Dungeon Mistress: Session 5 (Patreon)

Author's Note: Apologies on the delay on this one. As you'll see, it's a whopper at roughly 21k words -- far and away the longest single chapter of any series I've ever made. But I wanted to make sure I did justice to the campaign finale, so I feel like it was worth the extra time and attention. :)

This has meant that I'm running a little behind on Speedrunner -- if it's a day or two late next week, don't panic! I should get back on track pretty quickly after that with more regular (if smaller) weekly releases, that this behemoth is all written.

Hope you enjoy; it was fun to write and I'm happy with how it turned out. I'll probably post some wrap-up reflections from me on writing it (which can also act as a space for a bit of Q&A, if folks have questions they want to ask after reading the series) in the next few days.

---

It was the night before our campaign finale session.

And I was stressing out. Tomorrow, Meldrin, Lucia, Enna, and Cedwin would all - finally - confront the Night Queen.

I wasn't really thinking about the Night Queen, though.

I'd pulled up the email from my secret admirer to re-read it again, although I'd pretty much committed the words to memory at this point.

---

Subj: We're going to turn the tables on her

I've had enough of Monica playing with us. Next session we're getting some revenge. Pre-session party planning next Friday, the week before next session. I'll come by your place at 5pm. Clear your calendar.

-- your secret admirer

---

I'd responded enthusiastically enough right after the session. In the wake of watching her play with my friends on live video, turning things around on Monica had seemed like a great idea. The idea of actually figuring it out with a friend -- whoever it was -- instead of just trying to do it all myself had a lot of appeal, too.

But now, at -- I checked my watch -- 4:57, the only thing I felt was anxiety. I mentally reviewed all the interactions of the last few sessions with the two of them.

The feel of Liz's round ass, pressed against my hard cock.

Erin, using that dildo on herself in the last session, me watching on the video feed as she'd moaned my name; the sight of Liz, deep-throating a dildo.

The two of them, in swimsuits in that hot-tub, teasing me while one of them stroked me to completion.

I still didn't know who I was hoping the secret admirer actually was. And whoever it was, what was I actually going to say, to this person?

Then there was a knock at my door.

I took a deep breath and pulled it open.

Liz and Erin were standing outside. Liz was wearing jeans and a t-shirt; Erin was in a sundress.

Both of them honestly looked about as nervous as I felt.

"Uh...Hi?" Why were both of them here?

"Hi, Chris." Liz gathered the wherewithal together to speak first. "Can we come in?"

---

They sat on my couch; I sat in an armchair across from them. I stared at them for a moment, silent, not sure what to say.

"I'm...I'm sorry!" Erin blurted out. She was beet red. "I-it started as a bit of a teasing joke, but then it kind of...got out of hand..."

My heart sank a little -- a joke? -- but I tamped down the feeling, trying to focus on understanding what was going on. "So...you were the secret admirer?" I looked between her and Liz, uncertainly.

But Liz shook her head. "We, uh...we worked together on the notes to you."

I blinked, flushing as I digested that unwelcome news.

"Like Erin said, it started as a joke...you know, after that one session with that scene where Monica turned all the lights off?" Liz asked, uncomfortably. "We could both feel you were sporting a serious hardon."

I nodded. I had figured as much.

Erin continued, hesitantly, "Well, w-we talked about that after the session, and thought it'd be fun to tease you a little, without you knowing who it was. We figured maybe you'd think it was Monica. So it was fun. And then, honestly, it was kind of nice to have you going along with what we wanted to do each session, instead of what Mike wanted, and...i-it just..." she sighed, regretfully. "We should've stopped a lot sooner, Chris. I'm sorry."

The implications of all this were now sinking in. "S-so...this whole time...the two of you were just...what, bouncing email drafts back and forth? You were manipulating me as a joke? What the fuck, guys."

"Okay, don't get us confused with Monica," Liz said, sharply. "It was just a joke at first, and then it got out of hand, okay? Besides, you didn't seem to mind the teasing. You seemed pretty happy after the hot tub, as I recall."

I just shook my head, still processing. "I didn't mind the teasing, no...but, come on. You guys were coauthoring emails to me and signing them your secret admirer. I thought one of you might be...I dunno, into me, or whatever. But I definitely thought both of you were my friends. Like...this is really fucked up."

Erin looked like she might burst into tears. "S-sorry, Chris."

Liz didn't look quite as emotional about things, but did look contrite. "Look, I know. That's why we figured we'd come clean about it. It was fucked up. I'm sorry, too."

I glanced back and forth between them, feeling torn. "Okay...I appreciate the apologies. And look, I get how...things can get out of hand in these sessions, the way that Monica runs them," I admitted, grudgingly.

They both looked relieved.

But I wasn't done. "But I've got a few questions, though. Like..."

I took a deep breath. The dynamics within our little group of friends had become a mess. If we were ever going to fix them again, we were going to need to get way more direct, and I might as well be the one to start. "Which one of you jerked me off in the hot tub? That was a lot, for a joke."

They both opened their mouths, but Liz spoke quickly enough to forestall Erin from speaking. "We'll tell you. But look, we were serious in the email. I want to -- we want to -- beat Monica, defeat the Night Queen. And the only way we're going to do that is by working together. So we'll tell you...but you've gotta tell us what you've been up to in all those private scenes with her. The only way we can beat her tomorrow is by comparing notes and coming up with a plan."

I let out a slow breath of air.

I'd come into this expecting exactly that: to make a plan, to turn the tables on Monica.

I'd just been expecting to do it with one person, and maybe for that one person to actually have...feelings for me. Not to be playing a practical joke on me.

I glanced speculatively between Erin and Liz.

Also: I wasn't sure I believed the practical joke explanation. Not entirely. Someone had jacked me off. Ha-ha. Very funny.

Erin gave me a tentative smile.

Liz, on the other hand, gave me a look I'd seen a thousand times before.

It was the look she'd given me twenty years ago when a neighborhood boy our age had told us that girls weren't fast. When, as teenagers, some idiot at the arcade had told her that she probably couldn't beat him on the Street Fighter II machine. At twenty five, when a guy at a shitty sports bar had told her that he didn't think she was any good with a pool cue, but there was another stick she could handle if she played her cards right.

She'd outraced the neighborhood boy. Half an hour later, that idiot at the arcade had run out of quarters. And the guy at the sports bar had bought us all drinks, then later dinner, as she'd repeatedly trounced him in pool.

The look on Liz's face was competitive. Irritated. It said, hold my beer while I shove this pool cue up this guy's ass.

She wanted to win.

That reaction next to Erin's told me a lot, and I took a shot in the dark.

"First of all, I know it was Erin in the hot tub. I just wanted to see if you two would tell me, and the fact that you wouldn't makes me feel like you're not really sorry."

I paused, gauging their reaction.

Liz's mouth opened in surprise, and then she closed it, thoughtfully, and winced.

Erin just got bright red, yet again, and whispered, "S-sorry. I-I should've told you, honest."

I felt a surge of smug satisfaction. No denial from either of them. I'd been right.

Whoever had been writing the emails -- it had been Erin, in the hot tub, with her hand on my cock.

I filed that information away for later -- right next to the memory of her, moaning my name as she tried to work a dildo inside herself.

I continued, "And it makes me feel like you don't really want to win, Liz. We've gotta start getting honest if we're going to beat the Night Queen."

Liz snorted a rueful laugh out. "You're right. And I really am sorry." She leaned forward, a familiar intensity about her, now. "But I don't just want to beat the Night Queen. I want to beat Monica at her own game. I want to win thoroughly and completely. So let's talk."

Well, that felt more like Liz-as-usual. I cracked a smile. "Okay. So let's talk about the last few sessions. You guys want a beer?"

---

"Okay. So, what'd she make you do this last session then, Chris? While we were all separated?" It was Erin, voice curious.

I shook my head. "Nah, c'mon, you guys first. I've been really, uh, honest. Fill in some gaps for me."

Over the last half hour I'd told them everything -- the way she'd seduced me as the Night Queen, and the Daughter of Blades. How I'd used the Night Queen's charm on Diphylla the dryad, and how Monica had gone down on me. The only thing we hadn't covered was the latest foray into the Arcanatrix's sanctum.

Now, admittedly, I omitted some of the more embarrassing specifics of our encounters.

How I'd been unable to resist the Night Queen. How I'd cum in a single thrust when she'd been playing the Daughter of Blades. The way Diphylla had gone down on me, made me end the scene instead of ending it herself.

Erin shrugged. "Okay, what do you want to know?"

I had one question that had been on my mind for a while. "What's your take on her and Mike?"

"He's going to be a real problem." Liz let out a sigh. "He likes the way she plays with us. With him."

"Maybe, Liz...or maybe he's just embarrassed," Erin said.

I could believe either of those explanations, based on what I'd seen so far. But I raised an eyebrow at Erin. "What makes you say that?"

Erin looked a little sad. "We tried to talk to him about it once. A while back. After the first time we went to the Arcanatrix's tower, before you started playing with us again. He looked mortified, didn't really want to talk about it."

Liz shook her head, irritably. "Maybe. But I think he genuinely likes it, Erin. I mean, you saw him when he left the hot tub..."

Erin nodded, rueful. "Yeah. We should've gone with something else."

Liz gave an unsympathetic shrug. "I dunno, after that first trip to the Sanctum I was worried. But when I checked in with him to ask him if he was cool with what was going on, he said y--"

"Okay, you're talking around something. Clearer details, please," I interrupted, glancing questioningly at Erin.

Erin giggled and shook her head.

Liz sighed. "He likes it when Monica talks about the size of his dick. Like, he likes it a lot."

Well, I already knew that, based on last session. But hearing someone say it out loud was still pretty jarring. "O-oh."

"So, when we needed to get him out of the hot tub quickly, we just..." Liz shrugged, uncomfortable. "Well. We knew what to say to make him embarrassed, y'know?"

"We shouldn't have done it." Erin looked shamefaced.

I nodded, slowly, mulling this over. "Think he'd help us? Should we bring him in on this?" I asked the question uncertainly.

Ordinarily, I felt like I knew Mike the best of all of them. But Monica had complicated everything.

Liz shook her head, vehemently. "If push comes to shove, he'll have Meldrin side with the Night Queen. Like I said: he likes what she does with him."

Erin, on the other hand, nodded. After a moment, she added, loyally, "He's our friend. We should get him over here to plan with him."

I hesitated. My heart agreed with Erin. My head, though...I thought of the Consigliere, testing him last session. Of how obviously overwhelmed he'd seemed. "...Why don't I at least text him and let him know we're coordinating to try to win tomorrow, ask him if he's got any plans or thoughts?"

Erin nodded. After a moment, so did Liz, more slowly.

I fired off a text to Mike, then turned my attention back to the two of them. "Now. What happened to you guys in the Arcanatrix's sanctum?"

They told me, although it became clear to me that we were all taking similar approaches. As Erin and Liz talked about what had happened last session, they went light on details. They both mentioned the dildos. Neither of them mentioned their size or specifics. Erin obviously didn't mention moaning my name.

I decided not to press them. Now that we were finally talking about what had happened, I didn't want to humiliate them by letting them know I'd actually seen everything. They were my friends, after all.

We all looked at one another: a little embarrassed, a little awkward after all the revelations. And then Liz took a breath, and looked at me expectantly. "Okay. We're all up to speed. How are we going to beat Monica?"

One final question occurred to me, something I realized I'd never been clear on. "Hey, before we do that -- you guys were trying to steal something from the Night Queen, right? An artifact? What is it?"

Erin answered, this time. "It was an artifact called the Scepter of Dominion. It's the component of a ritual that, under right conditions lets you, uh..."

"...Ascend to godhood." Liz finished Erin's sentence, flatly. "If the Night Queen completes the ritual she's been preparing with it, she'll take the Moon's place as one of the Doctrines, alongside the Tower and others. She'll be one of the foundational forces of the universe. And given how bad she is, that doesn't seem like it'd be good for the universe."

"Not gonna happen on our watch, though," Liz said, determined. "Let's look at her email and make some plans."

We all pulled up the email, re-reading it.

---

Subj: Finale!

Greetings, intrepid heroes!

For our campaign arc finale session, I'm planning a double header.

The first mini-session will focus on the confrontation between your allied forces -- the Hemlock Sisterhood and the dryads, in particular -- and the Night Queen's guards, outside her castle. The only option, this close to the Night Queen's seat of power, is a frontal assault. Obviously you all will be grappling with the fact that Arcanatrix Ravenna will be aiding the Night Queen, too.

The second -- should you survive and get inside the palace -- will cover the final confrontation with the Night Queen, once and for all.

A few reminders about abilities you've picked up the last few sessions:

• Liz, successfully overcoming your challenge in the sanctum got Lucia the Gem of the Minotaur. Once per session, the gem imbues you with bull-like strength and power, greatly increasing your aggression and damage.

