Combat Healer Ch. 16

May 29, 2022

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<< Chapter 15 (Book 2) | Ch 1 (Book 1)

- CHAPTER 16: Distress -

Several Hours Ago

Against his mother’s wishes, a young elf boy snuck out of his home just before sunrise, hoping to find his good friend who hadn’t come home the previous night. He knew there had been talk about sending out a small search party, but with the Queen coming and ‘supposed’ danger lurking, they might not even do that…

Or so the boy feared.

He couldn’t take that chance, knowing that his best friend might be injured and in need of help.

So he went off on his own, a knife as his only weapon, hoping to find any traces of which direction he might have gone.

Searching the darkness was easy for him, his normally brown eyes flashing silver in the dim light, and he soon found evidence of smaller footprints, like his own, having passed through a grove of trees near the deeper forest to the north.

More than footprints, he realized that there appeared to be a little blood.

Concerned now that his friend truly was injured, he began whispering his friend’s name.

“Olwen. Olwen where are you?”

Noticing movement in the corner of his eye, he looked up slightly to see a familiar face.

“Olwen,” he said in relief. “How did you get up there? Are you hur--”

The boy’s voice cut off when he realized there was something wrong with his friend’s face. It looked distorted, as if it had been stretched out, and his eyes looked too dark, almost black.

And then abruptly red.

“O-Olwen?” the boy whispered in fear, a tremor of terror running up his spine, watching as his friend’s mouth opened, only for a pair of curled black objects to begin stretching the lips even further, looking very much like beetle fangs.

Or spider fangs.

The boy didn’t even have time to scream before he was attacked.

But then he did scream, as his insides began melting, the demon beginning to drag him away.

He screamed until he couldn’t scream any more.

* * *

The elf boy looked just as bad as Celestine had, his pale skin translucent, showing his raw muscle and bone underneath on his exposed arms and legs.

Yet he was still breathing, and that’s all I needed to save him.

Quickly dropping to my knees, I placed my hands on his chest and hip, silently casting the spell that would turn the early morning into brilliant daylight for a solid minute.

‘Divine Restoration!’

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SPELL: Divine Restoration

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DESCRIPTION

Level: 1/5

Element: Light

Cost: 150 Essence

Effect: Call upon the powers of the Goddess   to purify and restore. Heal severe injuries and cure severe ailments.

Cast Time: Instant

Use Time: 1 minute

Cooldown: None

Limitation: None (Intelligence: 24)

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Just as the last two times I’d used it the previous day, to save both Celestine and the Gryphon that helped save her, my hands immediately lit up in a bright light that quickly spread to the boy’s body, only for the luminescence to intensify until the light was all I could see.

“Oh my God,” a woman exclaimed.

“Praise the heavens!” another shouted.

“Bless the Queen!” a man said firmly. “Who brought this miracle to us!”

But as the light continued to shine, the comments died down as everyone simply stared at it in awe.

And just as before, after about half a minute, I began to feel like I was hallucinating, as a warmth pressed against my jaw on either side, feeling like a pair of soft hands holding my face. Yet all I could see was the light and nothing more.

Finally, after a full minute had passed, it began to dim and I was left focusing on a sleeping child, whole, healthy, and fully healed, my eyes capable of seeing him clearly as if I hadn’t just been staring unblinkingly at the sun.

“Oh my baby!” the woman across from me yelled, abruptly reaching down to pull the unconscious boy into her arms as she began sobbing. She then abruptly leaned toward me and reached out with one hand, grabbing my shirt when I was about to stand, holding her kid against her with her other arm.

“Bless you,” she sobbed. “May the gods and goddesses bless you.”

“All praise the Queen!” the man from earlier yelled. “Praise the Queen for gracing us with her royal presence, and bringing this miracle to us!”

