Everyone was holding their breath as they watched Roxy and her mates file out.
First ca Kaelen.
His hair was tied back, with a big cloak of white and grey fur, which draped heavily over his shoulders and back, then a white loincloth made of silk around his waist, secured by a sturdy gold buckle. Tied around his upper arm was a simple but thick gold band.
He was holding Axel, who was swaddled in gold silk; it was draped loosely, allowing the baby to be cradled against Kaelen’s skin.
A/N: Check the comnt for a picture of Kaelen and Axel!
Next ca Zarek. The Dragon King the most striking feature is the golden chain veil covering the lower half of his face. He wore a heavy tiger-skin cloak draped over his arms and back, showing the tigers he was much more of a predator than prey to them.
Instead of a shirt, he wore layers of draped cold chains, crisscrossing over his chest and torso, highlighting his physique. Definitely sothing he had bamboozled from Torian’s chest. Then his lower bottom was a large black wrap skirt that was made with silk, clinched with a black belt featuring a large gold sunburst.
In his arms sat Onyx, who was wearing the sa outfit as his brother, like a Greek prince.
A/N: Check the comnt for a picture of Zarek and Onyx!
Then ca Torian. He wore a pure white wrap skirt made of silk around his waist and legs, his waist was secured by a gold belt, and on his neck sat a gold collar necklace, his forearms had solid bracers, and glittering rings on his fingers. Looking like a Greek God.
On his arms sat Drax. He was wearing sothing similar to Torian, since the little boy whined to Roxy to make him dress like Torian, so Roxy had no choice but to tell the wolves to make sothing like that for him.
He was wearing a white chiton, sleeveless and draped loosely. He was held in place by gold accessories, wearing a simpler version of the gold collar, with a gold arm band and a gold belt around his waist.
A/N: Check the comnt for a picture of Torian and Drax!
Roxy ca out last, as if the n were trying to sing to them that she was the ruler despite their power.
A collective gasp rippled through the clearing.
She was stunning. The dress the Wolf females had sewn was a masterpiece, maybe because of Torian’s warning. It was made from a white silk Torian had provided, designed with lots of fur. Then she had a crownet on her head, a necklace, an arm bracelet, and a wrist bracelet with a waist chain wound around her waist.
Her hair was tied into a bun, exposing the mating marks on her neck and collarbone. She held Iris on her hip. The baby girl was dressed in a silk gold dress that made her look like a princess, her violet eyes wide with wonder, with a small pendant pooling on her forehead.
Roxy didn’t look like a human stray anymore. She looked like a Greek goddess.
A/N: Check the comnt for the picture!
The gathered beasts stared at her. And Roxy suddenly felt like shrinking back.
Maybe coming out was a bad idea.
Usually, a female with multiple mates was seen as loose or desperate. But looking at Roxy, flanked by a Wolf, a Dragon, and a Tiger, nobody thought of desperation. They thought of power.
"By the Ancestors," Malcor murmured, lowering his head in a rare sign of respect. "I never thought I would see this day."
"She is strong," a Tiger noble whispered. "No female has ever united the clans under one roof."
"The Mother," the Wolves chanted softly.
Roxy stepped to the edge of the porch. Her heart was hamring against her ribs, but she forced herself to smile. She looked out at the sea of glowing eyes.
Hoping she doesn’t trip over her dress and make a ss of herself.
"Welco!" Roxy’s voice rang out clear and strong in the cold night air. "Thank you all for coming to the party."
She gestured to the n around her.
"You know the Kings," Roxy said, looking at Zarek and Torian. "And you know the Alpha." She nodded to Kaelen. "But tonight we are not discussing politics or whatever you big n do. Tonight is about family. My family."
She hoisted Iris higher.
"These are my children," Roxy announced, pride swelling in her chest. "Drax. Iris. Axel. Onyx."
The crowd murmured the nas, testing them.
"In my world," Roxy continued, "we celebrate the day a life enters the world. We call it a ’Happy Birthday.’ It ans: We are glad you are here. We are glad you survived. We are glad you are ours."
She raised a goblet of wine that Torian handed to her.
"So tonight, we will drink. We will eat. We will celebrate life. To the children!"
