A Dragon's Tale Ch. 68

Chapter 68: Precious

* * *

It took a moment for what had just happened to truly sink in for Sarah. Ethan and Selene were going to get married? She felt a wide smile begin to grow on her face as it really hit her. Ethan and Selene were going to get married! And since Sarah herself was betrothed to Ethan, she would be able to spend the rest of her life with her first real friend.

"Finally!" Beth nearly squealed, then ran forward to hug Selene. She was shortly followed by Ethan and all of his other wives, including Sarah herself. They all ran to her and obviously weren't being careful enough in their exuberance because Selene overbalanced and fell backwards, taking the rest of them with her.

Ethan laughed.

The ladies laughed.

Thor made a decidedly amused meow.

Despite having fallen on the floor, no one made a particular effort to get up quickly; they were busy celebrating. Selene appeared to have happy tears in her eyes, and her face -- always the model of feminine perfection -- was made even more gorgeous by the dazzling smile plastered all over it.

"I'm so glad you came back!" Sarah gushed as everyone managed to disentangle themselves and stand up.

"Me too." Selene said with a contented sigh. "I was miserable on Earth without all of you."

"And you're sure you won't leave again?" Kendra asked.

Selene nodded. "Not for anything more than a visit, not if I'm married to Ethan."

Kendra smiled.

"Damn straight." Ethan beamed as he pulled Selene into another hug. "You're not going anywhere."

He held her tenderly for several long moments, and it didn't turn into a group hug this time. He pulled back and looked at her fondly for another few moments before speaking. "I believe I promised to start fulfilling a certain someone's kinks, didn't I?"

She grinned as her cheeks got a hint of pink in them, then she nodded. "You did."

He stepped back to look her up and down, then spoke. "First, you need a safe word."

"I don't need one." Selene replied. "I won't use it; you would never do anything to make me."

"I won't 'play' unless you have one." Ethan said, his voice firm.

Selene sighed. "Okay."

"Your safe word will be 'red light', said twice." He paused. "Or you can think it to me if your mouth is full."

Selene blushed.

"Say it." Ethan said, a commanding edge to his tone that Sarah didn't usually hear from him.

"Red light, red light; but I'll never use it." Selene replied and then shivered slightly, rather like Sarah did when she occasionally imagined what it might be like to share a bed with Ethan.

Sarah frowned slightly. "Um, what's a safe word?"

Ethan looked at Selene, a devious smile on his face. "Maybe I'll have Selene explain it to you later."

Selene's cheeks went even redder as she nodded, which didn't exactly reassure Sarah.

"Or I can explain later if that will be easier." Ethan offered after seeing the look on Sarah's face, and his tone suddenly wasn't teasing, but rather sincere.

"I think it'll be less uncomfortable if I explain later." Selene said.

"Okay?" Sarah still hesitated, not sure what to make of this strange turn of events.

Ethan smiled at her. "You're so cute when you're unsure and slightly embarrassed, especially when your nose does that cute crinkly thing."

"Um, thanks?" She smiled and her heart felt warm and fuzzy, but she still had no idea what was going on with Selene.

"You're welcome." He grinned at her.

"Can... can you give me a hint now?" Sarah asked. She thought that Selene was right about getting a full explanation from a woman, but she wantedsome idea of what was going on.

"I like a good... let's call it a 'role play', and the safe word is a way to stop if it goes too far." Selene said.

"Role play?" Sarah asked.

Ethan nodded. "Like actors on a stage, acting something out, only more real."

"Oh." Sarah frowned slightly. "So..." She cocked her head to one side. "... it's like a play?"

"More like a game." Selene replied. "Or maybe a play without a script, or a play where you make up the script as you go."

"And so I don't ruin the game..." Ethan glanced at Selene, stepped toward Sarah, and spoke quietly into her ear. "I'm going to order her around like she has to listen, but she obviously doesn't and she knows that; it's just part of the game. And as part of the game, she'll pretend like she has to listen, but obviously she doesn't and we both know that; that's also part of the game." He leaned back and spoke at a normal volume. "Understand?"

"No." She shook her head. "I know what you mean, but I don't understand why you would do it."

"I think Selene can explain later, if you want to listen." He replied.

"Okay?" Sarah looked between them, their 'game' not making a lot of sense to her.

"Now, where were we..." He looked at Selene.

"Safeword." Selene replied instantly.

"Unless you use it, you'll bemine to do with as I please." Ethan said, and Sarah thought he was making his voice more commanding than normal. He cocked his head to one side slightly, then looked Selene directly in the eyes. "mine..." His voice had changed slightly, but Sarah didn't recognize the accent. "... my own..." His voice got lower and slightly sibilant. "... myprecious."

"Okay." Selene replied, almost cutting him off in her haste to agree, though she started chuckling too.

Suddenly, Sarah remembered where she'd heard that accent before. Ethan had once imitated a character named 'Gollum' from a story called 'The Lord of the Rings'. Apparently, Gollum had valued this one ring more than anything else in the world. Sarah smiled at that.

"I love it." Selene's smile was ear-to-ear.

"No, don't say 'I'; not when it's just me and my other wives." Ethan shook his head. "You aren't to address yourself as 'I' when it's just us."

Selene opened her mouth to reply, stopped, then closed it. "Um, so then how do I-- uh, how should...? Huh?"

Ethan's grin grew wider. "I don't know, my Precious Selene, how should you?" He looked at her pointedly.

Selene's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious."

"You forget, my Precious, you shared your soul with me when we bonded." Ethan replied, good-natured malice in his tone. "I don't remember everything, but I definitely do remembersome things."

"But..." She trailed off as she looked at everyone around her.

Ethan just raised his eyebrow at her, and there was something in his expression that Sarah had never seen before. It was something vaguely predatory that was focused on Selene. Oddly, that seemed to make the Brazilian woman weak in the knees as she let out the tiniest sigh.

Sarah wasn't sure why.

She had no idea what to think. What was going on? Judging by Selene's body language, she didn't seem upset. In fact, she looked rather like Sarah had felt a few nights ago when she'd woken up from a dream that involved her naked in a bed with Ethan. Nothing had happened in the dream -- she'd woken up just before things were about to -- but she remembered exactly how it felt.

Selene looked how she had felt.

Sarah didn't understand why, but apparently Selene did.

* * *

Selene stared at Ethan, her cheeks almost burning they felt so hot. He really wanted her to...? and in front of his wives? Just with him was one thing, but with his wives? Her cheeks got even hotter as the area between her legs developed an itch that Selene was damn sure would be very persistent until Ethan scratched it.

But still...

"Are you sure?" She finally asked the man of her dreams, knowing that she would hate the answer almost as much as she would love it.

"Yes, my Precious, I am." He replied. The look in his eyes was perfect.

Selene remembered that moment in the clearing by the portal like it had been yesterday, when he'd stunned her with his hammer and then taken her gun. He'd looked down on her with his dragon side out and on full display, and his dragon side had looked down on her like she was barely worthy of his notice. But then moments later, he'd asked if she was okay as Ethan.

He was doing both of those right now.

There was something dragonish about him that had that self-satisfied and confident, bordering on arrogant air about him. But when she looked into his eyes, she knew that he cared. It was written all over them.

"Why did you choose 'my Precious'?" She asked.

He smiled. "Two reasons. First, do you remember that conversation we all had about how you were struggling to feel like you measured up and weren't worth much?"

She nodded. It had been right after she'd discovered her telepathic abilities and she'd been so happy about them because she had felt like she finally wasn't useless. She'd voiced that, and Ethan had pointed out that her worth didn't come from her abilities, but from who she was. Looking back, that might've been the moment she started falling for him.

"I wanted you to have a constant reminder that you are valuable." He said kindly, sincere tenderness in his tone as he looked at her pointedly. "And you are, especially to me."

Her heart swelled at his praise. "And the other reason?"

"You're into some pretty kinky stuff." He replied. "I don't want you to forget that you'll always be precious to me, even in the middle of everything that turns you on."

She closed her eyes and smiled. "Really?"

"He nodded." Alana helpfully supplied with a chuckle.

"Oh, and there might be a third reason too." Ethan added with a chuckle. "I might've beenslightly obsessed with you while you were gone."

"Just slightly?" Alana teased.

"Oh, and a fourth reason is because it makes us both laugh." Ethan added with a chuckle, ignoring Alana.

Selene did chuckle at that.

"Selene, who are you?" He asked with a contented smile.

"I'm your Precious." She said, and saying that felt more wonderful than she could describe.

"Damn straight you are." Ethan beamed, and then added in a mock-serious tone. "And don't you forget it young lady."

She chuckled, knowing that he was always teasing his wives, and she would be one soon. She couldn't wait to make it official. "Um, then..." She took another deep breath. "Then... then Your Precious would like to know when we'll get married."

Everyone stared at her.

Selene's cheeks burned. She couldn't tell if it was in embarrassment, shame, or arousal; it was probably all three.

"Um, Selene?" Sarah said tentatively. "Why are you... um, why did you...?" She looked between Ethan and Selene, apparently trying to form words but clearly having trouble doing so.

"Dominus, what is...?" Beth trailed off.

Selene supposed that it was a sign of just how different her tastes were thatBeth couldn't figure out how to ask a question.

"Selene, why did you just refer to yourself in the third person?" Rachel asked, putting the others' questions into words.

"Why don't you explain." Ethan said to Selene, his confident swagger and good-natured malice returning.

"Um, I read this story once where the man made the heroine talk to him like that, in the third person." Selene explained. "I um, I always thought that it was really hot."

"And what did he do if she forgot to address herself that way?" Ethan asked.

"Oh." Selene grimaced, realizing that she had. "He punished her."

"Punished?" Sarah especially had wide eyes, but everyone was staring at her.

"Not real punishments." Selene hastily clarified. "It was sexy stuff that hurt just enough to feel amazing."

Beth sighed wistfully.

Everyone else looked at Selene like she'd sprouted a third nostril, except for Ethan who looked like he was ready to start laughing at the expressions on everyone's faces.

"Um, what am I marrying into?" Sarah asked after a moment.

"A very kinky family." Ethan replied. "But I promise, you'll never need to be involved in that; not unless you want to be."

Sarah nodded slowly, hesitated, then spoke. "Um, what does 'kinky' mean?"

"It means my tastes are a bit... different." Selene explained. "Sarah, I realize that I'm a bit... weird, but I hope that's okay."

Sarah nodded. "Well, I do have a demon, so I don't have any room to object to... uh..." She indicated Selene. "... that."

"Thanks." Selene smiled, then looked at Ethan. "So, when?"

"Unfortunately, not tonight." He made a face.

"Oh?"

He nodded. "As much as I would like to, no; you have a few things you need to do first."

"Really?"

He looked at her for a long moment before speaking, and that good-natured malice was back, along with a healthy dose of impishness. "Really. You'll sleep here on the Argo tonight, then we'll send you back to Earth with a letter first thing in the morning. Once you've followed all the instructions in the letter, then we'll bring you back and we'll get married."

"Okay." She replied instantly, slightly disappointed that it wouldn't be tonight, but relishing the reason it wouldn't be.

Everyone else looked at either Ethan or her.

"Why are you making her--" Kendra paused. "--what was that phrase? 'Jump through hoops'?"

"Tell her." Ethan said, the level of swagger rolling off of him making Selene want to both slap him and also tear all her clothes off and offer herself to him.

She didn't quite meet anyone's eye as she replied. "Um, because I always kind of liked that idea, and always thought it was super hot."

Again, everyone stared at her.

"Besides, I need some time to make her dress." Alana spoke up after a moment. "Can I get some volunteers to help--"

Ethan's other wives all interrupted to volunteer at the exact same moment, a fact which made Selene get slightly choked up. Ethan stepped next to her, put an arm around her, and pulled her close. She didn't resist. She leaned up against him and put her arms around him as well. Despite being an inch taller than he was, she leaned on him and sighed.

Ethan sighed at the exact same moment.

They both chuckled, then he looked at her. No, hegazed at her for several long moments.

"What?" She asked.

"Mine." He said tenderly has he gave her a gentle but firm pull closer. "My Precious Selene."

A wide smile split her face.

* * *

"You appear to be preoccupied."

"Hmm?" Fiona looked at her husband as they both sat in their bed after the long day. She was indeed preoccupied, and for the first time since they had started talking every night, her mind wasn't entirely on the conversation.

"I said that you appear to be preoccupied." He repeated.

"I'm wondering..." She looked at him. "If the emperor himself, or at least the crown prince isn't being convinced that the false prophet is a false prophet, how are you being so convinced?"

"They do not know that I am a dragon." He replied. "Thus, they are unaware of my interactions with him while I was in my natural form."

"Ah, that's making sense." Fiona nodded slowly, then cocked her head to one side. "You were meeting him?"

He raised his eyebrow. "Have you never wondered how that arrow came to be in my back the night I first proposed?"

"Well, your proposal was driving most other things out of my head." She replied. "I was wondering, but then with everything that was happening afterward, it was never occurring to me to ask."

"Lady Ekthros tracked down the false prophet and I endeavored to bring him to justice and liberate Rachel." He said. "They had some dark magic that was able to destroy a fully enchanted dragon scale, creating a weakness that one of his wives then exploited."

