Chapter 187: Meryn's End
May 19
After Jacob left, Cersei's legs gave out. She stumbled to a chair and sank into it, lost in thought.
Qyburn hesitated, then ran to the door. He looked out into the corridor. The guards lay scattered on the floor, unconscious but alive. He hurried back inside.
"He's gone, Your Grace," Qyburn said. "Should I tell the White Cloaks to search for him?"
Cersei shook her head slowly. "No."
She looked at Grand Maester Pycelle and Mace Tyrell with disgust. The two old men were still sitting on the floor, trembling.
"Lord Tyrell," she said coldly, "I will arrange a new guard to escort you to Braavos. Now leave us. You too, Grand Maester. Leave us."
The two old men scrambled to their feet and fled the chamber.
The heavy oak doors clicked shut, leaving the room in cold silence. Cersei's green eyes fixed on Qyburn.
"I don't know how that man knew," she hissed, her voice a sharp whisper, "but Jaime already went to Dorne to rescue Myrcella. Now that whore Ellaria Sand will kill him and my daughter."
Qyburn tucked his hands into his sleeves. "What do you think we should do, Your Grace?"
Cersei leaned close, her voice a sharp whisper. "We cannot send an army to Dorne. That would trigger an unwinnable war—one we are not prepared to fight. So we take away what she cares about most. Her biological daughter, Tyene. I want her in chains."
Qyburn nodded slowly. "Capturing her will require local sellswords who know the terrain."
"I do not care about the cost. I have gold." Cersei's voice was iron. "Hire the sellswords. But remember—Tyene must be taken alive and brought to me as soon as possible."
She glanced at the window. "The moment she is in our custody, I will tell Ellaria that if Jaime is hurt, or if Myrcella so much as coughs, I will turn her precious daughter over to Gregor Clegane." She turned back to Qyburn. "Now go. Do it quietly."
Qyburn offered a small bow. "Do not worry, Your Grace. I will not let you down. By the time Ellaria realizes her daughter is missing, she will be crossing the Blackwater."
Cersei nodded. "Also, help me find out who that man who took Ser Meryn is."
Qyburn asked, "Do you know that man's wife, Your Grace?"
Cersei's jaw clenched. "The little bitch Sansa Stark. She is the only one I can think of who knows my children and was beaten and humiliated by Ser Meryn."
Qyburn nodded. "I will do my best to find out who he is, Your Grace."
"Also," Cersei added, "call Baelish back. He was tasked with finding Sansa, but I haven't heard from him in a while. And speed up your experiment. I want Gregor Clegane at my side, protecting me, as soon as possible."
Qyburn offered another small bow and left.
Cersei sat alone in the council chamber, her gaze fixed on the bloodstains spread across the floor, lost in thought.
---
Moat Cailin — Night
Jacob appeared in front of the capsule house.
The three lizard-lions raised their heads, saw him, and lowered them again. Bowser let out a sleepy hiss that might have been a greeting.
The lights were on inside the house. Through the window, Jacob could see the glow of the television.
Sansa felt him through their bond before she saw him. She came running out of the house, her red hair flying behind her, wearing his sweatpants and hoodie.
She jumped into his arms.
Jacob caught her with a grin. "Did you miss me?"
Sansa smiled. "Yes, I did." She kissed him deeply.
When they separated, she asked, "Where did you go?"
"King's Landing."
Her eyes widened. "King's Landing? You went there and came back in just a few hours?"
Jacob nodded. "Yes." He pointed at the unconscious figure lying on the ground a few meters away. "I brought you a gift."
Sansa looked at the man and recognized him. "That's…"
Meryn Trant lay face-down in the mud, still unconscious, what was left of his armor stained with dirt and blood.
Arya and Brienne came out of the house. Arya's hand went to her dagger.
"That's Meryn Trant," Arya said, her voice cold.
Jacob nodded. "He's all yours, girls."
He sent a small spark of electricity from his fingertip into Meryn's body. The knight jerked awake.
