They Reach a Middle Ground

Author's note: Sorry I took so long for chapters nowadays. Doing a shit ton of training for ultramarathons and long distance camping trips.

“What are you doing?” Tris asked as Fenri peeked into Citrinas’ study, staring through the keyhole with interest. Though they had asked Sarah, Bey, and Eris to leave Verdi be and just go to bed for the night, Fenri had decided to listen in on their conversation. She didn’t know what happened, but she could smell it. Something was burnt, there was blood all over the grass, and Verdi was using his lanterns earlier. Right now, she was trying to make sure Verdi and Citrinas didn’t do anything stupid without her knowing.

“Shhh. Eavesdropping.” Fenri mumbled as Tris joined her, the pair cheek to cheek as they looked into the small study where Verdi and Citrinas were happily chatting about polymer formulations. Tris felt a hint of envy in her chest, wanting to join, yet she knew better than to interrupt them. She quietly began muttering a spell, calculating light bouncing from the room and redirecting them. Instantly, a small circle depicting the room’s study formed on the door, her magic refracting the light to give them a clearer view of the room.

“There, now we can see better.” Tris said as Fenri scratched behind her ears, playing with the fluffy ears while staring at the small orb. The image distorted as Tris lost focus, one of her tails emerging and wrapping around Fenri instinctively as tensed up.

“Good gir-” Fenri began as Tris elbowed her.

“Finish that sentence and I’ll bite you.” Tris warned, the clit piercing pulsing as if eager to activate at Fenri’s words.

“Sorry.” Fenri muttered sheepishly as they watched Verdi and Citrinas’ discussion devolve into technical jargon, the shadows growing deeper as the lantern Verdi had built illuminated the room with a bright light. Despite the mundane content of their conversation, the air was somehow romantic as Citrinas’ eyes were filled with hearts. Then the conversation shifted to the Apollyon Gates and his time in that hell.

“Should we really be eavesdropping on something this private?” Tris whispered as they watched Verdi mull over whether or not he was returning to that hell.

“Shut up, I need to know if I have to tie him up and beat some sense into him or strip him naked and suck him off for being a good boy.” Fenri growled as Tris bit her lip. He had held back that nightmare for 40,000 years, and had been long forgotten by the people he swore to protect. He had earned his freedom. Yet, at the same time, she knew that he should also return. Before she could say anything to Fenri, Citrinas quietly pointed out Verdi’s missing organs, how she had known he was a dead man walking the day he woke up.

“I… Had no clue it was that bad. I thought he just lost an eye.” Fenri mumbled, her eyes cast downward as if ashamed. They listened with bated breath as they watched Citrinas and Verdi confess their love for each other and vow to stay together until “**** do them part”. Fenri gasped at the proclamation as she reached for the doorknob, only to have Tris grab her wrist.

“What the hell are you doing?” Tris hissed as Fenri pointed into the room.

“He’s gonna propose to her. We gotta stop him before he embarrasses himself.” Fenri hissed back, remembering Citrinas’ plans for the two of them.

“He might have convinced my sister to say yes.” Tris countered, looking back at the mutual affection the two held. The mood was perfect, they had a deep heart to heart conversation, and they confessed their love to each other. It was the perfect set up!

“Princess said outright-don't give me those puppy dog eyes.” Fenri said, looking away as Tris pouted at her, all 13 tails emerging as both kitsune ears were pushed downwards pleadingly. One of the tails traced Fenri’s wrist, the soft white fur like chains as she was held back from throwing the door open to interrupt them.

“Look how cute they are. If someone can overcome impossible odds it's Verdi. Look, he has that lantern they built, they're talking in Citrinas’ favorite place, and it's just the two of them. That's the perfect situation.” Tris said as Fenri sighed, watching the two quietly hold hands and enjoy each other’s company. It was romantic, she couldn’t deny that.

“Extinguish the lantern and focus the moonlight. It’s more romantic that way.” Fenri demanded as Tris smiled ear to ear, casting a quiet spell to freeze the water flowing into the lantern while casting a second spell to intensify the moonlight. Her ears perked up while her tails were waving almost like a dog, the urge to chirp in joy overwhelmed by her willpower to see this proposal succeed. It was so romantic seeing a fairy tale love story happen in front of her. A noble knight protecting his true love, they proclaim their love for each other, they kiss underneath the moonlight, and live happily ever after. She was almost envious of how perfect her sister’s love life was.