The crowd began cheering loudly for the Queen, even though there were only about fifty elves gathered, though the noise was causing even more to come. And when I glanced back to focus on Queen Eliza, seeing that Sylvia, and now Astaer, were all at her sides, Celestine still at the reins, with Mel and Val standing next to the wagon, I could see in her amethyst gaze that she wanted to speak up, but couldn’t. The crowd was too loud, and she probably didn’t want to admonish them so soon when they were celebrating the salvation of one of their own.

But knowing her, I suspected that she would find a way for her to turn this around, to first accept the credit that had been forced on her, for what I’d just done, only to elevate me further than that. After all, she’d already done as much when she told her Guard that they’d just received a command from me.

A command they were to obey, even though it hadn’t come from the Queen.

That was already a huge deal, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one of those men were the one who emphasized that the Queen be praised, considering she was here in person, rather than one of her subjects. However, it was obvious some of the crowd still wanted to thank me specifically, considering I barely got more than a couple of steps in before I had someone grabbing my hand to shake it, only for another to grab my hand, keeping it this time.

And then, within a matter of seconds, I was completely surrounded on all sides, the elves still chanting for the Queen, but reaching out to touch me like I might bestow on them a divine blessing.

That was when Eliza finally spoke up.

More than that. She raised her right hand into the air, and activated Shock, though somehow made it really loud as the electricity crackled around her hand.

The effect was immediate, with one of the Guards yelling for everyone to quiet down, as many turned to face her, bowing their heads slightly as they covered their heart with their hands.

She stopped using her spell, but kept her right hand raised.

Her tone was full of authority. “I am your Queen, Eliza Ashryn Nylanthria, and I am traveling to personally assist in the slaying of at least two Arakna’cabra, spotted to the north, which you may also know as Flesh Collectors.” She paused briefly when murmurs began, only for it to immediately quiet down. “I am pleased that you are overjoyed by what has just transpired, but now is not the time for celebration. The threat still persists, and we must make preparations before we leave. Now, heed my words. Your Queen asks of you to tell everyone to gather in two hours’ time in the village square. I will bestow upon all of you a departing message before we leave to slay this demon. Before then, allow us to prepare for our hunt.”

The crowd cheered again, immediately parting in front of me so that I could finally walk over to the rest of our group, continuing to cry out in praise even as they started to disperse. The woman whose child I’d saved remained where she was though, continuing to sob as she held her sleeping boy in her arms, knowing that he would at least physically be alright.

Although, now that I considered the trauma that Celestine had endured after waking up, I realized I would probably need to see him again to cure that aliment as well, or else leave him a shell of a person, always afraid by every creak in the night, for possibly months before it began to alleviate on its own.

Healing the trauma ailment wouldn’t mean he never became afraid again, but it would at least help his experience feel more like a horrible nightmare, the mental distance allowing the individual to continue functioning normally, instead of existing in that constant fear.

When I finally stood next to Astaer to Eliza’s right, Sylvia slipped behind the Queen and bent down to whisper in my ear.

“If it is your wish to speak to Valshia more privately, then best do it in the nearby stables. Astaer and Celestine will go with you, and ensure no one bothers you. The Queen intends to take Melantha into a nearby field to instruct her some.”

I nodded simply, prompting her to straighten up and turn away, her expression impassive like I’d been used to for the last two years that I’d known her.

Similarly, Queen Eliza did not so much as even glance at me as she and Astaer began walking with our horses, Celestine encouraging them to begin moving the wagon through the thinning crowd. I fell back and walked with Mel and Val, keeping my head held high as we made our way to the stables, only to relax a little once we were mostly out of sight.

Astaer and Celestine went to work getting the horses unhooked, and Eliza finally approached us to speak to Mel, asking my girlfriend to accompany her to a nearby field. Of course, we all knew what the overall plan was, and that the Queen was only being formal for any eavesdroppers, especially since elves had fairly sensitive ears.

In the meantime, Sylvia left the stables to ensure that our meal was either ready or being prepared, leaving me standing alone with Val, since the tall brunette sisters were busy guiding the steeds to unoccupied stalls.

