Vol.5 Ch.31.2 – Pillow Talk II

We didn't usually all sleep together in a single bed. Of course it happened often enough but not every night. Everyone needed alone time once in a while and, quite frankly, spending every night satisfying four, now six, women was more than a guy could handle.

Truthfully, with the way my stamina had improved in the Crystal Crown's dungeon I could do it but spending a quarter of every day having sex would only serve to make us all grow tired of it and I was planning to spend a very long time with these women, making love whenever we pleased.

On nights like this, however, when everyone was dead tired, there was no reason not to sleep in a big pile. Most beds in the mansion weren't large enough to fit all seven of us but Anna's bed was. Although, admittedly, seven people was pushing it and any form of strenuous bedroom activity would likely involve someone sitting or standing beside the bed. But that wasn't an issue for tonight.

Instead Alisha and I cradled Anna between us, Selene spooning with Alisha and Athena with me. Melinoe slept atop Anna and me, her lithe body light enough that she felt more like a cooling blanket than a full person resting on us. Finally, Yume was curled up at the top of the bed, her fluffy tails acting as our pillows. This was how she liked sleeping every once in a while and I certainly wasn't about to argue against an all-night fluff bath. In fact, the moment I laid my head down on her fluffy tail and breathed in her scent I was off to dream land.

**

I woke up much earlier than I had expected.

After the day we'd had I had expected to sleep the day away but when I woke up not only were the others still asleep but it was still dark outside. I wasn't really yet and I could tell I would be falling back asleep if I just stayed there so I simply thought through what awaited us.

The main priority would be going back to Olympus. We would check on the gods and see how the rescue effort had gone. I would see Hephaestus and see if he'd had time to repair Helios Edge. And, of course, we would start looking through the vaults of Olympus for magical artifacts. I also fully expected Anna to have to go brief the queen on the success of our mission but I wasn't sure whether we'd be required for that trip. And then there were the other things.

If Melinoe was serious about staying with us then that would mean a trip back to Melinoe's Rest for her to grab some personal belongings and inform people of where she was staying. With Alisha along this trip would likely not take very long but it did mean taking Alisha along and I was still the littlest bit cranky at the way she'd messed with Melinoe. Then again, if the three of us went alone then that might be the perfect opportunity to clear the air between us.

And of course we'd still have to deal with Ares. How exactly we would deal with him would depend on our conversation with Zeus but I expected it to take a few more days before we could have that conversation. Hera had not seemed happy with him, not that I could blame her.

Of course, intentionally or not, her actions would end up weakening the King of the Gods in the long run. If she kept him locked up then that would mean he'd be unable to... perform... at his temple, leaving all those women unseeded. That would weaken the faith his congregation had in him, at least in the short term. And while I was more than happy to see Zeus' influence wane, with the threat of the Black Goat looming I wasn't sure if weakening the Olympians was such a smart thing to do.

Then there was the matter of Bres. With him revealed as a traitor to the world his marriage with Brigid was void, which meant the peace treaty with the Fomorians was void as well. That would likely mean a massive increase in coastal raids. And even if they left the Trismegistian kingdom alone, Albion wouldn't be so lucky. Oh gods, Albion. We'd need to inform them of this situation. Hopefully Queen Emilia had an ambassador from Albion staying at the palace. That would simplify things.

And then of course there was the long term problem of Shub-Niggurath. Two years. We had two years to prepare for what I expected to be a full-scale invasion. Even if they didn't invade this world with Outsiders, she would send in the rest of that army we'd seen. Until then I needed the ability to interact with the threads of fate. If Athena couldn't convince the Fates to help then...

I shook myself out of it. No need worrying about catastrophes that hadn't happened yet. If the Fates refused her request I'd just have to go ask those crones myself, begging if need be. Yes, I did have my pride as the Godsforsaken but if I had to choose between my pride and Syr's life then I would grovel without hesitation.

