Smoke and Devotion

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A knight is devoted to her work, even if she's just a simple city guard. Elena Delrosa is a woman who over time becomes slave to her passions finding herself chasing after a thief of the stuff of legends and slowly letting herself fall for her own passions and desires.


Sunshine poured through the clear skies down onto a city of warm-colored bricks and stone, roofs peppered by red clay tiles. The streets were wide with plenty of room for the common pedestrian and the alleys were cuts through buildings that allowed easier passage to other parts. The upper portions of the city were reserved for the wealthy, the powerful, and the influential, while the lower parts were reserved for other people. Artisans and artists fit within the other category as well, so often the nobility or the wealthy were seen down below looking for a skilled craftsman or searching for a bit of interesting entertainment in a theater or a less godly establishment. Life poured through the city in various places with humans and beastfolk alike wandering the roads and sidewalks. The glitter of one's coin broke apart any boundary between those with claws and those without. The city guard made sure that the residential and commercial areas didn't see much trouble and usually, this meant sleeping against a lamppost or taking a nap in some little corner where they could be easily seen. Usually, that was enough to deter trouble and enough to make sure that guards maintained a blissful laze, however, there were some guards that took their roles much more seriously. One in particular was a short canine with gold fur curled and ruffled, and fierce green eyes. She wandered the streets with her gaze set forward and a smile on her face at all times.

Elena Delrosa was her name and she believed that she was a knight given a noble duty by the city and powers that be. So she wore the breastplate and boots with pride and polished both properly, her blade always honed and at the ready hooked on her belt. Her daily patrol took her through the main commercial street of the city leading to the gates where a few individuals waved her way and she waved on back. There were always things to do for the city and more importantly, for the people. She stopped for a moment to help someone pick up a few apples they had dropped and then pointed a foreign merchant in the right direction before heading off to continue her route. There were no dragons here, and there were no evil wizards or anything like that around just yet, but she would be prepared just in case, and for now, she would gladly keep her city safe by doing whatever she could. A knight, after all, had to be ready to help anyone and always be prepared for the mundane and the fantastic! Elena rounded a corner into a less crowded street and breathed out, she placed her gloved hands together behind her back and couldn't help but wish for a better chance to prove herself. A safe and happy city was something beautiful but imagine if there was a dragon tearing at the walls, or some mystical quest awaiting her. Her eyes practically glimmered as she looked into the sky before she heard the crash of glass, one pointed ear raised high.

Elena looked toward the right across the street where she saw a cloud of smoke flowing from the open maw of a broken display window. Just when she was about to reach for her whistle to signal a fire, she paused with her fingers midway to her belt. A shape appeared out of the smoke and the smoke itself began to disappear. That figure slipped away into the alley around the store before she could see who or what it was but her legs were already moving. Boots kicked up dust as she dashed after what she assumed was a thief. She rushed into the alley and caught an article of clothing turning the corner and with all her might she followed along. When she turned the corner she saw him standing there for a single second looking around until their eyes locked. Violet and sharpened green meeting for the first time. A badger was the species of the beastfolk, one with dark cream fur and some parts black where she could see. There was a distinct cut under one of his eyes, a smooth scar line that she couldn't help but hone in on for a second before looking at the rest of him. A tattered cloak adorned his body along with a short sarong around his waist. The rest of his body was on display for the most part beneath the tattered cloak. Strong with a bit of stoutness that betrayed his agility. At his waist, he had a bulging pouch, and in one hand he held a curved blade that appeared to be a dagger but she couldn't see the full length of the thing. Just as he rushed at her, she pulled her sword from her hip and opened her mouth to tell him to stop but something strange happened. Smoke surrounded her for a moment, and the thief was gone! The smoke began to fade and she relaxed her shoulders only to feel a prickling at the back of her neck. She turned toward the sound of light steps on the stone behind her and ducked just as a leg swept over her head.

The thief brought his foot down and hopped back with his dagger held prepared to fight while she stared at him with big eyes. What should have come out of her mouth was a declaration of her intent, instead, she gasped aloud, "That was magic! Are you a wizard? An alchemist or sorcerer?" She then shook her head and huffed, "Wait, that's beside the point. Thief, submit yourself to the law and return what you have taken!"

He straightened slowly and tilted his head, looking toward her with a little smile before he hummed, "You're that impressed by a little trick? What a strange guard you are. Cute and strange."

She found herself wishing that she hadn't let herself slip so easily but she answered without fluster, "How can a knight not be impressed with such a fantastical feat? It is a rare thing in this city to be able to witness magic and I will not deny myself wonder or intrigue." Elena then processed the compliment given to her and she sniffed, "Fair is fair, and I'll give you a compliment in return. I like your confidence and look, mister thief."

The thief snickered, "A knight? Well, whatever you want to call yourself doesn't matter to me." He then began to walk toward her while bringing his knife up, "Although, I've got to know if you're just bluffing or you really know how to use that thing."