Figuring the best way to have some privacy was to find our own stall, I reached down to grab Val’s delicate tan hand, and gave her a little tug.

Surprisingly, her deeply tanned face flushed in response to the gesture, with her quickly following after me as I began heading to the very back of the stables. Much of the floor was covered in straw, with only a few of the other stalls being occupied at the moment, many of the others looking as if they’d been recently cleaned and freshly bedded.

I was fairly tall for a human, and similarly Val would be considered very tall if she were also fully human, but she was normal height for a Holstaur. Still, it was kind of nice to walk next to someone who was actually a little shorter than me, with her overall seeming thin due to her delicate shoulders, skinny arms, and narrow waist, even though her huge tits, wide hips, and thick thighs made her anything but small.

Of course, I also liked that Eliza and Mel were both my height, being not even the width of a hair taller, but being around so many tall elves left me appreciating that Val was shorter than me. Especially since I’d frequently be the tall one, aside from the occasional Oni, if I chose to live in the human kingdom of Ryfle.

Once we got to the back of the stable, we picked one of the stalls, knowing we’d essentially have the privacy of being alone in a room together, and stepped inside, closing the hinged door.

I then focused on Val, still holding her delicate hand in mine.

Damn, her hands certainly felt a little rough on the underside, as they should since she’d grown up on a farm, but as I rubbed my thumb across the back of her hand, I was shocked by how soft her tan skin was.

She cleared her throat then, seeming hesitant. “Umm, master. I have something I need to tell you.”

“I’m listening,” I said encouragingly. “Is something bothering you?” I added, recalling how uncomfortable she looked earlier.

She shook her head, her blonde hair and purple eyes a sharp contrast to her dark skin. “No, but I am plagued with increasing discomfort.”

I frowned at that, only because I figured as much, but wasn’t sure if she was talking about physical pain, or something else. “And what’s wrong? Is this what you wanted to speak about?”

“It is,” she agreed, taking a deep breath. “As you know, I have ten siblings, many of whom are still very young. Growing up, my mother always took care of everything, but when the twins were born about three and a half years ago, it became too much for her.” She paused. “So, as the oldest of eleven, I began to help out a lot more. Especially with the twins and my youngest brother, the one you saved a year ago.”

My eyes widened as I considered that, only for something huge to slap me in the face.

Somewhat similar to humans, Holstaur couldn’t usually get pregnant when they were breastfeeding their young, which was one of the big reasons why Holstaur were also typically the most common woman that one might find in the red district, if so inclined, since pregnancy wasn’t an issue so long as they were expressing milk regularly, and they also had lusty proportions. However, Val’s mother had twins and then shortly later became pregnant with yet another child, which shouldn’t have been possible given their ages.

Not unless…

I focused down at Val’s massive tits.

“You began helping out more...” I repeated slowly.

Val nodded. “Umm, yes. And I thought about weaning before meeting you again, but was concerned that you might not want children right away. I wanted to tell you yesterday, but so much has happened, that I wasn’t afforded the chance.”

I tried to swallow as I processed all that, knowing exactly what she was implying.

Right now, she shouldn’t be able to get pregnant, her body in ‘feeding mode,’ and so long as I was willing to help her keep up with it, then she’d remain unable to have children for the time being. However, if we didn’t keep up with it, then no doubt she’d end up pregnant eventually if we started having sex with any regularity.

“I’m very engorged, master,” Val continued nonchalantly, as if this was a very normal topic. “If you desire to wait for me to bear your children, then I’d very much like you to help alleviate my discomfort. It’s beginning to become quite painful, and I’ll begin leaking soon if nothing is done.”

I tried to swallow again…

Only…

To set my resolve and nod my head confidently.

After all, I was a healer, and alleviating the discomfort and ailments of others was a part of the job.

And Val very much needed me to do my job right now, both as the team’s healer as well as her future husband.

She was in pain -- in great distress -- and needed me to give her relief.

