I knew from the look in their eyes that Radiata and Hisoka were voracious, filled with exactly the kind of lust that had driven me to summon a succubus. And I also knew what that meant for me.
They were the level of horny you only hit when you hadn't gotten any in years, and here I was, offering myself up to them.
So I guess, what I'm saying is…
"Ah~! Ahh~! Hisoka~! Radiata~!"
I shouldn't have been surprised when they really went for it.
"Mmpha~! Fuck…" I groaned, as Hisoka, who'd made herself at home between my thighs, absolutely devoured me, lapping up my juices like it was water in the desert. She was such a gentle, loving girl, but I could tell her thirst was getting the better of her, taking away any instinct she might've had to ease up as she licked and sucked at me with all the force her powerful body could muster.
"Hisoka…" I moaned, twitching and shuddering in her embrace. I wasn't small by any measure, but now I felt absolutely tiny, like I was just a mewling kitten in her arms.
Hisoka continued to lick as I let out moan after gasp after desperate, needy squeak. Yet soon, she looked up into my eyes, showing me a cool, powerful gaze that told me just how deeply I could trust her. No matter how hungry she might've been, no matter how much yearning fueled her every action, my pleasure came first to her, and she'd do everything she could to make me feel incredible.
Of course, her coolness was undercut slightly by the soft downy feathers—the closest thing this body had to pubes—between her pursed lips, but when you're as messy an eater as she is, well…
It made me dizzy to see, I'll say that much.
Yet as I stared down at her toned, stunning figure between my legs, a soft, playful chuckle sounded out, and a chitinous leg pulled my vision towards a certain maid with a smirk on her face and a menacing look in her eye.
"Did Senpai forget about me? How sad…" she pouted, adopting Yamada's usual monotone as her hand caressed my cheek.
"I-I could never!" I cried. "I think about you constantly…"
"It's not enough," she said, before pulling my head towards her and kissing me deeply, her tongue dancing around my mouth with all the precision of a professional maid.
Or, judging by the way her arachnid legs pressed into me as sharply as daggers as they ran down the curve of my waist, a professional killer…
Either way, I was more than ready to be swallowed up by both.
"You can't just think about me," she said, pulling back and licking up the thin band of saliva that stretched between us as she reverted to her usual haughty, harsh tone. "You need to feel the true depth of my love, it needs to be engraved into you…" she chuckled, slowly kissing her way down to the nape of my neck. "After all, you're my prey, and I've waited so very long to devour you…"
Before I could ask what she meant, I felt her sharp fangs clamp down on my neck, piercing right through my skin.
"Ah~!" I cried, my body wracked with pain, pleasure, and everything between. It hurt, it really did. I felt her venom coursing through me, rushing through every part of my being, just as it had when she first revealed her true form to me. And yet, I loved it. Of course I loved it. How could I not? Her love, in its purest, and most painful form, was sinking into my soul itself, staining it in her colors. It didn't matter what body I was in, I was becoming hers. My soul would always recognize her as one of my owners.
She reached a hand up to my breast, caressing it lovingly as she continued to bite at me. Her venom had knocked me out before, but I knew that wouldn't happen here. Much as I hated to admit it, in this body, I was truly perfect prey. She could bite as much as she want, make it sting, make it hurt, and I would never, ever break.
I made a declaration then, a silent promise that even when I returned to my own body, I'd work hard to never let her venom kill me. I wanted her to prey on me til the end of time itself. I wanted her to shower me in her love, no matter how painful and messy it might be. Her devotion was well and truly unmatched, and I had to show her just how much that meant to me.
I would become world-class meat. A three-star bratty meal that existed solely to be devoured.
God, that sent a chill down my spine. Her venom made everything a thousand times more intense, and I couldn't get enough.
"Here you go, Rina," came Hisoka's cool, low voice as she rose up from between my thighs. The instant she did, Radiata reached down to start eagerly fingering me, taking any chance she could get to show me all her love.
