I made a new save point as the two beautiful queens trotted across the room to my bed, and a moment later, they both fell giggling into my arms. With the small amount of sleep I’d managed to get, my entire body felt much more energized, but I would have invited the opportunity to make love to two of my favorite people even if I was dead tired.
There were some things not even a god could say no to, and a threesome with two sexy queens definitely fit that category.
Such was my life, but I wasn’t complaining.
Evangeline wore a simple pink nightdress with a sheer robe falling in lacy waves to her ankles, and her jagged blonde hair looked disheveled in an oddly sexy way. Her gray eyes caught mine with the searching quality my wife always had, and they sparkled when I matched the intensity of her gaze.
She was the kind of woman who always wanted to be seen as an equal, but that probably stemmed from a traditional upbringing where she was overshadowed by her brothers.
Caelia’s flushed cheeks showed her usual modesty as she pulled the velvet textured robe over her pale blue shift, and I was amused by her ability to dress practically and simply
even when she was one of the queens ruling the entire kingdom. It made me want to shower her with gifts and things that made her smile, and when my eyes returned to her face, I received a radiant grin.
I already had everything I wanted.
And I planned on enjoying it to the fullest.
Since I had a save point handy, I could do whatever I wanted before resetting to give the queens a night they would never forget, so I tore at their clothing with no regard for the expensive material and painstakingly detailed embroidery. I was like an animal as I ripped open the fabric separating us, and I hungrily grabbed them and kissed Eva then Caelia with a fierce desire I couldn’t restrain.
The two women kneeled on the bed with a dazed look on their faces as the tattered remains of their nightclothes hung from their shoulders, and their breasts heaved with their heavy breaths. Eva’s curved belly revealed how close she was to the birth of our child, but Caelia was also sporting a bump on her lower stomach. My blood pumped hotly as I gazed at my fertile women, but I could tell from the dilation of their pupils that they were both already aroused as well, and I smirked as I pulled my own clothes off.
I’d fallen asleep with all my clothes on, but at least I hadn’t been wearing my full dragonscale armor, and it only took me a moment to strip off my dirty outfit and return to the girls.
“Bash,” Eva purred. “We are supposed to be pleasing you tonight.”
“You always focus on us,” Caelia added. “It’s our turn to focus on you.”
“Yeah, maybe next time.” I flashed them both a devilish grin. “I want to devour you during this run through.”
“Run through?” Eva’s eyebrows knitted together.
“Because he will run us through with his man sword,”
Caelia explained to her co-queen in a matter-of-fact tone.
“No, that’s not— Never mind. It’s true enough.” I shook my head in amusement. “Come here.”
We fell backward into the bed with our mouths roaming each other’s, and I rubbed my hands down both of the women’s backs as I pressed them closer against me. They were perfect opposites, like chocolate and vanilla ice cream swirled together, and I wanted to taste their combined flavors with a deep hunger.
I pushed myself out from between them, but I pressed them back into the pillows when they started to rise up after me. Then I positioned all three of us so I could easily switch between their pussies, and I spread open the tender flesh of their thighs to reveal the sacred glory between their legs. Eva’s smoky-gray eyes filled with excitement as soon as she realized my intentions, but Caelia’s surprised gasp when my fingers tickled her already moistened slit was just as satisfying.
I brought them both to a knee-shaking orgasm with teasing caresses in all their preferred hotspots with slowly increasing pressure, and I gave them a beat to regain their composure and regulate their breathing. Eva gazed down at me with a half-lidded lust-filled gray gaze, but Caelia’s dark eyes were firmly shut as she panted with an open mouth.
Then I started to lick, finger, and tease my two gorgeous women until a combination of their juices dripped down my face. Fortunately, I’d managed to grow a full but trim beard, and the smell of the delicious aromas lingered close to my nostrils as I moved them into the next position.
“Bash…” Eva moaned as I flipped her body onto all fours. “How do you always know how to make me feel good?”
“And here I thought I was being selfish this time.” I smirked. “But I’ve also been studying you for lifetimes, so I think I know how to touch you.”