• Remember that you've still got the Ceremonies of the Grove and River available to you.

Come wearing your costumes or show up early to change into them here.

I look forward to learning how this story ends!

Your Dungeon Mistress,

Monica

---

"It just sucks that we couldn't convince Ravenna to side with us," Erin said, plaintively.

"Yeah, about that." With a Cheshire-cat grin, I said, "I didn't want to say anything in front of Monica, but...I actually got her to help us."

The two of them stared at me. I didn't go into the details of the video feeds, just mentioned that Ravenna had been in the room in person with me, I'd convinced her that we could beat the Night Queen, and she'd hidden it from Monica.

Liz practically cackled. "Oh my god. That's gonna be awesome. I cannot wait to see Monica's face."

Erin's brow furrowed. "So the woman who was on those videos...she was hiding under Monica's bed? And she just popped out and, what, you all...had a conversation?"

I sighed. I'd hoped to avoid the details, but decided to share a bit more. "So, her name's Fiona, it turns out. And no, of course it wasn't just a conversation. She gave me a handjob and went down on me while we talked about it....like, um, a...test, of sorts."

Erin bit her lip and looked away.

Liz was nodding thoughtfully again, though. "This sort of shit is what Monica's going to be doing in the last session, isn't it? Like...persuading Cedwin and Meldrin to switch sides, I bet."

It seemed likely. "Yeah. Probably."

Liz crossed her arms, giving me a frank, assessing look. "If Monica really wanted to get you off, is there any chance you could last more than five or ten minutes without having an orgasm?"

No. That was the honest answer. But I didn't really want to say that. "I-I mean, even if she makes me cum, it's not going to change that I want to side with you guys--"

"It won't change what you want, but it will change what your character does." Liz interrupted me. "This is how she operates. She's been doing it this whole time. Some weird test for Mike, you resisting an attempt to mind control your character, played out through sex. She'll tell you that if you, y'know, give in, it means Cedwin gives in."

She was right. Of course. I was silent.

Liz looked me over, thoughtful again. "Erin said you're pretty big. Do you think there's any chance you could get Monica off instead of her getting you off? That would be beating her at her own game."

"Liz! Oh my god!" Erin's voice was sudden and shrill, and she covered her face with her hands.

Erin thought I was big. The satisfying boost to my ego clashed with the embarrassment that surged in me at the honest answer to Liz's question: I didn't think there was any way I'd get Monica off.

"I, uh...could try..." My voice was doubtful. The memory of my encounter with the Daughter of Blades -- trying to get her to orgasm by going down on her, only to slide inside her and cum in a single thrust -- was seared into my mind.

Liz cocked her head. "So even if we helped set up the situation, if you were really railing Monica, you don't think you could get her to--"

"I-I don't think I can do this, guys." Erin cut her off. "I'm...gonna go. I'll...I'll see you guys at the session tomorrow. You know I'll have your back, just...talking about Chris getting Monica off is too weird."

She sounded agitated. Not angry, exactly, just...upset? I wasn't sure. Her voice was full of emotion, though.

"Erin, c'mon," I started.

But then I stopped. I could see tears in her eyes. Shit.

Erin shook her head, turned away from me, and walked out.

Liz stared after her, and grimaced. "I'll text her, make sure she's okay. Maybe drive her to the session tomorrow. She's been super uncomfortable with the game; I think she's just been putting on a brave face for all of us. I probably made it worse with the whole secret admirer thing."

I just sighed. "...but you're okay with it?"

Liz rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't say I'm okay with it. I was worried about Erin, yeah, but more worried about you and Mike. Monica isn't telling Erin she's got a small dick, or trying to corrupt your character through sex. I've been trying to check in on you. If you or Mike had thrown a flag, said you wanted to call it quits or confront her, I'd have been game."

She had a point; I'd brushed her off a few times now, when she'd been trying to make sure I was okay.

"Anyway, Chris. This is all Monica's fault, at the end of the day. The whole situation, how uncomfortable it feels between the four of us. I just want to beat her. I think that's the best way all of us can address...this." She waved a hand, indicating Erin and Mike's absence, the tension, the whole situation.

I nodded, slowly. "Agreed. So what are your ideas?"

She steepled her fingers, took a breath, and leaned forward. "Glad you asked. I've got a couple of ideas we could try, but like Erin said, this is all a bit weird and awkward to even talk about. So...just how badly do you want to win?"

I thought of everything that happened...but mostly I thought about Erin, leaving just now with tears in her eyes.

Fuck Monica.

"Very badly, Liz."

Her eyes were dark, but she broke into a grin. "Good. Me too. Let's talk."

So we settled in to talk.

---

"You've never been able to resist me, Cedwin. And you know it."

The Night Queen's words, whispered in my ear in the quiet dark, had a predictable effect.

"I will this time." I tried to say the words evenly, in spite of the rising arousal I felt.

"Oh, well. It sounds so simple when you just say it like that." I could hear the amused smile in her voice. "Why would you think you'll be able to do that? What makes this time any different?"

As she spoke, I felt a hand slide down my abdomen, began unbuttoning my trousers.

"My friends and I--"

But she interrupted me, her voice sliding smoothly underneath mine, the same way her hand slid smoothly inside my pants, pulling out my rapidly hardening length.

"Your friends," she said, coyly, "Aren't here. There's just you, and me...and this." She ran one hand up the length of my cock as the other wrapped around my base.

It felt good -- very good. But I tried to keep my breathing even, measured. We were just roleplaying.

"And anyway, if you lose control for me, they won't be your friends anyway, Cedwin. It will be the final betrayal. I will have broken you, once and for all. Broken your mind, the way I've broken Meldrin's."

Mentally, I worked to stay detached, trying to slow down my arousal. But I couldn't stop my physical response. I was erect now, under her sure hands, the competent fondling of my cock.

As casually as I could, I said, "You're wrong. What worked on Meldrin won't--"

"Oh, I know that." I was leaking precum, and she traced a finger through it, sliding it along my length. Fuck, the way she was touching me felt good. "Your proclivities are different from Meldrin's, of course. But the techniques are the same. They're always the same."

I took a deep breath. Lubricated, now, she was starting to pump me. Slowly, at first, but she was picking up speed.

"The pleasure I give you is too much," she whispered. "It feels too good. You'll give in to it eventually; everyone does."

In spite of myself, I let out a moan. The darkness left my senses open, vulnerable, and her soft voice, the pleasure from her hands wrapped around my length were everything.

"Uh...I'm...only using my hands. You want me to stop for a minute?" She'd dropped character. I could hear the astonishment in her voice at the sound I'd just made.

"Shut up. I'm -- I'm trying, okay? You keep going, I can handle it," I muttered, embarrassed.

Calm down. You have to do better than this if you want to win, I thought to myself, hopelessly.

I heard her let out a little scoff, but when she spoke again, she was back in character, the Night Queen's imperious tone. "No, you can't. Not with me."

Her voice shifted, sly. "You are so convinced that the bonds between you and your friends are so strong. They aren't, though. Not really. I mean...if I told you that you could fuck Lucia, you'd want to, wouldn't you?"

The retort I'd been starting to form died on my tongue, and I froze. The situation was arousing enough without thinking about that.

"You would," she murmured, confidently. "I've seen how you look at her, Cedwin. How you watch her, in the leggings she wears. The way you react to her body is so telling. Not just friendly, is it?"

"C'mon, what're you--" I mumbled the words out, embarrassed, but she just kept going, her voice and her hand, both.

"You'd fuck her if you could. Just bend her over..."

I felt a spike of alarm as the remainder of the detachment I'd been working to cultivate vanished in an instant, but mostly, I felt a dizzying, disorienting sense of arousal at the words coming out of her mouth.

"...spank her round ass, grab it in your hands..."

I let out a muted, frustrated groan.

"...slide in that big, thick cock..."

Oh, god. I couldn't believe she was talking like this. As she pumped me with her hands, the image filled my mind, Liz bent over as I thrust into her.

"...and pound her until she can't take it anymore, until she loses control..." Her voice was wanton, filled with arousal.

I didn't respond. The vision filled my mind, Liz's round ass slapping against my hips, the way she might look back at me, submissive, needy--

"Maybe Lucia would beg, as she gave in to the pleasure of you filling her." The Night Queen's voice shifted to Lucia's now, husky, wanton, full of abandon. "Oh please, Cedwin, yes, don't stop, I-I'm going to--"

Oh god. This was going to make me cum. "W-wait, Liz--"

She stopped, immediately.

As we'd agreed that she would, if I broke character.

Liz let out a sigh. We sat for a moment in the dark, the only sound my labored breathing.

"I think," she said, carefully, into the silence, "That we should really, really try to keep you from being alone with Monica, in any position where she can put your resistance to the test."

I felt embarrassed. "C'mon, just because I said your name just now--"

"Chris. Please. You were losing control." Her tone was blunt. "Monica's gonna do way worse than what I just did. And we both know it."

I blinked, feeling embarrassed.

When she continued her voice was more sympathetic. "Look, you said you wanted to win badly. Well, me too. So just avoid solo situations with her, okay? For any length of time. It just doesn't seem like it'd take her very long to get inside your head."

I took a deep, frustrated breath. But I nodded, glumly.

"Now..." Liz's voice was skeptical. "I'll see you tomorrow. You're not going to be weird about...this, are you?"

The word this was covering a lot of ground, here. But it was clear it especially included what had just happened. My friend Liz, giving me a handjob in the name of testing how long I'd last.

I shook my head, more decisive now. "No. We're going to beat her, Liz."

She nodded. "See you tomorrow."

I sat in the dim light of my apartment for a long time, letting my erection and arousal subside, before I moved to turn the lights back on and get ready for bed.

---

I arrived at Monica's apartment the next day right when Mike did.

"Hey," I said, awkwardly, as we rode the elevator up to her floor together.

"Hey, man." He was short, a little terse.

"You, uh, didn't respond to my text."

Mike let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I...think we just ought to try to get through this last session, y'know? This campaign isn't, um, turning out the way I expected, but I don't think we need to like...plan a mutiny against Monica, or whatever Liz wants to do."

I nodded, a little sadly. "Mike..."

But he wouldn't make eye contact with me. We were at her front door now.

I tried to think of something to say. "Do you think if we--" I started, but I stopped as the door opened.

It was Fiona, who had played Ravenna last session.

Except she was dressed as Diphylla the dryad, this time.

"Hello, boys. I'm Fiona; I'm helping Monica with this session." Her lips quirked into a smile, briefly, as she looked at me.

She must've gotten the whole outfit from Monica. The bright green cosmetic contacts, silvery aspen-bark hair, and fiery orange lipstick gave her the same, odd, alien beauty -- although the overall effect was totally different on Fiona's darker skin.

She looked undeniably hot. The transformation to Diphylla had me taken aback, but I'd had an entire session of sitting next to her. Her lithe body, good looks, and aristocratic, British lilt were all at least familiar to me.

Mike, on the other hand, was totally entranced. "Y-you were Ravenna, weren't you? In those videos?"

Fiona gave him a smile. "That's right. You must be Mike. Monica said you asked about me. Did you like how I played the Arcanatrix?"

Mike flushed. "Th-that was your natural accent? Are you, uh, British?"

"An expat, yes." She winked at him. "Anyway, come on in, guys. Chris, you need to get into costume."

She turned and moved inside the apartment. Mike and I both watched her go for a moment. The dress didn't cling to her body in the same way it did to Monica's generous curves, but you could still see her lean frame, glimpses of her skin as the fabric shifted over it.

"God damn," Mike declared, quietly. "I am sitting next to her this session."

I sighed.

We went inside.

---

"Your forces, such as they are, are assembled just outside of bowshot range of the Night Queen's keep, atop the nearby ridge. It affords an excellent view of the approach to the keep -- the only approach."

The pre-session banter had been a little subdued. Erin had arrived next, tentatively smiling but clearly a little nervous, excited to meet Fiona, to see her playing Diphylla. Then Liz: determined, terse, intense. She didn't greet Mike, which I thought was a bit excessive, but very much Liz's style when she was annoyed with someone. She just sat, without ceremony, next to me.

Monica continued, her voice soft, but steady. "You all, Diphylla, and the Daughter of Blades survey the somewhat irregular force you've assembled: a dozen dryads, perhaps forty of the Hemlock Sisterhood's finest, and two-dozen mercenaries that the Daughter has hired from some sordid tavern in Ravensgate. Your forces are fewer than you might have hoped; notably absent are whatever strange magical constructs the Arcanatrix would've brought to your side.

"It is dawn; you know that a night assault would be insanity. The sun has yet to crest the ridge you stand upon, and the Night Queen's keep looms out of the darkness of the valley, its odd silvery stone a monument to madness itself. You cannot help but notice -- Enna especially, but others as well -- that the moon hangs low in the predawn sky, large and unnaturally full; the sun may be rising, but it clearly won't set any time soon. It is at odds with the lunar cycle, and some of the dryads murmur in horror at what must be abominable dark magic of the highest order."

