“And with that, we welcome Cascka into our home as wife, sister, and kin. Blood of our blood, flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone. Cheers!"

Glasses are hoisted and quickly drank by the members of the Bridger clan as the two guests offer polite applause. The scene was a happy one, the dining hall in the Den had been decked out to celebrate Cascka's marriage to Jerry and to welcome her to the family. Secondary to the event was to formally acknowledge Masha as a candidate, and to allow Nezbet to formally introduce herself to the family.

The Takra had been making herself very useful indeed as they moved through space. She'd seemed to be everywhere on the ship once she recovered, offering to help the navigators as a guide and ensure they move safely around the nearby pirate stronghold she'd just decapitated. Marking out some potential resources that might be useful for Vucsa 5. Working out a better system to house the now former pirates in the short term while they were processed and drawing up plans for a better large scale brig in the future

She worked hard to show off her surprisingly varied skill set once she'd talked to some of the girls and gotten a better idea of what Jerry wanted in his brides, and what Syl's standards were like. Of course her latest bounty was one hell of a mark on her resume, even without the potential income to the family. It showed that Nezbet had a wide range of carefully cultivated skills and inborn talent that went beyond her species’ natural gifts.

At one point Nezbet had gotten into the training grounds and sparred with some of the more dangerous fighters on the ship, in and out of her warform and made an excellent showing of herself. Without her shapeshifting she was a smart combatant who fought mostly with guile, an expert shot with laser weapons, preferring a pair of cut down laser carbines that she wielded like pistols from hell. Or in close combat a pair of plasma swords she liked to lock together and basically use as a plasma staff.

When she was in her warform she was a nitro fueled cross between a saber tooth tiger, werewolf and the Incredible Hulk.

Apparently there had been a rematch between Nezbet and Gaucha that had ended with some minor damage to a few internal walls and a bulkhead but was otherwise a draw. Allegedly both women shook hands and were being far more respectful of the other after the fact.

Jerry would have killed for the details of that fight, and so would a lot of the rest of the crew. There was a 10,000 credit bounty for security footage of the fight from the same party that had requested the leaked gun cam footage from Masha's fighter. A party Jerry had recently preempted by putting the high def security footage together with Masha’s gun cam footage and publicly releasing it. The full super cut of Masha treating a large number of pirates to a very bad day had become a hit across the Undaunted fleet, and was apparently making the rounds in Apuk space where it doubled as something of a recruiting commercial.

Master and commander is pulled from his musings about the state of his family by Mina tugging on his ear. She was serving as his date for the night.

Squabbling over who sat where had been ended in the family by a reasonable rotation plan. Each wife got a turn during family meals to serve as dates, while Syl normally took her place at Jerry's right hand. Today she'd ceded that honor to Cascka, but let Mina take her turn on Jerry's left as his ‘escort’ for the evening.

"Yes darling?" Jerry turns and gives his full attention to Mina as the formal meal breaks up and little groups begin to form.

"Now that the formal part is over, I have a bone to pick with you mister."

"Oh? What might that be?"

"You're bringing in not one, but at least two, and possibly three more brides!" Mina pouts, the Impish vixen clearly exaggerating and teasing. "Normally I wouldn't complain but I'm not pregnant yet damn it!"

Jerry chuckles, Mina's tone had gotten him, he'd been expecting a slightly more serious complaint till she started making silly faces. Of all his Volpiri wives Mina loved to cause the entertaining kind of trouble when she wasn’t working. She had a knack for both causing and finding trouble with that sly foxy smile of hers.

"Well I guess we'll just have to try harder. Tonight's a free night and Cascka already consummated with me after the wedding itself two days ago..."

"Hey if she's down for a threeway she's more than welcome to come along so long as I get to lock my ankles behind your back and scream till I go limp. Three way cuddle puddle with a chick with coils might be an interesting sensation if she wraps us both up."

"Cascka's definitely a cuddler. Seems she likes fur on her scales too. She certainly enjoyed the group cuddle puddle the night after the wedding."

"Sleeping together like that's weird, but nice. Do humans do that with their wives back on Earth?"

"Most human men only have one wife, remember?"

"Oh. Right. Duh. So where'd that come from? I know it wasn't Syl's idea."

