Mantle of the Gods [LitRPG / Slow Burn / FTB Harem]

The three of us were a lot more somber when we walked out of the room.

Trent had people he wanted to call, so we left him to that. Ren and Aelin were waiting outside across the hall. The two women had a bag of sandwiches they'd brought from the kitchen.

"I thought you might want to go right back to your room." Ren held out the bag she was holding. "You've had a long few days."

Aelin offered Justia a wrapped sandwich. "What was that about?"

The green Healer glanced over at Ren, then looked at me.

"It's okay." The black woman pulled at the collar of her shirt. "Mister Vowler gave me the seal this afternoon." Ren nodded at the other woman. "Aelin and Shelly got theirs too."

Aelin blushed, then pulled back her ponytail to show us the mark on the back of her neck. She turned back around. "You dad said it wouldn't be as effective there, but that it was better than the hand."

It hadn't even crossed my mind that Aelin hadn't been sealed. I mean, she had taken part in the initial contract back when we first started. As soon as she figured out about everything, it just kind of slipped my mind.

"Where are the others?" Ether took the sandwich I offered her and began undoing the wrapping.

"Jenne is fixing Oz up for tomorrow. Fray went with them. Astrid went to her room, and Shelly went with Kara and her mom." Ren looked at me. "I want to go tomorrow."

That was almost more words than I'd ever heard Ren say. Usually, she was Oz's shadow and just did whatever Oz was doing. Occasionally, she'd tease me in public, and she'd spent the night in my room a few times, but again, that was always with Oz.

"Why?" I started walking towards the elevator. "Is it because Oz is going?"

"No." The blonde answered too quickly.

"Really?"

Ren looked down at her feet. "Yes." She looked back up before I could speak. "But that's not the only reason! I saw the bandage in your room. You got hurt, and no one was there to heal you! If I had been there, then maybe you wouldn't have gotten cut at all, and if you still did, then I could have been there to heal you!" She realized that she had started rambling.and clamped her mouth shut.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

The elevator door opened, and we all got on. As soon as they closed, I tugged on Ren's shirt sleeve.

"I'm surprised. You usually don't talk this much."

"We're trained to be quiet." The green-eyed woman looked me in the eyes. "In my family, speaking up is a bad thing." She glanced at Aelin, then looked back at me. "But I don't want to stand by and silently watch when I can do something." She swallowed. "That's how my family became part of Alard Hospitals, and I don't want to be passively swept into whatever someone says I should do. I want a choice."

"Okay." I titled my head. "What choice do you want?"

"I want to go with you tomorrow." Her answer started before I finished speaking.

"I don't see a problem with it." I nodded. "But…!"

Ren wrapped me and Ether in a hug and squealed, then let us go and straightened her shirt.

"Thank you." Her face was split in a big smile.

"But…" The elevator doors opened, and I put my hand on the door to keep it from closing so everyone could get out. "There may be a reason that adding two people won't be an option. If that's the case, then we have to bring Kara."

"Oh…" Ren tucked both of her hands behind her back.

I got off the elevator and started walking towards my room. "I can't see a reason why it'll be a problem, but I don't want to give you a promise that I can't keep."

"Okay." Ren's smile returned. "How are the sandwiches?"

"Good." Justia smiled. "Thank you."

"Hey! I helped." Aelin pouted.

Justia gave the brown woman a kiss. "Thank you too."

Aelin beamed. "At least someone appreciates me."

"Maybe I would appreciate you more if you weren't trying to push women into my bed." I teased the blonde.

The short woman faked being insulted. "The great Atlas Vowler is upset that I'm lining up women to throw themselves at him?"

"Yes, I am." I nodded at Justia. "And as someone who is practicing monogamy, I don't think you get to complain about my lack of gratitude."

Aelin pulled the green woman against her. "I'm not sharing Justia with nobody! She's all mine."

We all laughed as I stopped in front of the door to my room.

"As fun as it would be to continue to tease Aelin, I think I need to head to bed."

"Bed." Aelin wiggled her eyebrows. "Right."

"I've been up for..." I looked at my CB. "Almost thirty-nine hours straight. I'm going to be out as soon as my head hits the pillow."

"Okay." Aelin started walking with Justia to their room. She waved without looking back. "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight!" I turned to Ren. "I guess I'll see you in the morning."

"Um…" Ren closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. "Can I come?"

"I was serious about sleeping." I eyed her. "I plan on being asleep in the next five minutes."

"Okay." Ren looked at Ether.

I chuckled as I looked at the milky woman as well.

Ether nodded and walked into the room.

"Come on." I put my arm around the blonde, and we walked into my room.