Monica, unexpectedly, wasn't dressed as the Night Queen. She was in her Daughter of Blades costume: cherry-red lipstick, blonde hair, silver sheath dress contrasting with tanned skin, and a scar above her eyebrow.

Everyone around the table was quiet at that description. Fiona, next to her, looked at me with those mint-green eyes, and said, with exaggerated coyness, "Cedwin, my dryads are worried. Perhaps you'd like to say something to inspire them, to allay their fears. All our fears." She batted her eyes at me.

Monica snorted. Liz rolled her eyes. Admittedly, I had forgotten about using my pendant to charm Diphylla, two sessions ago; Fiona played it well.

But I did like a good, rousing, Ride! Ride-for-ruin-and-the-world's-ending! speech, so I was happy to have the opportunity. And I was thinking of the way this session was likely to go, of the...subtext. I was silent for a moment, and then raised my voice, adopting Cedwin's weary baritone.

"I look upon all of you, and I know what many of you are thinking, even if your faces do not show it: we are too few. We cannot win. And you're right: we are few."

"Uh, she asked for an inspiring speech, dude," Mike murmured from Diphylla's other side. I glared at him, and he shifted, uncomfortably, in his Meldrin robes. I kept talking.

"But this was never a battle that would be won by sheer force of numbers, anyway. The Night Queen does not field an army in the traditional sense. Here, at the heart of her demesne, the real battleground will be inside our own minds: whether the bonds we've forged are enough to stand the test of her dark magics."

I paused again; nobody interrupted me this time. Mike wouldn't even look my way.

"So you may say that we are too few. I say to you that we've brought the few we trust, and no more. In the face of the Night Queen's madness, that is exactly the right number. It will be what makes the difference, believe me. If we stand true, beside each other, then she cannot stand against us."

I looked at Erin, who was seated between Mike and I, wearing the now-revealing brown dress that Monica had altered. She met my eyes and gave me a wan smile.

I gestured skyward, and decisively finished, "The moon itself will look down on us as we defeat her this day."

Liz -- who was on my other side, in her strappy top and tight leather pants, sitting between me and Monica, high-fived me appreciatively. "Fuck yeah. I'll drink to that."

Fiona broke into applause. "The dryads cheer," she declared.

Even Monica looked impressed. When she spoke it was thoughtful, as if she were mulling over the subtext behind what I'd said. "Hey, good speech."

Then she shifted to the bratty, entitled tones of the Daughter of Blades. "Very pretty words, from a very pretty man. Let's hope we can all live up to them. Now, how are we going to do this?"

That kicked off a many-sided discussion of tactics -- the Daughter's sarcastic tones clashing with Diphylla's earnest tones, Liz, and I periodically chiming in with thoughts and perspectives. Mike and Erin were both pretty quiet.

Eventually, though, a plan emerged -- most of our forces would march right up to the castle, while a smaller group of Hemlock Sisters scaled the walls, attempting to sneak inside and open the gates. The four of us -- plus the Daughter, and Diphylla -- would hold back a bit, seeing how the Night Queen deployed her forces and her magic and judging where our help was needed before weighing in.

"I cast Pass Without Trace on the Sisters going inside," Erin said, helpfully.

Monica nodded. "Okay. Even knowing what to look for, you can barely see them as they flit across the landscape in the last of the predawn darkness, creeping up to and over the walls of the keep, and then you lose sight of them entirely. And as you set up your command tent in the sparse woods outside the keep, your attention is otherwise occupied anyway."

Monica paused, dramatically. "Great winged shapes swoop down at your troops out of the darkness. Their exact forms are difficult to make out, but they seem batlike, though not animals of flesh and bone -- some kind of odd material, not quite metal but not quite stone either. Whatever they are, they've got sharp talons and wicked hooked beaks. They can only be some strange arcane construct, summoned by the Arcanatrix Ravenna to assist the Night Queen. At the same time, the gate of the keep opens briefly, disgorging the Night Queen's regiment of Moon Guard. Battle is upon your allies. I need to know who's joining the fray and who's holding back."

"I'm going to help the dryads," Erin said, immediately.

"Is the Night Queen down there with her Moon Guard?" Liz asked, cautiously.

Monica shrugged. "You can't really tell."

"I'll go down with Enna, then," Liz said. She leaned over to me, and, more quietly, murmured, "You should hang back; if the Night Queen's down there, we want you staying away from her."

Monica was watching the two of us, curious and amused. I didn't think she had heard Liz, but it had to be pretty clear we were colluding. "Well? What's Cedwin doing?"

I had to admit that I felt a little like a coward. But Liz had more than proven her point last night. If the Night Queen was down there, I'd probably end up mind-controlled in a heartbeat. "Uh, he'll hang back, watching the battle closely but keeping himself unengaged to see where he's needed."

Monica nodded without comment at that. "And Diphylla? Meldrin?"

"Meldrin moves closer, but not too close -- he wants to be able to lob spells into the combat but not put himself at risk," Mike ventured.

"That seems sensible for spellcasters; I suppose Diphylla does the same, taking up a position next to Meldrin, then." Fiona said, agreeably.

Monica jotted down some notes. "Okay, great. So, let's start with what rapidly evolves into a confusing, sprawling melee, with Hemlock Sisters, mercenaries, and dryads fending off the claws of these swooping shadow bats as the Moon Guard charges..."

Monica ran through a round or two of combat. Enna used a Call Lightning spell to roast bats out of the sky; Lucia was murdering the Moon Guard left and right.

"What's everyone else doing though? Diphylla and Cedwin and the rest of them?" Erin asked, curiously, as Monica finished describing how another few bats fell to a crash of lightning.

"So glad you asked, Erin." Monica's smirk appeared. "What you all down on the battlefield don't realize, fighting for your lives, is the way in which the light has shifted. The day has dawned, yes, but the sunlight in this particular valley, the seat of the Night Queen's power, has an odd hue. And the moon is so low in the sky, it looms. Those of you who aren't fighting for your lives can feel the Night Queen's power growing by the moment, and then -- as it reaches some kind of threshold -- there is a sudden surge of it, and you feel her touch on your minds. Mike and Chris, make a Wisdom saving throw. I'll roll for the Daughter."

Dice clattered. Mike and I both succeeded, resisting the effect. I glanced up at Mike as he reported his result. He sounded...well, not disappointed. But carefully neutral."

"Does Diphylla need to roll, then?" Fiona asked the question, watching Mike and I roll the dice with bemusement. I gathered she hadn't played much D&D.

"No," Monica said. "She automatically fails. The Night Queen has a strong foothold in her mind already. Someone used their moon pendant to open the way for her."

Whoops. I winced at the same moment as Liz punched my arm. We hadn't discussed this as a possibility; we should've expected it.

Monica inspected her roll. "And the Daughter fails too. Well. Hmm." She considered for a moment.

"Uh oh," Liz muttered.

"Okay...let's handle the Daughter first, then what happens with Diphylla. Cedwin, you're staring down at this battle, watching it unfold -- perhaps your hands reflexively reach towards your blade, eager to be down there doing something concrete to stop the Night Queen. You feel her touch on your mind --" Monica gave me a direct, amused grin, "as you have before, of course -- but you manage to resist her pull for now."

She paused. "And then you realize the Daughter of Blades is nowhere to be seen. She must have gone back inside the command tent. Cedwin knows that the surge of power from the Night Queen would have been felt by all of you. What would you like to do?"

Uh oh indeed. We were five minutes into the session and it was obvious where this was going.

But what was I going to do? Let the Night Queen corrupt or kill the Daughter? She was one of our strongest allies? We probably needed her to face the Queen.

Liz and I glanced at each other. She gave a fatalistic shrug.

I didn't see another option either.

I took a deep breath. "Okay. Cedwin goes into the tent to check on her."

"Great," Monica said, standing up from the table. "Give me...three minutes, say, to get things set up, then follow me into the bedroom. I imagine this scene will be quick and we can get back to the combat."

I didn't have a reply to that; I just watched as Monica walked into the bedroom.

---

The room was pretty quiet for a moment, and then Fiona said, "What do you think is going to happen to Diphylla and the Daughter, with those failed saving throws?"

"They're probably going to get mind controlled or taken out of the fight or something," Liz said. I could hear the frustration in her voice.

"So...Fiona," Mike cut in, interested. "What do you do for work?"

"Oh, you know. Social media stuff. Content creation." Fiona said the words with a disarming smile.

"Look, the most important thing is going to be getting to the Night Queen," Liz said. "The moment it feels like there's a clear path to get inside, we need to take it. That's the only way to stop her."

"Nah, c'mon. We should take care of her minions completely first, so we don't have to deal with them while we're fighting her," Mike said.

"Mike, that's exactly NOT what we're going to do."

Liz and Mike got into it, after that. Fiona's gaze flipping back and forth between them arguing like she was watching a tennis match.

And then, next to me, Erin said something, quietly.

"Hm?" I hadn't heard her over Liz's latest rejoinder.

"I said, you know you don't have to," Erin repeated herself softly. "Whatever she wants you to do in there, you can just...not. It's just a game."

I nodded my understanding, speaking softly as well, so only the two of us could hear. "Yeah, I know it is. But..." I hesitated, finding the words. "It's like Liz was saying last night, I guess. I don't want to win by not playing. I want to beat her at her own game."

She gave me an odd, inscrutable look. "Okay. I hope the game is worth it, Chris."

I wanted to ask her what she meant, but it had been about three minutes. I stood up. Mike and Liz fell silent, Fiona looked up at me. "Back in a few, I guess," I said.

I walked over to Monica's bedroom, slipped inside, and closed the door behind me.

---

I don't know what I expected. But the first thing I could hear after the door closed was a wet, slick, squelching sound. And then the bed came into view.

Monica was lying back on her bed, legs splayed. And she was fucking herself with a dildo, hard and fast.

The sight rendered me speechless. The sheath dress the Daughter wore was in disarray -- hiked up around her hips to allow her to spread her smooth thighs apart further, and pulled down to reveal her round, full breasts.

"Cedwin -- ah -- i-is that you? The Night Queen's magic has me in its -- ungh -- its grip." Monica was moaning midsentence, each time she jammed the dildo inside her. The Daughter's tone, normally self-assured and entitled, had nothing but wanton abandon in it, now. "I-I can't -- mmfph -- stop myself..."

I didn't immediately respond. I just watched the way she was forcefully shoving the dildo inside her. My eyes locked on the way her big tits shimmied, with each thrust. It was surprisingly...hard. Part of me wondered if this was what Monica liked -- these rough thrusts -- or if this was her roleplaying the Daughter.

"It feels so good. But if--if I finish this way Cedwin, for her -- I know she'll control me. She'll be inside me, in my mind." She was panting. "I-I need your help."

It was a convincing portrayal, and my body was responding to the sight in front of me; I could feel my cock, thick and full, inside the tight pants. I tried to organize my thoughts, to understand what this scene was about, besides an excuse for Monica to fuck herself silly in front of me. "What, um, what can I do, Daughter of Blades?"

"Use your cock to finish me. If you finish me, the Night Queen cannot. Please, hurry, I'm -- oh -- I'm getting close." The Daughter's voice was full of urgent desire.

Ah. Now I understood the terms: fuck her to an orgasm, or the Daughter would fall to the Night Queen's control.

I didn't feel any more confident about the likelihood that I could do that than I had last night discussing it with Liz. And in the back of my mind was what Liz would say: that I had no chance to succeed here, not really. She'd ask the question of whether there was some way to turn this scene around on Monica, something clever to do.

But that was all in the back of my mind. My hands were already undoing the laces on the leggings. My legs were already walking me over to the bed. I was already lining up my hips with Monica's, putting my hands on those smooth thighs, tanned in the Daughter's costume.

I couldn't say no to this opportunity. Monica, in front of me, turned on and ready, begging to be fucked -- dangling the possibility of making her cum on my cock -- was far too enticing.

I stared down at her, briefly, my gaze locked between her thighs as she pulled the dildo out of herself, set it aside.

"Now, Cedwin. I need it." The Daughter's voice had some of its usual brattiness back in it, once more.

With a grunt, I slid inside her. She was wet and ready. The dildo had been thick -- not quite as thick as me, I couldn't help but note with a feeling of pride, as I felt her stretch to accommodate me -- and she was more then warmed up.

I held still for a moment, adjusting to the sensation of being inside her. It was impossible not to think of the last time I'd fucked Monica.

She'd been wearing this costume.

And I had cum in a single thrust.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep myself calm. This was hot, but I felt more in control than I had last time.

"Oh yes," she whispered, excitement in her voice. "Fuck me. Fuck me hard."

