Chapter 33

"We can finally relax now that he's gone." Ferran sighed, leaning back in the bath a few feet from Wolfe. "Thank you for getting rid of him."

"I wish it had happened sooner, but don't you think he left too easily?" Wolfe asked. "This is Kael, after all. An annoying gnat that keeps sticking to us."

"At least he's helped... but I think you're right. Since when does he give up like that? He likes to tease us too much."

"I have a bad feeling about this."

"Wolfe!" a faint voice called out.

"Did you hear that?" Wolfe's ear twitched. "I think I heard Rika..."

"I didn't hear anything. Hold on." Ferran closed his eyes, his whole body glowing green."

"Help!" Rika screamed.

Ferran's eyes snapped open. "O-oh, no! Rika's in trouble!"

Before Ferran said anymore, Wolfe ran out of the men's bath toward the women's bath. "Rika!" Wolfe yelled as he burst through the door, nearly knocking it off its hinges as he wondered why there weren't any guards. He spotted Kael in front of Rika and charged at him.

"Wolfe?" He heard me. Rika spotted him right away and went bright red. Oh my gosh, he's got no clothes on! She covered her eyes with her hand and tried to sink deeper into the water. Really wish this was a bubble bath or something...

"Oh, Wolfey dear, you've decided to join us on this side? Oof!" Kael got tackled into the water.

"Ah!" Rika yelped as the boys splashed in the water, fighting with each other. How do we fix this? Wolfe might kill him in here. Would be easy enough to drown him. I can't let that happen, but I also called out to Wolfe for help... and he somehow heard me.

The door to the bath opened again, and Ferran came in with a towel on, and a stack of towels in his hands. "Enough!" Ferran yelled, a wave of magical energy flowing out from him, knocking over both Kael and Wolfe.

Geez. Rika winced from it.

Ferran held up the towels, and they glowed as they floated over to each of them. "Can't we be civilized?"

"Oh, right." Wolfe took the towel. "Sorry about that." Wolfe put it on as he turned away from Rika, red up to his ears.

"Do I have to?" Kael complained. "I'm fine like this, and I don't care who sees me."

"Put it on, or I'll force you to," Wolfe growled.

"Oh? Is that so? I'd like to see you try." Kael smirked.

"Wolfe, help Rika. I'll deal with him," Ferran said, and the towel for Kael flew at his head, knocking him back into the water.

"Rika?" Wolfe stayed with his back to her and stepped closer. "Are you covered?"

"Yes." Rika had wrapped the towel around herself as soon as it got to her.

"Good," he sighed and turned to her, his face still red. "I'm..." He cleared his throat. "Sorry about... the exhibitionist display." His eyes locked with hers, and he looked away, to Kael splashing in the water as he fought with the towel, still controlled by Ferran.

"Um... I was surprised, but I know it's because I yelled for help. Thank you for running to my aid." Paying no mind to yourself, obviously.

"I'm glad you called for me."

The blue rose above his head glowed.

Click. A screen popped up. 'Wolfe's Route Unlocked.'

Wait, what? Rika's heart skipped a beat. Is this because he was the one I thought of to save me?

Wolfe knelt down in the water in front of her. "Did he do anything to you..." Wolfe trailed off as he noticed a mark on her neck that looked like a black rose.

"What? What is it?" Her hand flew to the spot on her neck. "He got too close and bit me or something. Does it look that bad? I know it hurt... Why is it warm?"

Wolfe grumbled under his breath, cursing Kael, and shook his head. "Because he didn't just bite you, he marked you."

"Excuse me? What do you mean?" Marked me? Is he a werewolf or something?

"It's a magical branding that basically claims you as his."

"W-what?" Rika froze, eyes wide as she forgot to breathe. What does that even mean? Claimed me? How?

"It's something magicians are able to do, and it's illegal to do without your consent." Wolfe's jaw tightened. "It's basically a way to... connect more deeply with your partner, and typically done between people who are to be married."

"Excuse me?" Her jaw dropped. "He did what to me?" She stood abruptly, her clenched fists shaking at her sides. "That's it! I've had enough. I'm going to kill him!" Gritting her teeth, Rika started towards Kael, who finally had the towel around his waist.

"Sorry about this." Wolfe wrapped his bulky arms around her from behind and lifted her into the air.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Rika was about to kick her feet when she remembered she only had a towel on. Even if I attacked him, I don't think I could get out of his grasp... not that I'd want to hurt him, anyway.

"Trust me when I say I want to kill him myself, but I can't let you do that."

"But he marked me!" How could he do this?! What does it mean 'connect more deeply'?

"What?" Ferran's eyes widened.

"I know." Wolfe stepped out of the water with her.

"At least let me slap him! He deserves worse than that, but—"

"I don't think you're in the condition to hold back after a slap." Wolfe couldn't help but smile as he dragged her away into the changing room. "Excuse me," he called out to Ingrid, waiting in there. "Can you help her out?"

"Hmph." Rika frowned, wiggling in his arms.

"We have a pest in the women's baths. You might want to put a guard in that hallway of yours between the baths."

"Oh, I see. We've never had that issue before... I'll take good care of her." Ingrid took Rika's hand, and Wolfe released her.

"Thank you." Wolfe bowed to her and headed back in to deal with Kael.

"I'm sorry about that. We didn't know we had to keep an eye on them, since you were all in the same group." Ingrid bowed to Rika. "We should've been more careful with the saint..." Her eyes landed on the mark. "You already have a chosen one since coming here?"

If I had to choose someone right now, it'd probably be Dryden. Rika covered the mark. "Not exactly."

"Oh, I see."

"Any way to cover this up with makeup?"

Ingrid shook her head. "If someone marked you without consent, they must be a strong mage, and makeup will vanish before long, even if we cover it."

"Great... just great." Her shoulders slouched. I'm stuck with it. Wait, a powerful mage? Maybe Ferran can help me.

A screen appeared. 'Kael's Route Forced Unlocked.'

"Ah, I feel refreshed!" Kael said as he put his clothes back on. "Nothing like a dip with the bunny to reinvigorate me."

"How dare you?!" Wolfe growled as he entered the men's changing room.

"Oh, scary." Kael chuckled as he held one hand to his cheek.

"Wolfe, clothes," Ferran warned him.

"Tch. Fine, but do you mind tying him up while I'm busy?"

"Do you have ropes in here or something? Always carry them with you? A bit kinky for someone like you, don't you think?" Kael laughed until magic wrapped around him, and he couldn't move. "Oh, shoot."

Fully clothed, Wolfe approached him again. "You've crossed a line, Kael. She's the saint, and you can't force a mark on her like that."

"I have to ask, is that really what's bothering you? Or is it because to mark someone, they have to at least have some romantic feelings toward you?" Kael's smile widened.

"You're unfit to be her partner, and she's made it clear she doesn't want your advances."

"You're just jealous I did it first." He snickered. "You have to act fast if you want to make deep ties with someone like her. I'm glad I got to her first. I was worried that Dryden fellow already had, since they're super close, but if it worked... I guess it's me."

"You vile little puke." Wolfe lifted him up by his collar and slammed him into the wall behind him. "If I had ended you like I wanted to—"

"You would've perished in the fight against the wolf demon, Wolfey dear."

"Tch." Wolfe rubbed his temples, stepping back. "We can't let you get away with this."

"It's funny how you lot always seem to think you have a choice."