As his massive body landed in the bay, thankfully vacated by most of the vessels that morning, a wave of salty water washed over the pier drenching most of the residents going about their business.
Even after recovering from their impromptu swim the various races that made the city their home stayed silent, afraid to even make the smallest of sounds lest they gain the giant being's attention.
Ketoth for his part ruffled the red feathers of his wings working the overused muscles that had carried him the thousands of leagues it had taken him to reach the southeastern continent.
Settling the massive appendages along his scaled back he let loose a growl of irritation as the water of the bay wetted the edge of both wings.
Raising them above the water lapping at his sides he ruffled them again causing a gust of wind that toppled a few of the tiny beings around him.
Satisfied his wings would remain as dry as could be expected as he stood belly deep in the dark water he sniffed the air around him.
Catching the almost imperceptible scent a month-old of his daughter's smell he cast his gaze around at the assembled men and women below him looking for one of the orcs or trolls that controlled this city.
Seeing a female of the troll race he assumed she had something to do with the merchant guild as her lavish dress signaled at least she held some sort of higher status than those around her he brought his red draconic head level with hers and looked down his snout and sniffed the woman with interest.
"Little one why do you smell like my daughter? Answer me truthfully and you shall live to tell your children of how you gazed upon Ketoth the red and survived to tell the tale."
Gently questioning the woman that for all of her short stature compared to his massive size still towered over the races around her along with the bull-man next to her the bony ridge above his eye rose in amusement and understanding as the bull-man admirably but also stupidly moved to stand in front of his mate.
"My love no."
Speaking the hushed words as she held her husband back from defending her and their child growing in her womb, Sedara felt terror unlike any other she had experienced even as she kept her eyes locked on the red orbs of the dragon before her.
She couldn't have imagined that after their amazing surprise this morning she and her Iidrith had gotten in large part thanks to the clinic Cade and his wives had provided the knowledge to make and build would culminate in her being nose to nose with a red dragon.
As she marshaled her courage, pulling deep on the thought that her answer would determine in she and everyone around her would die a fiery death if Ketoth didn't like her response she still couldn't get the idea that her baby wouldn't get the chance to grow and see the world that Cade had promised to give them.
"Laurith the Black travels with her mate and wives to the country of Ipatem to negotiate with the dark elves. They left over a month ago after we completed our own trade negotiations."
Proud of her even tone as her stomach roiled with fear and anxiety she loosened her tight grip on her husband's shoulder and fought the urge to run and hide from the giant scally creature in front of her.
"And when will they return?"
Keeping his red gaze locked on the courageous woman Ketoth was glad she hadn't made him kill her, rare was the one who could keep his gaze without succumbing to their terror.
Remembering the smell of the shit the tiny merchant that had snuck into his nest had fouled his home with he listened intently to the troll woman's answer to his question.
"I am unsure of that great one, but if you will give the guild a week of time we will provide you with the answer to your question."
Suppressing the shaking her body threatened to start as it fought to either flee from the threat the dragon posed or stupidly fight the giant reptile Sedara stood her ground because it was her only real choice.
"This is acceptable, you and your guild have one week to provide me with the location of my daughter. After that time has passed if you have not held up your end of the deal then I shall feast upon your city to fuel my search, understood?"
At her nod, Ketoth turned his massive body and strode out of the bay towards the school of large predatory fish he had seen on his arrival.
Diving towards their location he imagined it would take the majority of the week he had given the guild for the others to catch up and the remainder of that time for them to recover and be ready to search for his wayward hatchling.
"A father's work is never done. I am coming for you my little one and the mage who captured you will pay with his life."
Standing in the garage over the chunk of black rock that up until now had stymied his attempts to delve into its makeup he let loose a hushed cheer as he pulled another quarter of its atomic makeup from the stubborn geode.
His short celebration was interrupted by his Dresk and goddess entering the airy room, any excitement their presence might have caused shriveled up as he saw the somber expressions on their faces.
"Ok, what happened?"
After his question caused them to flinch his curiosity grew as his Promena's silver eyes slid to the side and down and his Mina's ears flattened against her head.
"Words my loves, I need words and answers what is going on? Is it the babies?!"
Panicking as he finished his question he scanned their pregnant bellies and after finding his growing children to be in perfect health he gave his two wives a hard stare as their silence continued to make his heart race.
"We need you in the bedroom love, please."
After his Promena's quiet question and his pretty kitty's hesitant nod, he left the quandary of the rock on the bench for later as he followed his two subdued wives to their room.