The two queens moaned in agreement as they fell into my arms, and I stayed in total control as I directed them like my own personal dolls. I didn’t hold back my dominant urges, and I gripped them by the throat and slapped their asses to encourage all of their efforts to get me off.
I was entirely intent on taking total advantage of their submissive obedience, and releasing any restraint on my urges made me climax harder and faster than I had in a while. I sprayed the two pairs of soft voluptuous breasts as my hips jerked with every spasm, and I coated both of the beautiful queens in a thick layer of my seed.
“I love making a mess sometimes,” I said with an approving look at the two sticky, exhausted women.
“I love it, too.” Eva grinned despite the stray tendril of jizz dangling from her chin.
“Now we get to wash each other clean!” Caelia giggled as she darted toward the bathroom.
While bathing with the two beautiful girls sounded delightful, I wasn’t done working through my desires just yet.
I wanted to experience our lovemaking session over and over again until my appetite for their bodies was satiated, so I reset to my save point with a wave of my horny will.
Chime.
The two queens dashed toward my bed, and I pushed off the mattress to meet them halfway. I was already pulling my shirt over my head and kicking off my boots by the time we embraced in a heated tangle, and the two women followed my lead until all three of us stood naked in the middle of the room.
“How do you want to please me?” I asked in a husky voice as I pulled the two pregnant hotties against me. “I’m up for anything.”
The two women exchanged a sideways glance before bursting into giggles, and Eva bit her lip while Caelia fluttered her eyelashes. Whatever they had in store for me was bound to be good, and this time, I wanted to let them take the lead.
“We want to ease your stress,” Eva said as she grabbed a pillow and knelt on the cushion at my feet.
“Release your burdens,” Caelia added, and the dark-skinned beauty followed the blonde’s example.
“Sounds good to me.” I grinned down into their dilated eyes, and I licked my lips.
My cock surged up into an appeal for attention, and my skin felt hot despite my nudity. I was more than eager to find out what was in store for me, but I wasn’t going to rush the two queens until they were ready for me to send them over the edge into bliss.
“Yesss,” I groaned in delight as the juicy lips of the blonde queen wrapped around my throbbing mushroom tip, and I felt another tongue lapping and massaging my balls when Caelia joined the party. “Oh, fuck, that feels so good…”
The two women said nothing as they continued to coat my hardened length in saliva, and they took turns stroking me with tight fists to spread the lubricant down my shaft. My hips jerked toward them every time they slid down to the hilt, and I hissed when their hands circled back up to my tip.
All the time I’d spent teaching them the art of the blowjob had paid off.
My mind turned completely blank when Eva started to push my length down her throat, and the wet guttural sounds she made almost made me cum right then, but I inhaled through clenched teeth to maintain my control. As soon as the blonde plopped off to catch her breath, Caelia’s thick lips came to replace hers, and they tag-teamed my cock whenever they reached their limits, but I wasn’t given a break from the onslaught of pulsating and pleasurable sensations.
They worked me up until I exploded in a shuddering wave of satisfaction, and this time, the two queens greedily gulped down every single drop of my sperm. I panted as I gazed down into their adoring eyes, and a wry smirk twisted my lips. I was getting closer to feeling satiated, but I still wasn’t done reliving the fun.
Chime.
The two queens approached the bed, but I remained prone on the mattress. I let them cross the distance to me, and when they paused at the edge, I beckoned them forward. The desire to please me was clear in their gaze, and I knew they were more than capable of delivering on the promise in their eyes.
“Take off your clothes,” I instructed in a gravelly voice.
“Then take off mine.”
Eva and Caelia nodded obediently, and they turned to assist each other with freeing their flesh from any fabric. I helped move my body to ease their efforts as they pulled off my boots, shirt, and pants, but once all three of us were completely nude, I laid back and let them do as they pleased.
The queens took turns sucking my cock, but I didn’t let them push me to release just yet, and I directed Eva to sit on my face while Caelia continued the good work down south.
