CHAPTER 25

Awareness returned to Celia with a soft, welcoming glow. She didn’t open her eyes – there was no need to. One moment there was only blankness, then there was Celia held suspended in the boundless sky that was her mind. The formations of clouds, her central burning pillar of flame, everything felt so familiar.

Without her meaning too, a cloud bank near her parted, and all at once Celia’s body was bathed in arousal. Written in elegant glowing script were words that made her thighs clench as she read them. I am proud of my body. I deserve to feel pleasure. I can drop my guard and focus completely on pleasure with those I want to share it with.

Below that, in a neat printed script that matched Gella journals was I am content to wait until Gella deems me ready before fully claiming me. Happiness, belonging and excitement joined the desire, driving a grin to Celia’s lips. Below that, she could see that something else was written, but no matter how hard she tried her eyes simply refused to focus on it.

It had to be Gella’s subtle touch, hidden from Celia even here. A sigh, soft and content slipped from Celia’s lips. It probably should have scared her, and if it were from anyone outside Cair Dwemor she was certain it would terrify her, but Gella always made her feel so safe – so incredibly cared for.

As if triggered by that wonderful recollection, a gathering mass of silver energy flowed from all around Celia’s presence. It flowed like water around her, carrying the same power and authority that Gella radiated. The moment it touched her a deep and powerful compulsion gripped her. Kneel. There was no ground beneath her, but Celia sank to one knee all the same.

The reward burst over her a moment later. Blue and Green and Purple all brushing over her body. Pleasure danced across her, sending jolts across her suddenly stiff nipples. It flowed down her spine, hotter and more deliberate, teasing every inch of her body with phantom memories. She had done as she was told. She was a good girl.

Touches conjured from nothing continued all along her body, each a little spark of desire. Flashes of Lauren’s bright smile, Tabby swaying her lithe hips, and Violet’s skilled fingers all raced through Celia’s memory, leaving her groaning. The heady fog of desire and lust swamped her thoughts, and in that needy desperate haze even Aversa’s wickedly beautiful body flashed temptingly.

An intense command coiled around her mind once more. “Give all your strength to me, Celia,” and Celia cried in delight. It was Gella’s voice that whispered along with her magic. The other girls faded, leaving just the mage’s voice to trace delicate sensations along her nerves. It was just enough to allow Celia’s thoughts to rise above the tempting sea of desire. She needed to think to obey, and she would obey. She would do as she was told.

Her eyes found the tall proud pillar of fire, and the glittering silver power circling it. Gella’s magic could quench it easily, Celia instinctively knew, but it would be so much easier for Gella if Celia diminished it herself first. It was easier this time, her flame didn’t resist as violently as it had in the rented bed in Wand’s Reach. As the roaring flame lessened, the pleasure continued flooding her mind.

Eventually she reached the point her own will could lower the flame no more, but by then Gella’s magic was like a deluge to a campfire. It crashed in all at once just as the pleasure peaked, gripping Celia’s mind in perfect ecstasy, sending her over the cliff into the throes of orgasm. Silver lanced through her mind, holding the last vestiges of Celia’s consciousness within a glittering web.

Rational thought was far gone, along with memory. Only sensations remained, the pulsing sated heat thrumming through her body and the sheer awe of seeing how grand Gella’s magic looked spread over her mind like a wide canopy. “Now Celia, awaken for me.” Gella’s voice slipped from everywhere at once, and the dreamscape view of the sky now dominated with Gella’s magic faded into comforting darkness.

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True wakefulness returned, along with all the sensations that entailed. The soft sheets beneath her, the scent of lust and sweat lingering in the room, a cooling wetness on her slit. Celia’s eyes blinked open to take in her room, her own naked body and Gella sitting on the chair next to her bed.

Powerful silver eyes roamed every inch of flesh, sweeping a feeling of contentment in their wake. “How are you feeling, Celia?” Gella asked softly, finally settling her gaze on Celia’s own eyes.