Elena blinked and brought her sword up to parry a sudden slash. The surprise and angle of the blow sent her arm in an odd direction but she managed to move back in time to avoid a wipe to the wrist. As she moved back she found that he continued to dart forward, cutting through the air and stabbing, her blade coming up to parry and push aside his as best as she could. His weapon was longer than she had originally thought and he was quick with it despite the length. Even then if she could get a little room then perhaps this duel would be hers. A flash of powder blew from his hand aimed at her eyes but she ducked and thrust from that position toward him. He backed away and as she took another step forward he faded into smoke. Her eyes gleamed for a second, a big smile on her face as she witnessed magic again. This was a duel with her life on the line, and yet her heart was beating faster and faster to the rhythm of pure joy! Giddiness could not escape her, a desire to meet this contest head-on regardless of the risk of her own flesh and blood. She had seen his trick once before and knew to turn around with her blade ready to receive whatever blow he had aimed for her back! Instead, she felt a weight atop her shoulders as he appeared above her and kicked off of her body to reach a balcony with a deft leap.

"Hey!" She yelped while swinging her sword at him, "Get back down here! Our duel was nowhere near complete!"

He rolled his eyes and pulled himself up onto the rail of the balcony before sighing, "Sadly, puppy, I don't think I will go back down. As much fun as it was, I shouldn't be wasting so much time. Bye-bye for now."

Elena cursed and stamped a foot as he climbed from the balcony onto the rooftops, her cheeks blazing from being called a puppy. She looked around for a few seconds before the smile returned to her face. Up and onto a set of barrels and crate she went, scrambling up onto another balcony and further onto the roof. It took a bit longer and was much less graceful but she soon found herself standing on the same roof but only the wind greeted her. She looked out and felt failure biting down at her, and something else bubbling from within. Excitement. A thief abusing his magic prowess! A thief that she could track down and hunt herself! The honor and acclaim it would bring her to hunt this man down would be perfect! Perhaps there would even be a title bestowed on her. More than that, she had never quite met someone to match her in such a manner. Duels were rare, fights were often the last resort and many did not want to contend with her regardless of what she wielded. But she had to train this much, she had to be able to handle more than what her peers could! Because if she could not, then how could she handle everything a knight could? A knight needed a villain, a rival, some sort of foe! Even if he was a common thief, he was one that employed magic and that was enough to make a fantastic tale for her. Sheathing her sword and beaming, Elena marked the face of the thief in her memory and wondered if she could call in a favor to close this out early. Now, of course, she had to figure out a way down.

Before she went off on a knightly quest to search for the thief, she had to make sure the owner of the store was okay. As it turned out, what had been stolen were a few heirloom jewels despite the shopkeeper being a tailor of all things. He complained and she listened with all the nodding she could give and promised to find the man responsible before she set off. What she should have done next is report it but a break-in with a thief of smoke wouldn't get much attention. If the man was skilled enough to escape them in the city, then how would they ever find him? She had been through similar with reports of people finding their belongings missing or witnessing something amiss. Usually, these reports were filed and eventually taken care of if the right individuals were complaining enough about it, or if Elena went out to investigate on her own. She was typically sent off to patrol in quiet places in order to keep her out of trouble but in part she suspected it was that she was disrupting the flow of something very important. She wasn't sure what that important thing could be but to Elena, all that mattered was that she was satisfying her own need to help. This case was just the same as those others. It would be left to the dust until a convenient time or concrete and simple-to-follow directions were dropped onto their laps. Well, Elena had an idea or two of how to find him without the need to rely on her superiors. All she had to do was ask in the right place.

The Shrewd Claw was a tavern located behind a building and down a few steps. The door was old and rotted and the sign above it creaked just a bit. Elena stepped inside and was greeted with the usual sight. Wooden floors that were kept clean enough and tables that were packed with folk clutching mugs of ale or other forms of alcohol. There were a few rolling dice along the table or setting cards down that paused when she walked by. Of course, she had to give them a warning about gambling but that's all she did for the most part. They winked and snickered at her as she passed by, one of them even reaching for her to which she promptly swatted his hand with her tail causing the table to all as one holler and laugh. She was aware of the laws surrounding gambling and aware that it was considered morally incorrect, but she was also aware that these were just men trading a few dollars between them after work and knew that none of them had ever pulled a weapon on the other for a bad game. She made her way through and around the tables, waving on occasion to say hello to whoever recognized her before she found herself at the bar counter near the back. Elena took a seat and politely waited to be approached, but it didn't take long for the old rat behind the bar to notice her. He was a tawny furred fellow, that fur speckled with touches of silver here and there. When he caught sight of her, he stopped cleaning a mug to move over to her and slam his hands onto the bartop.

With a big smile, Bernardo greeted her, "Elena! Good to see yah. What's a famous knight like you doing around here?"

She beamed at the rat and laid an arm on the bartop while leaning over, "Good to see you too, Bernardo, but I'm not here to swap stories. I just need a little bit of information."

The rat straightened while drumming a set of clawed digits on the bartop, "Now, I do owe you a favor or two but I don't really know what you think that I might be able to tell you. Still, ask away."

Quietly she asked as he leaned in to lend an ear, "I met a thief today. A badger. Uses smoke and magic. He was stealing some keepsakes from an old tailor."

