The mall still stood... but just barely.
Twisted steel beams jutted from its shattered roof like broken ribs, and the once-smooth tile floors were cracked, bloodied, slick with rain and something darker. Smoke curled through the open atrium, rising from piles of fallen beastkin and monstrous corpses alike. The scent of scorched fur and burned flesh clung to everything.
Liam staggered through the wreckage, sword dragging at his side. His coat was torn, armor dented, and blood... his and not... coated him from neck to boot.
They'd won. Barely.
But if this was victory, it tasted like ash.
Behind him, the remains of the Beast Horde lay scattered across the mall's ruined courtyard. Dozens of them... mutated hounds, scaled brutes, even a two-headed wyvern he'd felled himself. Their bodies still twitched, twitching with residual system corruption, flickers of dark energy fading from their carcasses.
The system's voice echoed in his head.
---
> [System Alert]
Zone 14: Mall Outpost – Defense Successful
Overlord Core Vitality: 38%
Warning: Host Injury Critical. Immediate Rest Required.
Horde Status: Scouting Parties Remaining – Estimated Return: 23 Hours
---
Liam clenched his jaw, wiping blood from his eyes. The next wave was coming.
He reached the upper level by instinct more than strength, leaning on the cracked railing of what had once been a boutique. His vision blurred. He barely noticed the sound of footsteps until they rushed him.
"Liam!" Rena's voice. Sharp. Fierce.
She was at his side a second later, catching his arm as he swayed. "You're bleeding... hells, you're burning up. Why didn't you call for us?"
He tried to speak. Only a grunt escaped.
Another voice joined... Nysera, eyes sharp as ever, stepping over rubble like she owned the place. "Because he thought he could win alone." She moved to his other side, supporting him from the left. "And nearly died for it."
"I didn't—" Liam started.
"You did." Naia's voice, firm and cold, echoed behind them. She stepped into the broken storefront, staff glowing faintly, eyes narrowed. "You're not dying here. Not in some ruined mall."
He felt himself being lowered to the cracked tile floor. Hands tugged at his coat, unfastening the buckles, pulling away blood-soaked armor.
"Stop," Liam rasped, weakly. "There's still more coming. I need to... l"
"You need to rest." Rena knelt in front of him, eyes blazing. "You're done fighting tonight."
---
A shadow loomed at the edge of his vision. Kaelith.
She crouched beside him, arms crossed, gaze unreadable. "You're an idiot."
Then she reached out... her hand cold, firm... and brushed the blood from his jaw, letting her fingers linger.
"One more word," she said quietly, "and I'll make sure you can't walk for days."
Liam blinked. That… might've been a threat. Or a promise.
Either way, his vision blurred again.
The warmth of his wives closed in...all of them now, surrounding him, eyes sharp, voices raised. He couldn't move. Couldn't fight them.
Didn't want to.
Liam didn't remember when he closed his eyes... but he felt all of them.
Hands... everywhere.
Warm, insistent, unrelenting.
Rena's fingers worked at the last of his armor, her breath warm against his neck. "You're lucky we're here," she murmured, voice low. "Otherwise you'd be bleeding out alone. Again."
"I'm fine," Liam managed, though it came out more like a croak.
"No, you're not," Naia said as she pressed a glowing palm against his ribs. Light flared. Pain lanced through him, sharp and real. "Hold still."
Kaelith knelt by his head, brushing damp hair from his forehead, eyes narrowed. "You should've let someone else lead the charge."
Nysera stood behind her, arms crossed, silver eyes gleaming. "He couldn't. He's Overlord." Her voice softened... barely. "He fought for us. For my clan."
Rena glared over her shoulder. "He fights for all of us."
"Enough," Naia snapped. "He needs rest. Now."
---
But none of them moved.
No one left.
The air in the ruined mall was too still, too hot, the scent of blood fading beneath the scent of them... smoke, rain, skin.
One by one, the wives closed in around him, forming a circle, pressing close.
Liam tried to rise. His muscles refused.
"We're not letting you out of this," Kaelith said, smirking faintly. "You're ours."
"Tonight," Rena whispered, her hand on his chest, right over his heart, "we take care of you."
---
Someone lifted him... he didn't know who.
Strong arms, soft touches.
They carried him through the mall, past broken walls and flickering lights, to what had once been a luxury suite, now converted into his personal chamber. Silken sheets, scavenged from god-knew-where, covered the stone floor and furs lined the makeshift bed. It was warm. Safe.
Liam was laid down gently, surrounded by them all.
Armor hit the floor. Not his.
Whispers. Laughter. A breathless promise.
Naia leaned in, eyes gleaming. "You're not allowed to die, Liam."
Kaelith's lips brushed his ear. "You belong to us."
Nysera's voice, low and raw. "You bled for me. Now let me have you."
Rena's hand curled around his. "Sleep. We're here."
---
> [System Alert]
Bond Synergy Threshold Reached – Overlord Status: Stable
Full Harem Presence Detected – Loyalty Boost Triggered
Recovery Mode: Engaged
---
Liam's last thought was of warmth.
Of hands.
Of lips.
Of being claimed.
Then the world went dark... and he welcomed it.
Liam didn't sleep long.
Warmth pressed close from every side... but it wasn't just Rena, Nysera, Kaelith, and Naia.
They were all there now.
Elyra, her fingers trailing along his arm, voice humming something low and ancient. Vexa, seated at the edge of the bed, sharpening a blade absently... watching him with guarded eyes that softened when they met his. Kaelithra leaned over him, her breath teasing his cheek, a wicked smile curving her lips. Sarya crouched nearby, unstringing her crossbow, eyes unreadable but present. Kaelyn stood near the doorway, silent, watchful, her hand resting lightly on her dagger's hilt. Ice Queen sat at his feet, her frost dimmed, her presence calm and oddly soothing.
No words.
Just touch, breath, presence.
Liam opened his eyes... and found them all staring back.
Rena leaned close again, her voice a whisper. "We fought for you. Now let us have you. Just for tonight."
He didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
He was theirs.
And for once... he let them take him.