Jakon gawked at the bottom shelf, the one chiseled like the solid gray gears he used to love forging before his human side ended that part of his life forever. But now, no, he almost snarled more vicious than any raging beast elf.

Almost.

But silent rage was better sometimes.

Sometimes.

For the cracks and booms of the vines conquering the slopes of Dirlop Mountain … the dust clouding everything, even making his room a foggy gray … but it wasn’t enough to stop his dwarven vision.

From spotting the horror of his bottom shelf … all the books were shredded like cheap flimsy paper coleslaw.

Brown rotten coleslaw.

Even the leatherbacks on the shelves above it. None of them were in better shape. No matter the topic, minerals or histories or even bestiaries, they all were all sliced and diced, but nowhere as badly as the dime dreadful paperbacks.

Just bad enough to never be used again.

All those memories of late-night fun … destroyed. Forever.

His whole collection of books … gone. All because that snow vixen Frostine unleashed so many vicious orcs. Orcs with no respect for life or learning.

Jakon almost pounded some of the remaining wall. Almost. But Sky caught his fist. Eased his hand back to his side. Her strength, not bad, not bad at all. Had she been a dwarf woman, she could of trained for smithing herself.

“Jakon,” Sky said, and with a sympathetic smirk too, “Don’t forget you carded the vixen responsible. A snow vixen of high value … in m-many ways.”

Jakon gasped. “You’re right. I could summon her now and …”

“Can you compel her to answer?” Sky said, “Truthfully and honestly?”

“No …” Jakon said, “But I know someone who can. Someone who …”

This time, Jakon smirked as well. No need to be the one to punish Frostine. He was an amateur at that too. Let an experienced Interrogator do the deed.

“Let’s hurry,” he said, and hand-in-hand, he led the way into Dirlop Mountain—or was about it.

When Ivy dashed into his room.

Her strong orange and cream scent stunned him as much as her sudden appearance. Despite her being dripping wet she had that strong lovely smell. She even looked absolutely gorgeous in her cowled bra top and miniskirt … wait. A miniskirt?! Since when … she always had form-fitting slacks on before.

And her skin now was so clear and bright now, especially its orange tiger coloring, especially in the light that …

Ivy gasped. “Outside!”

Jakon turned and … a hollow blood red sun high in the sky?!

Even the rest of the sky was dark and red and threatening.

Sky gasped loud and clear.

“The Blood Sun Eclipse …” Sky said, “w-we don’t have much time left.”

Ivy hopped over. Sniffed Sky? A very loud and very long sniff. Her green eyes going so wide and shocked Jakon …

“Really?” Ivy said, and glared at Jakon?

Ivy puffed. “I heard elf girls are easy but that’s just ridiculous.”

That shocked Sky as much as it did Jakon.

“I …” Sky said, “Better enjoy love. When we can. Never know when we’ll die. Right, Jakon?”

“Yeah,” Jakon said, and gave Sky’s hand a comforting squeeze, “Ivy, that’s …”

“If you want some quick sex,” Ivy said, “I don’t like, mind, but don’t think I’ll give up on you so quickly.”

Sky giggled. “Ooo, a … threesome then?”

Then shocked Jakon and Ivy.

“Um … maybe?” Ivy said, and cocked her hips in that miniskirt that woh, did ivy have some niiiiice legs. Her form-fitting slacks really left more to the imagination than he realized.

Jakon managed to gulp. “Great. Love the miniskirt, but first let’s save Dirlop Mountain.”

That perked Ivy’s kitty ears high up and gave her a wicked smirk.

“Don’t think I’ll be as easy to conquer than that elf girl,” Ivy said.

“Conquer?” Jakon said, “We’re—“

“Not friends anymore,” Ivy said, and tapped … an iron collar around her neck. With amber gemstones that glowed and …

“A captive collar?” Jakon said, “No, I’ll go find a way to get it removed. You should be released and—”

“Your mom,” Ivy said, “collared me for my own safety. I’ll count as your loot girl, but don’t think you’ll get a lot of easy sex from me—not without some real you know.”

Ivy even purred so suggestively that … Sky giggled even more suggestively?

Sky squeezed Jakon’s waist. “I’ll help you too you know, he-he. I’ve always wanted the right kind of threesome so …”

Yet Ivy sighed. “Geez, we’re soooo supposed to be rivals yet … fine.”

Sky even hopped over to Ivy and gave her a friendly big hug? A hug ivy reluctantly returned.

“I’ve always w-wanted to a tigermite friend,” Sky said, “and lover.”

Ivy sighed. “Your drunk. Reeeeeally drunk.”

“Still?” Sky said, “I only drank—never mind. Maybe I am. Let’s have fun then! (While we can …)”

Jakon couldn’t help but chuckle at Ivy and Sky.

“Let’s first save Dirlop Mountain,” he said, “Then we can celebrate with all the fun the three of us can have.”