*** Alzi, Main Body ***

"Mommy."

"Alzi, dear, I know. She caused one of your most traumatic days. But that was one day. I'm not asking you to let the others off. Do I care about them? No. They deserve this for what they put my baby through. This is the right place for all of them but one. Elora didn't tie you to a board and let women do what they want for you. She let you down. She failed you, and it ended with you getting raped. She brought you pain, but hoped to save you from it. She's lost and confused. You've tortured her, and she deserved that. Yes, that doesn't come close to what you had to go through, but she hasn't done to you what the others have. Ok, baby? Let her be a mother to your child. Let her hear her little giggles and watch her grow. You can treat her as a slave; she'll thank you for it, but don't kill her and risk your child."

"But the ritual..."

'It won't hurt the ritual, we made it for only ten. It'll work just fine without Elora, dear.'

'Ok, Space.'

"Baby?" Mommy asks. "I won't say anything more about this. The choice is yours, and I'll support it. I don't mind seeing Elora like that. She caused you plenty of pain, but this feels a bit much. But I'm not the one she hurt. I'll be here to support you. I just don't want you to make a mistake. You thought of showing Esiyae mercy. Elora's done more to deserve your mercy."

I was going to give Esiyea a second chance. Fuck. "I suppose Elora did her best to defend me on the boat, even if she's the reason I was there," I say. "This won't be the end for her."

"I don't expect it to be. She isn't like these monsters, but she needs to be corrected," Mommy says. "I love you, baby."

"I love you, Mommy."

'Just cut the string,' Space says, 'and please heal her. The birth is going to take a while, likely lasting past the ritual. Give her a bit of strength.'

'Ok.' Back through the blood and whimpering women. I did promise Elora a marriage for a Goddess as a kid. Maybe she managed that somehow. She was in this temple a lot.

I wonder if I could force Elora to get some tattoos. I like the way she looks. A picture and a collar to show that she's mine. Something to proudly display to her people. But for now, I just cut the string and heal all the cuts. Sedriresa can come and pick her up. I could use some sleep.

*** Sedriresa ***

Did Princess Alzi not even notice me in the corner? Was I that hidden in all this blood? I should've been next to Princess Elora. I should've held her hand through this even if she didn't want me around.

I'll have to find a way to thank Princess Alzi's mother. I don't know what convinced her to ask, but I'm in her debt. "Your Highness," I whisper. She looks brand new, except for the burn mark from the previous ritual, but Elora has to be so weak still. "Can you stand? We have a room we can move to. That was a stupid thing to ask. Don't move, I'll get you. I've got you, your Highness. I've got you. The priestess will help with the baby. Just hang in there."

This could kill the baby, right? It's been so long since the labor started. That can't be good for either of them. Hopefully, Princess Alzi thought of that. No, I'm sure she did. Stop worrying. You've helped Elora through worse. Just get her to bed and all will be fine. Princess Alzi will see Princess Elora's worth after this. She'll see it.

I'll make sure Elora lives up to the mercy. "You love her," I say. "I'll make sure Alzi feels that love."

*** Alzi, Second Body ***

I haven't visited Sarania in a while. I can't heal her sister, but I can check up on her a bit before bed. I need to get to Tanatsu as well. I'm sure she's mad about me missing our meetings so much. I'll focus more when the war is over.

"How is your sister?" I ask.

"She's calmed down, my Mistress," Sarania says. "But she won't talk. Maybe we should just. Well, free her?"

"No," I say. "We shouldn't make that decision for her. She's survived all that for a reason. We can't take it from her. I'm sure she had a way to end it if she wanted to. She wants to be here; we just have to help her."

"It's just so hard to see her like this. I'm sorry to ask you for more help after I've been doing nothing for you. But, you're the only one I can ask for help. I can't trust anyone else to heal her correctly. I'll take the pain for her, and I'll start to be your servant like I promised."

"Take your time. I'm happy to help her. I just need to get through the ritual, and I'll get to her. I promise. I want to help her as much as I can. Has Syro been around to help?"

"She did. Just for a few seconds before she collapsed. She came back, but I told her no. She shouldn't go through that. She didn't ask for it. She says she thinks she's close to another level and thinks that will give her a way to help without hurting her. It's one thing for her wife, but not a servant's sister. Don't ask her to do that."

"I'm happy she tried," I say. "I've got to get some sleep."

"Goodnight, my Mistress," Sarania says. "I should be ready to serve you again soon."

"Take your time. Family is important."

"Thank you, my Mistress."

*** Alzi, Main Body ***

Mommy curls up with me, her hands supporting my belly, and Kou even covers me with her tails in the bed the Priestesses offered. Tomorrow is the big day. Just get a bit of rest, Alzi.

...

I hardly get any sleep before Kou is up with some tea for us. I don't know how she got it while keeping her tails over me, but I'll take it.

