I stood frozen, still processing the word Master as it echoed in my ears.

  Allira bumped my arm with her shoulder. “Your mouth is open.”

  “Huh?” I blinked, glancing at her.

  She pointed at my face, trying to hold in a laugh. “You’re doing that slack-jawed awe thing again. It’s sweet.”

  I snapped my mouth shut and gave a sheepish smile.

  Seraphina had already started circling the woman, no, not quite a woman. Something else entirely. “So,” she said, arching a brow, “you’re a master now?”

  Vaktar crossed his arms and eyed the massive chamber around us. “I wonder what this tower is?”

  I exhaled and took a step forward, addressing the being before us. “What’s your name?”

  She stopped bowing and straightened with perfect posture. “My designation is Informational Unit.”

  Seraphina frowned. “That’s not a name.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, no. That won’t do.” I paused, the first name that came to mind rising naturally. “How about Allyson? Yes, Allyson will do.”

  The being’s expression didn’t change, but her voice took on a faint warmth. “Allyson. Acknowledged. Thank you, Master.”

  Allira stepped forward. “Allyson, is there anything you can do to help the city? It’s under attack by demons.”

  The unit didn’t move. Just stood there, waiting.

  “She’s ignoring you,” Seraphina said, then turned to me. “Why’s she ignoring us?”

  I frowned. “Allyson, these are my wives, Allira and Seraphina. If either of them speaks to you, consider their words as if I am speaking."

  Allyson bowed slightly. “Acknowledged. From now on, directives from Lady Allira and Lady Seraphina will be treated as the Master’s requests. Standard wife configuration enabled.”

  “Good,” I said, giving Allira a nod. “Go ahead. I believe.”

  She stepped forward, her posture straight but her voice cautious. “Allyson, is there anything you can do to help defend the city?”

  Allyson’s head tilted slightly, her expression as unreadable as always. “What outcome do you desire?”

  Before Allira could reply, Seraphina cut in with a dry tone. “Kill the demons. That’d be a strong start.”

  Allira nodded. “Yes. Can you do that?”

  “Yes,” Allyson replied, as calmly as if she were confirming a grocery list. “Do you wish me to proceed with this action?”

  The room seemed still. Allira glanced between Seraphina and me, then squared her shoulders. “Yes.” The change was instant.

  Allyson’s irises glowed like twin suns, shifting from calm blue to a fiery, hellish crimson. A low hum filled the room, subtle at first, like pressure building inside a sealed container. The temperature dropped. Then it hit.

  A crushing weight hit my skull. My breath caught. It felt like invisible hands, tight, relentless, invasive, were squeezing my brain. The air around me twisted as if the tower itself had awakened in anger.

  I staggered back, clutching my temples. “Ngh!” Then everything went black.

  “Allira! Seraphina!” I think I heard one of them scream my name, but it was muffled, distant, like I was underwater. I collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut, the floor rising up to meet me in a sharp, unrelenting blur.

  “David!” Seraphina dropped beside me, cradling my head with her eyes wide and filled with panic. “David, talk to me! What’s happening?!”

  Allira rounded on Allyson, voice sharp and accusatory. “What did you do to him?!”

  Allyson remained eerily still. Her eyes still glowed, casting shadows on her cheekbones like painted war marks. “The tower has completed its defense protocol. All intruding hostile entities within range have been neutralized.”

  “You still haven’t answered what happened to him?” Seraphina demanded, her voice shaking.

  Allyson turned her gaze calmly to her. “All experience gained by the tower is shared among present Engineers within its boundaries.”

  Seraphina narrowed her eyes. “How many Engineers are currently in the tower?”

  “One.”

  Seraphina’s jaw dropped. “You? He absorbed all of it?”

  Allyson nodded once. “Yes. Currently, there is only one engineer inside the tower. Therefore, all data and rewards were allocated to Master David.”

