Eternal Dominion Book 11: Connubiality

  Eternal Dominion Book 11

  Connubiality

  Bern Dean

  Bern's Books LLC

  Copyright © 2022 Bern's Books LLC

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Cover design by: ebooklaunch.com

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Morning February 28, 2267.

  ED year 2 day 315.

  Evening February 28, to Morning March 2, 2267 & ED year 2 days 316-321.

  Evening March 2, 2267 & ED year 2 days 322-323.

  Morning March 3, 2267 & ED year 2 day 324.

  Evening March 3, to Evening March 4, 2267 & ED year 2 days 325-329.

  Morning March 5, 2267 & ED year 2 days 330-331.

  Late Night March 5, to Early Morning March 8, 2267 & ED year 2 days 332-340.

  Late Night March 8, to Early Morning March 11, 2267 & ED year 2 days 341-349.

  Late Night March 11, to Early Morning March 13, 2267 & ED year 2 days 350-354.

  Evening March 13, 2267 & ED year 2 days 355-356.

  Morning March 14, to Evening March 14, 2267 & ED year 2 days 357-359.

  Morning March 15 to Evening March 15, 2267 & ED year 2 days 360-362.

  Morning March 16, to Evening March 16, 2267 & ED year 2 days 363-365.

  Morning March 17, to Evening March 23, 2267 & ED year 3 days 1-21.

  Morning March 24, to Evening March 24, 2267 & ED year 3 days 22-24.

  Morning March 25, 2267.

  Thanks!

  Preview

  Afterword

  Morning February 28, 2267.

  Alex stretched as he took in the smaller room Sam, Nicole and himself were currently using while their portion of the house went through a thorough remodel. He had to laugh at just how comprehensive of a remodel was going on as a whole extra floor was being added and he was still in the dark on just what his five ladies had decided. All he knew was it would have a room for each of them and several more for any kids that they had. As he was thinking on this, both of his 24-week-pregnant ladies, Sam and Nicole, stepped out of their VR pods. Both were expecting girls and were enjoying the fact that their morning sickness seemed to be gone. They were all smiles as Alex gave them kisses before they left their room, where they found Kate waiting for her kiss. After kissing Kate, Alex couldn’t help but think about Ava and Mia who were both currently in the middle of their tier-5 trial and were on a completely different schedule due to it. His butler, Gido, was handling their needs during this time by ensuring they woke up from their naps in time to log back into Eternal Dominion (ED). As they were using VR pods, they had one advantage of not needing full meals as well and could get by simply by eating a few snacks right before logging back in.

  With the twins still on his mind, Alex and his three ladies headed to the pool for their morning swim, that had become the normal morning activity over the past few weeks, due to his mother’s arrival. However, Alex was absent minded as he felt like something was missing with Ava and Mia not there. He had grown used to their smiles and teasing and he had to sigh at just how successful they had been in carving out a place in his life. Kate, however, seemed ready to take advantage of the fact that she would have Alex mostly to herself, as Sam and Nicole would be joining Julie and Alex’s mom in the pregnancy exercise group. Seeing Alex lost in thought, Kate decided to refocus him as she spoke.

  “You look lost, Alex. Don’t tell me that you are having withdrawals from Ava and Mia already.”

  “Huh, oh yah, sorry. Is it weird that I already miss them?”

  “No, they are very good at making their presence known and with what the last two months have been like for you, well I think the longest you were away from them was our date. Other than that, they have always been there. Even if you are giving Sam, Nicole or I attention, they would be there smiling, especially since you accepted them.”

  “Still, it isn’t good for me to be like this.”

  “Yes, and no, it lets us know that you notice when we are not around. I’d hope that the first time that I have to travel for business and can’t be here for a few days you would be the same. After all, I know that I am going to miss you.”

  “Kate Astor, have you gone soft? I thought you were all business and even our relationship was a transaction to you.”

  “Ha, sorry to disappoint you. For the first time in my life I am ignoring rationality and simply enjoying the fact that I have your eyes on me. Now let’s have some fun and work on our breathing.”

  With that Kate tossed a few colored sticks, that were meant for diving, in the pool and started to swim towards them. Alex smiled as he followed after her and the pair would spend the rest of their time playing this game, with kisses mixed in between each dive. After swimming, it was time to enjoy another wonderful breakfast that Sofie had made for them as Sam and Nicole enjoyed sitting next to Alex while they chatted about all of the things that they had upcoming.

  “So, my parents are due in on Sunday and they have been asking about details on what they should expect,” commented Sam.

  “Haven’t you told them that we have plenty of room?” asked Alex.

  “Umm, no, I just don’t know how to tell them that I live in a house that could fit three or four of theirs in it.”

  “Alex, I haven’t told my parents either,” added Nicole.

  “Nicole, you I understand. Sam, just tell your parents not to worry and that you want it to be a surprise so they don’t get annoyed at you not telling them until now. Nicole, if I were you, I would do the same, though if you want to, I can see about getting your parents a hotel room if you think it would be better as well.”

