"You're gay?" Hessuel asked.
"No. A real woman." He magically makes his hat appear in his hand and wears it, later, his tied hair grows longer and as he crosses his legs, his features change into a woman. "I am not a queen of pirates for nothing," she said and her voice was an actual woman!
Unable to close my mouth, I can't believe a woman has been flirting with me! She adds,
"But I became converted to my male version that even in this body," she approaches me and smells my hair, "this woman in front of me still attracts me."
"Shoosh!" I drove her away like a fly!
Hessuel pulls me behind him. He is calm compared to me. "Then it means you killed my mother to claim my father? Because of jealousy?" he questioned. I looked at his tightening claws and I gently held his hand.
"I did. What will you do then?"
"Not me. You. You still have the chance to do what is right: surrender. You got what you deserve already."
"Right. I got it. One must be left broken in order to save someone's happy endgame," she argued. She may be tall and thin but her behavior is manly, daring enough to stand before Hessuel.
"I am more broke than you are because of you... and despite your crimes against me and all the werewolves, I kindly counsel you to climb down from your pride. Submit it to legal justice unless you want us to force you."
"Since when did you become the werewolves' advocate?"
"Since my birth. Silver wolves are the moon's natural knights of peace... not a weapon, not a monster."
Hessuel made my heart flatter with his words. Because of that, he looks even more handsome. To support him, I say, "As the Moon Priestess, it is my calling to maintain harmony among werewolves too. So Afvshaganifs, tarnish your name no more and give up."
"Only if you kiss me."
I hold back Hessuel as he growls deeply in an attempt to attack! The pack Matheo brought here arrived on time. They surround the ship and the captain with the same urge. She finally puts her hands in the air, but before they arrest her, I assert, "Wait, you have one more thing you should do."
☪ ✧ ✧
She covers the dreadful situation of Ophelia's body thoroughly and then blows the breath of life on her face. The enchantment brought back Ophelia's health and body, she uncovers the blanket and unawarely glances at us.
"What's going on?"
"You just died," Lanasia answers but that furthers Ophelia's confusion—thinking that we are in the afterlife. They proceed to explain while the captain attends to Hedwelch next.
She whispers into his ears and then Hedwelch's pale lips and skin turn lively again before he opens his beautiful eyes. Immediately, he looks around for us and approaches. "Hed—"
"Dad!"
I pouted after he skipped me to hug his dad! But I have no problem later as I watch them embrace one another. Hessuel's big hand is rubbing his little devil's back as the boy reveals symptoms of crying. Easily affected by it, I sat down beside Hessuel and called my child. He gives me his hands and I magically repair his gauntlet.
"I heard what you did while I'm gone. You did a great job," I complimented. That is when he hugs me, squishier and tight. However, I won't let them be involved in this dangerous outing! Or allow Hessuel to do it! The moment was interrupted when Afvshaganifs insisted,
"I have done my part. It's your turn. Until you restore my ship, I will not surrender."
She can do it herself, supposedly! I exchanged conversing glances with Hessuel and I know we both agreed. We proceed in front of the half-wrecked ship on land and as the captain watches behind, I made the ship sink in the giant enchast I summoned. Hessuel then leads us to a portal door wherein the other side is above the ocean.
When I found the pirates floating with the barrels, I jumped without a doubt and quickly summoned the ship right before I could land there. Enchantment scatters throughout the ship the second I set foot and I added more enchantment that restored the ship until I found myself inside a gloomy dining room.
I groaned. I kinda lost my way inside this haunted ship until the torches lit up on their own that led my way outside, to the ship deck. The pirates are here, praising their queen on bended knees while she annoyingly stamped her boot on her men—which is not an issue to the pirates. Tapped by the wind, I beheld the bright ocean about us and stopped as Hessuel approached my side.
"Are you alright?"
"It was nothing," I answered without looking. Afvshaganifs is only attending to her pirates, and it seems her men like her as a woman instead. Hence, I remind her, "We've complied with your condition. And no more requests!"
"..." She casts her idle glance at me. "Just don't mess up with my ship again. Or else I'll run over your wolves with my ship," she threatens with such audacity!
"Then don't mess up with any of the werewolves again lest that will not be the only consequence to your ship."
"That's why you got my interest."
Suddenly, the ship leaps and sinks rapidly and I couldn't find the chance to hold onto something! Everyone slips as the ship stands while sinking, then Hessuel swiftly caught me in his arms and passed through a floating portal door back to the pishnies' home. I expected that Afvshaganifs would betray her words once she stood within her domain but it was still discouraging!
