Ch. 108 – For Me

Rhys’s mind was in a complete whirlwind. His hands mindlessly searched Dione’s curves as they French kissed passionately, tucked away in the back of the empty kitchen while the hired crew served guests out front.

"This isn’t right..." Rhys gasped out between kisses, his heart hammering against his ribs. "Why... why am I so drawn to you right now?"

Dione pressed soft, hungry kisses down his neck as she explained. "My sweet Rhys... long ago, I tried to tell you that my people possess a ancient, divine bond that triggers once in a lifetime. When my heart chose you, it forced my body into its absolute apex form—and in return, it grants my chosen mate an unknown, limitless evolution of their own power."

Rhys felt his corrupted energy roaring in his chest to meet her aura. "I thought you were just saying you thought I was your soulmate or something!"

Dione pulled back slightly, looking up at him with hurt shining in her luminous eyes. "I have been trying to tell you for so long now, my love! It isn't some cosmic fairy tale wish—it is a physical, undeniable need for my body to be with yours!"

Rhys stood frozen as the dark figure of Omen appeared beside them, grinning wildly. I told you, the phantom boasted, proudly pounding its shadowy chest. She was here for ME.

Ah, shit... I remember now, Rhys thought grimly. She WAS trying to explain this mystical soul-evolution stuff to me that night she broke into my house! But in my defense, she was acting completely mangy and unhinged.

"So... you weren't lying then?" Rhys asked out loud, seeking confirmation. "That's why my body is pulling toward you like gravity?"

Dione beamed at his admission. "So you feel it too, my love!" she purred, wrapping her arms around him to pull him into another deep, dizzying French kiss.

Rhys got completely lost in the sensation for what felt like eternity before forcing himself to pull away. "We still can't do this right now! I have a ballroom full of hungry people to feed!"

Right on cue, a loud, sharp ring echoed from the service counter connecting the kitchen to the ballroom floor.

"See? I gotta go," Rhys declared, trying to step past her.

Don't you dare take this away from me now! the phantom snarled, blocking his path. Rhys simply marched right through the shadowy mist.

Dione followed right on his heels. "Rhys, the bond is almost complete! You feel it burning in your chest! We can both evolve into our true, ultimate selves tonight—if you just stop running away and accept me!"

Rhys kept walking toward the bar, refusing to look back as his mind finally anchored onto the one thing holding his soul together. I need to see her... my one true love. I already have a soulmate, Dione, and her name is Lira. I don't care if our bodies are some mystical lock-and-key, or if my broken power is drawn to you—I only have eyes for my wife.

Behind him, Dione let out an audible, heartbreaking gasp, as if struck physically by his words.

Unfortunately for Rhys, the person waiting at the service counter wasn't one of his servers—it was Vespera. She was leaning against the polished wood, holding a massive glass that definitely wasn't on the venue's standard menu.

"I just wanted to see what, exactly, was cooking back here," Vespera purred with a wicked grin.

"Well, that would be nothing if you keep staying in my face to distract me," Rhys snapped, leaning over the counter.

Vespera put on a dramatic, defensive pout. "So touchy! Are you mad because I wouldn't tell you my little secret earlier?"

"I don't care about your little secret or whatever twisted scheme you have, Vespera," Rhys declared exhausted. "I'm actually trying to make something real out of this travesty you brought upon my life."

Vespera offered him a soft, disturbingly tender smile, taking a long sip of her drink. "I actually have two juicy secrets to spill," she said, holding up a peace sign. "And truthfully, Rhys... I want nothing more than for you to succeed tonight. I don't know if you've misunderstood me all along, but I love this side of you just as much as I love Omen."

Rhys’s heart did a sudden, traitorous backflip in his chest. Hey! Stop that! he chastised his own traitorous pulse.

"I don't believe you," Rhys lied sternly.

Vespera scrunched her brow in play-annoyance. "That's fine, keep saying you don't."

Before Rhys could respond, he felt Dione’s soft, familiar hands sneak up behind him, reaching around his waist to unbuckle his belt. Aw, shit... I got bamboozled again! I let my guard down!

Vespera took another long sip, watching his eyes widen. "I'll keep telling you as many times as you need to hear it, lover... and I'll keep waking you up to YOUR truth."

"My truth?!" Rhys choked out.

And then he felt it—the warm, wet sensation of Dione dropping to her knees behind the counter, taking him effortlessly into her mouth. She gripped his waist tightly, her throat rhythmically moving as she worked below the sightline of the ballroom.

Rhys shuddered, gripping the wooden edge of the bar to keep his knees from buckling.

The dark figure of Omen reappeared right beside Vespera, while Vespera giggled with pure, unadulterated glee at Rhys's helpless expression. "I just love seeing you get to be happy... exactly like this, Rhys," she hummed.

Dione kept going below, her throat tingling with divine energy as her muscles tightened, sending shockwaves of power swirling through Rhys's core.

Sometimes one has to make the right decision for ALL, the dark figure declared, leaning over the counter next to Vespera. You used to be able to make the hard calls, Rhys... but now, I’ll do it for us. For ME.

"You selfish bastard..." Rhys growled through gritted teeth, his mind spinning as Dione picked up her pace below, her expert movements pushing him toward the edge.

Vespera let out a rare, sheepish laugh. "Maybe I am selfish! But tell me, is it really so wrong to want to see a magnificent beast let out of its cage to roam free?"

Rhys glared at Omen, his breath catching as Dione tightened her grip on his hips. "So that's all I am to you two? Just a tired beast you want to see go berserk?!"

Dione moved even faster below, as if fueled by the chaos. Rhys let out an involuntary, muffled moan, making Vespera purr with delight.

"That just proves my point, lover," Vespera laughed, finishing off her tall drink. "You are truly MADE for this. It is in your nature! I'll see you later, my love... after you 'cook yourself' back here for a while. I can't wait to see what comes out of that kitchen."

She flashed him a devilish smirk, stepping back toward the crowd. "Oh, and I'll share my little secrets with you... if that wretched wife of yours ever actually shows up."

The mention of Lira sent a agonizing jolt through Rhys's heart. He wished with every fiber of his being for Lira to walk through the front doors right now and save him from this nightmare.

That’s the problem... you don’t even know what you want out of this world anymore, Omen whispered, leaning in close from the bar top. Just trust me and take hold of the unknown... like we used to.

Rhys clung to his sanity by a thread, his chest hammering as Dione’s divine bond magic surged through his veins.

Then, snapping him back to reality, a small, familiar set of fiery horns bobbed up over the edge of the bar crowd. It was Ging, the short tiefling husband of Seraphina—and he was heading straight for the service counter.