“Here it comes. He's gonna propose. I wish I had a camera to record this moment.” Tris said excitedly, listening closely to Verdi’s words.

“Will you marry me?” Verdi asked, a flash of gold glimmering off the moonlight as Verdi opened a wooden box displaying two solid gold rings.

“Will you make me your seedbed?” Citrinas asked while tearing her shirt off, exposing her new womb tattoo and pierced nipples, their faces still smiling as they looked at each other. Their eyes looked downwards, noting the small pieces of metal meant for the other glistening underneath the intensified moonlight. Before they could say yes, they frowned and glared at each other with disbelief as shock and horror ran across their faces.

Watching from behind the door, Fenri averted her gaze, feeling physical pain at the sight before scowling at Tris. In response, Tris’ kitsune ears flopping downwards while her tails flopped to the ground like a scolded dog. No words could express what either of them were feeling in that moment as a moment of pure silence filled the entire castle. Two voices rang out in perfect sync as they shouted in pure anger.

“... What did you just say!?” At that moment, Fenri gave Tris a cold look, silently saying “I told you so” with her eyes alone. Tris, on the other hand, shrunk down while hugging her tails as they watched a man's soul escape his body in real time.

“Foxy, I hope you realize you're gonna be helping me cheer him up, right?” Fenri mumbled as Tris quietly nodded, unwilling to fight her on this demand. It was one thing to have your proposal rejected. Having it end up like this? It was a testament to his mental fortitude that he wasn’t crying.

“Did you seriously just ask me that!?” The two of them shouted, waking up the entire castle as they began bickering. Verdi set his wedding ring aside and stood up while Citrinas pointed at him, her bare chest swaying as they began yelling at each other.

“What do you mean what do you mean!? For years whenever we had sex you’d tell me how you’d breed me and make me your seed bed! Where did this wife stuff come from!? Marriage is a hassle!” Citrinas countered, remembering how often he had used his tentacles and promised to use her as his little cum dumpster to bear his young.

“That’s bedroom talk! I’m not actually going to lock you all in my dungeon and turn you all into my mind broken seedbeds! I’m not a fucking psychopath!” Verdi exclaimed, his words like nettles as Citrinas winced as if he slapped her across the face.

“Do you really want to go through the trouble of marriage when we can just have kids together!?” Citrinas shouted, now furious as she pointed at the door as if she could sense her sister and Fenri behind it. “You could go out those doors right now and impregnate my sister and Fenri as a non married man! If we get married, I'm pretty sure doing that would be significantly harder!” She shouted angrily as Verdi bit his lip.

“It's a small price. I'll be a bit more pent up, but I'll manage.” He mumbled sheepishly, the rest of his bodies ravaging thousands of women at the same time while he spoke. “When we’re married I’ll control myself. I swear. No more spontaneous sex parties. This month was just to get it all out of my system.” He said with genuine conviction as Citrinas sighed.

“I know I complain a lot, but I do enjoy these sex parties you throw out of the blue.” She admitted with ****, blushing red at the tacit admission of her own perversion. “It’s exciting watching you just grab random girls and fill them up in front of me. I was hoping you could keep doing that even while I’m pregnant. It’s really erotic watching you impregnate other women.” She continued as Verdi’s pupil dilated while he shifted in place, somehow more aroused at those two sentences than an entire orgy. The smell of flowers filled the air, telltale signs that his cocks were already spewing precum as he bit his lip.

“That’s… I don’t want you to sleep with other men, and I don’t have the right to demand that if I’m sleeping with other women.” Verdi said bluntly as Citrinas perked up as if in understanding.

“Oh! That’s why you want to get married!” She said, fully empathizing with Verdi. “Don’t worry, my womb is yours and yours alone. I swear I’ll never sleep with another man.” Citrinas added, noticing Verdi’s pants growing tighter as he clenched his fist, fighting the greatest battle of his life. She was offering him a harem and the right to impregnate whoever he pleased, and was actively pushing him to do so. He bit his tongue fighting his own urges as

“That’s-that’s not the point!” Verdi stuttered out, fighting his own primal urges as Citrinas frowned. “I want to make you mine!”

