Chapter 77 76: Another Ball (2)

Kat PoV

I chuckled at Anput, who was cracking jokes one after another about the so called 'pests' and 'lambs' of the nobility before us.

Her utter disdain, and how open she was with it, was refreshing.

We passed the time talking to one another, my eyes normally glued to Jahi's surroundings now flickering to the exotic woman standing beside me.

Anput leaned against the wall, her muscular midriff in full display as she drank yet another glass.

"You are aware of the various gazes being sent your way, yes?"

Anput scoffed, looking at me before looking over the nobles with a sneer.

"That the weaklings before us wish to bed me? Ha! In their dreams they may, but they'll lose a hand if they even try anything in reality."

I covered my mouth again, masking the large grin that I wore as she said that.

Sliding over to me, Anput whispered "Y'know, a few of the nobles who have just reappeared smell very~ interesting. Wonder what they were doing, hmm?"

Looking around, I saw a woman in a dress straighten her tie, winking at the last woman wearing a frilly pink dress before making her way back into the mix.

The girl in the dress was flushed, and as she walked in front of us I caught the familiar whiff of someone who just got done having 'fun'.

Tracing her finger up my arm, Anput whispered "Now that seems more fun than just standing here, yeah?"

Raising a brow, I looked at Anput with a polite smile, saying "Yes, maybe I should go get Jahi and find somewhere private. Wouldn't you agree?"

Anput chuckled, before taking a step away, taking yet another sip of her drink.

Silence fell over the event, and we looked towards the stage, where the host, a rotund man by the name Count Harin, announced "Find your partners, as the ball is about to start!"

Anput chuckled, handing me her glass as she said "You are right~ Maybe Jahi and I should dance, before finding somewhere private to enjoy ourselves~"

I gave her a dry look, watching as she smirked at me before walking onto the floor, parting the crowd of nobles with ease.

Some gathered the courage to ask her to dance, only to be either ignored or scoffed at.

Reaching Jahi, I saw Anput's tail swish faster as she offered her hand.

~~~

Jahi PoV

"May I have this dance, Lady Asmodia?

"Please dance with me, Lady Asmodia!

"Ahem, she should dance with ME!"

I sighed, hating this part the most

All the nobles crowding around me asked. desperately for a dance, and as I looked around to try and find the one I disliked the least, I heard a familiar chuckle.

Turning, I saw the familiar slim, lithe figure of Anput, her blue attire hugging her modest breasts and slim waist.

Seeing her offered hand, I took it, bowing as I lowered my lips to it.

Smiling at me, Anput squeezed my hand, and I saw her tail swishing.

"It would be an honor, Begum Sera."

Her obsidian eyes gleamed with mirth as I gently wrapped my arm around her waist, guiding her towards the center of the dance floor.

"Hah, I don't know how you can deal with it. Back in the Sultanate, no one risks being this... forward with us. They know that unless they have the strength to 'tame' us, they stand no chance."

"Well, the Sultanate is a place where only the strong survive, so it makes sense there. As for here... well, these people control the trade routes, various mines, large farmlands, and more. They are all important, however they got their power from their ancestors achievements. If they can keep their power is a different story altogether."

Anput nodded, before shrugging.

"Well, at least I know the house I marry into is one of strength."

I looked at her, my brow raised as I set my hands on her waist and shoulder, saying "Since when did I say I would marry you?"

Anput chuckled in amusement, clinging closer to me as she purred "Well, since I've felt your 'interest' in me multiple times..."

As she pressed herself into me, she looked up, her eyes had lidded as she said "And I feel your 'interest' even now. After all, your hands aren't where they are supposed to be~"

Without realizing it, my hand. had lowered from her waist, and I quickly placed it back on her waist.

Taking a few breaths, I remained silent as I felt Anput looking up at me with amused eyes.

Going through the movements of the dance, I felt Anput lean her head on my chest, looking up at me still.

"What?"

She shook her head, saying "Nothing. It just... feels nice, in your arms."

A rare look of weakness was in her eyes as she leaned into me, her thin lips pursed as she looked down.

I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her closer as I gently stroked her silky hair.

"Well, here's a proposition for you. After this event, you and I spar three times. You win twice, and you can marry into my family. I win, we remain friends, until you can thoroughly convince Kat to let you join us."

Smirking, Anput regained her normal confident look, saying "Well, that seems like a win win for me, 'darling'~"

Tracing her hand over my stomach, she chuckled before letting me go, slipping from my arms as she whispered "Well, the dance is over~ Maybe I should get a head start with that maid of yours, hmm?"

I gave her a wry smile, watching her lithe figure walk away elegantly, before my sight of her was blocked by the various nobles pining for a dance with me.

Sighing, I plastered a smile on my lips while I looked around my 'peers', trying to find at least one I found attractive.

~~~

Anput PoV

After getting a good promise out of Jahi, I took my leave of the dance floor, deciding that anymore time spent in her embrace would light a fire that couldn't be quenched.

I made my way back towards Kat, the other half that made up 'Jahi's Family'.

I wouldn't lie to myself; I truly couldn't pick one or the other.

Jahi stoked the more feminine side of my Sultanate upbringing; find yourself a strong mate to protect you and bear them a lot of kids.

That side of me was quite... aroused by the spars Jahi and I had. The way she moved, her strength and control over her blade...

I was aware that some of my wins were just because she had decided to let me get close enough to hold me.

Now, as for Kat...

Every time I saw her I felt my more masculine side being aroused; find a woman who will support you, who will give you children.

Kat was utterly gorgeous; her amber eyes were captivating, her figure was curvy, and I enjoyed the scent she unknowingly released whenever she was near Jahi.

It was like a mix of roses that were sprinkled with blood.

She was such a possessive woman too. The way her eyes would dull whenever I got closer to Jahi, the way she always swooped in after we spared to take Jahi away, her plump lips pulled up in a grin as she lorded her place in Jahi's heart over me.

It was so... enticing.

To have a woman so devoted to you...

Ready to do anything for you...

That was so very, very arousing for me.

Especially after we took a trip to Fovos Forest.

Her utter lethality, the smile she wore as blood splattered over her delectable figure...

She was exactly like what my mother had attracted my mom with.

The Sultana had found my mother wandering the desert, hunting a Dune Worm.

Mom told me many times that the reason she had chosen Mother as her mate was because, as she fought against the Dune Worm, she weaved around the beast with her dual swords and slowly took chunks of flesh from beast, bathing in its blood.

Mom said that that sight of Mother drenched in blood caught her attention, but what caught her heart was the small smile Mother wore as she looked over the corpse of the Dune Worm she had hunted.

After that, Mom pined after Mother, almost pleading for her to marry her.

Both of them told me that if I was anything like them, I would likely find myself captivated by a similar sight, and how right they were.

Kat charged in against that Vermillion Bird with a smile on her lips, and I found that sight making my heart throb.

Seeing the familiar black and red dress, with the long brown hair pulled into a bun, I smiled speeding up as I planned on chipping away at her defenses.

However, before I could reach her I heard screams.

Turning back, I saw something standing on the stage, lurking in a cloud of smoke.