Bernardo's ears flicked and he leaned back while scratching his chin, "Hm, old tailor? Think I know who you're talking about if he got pinched. There's a new thief in town who's been snatching from crooks of any legality with a bit of money to spare. Some say that he's quite the noble thief and most others say he's just after a bit of coin and knows where the real scores are. Rumor about the tailor is that he snatched a few mementos right out of a family's fingers without ever having to get his hands bloody. Got himself on the will of a relative somehow even though he had only ever suited the family member deceased. No one could catch him on it so all that coin and all those pretty little things went to him without a fuss."

Her ears flicked as she listened, her head tilting as she muttered, "So you're saying that the thief isn't a bad guy and I shouldn't go after him."

A small smile touched the old bartender's features as he muttered, "You're a sharp girl when you want to be. Now, wanna share a drink?"

Elena crossed her arms, "No, I think I still want to know where that man is. No matter what, he still broke the law, and if there was a reason for it, then I'd like to hear it for myself."

It was true, there were those who abused the law in order to acquire ill-gotten gains, and she had already been reprimanded for attempting to arrest a wealthy benefactor of the guard for laying his hands on someone inappropriately without consent. Her view of justice was that of a knight, that of the stuff of legends! She couldn't stand to see someone who stood above everyone else because of a technicality or their station. She realized that it wasn't her sense of justice, though, that was driving her to chase after the thief. She needed to ask him why he did what he did and more importantly, she wanted to continue their duel. There was a part of her that thirsted for the contest, thirsted for the excitement that pumped through her chest at the very notion of a challenge! Elena had spent her time training and milling the hours away waiting until an opportunity to show what she was truly made of appeared, and here it was. Of course, there were also the questions. She couldn't get too focused on her own personal interests. But what was a knight, but an individual held hopelessly hostage by their passions?

For a bit, Bernardo looked at her with one eye before sniffing, "You got a grudge?"

She kept his gaze until her cheeks began to warm a bit and she cleared her throat, "He might have taken off during a perfectly respectable duel."

Bernardo chuckled and shook his head, "You really are a fool sometimes. Listen, if you really want to find him then I'll have to ask you for something in return. Two things. First, don't clap the guy in irons. There's no reason to when there are plenty of others. If he had killed someone then I might've felt different about it but really, he doesn't seem like such a bad fellow. He's even generous with what he earns." When she simply furrowed her brow at that, he continued with a grin, "Second, how about a kiss?"

Elena snorted, "Is that it? I'd expect you to ask for something a bit more valuable than a kiss."

"Hah! Hard to ask for something else from a gal with a sword." Said the bartender with a snicker.

She caught his meaning with a small smile, a finger prodding the air as she winked, "Personally, I appreciate bold men."

Elena cleared her throat with a fist to her mouth realizing the nature of her statement. She had just been thinking about the fact that a knight was one driven by passion and justice in equal measures and yet, she had not quite thought that one out. Would she care to trade her lips or perhaps more for a bit of information? Well, maybe. It was the excitement of doing such an illicit act for the purpose of justice that attracted a certain air of romance and she craved the romantic, the fantastic, and even the dire and frightening. She had a duty to fulfill, but at the same time, she had her own reasons for pursuing the man. Those reasons aligned with passion, and her heart still pumped fresh with the excitement and adrenaline she had been given before. It would be nice to burn that off a bit on something more casual before she got back to her chase. Bernardo was not an unattractive man and she often wished that he would take more chances with her because as she said; she liked bold men.

The old rat chuckled and leaned on the bartop while muttering, "All right, if that's the case then let me be bold." He reached under her chin and tapped with a claw, "Let's say we head around back for something quick. Good use of that mouth of yours will get you far, little knight."

"Only the mouth? If that's all I have to do then lead the way, good sir. Your foul deal will be struck." She then took his hand to kiss one digit before humming joyfully, "I am more than prepared to sacrifice that and much more for my quest."

While the old rat raised a brow and seemed to falter a bit, she stepped around the bar to join him while a few onlookers snickered, and as she got to him he chuckled and took her arm, "If that's how you want it, then I guess I'll have my fill before I let my lips flap."

Bernardo whistled to hail someone to take over the front for him before he brought her along to a room in the back. There were mostly crates and barrels stored within, a little table, and a set of chairs held within as well. A few of the crates were open and she could see the bottles glistening within. Not the most romantic place, and yet, wasn't that part of true romance? Heat given and taken in places where it should not be, the world not mattering so long as something happened where two bodies were grinding together. At this thought, she could not help but begin to strip without prompting. The breastplate came off, the boots as well, and before long she stood there with a hand over her breasts as if she were modest with a small smirk looking toward the old rat who was still fully clothed. There was a tent pitched in his pants, a heavy bulge that proved his desire. There were many stories that she had read of knights, many tales that painted the perfect picture of what a knight should do and be. To her, this situation was near perfection. Even if she had been coerced with drink and seduced by darker impulses, Elena had always found those sorts of tales of knights alluring just as much as the glorious ones. And of course, she was doing this for a reason. After all, how else would she find her rival?

It was clear that she was prepared for this and more than eager to begin. Bernardo finally seemed to catch up with her as he hooked a thumb through the waist of his trousers to pull them down and let his shaft out into the air while muttering, "If I knew all I had to do was drag you into the back then I would have done it first day we met."