Meryn groaned and raised a hand to shield his eyes from the porch light. Then he saw Jacob standing over him.
He screamed in terror.
"Please!" Meryn Trant scrambled backward, his hands slipping in the mud. "Please, just kill me! Please!"
Arya smiled. "Jacob, what did you do to him?"
Jacob shrugged. "I might have beaten him half to death and healed him a few times."
Sansa stood in front of Meryn, her voice cold with anger. "Do you remember me?"
But Meryn didn't hear her. He was curled in a ball, rocking back and forth, repeating the same words over and over. "Please, just kill me… please, just kill me…"
Sansa looked at Jacob. "It seems like you broke him."
Jacob sighed. "Sorry about that. Let me fix him."
He walked to Meryn, crouched down, and grabbed his chin, forcing the man to look into his eyes. His own eyes glowed red. He activated his Compulsion ability.
"Forget that we met before," Jacob commanded. "Forget that I beat you. Forget everything that happened to you today."
Meryn Trant's eyes glazed over. When Jacob released him, the terror in his face faded. He blinked and looked around, confused.
"Where am I?" he muttered.
Then he saw Sansa. His brow furrowed.
"You're the Stark girl," he said.
Sansa's voice was cold. "Yes, I am. I'm glad you remember me."
Meryn Trant looked around at the ruined fortress, at the strange house, at the three massive lizard-lions sleeping in the shadows. "Where is this? How did I get here?"
Sansa ignored his questions. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that you're going to pay for what you did to me." She looked at Arya. "You said he's on your list."
Arya nodded. "He murdered my teacher and friend. Syrio Forel."
Sansa's voice was cold. "Then go ahead. Kill him. But make it slow. I want him to suffer. I want him to be humiliated. And I want him to beg for a merciful death."
Arya smirked. She went inside the house and returned with her sword, Needle.
She looked at Podrick, who had come out of his tent when he heard the commotion. "Podrick, give him one of the swords left behind by the dead Bolton men."
Podrick went to a corner near the capsule house, retrieved a sword, and tossed it toward Meryn.
The blade landed in the mud beside him.
Arya pointed Needle at him. "Pick up the sword and fight."
Meryn Trant didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed the sword and scrambled to his feet. His eyes darted from Arya to Jacob to Sansa to Brienne to Podrick—then dismissed them all and locked onto Brienne. In his mind, she was the only real threat.
He was wrong.
Arya attacked.
She used the water-dancing moves she had learned from Syrio, toying with Meryn.
She moved like water. Her blade flickered and flashed, and Meryn Trant could barely follow it. He swung wildly, desperately, but Arya was always somewhere else—behind him, to the side, above him.
She stabbed him in the arm. He screamed.
She stabbed him in the thigh. He stumbled.
She poked out his left eye. He howled and dropped his sword, clawing at his face.
Her blade sliced through the tendons in his wrists. His hands went limp. He fell to his knees, begging for mercy.
"Please," he begged, blood streaming from his eye socket. "Please, have mercy. I beg you."
He received no mercy from her.
Arya slashed his chest. His cheek. She stabbed his stomach, his shoulder, and his hip. Not deep enough to kill. Deep enough to hurt.
Meryn Trant sobbed. "Please... please..."
Arya didn't stop; she kept slashing and stabbing with her thin sword, methodical and precise.
Sansa watched until Meryn was choking on his own blood, unable even to beg anymore. She was satisfied. "That's enough, Arya. Put him out of his misery."
Arya drove Needle through his heart.
Meryn Trant's eyes went wide. He gasped once, twice, then slumped forward into the mud.
Jacob waved his hand. A fire serpent burst from his palm and consumed the body. When it faded, nothing remained but ash.
"Alright," Jacob said, clapping his hands together. "Let's go inside. I'm hungry."
Brienne inclined her head. "I will stay outside with Podrick and keep watch, Your Grace." She met Jacob's eyes. "And thank you again for making me strong."
Jacob nodded. "You're welcome."
