A bird sang outside the cottage.
Jax opened one eye.
The sound was soft at first.
Almost pleasant.
A few delicate notes drifting through the open window with the morning breeze.
He smiled.
Apparently someone else was looking for love.
Good luck, buddy.
Jax could hardly criticize the effort.
Considering his current situation, he was probably the last man in the world who should discourage another male from trying to find a mate.
Pixelle lay across his chest, one arm wrapped possessively around him. Her pink hair was scattered across his shoulder and the pillow, her wings resting loosely behind her.
Lexi was curled against his other side, one leg tangled between his, her face tucked against his shoulder.
Neither had moved.
Jax wasn't entirely convinced either one was capable of moving.
The bird sang again.
Jax smiled.
Pixelle murmured something in her sleep.
"...my King..."
Jax glanced down at her.
Her lips curled faintly.
Then—
"...not there..."
A pause.
"...oh, yeah..."
Jax covered his mouth to keep from laughing.
Yeah.
That tracked. Reliving last night.
Lexi shifted beside him.
Her lips brushed against his chest.
Then she kissed him.
Still asleep.
Jax looked down at her.
"You're adorable."
Lexi smiled in her sleep.
The bird sang again.
Jax settled back against the pillow.
This wasn't bad.
Warm cottage.
Beautiful lake.
Two beautiful women curled around him.
Morning sunlight beginning to creep across the room.
Bird singing outside.
Peaceful.
The bird sang again.
And again.
And again.
Ten minutes passed.
The bird continued.
Jax stared at the ceiling.
He's persistent.
Another series of chirps erupted outside.
Pixelle shifted.
Jax remained still.
The bird started again.
Twenty minutes later, Jax was no longer rooting for him.
She's not interested, buddy.
Another chirp.
Take the hint.
The bird responded with what sounded suspiciously like an even louder song.
Jax narrowed his eyes toward the window.
"Dante eats meat."
Pixelle stirred.
Jax immediately went silent.
She settled again.
The bird continued.
Jax stared toward the window.
Keep pushing me.
Eventually, nearly an hour later, Jax accepted that the bird possessed either extraordinary determination or absolutely no understanding of rejection.
He carefully untangled himself.
Pixelle made a small protesting sound when his chest disappeared beneath her.
Jax repositioned her against Lexi.
Pixelle immediately wrapped herself around her oldest friend instead.
Lexi responded without waking.
Within seconds, the two fairies were curled together beneath the sheets.
Jax smiled.
The bird chirped.
His smile disappeared.
"You're on borrowed time."
He headed for the kitchen.
The smell of breakfast eventually accomplished what Jax couldn't.
Pixelle appeared first.
Bare feet.
Disheveled pink hair.
Wings hanging slightly lower than usual.
She wore Jax's shorts and absolutely nothing else.
She stopped in the doorway.
French toast covered one plate.
Fresh fruit another.
Sugar and syrup sat nearby.
Jax stood over the stove.
He had apparently decided clothing was unnecessary.
Pixelle stared.
Then smiled.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
Lexi appeared behind her a moment later.
She had found one of Jax's shirts.
On her new body, it covered considerably less than she'd probably intended.
She stopped beside Pixelle.
Then stared at Jax.
Jax glanced down at himself.
Then back at them.
"Do you want me to put something on?"
Pixelle looked at Lexi.
Lexi looked at Pixelle.
Pixelle removed the shorts.
Lexi blinked.
Then pulled off the shirt.
Pixelle lifted her chin.
"No."
Lexi smiled.
"I agree."
Pixelle nodded decisively.
"New rule."
Jax turned another piece of French toast.
"I'm already concerned."
"No clothing for the remainder of the honeymoon."
Jax considered the proposal.
"I love democracy."
"We're a monarchy."
Jax stopped.
He looked over his shoulder.
"Right."
Pixelle smiled.
"Still getting used to that?"
"Very much."
Lexi stepped closer to inspect breakfast.
"Does the King have to follow the Queen's rules?"
Pixelle answered immediately.
"Yes."
Jax placed another piece of French toast onto the plate.
"We're definitely discussing constitutional limits when we get home."
Pixelle stole a strawberry.
"No, we're not."
The next two days developed their own rhythm.
Breakfast occasionally became lunch.
Lunch occasionally disappeared entirely.
They swam in the lake.
Talked on the shore.
Slept when they wanted.
Ate when they remembered.
Laughed constantly.
And discovered that Naked Days had a remarkable tendency to make otherwise innocent activities considerably less innocent.