My blonde wife shuddered on top of me as several climaxes swept through her body in waves, and I lapped up her flavor with ravenous hunger. When the beautiful blonde had love juices dripping down her thighs into my beard, I had her switch out with the dark-skinned hottie so I could bring her to the same level of pleasure.
After Caelia orgasmed on top of my face a few times, she pushed off me and swatted my shoulder in a playful manner. Her face was flushed, and a sheen of sweat dappled her dark skin. She was always so beautiful after she climaxed a few times, and I soaked in the sight of her.
“We’re supposed to be pleasuring you!” Caelia teased, and she giggled as she straddled my waist.
“Making you cum gives me a lot of pleasure,” I pointed out. “But you’re the boss.”
I let the two women take turns riding me, and I marveled at their taut-skinned bellies and swollen breasts as the babies they were growing pushed the limits of their bodies.
The queens were resilient, fertile, and naturally maternal, and I found the feminine beauty of their pregnant bodies to be a powerful turn-on.
I did that to them.
I filled them with my god seed, and someday my children would rule the world.
Eva sat behind Caelia as our hips pushed up and down against each other, and the blonde’s hands roamed over her co-queen’s dark skin. The contrast between Eva’s pale digits and Caelia’s chocolate hue was fascinating, and my blood heated as I traced the path of her fingers over nipples and skin with my eyes.
When I exploded deep inside Caelia’s pulsating tunnel, the curly-haired queen leaned back against Eva, and the
blonde gently stroked her co-queen’s curled and sweaty tendrils.
Fuck, this night was just too good to let pass by.
Chime.
I focused on the women until they were both laying in puddles of pleasure, but they still gulped down my sperm with greedy swallows.
Chime.
I laid in between them, and I rolled back and forth as I switched between their wet pussies.
Chime.
I reset to my save point another handful of times until I was finally ready for sleep once more, but I made sure to create a romantic experience with the two queens during the final run through.
They sucked my cock until I almost lost control over myself, and then they straddled my face and hips to ride me simultaneously. After they had climaxed all over my lips and beard, I placed them on all fours to fuck them from behind.
Their moans and gasps created a sexy soundtrack to our
shenanigans, and I added my own growls and groans to the mix.
“Fuuuuck,” I hissed as I exploded for what felt like the hundredth time.
My sperm sprayed across bellies, bedspread, and lips as my hips jerked over and over again, but finally, the spurts subsided, and I collapsed in exhaustion. I felt completely spent and satisfied, and judging from the sweaty faces and open-mouthed breathing coming from the two women, they were experiencing the same feeling.
An ear-to-ear grin split my face as I fetched moist towels for us to clean up with, and the two women let out contented sighs once we all laid back against the pillows. We snuggled up and fell asleep shortly after, but I fought the sleepiness in my eyes for a while so I could gaze at their peaceful faces. I wanted to remember every inch of them, every expression, every mood, but I was especially fond of their post-lovemaking blissful smiles and languid eyes.
There was more than enough time for that, though, and sleep took over at last. I might be the God of Time, but I still needed my rest.
I could already smell the delicious aromas of a breakfast spread when my eyes opened the next morning, and I shifted out from beneath the arms and hair of my lovers. Caelia blinked her chocolate eyes at me before my feet hit the floor, but Eva merely groaned and rolled over to face her pillow. The blonde was not known to be an early riser, but Caelia certainly seemed awake.
“Stay in bed a little longer,” the dark-skinned beauty urged. “It’s still early…”
“I have to get the evacuation finished as soon as possible,” I argued. “And I need to get all the leaders together so we can work as a team instead of squabbling over power.
They’re all used to being the one in control of their own domains, so I doubt anyone is used to sharing the responsibility of leadership.”
“True.” Caelia pursed her lips. “They’ll have to acknowledge your superiority and fall in line behind you. That will be the only way everyone will stay united in the face of an enemy army.”
“I’m going to check on the refugees after breakfast,” I said in a decisive tone. “It’ll help me organize the leaders if I know what the common people are dealing with.”
“I can send pages to summon everyone together,” Caelia suggested. “I’m sure they have already been expecting some time with you.”
