As night fell, Kanae returned to Zayn's manor on his edirashem to maintain the ruse. He wasn't there when she got back. The bedchamber was quiet, and there were few servants or guards to be seen about the place. Before coming back, however, she had tried to search for Edina, Renya, and Kris. But Vanuis was much too foreign a place for her to even know where to begin looking. At the very least, there wasn't any other commotion in the city that would be expected of two necromancers fighting. Either they successfully and quietly stole the Necronomicon from Riben Crow, or chickened out. Hopefully, it was the latter.

Kanae pranced around the room, eagerly expecting Zayn to return so they could have sex all night again. She threw open the armoire and rummaged through his collection of clothes for someone her size. Lingerie, nightgown, a casual dress… or an erotic dancer's garb that she had often seen Saviran dancers perform in. This was a lot more bawdy though.

The revealing blue dress contained many little bells that rattles when shaken. Its long, see-through skirt flared out the back and connected to golden wrist cuffs. All that covered her chest were small discs to place over her nipples with tassels on them. Too bad she couldn't put them on because of the Piercings of Impurity being in the way. Topless should be fine. In fact, that might excite Zayn even more.

A click from the door made Kanae spin around. She watched with anticipation as the knob twisted. The door swung open, and her pussy dried up faster than a drop of water landing on Savir's desert sands.

Riben Crow entered the room with the living grimoire, Necronomicon, floating in behind him.

"What are you doing coming into Zayn's room? If you don't leave, I'll tell on you!" Kanae shouted.

"Drop the act. Zayn may have too thick of a skull to realize, but I know who you really are, Queen Kanae Toyomi of the Commonwealth of Sin. Call off your goons. I don't appreciate being followed all day, or I'll oust who you really are to your husband-to-be," Riben threatened, quietly shutting the door behind him.

"I guess someone was bound to recognize me… If I could, I would. Edina's her own person, and she wants the Necronomicon. There's nothing I can do to change her mind about that. How about this? What can we do to make you give up the living grimoire?" She shifted to an attempt at bargaining since Riben seemed reasonable.

The necromancer shook his hooded head. "Not happening. I need Necronomicon to—" He hesitated to say, but ultimately decided to come out with it in a somber tone. "To resurrect my family."

"Y-You can do that with Necronomicon?!"

"Yes." He nodded, and then added grimly, "for a price."

"A few souls in exchange for many," Necronomicon chimed in, booming like church bells.

The answer turned the blood in Kanae's veins cold. The living grimoire's voice wasn't menacing, but simply haunting for the very fact that it spoke without malice. Simply, as a matter of fact, that this was just how things were meant to be. Unnegotiable, as if his word was a law of nature.

The dreaded book of the dead continued, "No need to mince words, Riben. You of all people should know when war is coming. For Savir, it is inevitable. Bones and corpses shall pile as high as the desert dunes. There shall be oases of blood. Swarms of carrions shall blot out the blistering sun."

"Uh. Oooookay. You can stop talking now. I'd rather hear from Riben instead," Kanae said.

"I spent my entire fortune looking for a way to revive my wife and son, and that led me to Necronomicon," Riben explained. "He wants souls on the scale of a full-blown war in return. It just so happens that the three Sultans are on the brink of civil war. Zayn paid me a great deal of money to fight on the side of Avanesse. The fat man wants to take all the credit in front of Sultan Cerberus, and he can have it. I just want my family back."

"What makes you so sure Necronomicon can even bring your family back? Have you seen it happen?"

He frowned. "I don't need proof. I just don't have anything left to lose or live for. So, you see now. I won't give up the living grimoire to your necromancer. We're talking now because your companions had the audacity to follow me to my family's crypt in Vanuis, by the way. I just wanted to mourn in peace. Call off your dogs, or we won't have such a cordial conversation next time."

Riben didn't even wait to hear Kanae's response. He and Necronomicon left before she had a chance to say anything. However, she did feel a presence behind her. As soon as Riben's footsteps faded into the bowels of the manor, Kanae walked up to the balcony and folded her arms.

"Did you guys hear that? Leave the grieving man alone," Kanae said.

"Geh. You knew we were here?" Edina flapped her wings, rising up to level with the balcony.

Below, undead warriors had stacked themselves on each other's shoulders to form an unsteady tower of bones. Kris and Renya sat precariously on the last skeleton, both of whom were a gentle breeze away from toppling over.

