That night, the dreams didn't come. For the first time in over a week, he slept well, that is until he woke up. Sharing his bed with Luna and Amber was tough, especially when he found the nekorian wrapped around him, having pushed Luna to the edge of the bed.

Tapping the cat, he grunted as he tried to shift her off. For her being weaker than him, she was surprisingly hard to budge.

"One more minute," she muttered.

Tickling her side, he eased his hand down to her hip before he could stop himself. She tensed against him before purring and squeezing him tighter.

"I'm all yours," she murmured in her sleep. "Kiss me again…"

Chuckling, he pulled his hand back, forcing himself to stop before he went too far. It was harder than he wanted to admit, and he was just in time as Luna woke up.

"Want me to slap her?" she asked with a yawn.

Smirking, he shook his head. "How about we kiss and tease each other until she wakes and panics."

Eyes sparkling with mischief, she inched closer and pressed her lips to his. Pulling back the smallest amount, she whispered, "you're far bolder than you used to be. I need to adjust to this side of you."

Leaning in, he nipped her bottom lip, making her jolt in surprise. "I believe you were supposed to be teasing me."

Touching her lip, she eyed him with something he couldn't quite place. It was almost reluctance as she moved back in to kiss him, jostling the nekorian.

"Wha…" Amber groaned as she finally woke up.

James watched her eyes open before she took in the fact that she was clinging to him so tightly. Luna hadn't had time to tease him too much, so there was nothing embarrassing to wake up to, which was disappointing.

Letting him go, Amber slid to the edge of the bed. "Sorry, James."

"I'm your person, right?" he questioned. "Cuddling is allowed."

Looking between him and Luna, she blushed. "Yes, cuddling…"

He didn't want to comment on her mutterings from earlier, but it was clear that she was dreaming about more than cuddling. That warmed his heart further as he brushed his soul against her, sharing his interest.

When the nekorian stiffened, she gingerly touched him back. She was full of desire that she couldn't hide and he had to coat it to stop Luna from noticing. Thankfully it worked and he was able to roll back over to his wife.

He started to berate himself for taking things that far with Amber while Luna was right next to him. His mind was warring with his body and actions. He craved more. He craved to take whatever he wanted, just like the voices pushed him towards.

"Can you two leave me for a minute?" he whispered.

Luna kissed his cheek before sliding out of bed. "Need a minute to think?"

"Yeah…"

Amber slid out as well and hurried out of the room, her soul still torn between different emotions that he was savoring. Luna on the other hand was a solid presence that helped soothe him. She knew he belonged to her and didn't seem bothered that he was struggling with flirting with the others.

Flopping back down on the bed, he closed is eyes. What's happening to me? I've always felt something between me and Amber, but there was never a need to act on it. Yet, now, I find it nearly impossible not to. I want more. I want everything I can take.

He knew it wasn't right, and just the thought of claiming Amber filled just the smallest amount of the crack in his body. He was changing just that much more from who he was. A deep part of him understood that absorbing his people and their emotions broke something inside him. No matter what happened, he wasn't going back.

I need time alone. I can't even have Zenaria around me. I'm not even sure why I desire her, but it feels more like lust than anything. To make matters worse, she's savoring every interaction.

Covering his eyes, he groaned. He needed to get up and send everyone away. It was going to be a struggle to not share a few knowing glances with the girls, but he needed to fight the urge.

Climbing out of bed, he got dressed and headed for the stairs. Everyone was waiting in the living room, all of their souls filled with excitement about the day. Getting straight to the point, he called on Luna. "I need you to lead them back to the nest. Tell me how many monsters were spawned again, and push everyone to grow. I want everyone at level seven or higher before we destroy the nest."

"And if it can't keep up with us?" she questioned.

Tutting, he tapped his chin. "Then we will make do with what we can. There's a rent not that far from us as well."

"I'm staying behind," Jamie voiced. "You and I are enchanting today. I need a moment with you."

Nodding, he felt her resolute determination and quickly agreed. Everyone else was dismissed, and he pointedly didn't let his gaze linger on Amber and Zenaria. Instead, he turned his full attention on Luna as she started to leave. With a wink, he pulled a brush out of his storage and teased her.

Smirking, she flicked her tail at him. "Tonight."

"It's a promise."

Bringing an end to their flirting, he put the brush away and moved to the worn couch. "What should we enchant today?"

Jamie walked over and fell onto the couch with him. "I'm sorry, James."