“I imagine they have a lot of questions,” I mused. “We have a lot of work left to do.”
“If anyone can do it, it’s you.” Caelia flashed me a confident smile. “Go ahead and eat, we will follow behind you soon, but I need to wake this one up first.”
“Good luck with that,” I chuckled. “You’re going to need it.”
“I may have picked up a few tricks recently,” Caelia said in a conspiratorial whisper.
“I bet.” I laughed, and the blonde queen muttered something incoherent from within the depths of the pillow she was face-planted in.
Once I pulled on some clean royal-looking clothes, I headed toward the direction of the delicious smells. I wasn’t surprised to see Akina and Zenda already awake and dishing up their breakfast plates, but I’d also been expecting Mahini since the desert beauty was known to be an early riser as well.
I didn’t know Tiff’s sleeping habits yet, but I would learn everything about her soon enough.
“The others are still sleeping,” Zenda informed me as I joined them at the breakfast buffet. “The babies didn’t sleep very well last night.”
“Much like some queens I know,” Akina muttered in a teasing voice.
“Some things are worth more than sleep,” I countered with a flirtatious wink. “We need everyone awake, though. I’m going to gather all the leaders together to discuss our situation, and I want our entire family present to offer advice and guidance to the others.”
“How can we help?” Zenda’s sapphire eyes were bright with a smile. “I can gather everyone you need, or clear a meeting space and arrange enough chairs for the entire group.”
“Let servants worry about the details,” I said. “I need you to review all your notes about the other gods. Maybe there’s something we’ve overlooked.”
“That’s easy enough.” Zenda nodded decisively. “I’ll start right after breakfast.”
“What about me?” Akina asked with a worried frown.
“I don’t know Vallenwood very well yet, but I doubt I’ll get lost around the palace after pretending to be a maid for a couple of days. I can scout the hallways to see how the people are doing.”
I loved how the former desert dweller was eager to help the people of Sorreyal even though it wasn’t her homeland.
“We can make a lap together,” I suggested. “I think it’s important for the refugees to see us in person, and if we show them how much we care, they will be more likely to do what is required of them.”
“Required of whom?” Tiff asked as she bounced into the room.
The Goddess of Death had her shoulder-length black hair pulled back into a leather strap, and the swinging tail of hair swept back and forth across the nape of her neck. Her bright green eyes and energetic movements indicated she was more of a morning person than a night owl, and I tucked the information away for later use.
The more I learned about Tiff, the better.
“The leaders who have all come to Vallenwood,” I explained. “We can’t have them fighting over power instead of focusing on what needs to be done.”
“I’m happy to help however I can,” the goddess volunteered. “After breakfast, that is.”
We all laughed and focused on our food for a while, but Eva, Caelia, Elissa, and Mahini joined us before we had finished eating. Celeste had taken over the care of the babies for the day, and everyone was eager to help with the war. I caught the newcomers up on the plans for our meeting with the leaders, and everyone agreed to go meet some of the refugees, but then we would all head to the audience chamber together.
All the corridors of the palace were already packed with people of all classes, and I could see how uncomfortable some of the richer people were about sharing a living space. Most requested private quarters, a switch in their work assignment, or an increase in rations.
I was reminded of some modern-day Earth history when a nobleman’s son demanded cake, but no one lost their head in the end. I found myself repeating the same simple phrases: be patient and have faith, seek out your town leader for answers,
everyone needs to pitch in, and this is not the end, it’s a beginning.
Once the people in the palace were appeased by my presence, my women and I ventured out into the streets of Vallenwood to check the state of the smaller neighborhoods.
The overflow of people was straining a block of houses, and many refugees were being denied access to the housing, so they were camping in the road nearby.
These were all people from Sorreyal, but the residents of the capital seemed to think they were better than some of the others seeking shelter among them. I knew we had to nip this kind of defiant energy in the bud because our survival against a plague-riddled army would depend on all of us working together.
I needed to make their leaders understand just how important winning this war was, and a new day would dawn in Sorreyal once we were victorious.
