Hot Blooded Obsession

Chapter: 2 The Curious Slave

The Mercenary Kael POV:



I'd stayed in this Kingdom longer than I intended, for one reason alone: to steal that maiden w***e. "Damn it!" I fumed, realizing I hadn't even learned her name; I'd been too angry and distracted.

I don't typically linger in a Kingdom unless a mission demands close contact with my target. I prefer the wilds. Beasts don't frighten me, as I am one myself. My true form is that of a large, hot-blooded beast, though I'm neither werewolf nor orc. I hail from Khoros, a rare and fearsome kind known as the Khoriqs'. Most of us don't survive birth due to the harsh conditions of our homeland, even with our naturally formidable forms. There aren't many of us left, and females are even rarer; I haven't seen one in a millennia. We're ageless, nearly indestructible. I know no kin, having been left in a large bough tree after my birth.

My shifted form is eight feet of raw power: massive limbs, razor teeth, and sharp claws. My hair lengthens, and my eyes become a swirling kaleidoscope of colors, designed to freeze my prey before I move in for the kill. I wield countless other abilities, some almost forgotten, as I rarely need to fully transform. Most enemies fall before this form alone. We, my kind, either choose isolated lives, fearing our own unchecked savagery, or become mercenaries. I refused solitude; I craved the freedom to go anywhere, to amass wealth, and to revel in worldly delights. I wanted to feel human! While others saw me as a fearsome dragon or a god, I longed for a warm touch, but one strong enough to endure my ferocity. The many pleasure women I sought out always cowered, unable to meet my boundless stamina or the deep hunger of my lust.

Tonight, I lay in The Flickering Flame & Flagon inn, in the heart of the Kingdom, trying to talk myself out of stealing that maiden with an unusual aura. I was no saint, but I'd worked hard to make a name for myself. If I stole her, what kind of trouble would I face? A bounty? That would be truly troublesome, I thought, staring at the ceiling, hands behind my head. The grunts and moans of pleasure from the next room irked me; that could have been me! I growled lowly. "I'm going to get her. I'll worry about that greedy slave master later."

I gathered my things and headed out. As I quietly descended the steps toward the exit, a young man stopped me. "You're leaving already, my good sir?" "Was your room not to your liking?" he asked.

"It was fine, human," I replied, flicking him a coin. "I have an arrangement and must be off." I stalked toward the brothel.

"Very good, sir!" he said, pleased with the tip.

Stop calling people human, Kael, you look human, I chided myself internally. I pulled my cloak securely around me, ensuring the hood stayed down, and made my way to my horse. Rousing him from sleep, I secured my weapons and bag, then led him to an area near a Kingdom exit, tying his reins to a post. "All I need is my dagger," I muttered lowly. "Hopefully no blood will be spilled."

I made my way to The Whispering Nook Brothel, trying to find a way inside without being seen. This place never slept, and I'd already shown my face, so sneaking in was impossible. I circled around, peeking through a window, and there she was—the strange woman with the antlers. "That will be 500 coin," I heard her tell someone sitting in front of her. "Yes, my lady, here," he said eagerly. That's odd. Why would someone pay so much?! I thought, surprised. I had only planned to offer 100... 500 was enough to buy land!

She secured the coin in her box, then returned to the man, extending her hands again. I watched, curious. He reached into his clothes and produced a bottle of liquid. She gripped it, closing her eyes. He stared on expectantly, an awestruck expression on his face. The air hummed around her, her antlers began to glow, and symbols and whispers hovered around her. The bottle also changed colors as she held it.

The lights finally faded, and her antlers retracted into her scalp. "Here," she said, returning the bottle to the man. He carefully took it, attempting to drink it, but she halted him. "Do not drink it yet!" "Wait until you are at your home," she warned, and he nodded frantically. "Of course! Whatever you say, maiden, thank you! Thank you for this!" he exclaimed happily. "I had nowhere else to go!" "You have saved me," he added, close to tears.

"Well, well, well, the beautiful antler maiden has powers of some sort... a witch? Sorceress? Hmm."

I ducked as I saw her stand up and walk out. "I guess she really does other services besides warming her bed." I hid behind large wooden crates. She stood outside, taking deep breaths, sweating and panting from the exertion of the power she'd used. "That should be enough money to finally leave this filthy place and find that man!" "I need to know how to get the f**k out of here!" she heavily exhaled. I looked at her oddly. "Her speech is strange," I mused.

I quickly moved before she could re-enter, grasping her wrist. "Ack!" she cried, surprised. "Ah!" "Let go of me!" She thrashed, hitting my chest and face. "I said let me go!" "Get away!" she screamed.

"Quiet!" I snapped, pulling down my cloak hood. She stopped thrashing and stared at me. "You...! That Khoriq! The one who thinks he can just strip me and purchase me. Let me go!" she seethed.

I looked at her, curious. No one had ever shown such boldness; fear was always the reaction once I was known. "I will not," was all I managed, my lips curving slightly. This one is…interesting.

"You will! Guards! HELP!" she shrieked, and I instantly looked around, still gripping her wrist. I saw no one. Then she screamed as loudly as she could for rescue. Five large men and one woman emerged from the brothel: two human mercenaries, a werewolf, a barbarian woman, and a dark elf.

"Help!" "Get this guy off of me," she pleaded. The mercenaries eyed me fearfully.

"What's the matter, Kael?" "What are you doing?" I saw they intended a diplomatic approach.

"I wish to purchase this s*x slave," I stated nonchalantly.

"She is not for sale; she works here to help with impotencies. She is not a s*x slave. Please release her, Kael. There are others I can show you, a better place if this isn't to your liking."

I glared at him, pulling her closer. "No," I grumbled.

He looked from me to her. "Very well, take her."

She looked at him, shocked. "W-what! You were hired to protect me!"

The Orc (Throg) approached. "Unhand her, human!" he growled, advancing with a large weapon.

"I wouldn't do that, Throg," one of the mercenaries cautioned.

"Yeah? And why not!" he snarled back.

"Because he is a Khoriq."

Throg's confident smirk faltered. "Oh..." he breathed, taken aback. "I've never seen one... he looks human." His tone conveyed skepticism.

"Don't be fooled," the barbarian woman interjected. "I can smell it on him; he is unequivocally not human. She's yours, Kael. Gideon will be told she fled." My eyes narrowed as I carefully assessed each of them. "I'll... be going then," I stated softly, retreating and pulling her with me.

"W-wait! No! At least let me retrieve my money—that was 500 coins!!!" she shrieked.

"That's your payment; leave it!" I commanded, navigating through alleyways to avoid drawing attention, making my way to my waiting steed.

"You beast! You monster!" she screamed, thrashing. Her nails raked my face, leaving long, red, bleeding gouges. She stopped, panting, her eyes wide. I fought to control my rising fury, breathing heavily, jaw clenched. Slowly, I lifted my gaze from the stinging marks. The moment my eyes met hers, my face completely healed, and my eyes flared with shifting colors, instantly paralyzing her.

She went limp, and I caught her. I hoisted her onto my steed, then mounted behind her. Wrapping my cloak around us to secure her, I vanished into the dark, forested night.