Chapter 156. Honey

Tarakona and I spent the rest of the day clearing a large chunk of the trees around the right side of the farm. The lumber was all placed on makeshift pallets that I had quickly made and piled high.Dríade had offered to remove the extra branches if she got the axe, and I'd agreed after watching how quickly Tarakona worked. I was just pretending to be useful compared to her.

This had made me the middleman, as I'd been transporting the trees from Tarakona to the Dryads and then to the pallets using my inventory. An ability I was so thankful for because I really didn't want to ask Zeldi if she was okay being a packhorse. She would do it, I knew, but that didn't mean I wanted to ask.

I mulled over Tarakona's joke and her mother as we worked. The thought of another Dragon around the farm had its appeals but I didn't know if Tithalia was that kind of person. Granted my current knowledge of her was about as clear as mud, but that didn't mean there wasn't a chance.

Tarakona hadn't been able to touch her mother until her last visit so maybe the fire Dragon would see the appeal herself. Would be interesting to see what kind of livestock she would make herself.

"What are you going to do with all the off-cuts?" I asked Dríade as she and her Grove worked to take it all to her room and to distract myself.

"Compost, maybe see if I can propagate them. Don't know yet, just don't want someone standing on them before I decided. There were a few different types of trees I was thinking would look good in my Grove." She replied, indicating towards Tarakona.

The Dragon in question had destroyed a lot of the trees and branches in her haste. Not that either of us stopped her because even with what was stepped on, there was still more than enough for whatever Dríade wanted to do.

[Well, I, for one, am happy with our progress.]

I definitely agreed with her on that. The farm looked like it had grown another hundred meters in that direction now that the trees weren't there. Due to the two extra deeds, my territory was still larger than that, but it was a bit deceptive when you had trees blocking your view.

"Yeah, me too. Should be plenty of space for our new lake, right?" I responded, leaning against her front paw.

[I would prefer more, but it'll do.]

"How about instead of expanding this in the future, we collect a few more Deeds until an ocean is within our territory?" I part joked at her insistence that it should still be bigger.

[Is that possible?]

And I should have known Tarakona would take that as a challenge.

"No idea," I answered honestly. "But I'm sure we will find out if Voras continues to make me the owner of the big Deed."

Tarakona hummed as she turned back into her Draconian form. Because of our audience, she got changed rather quickly, though Dríade and her Grove didn't even bother looking. They were just happy to have the extra twigs and wanted to use whatever sunlight remained to work on the outside farm.

[You always seem to know exactly what to say.]

"Nah. I'm just lucky to have girls so accepting of everything I say." I shot back, pulling her into a princess carry that she loved so much.

Tarakona immediately latched on like a limpet and nuzzled into my chest. Her tail also tried to wrap around my leg, though the blade at its tip made that difficult.

[What do you plan on doing with all the wood? I don't regret removing it all, but I would hate to see it wasted.]

"Got a few plans," I said as I started carrying her towards the house. "A fence, though. Trespassing makes that a little redundant. Still, it would make me feel safer even if that's stupid to say aloud."

[And it's not like we need any more houses for us. What about building a room for yourself since you don't have one?]

"And give you girls an excuse to not let me stay with you at night? Not a chance." I playfully growled before diving into her neck to plant kisses.

Tarakona laughed and made an attempt to push me away, though there was no real effort behind it. Instead, it felt like she was trying to pull me in closer.We stayed like that as we entered the house, only to find Zeldi and Abelha by the kitchen. That in itself wasn't strange, but my little mare had the worst poker face of all time, and right now she looked really guilty.

Before I could even ask why, Tarakona wriggled out of my grasp and locked eyes with Abelha. It was only because I grabbed her horn in the process that she didn't pounce.

"Tarakona." I warned as she tried to pull against me. This was a little out of character for her, as apart from being cuddly, she didn't usually act aggressively.

Abelha vanished into her room before I could stop her, and only when the Queen Bee was gone did Tarakona return to herself.

[She has honey. I can smell it.]

Tarakona's voice was clear and accusing in our heads. Backed up by Zeldi swallowing and placing her hands on her hips.

"And you will not be getting any of you behave like that, sister." Zeldi scolded.

"What do you mean she has honey?" I questioned. "Didn't Abelha need her hive to make some?"

"Nah, she lied. Well, I guess you could say she was saving herself from her." Zeldi answered while pointing towards Tarakona, who was now sniffing around where the Queen Bee had been.