"Well it kinda happened on its own the first time, but I like it. The master's bed is big enough to accommodate most everyone, and getting everyone in one room for some night time skinship and intimacy is good for bonding I think."

Mina nods, clearly considering it as she strokes her chin. "Yeah the vibe's really different in our clan compared to the one we grew up in. Mama Inara was sweet as can be, but most of the relationship with Dad for the wives was fairly business-like... I know he loved Mama Inara and maybe the first wife... but she was so aloof that I'm not sure anyone knew what she thought besides maybe Dad."

Jerry pushes his chair back and juices himself with a bit of axiom, easily popping Mina into his lap. "Love is important to me."

"For the kits' sake right?"

"Yes, but your sake too, and all the other girls. That's part of why I'm so determined to set a cut off at some point. I want to be able to love you all like you deserve, and I can only do so much while holding down my job and other responsibilities. Even if I leave Undaunted service and we take the Tear completely private one day, I'll still be captain, I'll still have my work and responsibilities. Part of those responsibilities are making sure my wives know they're loved and precious to me, and that our children get a good view of what a relationship should be.”

Jerry plants a tender kiss on the crown of Mina’s head.

“That means sharing affection commonly, be it a caress, a hug, a kiss, some eye contact. Or snuggling during a movie, or a night together. I never want one of my sons or daughters to doubt that I love their mothers, even if we get angry at each other or shout or something else upsetting happens. That stuff happens to everyone, but we still love each other through that."

"Hell Jaruna was pretty pissed off at you the other day, what was that about?"

"We had a tactical disagreement on the defense of the ship. She passionately argued her position."

"She's plenty happy now though. Happier than I've seen her in a while actually."

Jerry glances over to where Jaruna's chatting with Evie, Ghorza, Zombie and Masha. The big lion shark alien is indeed in an excellent mood. Her hair styled, some more of the refined clothing that she liked to wear when she wasn't being 100% utilitarian being followed in pattern by Evie, Sharon and Ghorza. The Qipao like garments were apparently a favorite Cannidor fashion that got popular in a hurry with a lot of the more dangerous races.

Jerry took the four aligning their outfits as a sign of deeper bonding among the most martial parts of his family. Even if Sharon was clearly a bit embarrassed by the incredibly high slit that seemed to be galactic standard for a lot of formal wear showing off plenty of perfect porcelain skin and the strap of a very bold thong. Unbidden, his mind brings up a picture of Masha and her delightfully dusky skin in such an ensemble instead of her usual off duty cowgirl chic and he quickly quashes it.

"Think with the big head, not the little head." He mutters to himself.

Mina leans in and gives him a kiss, biting his lower lip. "Thinking about our Apuk guest maybe?"

"How did you know?"

"You were eyefucking her intensely enough that she'd have drenched her nethers if she'd noticed. Good thing she was drinking and telling a story. Poor girl might get the wrong idea if you're not set on bringing her in."

"Mhmm, well attraction isn't the problem, and Syl's more or less given her blessing. I'm just going to make her work for it. Don't want anyone to consider me easy."

"Little risk of that lover mine. Though admittedly you did tell the first girls at one point you're hard pressed to ignore a woman throwing herself at you."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

"I've just had a lot of really quality women come my way. You girls haven't even heard of half the proposals I've dodged." Jerry shudders. "There's this one Mrega pirate captain who tried to extort me that I just about made piss herself when I threatened to kill her and eat her."

"Girl didn't take a hint?"

"Seems she found a new fetish. So she manages to find a new avenue to send a message every now and then. It goes from poetry to pleading to threats. All incredibly lurid of course, more or less offering her ship and crew up as part of my new "fleet" if I'll mount her like the 'star conquering stallion of a man' I apparently am."

"Hah. Prey species can be weird like that sometimes. I knew a Carib girl at school who was married to a Lopen male, nice guy, but a bit too puffy and refined for my tastes. But any way from what she told me, nothing got her going quite like hubby tearing into a bloody steak."

"I wonder what a shrink would say about that particular hang up?"