“Amazing,” she replied truthfully. Relaxation still held her, a teasing echo of the depth of Gella's control. Shutting her eyes again, she searched inwardly and found the comforting hum of Gella’s spells again in their proper place. Following that thread, Celia traced her memory back to just why she was naked in bed, and suddenly sat up. “Lauren! Is she okay?!” She moved to sit up only for Gella’s arm to rest on her shoulder and ease her back down.

“Lauren is perfectly fine,” Gella said fondly. “I was able to get the spells on her mind up and running quickly enough.”

“Why did she react like that?” Celia asked, calm and contentment flowing into her once more.

“”Shock, I suspect. She wasn’t expecting it, and it was more than she could handle at the moment.” The mage shifted her hand up down Celia’s arm, lightly petting her. “You, my wonderful warrior, were quite impressive. I suspect it wasn’t any more pleasant for you to experience, but you managed to keep yourself together and get her help. Well done.”

Celia smiled happily, drinking the praise eagerly. “I hated seeing her miserable like that, and I was at least standing, I had to do something.”

“An attitude befitting my future Knight,” Gella praised, stoking the contented feeling further.

Celia simply laid back for a while, enjoying the peace and stillness with Gella. Glancing down at her body, she ran one hand lightly down the plane of her tummy. “And what about Tabby?,” Celia asked with a growing hint of concern. “I know she can be kind of sex obsessed, but trying to paw at Lauren while she was sobbing is extreme even for her.”

“She was drugged, right? Violet mentioned they were experimenting with different aphrodisiacs,” Gella said dismissively. “My Pretty Kitty can be a handful, but there was no lasting harm done.” The mage’s smile turned soft. “Judging from how Lauren was hugging Tabby like a plush toy when I left them, I don’t think there are any hard feelings there.”

The mental image of both of them cuddling close was too tempting to not indulge in. The fact that her imagination conveniently left them both naked in their tender embrace only added a wonderful hint of desire. Looking down at her own naked body, Celia raised a questioning eyebrow. “Not that I am complaining of course, but… Why am I naked?”

Gella didn’t answer right away, simply admiring the warrior anew. “I am tempted to simply say I wanted you to be, and leave it at that,” she said casually. Celia grinned back at that, enjoying the submissive delight that flared briefly. “But the more accurate answer is that I was implementing a training method.”

“Oh?” Celia asked, interest suddenly sharp in her voice. That was something else the last few weeks had brought to light. Far from worrying her as it had in the beginning, Gella’s calm and detailed explanations of just how she was carefully shaping Celia’s mind had begun to fascinate the warrior.

Gella nodded with a touch of eagerness. One careful hand swept down Celia’s body, the touch light and fleeting. “Oh yes. As we move into preparing your mind to accept my control on a deeper level, I want to lessen the negative experiences of having to force your own defenses down,” she began in her researcher voice. “So I’m teaching the part of your mind that exists beneath your conscious thoughts to associate surrendering to me with pleasure.”

Celia nodded along, parsing what she could of Gella’s explanation. “It only works for you, right?” The sudden unwanted thought of a nameless faceless other trying to steal her mind away clenched at her stomach.

“Just me for now,” Gella replied confidently. “Describing the actual spells and effects I am beginning to tie together would be meaningless to you,” she added with an apologetic nod. “But the summary of it is that you are acting as your own filter of who you surrender yourself to.”

Celia couldn’t stop herself from beaming. She wasn’t entirely Gella’s, not yet. But hearing just how that would come to be was leaving delicate sparks to play in her tummy. “And it will help with recovering my memories?” She asked, more to distract herself from the building heat than honest curiosity.

“That is a process with a lot of moving parts,” Gella’s hand went back to trace the curve of Celia’s forehead, a touch the warrior eagerly leaned into. “When your mind is whole again, and every part is ready for me, then–” She snapped her finger and Celia couldn’t stop the moan from spilling from her lips. She felt herself ready to tumble into the endless colors another snap would bring, then slowly regained her footing when that second snap failed to follow. “You will be mine,” she finished with a smoldering look that Celia easily imagined herself falling endlessly into. Seeing the soft helpless look in Celia’s eyes, Gella nodded and held thumb and forefinger together again. “Speaking of, if you are ready to continue?”