Fiona's eyes widened.

She didn't know of anything that could destroy a dragon scale on a Drago, and by her guess, her husband was nearly that powerful.

"Rachel was much changed in bearing and demeanor." He continued, and she was glad that it wasn't so much work to convince him to talk to her anymore. "I detected no sign that she had touched dark magic, however, the differences in her were subtle but profound."

"I'm glad to be hearing about the dark magic, but sorry to be hearing about the rest." Fiona said, trying to imagine what it would be like if some dark witch had seduced her son after he had grown. She couldn't, and more, she didn't want to. And not only was Rachel potentially in grave danger, but Sarah was as well.

"I was wanting to be talking to Sarah when we're both in Nalatia, and maybe I could be asking her about Rachel." She said after a moment. "Could it be arranged safely?"

"Given the false prophet's presence, you will have additional security, so perhaps." He replied. "Nevertheless, even if I deem it safe enough to attempt, I will be nearby to prevent the false prophet from harming you."

She smiled at him, then scooted over a bit on the bed and leaned against him. "Thank you milord."

He nodded once, though didn't reply.

"So, I'm not knowing much about security, but I thought you might like to be knowing that Ellis -- that is, guardsman Ellis Trelane -- was figuring out that Tabby is a bodyguard. Before Prince George was saying she was on the dock I mean"

"How and when did he ascertain that?"

"He was noticing that she was always putting herself in a good place to protect me while I was shopping in Karnas with my cousin, Shannon." She paused. "Thank you again for arranging for her to be coming here; that was a wonderfully kind thing you were doing for me."

"You are welcome." He replied. "I will bring Ellis to Tabitha's attention, and perhaps recommend him for your security detail while we are in Nalatia."

"I would be liking that; he seems like a good and trustworthy man."

"According to all accounts, he is indeed." Lord Delmar replied. He then looked at the grandfather clock in the room. "Our conversation time is concluded; I shall retire."

"Good night milord." She said.

"Good night Fiona." He slipped down and rolled onto his side so that his back was to her, but she didn't mind; he always rolled onto his back while he was sleeping and she would cuddle up closer to him then.

She slid down under the covers as well, but something occurred to her after she had. "Milord, could I be asking one more question?"

"Proceed." He replied, but didn't change position.

"Were you seeing anything of the false prophet that was convincing you that he was a necromancer?"

"Not specifically. But what I saw with the preponderance of other evidence makes it clear."

"Okay, thank you for explaining." She said.

"You are welcome."

Fiona closed her eyes, a smile on her face. "Milord?"

"Yes?"

"I've really been enjoying talking with you in the evenings."

He didn't answer immediately. "It has not been unpleasant for me either. Good night Fiona."

"Good night milord." She replied with a wide smile, then lay in bed for several minutes thinking. If her husband hadn't seen anything specific when he had met the false prophet in person, then why did he seem so convinced?

* * *

"Holy shit Sarah, I've really missed your cooking!"

Sarah beamed at Selene's praise.

For once, all felt right with the world. Ethan and his wives -- including the soon-to-be wife Selene and Sarah herself -- were all sitting around the dinner fire with grinning faces. There was something different in the air tonight, something that she couldn't put her finger on. No one around the dinner circle looked anything less than perfectly happy and content.

It was after dark and the Argo's deck was lit by lanterns that cast a cheerful, flickering light on everything as they ate. There was a slight breeze and they could smell the sea air. It was a warm night, but not too warm; it was a cozy and relaxing type of warm, especially with the coals in the firepan casting their light and warmth on everyone. They weren't talking much, but they were all there...

... together.

Ethan, Alana, Beth, Taloni, Rachel, Kendra, Selene, and Sarah herself.

She couldn't have stopped smiling if she wanted to. These were the people she would spend the rest of her life with, the people she would raise a family with, and the people she would grow old with. She would be around them for life's highs and lows, its triumphs and its disappointments. Through thick and thin, they would all have each other, no matter what life threw at them.

She sighed.

"What?" Beth asked.

Sarah looked at her curious fellow wife, a wide smile on her face. "This is one of the best days of my life so far."

There was a general chorus of agreement.

"Where are Thea and Victoria?" Beth asked a minute later, as the two women were uncharacteristically absent from the dinner circle

"I don't know." Sarah replied. "I told them that dinner was ready."

"We're here, but don't say anything please." Thea said as she and her platinum blond friend entered from the lower decks. "Seriously, please don't say anything about marrying Selene." Thea said, and she seemed serious.

"Why?" Alana asked.

"Because if you do, I'm pretty sure I'll meet my future husband tonight or tomorrow, and if I find him here, my guardian might have a hard time with it." Thea replied. "If you could wait until we get to Nalatia before officially telling me that you're going to marry Selene, or at least until we're close, I'd really appreciate it for his sake."

"I love how much you care about him." Sarah smiled.

"He's been so good to me." Thea replied as she sat down and grabbed some food, Victoria right behind her. "He was a father to me, but he never tried to replace my father. The queen did the same with being my mother and I really appreciated that; I still do."

"Yeah, I like him; he's a good guy." Ethan nodded, then took another bite of dinner.

The rest of the meal passed peacefully with a calm, settled air of tranquility and contentment. It had never felt quite like this before, even on the Argo, and it was wonderful.

After dinner, Ethan beckoned Selene a bit further away from everyone. They talked for a minute, and both of them nodded regularly. Selene then turned back toward Sarah, but Ethan caught her hand and gave her a gentle tug back towards him. He leaned in and started whispering into her ear, but of course Sarah couldn't hear what he was saying.

She could see the smile growing on Selene's face though.

Selene looked radiant as he whispered, then he stood straight and looked at her pointedly, after which a tiny bit of pink tinged her cheeks as her smile got even wider. They grinned at each other for a few moments before Selene turned and walked toward Sarah.

"Ethan wants to talk to you for a minute." Selene said, the grin still plastered all over her face.

"Okay." She got up and walked over to him.

"So, I just talked to Selene and, since you asked earlier about what she wants, it might be better that you two talk sooner than later, if you're willing to listen."

"I..." Sarah hesitated, not sure if she wanted to know.

"You don't have to listen, but I think it'll help you understand who she is as a person better." Ethan added. "Also, I'll be married to both of you soon and her tastes won't change. I'd prefer you started understanding her now rather than later, but I won't push."

"It'll help me understand her better?" Sarah asked.

He nodded. "Her kinks didn't develop in a vacuum. Part of the reason they formed is the way she grew up and I think knowing why will help you understand her a little better."

"Okay." Sarah took a deep breath and could feel her cheeks getting a bit warm just thinking about it.

"Don't worry, I told her not to embarrass you too much." He smiled at her.

"Thank you." She smiled back.

He smiled at her for several long seconds before he spoke again. "When we finally do get married, I'm going to kiss you so much that your lips will get sore."

Sarah's smile grew wider. "I can't wait."

He kissed her on the forehead and then headed into the captain's cabin with his other wives. He glanced back and smiled at her one last time before closing the door.

Sarah sighed.

Selene walked up to her with an almost Thea-esque expression on her face. "So, you up for what might be a slightly embarrassing conversation?"

Sarah took a deep breath, then nodded. "I don't know, but it's probably a good idea."

Selene nodded. "I think so too."

Sarah looked at her friend and found her ever-present smile getting wider yet again. "I'm so glad that we're both marrying Ethan. You were my first real friend and I love that we'll be together for the rest of our lives."

Selene chuckled. "Me too, but that phrase of 'be together' has a slightly different meaning where I'm from."

"What's it mean?" Sarah asked.

"Basically, that the couple is 'in a relationship' and sleeping together."

"Oh." Sarah frowned as her cheeks got warm. "Um, is that one of the... uh... thethings that Ethan was talking about?"

"No." Selene shook her head. "It's definitely not a turn-off, but I've never felt particularly attracted to a woman."

"Ladies." Anthiel said from the quarterdeck.

Selene and Sarah turned to look at her.

"How about you find a hammock below decks, get comfortable in it, and talk about this there?" The high elf suggested. "It might be awkward at first, but I think it'll help and then you can whisper so no one will overhear you." She glanced to where Raklan was standing, ostensibly working on the rigging, but likely eavesdropping instead.

Sarah looked at Selene, who nodded.

"Thanks Anthiel." Selene said, then called a bit more loudly. "Thor!"

The kitten came running up to her and the amber-haired beauty scooped him up, then they went below decks. They walked through the blanket separating the ladies' area from the rest of the ship and stopped in front of Sarah's hammock.

"You're welcome to share mine." Sarah offered.

Selene nodded, and it was it bit awkward for them both to climb into it, especially with Selene carrying Thor, but they managed. It took another minute for them to find a comfortable way to lay in the same hammock, but once they did, Sarah found it quite comfortable. They were laying half facing each other with Thor in between them.

"So..." Sarah bit her lip, not sure how to ask what she wanted to ask.

"Why am I so weird?" Selene prompted.

"I was going to ask 'what' you like that was weird first, but 'why' might be better." Sarah replied, thinking about what Ethan had just said.

Selene looked like she was thinking for several seconds before she spoke. "So, did you meet Ketura?"

Sarah shook her head.

"Well, she's a concubine, a wife who's also a slave, and I haven't been able to get that out of my head." Selene began. "I know Ethan would never be comfortable with that -- and honestly, I don't think I would be either -- but I want something like that, if only in the bedroom. In the bedroom, I want him to, for lack of a better term, 'own' me."

"What?" Sarah stared. "Why would you want... that?"

"I know, it probably doesn't make sense." She sighed. "After my brother died, I ended up taking care of everything. I wasn't even a teenager yet and I had to run the house because my mother was a basket case and my dad was trying to keep food on the table."

"I'm sorry." Sarah's face fell and she put her arm around Selene to give her a laying-down hug.

"Thank you." Selene replied as she hugged back. "No pre-teen should have to run a house like that, but I had to. I had the weight of everything and I just wanted a break. I had to make way too many decisions and do so much work because my mom just couldn't and--" She stopped. "Well, I wasn't ready; I was too young."

"I know what that's like." Sarah replied as the hug broke. "I was only five when my mother passed. Father took care of things, but I had to grow up so fast."

"I'm glad you understand, but I'm sorry you can." Selene wiped her face. "That's why I'm so... weird. I just want someone to sweep me off my feet and take the weight off my shoulders. I had to make so many choices so often that -- at least in the bedroom -- I don't want to make any more; I can't relax if I have to." She chuckled. "Ironically, I find the roleplay -- not the reality, but the roleplay -- of being a slave very freeing. I don't have to think, I don't have to plan, I don't have to worry; I can justbe." She paused. "Well, only with someone like Ethan though."

"Oh?" Sarah asked as Thor readjusted himself between them

Selene nodded and spoke forcefully. "If anyone tried toforce me, I'd kill him. If someone put a slave collar on me for real, I wouldn't rest until I was free and he was dead." Her face and tone softened. "But with Ethan... I know he cares and so I can just let go." She sighed. "I can't describe how wonderful that feels."

"I understand that a little I suppose." Sarah nodded. "He makes me feel so safe."

"Agreed." Selene smiled. "And, just as important to me, he makes me feel cared for. My dad tried so hard to take care of me, but he had to spend so much time working to make ends meet that he couldn't spend as much time with me as either of us would've liked, but I know he wanted to. With Ethan, I have that; he takes care of me."

The glow about her face said it all.

Honestly, it seemed like Selene was channeling Myla a bit right now.

"And that's why you like it when he tells you what to do?" Sarah asked.

Selene nodded. "I love it. Well, mostly in the bedroom. He's that unique kind of guy that'll treat me like a queen and let me soar outside the bedroom, but then also do me like a cheap whore in the bedroom without degrading me or loving me any less."

Sarah's cheeks suddenly felt extremely hot.

"Sorry." Selene grimaced apologetically.

"I don't understand that second part." Sarah said after a moment, realizing that Selene was being incredibly open and vulnerable. "What appeals to you about... that?"

"So, I've had guys checking me out since I was... probably twelve? Thirteen? Something like that; way too young." She scowled for a moment. "And it got worse as I developed."

Sarah sighed. "I almost wish I had that problem; no man ever really noticed me."

"Trust me, you don't want that. It was awful, especially when the girls started growing."

"The girls?"

Selene reached down and cupped her breasts.

"Oh." Sarah chuckled. Selene had very nice breasts, just like everything else on her body. Sarah herself wasn't large, though she doubted anyone would call her small either. She was probably about average, while Selene was definitely both larger and more shapely.

"Don't worry, I'm sure that Ethan will make sure that you're well-acquainted with them eventually." Selene teased.

Sarah blushed again.

"And I suppose if I'm honest, I'm curious how that'll go." Selene mused, then probably at the shocked look on Sarah's face, hastily clarified. "I didn't necessarily mean with you, I meant with the others."

"Oh." Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, because I couldn't imagine... um..." She bit her lip.

"Imagine what?" Selene asked.

"Um, compared to you, I'm not very pretty and I guess I'm worried that Ethan might... you know... um, lose interest in me if you were there because he could compare us." She didn't add that she felt the same about his other wives as well. At least Kendra was only a little prettier than Sarah herself was, but the rest of them...

