The boat rocked gently under a calm, starry night. It’d been hours since their idiotically brazen attack on the governess’s mansion, a display which almost assuredly spelled doom for Ashling’s company. Perhaps that was why he’d locked himself in his room after cutting the engine and lifting the sails. Maybe, just maybe, he was taking a moment to reexamine how reckless he’d been and how lucky he was that his slaves bailed him out. Miyoko wasn’t holding her breath.

“Stop twitching,” Khukri admonished, draping her warm tail over Miyoko’s stomach. “I’m not used to these kinds of wounds.”

Miyoko lay on her back at the wolf’s request, listening to the waves gently rock the boat as she stared into the sky. “Well then stop licking me,” she huffed, though she knew the objection went unheard.

“When Master wants you, you’re handled his way,” Khukri reminded her, gently running the flat of her claw down Miyoko’s arm. “When he doesn’t, I decide.” She set the limb down, apparently satisfied the splinters were gone.

Finally. As Miyoko rose, Khukri placed two clawed fingers against her chest and forced her to the deck with a growl. As soon as Miyoko stilled, the wolf’s expression returned to normal. “You caught a handful in the face too.”

“Oh hell no, I’m not letting you lick my- mmph!”

Khukri sighed, covering Miyoko’s mouth with a tired expression. “Please… please reconsider what you’re about to say. If you imply I, or Master, need your permission for anything, I have to remind you of your place. Even if I know it’s just a pointless pissing contest.”

With a wolf bearing down on her, Miyoko could do little more than watch and wait to be released.

“I like you,” Khukri said softly. “You’re the second most important person in the world to me, but the more you struggle, the tighter I have to make your leash.”

It took a fair amount of restraint for Miyoko to keep her composure, but she understood her situation could’ve been worse. It wasn’t good by any stretch, but at least they were taking care of her.

Khukri resumed hunting splinters, and Miyoko released a resigned sigh. “Do you have any idea how creepy you are? If you want me to change, then you don’t like me.”

Bizarrely, Khukri chuckled. “Don’t be silly. If you only liked someone for what they were, you could never help your friends get better.”

“And better means, what? More obedient?” Miyoko winced as a sliver of wood slid from her cheek.

“Better means more suited to fulfill their purpose.” Khukri said, setting the splinter aside and returning to her search. “Your purpose is to serve Master, but he’s gentle, and sweet. He wants us to be happy.”

“And I suppose being told ‘I’m a good girl’ is supposed to make me happy?”

Khukri’s wicked grin hovered over the prone bunny. Her claws barely brushed Miyoko’s skin as they slid down her stomach. “You clever girls think too much,” Khukri chided, lips almost brushing Miyoko’s. “A happy packmate is a loyal packmate… and I’ll do anything to ensure my pack’s loyalty…”

Miyoko held her breath and whimpered as the wolf’s fingers massaged her stomach, trailed past her hips, and stopped just shy of her groin.

Then, as abruptly as Khukri started, she pulled away apologetically. “Sorry…” she mumbled, returning to removing splinters. “You’re giving very conflicting signals of what you want from me.”

Oh, fantastic. Her face-licking captor was a psychopath. By now, it was obvious the deer-boy was an easy mark, so to escape, she needed to understand the wolf. Obviously, killing her would be ideal, but that was the kind of thing you only got to try once, and her luck hadn’t been great so far.

Khukri leaned in, gripping either side of Miyoko’s face. “I think I got them all. Please try to hold still, I’m doing this to remove dirt and help prevent infection. I’m sorry it’s uncomfortable.”

It made sense that all attempts to manipulate the woman had only made things worse. She’d never attempted to trick anyone who didn’t value anything that mattered. Why would she? This one wouldn’t loosen her grip until she was convinced Miyoko was loyal. Luckily, the loyalty game was one Ghost had played before. “Go ahead.”

After an uncomfortably long session of licking and drying, Khukri sat back, fishing through her pouch with a small smile. “All done. Here, eat this.”

Miyoko eyed the biscuit warily. “…I’m not really hungry; what’s in it?”

“No idea. I just grabbed them off a table at the party,” Khukri admitted. “Not eating for long enough can mess with your sense of hunger, so you need to keep to your eating schedule, even if you’re not hungry.” She flashed a small smile, wiggling the beige pastry as it moved closer.

