"You don't have to hold me in place," I say. I got up nice and early hoping to finish all the preparations for the ritual today. I even had to fight off most of my harem that wanted to keep slipping in my bed! I wasn't about to fall over! Then Kou stopped me. I was fine. Maybe a little hungry and the water was nice. But I could've kept going. I know it.

"Then tell your fucking maid that," Victoria says. "Until she fucking changes the request, I'm holding your ass right here. I'm not having that bitch yell at me."

"I'm fine," I say.

"That wasn't what I fucking said," Victoria says.

"You're just abusing Kou's command for your fetish," I say.

"Maybe I fucking am," Victoria says, her hands rubbing my belly. "You can't fucking do shit about it."

"Oh, baby, you're doing just fine," Mommy says. "You've worked hard this morning. Kou was very nice about your situation this morning. She can be a little protective, especially if you really want to do the ritual today. We don't want you to tire yourself out and get hurt."

"Fine," I say. I really don't want to think about this morning. Mai and Eterna really are a dangerous duo to have in bed together. They were curled up all over me, each taking one of my breasts for a pillow. They were practically blanks on me. Then add in Syro's wings, and I really did use my wives as blankets last night.

Kou didn't laugh at me about it, but my wives did. Well, Vanya didn't; Eterna had brought her over into the strange snuggle, too. I think Vanya was too relaxed to laugh.

Mommy's pregnant. How did she escape the close cuddle? Whatever, it was comfortable. But the laughing about it was annoying.

I guess I can just watch the team of priestesses pour out blood. My slaves even gave out a second helping today to use in the ritual while I finished carving the dirt. The high priestess just finished her check to make sure wind or animals didn't destroy the part I did yesterday. I didn't see anything wrong with it, but we can't exactly trust my reading abilities.

"You're like our babies right now," Mommy says. "If you want to pour some blood out, I'm sure Victoria can help you."

"No," I say. "I probably shouldn't do that. Watching from a distance is a lot better for me. Probably just nerves making me want to move around. I'll just go to sleep."

"Fuck, is this your damn plan? Get me to fucking love holding pregnant women, so I'm not fucking pissed off when you bloat me up like Vanya?" Victoria says.

"Would that work?" I ask.

"Fuck no," Victoria says.

"Then no," I say. "Just how things worked out."

"It was fucking close to working," Victoria huffs. "Just be fucking reasonable."

...

"Time for the dust," the High Priestess says.

I'm really wondering what this dust even does for the ritual. The blood is a little strange, but it least always part of these rituals. I guess I don't know everything that went into Fertility's ritual to kill Nature's beasts. Maybe they just do random things.

"Ok," I say. "Victoria?"

"I fucking stopped holding you back a while ago," Victoria says. "You stayed in my fucking lap yourself."

"I know, just warning you," I say. "You've softened up as I nestled into you. Didn't want to startle you."

"Don't fucking tease me like that," Victoria says. "You can't startle my ass. Go sprinkle your damn dust around."

"You could carry me around and help me pour it out," I say.

"Fuck no," Victoria says. She lifts me and places me on my feet, gives me a soft slap on the ass, and pretends to go to sleep.

"You really are lazy," I say. "I can't have you meeting Yzzorres. I don't need you two planning out how to sleep more of the day away."

"I know how to fucking work," Victoria says. "Annoyed Yuki with my fucking work ethic before. Don't need anyone to shit on my ability to get things fucking done."

"Alright," I say. "But you do know how to relax as well."

"Balance is damn important," Victoria says to my ass. "Sorry, I'm being fucking mean. I'm fucking worried about your ass. Just be fucking careful. This shit looks like a big fucking ask."

"I will be," I say. "Thank you for worrying about me."

I need to mix the dust into the blood. Well, not mix, just drop it in. I don't have to touch the blood, luckily. I would probably have the priestesses handle that if I needed it mixed in. The smell is pretty hard to handle.

There's just a large circle in the middle that I have to put the dust in. Getting to the middle isn't easy. I now have to worry about my tail dragging. Can't be Yzzorres, just letting it drag behind me and destroying all the blood the Priestesses just poured out.

It takes a minute to get into the middle. The ancient language is really intricate for some reason. Now I have to be careful when pouring out the dust. I wonder what the priestesses normally do. Do they practice putting rituals together when the temple is empty? Cause this is painful to do. I would struggle to do this too often. I slowly walk the inner circle and pour the dust out into the blood. It would've been nice if Victoria had taken me around.

Nanoka pops in right in the middle of the large circle as I finish up with the pixie dust.

"Hello," Nanoka says. "Are we looking to do this today?"

"Yes," I say. "I have everything done. Just need Elyne and the Chavarelli family to show up. Would like my wives to be around as well."

"Chavarelli family is on their way," Nanoka says. "Just wanted to make sure everything was going well here so I could stop them if we weren't going to be ready. I'll start collecting your wives."

"Thanks," I say. "I need to try and figure out how to get Zarzi and her wives here. Elo could also be a problem."

