True wilds, p.1
True Wilds, page 1
True Wilds
Book Eight of
the Outsider series.
by
Aiden Phoenix
Copyright © 2023 Aiden Phoenix
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. Except for the purposes of making reviews or other cases permitted by copyright law.
ISBN: 9798865511465
Cover created by Aiden Phoenix.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, locations, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to any persons living or dead, locations, or events are coincidental and unintended by the author.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Welcome to Collisa!
Collisa is a new world brimming with opportunities for adventure and growth. It is also brimming with chances for romance and fun. This is the story of Dare and the life he builds for himself with the women he meets and falls in love with.
As you can guess, it is a harem tale, with all that includes. Be aware that it features varied and explicit erotic scenes between multiple partners. It is intended to be enjoyed by adults. All characters involved in adult scenes are over the age of 18.
The long awaited wedding between Dare and the women he loves takes place in True Wilds. Pictures of the brides can be found at the back of the book.
Prologue
Back and There Again
Dare skidded to a halt as he zoomed past Lily when she stopped abruptly on the rise overlooking Nirim Manor. He was moving at his long distance traveling pace of over 25 miles an hour, at least when Cheetah's Dash was up, so he had to backtrack a bit to rejoin her.
His preference would've been to keep right on going to reunite with their family, since he'd seen this view countless times before and they'd been away from home for over three weeks. Also he always chafed a bit if he had to stop when Cheetah's Dash was active, even though its cooldown was only 5 minutes.
But he could understand Lily's joy at the sight of Nirim Manor. Their home, which they may have purchased as a complete mansion but had since improved and grown to fit their family and provide the best possible life for them. Not to mention the Avenging Wolf village not far below them, and farther to the northeast Melarawn village and all the refugees they'd taken in from the trouble along the northern border.
His tenants.
It was a beautiful sight. Crops beginning to grow, animals out to pasture, buildings under construction. To the north of the Avenging Wolf village he saw evidence of a new manor being marked out and foundation work done.
Ireni must've gone ahead and begun construction on the future home of Dare's new adventuring companion, Horold. Which meant she'd gotten in touch with Horold's wives to make arrangements for leasing the land and beginning the work, recognizing the small family's eagerness to start their new life.
Or at least, small compared to Dare's own family. Which sometimes felt like it was growing by the day.
“Dare, look!” Lily said, eagerly pointing. “The Prancing Brony is all done except for the roof!”
So it was. The inn he'd been excited to construct a few hundred yards from the manor grounds, along the steadily widening road leading to the town of Terana, had been nothing but a foundation and a few posts when they'd left. But now the walls were up and the beams that would hold up the roof had been put in place.
Of course, “all done” was a bit generous, since the interior work would be just as much if not more labor than the construction itself. Still, he was happy to see the progress; his dream of evenings in the common room knocking back a mug with companions, while a bard played and people laughed and danced, was coming closer to fruition.
Also he was going to hire catgirls and other beastkin for the staff, since there were plenty seeking work in Melarawn village and it would be awesome. And he'd definitely have them wear cute maid uniforms because why not?
It was his inn, he could turn it into a catgirl/maid cafe/tavern if he wanted.
Although Dare was more interested in how the eastern wall of the manor had been torn down, with extensive enlargements under works to enclose a space that was further enclosed by wooden walls and covered by a tarp.
That would be the pool, hot tub, and bath house. Ireni must've brought Morwal in to do the digging, then work with Leilanna to create hardened clay to make the pools watertight. The project was doubtless still underway after only three weeks, but he was excited to see the progress.
He was going to need to give his bookish redheaded fiancee the biggest kiss when he saw her. Not to mention all the most outrageous pampering he could think of and hours of cuddling.
Speaking of his beloved, he spotted a stream of coppery hair whipping in the wind like a banner as she emerged from the tunnel leading into the manor yard; she always knew when he was coming home thanks to Sia, of course, and was usually the first to greet him.
Unfortunately, a lot of the time it was because there was some urgent matter. Which turned out to be the case here as well.
Although urgent in a pleasant way; following Ireni was a familiar elderly man with long snowy hair and beard.
Dare stiffened in surprise, then bowed politely. “Lord Hormot,” he said. “Good of you to travel all the way from Redoubt to visit Nirim Manor. To what do we owe this pleasure?”
The Level 56 Phasewarper grinned. “Not such a long travel. Fifteen minutes to craft a spell to take me here. I could even cast it to come right to your estate, since I'd been here before when it was owned by Baron Arral's adventuring companion.”
He waved vaguely. “As for the purpose of my visit, I was just checking in on Carilina. Her letters suggested she'd gained levels with remarkable swiftness while with you, and had been planning to undertake a raid dungeon at your side. I wanted to make sure everything had gone smoothly and she remained in good health.”
“She's doing very well, actually,” Dare said. “I hesitate to speak of her past troubles, but she seems to be recovering in spirit. I think, or at least hope, a fresh start here has been good for her.”