So, I’d do my duty and ensure that she was taken care of.

“Of course, Val,” I said sincerely, trying to keep my voice even. “You are my betrothed after all, and so I’ll take this task very seriously.”

She sighed in relief. “Thank you so much, master,” she replied, reaching up to begin loosening the leather strings in the front that helped hold her leather top together. “It means so much to me.”

I swallowed audibly as I watched her free her massive engorged tits by separating the brown leather in the front, shocked by just how huge her dark brown nipples were, the hardening mounds already beginning to form large beads of milk as if in anticipation of what was to come.

Quickly getting down on my knees before her, her enormous perky tits now hanging almost to her navel, I leaned forward without hesitation to lick up the larger bead of milk forming on her right tit.

Val didn’t really react to it in any noticeable way, but quickly indicated her desire for relief when she grabbed my head and gently pulled me a little closer.

I sucked her large nipple in my mouth, sucking hard…

My eyes widened in sincere surprise by the volume of milk flooding into my mouth, not being unlike taking a swig from a glass of Miltsa, the honey flavored drink elves liked so much. Shit, with each suck, I was gulping down an entire mouthful of sweet creamy sustenance, being far more than I anticipated.

After all, even if her tits were so large that they wouldn’t even fit in metal pails, the amount of milk within should be far less since most of her tits were fat, with me assuming that she wouldn’t even be able to fill half of one pail between the two breasts. But then again, if she’d been helping out with three young ones, all of them half-Minotaur, then maybe she was fuller than I even imagined.

Val spoke up after a few seconds. “Now the other one, master. I’m about to drip.”

I quickly swallowed the milk I’d just sucked out and moved to her left tit on my right, my mouth aiming for her massive nipple just as a large drop of milk was about to fall, barely catching it in time before I began sucking on that one too.

Val finally sighed heavily, seemingly in relief as she began stroking her thin tan fingers through my hair. “It’s feeling so much better, master,” she said warmly. “Thank you so much.”

I simply grunted softly in response, focused on gulping down as fast as I could, already beginning to feel extremely satiated, my stomach rapidly growing full.

Shit, at this rate, I wouldn’t be able to eat the breakfast they’d prepared. This was definitely enough milk for a grown man to make a meal of, and just the idea that being with Val might result in me rarely eating normal food again kind of made my head spin.

Like, fuck, she could really feed me all my meals…or at least part of them. After all, the biggest reason why she was so swollen right now was specifically because it had been basically a full day, but even still. I bet I’d at least have more than enough to ‘drink’ from now on,

Not to mention, it wouldn’t be like we’d be saving on overall food consumption, since she’d likely have to eat for the both of us, but if that meant she couldn’t get pregnant right now, then I was certainly alright with that, since I wasn’t ready to start a family just yet.

With Mel, she was just the opposite as an Oni, and wouldn’t become fertile unless she had her tits sucked on to the point of leaking. And given that Queen Eliza was unfortunately past childbearing age, I assumed that Sylvia likely was too, despite the fact that both women could pass for still being in their thirties if they were human.

I wasn’t sure about Astaer and Celestine.

However, one thing I noticed about sucking on Val’s nipples was that it didn’t seem to be inherently pleasurable for her, like when I sucked on Eliza’s nipples.

Not that the busty Holstaur didn’t necessarily enjoy me being the one to suck on her tits, definitely looking down at me affectionately, but she seemed so used to the experience of breastfeeding as it was actually intended, that she just wanted the relief and wasn’t aiming for it to become anything sexual.

Problem was, the longer I sucked and the fuller I became, the more the situation really settled in that I had my face against these massive tan tits, with my cock beginning to really stiffen in response. I wasn’t quite hard yet, and could easily stand without being too noticeable, but I was definitely firming up.

Kind of made me wonder if it would be inappropriate to try fucking in this situation, or if that would truly be a bad idea, especially considering that we’d likely be heard if we were too loud. And even though Astaer and Celestine were sort of guarding the stables right now, it was still possible that someone might sneak through and find us out.

