Chapter 29: Answers

IRO

After Skalla and Iro’s quick kitchen encounter, Skalla, the shark girl, started cooking right away. She shooed Iro out of the kitchen, telling him to clean up.

When Iro returned, he found the dinner table all set and the usual group in slightly unusual states.

Airy was there, but she was sitting as far from Zeltaria as she could. She wasn’t looking at the demoness and kept reaching back to rub her butt.

Iro figured the faint slapping sounds he’d heard earlier must have been spankings, and Airy was the one on the receiving end.

He also figured Zeltaria was the one doing the spanking, probably as some sort of punishment.

He made a mental note of all this for later.

Aranya was there too, but unusually, she was sitting next to Airy. She was using her unique sitting position to comfort Airy with one of her long, chitinous legs.

Some might find it strange to be comforted by a half-spider woman, but Airy seemed to appreciate it. She leaned into Aranya whenever the spider moved to massage her.

Iro then looked at Skalla at the end of the table. Her usual spot seemed a bit crowded since Airy was sitting next to her along the length of the table, and Aranya was next to Airy.

So, Iro decided to sit somewhere in the middle of the large dining table, across from Aranya. Skalla gave him a knowing grin as he sat down. Iro rubbed the back of his neck shyly as he took his seat.

Iro found himself next to Holly, Zeltaria’s loud and loyal bodyguard. The zombie was excited to have Iro sit next to her and started asking him about the carnival and why he was late for dinner.

Iro, not wanting to share that he’d spent most of his time in town with Alethria, gave vague answers.

And, not wanting to explain why he was late for dinner, he simply said he had needed to freshen up and left it at that.

Holly seemed to want to know more, but the food was enough of a distraction to get her to back off as she started digging into the pork.

Cerys was sitting on the other side of the table, to Aranya’s left, eating a salad with her usual grace.

She looked at Iro in her usual professional way and asked a few questions about his and Beck’s plans for the next three days of his vacation.

Iro said he didn’t have any plans, and Cerys suggested some wide-open meadows just outside of town that a centaur relative of hers owned. She said, “It’s really fun to gallop out there.”

Iro said he’d think about it, and Cerys seemed satisfied with that answer.

Finally, Iro looked at Zeltaria. The red-skinned Succubus seemed to be in a good mood, with a faint smile on their lips and their tail flicking behind them, poking through a hole in the back of the chair.

Zeltaria was casually looking at everyone at the table but not saying much.

It wasn’t until they had almost finished the first course that they finally said more than a few words, breaking the relative silence at the table.

“Looks like you ~will~ be getting those extra portions after all, Skalla,” Zeltaria said, teasing a little.

Iro didn’t get the reference, but he ~did~ notice that the table was two diners short. Mika and Beck were missing, which was unusual for both of them.

Beck had been very responsible and polite so far, and skipping a meal like this seemed out of character. And Mika never missed a chance to eat, and more importantly, to drink.

Skalla replied with a boastful tone, “No problem. I had a little extra ~workout~ before dinner and worked up an appetite. Iro!? You hungry, pup?” she said, smirking with her shark teeth showing.

Iro laughed and shook his head, pointing to his plate with his knife. “I-I’m good, thanks. Help yourself.”

Skalla laughed and grabbed a few extra helpings of various items on the table and started eating happily.

Some of the pork bones had ended up in the roast, but she didn’t seem to mind at all, judging from the crunching sounds coming from her.

Zeltaria’s smooth voice suddenly caught Iro’s attention as the Succubus spoke to him.

“~Iro, ~do you have any idea where our missing diners are? Surely the carnival wasn’t so tiring that they both missed a meal.”

Iro turned to look at Zeltaria, whose eyes were faintly glowing, a sign of either arousal or anger among Succubi, Iro had learned.

Swallowing, he shook his head and shrugged. “Last I saw them, they went upstairs saying they needed a nap.”

Zeltaria’s eyes narrowed. “~Alone~? Separately?”

Iro’s eyes tightened. “I think so?” But honestly, he didn’t really know. All he ~had~ heard was a door opening upstairs for Mika and another for Beck. He couldn’t tell ~which ones~.

The Succubus hummed softly and went back to eating, looking thoughtful. The glow faded from their eyes. “I understand you also wanted to talk to me. Will after dinner work?”

