CHAPTER 436: JOYFUL JOANNE

Sabine was another one of Aubrey and Aisha’s wives, and the one Malachi knew the least about.

She was a quiet woman who, despite seeming emotionally detached, was supposedly quite empathetic.

The only thing Mal knew about her for sure was that she used to be a nature spirit. But he couldn’t figure out why Aubrey seemed to be so excited about her arrival.

For a moment, the two of them just seemed to stare at each other for a while without saying anything.

Malachi and Joanne narrowed their eyes at the sight.

’They’re totally having a side conversation right now, aren’t they?’

’Seems like it..’ Malachi agreed.

’...Feels a little rude. We don’t look like this in front of people, do we?’

’Nah, we’re way better than them.’

’That’s what I thought too.’

Malachi and Joanne discreetly squeezed each other’s hands. Unknowingly feeding into each other’s delusions.

Suddenly, Sabine handed both of the boys to Aubrey and waltzed over to Malachi and Joanne.

She kneeled down in front of Jo and offered her hand for her to take.

"It’s been some time. You remember me, right?"

Joanne’s gruff personality accidentally slipped out. "You think I’m too old to remember you or something?"

"Well, I would hope not. Considering the fact that I am much older than you." Sabine giggled.

Her golden eyes flashed as she seemed to look beyond the surface of her flesh.

"You’re brimming with vitality. Compared to ordinary humans, you haven’t even reached your prime."

Joanne thought she was pretty good at controlling her facial expressions, but that particular bit of information made her eyes light up like New York in the winter.

"Would you mind lifting up your shirt for me?"

After a compliment like that, Joanne was much more cooperative than before.

She rolled up the bottom of her shirt and revealed her stomach to the room without asking a single question.

The longer her shirt was up, the more shy she seemed to get. Luckily, Sabine didn’t actually need that much time.

She placed her hand over Joanne’s stomach for less than ten seconds before she pulled her hand away.

"All done. I can’t exactly replace what you’ve lost, but I can make it unlikely for you to ever lose a pregnancy ever again."

Sabine turned to Malachi.

"I’m aware your body’s constitution has difficulty with conception, but that shouldn’t be as much of a problem anymore. I hope you both are very happy in your-"

Joanne suddenly threw herself at Sabine, wrapping her arms around her neck tightly.

"Thank you...!"

While surprised at first, Sabine did not shy away from Joanne’s embrace. Instead, she placed her hands on her back and rubbed her back.

"There’s no need to thank me. This is what family is for."

Malachi watched Joanne fondly with a slight smile. However, that smile of his was quickly wiped away as he saw Aisha glaring at him from the corner of the room.

-

Aubrey and Sabine finished gathering up all of their things and soon they were ready to walk out of their home.

The kids seemed more excited about it than their mothers did. When they heard their cousins were living in a spaceship, they literally could not leave fast enough.

"Aunty Jo, can we fire lasers??"

"Is there a civil war going on?? Our Grandpa says humans are always on the brink of civil war!"

"Umm... maybe?" Joanne laughed heartily.

She was all smiles ever since Sabine had helped her with her fertility earlier. Malachi doubted that there was anything in the world that could bring her down.

"GUYSSS WAITTT!!"

Suddenly, Serana came running up to Malachi and Joanne like a rocket.

She launched herself at them full force and settled into their arms.

"Whoa, there... where’s the fire, kid?" Joanne tried to put her down but Serana wasn’t having it.

"R-Remember when mom said I could have friends over anytime I wanted??"

"...No?" Joanne tilted her head.

Malachi pointed at himself. "I’m your only friend..."

"W-Well it totally sounds like something she would say, right??"

""I guess..."" They nodded.

"Then Tiamat and Claire can come stay with us for a little while, right??"

"I-" Malachi opened his mouth.

"Please don’t say no to me!" Serana wailed. "I’m an emotional wreck because my husband and one of my wives ran off to fight the literal oldest shapeshifting monster to ever exist and I could turn into a 22-year-old widow and-"

Joanne placed a hand over Serana’s mouth.

"Kiddo, all you had to say was that you wanted your partners to come stay with us. Your mom’s been dying to get to know everyone better."

Serana looked like her eyes were going to explode with tears.

"You’re the best step-mother ever!"

Malachi thought that Joanne couldn’t get any happier. He was wrong.

He was pretty sure Joanne didn’t even smile this big on their wedding day.

"I was going to say yes too..." Malachi chimed.

"I gotta go help the girls!!" Serana jumped out of their arms and ran down the hallway. "Thank you, you guys are the best!!"

Joanne gave Malachi a small nudge. "Seems like we’re going to have a full house... It’s a pity you can’t cook. I know how much you love an audience."

Mal visibly died a little bit on the inside. The fact that he wasn’t going to cook for his nephews and all of his extended family would haunt him forever.

He lived for the praise. Thrived on it.

Sometimes, it was better than se- okay, he enjoyed it but there were still better highlights.

"...Life sucks right now."

"Aww, don’t be like that, handsome. You still got us."

Joanne grabbed Malachi by the face and kissed him. Eliciting a chorus of loud ’ewws’ from the very young children at their feet.

"I wouldn’t mind some of that myself. I hope you’re sharing."

Malachi and Joanne suddenly stiffened.

All of their senses seemed to be screaming at them to run away and hide.

They slowly turned their gazes down the hall, where they saw a dark figure approaching them with heavy footsteps.

As he looked at this massive woman, Malachi could not help but remember the words of the shrine maiden whom he had met only hours ago.

A black behemoth from the dark.