"Why did I agree to this again? I want down already!" Renya cried.

"Hey, being crowned a Necromancer seems so convenient! If I ever want to reach a high place, I could just climb them like a ladder," Kris said, sounding like she was having more fun than the other.

Kanae helped them up onto the balcony. It didn't look like Zayn was coming back soon anyway. Renya collapsed onto all fours when she touched a solid surface. She refused to be anywhere near the balcony and couldn't stand for a good ten minutes.

"You expect me to give up the Necronomicon just because this dude lost his family? Come on. There's no way the book of the dead brings anyone back to life. The only thing he's getting back is two walking corpses," Edina groaned.

"It's what Riben wants to believe. Praijya and Nasiri are coming to Vanuis for another round, and Jhene is up to something at the Duststorm Tabernacle. We can't afford to deal with a third problem," Kanae reasoned.

"Don't you have a wedding soon? When is that? Because I can sure as three hells go for champagne after all this sweating and headache." Renya threw herself into bed and sighed.

"Kanae, sweetie! I'm home!" Zayn hollered from downstairs.

Everyone jumped. Kanae shooed them towards the balcony as Zayn's footfalls climbed upstairs. Renya pushed against her as they neared the ledge.

"No, no, no, no!" Renya screwed her eyes shut and recoiled from the balcony.

Edina and Kris jumped off first. A crew of undead caught them at the bottom, but Renya was being difficult. Kanae charmed the dark elf to leap off just as Zayn entered the bedchamber.

"Was someone just here?" Zayn asked on the way in.

"I-I think it was just a screeching ronoa that passed by!" Kanae lied, then raced up to embrace him. "More importantly… I want to do it with you today, daddy~"

"Ah!" He kneeled down and cupped her face. "You're so irresistible, and you even dressed up for me! Unfortunately, Saviran tradition dictates that we cannot kiss or lay with each other until after our wedding. We needn't wait long though. It is set for tomorrow. My forewagon conductor will bring you your wedding dress. She will escort you to our venue in a small chapel inside the cathedral of three. We will be having a private ceremony. Afterwards, we can return here and consummate all week!"

"Hehe… I can't wait!" She panted heavily.

Zayn urged Kanae to rest in his bedroom for the rest of the night. He had to take care of the final preparations for tomorrow. She went to bed edging herself, fingering her pussy and pinching her nipples, nearing orgasm but never achieving it all in anticipation of tomorrow. Just one more today before getting fucked like a sex doll.

Eventually, the constant denial of climax took its toll on Kanae. She fell asleep huffing the bedsheets and pillow for the scent of her soon-to-be husband.

In the morning, Kanae awoke to knocking and the bed soaked from her juices. She tossed the sheets off and trotted over to answer the door. The harpy woman, Forewagon Conductor Miras, lowered her gaze and gasped.

"Wait. Aren't you… No, I must be imagining things. My lady, I have for you your wedding gown. It is of traditional Saviran make, given an Avanessi touch. I will escort you to Edirashok Zayn when you are ready." Miras furrowed her brows, offered a deferential bow, and exited the room.

Kanae held the beautiful red and black gown up to her body. It had a large sun embroidered over the chest in a mosaic aesthetic. The headscarf and veil stretched down to her waist. Nail-sized crystals all over the dress glittered whenever sunlight hit them. She rather liked how showy it was. This must have cost a fortune though. A small matter for someone like Zayn.

Eager to get married for the real fun that lay ahead, Kanae hurried downstairs to join Miras and four other conductors of the edirashem's large wagons. They were all dressed in fine tunics suited for the occasion. Some of them cooed at how cute she looked and lavished compliments.

Miras opened an umbrella to shield Kanae from the sun. They began to make their way down to a carriage waiting below when one of the conductors paused at the ramp.

"Anyone else see that? What kind of cloud blocks out the sun like that?" The beastman stared off into the distance, where a growing shadowy mass had hid the sun behind it.

Kanae didn't need to squint to recognize what that was— the Harpy King's talons and his cronies. They were here! They came sooner than she expected. She dropped Human Form and took flight, much to the wagon conductors' surprise. There was no time to explain to them. Even if Zayn were to find out about her, it wouldn't matter now.

Standing at the edge of the rearwagon, Riley watched the mass of harpies approaching while her guild armed themselves and got into position. Many of them had taken from their own cargo, equipping enchanted weapons, trinkets, and armor. Petyr, Edina, Renya, and Kris rushed over after having seen what was coming.