“I am yours!” Citrinas countered while squeezing her bare chest, showing off her new nipple piercings as milk dribbled out of them. “All you need to do is claim me!” She added, pressing her chest against Verdi as he felt warm milk soak into his clothing, the scent of his floral oils mixing with her sweet milk.

“Why are you so intent on marriage? If we get married you'll have significantly less children. I bet without a marriage you can break the 5 digit range within the decade.” Citrinas offered as Verdi gawked at her casual estimation.

“Wait, 5 digit range!? There’s no fucking way I can afford raising that many kids!” Verdi shouted back as she rolled her eyes at such a mundane response.

“Don’t worry so much. I’ll fund every child you make and love them like my own children. You just have to fill every woman you see with your kids.” She reassured as Verdi shook his head.

“You can’t afford that!” Verdi snapped.

“You underestimate my liquid assets!” Citrinas shouted, reaching into her coat and grabbing her money pouch full of solid gold, jiggling it for added emphasis.

“You underestimate MY liquid assets!” Verdi shouted, reaching into his pants and grabbing his manly pouch full of liquid silver, jiggling it for added emphasis.

“I hope I am.” She said lustfully, thinking of how virile his loads would be without a goddess restraining him. He probably ejaculated more than an entire city’s worth of men with virility enhanced by erosarkic blood. Verdi frowned and took a step back, covering his balls with his hands as he felt violated somehow.

“Don’t make this weird. Just say I do and take the ring!” Verdi shouted.

“Where did you even get this ring?” Citrinas asked.

“I made it with our electric arc welder.” Verdi answered.

“Oh that worked? Also, that’s… That’s actually quite nice.” Citrinas said, suddenly looking at the ring with new appreciation.

“That was a really cute move. I can’t believe Citrinas didn’t say yes.” Tris muttered as Fenri raised an eyebrow.

“Didn’t take you for a romantic.” She noted as Tris’ eyes sparkled.

“What woman doesn't dream of being pampered and swooped off her feet by her lover?” Tris mused aloud to herself as Fenri suddenly spun her around. She squeaked as Fenri grabbed her shoulder and leaned back, their voices easily overshadowed by Verdi and Citrinas’ screaming.

“The one dreaming of swooping her lover off her feet of course!” Fenri said cheerily, scooping Tris up in a princess carry.

“Let go of-what did you just call me!?” Tris asked as Fenri pecked her on the cheek. Instantly, Tris’ face went beet red as her ears twitched. She could see Tris growing redder as she looked away, the mere act of being carried more perverse than anything they had done in the past month.

“Aw, how cute. You’re blushing.” Fenri said while stroking behind Tris’ ears.

“No I’m not.” Tris muttered as Fenri pecked her on the cheek. Instantly, Tris’ body heated up even further as ears began twitching in surprise. Her tails, on the other hand, were wrapping around Tris, all 13 of them cloaking her like armor.

“Who’s joking? Come on Foxy, I’ve got a knot you’re gonna need to untie.” Fenri said, holding Tris as she enjoyed the feeling of her silky fur. Before they could leave, Fenri stopped and started sniffing the air, smelling charcoal, ash, and… Chocolate? Squinting her eyes, she could see three figures making their way to them, their footsteps muffled by what sounded to be Verdi and Citrinas wrestling.

“YOU GOT THE GOLD FROM WHERE!? GIVE ME THAT RING! WE’RE PUTTING IT BACK!”

“NO! IT’S A SENTIMENTAL MEMORY FOR US!”

“I WILL NOT LEAVE ELLY AS A CRIPPLE!”

“YOU NAMED THE MACHINE!?”

“Hey guys. Heard screaming. Whatcha doing?” Sarah asked, the hellhound tilting her head in curiosity, listening to the two scream. Behind her was Eris, the hellhound wearing some tasteful lingerie while her hands clutched Bey like a teddy bear in front of her.

“Cuddle time?” Eris asked, the hellhound’s tail wagging while squeezing Bey tighter in excitement.

“No. The orgy is off, so now it’s bedtime. Now let me go.” Bey growled, her slim body covered in silk pajamas. Pushing past Tris and Fenri, they looked into the key hole, spotting Verdi and Citrinas still arguing. To their surprise Verdi’s clothes were torn in several places while Citrinas was shirtless, the two on the ground of the study with Verdi pinning Citrinas to the ground, both her hands held above her head.