Well, I couldn't say no to that either.

I pulled back out and started fucking her, sliding back inside her in a single deep, hard stroke.

Monica fucking loved it. Or she was roleplaying that the Daughter of Blades did, at least.

She let out a groan at the first thrust, and reached a hand up to squeeze one of her big tits, crushing it in her hand, kneading it aggressively. "Yes, Cedwin. Oh, fuck."

I pulled out and thrust into her again, hard. I was doing my best to emulate what she'd been doing with the dildo when I'd walked in. It was probably a slower pace than I would've set if left to my own devices, but each stroke much more forceful than I would've done myself, too. Like I was fucking her deliberately and thoroughly.

"Ungh -- good -- I-I can feel her magic fading, yes," the Daughter moaned. "Keep going."

Another thrust. Fuck, she felt so good; soft body underneath me, sheathing me in wet tightness.

"Y-yes, oh gods --" she broke off into a whimper as I bottomed my length out inside her, my hands scrabbling at her back.

Another. This was so hot.

"Don't stop," she panted the words out. "Fuck me until I cum for you."

Really, really hot. I slammed my cock home again.

"Play with my tits," she demanded. The Daughter's petulance was back in her voice now. "Play with my tits while you -- ungh -- while you rail me."

I did, reaching down, taking a big double-handful of her big tits as I slammed home into her again.

"Yes, oh, fuck, yesss, I'm--I'm close--Cedwin--Cedwin--" The Daughter's voice was full of need.

So much need.

Too much need. Suddenly, with the words, the feeling of her full tits in my hands -- I was at the edge.

"Just a sec," I muttered. I pulled out and away from her for a moment, trying to get control of myself.

"Noooo," she moaned, plaintively. She reached out to pull me back -- but I needed more than split second, and pulled away further.

"I-I need to be filled," the Daughter whined. "A-and if you can't, then I'll..." she reached over to the dildo, picked it up.

Shit. It had only been a second since I pulled away; not long enough for the reprieve I needed. But I grabbed her wrist, putting myself back on top of her. She bucked her hips, sliding my length inside her again.

"Yes, yes, yes," she moaned the words out, breathless with gratitude. "You can't stop. The moment you leave me, I can feel her enchantment taking hold again, Cedwin. Don't pull away. Don't cum. And don't stop."

I grunted my acknowledgement, but I was battling my own orgasm again now, immobile inside her, trying not to cum.

"You're holding still, you have to fuck me, I need it," she whined again, brattily. But then she made eye contact with me, and I saw comprehension dawn on her face. "Oh, no...You can't last can you...it's like last time...but Cedwin, you can't stop, or I'll..." She was bucking her hips, working me in and out of her a little.

I gave her one hard thrust...but it put me so, so close to the edge. Being inside Monica felt incredible. I didn't want to cum; I had to imagine that might put me at the Night Queen's mercy.

So I pulled out of her, pulled away again, staring at her, breathing hard, uncertain if I was making the right decision.

This time, dildo already in hand, she was ready. She let out a despairing, aroused wail. "I-I have to...I need it..." I watched as she brought it between her thighs, sliding it home hard and fast with a groan.

And then again.

And again.

And again.

She just kept going, an almost frantic energy driving her as she moaned with each thrust. I would have liked to intervene, but the sight of her fucking herself was almost as hot as actually fucking her. I wouldn't last a single thrust, and I knew it.

And after fifteen or twenty seconds, it was over anyway.

"F-finally--" Monica's back arched, she shoved the dildo inside herself one final time, nice and hard. She thrust those magnificent tits upward.

She started cumming.

The sounds she made -- a shuddering, gasped series of cries -- and the sight of her, completely losing control, made my cock throb, even though I wasn't touching it. For a moment, I worried I'd cum just from watching her cum.

But the sensation passed, barely. After a moment or two, she looked up at, me panting, breathing hard.

And then cocked her head, birdlike. "Cedwin, Cedwin, Cedwin," she purred.

It was still the Daughter's sarcastic, entitled cadence, but there was something different behind it. A hint of predatory menace.

Some vague part of me -- in spite of the massive erection I was sporting, how aroused I was -- found the wherewithal to roleplay. "Daughter of Blades, you...don't seem yourself," I stammered out.

"Oh, Cedwin. She is in here, yes. Furious, wrestling for control, screaming...but that's not who's speaking, not anymore," she whispered. "You speak instead to your Mistress. And I am glad, for our conversation is long overdue. What have you been up to?"

"I-I, uh...I don't serve you." Not my most eloquent roleplaying, but at least I got the spirit of things right.

"You're right. You don't. It is most curious, but not unheard of. Your will is strong, unusually so," she said, in a musing voice. She sat up, moved to the edge of the bed, sitting in front of me. My gaze went -- inevitably -- to her magnificent tits, my cock throbbing right in front of them.

Monica didn't miss where I was looking. "I'll make you a deal," she whispered. "Consecrate yourself to me once again. I see your need, Cedwin, throbbing in front of me. Do so, and I shall leave the Daughter of Blades -- and her mind -- intact."

I shook my head. "I shall never serve you."

She frowned, prettily. "You are strong-willed, a servant of the Tower. For you, it will take three such consecrations before your will is gone, and you are fully mine. This represents only the second. It is more than fair. If you reject my offer, I shall break her mind right now. And then you can duel her. Her body and mind feel quite...honed. To a sharp point. I imagine it will be quite a show. Choose."

Monica's voice was peremptory, now.

I gritted my teeth. We couldn't afford to fight the Daughter, I judged, not with the Night Queen still to face. Who knew if the Hemlock Sisters would follow their leader and turn on us as well.

"Very well," I said, shortly. "I shall consecrate myself again to your service. If you return the Daughter of Blades to her right mind. Mistress." I said the word -- as I judged Cedwin might, and as I was also feeling -- with frustration.

But my breath caught in my throat as she scooted forward to the edge of the bed, tits swaying, and whispered, "Good. It is a bargain, then."

She looked up at me, and, without preamble, wrapped her tits around my length. "I know this is what you prefer," she said, voice sultry. "It is how you consecrated yourself to me that first time, after all."

I didn't respond. I'd just about cum before, from fucking her. And the sensation -- my cock, still slick from being inside her, now enveloped in her tits -- had me right back on the edge, again. This was going to be fast. Really fast.

It was as if she knew what I was thinking. "This won't take long, of course," she crooned. "There's no need to resist, this time. No test to pass or fail, no need to hold back; our bargain is already struck. You should enjoy it," Monica whispered. "And then think of doing it again. A third time."

Her dark eyes, looking up at mine, held nothing of the Daughter in them. They were the Night Queen, through and through.

I didn't like the idea. Enjoying it, not trying to hold back, felt somehow wrong. But she smoothly moved her tits up and down my length, once, and the feel of her soft skin against my hard length made me acutely aware that it probably didn't matter whether I resisted or not.

"It could be like this every time, if you wanted," she said, seductively. "No reason to resist. Just succumbing to the pleasure, the Moon's embrace. Help me ascend. You and your friends cannot win anyway."

I opened my mouth but no words came out as she pumped her tits down my length again, a second time. I could feel the orgasm crashing over me, a confusing tidal wave of pleasure mixed with frustration, a sense that resisting her would indeed be futile.

"Just consider it," her lips quirked into a smile, "As you give yourself to your Mistress again."

One final pump, and a jet of cum spurted out hard enough to coat her face. The second spasm of cum hit her chin. After that, bucking helplessly into her chest, I simply coated her tits.

Monica practically purred in satisfaction. "Mmm. Our deal is complete, Cedwin. Try to stop me, then...if you and your friends dare. It might cost you more than just your lives. And remember -- one more consecration to my service, and you truly will belong to me."

Monica, face covered in my cum, gave me a wicked smile that faded into a look of puzzlement.

"You...you couldn't last...she was in my head..." The Daughter's voice was confused as she pieced together what had happened. "But you sacrificed...a piece of your resistance to her, to save me. Thank you, Cedwin."

I nodded, breathing hard, still coming down off the orgasm.

"Cedwin, while she was inside my mind, I was inside hers. She..." dawning comprehension spread across the Daughter's face. "...she's going to attempt to ascend today. We have to hurry."

I had to admit, grudgingly, that it was a good narrative device to set up that particular piece of information.

Monica stood up, moved over to her vanity to try to clean up using the mirror over there. "Now. The Daughter is fatigued; her mental battle with the Night Queen has left her drained. She'll be unable to aid you further. You can let the others know; I'll be out in a minute."

She paused, eyeing me in the reflection of the mirror. "Up to you whether you tell them what keeping her as an ally cost you, of course."

"Right. Uh, okay." I wasn't sure what to say to Monica, watching as she dabbed at her face and chest, trying to preserve the makeup, and then giving up with a sigh, wiping it off. I had truly plastered her.

I decided I didn't have anything to say to her. I still wanted to win. Her suggestion of consecrating myself a third time wasn't going to happen.

I turned and left.

---

"The Daughter of Blades is out of the fight?" Liz was disappointed.

"Uh...yeah. She isn't turned against us though, at least? Although, um...one more tangle with the Night Queen's, y'know, mind magic, and Cedwin will be on her team, too." I explained it, shamefaced. "And, um...the Night Queen's trying to ascend today, the Daughter said. We have to hurry."

Liz's lips thinned, obviously clocking some of the unspoken subtext. "I see."

Next to me, Erin just looked disappointed and disapproving. "Hope it was worth it," she murmured.

I didn't know what to make of that. But there wasn't time to make anything of it, because Monica breezed back out. She'd cleaned off much of her Daughter makeup, perhaps deciding that it wasn't salvageable and that it didn't matter with the Daughter out of commission, anyway.

"Now, I assume Chris has explained about the Daughter. Just a few more things to resolve in the first half of the session, and then I think we'll break -- people can grab lunch if they want, or just hang out. I'll need to switch costumes, and so will Fiona, for the finale scenes."

"Okay," Erin said, a tone in her voice that just said she was trying to make the best of things. "So...what happens with Diphylla, then? Or are we going to keep going with the combat? I'd be happy to blast some more of those bat things out of the sky for a bit."

Monica considered, and then nodded. "Let's do a little more combat, then. Next round -- Lucia, I think you were up first in the initiative, right?"

---

The combat, as these things often do, turned into a bit of a slog. The fight was close, but it looked like Liz and Erin would pull through.

Until.

"Natural twenty," Monica said, triumphantly. "That's a crit."

"Fuck," Erin said, miserably. "Enna's out for sure. I only had nine hit points left."

Monica looked positively gleeful. "Okay, the Moon Guard's mace clips you on the side of the head. Enna staggers, and falls. Lucia, you're not near her, are you?"

Liz sighed, looking glum. "No."

"Alright. You're unceremoniously gathered up by two of the Moon Guard, and -- after some brief exchanges in shouted Elvish -- the few that remain mount a retreat, taking Enna with them." Monica looked around the table. "You've won the day -- and the way to the keep lies open -- but you've got a hostage to rescue now, as well."

Erin and Liz looked at each other, crestfallen.

"Can't, uh, Meldrin do something? To stop them from taking her? I've been unengaged this whole time," Mike said.

Erin looked at him appreciatively.

Monica's eyebrows raised. "A good question. Diphylla was with you, wasn't she? Let's see what happens with Diphylla first; if you're still unoccupied, you can try to keep them from carting Enna off."

Mike nodded, agreeably.

Monica glanced at Fiona. "Diphylla is unable to resist the Night Queen's mental commands. The Night Queen wants you to corrupt Meldrin. I'll let you decide how Diphylla tries to go about it."

Fiona gave Mike a smile that was just on the borderline somewhere between friendly and maniacal. "Hmm. How much does Diphylla know about Meldrin?"

Mike was blushing. "Probably not that m-"

Monica cut Mike off. "She knows everything the Night Queen does, Fiona. And the Night Queen's been inside his head."

"Oh, dear." Fiona smiled in amusement. "Okay, I'll work with that."

Fiona scooted her chair closer to Mike, who watched her move closer with an odd mix of excitement and concern on his face.

"I'm so glad you're here with me, Meldrin. That battle looks quite...dangerous." Fiona made Diphylla's voice breathless. I had to admit that her British accent gave her portrayal an appealing vulnerability.

"I, uh, suppose it is." Mike adopted Meldrin's reedy voice.

"You don't think the fighting will make its way up here, do you?" Fiona pantomimed peering worriedly down at the combat across the table. "If it does, you'll protect me, won't you, Meldrin? You must be such a powerful wizard..."

"I am, indeed..." he allowed. "We'll be safe."

She looked impressed. "Oh, good. I knew you were powerful, and...and I have a question for you about that, actually."

Mike raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Diphylla giggled. "But it's...well, I think civilized folk might not consider it appropriate."