He went inside with Arya and Sansa.
They ate dinner. Then they watched the movie Brave.
"Is that a bear?" Sansa asked, pointing at the screen.
"That's a bear," Jacob confirmed.
"I thought you said this was about a princess."
"It is. She turns her mom into a bear later."
When the movie ended, Arya went to her room. Jacob and Sansa went to his.
They lay on the bed. Sansa rested her head on his chest, and he ran his fingers through her hair.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For bringing that bastard to me."
Jacob continued stroking her hair. "You're welcome."
Sansa asked, "Did you meet Cersei?"
Jacob nodded. "Yeah. But it's not time to kill her yet. Killing her now would be boring. I still need her to raise an army we can have fun with."
Sansa smiled. "Did you tell her who you are?"
"I didn't tell her my name. But she knows I'm your husband." He chuckled. "She also saw me brutally beat Meryn and heal him multiple times. She's terrified of me."
"Did you do anything else in King's Landing?"
"I walked around the city," Jacob wrinkled his nose. "It stinks."
Sansa laughed. "Yes, it does."
Jacob continued. "I took the skull of Balerion the Black Dread and a few other dragon skulls. I'm going to put them in the garden in front of the palace in Serendell." He paused. "I also sneaked into the Royal Treasury."
Sansa sat up slightly. "How much gold did you take?"
Jacob snorted. "Not a single coin. The treasury was empty. The Crown has a debt of six million gold dragons."
Sansa lay back down. "If you take over as the new king of the Seven Kingdoms, you'll have to pay that debt."
"Why should I?"
"The motto of the Iron Bank of Braavos is: 'The Iron Bank will have its due.' They'll send armies after you. They'll fund your enemies."
Jacob smiled. "I really hope they're stupid enough to do that. I was in Braavos a few days ago, but the thought of robbing the Iron Bank never crossed my mind because they weren't my enemies. But if they attack me—or even threaten me—I will take everything they have. Every single coin."
Sansa smiled. "You probably can't wait for them to attack you, right? With how strong you are, they'll just be delivering wealth to you."
"That's right."
They talked for a while longer—about the Iron Bank, about the Lannisters, about the dragon skulls Jacob had stolen. Then Jacob's expression softened.
"I'll be going home tomorrow," he said.
Sansa's hand tightened on his chest. "How long will you be gone?"
"A day. Then I'll come back and take you to meet Allison and the others."
Sansa nodded. "Okay."
She was quiet for a moment. Then she climbed on top of him, straddling his waist, and kissed him.
"Then we should consummate our marriage," she said, her cheeks flushed.
Jacob's hands settled on her waist. "If that's what you want, I'll gladly do it."
Sansa nodded, shy but certain. "Yes. T-that's what I want."
Jacob created an energy shield around the room to keep the sounds from escaping. He didn't say anything else. He captured her lips in a kiss and gently flipped her beneath him.
Soon, their clothes were gone. They made love for hours—sometimes slow and tender, sometimes urgent and passionate—until Sansa could not continue. Exhausted and satisfied, she fell asleep in his arms, a peaceful smile on her face.
Jacob held her close, pressed a kiss to her forehead, dismissed the system notification without looking at it, and let sleep take him as well.
Chapter 188: Sansa's Bloodline
May 21
Jacob woke the next morning to find Sansa still asleep in his arms, her red hair spread across his chest like fire, her breathing slow and peaceful. He kissed her forehead gently, then turned his attention inward and finally checked the rewards he had received for consummating the bond.
A system window materialized in his vision.
[Congratulations, Host. You have consummated your bond with Sansa Stark. Your strength will now begin to grow faster than before, and you may grant Sansa abilities and bloodlines rewarded by the system.]
[Rewards for consummating the bond with Sansa Stark:
1️⃣ Aerokinesis: The ability to generate, shape, and manipulate air and wind currents.
2️⃣ Enchanted Undergarments: Self-cleaning underwear for men and women (shirts, shorts, leggings, tank tops, etc.) that automatically shift with the wearer between human and beast forms.