"He wouldn't. Ever." Selene said firmly. "He loves people, not bodies. He wants to take you to bed for who you are, not what you look like."

Sarah nodded.

"And because I know that about him, and because I know that he adores me as a person, not just as a hot piece of ass, it changes things." Selene continued.

"How?"

"Everyone always treated me like I was on a pedestal." Selene sighed. "Hell, one girl went and said that I 'won the freakin' genetic lottery' -- she didn't say 'freakin' by the way' -- and everyone made a big deal. But the first time I met Ethan..." She sighed and since they were touching, Sarah could feel a shudder run through her friend. "I always thought it was hot in stories when someone loved, admired, and respected the heroine, but role-played like he thought she was barely worth his attention."

Selene let out a sigh that was also halfway to a moan.

"Oh, is that what you meant about how you want Ethan to... um..." She bit her lip, not quite able to get it out.

"Do me like a cheap whore?" Selene nodded. "Or less crassly, treat me like I'm barely worth his attention while he pretends that he doesn't love, respect, and adore me."

"I think I would break if Ethan treated me like that." Sarah replied, not even wanting to think about it.

"And that's why he never would." Selene assured her with a smile. "But me? Iknow that I'm gorgeous, and I know that he thinks I'm gorgeous, which will make it so incredibly hot when he treats me like I'm barely worth his attention, or compares my body to his other wives' bodies so they come out on top." Again, she sighed and it had the edge of a moan in it.

Sarah stared.

What?

Why?

"I still don't understand." She finally said.

"Honestly, I'm not sure I do either." Selene replied. "All I know is that it makes me weak in the knees and wet in... uh, other places."

Sarah felt her cheeks grow warm again. "Ethan sometimes has that effect on me, though not for those reasons."

Selene grinned. "You always liked him; you were obsessed with him from the moment we met."

"I remember." Sarah smiled, her cheeks still warm. "I would've never imagined that the real Ethan was better than my imagination."

Selene grinned. "And if the look his wives have when they come out of the captain's cabin is any indication, he's even better than you know."

Sarah's cheeks suddenly got hot. "I know."

The two women shared a knowing but embarrassed look.

"So, you don't think I'm weird?" Selene asked after a minute.

"You are weird, but I don't mind." She replied honestly. "I would hate that, but a part of me--" She stopped as her cheeks went hot."

"A part of you... what?" Selene prompted.

"Nevermind." Sarah said, not willing to voice the thought. There was no way she would tell her friend that a part of her wanted to see that. Not as a participant -- never as a participant -- but maybe as an observer.

Maybe.

"So, when do you think you'll get married?" Sarah asked to change the topic.

"Knowing Ethan, he won't want to wait long." She grinned. "And since I'm going to Earth, I think I'll be able to have my dad, Hailey, Melinda, and Jason there too."

"Well, of course your father has to be there." Sarah replied. "Otherwise no one would perform the ceremony."

"What?" Selene stared at Sarah. "Oh, right, that." She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure it won't be a problem."

"It will be." Sarah replied. "No one will perform the ceremony without your father's permission, and according to Ten Kingdoms law, it wouldn't be a legitimate marriage without his approval since he's still alive and hasn't disinherited you."

"You're kidding me." Selene's mouth fell open.

"No, I'm not."

"But surely Anthiel would be willing to..." Selene trailed off, probably because of the look on Sarah's face.

"I don't think she would." Sarah said, and there didn't seem to be any doubt in her tone.

"Well, I'll ask her in the morning."

* * *

"No."

Selene stared at Anthiel in the pre-dawn hours, not quite believing what she was hearing. "You won't marry us without my father's permission?"

"No, I won't." The high elf replied. Her tone was firm and left no room for changing her mind. "Luminar Kossel certainly won't, and Falkaan would probably think less of you both for even asking the question."

"Why?"

"It's Ten Kingdoms law." Anthiel replied. "Also important, it would cause quite the scandal and make people doubt Ethan's legitimacy as a prophet, or even a good man; both would be in question."

Selene looked at Ethan, who was standing right there since she had told him what Sarah had said the previous evening.

"You want your father there anyway, don't you." Ethan said; it wasn't a question.

"I do, yes."

"Okay, then invite him so he can rubber stamp it; problem solved." He shrugged.

She smiled at him.

"I have something for you." Ethan said, then held up a letter that was sealed with wax. "Open it after you get to Earth and follow its instructions to the letter. If you do, then when you get back, maybe I'll marry you." He was trying to keep a straight face and serious tone, but he was clearly too happy to fully succeed. Judging by the look in his eyes, he couldn't wait for her to get back.

*I love you.* She thought to him, unable to stop herself from smiling either.

*I know.* He replied in a reasonable imitation of Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back, as Han was being lowered into the carbon freezing chamber; anyone who'd seen the movie would know it was Han's -- and thus Ethan's -- way of saying: "I love you too."

"Okay." She took the letter with a barely concealed grin, guessing that Alana had probably written the contents.

"Now, my mom and dad won't have left for work yet." He said, looking at the pre-dawn sky. "You'll need their help, so you'll leave as soon as possible to make sure you get there before they leave."

*Your Precious is happy to obey.* She thought to him, her heart swelling slightly at her new title. Then for Anthiel's' sake, she spoke aloud. "Okay."

Ethan led her down to the lower decks where the Argo's half of the paired portals was stored, his other wives in tow, and they all hugged Selene.

"How long will you be gone this time?" Kendra asked.

Selene looked at Ethan, then held up the letter. "No idea."

"She should be back tomorrow, possibly the next day at the absolute latest, and maybe tonight if everything goes well." Ethan said, a subtle grin on his face. "Now, if you ladies could all put some mana into the portal to open it..."

They did, including Selene.

As usual, the portal opened slowly over time. It extended from the inside edge of the portal ring, looking like water spiraling down a drain. It always looked like that from the projecting side, though it looked like water spiraling down the drain in reverse when a portal ring was receiving a projected portal.

"Hey Precious; hurry back." Ethan said softly.

She smiled at him. "Always."

She stepped through the portal and into the Ejder's living room, where the receiving end of the portal ring was leaning up against the wall. Like usual, she felt a bone-deep chill, followed by a warming sensation as the chills continued. It was unpleasant, but worth it.

"Hello? Ruth?" Selene called, slightly uncomfortable at having entered the way she had, despite Ruth assuring her it was fine the previous day.

"And?" Ruth asked as she came into the living room wearing a bathrobe with her hair in a towel, and she had a toothbrush in her hand. "Do I have a new daughter-in-law?"

"Not yet, but soon." Selene said, and almost felt like she was channeling Thea with her half-embarrassed grin.

"Yes!" Ruth ran forward and gave her a hug. "Okay, so why are you back?"

"I have instructions." She held up the letter.

"Oh?" Ruth eyed her

Selene nodded, not wanting to admit to her future mother-in-law how kinky she was. "Just some stuff before the wedding."

"Well, what are you working with?" Ruth asked.

Selene opened the letter and started reading, her cheeksand nether regions getting hotter as she did.

* * *

"Okay, we don't have a lot of time." Alana said the moment the portal to Earth had closed behind Selene, then she looked at Ethan. "You're sure your plan is the right move?" She asked, not able to even think of a term for what he had explained to them all the previous night.

He nodded. "I got a good idea of what she wants when we bonded, and I can definitely feel my dragon instincts pushing me in that direction." He glanced at the portal. "Besides, it's a bit late to change it now."

"You could change the plans telepathically." Rachel pointed out.

He shook his head. "No, this is the right move; I can feel it."

"Okay." Alana nodded. "The ladies and I will get started on Selene's dress right after I write that letter, and Kendra can--" She stopped and then looked at her husband. "Are you sure you want her to pull out a couple of your scales for this? That'll hurt like you wouldn't believe."

"I know." He replied. "I might not if they wouldn't grow back, but since they will..."

"We have other dragon scales Drago." Kendra pointed out. "It doesn't need to be your own scales."

"It does." Ethan replied. "It does. I'm not sure I can explain why, but it does."

"Okay." Kendra shrugged. "Let's hope that Elder Goman can get them to Graflex quickly and that he's interested in a rush forging job."

"Dominus, are youreally sure?" Beth asked. Her cheeks went slightly pink as she continued. "I think I'm a bit more... uh, 'unconventional' than my fellow wives and even I think it's a bit far out."

"I'm sure." Ethan nodded. "I won't deny that it's right at the very edge of my comfort zone, but I know this is what Selene wants. You all remember what Illuminar said about my sixth wife in bed, right?"

They all nodded and Taloni spoke up. "He said that your sixth wife's needs in bed might make you uncomfortable at first, but that her needs should come before your wants."

"Yup." Ethan nodded. "What Selene wants isn'tbeyond my comfort zone; at the edge perhaps, but not beyond it. And she wants this. She wants it so badly and I can't disappoint her."

Everyone nodded, but they also had apprehensive looks on their faces.

* * *

Selene slowly shook her head at the letter, unable to believe that Ethan -- well, actually probably Alana at his instruction giving the graceful flowing script -- had actually written what was in front of her. She stared at the paper, trying to decide if she loved or hated the letter's contents more. She couldn't decide. She wanted to kiss him for it, and she wanted to slap him for it too. At least one part of her was clearly enjoying it though, and it was making its enjoyment known in very pleasant ways.

"Um, is my phone still on the counter?" Selene asked. She had left it here since she wouldn't need it in the Ten Kingdoms, but thought she might still need it at some point, if only to contact her Earth friends. At this point, that was only Jason, Hailey, and Melinda; Yvonne and her father fell into different categories.

"Yup, and I charged it overnight." Ruth replied. "I have something at work that I shouldn't miss today, and I know Richard has an important meeting." Her tone was almost apologetic. "But if you need a car, you can borrow mine; Richard can drop me off at my salon."

"Thank you Ruth, I appreciate it."

She smiled at her. "I'm happy to do it for any of my daughters, or daughters-to-be in your case." She paused. "Actually, none of the rest have ever driven a car, so you're special." She winked.

Selene chuckled. "Thanks. Um, I need to make some calls." She looked at the letter again, hardly believing what she was about to do as she grabbed her phone and started dialing while Ruth left to finish getting ready for the day.

"Hello Selene, how's life as an engaged woman?" Yvonne said when she'd picked up the call.

"How did you know?"

"I didn't, but I guessed." The agent replied. "You quit in the middle of a shift, asked Hailey to finish it, and then drove to the Ejder's house with Ethan's mother; that's a dead giveaway."

"You've been watching me?"

"Of course."

Selene frowned, but there really wasn't much she could do about it now.

"Was there something you needed?" Yvonne asked after a moment.

"Well, I wanted to let you know that I'm moving to the Ten Kingdoms." She replied after a moment. It felt lame only saying that, but she hadn't summoned enough courage to say theother thing yet.

"Okay, and...?" Yvonne prompted. "I'm sure there's more to it because we aren'tthat close."

Selene looked at the letter again. "Um, I needed to find out some information on something, and Ethan said that I had to ask someone, and since you already know my... uh, 'tastes', I was hoping for a favor?"

Selene thought she heard a faint chuckle as Yvone replied. "What sort of favor?"

"Um, do you know of any places near-ish that are reputable and do... um." She glanced at the letter again. "Well, two things. One that does permanent hair removal for, um... intimate areas, and another that does... uh, 'intimate' piercings?"

"Intimate piercings?" Yvonne repeated. "You'll have to be more specific as not all places are the same and some specialize in different things.

Selene's cheeks burned, feeling almost as hot as her nether regions. Dear God in heaven, why the hell did Ethan have to know her and her kinks so well? At this rate, she was going to need a pad to catch everything that would accumulate before this conversation was over.

She swallowed. "Um, it's a..." She took a deep breath. "It's called a 'triangle piercing', though I'm not entirely sure what it is."

Yvonne chuckled. "You want to get a piercing and don't know what it-- Oh, Ethan told you to, didn't he?" She laughed. "I guess you really did find someone who understands you."

"Uh-huh." Selene replied, painfully aware of just how much she wanted to jump Ethan for what he was putting her through. Seriously, she wanted him to throw her on a bed, tie her down, and have his way with her after this. She knew that didn't make sense and she didn't care.

"So, a triangle piercing." Yvonne said, and there was definitely a teasing note in her tone. "Do you want to know what it is?"

Selene was about to say no, since she thought saying 'yes' might make her die of embarrassment. On the other hand, she knew for a fact that if Ethan was standing there, he would tell her to say yes just to embarrass her; God, why did he have to know her so well? More importantly, why did that make her want to jump him more?

"Okay."

"It's erroneously called a 'clit piercing', but it doesn't actually go through the clitoris." Yvonne began to explain.

"Wait, it's a clit piercing?"

"No, it'serroneously called one." Yvonne corrected. "It'snot a clit piercing."

"It's not?"

"It passesunder the clit, not through it." Yvonne assured her. "It only goesthrough the flap of skin that protects the clit, which is called the 'clitoral hood'."

"Oh, that's okay then." Selenedefinitely wasn't willing to get her clit pierced, not even for Ethan.

