As I made my way to sit down on the couch opposite Delilah, the fireplace started crackling like crazy, like someone threw a live log onto it. This naturally brought the attention of the two women to it, causing me to wave my hand in disregard.

“Don’t worry about that, it will stop in a few minutes. The best way I can describe it, is the fire is trying to get my attention. Just sit down and ignore it.” I said, causing Delilah to clap excitedly.

“Wow! That was amazing Apollo! Was that Psionic power? What a rare treat. Zee Zee here is Psionic as well, but I barely get to see her perform.” Delilah said excitedly, causing Zeona to sit down next to her.

“Because Psionics are not party tricks. And my powers cannot be used freely as they are dangerous. I am sure Apollo is just adept enough in his power that there was no risk to us?” The pair’s gaze then landed on me, causing me to nod.

I then extended my hand out and a small sphere of fire manifested in my hand. “Zeona is right. My Pyrokinesis and Thermokinesis are currently my strongest abilities. I can use them as easily as breathing after all. The simple matter of taking heat from a room into myself is not even a challenge.”

Delilah smiled and clapped excitedly. “Oh my. Handsome and powerful? We are in esteemed company tonight, aren’t we Zeona?” There was a slight pause, causing Delilah to turn to her friend. “Zeona?”

Zeona then finally replied. “Yes indeed. Very esteemed company. Excuse me a moment. I will let the two of you break the ice. I will go and fetch us our drinks. Apollo, anything in particular you fancy?”

I shook my head and asked her to surprise me. That got a smile and a nod before she got up and left the room. “So Delilah, how has your work been- Oh.” Delilah apparently flipped a switch now that her friend had left the room.

She wasn’t aggressive like other hive members and attacked my lips the second she had alone time. She simply walked over and positioned herself horizontally on my lap and hugged me.

The hug… It was amazing as I remembered it being. Delilah did something to make a simple physical contact feel amazing. Just as I was worrying about getting lost in it, the gorgeous being began to softly kiss my neck, speaking quietly, as though being any louder would break an illusion.

“I really did miss you, you know? It is such an indescribable feeling. We only ever met that one time, yet it was enough to cause my entire existence to think about you night and day. I am lucky I am good at my job, as my neuro capabilities have taken a dive recently…But that matters little. Just let me enjoy this a moment longer.

As Delilah began to tenderly show me her affection. I began to feel a little bad. I was just one individual, yet there were so many entities within the hive parameters capable of freethought that wished to be with me intimately. I felt a pang of guilt that I would never be able to be there for all of them, as there were just too many, but I will always do my best to provide them with my love, whenever I can.

I softly caressed Delilah’s cheek, manipulating the direction of her kisses towards my own lips. I could feel her body language change as she melted onto my torso. The kisses were slow, heavily charged with passion instead of the usual lust and excitement. Delilah was charging up a battery to put it in simple terms. Passion would keep it charged a lot longer, especially considering her mindset is that of an older woman.

Delilah’s hands explored my body freely, as was their right. They glided through my hair, enjoying the soft texture against their skin. Down my chest and stomach, feeling the outline of my muscles through my shirt and just for a moment, she reached below herself and caressed the bulge that she could already feel against her thigh that was there from the beginning.

Pulling away with a satisfying noise, Delilah looked at my eyes, before falling back to my lips and gulped. “My-I-uh… *Ahem* That was… Dangerous. Is it hot in here?” Delilah began to fan her face, causing me to smile as I traced my hand down the back of her dress, stopping when I reached her rear to caress before I joked.

“No, I ‘turned down’ the heat if you recall? The only smoking thing in here is you.” I then slapped Delilah’s rear playfully, causing her to blush for just a second before she giggled and slapped my chest.

“Apollo you charmer! You make me act thirty years younger than I am. Now I should get off your lap before I really begin acting that way.” She said, biting her lip, clearly tempted by her own words.