Celia nodded, shifting into the pillows until she couldn’t imagine a more comfortable position. The two distinct snaps filled the room and Celia took a sharp intake of breath. The familiar powerful compulsion to find somewhere safe and sink gripped her for only a moment. There wasn’t anywhere she could imagine feeling safer, and as her inner flame burst into the fae Logic, Celia was perfectly happy to tumble into their enticing depths.

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“Whatever event is hiding in your mind, it seems to have happened about six months after your eighteenth birthday,” Gella muttered, noting in her journal while dictating to the hovering crystal. “And then your memories start again about six months later near Astoria,” she continued.

Celia lay back on her bed while Gella worked though the problem, feeling mentally exhausted. It was a curious feeling. Her body felt completely rested, even better than she had before Gella snapped her down. Sometime during Gella’s work she had apparently commanded Celia to dress in a simple nightgown, eat and drink as she wasn’t feeling hungry or thirsty. But behind her eyes she felt exhausted and tender, as if her mind itself had been worked over in training. “Yeah,” she agreed drowsily. “Meeting Krisk, having him train me, everything is clear after that.”

Gella looked up from her note taking at Celia’s tone and gave her a soft smile. “It has been a few hours Celia. We can stop for the night,” she declared.

Celia’s immediate thought was to shake her head, insist she was okay, only for a yawn to bubble its way up and out. She arched her back and still attempted to say she was fine even through the clear evidence to the contrary.

“Yes, I can see you are full of energy,” Gella deadpanned, earning her a sheepish smile from Celia. “We can continue this tomorrow,” she decided. “Everything feeling secure here?” She asked, leaning over to tap Celia’s forehead.

The warrior shut her eyes, concentrating on the feeling of Gella’s magic wrapping around and strengthening her mind. “Yes, I feel great.” She opened her eyes, catching Gella’s and smiling sincerely. “Thank you.”

The mage returned the smile with a small one of her own, shifting to press a small welcome kiss to Celia’s lips. It was over too quick to savor, instead adding just a drop of pure contentment to swirl around Celia’s heart. “You’re very welcome.” Gella said while gathering her journal and crystal. “I’ll be in my workroom doing some research for the rest of the evening if you need me.” A moment later she had slipped out the door, leaving Celia alone in her room.

She had just begun to ponder checking in on Lauren when a series of rapid knocks hammered her door. “Celia, it’s Clara. Can I come in?” The moment Celia opened the door, she had her arms full of the near-frantically apologizing woman.

“OhCeliaIamsososorryIdidn’tmeantotakethatspelloffyoupleasepleasepleasedon’tbemad!” The stream of words flowed by nearly unheard as Clara wasn’t bothering with breaks between her words, nor at times seemingly the need to breathe.

Finally Celia resorted to carefully pressing her finger to Clara’s lips, feeling a subtle smile tug her own from being on this side of the gesture. “Clara,” she said calmly and firmly. “Take a deep breath, and start over.” While Clara did as instructed, Celia noted that Clara was wearing a simple blouse and skirt, while her hair was its mundane dark color, and some redness lingered in her two-toned eyes. “Have you been crying?” She asked, removing the finger.

“Oh, gods above yes!” Clara exclaimed. “If I knew Gella had an active spell on you I would never in a million years have suggested training with dispelling charms!” She added, voice speeding up until Celia had to hold up the finger again and take a deep breath of her own. Following her lead, Clara flashed a fragile, hopeful smile. “Oh, Celia… I am so, so sorry.”

Before Clara could begin another round of tears, Celia felt a swell of gratitude and pulled the woman into a hug. Clara hadn’t meant to hurt her, that was clear as day, and she cared enough to come as soon as she could to clear the air. It felt warm and comfortable. Safe. “It was an accident Clara, and if you didn’t know, then you didn’t know,” Celia said softly, releasing the now smiling mage from the hug. “You’re forgiven.”

“Oh, you have no idea how glad I am to hear that,” Clara said, still beaming. “Buuuut,” she continued, voice suddenly much softer and more alluring. “I still want to make it up to you. I haven’t forgotten how you looked at me during Tabby’s party,” she purred with a teasing giggle.

Celia blinked in surprise, feeling a tempting warmth creep along her body. The memories of Clara, Electra, and Lauren all sharing a tub in the Grotto suddenly seemed crystal clear. She could picture every curve of the exuberant mage’s body as if she had seen it only yesterday, and her eyes traveled slowly up and down Clara’s body. “I… What?” She stammered.

Clara giggled again. “I want to make up for hurting you, Celia,” she said while stepping forward and reaching to take Celia’s hand. When Celia didn’t stop her, Clara folded her hand over Celia’s and brought it her own covered breast. The fabric was delightfully soft, the large orb underneath invitingly yielding and warm. For a moment Celia floundered, trying in vain to find some point of reference for Clara’s actions. She was in a relationship with Electra for Ishara’s sake!

Then a kernel of doubt slithered in, reminding Celia that she had only seen a tiny sample of life here. Eirinn and Tiffany had been just as flagrant just that afternoon, after all. For all she knew, this was normal for Clara. Seemingly without her willing them too, her fingers began carefully tracing the curve of Clara’s breast. Her worries vanished for a moment, and she was absorbed in every sensation. Clara’s warm encouraging smile, the gathering desire that was tickling her body, and the slow liquid fire teasing her pussy. “I… But… Electra?” Celia managed.

Clara’s smile turned outright mischievous for a moment. “Oh my! You want my Forest Gem too?” She teased. Before Celia could clarify, Clara nodded. “I could have her up here too, if you’d like? I know for a fact she likes you.” Stepping closer, Clara slowly pressed a kiss to Celia’s lips. It was heated and sensual, Clara’s tongue swiping into Celia’s mouth while both women sighed in delight.

Celia let herself get lost in the kiss while the needy fog crawled up her body, making every touch on her skin feel better; more intimate. Desire pulsed through her, and she groaned while pressing her thighs together, suddenly desperate for something, anything to touch her there.

Her memory, still lingering over that heedy evening, shifted and with a start Lauren’s soft beauty dominated the recollection. The gripping haze of lust suddenly broke, leaving a flustered Celia to step away from Clara. “Celia?” Clara asked softly.

“I…” Celia took a deep breath and reached for her flame. It burned the remaining haze away like morning fog, and she felt a renewed confidence steady her. Nothing about the woman in front of her changed, she was still temptingly beautiful, and pure physical need still teased along her body. But she could focus past that for now. She liked Clara, but she didn’t love her. “Thank you, Clara. But I think someone else could use my attention tonight.”

Clara looked at her for a long moment before a change came over her. The mage shut her eyes tightly, and when she opened them, they were lacking the lust drunk sheen from a moment before. “Lauren?” She asked with a giddy smile.

Celia nodded, opening the door for them both. “I’ll see you for training tomorrow?”

“Sure thing,” she said with a nod. “And the offer stands, if you are interested later?” She finished with a flirty wink and a waved farewell, heading for the grand stairway.

Rolling her eyes good-naturedly, Celia padded down the corridor toward Lauren’s room. After a single knock, the door opened to reveal a bed-headed priestess blinking at Celia with her pink-rimmed eyes. “Celia!" She said happily, opening the door to let the warrior in.

From the nightgown that highlighted Lauren’s body in white silk, to the rumbled sheets and blankets on her bed, it was clear the pinkette had been – if not completely – at least close to asleep. “Oh! I didn’t mean to wake you up, Lauren,” Celia said, already turning to head back out.

Lauren’s hand closed over Celia’s wrist. Turning back to face the priestess, Celia was rewarded with a thankful smile. The banked need that Clara had ignited transformed in Celia’s chest. She ached to feel the woman in her arms. Not for the satisfaction of base pleasure, but to simply be close to a woman she treasured dearly. “You don’t need to go, Celia,” she said sweetly.