I glanced around the table. I could see where this was going. So could Monica, who was trying to hide a grin, and Liz, who was openly frowning. Erin looked a little confused.

"No, no," Mike said. "Ask." I could see he was nervous.

"Well," Fiona started slowly, turning to face him earnestly. "In nature...the most powerful males of a species usually have more mating success. The most dominant owlbears select their mates first during the rut. Stallions compete with each other, to breed with the mares in a herd. Even basilisks, who mate for life, have courtship and selection rituals, where the females pick the largest males to breed with."

Fiona paused, biting her lip, looking curiously at Mike's groin.

Mike swallowed. "What...what's your question?"

"Well..." she leaned forward, her face inches from his, toying a finger through her silvery hair. Her lips parted. "You're very powerful. So you must be quite masculine. You must mate with many females. Does your magical power make you...bigger?"

He flushed. "N-no, it-"

Fiona spoke over him, guileless and excited, now. "Oh my. So...you must be quite large already, then, without augmenting yourself with magic?"

"I-I'm, uh-" But Mike was stammering, eyes downcast, looking at Fiona's lips, her body in that dress of vines.

"May I..." Fiona's voice was soft. We all -- Mike included -- watched as, slowly and deliberately, Fiona slipped her hands inside Mike's robe.

A moment later, Mike let out an aroused sigh.

And Fiona let out a girlish little giggle. "Oh."

"I-It's..." But Mike couldn't get a word out.

"It's so hard," Fiona said again, still giggling. "But..."

Mike was blushing, red-faced, but staring at her, entranced, now.

"...but it's so small. Doesn't it get any bigger?" She looked at him, curious and innocent.

He let out a muted sound, somewhere between a whimper of denial and a moan of pleasure.

This was the first time any of us had done something in front of the group like this. All of us were staring, silent, when Erin finally broke the silence.

"Mike, you don't have to...to do this. It's just a game." Her voice was full of worry, sympathy.

Monica, to my surprise, nodded, agreeably, a friendly smile on her face. "That's right, Mike. It's just for fun, so you should only do this if you want to. Do you want to, Mike?"

He looked, uncertainly, at all of us...and then down at his robes, where Fiona's hand was obviously still on his cock. "Yeah, I do." He said the words quietly, barely audible. He was obviously embarrassed to be saying it in front of us, but he did say it. "I-it's just roleplaying, guys..."

That last part was obvious bullshit. He clearly liked it.

But that just made the first part even more true. He wasn't doing this because it was in character.

Admittedly, a small part of me understood. The part of me that liked the way Monica made me feel totally out of control, that had happily played along in the last few sessions with her little games.

Then, into the silence, Fiona spoke, using Diphylla's voice once again. "Oh, Meldrin. Your little dick. It's getting my hand all sticky." She said the words matter-of-factly, without any malice.

"S-sorry," Mike mumbled. He was not really using Meldrin's voice, anymore.

"I just didn't expect it...there's so much, you're leaking everywhere." Diphylla's voice was still earnest. "You're so small, I would've thought there'd be less."

"Y-you just feel so good...god..." Mike let out a groan, and closed his eyes.

"Do you think any of your companions can see us?" Fiona whispered the question into his ear. "I mean, they're pretty busy, but if they looked...they'd see me, jerking off your little cock." She glanced over at Liz, Erin and I.

"Ah," Mike moaned. He pointedly didn't look at us, kept his eyes closed, but his face was bright red -- with embarrassment or arousal, I wasn't sure.

"I hope it wouldn't embarrass you, Meldrin. If they were watching, I mean. Watching me jerk off your small dick." I watched Fiona -- her toned arm reaching over towards Mike's lap, making smooth, quick, short pumps.

"N-n--" Mike made another strangled sound.

"Mmm...you sound excited," Diphylla murmured, her green eyes locked on Meldrin's face, now. "That little dick is going to cum fast for me, isn't it? Don't you want to last longer, though? I could ride you..."

"I-I want to," he said, pleading. "J-just slow down, fuck, I'm..."

Diphylla pouted those fiery orange lips. "But it's so small, it's just easier to do it fast, Meldrin. And...I don't know if I'd even feel it, if you were fu-"

With a groan, Mike arched his back, bucking his hips wildly. The table was blocking my view, but what was happening was obvious anyway.

For a long moment, the room was silent, except for Mike's breathing. I was sure Liz and Erin were just as stunned as I was.

"Oh, my." Diphylla's voice was amused, now. "The Dark Mistress said it would be easy, but I didn't expect...well, no matter. Off we go."

Then Fiona glanced at Monica. "There are trees nearby, right? I have..." Fiona glanced down at the character sheet. "...something called Tree Stride? As an innate dryad ability, that lets me travel between trees? While Meldrin is...distracted...I can use that to spirit him away to the Night Queen's keep, right?"

Monica looked absolutely astonished. "Yeah, you totally can. Wow, Fiona. I didn't think you would even read the character sheet."

Fiona shrugged. "I read up this time." She glanced over at me, briefly. "This session seemed like it was going to be interesting."

There was silence for a moment, the only sound Mike's heavy breathing. "Anyway, I'm going to clean up." Fiona held up a hand, revealing a sticky palm.

Monica nodded, and clapped her hands together. "Well. Let's break for lunch, then, shall we? People should just go grab whatever they like. We can pick up with you all entering the keep afterwards."

---

Mike almost immediately vanished into the bathroom.

Liz and I glanced at each other uncertainly.

Erin, however, looked determined. "C'mon, you two, I need some food, and there's a place around the corner. Let's go. Fiona, you can come if you like. Mike might be a minute, and I know you've got a costume change planned, Monica."

She practically grabbed Liz and me by the arms and hustled us out of there.

"Grab me a salad, would you, Fiona?" Monica called after us.

I could hear the amusement in her voice.

---

"Fuck her, you guys. That was so fucked up." I had never heard Erin this livid before.

Liz shrugged. "Yeah, I mean, it was weird, but...I told you. I think Mike likes it."

"It does not matter if he likes it. His, I don't know, his fetish, shouldn't be something she toys with in a roleplaying game!" Erin was indignant, turned to me, expectant. "You think it was fucked up, right Chris?"

I hesitated, and Erin frowned at me. "It is," I said, hastily. "I'm...just kind of having trouble putting a finger on what's wrong with it, exactly. Like, Mike wanted that happen, so it's not a consent thing."

"She's -- she's using his kinks to turn him against us!" Erin spluttered. We were walking down the street, and several passersby turned to stare. It didn't help that we were all still wearing our costumes. I hoped people just figured there was a gaming convention in town, not a BDSM convention -- Liz's strappy top, leather leggings, and heeled boots could've gone either way.

Fiona laughed like that was the funniest thing she'd ever heard. Erin whirled on her. "And you! You're supposed to be on our team, Chris said!"

Fiona held up a finger. "No. Ravenna is on your team. Diphylla isn't. That's not my fault. I'll play Ravenna as your ally, of course. I judged that you wouldn't want me to reveal that I'm your ally so early, or I would've turned those bat-creatures against the Moon Guard. Monica wanted me to change into the Ravenna outfit at lunch, so she'll make an appearance, I'm sure. Don't worry, you'll get your suitably dramatic betrayal."

Erin threw up her hands. "Ugh! This is all so bizarre. I could kill Monica."

I nodded, encouragingly. "Look, on that, I know Liz and I agree. We're gonna get her, Erin. Are you in? Because if you are, I want to talk about what I think she's going to do in this second half, what with you and Meldrin captured."

"Oh, I'm in now, yeah. God, I hate her." Erin's voice was vehement.

"Good. Based on how things went with the Daughter of Blades, I think I've got a decent idea what's going to happen. I imagine we'll have a chance to rescue you..."

As we waited, we launched into a discussion that probably left whoever was behind us in line quite confused. I outlined what had happened with the Daughter of Blades, what I thought Monica would do if we wanted to rescue Enna and Meldrin.

Liz had a suggested plan immediately. Erin looked a little taken aback, but I watched her as Liz kept talking. Erin's expression softened, and her eyes were on me as she nodded. I nodded as well.

We returned back to Monica's apartment, salads in tow, to play the second half of the game.

---

"Now, then, where were we..."

We'd cleared away lunch.

Monica was leaning back in her chair, a smug grin on her face. She had changed outfits -- she had on the Night Queen's makeup, now. Azure blue and gold lining her eyes, on her lips. Long dark hair done in complicated braids, pointy elf ears.

She was wearing that hooded cloak, again -- midnight blue, draped over her body. My eyes caught on the silvery clasp at her neck – a full moon.

Like that very first session, it covered her completely.

I wondered what she was wearing underneath.

"Ah, yes. Enna and Meldrin have both been taken inside the keep; their fate remains unclear. The Daughter of Blades is mentally exhausted from the Night Queen's embrace; she remains your ally, but isn't able to continue on with all of you. Diphylla is nowhere to be seen."

Monica paused. "But. On the plus side. The front gate of the keep opens, slightly. A Hemlock Sister peers out, beckoning you; the team of Sisters that scaled the walls clearly succeeded, and the keep stands breached. A handful of the Hemlock Sisters and dryads are still alive, having survived the fighting with the Moon Guard -- they look to you for orders. How would you like to proceed?"

I was ready with an answer. "We gather those who remain, leaving a Sister or two and maybe a dryad with the Daughter, in case some of the Moon Guard slip past us. The rest of us go in the front door. Cedwin will lead the way."

Liz, in her Lucia voice, added, "Well, Cedwin -- where might she be keeping Meldrin and Enna? Let's sort that out first."

Monica nodded, and steepled her fingers. "Cedwin's knowledge of the keep is indeed useful here. He thinks Enna and Meldrin will likely be in the prisons if she's trying to break them quickly. The Night Queen herself -- if she is truly attempting the ascension ritual the Daughter described -- is likely in her throne room, the seat of her power."

The next half hour was a series of skill checks as, cautiously but carefully, Liz, and I, along with the few remaining Sisters and dryads, proceeded deeper into the Night Queen's lair. We were as stealthy as we could, killing the occasional Moon Guard as we encountered them.

The vibe around the table was certainly...odd.

Erin was attentive, listening as Liz and I negotiated all the skills checks and described what we were doing.

Mike was mostly quiet, although occasionally Fiona would lean over and murmur something in his ear that he'd visibly react to -- looking away, mumbling something in response, reddening.

Speaking of Fiona -- she'd changed, into her Arcanatrix Ravenna costume. Her hair was dark, now, a shock of purple running through it, and she was wearing the wrap dress that matched the hair. In general, she seemed amused, cracking jokes periodically and clearly enjoying herself -- although how much she was playing things up for Monica's sake, I couldn't tell you.

Finally, we arrived at the dungeons. All of us got quiet again.

"As you descend the narrow stairs, the first thing you can hear are the moans," Monica said, softly. She had dimmed the lights in her apartment a bit, and it was starting to get dark outside, throwing her living room into an odd twilight.

"At first, Lucia, you think they're moans of pain, perhaps torture victims crying out. Cedwin knows better, of course. And as you round the corner into the hallway of cells, it becomes clear that if it is torture, it's torture of a different kind."

"Make yourself useful, Mike. Moan, to help her set the scene," Fiona said, slyly.

"I'm not going to doooo--" Mike ended his sentence in a startled moan as Fiona's hand slipped inside his robes again.

She smirked. "Good boy."

Erin's mouth twisted in distaste.

Monica looked delighted. "Why thank you, Fiona. It does sound a bit like that. At any rate, as you all get closer, the sounds get louder-"

Erin let out a series of low, loud, guttural moans. They absolutely sounded sexual. It was enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and my cock take notice.

Everyone, including Monica, stared at her, taken aback.

"What?" she said, looking at Monica innocently and running a hand through her hair. "That's what Enna sounds like. Oh, sorry I'm not letting you and Fiona toy with Mike uninterrupted. You were saying?"

"Um. Okay. Right, okay," Monica said, trying to re-rail her thoughts. "You come into the main prison area -- a square room, cells lining the walls, with a table and some chairs in the center for the guards. Only two of the cells are occupied: Enna is in one, Meldrin another. Both are on the ground, writhing in...agony? Ecstasy? It's hard to say. Light from the little windows that illuminate each cell -- oddly silvery, like moonlight -- plays across their features. You have no idea how long this has been going on, or how much longer they'll be able to undergo this, before their minds are lost to the Night Queen's madness."

"Can we-" Liz started.

"-And, in the middle of the room," Monica cut back in, smoothly, "Is Diphylla, with a handful of Moon Guard. They look up as you enter, and Diphylla smiles a pitying, almost vapid, smile." Monica's voice shifted to the dryad's breathless, innocent tones. "The Mistress thought you might come here first. Cedwin, she has explained to me how you and your companions are not yet fully hers. Do not worry. I shall help you walk down the moonlit path."

