got the gist." I snuggled into Nyla's tails.
"Master?!" she squirmed.
"Shut up. Sleeping," I said, pulling her closer.
"Hm. Get it, how do you—? Oh, right." Shyara rolled over, sandwiching me between them.
Not bad.
"Did you like it?" Shyara's cheer was impossible to miss.
"Like you sleeping with my girlfriend? Nah. But great mental image."
"Real spank bank material," she grinned.
"Most definitely," I said, loosening my grip on Nyla.
"Don't waste it, Master," Nyla growled low.
"Sure thing, Lala. Now wrap me in those tails. Some degenerates broke into my room while I was gone, shredded my sheets, and didn't even flee the scene. Can you believe that?"
Her tails coiled around me, warm and perfect. Sleep pulled at me.
"At least they were cute," Shyara said, settling in.
"…Adorable," I murmured, drifting.
Something soft and wet brushed my lips before I slipped under.
Could've been Nyla. Could've been Shyara.
Didn't matter.
Yeah. All within normal limits.