I too was pretty tempted, but helped her off my lap, placing her to my left. She then put one of her hands onto my thigh. “Thank you dear. I was slowly losing control… I can see why the others get sucked into your aura. It is almost impossible to resist.”

I reached out to her face, brushing some hair behind her ear. “Yet you resisted… I am a little curious how much more you could take before you gave in…” Delilah’s breathing picked up as she gazed back down at my lips. I smiled upon realising ‘not much more.’

Once Delilah composed herself again, she coughed putting on a serious face and declared. “Ok, Apollo, Mother has been screaming in the link. Apparently Orchid has been threatening genocide in order to come and collect you. Can you explain everything that has happened since you were shot down?”

…

Zeona was a little shook. She already knew Apollo was powerful, but when he said his manipulation of fire was one of his stronger powers, did that imply he had multiple powers of similar potential?

Sure outside of her main power, Zeona had a couple of others, but only just. Still… She wasn’t entirely shook. Her main power made it so her ‘allies’ power became her own anyway. With her powerful body and sharp mind she was in a league of her own.

As the drinks she ordered were placed in front of her, she began walking back and realised something. She was having these thoughts because she was scheming. She didn’t trust many, but she already had a profile on Apollo. He might be powerful, but he was also harmless. He did not care about any of the politics of the south.

‘Honestly Zeona, can you just have one friend other than Delilah without you getting paranoid?’ She naturally knew the reason she was paranoid. She had been betrayed by people close to her in the past.

Even recently, it seems someone she has close ties to had been leaking information to someone. She still could not pinpoint who, but she would find out soon.

Besides, she genuinely liked Apollo. He was good at keeping conversation interesting and fresh as he didn’t feel the need to lie or impress. Or that was what she had observed in their collective time together.

Deciding she would try and keep her walls down for the evening, no agenda, just a group of friends out for drinks, she opened the door to the private room to the sight of Delilah next to Apollo, rubbing his thigh as he said.

“I actually don’t remember much of the fight itself. I just remember a burning rage at what the boss implied. I am usually pretty calm, but apparently, if you threaten me with sexual assault, I snap. I am still pissed that the boss got away, but at least the rest of them can’t hurt anyone again. I can take solace in that.”

“Oh you poor baby.” Delilah then turned to her friend and asked like Zeona was not giving her a strange look. “Zee Zee, did you know Apollo was shot out of the sky! You need to tell your underlings to kill all the evil people who work for that Timmy guy! The way Apollo described the situation down there, he is destroying the south and seemingly revelling in it!”

As Zeona walked up, she placed the drinks on the table and sat down to my right unconsciously. As I reached for my drink, she gazed at her friend and sighed. “I wish it was that easy Delilah. We don’t even know where Timmy is holding up. Not to add onto the fact that Timmy is incredibly powerful…”

“Mmh, that’s good.” I muttered at the citrous taste of my beverage. “Well, can’t you just sue for peace? You already got what you wanted right? Your territory down there has expanded by almost five times its original size. When will it be enough?”

“Was this on the menu? I am going to have to get this ordered at Sophia’s.” I muttered again as I enjoyed the taste to claim my pallet.

Zeona looked at Apollo and decided if she should speak her next thoughts. On the one hand it was a secret that could make her appear weak. On the other hand, if Sophia found it, it could cause her to break the neutrality for the good of the south…

“Apollo. I need to tell you something that you need to tell Sophia, can you do that?” Turning to Zeona, I had totally zoned out of the conversation as the drink was very good. Not wanting to seem rude, I nodded my head and said. “Sure, I can tell her. What’s up?”

Not knowing Sophia was already listening via her best friend, Sophia said. “We have tried to make peace with Timmy already. But he has refused. He stated that he wishes to continue until one side or the other has been wiped out. There was a deranged look in his eyes when he said that to me at the parley… I think. I know. Timmy is gaining something by having this conflict continue. And my instincts scream at me that it is not good.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep