Lady Naravie Greyson

I let out a sigh of relief as I slid into the near boiling waters of the Hot Spring. After I had spent a month doing my best to create them it was wonderful to simply relax in them, and the present company made it even better. Odessa ran her hands through my hair and scratched at the top of my head as she let her upper body rest on the sun warmed stones between our two pools. I was doing my best to keep my gaze from wandering to admire her but at this point I was half convinced she was trying to show off.

I had been spending the majority of my time since the Funeral outside of the city. Mother had been good company for a time but once she and Tiran had begun planning the trip to the Desert I had felt out of place, and so I had begun spending time with the Weavers and Odessa specifically.

It had initially been under the pretense, and the truth, that I needed a few more clothes than I currently had. After a week or two Odessa and I had formed a true friendship, enough that she and I had been spending time on the edges of the Weaver’s forest and she had taken me to the tavern that Matriarch Cavari had mentioned during our first meeting. It had been an amusing experience, as more than a handful of the traveling patrons had approached me with flirtatious comments but Odessa had chased them away, and in a fashion so obvious that even I had picked up on it.

When we had left that night she had wrapped me in her arms in the dark of the forest and pressed her lips to mine and I had melted under the contact. I had pushed my Telepathy to the limit to inform Mother I wouldn't be back that night and I had spent much of the evening in Odessa's embrace within a silk Hammock overlooking the valley where the Weaver's Forest dwelled. It had been evening the following day when I had stumbled back home, red marks coating my neck and smiling like an idiot.

Both Mother and Tiran had seen me but neither said anything about it. Following that I had started working on a spot where Odessa and I could spend time without others intruding and thus the idea for the Hot Spring had been born.

I had been unsure of how to start but a bit of studying in Mother's Hoard had shown me how to locate underground springs and bring them to the Surface. The rest had been a simple matter of using my magic to use the Water as a chisel to carve away rock and soil and then reinforcing the stone with Runes to prevent it from wearing down. Once I had done that I inscribed a handful of runes near the mouth of the spring to heat the water and then adjusted each pool accordingly.

The pool I was in currently was mine, the water practically boiled and I always felt wonderful when I slipped into it. Odessa had made herself at home in one of the adjacent pools and I had carved it large enough to accommodate her true body's size.

So here we were, less than a foot of stone separating our pools as she ran her hands through my hair and started braiding it. I didn't protest as she worked and I swear I could hear her laugh slightly as she worked on it. My hair had been a constant sore point for her, as it refused to hold any shape she wove it into for more than a handful of hours before it came loose back into the blonde mess it always was. I almost understood why Mother kept her hair short. Almost.

“So you are leaving soon.” She said, not a question but a pouting statement of fact.

“I am.” I said sadly.

“I want to go with you.”

“I know but it would be dangerous for you. Neither Mother nor I can carry you in your true body and you can only shift into your humanoid body for an hour before needing rest. And traveling beneath us on the ground puts you at risk of Humans.” I said, going through all the arguments we had brought up over the past few months.

“I asked my Mother about it.”

“Did she have something to add?” I asked.

“She presented an option. But I wished to speak with you about it before I chose to take it or not.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“Only slightly. She has a potion that she can brew that would lock me in my humanoid body for a period of six months. I would be human. As small and light as one… and as frail.” She said, concern rising in her voice.

I blinked and turned around to face her.

“That would be terrifying for you, wouldn't it?” I asked, staring into her primary eyes.

“It would be… different. I have often wished I could wander among humans and you know how I feel about my true form.” She said, not meeting my gaze.

Indeed I did.

We had spoken about many things over the past few months and that was among the most important. We had snuck out a handful of bottles of wine and she had been quite drunk when she pulled me close and gave me a long and tear filled rant about how much she despised her Monstrous form. How much she longed to be able to walk among humans. The lengths she had contemplated going to remove her spider-like body. I had had to restrain her from clawing off one of the Spider legs, and the scars were still visible on the front leg. I had seen how she limped with it and I felt guilty I hadn't stopped her more quickly. Matriarch Cavari had said nothing when we had returned but the pain in her eyes was apparent enough that Odessa wouldn’t meet her gaze.

After Odessa had gone to bed that night I spoke with the Matriarch and she had explained it wasn’t the first time one of her daughters had despised their body but the others hadn't had anyone to stop them and… well they were no longer with us. She had thanked me for stopping Odessa as much as I had and since then Odessa and I had avoided the subject or danced around it if it came up.

“Would you be alright like that? Six months is a long time without your extra arms. You’d be defenseless on your own.” I said softly as she rested her chin on my shoulder.

“I would be… But I don’t think you would leave me alone, would you?” She whispered.