Opening the door to their bedroom he was graced by the sight of his other wives as they sat on the massive bed serious expressions on their faces as they turned them to him as he entered the room.
"Ok, now I am a little more than curious about this whole thing. What is going on?"
Glancing at each in turn he was directed back to his Mina and Promena by each set of eyes before he took the wide-open space on the bed clearly set aside for him.
Letting loose a frustrated breath he removed all of his clothes besides his underwear, if he was going to be the subject of some sort of intervention he was at least going to be physically comfortable.
Setting his back against the headboard he was a little surprised as a small cuddle pile formed around him as if the somber mood from earlier was waiting for his presence to ebb somewhat.
Collecting a few subdued kisses he smiled as his Mina took her place on his lap and kissed him soundly before giving his clothed hips a grind with hers.
Canting his head in curiosity as his goddess hid behind her Dresk he placed his laced hands on his stomach and waited for someone to speak.
"Fine the if Promena won't own up then I will speak. We have been keeping a secret from you, my warrior."
Giving his Natty a wide-eyed look he glanced at the nine women around him before locking eyes with his Promena.
"You remember the dreams you have been having, with the baby and the anger and the confused emotions? Well, daddy kind of sort of tried to wipe those memories from your mind and it sort of kind of didn't work all that well and now they maybe are bleeding back through from the past as you use your power more and more."
Imagining if it were possible for his eyes to pop out of his head they would have as after her hesitant words Cade realized that the child he had been holding was his Jakobe.
Though most of the memories he had been experiencing were still frustratingly disassociated from his mind, feeling more like someone else half-remembered thoughts he still held on to the feeling of the burbling baby in his arms that would not leave him.
"Ok, I think I understand why you feel a little hesitant about telling me this my love. I'm not mad or anything I think I even understand why he did it. Raising children while trying to take over a world isn't something mos
t parents want to attempt, but why all of this?"
Opening the laced fingers on his belly to indicate the pile of sexy bodies around him, he waited for their response.
"Some of us wouldn't mind holding our babies before their due dates like one of us have."
He smiled at his pet's airy tone that just skirted the line between scathing and absent-minded as she leveled her gaze at their cowering goddess.
"So I am alright with the idea of a home full of babies if and only if at least two of us are present at home or they come along with us if we all decide to leave. If we can all agree to those terms who is going to join me on the parenthood adventure?"
As his Mina and Laurith raised their hands excitedly, they had been his first guesses, he gave his goddess an accusatory smile as her hand rose slowly over Mina's shoulder.
"There is three, I am going to assume everyone else wants to wait for their proper times or until you are ready for the little gremlins to be evicted."
Gaining nods from his Sabine, Beth, and Nat, his Dia's excited squeal of "babies" made them laugh as she swept up her three other wives that have volunteered for early motherhood into her coils and gently squeezed the breath out of them.
Releasing them and kissing her mate deeply she squeaked as he palmed a large clothed breast hanging just within reach before toying with one of her rapidly hardening nipples.
"Not just yet my love I have a nursery to finish arranging."
Pulling back from their short lip lock she brushed his hardening member lovingly before excitedly rushing from the room mumbling her list of preparations for the big day.
"Someone is ready to be a grandma and I think she will fit right into the role."
Enjoying her exuberance and swaying hips his pixie's slight weight landing on his lap was a surprise as well as her claws shredding his underwear before her drenched entrance slid along the bottom of his exposed length.
Grabbing her hips to help her lubricate his length, they both moaned in pleasure as she slid forward on his stomach seating the head of his hard shaft against her drenched entrance.
Sliding back on his thick length her long groan of pleasure as her mate stretched her depths in ways she had never imagined was possible their hips met and she gave her wives and mate a shy smile as she clenched her over full canal around her mate's girth.
"I want one too."
Running a hand up her slim but still curvy body Cade enjoyed the feeling of her soft fur against his hand before cupping her face lovingly.
"And our baby will be as cute and adorable as her mother, now my loves let's enjoy this last little respite before our goddess grants your wish. I hope you all know what you are getting into, though I know we will enjoy every moment."
Afterword
Thank you for reading my book if you want to ask a question or simply communicate an issue you find you can contact me at [email protected] or joining my fan page on Facebook. The Atomic Mage series is going to be going on a short hiatus as I begin another series, this one taking place on Earth with a protagonist who will make Cade's violent antics seem tame in comparison as he avenges the loss of his family to the werewolf pack that took them from him as they tried to erase their dark past. As always there will be sexy shenanigans with werewolves, vampires, and fae being pulled into his orbit, and his bed. Again thank you for your time.
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