Aaron says “No, it’s not fish. It’s normal breakfast fair, just seasoned differently. It’s from what I learned in the southern empire. A mix of their cooking and ours.”

  “Oh, that sounds good. If you can have them ready soon, that would be great. I only have an hour or so before the girls might wake up.”

  Aaron says “No problem. I can have them ready before you finish eating.”

  Aaron provides me with a huge spread for breakfast and he keeps cooking while I am eating. In the time it takes me to eat everything he made me, he makes another two dozen dishes. Those go straight into my pouch, I will try them out with the girls later.

  Sarah walks in and says “Ash! What are you doing here?! You are supposed to be on your honeymoon!”

  “The girls are currently asleep and I will be back before they wake up. Or at least that’s the plan.”

  Sarah says “That’s a rather big risk just for my husband’s cooking, isn’t it?”

  “Not that big of a risk. I am pretty sure that they will be asleep for at least a couple more hours. I will be back well before then. Besides, I was bored and this was the safer option.”

  Sarah says “If this was the safer option, what was the other option?”

  “To go out and find something to hunt.”

  Sarah says “You’re right, that would have been more dangerous. Also far more likely to get you caught. I guess this was the safer option, but staying put would have been the best option.”

  Aaron says “Leave the man alone, let him deal with his wives how he sees fit. They knew what they were signing up for when they married him. I doubt they would even be surprised if they caught him.”

  Sarah says “That’s probably true. What would surprise them is that he came here instead of causing trouble.”

  “Oh, come on. I am not that bad.”

  They both just give me a look and refrain from saying anything in response to my claim. Knowing exactly what that look means, I shut up and go back to eating my breakfast. Luckily, Sarah has work to do and can’t just sit around teasing me any longer.

  I finish my breakfast, put the last of the new dishes into my pouch, and then head over to the castle. Bella moved it back after we left for the island and I want to check on the kids. Jarvis informs me that Bella is currently sleeping and the kids are scattered around the castle.

  I spend the next hour going around the castle and spending a few minutes with each of the kids. They are happy to see me, but they are also understanding when I can’t stay for long. After making sure I have spent time with each of them, I gate back to the island only to find the girls are still sound asleep.

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  It looks like I really didn’t need to rush back, but now that I am here I had better stay. Knowing my luck, leaving again would just guarantee that they would wake up as soon as I am gone. I got away with it once, pushing my luck now would just be stupid.

  So I settle down on my side of the bed and read my manga until the girls wake up. Myria is the first to wake up and she seems confused by the feather that she is clutching. Then she looks at my wings and when she makes the connection she gives me a guilty look.

  Myria says “Ash, I’m sorry!”

  “It’s fine, you were asleep and didn’t do it on purpose.”

  Myria says “I still feel bad. Did it hurt?”

  “Yes, actually. It hurt a lot more than I expected. However, it is better to have found out this way than in a fight.”

  Myria says “Um, do you want it back? Or can I keep it?”

  “You can keep it, I have already grown a new one, but what are you going to do with it?”

  Myria says “It’s pretty and I want to make something out of it. Maybe ear ornaments? It would feel good to always have part of you close to me.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. Actually, I am curious about something. Can I see the feather for a second?”

  Myria clutches the feather closer and asks “Why?”

  “While I am not a dragon yet, I am a high rank beast and I want to test how good the materials that come from me are.”

  Myria says “Then just pluck another feather.”

  “No, that hurts! Come on, I will give it right back.”

  Mercy opens one eye and says “What’s with all the noise? It is too early!”

  Brightfire says “They are arguing over a feather that looks like Myria plucked it from Ash’s wing.”

  Myria says “I didn’t do it on purpose! I was sleeping!”

  Lin says “Some of us were still trying to sleep!”

  Myria says “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake everyone, but I don’t want Ash taking the feather back!”

  “I’m not going to damage it and I will give it right back.”

  Lin says “Just give it to him, if he doesn’t give it back you can just pluck another one to use.”

  Mercy says “What are you going to do with a feather anyway?”

  Myria says “I want to make ear ornaments out of it. I want a piece of Ash to be with me all the time.”

  Brightfire says “Actually, that doesn’t sound too bad. I wouldn’t mind having something made from Ash to keep with me.”

  Lin says “Now that you mention it, I would like that too.”

  Mercy says “Count me in!”

  Brightfire says “Ash, looks like you are going to lose some more feathers.”

  My only response to that is a growl, but with all four of them against me I eventually give up. For some reason, when I know it is coming, having my feathers pulled hurts even more. After three sharp pains I relax, but then a fourth one catches me off guard.

  “Ouch! What was that for?!”

  Lin says “I just figured that you would want one that you could study and experiment with.”

  “Well, yes, but you could have warned me!”

  Lin says “I figured it would hurt less if you weren’t expecting it. Anyway, now that we all have feathers, how about some breakfast?”

  I growl a little at Lin, but it doesn’t take much to convince me to forget about it. We all sit down to eat breakfast and without thinking about it I pull out the new dishes for everyone to try. The new dishes are delicious and everyone likes them, but Lin is too observant.

  Lin says “Hang on a minute. How is it that you suddenly have new dishes for us to try?! Where did these new dishes come from?”

  “Um.”

  Mercy says “Well, that’s a guilty look if I’ve ever seen one!”

  Lin says “It sure is. Ash, you went out while we were asleep, didn’t you?”

  “It was just a quick trip to the trade city to give some fish to Aaron. I also stopped by the castle to check on the kids.”

  Lin says “Is that all? You look awfully guilty for that to be all that you did.”