The throne room was already crowded with the leaders from all the small towns and holdings, and I scanned over the room full of familiar faces until I spotted Elrin and Riondale.
They stood near the Duchess of Arginold Hold and Ako, but the four quickly cut off their conversation as I approached.
“Ah, the man of the hour,” Ako said with a warm smile in his honey-colored eyes. “I’m curious to hear what you have in store for us.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said to my friend. “The more friendly familiar faces, the better.”
“Pfft, everyone here adores and worships you,” Ako countered. “As they should.”
Elrin and Elissa shared a hug, and Eva quickly found her father as well, but once our brief greetings had all been accomplished, my women and I climbed the steps to the dais.
A silence fell over the gathered leaders as we reached the top of the platform, and I turned to gaze out over the attentive and expectant faces that filled the room. Everyone who held a position of power in the realm was present, and I wasn’t going to let the opportunity to get everyone on the same page pass me by. I could make sweeping across-the-board changes for the entire kingdom, and I wouldn’t need to waste valuable time traveling around the map to deliver the message.
“Thank you all for coming,” I said in a loud clear voice, and I held the gaze of the people closest to me for a moment.
“We are the decision makers of the realm, and the people are looking to all of us for hope and guidance. We cannot fail
them now, and turning our backs on our responsibilities will only end up with more people dead or mutated, who will be turned against us.”
A seriousness settled over the majority of the faces before me, but I didn’t want to instill fear or dread in their hearts, so I decided to attempt a more uplifting message.
“If we all work together, we will easily be able to defeat Plague’s army.” I lifted my chin to a proud angle. “When I look around this room, I see strength, persistence, determination, and a lot of heart. We have the power to change the world, but only if we can work together.”
“How do we do that?” Duke Fester from Edinburg Manor asked in a loud voice. “You’ve stripped us of all our decision-making power, and now all of our people are at your mercy.”
“You mean within the circle of my protection,” I corrected. “As you are. Vallenwood is safe, for now, but she won’t remain so unless we’re smart. I have a plan, but I cannot be everywhere at once despite my attempts to do so. I need each of you to step up.”
“What’s your plan, then?” Duke Quin from Mistvale Keep asked. “Are you going to rob our coffers to fund your
war? Steal our guards to build your forces? Seize our supplies to redistribute them to those unable to gather their own?”
“Maybe all of the above.” I shrugged. “If I need to.”
“You cannot take over our territories like this,” Duchess Jaketta spoke up, but Ako shot her a warning glance in an unsuccessful effort to cut her off. “We are entitled to our wealth and resources.”
“No, your people are,” I countered. “And right now, they’re all my people. If you’d rather brave the God of the Plague on your own, then I won’t stand in your way, but if you want to save lives and end the war, then your only choice is to follow my commands without question.”
“So, you keep your power, but we’re supposed to sacrifice our own?” Lord Fester snorted. “How do we know you’re even capable of protecting us from this plague god? For all we know, gathering in Vallenwood could be sealing our fates.”
“When have I ever steered you wrong?” I arched a challenging eyebrow as I glanced around at the leaders’ faces.
“When have I ever failed you? Have I even once turned my back on your struggles? What enemies have I refused to
eliminate? What reason could you possibly have to doubt me after everything I have accomplished in this world?”
My words were met with silence, but I knew I would need their total obedience in order for me to save as many lives as possible.
“I have killed a dragon, rooted out corruption, hunted fugitives, and gained several allies for Sorreyal throughout my adventures.” I held the eyes of every person I could see. “Each of you have benefited from knowing me, and I have never ignored a call for aid. I have ended curses, located stolen goods and lost children, fought monsters, bandits, and more. I did all of this for you and your people, but now they need you more than ever. Do you trust in your god? Will you follow me?”
“There is no doubt in my mind, Great One,” an elderly man’s voice piped up, and everyone turned to face the owner, so the parting heads revealed Atticus’ face. “I know you will lead us to victory, and the people of Lake Balerno are at your command.”