"Triangle piercings are usually rings, or partial rings with widened ends so they don't fall out." Yvonne continued.

A ring?

Hmm.

Selene bit her lip, having a guess what Ethan had been thinking with this. They didn't wear rings in the Ten Kingdoms, so it might look out of place if she was hauling around a large rock on her finger. Maybe, just maybe, Ethan still wanted her to wear a 'wedding ring', just in a less visible place...

She smiled.

"Only some women can get it as you need to be 'built' correctly. Like I said, it actually goes through the clitoral hood and rests just under the clitoris, so the clit rests on top of the piercing. This provides stimulation that is literally impossible to get any other way. In fact, some women who have never had an orgasm started having them after getting a triangle piercing.

"Really?" She asked, hardly able to believe... Wow. That's why he wanted her to get it? Because it would make her enjoy sex more?

"Yup." Yvonne confirmed. "In fact, many women with no problems orgasming reported that their orgasms got stronger after getting it."

Suddenly, Selene's heart wanted to be in bed with Ethan just as much as certainother parts of her. She felt all warm and gooey inside, like a perfectly toasted marshmallow ready to become part of a S'more. Her cheeks pulled into a wide smile as it really hit her that she was about to become part of something more; part of Ethan's family.

"Wow." Selene said after a moment. "I didn't know such a thing existed."

"It does." The agent confirmed. "I'll call you back in a few minutes."

"Okay." Selene said, and the line instantly went dead.

Selene sank into a nearby chair, scarcely able to believe that Ethan had thought of... That was perfect. She knew he had worked on websites before coming to the Ten Kingdoms, and so she assumed that he'd worked on one about piercings. She was glad he had.

Honestly, this was almost as thoughtful as when he'd made that latte for her, though obviously different and not nearly so innocent. She had a similar warm-gooey feeling inside, only this one had a sensual edge that made her wish she and Ethan were alone in a bedroom. She cocked her head to one side, realizing that her first time would almost certainly be with his other wives around.

She was okay with that.

A minute later, Ruth came into the room looking like she'd just left a salon. The woman owned one though, so perhaps that wasn't surprising. Selene got up and gave Ruth a huge hug.

"What's this for?" Ruth asked as she hugged her back.

"For raising a wonderful man." She replied.

Ruth chuckled. "Make sure you thank Richard too; I'm only half of the parenting team."

"I will." She replied as the hug broke.

Selene's phone ran.

"I should get this." Selene said, then answered as Ruth went into the kitchen.

"Okay, you have an appointment for a few hours from now at an extremely reputable place; they can trim the lawn and also hang the decorations." Yvonne said. "I'll text you the details."

"Wait, what?" Selene felt her jaw drop.

"I didn't think you'd want to wait." Yvonne said with a smile in her tone. "I can cancel it if you like?"

"No." Selene said quickly. "No, thank you."

"You're welcome." Yvonne said. "I might've also made it clear that you were an important customer and overpaid intentionally to make sure you got the best and fastest service possible."

"Thank you, but why?"

"Two reasons." Yvonne replied. "First, my agency really screwed you over and I felt like we owe you. And second, if things ever don't work out over there, I wanted you to have positive memories of my agency if you ever came back to Earth so you'd consider working for us."

"I won't be coming back, but I really appreciate this."

"You're welcome." Yvonne said, then chuckled. "Now, go get those lady bits poked for your man."

"Thank you again." Selene said with a chuckle.

"Take care, and feel free to reach out if you ever come back." She paused. "Since my agency really did screw up your life, do you want me to make a few calls and make sure that Jason, Hailey, and Melinda have the next week off so they can attend what I assume is an impending wedding?"

"I would love--" She stopped. "I would love that, but can I check with Ethan first? We haven't set a date, but yes I think it'll be soon."

"Go for it."

*Do you have a minute for Your Precious?* Selene thought to him privately, her heart swelling and going slightly gooey again at the title he'd picked for her.

*Always.* Judging by his tone, he was smiling. *What's up?*

She explained what had just happened and repeated Yvonne's offer. *If you don't mind, I-- I mean, Your Precious would love to have them there.*

*I don't mind, but that's two uses of 'I'.* He said, trying and failing to sound entirely stern. *I'll have to correct you most severely for that.*

*Thank you, Your Precious is looking forward to that.* She beamed.

*Go get 'em Precious.* He thought to her.

*Will do.* She replied, then spoke into the phone. "That would be wonderful, thank you."

"I'll get right on it." Yvonne replied. "I realize I can't make up for everything my agency did to you, but hopefully this is a start."

"I appreciate it." Selene replied.

"Take care, bye." Yvonne said.

"Bye." Selene hung up, then headed into the kitchen where Ruth was.

"How about some breakfast?" Ruth asked when Selene had arrived. "I always leave enough time in my day for a leisurely breakfast, and that would give us some time to talk."

"Thank you, that sounds wonderful." Selene replied.

* * *

"Are you sure this is what you want her dress to look like?" Alana asked after hearing Ethan's description and making a quick sketch to ensure she understood him correctly. They were all in the captain's cabin, Sarah included, and had been discussing it. Ethan's idea was a bit... well, it was a proper dress and while it would certainly turn heads, it maintained decorum. Well, it did in the normal form; once activated though... that was a different story.

"Yup." He nodded. "Trust me, this is perfect for her."

"Are you sure Master?" Taloni asked as she looked over Alana's shoulder.

"Trust me, she'll love it." He assured them.

"It's not suitable to fight in." Kendra pointed out. "The shoulders are completely exposed."

"And there's nothing to attach a summoning charm to either, to make part of the dress rise to cover them." Alana added.

"Yeah, I have a solution for that." He said, then explained his plan.

Every one of the girls stared at him.

"Are you being serious, or is this a joke?" Sarah asked after a moment.

"Dead serious." He replied. "I can't quite explain how I know, but this is the right move. She'll love it."

They still stared at him.

Alana found Beth's proclivities in the bedroom confusing, but at least she understood them. The wood elf was only just now getting a fuller picture of just how strange Ethan's next wife was. Though, she supposed that she shouldn't be surprised after the letter she'd written for Ethan to Selene earlier.

Beside her, Beth reached back and scratched her back again.

"Still bothering you?" Ethan asked.

The blonde groaned. "Yes, and it gets worse every time I make my wings on the Astral Plane grow larger. It does get better over time, but then I make them grow again, and..." She huffed. "I'll be glad when I'm done so my back stops itching."

"How much more until they're grown?" Taloni asked.

"Too much." Beth sighed, then looked at the drawing again. "Are you sure she wants this Dominus? Especially after those instructions in the letter?"

"What were the instructions?" Sarah asked.

"I'll tell you, but I'm not sure you want to hear it right now." Ethan replied.

"You don't." Alana said.

Sarah hesitated, looking around at everyone. "Everyone else knows, right?"

"They do." Alana nodded.

"Then I want to know too, even if it makes me uncomfortable." It sounded like she was trying to be firm, but her tone gave her away.

"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you." Ethan replied and then he started explaining.

Sarah's eyes got wider and wider as he did. By the end, she was seemingly subconsciously covering her nether regions in a protective way.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asked with a chuckle when he was done.

Sarah just stared mutely at him.

"Sarah?" Alana said gently.

"Selene actuallywants that?" Ethan's betrothed finally got out.

"She does." He replied. "I'm pretty sure she wanted to jump me when she found out."

Everyone stared at him, Sarah most of all.

"I promise that's what she wants." Ethan said, obviously addressing all of them but looking at Sarah. "I wouldn't have told her to if she didn't want it."

Sarah nodded mutely.

Alana tried not to laugh. The relatively sheltered girl was essentially being thrown into the deep end of a well-established marriage with a wide variety of tastes in the bedroom, and it showed.

"Captain." Anthiel called from outside. "You have a visitor."

"Coming." He replied, then looked at Sarah. "Will you be okay?"

His betrothed didn't reply because she was still staring at him, eyes wide open and mouth agape. Though, after a moment she slowly nodded.

"You're so cute when you're shocked." He chuckled, kissed his stunned betrothed on the forehead, then left the captain's cabin.

"Sarah?" Alana said after getting up and walking over to stand next to her.

She looked at Alana, blinking a few times and moving her mouth with no sound coming out.

"I promise that it will be fine." Alana assured her. "Remember, Illuminar picked out Ethan's wives and even told him that he would need to accommodate his sixth wife's... uh, 'interests'."

Sarah slowly nodded her head, bit her lip, then finally spoke after a moment. "If Illuminar said it, then..." She hesitated. "But..." She glanced down at her nether regions for a moment. "But if He said it was okay..."

"I completely understand." Rachel said from the bed. "I can't even imagine..." She shuddered. "But as Ethan said, Selene wants this and apparently it'll make sex feel even better." Despite what Rachel had said, she had a skeptical frown on her face. Alana didn't blame her; it was hard to imagine sex getting better.

"I um..." Sarah swallowed. "I wasn't that nervous about... um, bedroom things, until I started hearing all of this."

"He won't make you participate, or even pressure you to." Alana assured her.

"I know, but..." Sarah swallowed again. "What if I'm..." She bit her lip. "What if compared to everyone else, I'm not as interesting and he loses interest in me?"

Alana tried not to laugh, she really did, but she couldn't help herself. "He'd lose interest in gold, food, and water before he lost interest in you."

Sarah hesitated, so Alana continued. "Some of the most enjoyable times we've had in bed were the quiet ones where nothing happened beyond what a couple of newlywed virgins would try on their wedding night."

Her fellow wives all agreed.

"The other stuff is very fun." Beth added. "But without the more tender, normal stuff, even I wouldn't like it very much."

"And ifBeth is saying that, it must be true." Kendra said with a straight face, though there was a twinkle in her eye.

"Beth is a bit closer to Selene in her preferences than the rest of us." Alana explained.

"Oh." Sarah nodded slowly. "So, maybe he won't think I'm boring or lose interest?"

"Oh, dear girl, he never will." Alana assured her with a smile. "He has only becomemore interested in the rest of us since we married him."

"Oh, good." Sarah breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm going to see what they're talking about." Beth announced, then stood up.

Everyone followed suit and they found Ethan in conversation with Colonel Forsythe, who was just handing him a folded piece of paper.

"All the tournament details are here, but I must reiterate that it is approaching soon." The colonel said.

Ethan took the paper. "I'll give it a look, and I'll talk to your uncle if I go, assuming Duke Farbrottan can dodge Lord Farbrottan."

"The people of Ivernia will thank you."

Nearby, Victoria had a somewhat stiff expression on her face as she watched the colonel.

Alana walked over to her. "Careful, if you make that face too often it'll get stuck that way."

Victoria gave her a look.

"That face might get stuck too." The wood elf winked. "It would be a pity if the Colonel only ever saw that face, even on such occasions as your wedding night."

Victoria's mouth fell open.

Alana laughed.

"I would never!" Victoria almost hissed, though more from shock than venom.

Alana gave her a reproving look, somehow reminding herself of her adoptive mother a little as she did so. Did those expressions just automatically appear when someone became a mother? She wasn't sure, but if the little bun in her oven had caused it, she was fine with that.

"Victoria, you always see the best in everyone and everything, except Ivernian soldiers." The wood elf pointed out. "I know that some of them are awful, but really, you should keep a more open mind."

The platinum blonde didn't reply, though she did draw her lips into a thin line.

*Problem?* Ethan asked her telepathically.

*Not really.* She sighed. *Victoria is finding out that sometimes, the line between love and hate is very thin.*

*Could you bring her over here for a minute?* He replied, amusement in his tone.

*Sure.* Alana looked at Victoria. "come on."

"The colonel and I were just discussing something." Ethan said to the ladies when they arrived, then he turned to the colonel. "Could you repeat what you just said for Victoria's benefit?"

Victoria had a forcedly calm look on her face and didn't say anything.

The colonel appeared to be suppressing that face people often make when something stinky is put under their nose as he spoke. "The prophet and I were discussing military discipline, and I explained that while my talent in military tactics is not large, I believe Illuminar blessed me with the ability to bring out the best in those allotted to my charge."

Victoria raised an eyebrow.

"You see, some would dismiss the sort of rough fellow that is sent here, or consider them not worthy of saving." Colonel Forsythe continued. "But such men often only need a strong, stern hand to turn them to a better path. Some are beyond saving, true, but most aren't. Most need someone to see the potential in them, and more importantly, to discipline them and give them a purpose to draw it out." He looked at her pointedly. "Regardless of the uniform they wear."

Victoria's expression faltered for a moment.

"That sounds a little like someone I know, but I can't remember who." Ethan said with a twinkle in his eye, then he looked at Victoria. "Can you think of someone who's recently expressed similar ideas?"

Alana managed to resist laughing at the quickly cycling expressions on Victoria's face, but it wasn't easy.

* * *

"Thank you again guys." Selene said after hugging her future in-laws with the keys to Ruth's car in her hand. "I really appreciate this."

"It's no problem." Richard assured her. "If you need anything while you're out, call us."

"It has a full tank, but we'll only be a phone call away if you need anything." Ruth added as Richard hit the garage door opener.

"Thank you again."