"If you asked me to guess I'd wager it's something to do with a change of various chemical reactions related to a flight or fight response. She feels like she's in danger. Then she's getting her brains fucked out if you'll pardon the crude terminology. Going from fear to pleasure. Kinda like the emotional curve from a horror trine where the guys take their shirts off inexplicably."

"Makes sense I suppose." Jerry boosts Mina off his lap. "Go find Cascka and work out if we're having a three way tonight or not would you?"

"You got it handsome."

Another kiss and Jerry's moving through the room, stroking shoulders or kisses crowns as he works his way around, always with a kind of affectionate word for his large and seemingly ever growing family. Not counting Sharon as the hold out, he suspected they'd have a 100% pregnancy rate soon enough.

Shortly he's at the corner of the room being held down by the five most dangerous women in the room. "Darlings, Masha, thank you for joining us tonight."

"My pleasure Captain... or would it be Jerry in this context?"

"Anything but my rank."

"Alright stud."

"...On second thought, let's just go with my name."

Jaruna takes advantage of the round of laughter to pull Jerry down for a deep, hungry kiss, her tongue unashamedly pressing into his mouth. He wondered if it was a show for Masha, even as he kissed her, but when the kiss was broken and Jaruna pulled him deeper so she could whisper in his ear, it became clear the intimacy was a cover.

"Keep it quiet ‘stud’, but you almost certainly did the deed. Gonna deliver on that promise of future warladies sooner rather than later. Not that that's gonna stop me wanting some sugar on the regular."

"Well tomorrow night's another free evening... want to make sure? Or celebrate. Whatever you want to call it."

"Mmmph. Keep revving me up like that and I might ride your dick here, kick off an orgy."

"Heh, not with our guests present."

"They won't be guests for long, Masha at least."

"Shh. I haven't told her yet."

"What are you two whispering about? Plotting something wicked perhaps?"

Jerry tosses a wadded up napkin at Sharon in response, before reaching over and snagging up her glass of whiskey and taking a swig.

"Hey!"

"Thanks for the drink, gorgeous."

Jerry moves around the group, passing out kisses as he moves to leave to visit the next group of wives, only to be confronted by Masha puckering up at the end of the line. From the smile in the lines of her tightly shut eyes she's just playing, so Jerry gamely boops her on her dainty nose, prompting her to open her eyes.

Masha shrugs and offers Jerry a flirty wink. "Can't blame a girl for trying."

"Soon enough. From what Syl's said to me you can start picking out a white dress... not that there was ever much doubt, but it's Cascka's turn in the limelight, and we haven't gone on any dates yet. I'm not in any rush, even though I know a lot of the galaxy likes to race into marriage."

"I can take my time. Like Nezbet, I know you're well worth a little wait Skipper."

"What's a wait of days, weeks or months when we could end up spending centuries together?"

"A day or a century, as long as it's with you it's a treasure beyond compare."

Jaruna chuckles. "Damn that was smooth, shit I feel like she's earned a kiss for that one!"

Masha tilts her head up again. "I certainly won't say no."

"Rain check, you'll likely be able to redeem it soon enough, like I said."

"Heh, looking forward to it. Almost makes me want to take leave for the next shell cracker tournament. Tiaras are supposed to be common as part of human wedding wear, be fun if mine was straight from the hand of the Empress."

"Oh, cocky are we? Didn’t think it was that easy to get one of those fancy little doodads." Jaruna raises an eyebrow.

"A bit. I'm a touch out of shape and would need to work up into tournament form... but I think I've only gotten more lethal since I walked away from going after a title and chose flight. I mean I can do this... and most girls in the tournament can't."

Gaucha holds out a hand and calls warfire to her palm, the green flame dancing merrily and warming up their corner of the room significantly before she quenches it.

"If I spent some time working on it, I think I could work out white warfire, but I wouldn't mess with the so-called royal flame. Not without a title. Be a good grand finale for a tournament though. It’s just a thought, I wouldn’t want to be away from the ship though. Nor would I want to fight Vernon Shay… and there’s rumors he’ll be coming back to the next tournament. He skipped the last one, and there’s likely to be rumors of his return till he finally claims a crown."