Yet my eyes were transfixed on Hisoka, who looked at me with such a handsome smile that I felt about ready to melt. My body was around my real age, but for a moment, I swear teen brain was taking over, turning me giggly and shy around such a gorgeous hunk.
"You gave me plenty, and I've still not had my fill," she chuckled coolly. "But it's no good to just take, I need to give, too."
With that, she pinned me down from above, her immense boobs dangling mere inches from my face. They were so big, so full, so fat, that I couldn't resist reaching up to touch them.
!!!!
Holy shit, Hisoka!
And the second I did, I was greeted by one of the most wonderful sensations anyone had ever had the privilege of experiencing. Her boobs, each bigger than my head, were heavy, filled with the weight of a woman who's very body may well have been carved out of stone, yet with such a wonderful underlying softness that I was hooked the moment I grasped them. It felt like the gentle, tender embrace of a weighted blanket, making me feel safe and loved.
"Ahaha, glad you approve," Hisoka chuckled, before pulling me into her arms.
In an instant, I was swallowed up by her titties, buried so deep in her cleavage that I could hardly breathe, all while Radiata continued to finger and gnaw at me. My mind and body were pulled in so many different directions, torn between such wildly distinct, yet equally wonderful sensations that I felt ready to explode from it all. I knew I'd already come. I'd stained the king's fancy, pristine sheets in my juices so deeply that it'd never wash out. This bed would always be testament to just how horny these two made me.
But I kept going. We'd all keep going for a long while still. This body could take anything, so no matter how many times I came, no matter how deeply exhausted I became after finally fucking for the first time in what felt like eternity, I'd indulge in this until every one of us was satisfied. Without even thinking about it, I moved my talon around Hisoka's thigh, and clamped down on it firmly, refusing to let her go. I needed her far, far too bad not to hold on tight. I was a desperate little birdie, chirping and begging for her to take care of me.
"You're so sweet…" Hisoka smiled, as she gently placed a hand beneath me, and began to knead and caress my plump buttcheeks. "Kind, caring, and strong. No wonder we fell for you…"
"Nnph…" I squeaked, nearly crying with joy at how tender and loving her embrace was.
"Such a hard working puppy. You've been so tired lately, haven't you? So worn down… But that's alright, I'll get rid of your stress. Let me take everything that's been weighing you down off your shoulders, OK?"
"Mhmmm…" I softly murmured. I must've sounded completely pathetic, but I didn't care. I couldn't care. In Hisoka's embrace, I was truly at peace. This was heaven for mutts.
Well, at least until a sharp bite at my neck reminded me where I really was.
"Mmh~!!"
Was…Radiata feeling a little jealous? Did she feel left out? Her bite felt a little less assured, now, as though she were pouting cutely as she died.
Cuuuute…
Mustering all the strength that Radiata hadn't drained from me, I wrapped an arm around her and gently pet her hair, telling her to take as much from me as she wanted.
But instead, she pulled her fangs out and chuckled to herself. Without freeing me from her bosom, Hisoka scooched over, and I soon felt a pair of wet, sticky lips pressing against my pussy.
"I might be hungry, but I'm far from greedy," Radiata smiled. "And I know far better than to let such delicious meat go to waste. I'll savor you, let you grow ever more delicious, and all the while, I'll take bite after bite after bite," she cooed, running a finger down the length of my scaled legs. "You're a delicacy, senpai."
I couldn't have let out a more pathetic whine if I tried. God, fuck, she knew exactly what to say. Nobody had ever treated me quite like this, but in no time at all, she'd made me completely addicted to her.
But that was for the best, after all, she was clearly addicted to me. Couldn't imagine a prouder achievement for a loser mutt!
Mm, that's right! You'll never find a better piece of meat than meeEE~!
"NNH~!!" I moaned, as she started grinding up against me, putting so much power into it that it left me nearly as breathless as the venom running through my veins.
Fuck, fu~ck!
It was just grinding, I'd done this with countless girls, but with her killer precision, it was as though her every single movement had been carefully planned to stimulate me more strongly than anyone ever had before, like my nerve endings were just tools at her disposal, flaring up with every wonderful feeling she wanted me to feel. And the very instant I felt as though I was getting used to it, Hisoka plunged a finger inside my butthole, absolutely stuffing me full.