Conversations were interrupted.
Frequently.
Sometimes by laughter.
Sometimes by kisses.
Sometimes by something that caused the conversation to be forgotten entirely.
But eventually—
They always found their way back.
One afternoon, the three sat near the lake.
Pixelle rested between Jax's legs, leaning back against his chest.
Lexi lay beside them on a blanket, watching the enormous branches of the World Tree in the distance.
For a while, nobody spoke.
Then Pixelle did.
"My people have never really had this."
Jax looked down at her.
"Had what?"
She gestured toward the horizon.
"A home."
Jax waited.
Pixelle's expression changed.
The playful Queen disappeared.
"We've had villages. Settlements. Places we've stayed for years. Sometimes decades."
She looked toward the World Tree.
"But fairies follow magic."
Lexi nodded.
"When the magic changes, we move."
"When it fades," Pixelle continued, "we follow it somewhere else."
Jax frowned.
"Your entire kingdom?"
"Not always together. Sometimes communities separate. Sometimes they find each other again generations later."
Lexi rolled onto her side.
"It's been that way longer than either of us has been alive."
Pixelle nodded.
"Longer than anyone remembers."
Jax looked toward the distant tree.
"World Trees should solve that."
"They should."
Something in Pixelle's voice caught his attention.
"But?"
She was quiet for several seconds.
"They rarely survive."
Jax's expression hardened.
"Why?"
"The Empire."
Pixelle drew her knees closer.
"When a World Tree appeared near Imperial territory, armies would eventually come."
"For the resources?" Jax asked.
"Wood. Leaves. Sap. Anything containing enough magic to be valuable."
Lexi's expression darkened.
"They used to harvest some of them more carefully. At least according to the older stories."
Pixelle nodded.
"But that changed."
"Why destroy something that produces resources?" Jax asked. "That's stupid."
"Because they didn't need the tree," Lexi said. "They wanted what it contained."
"And the magic around a World Tree changes the land," Pixelle added. "Creatures thrive. Magical races thrive."
"Beastkin," Jax said.
Pixelle nodded.
"Fairies."
Jax stared at the distant branches.
"So they took everything they could and destroyed the source."
"Especially over the last couple hundred years," Pixelle said. "If another World Tree appeared somewhere the Empire could reach, everyone knew what would eventually happen."
Jax was silent.
Then shrugged.
"Well, that's changing."
Pixelle turned slightly in his arms.
"Jax—"
"Nobody is destroying this tree."
He pointed toward it.
"Nobody."
Pixelle watched him.
Jax's attention remained on the horizon.
"And nobody is destroying the next one we decide to grow."
Silence.
Pixelle slowly turned all the way around.
Lexi sat up.
"The next one?"
Jax looked between them.
"We have a World Seed."
Pixelle stared at him.
"I know."
"Seems pretty useless sitting in my storage forever."
Pixelle's expression changed.
Not excitement.
Not yet.
Something more cautious.
Hope.
Jax looked back toward the World Tree.
"I like what you're building here."
"Our people are building," Pixelle corrected.
Jax smiled.
"Even better."
He looked around them.
"They deserve this."
Pixelle leaned against him again.
"Why do you care so much?"
Jax didn't hesitate.
"Because everyone deserves somewhere they can call home."
Lexi smiled.
Then shook her head slightly.
"Not everyone wants one."
Jax looked at her.
"There are fairies who love traveling," she explained. "Their families have wandered for generations. New places. New magic. New people."
"Then let them."
Lexi smiled.
"That's what I thought you'd say."
"Why would I stop them?"
"You wouldn't."
She looked toward the World Tree.
"But most of us?"
Her smile faded.
"I think most fairies would like somewhere they didn't have to leave."
Pixelle nodded.
"Somewhere permanent."
Lexi thought for a moment.
"Somewhere we could leave because we wanted to."
Pixelle finished the thought.
"And know it would still be there when we came back."
Jax looked between them.
"Then that's what we build."
Pixelle smiled.
"Our home."
Lexi glanced at Jax.
Then gently corrected him.
"Our people too, my King."
That landed differently.
Jax looked at her.
Lexi didn't look away.
"The Fairy Kingdom isn't just Pixelle's responsibility anymore."
Jax exhaled.
"Yeah."
King.
The title was funny when Pixelle used it in bed.
It was considerably heavier here.
Fifty thousand people.
Families.
Children.
Homes.
A people who had spent generations moving because the world wouldn't let them stay.
