Chapter Nineteen

 

Stern woke slowly, his dream drifting away without his recalling what it was. A soft sound and warmth along his left side had him look that way. Cyra was smiling in her sleep, murmuring nearly inaudibly, as she snuggled against him. Stern’s heart beat a little faster, and his lips formed a smile without thought.

 

A shift to his right caused Stern to turn his attention that way. A very naked Trish was mostly uncovered as she squirmed a little more. One of her arms crossed his chest as she hugged him in her sleep. Stern’s smile grew as his heart soared.

 

They were understanding, Stern thought. They read the letters and were happy, excited, and a little worried... Both of them want to meet my family, and not because of who they are, but because of who I am to them. Dad, you never said how much love one could feel when you have multiple women in love with you... nor the worry about screwing it all up.

 

Cyra murmured a little louder, but unintelligibly. Her leg suddenly hooked over his, stopping Stern’s train of thought. Cyra let out a soft, happy sound as she snuggled as close as she could, trapping Trish’s hand between her and Stern.

 

I want Dad and all of my moms to meet you both, Stern thought. I really do. I’m not sure if this dream will last, but please, Goddess... please let it.

 

Trish grumbled and woke up a second after she tried to move her arm and couldn’t. “Hmm? What?”

 

“Cyra caught you,” Stern whispered. “Caught you with me.”

 

Trish blinked slowly for a second, then smiled at him. “Then I’m good,” she whispered back before she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes again.

 

Leaning over, he kissed her head. “So am I.”

 

“Me, three,” Cyra added sleepily. “Is it time to wake up already?”

 

“Probably,” Stern exhaled, “though I really don’t want to get up.”

 

“Really?” Trish chuckled throatily. “I’d think that, with where you are, you’d really want to get… up.”

 

Cyra giggled. “You’ll always be bad.”

 

“I’m at my best when I am,” Trish replied, then kissed Stern’s chest.

 

“She’s also not wrong,” Stern admitted, “which is why we should get out of bed.”

 

Cyra shifted, tightening her leg around him. “We should, but a minute more. Please?”

 

“I can’t go anywhere,” Trish snickered. “I’m held captive by my love for you both.”

 

Cyra frowned, but when she felt Trish’s fingers wiggle, she laughed. “Stern, we caught her.”

 

“You caught her. I’m just helping,” Stern chuckled. “Though since you have her pinned… I could exact some revenge on her.”

 

Trish gave him wide, frightened eyes. “Oh no…”

 

Cyra giggled and she grabbed Trish’s forearm on Stern’s stomach. “I got her. Get her!”

 

Stern spun to the side and grabbed Trish. She started to speak, but was suddenly laughing as Stern tickled her.

 

“No, no, stop!” Trish laughed as she squirmed. “Mercy?”

 

Stern laughed with her and stopped tickling her. “Only because you asked.”

 

“Aw, you stopped,” Cyra giggled.

 

Stern felt Cyra get out of bed, so he rolled over to watch her. Trish was instantly pressed into him, watching over his chest, too.

 

Cyra looked back, her face flushing when she saw them. “What?”

 

“We’re just enjoying the sight of our fluffy bunny,” Trish murmured.

 

“Captivating...” Stern murmured.

 

Cyra ducked her head, a smile on her lips. “I’m not that appealing.”

 

“But you are,” Trish said as she climbed over Stern and out of bed, advancing on Cyra. “Both of us think you are.”

 

“She’s right, Cyra,” Stern agreed as he also got out of bed. “I understand. I find it hard to believe you both like the way I look.”

 

“You’re handsome,” Cyra said.

 

“Agreed. He is,” Trish nodded, “and his insecurity is like yours. Both of you are beautiful to me.”

 

A group hug happened with Trish gloriously naked, Stern in his underwear, and Cyra in a lightweight shorts and tank top nightgown set. The three of them just held each other for a few moments, basking in their love for one another.

 

Stern was the first to break the hug, stepping away to grab his clothes. “We should get going.”

 

Both women exchanged a look— they’d felt why Stern walked away. Trish leaned in and whispered to Cyra, who bit her lip, but shook her head slightly. Trish nodded, whispering again before she kissed Cyra’s cheek.

