A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing
Chapter 687 - 687 - Fake reluctance

Erik looked at the kneeling men and women, cocking an eyebrow with amusement. "Well? How do you, dear followers of my path, feel about this?"

"We feel like we've partied for twenty-four hours, Wolf-Sire!" came their response, with some smirking mischievously. Clearly, some were looking forward to this.

With a pleased chuckle, Erik nodded and turned towards Enkai. The latter was glowering heavily at him, but he'd been sufficiently cowed by now to not start complaining immediately.

Erik smiled confidently. "My covenant contract with Ankhur gives me the right to block a public announcement, old man, and I'm invoking that right. You yourself aren't directly bound by it, but if you disobey, the contract will force Ankhur to deal with you. I'll let you decide for yourself if that's worth it."

Enkai's scowl worsened, but Erik stepped up to him and patted his shoulder genially. "Just think of it like this, my friend. I could have invoked this right after deciding to keep them here, but I'm letting them go home, just as you wished! Plus, you're still allowed to talk to Ankhur and Naeku about this to try and disparage me!"

Not reacting to the hand on his shoulder, Enkai grumbled sombrely. "I'll certainly do so…"

"And you're welcome to try!" Erik chuckled with confident amusement. He wasn't worried.

He stepped aside, keeping a hand on Enkai's shoulder, and pointed at the groaning mess of a man he'd just tossed half-way across the room. "Just remember, that one over there is a little too unstable to keep running around the city. He'd never be able to harm me or my family, but he might harm others, so take him into custody for me, alright? We can do some kind of trial later."

Gruffly, Enkai nodded. This time, he wholeheartedly agreed with Erik, as loathsome as he felt about that.

Taking his hand off Enkai's shoulder, he stepped back and smiled. "Good! Since we understand each other, please feel free to escort these people back to the city proper and reunite the ones you were looking for with their family. I'm sure the others have their own homes to go to, as well."

He turned back to Nora, who was looking immensely satisfied at this outcome. "Anything you'd like to say to your flock before they go, Nora?"

His words shook her from her thoughts, and she quickly nodded. "Right!" Frowning seriously, she turned to her acolytes and frowned sombrely.

The bombastic, commanding version of her voice once again filled the room. "Go, and follow the Wolf-Sire's commands, my acolytes. When Anne and I have established a new home, you will come to know about it."

"Yes, high-priestess!" the acolytes acknowledged, before bowing deeply at Erik and then rising to their feet. They glanced at each other with excited expressions. Today, they'd met the man they so admired in person, and he didn't disappoint.

An exasperated Enkai walked forward and used Runic energy to quickly undo all the prisoner's restraints. "Lord Enkai!" one cried out as soon as he could talk. "The—!"

"Shut up, kid," Enkai interrupted him gruffly. "You think I'm on your side? Just be lucky I have seen no definitive proof of your actions, or I'd string you up myself for trying to disturb Naeku's happiness."

Enkai's irritation about this whole thing erupted forth in a wave of power that quickly made them all clam up. From the front of the hall, Erik watched him with an amused smirk. Despite Enkai's attitude, he knew there was no way the old man would actually act against him, so long as Naeku and Ankhur were still on Erik's side.

And there was no way that would change… Naeku was head over heals for him, and Ankhur was bound by their contract. Thus, Enkai would find no recourse except to continue enduring Erik's presence.

'I do hope he'll come to accept my rule one day, though,' Erik sighed inwardly. 'He's still important to Naeku, and I'd hate to put her in a difficult position.'

He turned to Leki, who was still near him and watching his father with a focused frown.

"I stand by what I said, Leki," he said sternly. "If your differences are irreconcilable, then so be it, but if you deprive yourself of a relationship with your father out of cowardice, avoidance, or a lack of resolve, then you do not belong on my path."

Leki flinched, as if caught. Sighing, he turned to Erik and bowed his head. "I understand, Wolf-Sire. I won't disappoint you…"

"Good," Erik nodded, and indicated for him to join his fellows. Leki did so.

When two separate groups of people were ready to go, Enkai looked at Erik sombrely. "Are you staying?"

A playful smile spread across Erik's lips. "For a little while, at least." He extended both his hands and caressed Anne's and Nora's hair. "I have two high-priestesses to reward for their hard work, you know?"

Instantly, the two girl's eyes widened, shivers travelling down their spines. Their cheeks were heating up as lust and desire rampaged in their minds in anticipation of what was to come. Grins spread across their lips.

Instantly, Enkai groaned and turned away, grumbling under his breath.

"You know, you're not too old to have some fun yourself, old man!" Erik yelled after him. "My mother is forming a harem, you should consider it!"

Enkai faltered in his steps, but then sped up a little, unwilling to dignify Erik's provocation. The acolytes snickered among themselves as they followed Enkai. With one of Erik's aspects being sex, his worshippers had pretty open minds.

After they were out the door and only Erik was left with his two servants, he released their heads and turned to look at them with a small grin. "Alright, girls. It's reward time. Tell me what you'd like."

Nora and Anne, excited as could be, quickly glanced at each other and came to some of silent agreement.

"Please wait here for a moment, Master!" they both cried out at the same time and sped off. To his surprise, they actually lifted the pulpit Nora had used before from the podium under the massive painting and disappeared through a nearby door with it. Their powerful, second-rank bodies had no issue carrying the massive thing.

He cocked an eyebrow curiously, but waited patiently. He could use his omnisense to keep track of them, but decided to keep it a surprise.

A few minutes later, they returned. This time, they carried a large, ornate throne and gently positioned it beneath the painting, on top of the podium.

They scrambled back over to him and sank down to their knees. They looked up at him excitedly. "Please let us serve you on your divine throne, Master!" they chirped in concert, wide grins on their lips.

Sighing in fake reluctance, Erik felt his lower regions stir.

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