"You're family, or will be soon." Richard said as if that explained everything. "Don't forget to connect your phone before you start driving; I'm sure you'll want to tell your dad about this." He gave her a pointed look.

"I was planning to." Selene smiled back as she slid into the driver's seat of the sedan. It wasn't a luxury car, but felt luxurious and comfortable. She paired her phone with the car, thanked her future in-laws again, and then pulled out of the driveway and started driving. Once on the main road, she dialed her father.

"Hi my little Bubble Angel, long time no talk." He said when he had picked up on the second ring.

"Dad!" She groaned. "I was five, will I never live that down?"

"Not as long as I'm alive to tease you about it." He laughed. "What's up?"

"Well, I have some news..." Then she told him. It was a reasonably long drive to her destination so she had time to give him the full story, or at least everything but the juicy bits, and she ended by telling him how no one in the Ten Kingdoms would marry them without his permission.

"So I want you there anyway, but apparently I need you there to rubber stamp it." She finished.

"What makes you think I'll say yes?" He asked.

"What?" Selene asked, sure he was joking or that she'd misheard.

"Well, obviously you can marry who you want, but if you're going to ask mypermission, then I should put some thought into it, don't you think?"

"Uh..."

"And if I'm going to put some thought into it, then I should probably meet him first." He said, and that's when Selene noticed his 'trying not to laugh' teasing tone. "You know, just to be sure."

"Dad." She groaned again.

He laughed, then added more seriously. "There is one thing though."

"Mom." Selene nodded.

"Yup." He agreed. "What are you going to tell her?"

"That I eloped?" Selene suggested. "I can't take her to the Argo; she couldn't take it and couldn't keep quiet about it afterward either."

"I know." He sighed. "Probably saying that you eloped is best." He paused. "She used to be different you know, before your brother died. She could've handled it then."

"I know." Selene nodded. "I'll um, I'll let you know when it is; hopefully today or tomorrow."

"I'll keep my schedule clear-ish." He replied. "The drive to the Ejders' house for the portal thankfully isn't that long; what's a few hours in a car to see your only Bubble Angel get married?"

"Dad!" Selene groaned again.

* * *

"I think they'll be good for each other." Rachel said to Alana as they watched from a few yards away as Victoria and Colonel Forsythe verbally sparred. "She sees the bright spots in every situation, and he seems like he's good at bringing the best out of people."

"Conversely, she doesn't always see the good in people and he seems like a pessimistic fellow." Alana chuckled. "Each one's strength is the other's weakness. What a strange pair they make. I think a good pair, but a strange one."

"Indeed." Rachel nodded. "We should probably start on Selene's dress."

Alana nodded toward the bickering pair. "I was going to wait until they were done and he'd left the ship because I figured Taloni would take the Argo out, and you know she'll want to help."

"Good point." Rachel nodded.

About fifteen minutes and a dozen witty exchanges with Victoria later, Colonel Forsythe left the Argo.

After he left, Ethan looked at Taloni. "Tee, can you take us up far enough that we don't need to worry about being boarded or Wilding ballistas?"

"Ballistae." Kendra corrected. "The plural of 'ballista' is 'ballistae'."

Ethan chuckled, then looked at Sarah and Taloni. "And if you ever need to learn grammar, here's someone who could teach you." He winked at Kendra, who rolled her eyes.

"You don't want to set sail Master?" Tee asked.

He shook his head. "Nope, I want to hang around here at least until Selene gets back. Speaking of..." His mental voice came to the group chat next. *Selene, where are you?*

*I-- uh, Your Precious is just pulling up to the... the piercing place right now.*

*Good, have fun.* He replied in a teasing tone.

Rachel could almost see how Selene would be rolling her eyes.

Out of the corner of her eye, the redhead saw Victoria, who appeared to be silently brooding nearby and occasionally casting annoyed glances at the Wilderness Outpost's tower where Colonel Forsythe still was. The defenses made her think of another military man, which prompted an idea since Selene was on Earth.

*Selene, I think Lord Kalus would enjoy one of those 'chess sets' that Ethan talked about so much, if it would be possible to purchase one." Rachel suggested. *Their family has done a lot for us and that could be a thoughtful way to thank them, or at least him.*

*Great idea!* Ethan beamed at her, which made Rachel's heart go all gooey inside.

*I'll get one.* Selene replied.

*Master, could she get another one?* Taloni asked. *Anthiel has done so much for us and I think her husband would love it as well.*

*Brilliant!* Ethan said, then pulled her closer and gave her a kiss. Tee beamed as Ethan spoke to the group chat. *Actually, let's make it three so we can keep one on the Argo as well. Those two will cream me if I never practice.* He paused. *Oh, actually, let's make it four so we can gift one to the king of the wood elves.*

*Good idea.* Rachel nodded.

*Will do, see you all soon.* Selene replied with laughter in her mental tone.

"Now, about Selene's and my wedding." Ethan looked around at everyone. "Can we pull it together for tomorrow evening, here on the Argo, with the Midnight Sun's crew plus a half dozen guests?"

"Who?" Beth asked.

Rachel smiled as she put it together. "Selene's father, Richard and Ruth, plus Hailey, Jason, and Melinda." She paused. "And baby, so seven."

"Exactly, my wise redhead." He winked at her and she smiled back; she loved it when he called her that.

"We should be able to pull her dress together by then with plenty of time to spare if everyone works on it." Alana nodded.

"Great, and then there's one more thing; I've told you about bachelor and bachelorette parties, right?" He asked

Everyone nodded or verbally agreed.

He continued. "Well, what if the guys spend the night on the Midnight Sun -- assuming that Myla and Falkaan will be fine with that -- and the ladies make it a bachelorette party here on the Argo? I'm pretty sure that Hailey and Melinda might enjoy that as well, and maybe Jason could watch baby Ethan on the Midnight Sun, at least until he needs feeding."

Everyone looked at him.

"What?"

"You're really going out of your way to make this special for her." Rachel pointed out.

"I am." He nodded. "I would've done the same for any of you, and I will for Sarah too, but this is the first time I've really had a chance to; all my other weddings didn't really allow for me to plan ahead or be much involved."

"I think it's a wonderful idea." Alana spoke up, and everyone else agreed. "Now, let's talk logistics."

* * *

Selene took a deep breath as she sat in the waiting room, which seemed rather empty at the moment. Looking around, this place seemed to be a one-stop shop for almost anything related to piercing or waxing. They apparently did everything, including a few things that she had never heard of and wasn't sure she wanted to know more about.

"Selene Dawson?" The receptionist asked. She was middle-aged and was wearing scrubs, probably in an attempt to look more medical, given the nature of their business.

"That's me." She stood up.

"Right this way." She led Selene into the back and into an individual room with something that looked like a gynecology table in it. She supposed that made sense given the type of piercing they specialized in. On the table, there was one of those paper robes that they give you in hospitals that never seem to fully close in the back.

"It looks like you're here for a triangle piercing?" The woman asked.

"Yup." Selene nodded

"Okay, let me ask a few questions." She went through a pretty standard medical questionnaire that Selene thought was honestly a bit much for a piercing. But then, given where it was going, she didn't mind them being a bit more 'medical' about it. It certainly seemed like they were trying to replicate the feel of a doctor's office, and they were doing a great job at it.

"Okay, since you aren't wearing a dress today, we recommend that you change into the gown--" She pointed at the paper gown. "-- and then she'll be right with you."

"Okay, thanks." Selene said, then changed into it after the woman left. She waited a couple of minutes before there was a soft knock on the door.

"I'm decent." Selene said, which was even mostly true as long as she didn't turn around; those damn gowns never did stay closed.

The door opened and a woman who looked like a cross between a doctor and a punk rocker came in. She was dressed in medical scrubs with a doctor's coat, carried a clipboard, and her glasses looked very professional. On the other hand, she had short, spikey hair, neck tattoos, and a half dozen piercings; mostly on her ears, but not all.

"So, a triangle huh?" She said with a knowing smile.

"Uh-huh." Selene nodded.

"Well, you won't be disappointed." She grinned. "Idefinitely didn't regret getting mine, though the recovery time was a bitch."

Selene nodded, glad that wouldn't be a problem for her; healing magic was wonderful.

The 'doctor' -- not really, but that was clearly the vibe the place was going for -- introduced herself and then went over some preliminary questions and checked to see if Selene had any concerns about 'the procedure'; they liked using medical terms here she'd noticed.

"Okay, let's take a look." The 'doctor' said when that was done.

Selene laid down on the table, took a deep breath, then set her feet in the 'stirrups' so the 'doctor' could take a look. The 'doctor' put on some gloves and then sat down on a stool and looked at Selene's most intimate area. Honestly, she kind of liked the 'doctory' feel of the place; that made it more similar to a gynecology visit which was at least somewhat familiar to Selene.

"Some women have all the luck." The 'doctor' got a smile on her face and slowly shook her head after she had examined the area.

"Oh?" Selene asked.

"Yup." The woman nodded. "I'm looking to see how you're built here, and this is textbook perfect for a triangle piercing. And more, did you know that -- like every other area of the body -- there's variation in the size, location, and angle of the clitoris? Plus other things like how much it protrudes and such?"

"I didn't, but that makes sense." Selene replied.

"Well, let me put it this way, with the way your clit is built and positioned, you would probably orgasm from a two-pump-chump who didn't know a vagina from a hole in the ground." The woman said with a sigh. "And with a triangle piercing in there..." She looked at Selene. "Girl, if you ever meet a man who knows what he's doing, you'll go places that every woman dreams of but only a lucky few ever see."

Selene couldn't help but smile. Given the look on his wives' faces after a session in the bedroom, not to mention how he knew Selene herself so well, Ethan obviously knew what he was doing.

* * *

"Um, Ethan?"

He turned to see Sarah standing behind him looking slightly nervous. He had just been prepping for a trip to Earth to set things up for Selene's bachelorette party and so was below decks where the portal ring was. Beth and Kendra were there as well, since they had volunteered to provide the mana to open the portal.

"Hey Darlin', what's up?" He asked, smiling as he looked at her.

"Um, you've said before that it's traditional to have a big cake for a wedding on Earth?" Sarah asked.

"It is." He nodded, smiling as he guessed what she was getting at. "Why?"

"Um, because I can't make one here on the Argo because we don't have a suitable oven, but I was wondering if your parents did? And if they did, could I maybe -- if it's okay with Ruth -- could I try making one for Selene?"

"Absolutely." Ethan grinned. "In fact..." He trailed off as he thought about it. "I'll ask my mom tonight and maybe you two could make it tomorrow bright and early?"

"Really?"

He nodded. "You two already get along well and she's a great baker; great cook too."

"I would love that." A wide smile split her face, which just made everything about her glow a little. He loved that. She had been so mousey when he'd met her and now she was blossoming into a vibrant woman and it was heartwarming to see.

"It's a plan, and I'm sure my mom will be in favor as well." He grinned, then looked at Beth and Kendra. "Ladies, if you will?"

They powered up the portal and he stepped through it, ending up in his parents' living room. He shuddered at the simultaneously chilling and warming sensation; it was like having a fever and it hung around for a minute or two.

*Dominus, that took basically all of my mana.* Beth thought to everyone. *I'll need to spend half the day regenerating it.*

*Yeah, there's a reason we can't do this too often.* He mused. *Alana, if we have to open the portal three more times, will there still be enough mana to enchant everything?*

*Barely.* Alana replied. *And then only if everyone spends a lot of time regenerating their mana; those portals take a lot. I wouldn't risk it if we weren't someplace relatively safe right now.*

*Okay, good.* He nodded, then went to the phone and dialed the number of his mother's salon.

"Ruth's Salon and Day Spa, this is Emily; how can I help you?" An incredibly cheerful voice replied from the other end.

"I need to talk to Ruth, could you put her on?"

"She's with a client now, can I take a message?"

"Um, tell her to call me back regarding that friend who dropped by this morning." Ethan replied. "She'll know who it is and my number."

About fifteen minutes later, the home phone rang and his mother's cheerful and teasing tone came through it. "Congratulations."

"Thanks mom."

"I take it you're going to enlist me in some nefarious plot for your fiancé?"

"Absolutely." He grinned, then explained. Ruth was only too happy to help.

* * *

Selene sat down in the driver's seat of the car she'd borrowed from Ruth, marveling at the power of healing magic. The piercer and the woman who'd done the permanent pubic hair removal had both told her that she would be sore, and apparently, the piercing was supposed to take weeks to fully heal. Thanks to magic, she was already fully healed. The area had that dull ache that always accompanied magical healing, but it always faded after a good night's sleep.

*Your Precious has finished.* She thought privately to Ethan, secretly reveling in her new title. She loved that, and more, she loved that he had picked that name for her so she would be reminded just exactly how much she meant to him every time she said it.

*Did it go well?* He replied immediately.

*It wasn't too bad.* She replied. *Your Precious still needs to get those chess sets and then she'll head back to your parents' house.* Oddly, Selene found it onlyslightly strange talking about herself in the third person like that.

She adjusted in her seat and felt her underwear apply the tiniest bit of pressure to her new piercing, inall the right ways. Damn, if it was going to do that all day, every day, she was going to spend a lot more time low-level horny than she had guessed.

