Hybridization

Chapter 164 – Girl Talk

Chapter 164 – Girl Talk

“I met a dryad enchanter once. Crazy lady for sure. Her particular brand of enchanting was to grow the enchantments into things and grow plants specific for alchemy or as bases for other enchants.” – Kurt’s uncle telling him about different types of enchantment.

Kristi sat perched on a stool in the vault. It was her turn to watch the little fey as she made… whatever it was she was making. The fact that this was her second shift was also telling. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if she would risk bringing in a video game or book, but she didn’t want to be distracted if something happened.

Anna had barged into the house the day before and immediately went downstairs where she began raiding Kurt’s supplies. He happily unlocked the lockers and deactivated his security measures before letting her have free reign. The entire time she was rifling through the lockers she was muttering about some nonsense that the translation device couldn’t even pick up. Even so, she had spent the entire time casting one spell after another onto her project.

They had decided, out of an abundance of caution, that someone should be watching just in case something happened. According to Bont, who had finally decided to talk, this was the longest she had been in a trance, and he wasn’t sure about the consequences. They at least thought it was likely that she would pass out from exhaustion when finished, assuming nothing went wrong.

That something could go wrong was also why it was Kristi and Kurt rotating the watch. Kurt because he could maybe do some enchanter mumbo-jumbo to help and Kristi because she could form a barrier if things went boom.

While the hours of general silence were tedious, it gave Kristi ample time to think and organize her thoughts. She hadn’t realized it before, but she hadn’t been alone very often over the past several months. Ever since signing up with Kurt, it was only on rare occasions she wasn’t with either him or Val… or, more recently, Rindi.

Kristi hummed in amusement at the thought. Of all the helpless strays and interesting people that they had met, Rindi was the first that stuck. Not that Kristi was complaining, she liked the girl. It helped that they were about the same age and had a common home but there was more than that.

Sure, Anna was nice and a great friend, but she was lacking in a certain quality. The fey girl was just to timid. Kristi and Val fit in because they were both fighters, though Val rarely let that side of her show. Kurt was not only a fighter but at times became violence incarnate and needed people who could keep up.

That was why Rindi fit. The girl, while not a born warrior despite her heritage, was definitely more than capable of it. She lacked no killing instinct and was not only decisive but aggressive enough to run field operations with them. A good thing, since she was technically bound to Kurt.

“Funny how that works out.” She mused to herself under her breath. Yes, funny indeed. Hybrids, generally a rare occurrence, seemed to be congregating from all over. While some might accuse divine interference, she was thinking it had more to do with balance and things moving in cycles.

Rindi was just the latest in a fated meeting with her husband. A meeting that she desperately needed by the looks of it. Kristi felt a little tug at her heart at the thought.

Had she been any different? When she had met Kurt, she was so starved for affection that any kindness was like basking in the warmth of her mother’s nest again. That was also why Kristi was nurturing the new addition and perhaps nudging in certain directions. Especially after what she had seen in the rift.

Kirsti wasn’t the most adept judge of romantic designs but both she and Val had seen how Rindi looked at Kurt. It wasn’t love, or even lust, but appreciation that might lead to more. An appreciation of the man was how it started for her, after all. Sure, she had thought he was handsome, but it was more than just looks that pulled her in.

She had even caught on to Rindi’s staring at other times too, proving it wasn’t just Kurt. She also had a habit of eyeing Val who was often dressed in tantalizing ways. Poor girl probably didn’t know she was being caught looking either.

Now it was her turn to not only feel out a relationship between Kurt and Rindi but also organize her feelings on the matter. Was she ready for another? Was Kurt? Val was a given, that vixen had so much love to share that she had to have a talk with her after the bathroom incident.

She thought about her relationship with Kurt. It was in a good place as far as she was concerned. They spent a lot of time together, had similar but separate interests and they balanced each other’s personalities. The sex was… well it was a given how good that was, and she was getting plenty of it.

Then there was her relationship with Val. They were in good shape there while making strides toward even more. She loved the little fox and knew for a fact it was returned in full. If they weren’t also physical lovers within the year, Kristi wouldn’t know what to do. She was even having little fantasies and dreams about her while they were both making strides in the bedroom.