Jax looked toward the World Tree again.
The United Kingdoms.
The Fairy Kingdom.
Two growing powers.
Different people.
Different needs.
Different futures.
And somehow—
Both now pointed toward him.
"There has to be a way to build both," he said.
Pixelle took his hand.
"There is."
Jax looked at her.
She smiled.
"You'll find it."
Jax shook his head.
"We'll find it."
Pixelle's smile grew.
Lexi watched him quietly.
Something about the conversation had taken her somewhere else.
Jax noticed.
"You okay?"
Lexi blinked.
"Yes."
"That wasn't convincing."
Pixelle looked toward her.
Lexi sighed.
"I was thinking about home."
"Which one?" Pixelle asked.
Lexi smiled faintly.
"An old one."
Later that evening, Pixelle was stretched across the bed.
Whether she was sleeping or merely pretending became increasingly questionable.
Lexi sat beside Jax near the open window.
The bird was still singing.
Jax glanced outside.
"Unbelievable."
Lexi laughed.
"You really hate that bird."
"I supported him the other morning."
"What changed?"
"Results."
Lexi laughed again.
Then grew quiet.
Jax noticed.
"So."
Lexi looked at him.
"I was engaged."
His eyes widened.
Pixelle's voice came from the bed.
"Five years."
Lexi turned.
"I thought you were asleep."
"I was."
"Then how did you hear me?"
Pixelle opened one eye.
"Queen."
Jax nodded.
"Apparently that explains everything now."
"It does."
Lexi sighed.
Then looked back toward Jax.
"Yes. I was engaged."
"Long time ago?"
"Almost fifty years."
Jax blinked.
Sometimes it was easy to forget.
Pixelle and Lexi looked like women in their twenties.
They acted like women in their twenties often enough.
But fairies lived very different lives.
"Was he a fairy?"
Lexi nodded.
"We grew up near each other. Our families knew each other."
She smiled.
"I loved him."
Jax waited.
Lexi looked mildly surprised.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You expected me to say something."
"I suppose."
"What am I supposed to say?"
Lexi shrugged.
"Most husbands probably wouldn't enjoy hearing their wife talk fondly about another man."
Jax considered that.
"What did you love about him?"
That was an excellent question that she had to think about.
"I suppose it was the way he made me feel special."
"Then why would I want you to lie about it?"
Lexi stared at him.
Jax shrugged.
"He's an important part of your early life."
A small smile appeared.
"He was."
"Then tell me about him."
Lexi looked down at her hands.
"We were happy."
She paused.
"For most of it."
Pixelle remained silent now.
"We thought our lives were already decided. We would marry. Have a family eventually. Grow old together."
Jax smiled.
"Sounds reasonable."
"It was."
Lexi's fingers intertwined.
"But people change."
Jax nodded.
"He started wanting different things."
"Like?"
"A traditional home. A traditional wife."
She smiled without humor.
"Very traditional."
Jax waited.
"He wanted me home. He wanted me to stop involving myself in so many things. He thought I spent too much time with Pixelle."
From the bed, Pixelle sat up, more animated now as memories came back.
"He wanted me to be something I'm not," Lexi continued.
"He wanted you to be his property."
Lexi looked at Pixelle who, no longer was pretending to sleep.
"Is this my story, or yours?"
Pixelle looked mock offended.
Lexi rolled her eyes.
Then went on.
"He wanted me to stop traveling with her. Stop helping with her projects. Eventually he wanted me to stop seeing her nearly as much."
Pixelle sat up.
"I never liked that part."
"I know."
Lexi looked toward Jax.
"He wasn't cruel."
Jax nodded.
"He wasn't a bad man."
"I didn't say he was."
"I know."
She smiled.
"I just don't want you thinking that."
"I don't."
Lexi relaxed slightly.
"He knew what he wanted."
"So did you."
"Eventually."
That made Jax smile.
Lexi looked toward the window.
"We spent five years together. I'm not going to pretend those years were terrible just because we didn't marry."
She paused.
"We were happy for most of them."
Then quieter:
"We just weren't happy by the end."
Jax nodded.
"He wanted a wife who would build her life around him."
"Nothing wrong with wanting that."
Lexi looked at him.
Jax continued.
"As long as the woman wants that life too."
Lexi went still.
Pixelle watched from the bed.
"No," Lexi said quietly. "There isn't."
She smiled.
"I didn't."
"Still don't?"
Lexi laughed.
"Definitely not. Why would I want my life built around him now?"
