Chapter 367 – Relaxing Evening

The memories washed over me. They didn't stick around for me, and it was more like watching someone else get abused. I recognized the girl in them, since I glow like a rainbow after all, but I didn't feel it. I just saw it and hated it.

Mommy slipped into the bed at some point. While I say it just washed over me, I'm sure my second body had some reactions to all the whips and screaming I watched.

The funny part is that I'm not the one who's worst off in bed. Syro broke down after just a few minutes of watching my past and hasn't recovered yet, even after the memories stopped coming. I guess they truly didn't know, or understand, what I had been through. They knew my past, yet they didn't care to find out more about it. They spared themselves the details of what their 'people' did to me.

"Baby," Mommy says. "We should go get dinner and get some sleep. Let Syro join us. Fluvis is also able to join us for dinner this time. We can eat, then bathe, and go to bed. You need the rest."

"Food would be nice," I say.

"Yes," Mommy says. "We all need to be ready for tomorrow. Irlo is going to have us all worn out by lunch. You have to be careful with that belly of yours."

"I will be."

"I know, baby," Mommy says. I wiggle out of Syro's arms and move to the edge of the bed while Syro curls up on it. I don't think we're going to have a second session of this.

"Syro, come," I say. "You didn't even go through it yourself. And I didn't get to rest after them, so why should you get to?"

"Ok, Alzi," Syro whispers. "I don't understand."

"How am I walking? Doing anything? How could I stand any of you for even a moment? I know," I say. "I'm attached to you through manipulation, and I know it. I want my kids, so you all get to come along. A few of you haven't done anything, but you were still fine with me being your slave."

"We can do this after dinner," Syro says. "Every day, after dinner. I don't know how long it will take. If you want."

"Fine," I say. I do feel better. But that could just be my imagination. "We can try it out."

"I hope it helps," Syro says.

"Sorry," Fluvis says, entering. "Oh, Lady Syro. Should I have knocked? I'm still getting used to not being the head of the house."

"No, you're fine," I say. Five will be a bit tight around the table, but we should fit. Aurora seems to agree, as she comes in with the cart of food and pulls out a new table to replace mine. I sit down, and Mommy and Fluvis take the spots by my sides. Syro and Lottie are a bit slower in getting dressed, but they join us eventually.

"Sorry for missing yesterday," Fluvis says. "It sounded like a great night, but there is so much to do in this family. Kids are a lot better than the paperwork of the Duchy, but just as much work. We'll only be going around the city to keep the surroundings clear so we can still help at night, but we can't have too many powerful women sitting inside the walls. It'll be interesting to find out what Nature has been hiding near the castle walls. The stories I've heard from the frontlines are hard to believe. I know they aren't lying, but sometimes you have to see it with your own eyes to believe it."

"I'm happy to know you like it here," I say. "How is your sister doing?"

"Better," Fluvis says. "Better. No panic attacks or anything. She's doing well right now. She's got a wedding coming up in a week, so that is a good thing for her house. The Queen has little reason to replace her. Thank you for everything. I know you helped and joined her in bed, and I'm happy it was her rather than my Mother. Things on my side are going well. The kids love being around their siblings, and I'm happy Lottie is helping. This feels close to what a family should be. Some things still need to be worked out, but we'll get there. And there's no rush."

Things to work on. The damn royals, most likely. I could switch Elora and Shimmer out for other Princesses, but I'm stuck with Yuki now that I made a deal with Nakuma. "Yes," I say. "But wars make it difficult to handle everything."

"Oh, yes, they are details that can wait," Fluvis says. "The only thing I truly need is to figure out how to get to the sea here and there. I can work on my ships with my sister, but I still wish to sail. But that is another thing for after the war, and maybe after the kids grow up a bit, too." She lets out a little chuckle, probably thinking about what the kids will be doing in a few years. All those toddlers are going to be so cute while they terrorize us. "We can see what it's like to have twelve elementals out on the sea with a few dragonkin. We would have to stay near the shore, but it would be an experience for us all."

"I may need to come just to fly you all off that sinking ship," I say.

"Yes, best not take one of my better ships for that," Fluvis says with a great smile. "I agree you'll probably need to save us from that adventure, but it will be quite the story to tell. What about tomorrow? I've heard whispers of a day out with all the babies."