Separately, these two were incredible. I could be alone with either of them and surely have my mind completely blown.
But that wasn't what I was dealing with here, no. They were working together, and not even an immortal temporary king could withstand their combined might. I was hopeless up against them.
And fuck, I loved it.
"Mmphua~!" I moaned, pulling my head free of Hisoka's cleavage, though my mind didn't stop swimming in her scent for even a second.
"Look at that, Hisoka, see the way she's bucking? Senpai's always been so eager to please…" Radiata said, smirking as the two reached out to one another, and shared a loving, passionate kiss.
Ohh fuck, these two are so sexy…
I wanted to watch them go at it forever. I'd be satisfied just being a voyeur, watching from the closet while they fucked, but I pulled my brain together just enough to pick up on what Radiata had said.
Wait, I didn't even notice! Was I really buckINGHhh?!
"Fhuaa~!!" I cried, as she slammed her lips roughly against my own. I hadn't been trying to do anything like that, but I understood immediately that she wasn't lying. Despite having not been a loser dog in so long, my body remembered exactly what a needy, desperate bitch like me would do in a situation like this: buck my hips wildly, hoping that my efforts might see me rewarded by getting fucked that much harder, something Radiata was all too willing to oblige.
"Such a dedicated lover, so determined to make us feel good…" Hisoka said, coolly smiling down at me. "But that's our job right now, silly."
Not a moment later, she began to kiss me deeply, filling me with my very own taste, still heavy on her lips, made all the more delicious by the passion and strength she so confidently showed me.
Oh my god…
Yet my attempts to kiss her back were messy, to say the least. It was impossible to focus on technique while Radiata was grinding against me so intensely, making my body jerk wildly as I flailed around in a pathetic attempt to try and show them even a hundredth of the pleasure they'd given me.
But maybe, in that tryhard way, I was completely successful. They seemed to love the effort I was putting in, no matter how short of success I fell. They both chuckled, and redoubled their own efforts, making me squirm and writhe that much harder.
You girls…
I could cry. If there'd been any doubt that it was really me they loved and not the king I appeared to be, it had been completely wiped away in that instant. They wanted a pathetic, needy mutt, and that was exactly what they were getting.
And when I thought about it that way, it was hard to not let out a happy, dopey little bark.
"Wan wahhn~!"
Well, a half-bark half-moan, but was there any surer sign that I was truly satisfied?
Hisoka, cool as ever, cupped my cheek and smiled softly, uttering the words every mutt wants to hear.
"That's right, you're our good girl."
"WahHN~!!" I barked again, as I squirted like crazy, my juices gushing out and splashing against Radiata's thighs.
"Such a dirty, needy little slut. Just imagine what everyone at work would think if they saw you, Senpai," Radiata softly chuckled, wiping her inner thigh with her thumb, before licking it and letting out a deeply pleased sigh. "I'm a generous owner though, I'll share you with anyone who wants a taste."
Fu~ck, Radiata…
"Isn't she a lucky girl?" Hisoka asked, leaning down to nibble on my nipples, teasing and tugging on them with her teeth. I missed my nipple rings so badly, but Hisoka showed that she hardly needed them to have a good time. "No matter where you go, you'll always have someone there to hold your leash, to remind you that we'll always protect you."
"And always put you in your place," Radiata teased, grinding against me harshly.
"Wahn~!"
"So bark loud for us, OK? Let us know what a happy doggie you are."
"And what a deeply shameful bitch you've always been…"
Nnn~! Fuck, you two are so good…
"And don't you worry," Hisoka smiled down at me confidently. In the blink of an eye, the gentle, wonderfully heavy weight that had pressed down on me completely vanished, and I found myself holding a small, cuddly, adorably curvy little cutie. "No matter what size, I'll always be right by your side!"
