I stood there, with my back on the wall in Aria hut, when Sarah was sleeping in bed. Her eyes moved over my body—new scales, broader shoulders, the extra height—like she was trying to make sure it was really me.
"What… what happened to you?" she asked quietly.
I walked closer to her. "Evolution. That's what they call it, right? I went through it."
Her eyes went wide. "Evolution? You actually—" She stopped, then started again, words tumbling out faster. "By the Goddess Nyx… she's the one who made us Kobolds in the first place. The old stories say if a Kobold ever evolves, it's a sign. Nyx chooses them to lead. That makes you village chief now, Ragnar. Legitimate chief. Once word gets out, anyone still backing Rax… their support will just disappear."
I snorted. "I doubt it. The ones who stuck with Rax are rotten to the core. They don't give a damn about goddess rules or old stories. They'll only care about what keeps their own pockets full and their knives sharp."
Sarah's shoulders sagged a little. She looked down at the grass between her knees, nodding slowly like she knew I was probably right. Then her face brightened. "Wait. I almost forgot—come on. I'll take you to the hideout right now. Mother and your aunt are there."
I nodded at her "Lead the way."
Aria was already on her feet beside me.
The three of us left the goblin village and moved into the forest, Sarah in front. After maybe ten minutes we reached this thick wall of fog hanging between the trunks like someone had drawn a line. Sarah walked straight up and pressed her palm against it. The mist shivered, then rolled back like curtains, opening a path.
On the other side, sitting on a couple of rough wooden chairs right near the edge, were Aunt Mira and Kalia. They both jumped up when they saw us.
Kalia's mouth fell open. "Ragnar?"
Aunt Mira just stared, eyes going from my head to my feet and back again. "Gods above… look at you."
Kalia broke into a huge smile. "Happy days! One of us finally evolved! We need a banquet—tonight. We have to celebrate properly."
Later that night I sat at the head of the long table, wearing the heavy tribal cloth they'd draped over me. It felt strange, too formal, but everyone seemed to expect it. When the food was cleared, the Kobolds around the table raised their cups and mugs.
"Cheers to the new head!" someone shouted.
Others joined in, voices overlapping. "To Ragnar! To the chief!"
I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my mouth. It felt… good. Weird, but good.
After the eating and drinking wound down I was bone-tired. I excused myself and walked back to the small room they'd given me. The second I shut the door I dropped face-first onto the bed, not even bothering to kick off my boots.
A soft knock came maybe twenty minutes later.
"Yeah?" I mumbled into the furs.
The door opened a crack. Aria slipped inside. "Hey. You still awake?"
"Barely."
She closed the door quietly and leaned against it. "How about we go outside? Just you and me. Somewhere private."
I lifted my head. "Aunt Mira and Kalia are like ten seconds away. They'll hear. Or see."
Aria gave a small shrug, that familiar mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's fine. They won't come looking. And the trees are thick. Come on."
I groaned, but I was already pushing myself up. Part of me wanted to just sleep, but the other part—the louder part—wanted her. Badly.
"Fine. But if we get caught I'm blaming you."
She grinned and slipped out first. I followed.
We walked maybe five minutes, far enough that the village sounds faded to nothing but crickets and wind. When I decided it was safe I grabbed her wrist, spun her around, and pushed her back against the nearest thick tree trunk.
She let out a surprised little laugh that turned into a hum when I yanked her short trousers down in one rough pull. That huge goblin ass of hers bounced free, pale green skin catching the faint moonlight.
I slapped it once—hard. The sound cracked through the quiet. She gasped, then arched back toward me like an invitation.
I didn't wait. I shoved my pants down just enough, lined up, and pushed straight in.
"Fuck—" she hissed, fingers digging into the bark.
She was already wet, so I slid deep on the first thrust. I grabbed her hips and started slamming into her, hard and steady. Each slap of skin on skin echoed a little too loud in the night air.
"Harder," she panted, pushing back to meet me.
I growled low in my throat and gave it to her, hips snapping forward, balls smacking against her with every stroke. She moaned—sharp, needy sounds that she tried to muffle against her own arm.
"Gods—Ragnar—right there—"
I reached around, found her clit with my fingers, rubbed rough circles while I kept pounding. Her thighs started shaking almost immediately.
"Shit—gonna—" she choked out.
I felt her clamp down hard around me, pulsing, a wet gush coating my cock as she came with a strangled whimper.