Choosing A Side Part 5

Later that night, I sat alone on the roof, staring at the stars as the cool breeze refreshed me. My thoughts kept drifting back to Namy and Usofra and the uncertainty of their fate. They took my and Zaine's appearance as a distraction for a while so we could escape to human territory. I'd lost track of time when I heard footsteps approaching.

Ryul appeared with a bottle of liquor in hand, "Mind if I join you?" He asked casually, gesturing with the bottle as an offering.

I nodded. Ryul settled beside me and took a swig before passing it over, "You look worried earlier," He observed, "What's going on?"

"It's my companions... Namy and Usofra. They stayed behind in demon territory to let Zaine and me escape." The words felt heavy in my mouth as I voiced them aloud.

Ryul gave a low whistle, shaking his head slightly, "And here I thought it was just some drama between Zaine and Amelia," He said with a half-smile.

After a moment of silence, Ryul spoke again, this time more curious, "Namy... is she the same demon who pretended to be Caroline back at the castle years ago?"

"Yes…" I replied, "She was doing her job back then."

Ryul seemed to consider this momentarily before nodding slowly, "So you're saying she's not as bad as we all thought?"

"That's right," I said, accepting the bottle and taking a long drink, "She was only spying on the castle because she had to."

Ryul leaned back, his expression thoughtful, "Gerald's still hoping Caroline will turn up one day," He said, almost as if testing my reaction.

My grip tightened around the bottle. I felt bad for Gerald. He was clinging to a ghost. He doesn't know that the real Caroline might be...

"You really think your two friends can make it out of there?" Ryul asked, breaking into my thoughts.

"I hope so," The words came out more like a plea than an answer, "Usofra's smart; she'll find a way."

"What about Zaine?" Ryul asked, "You're gonna stick by her until the end?"

"She's important," I simply answered.

"You sure know how to pick 'em, Darx," Ryul said, a teasing edge in his voice, "Getting in trouble with women is your specialty, huh?"

I couldn't help but let out a small laugh, "That's one way to put it."

"Man, I used to be so jealous of you back when you had that sexy, curvy girlfriend—Syvis, right?" Ryul chuckled, watching me closely, "Now you go and outdo yourself with someone like Zaine! She's even hotter!"

I shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Syvis's name, and Ryul must have noticed because he quickly added, "Hey, sorry if that was a sore spot. Didn't mean to bring up old shit."

It was my turn to take a long swig from the bottle. The liquor burned down my throat, but I welcomed the distraction, "It's fine."

We sat there in silence for a moment, passing the bottle back and forth as the stars twinkled overhead.

"You've been asking about me," I finally said, breaking the silence, "What about you? How are you holding up since I left?"

Ryul's grin faded just a little as he leaned back and looked at the sky, "It's been a rough ride, man. Right after you bailed, they shipped most of us to the northern border to hold off the demonic army."

"I see…" I replied.

"For my part, I was assigned as one of the escorts who would accompany Princess Kathleen on a long trip she made to the Beast-Kind territory, making sure she got there safe and sound." He shrugged it off like it was no big deal.

I remembered him being head over heels for her back then, "How'd that workout? I remember you used to drool over the princess."

Ryul hesitated before sighing, "Hard to explain…"

I didn't push it. Ryul's expression said more than words ever could. Instead, I took another swig from the bottle and passed it back to him.

Ryul laughed, shaking his head, "Man, I tried to win her over. Thought maybe escort duty would give me a chance to make her fall head over heels."

"And?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I knew from the start it was a lost cause," He shrugged with a wide grin, "Turns out princesses don't usually go for guys like me. You know how it is—royals and all that. Gave up on my feelings pretty quick."

"Sorry about that," I said, trying not to sound too sympathetic since Ryul seemed to be taking it in stride.

"No need," Ryul waved it off, "I ended up hooking up with Wendy after that."

"Wendy?" I asked, surprised.

He laughed again, taking another swig from the bottle before passing it to me, "Yeah! She was with us as one of the escorts, too."

"What happened with her?"

"Didn't work out either," Ryul leaned back with an exaggerated sigh, though he didn't seem particularly upset about it, "Seems like I've got no luck with women."

I gave him a smirk, "At some point, the right one will come along."

"Guess we'll see about that," Ryul replied, "Still, it was my fault from the start. Kathleen is a princess with responsibilities to fulfill. Most importantly, she has always seen me as nothing more than a friend," Ryul said jokingly but with a hint of something else lurking underneath.

I nodded slowly, not knowing what to say.

"Aside from that, Kathleen already had someone she was attracted to, although it didn't work out for her either." Ryul continued.