3️⃣ Nightmare Horses Summoning Scroll (Dungeons & Dragons): A scroll that summons a herd of forty powerful, pitch-black Nightmare horses (males, females, and babies). They breathe fire, their hooves blaze with heat that can melt steel, their manes transform into roaring flames, and they can fly by galloping through the air with fiery hoofprints trailing behind. Riders gain complete immunity to all fire damage while mounted. The herd is loyal to you and anyone who shares your soul bond.]
Jacob read the first reward. 'Now I've completed the four basic elements—water, fire, earth, and wind,' he thought. 'But there are still other elements—wood, space, darkness, and so on. I hope I get them all.'
He read the second reward and nodded approvingly. 'That's a good reward. I don't care when I shift and destroy my clothes, but I don't want my wives to be seen naked. Especially Malia—she doesn't care that much. When she shifts into her giant coyote form, if I hadn't stopped her, she would shift back to her naked human form in front of Stiles and the others. With these clothes, I don't have to worry that any man other than me will see her naked.'
He read the last reward and grinned. 'Nice. Those horses are cool. I'll summon them when I go back home.'
He addressed the system. 'System, show me what kind of bloodlines Sansa can receive.'
[Please select one of the following Bloodlines for your mate:
1️⃣ True Alpha Werewolf (Teen Wolf)
- Abilities: Standard werewolf abilities. Strength grows with willpower.
2️⃣ Iceman's X-Gene (Marvel)
- Abilities: An Omega-level X-gene that grants complete thermodynamic manipulation, allowing the user to drop their internal and external body temperature below zero and freeze any surrounding moisture instantly. The user can convert their entire body into organic, translucent ice, becoming highly durable and able to reform if shattered. They can build complex cryokinetic constructs from frozen moisture—ice slides for travel, shields for defense, and projectile spikes for offense. At advanced levels, the user can absorb heat energy from environments or objects to freeze them at an atomic level.
3️⃣ Phoenix
- Lifespan: Ageless and long-lived.
- Primary Affinity: Fire element.
- Abilities: Pyrokinesis, Telekinesis, Teleportation, Fire Immunity, Healing and Purification flame (can heal others and neutralize dark magic, curses, and other harmful effects), grows stronger through fighting and near-death experiences, extremely powerful Healing Factor, shifting into a Phoenix.]
Jacob read all three bloodlines carefully.
'Although the Starks call themselves wolves, the werewolf bloodline is garbage compared to the others,' he thought. 'Iceman's Omega-level X-gene is good, but the obvious choice here is a Phoenix. There's no doubt about it—it's one of the strongest creatures in mythology.'
He looked down at Sansa, still nestled against his chest. "Hey, Sansa. Wake up."
Sansa stirred, rubbed her eyes, and looked up at him with a shy smile. "Good morning, husband."
Jacob captured her lips in a kiss.
That kiss led to another, and another, and soon he forgot about bloodlines entirely. They made love for two hours before finally dragging themselves to the bathroom for a shower.
After they dressed, they sat on the bed, and Jacob pulled out a feast from his pocket dimension—pancakes, bacon, fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee. They ate together, trading lazy smiles.
Jacob spoke between bites. "It's time to make you a supernatural creature like me by giving you a bloodline. There are three options. I'll tell you about them, and you choose one."
Sansa took a bite of a brownie, her expression curious. "Okay."
Jacob described each bloodline in detail—the werewolf, Iceman's X-Gene, and the Phoenix.
Sansa looked at him in confusion. "I don't understand these things. You choose the best one for me."
Jacob nodded. "That would be the Phoenix bloodline. It's a legendary creature compared to a dragon."
Sansa smiled. "Okay. How are you going to give it to me?"
"Let's finish breakfast first."
---
After they ate, Jacob said, "Turn around."
Sansa gave him her back. He placed his hand between her shoulder blades.
