"Why. Why were there women already here?" I ask. They had piled up so I had no choice but sex to heal them all. I didn't think anyone could come by without Nakuma around.

"The army is just outside the walls now," Petra says. "They were carried in."

"Oh." Well, today is going to be a long one, then.

...

'Space, will the blood ever come out of your floors?' I ask.

'Yes, mana backed by the Goddesses can do a lot, dear. There is very little we can't do inside our temples with the right prayers. Oh, you need to come up and see me soon. Sky is too cute for me to handle by myself. She doesn't even sleep on her bed, floating just above it. It's the cutest thing ever. If you ever need a woman to give you another child, I am here. But for now, get some rest. It isn't healthy to use mana to stay awake. You and your kids need some rest.'

"My Princess," Kou says. "Fluvis has requested a meeting with you outside of Fertility's temple. She said it was urgent, and I think we can trust the Duchess to know when to declare something urgent. I've also asked Isda's children to go with us so they can see their mother. Isda will be restrained, and Geta is already dressed to join us. Your mother as well. She requested to come. The carriage is ready. Petra, is my Princess done here?"

"Yes," Petra says. "Come earlier tomorrow. The royal healer is trading time slots with Alzi."

"Very well," Kou says. "This trip will have to be short. Ready, My Princess."

"Is every second of my day going to be scheduled out?"

"During war, yes. My Princess. Outside of war, you will have scheduled free time, so also yes. If you stopped having so many kids, maybe then we can talk about having a looser schedule. Until then, your time needs to be set so all the kids get a chance to be with one of your bodies. Now, come. Victoria! Come help my Princess to the carriage."

Well, if it's to help my kids out, I can't be that mad.

"Up you fucking go," Victoria says, somehow getting behind me. I thought she was in the lobby! How did she get here?

"Put me..."

"Shut up. You're not the only bitch that likes certain body types," Victoria says. "I've found I fucking enjoy holding pregnant women. Plus, I don't fully trust the bitch of death. I'm coming along on this fucking surprise trip."

"You don't like doing nothing all day," I huff. I'm not a baby that needs to be carried everywhere! I'm a damn dragon. Shit, she's rubbing off on me.

"Don't talk like that. I fucking love lounging around. But why are you so fucking light? You have a fucking bunch of kids in your damn womb and tall as shit. How are you fucking lighter than Stacy?" Victoria says.

"Space gave birth to the Goddess of the Sky, and she marked me. Sounds like she doesn't like touching the ground."

"Fuck, can you get me in touch with her? I would love being this fucking light. Or my damn armor. That shit is a bitch to move around in. All that fucking metal adds up quick."

"Not with this tongue," I say.

"Fuck, I can hold it for a few minutes," Victoria says.

"When you can prove it, I'll think about it," I say.

"I'll earn that damn meeting," Victoria says.

Outside, the sun is gone from the sky, just the last rays keep their hold over the horizon. I don't know when we got here, but it had to be around sunrise. A full day of healing again, with injuries worse than the previous war. How many women have I gotten killed? No wonder Death handed me my own Valkyrie.

Victoria walks over to one of the carriages and lets me down so I can walk into the carriage on my own.

"Hi, baby," Mommy says. "Why are your wings different?"

"Shit, how did we not fucking see that?" Victoria says.

"Space had her kid, the Goddess of the Sky, and she marked me," I say. "Her marking went over my wings."

"Another goddess as granddaughter, or daughter," Mommy says. "Congratulations, baby. Come on over. I can't wait till I can have both of your bodies in my arms constantly. I'm getting used to seeing my little rainbow again."

"It is funny seeing you and then not and then seeing you again with my other body," I say. "Stranger when I have some major change between seeing you with my bodies."

"My Princess, you need to sit down. You're tired and pregnant and holding us up," Kou says. "I don't wish to be rude, but I need to get you into bed quickly."

"Here is one of the changes," I say. But I listen and cuddle up with Mommy.

"If she finds a way to get you into bed early, this will be a great change," Mommy says.

"Hmph, I won't let her," I say.

"Let me? My Princess, I will be getting you into bed on time. There is no need to worry about that, Lady Armirynth. Her health while she's pregnant and breastfeeding is the number one concern. It may require your help getting her into bed, but I promise she will be there on time. I'm Kou, Princess Alzi's new head maid."

"I'm happy to help you, Kou. Thank you for taking this serious."

"That is my job."

