Kikimora Courtois

By Leona D. Reish

Awaking from dreams of fancy, Valentine finds himself bedridden with injury and little memory of how. Whilst this is nothing unusual for a man on hard times, the lady to greet him most certainly is. A noble's maid at first glance, feathered tufts of fur peak from the lining of her dress, a bushy tail cascading behind her. Valentine is enchanted by this fair maiden and fae beastkin he's never seen the likes of, yet the mysterious maid's stilted boots are as quiet as her tone is sharp and guarded.

 

A troublesome man has entered the kikimora's life, much to her mistress' amusement. Just as she challenges his resolve on the thought of love, Ketalla may find herself facing the shadow hanging over her heart as the consequences of their actions ripple outward through the city and beyond.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leona D. Reish
• Release date: Apr 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393666189

Leona D. Reish

From demons to monsters and demi-human monster girls, Leona D. Reish draws from the paranormal, myth and fantasy to create otherworldly stories of sweet corruption, divine machination and the most unlikely romances. It is here, beyond the odd vampire and werewolf, that you’ll touch tales of tails from deeper into the realms of fantasy. From lamiae and arachnes to other powerful undead and divine rulers, behind every face lies familiar desires and vulnerable hearts. Not every story is set in such high fantasy, however, as more grounded contemporary and even historic tales have been written in which more domestic taboos and powers are often revelled in. Throughout them all Leona brings an understanding of the delicacy and romance underlying darker kinks and fetishes to present the most erotic escapes to realms that can – and often should – only exist by the blessing of books and the support of avid readers. To this day Leona fights all the world’s evils within her mind to strive to bring you more great content. If you’ve enjoyed what she does and want to see more, consider following her profile and showing your support on social media where comments are always appreciated and help reinforce that the audience is really there.

Book preview

Table of Contents

Chapters

01.  Kikimora

02.  Avelys

03.  Amour Courtois

04.  Scarecrow

05.  Whisper of Love

06.  Evermore

07.  Spring Song

08.  Kikimora Courtois

Extras

-  From the Author

-  Other Books

01. Kikimora

Tears must not tarnish your beauty, my love. There is naught to mourn, even in this moment. Roaring flames charred the surrounding buildings, consuming the hushed words in an otherwise silent market square. Clouds of red tainted the clear water of the fountain as black filled the air. Slouched against its edge, an ashen man coughed. Another dash of red splashed the still water, flames dancing wildly in their ripples.

Even should we fall, even whence we die, the nation will live on in the blood and spirit of the people. Through that, we shall never be parted. Is that not what you said? Raising an unsteady and bloodied hand, he searched for her face, to reach out and touch her one last time. Even without the black fog clouding the sky, he could see so little. Only the twist of her lips, the mark on her cheek and the bitter touch of a tear reaching his thumb.

I will not accept it, my Sabinus... not here, not ever. Her voice came as sharp as the pain in his side, yet there was little he could do now but laugh, retching another violent cough. The din of the burning city grew muffled and distant as he sought to catch his breath, shaking his head wistfully.

Stubborn as an ox to the last, if I didn’t know better... ah, this is not the time. The black haze clouded his vision, the sound and heat of flames dying out until everything faded away. In the darkness, there was peace but for an uneasy stirring, a nagging throb. Pain, sharp and waking, burned through the senses. Searing light flooded in, forcing the fog of dreams to burn away.

Agh, blazing hell... It was the sunlight of a blinding morning that roused the dead, the blur of a woman in a frilled dress standing before the unveiled window.

What colourful language. Might you be looking to call the dead, sir? An unfamiliar voice aside an unfamiliar bed, yet somehow her words brought him comfort. Rubbing his eyes, the woken man groaned as he tried to rise.

I don’t think so... no, I was dreaming. Everything was blood and fire, I... Pain shot through his back, side, and neck, forcing him back to the softness of the bed. His head spun with a queasy pain beyond drunken regret.

How ominous, it all but sounds something from one of Madame’s fanciful novels... now lay still and behave, you are not mended. A gentle hand pushed down on his shoulder as she spoke of wistful thoughts left unfinished, though he needed no assistance in falling back to the bed’s embrace. The sound of a cloth wringing in a basin at bedside caught his attention before a soothing chill was placed over his eyes and forehead.