“I wanted to check on you,” Celia offered, and Lauren eagerly nodded.

“Gella worked her magic, and I felt right as rain after.” She said it so casually, but Celia felt the glow of admiration for the silver haired woman. “She was with you for lots longer, though.” The giddy smile morphed into a mildly concerned look. “Are you alright Celia?”

“She did the same for me, yes. And I feel fantastic.” Celia followed Lauren to sit on her bed, and she caught a whiff of subtle perfume, clean linen, and just the scent of Lauren.

Lauren crawled in after Celia. “She takes such great care of all of us.” There was a moment of silence while both women simply looked into each other’s eyes. “Tabby was here earlier, nearly bawling her eyes out,” Lauren said calmly. “It took some doing to calm her down, and assure her I wasn’t mad.”

Celia grinned at the mental image, Lauren petting the distraught cat-girl until she melted contentedly in Lauren’s lap. “You have that effect on people,” she said quietly before leaning into place a light kiss on Lauren’s lips.

She returned it delicately, leaving the same fluttering excitement in Celia’s tummy as Gella’s kiss had earlier. “Celia, will you spend the night here with me?” Lauren asked, scooting to the side and patting the mattress in a gesture of invitation.

A haze of soft pleasant warmth clouded Celia’s mind, love and desire and the exhaustion of the day catching up with her in that single question. “I would love to.”

The warrior and priestess slipped back under the sheets, their bodies cradling one another as they lay back to front. Lauren’s arm wrapped around her, pulling them into a tender embrace. Feeling completely at peace, Celia let sleep tug her into welcoming darkness.

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The last vestiges of Celia’s dream faded away, leaving her feeling a tingling phantom touch between her legs and a swiftly fading memory of a truly pleasant dream. Lauren’s room, lit with the light of the rising sun, greeted her. Turning under the sheets to check on her bedmate, Celia froze.

Lauren was a beautiful woman, Celia had known that since the moment the two met. But seeing her beloved asleep kindled something so much deeper in her. Long pink hair ran down her back, silky and soft. Shiny white silk highlighted the curve of her hips, down the swell of her butt and the tantalizing knowledge that Lauren wasn’t wearing anything under the flimsy material. Just seeing Lauren’s back was enough to catch her breath, to make her moan anew. Then as if responding to an unspoken desire, Lauren rolled over to face Celia.

Celia had always been more at home with action than with words, and only now did she curse her limited vocabulary. Words like beautiful seemed so common for the peacefully sleeping woman sharing a bed with her. Only after gazing at her rapt for a moment did Celia notice that Lauren’s lips were parted and her breath seemed to be coming a little heavier. A tiny moan slipped free and instantly Celia felt ready to move a mountain to hear that moan again.

Pink-rimmed blue eyes fluttered open, locking on Celia amid an adorable yawn. The pinkette’s eyes traveled down Celia’s body and a full grin claimed her lips. “Hello, beautiful,” she whispered, making the hairs on the back of Celia’s neck stand on end. Shimmying closer, Lauren’s arms went around Celia’s waist, pulling them close together.

Lauren’s body was practically radiating warmth and comfort. It trickled in bit by bit, driving off any considerations other than indulging in Lauren’s gentle loving presence. Leaning in to kiss the priestess, Celia trailed tiny pecks across her cheek. “You didn’t cast a spell on me or anything, right?” She teased with a hopeful edge. As deep and pure as this sudden swell of need felt, it being magically induced would taint it.

“Only if you suddenly learned to cast the same one on me, Celia,” Lauren replied with a giggle that spread to Celia. They stopped grinning to simply gaze adoringly at each other once more. One of Lauren’s hands slid up to run the pad of her finger up and down the shoulder strap of Celia’s nightgown. Celia saw the depths of need and desire in Lauren’s gaze, and gave her a single nod.

Nimble fingers worked the fabric up and over Celia’s head. For a moment she caught a whiff of her own lust, an earthy primal scent that only pulsed further heat through her body. The silken fabric was tossed carelessly aside, leaving Lauren free to anoint each bare stiff nipple with a single kiss. Purring appreciatively, Celia gathered the fabric of Lauren’s nightgown, and tossed it aside swiftly to marvel at Lauren’s body.

