Day 7 of Construction
The fortress was taking shape, walls rising, towers forming, the waterfall somehow working despite all logic. I'd spent the morning installing the sky balcony for Nyx, who'd immediately tested it by transforming into dragon form and nearly collapsing the entire structure.
"It needs reinforcement," she'd said, utterly unrepentant as I frantically shored up support beams.
"It needs a miracle," I'd muttered back.
Now it was afternoon, and I'd been summoned, summoned, to what Lira was calling an "emergency council meeting."
I found them in the newly completed Hall of Shadows: Lira and Pip at the head of a stone table I'd carved yesterday, surrounded by at least twenty other fairies, all looking far too serious for comfort. Nyx lounged on a throne-like chair I definitely hadn't built (she'd made it herself out of shadow and smugness). And, surprisingly, Siraq sat at the far end, looking like she'd been ambushed into attendance.
"What is this?" I asked cautiously.
"The Harem Council," Lira announced with the gravity of someone declaring war. "First official meeting. Sit."
"I don't remember agreeing to a..."
"SIT."
I sat. My tail curled nervously around the chair leg.
Lira produced a tiny gavel from somewhere and banged it on the table. "Meeting called to order! First item of business: establishing hierarchy."
"Oh no," I said.
"Oh yes," Pip added, pulling out an actual scroll. "We've prepared a ranking system based on bond strength, time known, contribution to Knox's wellbeing, and..."
"...romantic compatibility potential," Lira finished.
Siraq looked like she desperately wanted to be anywhere else. Through the bond, I felt Nyx's malicious amusement.
"Current rankings," Lira continued, ignoring my obvious distress. "First Wife: Nyx. Soul bonded, literally cannot be displaced. Unanimous decision."
Nyx inclined her head regally. "I accept this honor."
"You don't have to sound so smug about it," I muttered.
"Yes I do. It's in the dragon handbook."
"Second and Third Wives: Lira and Pip. We've been here since the beginning, we've proven our dedication, and we're adorable."
"You can't just declare yourselves wives!" I protested.
"We already did. Three days ago. You were building stairs at the time and said 'whatever you think is best.'"
"I was talking about FURNITURE PLACEMENT!"
"Should have been more specific." Lira made a note on her scroll. "Knox agrees to vague terms. Noted for future negotiations."
Pip leaned forward, her expression earnest. "Knox, we love you. We've claimed you by fairy law. We're not going anywhere. You can object, but..." She glanced at the assembled fairies.
They all nodded in unison, a wall of tiny, determined faces.
"...I'm outvoted, aren't I?"
"Extremely," Elder Mirielle said, appearing from the shadows. "For what it's worth, they'd make excellent wives. Fairies take bonds seriously."
"That's not the point!"
"What is the point?" Nyx asked, genuinely curious.
"The point is..." I gestured helplessly. "...I should have a say in who I marry!"
"You do," Lira said. "You can say yes, or you can say yes. Very democratic."
The bear kin delegation had arrived at some point, drawn by the noise. Kota was watching with open delight. Yorrik looked like he was trying not to laugh. Siraq had her head in her hands.
"Moving on," Lira said. "Probationary Members: Siraq..."
Siraq's head shot up. "WHAT."
"You've been making eyes at our Warden for three days. Don't think we haven't noticed."
"I have not... that's not... I'm a MATRON OF THE NORTH!"
"And? Matrons can't have crushes?" Lira's grin was absolutely wicked. "Probationary status. You'll need to complete three trials to achieve full wife status."
"I'M NOT TRYING TO ACHIEVE WIFE STATUS!"
"Denial noted. Moving on.."
"NO. NOT MOVING ON." Siraq stood, all seven feet of offended bear kin dignity. "I am here as a diplomatic representative. Not a... a..." She gestured wildly at the council.
"Potential wife?" Pip offered helpfully.
"NO!"
"The blushing suggests otherwise," Nyx observed.