Iro nodded, relieved that he could talk to Zeltaria privately instead of asking about the Succubus’s enemies in front of everyone.

He didn’t think that would make for a fun and enjoyable dinner conversation.

After everyone finished the first, second, and dessert courses, Zeltaria gave everyone a small task to do before the end of the day and dismissed them.

Airy was to help Skalla clean up the dinner table, with a strong reminder that being careless would earn her another spanking from Zeltaria.

Cerys and Aranya were to check some of the estate’s outbuildings for weather damage, and Skalla was to clean up after dinner and keep her kitchen in order.

Holly was sent to close the front gate and do a quick check of the perimeter, though Zeltaria had previously told Iro that it was more to keep Holly moving for reasons the Succubus didn’t fully explain.

Iro and Zeltaria were the only ones left at the table, a faint smile lingering on the demoness’s face.

“So, Iro, it seems it’s just us now. How about we move this to a more comfortable spot?”

“Are you suggesting we need to discuss something that’s best done in a more intimate setting?” Zeltaria asked, a playful glint in her eyes as she rose from her seat, her gaze never leaving Iro.

Iro shook his head slightly, pointing towards the front sitting room that overlooked the estate’s front lawn. “No, the sitting room will do… I have something important to talk about.”

Zeltaria looked curious but didn’t press further, simply gesturing for them to move to the parlor’s armchairs.

Once they were settled, Zeltaria crossed her legs and leaned back, making herself comfortable as Iro took a seat across from her.

“So, what’s on your mind, pup?” Zeltaria asked, her tone more intrigued than worried.

Iro fiddled with his fingers, trying to find the right words. “It’s about something Alethria mentioned—”

“How is she doing, by the way?” Zeltaria cut in.

Iro blushed, his fur standing on end as his ears folded back slightly. “She’s good. She’s doing really well…”

Zeltaria gave him a knowing smile and gestured for him to continue.

“But she said something that I found… odd. She mentioned that during your ‘years before’ becoming an ambassador and representative, and especially during your tenure, you might have made some enemies.

“Specifically, those who were against the unification of our people and humans,” Iro said, his words tumbling out in a clumsy and uncertain manner.

Zeltaria took a deep, calming breath and nodded solemnly. “Yes, I have made some enemies. You’ve met one of them, Ilia, remember?”

Iro nodded, looking away as he remembered being kidnapped, tied upside down, whipped, and briefly sexually tortured before Zeltaria came to his rescue. “Y-yeah… her.”

Zeltaria nodded, her expression apologetic.

“She, among others, saw my rise to prominence as undeserved.

“There were things I had to do in my younger years to unify my people before we joined the larger extra-species community, even before we started talks with the humans.

“Ilia is a result of that. A pathetic, childish, needy result, but a reminder nonetheless.”

Iro looked at Zeltaria. “What kind of things?” he asked quietly, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Zeltaria’s face went through a range of emotions—lust, shame, regret, pain, anger—before settling on acceptance. Her voice was steady, but Iro could tell it was strained.

“Kill. Fight. Fuck. Iro, I appreciate your interest in my past, but I’d rather leave it where it belongs—in the past.

“Holly might be willing to share more. She’s been with me for a very long time. But be gentle with her. She’s still sensitive about those days.”

Zeltaria stood up, her towering height accentuated by her slender horns and narrow hooves.

“Rest assured, Iro, I value Alethria’s input, and she is an important voice among our people, but I’ve buried my past. Let’s keep it that way.”

Zeltaria walked away without looking back or suggesting they spend the night together. Iro thought that was the most unusual part of her departure, but he decided he’d pried enough.

Now he needed to find Beck and get her some food. He was sure she must be starving by now.

As he climbed the stairs, he heard Zeltaria’s door close further down the hall. A pang of guilt hit him for having upset her. He decided he’d make it up to her later.

When he reached Beck’s guest room, he was about to knock when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Beck wrapped in a bedsheet, her bare feet peeking out from under the fabric.

One look at her was all Iro needed to know what had happened. He stepped aside to let Beck into her room, leaning against the door frame with a grin.

“So, how was Mika’s bed?” he asked, his tone teasing. They’d always been open about their sexual exploits in college, but there was always a playful element to their discussions.

Beck gave him a tired but satisfied look. “Better than yours back in college. Goodnight.” She shut the door in his face, leaving Iro with nothing to do but return to his room, chuckling to himself.