Domestic bliss (Samara POV)

Samara watches Josh make his way into the pub. She has decided not to try attacking right now. It’s too risky, magic just seems to empower him, and although she could probably beat him physically, the formidable dwarf he’s with this evening would handily beat her. She turns away, deciding to scout her other target.

She makes her way inside the castle, easily evading the attention of the guards. Samara spots the Oni and the former councilor heading into the wine cellar, giggling and joking. Samara is amazed to see the pair together, considering their differences. Shrugging, she moves on.

Eventually, she finds Kali, but she’s in a room with the little selkie seer and the human that is apparently a frost mage of some kind. Not wanting to risk detection by the seer, she hides in the shadows of the doorway and listens.

Kali is speaking. “You’re sure? Lynn too?”

The selkie nods. “I am sure. I was there when he did it.”

The human girl giggles. “You’re naughty, Yura! Were you spying on master?”

Yura shakes her head. “No. I was on the bed with her.”

Kali laughs. “I don’t know why we’re surprised at this point. It really is just a family affair at this point. So now there’s three of us pregnant, with you, Anna. Are you feeling anything yet?”

Anna laughs. “Not sick like Maya, no. Lynn and I only know because of Yura being a pregnancy detector lately. You don’t mind, do you?”

Yura gives a small smile. “Using my power to bring joy? There could be no better feeling.”

Samara can’t believe her ears. He’s getting them pregnant? And they seem so happy! How strange...

Anna nudges Kali. “So, have you asked master to knock you up yet?”

Kali blushes. “He knows I want to, but...I can’t risk not being there if he needs me.”

Yura nods. “You want to protect him first.”

Kali smiles. “He’s my savior. I nearly killed him, and instead of fighting, he saved me. I would do anything for him.”

Samara stares at her transformed sister. She almost killed him, and now she wants to have a child with him? How can this human wield such influence over so many? And have them love him for it?

Samara is so deep in thought that she doesn’t hear the whisper of soft footsteps behind her. Until she hears a voice, soft and melodic.

“Ssspying on sssomeone, are we?”

She whirls and comes face to face with the gorgon and the djinn. The gorgon smiles, and Samara finds herself staring into beautiful silver eyes. The eyes full her vision, enchanting, mesmerizing...

With a supreme effort, she tears her eyes away. Unfortunately, she stumbles into the room. There’s a gasp, and Kali shouts, “Samara!”

Samara looks up at her little sister. Kali was always tall, but she had never looked so large before. She towered over her sister, muscular arms twitching. And those eyes, golden and blue flecked. Eyes that moments ago had been alive and happy. Now those eyes had gone hard, promising only ****, and even Samara couldn’t help but cringe under her glare.

Behind her, the musical voice of the gorgon comes again.