I stormed out of Liona's shop, slamming the door behind me. My blood boiled at the way she'd played me—using her body like a bargaining chip, only to go back on her words and laugh at my face.
Who the hell did she think she was?
I didn't even bother heading back to the temple to see if Gaylord was still there. Fuck that old man; I already had enough on my plate.
The streets blurred past as I marched home. By the time I reached the quieter outskirts of town, my jaw ached from clenching too hard.
I forced myself to take a few deep breaths, easing the frustration just a bit. I was still pissed, but I knew that raging the whole way wouldn't change a thing.
The house came into view a few minutes later.
I approached the door and knocked firmly, the sound sharp in the serene afternoon. From inside, a weak muffled voice called out,
"Coming!"
It took a few moments before the latch clicked.
Diane swung the door open, and the moment her eyes met mine, her cheeks turned pink. Her furry ears twitched nervously, and she averted her gaze almost immediately.
"Oh... you're back." She said, stepping aside quickly, her tail flicking behind her as she made room for me to enter.
I brushed past her and stepped in.
The house felt unnaturally quiet—no voices, no footsteps. It was just... silent.
"You the only one home?" I asked, glancing around the empty living area.
She nodded, closing the door with a soft click. "Yes... the others aren't back yet."
"Nobody at all?" I pressed, turning fully toward her.
That's when I noticed something:
Signs. Signs that gave away what she'd been up to.
Her thighs were pressed tightly together, quivering slightly. Her tail had coiled around her waist like she was trying to pull herself together, and as she fidgeted with her hands, I caught the faint glisten of moisture on her fingertips.
Figures… she doesn't waste a second when she's alone.
I sighed inwardly, shaking my head.
Well, I'm not one to judge. It's not like I haven't stroked one out plenty of times myself.
The hypocrisy would've been laughable if it wasn't so damn relatable.
"I'm heading to my room," I muttered, and strode down the short hallway, not even waiting for her response.
I opened the door of the room assigned to me and stepped in, kicking it shut behind me with my heel.
With a tired sigh, I collapsed onto the bed face-first, stretching and adjusting my position, forcing myself to relax.
It couldn't have been more than a few minutes before I heard footsteps outside.
The door clicked open slowly, and Diane peeked in, looking uncertain.
She stood there for a while, her ears twitching lightly.
I rolled onto my side to face her.
"What is it, Diane?"
She bit her lower lip, her eyes darting to the floor before she took a slow breath, stepping fully into the room and closing behind her.
"I... I wanted to ask you a favor," she finally said with a low, hesitant voice. Her cheeks were still pink, and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, keeping my gaze on her.
"A favor, huh?" I said, keeping my voice low, watching the way her breath hitched. "What kind of favor?"
Diane's ears flattened slightly, but she didn't back down, stepping closer until she was just beside the bedpost.
"It's... it's about last time. In the spring. And... other things." She swallowed hard, lifting her head to look at me, her eyes filled with shame and hunger.
"My husband and daughter won't be back till dusk. The house is empty, and I... I can't stop thinking about it."
Her voice cracked, and she pressed her thighs together again. "I need you to... to help me."