Hisoka's grin was so, so precious, and yet it bore every bit of the confidence and strength that has always drawn me to her. Her eyes burned with endless passion, and she tightly hugged me, pulling me into a very loving kiss. God, she felt incredible. I was far bigger than her, but it was all-too clear who was really in charge here. As gently as I could with Radiata railing the shit out of me, I reached an arm around her and gave her cushy butt a firm squeeze, determined to let her know just how much I appreciate every part of her, no matter what form she took.
"Ehehe, good girl," Hisoka giggled, reaching up to pet my hair and scritch my ears, her gentle, loving treatment absolutely destroying me in the face of Radiata's harsh, brutally effective slamfucking. "Let's give you a treat, huh?"
"A treEAT~?!" I yelped, as Radiata moved back between my legs and chomped down on my thigh.
"Mm, one every bit as delicious as you," Radiata said, smiling as she pulled her fangs out and teasingly licked her lips. "So eat up, dear, " she said, only to dive right back down, biting her way over the curve of my hips, making it clear that every inch of me was meat to her.
"Wh-what are…" I breathed, too winded and worn, and frankly blissful to speak properly. "What do you mea-mmph?!" I tried to ask, before Hisoka wriggled out of my arms, picked herself up, and sat right down on my face, pushing my mouth right up against her dripping lips.
"We just want you to have a full meal," Hisoka giggled, slowly grinding her pussy against me. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck, it was killing me. Her scent, her taste, her soft, supple skin, the way her cushy thighs wrapped around my head…
All of it was absolutely eviscerating me. I kept calling little Hisoka cute, acting like she was some kind of child when she was anything but.
But I got it now. Big or small, she was so fucking sexy it made me want to weep, and now, she was urging me to partake in her juices.
Fuck me, Hisoka…
"So sit still and enjoy, mutt," Radiata ordered, before webs shot out and wrapped around my wrists, tying them together and forcing me into a doggie begging pose, unable to do anything but lie there as both girls flooded my mind, body, and soul in their love.
Though I hardly needed Radiata's command. Hisoka's scent was making me dizzy, and that made it all too easy to let my desires run rampant, and lap at her tight, tasty pussy. She squirmed, she shook, she moaned and squeaked as my tongue lashed out at her, but she held firm all the same. A truly dedicated guard, through and through. I had to reward her, so I eagerly teased her clit, flicking it with my tongue as vigorously as I can. Fuck, all flustered sounds she let out were like music to my ears, I could listen to that all dAY~!
"MmmmPH~!!!"
I wasn't prepared for just how hard Radiata would go, feeling like my mind was tearing itself in two as she bit at my thighs while shoving three of her fingers right up inside me, stretching me out and caressing the walls of my pussy so hard that I wasn't sure I could hold on much longer. Fuck, fuck, it felt good. Hisoka's earnest desire to protect me, Radiata's twisted desire to show me her love through pain, it hit just right. I needed them both, I so thoroughly understood that if I parted from them, my life would never be the same again. I don't know how many more girls my apartment can fit, but I'd have to make room for these two.
And I knew, right away, that Haqua and the others would surely welcome them with open arms. For as difficult as these weeks had been, I knew that at the end of this all, so much happiness awaited me. I'd get back to my life as a mutt, and it'd be better than ever before.
And when that thought crossed my mind, when I realized just how many wonderful days lay ahead, I cummed my brains out, screaming and howling with so much desire that if anyone else heard it, it'd destroy whatever regal image Suzume had built up over centuries of rule.
I was at peace. No matter where I went, no matter what body you shoved me into.
I'd always be me. A pathetic, useless, yappy, loser dog.
One who would always be dearly beloved.
❖❖❖
"Sleepy?" Hisoka, who had reverted back to her cooler, bigger form asked, smiling down at me as she gently played with my tailfeathers.
"Mm, a little. Phoenix's don't have a succubus's stamina in bed…" I nodded. "But mostly, I'm just…super fucking happy, ahaha…" I laughed, rubbing my cheeks against Radiata's wonderful boobs.