Someone the princess was attracted to? Upon reflection, I recall that years ago, there were rumors about Princess Kathleen having a secret relationship with S-Rank Zhoron. At the same time, it was also said that Queen Zara was involved in a romance with Zhoron, who served as her bodyguard. Some even speculated that the Queen and Zhoron conspired to **** the king so that they could be together.

"So what happened to Princess Kathleen?" I asked, feeling curious.

Ryul sighed again, "Now she's engaged to a Beast-Kind jerk. An arranged marriage **** upon her as part of the Beast-Kind's demands to help fight the Demons," Ryul paused for a moment before continuing. His expression showed his displeasure with the princess's situation, "To be honest, knowing Queen Zara, I really doubt that the marriage will happen."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Ryul turned to look me in the eyes and said, "Even after the trip, I spent a lot of time in the castle because they needed increased security due to conflicts between the Kingdom and the Church. I was in the presence of the Queen several times, and I can tell you that the Queen always gets what she wants, and one thing she definitely doesn't want is that marriage," Ryul continued without shifting his gaze, "I'm sure the Queen is using her daughter and the Beast-Kind with other plans in mind."

For some reason, Ryul's words gave me chills.

"Darx, I trust that the Queen's intentions towards you and Zaine are genuine, and that's why I decided to help her bring you back. I truly believe that the Queen's actions are aimed at benefiting the Kingdom. However, I recommend that you never let your guard down around her. Always remember that there may be hidden motives behind everything she does." Ryul said in a serious tone, which is rare for him.

I wonder what Ryul saw in the castle that made him speak that way. Regardless, I feel like I need to keep his words in mind at all times now that I'm heading back to the capital.

"You lucky bastard!" Ryul suddenly exclaimed, changing the topic, playfully shoving my shoulder and snapping the tension like a twig, "Got yourself the hottest babe on the continent. Zaine is a total knockout!"

I managed a chuckle, grateful for the shift in tone.

"Is she your girlfriend then?" Ryul asked.

The question made me pause. I hadn't really thought about it like that. We've never made anything official, but... we're together. We depend on each other. We've fucked so many times I've lost count. Maybe that's what a girlfriend is? I wondered if I should ask Zaine.

"Y-Yeah," I finally said, letting the word settle between us.

Ryul threw his hands up dramatically, "Man, why can't I ever find someone like that? I pray every night for a hot woman to look my way!"

"Looks like you need to pray more," I said jokingly.

"Asshole!" Ryul smirked, eyeing me curiously, "Alright, but what about Amelia? What's your plan there?"

The question caught me off guard. My mind scrambled for an answer that wouldn't make me sound clueless.

Ryul laughed at my obvious confusion and clapped a hand on my back, "Dude! You didn't notice? Amelia's totally in love with you! She's so nervous about seeing you again."

"You're kidding," I said, thinking he was pulling my leg. But Ryul looked completely serious.

"No way, man. Amelia didn't come all the way out here just to explain shit and make peace. Amelia is hoping for a second chance with you!"

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. A second chance? I had never considered that possibility. I'd been so focused on Zaine and finding answers, but Amelia... I felt my chest tighten as I tried to process what that even meant.

"It was a long way from the capital to here, so we talked a lot, but all Amelia talked about was you. It was a bit annoying, I must say. She expressed her regrets about everything that happened with Kase and mentioned that she hoped they could return to the way things were before or something like that. I don't recall every detail of what Amelia said very well," Ryul continued, watching my reaction closely, "You've got her all twisted up, dude."

I searched for something to say, but my mind was a swirling mess of confusion and emotions I hadn't fully faced yet. Anger toward Amelia had burned so bright once. Now? Now, it was gone. Instead, there was something else—a strange kind of compassion after hearing about everything she went through.

"I'm not sure how..." I began but trailed off, not knowing how to finish the thought.

Ryul nodded like he understood what I couldn't put into words, "Yeah, you've got a lot to figure out with her."

I fell silent again.

"So you really had no idea?" Ryul asked after a moment.

I shook my head slowly, "I thought... No, I didn't know," I shifted uncomfortably, "I'm with Zaine now."

Ryul chuckled like he had anticipated that line, "Hey, I'm just saying what I saw. But you know, it's not like you can't have more than one girl, right?"

I blinked, unsure if I'd heard him right.

"It's not forbidden around here," Ryul continued, letting the words dangle in the air, "Even nobles have a couple of wives at once."

I gave a short laugh, "Do I look like a noble to you?"

Ryul pointed a finger at the roof, "Well, you're already living in a mansion, dude! You're on your way there!"