Poison. In all likelihood, Ashling intended to drug and bed her like they did that first day. If she wanted to earn the wolf’s trust and gain an opening, outright refusal was out of the question. “Okay… Thank you.” Miyoko took the pastry with a polite smile. “So, you’ve convinced me. Friendship sounds... just swell. Is there anything you could use help with, even if it’s not about Master?”

Khukri’s smile faded as she looked away. “There are… things.” Then she shook her head. “But don’t worry about that. I don’t expect you to do anything other than recover and please Master.”

“C’mon,” Miyoko coaxed, sliding closer to the wolf. “How am I supposed to be your friend if I can’t help you?”

“Maybe,” Khukri conceded. “Master plotted the Ambition’s course, and we’re on an intersecting route. Tomorrow, he’ll drop us off, then we’ll be alone for a week while he sails this one to West Origin for his book. We can talk about it then.”

Miyoko raised an eyebrow. It seemed Ashling wasn’t bluffing about the card. “He’s leaving us behind?”

A displeased grunt and sour look graced her carnivorous companion. “We’re kinda… broke. He’s taking the last of our money south. While he’s gone, he needs you to sell our cargo to pay for everything. Since you’re not in the pack, I’m going to be keeping an eye on you.”

So... if Miyoko was in ‘the pack,’ Khukri wouldn’t keep an eye on her. That and a fistful of florins was all she’d need.

“For now… go let Master know you’re okay,” Khukri said, rising to her feet and offering a hand. “West Origin’s a few days away, so it’s our last night with him for a while, and he hasn’t had much time alone with you since Sean showed up.”

There it was. A slight grin graced Miyoko’s lips as she accepted the hand up. As she’d predicted, Ashling didn’t want to miss a chance to dose her before he left, so he’d sent his pawn to drug her under the guise of caring about her health. “Sure, I’ll take care of him.”

* * *

When she cracked the door, Ashling turned over on the bed with an expectant grin. “All done, Princess?”

“Princess is a new one…” Miyoko said, stifling a grin.

Ashling jerked upright, pulling the blanket over his waist. “Miyoko?” He yelped, swinging his legs over the edge. “Is everything okay?”

A small glass cylinder ran around the room where the wall met ceiling, filled with dim gaslight and protected by a slotted metal plate. Other than that, the room had been stripped of valuables by the governess, or some enterprising pillager. Likely, the bed only remained due to being built directly into the ship.

An unusual touch were the various panels hanging from the walls, revealing dozens of storage compartments. While most were empty, the largest compartment beneath the bed held extra blankets and pillows, along with two circular braces. One was empty, and the other held a type 9 magnesium canister. It just... sat there, in the open, like it was nothing.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Magnesium canisters decreased in volume with each type, ranging from 1 to 15. 15 being the standard for loading a commercial gas lamp, and 1 being the standard for unleashing the wrath of an angry god against helpless villages from your military airship. Technically, 9 was the lowest type the Othelan Republic sold, but you’d need some serious connections to make it happen. If this ship’s engine ran on a type 9, it wasn’t surprising Tythic didn’t want inexperienced sailors manning it.

“Khukri finished fixing me up,” Miyoko said, still leaning in the doorway. “I heard you were leaving tomorrow… could I come in?”

“Of course…” His lustful eyes swept over her naked figure, backlit by starlight.

“Thank you, Master.” Miyoko slid the door shut and sauntered forward, kneeling at his feet. “I’ve heard I’ll be handling the sale with Sean. Is there anything else you want from me?”

“Actually, yeah.” Ashling reached out, holding her cheek and shoulder while he examined her. “Is there any way to find out what happened to a broker that used to come to the islands? His name is Lenn. Haven’t seen him in three months.”

Miyoko locked eyes with him as she leaned forward. “That’s not what I meant…” she murmured, slipping Khukri’s pastry into the compartment beneath the bed before gliding her hand up his leg. Coarse fur bristled between her fingers as she squeezed his tense calf. “Master? You’re so tense… I wanted to know if you needed... me.”

“That’s alright,” he mumbled, glancing away. “Before, I had the party to distract me, but now... I need to talk to Khukri tonight. Make sure she’s okay before I leave.”