"Happy to help," Nanoka says. She teleports off, and now comes the pain of getting Zarzi to leave a hundred eggs with the temple. I'll have to bring my third body with them. Maybe Elo can stay in the temple. She doesn't really need to be here for this. Maybe even Yuki? She has to be done with the potions. But I'm sure Nanoka is going to bring Yuki and Nakuma along.

The priestesses should be able to handle everything.

*** Alzi, Third body ***

"So," I start, this is going to be so strange. "I need to ask for a big favor."

"Want to put another brood in me?" Zarzi asks. "I was wondering why you put my head in your lap. I'm prepared for it, but maybe only fifty this time?"

"No, something a bit more," I say. "Well, harder. I need you and your wives to join me in the lower realm. I have a ritual that seems to be something good to be around. I can stay here with Elo to watch over the eggs."

"Not going to bring her along? She's a Queen. More deserving of the help than me," Zarzi says. "Cisu and Thazi can go, but..."

"No, you're more important," I say. "Elo killed her mother for no reason and is married for convenience. She doesn't have to get the effects of the ritual. But I need you and your wives to join me. You've been through everything for me. Please, we can watch over the brood. You'll be back here in less than a day. It would be better if you trust the priestesses to handle it for a bit."

Thazi and Cisu look between themselves, before staring at Zarzi. I guess she's still the head of these three.

"Ok," Zarzi says. "If my mate wishes for me to go, I will. Elo can handle everything with you or the priestesses. They are normally in charge of the eggs. How is this going to work?"

"The best would be for the priestesses to call Elo over," I say. "No need for us to go to the castle just to come right back down here. But you have to stay till she gets here."

"I know," Zarzi says. "Cisu, if you could?"

"Of course," Cisu says.

Well, this was a lot easier than I thought it would be. The usefulness of being the dominate mate, I suppose. I hope this does something for her. I doubt she would be mad at me, but I really don't want to take her from the eggs for no reason.

I'll make it up to her somehow if it does end up being useless for my wives.

"Most of my wives will be there," I say. "It'll be a good meeting for everyone."

"It would be nice to meet all of my wives," Zarzi says. "Kind of funny going from three women in a marriage to a bunch and an overwhelming number of kids so fast."

"The kids are just getting started," I say.

"I think all your wives know that," Zarzi says.

"They're the ones causing the problem," I say.

"Them?" Zarzi says.

"Yes, them," I say. "If they weren't so pretty and just begging for me to fuck them. It's their fault."

"Haha, Alzi, I'm sure some of the fault lies with us, but you can't forget about the women in the middle of it all. You're providing plenty of the kids yourself," Zarzi says.

"How could I be the problem?" I say. "I'm just one woman. I can't be the cause of all the kids."

"Alzi?"

"Ok, so some of the fault lies with me," I say. "Just some."

"As you wish, my mate," Zarzi says.

"Good," I say.

*** Elo ***

The boring act of managing a Queendom. I killed my mother for this. At least Alzi brings some joy to this world. Just as my sister used to. The world was so cold for so long.

To think Nanoka would be the one to see me like that. The only other woman I felt happy to see in my bed. Now I have another, my granddaughter. How strange things turn out. I may be among the Queens that survive their brood and make it to their second. Will I survive that one as well? Is Alzi going to give me a break like Zarzi?

The Queendom. My daughters left this place in a mess. Everyone needs women. Something Zarzi and I will be fixing, but that will take years. The loses were low in the war compared to the other times we've fought the Phoenixes. I guess the dragons sensed that the Goddess didn't really wish for them to fight. Getting them back and fed is a bit of a pain, but the silvers are figuring it out.

"Queen Elo," a maid says.

"I'm not a Queen," I say. "Reagent would be more fitting. What is it?"

"Empress Alzi is requesting you visit the Temple of Dragon," the maid says.

"Empress? I guess I may be a queen again then," I say. Sure, I was thinking it, but just in the way I was the one on the throne every day. Will I truly get that title back? Hopefully, she finds a different title for me, and we find a way to get one of her kids ready to take my place. I don't know how long I'll be able to avoid Death. I'm not as strong as I should be. I won't be around like Nanoka can be. "Very well. I can't ignore her desires."

"She needs you immediately, Queen Elo," the maid says.

"I understand," I say. "I just have one word left on this letter, and I'll head out. I know better than to leave my mate waiting. There we go. Send this letter out. I'll be in the temple."

*** Nanoka ***

The Chavarelli family is inside the castle now. I've got most of the wives gathered already, just a few that I need to think about left. Should I get Azula and her wives? The wives I should get. They're pregnant, so they could use the help. Alzi has issues with Azula. For a good reason, so maybe she shouldn't come by? The maids as well? Will this hurt more? I wish Kitsune had told me more about this.

Just bring the important ones. The lady's maids and Alzi's wives. She'll have to live with some she hates coming along. I don't have time to pick and choose.