“Hear, hear!” The Duke of Bullard pumped his fist in the air. “For all of Sorreyal!”
Cheers and applause followed his chant, but I noticed a few who still didn’t join in. I suppose trusting me to face the threats against the realm was different than sacrificing their own power and wealth, but I knew everything would return to the way it was once the war was won.
Actually, things would probably drastically improve since I could devote all of my time to increasing the standard of living for everyone in the kingdom if I wasn’t spending my days hunting down enemies and foes.
I continued to answer questions, instill faith and confidence, and sort through the fears of the leaders gathered before me. Once everyone’s curiosity and doubts were satisfied, we began to discuss the more important details of recruiting soldiers, placing troops in strategic locations, and gathering enough supplies and housing for everyone in Vallenwood.
“I need everyone to draft every able-bodied person you can,” I instructed. “Young men, older men, even women, just anyone capable of fighting. It doesn’t matter if they’ve been trained or not, everyone has talents we can use to our advantage.”
“Will there be rewards for joining the military force?”
Ademar, the mayor of Northwood Valley, asked. “Increased rations in exchange for fighting?”
“Our soldiers will get the first pick of the rations,” I agreed. “But that doesn’t mean anyone is going hungry.”
“How are we supposed to put armor and weapons on all the new soldiers?” Adorno, the leader of my timber town, Wyndvale, spoke up. “We weren’t able to bring any of our recent harvest of lumber to trade for the gear we will need in battle.”
“We have every blacksmith in the realm working on cranking out swords and armor,” I said. “In the meantime, anyone without the proper gear can still train with more skilled fighters. Soldiers already experienced at warfare will take the front lines, and I want a few hundred men ready to leave the capital before the end of the day.”
“Where will they go?” Duke Quin asked.
“They will radiate from the city in a big circle to cover the edges of the realm,” I explained. “Not only will they be the first to see the enemy’s forces arrive, but they’ll be able to cover a lot of ground with fewer numbers. With any luck, we will even be able to cut off the enemy from behind, so I’m
going to leave a few soldiers in several towns around the borders.”
The questions continued for a little while longer, and I encouraged them to voice all their doubts and concerns. There were some things I could not guarantee, but I had to be honest with them anyway. I couldn’t afford to lose anyone’s faith when the fate of the entire realm hung in the balance, but I was certain I would cement their belief in me once I freed the land of Plague’s diseased shadow.
Once everyone’s concerns were addressed, we wrapped up the gathering by having the leaders write down their population and capable fighters numbers, and Zenda kept an ongoing total until all the mayors, dukes, and military heads had listed their complete resources.
Then we moved on to the issue of housing. The palace was overcrowded to the point of having handfuls of people in each room, but there would be more space in the city if local residents shared the available space in their homes.
Eva and Caelia helped divide up the city between the various leaders so each territory had its own designated space, and all the trained and experienced soldiers would be housed on the outside edge of the circular capital. Mahini and Akina
spoke with Riondale and the other military heads about training regimens, and Zenda and Tiff organized the distribution of resources to the populace. Meanwhile, Elissa pulled all the other women in the room together to make plans for childcare and food service, and I was amazed at how quickly the seven women got all the people in the room to take action in efficient ways.
My wives were all a force to be reckoned with, and I was glad it was a power I had on my side. I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of the strong, capable women helping me rule this world, especially not if their children were threatened in any way.
A god like me deserved good women in his life, and I had that in spades.
We went about the rest of the day in a blur of motion, and the city was soon a bustling center full of refugees settling into their new temporary accommodations. My women and I barely stood still all day, but we still managed to steal kisses and hugs when our paths crossed. At one point, I spotted Celeste in the palace gardens with a blanket spread across the grass, and my two children lay beneath the trees causing the sunlight to dapple over the ground. I checked in on the young
girl taking care of my babies, and I gave Sorena and Arcas kisses and baby-like babbles for a moment before I was called away to handle another issue.
The evacuation process was still ongoing, and more and more people trickled through the city gates by the hour. The guards were hard-pressed to keep up with the flow of traffic, and they urged patience in the refugees as they thoroughly checked every group. Resources and supplies were gathered from the gate, and the food was quickly grouped together in order to ration it more effectively.