Damn, he really did know her well.

*Hurry back; you have plans tonight.* He replied.

*What plans?*

*You'll see.* He replied with a teasing edge to his tone.

*Okay.* She replied, rather excited to see what he'd cooked up because he knew her so well. The sensation between her legs whenever she moved was a pleasant reminder of that.

She was just about to start the car when she remembered something, and more specifically, someone she needed to thank. She smiled as she pulled out her phone and dialed.

"Detective McDreamy." Came the reply, so he'd obviously checked who was calling before picking up.

"Do you always answer the phone like that so people think you are?" She teased.

"Well, funny that you should ask; I met a girl who definitely thinks I am." He replied, and there was no disguising the joy in his tone.

"Already?" She chuckled, thinking that Gabriella -- or Illuminar -- worked fast.

"Yeah, but how about you? You sound like you got things sorted with Mr. Right."

"I'm engaged." She replied, not able to stop herself from smiling. "I wanted to say 'thank you' for pushing me to look for another way; I finally found it."

"That's wonderful." He did sound truly happy for her.

"Hang on a second." Selene turned on the car and connected her phone to its audio system. "Now, tell me about Mrs. Right."

"Oh, it'll be Mrs. McDreamy if I get my way."

Selene grinned.

* * *

"Tabby, can I be asking you a question?" Fiona asked her bodyguard while it was just the two of them alone in the nursery. "Well, I'm wanting to ask two questions."

"Of course my lady." She replied. She had produced the comb that she kept hidden somewhere on her dress and was combing her hair. Her very dark hair was relatively short for a woman, falling just past her shoulders. Honestly, it was just long enough that no one would notice that her hair was short and not an inch longer, which of course made Fiona wonder if that was on purpose. She suspected it was.

"So, I'm not wanting to pry, and I'll be understanding if you aren't wanting to answer."

Tabitha nodded once.

"Why are you liking babies so much?" Fiona asked. "Helga was saying you are, and I guess I'm wondering why the only times I was seeing real emotion from you were around Conner."

Tabitha looked at her for a moment before speaking. "It is in the nature of man to want most what he cannot have."

Fiona's face fell. "I'm sorry to be hearing that. I was knowing a woman in the town I grew up in who wasn't able either, and I know it was hurting her deeply."

"I am physically capable." Tabitha corrected.

"Then why couldn't you be finding a husband and having some children?" Fiona asked.

Tabitha just looked back at her, her entire face emotionless and utterly unreadable. She finished combing her hair and stowed the comb away, and somehow, Fiona didn't see where it went even though she had been watching.

"Tabby?" Fiona asked, not sure what to make of the response, or more accurately, the non-response.

"What was your second question my lady?"

Fiona almost chuckled at that; of course Tabby wouldn't say more. Honestly, Fiona felt lucky that she had answered as much as she had. "Um, I'm wondering what you're thinking of the false prophet."

"He is a potential threat, but not a certain threat." Tabitha replied without emotion. It was almost unsettling how she could do that.

"Potential?" Fiona frowned. "Are you viewing everyone as a potential threat?"

"That is my occupation." She replied simply.

Fiona felt inclined to both smile and frown as she realized something. "Is that why you're thinking you won't be getting married? Because you're viewing everyone as a potential threat?"

Tabitha didn't reply, and it was impossible to tell if that was because Fiona was right or wrong, or if the bodyguard simply didn't want to answer. Fiona thought about what the other woman had said for several moments before speaking again.

"If you're considering him to be apotential threat, then are you thinking he isn't a necromancer?"

"Not all necromancers are a threat to noble ladies." Tabitha replied, again giving nothing away.

Fiona nodded in concession. "It's just that I'm having a hard time..." She trailed off, remembering what Lady Shara, Mage Weston, and the crown prince had all said about keeping an open mind. Where Sean's killer was concerned, she was finding that very hard.

* * *

Selene pulled into the Ejder's driveway and immediately noticed an additional car that certainly hadn't been there that morning, and it was quite familiar too. It was Jason, Hailey, and Melinda's car; she was never quite clear on who owned it because they only had one and always called it 'the car'. Not that she was unhappy, quite the contrary. It was just strange since she'd called them after her father on the way to the piercing place to invite them, but told them the wedding would likely be tomorrow. What were they doing here now?

She parked the car, grabbed the chess sets, and went up to knock on the door.

It was opened a moment later by Ruth, who had a wide smile on her face. "Why, if it isn't my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Come on in."

Selene did, not sure what she would find. What she found was Ethan talking to Jason, Hailey, and Melinda while her fiancé held baby Ethan. There was something about the way that he was holding the baby that just made Selene's heart melt. He was holding the baby carefully, tenderly, and gently, but also confidently and like he knew what he was doing. He had a subtle and contented smile on his face too.

She couldn't help but imagine what it would be like sometime in the future when they weren't fighting a war, when he might be holdingtheir baby like that.

"He'll be a wonderful father." Ruth whispered with a knowing smile, then raised her voice. "Look who's here."

Ethan looked over at her and grinned, his whole face lighting up. He was beaming at her while holding a baby and suddenly, she was wishing they were alone in a bedroom making one. She'd never had that thought before. Not that she'd never thought of having kids before, but she'd never been interested enough in someone towant to make a baby with anyone before.

Now she was.

"Hi Precious." He looked at her like she was worth a million bucks, but there was a impish gleam in his eyes and for the tiniest moment, his eyeline flicked down to her nether regions where her new piercing was, reminding her of another reason that she wanted to make a baby with him.

She was also acutely aware of how her underwear was sliding against her newly bare nether regions. She wasn't sure if her fiancé had intended this, but the new sensation of the underwear on her bare skin combined with her new piercing was creating some... interesting sensations in her nether regions.

"Hi, what's all this?" She indicated Jason, Hailey, and Melinda, who she'd had no idea would be here.

"This is the last few moments before your bachelorette party starts." He smiled.

She stared at him.

What?

Her bachelorette...?

What?

Ethan laughed, jostling the still-awake baby Ethan, who seemed quite content in his arms. "Cat got your tongue?"

She worked her mouth for a moment before being able to get something out. "I... I'm having a bachelorette party?"

"You are." He smiled at her. "Apparently that's not really a thing they do in the Ten Kingdoms, but everyone liked the idea and we might start a trend."

"Okay." She managed to get out.

*Did you get everything taken care of?* He thought to her privately.

*Your Precious did, and thank you.* She thought back.

*Good.* He smiled at her, then turned to where Jason, Hailey, and Melinda were. "We're all going through the portal. Hailey and Melinda will be at your party, while all the men will be on the Midnight Sun."

"Really?" Her voice cracked slightly, so she tried again with more success. "Really?"

"Yes." Ethan said with a grin, then waved her toward the living room. *Ladies, we're almost ready for the portal.* He thought to everyone.

"So, what do I do now?" Selene asked. She had never been to a bachelorette party and had no idea what to do at one.

"Don't worry Precious, they'll take care of everything." Ethan assured her.

About five minutes later, Selene stepped through the portal to the Argo and saw all the ladies of the Argo standing in front of the portal with wide smiles on their faces. It was past sundown and someone had hung lanterns around the area in front of the captain's cabin, and even pulled up the fancy enchanted leather tables and chairs. The table was set with plates, and in the dinner pot was something delicious that smelled like...

"Is that Feijoada?" She asked, scarcely able to believe it.

Sarah nodded. "Ruth got your father's recipe, Ethan thought it to Alana, she wrote it down, and I made it. It might not be exactly like his, but I tried my best."

She felt herself tearing up slightly. Feijoada was her favorite dish growing up and her father had brought his family's recipe with him when he'd moved to the United States long before she was born. Ethan had actually gone to the trouble to...

Behind her, everyone else came through the portal.

Selene was too stunned to react as all of her favorite women in the world -- two worlds actually -- came together to do this for her. She could scarcely believe it.

* * *

Ethan felt a warm sense of satisfaction as he watched the bachelorette party from the Midnight Sun. It had taken Selene a solid five minutes to recover from the shock, but she hadn't stopped smiling since she had. The ladies of the Argo, Midnight Sun, and their visitors from Earth appeared to be having a marvelous time given the frequency of laughter and abundance of smiles.

Ethan, Falkaan, Jason, and Luminar Kossel were all sitting on the Midnight Sun's weather deck at a table that someone had brought up from the lower decks. Sarah had set aside some food from the party for them, and as usual, it was absolutely delicious. After dinner, Falkaan had provided several glasses and poured several fingers of mead into them.

"I do not think Myla will ever wish to be parted from the Argo's crew, nor from Victoria and Thea." Falkaan said while watching his bride smile at the party.

"You guys are welcome to stick around as long as you want; we've grown rather fond of you two as well." Ethan replied as a loud chorus of laughter echoed from the party on the other airship.

"This is unbelievable." Jason said from nearby as he looked around for the dozenth time. With the southern slope of the Ivernian mountains on one side and the Gulf of Sayora on the other, it was an impressive sight. He had baby Ethan in the detachable part of a car seat next to the table and was rocking it with his foot.

"It helps to live here for a few months." Ethan replied, then took another sip of his mead. "But yeah, it's unbelievable."

"If I might venture a question." Falkaan addressed Jason. "Why have you not wed Miss Hailey and Miss Melinda?"

"It's not legal to have multiple wives on Earth." Jason replied.

"It is here." The dark elf pointed out. "Should you wish it, and I would strongly encourage that you do, you could be wed to both before you depart."

"I wouldn't want to steal Selene's thunder, but I would love that." Jason replied.

Ethan was about to reply when another roar of laughter came from the Argo. He looked over to see several of the women nearly doubled over in laughter while more than one had red faces that probably weren't from laughter.

"I love seeing that." Jason grinned.

"Aye, me as well." Falkaan agreed, likely because although Myla wasn't red-faced or doubled over, she was laughing out loud.

"Make that three." Ethan smiled.

"I could perform the wedding." Luminar Kossel said to Jason. "There isn't time for much preparation, but perhaps the morning after Selene's wedding before you return home."

"I'll ask them." Jason nodded.

They talked for another hour while the jovial party continued on the Argo. About then, Sarah crossed the gangplank between the two airships and came up to them.

"Hey Darlin', what's up?" He smiled at her.

"I just wanted to say goodnight." She replied. "Are you sure it's okay that we all sleep in the captain's cabin on the bed?"

"Yup." He nodded. "There should be room, and when Selene and I bonded, I think I remember seeing that she wanted to have a slumber party growing up, but never got a chance. I want to give her that chance."

"I love how much you care." His betrothed smiled wider.

"I do, and I care just as much for you." He stood up and kissed her forehead. "Good night and sweet dreams."

"And the same to you." She smiled back, then hesitated. "Um, are you sure it'll be okay tomorrow?"

"With my mom while you're baking the wedding cake together?"

She nodded.

"Yes." He said confidently. "You are both wonderful people who like cooking; it'll be fine."

"Okay." Sarah didn't sound entirely convinced.

"Hey." He said softly.

She looked up into his eyes, a soft vulnerability there. "Yes?"

"It'll be fine." He assured her again, this time making his tone kind and caring. "I promise."

She nodded, looking slightly reassured.

He leaned forward and whispered into her ear. "Now, go sleep with all of my other wives."

He leaned back and winked as her cheeks went pink.

He chuckled.

* * *

Sarah slowly returned to the waking world, aware of a warm weight on her chest. Despite the size of the bed, fitting all twelve women -- Ethan's current and future wives, Hailey, Melinda, Myla, Victoria, and Thea -- had taken some figuring out and they were all pretty close to each other.

She opened her eyes and looked down to see Selene asleep and using her right breast as a pillow. The fabulously gorgeous Brazilian woman somehow managed to look even more gorgeous while asleep, and that was despite the tiny bit of drool that had escaped from her mouth and ended up on Sarah's upper breast.

She chuckled.

"Mmm?" Selene stirred and lifted her head, then yawned. Somehow, even with her hair an utter and complete mess, she managed to look more beautiful than any woman Sarah had ever seen.

"I need to get up." Sarah whispered.

Selene yawned again and moved a little, ending up snuggling up with Kendra, who was on her other side. Sarah slipped out and got to contrast how Selene and Kendra were snuggling compared to how Alana and Rachel were. There was no real comparison. Alana and Rachel were hopelessly intertwined while Selene and Kendra looked like two good friends taking a nap together.

The other ladies were similar, with Ethan's wives haphazardly snuggling with each other and flopped across various body parts. Hailey and Melinda looked very comfortable with each other while Victoria and Thea were probably the most 'apart' from everyone else. Myla was nowhere to be seen.

Sarah frowned at that, then slipped out of the captain's cabin.

It was light enough outside, but not dawn yet. On the weather deck, Ethan was solo-drilling with his war sword. On the Midnight Sun, Falkaan and Myla were standing next to each other while she rested her head on his shoulder. It was cute and sweet to see them like that.

"Ready?" Ethan asked when he saw her.

She took a deep breath and then nodded.

"Okay, let me get Beth." His eyes went unfocused for a moment. He frowned slightly, then looked at the captain's cabin.

"Was Beth up super late?" He asked.

"Not that I noticed." Sarah replied.