Her fingers touched the top of his shaft, her own body trembling as she felt the heat of his throbbing member, "Hah, what justice and delight is there in doing something like this? No, there is passion and daring, boldness and something darker that lurks beneath all. If you would have dragged me to the back that first day we met, I would have called you a fiend and gladly bent over for you. For now, swear you'll tell me where my foe lies, tell me his hideout and I'll let you ravage me as you see fit."

The man growled and grabbed the back of her head, his boldness finally shining through as he addressed her, "You know I would have told you with just a little kiss as a tease but sure, I swear so long as you give me this body of yours. I'll even tell you now if you'd like."

Elena breathed out as she crouched down her lips mere inches from the tip of his shaft, "I wouldn't want to sully the honor of our deal."

"Of course, dear, of course." Rumbled the old rat before chuckling, "But if I tell you now then you won't have an excuse. You'll just be a perverse knight. Wouldn't that be fun?"

No excuse. Hah. What a wonderful thing. There would be no excuse except for the passion pulsing through her heart. She couldn't help but let a twisted smile grow on her features while an answer remained stuck in her throat. Elena didn't want to say it out loud, but he was absolutely right. A slave to her passions and her interests. Even her pursuit of justice was a passion in itself. Her dreams of greatness, her ideals, and more were driven by that heat behind her chest that kept on pumping. She could not quite remove these things from her mind, couldn't stop thinking about her own desires and passions which kept her superiors upset with her, and yet, was it not better to live this way? She could enjoy life to the fullest and pursue what she needed to pursue without issue! At this very moment, she wanted to hunt the one that would give her a challenge, to seek him out to understand the truth behind his actions, and to indulge in her lust.

She did not stop Bernardo as he began to mutter while his claws passed through her hair, "South there'll be a broken clocktower. That side of the city is mostly quiet and he uses that tower as a hideout." When all she did was begin to kiss the side of his shaft and wag her tail, the old rat rumbled, "Maybe I'll repeat this later."

Elena had lost herself in the act and had indeed forgotten to commit what he had said to memory. Her tongue dragged along the side of the shaft to taste the salt of the day heavy on his member before moving back to the tip. Her mouth moved along every part of his shaft until she dipped under. She took his desire into her grasp and pulled it up just a bit while savoring the sound of his groan before moving her mouth to his balls. Each orb was given a kiss before her lips wrapped around one to start suckling. By the feeling of the throbbing in her fingers, it would seem as though he would not last long. She could even feel the steady drip of arousal slipping out of the tip of his member onto her thumb as she passed it in circles around that spot. When she pulled her mouth away, it was at his sudden tugging. It wasn't a very firm tug, but even then it filled her with delight to feel him participating in some sort of way. She really did love boldness beyond anything else in someone else, and finally, his lust had taken over fully.

The digits at the back of her head urged her to stand, the man before her pushing himself against her to shove her back and onto one of the crates while their mouths met. It was a crash of lips to lips, her hand tensing on his chest as she felt his shaft sliding along her crotch. The smile was still rooted on her face as she took hold of his cheek with one hand to draw him deeper into the kiss. Tongues met between mouths that parted to utter sighs and breaths that gathered in the storage room like steam and mist. When their kiss parted to let them gulp in fresh air and stare at one another, she continued to grin as she leaned back fully onto the crate and let her legs part. Both of her hands moved down to his shaft to feel over the length, to twine through the curls near his crotch to start bringing that lovely thing lover and lower along her crotch until it slipped away and the tip began to graze against her heat.

"We have to make this quick, right? So you won't have time to even pull out." She said with a big smile.

He met her gaze, and looked at her expression for a moment before leaning in to plant his forehead against hers while muttering, "Right you are, perverted knight."

Elena sighed and chuckled as she felt him grasp her hips and start to ease himself inside of her. Her toes curled and her eyes shut as she drank in the feeling of her warmth spreading for him, of her insides conforming to his shape. Her eyes opened again just as she felt him push to ease a few inches within her at once, a moan slipping from her lips that was soon silenced as her lips were captured by his again. Even in this state, she recognized the truth in her own words. She wanted to hurry up and catch up to that thief so she needed to keep this brief, though, she wouldn't complain if he kept it up as long as he desired. The old rat maintained a slow pace, only occasionally jerking forward to stuff more of himself inside of her while his hands started to drift along her body. Her breasts were soon cupped and squeezed, nipples toyed with before one hand moved down to feel over her thighs. Elena's hands had moved around his back to cling onto him, to pull him closer as if to let him know she wanted more of him inside, and she truly did. Every inch she felt within her brought out another moan, brought out another bit of her passion leaking through her voice.

When their lips parted again, it was so that Bernardo could set himself forward with gnashed fangs to start thrusting into her properly. She gasped and sighed, little chuckles slipping away from her as her eyes fluttered. Elena buried her face against his shoulder, the heat in her body flooding her as she felt his shaft grinding against her inner walls. Soreness struck her from the sudden roughness of the plowing but she only continued to utter her desire while at the same time, her hips began to move in time with his motions. She wanted more, wanted him deeper, wanted him to keep going until her mind was blank. It was such beautiful passion, such fantastic elation. Right now she could not be the hero, could not be the destined or chosen warrior fighting some sort of nebulous darkness, but she could feel as though she were being taken to the sky itself by another in this heated moment.