Which would be bad for my reputation, which I’d never really cared about before, but knew it was much more important now that Eliza intended on trying to make me a war hero. At the very least, I had to be much more mindful of my actions now.

While thinking on it, I switched over to her right tit again, since the left tit now seemed to have slowed down to almost nothing, sucking for another few minutes before finally reaching up with my hands to grab her massive jugs to feel her silky smooth tan skin. They were both still really firm and plump despite me draining them, though I did notice that they hung just a tiny bit lower than before.

However, just as Val’s tender strokes through my hair became more affectionate, knowing I was continuing to suck even though my task was mostly done, something caused me to freeze solid.

A scream.

The shrill scream of a young kid waking up from a literal nightmare.

The sound alone sent an unnerving chill down my spine.

Bolting to my feet as fast as possible, I didn’t even say anything as I left Val behind, catching sight of her in the corner of my eye already trying to grab her brown leather top to conceal herself again, with me dashing out of the stall door and toward the wagon.

Astaer and Celestine were standing at the stable entrance, already focused in the direction of the continued shriek, with the younger sister abruptly looking back at me in response to my footsteps. I could see in her bright blue eyes her pained expression, likely realizing what was going on.

No one was being attacked.

The kid was just waking up from a nightmare, except it hadn’t been a dream.

It had been real.

And he remembered everything.

Just before I reached the sisters, Celestine spoke up to Astaer. “Come on,” she said simply, both of them taking off into a run ahead of me.

And good thing too, since there were a few people gathered around the mother and her child, enough so that I couldn’t just run up to them.

“Move!” Astaer barked out, jumping into the fray to manually force people apart.

Needless to say, the crowd seemed stunned, but quickly began getting out of the way the moment they saw me not far behind.

But the boy wasn’t just screaming. He was punching, kicking, scratching, and completely just freaking out, his face one of pure terror, as his mother tried to wrestle him in her arms, getting hit in the process. A couple of the men had tried to help, but he’d already drawn blood on them.

Seeing that he was about to strike his mother in the face, I activated two spells just as I was about to reach him.

‘Stun.’

He froze solid, his voice cutting off midscream.

I reached out and grabbed his raised arm, almost falling down as I tried to stop before colliding with them.

‘Heal Ailment, Trauma.’

The boy sounded like he was gasping momentarily, before he thawed out and abruptly curled into his mother’s arms, whimpering against her chest.

Just like that, his shrieking had turned to sobbing.

And it was completely silent.

Until the boy became coherent again. “He’s gone,” he whimpered. “My best friend is gone. It killed him. It ate him,” he sobbed. “It was wearing him…”

Fuck.

No wonder he was so traumatized.

Celestine had been messed up enough, but if the thing that almost killed her had actually been wearing her older sister’s skin? No doubt that would truly have messed her up, and even if I could heal the trauma ailment, I couldn’t fix the scarring that was left behind.

Or the drop in morale this news caused.

I heard someone speak quietly behind me. “Send word to Mart and Jeleza. Let them know what has befallen their boy.”

There was no response, but I heard someone begin to walk away.

Fuck.

Fucking Arakna’cabra!

“We’ll kill it,” I said firmly, only to repeat myself even louder as I stood up. “We will slay this monster. You have my word.”

“And your Queen’s!” a familiar female voice called out.

We all turned to see Queen Eliza standing next to Mel not far away, appearing to have also come running when they heard the screams.

“We will slay this demon, and my healer will cure anyone who is bitten before then. And while we cannot save those already lost, we will ensure that no more of your children should perish from this monster. For two should have died this very day, and while the one lost is already one too many, the losses stop right here. As your Queen, I have come personally to see the deed done.”

Surprisingly, they began clapping at that, which I assumed was a compromise for being unable to muster fake cheers upon just finding out that the other boy was, in fact, dead. But I could see hope in their eyes and gestures, even as it looked like a few men in the crowd wrapped their arm around the shoulders of their older kids, boys who were not far off from being men.

