Page 65 of Souls of Steel
“It’s true,” Cerberus pointed out. “He can. And I wouldn’t mind helping.”
“I can join in,” Scylla added happily.
They were probably bluffing, as I couldn’t imagine how any of them would be able to do something like that. Besides, they were mechanical beasts. They didn’t have a sexuality. Even so, Tiny Typhon still swept his tail over my body. He avoided my groin, but squeezed my breasts in an almost painful hold.
Before I could even process what was going on, August snatched him off me and threw him away. “Sorry about that, Selene. Chimeras can be weird sometimes.”
“Not weirder than you, hatchling,” Typhon replied with a huff.
“It’s fine,” I replied, still confused about what had just happened. “I’m sure Typhon didn’t mean any harm.”
Typhon’s numerous heads moved in an approving nod. “See, Brendan? She gets it, and she’s yours to take. That apsid on Mercury had the right idea. What’s the point in waiting when she’s right there, willing?”
There was something in that sentence that should’ve bugged me. I couldn’t put my finger on it, though, and I ended up forgetting all about it when Brendan and the others made a decision. “It’s true, isn’t it?” Knox asked. “You really do want us. Then why bother to lie and pretend?”
His eyes burned like fiery coals and I suddenly felt as if I was facing a very dangerous predator. I froze, unable to move a muscle or even speak.
August took me in his arms and picked me up. “Scared, lovely? Don’t be. You should never be afraid of us.”
I would’ve believed him more if my uniform hadn’t lit up like a damaged drone when he put his hand on me.Tachyon overload,my mind whispered. Danger. Danger. Run.
It was too late. Brendan was already there, next to us. He tore the back-link off my uniform and crushed it in his fist. “Sometimes, I hate tachyon-resilient tech. It can be such a pest.” When he smiled, the curve of his lips held a dark promise. “We wouldn’t want to be interrupted, right, princess?”
The nickname snapped me out of my trance and I managed to stammer a response. “N-No, of course not. But… Here?”
It was an incoherent reply, but they got the message. “You’re right,” Pollux said. “It’s not safe to do something like that in the hangars, where everyone can walk in on us.”
Pollux had always been warm and protective of me, for reasons he’d never explained, but something about his demeanor had shifted. I remembered the grief, guilt, fear, and loss I’d felt the last time we’d been together and threw all caution out the window.
“I have an idea, if you’re open to suggestions.”
They all agreed and were even more enthusiastic when I explained what I had in mind.
“You’re kinkier than we gave you credit for, little Terran,” Knox offered. “That sounds like a great plan.”
“I’m just using every method I have at my disposal to achieve my goal,” I defended myself.
“Which is getting fucked.” August smiled crookedly. “Face it, Selene. You’re just as lost in this as we are.”
I didn’t bother denying it. Instead, I guided them into the decontamination showers adjoining the hangars.
When I’d first come to Chimera Academy, I’d showered here a lot out of fear of having to face my dorm mates. It was still something we did after practice, although it had never become sexual in the past. When we were piloting or paying attention to schoolwork, we tried to focus on that.
But since term had ended and a lot of people had already left, no one was using the showers at the chimera hangars anymore. The other units had separate bathing facilities, plus the ones in the dorms, which were far more popular. They wouldn’t think to come here. If someone did approach, our chimeras would notice and let us know.
It should’ve been simple. Honestly, the moment the door slid closed behind us, I intended to take off my uniform and spread my legs for them. They wouldn’t judge me for wanting them, because they wanted me too.
There was just one problem. When I reached for the bindings of my uniform, my hands refused to find the mechanism. I looked at my lovers, feeling strangely woozy.
My nerves didn’t go unnoticed. Brendan’s harsh expression softened. He stalked up to me and cupped my cheek with a cool, but gentle palm. “Hey. It’s fine. It’s still us, remember?”
“Yes, of course. I remember. I’m just… I’m nervous. I’m not sure why.”
We’d done this before, at a time when our relationship had been far worse, a dishonest mockery of what I wanted it to be. I’d given them my virginity and I didn’t regret it, not for a second. I believed, like Knox did, that there was no point in hiding behind masks and deceit. And I’d always hoped I could be what they all needed, that I could mend the pieces of their broken souls with my own.
“We’re nervous too,” Brendan said. “Opening yourself up to pain is always scary and we weren’t prepared for what you brought in our lives.”
“But we’re not going to hide, not anymore,” Pollux added. “It’s time for us to start over and keep all our promises.”