  I stirred, groaning as sensation returned to my limbs and the world slowly came into focus. The polished ceiling above flickered before becoming clear, and then I saw her. Seraphina, hovering over me, her red braid draped over one shoulder, a tear-streaked smile breaking through her worry. Her soft blue eyes locked onto mine, shining with relief. I realized my head was resting in her lap, with the curves of her breasts just above me, framed perfectly by the neckline of her dress. The fabric hugged her in all the right ways, her chest rising and falling with each shaky breath. I could have stayed there forever, anchored in the warmth of her thighs and the softness of her gaze.

  “Hey…” I rasped, offering the faintest grin. “That sucked.”

  “You collapsed!” Allira hissed, leaning over me now. “You hit the floor!”

  Seraphina wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. “You idiot. I thought you were dying.”

  I groaned as I sat up, hundreds, no, thousands of system alerts pinging in rapid succession. Kill confirmed. Demon slain. Wyvern slain. XP awarded. Level Up. Skill Increase. Attribute boost.

  I blinked, trying to catch up with it all. “Allyson, how many?”

  “Twenty-three demons and sixty-four wyverns,” she said, her tone devoid of pride or emotion. “All threats within a ten-kilometer radius have been eliminated.”

  Allira stared at her, stunned. “You vaporized a small army.”

  “And dumped the XP into one man,” Vaktar said, rejoining us with a stunned expression. “By the gods, you just power-leveled through a war zone.”

  I exhaled. “Damn. That explains the aneurysm.”

  Notifications filled the corner of my vision, flickering one after another, faster than I could process them.

  [DING]

  57,424 Class XP Gain

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Level Up – Engineering - 14]

  5,310 XP Until Next Level

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Level Up – Engineering - 15]

  5,863 XP Until Next Level

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Level Up – Engineering - 16]

  6,471 XP Until Next Level

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Level Up – Engineering - 17]

  7,771 XP Until Next Level

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Level Up – Engineering - 18]

  7,887 XP Until Next Level

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Level Up – Engineering - 19]

  8,708 XP Until Next Level

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Level Up – Engineering - 20]

  9,612 XP Until Next Level

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Level Up – Engineering - 21]

  10,612 XP Until Next Level

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Level Up – Engineering - 22]

  11,715 XP Until Next Level

  [Stat Increases Applied]

  [New Traits Acquired: Tower Affinity, Battlefield Architect, Tactical Overdrive]

  I blinked hard as the cascade continued.

  [New Skill: Forge Mastery – Lv. 1]

  The name alone sent a tingle through my hands. I could feel it—like every forge I’d ever worked was suddenly humming under my skin, ready to obey.

  [New Skill: Engineering Constructs – Lv. 1]

  A blueprint flashed across my mind—metal arms, rotating hinges, rune-inscribed circuits. I could build them. Not someday. Now.

  [New Skill: Arcane Integration – Lv. 1]

  Magic and mechanics—two worlds I’d always kept separate—fused behind my eyes into something dangerous and beautiful.

  [New Skill: Mana Efficiency – Lv. 2]

  Like a pressure valve opening, mana surged more cleanly through my limbs. No more waste. No more leaks.

  [New Skill: Enhanced Diagnostics – Lv. 1]

  Text and readings layered over my vision like a heads-up display. Seraphina’s heartbeat. The torque resistance on my boots. Even a minor fracture in a column twenty feet away. I could see it all.

  As I pushed myself upright, another pulse rolled through my chest—not pain, not quite power either. It was something… more.

  [Congratulations]

  [Class Milestone Achieved]

  [Species Evolution Triggered]

  [Race Upgrade - Human 3]

  [Physiological Enhancement: Neural Capacity +20%, Muscular Output +15%, Arcane Conduction Channels: Activated]

  [Adaptation Trait Acquired: Enhanced Learning Curve]

  A deep breath. The air tasted different—sharper, sweeter, more real. Every nerve in my body felt tuned, optimized. I wasn’t just stronger.