Miyoko rose from a kneel, threading her hands beneath the blanket and up his thighs. “Well, I can help distract you, if you like.” His mouth opened, but said nothing as she pressed her body into his, pushing him back slightly as she set a knee on either side of his hips and crawled onto his lap.

“I… err,” Ashling tensed under her touch. “You don’t need to do that.”

The soft, thin blanket around his waist pressed between her thighs as she steadied against him. Her fingers trailed over his back, tracing his shoulder blades as she let her breasts rub against his bare chest. His breath slowed, but his pulse quickened. “I said I’d be your good little bunny toy, didn’t I?” Miyoko asked. “Master?”

Ashling swallowed, and the blanket beneath Miyoko stiffened. “Well…”

It was almost comical how off-guard her advance made him. Whatever drug he’d planned to get her hooked on, it clearly wasn’t supposed to make her this willing, or at least not yet.

“Oh, would you prefer I resist like Khukri?” Miyoko asked. “I can’t give you the feeling of controlling a wolf. But, if you just like control…” she leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m much weaker than her…”

“I don’t make her do that,” Ashling grumbled, grabbing her shoulders and moving her so they didn’t touch. “She’s… she’s been through a lot. I don’t know... maybe that’s the only kind of love she understands.”

Oh? He wants to play innocent? “You came to the ARC for a sex slave, Master. You’ve only got three years to enjoy me, right?” More importantly, Khukri was almost certainly listening, and displaying obedience here would make earning her trust easier.

The bulge between his legs pushed up further, causing his arousal to peek from the blanket and press into Miyoko’s stomach. With a playful smile he probably couldn’t make out in the dim light, she reached down, gently stroking the tip. He took a deep breath, the hands on her shoulders relaxing so she could press into him once more. “How… um, how do you prefer…”

As much as he pretended to care, somehow she didn’t think the answer ‘high as fuck and sandwiched between two writhing cat-girls’ was quite what he was looking for. At this point, she’d settle for quick and painless. Her hand drifted lower, wrapping around his shaft to coax him out. “How about… I take care of you?”

As expected, Ashling’s false compassion fell away in light of what he truly wanted. Despite everything, a deer-boy was still a man. Miyoko pressed her lips against his, drawing him in as she stroked him until he was fully ready. Soft hands slowly toyed with his length, coyly, before committing more. Soon, her pace quickened and he breathed in her kisses with needy, shallow breaths.

His hands began to slide, tracing her ribs as they crept toward her chest. That wasn’t ideal. If he made a show about delving into foreplay, this uncomfortable session of touching and groping would drag on even longer. With a compliant smile, Miyoko leaned back to toss the blanket from his waist onto the floor.

With his cock freely pressed between them, Miyoko pushed into him again, grinding the underside against her clit. He grunted in pleasure as she started rocking, though after a moment to adjust, his hands started moving again.

“Relax, Master,” Miyoko coaxed, guiding his hands away. “I don’t need that. Just, hold me so I don’t fall.”

He groaned, muscles finally loosening beneath her rocking form. After a minute, she leaned in, faking a pleased moan of her own. If the pulsing of his eager cock was anything to go by, Ashling was the kind of man who enjoyed the sound of a woman as much as the feel of her. At least they had something in common.

Eager to finish, Miyoko steadied herself on his shoulders and rose up on her knees. “Master… Put it in… please?” she moaned, nestling his face between her breasts.

His hand swept beneath her thighs, fingers sinking through her fur to find her slit. For a moment, he slipped between her lips, exploring her wetness. More foreplay. More time sitting around, uncomfortable. “Master, don’t tease me…” Her feigned desperation made him chuckle as his hand withdrew, only to return with the tip of his stiff cock.

After a deep breath, Miyoko slowly sunk onto him, forcing a satisfied groan from his lungs as her hips met his. Ashling was big… honestly, without the drugs, too big. Miyoko wasn’t really a fan of dicks in the first place, but if she had to choose, she’d prefer one that didn’t displace her womb. Still, she was sure it made him feel good about himself.

Miyoko bounced on his lap, easing him inside as she grew familiar with the new sensation. It was uncomfortable, but she didn’t need a full stroke to get him off. Her movements grew confident, picking up a rhythm as she found a rhythm for her thrusts.