"I meant me."
She thought about it.
"I'm more open to that now. With you, I feel differently. But I still want to be me, and have my own life, and not live it through yours."
Jax nodded and smiled.
"Because I'm probably terrible at providing a quiet life," she added.
Pixelle laughed.
Lexi leaned against him.
"That isn't the only thing."
Jax waited.
Lexi hesitated.
"I started realizing things about myself around then."
"What kind of things?"
She glanced toward Pixelle.
Pixelle's eyebrow rose.
Then Lexi looked back at Jax.
"Women."
Jax nodded.
"What about them?"
Lexi stared.
"I liked them."
"Okay."
"Not just as friends."
"Yeah. I got that part after how close you and Nyxian got."
Lexi waited.
Jax waited.
"That's it?"
"What else is there?"
"My fiancé didn't think it was appropriate."
Jax frowned.
"Did you cheat on him?"
"No."
"Then I'm still waiting for the problem."
Lexi stared at him.
"I was engaged to him."
"Okay."
"And attracted to women."
"Yes."
"And that doesn't bother you?"
Jax glanced toward Pixelle.
Then back to Lexi.
"Considering the last two days, I feel like objecting now would be a little hypocritical."
Pixelle burst out laughing.
Lexi tried not to.
Failed.
"He thought even having those thoughts was insulting to him," Lexi said.
Jax shrugged.
"You don't control who you find attractive."
Lexi watched him.
"And if I wanted to be with a woman?"
"Now?"
She nodded.
Jax glanced toward Pixelle again.
Pixelle immediately sat straighter.
Jax laughed.
"Again, I think we've crossed that bridge."
Lexi smiled.
"But you wouldn't care?"
"I'd care who."
That caught her.
Jax continued.
"At least when it's another woman, I know that I can't compete."
Lexi blinked.
Pixelle started smiling.
Jax looked between them.
"I'm hoping that compared to a three-inch fairy, I'm of adequate size to compete with him."
"If I had fallen for a frost giant, you would still compete," Lexi laughed.
"But you have no problems if I give my heart equally to other women."
Jax frowned.
"You're not my property. As long as I have a place in your heart too, I am fine with that."
Lexi stared at him.
"I'd expect that other men would be off the table for you."
He shrugged.
"Other men are different. Other men say I'm not doing something either physically or emotionally to satisfy you. Women I can't compete against. I don't have the proper assets."
Lexi didn't answer.
Jax looked toward Pixelle.
"Besides, I don't mind watching if you allow it with other women."
Pixelle considered that.
"Fair. You are a typical male."
Lexi laughed.
Then kissed his shoulder.
"You're strange."
"So I've been told."
"No."
She shook her head.
"Free and confident."
Jax looked at her.
Lexi smiled.
"With you, I can be free."
That one silenced him.
Lexi rested her head against him.
"I loved him."
Jax wrapped an arm around her.
"And I don't regret loving him."
"You shouldn't."
"But I couldn't become the woman he needed."
Jax looked down at her.
"Then it's probably good you didn't."
Lexi nodded.
"He deserved someone who wanted that life."
"And you deserved the one you wanted."
She looked up at him.
A smile slowly appeared.
"I think I found it."
Jax kissed her forehead.
From the bed, Pixelle sighed dramatically.
"That was disgustingly sweet."
Lexi crawled across the bed.
"Apparently that means you accept me too."
Pixelle barely had time to protest before Lexi kissed her.
The protest ended immediately.
Jax watched.
"Still not seeing the problem."
The conversation returned later.
As conversations during Naked Days tended to do.
Usually after being interrupted several times.
Lexi lay between Jax and Pixelle.
Her fingers traced absent patterns against the sheets.
"I've been thinking about what happens when we go back."
Jax looked at her.
"The businesses?"
"Everything."
Lexi sat up.
"I know we've talked about what I can do."
"Grand Administrator."
She smiled.
"I like hearing you say that."
"Grand Administrator."
"Don't ruin it."
Jax laughed.
Lexi's smile faded into something more serious.
"Llandra fights beside you. Bunny fights. Zee heals. Nyxian fights. Pixelle can command armies if she needs to."
Pixelle looked toward her.
Lexi continued.
"I don't want to stand behind you in battle."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"I'd prefer you didn't."
Lexi smiled.
"Good."
"But?"
"I want you to understand that I'm not trying to become them."
Jax's expression changed.
"Lexi."
She met his eyes.
"I can organize."
"I know."
"I can negotiate."