"Your smile seems so much lighter now. Who knew a mutt like you could be so cute?" Radiata teased, scratching my ear.
"You did," I teased. "You've been soooo down bad for me, Radiata. It's adorable…"
"Cocky, are we?" she laughed, running her fingers over some of the bite marks she'd left on my skin. They'd heal in no time, but they'd never truly leave my soul. I'd always be hers. "Well, I'll allow it tonight. You gave me such a wonderful meal, after all…"
"Grade-A meat, right?"
"And so much more," Hisoka kissed the top of my head, smiling to herself all the while.
I laughed, and rolled onto my back, endlessly grateful to be surrounded by Hisoka and Radiata's boundless warmth.
"Thanks, girls," I smiled to myself. "I…I think I lost sight of a lot of things there, but…you've really helped me out."
"All we did," Radiata said, leaning over me, "was fuck you silly. I hardly think that deserves thanks."
"But if it felt good…" Hisoka muttered, bashfully rubbing the back of her neck.
"No no, you did way more than that," I told them. "I…I've felt alone these past few weeks, y'know? Cut off from everyone and everything I know, and it took what you girls did to remind me that that's never been true. No matter how far I might go from the people I love, they'll always be holding my leash, won't they? Haqua, Mio, Iori, and Rhody, their feelings won't ever fade, not for a second. And when I think about that, I…I don't feel even a little bit alone."
Hisoka and Radita both squeezed my hands, smiling softly at me.
"And now, I've got you two as well. Doesn't matter what body I'm in. If I'm a king or just a common OL, you'll always be watching over me, won't you? Because I'll always watch over you, too."
"Rina…" Hisoka whispered, the slight blush on her handsome face making her look even more lovable.
"I suppose that makes you a guard dog, of sorts," Radiata laughed. "Despite it all, I'm sure that even someone as pathetic as you would give everything to protect us, wouldn't you?"
"Absolutely everything," I nodded. "Because I know that every day'll be that much brighter with you in it, and…well, no matter how many hands start holding my leash, I want to promise you both that I'll love all of you equally."
At that, my cheeks started to burn. Dammit, I'm not meant to try and sound cool.
"Y'know, if I don't get distracted chasing cars or something… W-wan wan!" I half-heartedly barked, trying to reclaim my pathetic throne.
"You're a sweetheart, Rina," Hisoka cooed, wrapping me in a gentle hug.
"...Mm, indeed she is," Radiata concurred, doing the same.
"B-but look," I started, "there's…there's some stuff we've gotta figure out, right?"
"My, who'd have thought you were so quick to get down to brass tacks? I thought you'd want to revel in this warmth forever."
"I fully plan to. C'mon now, look at me," I laughed. "I might look like a king, but I'm a true loser dog, through and through. A hedonist til the end. Everything I'm doing is for pleasure."
"I think you're viewing yourself more than a little unfairly," Hisoka chuckled. "But we all know what you really mean. That's not just your pleasure you're talking about, after all, is it?"
"Ahaha…guilty as charged," I smirked. "Just don't go viewing me too nicely, now."
"Too late," Hisoka laughed.
"You hardly need to tell me twice, Senpai," Radiata chuckled. They made a powerful pair, honestly. Total opposites in so many ways, yet their attitudes complimented each other perfectly, leaving me blissfully straddling the line between heaven and hell. Well, as much as you could with two demons who work directly under the King of Hell, anyway.
But as much as I wanted to luxuriate in this forever and ever, I did need to get serious, at least for a little while.
I had to tell them how I really felt, after all.
"I…I know we've got a long road ahead of us. One day, however far from now it might be, I'm gonna go back to my old body, and with it, the life I've been forced away from. I've gotta get back to my partners, no matter what."
"Right," Hisoka nodded.
"But of course. There's only one rightful king, after all, you can scarcely occupy the throne forever."
"But if that…if it makes you girls love me any less, or- ow!" I gasped, as Radiata flicked my ear. "This is a king's body, Radiata! Be a little more delicate!"