Nameless circled the city high overhead, but his silvery scales cast glimmering reflections across the streets of the capital, and everyone in Vallenwood seemed intrigued by his movements in the sky above. I mind-linked with him to see the world from his eyes, and I marveled at the distance he could see without straining. Buildings and farms miles away from the city were just as visually crisp as the paving stones below, and I was comforted by the dragon’s ability to watch the entire panorama at once.
The tradesmen were all put to work on projects to help the growing army, and Bellona immediately took control over the tailors and seamstresses as she directed the creation of
uniforms. Every piece she made was emblazoned with my personal crest, and I couldn’t help but grin every time I saw the golden griffon and crimson dragon rearing toward the center of a black backdrop, but the uniforms themselves were made in Vallenwood’s gold-and-red-colored fabrics.
After a long day of back-breaking work and a record number of blips around the realm, I bathed and changed before joining the rest of my family for dinner. The hallways of the palace were crowded with refugees, but only the weakest members of the population had been brought inside the golden-walled structure, so I only heard an occasional murmur or cough as I passed by. No one moved to stop me for random requests or comments, though, so I arrived at the grand dining hall a few moments later.
All my women were already present, and the Duke of Bullard, Elrin, Jax, Torya, and Riondale had joined us as well.
Torya was starting to show just as much as Caelia, but Eva remained the largest of the group. I heard Zenda lament the lack of signs of an upcoming pregnancy, and I made a mental note to give her womb a few more coatings of my seed. Jax and Riondale were in the middle of one of their usual discussions about the strengths and weaknesses of various
weapons, but I knew the two buddies were always determined to disagree about something, if only to make things more interesting.
“Great, you’re all here.” I grinned around the room full of my closest friends and family. “It’s nice that we can all get together even in the middle of all this chaos.”
“When the God of Time beckons you for a free meal, you take it,” Jax teased. “Besides, Torya has been chirpin’
about seein’ the girls for days.”
“What can I say?” the curvy innkeeper giggled.
“There’s nothing like another woman to understand the pain of pregnancy.”
Our large group settled into the chairs circling the long mahogany dining table, and at a signal from Eva, servants began to roll in carts loaded with our plates. The smells rolled around the room like a delicious fog, and my mouth watered as I tried to pick out the individual scents inside the combination.
The lids were removed to reveal steaming plates full of pork chops, mashed potatoes with a side of gravy, and mixed steamed vegetables. A basket of rolls was placed every few spaces, and bowls of softened butter were situated near the
bread. We all watched the servants with eager and hungry eyes, but they worked swiftly to place our meals before us all.
A couple of moments later, our cups were full of wine, juice, or other beverages, and the servants stepped away from the table to stand in a line against the wall.
I felt a little bad for making them work while we ate, but I would have to get used to the royal treatment eventually.
It didn’t seem like I’d be spending any less time in Vallenwood, but the quaint simplicity of Bastianville became more and more of a treat with each level of power I reached.
Our discussion was lighthearted and bubbly as we all described the trials and tribulations of the day, and it sounded like everyone had at least one fire to put out. A couple of my family members reported interrupting bickering and fights as they guided the newcomers to their new housing, and not every resident of Vallenwood was eager to open their home to strangers.
The children in the city had been herded together into a large school, and an empty warehouse was designated as a gathering place for the kids. A group was sent out to clean it up and make it more suitable for little ones, but it would be ready by morning. With the children safely cared for, their
parents could focus on the hard work of protecting the city, and I knew I would be able to focus on the tasks ahead much better once I knew my babies were cared for.
“Once our forces are in place,” I said after we had covered everyone else’s concerns. “Then I will work on drawing out the God of the Plague for a one-on-one duel. The faster I can kill him, the faster this whole war will be over.”
“We will keep the people safe while you give Plague your full attention,” the Duke of Bullard assured me. “Failure is not an option for any of us.”