Her toes clenched tight and she bit down on his shoulder while letting out a squeal as she felt her insides clamping down around his shaft, while she felt her pleasure peaking. The old rat cursed and doubled his efforts, his throbbing telling her that he was close. Elena's climax had been driven by the constant excitement she had been experiencing, and that grinding of the man inside of her. Even now her chest rose and fell with the beating of delight and joy, her entire form ready to take more as he continued to give her more. Every thrust jolted her a little bit, every push urged more of the man inside of her until she felt him stop. Elena removed her mouth from his shoulder to ask if something was wrong before he began to pull out of her slowly. She shuddered and felt the question slipping out of her mouth again before it was interrupted by a single firm thrust. Bernardo rooted himself deep inside of her and began to let out all of his desire at once. Warmth flooded her, warmth so thick and delightful that she could not help but throw her head back and sigh. She let go of his back to allow herself to lounge as best as she could on the crate. However, her ankles remained locked around him, her toes curled and a dreamy smile on her features as she looked up. The old rat himself leaned back and breathed out as he let out all of that passionate seed inside of her. One hand moved down to her abdomen to draw circles as if he could feel the flow of his own seed entering her. Fuck it felt so good to be filed, it felt so good to have proof of someone's boldness and passion ingrained within her. Etched within her inner walls, staining her to the core in just the right ways.

Utterly dangerous. She could feel that her desire to leave this embrace was weak. If he grabbed her by the neck and told her she needed to give more to him before she left, then she would gladly submit to it. Her mind was completely blanketed by the loving coil of murky lust. She was practically drunk on it. No magic was needed to alter her mind, to make her feel such strange things but she felt no shame in it. Oh no, not at all. All she wanted was to pursue these feelings to their maximum, to their climax. If she found herself in true danger beneath the man she had just allowed to paint her insides, then she would gladly accept. Instead, however, he kissed her chest gently and held her for a few seconds. His calmness steadied her, reminded her not to get too lost in it and as he separated she lay there breathing steadily.

While they remained in this blissful state, as the heat died down to a murky warmth, Bernardo muttered, "Got a private room to clean up. Bit of water, washcloth, and all that. Can tell you where the guy is since I'm sure you sure as hell weren't listening."

Elena breathed out and peered at the man while sniffing, "Hm, I remember something about a clocktower but you're right. I lost myself in the passion."

He reached down as if to touch her tenderly before instead ruffling the top of her head, "What a fool."

They shared a chuckle before separating. Her legs were shaking but she was able to get dressed and follow along to get herself clean. Bernardo's lips moved when they were alone again to tell her what she wanted to know, and a bit more. There was a part of the city that not many traveled to. It was an old theater district that still housed a bit of entertainment but it was mostly a place for old paint shops and stores that only artists would have a need of. The clock tower had broken down long ago and no one around had wanted it fixed because they thought that it added a certain style to the district. It did not matter what time it was because it was always a good moment to see something beautiful.

Elena walked down a set of steps into the theater district. It opened into a rounded square surrounding a fountain with what appeared to be a few costume shops, tailors, and other cloth workers that appeared to be meant for the stage. There was a surprising lack of foot traffic here but that didn't mean there weren't any people. She saw a man set up with a canvas painting the fountain itself while two women stood shoulder to shoulder plucking away strings and practicing a melody. Bernardo had told her that it was a place that came alive at night and she supposed that she would have to come here another time to believe him. What she found odd, though, was the fact that she didn't see many of her fellow knights. She understood that many of them did not take the job as seriously as her but even then their presence itself was a deterrent when they were idling the day away. It was strange. The theaters and bordellos outside of the district were always functioning and ready to take people in but this seemed different somehow. Mummers, artists, and women of the night often remained in their designated locations, but there were all of those things walking around as she made her way through the district. Out of the square she saw a man and a woman exchanging coin to slip away into a little alley, their sighs heard from long away. She saw a man pacing from side to side muttering something about a script. Elena did not find it unpleasant at all. There were no laws broken, but she did wonder why many of the artists outside of this place were confined to their places of business. She also wondered why she was being given such strange looks. Was it the sword on her hip? Or perhaps the uniform? Regardless, she kept walking while peering upward to catch sight of the clock tower.

The knight soon found the clocktower as it was fairly hard to miss even from the entrance to the district. It stood chipped but still standing, clay and red brick worn in color but not in stature. She made her way through the webwork of buildings while watching. There were a few men and women that were bold enough to ask if she'd like to see a show of some sort, and to their surprise, she answered that she would have to come back another time and gave them each a coin. Elena loved to see shows of any kind and no, she wasn't that naive. She knew that each of those men and women most likely meant something a bit more perverse. It was simply that she enjoyed those types of shows as well, so long as her commander didn't know about her going to them. It wasn't just out of enjoyment either. She thought that it was a good idea to be where the common person was and most everyone could relate to the heat of desire creeping up on them. Often, the establishments with those types of showings would have their own protection but it didn't hurt to be around just in case anything happened even if it was considered dishonorable by her commander.

