Story

My wife's voice was still raspy and weak, but even then...

It made me shiver as it entered my ears; there was no accusatory tone, just steady curiosity, but even then...

"Astra... who is downstairs?"

My two daughters looked back at me, their confusion evident.

Taking a deep breath, I pursed my lips and slumped forwards, my body growing slightly weak.

Seeing that, Rhefia clambered over to me, ignoring the pain and discomfort she must have been feeling to sit in front of me.

Laying her hand on my shoulder, she pulled me into her body, and I trembled as I fell forwards.

Pressing myself as deep into her arms as I could, I started sobbing, the dam I had built to keep my emotions in check breaking down.

Her warmth and gentle strokes comforted me, but the guilt and anger I felt towards what had happened remained, making me feel even worse.

My tears poured from my eyes, and I clung to my wife's body, hoping...

Praying that this wouldn't be the last time she embraced me.

Would she still want me after I was sullied?

Was I allowed to remain hers after what had happened?

Would she accept that I was with anothers child, even if I hadn't wanted it?

Would she understand that I had no choice open to me; that I was too weak back then to do anything besides accept what had happened, to let my body be tainted?

These thoughts, and more, swarmed my mind, swirling around and feeding off my guilt, growing larger and larger-

"Astra..."

Only to be silenced.

That one word; hearing her speak my name with such gentle love made me push that all away.

I...

I needed to tell her either way.

She needed- no, deserved to know.

Still leaving my face buried in her chest, I took in a few deep breaths to steady my emotions, trying to calm myself down enough to speak.

The whole time I did so, Rhefia gently stroked my long violet hair, her calloused hand comforting me.

When I had gathered myself enough, I pushed myself off her chest, but still remained in her arms.

With a shaky breath, I stared up at her worried face, before I started explaining it all.

From the very beginning; how I traveled to the other side easily enough, how I searched for an hour for the berries before finding them.

How I harvested a large amount, enough for me to guarantee her and my daughters recovery, as well as enough to plant, just in case.

I told her how I had take so long that the sun had slowly set, leaving me in the dark forest.

How I had been ambushed by Yiksa, Trisha, and Kilka.

When I reached that point, my voice lowered to a whisper, and Rhefia's hands on my shoulders clenched slightly, anger in her eyes.

Flinching, I forced myself to continue on, trying to keep myself calm as I recounted what had happened.

How the Dark Elf and two Goblins had taken me, over and over again.

At that point, Rhefia was no longer looking at me, her eyes glued to the stairs.

Camara and Aethisia were silent, their expressions varied.

Camara would go between anguish, anger, and sorrow.

Aethisia remained angry the entire time, her crimson eyes flaring with wrath.

However, no one was looking at me...

Gulping, I continued on, only to stop as Rhefia growled "So who is downstairs?"

I shivered in her arms, before finishing my story.

When she heard that I had been forcefully impregnated, her hands squeezed my shoulders hard, and an inferno of anger swirled in her amber eyes.

My voice faltered, and I eventually told her "I... I u-unlocked B-Blood Magic... a-and I p-placed a S-Seal o-on the D-Dark E-Elf, Yiksa... s-she's the o-one d-downstairs... o-outside."

When I finished speaking, the room was silent, before I watched as Rhefia stood up to her full imposing height.

Her sharp antlers only added to that sight, and I trembled harder as she finally looked down at me.

Except...

I couldn't meet her gaze.

The fear that she was angry at me...

That she no longer cared for me...

The worry that those usually warm amber eyes were now filled with nothing but anger, disappointment, and hate made me freeze up.

What...

What would I do?!

W-Would she still lo-

Feeling her grab my chin, I trembled again, reluctantly looking up.

Tears formed in my eyes as I stared at her, before...

Gasping, I found my lips sealed by hers, my wife yanking me upwards and holding me in her muscular arms.

My eyes widened, and I blinked as she continued to kiss me, her tongue easily pushing mine down.

Her minty taste flooded my mind, and I stared at her as she finally pulled away, her amber eyes still as warm as always.

"It's okay, Astra... It's over now... You're safe..."

She pulled my head down towards hers, pressing our brows together.

"I'm sorry, love... I... You should have never had to go through that... I'm the one..."

Gulping, she closed her eyes, her voice little more than a murmur as she said "I'm the one to blame... I shouldn't have-"

My heart clenched, and I leaned forwards and took her lips, reversing our roles.

Desperately kissing her, I used actions instead of words to show her that she was wrong.

We fought one another, our tongues swirling together as we sloppily kissed, only stopping when we heard our daughters cough behind us.

Separating, Rhefia reluctantly lowered me to the ground, staring down at me as I clung to her side, wanting her warmth.

Glancing over at our daughters, Rhefia pursed her lips before growling "Well..."

Wrapping her arm over my shoulder, she finished growling, our daughters nodding at her words.

"Let's go meet our... guest."