Whatever business Mirabilis had gone to take care of, she had promised not to keep her pets waiting too long. Still, that didn’t keep Serena and Kenzie from growing impatient as they stewed in the anticipation. Their fantasies entwined and intensified together, the ache of each girl’s yearning feeding off the other’s, until they could bear it no longer, and simultaneously they gleefully threw their bodies together in cathartic delight. It really had been too long since the pair were able to properly make love. Even since coming into Mirabilis’ care, they hadn’t found the chance to ‘go all the way.’ Between making preparations for Serena's domestication, their frequent shared forays into hazy helplessness, and the nearly exhausting deluge of endless delight their Mistress so eagerly spoiled them with, they simply hadn’t found the opportunity.

The wait, however, made that moment of fruition all the more perfect. Kenzie’s body was a wonder to behold, this had always been something Serena knew. But in the dim light of Mirabilis’ bedroom, blanketed in the warmth of their shared anticipation, Kenzie looked all the more beautiful. Kenzie had changed in her time under Mira’s care. She was healthier, her skin had become softer, springier, taking on such a lovely glow. She no longer subsisted off scarce rations, no longer slept upon a hard cot. Her days were spent relaxing, not running herself ragged with work. The gentle care of the affini compact had smoothed Kenzie’s edges, removed all of the tension that had once characterized her every movement. Her head was filled with love, contentment and submission instead of fear or anxiety. And, with their minds now so beautifully connected, Serena and Kenzie flowed together into a natural erotic rythm they could never have dreamed possible before.

When they fell together, it wasn’t some quick roll in the hay they could barely squeeze in between shifts. It wasn’t weighed heavy by the possibility this might be the last time. There was no fear of consequence, no worries about tomorrow. They simply luxuriated in one another’s company, taking great care to appreciate the feel of skin on skin, the sounds of low and desperate moans, the smell of aching arousal. Kenzie even tasted better, Serena realized. This wasn’t to say Kenzie had tasted bad before. Serena had always delighted in her lover’s body, but now it was an experience unlike any other. Just how much could the haustoric implants heighten their shared pleasure? Serena wondered. 

Surely the way each delicate brush of her lips against Kenzie’s most intimate places echoed phantom sensations into Serena’s core had to be some feedback effect. Then there was the way Serena felt her girlfriend’s love and desire seep into her head unbidden, or how she seemed to know exactly where Kenzie wished to be touched. They were in sync, each movement harmonious, each kiss, or lick, or caress or thrust some part of a choreographed dance that each simply drew the steps to willingly from the other. And, when climax came, it sent a rippling feedback loop that tore down the barriers between the pair entirely, spiraling them into this fleeting oneness of thought and feeling as they rode out wave after wave of shared pleasure together. 

Serena found herself laying in bed, nestled against Kenzie. At some point, their shared passion had finished, though it’s overwhelming peak had been as disorienting as it was pleasurable, and pinning down exactly when they had stopped making love and when they had started basking together in a shared afterglow was quite fruitless. It would require a great deal of disentangling herself from the dreamlike amalgamate of hers and Kenzie’s consciousness she currently found herself lost in, and that sounded quite unpleasant indeed. 

She could feel Kenzie like this. Feel her in ways she’d never been able to before. Feel the ways she loved Serena, the relief she still felt in knowing that Serena was safe and reunited with her, the ways she’d been healed, comforted by the fact that all her past stress and worries over Serena’s wellbeing were gone forever, would only stray further into distant and fading memory. There was this profound sense of joy radiating within Kenzie, one that soared and swelled at the knowledge that Serena had finally become her floret pinnate. A sense that no matter what happened now, for the rest of their shared lives, everything was going to be okay. Perhaps mostly notably, however, was that everything she could feel from Kenzie, from fully formed thoughts, to half-baked impressions and flickers of ideas, to raw emotion and hazy sensation, everything was saturated heavy with deep-seated feelings of love, trust, comfort, gratitude and above all else submission to their shared owner. 

In their shared state, all those feelings were reflected into Serena, feeding her all of Kenzie’s love for their Mistress, her desire, her place wrapped securely within Mirabilis’ will. Before, Serena had trusted Mira, had been fond of her, had appreciated her kindness and care. Most of all, Serena had felt an endless gratitude and admiration toward Mira for all she’d done to keep Kenzie happy, safe and emotionally fulfilled. The blissed out drug trip cuddle sessions she provided were certainly a plus. On an intellectual level, Serena had always understood that Mira’s role in their relationship had always been a more dominant one, that by nature of becoming Mira’s pet, Serena was submitting to the affini. From a more visceral perspective, though, while Serena had certainly felt submissive toward Mirabilis at times, the feelings were never particularly strong. She had given up control, and enjoyed what came of it, but largely this wasn’t due to any overwhelming rush of powerlessness, surrender, or subordination. 