Appreciative staring was lost to deep passionate kisses, both women’s hands running over the other. Breath passed between them, hot and damp, when their lips weren’t busy trying to memorize the feel of the other’s. Love, passion and need suffused every kiss, every touch.

A faint idea whispered from the depth of Celia’s desire. The idea of Lauren skillfully taking control, using everything she knew about the warrior to make her submit. It was incredibly intense, and almost instantly discarded. Dominance and submission would have their time, Celia was certain. Right now, though, she just wanted the amazing woman to be with her. Wanted to know and kiss every inch of her.

After a particularly intense kiss, Celia smirked and carefully rolled over to straddle Lauren’s waist. She felt sublime, smooth soft skin contrasting with the volcanic heat pulsing from the bare folds between Lauren’s legs. Flicking her eyes down and then back to Lauren’s, she got a nod. Dragging her lips down Lauren’s tummy, Celia left a trail of wet kisses right to the pinkette’s belly button.

Celia moved down further, kneeling on the soft mattress, and Lauren eagerly spread her legs wide. Dew-slicked lips beckoned, promising to slake the sudden intense thirst Celia felt. What few lessons Tabby had taught her and the motions she knew felt good on her own body jostled below Celia’s conscious thought. The tempest of desire resolved on a single powerful need, to hear her beloved moan again.

Celia’s tongue, her lips, and her fingers all joined in together with one common purpose. Kisses melded into licks while her fingers eased deep inside Lauren’s body. The moans and ecstatic cries spilling from above her drove the warrior further, eager to hear every note and tone she was causing.

Fingers slipped through her hair, shifting between pressing down and scritching Celia’s scalp. Both sent inferno hot sparks that only just brushed Celia’s submissive tendencies in the most enticing way. She felt the tremble of Lauren’s muscles, the sporadic tensing that Celia knew meant Lauren was close to the edge. An edge she desperately wanted to send Lauren flying over.

Her efforts redoubled. Fingers slid purposefully in and out, glistening with essence and slightly curved to hit just the right spots. Lips focused on her stiff, sensitive clit, causing Lauren’s hips to buck, while Celia gratefully savored every second.

A high wordless cry filled the room while Lauren’s body went taut, her hips lifting off the bed while her fingers gripped Celia’s hair tight enough to sting.

Panting and flushed, Celia crawled her way up, laying alongside Lauren and placing a gentle hand on her cheek. Lauren’s lust drunk eyes shut and she nuzzled into Celia’s palm. “Mmmm, thank you,” she murmured.

“You are very welcome,” Celia said back just as softly. She lay there alongside the recovering priestess for a moment, simply watching her breathe.

When Lauren’s eyes opened she looked more cognizant, and turned to kiss Celia’s palm. “Now just lay back, let me make you feel good.”

It was far too sweet and soft to be a real command, and Celia knew it was just a request, but the same teasing notes still filtered through. She laid back, and was treated to a barrage of kisses and tiny licks to her nipples. Lauren’s lips felt like pure love, and when the very edges of her teeth brushed the tips of each nub it added an amazing tingle to the pleasant fire rushing through her veins.

Lauren trailed much the same way down Celia’s tummy, leaving a trail of kisses along the flat plane. Unlike her, Lauren paused and knelt between Celia’s spread legs. A single finger moved with agonizing slowness up her folds, just barely teasing the outer lips. Looking supremely happy with herself, Lauren held up the fingertip coated with clear liquid desire. Popping it into her mouth, she mewled happily, withdrawing the digit with a wet pop.

Celia watched, unable to tear her eyes away or even do more than groan. It was such a simple gesture, but it set her desire roaring like a furnace. Lauren’s fingers returned, carefully stroking up and down with only a tiny bit of pressure. The warrior writhed on the sheets, stuck in the wonderful torture of Lauren’s sedate pace. “Gods above, Celia,” Lauren cooed. “You look so sexy like that.” She knelt down further, placing a kiss right on Celia’s clit.