"That's a whole lot of carnivorous harpies…" Edina shuddered.

"Where's Claudia and Alicia?" Petyr asked.

"At the cathedral of the Many. I put them there in case Jhene and the Duststorm Tabernacle act up. Kris, you should make a run for the city. This isn't going to be pretty," Kanae warned the explorer.

"N-No, I can't run. I have to stay here and help! You're my ticket to getting those stone keys, remember?" Kris clutched a small butter knife as her only weapon.

"Kanae! You should take cover while you still can. We'll ambush them when they check the goods!" Riley shouted from the upper floor.

They split up into two groups. Kanae and Petyr inside one warehouse. Edina, Renya, and Kris in another. Consortium guild members put their backs to the doors to hide them. Soon, hundreds of beating wings descended upon the edirashem, but not close enough to land. Many stayed in the air.

"Guildmaster of the Dryoak Consortium?" Praijya's cautious voice was clear as day.

"Riley, at your service. You lot are with the Harpy King? What took you all so long?" Riley asked.

"You're late. We hit the edirashem, and neither you nor the cargo were on it!" she growled.

"Now, now. They're here now. We can assume the shipment is, too?" Nasiri questioned next.

Their discussion fell to a hush. Kanae couldn't make out what they were saying anymore. She was beginning to get nervous. Up until this moment, she didn't seriously consider Riley would stab them in the back. But now that they were here, the possibility was palpable.

"We can trust Riley… right?" Kanae asked.

"I don't know anymore," Petyr said the one thing neither of them wanted to hear.

"Well, how about you two inspect the cargo before we complete this transaction?" Riley suggested as she and two other footfalls drew closer.

Kanae and Petyr exchanged nods. Riley was leading them closer. Good. The two readied themselves to attack when a small linen pouch rolled into the warehouse, and the door slammed shut. The bag began to burn. Choking fumes quickly filled the large room. Their eyes stung, and their lungs tightened.

It was a trap all along. Petyr's surprised demeanor turned sullen at what this had meant. Her shoulders slackened. Her grip on the warhammer loosened.

"You're giving up?!" Kanae put a hand over her own mouth.

"This is my final straw. I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt… I thought we could make amends… She's my best friend. We were each other's pillars of support. If Riley wants me dead, the least I can do to make up for what my family did is grant her that," Petyr murmured.

"And what about Vesh and the others? You have people that care about you waiting back home. Don't live for Riley. Live for them! Live for being a knight of Amethyst Hall!" she exclaimed.

Petyr glanced up at Kanae full of mixed emotion. She didn't even think the high elf had it in her to look at a succubus any other way than revulsion. Petyr picked up her warhammer and smashed a hole through the wall. Both of them raced out, gasping for fresh air.

"Tsk. You should have just shut your eyes and said 'good night'. Now we have to do it the hard way." Riley sneered.

"I'm not going to apologize anymore, Riley. I have cute incubus boys waiting for me back home, and I intend to go back to them. You're still my friend. So, I won't kill you. I'll still beat you within an inch of your life!" Petyr threatened and infused her warhammer with Smite.

"Consortium!" she boomed and fired a burning bolt into the sky from her hand crossbow.

All over the warehouse, the guild turned their weapons on Kanae and Petyr. Over a hundred harpies, Praijya, a grinning Nasiri, and even the reluctant Theena drew on them.

"Praijya! I'm going to fuck you stupid, and that's a promise!" Kanae licked her lips.

"Let's see you try." Praijya scoffed.

The second warhouse exploded. Edina's undead dragon burst from within, and Legion of the Dead poured onto the rearwagon. They briefly overwhelmed the consortium, but their magical equipment put them on par with the undead hordes. A massive battle broke out across the wagon.

"Stick to the plan! Focus on the cargo!" Praijya launched into the sky and whistled sharply.

The harpy strike force split up into multiple groups. They attacked the walkways and chains which connected the rearwagon to smaller carriages. Praijya led her group past Kanae and Petyr, where they fired explosive spells that separated the major wagons.

"What the…?!" Kanae gasped, nearly losing footing as the wagon lurched backwards.

"Get the beasts harnessed as soon as possible! We're taking the entire wagon and the dark elf named Renya! Leave Kanae and Petyr to me," Nasiri yelled and took up an open-palm battle stance.