"Ready to start, my Princess?" Kou asks. "We need nine women to join the bitch in the middle. I'm sure you have some ideas, but we need to gather them fast. The Priestesses have finished their part of preparing the bodies for the sacrifice. Now we just need to have the middle ring put into place, and the next ring can be strung up."

"Nine women," I mumble. "My Shadow works for one, right?"

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"Then Talindra, she's still mine."

"She is on her way. Lottie is also coming; she'll be getting more pregnant with the ritual, but you've done that with her before."

"She should be close to giving birth as well, so I will need a backup in case she goes into labor like Elora. Azula is another easy choice. Osanna and her wife have to get here as well. That submissive bitch will love it."

"Yes, those are good choices," Kou says. "Worst case, Fluvis or I can replace Lottie, my Princess. Just get the ten to start with. Others can fill in if needed."

"Shimmer can earn her next child here. That will finish out a deal for me," I say. Stacy could be an option. Elora is probably still in labor. Space seemed to think it would last a while longer. Who else. "Yuki, of course." How did I almost forget my fluffy lover? She could use some more punishment.

"Ah, yes, Nakuma will hate to lose her teddy bear right now, but she'll live. Just one more, my Princess."

"Is the Queen available?" Mommy asks. "She could've done more to help my baby."

"A bit big of a request," Kou says.

"Geta," I say. "I love the thought, Mommy, but Geta will do. This is to end the war so I can get the Valkyrie of Death pregnant. Inanos is still carrying my kids, so Geta can do it."

"That will work better, my Princess," Kou says. "There will be time to extract your punishment from the Queen. Now, time to get you dressed. You need some clothing to start the ritual, then you rip it off and ravage the inner ring. Sorry, but Fertility is the main Goddess for the ritual. At least the core of the ritual. Space and Death take over on the outside. Don't worry about the counts. I'm told the women are meant to walk away plump."

"Yuki is already plump, and Lottie."

"You'll just have to help them through the next few months, then, My Princess. Don't think too much about it. But you just need a simple robe. Enough to hide your figure. Up you go, the war isn't waiting for you, but the Priestesses are."

"You're going to have to have that chastity thing on for a long time," I say. "You're just asking me to bloat you up."

"Maybe I am, My Princess," Kou says. "Or maybe I'm just trying to get a pregnant dragon out of bed when she's tired. Come on, the faster you move, the faster you get your revenge. The women don't feel the pain anymore, but when the ritual starts up, it'll all come rushing right back. And every ounce of pain will be felt by Ashryn. That should be enough to show I'm doing what is best for you. Someday you'll get to impregnate me, and I hope you remember I'm working to keep you on schedule."

"That does sound nice," I say, shifting out of the bed. Mommy gives my belly a little kiss before getting up and giving me a hand out of bed. "I'll remember everything right up until it's time to pick the count. Everything just goes away till the only thing left is the desire to breed."

"I have no doubt, my Princess," Kou says. "Just try to be kind to me afterwards then."

It really is just a plain white robe and some sandals. Kou said I'll need to be completely naked for the ritual. She didn't tell me anything about Elora, so I'll assume she's fine for now. She just led me and Mommy straight outside and into the messed-up garden. The priestesses removed the tarp from over the garden, letting the orange sky wash over us.

All the women I named are already here. Just Ashryn is missing, but she's just inside the temple. The priestesses are busy cleaning my chosen women. I'm guessing Nakuma helped with that part. I'll have to get her a gift.

Then I'll have to think about Shimmer. If this ritual brings about as much pain as they all seem to be hinting at, I may have to call us even. Probably still have her wear a collar in her realm, that's just too much fun, but I'll have to start being nicer to her.

"My child will not be doing this!" comes from the standard annoying voice. Lensa just had to fucking show up.

"Did you want more kids?" I ask. "I need ten women, one is Ashryn, the others need to have some attachment to me. Pregnant with sixteen should be a good attachment, but I didn't know you wanted to be my breeding bitch again."

"The fuck are you talking about?" Lensa asks. How she is in a nice flowing blue dress this early in the morning, I don't know, but it does annoy me.

"The Goddess of Contracts is part of this ritual. What do you think will happen to the women in the middle after getting fucked by me? I need someone to replace Azula. Are you not going to take your daughter's place? You just wanted us to find another woman? That is quite demanding."

"Her collar. She has to lose her collar after this," Lensa says. "Otherwise, I'll stall enough that everyone here dies."

"Geta?" I ask.

"Lensa, put it to rest," Geta says. "You don't have the power to stall this out. Death wants to complete it just as badly as Alzi wishes to. I think we'll all have some talking to do after this. For now, don't interfere, or your people won't have a future."

"Alzi, remember..."

"Shut the fuck up!" Victoria says. "Just shut the fuck up. Geta, can you let me put a sword through her?"

"We can talk about it later," I say. "Another word, and I'll let Victoria kill you, and then Azula will never be free."