The simple kiss sent a bolt along Celia’s nerves. Her eyes shut and a soft moan pushed past her lips. The sensations multiplied and expanded, bouncing and rebounding while rational thought vanished. Then there was only Lauren’s delicate fingers, her soft tongue, her warm lips. Her own crest was looming, ready to crash on her, held only inches away by how precisely Lauren moved her fingers. “Oh fuck! Lauren…. please.” Celia heard a plaintive needy voice and sighed in a mixture of soft embarrassment and sharp desire when it turned out to be her own.

Lauren didn’t need words to respond, Celia felt her shift and press in deeper. A thumb on her clit and fingers hooked in to press a spot that whited out Celia’s vision. The cresting release carried her helpless, moaning and shifting while Lauren touched her just the right way to prolong the amazing sensations.

When the world eventually expanded back beyond Celia’s body and the arcing pleasure jolting it, Celia found Lauren snuggled against her. Her flushed hot body felt perfect against the warrior’s, with one of Celia’s arms wrapped around Lauren’s back, resting on the small of it. Smiling and feeling very sated, Celia kissed the top of Lauren’s head. “Thank you,” she said softly, running her fingers up and down Lauren’s back.

Lauren shifted up to kiss Celia’s neck in return. “You’re welcome, Celia. I think I was having dreams about it too.” With a giggle, she started mimicking Celia’s petting along the warrior’s tummy. “Then I woke up and saw how you were looking at me.”

Looking down into Lauren’s beautiful eyes, Celia could only nod. She was in love, and Lauren loved her in return. It was only natural to need each other like that. A warm haze brushed her thoughts, bringing enticing images of all the many ways Lauren and her could share their bodies. “Did you mean what you said yesterday, about wanting to watch me workout naked?” The words left her lips before she was even really aware of the question, and despite everything she felt her cheeks flush.

“Oh very much so,” Lauren said sweetly, soothing away the embarrassment. “Seeing this wonderful body of yours move and sweat,” she giggled while her other hand drifted to her breast. Delicate fingers toyed with a soft nipple while she sighed happily.

Celia smirked at the sight, feeling quite heated herself. So Lauren liked seeing her work her body, and liked watching her sweat, did she? Bending down to kiss Lauren’s head again, she gestured toward the door to her room. “I might have some ideas about that,” she promised with a sly look. “But later. Let’s go get some breakfast before Gella sends a search team for us.” ________________

After a shower that only narrowly avoided becoming another excuse to make each other moan, Lauren and Celia made their way to the dining room. It was thankfully absent of trysts between Violet and Tabby today, containing only a slightly grumpy looking Damian. He was dressed casually, leather breeches and a simple open shirt. “Hey Celia, Lauren,” he said, brightening up a little. “If you’re looking for Gella, she hasn’t come down yet.”

The two women glanced at each other and then back to him. “Is that unusual?” Celia asked. While the mage had been punctual to nearly every meal so far in her time here, Celia had to remind herself again that she wasn’t completely familiar with Cair Dwemor.

“She almost never sleeps in,” Damian said, a frown forming on her lips. “I wonder if I should–” He was cut off when the door opened.

Violet strode in first in her usual demure perfection. She dipped a perfunctory curtsey to everyone in the room. “Since Tabitha is otherwise engaged… again,” she said with almost but not quite concealed distaste, “I will be preparing breakfast.” She vanished into the kitchen, leaving Damian to sigh heavily.

“I swear Tabby is getting worse these days,” he said. “It's what I wanted to talk to Gella about.” The door opened again and Celia’s thoughts froze solid.

Gella looked flawless. Her long hair shimmered in the morning light like liquid metal while her powerful eyes quickly took stock of the room. The mage radiated authority and control on a level Celia could feel tugging at her. A glance at Lauren told her that the priestess was having a similar line of thought.

“Good morning, Lauren, Celia,” she said affectionately.