  “Are you all right?” Seraphina asked, still rubbing my temple.

  “Yeah. Just… sorting out my insides.” I rubbed my temples as the last notification hovered into focus, pulsing softly like a heartbeat.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  [Stat Points Available: 45]

  [Allocate Now? Y/N]

  I blinked and focused. A familiar interface unfolded in front of me, translucent and humming with quiet energy. Categories hovered like etched runes in the air.

  Strength: 16 points. My muscles already ached to move, to do. This would stabilize the raw power humming under my skin.

  Intelligence: 10 points. Not just for magic or machines—this was clarity, speed, precision. I needed it to lead, to build.

  Wisdom: 5 points. For intuition. Judgment. The voice in the back of my mind that whispers when logic runs out.

  Agility: 10 points. My body felt coiled, elastic—this would sharpen my reflexes, make every dodge and strike more fluid.

  Charisma: 2 points. Just enough to keep people listening, to help words land with weight when it counted.

  [Confirm Allocation?]

  I exhaled slowly and tapped Yes.

  The changes hit instantly.

  My muscles tightened and balanced out like strings on a well-tuned instrument. Thoughts snapped into order, and mental fog lifted with surprising ease. Every sound became sharper, every movement felt lighter and more transparent. Even my voice, when I spoke again, carried a confidence I hadn’t felt before.

  “All right,” I said quietly. “That should do it.”

  Vaktar offered a hand and helped me to my feet. I wobbled once, then found my balance.

  Seraphina looked around the chamber. “We should explore. There could be something here to help the city.”

  “I think we should go outside first,” Vaktar said, scanning the walls. “See what’s changed. See what’s left.”

  “Allyson,” Seraphina asked softly, “what exactly is this tower?”

  “This is the Sixth Engineer’s Tower,” Allyson replied. “The tower of the Mechanical Discipline.”

  “What is the Mechanical Discipline?” Allira asked, tilting her head.

  “I know that one,” I said, grinning. “It’s the creation and repair of machines, automata, and complex tools. That’s my class specialty. I build stuff.” I gave my wives a proud smile.

  Seraphina nodded slowly. “So this tower is the hub for that discipline?”

  Allyson turned to her with calm respect. “Yes. This tower holds all living quarters, workshops, libraries, and secure vaults related to the Mechanical Discipline. It is now under the command of Master David.”

  Allira looked at me with interest. “So how many disciplines are there in your class, David?”

  “I had six to choose from. Right, Allyson?”

  “Yes, Master. There are six major disciplines,” she confirmed, “as well as several minor ones.”

  Allira’s eyes widened slightly. “We never knew that about engineers. Mages only have four major elements and five deviants.”

  I stretched, still sore. “Before we head out, Vaktar… one question.”

  He looked at me and said, “Go ahead.”

  “What are you planning to tell your king? About all this?”

  Vaktar smirked. “You mean the part where you turned out to be some super-engineer, now commanding a battle tower that can wipe out armies?”

  “Yeah. That part.”

  He shrugged. “That’s out of the bag already. Your class, your tower, people are gonna talk. But the rest? That’s your story to tell, not mine.”

  I nodded, grateful.

  “Although,” he added, “when you’re ready to share those otherworld stories, maybe over a pint?”

  I grinned. “First few rounds are on me.”

  Allira smiled, brushing her fingers down my arm. “And I want to hear about everything. All of it.”

  Vaktar clapped me on the shoulder. “Good. Then it’s settled.”

  Behind us, Allyson waited quietly, our almost-human guide to an ancient tower built by Engineers long gone. And I had just become its master.

  With Seraphina’s arm around my waist and Allira hovering at my other side, I staggered toward the tall doorway where we first entered the tower. The pain in my skull had eased to a dull throb, and my legs still felt like jelly beneath me. But I could walk.