Siraq's face, indeed, had gone from pale to distinctly pink under her fur. She looked at me, clearly expecting support.
I was absolutely not getting in the middle of this.
"Knox," she said, her voice strained. "Help."
"I tried to object to Lira and Pip. Look how that went."
"You're useless."
"I'm self-aware. There's a difference."
Kota raised his hand. "Can I vote?"
"No," Siraq said firmly.
"Yes," Lira said at the same time.
"I vote Matron Siraq stays!" Kota announced. "She's been way less grumpy since we got here!"
Several of the bear kin warriors coughed to hide their laughter. Yorrik just nodded sagely, the traitor.
"This is a nightmare," Siraq said.
"This is democracy," Lira corrected. "Fairy style."
"Those are the same thing!"
"Now you're getting it!"
Elder Mirielle floated forward, her ancient presence commanding instant silence. "Perhaps we could compromise?"
"We're listening," I said desperately.
"Siraq remains a 'diplomatic guest' officially. But the probationary status stands, should she choose to pursue it in the future. No pressure, no obligation. Simply... an open door."
Siraq looked at the Elder, then at me, then at the assembled chaos of fairies and dragons and her own grinning warriors.
"Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "But I'm not pursuing anything. This is purely diplomatic."
"Of course, Matron," Lira said, making another note. "Purely diplomatic. With probationary wife status. Got it."
"That's not what I..."
"MOVING ON!" Lira banged the gavel. "Next item: fortress rules and harem etiquette!"
Two Hours Later
The council had devolved into cheerful chaos. Decisions made included:
Morning Hierarchy: Nyx gets first cuddles. Non-negotiable. Lira and Pip get beard nesting rights. Siraq gets "diplomatic breakfast meetings" (which everyone knew was code for "we're making her join eventually"). Territory Rights: Each wife (official or probationary) gets their own space in the fortress. Nyx claimed the sky balcony. Lira wanted the waterfall view. Pip requested the library tower. Siraq insisted she didn't need space but Kota immediately volunteered the "Hall of Stories" they'd planned. The Schedule: Rotating date nights. Because apparently I was now expected to "maintain romantic equity" or face harem rebellion. Emergency Protocols: If Knox does something stupid (defined as "anything that might get him killed"), all wives are authorized to stage an intervention. By force if necessary. New Member Approval: Any additions to the harem require unanimous council approval. Nyx has veto power. Lira and Pip have "strong suggestion" power. Siraq technically doesn't get a vote but everyone was going to ask her opinion anyway.
By the time it ended, I had a headache, three official wives (one of whom was still in denial), and a governing structure that felt like it had been designed by committee while drunk.
"This is insane," I said to Nyx as we escaped to the half-finished sky balcony.
"This is family," she corrected, settling beside me. "Chaotic, overbearing, completely unreasonable family."
"You're enjoying this too much."
"I'm enjoying watching you squirm. There's a difference." She wrapped her tail around mine. "But seriously, Knox, they love you. All of them, in their own ways. Lira and Pip have been waiting for you to notice them as more than friends. Siraq is... complicated, but I smell the interest on her even if she won't admit it."
"She's a matron. A leader of the northern clans. Why would she want a disaster like me?"
"Because you see her. Not just the matron, the woman underneath who's been carrying responsibility alone for too long. You offered her space in the fortress not as a leader but as a person. She's not used to that."
I thought about that. About the loneliness I'd sensed, the way her shoulders had relaxed slightly when I'd taken her concerns seriously.
"So what do I do?"
"Nothing. Let her come to you. Be yourself... the stubborn, kind, accidentally charming disaster you are. She'll figure it out eventually."
"And if she doesn't?"
Nyx shrugged. "Then she's always welcome as a friend. But Knox?" Her eyes gleamed. "She will. I give it two weeks."
"You're betting on this?"
"I'm a dragon. We hoard everything, including gossip and romantic drama."
"I hate you."
"You love me."
Through the bond: More than anything.
"Yeah," I said aloud. "I really do."