We landed somewhere quiet and as the door disappears, Hessuel asks again, "Are you alright?"
"Why are you asking me? I'm in your arms!"
"Then... who should I ask?"
"Nevermind! Thank you. Please put me down. We have to chase that pirate—"
"It's alright."
"What!? It's not! He's a— I mean, she's a criminal! Don't you want indictment for her—? Hessuel!" It was all good until he hung me on his shoulder again and took me somewhere. "Where are you taking me!? We don't have much time! And not like this—!" Or maybe I should count myself lucky because no one sees me like this.
He laid me on the table in his father's office, and it's just the two of us here. He's serious and I reflect that mood to him, although he's making me sit in front of him with my legs open. "Where have you been?"
"In my former house, preparing for spells that would lift the curse."
"Why didn't you tell the kids?"
"Because—" I wasn't expecting his question regarding the rights of the twins. "It's hard to explain to them."
"What about Ophelia?"
"Because I want to keep it a secret!"
"Why?"
"Because my plan involves Afvshaganifs!" I answered straight to the point... for I know he was looking for that answer. "... I'm sorry."
"..." He's staring at me intently. It was only interrupted when I squeezed his cheeks.
"And you, are you alright? Don't you feel scared anymore? Can you still hear Hrista?"
He shook his head before he said, "No." He leans his forehead on mine. "Mrs. Lanasia confided in me the condition of your power. Dan, you don't have to appear strong in front of me all the time. At least allow me to share my strength with you."
"Hm, thank you." I pulled him for an embrace as I sniffed his scent. It's not as sweet as being bound with him, but his natural scent is all I need by the end of the day. I whisper, "I love you."
He removes himself from my embrace, eyes fixed on my lips until he kisses me affectionately. Locking him within my arms and legs, he's also tightening his embrace on my waist as our kisses turn warmer and warmer. I want to maintain the heat but I unintentionally kicked him away and his butt fell on the ground!
"I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just— I remembered that this is a sin against the goddess! W-We should not do this outside the fate of mate bond!"
"Dan," he folds his knees, "you're engaged with me, and we already have offspring."
"We were allowed before."
"... Hmmm, you're stricter than Sherizzah."
"Don't huff!" I pull his hands up but he's purposely weighing down. "I'll give you plenty of my kisses once the moon restores our mate bond. For now, let's eliminate any causes of headaches. Come on!" I persisted, but eventually, he pulled me down with him on the floor for more kisses.
Afterward, we saw the crowd of pishnies and werewolves, and among them is Afvshaganifs who silently submits herself to the werewolf knights. I wasn't able to talk to her as the couple quickly approached us.
"We've been looking for the two of you! What took you so lo—"
Lanasia nudges her husband, and she speaks right after, "We'll take over from here. Go home for now and make sure to take some rest."
We took her advice.
After Ophelia retrieved her train, we came home altogether. The dogs welcome us home as usual. I helped my twins change clothes inside their room while they are playful,
"Mom, let's go to the ocean again!" Danteleon suggested while I'm dressing him, I even had to hold his arms still to stop him from jumping. Meanwhile, Hedwelch leaps on the bed as well saying,
"Beach! Overnight beach!"
And now I can't fasten Danteleon's button because of the unstable bed! "Alright! Shoosh!" Of all the endless things, why does it have to be their energy? I really wish that children's enthusiasm can infect adults. "We will, but Lanasia told us to take some rest first," I said. I told them to lie down and then I enchant them with a kiss to make them fall asleep.
"Am I being a mother to them?" I complained to Hessuel who's been watching us at the doorway.
"I think. Let's go to the beach next time~"
"Ugh..." The frustrated dandelion is surrounded by sunshines. On the verge of sleepiness, I hold his hand and come inside our room. I lie down first, then tap the bed with a cat's smile on my face. However, he lies down in an opposite position of mine, feet beside my head and likewise to him. "What are you doing?"
"What, I thought it is a sin without the mate bond?"
I let out a laugh. "Oh! Whatever you see fit then," I said. Putting my hair up is a hobby I do before I sleep, it is comfy to my nape for a sweet sleep. But later on, Hessuel kisses my knees, pulls me down, and opens my legs to lie down on me as he sinks his face on my neck—setting himself comfy at me too. So, like a cuddling dog, I gently caress his hair. I know this is all he needs by the end of the day.
The warmth and peace of mind are more than enough for us to fall asleep without any enchantment.