“Oh damn, they got started without us.” Sarah said as Eris let out an excited whine.

“Milky!” Eris barked as Fenri instinctively grabbed at Eris’ paws, dropping Tris on the ground and tripping the hellhound. 5 shouts filled the air as they tumbled forward, the study door’s hinges breaking like paper mache as they fell forward in a pile of limbs. A soft grunt of pain was heard from all 5 of them as Verdi and Citrinas stopped arguing and looked over, forgetting their fight entirely at the sight of their comrades.

“What are you…” Verdi asked, both his eyes open as all 5 women saw his eye, the crimson pupil glowing with an ominous red light while his sclera had been tainted black by his own Blessing. “How much did you hear?” He asked nervously, quickly closing his cursed left eye as Fenri got to her feet and pointed at him accusingly.

“Me and Foxy heard everything. Why’d you hide this?” She asked, pointing at his left eye as he looked away from her, visibly ashamed.

“Didn't want you guys to pity me or treat me differently for being hurt.” Verdi mumbled as Fenri scoffed and gently punched his shoulder and bopped him on the head.

“Pity is for victims. You're the winner. Scars from a harsh battle are the most attractive thing a person can have.” Fenri snapped while tracing his chin with her fingers, looking at his blinded eye. “Besides, I think the eye looks cool.” She said as Verdi at the compliment.blushed red.

“And you shouldn't feel ashamed of anything. You did great.” Tris chimed in, patting him on the shoulder.

“So, now that we got this out of the way, can we get to rewarding you? Cause right now, I'm so wet I could drown a baby in my panties.” Sarah said, her tail wagging as she sat on her haunches like a dog as Citrinas perked up.

“Perfect timing! Everyone, please tell Verdi that he’s insane for wanting to get married instead of just impregnating us!” She exclaimed as Eris’ tail became a blur, wagging furiously at the prospect of breeding.

“Puppies!” She barked happily, the room heating up as the hellhound became visibly excited. Bey, on the other hand, just looked annoyed at their plans.

“No! No puppies! Bad dog! Bad!” Bey barked back as Fenri licked her lips and tore her own shirt away, displaying her own womb tattoo before tearing Tris’ shirt open, giving Verdi a feast for the eyes at the three matching womb tattoos. His eyes glazed over, noticing the clit piercing on Tris and Fenri’s tongue piercing, tempted to test out how his cock would feel against them. With deft hands Fenri began massing Tris’ chest from behind while extending her tongue out of her mouth, showing off her brand new split tongue to tease both of Tris’ nipples at the same time. A soft buzzing was heard as he saw Fenri’s tongue piercings vibrate, teasing Tris further and coaxing several drops of milk out. Watching Fenri lick them up, Verdi swallowed as his cocks stiffened, the tentacles studding them writhing in his pants while he could feel his flares swell with blood.

“Yeah Verdi. Look at Foxy and me. Don't you want to stuff us full of your hot cum and breed us?” Fenri asked, squeezing Tris’ chest and wetting the ground with fresh milk. Tris’ fluffy tails began wrapping affectionately around the hero, moving from pure instinct rather than conscious action even as she tried to tell Fenri to stop.

“You’re ruinin-hng their marriage!” She protested, her stifled moans only intensifying Verdi’s lust.

“Why are you in favor of this? Thought you didn't want kids.” Verdi asked, fighting his own urges as Fenri shrugged.

“I barely knew you back when we first fucked. Now? I’d trust you with my life and my ass.” Fenri said as Sarah joined in.

“Same for us. I think you’ve earned yourself a big, hot reward.” She said, stripping naked and pressing her breasts together with her paws, her pitch black nipples illuminated in the moonlight. Her tail wagged excitedly while her ears were perked up. Before he could respond, he felt furry arms wrap around him, hugging his neck as Eris pressed her bountiful breasts on top of his head. Instantly, his body shuddered at the mere touch of her body, the hellhound’s higher body temperatures far more sensitive to his skin as he felt his willpower drain. He felt another hand pull at his pants as Citrinas stripped him naked, freeing his cocks from his prison as they pulsed in the air.

