I grinned, crossing my arms as I looked at the furious girl.
"It looks like we are going to be spending a lot of time together, Gia. Try not to attack me in the hallways."
She groaned loudly, burying her face in her hands.
"This is officially the worst day of my life."
"Give it time," I teased, enjoying the banter a little too much.
"We haven’t even gotten to the compatibility training yet."
Gianna dropped her hands, glaring daggers at me.
To add more fuel to the fire, Jenna smiled warmly and said the worst thing to her daughter.
"Gia, you’re taking Rev out today. Show him the city."
She practically choked on the air.
"Mom, are you serious?! I’m not his babysitter! I have weapons to maintain, and my team needs to run drills."
Jenna leaned back in her chair, perfectly calm.
"You two need to build compatibility before you step into a gate. And after that little spar on the training floor... I think you owe him a proper welcome to the district."
’She’s absolutely enjoying this,’ I thought, struggling and failing to hide the giant grin spreading across my face.
"He fucking cheated!" Gianna pointed an accusing finger at me, her cheeks flushed with indignation.
"I am a warrior! I fight monsters, not some guy who throws ropes and steals all my energy out of nowhere!"
"It was a very effective tactic," Jenna countered, picking up a datapad from her desk.
"Now, take him out. Go buy him some decent clothes that actually fit his frame, show him the commercial sectors, and try to get along. That is a direct order from your guild leader and mother."
Gianna groaned, throwing her head back in total defeat.
"Fine. But if he acts up, I am leaving him in the middle of the neon square to find his own way back."
"I’ll be on my best behavior."
Jenna stood up from her desk and walked over to me.
Gianna rolled her eyes and turned toward the door, muttering under her breath about how ruined her whole day was.
While Gianna’s back was turned, Jenna stepped close to me. Her perfume smelled like sweet flowers and something distinctly intoxicating.
She reached up, her fingers lightly brushing against my neck as she adjusted the collar of my shirt, smoothing out the dress.
She leaned in close, her lips practically brushing my ear.
"Be gentle with her," Jenna whispered, her voice dropping into a husky tone.
"But not too gentle."
She pulled back just enough to give me a knowing, filthy look that sent a jolt of heat straight down my groin.
Okay, mother and daughter on the same day might actually kill me, but what a way to go.
Gianna turned around and caught the lingering look between us. Her face immediately turned a furious red.
"Are you coming or what?!" she snapped, grabbing my sleeve and physically dragging me out.
"Have fun, you two!" Jenna called out behind us, her laugh echoing down the hallway.
We stepped out of the guild building and into the bustling streets.
The city was a complete sensory overload. Bright neon signs flashed overhead in vibrant pinks and blues, reflecting off the sleek flying vehicles that wove smoothly through the traffic lanes above.
Large holographic advertisements played on the sides of buildings, some showing famous hunters, while others displayed regal women, whom I assumed were the Empresses they mentioned earlier.
The sidewalks were packed, and just like before, it was an endless sea of women.
Women in business suits, women carrying weapons, women laughing in crowded cafes. And the moment we walked past, every single pair of eyes snapped directly to me.
Whispers erupted instantly.
"Is he the new subject?"
"He’s so hot."
Gianna noticed the attention immediately.
She walked faster, pulling me along by the arm as if she was trying to hide a prize she didn’t even want.
"Keep your eyes forward," Gianna muttered, glaring at a group of girls who were openly pointing and giggling at me from a corner booth.
"And try not to get hard every time a girl looks at you. We have a lot of ground to cover."
I let out a short laugh, easily keeping pace with her fast strides.
"That’s going to be pretty hard to do when I woke up facing your mom’s tits."
Gianna stopped dead in her tracks.
The bustling noise of the street seemed to fade away entirely as she slowly turned her head to look at me. Her mouth opened, closed, and then opened again. The flush on her cheeks spread all the way down to her neck, turning her skin a deep red.
"You... you did not just say that to me."
"I definitely did," I replied, giving her an unapologetic smirk.
"I mean, she bought my custody, Gia. What did you think she was testing when she slept with me? We weren’t exactly playing cards in there."
"You are disgusting! She is my mother!"
"And she is a very generous woman."
"What kind of pervert are you?"
"I thought that’s how it works here."
"It does. That doesn’t mean I need to hear it."
"Wait. Are you jealous?"
"...What?"
"Oh, don’t be. Jen told me to take care of you. You’ll be my number one. Even after I enter the academy."
"I will punch you right in the balls."
*************
(A/N: Liked it? Donate powerstones, leave a comment, and add it to your library:)