Would adding another to their relationship help things? A fourth would allow an even split but that might cause issues. For one, that might give her and Val more time to explore their connection. On the other hand, they would also have to make a connection with Rindi. Theirs wasn’t a relationship that was built solely around Kurt, and they all had feelings for each other. If they didn’t put in an effort, there could be a rift formed between them.

She was also aware that more didn’t always equal better. Additional people in the relationship meant that, while there was more attention to go around, it wouldn’t always be spread equally. Even now, she and Val gave each other more quality affection than they gave Kurt. That was mostly because he was always up and tinkering with something but also because when they left the house separately, it was usually the two of them.

Kristi sighed and decided she would talk to Val about it. She figured they had time, Kurt would definitely not make a move, his fidelity being absolute. She also wanted to feel out Rindi a bit more, maybe enlist Val’s help to push that topic and see her thoughts on the matter.

Her introspection was interrupted by a flash of light and a gasp from Anna. In an instant Kristi was on her feet and a barrier was flashing up between them as she wrapped an arm around Anna’s chest and pulled her away.

“Wha? Stop-stop I’m fine!” Anna squirmed and wriggled out of Kristi’s grasp, only to thump into the barrier. “Hang oooonnn, it ju…jussssss-aaaaaaahhhmmm.” She trailed off in a half-mumbled yawn before her legs gave out and she collapsed. Kristi would bet that the girl was asleep before she hit the ground.

“Well, I better get the others.” Kristi sighed while she looked down at the softly snoring fey, curled up like a kitten. She thought it was a shame it didn’t work out with Anna, she was a cutie.

*****

“And it just absorbs mana?” Kurt asked while holding the inch-wide titanium cuff bracelet, trying not to get grout and tile dust on it since he had only just finished the shower renovation when Anna woke up. The piece had barely been altered from its original form and was one of the standard bases he used for enchantments as of late. Now it only had a slight shimmer to its otherwise matte finish.

When Kristi summoned them, they had all come rushing down. Except for Bont, he stayed firmly planted in the sun beam next to Rindi. So only Kurt, Penny and Val had come rushing down to the vault to see what happened. When they had confirmed that Anna had just passed out from exhaustion after working at his bench for nearly 18 hours straight, they brought her up to the living room and let her sleep it off on the couch. A power nap that lasted through the rest of the day and almost until dinner.

Anna was now awake and sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee, scratching Bont’s head while answering questions. “Not quite. It absorbs essence which is lifeforce and mana. And some other stuff, I think.” She replied before taking a sip of what was essentially a flat latte. “It only takes a little bit. Like fiveeee-ish percent of your daily total every day until its filled.”

“Right, right. And then it does what?” He pressed.

“Oh, I thought that was obvious.” Anna said with a coy smile but continued after he rolled his eyes. “It will automatically heal your wounds. Like, instantly heal them.”

Penny leaned in and took the cuff from Kurt so she could inspect it. “How much capacity does it have?”

Anna shrugged. “Don’t know. It depends on the user, I think. From what I can tell, it should be able to heal him twice over when full.”

“Dayum.” Val said with a whistle. “He’s pretty tanky so that’s a lot.” Her words got a nod of agreement from Kristi and Penny both as they had seen firsthand how much abuse Kurt could take.

“Yeah, anyway.” Anna drained her coffee and stood up, stretching her arms out and rolling her neck. “Now that I got the first one made, I can crank them out as long as Kurt has stock and full mana batteries.”

Kurt passed the bracelet back. “Have at it, they should be topped off, and I have a box full of those bracelets.”

With that, Anna wandered back down to the basement to make use of his enchanting table. Bont reluctantly got up from his spot in his preferred afternoon sun beam next to RIndi and followed after, brushing against Rindi as he did.

Penny watched the interaction with raised eyebrows. “I am surprised you get along so well.”

Rindi returned a curious look. “Why? We are both feline based, have stripes and six limbs. Honestly, we have a lot in common.”

“Well, when you put it that way…” Penny still didn’t sound convinced by the frank explanation.

“Penny, hon, don’t overthink it.” Val soothed their handler.