The girls lapse into discussion of the finer points of the shellcracker tournament as Jerry continues to rotate his way through the room, sitting with some, or just passing by with another kiss or caress for the others. Wichen is curled up in a comfy chair in the corner and he quietly drapes a blanket over her before joining Syl, Firi, a few of the other Volpir sisters, and Nezbet.

"Mrow!? Eight? Such a small woman too! Nezbet worries Ms. Firi won't be able to walk when her pregnancy is further along. Takra'Takra consider having twins a very grand blessing indeed, but eight!"

Nezbet's eyes are wide, clearly the feline warrior woman isn't play acting for Jerry's sake or to impress herself on his wives, she's actually shocked at the idea of eight live births.

Firi beams, ever a ray of sunshine. "Well, if you can't run, you walk, if you can't walk, you crawl, and if you can't crawl any further..."

Syl leans up to kiss Jerry as he joins their group before finishing the saying her husband liked to repeat. "You find someone to carry you."

"Having a nice night Nezbet?"

"Your clan certainly knows how to eat! That beef'steak is something Nezbet could eat till she dies."

"Getting along with everyone too I see."

"Nezbet might be warrior, but being able to meet social obligations is important too."

"And being polite to non-warriors?"

"Just as one cannot offer true offense from ignorance, those who do not fight are not to be fought. Even Takra'Takra clans know this for all that is said of us... though it is rare to find Takra'Takra who is not warrior. They tend also to have many kittens and take up places in hearts of clans, like Volpiri den mother. Raising a claw against such a woman is... disagreeable. Many will defend her... though Nezbet remembers one time hearing of a clan mother like Ms. Firi who was threatened enough to turn to her warform to defend self and kittens. She crush'crushed enemy in most brutal way. Legends say big'big warform. Bigger than even largest of warforms Nezbet has seen, true monster. Such was the fire of a born mother to defend her kittens and the kittens of her clan."

"So it's practical as well."

"Getting between mother and children or being threat to mother's children good way to end up qala'qala." Nezbet wrinkles her nose, clearly already trying to translate. "Is hard word... Qala... mega dead maybe? Utter destruction? Ripping soul out via urethra and pitching into heart of sun?"

"...That's a lot for such a small word."

"Takra language has many hidden poetic meanings and references. Is very hard to learn if not born into it. If Nezbet joins clan as Arli'Bridger our kittens will likely speak very little of my mother tongue. This is a common fate for kittens raised outside of Takra clan. Not so much sad, just... how things happen yes? Galactic trade more practical in end, and most Takra affairs conducted in it. If you come to Takra world all will know your words. Not all speak galactic trade you know."

"Wait is that how your surnames work, parent clan, Arli, then branch based on the husband at the center?"

"Is more complicated than that. Is more that a clan takes the surname of the first husband of a clan. So the first of the Arli'Shet several thousand years ago left their parent clan, then married Takra'Takra man of the Shet clan, thus forming new clan. Many women stay within clan and so keep the name Arli'Shet as they bring husbands in. Is really only done as first wife, but special occasions sometimes bring in groups of non Takra."

"Why not do that with me then?"

"Nezbet too low in seniority to consider such things, nor would Bridger clan accept it. Not with husband as accomplished warrior, or with so many strong warrior wives. Plus... while Nezbet loves clan and kindred, is reason Nezbet runs alone you know? New clans need to form too in end, and the Arli'Bridger will one day have a name written in glory... if human'man ever accepts proposal that is."

Jerry strokes his chin. "I feel like you're not telling me something."

Nezbet smiles at him from her seat with a grin that would make the Cheshire cat proud as she rolls some wine around in her glass.

"To form new clan is bold move. Bolder than bringing husband and sister wives into clan. Much bolder than just bringing kittens from marriage in. Many Takra either simply bring home, or remain in something of a neutral phase."

"So by outright planning to begin a new clan you're going big huh?"

"Is only worthy of potential husband... but as you see from Nezbet's bounty hunting work, Nezbet rarely does things small. Perhaps in future Nezbet will be well known clan Matriarch. Nezbet certainly believes daughters and sons will win clan the glory Nezbet spoke of, be it with your Undaunted or on their own path."

"Playing the long game are you?"

"Long game, short game, Nezbet plays games at all time lines and angles human'man, but in all games Nezbet plays to win."