Where am I, what in the hell happened...? Sheltered from the harsh dawn light, he was left to his own scattered thoughts, drowned in a vortex of throbbing pain and disorientation that left him feeble.

You fell spectacularly on a blade. Do you at least remember who you are? Something about the prim courtesy in her voice felt off, as though she were mocking him, but he was in no position to put on airs. Frowning behind the damp cloth, he wondered why such a thing would be in question, but answered quickly to not give ground to doubts on his fortitude.

Of course, Valentine. Valentine Haleson. Grumbling softly over the admission, he made no effort to stop her dabbing his face and doting on him, for his physical strength seemed to have left him entirely. Truthfully, he was grateful to her, despite the feeling that she was smirking beyond the damp cloth.

"I see... Valentine. That is a relief." He’d only known her mere moments, not even put a proper face to the voice, and yet somehow, just there, it sounded like a wholly uncharacteristic note of genuine relief and happiness entered her voice. The cloth slowly passed off his brow, letting the light back in. His eyes did not hurt now, and focus came easy, though her silhouette still seemed to hold an otherworldly glow.

Squinting and focusing, Valentine was met with a gentle face, kind smile pinching cheeks as soft as the flumps of russet brown hair to round out her image. Flittering and blinking to take in her features and focus upon her face properly, he couldn’t help but stare as his gaze locked to her golden ochre eyes a moment longer than was decent. Rather than a light from the window, he could imagine the angelic radiance emanated from her being.

Who... Finally noticing and meeting his gaze with a cursory glance, the lady slid out of sight quickly, clearing her throat.

"Yes, I suppose we have not been formally introduced. My name is Ketalla, servant of Madame Lithera Camerse, whom you are the... esteemed guest of, while you recover." Even with her tone back to that cold, almost biting courtesy, something in her words did not add up.

I don’t understand... Carefully reaching up to rub a hand through his unkempt dark brown hair, Valentine wracked his brain for explanations. None would come.

Rest of the time being, I fear your head may be too injured to do much else. Pressing another cloth to his forehead, Ketalla smiled all too demurely, clearly pleased with her choice of words that left him to pensively scowl from beneath it. Somehow, he could feel she enjoyed that look about his face, too.

Well, between the pain and blank spots, something quite serious must have happened. It was all he could do to follow her lead and count his grace to be in such fine care over waking in a ditch missing all his possessions, if at all. Something all too common in the darker corners of the otherwise fair town of Avelys, and certainly the empty fields beyond.

Daring another glance at her from under the cloth on his brow, Valentine was granted a fuller view of her, taking in the whole profile of her image. Just how buxom the maidservant was caught his attention first. Truly, as a servant of some noble Lady, she was well taken care of that it should even stand out through the frilled, apron-covered top of her regal, midnight blue maid dress.

As though sensing the lecherous draw of his eyes, Ketalla dove down to kneeling, hiding beyond the edge of the bed. Despite this, Valentine was free to admire the softness of her hair once more. With much of it tidied back into a simple tail, it still fluffed out unusually far around her cheeks in beautiful bangs. Was this extravagantly fluffy look a style, a trend of fashion amongst the noble or their servants? Whatever the case, it left him wishing to touch, stroke and even pet it. How bizarre.

Well then, if you’ll excuse me. Gathering up her things, Ketalla stood quickly, smiling and taking her leave on elegant strides hidden beneath the long dress of her uniform that made her seem to glide. With the maidservant gone, Valentine was left to blink, taking in the things he’d just seen.

Yes, the room was rich, a finely carved oaken table where a stack of books rested by the tall window that looked out into a far-reaching field, but the feathered tufts about her wrists. Of course, the bed itself was much too large for him alone, the very sheets pleated layers of silk tipped with embroidery that shimmered in the early day’s sun, but the long and bushy tail that bobbed behind her...

Once, more than twice. Valentine ran the scene of her parting back through his mind to ensure he had not imagined things. No, the cuffs of her uniform were very clearly tailored to nestle against that layer of small, light brown feathers. Similarly, the split in the back of her dress – right below the neatly bowed ribbon – certainly existed to make way for that tail that covered all but to the floor, where rather small, pointed black heels stepped without sound.

Well, she certainly is something... Resting his eyes, Valentine murmured quietly in disbelief, and tried not to worry about it for the time being. Perhaps his head was too injured to make clear sense of the world and situation around him. Taking her