“Good morning, Mistress,” Lauren repeated back. A hot clenching ache swirled through Celia, hearing that. Lauren was already so deeply under Gella’s control, and a desire as hot as a bonfire to be just as deep crackled in the back of Celia’s mind. Waiting for the mage to declare her ready was obeying, and that soothed the ache marginally. Still, she deeply desired the day Gella would claim her fully. Make her a Treasure completely.

“Good morning, Gella,” Celia said as demurely as she could, like she imagined a knight greeting her lady. It felt clumsy, incomplete, and she quickly tried to apologize.

Gella’s eyes, as warm as love itself and deep as the ocean, stilled her. Soft fingers touched the crystal Celia wore around her neck, infusing it with the light of her ragira. In that moment Celia felt she could have something to compare to how Lauren felt toward her goddess. A sense of peace and belonging washed over her, making her beam. “Thank you, my Lady.” That felt right. She hadn’t earned what Lauren had, of course. But surely Gella would appreciate at least some form of honorific, right?

Her hopes were rewarded when Gella favored her with a gentle smile. “I do love the enthusiasm, Celia.”

Excitement washed though Celia, paired with a deep surge of gratitude. Looking at Gella’s lips, a deep desire arose and overtook her. “Can I have a kiss, my Lady?” Instantly regretting being so forward, Celia could only stand stock still waiting for–

“Of course you can,” Gella said smoothly, wrapping an arm around Celia’s waist and pulling her in for a brief soft kiss. The tension that had built up fled Celia’s body the moment her lips touched Gella’s, replaced by a feeling of complete relaxation. The spells in her mind thrummed, and the warrior could only smile in response.

Damian rose and walked to Gella, sounding quite serious about how Tabby had been distracting the rest of the Heralds, but it was little more than background noise to the cloud of satisfaction Celia felt herself floating in.

Lauren’s hand on Celia’s brought the warrior back to reality, if only slightly. “That was so sweet to watch,” Lauren said quietly, leading them both to their seats while Damian and Gella argued over Tabby. It sounded like Damian was getting quite frustrated, but Celia was confident that whatever it was, Gella would handle it as expertly as she always did. Besides, there was an adorable priestess right here to confide in.

“I can’t help it,” Celia said quietly back. “She's just so…” Words again failed her, but looking into Lauren’s pink-rimmed eyes she shrugged. “Well, you know exactly how she is.”

While Lauren nodded enthusiastically, Violet reappeared with her arms laden with trays. It was a simple egg dish, warm and filling, but lacking Tabby’s usual culinary magic. Celia hardly even tasted it, focused as she suddenly was on Violet. Gella hadn’t exactly ordered her and Violet to get along, but it was quite clear she wanted it.

Violet ate daintily, the rune on her forehead pulsing all the while. In a memory so far removed as to be nearly meaningless now, Celia remembered being terrified of that kind of control. Here and now though, it seemed so incredibly alluring. The ultimate way for Gella to claim her.

“Violet,” she said softly, bringing the elven woman’s attention to her. “Do you think Our Lady will even mark me, like she marked you?”

Violet went still, studying her carefully with a tilted head. Her elegant features remained neutral, and eventually she simply shrugged. “It would be up to her, of course.” Slicing a bite of egg and bringing it to her lips, she chewed and swallowed before adding, "Why do you ask?”

Celia cradled her chin in her hand, watching while Gella finally seemed to mollify Damian enough to stop arguing. “Just thinking about being hers, completely. Like you are,” she sighed dreamily

Violet gave a noncommittal shrug, returning her attention to her breakfast. Finishing it swiftly, she bowed a polite retreat. She was always so focused on being the perfect maid for Gella, and Celia gave another wistful sigh. Violet had all these duties to perform, even Damian and his Heralds did more for Gella then she did, and they didn’t even want to be hers. Her plan from earlier returned to the forefront of her mind. She did have one way to be useful to Gella.

“Lauren,” she began in a hushed whisper. “I think I have an idea to make our Lady happy and give you what we talked about when we woke up.” Lauren’s expression turned incredibly intrigued. “Can you tell me about your restorative spells? I have something I want to try.”