Chapter 273 – Shimmer Crawls in

The crying and screaming must have gotten on the nerves of our host as the door burst open.

"If you need help, fucking say something," a devil says. "MAIDS!" The intruder walks over to the babies and pauses, looking into the little cribs that Sarania must've made a long time ago. "I see. Fair enough, but it's too bad you need the help. Handle the birth, Champion. You'll see if we do anything wrong, and I have no doubt you can kill us."

A small bustle of maids follows, the last closing the door. They immediately try to calm down the newborns, and I'm guessing the devil put up the barrier or something to stop Sarania's screams from reaching them. Something I need to practice.

Sarania doesn't seem too happy that they're taking care of the kids, but it is needed.

"Sarania, I know this isn't what you wanted. But we need the help, ok? I have a Skill that will let me know if my kids are being hurt," I say. If I keep trying to use Dragoness Mother on them, then as long as it doesn't work, they don't wish to hurt them. It's not exactly what I told Sarania, but it's close enough, and it lets her just worry about her own kid. "Now, focus on you and your kid. The hardest part is coming up. Push with the contractions."

"FUCK! I'm trying. Why does this hurt through my Skills?" Sarania cries out. More words follow that almost shake the air.

"It always does. Kelly said it was to convince the woman to push. Like you need to do right now. A strong one."

"AAAHHH!"

"Good. Keep going, just like that."

I keep encouraging her, watching for the baby to move through the narrow birth canal. Minutes turn into an hour, and yet the baby can't move.

"I think she is stuck," I say. I've had this happen a few times. What was it that Kelly did? Break something, break something. Or was it? No, her head is past, so her shoulders. "Sorry, sorry. Don't push for a bit. I-"

"Turn her over or pull her legs up," one of the maids says. "Those positions may help to open up the cervix."

"Kelly never did that for me," I mumble.

"You don't have any Skills. I'm sure Kelly did have Skills to help you, or your body is just made to give birth," the maid continues.

"I guess," I say. "It is easier to move your legs. I need my hand. I'll help you."

"Ok, ok. Please."

"If this doesn't work, I would just cut her out," the maid says. "You have the healing to put her back together, right?"

Oh, fuck. Why is the first labor I assist with so hard? "Yes," I say. "Sorry, Sarania. I'll get better." Is she even going to want to have another kid after this failure? My mana stirs a bit at that thought, and I have to agree with it. Will I lose her if she doesn't want more kids? My personal pregnant succubus servant was the agreement. If she isn't going to be pregnant, she won't be here to help me. "I've got a plan, Sarania. Tell me if things get too painful."

"It hurts like hell as it is. Make it fast, please," Sarania says. "I'm not used to pain."

I worm my mana down to her cervix and pry it open so the baby can pass through. "Push," I say. The baby starts to move again, but there is still a way to go before it's clear. Can I move an arm past? Is that ok?

Healing Mother better be worth something soon.

I reach in and slowly move the baby's arm around so it won't be so wide, careful to not pull on it. Kelly was not happy when I asked her to just pull the kids out. Doesn't work, apparently, unless you are ok with hurting the Mother and killing the kid. At least not until the head is out. Then, you can start helping more if you're careful.

Or maybe I'm making this all up; why should I count on my memory of what happened during labor?

"The baby is moving," I say. "Just a bit more, and the head will be out. You're doing well."

Sarania lets out a primal scream in response and launches into some ancient language that vibrates the air like the dryad did. She moves her child along, the head now free from her Mother. I wait to give her a chance to push her out. I don't know how to safely pull the kid out, so it's best to just try and help her.

Why is the creation of life so hard and dangerous?

"Her head is free," I say. "Just a bit more, and this will be over, ok? Bring our child into the world."

Her tired mind returns to the ancient language, hiding her thoughts. But her actions work, and the baby is finally free of her Mother and joins her sisters in this dark, dangerous world.

"The baby is out; we just need to push out the placenta now," I say. "The hard work is done." I get to work cleaning her off and wrapping her in a blanket, removing the cord, and all of that.

"Thank you. Can I hold our child, my Mistress," Sarania asks.

"Of course."

"I'll leave my maids to help you two out for now," the devil says. "Congratulations on the kids."

"Thank you for the help," I say to her retreating figure. "Thank you for the ideas."

"Happy to be part of new life. You have four very cute kids," the maid says. "The little joy you've brought to the house was very much needed."

I give her a short nod before returning to clean up Sarania and heal any damage the child did on her way out.

Our child shares Sarania's midnight black hair but has strands of gold woven into it. Her little wings have the same golden highlights, the only features she has of mine, really. Almost a perfect tiny version of her Mother.

"Thank you, my Mistress," Sarania says. "Sorry for using the old language; it just came out. It seemed to stop at you, luckily. We made a pretty little succubus. She's going to be a troublemaker."

"She is," I say. The babies behind me start to cry out, likely for milk this time. "I need to feed my other children. We, four children for four breasts."

