An Empty Bed

Silvan woke the next morning to find the room lit by sunlight coming into the window. It seemed to still be early morning, so he was surprised to find that he was alone in the bed. He could feel his magic still reaching for her, as if waiting for either him or her to give consent, but he kept it reigned in. He dressed and headed down the stairs and found his companions packing their gear worriedly. When they saw him, both rushed to him.

"What the devil were you doing Silvan? We've been worried sick," Andreas chastised him, looking from Silvan to the door leading out of the house.

"That lady came down about an hour ago and said you were sleeping upstairs, then she went outside and hasn't come back. What happened up there," Pepper asked as she hefted her pack over her shoulder.

"I heard something and went to check on her. One thing led to another and I ended up in bed with her." Silvan almost laughed at the shocked expressions on his friend's faces, but knew he couldn't leave just yet. He didn't know if she would accept his offer, but he had to see her one more time. Silvan walked out, followed closely by his friends. The trio found Clair behind the house, looking down at a small tombstone near the tree line. Silvan watched her, hoping she was ok and not ashamed that she had slept with him.

But then he saw something odd. A shimmer of light above the grave and Clair's hooded head jerked up to look at it. She stared for a few minutes, seeing something that he could only slightly perceive, and then nodded. Then she turned and looked at their group before walking past them and going back into the house.

"I guess that's her answer," Silvan said softly. They followed her back inside, but she had already gone upstairs. They packed their gear and then headed outside to prepare the horses. They were just climbing into the saddles when smoke started to pour out of the top windows. Pepper cried out in shock and Silvan quickly dismounted. Before he could reach the door, it burst open and Clair came out with a large pack over one shoulder. She was still wearing the cloak, but her hood was down, showing her beautiful stitched face. She smiled at him and led him over to the others.

"Nice to meet all of you again. My name is Clair and I'm accepting a job offer I received last night."

"Silvan you dog," laughed Andreas as he studied Clair's features before asking the question, "Zombie per chance?"

"Yes, though magically modified by my late husband. None of you are in danger." Then she turned to Silvan, took his face in her hands and said "I accept your gift."

Silvan couldn't stop it this time. His magic surged and both of them gasped as the bond formed suddenly and forcefully. Clair's body shuddered and she suddenly orgasmed hard. Her legs wobbled and Silvan had to catch her.

"Why did you do that?"

"I felt it all night and I heard the voices of the others. They were all happy and hopeful. I knew with you that I would have a family again, even if it is a rather odd one."

After that Clair showed the group her pack, stuffed full of luxurious gowns, gold, and jewelry. She explained that the gowns would be useful working as a whore, and the gold and jewels were to help Silvan expand the brothel. Andreas explained their current quest to her and soon the group was on the rode, with Clair walking beside the horses since she would never tire and could carry the added weight better than the animals anyway.