Chapter 353 – Bathing in Public

*** Queen Flametalon ***

Is that girl really going to try to make me her mate? Will that be Shimmer's and my life? Constantly being bred by a dragon... Shimmer, you'd better not have brought that life upon me. My command wasn't to let herself get raped!"Mother."

"I know," I say. "Be nice tomorrow. Say hi, congratulate her on her pregnancy, and if she doesn't want you around, bow out. I hope Shimmer doesn't remarry Alzi. It would be better if Alzi could find a phoenix that she loves, even if they aren't from our family. Hopefully, she'll come up with her daughter and stumble into a phoenix that she loves. You're already pregnant. The ritual worked. So you don't have anything to get mad about."

"Fine."

"Things are complicated, dear," I say. "Don't get grumpy. Alzi is an Ally, but she can easily become an enemy. Shimmer's done enough damage."

"Yes, Mother."

*** Alzi ***

Shimmer's room was similar to the one at the old manor. Just with red paint instead of the orange, being a royal in this realm. It was a quiet lunch; Nakuma and Yuki were the most interesting people at the table. Nakuma is clearly excited that she'll get to spend time with Yuki in the bath. And no matter how much Yuki mentioned the extreme heat, Nakuma wasn't swayed, promising that she would let her tail burn instead of allowing Yuki's tail to burn or asking Geta to help them endure the heat.

Shimmer's maid eventually promised the Kitsunes that she would protect their tails from catching fire. I'm with Nakuma in being excited about getting some time in the spring. Yuki is not as excited, but I did calm her down by saying it would be nice to take a bath again after so long. She often wasn't able to make it to the brothel, but it was nice when she could join us, even if it was just for a few minutes. I'm sure this is going to go very differently, though; if Shimmer is lucky, it may even end with my promise to her Mother being fulfilled.

Not that I really want to have public sex, but well, I'm going to be naked with a pretty woman, who will also be naked. If I don't end up plowing someone, it will be a miracle, or Sarania will have helped me a lot.

"You Highness," Shyla says. "Are you sure this is the right thing to do? They must have a private bath that I can help you with. It won't have the heat, but..."

"I want the heat, so I'm going to go with Shimmer, no matter what. If I fuck her, I fuck her."

"You don't need to put yourself in that situation, Your Highness."

"But I really want to go and be pampered by a pregnant woman. I did that for years, getting on my hands and knees for the nobles. Cleaning their bodies, then working every muscle loose, and likely ending up bent over. I'm happy to trade places with Shimmer for that, and Hearth really wanted me to give my wives a chance, so I'll give Shimmer a chance. If she can truly submit to me, then I'll let her be. It'll take a century to even think of loving her, but I'll tolerate her enough to have her pamper me in the baths."

"You'll have Zarzi."

"She's going to be too pregnant to bathe me, and I'm not going to punish her wives like that. They had no choice in the matter."

"Would having a quick round with me help keep you from having sex?"

"No. Thank you for trying to help," I say. "But if Shimmer does as she did before, we won't have to worry about sex between me and her. Yuki is the one who has no chance to escape it. Either she forces Nakuma down, or she gets railed."

"I don't care about Yuki. I just care about you, Your Highness."

"I'll be fine."

"She will be," Sarania says. "I'll be nearby, and Geta will be by her side. Queen Flametalon seems to understand her position, and I'll be feeding off Shimmer's and my Mistress's lust. So it should be a peaceful bath if you ignore the Kitsunes. Which we will."

Should I ask Shimmer to find people to help Sarania and Shyla stay close to me? It would be better with them, but I don't need them to do all of that. They're pregnant, and I don't need them to come with me if I can get Shimmer to do those things instead. I don't feel like protecting my Shadow from the heat, so she'll also be staying behind. Is that too much? No, this is Shimmer's chance to prove herself.

The carriage stops, and they all help me out. On the way, we switched into robes and some simple shoes to make it easy to get into the bath. The royal family does have a premium changing room, but I don't want to waste any time. We already had to travel an hour up a mountain to reach it, which likely isn't normally a problem when everyone can fly, but not everyone here can fly.

The air is unnaturally heavy, but Shimmer warned us about it and explained how the water would boil off otherwise. The spring is busy. Not shoulder to shoulder, since the bath is massive, but there are going to be plenty of women seeing us naked. Of course, I'll see their naked bodies as well, but the steam does help limit how far you can see.

Shimmer directs us over to a reserved space for the royals. Shyla has to stay with the carriages due to the heat. Sarania is a little bit from the edge of the pool so that she doesn't have to spend a bunch of mana keeping herself safe. Shimmer is supposed to do all the pampering, so there is no need to make the pregnant succubus do all that work. Geta goes in first, giving off the faint glow she has when she uses mana to protect herself from the heat.

Shimmer strips next, leaving only the collar on her pregnant form, and yet, she still smiles, even with the black metal collar on. I thought of making it silver, but there's no need to go that far in making her look like my slave. I didn't care to get a metal leash for it, so she's just using the collar for now. She'll get the leash back tomorrow.

Shimmer first has to remove my robe, and takes the opportunity to hold my growing belly. It's strange being pregnant while also not pregnant. Fluvis has finished packing for the most part and has gotten her sister ready to start taking over the Duchy, so that body is now on its way to Space. I'm sure Mommy is going to freak out when she sees me without the rainbow and glow. But it is nice to hold my kids in my arms and also have someone hold me.