Honor. She found herself pondering what that meant really. To her, it was not dishonorable to rub elbows with the folk of the night, nor was it dishonorable to attend a show and enjoy the body. She didn't think it meant any less of her or anyone at those shows but she certainly did think it was dishonorable to deny someone the help they needed because they had a particular profession. Lost in her thoughts, Elena kept wandering up and down sets of steps, around buildings, and through other places until she found herself in front of the clock tower. Supposedly, the thief was based around here. A wall with a gate blocked the entrance to the clocktower courtyard but she pushed on through, wincing at the creak it created. She stepped onto the squared-off section of tile and land, looking around her to see if he was waiting for her in ambush. It didn't seem like he was. The door to the clocktower itself opened and out stepped the thief himself without looking at her. When he did spot her he crouched and reached for his blade.

"You? How did you find me?" He asked while tilting his head.

"I promised a friend I wouldn't arrest you and he gave me the information." She said while placing a hand on the hilt of her sword, "I made a fair trade, and worry not, my aim here is not to arrest you."

He relaxed just a bit but kept his hand on his weapon just the same as he hummed, "Okay, if you're not here to arrest me, then why are you here?"

She drew her sword and beamed, "Firstly, to continue the duel that you ran from as it was an extreme pleasure to finally find a worthy foe and secondly, to ask you a simple question."

The thief raised a brow but called to her, "Ask your question then."

"Why is it that you stole those heirlooms?" She said plainly.

A smile drew across the thief's expression as he slowly drew his blade from his belt, the answer coming afterward, "Is that all? That's a simple one. What excuse do I need to steal from another thief? What excuse do I need to taunt and punish someone who has made off with another's prized possessions? Do you know how he got those?"

For once she frowned and looked away, "I do. I was told how and I was told that it was entirely legal."

"And do you think that justifies it then?" He said with a scoff.

She looked toward him and drew her sword, holding it before her with a hand behind her back as she stamped her foot and huffed aloud, "I do not."

The thief seemed taken aback for a moment as if he had not expected that answer, his smile fading to a half-frown as he asked, "Then why do you insist on being in the guard? You might help some common people here and there, but what about your allies?"

Elena thought about it for a moment before she swiped her blade through the air and then stabbed the tip into the ground. She took the breastplate of her station off, tossed it to the side, and clasped her sword before taking it up again, "I have called my allies my fellow knights but they have abandoned their sense of justice and their love of the people for other pursuits. I know this but what could I do on my own? I thought to become the sole pursuer of what is right but I turned a blind eye to all that was claimed lawful and good by my superiors."

He took a step toward her and asked, "Then what are you going to do casting that aside?"

She approached him in kind and snapped, "I'll become a rogue knight. A lordless demon that seeks the truth for herself."

The thief took another step and then grinned at her, extending his hand out to her, "Then how about we put the swords down and work together? Thief and knight. Or, I could be your lord if you'd like."

Bold words from a bold man. She couldn't help but smile as she felt the warmth touch her cheeks, and her answer was simple, "I'll kneel to you, my lord, win or lose after this duel. But first, your name."

She pointed toward him with her sword and got in position. The badger shrugged before getting ready as well while calling out, "All right then, my name is Olivar."

Forward she went once introductions were done. Her sword thrust toward him and he batted it aside easily enough. She pulled back in time to return the favor and again press forward with another thrust. He backed away from her sudden aggression and brought his hand up, a set of sparks igniting in the air between them marking his change into smoke. Before the smoke could gather above her or behind her, she backed away and readied her sword, watching the puffs of smoke gather and swirl until they formed his shape before her. Out of the smoke, he came charging his sword catching hers and sliding along the length. Instead of backing away, she darted forward and pressed her shoulders to his, sending him off balance and herself from the force of the impact. Both of them regained their footing and thrust.

The tip of her sword was at his neck, but the tip of his blade was at hers as well. They watched one another for a few moments before she backed away and sheathed her blade while beaming, "It seems we have a draw."

Olivar breathed out, "You are a wild woman, you know that? Smart enough to back away from the smoke and yet crazy enough to endanger yourself for the possibility of victory with no hesitation."

Her tail flicked from side to side as the man sheathed his weapon, "And you have given me exactly what I've been craving for years! Not only a challenge but a true goal to tackle myself against. Truly working against a monolith in order to be a force for good!"

They clasped hands and shared a grin before he started to pull her along. He pointed toward the clock tower and continued to tug her while she followed with her curiosity guiding her. Up and up she went with him through the staircase within the tower itself until they arrived at the chambers behind the clock face. There was a bed among other pieces of furniture, along with bags and chests full of what she assumed were rightfully stolen goods. He tossed his sword and belt away before doing the same with the cloak leaving him only in a sarong he walked toward a table.

"Here. I've got a list of names of men and women who've gotten away with all manner of things. Wealthy individuals who have taken from others or have actual blood on their hands. They have a lot worth taking." He said while touching a large sheet of paper pinned to the table.

She leaned over the table while ignoring his body as best as she could and beamed down at the names, "There are many things we could do with information like this but we could get Bernardo to help us find others as well! Whatever corruption we find, we could tackle together!"

He then grinned and put a finger against her chest, "Don't fool yourself too much, I'm still a thief and after profit."

Elena returned his grin with a small smirk and touched his hand from below while humming, "I can allow theft from those who are corrupt, from those we plan to dismantle. Are you saying that I should have arrested you, my lord?"