With Kenzie in her head, however, things were different. Her gratitude turned to reverence, she yearned for Mira’s attention, her affection and praise, her approval and love. For the very first time, Serena fully understood just how intrinsically accurate it was to call Kenzie Mirabilis’ pet. Kenzie belonged to Mira, it was the quintessential aspect of who she was and how she defined herself. She had surrendered her will to Mirabilis, laid herself bare, allowed her will to be shattered then pieced back together in the image of a beloved and well-trained little possession. And Kenzie had loved every minute of it. She had treasured every act of submission, each iota of praise, every doting stroke and show of Mira’s ownership. 

It was the sort of revelation that would have terrified Serena when she had first arrived on the Baiera. But linked to Kenzie so innately as she was, Serena had no such inclination. Kenzie was every bit the wonderful, vibrant woman Serena had fallen for. When Kenzie had given herself up, had broken for Mira, the affini didn’t discard who Kenzie had once been, did not reshape her into someone new. Instead, Mira had soothed Kenzie’s scars, had filled in the cracks left by an uncaring world with the shining gold of mutual love and devotion. All the things Serena had ever loved about Kenzie were held together and strengthened by the bright, joyful, comforting bond of submission to their owner.

To be bound with Kenzie this way, Serena realized, also bound her to Mirabilis. Kenzie’s love for and submission to their Mistress flowed freely between them, drawing Serena in, ensnaring her in the twisting, loving vines of Mira’s will. And, just as Kenzie craved a life wrapped in Mirabilis' vines, Serena too, began to yearn for a life spent safe and happy under Mira’s care. The thought of kneeling before Mirabilis, presenting her neck to be collared, begging for her touch, melting at her praise sent little shivers of desire and comfort through her core.

“Oh dear.” The purr of Mira’s voice curled possessively around Serena and Kenzie’s shared headspace, coaxing their focus away from their entwined consciousness and up to their owner. “It seems even when I make a deliberate choice to leave you sober, you two can’t help but find a way to just… drift.” She lingered on each syllable, letting her voice especially luxuriate as she trailed off into a pleased coo at the end. On instinct Kenzie sat up and onto her knees, back straight and hands in her lap, eyes fixed on her Mistress’ face. And, as though puppeted by her pinnate, Serena mirrored the gesture, because she knew; Kenzie knew, so Serena, too, intrinsically understood that what was required of her.   

“S-sorry, Mistress,” Kenzie stammered. 

In a single stride, Mirabilis crossed the room and sat herself at the edge of her massive bed, peering down at her two florets hungrily. “That’s quite alright, love. Try as I may, I could never be upset at such an adorable sight as you two lost in each other's heads.” Without another word, Mira withdrew her tablet, and gave it a few thoughtful taps. “This should clear both of you up a little without pulling you apart, but don’t get used to the feeling.” On cue, a gentle coolness flooded Serena’s body, and, just as predicted, her thoughts grew sharper. Serena hadn’t realized just how dull their little feedback loop of endorphins had left her. Seemingly satisfied, Mirabilis nodded. “Now, my little treasures, it’s time for a fun little game.” Again, Mira pressed a vine to the tablet; this time, there was no immediate response she could feel, which only made Serena even more nervous. “Kenzie loves this game; it’s one of my favorites, too,” she explained as her gaze fell on Serena. “The drug I just gave the two of you will keep you clear headed for now, but also very sensitive.” Her voice dropped low and husky. “The best part is, the more delight I inflict on your lovely little flesh, the more your minds will slip away and gently fall into my grasp.” A sublime shiver of want tickled down Serena’s spine; she couldn’t tell whether it had come from Kenzie, or from herself.