We both laugh, easing the tension.

"Seriously," Ryul said after catching his breath, giving me a knowing look, "You're gonna have it rough. Amelia's not gonna give up easy."

My smile faded as his words sunk in. I was grateful for the heads-up but uneasy about what awaited me.

Ryul sighed, "I wish I had your kind of problem."

I shook my head at him with a bemused smile, "You'll find someone eventually."

He leaned back with an exaggerated sigh again, his cheeky grin still intact, "Yeah, right! Not all of us get to be lucky bastards like you.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, confused by her sudden change of attitude.

After keeping talking for a while, we both decided to call it a night and go into the mansion. As I stepped into the dim corridor of the ruined mansion, my thoughts were a tangled mess. Amelia's hope for a second chance and Ryul's talk about Queen Zara's schemes circled in my mind.

The door to the room creaked open under my hand, and I paused in the doorway. Zaine was already inside, her back to me as she unhooked her top and let it slide down her arms. Her long, purple hair shimmered like silk in the flickering candlelight, falling over her shoulders and cascading down her back. She turned slightly, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of her nude form—her striking figure made even more alluring by the way shadows danced over her pale skin.

I shut the door behind me with a soft thud, trying not to stare but failing miserably. My eyes followed every movement as she shifted, completely at ease with her nakedness.

"You're back," She said without turning around.

I swallowed hard, nodding even though she couldn't see me, "Yeah."

My gaze focused on her voluptuous ass and long legs. She faced me then, unabashedly meeting my gaze; those piercing eyes seemed to look right through me. Her lips curled into a small smirk as if she could read my thoughts running wild.

Her breasts were perfectly round and impossibly full, bouncing slightly with her movement. My eyes lingered on them before drifting down to her waist and below, where her legs met. I couldn't tear my gaze away from the alluring sight. Zaine then crossed her legs, making it difficult to see her pussy.

"You need something?" Zaine asked with a knowing look.

I cleared my throat, trying to focus my mind, "I—uh... You know we're not alone here anymore, right? You might wanna be a little more careful before getting naked."

She tilted her head, an amused glint in her eyes, "That's annoying."

I hesitated, the corner of my mouth lifting despite myself, "I guess…"

"Then it's settled," She said dismissively, turning to slip beneath the sheets of our makeshift bed.

Lying down, Zaine stretched her long legs, tempting me even through the thin fabric that barely covered her.

"I talked with Ryul," I said, moving to sit beside her.

Zaine raised an eyebrow as if expecting some fresh bit of entertainment.

"I told him about us," I went on, "About you being my girlfriend."

She gave a soft laugh, "Is that so? According to me, humans ask women to be their girlfriends before declaring them as such, or am I wrong?"

"I'm surprised you know that," I replied, "You remember the strangest things. Although it's a bit late for that."

Zaine's expression suddenly became serious, as if my words had shocked her. She held her head in her hand and looked down.

"No, it's nothing," Zaine replied, still looking affected, "It's just that I had the feeling I had this same conversation before."

"A memory?" I asked, surprised.

"N-No," Zaine replied, "Just a feeling..."

"I see..."

Zaine shook her head lightly, dismissing the moment as she relaxed against the pillows. Her sultry smile returned, and she looked at me with that familiar, intense gaze.

"Do you have any more surprises for me tonight?" Her voice teased, each word dripping with playful suggestion.

I felt myself growing more at ease as her mood shifted back to its usual confident allure, "I think that's enough for one evening," I replied, catching her flirtatious tone.

Zaine let out a soft, amused hum. She reached out, her fingers trailing up my arm with a featherlight touch that sent a shiver through me, "You seem distracted," She said, her eyes narrowing on mine with interest.

"It's just Ryul and Amelia being here," I admitted.

Her lips twitched into a knowing smirk, "Is that all it is?"

I hesitated for a heartbeat too long.

"You don't need to worry about them," Zaine continued in a light but pointed manner, "Though Amelia can be... annoying."

The comment made me stiffen slightly, apprehensive about how much Zaine had already picked up on. I **** a casual nod, trying not to let my discomfort show, "Yeah, um..."

Zaine's laughter was soft and knowing. She seemed to revel in my awkwardness as if it were part of some unspoken game between us.

Zaine then shifted closer, so near that I could feel the warmth of her skin through the sheets. Her breath was hot against my neck as she whispered, "Should I be jealous?"