  As I approached, the large door responded with a series of mechanical clanks, locks disengaging one after another. A soft hum echoed through the floor as the thick slab of stone and metal silently lifted into the ceiling.

  What lay beyond made us all stop.

  The once-pristine garden had become a battlefield. The smell of ash and burnt flesh hung in the air, drifting with the breeze like smoke from a broken chimney. The grass was blackened in some areas and torn up in others. Dozens of demon corpses and wyvern carcasses lay scattered across the ground like discarded dolls, twisted bodies, with some still smoldering. Their blood soaked into the earth, a dark, tar-black, and eerie violet mixture.

  The tower door rattled shut behind us with a final hiss, sealing itself completely. I turned just in time to see it disappear back into the stone, as if it had never been there.

  Outside the circle of bodies, a group of soldiers stood frozen, weapons drawn and aimed directly at us. Uncertainty flickered in their eyes, and fear stiffened their postures.

  Then the Duke’s voice rang out. “Stand down!”

  Swords lowered. Bows relaxed. A breath of relief spread through the garden like a ripple on water.

  Picking their way through the dead, the Duke of Vaelthorn approached with Prince Kaelen, Arch Mage Vael, and a small group of officers and mages. Their boots squished in blood, but none of them flinched. The prince stepped forward, stopping a few respectful paces away.

  “Earl Robertson,” he said, eyes darting from me to Seraphina, then Allira. “We have many questions. But this isn’t the place. Would you and your party come with us to the castle? My father will be expecting you.”

  I glanced at my companions. Vaktar gave a slow nod. Seraphina’s grip on my arm tightened slightly, and Allira offered a small smile. I was about to reply when I sensed a presence behind me. Turning, I found Allyson standing at my back, still, silent, her strange eyes now soft blue again.

  “You followed me?” I asked, surprised.

  She tilted her head slightly. “Yes, Master. I am linked to you. Wherever you go, I must stay close enough to maintain communication with the tower.”

  I looked between my wives, both raising their eyebrows in unison.

  I sighed. “Guess this is a thing now.”

  Seraphina grinned. “She’s growing on me.”

  Prince Kaelen studied Allyson for a beat but didn’t comment. Instead, he extended a hand, indicating the path ahead. “Shall we?”

  We followed him in silence.

  Carriages had been arranged sleekly, lacquered, and bearing the crest of the royal family. As we climbed in, I took one last look at the garden. The tower stood still behind us, silent and massive, a black spire of forgotten power in a city that suddenly had too many questions and not enough answers. And we were about to give them some.

  Or not. But ready or not, we were heading to the castle.

  The soft creak of polished doors opening signaled our arrival at the royal audience chamber. A glow of golden candlelight lit up the marbled floor as we entered. King Thorne and Queen Margaret were already seated, flanked by stewards and nobles, their expressions unreadable but alert. As protocol demanded, we bowed deeply.

  “Please, be seated,” the king said, his voice calm but laden with expectation.

  Chairs had been set up in front of them. I helped Seraphina and Allira get into their seats before taking my own. Behind us, Vaktar stood with his arms crossed. Allyson, always calm and silent, stood beside him like a human sentinel.

  A steward hurried over with a silver tray of tea and pastries. Seraphina lit up at the sight. “These are from the same baker as the tea party I told you about,” she said, grinning. “Try one. You’ll see.”

  I did. She was right. It was perfectly soft, buttery, with just a hint of lemon. Allira, meanwhile, sat in hushed silence, clearly aware of the regal company surrounding her. Seraphina, however, was unfazed. This wasn’t her first time in the castle, and now she was making herself at home again.

  The king leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp. “We haven’t seen lightning like that in centuries,” he said, voice low and calm. “Bolts that split the sky like spears of judgment, and they all came from the Black Tower, didn’t they?”

  He turned his head slightly. “Vael?”