Olivar stared at her for a moment while rubbing his chin, "Hm, I'd prefer to see you in chains but no, I'd rather not get arrested. Your aims are just too lofty once the adrenaline settles." He then snickered, "And do you really intend to kneel for me? You keep calling me that but I don't know how serious you are."

She smiled and made her intention clear by bringing his hand to her mouth to kiss the top of one of his digits as she muttered, "A knight needs a lord and a cause. I'll follow you and help you as long as you do not ignore someone in need and we pursue corruption. If we find a bigger problem, if we see something within our power, I want to chase it with all my might. Your words inspired that in me." Something inside of her bubbling out from the excitement then slipped from her lips in a gentle hum, "Even then, I am yours to do with as you please. Your sword, your tool. That too, is the role of a knight."

He looked toward her before pushing his hand away from her touch to press a thumb against her cheek, easing the digit through her fur to cup gingerly with the rest of his hand as he raised a brow and rumbled, "I can't tell if you're being genuine or if you're trying to seduce me."

Elena hummed, "It can be both, can't it? As a knight, I am bound by my passions. The ones I followed were false and allowed me to stagnate but that does not mean that my passions were wrong. I still did what I wanted to do and with this union of ours I am less constrained."

"Then how about I chain you in my hideout here and use you as my personal knight of passion? Have you thought of that possibility?" He said while leaning in so their lips were nearly touching.

She shuddered at the sudden strength of his lust, her words coming out steady despite her shivering, "You intend to keep me from my duty to help others? How vicious. Perhaps you are a villain."

He chuckled and pecked along her lips before purring, "Would you like it more if you were fucked by a villain?"

Again the sudden strength of that lust. And again she shuddered while breathing out, "It would be a nice workout after our duel."

He grabbed her chest through her shirt, squeezing as he muttered, "You could have asked me about magic, about plans for the future but instead you do this? Tell me, puppy, should I collar you as well?"

Elena trembled and almost told him to shut up but the thought of being collared, of being owned made her forgo the thought of being a knight for a second in favor of being a pet. She eventually managed to say with a little chuckle, "I can't deny the prospect sounds tempting."

His lips brushed along hers, the heat of the moment catching up to her now as she dipped into that lovely embrace of mouth to mouth to let their tongues meet. Whatever happened next could wait. She wanted something passionate, something wild and dangerous. This man was still her rival in many ways, still someone she could cross blades with later but right now he was also someone who was quickly becoming her ally. The danger was, that it felt like he could truly dominate her. For a moment she had truly thought of allowing her passion to fully take over just to satisfy his whims. What a lovely life that would be.

When their lips parted he backed away to pull off the sarong he wore allowing his thick member out into the air. His body was beaded with sweat, his balls and shaft the same way and she found herself positively burning beneath his gaze. Bernardo had been surprised at her offer and gone at her nice and slow at first but this man seemed ready to take advantage as soon as she showed a sign of being interested. Belt and sword were cast away, boots and shirt as well but the final pieces of her clothing were left on as he approached her to grab her bare chest without warning, a gasp and a sigh escaping her as he began to kiss her exposed breasts. His tongue came out to press and drag over a nipple and the rest of it, his body pushing her back as he expressed his intent and desire all in one. Was this man just tricking her, would he turn out not to be a noble thief but a deviant in disguise? In the teetering balance of her lust and desire, she found herself wanting him to be something dangerous, something villainous just so she could maintain her duel with him, but also so she could risk succumbing fully to him. Her fantasies drove her mad, her delusions spiking the lust in her body higher and higher until her legs became weak from his touch and those thoughts boiled through her.

Again his lips crashed to hers, again she found herself backed up and her rear met the edge of his bed. Both of his hands clasped onto her hips, his fangs making a mark on her chest as she hissed aloud, "So eager, my lord? Wouldn't you rather savor this?"

The badger smiled as he ran his tongue along her chest once more, as he brought his mouth to her throat and breathed out, "I'll savor it every time. You've already said that you want this and that you want to supposedly serve me. From the moment I saw you I felt as though I wanted to steal you for myself, and here you are presenting yourself to me." He then growled in a low tone, "And you were the one with your lips on my hand, with your little suggestions. Isn't this what you wanted and much more?"

A strange mote of warmth washed over her, embarrassment collecting inside of her as she looked away but a smile still on her face. She then answered him quietly, "As the one I follow, you're free to use your knight as you see fit."

He chuckled and gave her chest one more kiss before pulling away to address her, "Then, knight. Drop your pants and bend over for me. Tell me you'll be my bitch instead of my knight if I want it."

Such a terrible request. Such a perverse desire, and yet, her body began to move as her heart throbbed with pure desire. She turned tail and hooked the waist of her pants and underwear together with her thumbs before pulling them down and leaning forward onto the bed with her rear hiked in the air, her words breathed out, "Make this knight your bitch, corrupt me if you'd like, my lord."

A hand grasped the back of her head, digits looped through her hair. She grinned at the feeling of his lust given form, felt herself shaking with excitement as he aligned his shaft with her cunt and eased the head along her slit. When he eased himself inside, when he began to plunge into the shallows of her heat, Olivar breathed out, "I've heard of knights who follow their passions but you? You're a slave to them aren't you?"