'System, merge the Phoenix bloodline into Sansa's body.'
[Are you sure, Host?]
'Yes.'
A surge of raw, fiery energy passed from Jacob's palm into Sansa's spine. Her body grew instantly warm, then hot—as if every cell was igniting at once as the ancient power wove itself into her very essence.
After five minutes, a new prompt appeared in Jacob's vision.
[You may remove your hand now, Host. The transformation will take approximately one hour to complete.]
Jacob withdrew his hand and watched her closely. Her eyes were closed, her expression peaceful. No pain. Only calm.
Satisfied, he let her finish the transformation.
Jacob turned back to the system. 'System, merge the Aerokinesis ability into my body.'
[Are you sure, Host?]
'Yes.'
A faint flicker of warm energy spread through his body and faded quickly.
[Ability has been successfully merged.]
He waved his hand, and a gust of wind blew through the room. Then he raised his palm and focused. A sphere of cyan wind energy materialized above his palm, spinning fast. He shaped it into an arrow, then a sword, then let it dissipate.
He stored the leftover food back in his pocket dimension and lay down on the bed.
'I wonder what the girls are doing,' he thought. 'Although I've only been away from them for seven days, I miss them so much.'
He took out his phone and scrolled through photos of Allison, Lydia, Malia, and Melissa, a soft smile on his face.
---
An hour later, Sansa opened her eyes.
They glowed golden.
She jumped out of bed in excitement and was about to shift when Jacob said, "Wait. Let's go somewhere else. I don't want you burning the house down."
He hugged her and teleported them both to the grassy mountain they had stood on the day before.
Jacob let her go. "Alright. Now you can shift."
Sansa closed her eyes and focused.
Two enormous wings spread from her back—layered with crimson, gold, and fiery orange feathers. A moment later, hot flames erupted across them, dancing along every feather without burning her clothes.
She flapped her wings, looked at them with an excited smile, then turned to Jacob. "What do you think of my wings?"
Jacob smiled. "Beautiful. Just like you."
Sansa beamed. "I think I can turn into a bird."
"Do it. Let me see."
Sansa blushed. "Okay. But turn around. I want to take my clothes off."
Jacob smirked. "Why are you still shy? We've done a lot more than just see each other naked."
Sansa huffed. "I'm not as shameless as you."
Jacob shrugged. "Go ahead and take your clothes off. I'm not turning around."
Sansa sighed but still stripped down to her undergarments.
Jacob watched, then pulled out the enchanted underwear he had just received from his pocket dimension and explained, "From now on, wear these. They're self-cleaning, and they'll shift with you. They won't tear apart, so you don't have to worry about being naked when you shift back to human form."
Sansa took them, pulled on the leggings and shirt, and stored the rest in her ring. Then she shifted.
Jacob watched as she transformed into a majestic bird—crimson, gold, and fiery orange feathers covering a body three meters tall with a wingspan of seven meters. Then she ignited her entire body in flames.
Jacob whistled. "You look gorgeous. And you'll get bigger as you grow stronger." He pulled out his phone and took a picture.
Sansa's voice echoed in his head. [Jacob, I want to go fly for a bit.]
"Go ahead. I'll wait for you here."
The flames on Sansa's body vanished. She flapped her wings and launched into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
Jacob lay on his back in the grass and waited.
---
More than an hour later, Sansa suddenly appeared a few meters above Jacob in her human form—screaming.
Jacob shot to his feet and caught her in his arms. "What's wrong?"
Sansa clung to him, her heart racing. "That was scary! I turned back to human and tried my teleportation ability. I appeared high in the sky and started falling. I panicked and forgot about my wings." She took a shaky breath. "But luckily, I thought of you and used my teleportation again. I appeared right above you."
Jacob relaxed. "I thought something attacked you."
Sansa smiled sheepishly. "No, no. I just forgot about my wings and was scared of falling."
Jacob shook his head with a smile. "Then you'd better get used to your powers as soon as possible." He set her down. "Let me teach you how to use your fire element, telekinesis, and teleportation."