"It's far, far too late for that," Radiata chuckled, running a fingernail over my bite marks. "Besides, you were being stupid, I had to make that clear."
Ohhhh, god, yeah…don't mince words, call me a dumbass! Tell me you feel more pathetic just breathing the same air as me! Kick me, bite me, do everything you want to me and more! Ohhhh wuff wuff wuff~!
-Gwuh?! W-wait, I'm getting off-track here!
It'd been way too long since I had sex. One night of it, and my brain was already mush, wow.
"We'll never love you any less," Hisoka said. "In fact, I'll love you even more when you get to look like you. You looked adorable, Rina… Bratty, too, but that's nothing a little TLC can't help with," she chuckled, blowing into my ear and laughing as I shivered in delight.
"But…I'll be moving really far away, you know? I know that distance won't be easy on anyone, and Radiata, I don't want to get in the way of your crush on Suzume, and-"
"My feelings for My Lord won't fade simply because I have them for you, too. I'm a professional, you know?" she smirked. "In fact, you've redoubled my resolve! I've already made my mark on Lord Suzume's body, so…I suppose I'd best work to make one on her heart, too," she laughed, and gently squeezed my hand. "Things might be different, with you in my life, but…well, I see no reason why that needs to be anything but better…" she bashfully smiled, turning her head away.
Fuck, you're so cute…
"And…maybe it's naive of me to say this," Hisoka started, "but like you said, no matter how far away you go, I'll always hold your leash. So, no matter what direction our lives take when you get back to your body, I'll always be in yours, just like I know you'll always be in mine. I'm not letting you go, Rina," she coolly smiled, cradling me gently.
Ahhh, you're such a hunk, too! If I was a teenager right now, I'd be a puddle right now, Hisoka!
"...Thanks, girls," I muttered shyly. "It…it means so damn much to me to hear all that from you."
"Anytime, Rina," Hisoka smiled.
"After all, you're my beloved, you know? How could I ever let my precious meat go?" Radiata laughed, before giving my cheek a long, slow lick.
"Let's keep doing our best," I told them. "And when all this is over, and I'm just a little succubrat again, well,"
"We'll do even better," Hisoka kissed me.
"Because we're family now, darling. And once you're in my web, there's no hope of escape…" Radiata whispered into my ear.
I closed my eyes, and let out a small chuckle.
Suzume'd said she wanted to figure out what made earth so appealing to me. She was desperate to unearth some kind of secret, convinced there was something my realm had that hers lacked.
But here I was, in her bed, feeling exactly what made my home so very special to me. It's not anything to do with where you are, it's who you're with.
In my weaker moments, I felt like a failure, convinced that I'd never really amount to anything, and that I'd just trudge from workday to workday until I kicked the bucket.
But now, I saw just how wrong I was.
Mm, I've lived a pretty good life, after all.
Even in a place like this, I could find love. As long as I had that, there was nothing this loser mutt couldn't endure.
So take your time, Suzume. Do everything you've gotta do. I've cursed your name so many times since I woke up in your body, but…without that, well, I don't know if I'd ever come to appreciate my own life quite as much as I do right now.
And when you come back to me, when we see each other face-to-face again. I promise, I'll show you just what makes life so special, whether you're a king or a burnt-out OL. There's love waiting for you, if only you'll take the time to really see it.
But thanks, Suzume.
I owe you one.
❖❖❖
"Good work, everyone!" I declared, seeing my staff off at the end of a long workday, guiding them all to the castle gates. Everyone had worked so hard, just for my sake, and I needed them all to know just how grateful I was. "Hell and its people thrive by your efforts. Though the citizenry so often looks to me, you are the bedrock upon which so much happiness rests. Rest well tonight, and keep your heads held high. I am tremendously proud of each and every one of you."
My staff cheered, visibly heartened by my little speech. It was probably a far cry from anything Suzume herself could do. I still wasn't really used to having any kind of leadership position, but…well, I was doing my best, and my best felt pretty damn good right now.