Monica gave us a sly smile. "Okay, so you guys should roll for initiative. Also -- Enna and Meldrin's corruption will work the same way that the corruption of the Daughter did. The only way to stave off the moon's madness is to bring them to ecstasy yourself."

I glanced at Liz, and Erin. We'd expected this exact situation, more or less. They both gave slight nods. We were, apparently, going with the plan we'd discussed over lunch.

I tried to tamp down the excitement and anxiety in the pit of my stomach at what that meant. What if I couldn't do it?

But Lucia had really good initiative modifiers, of course. So Liz got to go first. "Lucia leads the dryads and the Sisters in charging Diphylla and the Moon Guard."

Monica looked surprised. "Are you sure?"

Liz nodded, and then glanced at Mike. "We'll see if we can defeat them and then rescue him. I'm not sure Meldrin wants to be saved."

Mike started to retort, but Fiona -- hand still inside his robes -- did something, and he bit back a moan, instead. Fiona glanced at Liz, slyly. "I think you'll have to be quick with the combat if you want to be able to rescue him, Liz."

Monica glanced at me. "And so what's Cedwin doing?"

"He's going to try to rescue Enna." I took a deep breath and glanced at Erin, who nodded.

Monica hesitated, clearly trying to decide how direct to be about what that would mean. "Okay, how do you guys want to r-"

Erin, a little hesitantly, leaned over and kissed me.

We'd expected this; this had been our plan. But I still froze up.

I had imagined this dozens of times since my childhood and it still didn't prepare me for how it felt. Her lips were soft, sweet.

Her mouth on mine was tentative, especially since I didn't react at first. But eventually I gathered myself and kissed her back.

In the background, I heard Monica say, "Well, then."

"Cedwin is attempting to help free Enna from the Night Queen's influence, clearly." Monica was pleased. "Fiona, if you don't mind representing the Night Queen's influence on Meldrin, we can see if he bends to her will before they're able to-"

Mike let out a hissed, "Oh, fuck."

"Yes, that's perfect, thank you." Monica's voice was smug. "So Liz, what are you doing in this round of combat?"

But my attention was almost entirely on Erin. I reached over to her and pulled her from her chair onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her as we continued to kiss. She let out a little gasp.

My hands were on her body, and even though she was still wearing her dress, Monica had removed enough material that I could feel Erin's skin, smooth and soft and warm, under my fingers.

We pulled our mouths apart. Her green eyes were inches from mine. "I've been thinking about this since the hot tub." Her voice was soft, quiet, pitched only for me.

Now, with her in my lap, I was intensely aware of the feel of her groin against mine, the way her body felt against the thick bulge of my erection. I relished the sensation.

"C'mon," Erin whispered, wryly, "You want to save Enna from the Night Queen, right?"

I did, as it happened.

I started hiked her dress up over her hips. She pulled at the laces on my leggings, somewhat unsuccessfully, and there was an awkward ten seconds or so of jumbled hands, shifting bodies, as we both tried to get our clothes out of the way without her entirely pulling herself out of my lap.

And then we both paused, looking down at the sight of my thick length, tip inches from the red panties she was wearing under the dress.

"You, um, have to go slow, okay?" Now Erin sounded nervous, intimidated.

It reminded me of the sight of her impaling herself on that dildo from last session. When she'd moaned my name.

"I will," I assured her. She pulled her panties to one side, and I paused, staring again, briefly. She was shaved nearly bare -- just a hint of coppery fuzz standing out against her pale skin. The leanness of her, all taut, pale, freckled skin, gave the impression that she was tight everywhere.

My cock looked absolutely massive at her entrance.

I took one hand and tried to angle my length to make this as easy as possible, and then, slowly, pushed against and into her.

She let out a little whimper, and it became clear that this was going to take some doing regardless of what the angle was.

She was wet, her folds so warm they felt almost hot against the tip of my cock. But there was so much resistance; I could feel her having to stretch to accommodate me, and she brought her hand down between her thighs, pulling herself apart further to try to make it easier. No wonder she'd had trouble with that dildo.

"F-fuck, Chris," she whimpered.

"Easy, we're taking it slow," I murmured. I tried to focus on making it feel good for her -- admittedly, it was difficult. Even the smell of her -- fresh and a little floral -- was intoxicating. The physical urge to bury myself in her was almost overwhelming. But I controlled myself; this wasn't Monica, playing some character. It was my friend.

Slowly, inch by inch, she sank onto my cock, adjusting to me, until I was indeed buried inside her.

"Oh my god," she breathed. "I'm so full of you."

Hearing those words almost shattered that control I was working so hard to keep. But I kept it together. "You feel so good," I whispered in her ear.

Then, gingerly, she lifted her hips up. I could feel the pulling sensation, as if her body was reluctant to let me go, and then the satisfaction of sliding back into her once again.

I groaned, and she started to ride me.

There was a slow, rhythmic sensuality to her movements. It wasn't seductive so much as it was intense, her eyes locked on mine, working my thick length in and out of her tight little pussy.

I became aware that everyone else had fallen silent, was probably watching Erin ride my cock.

Fiona looked slightly impressed. Mike's expression was openmouthed, lustful.

Liz's face was unreadable.

Monica...well. I'd never seen that look on her face, before.

Monica looked jealous.

I decided I didn't care. I wasn't going to let them watching bother me, wasn't going to worry about how Monica or anyone else felt.

I gave myself over to the sensation of Erin moving atop me, the little sound she made each time she impaled herself on me, the way she was getting wetter, and wetter, and wetter around me.

I ran my hands over her body, the way I'd always wanted to, cupping her breasts through the dress.

And then Monica spoke, her lips right against Erin's ear. "I bet he feels good, doesn't he?"

"Mmmm." Erin made a breathless sound of agreement.

Monica smirked, her voice a sibilant hiss. "But he couldn't last long enough to free the Daughter from the Night Queen's grips, could he?"

Erin didn't respond, kept riding me.

"It was too much for him," Monica continued. "He lost control. Cedwin did, I mean. He couldn't handle m...I mean, the Daughter."

Erin reddened, now.

"Don't listen to her," I said to Erin, quietly, and then shifted my eyes to Monica, briefly. "She's just jealous. And Monica, you created this situation; you don't get to be jealous."

Monica stiffened. I could see that she was pissed, now. Good, I thought, grimly. Let her be pissed.

Erin gave me a soft smile, started moving her hips on me with more enthusiasm. I moaned.

"I wonder," Monica said, sardonically. "Wouldn't it be something if the Daughter was too much for Cedwin, but with Enna, he can last just fine?"

Erin frowned.

"C'mon, Erin, just ignore her..." I stopped short of saying like we planned. I didn't want Monica to know how much we were colluding behind the scenes.

"I mean, she must feel so good," Monica mused. "Just...maybe not as good, as the Daughter, you know. If Enna can't get you off."

A look of determination was forming on Erin's face, now. Her green eyes met mine.

"Let's-" I started.

"Fuck the game," she murmured.

And then she started riding me more purposefully, working my length in and out of her. Her ass brushed against my thighs each time she lowered herself.

She felt incredible.

I glanced over her shoulder at Fiona and Mike.

"Don't you wish you were getting ridden like that?" Fiona's lips were against Mike's ear, almost kissing him as she said the words.

His robe had fallen open in the front, and I could see her hand, pumping his small erection in brief, short strokes.

"Y-yeah..." Mike muttered, staring, entranced, at Erin's back as she rode me.

Fiona's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Do you want me to do that for you, Mike? Climb on top of your little cock and ride it?"

"P-please..." The desperation in Mike's voice was enough to make Liz glance that way and roll her eyes.

Fiona opened her own purple robes. "Controlling you is getting me so wet. Feel."

The table was blocking my view, but I saw Mike reach over and then whisper, "O-oh."

"I'll ride you. You just need to do one thing for me," Fiona murmured. She put her hand on his chin, turned his head Monica's direction. "Look Monica in the eyes, and pledge your fealty to the Night Queen."

Mike didn't even hesitate. "I-I pledge my fealty to the Night Queen."

Smoothly, Fiona stood up, moved to straddle Mike.

"Tell her that you'll obey your Mistress."

Entranced, Mike repeated the words. "I'll...obey my Mistress."

My attention was on Monica now, too. I could see -- though Erin couldn't -- her satisfied smile. This was going exactly how she wanted; Erin trying to get me off instead of trying to have Enna resist the Night Queen's corruption. Mike, obviously losing control.

The final battle might be the rest of us against Liz, at this rate.

"Erin, please, c'mon..." I said. She was fucking herself on my length with wanton abandon, now. I could tell she was really enjoying herself now; that she'd adjusted to my size.

"I don't care if we lose anymore. I want to feel you lose control for me," she murmured. "I mean, you have for Monica..." Her face was red, and she was letting out a little grunt with each downward motion. She was so wet I could it on my thighs.

Well. Now I was with her: Fuck the game.

It's not like I was going to last a lot longer than I had already anyway. The only reason I'd made it this long was that I'd already had one orgasm today.

So I grabbed her ass, one hand on each cheek, and started thrusting up into her.

"O-oh fuck, yes, Chris, just like that," she hissed. She was clutching at my back.

"Now, are you going to fuck me like that, Mike?" I could hear Fiona's voice, teasing, amused.

Over Erin's shoulder, I watched as Fiona lowered herself onto Mike's lap, sinking him inside her easily.

"Although, I mean, you can't really fuck me like that, can you? Not with what you're packing. But at least try to..." She trailed off, looking down in disbelief.

I heard Mike whisper an aroused, horrified, "N-no, wait--"

And then, with a helpless little whimper, Mike arched his back, let out a cry, and started cumming.

"Mmm. I wondered if that would happen. I suppose that's that, then." Fiona let out a little giggle as Mike thrust against her.

"Well, I think this scene is almost over," Monica said, pleased.

Liz leaned over towards Erin and I. "Come on, guys," she urged. "Stick to the plan, Erin. You're supposed to..." she trailed off in frustration.

I didn't blame her; neither of us gave a shit what she had to say, and I'm sure that was obvious. I squeezed Erin's ass harder, driving my cock up into her, urgently. Another twenty or thirty seconds of this and I would--

And then I felt Erin's whole body lock up. "C-chris, I...i-it's--" And then her mouth opened, soundlessly, and she convulsed so hard she almost completely pulled off my cock. She leaned against me, clawing at my back and shuddering, her breath coming in gasps.

Holy fuck.

The realization that Erin was cumming on me was almost enough to send me over the edge on its own...except that she appeared to have lost complete control of her body. All the rhythm gone from her movements. She was digging her nails into my back hard enough that I was worried she'd draw blood through the shirt.

The quavering spasms of her body weren't enough to get me off, especially with the flare of pain from her scrabbling at my back. So I just cradled her through the orgasm, enjoying the feel of her, the knowledge that I'd made her lose control. Made Erin lose control.

The room was quiet for a moment, just the sound of breathing as everyone collectively took stock.

"Well," Monica said drily," It seems like Enna is rescued, but Meldrin has succumbed to the Night Queen."

She broke into a twisted smile as she glanced around the table, her eyes lingering on Erin and I. "Let's just cut the combat short. Meldrin flees up the stairs as the rest of you finish off the remaining Moon Guards. You're able to lock Diphylla in a cell, confining her -- perhaps in the hope that after you defeat the Night Queen, her influence will fade. Now: why don't we take a minute, I'll make a fresh round of drinks, and folks can get ready for the finale."

People started moving around us, but Erin and I stayed still, staring at each other.

A complicated mix of emotion ran across Erin's flushed face.

Satisfaction, post-orgasmic bliss.

Confusion, at the realization that the game was still going.

And then, I saw her face settle into disappointment. Disappointment, at not having gotten me off.

Disappointment, because she knew Monica had.

Hastily, I stammered out, "Erin, that was-- you're--"

"We can talk about it later," she murmured.

I sighed. That was probably for the best, with Fiona looking over at us curiously, Liz sitting right next to us with a dour expression.

Erin pulled away from me and went to go clean up. I did the same.

---

"The throne room is oddly dark for the hour; somehow, it seems even darker than the dungeons. But as you open the throne room doors, there is light. An odd, unnatural light that casts shadows about the room."

Those of us who had needed to had cleaned up. We were all sitting around the table again, sipping on various drinks.

Mike, for his part, looked conflicted. Like he'd enjoyed that, but that he recognized that turning against the party -- not to mention prematurely ejaculating in front of all his friends -- was probably irrevocably changing his relationship with us.

I understood that feeling, I thought ruefully, glancing at Erin. She glanced over at me, then looked away, a little forlorn. Like she didn't want to admit to herself that the game was screwing with our relationships.

I understood that feeling, too.

"Focus," Liz murmured, close enough to my ear startle me. "Let's just beat her at her own game."