  “Thanks, I will think about it,” commented Nicole.

  “Alright, that works I guess and my parents should be fine, though they might have a heart attack when they see Ava and Mia all over you,” quipped Sam.

  “That’s right, they should be finishing their trial around then. I doubt we will be able to pry them off of you at that point,” added Nicole.

  “Wait, you two haven’t told your parents about them yet?” interjected Mrs. Bell with disappointment in her tone.

  “Mom, how did you react when you found out?”

  “And? It is an important thing to know. If you thought my reaction was bad, just think what it would have been if I just found out now. Sam, you need to let your parents know tonight, or I will let them know tomorrow. Nicole, just bite the bullet and do it as while I won’t tell them, I can’t say that Sam’s mom won’t. Though knowing her, she will do it without meaning to cause an issue.”

  Both Sam and Nicole had troubled looks on their faces as they mulled over Mrs. Bell’s words when Kate spoke up.

  “Just blame me and say that due to my family situation, you couldn’t talk about it and Alex’s mom was a slip up.”

  “What about if my dad has told anyone else?” asked Alex.

  “He hasn’t. Since I have left, he has been playing nonstop,” his mom replied.

  Alex took in his mom’s words in with a frown, as he thought about his dad and Anna living without his mom. Especially with Anna staying in the apartment now as his dad was now alone in the house.

  “Mom, why not have Dad sell the house and join us up here? That way we would know that he was at least getting decent meals
.”

  “He is already supposed to be doing that, but I’m not sure how quick he is moving.”

  “Alright, I’ll get Background Inc. on it. They will make sure he doesn’t drag his feet.”

  “Alex, you seem to use them for an awful lot. Just what kind of business are they?” asked Mrs. Bell.

  “It would be easier to say what they don’t do,” interjected Kate. “Put simply, if you have money and want something done that isn’t breaking any law, at least in an obvious way, they will do it if you pay them what they ask.”

  “And just what will them selling the house cost us?”

  “Me, not much as I do enough business that they will only take the same cut a realtor would. For most though, it would be four or five times that.”

  “I see and is your plan to just keep them as your go-to service for everything forever?”

  “No, we are already starting to outgrow them. The trick will be transitioning from the personnel they currently have in place, to our own without any issues, which is one of the things Kate is working on.”

  “Yes, and I will say it is not easy to balance that with everything else your son seems happy to dump in my lap. If Tara here wasn’t such an excellent resource when it comes to all things administrative, it might have been too much for me. Honestly, I wish your son had found a few more like her over the rest of his vice guild leaders,” commented Kate, as she looked at Henry, Dan and Fred as she finished speaking.

  “Hey, we do paperwork,” pushed back Dan.

  “Dan, don’t pick this fight. Trust me, you’ll regret it,” cut in Amanda.

  “Don’t tell me that you’re on her side. Fred, your girlfriend has flipped sides on you.”

  “No, man, she hasn’t. She just knows that we both suck at paperwork as she is the one who has been looking over our work.”

  “That’s right and I would say if it would take me ten minutes to do the work, I have to spend nine fixing your errors. Though I will say that both of you are getting better, as it used to be closer to 15 minutes to fix them.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Dan, you and Fred are still learning and Amanda was quicker on the uptake, so I have been having her job be to make sure that your work is good. Most of the feedback you have been getting has been from her. Though she is still not perfect, she is up to the standard. Before Kate joined us, the only one I trusted to do the job with no issues was Tara. The rest of you are still learning and it will take time to get to where you need to be.”

  “If we are so bad, why haven’t you hired NPCs to do the work yet? That’s what most of the other guilds have done.” asked Dan.

  “Dan, we will get a full NPC staff eventually, but that will only be after you all know how to do the job, at least to the level that Amanda does. That includes you, Henry.”

  “Hey, why did you have to drag me into this? I know paperwork is my weakness, but you brought me on to lead, not file expense reports.”

  “Oh, so do you plan on running about wasting resources while some poor secretary continually tries to tell you that you are spending too much, as you just laugh it off and continue to waste the guild’s funds?” interjected Tara, looking like she was ready to hit him.

  Alex couldn’t help himself as he started to laugh at Tara staring down Henry, who was looking scared of the look he was getting. It didn’t take long for Tara to round on Alex over the outburst.

  “Oh, and what is so funny?”

  “Tara, you are. I can already see you doing just that to me when war comes to Nium and I go all out to ensure that it is a short one.”

  “You’re terrible, you know,” commented Kate. “Besides, I’ll be the one doing that to you when she lets me know about it.”

  The smile on Kate’s face made Alex realize that she was actually looking forward to their next back and forth. While Alex didn’t think arguments were good for relationships, he did know that as long as they were productive, it was fine. It was just that by that point he wasn’t so sure that he would be the one winning, with the rate that Kate was understanding his plans.

