Primordial Villain With A Slave Harem

Orianna's voice sounded from Vex's communication artifact. "I've received word from the heads. You're to report your findings to as many beastkin leaders as possible. The Vesper Consortium is willing to support the disposition of the tyrant lionkin and assist in removing the meddling parties of the Covenant of Eternity."

It wasn't hard to decipher the thoughts of the seven circle heads. Up until now, we were only here to gain the assistance of the beastkin when we went to war with the Greenvales. However, now, their rival syndicate's meddling was revealed. Whatever the plan of the Covenant was, the Consortium couldn't just give them free rein to do as they pleased. They had to be stopped.

"Roger! Big sis, hear this! I'm sitting in the lap of my future hubby! And he's buck naked! Kyaaa! I can't believe this is truly happening!" Vex squealed all of a sudden, shocking us greatly. She was very nonchalant about it thus far, but perhaps we just weren't the right people to share her excitement with. Orianna had known her for a very long while, their bond must've run deep.

To Vex, we were inexperienced youngsters, while Orianna was something like her best friend, or if using her terminology, big sister. As such, it made sense why she acted vastly differently with us.

Dead silence welcomed her revelation, the pink-haired elder disciple did not utter a single word. This didn't seem to bother the chirpy woman sitting in my lap, it seemed she was in a girly gossiping mood, best evidenced by her glancing back at me for a moment before her lips turned downward as she brooded; "But big sis! I'm sitting right on top of his member in nothing but skimpy garments! Then why is he still limp?! Am I not attractive enough? I heard men can't control themselves when the love of their lives undresses for the first time in front of their very eyes!"

She then gasped before leaning closer to the artifact and whispering, "Do you think he doesn't love me?!"

The only reply she received from Orianna was the communication line's termination.

"Aww! Big sis must've gotten embarrassed…" She giggled at her misguided findings while leaning back into my chest.

"For the record, I've been desperately fighting against popping a boner all this while. I thought you would flip out if I did."

"Good decision, future hubby. It seems you have good survival instincts."

"Didn't you just whine like a pampered brat due to not feeling it?" Iris called out this bipolar granny on her bullshit.

"I never did that."

"But-" Lyra was cut off.

"I never did that."

"…" Silence descended on our little group, save for the distant chirping of the maids down below.

"You heard big sis' words. We should get ready to leave."

"Wait, my soul hasn't completely healed yet from your sadistic act committed against me."

"I even apologized for it, but I can't help but wonder if I should be blamed for it in the first place. Didn't you drink it of your own volition? We didn't even place bets…"

I didn't like what I was hearing. "Just a bit more and my soul will be brimming with newfound joy and purpose."

She glanced into my eyes for a short bit before sighing dejectedly. "I'm just too accommodating of a woman, I find it hard to say no when my future hubby is looking at me with such desperate begging puppy eyes… Fine, but-"

"No touching the no-no places," I finished for her merrily, and instantly got to work.

My fingers traced the delicate curves of Vex's body, mapping the ink that told her story. She hummed softly as I ran my fingertips along her thigh, following the cursed chains that climbed her legs like writhing serpents.

"There must be a story behind these, correct?" I murmured, watching her expression shift into cute giggles.

"Hehe! Stalling for time, are we?"

"… I wouldn't dare."

"Sure you wouldn't…" having decreed her complete disbelief of my claims, she tilted her head to the side, watching my fingers and palm caress her skin. She then rested her hand on my wrist, pressing my palm against the inked shackles. "These are a reminder that I'm not a free woman. Until I repay my debt to Black Fang, I belong to her."

I traced one of the links while murmuring, "So that's how it is…"

Vex nodded. "I might joke around about her being a bit messed up in the head or her being an old fossil—claims that are most certainly true—but not only did that woman save my life when she killed the lionkin massacring my village, she even elevated me. If it wasn't for her, I would've just been an ordinary farm girl who had long since been lying dead in a cemetery after growing old and wrinkly. Instead, I'm Vex the Hexblade, a woman whose mere mention instills deep-rooted fear in my enemies and respect in my allies. Instead of having fallen victim to the cruel passage of time more than a century ago, my tale has only just begun."

She exhaled softly while tilting her head back against my shoulder. "So, until the day I can look her in the eyes and say my debt is repaid, these chains stay."

Gaining an understanding of the story behind her first ink, I let my touch wander higher, sliding over her stomach before following the bloody paw prints leading up to her arms. She tensed beneath my fingertips as the atmosphere shifted. One thing was for certain—these weren't decorative pieces.

I didn't need to ask for clarification this time around. My fingers stopped just below her shoulders where the grisly flayed remains of her enemies were permanently etched into her skin, depicting the misery she wished all of them to live through before succumbing to death.

Despite not being asked, she offered an explanation anyhow. Her voice was much colder this time. "A blood debt. I'm aware of my hypocrisy; only a small portion of lionkin are responsible for my family's butchering, and it easily could've been tigerkin, wolfkin, or any other carnivorous predator beastkin subrace who did this. Yet I can't stand the mere thought of the lionkin existing. I'm a superficial woman."