  The Arch Mage gave a slow, solemn nod. “I’ve studied storms. I’ve summoned them. But this was something else. There were no circles, no catalysts. Just pure, unrestrained power. The kind of force that bends reality. And it didn’t come from any mage I know in this city.”

  Silence stretched, taut as a drawn bowstring. The king’s gaze found me again, searching, weighing.

  “Earl Robertson,” he said, quieter now. “Did you enter the Black Tower?”

  I met his eyes without flinching. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  His fingers steepled. “And the storm, the lightning, the destruction. Was that you?”

  I let out a slow breath. “Pretty much, yes.”

  The chamber erupted before the last word had even faded. Murmurs rippled like waves through silk and velvet. Nobles leaned in toward each other with hushed, frantic whispers. A fan snapped shut somewhere. I caught the sharp intake of breath from the Queen as she leaned forward in her seat.

  “Just what exactly happened inside that tower?” she asked, her voice low yet tense, as if she were holding back the urge to shout. “How did you, how does anyone unleash that much power without a court of mages backing them?”

  Allira shifted closer to me, her hand instinctively brushing mine beneath the table. I could feel Seraphina tense slightly on my other side. Across the chamber, even Vael looked uneasy, like a scholar realizing he's sitting next to a dragon and only now noticing the scales.

  I exhaled slowly and steadily. “It wasn’t just me. The tower responded. It defended the city. I only gave the order.”

  “You gave the order?” the Queen echoed. “You’re saying the tower listened to you?”

  I nodded once. “It recognizes me as its new master.”

  That hit like a hammer. Every conversation in the room stopped. The king’s eyes narrowed just a little. Not out of suspicion, something more profound. A slow realization was dawning.

  “Tell me, Earl Robertson,” the king said, leaning forward in his chair. His voice dropped not a whisper, but something low and cold that cut through the chamber like a blade. “What are you?”

  The room went still. No one spoke. Even the fire crackling in the hearth seemed to quiet.

  I didn’t respond right away. I sensed Seraphina and Allira watching me, their presence like a warm breath beside me. I briefly looked down to collect my thoughts, then met the king’s gaze directly.

  “That,” I said slowly, “is a question I’m still trying to answer myself.”

  The king didn’t flinch. “Then tell us what you do know.”

  I nodded, swallowing the weight of the moment.

  “I went into the Black Tower tonight. The attacking demons were cornering us, and I touched the door, and it opened for me. Inside, I met someone. A construct named Allyson.” I said, pointing toward Allyson behind me. “She gave me a test. I passed it.”

  The Queen leaned forward, her brow furrowing. “A test? What kind of test?”

  “Mathematics. Physics. Theories,” I said. “It wasn’t magic. It was knowledge old, deep knowledge.”

  I turned slightly, gesturing again behind me. “This is Allyson. She’s the voice of the tower. And after passing the test, she recognized me as its master.”

  The chamber exploded in whispers. A noblewoman dropped her fan. One of the scribes gasped. Prince Kaelen sat up straighter, blinking hard.

  “The tower chose you?” the Queen asked, stunned. “You command it?”

  I nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. I didn’t go looking for it, but it opened to me. Recognized me.”

  “And your class?” the king pressed. “Don’t avoid the question. We’ve seen enough to know you are not a common blacksmith.” I hesitated just for a breath. No deflection left. No dodging it anymore.

  “Engineer,” I said plainly, voice steady. The word dropped into the chamber like a stone into still water. For a moment, no one breathed.

  Then the whispers started out small, then grew into a rising tide. Chairs creaked. Someone near the back gasped. A noblewoman across the room flinched as if I’d drawn a blade. One of the younger scribes clutched their writing slate against their chest as if I might explode. I saw a knight near the wall exchange a glance with his companion, either in awe or maybe unease.

  “Impossible,” someone muttered.

  “I thought they were just myths…”

  Queen Margaret’s hand covered her mouth, her eyes scanning me like I might vanish if she blinked.