The flared tip was fully engorged, the size larger than a dinner plate and oozing precum like a broken faucet, a thick pool forming on the floor in front of them. The tentacles studding his cock writhed and twitched, wrapping around Citrinas’ fingers as she traced the ridges and bumps of his cock, her hands teasing his medial rings where his second knots were. She continued to trace his cock, her fingers grazing the barbs studding his sheath before letting her hands rest at his main knots at the base of his cocks.

“Just think Verdi. If we got married, these moments would end.” Citrinas said, her hands playing with his now cantaloupe sized balls, feeling them grow heavier in her grip as his cocks grew past their usual size, his arousal and days of abstinence shifting his 18 inch shafts to a monsrous 28 inches and girths that made centaurs and minotaurs look inadequate. At his size he could easily ruin even Eris’ pussy with cock to spare. For Citrinas, she’d likely be mindbroken from one round. If he was married, these moments would disappear. She was right. Before he could let her break him, Tris spoke up, still being teased and groped by Fenri.

“Ignore-hng her Verdi. Just don’t impregnate my sister until-gyah! She marries you! She’s got baby fever and has limited time un-until her ovaries dry up.” She advised as Verdi perked up, finding a path to marriage. They both wanted kids, but Citrinas wanted as many as possible. As long as he had at least one child he’d be happy.

“Say yes and you’ll be full of my kids by the end of the night.” Verdi said as Citrinas threw her sister a dirty look. She would be happy with any child Verdi sired with another woman, but she couldn’t deny that she wanted to be constantly carrying his children in her for the rest of her life. Even now, she felt empty knowing how close they were to starting a family. She sighed, shaking her head as she leaned forward, her cheek pressed against Verdi’s cocks as she stroked him off.

“How about this? It's 3 months by carriage to get to Cherani. I have until then to convince you to give up on marriage and just enjoy yourself. If we arrive, then I'll marry you, we'll have kids, but YOU are filling out all the forms associated with marriage and children and whatever else paperwork we need, and you can’t refuse to fill them out.” Citrinas said, offering her terms as Verdi raised an eyebrow. Filling out every form she demanded of him was vague wording.

“This a trick to get me to sign divorce papers?” He asked bluntly.

“Cherani doesn’t have divorce. I just want to be sure I have as many kids as I want and avoid wasting my time doing tedious forms.” Citrinas said before squeezing her breasts together, milk spilling from her nipples. “Besides, why would I need to trick you into realizing sex with women feels good and paperwork is a hassle?” She continued as Verdi smirked.

“Deal!” He said as Citrinas gave him an abrupt hug, pushing him backwards a few steps. He felt her milk soak into his shirt, her arm holding him tightly as she quietly reached towards the table, grabbing something from a drawer. As she held him in place, she whispered into his ear, her voice soft and affectionate.

“This might sting a little.” She said as Verdi felt something enter his neck. He took a step back, the hole in his neck healing instantly as he felt his body heat up. Looking over, he saw a syringe in her fingers, light green liquid dripping out of it as the smell of flowers intensified. He could feel his body heating up as his balls churned, his body going into overdrive as the overwhelming urge to breed overwhelmed him. The first aphrodisiac she used on him. When did she make another batch!? He could feel himself losing control as his cocks throbbed, stiffening as he bit his upper lip to stay sane.

“Fucking hell…” He **** out, shifting to his monster form before he could pin Citrinas down and abandon his marriage aspirations. Black miasma oozed from his body as Tris and the hellhound trio yelped, hopping backwards in shock as they watched green tendrils crawling towards the window. The second he touched the soil, his body exploded in size, a vast sea of green overtaking the entire Domain as the rest of his body formed.

Fluid filled sacks that served as his organs and potion storage components sprouted like weeds across the Domain, vile potions brewing inside of them while alien organs lined the interior. Countless pitcher-like flowers could be seen growing amidst them, the sweet nectar within a potent aphrodisiac for any woman unlucky enough to fall in. His root system spanned the entire Domain while his body quickly wrapped around the Domain’s castle, the walls themselves pulsing as he continued to grow upwards. Before long he was **** to grow upwards, blotting out the moon and the sky itself.

“What-what the fuck was in that syringe!? What did you do to him!?” Bey shouted as Verdi felt several hands grab onto his tentacles as they all felt around in the darkness to find their way out of the pitch black study. Thinking quickly, he began synthesizing whatever bioluminescent fluids he could, feeling a slight sting as he generated hydrogen peroxide within his own body. Sending over a translucent tentacle towards them, he pumped his new concoction into it, turning himself into a makeshift lamp as the girls gawked at the writhing fleshy walls entrapping them.