Her voice was so soft, he almost didn't hear her. He didn't respond, hoping she would continue.

"I should have stopped you from absorbing all those souls. I should have been there for you. I hate myself," she whispered. "I hate that I let that happen. I can feel the cracks in your soul and mind. There's nothing we can do, is there?"

He shook his head. The mood wasn't the happy moment of spending time with his sister that he wanted. But he knew he needed to talk with her. "The cracks are healing, but they are changing me. I can feel it. I've been made aware and the souls I absorbed are pushing me towards being a different person. They want vengeance and an outlet for their anger."

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"You pushed Zenaria too hard yesterday. Was that because of those emotions?"

He nodded.

"I'm proud of you for taking a break." Taking his hand, she held it in her lap. "I wish you could have met my father. That's where we were. We had finally found him after all of these years. You gave us the power to cross the world to find him. Only for him to have passed away."

His heart hurt at hearing that and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Jamie. It is I who should have been there for you. You needed me, and I was so caught up with avoiding cities and people. I should have pushed through."

"No!" she shook he head firmly. "This is on me, James. If I was with you, I wouldn't have let you break. I would have pulled you back and kicked your ass for taking on that kind of burden."

Smiling, he held her. She was full of honesty and regret and he couldn't help but mirror her. He wanted things to be different. He wanted to have been there for her when she needed him the most. Sadly, he couldn't change the past.

Leaning into him, she sniffled. "I'm not leaving your side, ever again. You are my brother and I love you. I won't let you take on a burden like you did before, ever again. I'll share it with you. I don't care that you will try and stop me."

Chuckling, he rested his chin on top of her head. "You're stubborn. You know that?"

Giggling, she said, "I know. It's one of the perks of being related to me."

"Thank you," he said softly. "For this talk. I needed to talk with someone that wasn't going to be influenced by me."

"Like the ladies?" she teased. "They are struggling to stay off you. I wish I had your charm."

"You can take Amber," he joked. "She could use the release of being played with."

"And have her call out your name in the middle of it." Shaking her head, she added, "no thanks!" Slumping, she whispered, "I miss Bunny."

His heart ached for her as she squeezed her shoulder. "I'm sorry. It's my fault, Jamie. If I didn't kill the elder…if we simply left and kept to ourselves…"

"It is," she stated, and he could feel the pain grow. "But I forgive you. We lost people because of that elder and we all wanted to kill him. If you hadn't, Linda would have, or I would have. It was only a matter of time."

A slight burden eased from his shoulders upon hearing that. It wasn't enough to help him distance himself from destroying a city, but it was enough that he knew she didn't hate him.

"We should enchant something fun," she said suddenly. "I'm thinking something that can shoot sparkles of crackling lights into the air. Something to brighten our afternoon and night."

Chuckling, he let her go. "We still have some pipes left. Let's see what we can do. I bet I figure it out before you do."

Scoffing, she waved a finger at him. "How about this. The one that figures it out wins the right to keep washing the girls. If you lose, James, they are mine."

He felt his soul thrum with the challenge. "You're on!" There was no way he was going to let himself lose.

***

Luna pulled Amber and Zenaria aside as they reached the city. "We have to talk."

"You think!" Amber said, sarcasm dripping from her tongue.

"I think we are affected," Zenaria said softly. "But can we stop him?"

"I doubt it," Luna admitted. As much as she hated thinking that, he was not the same man anymore. She needed accept that. "We can't push him away either. I don't know what he would do if we made him truly angry."

Amber blew out a slow breath. "It's getting harder to control myself around him. He seems eager to touch and tease me that I'm damn near losing it. Sorry, Luna…"

"I don't like it," she said honestly. "But I understand. I'll do what I can to maintain his focus until this settles. You all can feel the cracks sealing. Whatever Mender did hurried him along his path to healing, but I don't think any of us could predict this."

"You're right." Zenaria sighed. "I have to reach level seven in the next couple of days or he's going to get involved again. Although, I think he'll be gentler this time."

Blowing out a slow breath, Luna shook her head. "If we want him to relax and heal properly, we need to do what we can to not let him near the fighting. That means we use anything at our disposal. I don't like how the fighting is changing him. I only want him here for destroying the nest, and that's it."

"Should we flirt with him?" Amber asked.

"I. Don't. Care." Luna emphasized each word. "Don't let him near the fighting. He only wants us at level seven, and Amber, you are already there. Do what you must to keep him at the house. He's changing drastically when he fights. He's becoming meaner, and cruel. Don't let it happen."

