An exasperated Rachel

After breakfast, you sit down on the couch to wait for Rachel. Maya immediately snuggles up with you, saying it’s her day with you and she gets cuddling privileges. Kali sits on your other side, nervously fiddling with the material of the couch. The rest of the girls have gone about their day, agreeing that the three of you can handle this.

You’re just about to suggest a movie when Anna leads a very agitated Rachel into the room.

“Ah, you’re here! Please have a seat, we can get this all sorted out and Maya can take me on our date.”

Rachel stares at you for a minute, looking at Kali in confusion as she sits down. “Fine, but first, who is this? We don’t have any record of a new monster girl showing up, and definitely not one moving in with you!”

Bracing yourself, you smile and look at Rachel. “This is Kali. She looks a little different now.”

Rachel is stunned, staring in disbelief. “What? Kali the Lilim? But how? We know what she looks like...”

Kali speaks up, nervous and quiet. “Josh put me in a situation where I had to make a choice. When I choose to abandon my father and join Josh, I...changed. Both in appearance and in magical abilities.”

You nod in agreement. “She changed from demonic to, frankly, angelic.” Kali blushes at the description. “Additionally, instead of **** magic, she has life magic, and she seems much stronger in healing than she ever was as a destroyer.”

You spend some time describing your confrontation, and Rachel gives you a grave look as you finish.

“That was reckless and stupid. You should be dead after a risk like that.”

“Believe me, the girls have made it clear how stupid it was. But just look how happy Kali is now!”

Rachel shakes her head. “You know I have to take her before the council...”

“No.” The answer comes from all three of you at once. You’re a bit surprised by Maya joining in, but she continues. “Kali is family now. You can’t just drag one of us off to be questioned or whatever you want to do with her. If she wants to go, it will be with us, not you.”

Rachel just stares, the disbelief plain. “We need to find out what is going on with her portal at least...”

“Yeah, I destroyed it. Absorbed it, actually.”

“You WHAT? That’s dangerous! And you can’t possibly hold that power for long. We needed to research that portal!”

You scratch your cheek and shrug. “My powers are...changing, Rachel. I don’t lose them anymore. So I guess I could make a portal any time you needed...”

Rachel puts her head in her hands. “I...this is crazy, Josh. I need some time to talk to the council. Please don’t do anything else insane for a while?”

You chuckle. “No promises, but I don’t plan on it for now. We need to get Kali and Sadie comfortable here, and I owe all my girls dates.”

Maya nods vigorously, “And today’s my day!”

Rachel looks at you, and starts laughing. “It’s amazing how far you’ve come in less than a year. From a quiet recluse, to a powerful, confident mage. And surrounding yourself with powerful, beautiful women who are incredibly devoted to you. It’s enough to make a girl jealous. I’ll talk to you soon, Josh. And...Kali? I hope you understand what a gift Josh has given you.

As Rachel stands to leave, Kali just smiles and speaks quietly.