They made camp for the night as the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in deep reds and oranges.
There was a creek that fed a small pond not far from the tree line. Beyond the trees lay the desert, vast and foreboding.
Raymond roasted meat over the fire while the girls went off to bathe and stock up on water.
Samantha sat next to Raymond, crushing herbs to craft healing and mana potions. While she worked her mind drifted to a question that had been burning in her mind.
"Ray?" she began slowly, keeping her voice low. "What are you doing with all of these women?"
Ray looked at her from the corner of his eye. He had actually been anticipating, and dreading this conversation for a while. Even so, he was still unsure how to answer.
"What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.
Samantha sighed, she felt stupid for feeling the way she did. Having to say things out loud made her feel worse.
"I thought we had something special, you and I. But then, you leave and come back with two more women, who obviously adore you."
"I see the way they look at me when I interact with you." She continued. "I see the way they look at you when they think no one is looking."
"I am not well versed in love, but I know the heart of a woman. I can tell they want you for themselves. I can tell they've had you and want more. It's the same way I feel."
"You called them 'companions', but they are more than that, aren't they?"
Ray just nodded. "Yes, they are."
"So, where does that leave me? Where does that leave us?"
"The same place we've always been."
"And where is that?"
"Sammie, yours was the first face I saw when I came to this world. Hell, you brought me here. You will always have a special place in my heart."
"Nikki and Alecia are special to me too," Ray continued, "in different ways, in their own ways. I would love it if we all could get along together."
"Do you love them?"
"Honestly? It's hard to say how I truly feel. I do care about them deeply. I'll do anything to keep them safe and happy."
"Do you Love me?"
"I feel the same way for you that I do about them, except you have always been number one in my heart."
"You're not just saying that?"
Ray shook his head. "I would never."
Sammie lifted her head. "Are you two ok with that?"
Raymond looked at her confused then turned his head where she was looking.
Alecia and Nikki were standing there holding armfuls of water canteens, biting their lips, tears running down their faces.
Raymond smirked. "How long have you two been standing there?"
Alecia sniffed. "Long enough to get the answer to a question I have been too afraid to ask."
Nikki smiled and nodded. "Long enough to know my place. And to answer your question, Sister, I couldn't be happier."
Alecia shook her head. "She's right, I wanted you all to myself. But, hearing your heart on the matter, I can't help but be happy. Knowing you care about me, and I'm not just some side-piece, I'm happy."
"What she said." Nikki smiled, tearing up again.
Samantha smiled at the two girls. She turned to Ray and her face grew stern.
"Ok. I accept that I'll have to share you with these two, but just these two. This is where I draw the line. No more. If you start trying to add more random bitches to our 'family', then I'm gone. Understand?"
Ray glanced at the other two girls, who grunted and nodded sharply. He couldn't help but smile.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
All three girls smiled wide then descended on him, hugging him tight and planting kisses all over his face.
Una watched from a distance, hidden in the shadows. She had seen everything and it brought tears to her eyes.
She had known this kind of warmth, this kind of love. She had her brothers, but they were hard men. She never knew her parents, and she had never been with a man.
Now even her brothers were gone. She was alone, and the cherry on top was she was traveling with the people who had taken them from her.
Una sat on the ground hugging her knees, tears rolling down her face. Depression washed over her like a tidal wave.
What would happen when she was no longer useful to these people?
Why had no one ever loved her like they loved each other?
Would they care if she died?
Would they look for her if she disappeared?
Would she be better off if she had let the Necro-king take her?
Was life alone any better than the dungeon, or death?
She watched as Raymond left the giggling group of girls and started walking toward the pond.
She rose and followed him.
She kept to the bushes and the shadows as she trailed him to the pond.
She watched in silence as he stripped naked and walked into the water.
His wet skin glistened like a gem in the moonlight, stirring feelings she had never felt in her body.
Part of her wanted to kill him for what he and his group had done to her brothers.
Part of her wanted to go to him, give herself to him, maybe feel a shred of the love he gave to the others.
She knew she could do neither. Neither would end the way she wanted, not that she really knew what she wanted.
So she watched.
He was a beautiful man, big and strong as a Tauren. Fierce as a Gryphon. Wise and powerful as a Dragon. Damn near perfect.
She felt a warmth between her legs. She reached down to touch herself, biting her lips hard to suppress a moan.
Una rubbed her moist folds while she watched this man she could not touch. Tears rolled down her face as she slipped her fingers inside.
It wasn't long before she brought herself to a silently sobbing climax, kneeling in the darkness.