"Ready?" Shimmer asks.

"Yes."

She sneaks in a kiss behind my ear, and we slip into the hot water. It isn't as relaxing as the lava bath with the Goddess of Dragons was, but it is hardly fair to compare the lower realm to something in the divine realm.

"Just float, my mate. Let me take care of your body while you relax. My hands shall clean every inch of you."

"Please do."

"It is my pleasure," Shimmer says.

I start to float and close my eyes as Shimmer works the soap into my skin with her soft hands. She doesn't linger anywhere; she just washes me carefully, starting with my face and continuing down the front of my body. She gets every crevice, but doesn't overstay her welcome, humming a song as she works.

I just fall into a trance, counting on Sarania to make sure Shimmer doesn't play any more tricks on me. If she wants another child, she'll have to beg me for it.

By the time she's finished washing between my toes, I'm half asleep. And then she takes some time feeling the babies in my womb, comparing the activity between our two wombs.

"Dear, are you ready for me to do your back?" Shimmer whispers.

"Yes," I mumble. Geta actually comes over, turns me onto my front, and helps support my head so that I don't have to work to keep my head above the water. Shimmer starts on my hair this time. It's still unnaturally clean, so she doesn't have to do any hard scrubbing, just running her fingers through its length and giving my scalp a little massage before starting on my body again. I flare out my wings and work on getting back into my trance state with my head resting on Geta's soft breasts.

"Oh fuck," Yuki screams out, startling my little group. "Nakuma! Stop. We need to finish cleaning our tails, and then I'll bend you the fuck over!"

"Shush!" Shimmer says. "Or I'll kick you out of the area. Let our wife sleep. She's carrying a lot of kids for our family and protection. The least you can do is be quiet when she is relaxing. Really, you two should be helping me."

I'm sure that last sentence has Nakuma in a bit of a frenzy. I'm not looking the right way, and Geta's breasts really feel divine right now... But I'm sure whatever Nakuma did is funny. I should check it out.

Nakuma has tangled up all of their tails. She's practically combined herself with Yuki, their tits pressed together in a very erotic way. I get brief glimpses of Nakuma's eyes, and every time, they have little hearts in them. I'm guessing Sarania is directing some lust their way from my trio.

"I'll keep up a barrier. Just stop it, Nakuma!"

"Good," Shimmer says, returning her focus to my wings. I don't focus on sleep this time around, instead watching the Kitsunes' silent fight. Nakuma is set on having sex, while Yuki seems to be hoping that the bath will end before they're orgasming in public.

Don't worry, my Kitsunes, you'll be bed-bound together soon.

Nakuma's desire starts to win, so Yuki gives up on the bath, pulling out a rather large dildo and shoving it right up into Nakuma. She hardly even flinches from the massive member. I'm not sure if she's begging for more or demanding that Yuki bend over instead, but that first sexual act isn't enough for the crazy Kitsune.

I feel the heat of desire rising with me, so I turn my head away and let them put on a show for everyone else.

*** Isda ***

The kids want out. They've been preparing for a week, it seems. It's hard to tell; I haven't gotten a good night's rest in over a month. Add in that I helped a Goddess hurt Alzi, and...

"Fuck!"

"My lady, are you sure we shouldn't at least have Kelly check up on you?" my maid asks.

The contractions haven't gotten any easier, but they've been spread out so far apart that it can't mean much. Just a warning of what I'll have to do eventually, unless Fertility wishes to punish me by holding back my birth indefinitely, and I hope she isn't doing that. Alzi deserves to meet her children, even if I don't deserve to have them. "No, no. She has plenty to worry about. We don't need to drag her up here before I'm even in labor."

"My Lady, this is part of labor. You've been like this for too long. At least let us go to the Temple of Fertility and pray for forgiveness."

"No, we need to work with Alzi for forgiveness. A Goddess can't forgive on their champion's behalf. No, it's a personal issue that I have to solve with Alzi. AAAAAHHHH!"

"I'm going to call her. This is not how a pregnancy is supposed to go," my maid says.

"No," I say. "I'm fine. I'm doing fine. Don't you fucking dare do that."

How Alzi was at all mobile with her twelve kids at once is a mystery that should never have existed.

These kids are going to kill me. So why am I stopping her from getting Kelly?

*** Elora ***

I haven't had many letters to deal with. With Alzi getting the Goddess of War to help us, Mother has taken full control over all the troops. She's too far along to fight, so she's working with the Priestesses of War on our strategy.

I'm just a useless, pregnant, pity wife.

"Take me to the temple of Fertility," I tell the carriage. None of my wives want to see me, and I'm useless in the war effort, so I might as well pray to my love's good patron Goddess. I can kiss her altar and pray on my knees. Thank her for the blessing growing inside me. Thank her for freeing my love when I was too stupid to do so. Thank her for trying to help me.

...

"We're here!"

"Thank you," I say. Sedriresa helps me out, and I enter the temple.

"Would you like a private room, or for us to clear out the main chamber?" A Priestess asks, waiting for me on the other side of the door.

"No, I'm not worth doing any of that. Is is ok if I pray at the altar?"

"As you wish, Your Highness."

I move slowly down the rows of pews, with my tears basically blinding me. My only value in this world is the little one in my womb. I have to thank them both for that little joy.

I collapse at the altar, kiss it, and pray.