Haaah, it's dumb to say, but getting fucked really buoys the spirits, doesn't it? I think Radiata and Hisoka fixed me. Ever since our night together, work's felt so much better, and the weight of the crown hasn't bugged me in the slightest. I tackled every assignment I was given with a smile on my face, completely thriving in a role I'd so deeply despised before. I couldn't say how long it'd take for Suzume to get back to me, but…I wasn't worried about that, honestly. I could handle this, with Radiata and Hisoka by my side all the while.
"You're doing splendidly, My Lord," Radiata said, wearing a smile that only I was allowed to see. "Feedback from citizens and staff alike has been glowing today."
"Mmm, and you look really gorgeous today, Lord Suzume. The very picture of regality," Hisoka told me. Honestly, I think these two had needed it every bit as bad as I had. They were on fire today. Crushing it with a spring in their steps. I couldn't ask for greater aides than them.
"All in a day's work," I nodded, smiling haughtily. "I am a king after all. It wouldn't do to give my people anything less than my best!"
"...Don't let it get to your head, mutt," Radiata whispered, gently patting me on the shoulder.
"Why, whatever is there to get to my head? The splendor of my being? My brilliance and benevolence? All irrefutable truths! I'm not arrogant, I'm simply stating facts, Radiata! Ohohohoho!" I grinned, throwing my head back and letting out my most dignified laugh.
"L-Lord Suzume, you're never quite so-"
"It's fine, Radiata," Hisoka chuckled. "The King is enjoying herself. Allow her that much."
"Indeed I am!" I grinned, spinning on my heels and heading back into the castle. "Come, you two! We have a feast awaiting us! It wouldn't do to keep a king hungry, now would it?"
"I suppose not," Radiata sighed and smiled, walking ahead of me. "Ensure you eat every last bite, alright?"
"But of course!" I grinned, eager to dig into one of Radiata's incredible meals.
"I'll assist you, of course," Hisoka smiled, flashing me a confident, cool thumbs up that was only slightly undercut by the loud growl from her belly.
The three of us laughed happily, feeling lighter than air. Haaah, this was the life. Even if it was nothing like what I was used to, this bliss was all I ever really needed to be a happy doggie. We'd eat, get back to my room, and see just how much dirtier we could make those royal bedsheets.
Yet as soon as we opened the door to the castle back open, it became clear that our night wouldn't quite be that simple.
"My, you three are in high spirits," Adri smiled softly, sipping tea atop Wakaba's shoulder, where she was joined by the ever-peppy Inumi the Hellhound, who bounded over to wrap me up in a giddy hug.
"Ohhh, I'd recognize that smell anywhere! It's Ri-"
"That's quite enough, Inumi. Your voice carries rather far through these halls, you know?"
"Whoops, ehehe…" Inumi let out a small, bashful whine.
"Not that I'd ever begrudge such enthusiasm," I smiled, gently petting her soft, fluffy fur, happy to see her tail eagerly wagging in response. "It's a delight to see you three. You'll join us for dinner, won't you?"
"Damn right we will. I ain't passin' up more of your food," Wakaba grinned, looking straight at Radiata.
"Beg for it," Radiata teased. "Get on all fours and convince me that it deserves to go to a boor like you."
"Ohhhhh, you really do wanna go, huh?" Wakaba smirked. "Lessee how far ya can go with that toothpick yer always carryin' around," she said, eyeing the knife on her thigh.
"No fighting, you two," Hisoka reminded them.
"Indeed, they're honored guests, Radiata," I smiled. "Though I'm thrilled to see that you two get on so well."
"We don't at all!" they both loudly insisted, convincing nobody.
"She's just a brute," Radiata insisted.
"An' she's a priss," Wakaba snarled.
"But you'll set aside your differences," Adri spoke, setting down her cup and glaring at the both of them. "Won't you?"
I swear, it felt as though the castle's foundations began to shake from her sheer might. Radiata and Wakaba were strong, but berserker Adri, well…
My condolences to anyone who gets on her bad side.
"...Yes ma'am…" they both mumbled, staving off untold disaster with their tails between their legs.