Monica was already continuing. "In the center of the room is the Night Queen. An aura of crackling power surrounds her. Her voice is a low, droning chant. Some kind of ceremonial garb wraps around her body, wreathing her in an odd, silvery web."

Monica stood up, throwing back her cloak. She was almost naked -- not completely, though. Instead, she was only wearing a...harness? I wasn't sure what to call it. Calling it was clothing would be a real stretch. It was just a series of silvery straps, as far as I could tell. But they framed everything perfectly, gathering her big, pale tits up into a shelf of generous cleavage, wrapping around her waist, emphasizing the swell of her hips.

All of us stared at her, the ladies included.

"The Night Queen is facing away from you, but glances over her shoulders and smiles at all of you." Monica's lips -- painted blue and gold, curved into a triumphant smile, and she shifted to the Night Queen's imperious tones. "Ah. The would-be heroes, arrived just in time to witness my ascension to godhood. Few enough mortals have the privilege of ever meeting one of the Doctrines. You will be able to count yourselves as very lucky indeed."

She paused, for dramatic effect. "If, of course, you survive. Meldrin, Ravenna -- kill them."

Monica looked at us. "Meldrin and Ravenna step out from the shadows at her sides, each obviously prepared to defend the Night Queen as she ascends to power. Roll for initiative."

We did. Liz went first. She pursed her lips, thoughtfully. "Can I take a moment and inspect the ritual setup she's got to try to figure out how we might disrupt it? Like, is there a pentagram on the floor we can scuff out? A brazier we can knock over? An altar we can desecrate?"

Monica furrowed her brow. "Sure...but it's going to be an Arcana check, a tough one."

Lucia was a rogue, and her Arcana skill wasn't very high -- but it wasn't terrible, either. But Liz shrugged and rolled. "Twenty-three," she reported, pleased.

Monica put her hands on the table and leaned forward. The straps did interesting things to her big tits as they hung in front of her. "Okay. You can tell that the ritual is nearly finished. You've only got a few moments, mere minutes at most. To complete it, the Night Queen will need to bring herself to completion. If you want to stop her, once and for all, you either need to kill her, or someone else needs to get her off."

I swallowed, hard, staring at the way her breasts were on display. We'd expected this, of course. But I didn't think I could get her off, and, I mean, it wasn't like Mike was going to be the one to get Monica off.

So we'd tried to come up with another plan.

In the meantime, Monica had moved to stand in front of Mike. "It's Meldrin's turn, now," she said, coyly. "And if he kills his friends, he'll be the first one that the Night Queen rewards once she ascends."

Her hand drifted across Mike's shoulders, slipped inside his robe to touch his skin, and then she pulled away, moving back to her seat.

He glanced at me. Then at Monica's backside as she walked away. Then back at me, apologetically.

Well, I couldn't say I was surprised.

"I cast Fireball, centered on Cedwin," he said. "Can it hit all of them?"

Erin made a disgusted sound at the betrayal. Liz and I didn't react. We'd expected this, too.

Monica nodded. "Yeah, I think they're all close enough to-"

"Ravenna uses Counterspell," Fiona cut in, smoothly. "It says I can use it as a reaction, so I can do that now, right?"

Monica stopped, looking at her uncertainly. "Yeah...but maybe you don't understand what it does? You'd be helping them."

Fiona grinned, and I could feel myself break into a smile, too. "Oh, yes I do. Ravenna stands with them. To stop the Night Queen's ascension."

"Y-you can't--" Monica spluttered.

"Of course I can, dear. You asked me to roleplay Ravenna, and that's what I'm doing. You told me she's a conniving, manipulative sorceress who's always looking out for number one. And, powerful as the Night Queen is, she's outnumbered. Ravenna knows the winning team when she sees it." Fiona paused, and added, "No matter how your tits look in that outfit. And they do look great, Monica."

Monica let out a frustrated growl. "Ugh. Fine. You traitor."

"So Fiona, what's it look like when she counters Meldrin's spell and it doesn't work?" The question was from Liz. She looked so insufferably pleased that I was surprised Monica didn't reach across the table and strangle her.

"Ravenna utters a single syllable, and Meldrin just...loses control of his magic. Instead of a fireball, there's just a little gout of flame. And then I think she looks at him and says..."

Fiona looked over at Mike with a smirk, "...Sorry, that looked like it was going to be such a powerful spell. But you really need to finish the entire incantation for it to work. The effect is so much smaller if you end it...prematurely. But then, from what my Consigliere has told me, smaller magical effects are your specialty, Meldrin."

Mike reddened.

Erin snorted.

And then Fiona looked across the table at us, and said, "You all handle the Night Queen. I'll take care of your former friend, here. You'll like that, won't you, dear?"

Mike just nodded, helplessly. He seemed to be putty in Fiona's hands, whatever character she was playing.

"Fine." Monica's tone was clipped, as she clearly tried to regain control of the game. "Erin, Enna is up next. What she doing?"

"Well, first, I want to call upon the Ceremony of the River to empower my next attack or spell," Erin said.

Monica nodded. "Okay. You can feel Lucia's power and presence -- deft, clever, and precise -- flow into you. What do you do?"

"I guess...I use this scroll of Sunbeam I've been hanging onto for a while to blast the Night Queen." Erin's voice was innocent.

Monica looked over at Erin's character sheet. "You...still have that?"

Sunbeam was a good spell. A really good spell.

Erin nodded. "I was saving it for a rainy day, y'know? When we were fighting something that seemed like it'd be weak against radiant damage."

Monica pursed her lips. "Okay. Well, go ahead and roll. What kind of saving throw does the Night Queen need to make, Constitution?"

Erin nodded. "Yeah. And I...what...double the damage dice? Because of the Ceremony of the River?" Her voice was level.

Monica sighed, and nodded.

Monica rolled her saving throw. Erin rolled the damage dice.

It was a lot of dice. Liz whistled.

"Fifty nine damage," Erin reported, proudly.

"And it's radiant damage, in case, y'know, the Night Queen is vulnerable to that," Liz added, grinning.

Monica's mouth twisted into a frown, glancing down at her notes. "Okay...it does not finish her off...but it's obvious that it's quite a hit. That aura of power radiating off her dissipates, substantially. You get the feeling that it'd still blunt your attacks, but you can probably approach her now without it damaging you, at least."

"What the fuck?" Liz demanded. "How is that possible? That is a ton of damage."

"She's an appropriate final challenge for your party level and power," Monica said, levelly. "That's a ton of damage, but it's not nearly enough damage to kill her in a single blow."

I did some mental math, glanced at Liz, and winced. Monica was right. She probably still had half her health left, at least.

Liz sighed. "Okay, fine." She gave me a worried look.

Monica glanced my way as well. "Okay, Cedwin's turn."

I took a deep breath, thinking about what I was going to do next, the weight of performance anxiety hit me in the gut. But I didn't see a way around it -- the Night Queen was too tough for us to defeat in combat quickly.

We'd hoped to avoid needing me to...engage with Monica.

Don't get me wrong. Looking over her body in that silver, strappy attire, I was more than happy to fuck her.

I just didn't want to cum embarrassingly quickly in front of all my friends.

All I had to do was fuck Monica to an orgasm. But I hadn't been able to do that earlier today, and I didn't like my odds any better with my friends trying.

I didn't see any alternative, though.

"Cedwin approaches the Night Queen," I said, cautiously.

Monica made a purring sound, shifting to the Night Queen's voice. "Ah, Cedwin. My devoted servant. Here with me at the end, our grand finale, my moment of ascension."

She moved to stand in front of me, sliding in past Liz, who looked affronted, but let her.

"Have you come to pledge yourself, the way your companion Meldrin has? He shall be the first of my servants rewarded once I become a Doctrine..."

We both glanced across the table at Mike. Fiona was currently pulling his robe open again. "Ooh, someone's gotten so hard from thinking about their reward from the Night Queen, haven't they?" She murmured, looking down. "Isn't it going to be awkward if she doesn't ascend, though? And you're just here...rock hard...with your victorious friends, who you betrayed?"

Mike looked over at us, guiltily. "The Night Queen's going to win," he protested.

"We'll see. I don't think you're going to be able to help her much." Fiona moved to straddle him again, looking down at him with a crooked smile. "Now try to last, this time."

He let out a groan as Fiona sank onto him.

The situation had me hard, and leaking already. Not having an orgasm with Erin earlier wasn't going to do me any favors when it came to lasting long enough for Monica. I glanced at Liz, who must've been able to see what I was thinking; she gave me a worried look.

My attention, though, was torn back to Monica. Who was kneeling, tugging at the drawstrings of my leggings. "I had hoped you'd follow me willingly, Cedwin." She looked up at me, her eyes dark. "After all, I gave you everything you wanted."

"W-what?" I didn't know what she was talking about, but I was finding it hard to think. I had to last. Not just in a room with Monica alone, but in front of all my friends. They were all going to watch while I...

"Well," she said, reasonably. "I gave you the dryad. And then I gave you Enna too, didn't I? Just like I said I would."

The words stopped me in my tracks. I could hear Erin's sharp intake of breath.

"That's not what happened," I said, infuriated.

"Isn't it, though?" Her voice was amused. "But no matter. Your appetite has truly been insatiable, Cedwin. The Daughter. Diphylla. Ravenna. Enna. None of it, none of them, have been enough, have they?"

I glanced away, looked at Erin, briefly, shaking my head, trying to deny what Monica was saying. Erin met my gaze, a little hurt in her eyes.

My gaze shifted as Monica stood up, having finally freed my length from the confines of my leggings again. She was looking at me.

"You crave my dark embrace," she whispered. She was standing in front of me, between my legs; silver straps, ivory skin, big tits in my face. "And now you shall have it."

Just as Fiona had with Mike, Monica sank down onto my lap.

A few things registered immediately.

First: Monica was wet. Incredibly wet. The situation had her turned on, too, I assumed. I slid inside her easily.

Second: she'd never ridden me before, I realized. The few times we'd had sex, I'd been on top.

And it became instantly clear that the woman knew how to ride.

I tried not to draw any contrasts with Erin, but the contrast was unavoidable. Erin had been slow and sensual. Passionate, even. Really hot. Especially when she'd lost control.

Monica, on the other hand, was practiced at this.

After a few movements up and down my shaft, she set a quick pace and stuck to it.

Her full ass started slapping against my thighs lewdly with each movement up and down my length.

And her tits -- those full, glorious breasts -- were bouncing in my face the entire time.

I immediately knew that I wasn't going to last long.

"Fuck," I muttered. I wasn't sure if I said it out of appreciation of the whole wanton display of Monica's body atop mine, at the realization of how hard it was going to be to last, or both.

"Focus, asshole," Liz hissed at me. I glanced over at her. Erin had moved to stand near her, and was looking at me, a little hope in her eyes -- perhaps remember what it had been like to ride me. How difficult it had been for her. Thinking about what a stud I was.

"C'mon, Chris," Erin whispered.

"I-I'm trying," I said. I put my hands on Monica's hips, and started driving my cock up into her, trying to meet her thrusts.

"Trying to impress your friends, are you?" Monica lowered her voice, as if she were whispering conspiratorially just to me, although I was sure they could hear it. "I'd focus on lasting, then. Imagine what they'll think if you blow your load in no time..."

The soft swell of her ass underneath my fingers, the way it felt to grip it in my hands was intoxicating.

After only a dozen thrusts, I took a deep breath and let my hands drop, tried to just focus on lasting.

"Why are you stopping? Come on. Here, I've always been able to tell what you really want your hands on..." Monica grabbed my hands, and brought them up to her tits.

Reflexively, I fondled them, squeezing. They were well over a handful, and pushed upward by her strappy outfit, the satisfying way they spilled out over my hands only further turned me on. My cock twitched inside her at the sensation.

I saw her lips part in an excited smile. "That's right," she whispered, in the Night Queen's imperious tones. "Just lose control for me. Give in. You want to, anyway."

"You're doing fine, dude. Just stay calm," Liz encouraged. Erin nodded, next to her.

"I-I'm trying." I muttered the words out, looking over at them.

Monica let out a tinkling little imperious laugh. "Of course you're trying. But you just can't. Your body knows what it wants..."

And hen she changed something in how she was moving her hips, shifting to a sinuous rolling, milking motion with her hips. It caught me off guard, and -- to my shame -- I let out a moan as I was looking at Erin.

I watched the hope wither in Erin's eyes. And then I blushed and looked away.

Monica was right. I was going to cum.

And then, Liz mouthed, the Ceremony. I had completely forgotten. I needed the reprieve, the chance to regroup.

"I-I call on the Ceremony of the Grove."

I blinked.

Before I could open my mouth, Mike had said it.

I had forgotten he and Fiona were there, to be honest. We all looked their way -- Fiona was pulling herself off Mike, who was redfaced and panting, his erection visibly jumping as if it were almost entirely out of his control.