Elena didn't answer, all she did was moan as he buried himself deeper and deeper until his hips came crashing against her rear and thighs. His movements were quick and strong, his hand at the back of her head tugging on occasion to add to the sudden sensations pouring over her. Heat struck her from behind, motes of soreness along her head and the rest of her form as her body was used. His words became a constant fog in her thoughts that began to coat her existence. She had always been a slave to her passions. To become a knight. Getting rid of her role as a simple guard. Everything was because of her passion and now she found a dangerous individual who could stoke her passion, who could kindle and burn it in such a manner that she would listen to whatever he said just to feel more of it. Of the stories she had read, it was not only the heroes she had loved. It was the villains as well, the darker impulses that pushed them toward becoming rivals with the knight. Some of the most beautiful moments were the beginnings of knights rising to the occasion, but the fall was equally as beautiful. In this train of thought, she could not help but wonder if this would become her fall.

Instead of feeling peril, she gripped hold of the excitement in her heart and moaned aloud while shaking her hips back at the man pounding inside of her. Olivar grunted and met her thrust per thrust and did not back away from her wildness. He instead seemed to cherish her passion, cherish that desire of hers to be used. So this was the one she had chosen as her lord. What a terrible man taking advantage of her like this. What a horrible thing to do to tell her that she would become a bitch and make her say those words. The twisted smile on her expression betrayed her true feelings on the matter no matter what she told herself within the confines of her mind.

"Do you even plan on helping others?" She groaned while digging her claws into the bed beneath her, "You said for profit, you said that you are still a thief. The only reason you do this is for some sort of justification of your actions, isn't it?"

He leaned in while pulling her head back, his hips still constantly crashing against her rear as he purred to her ear, "I am a villain, I am a thief. I told you that I do it for profit but I'd rather have a few bad folk be the collateral for that. I'm not entirely heartless but you really are bringing out the worst in me puppy. And you're doing that on purpose."

The thief let go of her hair to grab onto her rear, to bring her to his hips and take full control of the flow of the situation as he pounded inside of her. Perhaps she should have been concerned about what he was saying but it was true. Just as he had stoked her passion, she was stoking his behavior. She would have done more too but all it took was a bit of lust to make this man mount her like a mad beast. She sighed and groaned, moaning for more as she pressed her cheek to the bed and let him breed her however he wanted. Like a mad beast, he suddenly bit down on her shoulder and she felt a flood of heat begin to enter her with no warning. She gasped aloud, eyes growing wide before they turned to half-moons while her insides were drenched in his villainous seed. Her own climax began to gush, her insides tightening around him, the pressure within her releasing but the heat in her mind remaining like a constant fog keeping her clouded.

When he finished, when he pulled out of her, he stopped biting her to breathe out, "I'll be an honest little knight. I think that I'm a bad fit for you. If you stick around, I might not be able to hold back."

He then took a step back. With his presence gone from her body, she slowly pushed herself up shakily before slipping off the bed. She then got to her knees and cupped his balls with one hand, her tongue coming out to slide along his wet cock before she rumbled, "Whatever you desire, my lord. If you want me as a bitch, I'll be a bitch. I know what I am choosing."

She shuddered as she felt his fingers loop through her hair, smiled as she watched his cock begin to twitch to life again and as she took it into her maw to start suckling on that salted heat, he muttered quietly, "You'd be abandoning whatever little fanciful dreams of knighthood and heroism. Instead of my partner, I'll have you as my toy. Maybe I'll even sell your body now and then. You certainly seem eager enough for it."

It should have been terrible but the cloud on her mind, that lovely smoke flowing through her thoughts had enraptured her entirely. A fallen knight. Broken by her own lord. She loved the sound of it in her own thoughts and she began to bob her head up and down diligently while her fingers toyed between her legs, while her digits dug deep inside of herself to feel the mixture of his desire and her arousal within. And as she pressed her nose to his crotch and felt the pulse of his shaft in her throat, she knew fully now that she had truly fallen. But it was not from the man's corruption staining her, instead, it was her own passions driving her to new heights of pleasure and rapture. As a knight, she had fallen to her passions. When he held her head there, she did not move, she only breathed in the scent and taste that he gave her. When he eased his hold on her head, she continued to move and did not even gag when he slammed inside of her throat and began to breed her mouth. He pulled out of her mouth after a few thrusts to start stroking in front of her face, to pump that beautiful thing before her. Olivar slapped it against one of her cheeks before repeating the motion to the other as if mocking a ceremony to knight her. Before she could ask if that had been his intent, he painted her face. She shut one eye with a gasp as she felt his warmth staining through her fur, her body shuddering as she felt her chest catching a few stray shots. Elena licked what fell on her lips, drinking in that bitter saltiness with a delighted shudder before opening her mouth to catch the remnants dripping steadily from his flaccid member.

As this happened, he stroked through her hair and muttered, "Good girl."

And with that little mention, he sealed her fate. Her lips were for his purpose, her sword and body were for him. So long as he continued to fuel her passion, she would continue to follow him without complaint. Even if he elected to harm her, even if he found a way to corrupt her from within truly with that magic of his. She had become enshrouded and chained by his smoke. The scent of sandalwood and rain in the air. Her devotion set of her own glowing accord.