In an achingly slow, lascivious gesture, Mira leaned forward, bearing down over Kenzie, and trailed a vine from her inner thigh up to her hip, then up along her waist and over the curve of her breasts, before finally delicately trailing up along the side of Kenzie’s neck, and cupping her chin, forcing her to look up into her Mistress’ eyes. The most agonizing, delicious part was, Serena felt it all. She felt the phantom sensation trail up her body, luxuriating in the faint impression of a touch. The yearning, helplessness, the overpowering submission as Kenzie blushed and squirmed under her Mistress’ intense eyes. Serena remained perfectly still. She didn’t know why. She just had to; it was a requirement, a wordless command she felt travel from Mirabilis to Kenzie, then to herself. The power and dominance which silently radiated off of her affini, present in her every move, her every look, hung heavy in the air. Even if Kenzie was bearing the full brunt of their owner’s overpowering will, the echo of her feelings burrowed deep into Serena, quickening her breath and heart as desperate need blossomed within her core.

Mira’s eyes quickly danced from Kenzie, to Serena; at the sight of her floret, panting, face flush, eyes wide, her mouth curled into a possessive grin. The look alone twisted into Serena’s gut, burned her core; without meaning to, Serena breathed a low, quiet moan of desire. Mira chuckled softly at the sight. “What a good girl you are,” she crooned, looking eyes with Serena, but giving Kenzie a tender stroke across the cheek. It didn’t matter who her Mistress had touched; Serena felt it, and she knew it was for her. She had been good. With another moan, Serena’s legs began to shake, but she remained upright and otherwise still; it was what her owner wanted. A satisfied rumble rattled through Mirabilis’ vines, and, without warning, she wrapped an arm around Kenzie’s lower back and tilted her chin further upward, while her vines wrapped around to grasp the nape of neck, pulling Kenzie into a deep kiss. 

It was fire in Serena’s mind, and on her flesh. Fire that burned with sweet, domineering pleasure. Her arms went limp as she instinctively tilted her own head upward and arched her back in response to the grip of phantom vines playing along her lower back. Her lips parted, a bit of drool trickled down her chin as she panted needily, rolling her hips before a long, needy moan escaped her throat. Serena stayed that way long after the kiss ended, just blankly, thoughtlessly staring out into nothing, cheeks flush, frozen in submissive pleasure, panting and whining with need. 

“Come back to me, Serena.” Her Mistress’ voice pierced the fog, yanking her back to reality as her vision refocused and she snapped to attention. Another pleased smile blooming on Mirabilis’ face took all that intensity and mellowed Serena right back down into comfortable submission. “You’re doing so well, my dear.” There was so much affection, so much pride in her voice. “Do you know why I’m doing this, my lovely little doll? Why I’m making you watch as I play with your floret pinnate?”

“No, Mistress,” Serena answered meekly. Then her mind caught up to her words and Serena gave a confused little blink, shaking her head a little. She hadn’t meant to say that. “No, Mistress? I—I can’t, I can’t say Mistress. Why can I only call you Mistress?” Her face reddened as she cast her gaze downward, the heat in her core matching that on her face.

“Oh dear,” Mirabilis breathed a surprised, but amused purr. “I had no idea this would happen, but it's such a lovely little side effect. This is just the sort thing I linked you to together for.” Grinning wolfishly, she turned to Kenzie. “Kenzie, love?” She commanded. 

“Yes, Mistress?” she answered automatically.

“I must have you quite worked up, don’t I?” All Mirabilis received was a blushing nod of affirmation. Lovingly, she reached forward and ruffled her pet’s hair, transmitting another bout of blissful sensation to Serena. Utterly pleased with herself, Mira returned her unfaltering gaze to Serena. “And that must also go just as much for you, petal. You see, dear, Kenzie and I worked out a special little rule for her implant to enforce. Whenever she’s reached a certain ‘threshold’ of submissive feelings, it kicks in, preventing her from calling me by anything but Mistress. And it would seem, as an unintended side effect, the rule is being applied to you as well through your special little connection. Which is so very adorable, I had no idea. You’re both such good girls.” At that, a positive feedback loop of flustered, submissive satisfaction bounced between the two pets. With a pleased little hum, Mirabilis continued. “But, I suppose since this wasn’t something you consented to ahead of time, it would be best for me to ask whether you’d like to stop and see if we can’t find a way around that.” 

Serena wasn’t certain she could actually answer that, she was absolutely mortified. Not only had she unintentionally spoke in such a desperate, needy, submissive manner, but far worse, she liked it. She loved the way the word ‘Mistress’ felt on her tongue, how with a single word she conveyed submission, trust, comfort, safety, need. And the best part, she was powerless to stop. Serena was completely, helplessly caught in the web of her Mistress’ control, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. “N-no, Mistress,” Kenzie stammered. 