Fertility's temple was different. Not even the temple, but the garden between Fertility and Sea. A massive tarp is hanging over the space. Likely to keep the weather from destroying the blood markings. Many of the plants had been ripped up to make room for the blood, but not all of them. The small streamed has been dammed up as well.

More than blood was added to the garden. Massive stone pillars have been put up, each with a hook that looks a lot like the one Fluvis held Lottie up with. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel-fire.ɴet

"This way, My Princess," Kou says. "Fluvis is inside the temple already."

It's nice that we don't have to walk through the garden. The outside of the temple did have some changes, but no blood. Just some extra statues and gold. I guess everyone wants to rebuild some families after I got so many of them killed.

Fluvis and Estrella are sleeping in one of the pews.

"So cute," I whisper into their ears. Unfortunately, they don't startle awake; instead, they just stretch and slowly turn to me.

"Yes, dear wife, we are cuties," Fluvis says. "No need to pout. We have some good news for you today. I'm sure you saw outside. In a few days, the priestesses will finish setting up the ritual. The high priestesses of Fertility and Sea are busy setting up the garden. Estrella and I were busy collecting the sacrifices. We need a room first, then we can go from there."

"Ok. Still wish you jumped or stuttered a little," I say.

"Sorry, we've been caught sleeping together a bit too much out on the sea to get startled anymore. You'll have to work hard to get us to jump."

Our group is a little too big to fit into the private rooms they have, so Fluvis takes us to the priestesses' quarters for us to talk. I guess they know everything we're going to talk about already, so it's ok if they overhear us.

"So what is this about?" I ask. The ritual is supposed to require the brothel owners. Are they the missing piece?

"Well, Alzi, there are some setup steps we need you to do," Fluvis says. "The priestesses are handling the garden. We handled the gathering of the sacrifices. But there are two more parts that you need to handle. The first is picking women who will suffer during the ritual. They won't die, but they won't be happy."

"Prisoners?" I ask.

"You need to have sex with them," Fluvis says. "You need to get them pregnant. Some of your slaves and ex-wives are what we thought. Maybe Estrella or even Lottie. I'm willing as well."

"Pregnancy does lower who I want there," I say. "Has anyone asked my ex-wives about it?"

"They're willing," Mother says. "I'm sorry for asking for you, but this needs to go quickly. No promises made, but they are all willing to participate."

"Well, Shimmer is an easy choice then. Ioelena and some of the others who aren't pregnant could work. How many do I need?"

"Enough to match the sacrifices," Fluvis says.

Should I be talking about this in front of my babies? They shouldn't understand us, but they are part divine. I think, not sure how that works with angels. I already have Contract involved. I don't need more kids joining Contract in the ritual or anything.

"My slaves can join. Talindra has had it easy so far. Osanna and Aserrial. Just whoever I need, really. We can't be picky, it sounds like."

"I can go as well," Mommy says.

"No! You're already pregnant, with twins, which I wasn't supposed to do. I'm not hurting you for this. I have plenty of people I can find, even just promise some of the injured that they'll have some kids and they'll do it, or something. I'm more interested in the sacrifices."

"I thought you would. A slight warning, there is work to be done on them that you need to do. At least getting it started," Fluvis says. "So far, it is the brothel owners. Estrella and I went around collecting them last night. We have a few kids to introduce you to."

With that, four Priestesses came out with little bundles of blankets. I kind of forgot I got the Mistress pregnant. But this many?

"Did I get several of the brothel owners pregnant?" I ask.

"No, just the Mistress," Fluvis says. "The ten brothel owners. The Mistress isn't going to be a sacrifice. She'll be the center of the ritual. Someone has to suffer a lot of pain, and it is better if you have a strong emotional connection to them. The Mistress fits that the best without forcing you to have a loved one undergo extreme pain."

I wish I had brought both bodies with me. I can only hold one kid at a time right now, and I still have Isda's children to care for. I may have to force Shyla to help me again. Aurora's kids are about ready to join everyone in the nursery.

"A boy," I say. "The message. It was for the damn Mistress. She had the other boy."

"Yes," Fluvis says. "I'm happy we were able to get them for you. Now, about the prep. I think the priestesses can show you what is needed after you have some time with the kids. If you are ready to see the brothel owners."

The door behinds me slams open. Elora burst through, explaining why Geta just stood there.

"Wait," Elora says. "Let me join them."

"Join who?" I ask. Does she not know that a group of women is going to die? She should watch her tongue before I find a way to put her in the wrong group.

"The ritual. I want to help however I can. The baby is coming soon. I feel the pressure already. I'll be ready to help however you need me. I promise."