Kurt just shrugged and looked to the clock on the wall. “Well, it’s quittin time. Penny, are you staying for dinner or headed home?”

Kristi perked up from where she was sitting in the kitchen. “Wings tonight. From Johnny’s since they are half off.”

Penny made a face. “I will pass. I was going to make dinner for Jamie since he is closing tonight.”

“When are Don and Les getting back?” Kurt suddenly asked. “I feel like they should have been back a while ago after the thaw.”

“Probably soon from what the Kate was saying.” Penny began making for the door. “She was nervous about introducing her boyfriend.”

Val, being ever so nosy, butted in. “She has a boyfriend and didn’t tell me?” she looked like she was about to leap at Penny from the couch to shake the answers out of her. “WHO!”

Penny looked startled but answered while slipping on her shoes. “Calumn, they apparently hit it off when he was acting as security.”

“Oh, that’s nice.” Kurt muttered as he walked past on his way to the kitchen.

“I guess so. From what Jamie says, they are pretty serious already.” Penny was already halfway out the door as she said her parting words. “Anyway, see you at the range tomorrow.”

Kristi frowned. “Range?” she then pulled out her phone and checked her calendar for the work schedule that Penny had been sending. “Why are we at the range tomorrow?”

“I’m meeting with Sam again and have another round of those less lethal buttons for the shotgun slugs to hand out.”

Kristi hopped up from her stool and gave Kurt a kiss on the cheek, snatching his keys out of his hands at the same time. “I can go get food if you want to put the order in. It should be ready by the time we get there since I wanted to make a stop on the way.”

Val sprang up and vaulted over the back of the couch. “I’ll ride with you.”

“Ooookay.” Kurt said, backing away slowly and not wanting to get involved in whatever they were scheming. “I will put in the regular order plus some plain ones for Anna.”

“Great thanks!” Val gave him a kiss on the cheek as she led the way out the door.

Kristi was waiting for her in the breezeway, and they walked in silence to the garage, not saying a word until they were in the car. At that point, they both looked at each other and said the same thing.

“SO, about Rindi…”

They smiled and chuckled while Krisi pulled out of the garage and began heading into town. “Yeah, I was thinking about her while I was watching Anna.”

“Ohh, should I be jealous?” Val teased.

Kristi cocked an eyebrow and glanced over. “I don’t know, should I? after all, you have been around her naked a lot more than me and somehow keep finding excuses too even after our little chat.”

Val had the good graces to blush and look somewhat chastised. “I was just scoping things out. And the first time doesn’t count. It was clothes shopping and she needed some help with things.”

“Uh-ha, sure.” Kristi teased.

“Fine, whatever.” Val harumphed. “But what about her?”

“Well, what do you think?” Kristi led, trying to gauge what her paramour was thinking. “We are stuck with her for a while, after all.”

“I wouldn’t say it like that. I mean sure, it’s true but it makes it sound like we don’t like her.” Val said.

“And do we?”

“Do we what?”

“Like her.”

Val was silent for a few heartbeats, staring out the window, but Kristi could see her chewing on her lip in the reflection. “I… think so. There is something there.”

After another few moments of silence, Val continued. “So, I think she is attractive, let’s get that out of the way.” Kristi nodded in agreement. “And I think I like her. She is nice, she is talented and she fits with the team.”

“More than Anna ever did.” Kristi added.

“Agreed. But I think she also likes Kurt. Have you noticed how she follows him with her eyes all the time?”

Kristi, in fact, had not noticed. “No, but I saw how she looked at him in the rift. It was a strange look, like the first time she saw him combined with… I don’t know what.”

“Like fear mixed with desire.” Val answered. “That’s how it was for me the first time I saw him shift.”

“That’s it!” Kristi snapped her fingers. “But she also likes to look at you. When you were lounging on the couch in the game room the other day, reading a book with your butt in the air.”

“Well, I should hope so, my butt is to die for.” Val teased. “And you’re the same, she was watching you the other day when you were loading more ammo into that drum. You know, wearing only your under shirt and those booty shorts while bopping along to music.”