Tarakona saw the movement, and instead of being scolded, she leapt at Zeldi so that she could stick her tongue down her throat.Surprised by her actions, Zeldi tried to pull away but stopped herself and instead turned the assault into a heavy make-out session.

"Do you want me to get her off you? Or..." I asked, frozen in place.

My first reaction had been to try and pull Tarakona away, but Zeldi didn't seem to be hating it. She even took the offered opportunity to grab a handful of Tarakona's tits.Not quite how I was expecting this to go, if I had to admit it. Tarakona pulled away after she had accomplished her goal before licking her lips for any residue still remaining.

"If I'd known that was how I could get you to kiss me like that, I would have done it sooner." My little mare said breathlessly, her hand still holding my Dragons tit.

[I have not tasted honey in soooooo long. It's just as good as I remember. Can I have some more?]

Her face whipped between the two of us pleadingly, though the image was slightly ruined by the drool trying to escape her mouth.

"Told you Dragons like honey," Abelha said from behind me. Her body was specifically placed so that I was her human shield against Tarakona.

Tarakona immediately zeroed in on the Queen Bee, but before she could react, Zeldi captured her in a bear hug.

"If you make any sudden moves, she's going to run to her room again, and you will get nothing. Can you behave?" She tittered.

[I can control myself.]

No one in the room believed that as she tested how well Zeldi was holding her. Though, to her credit, she could have broken out at any point in time so she was holding back.

"I thought you needed your hive before you could make honey," I said to Abelha while keeping my eyes on my Dragon. She was coiled to pounce in every way.

"I need my hive to make proper honey, yes, but I can still make a more liquid variation; it doesn't store very well," Abelha answered, and I felt her hands on my back as she peered over my shoulder. "And this was why I didn't tell you. And because most of what I make is actually for myself to eat."

[If you can get her to give me some more, my love, I will let Zeldi stick her tongue in my ass again.]

Well then. I would never have thought Tarakona would be this aggressive just for sugar. Actually, it makes a bit of sense. Her kind wouldn't be able to enjoy a sweet pastry or anything like that because of her size. It was kind of like only being able to eat one sweet, and that sweet was a once-a-year thing. Or possibly a century.No wonder she was so persistent.

"Tarakona, can you sit down for a second?" I asked, pointing towards the couch. "And no moving from there until I say so."

Tarakona whined but did as she was told. Abelha used her hands to guide me as she moved, making sure I stayed between them. Zeldi followed Tarakona and sat down with my Dragon.

"Now, before we go any further, Abelha, can you make any more honey, and would you be okay sharing it with Tarakona?" I asked the Queen Bee.

[I will defend you from anything that wishes to harm you.]

That caused Abelha to perk up."Oh. Even another Dragon?" She asked, her antenna bobbing around.

[Especially another Dragon. None but me will feed on your nectar.]

At this rate, Abelha won't need me to protect her hive. I mused to myself.Coming around slightly, Abelha still kept me as a meat shield, but she held up one of the jugs I use for Zeldi's milk. Giving the impatient Dragon a final look, she opened her mouth around the tip.

We all watched in fascination as the golden liquid started to drip from the back of her throat and into the bottle. It was definitely more liquid than I was used to, but even I could make out the subtle sweet smell that started to take over the room.I had to stare Tarakona down as she started to get up off her seat, but she listened to the nonverbal command.

When about five percent of the bottle was filled, Abelha stopped and removed her mouth from the tip. She hesitated when she saw the want in Tarakona, but she held herself high. And took a step behind me again."Here. I need to sell it for my quest, but you should know I can make it." She shoved the bottle into my hands and walked backwards towards the other side of the room.Now that she wasn't holding it, Tarakona's eyes weren't boring a hole through her. That was now my problem.

[My love. Please?]

"Promise to behave?" I said back, sticking my finger into the glass bottle.

[I promise whatever you want.]

Zeldi giggled at that. "Abelha is definitely going to be liked around here."

I smiled back, bringing the honey to my lips. The sweet taste filled my mouth in the best familiar way. It didn't stick to my teeth because of the liquid dilution, but we could evaporate it off if need be. It might actually make it last longer this way.

Handing the bottle over to my Dragon, she cradled it like it was the most precious thing she had held. The excitement was held at bay so that she didn't break the glass holding her prize.

I almost laughed at her before focusing on something I was curious about.

Buff gained: Speed (F-) 34 min 59 sec

How fitting for a sugary treat.