“Citrinas! What did you do to him!?” Tris screeched, startled by Verdi’s monster form as Citrinas stared at Verdi’s tendrils lining the walls before sticking her head out the window to look at the organs he had grown.

“Gave him a little aphrodisiac. Didn’t think he’d have the reaction time to switch to his monster form to dilute it.” She answered as Fenri whistled, idly jerking off some of the newer tentacles he had grown. Some of them opened up, making spreading cervixes easier as a thinner tendril snaked out of it like a tongue. Others had distinct patterns and nodules that gave an exotic sensation with each thrust he made. At this point, they could spend the next millenia having sex and they still wouldn’t get through 1 percent of his tentacles.

“Jeez Verdi. How much bigger are you gonna get?” She asked, Verdi’s size going from monstrous to ludicrous. A majority of his body was still in Olskroya for the party, so this chunk of him was just a small piece of him. At this point it wouldn’t shock them if it turned out that he was larger than a country.

“No clue. Also, did you just try to **** me into compliance!?” Verdi asked as Citrinas clicked her tongue.

“You **** me all the time!” She countered, reaching to the drawer and pulling out 2 more syringes. “Now Fenri, go stab these into Verdi’s fluid pouches.” She commanded, handing the syringes over to Fenri as she chuckled, holding them like daggers in both hands.

“Princess! I am liking how assertive you are tonight!” Fenri said before looking at the tentacle Verdi was using to talk. “Alright Verdi! Time for your medicine! I’ve heard good things from Princess about what you did on this stuff, and I’m excited.” She said as Verdi sent his tentacles to the windows, blocking them off while barring the doors.

“You stay away from my pouches!” Verdi snapped angrily as he felt a claw grab onto his tentacles. Focusing, he saw Eris and Sarah forcing his tentacles apart, freeing a hole for her to escape.

“Go go go!” Eris barked, her tail wagging as she held the tendrils at bay.

“Eris! Sarah! Bad dog! Let go!” Bey scolded, bopping one of the hellhounds on the head as the other growled in response, both their grips weakening as Bey’s Blessing activated. Before Verdi could block the window off, Fenri leapt forward, escaping the building as she sniffed the air, searching for the fluid filled pouches. He fumbled around, trying to grab Fenri, his tentacles only grabbing at the air as she easily dodged the slow, clumsy tendrils. He was almost impressed at how well she was dodging him considering it was pitch black.

“Stop jumping around so fucking-Tris! Stop her!” Verdi said, reaching into the room and grabbing Tris, dragging her out the window while Bey wrestled with her hellhound counterparts.

“Get ready to catch her!” Tris shouted, compressing air and blasting it at Fenri mid-leap. Instantly, the air reduced Fenri’s momentum midair, sending her tumbling to the ground where Verdi’s tentacles were waiting to catch her. Clicking her tongue, she sniffed the air, smelling Verdi’s unique scent engulfing the area. Focusing her senses, she noticed Verdi’s scent was thicker in one area, causing her to make a toothy grin while raising one of the syringes above her head. Throwing it full speed, Verdi yelped, feeling the syringe pierce through his tentacles and enter one of the fluid filled pouches, the hole healing over as he let out a sigh of relief. The syringe needed to be depressed to **** him. Right now, he was safe, albeit by a hair.

“Ha! You missed!” Verdi lied as Fenri raised the second syringe above her head, her eyes focusing in the darkness.

“Says you!” She said, throwing the second syringe at the same fluid filled pouch. Verdi wanted to gloat as the syringe punched through the pouch’s skin, expecting it to just float inside with the aphrodisiac stuck inside of the syringe. Instead, he heard a crack as both syringes collided, shattering into pieces as the aphrodisiac flooded his system, the **** compelling his own body to replicate it within himself. It was like a plague, his body instantly reacting to mimic the **** and secrete it into the air, flooding the entire Domain with the aphrodisiac. It seems that tonight was going to be a long, sticky night. Verdi could only mutter a quiet apology for their ruined holes, feeling his body lose control as the aphrodisiac spread throughout his body, heating it up as he went into overdrive making semen.