"I know."
"I can manage people. Contracts. Inventory. Trade routes. Production."
"I know."
"I see problems before other people realize they're problems."
Jax smiled.
"I definitely know. You have been doing that for years with Pixelle," he joked, giving Pixelle a playful jab.
Lexi laughed.
"I want to matter."
Jax stared at her.
Then laughed once.
Not mockingly.
Almost in disbelief.
"Lexi."
"What?"
"I can kill monsters."
She smiled.
"I've noticed."
"I can clear dungeons. Win fights. Protect people."
He pointed toward her.
"You can make everything we're building actually work."
Lexi's smile disappeared.
"That's not less important."
Jax shook his head.
"It's probably more important, or at worst just as important."
Lexi stared at him.
"Jax—"
"I'm serious."
He sat up.
"I have ideas constantly."
Pixelle nodded.
"Constantly."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Jax continued.
"I see something and think of five ways to change it. Then I see something else and think of another ten."
Lexi smiled.
"That sounds exhausting."
"It is."
He pointed at her.
"You can take those ideas and turn them into something that works when I'm not standing there."
Lexi went very still.
"You can build procedures. Keep track of people. Find problems. Make businesses run."
He shook his head.
"I don't need another Llandra."
Pixelle listened quietly.
"I don't need another Bunny."
Jax took Lexi's hand.
"I don't need another version of them."
He squeezed gently.
"I need you."
Lexi's eyes glistened.
She looked away.
Jax waited.
For a woman who always seemed to have an answer—
Lexi had none.
Finally, she laughed softly.
"You have no idea what you just said to me."
"Pretty sure I do."
"No."
She looked back at him.
"You really don't."
Jax smiled.
"Then tell me later."
Lexi nodded.
Jax leaned back.
"So."
"So?"
"Will you help me run my empire?"
Lexi stared.
Pixelle stared.
Jax realized what he'd said.
"Business empire."
Lexi's smile returned.
"Your empire?"
"Businesses."
"Right."
"Warehouses. Trade. Manufacturing. Whatever else we build."
"Kingdoms?"
Jax frowned.
"Don't start."
Pixelle smiled.
Lexi laughed.
Then her expression became serious again.
"If Her Majesty allows it…"
Pixelle rolled her eyes.
"Stop."
Lexi looked at her.
Pixelle smiled.
"I can't think of anyone better."
Lexi froze.
"Really?"
"You've been organizing my life since before I became Queen."
"I have not."
Pixelle stared at her.
Lexi reconsidered.
"Fine."
"You're bossy."
"I am efficient."
"Bossy."
"Efficient."
Pixelle smiled.
"Now it's official."
Lexi laughed.
Then leaned forward and kissed her.
No hesitation this time.
No surprise afterward.
Pixelle kissed her back.
When they separated, Lexi looked toward Jax.
Then moved to him.
She wrapped both arms around his neck.
"Yes."
Jax smiled.
"Yes?"
"I'll help you run your empire."
"Business empire."
"Of course, my King."
Jax sighed.
Lexi kissed him.
"Thank you."
Another kiss.
"My King."
Another.
Jax stopped arguing.
Some battles simply weren't worth fighting.
By evening, the three of them had returned to the small table overlooking the lake.
Clothing remained prohibited.
The rule had proven surprisingly popular.
Dinner had been simple.
Steak.
Potatoes.
Fresh vegetables.
And an appetizer Jax had prepared while Pixelle and Lexi relaxed near the water.
Pixelle picked up the last small piece.
She bit into it.
Chewed thoughtfully.
Then nodded.
"That was good."
Lexi reached for another.
There wasn't one.
"Small," Pixelle continued. "But good."
She looked at Jax.
"What was it?"
Jax took a drink.
His expression didn't change.
"The annoying bird outside our cabin."
Silence.
Lexi slowly stopped chewing.
Pixelle stared at him.
From somewhere in the trees—
Nothing sang.
Pixelle looked toward the forest.
Then back at Jax.
"You didn't."
Jax took another drink.
Lexi stared at the empty plate.
Then toward the silent trees.
Then back at him.
"Jax?"
His expression remained perfectly neutral.
Pixelle narrowed her eyes.
"Are you joking?"
Jax reached for his potato.
"I supported him at first."
Lexi's mouth fell open.
Pixelle stared at him for another three seconds.
Then burst out laughing.
Lexi followed.
Jax smiled.
And somewhere beyond the cottage—
The evening remained wonderfully quiet.