"To the children!" Kaelen roared.
"To the children!" Zarek bellowed, and the young dragons breathed fire into the air.
"Happy Birthday!" the crowd echoed. They finally understood what it ant so they decided to sing out.
And that was how the party started.
[TheSassyGoddess. Cringe and boring, when is the fun starting?]
[TheMotheroftheWorld smacks TSG on the head. It’s a child’s birthday party, not a place to have an orgy.]
[TheSassyGoddess retorts. Who said anything about an orgy?]
While the goddess were having their fun in Roxy’s head, Roxy was watching as the party was in full swing. Kaelen had picked Iris from her arms, as the n went ahead to greet their tribes, flashing their children in pride.
The Wolf drumrs began to beat a rhythmic, pounding rhythm on large hide drums. The sound vibrated through the snow, primal and infectious.
The feast began.
She saw a Tiger noble cautiously try a piece of roasted venison offered by a Wolf. She saw Malcor the Dragon laughing as he challenged a Dragon shifter to an arm-wrestling contest, and lost, because he was laughing too hard.
Kaelen was imdiately sward by cooing female wolves wanting to see Iris and touch her silky hair. Iris was proud about it, clinging to Kaelen, babbling so words, and the females would laugh.
Even though they didn’t understand a single thing.
They wanted her to grow up quickly so they could walk with her.
Roxy moved through the party like a celebrity. Every few steps, a beast would bow or offer a toast.
"Luna! The wine is potent! Thank you!"
"Mother! Your children are strong!"
"Our Queen! May your days be long!"
Roxy smiled until her cheeks hurt. She accepted the praises, clinking her cup with claws and paws alike. It was overwhelming, and she was already getting tired.
Is this what politicians have to go through every fucking day of their lives?
After an hour of socializing, the noise and the rich scent of at and wine beca a bit too much. Roxy felt a little dizzy, tipsy maybe, because the tigers had very strong wine.
"I need a minute," she whispered to herself.
She slipped away from the main bonfire, heading back toward the cabin. She needed to grab a shawl and maybe a glass of water.
As she stepped onto the quiet porch, the noise of the party faded into a dull roar behind her.
[Ding!]
The system popped up again.
[Grand Achievent Unlocked]
[Achievent: The Peacekeeper]
[Context: You have successfully hosted a peaceful gathering of three Apex Predator species (Dragon, Tiger, Wolf) without a single fatality. You have introduced the concept of Celebration to a survival-based society.
[TheSassyGoddess: And that dress? Slay, honey. Literally slay. You look like the other old woman, but more of .]
[Reward: 5,000,000 LP.]
[Reputation Boost: Global Fa (All Species).]
Roxy leaned against the doorfra, letting out a breath. Five million more points. She was getting closer to the Manor every day.
"Thanks, guys," she whispered to the sky. "Glad you approve of the dress."
She pushed the door open and stepped into the cabin.
It was dark and quiet inside, a stark contrast to the roaring bonfires outside. The fire in the hearth had burned down to embers, casting long, dancing shadows across the room.
Roxy walked toward the kitchen to get water. But as she passed the hallway leading to the Sun Room, she stopped.
The door to the Sun Room was open. And there was a figure standing in the hallway.
At first, her heart almost dropped, but when she squinted her eyes, she knew who it was perfectly. Syris stood there, illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the window. He had just erged from his hibernation.
He was massive.
Before, Syris had been lean, a scholar’s build. Now, he looked thicker, his shoulders broader. His skin, usually pale and slightly matte, was glowing, looking brand new, as if he had shed his old skin entirely to reveal sothing stronger beneath.
His seaweed hair was longer, falling past his shoulders in silky waves.
He was looking outside the window, looking at the moon, and he could hear the noises outside, but his brain was still trying to boot.
She took a step forward, a smile spreading across her face. "Welco back, sleepyhead! You look..."
She didn’t get to finish the sentence. Syris coiled his tail around her waist and pulled her in. Before Roxy could blink, a large, cool hand replaced the tail around her waist, and another tangled into her hair.
He pulled her body flush against his new, harder form and crashed his lips onto hers.
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