Fiona glanced over at my groin -- where Monica was currently impaled -- uncertainly. "Uh, so this means I'm supposed to do something with Cedwin now, right? While Meldrin gets a reprieve? How can I, if you're..."

Monica shrugged. "I don't mind you taking a turn, I guess..." she broke into a slow, evil smile, pulled herself off me and away. "We'll see if you can finish him, and if you can't, I will. I know he's close. I've seen it enough times to be able to tell."

I didn't miss the way that Erin winced and moved from standing by Liz to a few more paces back at that comment.

Fiona looked at me. Then at Erin. Then at me again. "I'm just going to give him a break. Ravenna chooses not to inflict herself upon him."

Well, the mix of relief and disappointment was decidedly odd, but Monica was just irritated. "Fine. Cedwin gets thirty seconds, Chris. Better make the most of it. I'm setting a timer."

She moved back to her seat, pulling out her phone.

I took slow, even breaths, trying to calm myself down.

Liz leaned in and murmured to me, "I've got one last idea. I need you to get her to titfuck you."

I didn't see how that was going to help.

"Liz--"

"Just trust me," she whispered. "We can still beat her."

That did not seem likely to me. But I wasn't sure it mattered. I gave a short nod.

"Time's up," Monica said, smugly. She sauntered back over, moving to straddle me. "God, you're so turned on."

"Uh...yeah..." I trailed off. I stared at her tits. I wasn't exactly sure what to say to get her to titf-

"And so predictable. Why don't we make Cedwin's third and final dedication just like his first two, Chris?" Her hands went to her breasts, caressing them.

Well. I guess I didn't have to say anything.

She leaned over in front of me, putting her hands on my thighs, her face inches from mine. It had the effect of making her tits dangle downward, and I felt my cock -- still hard, throbbing -- graze the soft skin of one of her breasts.

"This is the third and final time. After this, you belong to me." She was using the Night Queen's voice, but only...kind of. And the look in her eye as she met my gaze said she wasn't talking about our characters. "I'll be your Mistress. Unless you can resist. But we both know you can't."

I reddened a little. The fact that she was saying this in front of my friends was embarrassing enough.

The fact that it was true was even worse.

"Now, let me give you what you -- ah --" Monica cut off into a surprised gasp.

I looked over her shoulder as Monica twisted around in astonishment.

It was Liz. I realized, in fact, that we were all staring at Liz.

Who had produced -- and was now wearing -- a strap-on harness. That she'd affixed a thick, grey dildo to.

Which she'd just grazed up and between Monica's thighs.

I was astonished. Liz hadn't mentioned this. Evidently she'd had a backup plan.

"I figure it's about Lucia's turn again," Liz said, casually. "She uses the Gem of the Minotaur to transform. You said it gave me bull-like aggression. I figured this fits the bill pretty well."

"Y-you can't just decide-"

"I can't? Oh. Okay. I thought this would be the sort of thing it'd be easy for the Night Queen to deal with. I can just roll a normal attack instead. Kind of boring, if you ask me. I just figured this was more interesting. More your style. But I mean, if you can't handle it, I get it, Monica. "

The challenging, implied taunt -- delivered in precisely the same kind of tone we'd all heard Monica use any number of times before -- hung in the silence.

Monica glanced around at the rest of us, and I watched as her pride got the better of her.

"Fine," she muttered. "Lucia transforms, then. It's not going to stop me anyway," Monica muttered.

She turned her attention to me.

Liz winked at me. And then she put her hands on Monica's waist, lined things up, and thrust into her.

Monica let out a grunt, but was clearly trying to stay focused. She leaned further forward, crushing my cock against her tits, and then arching her back so that my cock slid along between them. With her bent over in front of me, those big tits hanging down around my upper thighs and cock felt incredible.

And I was already so turned on. I moaned. Fuck.

My reaction seemed to help Monica regain some of her usual composure. She craned her neck to look up at me, dark eyes glittering.

"Cedwin, you'll -- ah -- fuck --" Monica started the sentence in the Night Queen's tones, but that compsure was short-lived. She let out two moans instead of continuing, as Liz started fucking her.

"He'll what?" Liz asked quizzically. There was a hint of menace in the question, and she didn't stop her thrusts.

Monica let out a groan, twisting to look back at her. "Y-you -- god --"

"You know...you've got a nice butt, Monica," Liz remarked.

And then Liz raised one of her hands, and slapped Monica on the ass. Hard.

Monica squealed. The sound was so at odds with her usual demeanor that I made a sound of disbelief.

Monica glanced up at me, clearly embarrassed. Then -- as if she was trying to hide from what was happening, or maybe hide from our eyes -- Monica crushed her face into my abdomen, putting her hands on my torso for balance.

And Liz started railing her in earnest, pumping the dildo into her hard and fast.

"Damn," Fiona said. She glanced over at Mike, still sitting next to her, who was staring at the display across the table from him in openmouthed, astonished, lust. And then she got a wicked grin, and her hand drifted down again. "Look at the way she's pounding her..."

"Y-yeah, fuck..." Mike muttered, distractedly.

I glanced over at Erin. She was watching the display, a satisfied expression on her face. Then she glanced my way, and I looked away again.

I felt a little embarrassed that I hadn't been able to deliver this.

But I didn't dwell on it too long, I couldn't. Each thrust of the dildo as Liz's hips slapped into Monica's ass caused Monica's chest to shift against me, rubbing my cock between her tits. It felt great -- almost as if Monica were titfucking me deliberately.

Fiona was still talking to Mike.

"Bet you wish you could fuck like this, hmm? Even Liz delivers cock better than you..."

He let out a moan of his own. "I-I'm..."

"You're what?" Fiona's whisper was harsh. "Is watching Monica get fucked properly going to make you lose it? Make that little, quick-cumming dick explode again?"

Mike nodded, helplessly.

"Of course it is," Fiona said knowingly. Her hand was pumping Mike's cock in those brief little strokes again. "It won't be long now. You're going to make another little mess in my hand, aren't you?"

I wondered if Monica would cum before Mike, given that it was round three for him today.

The thought prompted another, more humiliating one as the pleasure of Monica's chest sliding against my cock continued: I wondered if Monica would cum before me.

I wondered if Liz, fucking Monica, was going to make me cum.

It wasn't like Monica was doing it deliberately, of course. The only thing she was doing was making a broken series of whimpers and moans into my abdomen.

But with each pump of that thick dildo, my cock -- the entire length pressed against her torso, buried in her cleavage -- got a pleasurable, sliding sensation. Her tits were slick with my own precum, shimmying around me.

Somehow, the fact that it wasn't even deliberate made it hotter. Liz was fucking her so hard that it might get me off, too.

For another ten, fifteen, twenty seconds, there was just the sound of Liz fucking Monica, hard and fast.

And then she reached forward with one hand, almost nonchalantly, and grabbed the long, intricate braid that was part of Monica's Night Queen outfit. She gripped near the nape of Monica's neck, forcing her to arch her back.

"Such a good girl, to give me a nice handhold like this," Liz commented.

The position forced Monica to look up, into my eyes, so I got to see the flicker of anger flash through her. "I'm not a -- oh --"

"Yes you are. You're a good girl." Liz's voice was confident. And she spanked Monica again.

"Oh god -- fuck, I'm gonna -- this is gonna be so h-hard --" The anger on Monica's face was followed, almost immediately, by shock, submission, and then, very obviously, exquisite bliss.

As she started cumming.

I glanced over at Mike, who made a strangled sound, and closed his eyes. He was cumming too, Fiona giggling and watching as he lost control in her hand once again.

Erin was looking at Mike in astonishment, then at Liz -- who was still fucking Monica -- with admiration. Pride.

I looked down at Monica. Liz still had her by the braid, and while her face was turned up to mine, her eyes were rolled back. She was totally overcome by the orgasm. The look on her face -- pale features reddened, her body submitting to the pleasure -- was so completely at odds with Monica's usual composure.

It was so fucking hot.

And then, finally, I looked at Liz. She grinned at me. Her face was flushed with the exertion; strands had started to come lose from her ponytail. But it was the same grin she'd always had, after she kicked somebody's ass in pool, in Street Fighter, or in anything else.

She kept fucking Monica. Who was increasingly limp against me as her orgasm subsided, more and more of her weight on my body.

Each thrust bouncing those tits around my cock.

And, finally -- inevitably -- it became too much.

"S-shit, ah, fuck--" I muttered. The room had gone quiet, and the words were loud in the silence.

I was ashamed at how accidental this was. Liz hadn't been doing this to me on purpose, she'd just been fucking Monica. Monica hadn't even been titfucking me, not really. Nobody had been trying to get me off.

I groaned, loudly. The sound meant that everyone was looking directly at me as Liz continuing to fuck Monica -- who was now just letting out little whimpers at each thrust -- brought me to orgasm, too. Cum fountained up Monica's chest and across her face. I bucked my hips, fucking into her tits in time with Liz's thrusts, pump after pump finally giving me the sheer relief I needed.

I glanced around the room as I lost control, taking in the faces around me. Fiona, lips parted, delighted as she watched me cum. Mike, impressed eyes on my big cock protruding from between Monica's tits.

Liz, an almost astonished, apologetic on her face.

And Erin's bitter disappointment. I could see the incredulous question in her eyes: So Liz railing Monica got you off, but I couldn't?

Then she turned away.

"Um, the Night Queen is defeated." Monica's voice was small, exhausted.

We'd won. We'd turned the tables on her, like we wanted.

---

I'd like to be able to tell you that our victory was sweet. That after all that, we finally hashed things out, as friends. Talked all of this through.

I'd like to tell you that maybe Mike told us all how he never got to explore this humiliation kink of his, and so when the opportunity presented itself in game, it was hard to say no. That he apologized if it seemed like he was choosing that over his friends; that wasn't what he intended. Hell, that actually, we were the safe people to explore this in front of, and he was grateful for that, for us. Things just gotten out of hand.

I'd like to tell you that Erin and I sat down and had a heart-to-heart. That I explained to her that it wasn't that Monica was hotter, or that I liked her more, or that the sex with Erin had been bad -- not at all -- it was just the situation and the stakes getting to me. That what I really wanted was to see what Erin and I could be, finally. To explore that, with her, since she now seemed interested. Things had just gotten out of hand.

Hell, I'd like to tell you that Liz and I sat down and talked about all of it. What she'd done with Monica. What she'd done with me, the night before the session. What had happened, at the very end. That she was apologetic, that she shared how she'd just been stepping in when she'd seen that I wasn't going to be able to last. That she hadn't intended to make me cum, hadn't realized it would have that effect on me.

Things had just gotten out of hand.

None of that happened, though.

Instead, Mike awkwardly left, almost immediately.

Erin did the same, shortly after, not making eye contact with me.

Liz and I glanced at each other, and arrived simultaneously at the same conclusion: neither of us wanted to be the last one sitting here in Monica's apartment, hanging out with her and Fiona.

We both stood up.

"Good game, Monica," Liz said, casually. "Great finale."

"Mmm." Monica made a sound of acknowledgement -- but it was preoccupied, introspective.

Fiona gave us a cheery, wordless wave. She, at least, seemed unencumbered by all this.

Liz and I walked in the same direction towards where our cars were parked.

"You know," Liz said, thoughtfully. "I don't want to...leave things as-is. With everyone."

I nodded. "Uh, yeah. Me either." I thought for a beat before shrugging, at a loss. "But I don't know what to do. Do you?"

She gave me a thin, understanding, smile. "I'm not sure, yet. I've got an idea or two, though. I'll send an email about it once I've thought about it a little more."

We went our separate ways. I went home, and kind of muddled through my evening routine, getting ready for bed, the session replaying over and over in my mind -- sometimes hot, sometimes embarrassing, sometimes both.

It was, admittedly, hard to imagine looking at my friends the same way again. I was sure they probably felt the same way about me.

My phone pinged. I picked it up quickly, hoping for a text from Erin, maybe.

But instead, it was an email from Liz. To all of us, Monica included.

---

Subj: What's next

Greetings, intrepid heroes!

First, I want to congratulate Monica on an excellent final session.

What an intense climax.

A great way to end that campaign.

I imagine we'd all like a bit of a breather before we start something new.

But once we're ready...I'm proposing that I run the next game. I've got a few ideas for a campaign that I think would be pretty fun.

If you all agree, let me know, and we can get something on the books to do character creation.

Oh, and Monica: I know you've said you don't like playing in other people's games.

But I think you'd be fun to play with, so I'm hoping you'll make an exception. For me.

Your next Dungeon Mistress,

Liz

PS -- can someone add Fiona to this chain? I think she'd be a great addition to the group on a more regular basis.

---

Author's Note: And that's a wrap (for now, anyway!)

If you've read this whole series, I want to say thank you! I had no idea it'd be as long as its turned out to be, and I would not have have written more than the first chapter without getting so much positive feedback on it.