Suddenly I felt the unmistakable sensation of being wrapped up in a hug by Syr, which felt absolutely bizarre given that I was already surrounded by my girls on all sides.

Can't sleep either?, I asked into my mind.

How can I, when you think so loudly?, she asked, though her tone made it clear that she was touched rather than annoyed.

I flexed my mental muscles and returned her hug, eliciting a gasp from her.

You've gotten better at that, she said.

Need to step up my game after all, I said. How are you feeling?

My mother is still a monster, she said, then added after a pause: I've spent some time thinking.

I clenched up inwardly. As I'd said before, alone with her thoughts was the last place she should be after what she'd learned. About what?, I finally asked.

About what you told me, she said. About how I decide my own reason for living.

I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

You were right, she finally said. My mother may be a monster but that doesn't mean I have to be. I decide who I want to be. And who I want to be is the person you're willing to grovel for if need be.

I didn't think it was that impressive of a statement, I said. I'd fully meant it but I hadn't meant it to be as grand a gesture as she seemed to think it was.

You struck a goddess for Selene, she said. But you, of all people, being willing to grovel before a god? Of course that's an impressive statement.

I could feel a blush coming on.

So I think we never really talked about Melinoe, have we?, she said eventually.

Are you sure you want to talk about another woman right now?, I asked.

It's pretty hard to ignore her, given that her hair is tickling your cheek right now, she said.

She wasn't wrong. With the way Meli was laying atop Anna and me a strand of her hair had fallen onto my cheek and every breath she took made it tickle my cheek. That's not really what I mean, I said.

I've come to terms with the fact that you're a package deal long ago, Felix, Syr finally said. What I want to know is, after everything that happened, how do you feel about her?

Horrible, I said.

She didn't say anything but I got the impression that she didn't like that answer so I explained:

I liked her immediately. She's fun to be around. She's gorgeous. Learning where her overconfident act came from made her behavior even more endearing than I already found it.

So what's so horrible about that?, Syr asked.

Nothing, I said. What I feel horrible about is the way I treated her.

It's not entirely your fault, she said.

Not entirely, I agreed, but mine as well. And the fact that I can't really be angry with Alisha and Yume for it irks me as well.

I'm not sure if I should say anything, but... she began.

No, please do, I replied.

What happened is not your responsibility, she said. Was the way you treated her right? Probably not. Was it largely because of Alisha's impulsiveness? Yes. But in the end all that does matter is how Melinoe feels about it. And she's made her feelings very clear.

She's never felt cherished like my girls have, I finished.

So cherish her, she said. Not to make up for it but to make it so there's nothing to make up for. Give her what she's been missing and neither your actions nor Alisha's will have been wrong.

I nodded. She was right. If I gave Melinoe what she had been missing then there's nothing to forgive. If I do that then everything that happened was just right. You're right. Thank you. You know, talking to you is always therapeutic.

Right back at you, she said softly. If you hadn't pulled me back from the brink earlier I might have done something really foolish.

I'll drag you back from that brink as many times as it takes, I said. I love you.

I love you, too, she said softly.

We just stayed silent for a while, me staring at the ceiling, until she said: I was thinking about spying on her.

In another world, I said, not quite making it a question.

She said she wouldn't keep me from returning to you, she said.

But can she be trusted?, I asked. She could have been lying.

I don't think she can lie, she said. She can mislead but I don't think she can tell a lie.

Then maybe it's misleading, I said. She won't keep you but you won't find your way back.

Possible, she said, but I think my links to you and to this world are stronger than the barrier between worlds.

Alright, I said with a confidence I wasn't quite feeling, if you want.

You don't want me to leave, she said.

I don't want to lose you, I admitted.

And you won't, she said. I promise.

Alright then, I said. I trust you.

I felt another hug from her. Don't worry, I won't be leaving right away or anything. But I wanted to talk to you first.

Thank you, I said, then surprised myself by yawning again.

She giggled softly, then started humming a little lullaby and soon enough I managed to fall asleep again.