“We won’t fail,” Tiff insisted in an adamant voice. “Not with Bash here.”
“Agreed,” Elrin said.
“Aye,” Jax growled. “Tell us something we don’t know.”
“Like how we can only sustain this evacuation for one month before our supplies dwindle entirely?” The seriousness in Elissa’s voice got all of our attention. “If the war doesn’t end before the next full moon, then the people will start to starve. Without the time it takes to harvest, there will be no
way for us to replenish our stores if the war takes longer than that.”
“It won’t come to that,” I assured her.
“We just have to work smarter, not harder,” Tiff added.
“If people understand what’s at stake, then I’m sure they will willingly do with less. All of Bash’s followers seem to get the bigger picture, so I know they will do what is necessary in order to survive.”
“They’re your followers, too,” I pointed out. “They’re counting on you just as much as me.”
“I won’t let them down,” the goddess said in a firm voice, and her emerald eyes sparkled with the sincerity of her promise.
Gone was the isolated loner focused solely on self-preservation, and a strong, compassionate leader had stepped into her place. I was already proud of how much Tiff had grown since I’d first met her, but I knew she would only continue to show me how awesome she really was.
“Don’t forget your other allies, Bash,” Zenda suddenly said. “You have made friends all over the world, and I know
more than one person has promised to have your back when you need it.”
“We need it now,” Mahini agreed.
“It’s worth a shot,” Tiff added.
“I suppose you’re right.” I worked the muscle in my jaw as I thought it over. A few water mages from the Zaborial Isles would certainly come in handy, and I needed to restock my supply of healing waters from Arajah before we were faced with a bunch of injured or infected people. “We should start recruiting in the other realms first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Can we go to the islands first?” the Zaborian historian asked as she attempted to mask her burning desire to go with me.
“We’ll go straight to your father,” I agreed with a smile, and Zenda’s shoulders relaxed immediately.
We finished our meal with the family, but before I retired for the night, I entered the office we’d designated as our strategizing headquarters. I spread open the maps of the Eastern Ocean and the islands scattered throughout the sea, and I had to admit, the idea of returning to the Zaborial Isles was very appealing.
Once I organized my world traveling itinerary and hung the maps on the wall, I grabbed a leather-bound journal for any necessary note-taking along the trip, and I pulled the doors to the office closed behind me.
I slept alone, but I wasn’t complaining. I was able to stretch out over the bed in a luxurious starfish shape, and the smells of lovemaking with my beautiful women still lingered on my pillows. There would be plenty more nights spent pushing my wives and lovers to climax, and I was okay with taking some alone time every once in a while. I had troubling dreams about the war ahead, but the flashing images of my loved ones dying only made me feel even more determined to emerge victorious.
The God of the Plague was a fool for thinking he could win this war.
The next morning, Nameless, Zenda, and I met up in the courtyard, but we grabbed some travel-friendly breakfast foods as we passed by the dining area. I was licking frosting off my fingers from a flaky pastry as I emerged from the palace, and then we all slung our packs onto our backs before we both placed our hands on the dragon’s head. Nameless was carrying his own provisions again since I didn’t think it would
be a good idea to let him hunt in the islands, and I didn’t want his evergrowing appetite to spark fear in the Zaborians.
I made a new save point before I blipped us across the world, and a moment later, we rematerialized in the Grand Occulta Athenaeum on the island of Aun. We stood outside the double doors leading to the High Priest’s office, and I knew Zenda was eager to see her father.
“Intruders!” a masculine voice called out the instant we appeared. “Seize them!”
Hands reached out and grabbed me from behind, and I struggled against them as Zenda did the same beside me.
“Whoa!” Bands of water wrapped around my torso, and my arms were held firmly against my sides. In my peripheral vision, I could see the historian enduring the same fate as me, and it seemed like the more we fought against it, the stronger the magic became. Nameless snapped and growled at the men restraining us, and they tried to pull us out of the dragon’s reach as they stared at the flying lizard in shock and fear.
I hadn’t expected a parade or anything, but this wasn’t exactly the welcome party I’d had in mind before the blip.