Nodding, Amber glanced back the way we came. "I'll sit with him tomorrow. I'll do what I can to distract him."

Nodding, Luna crossed her arms. "Until the cracks heal, we are all that stands in his way from becoming a monster. I don't like that the voices want him to kill. We are stronger than some random voices that want to influence him. We need to work together."

Zenaria quickly agreed. "I'll reach level seven today or tomorrow if I can. But I have to switch out with Grace in a few days. Will that be a problem?"

"Honestly?" Luna shrugged. "I don't know. He'll let you leave, because he knows Grace needs to reach level seven as well. For now, be there for him and distract him. That's all we can do."

"Fill the cracks with love." Amber rubbed her eyes. "He's not going to settle with just one of us, you know."

"I don't care at this point," Luna argued. "Fucking sleep with him if it keeps his mind off the killing. Let him teach you enchanting, or wrestle in the sheets. Do what you must. We can't have him become an emotionless killer."

They all agreed with that statement and turned to the city.

"Spread out," Luna ordered. "Grow as much and as fast as you can. Jamie has him today. Amber, you have him tomorrow. Zenaria, you better have him the day after. We'll rotate however we can. He cannot come back here until the last minute."

Once she had promises from each of them, Luna walked off. The punches kept on coming and there was only so much damage control she could do. They were warned something bad was going to happen, but no one could have predicted this. They needed to guide his change as much as possible.

***

James clapped his hands together as he set the finished pipe to the side. The sun was going to be coming down soon, and he had finished his prototype for the light show. Jamie called them fireworks, but he had never seen something like them before. He hoped it worked.

"I bet mine look better," she taunted as she set her pipe down. "I'm going to woo your ladies and claim the right to bathe them."

Narrowing his eyes, he pursed his lips. "That's dangerous talk for a woman on the ropes."

"Ha! My rope is a mile thick while yours is already fraying."

Grumbling, he tried to let the subject drop. Instead, he found Jamie reaching for his pipe, hoping to sabotage it. "Hey!"

Giggling, she pulled back. "I just wanted to see it, dear brother. I promise I wasn't going to do anything."

Scoffing, he put the pipe in his storage. "They'll be back soon. We'll let them decide who the winner is."

Putting her pipe away, she nodded. "You're on! As your master, I'm going to show you, young upstart, what it means to truly enchant."

"You barely know more than me!" he argued.

Laughing menacingly, she pointed out the approaching figures. The group was nearly back, and she cracked her knuckles. "It's nearly time."

Getting up from the ground, he waved at Luna as she jogged ahead. The Fenrir was covered in black blood, but that didn't stop her from leaping and wrapping her arms and legs around him.

"I caught my prey," she whispered into his ear. "Shall I feast tonight?"

His heart started to pound as he nodded. "Umm…"

Grinding against him, she nipped his lip. "You're mine, James Matson, and you aren't getting away."

"Oh, no, I've been caught." Holding a hand to his head, he feigned swooning. "Whatever shall I do?"

Laughing, Luna climbed off him. "What crazy experiment have you two done today?"

Both of them pulled out their pipes. "We made fireworks," Jamie stated. "The winner of the best display gets to wash you, Amber, and Zenaria for the rest of the time we are here."

"You used us as bets?" she questioned with narrow eyes.

"Yup!" he chirped.

Groaning, she stepped back. "Let's see them! You better win, James!"

Setting his pipe down, he watched Jamie do the same. Both of them were facing the sky as they activated their enchantments. James watched as his pipe started to glow before a white ball of energy built on the end. With a thump, it launched into the air before exploding dozens of feet above them. Blues, golds, and reds rained down in crackling sparkles that stopped the approaching group in their tracks.

Jamie smirked as her pipe started preparing in the same way. With another thump, it launched into the air where it exploded into the shape of a heart. The crackling light changed from red to green as it changed from a heart to a smiley face.

"No fair!" he grumbled. "I didn't know we could make shapes…"

"I so won this!" Jamie started clapping wildly. "Get the baths out, dear brother. Luna needs to be cleaned and I have my washcloth ready."

Summoning the different baths, he threw up his hands. "You win! This time…"

Pumping her fist into the air, Jamie launched her firework again. "I'm still your master!"

Joining her in laughing, he felt the lightest touches of joy and love fill the cracks in his soul. He was happy and relaxed and wanted nothing to do nothing more than bask in the moment. Jamie was exactly what he needed today.

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