"Hang on." He went into the captain's cabin and it took a minute or two for him to reappear. He was carrying Beth in his arms and she looked barely awake; well, 'barely awake' might've been an over-statement.

"She decided to spend some time growing her wings before she went to sleep, lost track of time, and spent half the night awake." Ethan rolled his eyes with a chuckle.

Sarah chuckled too.

"Come on Angel." He shook her gently. "One of my wives needs to be on Earth so we know when to open the portal when they're done cooking."

Beth groaned.

"You volunteered, remember?" Ethan gently jostled her.

The blonde groaned again, flopped against him, and mumbled something unintelligible.

He chuckled. "She'll be fine; my parents have a very comfortable couch." He looked at Sarah. "Ready?"

She took a deep breath and then nodded.

Ethan looked at the Midnight Sun, then used his wing to wave at the airship, after which Falkaan and Myla came across the gangplank still connecting the two airships.

"They'll open the portal since we're a bit low on collective mana right now." Ethan explained, then led the way down to the lower deck where the portal was, carrying Beth the whole time.

"Did you wake up early this morning?" Sarah asked Myla, wondering why she hadn't been in the captain's cabin.

She shook her head. "I was not able to sleep without my husband next to me. I exited the captain's cabin at perhaps midnight in order to sleep beside him."

"Aww, that's sweet." Sarah smiled as her heart suddenly felt even more full.

Not long afterward, the portal was charged and Ethan stepped through it with her, him still carrying Beth. It was one of the most unpleasant sensations that she'd ever felt, even including what had happened while Lady Ekthros had held her captive. She felt a bone-deep chill that was replaced with a warming sensation despite the chills persisting. It was almost like having a fever and she didn't care for it at all.

The living room they stepped into instantly made Sarah feel at home. It was tidy but cozy and seemed to have been put together with a lot of love. There were a lot of pictures on the walls that she made a mental note to look at later, since quite a few were of Ethan as a child.

Beth startled awake the moment they stepped through, but after looking around for a moment, her eyelids drooped again. Ethan set her down on the couch -- where she promptly conked out -- and then called loudly. "Mom?"

"I'm up." Ruth said, coming around the corner with her hair in a towel, though she was dressed otherwise.

"Okay, I need to go before the portal closes." Ethan said, kissed Sarah on the forehead, then went back through the portal.

"What's wrong with Beth?" Ruth asked, as the blonde was flopped on the couch and clearly not a resident of the waking world right now.

"Um, she stayed up very late last night." Sarah replied.

Ruth slowly nodded again, then she leaned up against the wall as she looked at her guest. "You're nervous."

"A little." Sarah admitted.

"Why?"

"Um, because?" She hesitated.

"Because?" Ruth prompted gently.

"Because I'm not as good at baking as I am with cooking." She admitted. "It's so hard to keep an oven at the correct temperature, and Ethan has gushed about your cooking, and I want it to be great for Selene's wedding, but I'm not sure I'll be able to help very much."

Ruth smiled. "Come here, let me show you something."

Her future mother-in-law then took her into the kitchen and showed her how to set the temperature on the oven.

"That's it?" Sarah stared at the numbers, her mouth hanging open at how easy it was.

"That's it." Ruth confirmed. "And as for the rest, Selene will appreciate that you helped, which I know because a friend of mine made my wedding cake. It wasn't the best cake I'd ever eaten, and it wasn't even the best cake I had that week, but I still loved it because my friend helped make it."

"Really?"

Ruth nodded. "And I'll teach you all of my best tricks so that someday soon, Ethan will secretly think that his darling wife is a better baker than his mother." She smiled.

"Really? You'd do that?"

Ruth nodded. "You're not a mother yet, but when you are, you'll understand that a good parent only wants the very best for her children. That means helping her daughters-in-law however she can."

"I like that." Sarah said, suddenly feeling the loss of her own mother more than usual.

"Me too; it's what my mother taught me, so now I'm teaching you." Ruth continued. "And one day, you'll pass it on to your daughters." She paused. "And maybe the daughters of his other wives too."

"Okay, I can do that." Sarah nodded.

"Oh, and I won't ever try to take her place, but if you wanted to, I would love it if you called me 'mom'."

Sarah smiled. "Okay... mom."

Ruth beamed. "Now, let's get baking!"

* * *

Alana looked around the Argo, taking a moment from the hustle and bustle of prepping the airship for the wedding that afternoon to absorb what was happening. She smiled.

"What?" Rachel asked.

"It's just hitting me that this is really happening; this really is my life." She smiled wider. "I'm married and I've met the women I'll spend the rest of my life with." She rested her hand over her womb. "And we'll all have this huge family and I couldn't be happier about that."

Rachel grinned back. "It's wonderful, isn't it?"

Alana nodded, a contented smile on her face.

"I'm glad it worked out how it did, with Selene marrying Ethan." The redhead said after a moment. "I'm sure we could've learned to love Thea the way we love Selene, but I'm glad it's Selene."

"Me too." Alana sighed.

They started prepping again, but before two minutes had passed, Taloni hurried up to them and whispered. "Elder Goman sent a letter, and it has something in it."

Alana and Rachel looked at each other, shook their heads at the item, and then followed Tee into the captain's cabin to take a look. Sure enough, a tightly rolled letter was on the desk, and next to it was the small item that had been forged from Ethan's scales by Graflex the dwarf in Arcanum. It was the size of a small-ish ring, but it was only about two-thirds of a circle and the ends were slightly larger than the band, with a tiny diamond embedded in each end.

"I still can't believe Ethan used his own scales for this." Rachel said as she picked it up.

"Apparently, Selene will love it." Alana shrugged. "Now, we just need to get all of our fellow wives in here to donate mana to enchant it, assuming that anyone has any left after opening that portal so many times."

"We should, but barely, and only if we get Victoria and Thea to donate mana to open the portal." Rachel said. "We're running ourselves to the edge here and it would be terrible if anyone attacked right now. I realize we needed to open the portal a lot to get this wedding working, but in the future, we can't do it like this again."

"Agreed." Alana nodded. "We won't be able to finish the cut-resistant enchantment on Selene's dress either, at least, not until after the wedding."

"Exactly." The redhead nodded. "This much portal usage needs to be a one-time thing."

"I'll talk to Ethan about it later, right after I enchant this to be self-repairing with mana from everyone before he chops it in half." Alana said, not sure whether she should be amused or touched by how much effort her husband was making to fulfill Selene's desires.

* * *

Sarah heard the kitchen timer go off, grabbed the 'oven mitt', and then opened the oven door to check the cake. It was done just like she thought it would be, but Sarah found herself shaking her head yet again.

"Not ready?" Ruth asked.

"It's ready, this oven is just amazing." Sarah replied as she pulled the cake out.

Ruth chuckled. "It's old enough that it could have little oven babies of its own, but I'm glad you like it."

Sarah chuckled as she set the cake tin on the cooling rack. "It'll take a while to cool though."

"Ah, that's what the freezer is for." Ruth grinned.

"Freezer?"

Ruth showed her, causing her jaw to drop. "But that's... that's..." She stared.

"Yes, we've done pretty well without magic I think." Ruth smiled. "Now, let's get started on the frosting."

"Okay, but can I try that 'mixer' thing again?" Sarah asked, in awe of how quick and easy it made baking.

Sometime later, the cake was cooled and frosted. The layered cake was large enough to feed an army and thanks to Ruth's artistic skills, it looked amazing as well. Sarah had never seen a cake that beautiful, not even in Karnas at Lord Delmar's castle. Further, she found herself constantly stunned by the array of convenient devices that Ruth used to make everything. She almost couldn't believe everything that was available on Earth.

"Ethan must really love us to give all of this up." Sarah thought aloud as she watched the dishwasher clean the dishes through the window in the front.

"Sarah dear, these are just things." Ruth said. "If you were given the choice between a mountain of gold and silver or the relationships you have now, which would you pick?"

"Ethan and his wives." Sarah replied without hesitation.

"It's the same with these." Ruth waved at the appliances around her. "They help, but nothing replaces family, does it?"

"No... mom." Sarah replied, a smile that was both happy and sad on her face.

"I never had a daughter." Ruth said. "I wanted one, but nature wouldn't cooperate after I had Ethan." Her face looked a bit pained. "So if you don't mind, I'd like to selfishly pretend that you're my daughter."

"I would love that." Sarah smiled.

"Good." Ruth said, then adopted a mock-stern voice. "Then clean your room young lady."

Sarah laughed.

"Come on, let's go into the living room and talk a bit." Ruth suggested.

Sarah did, and they had a lovely time talking for over an hour while Beth kept sleeping on the couch. Sarah didn't remember much of what her mother was like since she was so young when she had died, but it felt like what she remembered. It was wonderful. She almost would've been willing to marry Ethan just to get Ruth as her mother-in-law, even if she didn't love him so much. It was that wonderful.

After about an hour, Sarah heard the sound of gravel crunching outside and Ruth looked out the window.

"Richard, company." Ruth called.

Ethan's father came up from the den and looked out the window. "I think I know who that is." He smiled.

"Who?" Ruth asked.

Richard raised his eyebrow.

Ruth looked confused for a moment, then smiled. "Oh, of course."

"Who is it?" Sarah asked.

"Selene's father." Ruth said.

* * *

"On Earth, we'd be breaking a major taboo by seeing each other before the wedding?" Ethan said to his bride, his heart swelling yet again that he could call her that.

They were standing in front of the portal to Earth with Thea and Victoria, who were there to open the portal. It really was a good thing they had so many people who could because the portal took alot of mana. Beth had already signaled that they were ready, hence the preparation.

"The tradition here is that a couple prays together before the wedding." Luminar Kossel volunteered. "And when in Rome..."

Selene looked at Ethan, a subtle smile on her gorgeous face. "What do you want to do?"

*I want to strip you naked and breed you.* He thought to her, putting a bit of a commanding timber in his mental tone that he knew she would like.

She blushed. *I... I hadn't really thought about children before today. Do you really...? Do you think I could be a good mother?*

*I've seen you with Thor, so yes.* He replied with a smile, actually looking forward to seeing that. *Not until after we've solved our 'being at war with two lords' problem, but yes.*

She smiled. *I-- um, I mean 'Your Precious' is looking forward to that.*

*That makes two of us.*

*Okay Dominus.* Beth thought to everyone, and she sounded much more awake than she had earlier. *Everyone is ready here; the ladies will come through first and then your dad and Selene's dad will come through with the cake.*

*Okay, I'll tell them to open it now.* Ethan replied.

Thea and Victoria started powering the portal, and before long the membrane of water-like portal energies began to slowly flow toward the center of the portal ring, like water circling a drain. The moment the portal had finished forming, Beth, Sarah, and Ruth darted through, all of them shuddering at the unpleasant sensation that always accompanied portal travel. Immediately afterward, Ethan's father and Selene's father came through carrying an enormous multi-layer cake.

As it turned out, Selene got a significant chunk of her good looks from her father. He was only a little taller than his daughter, solidly built, and looked to be in good health as well. His hair, eyes, and skin were the same shade as his daughter, and the resemblance was unmistakable.

The moment the cake was safely set down on a small table that had been placed there for it, Selene rushed forward and threw her arms around her father in a tight hug. It made Ethan smile to see that.

When the hug broke, he turned to Ethan. "You must be the man who seduced my daughter."

"Technically, I haven't even kissed her yet." Ethan replied, then stuck out his hand. "Ethan Ejder."

Selene's father shook it, his grip tight. "André Dawson" He squeezed.

Ethan activated the strength-enhancing enchantment on his armor -- which he was wearing because the scales that Kendra had removed were only mostly regrown -- and didn't squeeze back more than normal. However, it made the other man's considerable hand strength much more tolerable.

"Daddy." Selene said reprovingly after a moment, clearly having guessed what was going on.

"Not now Bubble Angel." André replied with a wink at her. "I'm negotiating."

Ethan applied a little extra pressure and the other man winced. "You can't win this; my armor is enchanted to enhance my strength."

"And you'll always have that armor with you when my little girl needs protecting?" André didn't let go.

Ethan deactivated all of his armor so it fell to the floor, winced slightly at the other man's grip, then summoned his armor again. "Close enough to always."

"Good." André let go and nodded. "Now, I believe you were going to ask me something." He looked at Ethan pointedly.

"Would you give me your permission to marry your daughter?" Ethan asked.

"And if I said no?"

"Daddy." Selene cut in again with a pointed look.

"Yes?" André didn't seem cowed by his daughter's look.

"Thank you for your permission." Ethan said with a lopsided grin.

André blinked, then what appeared to be a serious facade broke and he laughed. "Well, at least you have a sense of humor."

Ethan shrugged with a smile.

"To answer your question, let's take a walk somewhere we can talk." André said.

Selene eyed him.

"Oh, don't get your undies in a bunch." André said. "You can still keep getting ready and everything, but I want to talk to the man to whom I'm apparently entrusting my daughter's happiness."

Selene nodded.

"Yes sir, right this way." Ethan said, indicating the route towards the stairs and deciding that it would be a bad idea to mention that Selene couldn't 'get her undies in a bunch' because, at his instruction, she wasn't wearing any right now.