 

Stern felt Cyra’s disappointment and looked over at them. “I don’t know what was said, but I know what I’m feeling. Cyra?”

 

Cyra hunched over some, holding Trish a little tighter. “Trish suggested I try something… with you. I just… I don’t think now is right. Not yet.”

 

Feeling her disappointment spike again, Stern nodded. “Then we’ll wait. As I’ve said before, Cyra, I will wait as long as you need me to.”

 

Trish watched Stern as she held Cyra. “She knows that, as do I. But small hints and suggestions are good to help her consider things a bit more. That’s all I was doing, suggesting an idea.”

 

“I know,” Cyra said. “I want to… I really want to.”

 

“But you’re not ready yet,” Stern said. “And that’s fine. When you are ready, I’ll be here.”

 

Cyra shook, her anger at herself warring with her fear. With a grunt, she pushed away from Trish and spun on Stern, who was standing there with his clothing in hand. Seeing him looking at her with concern, she exhaled and closed the distance to him with strong, sure steps.

 

“Cyra, it’s—” Stern began.

 

Cyra put a finger to his lips, meeting his gaze. “No. I want to. I won’t let anything stop me from being who I want to be. Not even me.”

 

Stern’s brow furrowed as he tried to understand. His eyes went wide when her fingers hooked his underwear and pushed them down, and they nearly bulged out of their sockets when Cyra dropped to her knees. He looked at Trish, who was just as shocked as Stern, but her shock was replaced with a soft smile. Stern let out a gasp of pleasure as Cyra took another step forward for herself.

 

~*~*~

 

“Good morning,” Cammie greeted them when they came out of the bedroom.

 

Trish grinned at Cammie. “It is, indeed.”

 

Both Cyra and Stern were a bit red in the face as they muttered their own greetings.

 

Cammie saw the two of them, then snickered. “Oh, I guess it is for some. Stern, Pawly slept in my room last night. That’s okay, right?”

 

“Uh, sure. We meant to let her in last night, but fell asleep,” Stern said.

 

“I can guess why,” Cammie laughed. “Vulk went to get breakfast for us.”

 

“After breakfast, we’ll gear up and head in,” Trish said. “How did your talk go?”

 

Cammie frowned, then shrugged. “Not sure. He understands, but I’m not sure if he really heard me. We’ll find out if he repeats his actions or not.”

 

“We will,” Trish nodded.

 

“Before we head in, we need to swing by the hall and see if there are any retrieval quests for two shards or less,” Stern said.

 

“Of course,” Trish nodded. “Building our reputation as saviors now is for the best.”

 

“And it’s a good thing to do,” Cyra added.

 

“That, too,” Trish conceded, “but if this is the path we’re taking, it’s best to establish it as a fact now.”

 

“If we’re joining the Rescue Squad, establishing ourselves as willing to use our runs for saving others is a great thing. If we keep going, then at the higher ranks, people might seek us out specifically,” Cammie said.

 

“That does happen,” Stern nodded. “Mostly, though, people just put the quests up through Rescue Squad, but at times, someone does ask for a specific crew. When they do, the pay is almost always higher.”

 

“Okay,” Cyra nodded.

 

“Before we leave the city, I want to spend another couple of days sparring,” Stern said. “Vulk seemed to become more invested in the crew when we did it last time.”

 

“He did enjoy it,” Cammie said. “It can’t hurt to use that as a possible avenue to get him to understand.”

 

“Agreed,” Trish said.

 

“Getting more practice in is always good,” Cyra smiled.

 

The door suddenly opened to admit Vulk and one of the barmaids, and they all jerked around to face the door.

 

Vulk eyed them for a moment before he grunted and carried the tray he had to the table. “Breakfast.”

 

“Thank you,” Trish told him, then looked at the barmaid, “and you, as well, miss.”

 

The woman nodded, setting down her tray of drinks. “Just set the empties outside, please. Enjoy.”

 

They all thanked her as she left before taking their seats at the table.

 

“Did I miss something?” Vulk asked a little tightly.

 

“We were discussing spending a couple of days after the run to get more training in,” Stern said. “I’d like to work on my boxing.”

 

Vulk’s lips twitched up into a smile briefly. “I’m fine with that. You promised to teach me that armbar next time we trained.”

 

“And I’ll gladly do it,” Stern nodded.