Surprised, Mirabilis snapped her gaze to her other pet, who now sat blushing and squirming in the same manner as her pinnate. “I was asking Serena, dear.” Her voice was, as always, tender and kind, but was unmistakably puzzled. 

“S-sorry, Mistress,” Kenzie’s blush only deepened. “I um, I could feel that she didn’t want it and was going to say no and then it just slipped out,” she stammered.

Mirabilis’ tender smile widened into one of absolute delight. “That’s alright, my darling floret.” She placed a kiss on Kenzie’s cheek, and turned to Serena. “But I need to hear it from you, dear. Is Kenzie right, do you like being helpless? I think you do. I think you love being so submissive that you have no choice but to acknowledge me as exactly what I am, your Mistress, your owner.” Wordlessly, Serena nodded. Stroking her chin, Mirabilis shook her head. “I’m sorry my lovely little flower, but that won’t do. I need to hear you say it. Tell me exactly what you want.”

Squirming in place, Serena forced the words from her lips. “I want it!”

“Want what, dear?”

“I want the rule. I love it. I love having no choice but to call you what you are, my Mistress, my owner.” she blurted. “Please, Mistress.”

“Oh, darling,” Mirabilis whispered. “Of course, I could never deny such an earnest request from either of my special pets.” from somewhere behind her, a pair of vines slid around each of Serena’s wrists, pulling and tying her arms behind her back as another vine curled gently around her neck. Another moan escaped her lips as her vision grew hazy beneath the waves of bliss. “Now,” Mirabilis purred. She leaned forward, pushing Kenzie onto her back and bearing down upon her, hovering over the girl at eye level. “Back to my earlier question, Serena,” she continued, not taking her eyes off Kenzie. “Do you know why I’m toying with her, and not you?”

Serena could hardly begin to form words. She was lost. In one mind, she was collared and restrained by her Mistress’ vines, being bid to watch as her girlfriend was held in place by a gorgeous plant woman. In the other, she was pinned on her back, helplessly squirming as her eyes were captured by the unwavering, burning gaze of her owner. It was too much, instinctively, she knew her Mistress wanted her to remain upright, but she couldn’t. For a moment, she teetered, eyes vacant and lips parted, then her will gave out and she collapsed backward. More vines rose from somewhere beneath Serena to wrap around her and stroke along her face and neck. “Mistress,” she groaned helplessly, writhing in the mass of vines, which only caused them to visit more delight across every inch they brushed. 

“Poor dear,” Mirabilis cooed. “It’s alright, you can stay that way. But I need you to come up to me and answer the question, okay?” 

A command, Serena had a command. Her mind, pleasure addled as it was, pushed itself to work again in the wake of a command. “I don’t know, Mistress.” Serena’s voice was barely a whimper, weak and vulnerable against the onslaught her Mistress inflicted on her.

“Because, my darling floret, your Kenzie, or should I say, my Kenzie, is already so well trained. Her will has already been broken and pieced back together in the image of a beloved little pet. And now, all that training, all that submission, is saturating your adorable little brain. I don’t need to train you, my darling. Kenzie can do that for me.” Without another word, Mirabilis dove forward, and sank her teeth in the space where Kenzie’s neck and shoulder met. Both girls screamed as pleasure and pain erupted within them, their backs arching, their breath catching, each pair of eyes rolled back into their heads. 

When Serena’s awareness returned, she was back seated on her knees; she was no longer completely entangled in vines, though some remained to gently hold her upright. Her vision was blurry, and she blinked slowly, shaking her head side to side as a vine tipped her chin upward. Mirabilis sat before her, a soft gaze fixed upon her. “Mistress,” Serena whimpered, her tone distant and weary, but edged with delight. 

“Hello petal,” she crooned, stroking Serena’s cheek. “Things got a little too intense for you back there. Are you feeling alright?” Serena nodded a little. 

“Good girl,” Mirabilis planted a kiss on Serena’s forehead. “Kenzie is still asleep, she didn’t last long after you went down. I’ve deactivated your connection to her implant for now. So it’s just you and I, you should be able to call me by name now, actually, but you won’t, will you?”

“No Mistress,” Serena whispered. 

“Such a sweet pet.” Another vine ran down Serena’s arm, curling possessively around her wrist.

“Mistress it, um… It doesn’t entirely feel like Kenzie and I are separated,” Serena commented.