For the next four hours, Jacob trained her.
He taught her how to shape fire into weapons—swords, spears, whips. He taught her how to use telekinesis to lift rocks, to deflect incoming attacks, to pull objects toward her, and to fly. He taught her how to teleport with precision instead of panic.
And he sparred with her.
He didn't go easy. He knocked her down, sent her flying, and made her use every ounce of her strength and all of her abilities.
But every time she fell, she rose again.
Until finally, she lay on the ground—spent, trembling, unable to move another muscle.
Then a burst of flame erupted from her body, surrounding her completely. When it faded, she stood up—fully healed, full of energy.
She clenched her fists. "Although it's not that obvious, I feel a little stronger than before."
Jacob nodded. "That's because your kind grows stronger through fighting and near-death experiences."
Sansa smiled. "Then I'll have to spar with you more often."
She opened her palm. A small, perfect bird of fire curled in her hand—wings stretching, neck arching as if it were alive.
"You know," she said quietly, "my grandfather and uncle were burned alive by the Mad King. I wonder what they would do if they knew I can control fire and that I'm immune to it."
Jacob said, "Considering they died by fire, I'd guess they'd be terrified of you. They'd want to stay as far away from you as possible. They'd disown you. They'd make your father disown you. They'd call you a monster and a witch, then send the whole North after you to kill you. They'd call you the Bastard Witch of Winterfell. Sansa Snow."
Sansa sighed. "You're right. They would have looked at me controlling fire and walking through it without even my clothes being burnt, and all they would see is Aerys Targaryen—the Mad King." She closed her fist, and the fire bird vanished. "They would have seen a dangerous girl made of fire. A monster wearing Sansa Stark's face."
Jacob said, "We'll never know, because they're gone. But you should know that people will fear you when they see your powers. Then, when they understand that you won't hurt them, they will be jealous. And their fear and jealousy will turn into hatred. How will you feel about that?"
Sansa's voice was steady. "I've been weak and helpless since I left Winterfell. I had to pretend to be obedient to survive. I didn't dare show my emotions. I lived in constant fear." She met his eyes. "I don't ever want to feel like that again. So as long as you don't hate me, I don't care if the whole world hates me. They can hate me all they want. But if they dare attack me, I'll defend myself. And I won't mind burning them. I'm done being nice."
Jacob hugged her and kissed her. "I will never hate you. As for other people—if we end up ruling Westeros, we just need to use the carrot and the stick. We'll show them a better future where their children can live peacefully. We'll show them that we will protect them. And of course, we'll punish and kill anyone who deserves it. Some few idiots will still hate us and conspire against us no matter how good we are to everyone. But I'm sure most people will just be happy to live a better life and be part of our kingdom."
Sansa kissed him deeply. "Let's not talk about that stuff anymore." She kissed him again. "Thank you for giving me these powers." Another kiss. "Thank you for saving me from Littlefinger and the Boltons." Another kiss. "Thank you for appearing in my life." She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I... I love you, Jacob."
Jacob smiled. "I love you too, Sansa."
Sansa smiled back. "Are you still leaving today?"
Jacob nodded. "Yes."
"Then... let's go back. I still haven't had enough of you."
Before Jacob could say anything, she used her teleportation ability. They appeared back in the bedroom of the capsule house.
Without a word, she took off her clothes. She took off his. She pushed him onto the bed, climbed on top of him, and soon her soft moans filled the room as they began another love-making session.
---
A few hours later, they took a shower and dressed.
By the time they stepped outside, the sun was nearing the horizon. Arya was sparring with Brienne while Podrick watched.
Jacob fed the three lizard-lions, then pulled a table, chairs, and a feast from his pocket dimension. "Everyone," he called out, "let's eat."
Everyone sat down. Arya shoveled food into her mouth and asked, between bites, "Where have you two been all day?"
Sansa said, "We were sparring."
Arya raised an eyebrow. "Then why didn't you take me with you?"