Hormot nodded sadly. “So do I. Although I know she pines for news of her children. I recently visited them to check on their health and welfare, and thought I'd deliver the good news about them in person.”
“I'm sure she'd be delighted to hear that.” Dare motioned southwards. “Unfortunately, she went south with me to deal with a mega spawn point near Lone Ox, in southern Kovana. It had actually spawned two full strength raid bosses and other similar strength monsters, although they didn't offer much for us besides loot since we far out-leveled them.”
“A pity, but I'm glad to hear you were willing to help the poor villagers there.” The earl nodded politely to Ireni. “Of course High Priestess Ireni has already informed me of the situation. If you could tell me where you think Carilina and the rest of your party is, we can go and fetch them.”
Dare blinked. “You'd do that?”
Hormot laughed. “It's no trouble at all, lad. It's what I've devoted my life to. And your lovely fiancee has told me you've had to postpone your wedding, and would need to delay it further to wait for the rest of your party to arrive so they can attend.”
Dare rubbed his chin. “Well, I'd guess they're probably a bit past Kov by this point. Can you go that far?”
The old man's eyes twinkled merrily. “Lad, I could travel across Shalin continent by this point. And have. A max level Phasewarper can go anywhere on Collisa, and even gets scrying at the higher levels to aid their explorations. But at my level I can at least travel across a continent, or skip over an ocean to another continent from the right locations.”
That was seriously badass. Dare wondered if he could convince Hormot to take him to the Lepid Flower Fields, or at least Marogia, the enlightened kingdom bordering it. He'd hoped for a chance to visit Enellia and see their child, and was eagerly anticipating her promised visit to Nirim Manor.
“I'll go as well,” Ireni said. “I settled all my affairs in Kov before finding you, of course, but if there's an opportunity to travel there quickly I'd like to take it.”
“By all means, High Priestess.” The old man briskly clapped his hands. “As for you and Miss Lily, lad, you can also accompany me to Kov. One of you can run north along the road and the other south, find your companions, and bring them so we can all return here.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” Dare said. “We're greatly in your debt.”
“Ah, yes, my portals generally fetch a high price,” Hormot said solemnly, eyes twinkling above his snowy beard. “Phasewarpers my level are rare, and are highly prized for both trade and military logistics.” He offered his hand. “But in this case I'd settle for an invitation to your wedding, Sir Darren.”
“You would have that in any case,” Dare said, shaking his hand warmly.
“Then let's be off!” The old man sat down on a patch of grass near the wall and began to cast, bushy brows furrowed in concentration.
Dare glanced longingly at the house. “I want to at least see my new son, while he's casting,” he murmured. “And say hi to everyone, after being gone so long.”
Lily nodded. “So do I.”
Ireni briskly shooed them towards the manor. “Go, then. According to Lord Hormot you have about 17 minutes, but I'd take no more than 15.”
He and his bunny girl fiancee took off for the house. “Let me know when it's been fifteen minutes,” she said as the burst through the door; his loved ones knew that his internal clock was close to perfect, even for things like waking up when he wanted when he made the effort.
To their delight they found the entire family waiting in the entry room for them, all except Trissela and Soli, which was a disappointment but not a surprise; newborn merfolk needed to stay underwater for the first few months while their lungs finished developing for air, and Trissela wouldn't want to leave her son if she could avoid it.
Which left Zuri and their daughter Gelaa, Pella and their twins Nic and Rellia, Leilanna, Se'weir and their daughter Es'wesa, his daughter Melinia, and Marigold.
After three weeks all the babies were noticeably bigger. Gelaa had more of her teeth and smiled big enough for him to see them all at the sight of him and Lily, the twins' fluffy little tails could wag and did so furiously, Melinia giggled adorably with delight at all the excitement, and Es'wesa's brown hair had grown long enough to be a soft fuzz, and her big yellow eyes followed him as he held her.
Dare hastily kissed all the women in his harem and held them briefly, held his babies for longer and made a fuss over how they'd grown while he was gone, and promised he'd be back soon to spend more time with everyone.
Then, leaving Lily to continue her reunion with the others, he rushed down the hall to Trissela's room and quietly opened the door.
The mermaid's pool was over 20 feet deep, which had been quite the effort of engineering to get made in the corner of the manor house. But she was more comfortable at that depth, and more importantly it was the best depth for Soli.
Looking into those depths he could see Trissela lounging in the netting she used for a bed, cradling a tiny figure in her arms. She looked like a dream with her seafoam green hair drifting around her face, pale and beautiful with a long, elegant dark blue tail.
She looked up at the surface and saw him through the water, and her face lit up with joy. With a flick of her tail she shot up towards him, still cradling the baby, although she slowed so only her face broke the surface.
“Dare!” she said eagerly. “You're finally back!”
