Free Xone Of Contention by Piers Anthony

“Black is the color of my true love's—”
    The girl jammed a hand over his mouth before he could say a naughty word. “Wait till we get older, and I'll be able to do that,” Monica said, seeming slightly jealous.
    “And I'll be able to freak out,” Ted agreed.
    Breanna did a forward roll into the nest. That took her panties out of sight. The two men returned to life. Justin stepped back, as if catching his balance. Edsel sat down on the ground. Both looked dazed. Their eyes did seem to be somewhat hot.
    “You boys okay?” Pia called.
    “I guess,” Edsel said. “What happened?”
    “You freaked out.”
    “Freaked out? I don't remember anything.”
    Both children chortled.
    Then Justin caught on. “Someone must have exposed her underclothing.”
    “Not me,” Pia said innocently. “Go on about your business.” She turned back to the interior of the nest.
    “For the canopy, just pull the cord,” Breanna said. She reached up, caught a dangling vine, and pulled. A neat canopy of living branches and leaves descended, making contact with the rim. This was now a shrouded round chamber. “Good when it rains, too.”
    “I believe this nest will do,” Pia said. “Are there any sheets or blankets?”
    “You harvest them fresh from a blanket bush. I'll show you.” Breanna scrambled back up the slope toward the ladder.
    “How is it that men are freaked out by panties, when it doesn't happen in Mundania?” Pia asked as she followed.
    “It's part of the magic. There are lots of routine magical effects. You get used to them.”
    “What happens if a man sees a woman naked?”
    “Nothing special. Oh. he's interested, for sure, but he doesn't freak out. I mean, nymphs go naked all the time, and nobody thinks anything of it. It's just certain items of clothing that make the difference.”
    They climbed down the ladder and touched ground “Is this logical?” Pia inquired
    "What's logic got to do with sex or magic?”
    That answered itself.
    “I don't believe you expressed a preference,“ Justin said as they passed him ”Will the two of you be sharing a nest."
    What the bleep “Might as well,” she said. Then realized that her bad word had been censored out, even in her thoughts. Because she was in the presence of someone below the correct age. Magic was everywhere.
    They came to the blanket bush, where they harvested two nice blankets.
    There was a swirl oft smoke It formed into a handsome male figure “A greeting, lovely ladies,” he said, bowing gallantly.
    “Oh, hi, Vore,” Breanna said. Then, to Pia “This is D Vore, Monica's father. He must be here to pick up the children.”
    “Indeed Metria brought them, I will return them. We are obliged to be somewhat responsible, now that we are half souled.” He looked at Pia “Have I made your acquaintance, luscious creature?”
    “She's Pia Mundane,” Breanna said “I mean Putz Does Nada know you're flirting with visitors?”
    “I'm not flirting,” Vore said quickly "I'm eating.”
    “Eating?” Pia asked
    “Devouring her with my eyes,” he explained.
    That was a pun, Pia realized D Vore—devour “The children are fine.” she said “They're around here somewhere ”
    “They have a magic locket,” Breanna added.
    “I will investigate ” He vanished.
    “Those children really weren't much trouble,” Pia said
    “We were lucky, this time. Things could've complicated in a hurry.”
    They dumped the blankets in two nests. Meanwhile Vore had taken away the children, and Justin and Edsel had harvested four pies from a pie tree. They sat down on large toadstools by a glassy table.
    “Don't tell me, let me guess,” Pia said, observing the way the table shimmered “It's a water table ”
    “Of course,” Breanna agreed “And here's some milk” She set down several milkweed pods
    Sure enough the pies were good, and the pods contained fresh milk.
    Breanna had chocolate milk "I wouldn't want my color to fade,” she explained.
    That reminded Pia