Kristi blushed, feeling the tips of her ears warming along with her cheeks and neck. “I was wearing those for you and Kurt.” she muttered.

“And we appreciated that.” Val said, reaching over to pat her leg. “But so did Rindi.”

“Hmm. What do you think about her though?” Kristi returned to the original question after the little tangent. “Like, would she be a good fit with our family?”

Val drummed her fingers on the door panel as they pulled into town. “I think that she would be a good fit. She is also social enough to fit in with our habits already. We are a pretty touchy-feely bunch, and she doesn’t seem to mind the contact, but she doesn’t start it.”

That was very true. Rindi had fit right in during their movie nights and the couch cuddles. She hadn’t seemed to mind and even would offer her shoulder to lay on if she was in the right position. Kristi would also be lying if she said she didn’t appreciate having another soft and fluffy person to snuggle with.

“I like her too. I know it’s only been a couple weeks, but I really get along with her. She has also been very respectful despite her looking.” Kristi gave her opinion. “I think we don’t have to do much to mold her into a hell of an agent. But I think we might need to help her along to being a partner.”

“Yeah, and I won’t lie, she really has that snu-snu vibe going when not in her felitaur form.” Val added, her mind returning to its natural habitat in the gutter. “Think she will be a dom?”

Kristi snorted and quickly found a parking space after pulling into their first stop, the liquor store. “I have no idea. I bet she will be a lot like me though, at least in the beginning.”

“Hows that?”

“Starved for affection and taking it any way she can as much as she can. It will take time for her to find what she likes and teach Kurt to do that.” Kristi had talked to her in private and found out that she had some history with being oppressed. “You know that her previous master and a couple before him both ordered her to ah… not be aroused?”

“You’re kidding.” Val said, her voice flat with shock and disbelief.

Kristi shook her head. “Yeah, the first one was just as she was coming into that phase of her life too. Honestly, looking at her, I don’t think she even knows how to express herself or what she might want for that matter.”

“Ugh. Bastards.” Val grunted, her necklace radiating disgust through the connection.

“The first was actually a woman.” Kristi said, keeping her voice low as they walked back toward the beer coolers.

“Statement stands.” Val said in a haughty tone. “I think we might need to have a little chat with her. Without Kurt around. After we see how things develop for a little longer.”

Kristi was picking out a selection of beers, grabbing a cart and filling it with a wide variety or six packs. “Like some sauna time?”

“Ooh-Ooh, spa day.” Val clapped. “And Kurt should be done with the showers soon so it’s perfect.”

Kristi paid for the beer, and they returned to the car where she restarted the conversation. “My concern is more about creating a division in the relationship. Will there be enough to go around? Not just us and our… whatever this is.” Kristi gestured between them.

“I think it will be fine.” Val assured. “If you haven’t noticed, Kurt has been recovering quicker the last couple months. Honestly, if he pushed himself, he might be able to go five rounds a night.”

That made some sense to Kristi, she and Kurt had gone back to back with hardly any break not long ago. “But we won’t be splitting our attentions too much, right? I am just worried that it will be too easy to pair off and separate.”

Val shrugged. “Then we say something. With the necklaces and the implants, we are nearly a hive mind already so it’s kinda hard to be disconnected. We just have to play to our strengths like we always have.”

“And what are our strengths, exactly?”

“We all talk all the time so just openness and honesty in how we are feeling. And being blunt with Kurt.” Val answered, her lips turning up into a smirk with the little jab at Kurt.

“Our husband can be dense, can’t he?” Kristi huffed a laugh.

“Husband?” Val gave her a strange look.

Kristi nodded. “Yeah, he is our husband. Call it what you want, but we are all so committed to each other that we are married. Calling him your mate is the same thing but with extra steps.” She was not going to back down on this one.

“Ok, that’s nice.” Val said, far too easily the casual tone making Kristi’s scales itch. “So, what does that make us? I think sister-wives has a nice ring to it.” Despite not seeing it, she could hear the smile in the way Val said that.

“Oh gods, what have I done.” Kristi grumbled and cringed, immediately hating the way it sounded. She just had to grin and bear it as she pulled into the parking lot of Johnnys to the sound of Val’s cackling laughter.