"Yes, maids, I think we can handle it now," Sarania says. "Let me and my Mistress have some time with our kids."

"As you wish," the maid says. "Just a warning, Princess Elora is now taking control of the city."

"Oh," I say. If they find me fast enough, I'll give her one sentence to convince me to stay. The first one without warning. She should know my feelings; otherwise, I don't want to be with her anyway.

*** Shimmer ***

"Come on. Point the way," I whisper. This is like playing a game of hot and cold, and the damn conductor doesn't even know where the item is! I can't let Geta find her first. I just know she would put Alzi in the wrong mood. I'm already on thin ice, and that won't last long for a being like me.

Elora, how did you fuck this up so much?

Haha, no, how did we fuck this up so much? We all did this stupid thing. I could've just revealed the truth, sat outside the tent, and called it a day.

Instead, I get to waste hours running around this city when Alzi should've already been a free woman, basking in her harem. Not kidnapped yet again and randomly hidden in this damn city! Fucking hours wasted in the fucking cold. I'm sure Mother is pissed off as well.

I come up to a manor. There's nothing special about it, but the pull is strongest in this direction. Might as well check what is going on with that.

I step up to the front door and knock.

"What do you want?" a devil asks.

"I am a wife of Princess Elora, the new ruler of the city. I wish to know if you are hiding my wife and husband, Alzi. A dragonkin, rainbow, and pregnant."

She bites her lip before stepping to the side. I take the invitation and step in.

"Upstairs, second door on the right," she instructs.

"Thank you," I say, moving quickly. What has this fucking devil been doing to my wife? Why was she nervous?

I give the door a knock, just in case Alzi wasn't mistreated.

"What is it?" A different voice says in a mocking tone. She knows it isn't the devil coming to check on them, yet she didn't ask for my name.

"Shimmer, I wish to check on my wife."

They make me wait just a few seconds before letting me in.

*** Alzi ***

"Let her in," I whisper.

"Enter," Sarania says.

"Thank you, dear," Shimmer says, pushing the door open. Her maid stays outside while the tall mage steps in, her eyes locked on to my new servant. Fear flashes across her face before being replaced with the little flames I saw during our first meeting. "Perverter of Spirits, what do you have to do with my wife?"

"Sarania," Sarania says. "I don't use that name anymore, and I am Alzi's servant."

"Very well," Shimmer says, the flames subsiding in her eyes. "Alzi, honey, I'm sorry for failing again to protect you. To keep you from danger. I am happy to see this at least removed the disgraceful collar." She gives me a deep bow before continuing. "We should've done better. The war should be over now, and we can return and marry your Mother and Mai. Then, your current wives can work on fixing our mistakes and building a new relationship. The relationship that should've started before we ever bought you."

"By lying?" Sarania says. "Bold."

"This was simply for my protection," Shimmer says. Her clothing falls to the floor. Fire consumes her body for a moment before fading. Wings of fire sprout from her back, her skin takes on a red hue, and her eyes once again contain the spark. "Elora would've never let me near you if she knew. That was all. I am sorry for hiding my true self from you."

"You're pregnant," I say. Her breasts are only overshadowed by her belly.

"I never took you inside me," Shimmer says. "I did the sexual act with you fully knowing it was happening in the bath. You let it happen, and I was taking care of you. I did not force you into anything. I would never rape you or take a child away from you. I simply didn't want to start a fight with Elora."

"What were you going to do with the child?" I ask.

"It would be the family's to raise. Your child. Elora would be mad at me for a bit, but I couldn't wait for a child. I couldn't listen to that idiot ramble on about her Queendom. I wanted a child, so I did what I could. This child is yours and ours to raise. "

"I don't believe you," I say. "You're lying. You were going to hide the kid."

"Alzi, honey, look at me. How much longer do you think I could hide this? You were going to find out about it the second I was close to you. I've had to keep my distance just to keep it hidden for this long. If you hadn't given birth recently, I think you would've known a woman pregnant with your child had stepped into the building. I had no plans to keep our children from you. Not after all you've been through. If you would like proof..."

Shimmer moves down onto her hands and knees and crawls over to the bed. She gives both of my feet a kiss before resting her head on my lap. "I know you dominated Zarzi. Phoenixes have something similar. I'm yours. Hiding a child from you would go against that bond."

"You wouldn't join my bed when I said to," I say.

"I'm pregnant. I am not a slave to you," Shimmer says. "If I am not with child, I would have to listen to the call, but I am already fulfilling my duty."

"My Mistress," Sarania says. "It is true. I've had a few Phoenixes as lovers do that with me. I always had less control over them if they were pregnant. But Princess Shimmer, please stop hiding things from my Mistress."

"Alzi, my Mother found out that the Princess was likely to take you as a husband, so she had me swap places with one of our spies. The goal is to build a bridge between us and you. She wishes for some of our kids to grow up among my people. That is all. I am your loyal wife, working to help you and my realm."