The Heartstone Saga, Archibald Bradford [the snowy day read aloud TXT] 📗

get cocky just cuz she let you borrow her shield, eh kid? Come on girls, let’s go and say hi to our new friend Leland.”

Before they left however there was a commotion to one said as a man came stumbling out of the side entrance of the building: he was desperately trying to pull his pants up but his efforts were greatly hindered by a very angry Katje wrapped around his head and shoulders.

“There is no fucking way I would let you do that to me you nasty piece of shit!”

Neru’s jaw dropped even as the half-naked pervert collapsed underneath the weight of the enraged cat while a Minotaur wearing a wide-brimmed hat directed a long black spear at him to ensure he didn’t get up again.

Miranda raised her eyebrow and gave Nameless a pointed look, before shaking her head and moving into the building, her bond-mates smirking at her side.

Neru’s rescuer coughed nervously and looked a little embarrassed while she watched the whole exchange with wide eyes.

He shook off his discomfort quickly though.

“Come on, there’s some people I want you to meet.”

“Wh-who?”

He smiled at her and she noticed his eyes were brown again.

“My friends.”

With that he brushed past several wild looking Amazons, more than one of which nodded their heads and murmured respectful greetings at him.

“What does that word mean, Valkyrja...datta?”

He heaved a sigh.

“It means I did something really stupid once.”

“Perhaps, but if you hadn’t than at least two of us would not be here.”

A gloriously armoured woman stalked out from the middle of the hastily erected tents that the Aegis had set up as temporary housing for the rescued girls; at least twenty monsters were being guided into them by various Aegis operatives.

But Neru hardly noticed as her eyes boggled at the impossibility of the angel standing before her.

Nameless fought down a smirk at the poor cat’s reaction.

“Yeah, that’s the usual response. Neru this is Volka, my wife.” As he spoke he handed the armoured woman the shield; “Thanks for the backup, it worked like a charm.”

“That’s because it was a charm, a simple protection spell, powered by our bond and meant to return any blow fourfold.” The golden being turned from him to face the thunderstruck Katje in his arms; “Hello Neru, I am glad to see that my shield kept you both safe this night.”

“But all the Valkyrie are gone!” The cat blurted, then winced and swallowed; “Sorry.”

Volka’s face twisted into a mockery of surprise.

“What?! Where did they go? Nobody told ME we were leaving!”

Nameless rolled his eyes as his bond-mate cursed out her long dead kin and waved her arms about dramatically for a few moments.

Almost as if she were attempting to dispel the expression of awe from the Katje’s face.

It didn’t work, instead the younger monster found herself confronted with an angel who seemed just slightly touched in the head.

Volka eventually gave up her little game and chuckled at the continued pole-axed look on Neru’s face.

“Yes, my sisters are all gone, but they will return one day. Perhaps someday soon, if my husband gives me a daughter, eh? We do have a fantastic amount of sex.”

She nudged at Nameless, whose cheeks turned a little pink.

A moment later she took a golden feather and with practiced movements rebraided it into the hair hanging down the side of his face.

Having gotten over her shock, the Katje soon picked up that the jovial atmosphere between the two of them was forced.

They were playing it up for her benefit, presumably to help keep her calm.

Neru was still puzzling over it when a tiny red skinned girl wielding a giant hammer stomped up to them and abruptly grabbed Nameless by the groin and gave a healthy squeeze.

“Hey babe, what took you so long?”

“I was waiting for you.” He bent down and kissed her upturned lips by way of greeting.

She sniffed.

“Volka wouldn’t let me storm the place, something about wanting to take the fuckers alive.”

“I do believe that is how our justice system works.”

“Meh.” Nina shrugged; “My way is quicker.”

The dazed Katje continued to watch on as the tiny girl snapped a silver bangle around his wrist, her ruby red heartstone set in its ornate surface.

Together with Volka and Nina, Nameless walked Neru into one of the tents, the young monster girl still trying to come to grips with her newfound freedom and the bizarre collection of monster girls around her that had made it possible.

“And this is where I leave you.” He quickly moved to reassure her as her mouth fell open: “Don’t worry, this is Ophelia. She’s going to look after you until we get our marching orders. I’ll check in on you later, for now I have to deliver my report.”

Neru swallowed her objections as she took in the Flutterby with the black trimmed violet wings and kindly smile.

“Hello dearheart. Let’s get you comfortable for now. Are you hurt anywhere? Any cuts or bruises I should know about?”

She shook her head as she was guided inside and directed onto a cot.

“That’s good to know, and how about… this?”

The Flutterby known as Ophelia reached out and delicately stroked her hand over the Katje’s tattered ear, her fingers tracing her hair back so that her blinded eye was exposed.

The younger monster’s first instinct was to flinch away, but the canny woman sensed it and began to massage her ear instead.

It felt… nice, and Neru couldn’t help but start to purr, if only faintly.

“Um, it’s fine, it happened a long time ago.”

The mature woman settled on the cot beside her and put one arm over her shoulders.

“Dearheart, it is many things, and fine definitely isn’t one of them. But we can talk about all of that later, for