Jacob smirked. "Because we were doing other things. Things kids like you shouldn't ask about."
Arya looked at Sansa's flushed cheeks and smiled knowingly. "Oh, I understand. Although I'm fourteen, I've seen and heard a lot of things on the road. I know more than you think. I used to pretend to be a boy because it was safer to travel that way. And let me tell you—men talk about a lot of nasty things."
Sansa's face burned. "Arya, shut up and eat your food."
Arya grinned. "Fine, fine." She focused on her plate.
---
After lunch, Arya asked, "So, should we head for Castle Black now?"
Jacob shook his head. "No. I want to go home first."
Arya frowned. "When are you coming back?"
"Tomorrow."
Arya nodded. "Okay. Don't be late."
Jacob smirked. "Are you going to miss me?"
Arya didn't hesitate. She didn't overthink. She just said what she felt.
"Yes. Life with you is fun. It feels like I'm back home—before everything bad happened. With you and Sansa, I feel like I have my family back."
Jacob's smirk softened into a genuine smile. "You are family to me too, Arya. Don't worry. I'll be back tomorrow at this time."
Sansa hugged her sister tightly and said nothing.
Jacob stood. "Alright. Time for me to go."
He rubbed Arya's head, then kissed Sansa. "If anything happens, contact me."
Sansa nodded. "Come back soon."
Jacob walked to the three lizard-lions. "Go gather a few females and come back here tomorrow. I'll take you to a better place to live."
The three lizard-lions stood on their hind legs, saluted him, then ran happily toward the swamps.
Jacob sighed. "Alright. Time to face the music."
He looked back at Sansa, Arya, Brienne, and Podrick. "See you tomorrow. Bye."
Then he disappeared.
---
Arya looked at Sansa. "Are you nervous? About meeting his other wives?"
Sansa pressed a hand to her stomach. "Yes. Very nervous."
Arya shrugged. "You'll be fine. You survived Joffrey and Cersei. A few wives should be easy."
Sansa let out a small, nervous laugh. "I hope you're right."
Brienne stepped closer. "Your Grace, if you wish, I can accompany you when you go to meet them."
Sansa shook her head. "No, this is something I need to do alone. Besides, even if I took you with me, what would you do? Protect me? You know they are very strong. Each one of them could snap you like a twig. They could probably kill you without even touching you."
Brienne shook her head. "No, no. I was just going to go with you for moral support. I'm not suicidal, Your Grace."
Sansa sighed. "Anyway, Jacob said they are very nice, and I trust him."
She looked up at the sky—at the clouds, at the setting sun.
'Jacob's family,' she thought. 'My new family. I hope they like me.'
Chapter 189: Back To Serendell – Part 1
May 23
Jacob appeared in front of the palace in Serendell.
He stood there for a moment, just breathing in the clean, fresh, magical air of his home. The familiar scent of blooming flowers filled his lungs.
He smiled.
"Home," he said softly. "Sweet home."
A loud roar echoed across the sky.
Jacob looked up. Saphira was diving toward him, her massive sapphire-blue scales glittering in the sunlight. She had grown even larger in his absence—twenty-five meters long now, with a wingspan of fifty-five meters. Her eyes, the color of the deep ocean, sparkled with joy.
She landed before him with surprising grace for a creature her size and lowered her giant head toward him.
Jacob reached out to touch Saphira's massive head. "Look at you. You've grown bigger." He scratched under her chin. "Did you miss me?"
Saphira's mature voice—elegant, with a British accent—sounded happily in his mind. [Yes, I did. I missed you very much.]
Jacob smiled. "I missed you too."
[Do you want to ride me for a little while?] Saphira asked. [You are going to spend a lot of time with Allison and the others and be too busy for me. Spend a little time with me first.]
Jacob chuckled. "Why not? I'm already in trouble with them anyway. Let's keep them waiting a little longer to scold me."