Then, a flicker of pleasure.

Her pussy twitched, reacting to a pleasant rolling wave that extended from everywhere he touched inside her. It was subtle at first. The discomfort slowly melted away, then vanished. It wasn’t as though anything had changed, the feeling was the same, but everything she’d found uncomfortable suddenly felt… right. He fit into her perfectly, and her body began to convulse. It was like cramps, but instead of pain, every tightened pulse came with a surge of euphoria.

His heavy breathing moved to a pant, and his hands slid up her back and onto her shoulders. With a solid grip, he bucked into her, using his hold to ram his entire length inside and forcing the air from her lungs.

No! Not again! I only had food from the party! There’s no way he could’ve drugged me again! A surge of panic raced up Miyoko’s spine as she recognized the pleasure coursing through her veins. Another moan escaped her, except this time it wasn’t on purpose. With a gasp, she stopped, but it was too late.

Master held her firmly, and Miyoko could do little more than clench helplessly as he forced her onto his cock, driving her closer to orgasm with each thrust. A weak, mewling cry left her lips as she panted and set her head on his shoulder, too heavy with fuzzy thoughts for her to support. A tear fell from her eye as she braced herself, trying desperately not to think of how badly she craved his release, to feel his warm seed filling her womb again.

Her body fell back onto him a final time, but he wasn’t finished. For a long, quiet minute he held her, hands sliding down her back. “Miyoko?” he finally whispered.

Pleasure still radiated through her body as she desperately clung to Master, somehow feeling safe and terrified, trembling inside a haze of unfamiliar warm emotions. “Master?” she asked, barely able to speak.

His muscles tensed again, then one of his hands fell to her tail. After gently cupping her ass, he lifted. Miyoko groaned as his cock slipped free, holding her tail up as he rose stiffly behind her and she lowered to his lap again. “It’s okay… That’s enough for now. You’re safe.”

The worst part was, despite knowing better, she believed him. For the first time since the hellfire took her parents, Master's arms made her safe. Tears fell faster as she tried to steady her ever-shaky voice. “I… I’m okay, you can finish.”

Master didn’t speak. Instead, he cupped the back of her head and gently pet her. “Shhhh, I’m not going to hurt you.”

With a grateful shudder, Miyoko’s head lowered to his chest. His fingers grazed her fur as he held her firmly, timing his reassuring caress with the boat’s gentle rocking. As the stress receded she closed her eyes, listening to him breathe. Master was warm. So… so warm.

They sat like that for a while, with Ashling petting her long after his erection softened and slid back inside. In time, the pleasure faded, leaving her groin wet, cold, and unsatisfied… to Miyoko’s relief.

“Shhhhhh…” Ashling cooed. “Shhhh… there’s a good girl.”

A wave of happiness rolled through Miyoko as she basked in his approval, making her curl tighter against his chest.

Her eyes snapped open as she suddenly remembered where she was; what he’d just done to her. He was her captor, the source of all her problems. She didn’t need praise or help from anyone, and if she did, the man who imprisoned her as a sex slave was the last person she’d ever take it from.

With a panicked gasp, she shoved away; feet lightly touching the floor as he let her go. Her teeth clenched tightly as she swung an open palm, connecting solidly with his cheek and turning his face aside with a clap.

Miyoko held her breath as she retreated to the corner, fury burning away as she realized her mistake. A surge of panic welled within her, desperately urging her to apologize; to fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness. For better or worse, that wasn’t her. Miyoko’s arms fell to her sides, fingers tightened into fists. Her jaw set as she defiantly glared and awaited punishment.

With a twisted mix of rage and disgust, Ashling rose. The deer towered over her, engulfing her in his shadow as he stalked forward. His contemptuous stare slipping over her exposed body as he decided how best to teach her a lesson.

Unable to stand the crushing, oppressive atmosphere, Miyoko closed her eyes. Terror froze her as he came so close she could feel his heat. Tess flinched as the officer lifted a brass glove and brought it down.

The light blanket draped over her shoulders and arms, making her twitch. A prickle of terror raced down her back as Ashling leaned close. “Sorry,” he whispered. “If Khukri asks what that sound was, lie, okay?”

With a staggered breath and a numb nod, Miyoko fumbled for the door handle and escaped into the night.