Queen Eliza continued. “Now, we must finish preparing and soon be off. I know there is little that can make up from this loss, but rest assured that we will not fail. Your Queen has promised it.”

They continued to clap for another half minute, before she nodded toward Mel and turned around to head back out to the fields. But her words did appear to have some effect. There was some hope, despite this loss. A hope that maybe there wouldn’t be more fatalities in their small little village.

After focusing on the boy and his mother again, I finally began to turn away as well, only for the elf woman to abruptly reach out and snag my wrist, causing me to look back at her in shock.

Her deep brown eyes were almost desperate, she seemed so appreciative.

“Thank you,” she whispered, holding onto my wrist even tighter. “Thank you so very much. When you return from your hunt, please visit my home on the east side, if you are able.”

I gave her a warm smile. “I would be honored,” I agreed sincerely, prompting her to loosen her grip just enough for her hand to slip into mine briefly. I gave her fingers a small squeeze, and then let go, causing her to return to fully cradling the young elf boy in her arms as he continued to sob quietly.

Not really enjoying being the center of attention like this, knowing most eyes were on me again, I decided to not offer my healing for the men who had been scratched, and instead headed back to the stable, with both Astaer and Celestine right behind me.

Val was standing by the wagon as she waited, her brown leather top secured in place, seeming uncertain as her purple eyes scanned the crowd.

I then took a deep breath as I passed her up and leaned against a wooden beam, finally out of sight.

All three women huddled around me, with Celestine reaching out to grab my hand.

“Are you alright?” she whispered.

I nodded, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just really horrible. I’m glad I could help this boy, but the other…” My voice trailed off. “This demon is just really horrible.”

Celestine squeezed my hand tighter. “It is,” she agreed softly. “And I thank you for not allowing me to become like that.”

I focused up slightly at her affectionate blue gaze. “You’re welcome,” I replied simply.

“Perhaps you should rest,” Astaer offered. “It may be some time before the Queen and Mel return. Or perhaps I can see if they have a little something we can snack on before the Queen is ready to eat.”

I frowned slightly at that, definitely not feeling hungry after drinking so much rich milk.

I then focused on Val, seeing that her purple eyes were full of concern.

“I think I’ll return to the stall with Val,” I decided. “We haven’t seen each other in almost a year, and I had hoped to catch up with her a little.”

Oh man, the look of endearment in her purple gaze.

Astaer responded. “Then my sister and I will keep an eye out as you do so,” she replied, with Celestine immediately nodding in the affirmative.

“Thanks,” I said sincerely, only to focus on Val, reaching out to grab her hand as we began walking on the straw-littered ground. It was kind of strange to see Val’s proportions from the side, because her shoulders and arms were so thin and delicate that, were it not for feeling her hip brush against my hand as we walked, I would have thought she was a super thin human girl who just happened to have a massive chest.

But her stomach was actually kind of thick too, with muscle that was softly defined, even though her waist was so narrow. But front to back, her belly was basically as wide as the width side-to-side.

The overall way her body was built just made her all that more seductive to look at. I was confident that I could wrap my entire hand around her upper arm, fully aware that I could wrap my arms entirely around her waist, and yet her hips were almost twice as wide as mine, her thick toned thighs nearly as wide as the thinnest part of her midriff, just underneath her tits.

When we got back to the stall, I went ahead and sat down where she’d been previously standing, only to give her a gentle tug to invite her to sit down next to me. I then wrapped my arms around her delicate shoulders and pulled her against my side, causing her massive tits to press together against my chest.

Her purple gaze was still tender as she brushed some of her thick blonde hair out of her deeply tanned face, but there was almost a hint of confusion.

I gave her a warm smile. “You know, if I’d realized you truly wanted to marry me, then I might have taken you as my wife a year ago,” I admitted. “The problem is, I would have still been a Scourge Suppressor, and would have been required to leave you with your family, only to visit you once every two to three weeks.”