I turned my head, and our lips were so close they almost touched. I could taste the daring challenge in her words. Zaine's eyes flashed at that, and without another word, I shed my clothes and slipped into bed beside her. Her body was warm against mine as my hands traced the curves I'd been staring at moments before. She moaned softly as I moved between her legs, not wasting a second to feel her skin against every inch of mine. Her thighs parted eagerly, and I leaned down to capture her lips with a hungry kiss. I felt her respond, her tongue sliding against mine, matching my urgency.

Her nails dug into my back, pulling me closer as we devoured each other. Zaine's kisses were demanding and wild, full of a need that mirrored my own. I broke away just enough to catch my breath, trailing kisses along the curve of her jaw and down the column of her neck. She arched into me when I reached her breasts, letting out a throaty sigh as I sucked and teased each nipple.

Her fingers twisted in my hair, urging me lower. I needed no encouragement; I was already descending across the smooth plains of her stomach.

My lips traced the line of her hip before finally settling between Zaine's legs. Her thighs tightened around me in anticipation.

"Darx..." She gasped as I kissed her pussy.

Zaine taste was intoxicating, and I couldn't get enough. Her hips rocked against my mouth as I flicked my tongue over her clit, drawing out a series of **** moans. I savored every sound, each gasp and cry driving me to go harder, faster. Her body trembled beneath me, and her thighs shuddered as I pushed her over the edge. She came with a breathless scream, her whole body shaking as her release washed over her.

I moved back up, my erection pressing insistently against her as I slid inside her slick heat. We both groaned at the sensation, Zaine's nails scraping down my shoulders as she wrapped her legs around me. Our bodies moved together in a frantic rhythm, driven by pure need.

"More," She gasped against my lips, rolling us over so she straddled me.

For a long while longer, we continued fornicating without a care in the world. Zaine and I both came several times, but we still wanted more.

Zaine was on all fours, her hair a wild cascade as I took her from behind. Our bodies slapped together in a frenzy of clapping noises, her moans rising with each thrust. I was lost in the moment, driven by the way she moved and cried out beneath me, when I suddenly felt it—an unsettling awareness creeping up my spine.

I stopped mid-thrust, my senses on high alert. There, just at the edge of perception, was a presence lurking in the shadows. But it was already gone, vanishing so quickly that I wondered if it had ever truly been there. My heart pounded with uncertainty. Was it my imagination? Or had someone really been watching us?

"What is it?" Zaine asked again, turning her head to look back at me.

"N-Nothing," I muttered, though doubt still gnawed at me, "It's nothing."

I tried to ease back into the moment, but the feeling lingered like a ghost in the room.

In the morning, Zaine and I headed downstairs to find Amelia already busying herself with breakfast. The smell of freshly cooked food filled the air. I felt my stomach rumble in anticipation. Amelia looked up as we entered, her face lighting up with a big smile directed at me.

"Good morning!" Amelia greeted cheerfully.

Zaine gave a curt nod, her eyes narrowing slightly as they fell on the table spread with food. Her irritation was palpable, "I see you've been busy," Zaine commented, her voice dry.

Amelia's smile wavered slightly but held firm, "I thought I'd make something special for everyone."

Ryul sat across from where we stood, casually leaning back in his chair. His gaze flicked to mine, and he offered an amused smirk that told me all I needed to know about what he was thinking. Beside him, Sunshine fluttered impatiently.

"Hurry up and sit," Sunshine grumbled with a huff, "I'm fucking starving!"

I tried to navigate the tension by sitting first, feeling Ryul's mocking glance like a physical nudge. Zaine then sat beside me. Amelia seemed relieved at my gesture, beaming as she took a seat in front of me. Her warmth was both comforting and overwhelming, but it didn't stop me from feeling Zaine's gaze boring into the back of my head.

The meal seemed to stretch interminably, and as we ate, still, I couldn't shake the unease gnawing at me. Memories of last night wormed their way back into my mind, vivid and disconcerting. The presence I'd sensed while having sex with Zaine. I glanced across the table at Amelia and Ryul, both acting perfectly normal.

Amelia was chattering about gathering more supplies later in the day, her enthusiasm genuine and bright. There was no hint of guilt or awkwardness in her demeanor, only the usual cheery energy that now seemed almost suspiciously innocent to me. Ryul, meanwhile, wore his trademark smirk as he fed bits of fruits to a squawking Sunshine. He seemed at ease, too at ease for someone who might have been spying on us in the middle of the night.

I tried to recall exactly when I'd noticed the presence. I was so distracted by Zaine's body and the heat of the moment that it could have been lurking there for much longer than I'd realized. The longer I dwelled on it, the more paranoid I felt. Amelia caught my eye and smiled warmly; it was impossible to imagine any of them sneaking around like that. Maybe it had all been my imagination after all—or just a stray animal wandering through the ruins.