"Yes," I say. Aurora starts to pass out the food. Some meat, vegetables, and some cake. "Irlo will be staying for a while, and I want to let her run around for a bit. We have to figure out how to tire out the little ones now or we'll never be able to keep up with them in a few years."

"Good thinking," Fluvis says. "But from everything I've heard, there's no right way to raise a child. There are wrong ways, but the true right way depends on the kid. We have to be careful to make sure we respect each child's individualism."

"Yes," I say. "But letting them play until they need to nap isn't part of the wrong way."

"No, no, it isn't," Syro says. "That's part of the right way. Not that you'll find many nobles that would agree, or care about the right way."

"Which is why I must be in control now."

"Yes."

...

Fluvis is a water elemental, but I've never seen her in water. Sure, we were on the water when she rescued me and Elora, but not in it. I doubt much changes, but it will be interesting to see if she does anything in the water.

"Aurora, Shyla, relax," Fluvis says. "Let Lottie handle her Mistress."

Aurora looks to me for confirmation. I just give her a shrug.

"Very well, Duchess Fluvis," Aurora says. "Thank you."

"I'm hardly a Duchess now," Fluvis says.

"You earned the title. You may not command the Duchy, but you still have the title. Don't play loose with the rules now, or I'll have to help my lady bathe."

"Fine."

I don't know how long Syro plans to stick around, but I'm starting to think she just snuck her way into joining me in bed every night for the foreseeable future. Tricky harpy.

Mai is waiting for us in the bath. Her tail flicks about as we float in the water, teasing me as Lottie works to strip me. She isn't as fast at it, but Shyla and Aurora do need the rest. Aurora must only have weeks left until she gives birth, while Shyla should be just a few weeks after that. Annoris is somewhere in the middle, but I haven't been around her that much. I wonder if that changes how long someone will be pregnant.

And I can't forget about the Queen and Lotus now. And then Lottie, as well. Then Shimmer and Elora. Then me again. Space, Fertility, the Priestesses, and the other Goddesses. I hope Dragon is slowing down Zarzi's pregnancy. I won't be making it to her in time otherwise.

Once I'm naked, I dart off and dive in next to the teasing kitty. I wrap her in a hug and spread my wings to try to help myself float with her resting on me, but it doesn't work until Fluvis joins us. Her body doesn't change when she moves into the water like Nesh's did, but her smile widens. I'll need to work hard to make sure she can get to the sea sometimes. I hated not being able to fly, and I don't want to make her hate not getting to be surrounded by water.

Does that mean Inanos likes graveyards?

Soon, Lottie comes and holds me still so she can bathe me. Mai makes it a bit difficult, but that's fine, since I'm not that dirty. I've gotten a lot better at keeping the blood off of me.

"A dragon that likes the water is a bit strange," Fluvis says. "Or is this just the next best thing to sleeping in a stream of lava?"

"The next best thing," I say. "The Goddess of Dragons took me up, and I got to spend some time in such a stream. I don't think you would enjoy it, but I loved it."

"I would die within a few minutes," Fluvis says. "We'll have to compromise and just go for hot baths when doing this together."

"That works," I say. "I need to find out how to protect my wives from the heat. It would be nice to have them all with me."

"Shimmer could help," Fluvis says, moving to Mommy to help her wash her back. "But with practice, you, Shimmer, Armirynth, Ilka, Ahkhae, and any other dragon wife you pick up should be able to protect everyone. That is quite the list. As long as you keep it from getting too hot, that is. I'm sure you all love it a bit too hot for even mana to protect us completely."

"Maybe," I say. "At least too hot for pregnant women." Would things have gone better if I hadn't gotten Isda sick from the heat? No, she could've just relented. That was her fault as well. She still could've said something, or ignored Elora like Shimmer did, or had another wife come up. They could've done more to entice the woman they said they loved.

"My Mistress," Lottie says. "I need to get to your back."

"But my kitty."

"Your back won't be as clean."

"That's fine," I say. "Tomorrow, I'll have to do a deep clean anyway. I'm going to try to have both bodies come by for a bit, at least. I need to test how well I can handle them being that close together."

"Ok, my Mistress."