Dare felt a moment of regret as he checked his internal clock. He had just over six minutes left to be with his newest consort and newborn son. “For a few minutes only, then I need to be gone for a bit longer and I'll hopefully be back by tonight.”
“In that case there's no time to waste.” His gorgeous mermaid consort held up their son, although she kept him beneath the surface. “Get in, you can hold him underwater.”
Dare had never seen a mermaid baby, and marveled at Soli's small round face, chubby body, and adorable little tail. His son had a fuzz of dark blue hair, big dark blue eyes, and a tail such a deep midnight blue it was almost black.
“He's beautiful,” he murmured in awe. That was no surprise considering the boy's mother, and Dare instantly loved him with all his heart.
He quickly stripped down to his undershorts and climbed into the water, Trissela pressing close as he gently cradled his son in his arms. The baby's skin was smooth and slightly clammy, which he'd been told was normal; adapted to living underwater, it got softer with age. The little tail was even smoother, the tiny scales shimmering slightly in the light.
Dare ducked his face under the water. “Hello, Soli,” he said, bubbles forming around his mouth. “I'm your daddy. It's so wonderful to finally meet you.”
He knew mermaids had a special way of communicating underwater, a language with sounds that traveled farther through the water. Although raised in captivity his consort had never learned more than a few phrases from her mother, and lamented that she wouldn't be able to pass that knowledge on to her son.
Hopefully they could find mermaids to teach both of them sometime in the future.
The newborn baby didn't respond to his words, no surprise. But he lay peaceful in Dare's arms, contented and cuddly, and Dare treasured the chance to finally hold him.
Three minutes. And he still needed to dress and get back to the garden and hopefully say a few words to Eloise.
He reluctantly hugged Trissela closer, kissing her softly. “I have to go now, but I'll come straight here when I get back and spend more time with you and the baby.”
“All right, my love. I'll see you soon.” She held him tight for a moment longer, then pressed her mouth to his a final time before reluctantly letting go. Cradling Soli in her arms, she twisted gracefully in the water and flicked her tail again, gliding back down to her bed to recline with the baby.
Dare's heart felt heavy as he hastily dried off with a towel from the shelf by the door, then dressed as quickly as possible. He wished he could stay.
Rushing back through the house, he collected Lily, gave his loved ones a few final parting words and some hasty hugs and kisses, and they ran back out to the garden.
Hormot was still casting his portal spell near the gate, with a bit more than a minute left, so Dare veered over to the garden and paused to kneel beside Eloise.
Her thick green shoot was pushing up to the sky, visibly taller now and with more leaves. Objectively the growing plant girl looked like a giant tulip stalk, but in his unbiased opinion his daughter was the most beautiful plant he'd ever seen. He was sure her flower would be enchanting.
He couldn't wait for it to grow and open in a few years so he could meet her, and she could finally talk to him.
“Look at you grow, baby girl,” he murmured, gently brushing her leaves. “Daddy can only stay for a few seconds, but I'll be back soon. I'll spend more time with you and we can have a proper conversation.” He smiled fondly. “I got to spend some time with your mother on the way north from Portsmouth village, and let her know you're healthy and growing big and strong. She's doing well too, and wanted me to let you know she loves you with all her heart. And so do I.”
Lily knelt to also murmur a few words to the little floran, then it was time to go. Dare reluctantly stood, taking his fiancee's hand, and they rushed to where the Phasewarper had the portal nearly completed near the manor's front gate.
Dare stared in fascination at the swirling sphere of mana, slowly setting into a smooth edge as the portal became stable. His cover story was that he'd come to Haraldar by a portal accident from Elysin continent on the other side of the world, but apparently portal failures were all but unheard of.
He hoped that was the case.
Johar had joined the earl and Ireni there, leading a saddled horse for the pregnant redhead. The saddlebags bulged with whatever was inside them, and jingled with the telltale clink of coins as the mare stamped her hoof.
Dare didn't ask; his beloved fiancee knew what she was doing when it came to finances, and she'd tell him if he needed to know.
Ireni turned at his and Lily's approach, and he swept her into his arms, as always marveling at her delicate beauty. She was about two and a half months away from giving birth to their son, who they'd decided to name Corian, and her little body was so adorably round with the baby he just wanted to hold her for the next few months.
Her eyes softened as she melted into his embrace. “I missed you,” she murmured. “The others at least got to see you for a night after the raid, but for me it's been over a month.”
“I missed you too,” he said, stroking her silky auburn hair. “But thanks to your foresight in checking for news about Lone Ox, we were able to protect my sons and Lily's family.”
Lily nodded, hugging the petite Priestess with him. “I don't know what we'd do without you, Ireni.”
Hormot cleared his throat apologetically, interrupting the moment. “The portal will collapse in a minute.”
The hug broke up and Dare led the way through the portal. He was wary as he went, ready to unlimber his bow in case of an unexpected threat.