 

“That’s tomorrow, though,” Cammie said. “Today, we run.”

 

“Today, we run,” Vulk agreed.

 

~*~*~

 

Geared up, they made it downstairs, finding the inn nearly empty of other customers. They thanked the bartender for the well wishes before trooping outside.

 

“Walkers’ first,” Trish said. “Check on shard quests.”

 

Vulk grunted, turning to the right. The others were a step behind him as he led the way to the hall. Vulk entered the building, but stepped to the side and leaned against the wall.

 

“Stern, you want to go check?” Trish asked.

 

“Sure.”

 

Stern headed over to the thin woman behind the desk. Her furry ears and narrow face made Stern think of a weasel. “Miss, are there any requests for recovery of shards of two parts or less?”

 

“A handful, at least,” the receptionist replied.

 

“I’ll take the one for the longest wait,” Stern said.

 

“Oh. That is a single shard left. If you want to do two, there is another available.”

 

“I’ll take both,” Stern said. “Names?”

 

“Louis Adecer and Amelia Haman.”

 

“Thank you. We’ll bring them back.”

 

The lykian receptionist watched him go with a curious gaze. Her eyes flicked to the others who were waiting for him, her lips pursing as she studied them. Once they left, she pulled her tablet to her and checked who they were.

 

“Pulled out others already? Interesting,” the receptionist murmured.

 

Stern informed his crew about the two shards they were going to pull as they walked around the academy to the dungeon entrance.

 

“Why those two?” Vulk asked.

 

“I requested the ones who’ve been waiting the longest.”

 

Trish’s eyebrow twitched and her expression softened fractionally. “How long?”

 

“I didn’t ask,” Stern replied, glancing back at her. “They’ve waited the longest out of the ones with two or fewer shards left. Today, we end their wait.”

 

“That sentiment... that’s nice,” Cammie said. “I fully endorse this plan.”

 

“As long as we get paid,” Vulk said.

 

Cyra shook her head sadly at Vulk’s back.

 

They came around the corner of the academy and saw dozens of people waiting under some awnings. The majority of them were Walkers, but a handful were selling various items.

 

“Do you need more salve?” one of the merchants called out to Trish. “Don’t go in under-prepared!”

 

“We stocked up yesterday,” Trish said.

 

The man quickly turned toward another group, calling out to them.

 

A gangly young man moved to stand in their way. “Excuse me, do you have room for another?”

 

Trish eyed the man’s badge, then met his eyes. “Perks?”

 

“I am a master of matters arcane,” the man said, trying for mysterious, but failing.

 

Vulk snorted. “Why take a man who isn’t taking himself seriously?”

 

The gangly man looked hurt. “What? I am serious.”

 

“How many times have you failed to find a crew?” Trish asked.

 

“I… uh…” the man stammered.

 

“What’s your name?” Cyra asked with a friendly tone.

 

“Oh, I’m Michael J Hyde Jr,” the man replied to Cyra with a smile.

 

“Mike,” Trish said, “how many times have you been rejected?”

 

“Five or six,” Michael replied, not meeting her eyes.

 

“Dozen?” Cammie asked.

 

Michael’s head jerked up. “How did you know?”

 

“I heard about you in Waterrock,” Cammie said. “The groups coming from here would tell others about you. They all said the same thing: you made them laugh, but they wouldn’t trust you to run with them.”

 

Seeing Michael deflate and feeling the man’s emotions— which had started hopeful and confident— now broken and worthless, Stern sighed. “What are your perks?”

 

“I can cast a few spells, and I can use Dark Beam once a minute,” Michael mumbled.

 

“Once a minute?” Stern asked, intrigued. “Really?”

 

“Yes.” Hope started to seep back into his voice.

 

“You can’t be serious,” Vulk said.

 

“Some people just need a chance,” Stern said. “Chances others don’t give them.”

 

Vulk looked away, thinking of how hard it had been for him and his sister.

 

“It’s your crew,” Trish told Stern.

 

Michael looked on hopefully, his eyes wide and his heart rising.

 

“We have a few rules,” Stern told Michael. “If you agree to them, we’ll take you on for this dungeon, at least.”

 

“Yes! Anything!” Michael blurted.

 

“Okay,” Stern said, “but let me explain them first.”