Chapter 217 Godly Tease

"Galio! You are home!" Eliza exclaimed as I landed in the backyard, where the girls were all still doing yard work. The moment the other girls saw me, they all rushed around me.

Mishal seemed to be unsure of all the women at first, but I warped an arm around her to pull her closer to me. After hearing her story, I would be keeping Mishal close and safe for a while. I didn't think that Kira would do anything, but it would be stupid for me just to completely discount the women.

I looked around, but there was one face that was missing.

"Eliza, did Sakura not show up today? One of the Easterners?" I asked as the girls pulled back, and Eliza rolled her eyes, pointing to a pair of feet sticking out from behind a bush.

"The lazy bum is asleep again. If it wasn't for us, she would never get anything done," Eliza huffed, and I chuckled as Sakura popped up from behind the bush.

"Hey! I heard that. I was just resting my eyes for a bit," Sakura said indignantly before spotting Mishal next to me. "How come Mishal is still with you?"

"She ran into some trouble, and I offered to help her out," I explained, and Sakura's eyes widened.

"What kind of trouble?" she asked as the other girls started asking questions too. Mishal looked at me in uncertainty before taking a deep breath.

"I was born in the Temple like now, but Kira has been using me," Mishal began hesitantly before pausing to take another breath and continue. "I met Kira a few months after being born and becoming an Acolyte, and we quickly became involved in a sexual relationship that lasted for years."

Mishal paused again as the girls all gasped in shock before continuing on. "When I went back, Kira tried to force me to stay true colors started showing, and she became more demanding, wanting things from me that I wasn't comfortable with." By this time, Mishal was trembling slightly, but she took another deep breath before continuing on bravely.

The girls were all silent now as they listened intently to Mishal's story. "When I tried to break it off with her, she threatened to have me killed or worse if I didn't comply," Mishal said bitterly before turning to look at me with gratitude. "Galio saved me today when he rescued me from the Temple."

There was silence for a moment as the girls all processed what Mishal had said before they started bombarding her with questions. Sakura was the first to speak up as she came over and hugged Mishal tightly.

"I am so sorry that happened to you, Mishal. If there is anything I can do to help you, please let me know," Sakura said earnestly, and Mishal nodded before hugging her back just as tightly.

"Thank you, Sakura," Mishal said softly before the other girls came over to hug her, too, and offered their support. Even Eliza came over and patted her on the shoulder awkwardly before going back to work.

After a few minutes, the girls all went back to work except for Sakura, who stayed with us as we walked into the house. We explained everything that had happened today to Tallia, who was horrified by Kira's actions but not surprised in the least bit. She promised that she would look into it more when she got back and also offered to have someone watch over Mishal while she stayed here with us until things calmed down at the Temple or whatever else Tallia decided.

"So? What was the thing that you got called out for?" I asked Tallia when we were alone for a moment, and Tallia rolled her eyes at me.

"I was called out because there is someone who wants to meet with you."

"Who is it?" I asked, and Tallia shook her head.

"They can wait, and I told them as much. You already have too many things going on with the barrier, the Riftwalker, and now worrying about Mishal. I still can't believe that something like that was going on under my nose. I am surprised that you didn't do something rash," Tallia said as she came over to place her hands on my chest and lean her head on me.

I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on top of her head as we just stood there in silence for a moment. "I thought that this would be best. I am not deaf, you know? I didn't make any more trouble; hell, I think I put some smiles on people's faces," I chuckled and then sighed. "There are more women there."

,m "What?" Tallia asked as she pulled back to look at me with a confused expression. I shook my head and explained what happened when we were in the Temple today. "That is... not good."

"Yeah, no kidding," I muttered as I ran a hand through my hair before sighing again. "I don't know if it's just Kira or if there are others, but Mishal is going to stay here for now until things settle down. Hopefully, it won't be too long."

"I am sure that it won't be. I will have someone look into Kira and the others to see if there is anything we can do," Tallia said resolutely before kissing me on the cheek. "Why don't you go take a bath? You smell like sweat and sex."

"Oh yeah?" I asked as I pulled her closer to me, and she giggled as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Yeah, you definitely need a bath," she purred before kissing me on the lips, and I forgot all about taking a bath as I deepened the kiss, but Tallia pushed off me.

"Don't get yourself worked up. This is not the time when you have a certain sleeping woman that you have to take care of. I don't know what you have planned for tomorrow's fight, but having the Lich Queen on our side might be beneficial. I will talk to you in the morning; sleep well, Galio," Tallia said as she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with a hard-on.