  “Would you look at the time. I think we all need to hit the showers and get back to playing ED.”

  At Alex’s words, both Sam and Nicole giggled as they smiled at him and Nicole spoke.

  “Well, at least one of your wives will be able to keep you in line, once you fully accept her.”

  “Wasn’t that the point of letting her in?” asked Sam.

  “It was definitely an important factor,” confirmed Nicole.

  Alex just sighed as he stood up with everyone else as Sam and Nicole each took one of his arms as they giggled and chatted while they all made their way to the shower.

  (*****)

  ED year 2 day 315.

  As Xeal awoke, he smiled to find the young white tiger-woman Eira sitting in her normal long chair, as she opened her eyes and smiled before standing up to leave. Ever since they had returned from the elven lands, she had not attempted to cuddle with him and while he appreciated it, he also was starting to really miss the feeling. Xeal also knew that soon he would have six wives and waking up in an empty bed would be a luxury he would never know when he was at home. Part of him was tempted to let her enjoy the few weeks before he married, but he knew that would just cause issues, so he refrained as he followed her to the dining room. There he found his two elven wards, Alea and Rina, already eating, while Bula had yet to arrive and Midnight sat at Xeal’s usual spot, looking expectantly at him as a servant brought him his meal. Xeal quickly took a piece of the sausage and gave it to the matagot, who was quick to sit in Eira’s lap as he ate, while Eira scratched behind his ear. It was then that his orcish seer Bula made her appearance, as she joined them at the table and Xeal spoke.

  “So, I can see that at the very least that you all are quickly catching up to me.”

  “Xeal, what else would you expect? Just because you are diving into those death traps every day doesn’t mean that we are slacking off,” commented Eira. “Bula and I have even started to let our experience items grow as those two catch up. At the pace we are going, it won’t take long before mine is actually useful once we return to following you.”

  “That’s great. Rina, Alea, are you two alright? You both have said very little over the past month.”

  “Your dark elf is at least useful for our training,” commented Alea and Rina sighed, before speaking herself.

  “Xeal, we are grateful for the opportunity we are getting to grow, but it is hard to smile when we are constantly dealing with that woman. While she is doing her job and we never have a worry about our lives, she takes pleasure in humbling us a bit too much.”

  “It’s infuriating. She simply smiles as she calls us weak little girls meant for warming beds, not for battle. Her taunts on how without a guard I am helpless, or how Rina can’t strike a decisive blow, while ignoring that is how we operate, is insulting.”

  “Ah, I see, though she is right.”

  “What! Don’t tell me that you agree with her!”

  “Alea, calm down. Ceclie is going about it in the worst way possible, but she is pointing out the flaw that most sorceress and knight pairings have. If you want to shut her up, simply overcome the issue and learn how to deal with a foe at close range, while Rina picks up a skill that can become her decisive blow.”

  Before Alea could respond, Bula added a comment of her own.

  “Don’t resent Xeal for seeing a truth that you refused to see due to the source it came from. If you fail to learn something from your enemy, you will never achieve all that is possible for you.”

  The look of anger that Alea had been shooting Xeal shifted to Bula, before she sighed and responded.

  “Fine, but not until it is with you and not that dark elf. If I tried to develop it with her watching, the smugness she would have at my struggle might kill me.”

  With that, breakfast passed. They all returned to training as Xeal met up with his party for their fourth run through
the Goblin Rush dungeon, as he was determined to clear it without any of them running out of stamina. The last one had only seen Fred run out of stamina just before the shaman boss had fallen and everyone else had made it, though none of them had more than ten percent left when it was over. After they ran Goblin Rush, they would hit a different dungeon each day, so they would still add a first-clear bonus each day as well. However, between both dungeons, it was taking around 17 hours each day, causing them to short themselves to only six hours of sleep a day. This was fine if they could get everything down in a few more runs, but the longer this lasted, the harder it would be on them, especially with them only sleeping in game without logging out once out of every three in-game days.

  As Xeal came to the meeting point, he found his whole team ready for the dungeon. Once again, Xeal led them to the entrance and they were ready to begin, with Vento casting his wind wall, Saima heading out to scout, and the rest got ready to make every bit of their stamina count. The following eight hours were filled with killing one group after another of goblins in an efficient and relaxed manner, until they finally arrived once more at the final area. As they rested to recover their MP and SP pools for the final push, Xeal was pleased to see that Amet was above 25% stamina for the first time, even if it was only 26%.

  Once everyone had recovered, it was once again time to face the final hurdle of the dungeon, as they entered the last room and took up their positions. The fight that ensued was an intense struggle for them as the prior three times had been as well, but it was also the easiest yet as Amet was still at two percent stamina when the shaman fell. By the time it was time for the final charge, everyone was still standing and Xeal smiled seeing Amet not run out of stamina until after the boss died, as the last group attack used up the last of what he had left. With everyone else sitting between two and ten percent stamina, Xeal was satisfied as they moved onto the second dungeon of the day.