Chapter 228: Trio [III]
After the battle, Seraphina collected them from the island.
The grey-wings had been battered enough that they wouldn’t try anything foolish again.
She flew all three of them back to her home island in one hard stretch of open sky. When they landed, attendants were already waiting.
Seraphina gave a quick order and led them toward an open dining terrace where chefs had started laying out food the moment word came that the island saviour and his women were returning.
The meal was rich and strange. Seared sky-beast meat, soft cloud-root, sweet glaze that stuck to the fingers.
Josinia’s pink eyes lit up at the first bite.
Thea ate more carefully, then faster once the taste hit her.
Both of them still carried the flushed look of a finished fight, sweat dried on their skin, clothes sitting tight from the earlier strain.
Kalon had barely settled into his seat when Seraphina touched his arm.
"I want to show you something," she said. "It won’t take long."
Josinia glanced up, then nodded for him to go. Thea did the same, already half turned back toward the food.
Seraphina’s formal wrap still sat low on her chest, and when she turned to lead him away the heavy shape of her breasts shifted under the fabric with every step.
...
She took him to the far edge of the home island.
Wind pulled at her silver-white hair as she stopped near the drop and pointed out across the sky.
In the distance, far beyond the nearer islands, hung the largest island Kalon had seen on Delphinium. It carried a full city on its back. It had oale stone towers, wide flight lanes, and dense civilian movement even from this far away.
"That is Caelum Spire," Seraphina said. "The largest island on the planet. The old central city. Its core has been failing for years. Whole districts are already cracking, and the court has been too divided to decide what to do with the future of the island."
Kalon watched the distant city.
Seraphina’s storm-grey eyes stayed on it as well, then moved to him. Standing this close, the low cut of her wrap made the full weight of her G-cups obvious each time she breathed.
"If you stabilise it, it is yours to own."
He turned his head fully toward her.
"You will give me this island?"
"Yes." There was no hesitation in her voice now. "You have already done more for this planet than any title I could invent. If you save Caelum Spire, I will place it under your name. Land, authority, and the right to decide what happens there. That is the reward I can actually offer you, beyond my body."
Kalon looked back at the massive island city hanging in the far sky.
"Let me think about it at first." He said.
He knew that he should accept, but could be possible handle owning such a large place?
Seraphina’s wings eased open slightly behind her, relief and something warmer moving through her expression together.
"When you are ready," she said, "I will take you there myself."
...
Back on the dining terrace, Josinia poured more of the sweet glaze over her plate and glanced across at Thea.
"You fought well today, Thea."
Thea swallowed her bite and nodded.
"You did too. Having you by my side made me feel a lot more confident... And with Kalon there, of course."
They ate in silence for a short stretch.
Attendants stayed at a distance.
Josinia wiped her mouth with her thumb, then leaned in a little, pink eyes lowering.
"Can I ask you something?"
Thea’s blue eyes lifted. "Yeah."
"It’s about Kalon." Josinia’s glossy purple cheeks coloured faintly. "How does he make you feel."
Thea went still for a second, then let out a quiet breath.
"You mean in general, or..."
She blushed a bit too.
"Both," Josinia said. "I’ve never had to put it into words with another woman before. Whenever I try to, nobody understands."
Thea glanced toward the path Seraphina had taken Kalon down, making sure they were still gone, then looked back.
"He makes me feel safe," Thea said. "And wanted. And sometimes like I’m going crazy. Especially when he touches me."
Josinia’s pink eyes warmed with recognition at once.
"Yes, that! When he looks at me a certain way I already know I’m finished."
They both went quiet again, suddenly awkward.
These were two women who had never been able to openly talk about their love for this man, and now, they were finally being given a chance.
"When he... when we do more than touching. I don’t know how to describe it without sounding desperate."
Thea’s face turned red fast.
"Then don’t describe the details. I don’t think I can handle that conversation right now. It will only make me more desperate."
"Agreed," Josinia said quickly, almost relieved. "No details."
Another pause.
Thea stabbed a piece of meat with her fork and kept her eyes on the plate.
"But it is the best feeling I have ever had. Nothing else comes close." She said.
Josinia nodded immediately, agreeing.
"Nothing. I keep thinking something else might match it one day, and then I remember the way he holds me and I know I’m lying to myself."
Thea let out a short embarrassed breath through her nose. "I hate how true that is."
"I know."
They looked at each other properly for a second, both flushed, both a little embarrassed, and then started laughing under their breath to break the tension.
"We keep this between us," Thea said.
"Obviously," Josinia replied. "I’m not saying any of that in front of him. No way."
They went back to eating, and now their friendship felt a bit more authentic than before, now that they openly related about something.
Not long afterwards, Kalon finally returned with Sky Queen Seraphina, and enjoyed a meal of his own.
They spoke about the battle over dinner, as well as future plans on how they can continue to strengthen themselves.
Not long after the meal was donez Seraphina said her thanks again, and the trio returned to their home planets.