Her tone was affectionate as she replied, leaning into me more heavily. “Part of me wishes I could have been with you sooner, but I’m glad I can go with you now. I’m glad I got stronger.”

“Me too,” I admitted. “But I just wanted you to know that I would have still had you, even when you weren’t as strong. It just would have affected how much we got to see each other.”

“I would have been happy with that arrangement, until the day you retired and decided to settle down.”

I assumed she thought that meant she would have had to wait for ten years, since quite a few Scourge Suppressors began retiring between the ages of thirty and forty, once they’d accumulated significant coin and could live as they pleased without the dangers of the Suppressor life.

Unless they were like Turg, who was actually thirty-one years old, but lived for the fight.

When I didn’t respond, Val continued.

“So did you wish for me to give you pleasure, master?” she asked sincerely. “I had begun to think that was what you desired once you’d fed and I had no more to give.”

I smiled at that, loving how innocent she always seemed, even though she was well aware of the basics of how a relationship should work between a husband and wife. “It is true that I had begun thinking about it,” I admitted. “But I don’t think it would be wise to risk getting found out, and I really wanted to talk to you, since we haven’t gotten the chance. The last we really spent any time together was when I stayed with your family for a couple of days.”

Her tan cheeks flushed slightly. “Yes, I remember that time very well. I already found you handsome, but I really fell in love with you when I saw how much you cared about saving my mother and little brother. Even though our family was unknown to you. So much so, that it grieved you to see my mother in pain, like it might grieve you to see your own mother suffer.”

I sighed heavily, remembering the rough labor, which was really only rough because Val’s Holstaur mother had been so ill with a disease that affected mostly her lungs, making it difficult to breathe, and thus difficult to focus on her contractions, each one causing her to feel as if she was suffocating.

“It does grieve me to see others suffer,” I admitted. “And I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t been born a healer. If I hadn’t the capacity to help them.”

Val abruptly reached over with her other arm, barely able to fully embrace me due to her tits being in the way, and buried her face against my neck as she hugged me tightly.

“I’m so happy to have such a wonderful man,” she whispered against me.

I wrapped my arms around her more fully and returned the embrace, having gone from not hard at all, to there being a brick in my pants seconds later. Damn, she was so fucking hot. And yet, I felt like this embrace was all I needed right now, just to feel her warmth against me, her smooth tan skin underneath my touch.

Having her massive breasts against my lower chest and stomach was of course arousing, but there was almost something healing about having her body pressed against mine, with me realizing I’d been more tense than I thought, only noticing just how much, once that tension began melting away in her embrace.

I began rubbing my hand along her exposed back, reaching all the way down to her toned ass clad in brown leather, before gliding back up again as I gently caressed her. And then the tension vanished entirely and I closed my eyes, leaning my head into her thick golden hair.

Val was my betrothed, and I was only now truly beginning to comprehend just how lucky I’d gotten with her.

Truly, she was everything I desired in a woman, everything I required in a companion, and everything I needed in a wife. Not only as a nurturer who could fill a void in my heart, but also as a wife who welcomed additional wives.

Holding her in my arms, feeling the warmth of her body pressed against mine, the entire world shrank down to the size of a small stable stall, and a sensation of peaceful contentment filled my chest and enveloped us both.

There was great happiness to be found here in this moment…

And I had found it.

FEEDBACK: Hopefully, this chapter gave you all the feels, including possible amusement when he first finds out Val's 'problem.' ( °͡  ͜ʖ °͡  )

Shoot, hopefully, you felt amused, 'excited,' worried, relieved, and content all in the same go, back-to-back. This chapter kind of has all the feels, or at least that's the intention, so hopefully you didn't get whiplash.

(If you felt like it was too much whiplash, let me know, as making improvements is always the goal.)

As I mentioned above, I'm going to try to get more chapters of this out in the next couple of months.

Chapter 17 >>