“Oh?” Mira asked, her interest piqued. “In what sense?”

Blushing, Serena looked away, before mustering the strength to respond. “Well I… until Kenzie and I were linked the way we were. I never, um, I never felt this submissive.”

“Sweetheart,” Mirabilis began. “Kenzie gave you but a taste of how it feels to be a pet. She showed you how to submit to me. But what you’re feeling now is coming from you, not her. Are you truly surprised by that? You did want to be my pet, didn’t you? That doesn’t sound like something a person who doesn’t wish to submit would ask for.”

Serena’s breath caught in her throat, and she nodded meekly. “Yes, Mistress.”

Giggling, Mirabilis shifted closer, looming over Serena as a hand reached into her vines. With a kind smile, she leaned closer until her lips hovered inches from Serena’s neck. “I have something for you,” she whispered. Her hot breath tickled Serena’s neck, causing her to shudder in delight. As she withdrew, she allowed her simulated teeth to ever so gently brush the spot she’d bit Kenzie, and Serena collapsed forward into her grasp. Once more, Serena was enveloped in endless tanging vines. A low chuckle rumbled in Mira’s throat. “You just can’t keep still, can you?” Mirabilis breathed.

“I’m sorry, Mistress,” Serena shuddered. 

“It’s alright, dear.” With another soft kiss to Serena’s cheek, Mirabilis curled a hand around the back of Serena’s head, tilting her gaze upward. Without another word, Mirabilis withdrew the hand she had left rummaging about in her vines, bringing with it a soft, purple collar. She held it before Serena’s eyes, smiling warmly as a churning maelstrom of submissive want erupted in her core. “Such pretty eyes,” Mirabilis purred. “And they matched your collar so well, I was worried the color might be off, since I’d only seen photos of you before.” Delicately, she stroked her thumb along Serena’s cheek, then held Serena’s face with her free hand. “I always thought you were such a pretty little human, seeing those photos. I wanted to own you so badly. Not just for Kenzie, but for myself, too. And now, you’re mine.” Her grip tightened, pulling Serena flush against her Mistress’ body, lifting into the air as her arms and legs went limp. “I can see the way your eyes silently plead for me to put it on. But I need to hear you say it. Beg me to collar you, dear,” she ordered. 

Serena’s breath caught in her throat as it tightened. Her lips moved to form words but little more than a soft croak emerged. With great effort, she managed to just barely eak out a word. “Please.”

“Please what, petal?” 

A frustrated whine rang on deaf ears and again, Serena squirmed in mid air, her legs kicking helplessly in a futile pout. Again, she collected herself, taking a deep breath and squeezing her eyes tight. “Please collar me, Mistress!” She cried. 

A gentle hum of approval rumbled in Mira’s throat. “Open your eyes,” she called softly. “I want you to watch it happen. I want to see the look in your eyes the moment you feel it wrap around your neck.” On command, Serena’s eyes fluttered open, leaving the panting, blushing Terran suspended in air, starting meekly with pleading eyes up at her owner. “So pretty,” she echoed. Tantalizingly, she traced the floral material of Serena’s collar across her neck. As Serena shuddered, Mirabilis withdrew, a satisfied smile on her face. “I like to savor this moment,” she explained. “For some affini, the moment they set their sight on a sophont they wish to claim, they start to see them as a pet who just hasn’t realized it yet. For some, a sophont becomes their pet the moment said sophont admits they want it. Others, it’s the signing of the contract which makes it official. A lot think the haustoric implant is what really makes a pet, a pet. Me though? I guess I’m sentimental, or perhaps old fashioned. But the collar is symbolic, that’s why I save it for last. It’s what makes you mine.” 

“I’m yours,” Serena shuddered.

“I know,” Mirabilis replied. Without another word, she slipped the collar around Serena’s neck, and Serena went completely limp, collapsing forward into her owner’s grasp. She was caught effortlessly, Serena had known Mirabilis would catch her; Mirabilis would always catch her, just as Kenzie had promised. 

“I love you, Mistress,” Serena breathed. 

A wide smile of pure joy crossed Mirabilis’ face. “I love you too, petal.” Delicately, she placed Serena back onto the bed. “Now, as I said. You had a taste of what it truly means to be a pet with our dearest Kenzie. But this time it will be just you and I. I’m going to take you apart now, my Serena. But I promise you will love the way I put you together again.”

Wordlessly, Serena nodded, and her owner descended upon her.