"L-let's retire to the dining room, shall we?" I offered, pressing my hands against Radiata and Wakaba's backs and forcefully walking them with me. The threat had passed, sure, but I wasn't taking any chances.
The feast Radiata served us was particularly delicious that night, I could tell she was working tremendously hard to show her remorse.
"Ohhh, you can really pack it away, little pup!" Inumi happily barked, watching as I devoured my 5th steak for the evening. "Ehehe, you're gonna get all chubby, you know? That'd be cute though! I'll hug and squeeze you like a plushie!"
"You wouldn't be the first," I smiled, thinking back on my time with Rhody. "But don't worry, this body can't gain weight. If it did, I'd just uhh…die it off," I chuckled. "She just goes through life so fast that she needs more than anyone else, that's all."
"Well don't die!" Inumi cried, throwing her arms around me.
"I'll keep getting better at that, just for you." I pet her head and gave her ears a small scritch. Haaah, man, what if I'd switched bodies with Inumi? That'd be so perfect. I could be Adri's little lapdog, and she could give me all sorts of yummy treats, and scritchy-scratches, and it'd feel soooo comfy that I-
Bwah! I-ignore that. Old habits and all. It's…it's for the best I ended up here. Being a hellhound would be…dangerous, to say the least.
…Not that a part of me wasn't still curious about the idea…
"If you do, I'll protect you, Rina," Hisoka smiled at me.
"Indeed, I will tend to any work matters in your stead in the event of yet another death, so never fear," Radiata added, all her previous bitterness about my constant rebirths having totally melted away.
"Thanks, you two. I'm so glad I can count on you," I told them both, flashing them my warmest, kingliest smile.
"My, it seems you're far tighter-knit than you once were," Adri said, sizing the three of us up as she sipped at her tea. "And far less anxious, as well. Why, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you truly have become a king, Rina."
"Ahaha, you're too kind," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "Seriously, way too kind. I need some insults thrown at me ASAP."
"Perverted mutt," Radiata clicked her tongue.
"Alright, alright, we're getting somewhere. I won't even try to get any from you, Hisoka, but…Wakaba? You've got some fire in you, right?"
Wakaba was always game to throw down at the drop of a hat. If I asked her, there was no doubt in my mind that she'd give me a verbal lashing so fierce that none of them would ever call me a king again.
Or well, usually, anyway…
"Hey now, Pup, there's a time an' place for that stuff…" she said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Whuh?" my confusion spilled right out of me. I didn't want to be greedy or anything, but…she really wasn't gonna say anything? "Ah, Inumi! You've got some doggie insults in you, right? You're so sweet, so I bet it'll sting extra hard from you!"
Inumi let out a small, sad whine, and hugged me tightly.
"Ahaha, hey now…" I gently pet her head, not pushing her any further. "A-Adri? I bet you'd gather up some real venom!"
Maybe I was being a dumbass. Honestly, if someone said they weren't in the mood for it, I'd usually drop it then and there but…honestly, the way the air changed…kinda worried me. On a dime, the warm, friendly atmosphere we shared grew strained and tense.
Maybe it was just me. I hoped it was just me, but it was a feeling I just couldn't shake.
"Puppy…" Adri started, giving a slight frown before shaking her head and taking another sip of her tea.
I looked to Hisoka and Radiata. In that moment, they clearly understood what I did.
"What happened?" I asked. "You three are here with bad news, right?"
"...We wish we weren't. Inumi came with us to cheer you up just in case," Wakaba admitted.
Inumi let out another whine, and nuzzled against my side. The poor girl was a wreck. I think we both needed a little love and support right now.
"How bad are we talking?"
Adri let out a small sigh.
"Bad," she said, as bluntly as possible.
Shit.
"And yet I remain in good spirits all the same, Rina, because I know how you'll react."
"...What do you mean?"
"It's about Suzume," Adri started. Radiata tensed up, so I held her hand tightly. Honestly, I think she was dreading whatever we were about to hear more than I was.
"She intends to keep your body, and live as Rina Saeki forevermore."
Fuck.