  But amid the growing shock, two women remained steadfast, one on each side of me. Seraphina placed her hand on mine, firm and warm, her blue eyes steady yet fierce. She didn’t flinch or ask questions; she simply squeezed. Allira reached across me from the other side and took my other hand, interlacing her fingers with mine, her grip steady despite the chaos around us. She leaned in slightly so I could feel the weight of her support on my shoulder. Together, they kept me grounded.

  Vaktar, standing a pace behind, didn’t speak. He just let out a low, amused breath, almost a chuckle, and walked forward. His hand came down on my shoulder, solid.

  “Figures,” he muttered, loud enough to be heard. “Leave it to you to blow open a damn legend like it was nothing.”

  I looked up at him, half-smiling.

  “Allyson,” the king addressed her directly. “Did you defend the city?”

  She didn’t respond.

  I explained, “I’m sorry, Sire, she only speaks to me or my wives. I believe it’s part of the tower’s security. And, yes, the tower defended the city after being requested by us.”

  My head ached. Not from magic, this time. Just from noise.

  It was the Duke who calmed them. He stood, hand raised. “Enough! We all heard what the Earl said. One question at a time.”

  Arch Mage Vael was the first. “David, how long have you been an Engineer?”

  I weighed my answer carefully. “Only a few days. My class was only recently recognized by the gods.”

  “Recognized?” Vael echoed.

  “I had to earn it,” I clarified. “Crafting mithril pieces. My sword. My rings. It wasn’t something granted; it was something built. From what I figured, since I had no class to start, I had to earn my class by demonstrating my worthiness. Once I had, I was awarded the class.”

  “You forged all of that without a class?” the king asked.

  “Yes. Blacksmithing is but a skill for me. A high one. But not my class.”

  The queen murmured, “There is so much we don’t understand about Engineers.”

  The king gave a short, thoughtful nod. The king steepled his fingers. “David. What do you know about the Rift?”

  “Not much at all, your majesty,” I turned to Allyson. “Allyson, what do you know about the Rift?”

  The rift is an incursion between our plane of existence and the demon realm. The incursion site has been active for six months and four days. Two thousand one hundred forty-five demonic entities have entered this plane by crossing over.

  Vael leaned forward. “Can it be closed?”

  “Allyson?” I asked.

  “Yes. There is a device that is built and operated by an Engineer.”

  The duke asked, “Can she do it?”

  “No,” Allyson said plainly after I relayed the question to her. “I am not an Engineer.”

  I stood. The time for pleasantries had passed. Then I should begin. “Allyson, how long until I can close the rift?”

  “One hundred eighty-two hours from now, Master. If it follows normal protocols, there will be a surge. At that time, a disrupter can be used to seal the rift.”

  “A little over a week,” Vael muttered.

  I turned to the king. “Then I respectfully ask to be excused. I need rest. And work to do. Sire, I’ll be at the Guild forges in the morning to start whatever I have to construct.”

  The king nodded. “Of course. You and your wives will be escorted to the Copper Candle. We will assign additional guards.”

  I offered a bow and took Allira’s hand in mine.

  She smiled. And all I could think about was sleep, silence, and unwrapping the only gift I wanted tonight.

  Once we got back to the Copper Candle Inn, I figured the place would be in ruins. But besides a few broken windows and scorch marks on the outside walls, the building was mostly fine. Luck or something like it had spared this block.

  We stepped inside, and the mood hit me like a wall. The room was heavy with silent misery. Dozens of people, huddled in chairs or curled against the walls, filled every corner of the common area. Dirt-streaked faces. Blood-smeared clothes. Children are asleep in their mothers’ laps. The smell of fear and smoke clung to everything.

  No one was speaking louder than a whisper. The only sounds were the soft, strangled sobs of those who had endured too much in a single night.

  As we moved through the room toward the staircase, I caught glimpses of haunted eyes that looked up at me as if I were more than just a man. Others watched in silence, as if they didn’t know whether I was their salvation or the next thing to fear.