“I would never. But I worry if we are separated…”

I didn’t finish my thought as she pressed her lips to mine briefly. I didn’t fight it but I was conflicted. She must have felt it because she pulled back and looked concerned.

“It's her again, isn’t it?”

I nodded awkwardly. Since that Night in the Tavern when I had spoken to Sophia I had thought that maybe… I felt her pressing me to the wall in the alley, her lips on mine and then trailing down my neck her hand so aggravatingly close before she pulled away. It was a scene that had been running through my mind almost every night since then. I had always loved Sophia and now there was a chance she could reciprocate that once she was free of Argan. It was why I hadn’t made any attempt to go further with Odessa but my thoughts were always torn between them. I realized that Odessa was watching me with concern in her eyes as I was lost in my thoughts.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to lead you on but I… I don’t know what to do.” I ran my hands through my hair.

I felt Odessa’s hands rest on my shoulders and being moving in firm but calm motions, massaging the muscle in them. I leaned back as she did it and I felt her head near mine again as she whispered in my ear.

“Well, I’ve thought about it again and again. And I’ve come to a realization.”

I opened one eye to look back at her. She leaned in close so her lips brushed the pointed edge of my ear.

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“I don’t mind sharing you, if both you and she were open to that Arrangement.” She said with a gleeful tone in her quiet voice.

I blinked as my mind chewed through that. That… was something I hadn’t considered. I mean, I knew Ruhn and Raya had been open about their relationship and they enjoyed it but doing the same hadn’t crossed my mind. I felt my front row of teeth dig into my lip as I thought about it. The idea of it didn’t bother me either. In fact I quite liked it. I looked over to Odessa who was resting her upper body on the warm stones. She was beautiful and admittedly more… developed than I was.

Mother had infomed me that my body had settled about a month after the battle and I had to re-experience my late teenage years, at least physically. It had been an interesting experience and I had definitely gotten to experience the less glamorous parts of womanhood. The first month after I settled I had spent nearly three days lying in bed with nothing but a warming stone cradled against my stomach. Luckily each month since had been less intense and now it was only mild annoyance instead of debilitating pain. But I had found myself jealous that I had a girl’s body when my mind was a grown adult. Especially when the women in my life were all rather gifted in that regard. Even Mother had curves despite how much she tried to hide it with chest bindings. I knew I would eventually get there but for now, jealousy. It also didn’t help that Odessa had figured that out and been toying with me about it since then.

I smiled at her as she gave me a playful grin.

“Well I suppose I should go talk to Sophia about that. And then speak with Mother about you coming along for the trip.” I said as I stood up and felt the cool spring breeze blow past me.

Odessa smiled and I could feel her gaze lingering over my bare body. Two could play at that game, I thought to myself. She rose herself from the pool and she leaned in close to me and a mischievous grin passed over her face as she did. She placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Well Naravie, I hope you return with good news. Otherwise…” Her hand slid down my shoulder and traced the edge of one breast, nothing too far but enough to make my whole body quiver and my breath to catch.

“... I’ll never get to see you wear any of the more scandalous outfits I wove for you.” Her hand pulled back and I felt my heart skip a beat.

Her eyes told the whole story. If I gave the word I would be here for the rest of the day and much of the night. With her. Tangled in the water, on the shore… The thought nearly tempted me but I gave her my best smile and simply said.

“I hope I do as well. I would hate for your hard work to go to waste.” My voice came out not as the flirty playful thing I had intended but a croak that told her everything she needed to know.

She waved for me to go with a smile and I leaped into the air and spread my wings wide as I took to the air and flew toward Calanai with all haste.

It was a quick journey to the Lake. I had become quite good at flying with all the hopping around I had done these past few months and I prayed it would help with the journey. As I reached the massive basin I tucked in my wings and dove into the water with nary a splash. I had done this a few times now, swimming within the lake while reaching out with my mind. At this point it was easy enough to find Sophia’s mind, she was one of the only ones that was aware of my touch and the only one who grabbed back. She had been improving with Telepathy and just on my last visit had we been able to meet in our mindscapes from such a distance. I felt my mental claws latch onto her as she reached out to me.

‘You’re back quite quickly this time. Miss me that much?’ She asked as I was pulled into her mind.

I could still feel my body swimming about within the lake but my attention was on her now. Her Mindscape was no longer dark swirling waves but a calmer ocean with the sun shining overhead. We stood on the gentle waves and I smiled. She rushed forward and wrapped me in a hug and I felt the warmth from her mind. It wasn't like the warmth of a body and a heart, it was joy and excitement. I could feel her excitement from me returning to speak with her and her joy at my presence. It was an interesting feeling and one we had discovered after my first attempt to communicate with her after the battle. She pulled back and I knew she could see right through my facade of calm and the emotions swirling beneath.

‘Are you feeling alright?’

