Rockstars of the United Kingdoms
The Vixens were still getting used to it.
The stares.
The whispers.
The sudden parting of crowds.
Being treated like legends was… different.
Nyxian loved it.
Bunny absolutely loved it.
Llandra pretended not to care.
Zee blushed constantly but secretly enjoyed every second.
Across Solmere—and the growing United Kingdoms—their names were everywhere.
Shops displayed dresses labeled:
"Nyxian Midnight Collection."
"Llandra Spring Silks."
"Bunny Summer Skirt — Limited Edition."
Merchants would offer them clothing free of charge, hoping the next crowd would demand:
"I want the Nyxian look."
Statues were rising in city centers.
Fountains named after Llandra.
Gardens dedicated to Nyxian.
The Zephrial Healing Pavilion.
The Aurabelle School for Gifted Students—Home of the Fighting Bunnies.
Jax hadn't named everything himself.
But he had asked that once the essentials were built—roads, sanitation, water—Solmere honor the Vixens.
Other towns followed suit.
It was becoming… myth.
And myth travels faster than trade caravans.
Waiting for Retaliation
But Jax never relaxed.
Months had passed since the Empire's failed assault.
Too quiet.
That worried him.
He was less concerned for himself.
He was concerned for those around him.
So through business partners and trade contacts, he had built something subtle.
Not spies.
Observers.
Reports on strangers who didn't fit.
Travelers who stayed too long.
Patterns in movement.
The Slave Guild still had roots in certain cities.
He didn't dismantle them outright.
He watched.
A few times, it paid off.
Slave Guild assassins had tried before.
Once plots were discovered: Poisons, Accidents, out right Assassination.
Quiet removals.
They never made it far.
The Slave Guild could not understand how Jax was always multiple steps ahead of them.
The Watchers
Today, the Vixens were shopping.
Laughing.
Trying on ridiculous hats.
Arguing over fabrics.
That's when Jax saw them.
Five.
Working in rotation.
Two visible at a time.
Three drifting.
Taking turns maintaining line of sight.
Their movements were subtle.
Professional.
His perception caught what others would miss—
The weight distribution under their cloaks.
Armor beneath casual clothing.
Hand positions too close to hidden weapons.
The girls didn't notice.
Jax didn't alert them.
He used shop window reflections.
Polished metal surfaces.
Peripheral awareness.
He let them think they were invisible.
Then he smiled faintly.
Time to test them.
The Setup
He exited one shop.
"Oh," he said casually, snapping his fingers. "I forgot something at that fabric store."
They doubled back.
Right toward the two "shoppers."
As he passed them, he didn't look.
He didn't need to.
In that moment—
Two shadows slipped from his own and dropped silently into theirs.
Undetectable.
Now they were marked.
He continued leading the Vixens.
Down a side street.
Down another.
Into a narrow alley.
Dead end.
Nyxian blinked.
"Jax?"
And then—
Her mind filled with the filthiest thoughts imaginable.
Involving her.
An alley.
Assassins.
Public indecency.
She nearly choked.
What is wrong with him?!
And then it clicked.
He was communicating.
Not with words.
With images.
Urgent ones.
Danger.
Behind them.
Five.
She didn't respond verbally.
She reached out and squeezed Llandra's hand.
Two short taps.
One slide.
The signal they'd practiced months ago.
Danger.
Rear.
Prepare.
By the time they reached the end of the alley—
They were ready.
The Drop
They landed like smoke.
Five figures dropped from rooftops behind them.
Silent.
Fluid.
Perfect formation.
They sealed the exit.
But they had miscalculated.
The Vixens did not turn around in surprise.
Weapons shimmered into existence.
Storage space summoned.
Hammer.
Bow.
Staff.
Whip.
Jax stood calm.
Behind the five—
Two Shadow Knights rose from the ground.
The ones Jax had planted earlier.
They seized four of the attackers instantly.
A shock rippled through the group.
Ninjas.
Ambushed.
From behind.
The trap had reversed.
Now it was the attackers who were surrounded.
Bunny stepped forward, hammer already lifting—
Jax caught her mid-motion.
"Wait."
His voice was calm.
"They haven't drawn weapons."
The Vixens froze.
He was right.
The ninjas were tense—
But blades remained sheathed.
One stepped forward.
Jax moved to intercept.
The masked man walked past him.
Straight toward—
Llandra.
He dropped to one knee.
Removed his face covering.
Revealing sharp features.
Pointed ears.
High elven lineage.
His voice was formal.
Controlled.
"Princess Llandra."
Silence filled the alley.
"Your parents have sent us to check on you."
And just like that—
The threat shifted.
Not assassins.
Not Slave Guild.
Not Empire.
Family.
And possibly something far more complicated.