They walked up the stairs to the weather deck and André stopped when he reached the top and could see out across the Argo's deck to the sky beyond, where the southern slope of the Ivernia mountains loomed. He grinned, then walked up to the railing and looked down.

"She told me, but I think a part of me never really believed it." He said after a moment.

"It's pretty incredible." Ethan agreed, then pointed towards the bow. "The view is even better up there, and it's the go-to place to have a semi-private talk."

He nodded and they walked to the bow, where André turned to face him. "I don't think I need to tell you that my girl is special, and I don't mean in a 'she eats the paint' sort of way."

"Believe me, I know." Ethan replied honestly.

"I find it hard to believe that you'll treat her right when you have five, soon to be six, other wives." He said, his tone serious. "It's a simple issue of time; if you only spend 30 minutes a day with each wife, that's 3.5 hours of the day; I don't want Selene to get the short end of the stick."

"I would like to promise that she won't ever because she deserves that, but I'm only human." Ethan replied. "I can promise that I'llalways do my best to take care of her the best I know how."

"Honest; I like that." André rubbed his chin as he looked at Ethan. "They really won't let a daughter get married over here without the father's permission?"

"No, they won't."

André made a thoughtful sound. "Every part of me except my 'dad side' thinks that's terrible. As a father though..." He frowned thoughtfully. "That part of me likes the idea that I can have veto power to make sure she ends up with a good guy."

"Honestly, I understand all of that completely." Ethan replied. "Alana is pregnant with my first daughter, and it has occurred to me to use the veto power I have here. I won't, but I'll admit it's tempting. I know what young guys can be like, and when I think about it, which admittedly has only been once or twice, it worries me. "

"You worry about it more as they get older." André replied. "You worry about little else after puberty when they start to change from girls into young women."

"I can imagine." Ethan replied, not wanting to.

André looked at him. "I suppose since you need my permission, I'll give it. However, if you hurt my little girl, I'll find some way to come back with the biggest, ugliest rifle you've ever seen and decorate my living room with a dragon-skin rug."

Ethan smiled. "That's how I would feel about someone hurting any of my wives, including Selene."

"Good." André nodded.

"And besides, a rug would look terrible." Ethan added with a smile. "I would've gone for boots or something."

André laughed. "I think we'll get along just fine."

* * *

Fiona suppressed a shudder as she yet again wiped her own blood off her finger in Mage Weston's office. "I'm not getting it; I can barely be detecting the toxins, much less getting rid of them. I'm rubbish at this."

She dropped the rag on the table and sighed. The sight of Conner nearby -- who was being held by Tabitha -- cheered her up a little. However, she was bloody sick of poking her finger to get enough blood in a bowl with a highly diluted toxin so that she could practice removing the toxins without having them in her body.

The mage smiled at her. "On the contrary, your progress has been remarkable. You simply lack perspective."

Fiona frowned.

"Tabitha." The mage turned toward her. "How long did it take you to progress from your first healing lesson until you began to learn how to purge toxins?"

"Many months." She replied, her tone and mannerisms still emotionless, just as they had been since the crown prince had 'outed' her as a bodyguard on the dock.

"That long?" Fiona stared at her.

"Yes my lady." She nodded.

"You see." Mage Weston said. "You might be frustrated at your pace, but nearly all students of magic would trade vast sums of gold to progress as quickly as you have."

Fiona nodded slowly, guessing that her bond with Lord Delmar was responsible.

"However, that is enough for today." Mage Weston said as he stood up. "I have a rather important project that I believe I'm close to completing, and there is something of a deadline for it."

"Okay." Fiona stood, all too glad for a break. However, she found it hard to believe that her progress -- slow as it felt -- was actually incredibly fast.

She walked over to Tabby and took Conner while Mage Weston pulled an expensive and delicate-looking device out and set it on the table, pointing toward the center. Unless Fiona missed her guess, it was one of the devices he had been using to work on that ring the day they had had that conversation about the false prophet.

She cocked her head to one side.

Should she refer to him so confidently as a false prophet? Her gut instinct and her heart were screaming 'yes', but her mind and conscience were calmly but confidently saying 'no'. She didn't like that conflict. Still, that did remind her of something they'd talked about that day that seemed relevant to her current internal struggle.

"Um, do you remember that day you were telling me to be keeping an open mind?" She asked.

"It was a rather memorable conversation, yes." He nodded as he pulled another delicate instrument out and set it on the table, also pointed toward the center.

"Well, I'm remembering you saying that I should be looking at both sides, and also that the letter was containing his side. I'm wondering if maybe I could be reading his side sometime."

He smiled at her. "You can, one moment." He left the room via the side door and returned a moment later holding a few pieces of paper. "I had a copy of the relevant portion made so you could peruse it at your leisure." He looked at her pointedly over the top of his half-moon glasses. "And I would like to remind you that according to Rachel, it was Ethan Ejder who insisted that I be warned about potential will-breaker rings in the castle."

Fiona nodded, the implication clear.

She wasn't very happy with the implication, but it was clear.

* * *

Sarah blinked as she tried to focus on finishing the last few stitches on Selene's dress. The fabric was currently white, but Alana said that was a temporary thing. It would slowly change to its permanent color starting late on the wedding night and finishing before dawn the day after the wedding. The construction of the dress was almost finished, and Alana had portioned it out so that the ladies could be working on different parts all at the same time, and the final sewing assembly could begin after they finished.

"Done." Sarah said a minute later as she finished tying off the thread.

"Okay, Rachel and I will handle the final two seams, and thank you all so much." Alana said to everyone.

The rest of the ladies besides Alana and Rachel filed out of the room, and Sarah noticed that Thea seemed a little preoccupied.

"Is something wrong?" Sarah asked her.

"Um, I don't think so." Thea shrugged.

"Are you sure?"

Thea hesitated. "Um, well..." She frowned. "Myla met Falkaan only a few minutes after it was decided that she wouldn't marry Ethan. Victoria and Colonel Forsythe met only hours later and have a lot of chemistry, and I think everyone's right that they'll probably get married eventually. But me?" She took a deep breath. "It's been almost a whole day now and I haven't met anyone. I suppose that's a good thing because again, I don't think I want to meet him here to make things easier on my guardian, but still..."

Sarah nodded slowly. "Well, maybe it'll just take some time?"

"I hope so." Thea said, then looked around at the open sky surrounding the Argo. "I just know my guardian will pick some stuffy noble for me to marry. He'll be a good man, probably a great man, and I'll learn to love him deeply, but I'll miss this." She indicated the open sky around them.

"I'm sorry." Sarah said. "But maybe Illuminar will have someone for you where you can travel occasionally?"

"I would like that." She said with a sad smile. "But wood elves just aren't like that; they aren't nomadic by nature and usually don't like leaving their homes unless forced. Even Alana needed a push to leave her home."

Sarah didn't know what to say to that, so after a moment, she suggested the only thing she could think of. "Why don't we pray about it right now then?"

Thea smiled. "Thank you, I would love that."

Sarah closed her eyes. "Dear Illuminar -- blessed be You -- thank you that Selene came back, and please help Thea to find an ideal husband. One who will let her travel, and who she can love all of her life, and who will treat her wonderfully. Amen."

Sarah looked at Thea. "I hope that will help."

"I'm sure it will, thank you." Thea smiled. It wasn't an entirely unpained smile, but it was a smile.

After that, they both started helping with the last-minute preparations for the upcoming wedding. It was amazing how much there was to be done, even with as little as they had to decorate and clean. Sarah couldn't stop smiling as she helped, both because she was glad to help and because she knew that they would all be happy to do as much for her own wedding to Ethan.

"Sarah." Taloni called to her from the captain's cabin.

"Coming." She hurried over. "What?"

"Selene wanted to talk to you, and then Ruth was going to do everyone's hair." The Fey indicated the captain's cabin.

"Thanks." Sarah said, then went in.

Ruth was there, working Selene's hair while the bride sat still in the desk chair. Her future mother-in-law had rather a lot of implements that Sarah had never seen before on the desk and was using them like she'd been born doing it.

"Sarah." Selene beamed when she stepped inside.

"Stop moving or you'll end up half bald." Ruth joked, thereafter the bride did stop moving.

"Sarah, would you be my maid of honor?" Selene said, not looking at her while Ruth did something near magical with the already fabulously beautiful woman's hair. "Kendra will be my matron of honor, but I want you up there too."

"Really?" Her mouth fell open.

"I would love that." Selene confirmed. "I wanted everyone up there actually, but Alana pointed out that it would be a very lopsided wedding party if I did that, so we capped it at two; I want you to be one of them."

Sarah beamed. "I would love to!"

"Good." Selene grinned. "Then get ready for Mom to work some serious magic on you."

"I can't wait." Sarah grinned.

* * *

"Falkaan, got a minute?" Ethan asked the dark elf, whose ship was currently docked to the Argo.

"Indeed Mr. Prophet; what can I do for you?"

"Well, I had a request." He prefaced. "Selene has two bridesmaids and so I'm supposed to come up with two groomsmen. My father is here, so that's my best man, and I just need a second one. If Lucien was here, I'd ask him, but he isn't. I realize that we don't know each other very well, but I was wondering if you would be the second one?"

"I am honored that you thought of me." He bowed slightly. "And I am even more honored to accept, even in lieu of someone better suited, it is a high honor."

"Thank you." Ethan smiled.

"One thing, I have collected some information on Colonel Forsythe and Duke Farbrottan." The former Aldmiri said. "Perhaps after the honeymoon period I could present it to you and your wives."

"Honestly, let's do that tomorrow. Selene is driven to help people, and she'll love jumping right into it right after the wedding."

"Very well." He made a slight bow.

"I'm looking forward to it." Ethan nodded, then returned to the Argo, where Taloni met him.

"Master, are you going to pray with Selene before you marry her?"

"Um, honestly, I hadn't really thought about it."

"It's tradition Master." Tee said.

"But it's also tradition for the groom not to see the bride on her wedding day before the wedding. Well, tradition on Earth anyway and we're both from Earth." Ethan pointed out, even though he'd seen her already that day.

"But you don't need to see her Master." Tee countered. "You have telepathy."

"Fair point." He conceded, then thought to Selene. *Tee thinks we should pray together before we get married.*

There was a long pause before Selene replied. *Your Precious honestly isn't sure what to think about that. On the one hand, He did introduce us and make sure we ended up together. On the other hand, I'm still not sure I'm okay with how He plays with our lives, even though He does give us a choice. On the other hand, He did give Your Precious the chance to marry you and help so many people in the Ten Kingdoms...*

He could almost see the thoughtful frown that would be on her beautiful face as he replied. *And on yet another hand, Tee won't be happy when she finds out and will pester us until we do.* He chuckled.

*True.* Selene chuckled. She paused, then thought to him. *Ethan?*

*Yes?*

*Thank you for having me call myself 'Your Precious'.* Her tone sounded content. *Your Precious really likes the constant reminder of how much she means to you.*

*And you do mean a lot to me.* He replied.

*Should we maybe ask Illuminar to help then?* Selene suggested. *Just to make sure Taloni doesn't pester us?*

He was pretty sure she wanted to for more reasons than that, but it certainly was a convenient excuse.

*Okay, I suppose we can.* He chuckled. *Okay, so here goes.* He cleared his throat, even though he didn't need to. *So, Illuminar, if you're listening, could you maybe make this a great marriage and help us to be good spouses. Um, I'm really not sure what else to ask, so.... yeah. Um, that.*

After a moment, Selene thought back to him. *Okay, Um, Illuminar, I'm still not entirely sure what I think of You. But if You're willing, we wouldn't mind some help on this whole 'being married' thing. Maybe especially me because I've never done it before and never really saw how it should be done after... well, You know what my mother was like after... You know. So yeah, if You could help, that would be great.* She paused. *Am I supposed to say 'amen'? I feel like I should say 'amen' or something.*

*Okay, say it.* He shrugged.

*Okay, Amen.* There was a moment before she spoke again. *I feel like a hypocrite. I spent so much time railing against Him and now I'm asking for His help.*

*Yeah, I've done the same, and not just to Illuminar.* He replied. *Kendra and I tried to kill each other a few times though -- hell, I succeeded in killing her -- and we can let bygones be bygones. I suppose if Illuminar is all that, He probably can too.*

*Yeah, I suppose so.*

"Sir?" Alana said from nearby, though he hadn't noticed her arrive.

"What's up?" He asked.

"Everything is ready." She smiled. "Selene said she was ready whenever you are."

He smiled and then thought to the bride. *Hey Precious, let's get married.*

*Your Precious would love that.* By her tone, she meant it.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Note: This chapter began on day 128 of Ethan's life in the Ten Kingdoms and ended on day 130. I submit new chapters on the last Wednesday of every month, and they usually drop after the 2-3 days review process. Thus I'll submit the next chapter on April 30th, and it'll probably drop on May 2nd or May 3rd.

I'd like to extend a very special thanks to my editors, and also three of my patrons, one of whom didn't want to be credited by name. So "Anonymous", Joseph, and "Veron De La Morte": thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate it.

STORY TAGS: dragon, magic, elf, teen, romance, virgin, harem, blonde, brunette, redhead