‘I was talking with Odessa. She brought up something of an idea that I wanted to ask you about…’ I trailed off as my nerves started to get to me.

Sophia was calm and patiently waited for me to put my words together, smiling at me as she sat upon the gentle waves of her mind.

‘She said she has no problem… sharing me if you didn't either. I didn't know how you would think about that or if you would be upset by the idea or-’ She rose to her feet and pressed a gentle finger to my lips to stop my babbling.

‘Naravie, you can calm down.’

I shut my mouth and she gave me a dazzling smile. I had yet to grow tired of her being so happy and full of life. When we had been together she had been putting on a facade but now she was unmasked and it was so wonderful to see her smile. I don't think I would ever get tired of that.

‘Its an interesting idea. But from what you've told me of her, I don't know how I'm supposed to share you.’ She spoke softly as she paced on the waves.

‘I'm sure we could figure-’ She ignored me and kept talking.

‘I mean, Why would I share you when I could have two beautiful women to enjoy the company of?’ She said, flashing her dazzling smile once more.

I think I froze for a moment there, as Sophia stopped and wandered over and placed her hands on my shoulders.

‘Love, don’t think for a moment that I would dream of keeping you all to myself. I’m human and you are a Dragon. In a century I will be naught but a memory and you will still be free to sail through the skies. And I’m shackled to Argan for at least another two decades. I wouldn’t make you wait that long just for me to be an old hag in your company.’ She spoke softly and pressed her forehead to mine.

I looked up at her with pleading eyes. The thought hadn’t escaped my notice, I was a Dragon now and I would long outlive my human friends and family. I might even outlive my home Kingdom. There were ways to extend a Mortal’s life and I had been hoping she would be willing to pursue one of them before simply resigning herself to mortality…

‘What's wrong?’ She asked, her whispering voice echoing back across the waves in an impossible fashion.

‘I don’t want you to go. There are ways. We could find a tutor in magic. We could use alchemy, we could… we could…’ I wrapped my arms around her and pressed my head to her chest to keep from sobbing.

I felt her run her hands through my hair as she whispered to me.

‘Well I’m not gone yet. Maybe we will find something… but I’ll still be old and gray before we can even test it. My mother passed away in her forty-fifth year… I’ll be nearly forty-three by the time I can get this damned ring off. I want you to be happy. I want you to have someone who can make sure you are cared for if anything happens to me. And if she was willing I’d like to see her as well, she sounds like a delight.’

I felt a grin pull at the edges of my mouth as she said the last bit and I looked up at her with a half smile.

‘She is. But she has been very respectful. I didn’t want to take things further before I had a chance to ask you about it and I… I still want to be with you. Is that greedy? To want to be with both of you?’

She laughed and it filled my heart with warmth.

‘I don’t think it is. But maybe its just that Draconic Greed setting in.’ She pressed a kiss to my forehead as she said it and I couldn’t help but laugh at the sensation.

It was such a warm and happy feeling and I squeezed her in a hug to hold onto it. We stayed there for a moment enjoying the warmth of that embrace before she took a step back. I stood there, hands in hers as I gazed up at her and I could see her smile take a mischievous look. She couldn’t do much with Argan in the waking world but here… here she could tease and taunt me as much as she wished. And I would let her, always.

‘Well I think now that that's settled, do you have some time?’ She asked as she circled me, tracing a gentle finger along my horns as she did.

‘I do.’ I replied, my voice shaky as I felt the meaning behind the touch.

She smiled and pressed a lust filled kiss to my lips and slid a finger beneath the shoulder of my dress as she pulled it further and further down. It wasn’t the same as being together physically but it was arguably more intimate. I could feel every thought coursing through her mind, every desire, every want. And I could feel every touch doubly so, I felt my own pleasure and hers. And I let out a cry of joy as she pushed me down onto the waves as her hands ran across me.

It was several hours later before I returned my mind fully to my body, drifting in the darkness of the Lake as I enjoyed the coolness against my scales. It was a welcome feeling after the hours of Sophia’s heat pressed against my mind. I swam to the surface and used my wings to gain speed so I could launch myself from the waves and directly into the cool nighttime air. I tipped my wings to the right and headed towards the city, it had been too long since I had checked in with my Brothers and I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help. I wanted to go to Odessa but the Weavers would be dormant by now, during the Winter Months they retired quite early, and I didn’t want to wake the whole sisterhood.

I landed quite gracefully upon the roof of the Greyson estate and dropped into the courtyard, directly onto hot stones. I frowned as I looked down and saw the stone path through the courtyard was free of the snow and ice present elsewhere and there was a training dummy that had been absolutely destroyed. The metal post at its center was nearly cut through in several places and black scorch marks covered the stones around it. I ran inside looking for Tiran.