  Then the door behind us opened again. A city officer, flanked by four soldiers, strode in with purpose. His eyes swept the room, then he turned sharply.

  “You,” he barked at the guards stationed in the inn, “Start clearing the room. His Majesty wants this building secured. No civilians.”

  The guards began moving instantly, nudging people to their feet, herding them toward the doors with polite but firm urgency.

  “Stop.” My voice sliced through the murmur like a blade. Everyone froze.

  The officer turned toward me, blinking. “Earl Robertson, by order of the…”

  “I said stop.” I stepped forward, past Seraphina and Allira, my jaw tight, my voice low and cold. “These people stay.”

  “With respect, my lord,” the officer tried again, “The King…”

  “I don’t care what the King said. Not right now.” The words slipped out sharper than I meant, but I didn’t take them back. My hands clenched at my sides. “These people have nowhere else to go. They ran here while their homes burned and their families were slaughtered. And now, after surviving all of that, you want to toss them into the street? Not in my house.”

  The officer hesitated. I saw a flicker of guilt in his eyes as he looked around the room, at the broken people clinging to scraps of peace.

  “Go back,” I continued, quieter now but just as firm, “Tell whoever gave the order that the Earl of Brackenreach is invoking authority over this building. This inn is under my protection. If the king wants to yell at me, he can do it tomorrow. These people stay here.”

  Seraphina slid closer, her hand resting lightly on my back.

  The officer slowly nodded. “Very well, my lord. I’ll make the report.”

  He turned to his men and signaled. They stood down. The tension in the room began to ease.

  Vaktar stayed behind, offering to watch over things until the last civilians were settled. I nodded in thanks, too tired to say much, then turned toward the staircase.

  Each step upward felt heavier than the last, my body aching and my mind fraying. But as we reached the second floor and stepped into our room, the ache changed. Shifted. Evolved.

  I turned and there they were.

  Seraphina and Allira, already inside, their dresses hugging their curves like the night itself had painted them on. Behind them, standing near the door like a loyal sentinel, was Allyson.

  “You followed us?” I asked, tugging at the collar of my tunic.

  “Yes, Master,” she said without hesitation. “Where you journey, I must go.”

  “Even now?”

  She paused. “Yes. Oh. You are planning on having sex. The previous Tower Master did that often. A little too often, I would have to say. Studies have found it’s very efficient for stress relief and reproductive purposes.”

  Both my wives glanced at each other, their expressions caught somewhere between amusement and awkward disbelief.

  “Right,” I muttered. “Could you face the wall?”

  “Of course, Master. Interestingly, the previous master asked me to do this quite often. I didn’t understand why at first.” Allyson turned to face the corner with mechanical obedience, standing still like a statue, watching no one. Or so I hoped.

  I exhaled slowly and looked back at them. “So are we going to do this with her just standing there like a cursed coat rack?”

  Allira moved closer, her eyes shining in the lamplight. “If you think I’m waiting another day, you’re out of your mind.”

  She grabbed my shirt and pulled me into her kiss. Deep. Bold. Possessive. My hands landed on her hips, and I felt the tension melt from my shoulders.

  We broke apart for air, and I whispered, “I’ve been waiting too long for that.”

  “My turn,” Seraphina said from behind me, her tone low and smooth. She spun me around, fingers in my collar, and dragged me into her mouth like I was something she’d been craving all day. I felt soft hands rubbing my back, reaching down to help me finish undressing. I turned while stepping out of my trousers.

  Allira stood with her hands on my shoulders. Her dress, though torn and stained, still showcased the beauty of this woman. I leaned in and kissed her. With my free hand, I reached around and unfastened the clasp holding the dress together. In a smooth motion, the dress slipped free and fell to the floor. I scooped Allira into my arms, her laughter against my neck, and carried her to the bed where Seraphina waited.