He climbed onto Saphira's back, and she launched into the sky. They flew around Serendell, circling the glittering lakes and lush forests, while Saphira asked him about the new world—the people, the creatures, the dangers. Jacob told her everything, and she listened with rapt attention, her tail swishing contentedly behind her.
---
Inside the Palace
Allison, Malia, Lydia, Melissa, and Kitty were in their private living room at the Royal residence, packed suitcases scattered around as they got ready for their trip to Europe.
The moment Jacob appeared in Serendell, they all felt his presence outside the palace.
Malia—who had been bored out of her mind listening to Lydia debate the best shopping districts in Paris—shot to her feet. Her eyes lit up. A smile spread across her face.
"He's back," she said.
She started for the door.
Lydia caught her hand and created a sound barrier around them.
Malia turned, her smile vanishing. "Lydia, what are you doing?"
Lydia crossed her arms. "I know you're happy he's back. I'm happy too. But let's give him the cold shoulder for a while. So he won't leave us behind again."
Malia frowned. "I don't want to do that. I want to hug him. I want to smell his scent."
Lydia said, "You can do that later. But first, let's teach him a lesson."
Malia shook her head. "No. I don't want to teach him any lessons. I just want him."
Lydia's eyes narrowed. "If you stay, you can be the first one to take him to your room."
Malia considered for a moment.
"Fine," she said, and sat back down.
Kitty raised a paw. "Can I go, though? I miss him so much."
Lydia pointed at her. "No. You stay too."
Kitty sighed and flopped onto her back, paws in the air. "Fine."
Lydia turned to Allison and Melissa. "You two, wipe those smiles off your faces and at least pretend to be angry."
Melissa just shook her head and said nothing, a small smile still playing on her lips.
Allison sighed. "Fine. But it seems Saphira got to him first. They're moving away from the palace."
Lydia's eye twitched. She stamped her foot in frustration. "Well, let's wait for him." She sat down heavily, arms crossed.
The room fell into an expectant silence.
---
Half an Hour Later — Palace Front
Saphira landed gently in front of the palace. Jacob slid off her back and patted her side.
"See you later," he said. "And wish me luck."
Saphira's laughing voice echoed in his head. [Good luck.]
She launched into the sky and flew away, her wingbeats stirring the grass.
Jacob sighed, straightened his clothes, and teleported inside the palace. He appeared in their private living room, putting on his best charming smile.
"Hello, my beautiful wives," he said, spreading his arms. "I missed you so much."
Allison and the others looked at him.
He was wearing his noble Westerosi outfit—dark, scaled leather resembling dragon hide, with red and golden accents along the seams and edges. A red cape flowed behind him. His sword, Griffin, hung at his waist. The sigil on his chest—the black dragon's head with burning red eyes—seemed to glow faintly.
They all stared. For a moment, no one spoke.
Lydia bit her thumbnail, her eyes tracing every line of his outfit. 'Shoot,' she thought. 'He looks so hot. I regret promising Malia she could have him first.'
Jacob saw them just looking at him without speaking. His smile faltered.
"What?" he said. "No 'welcome home'? No 'we missed you'? Nothing?" He pretended to be hurt, placing a hand over his heart. "I see. I come back early because I missed you so much, but it seems you girls didn't miss me at all."
He turned around dramatically.
"Maybe I should go back to that world for a few more days. Until you miss me."
Malia growled, then shot toward him like a bullet. She slammed into him and wrapped her arms around him in a crushing hug.
"Don't you dare leave me behind again," she snarled.
Then she bit him as hard as she could in the neck.
Her teeth pressed against his skin—she didn't break through, but he definitely felt it.
"Ow! Ouch!" Jacob yelped. "That hurts, Malia!"
He patted her head. "Calm down. I won't leave you behind again."
Malia pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. Her eyes were glowing—not golden, but red.
"You promise?" she demanded.
Jacob's eyebrows rose. "I promise. But why are your eyes glowing red?"
Malia smirked, her fangs showing. "I was so angry yesterday because I missed you. I sparred with Allison using all my strength, and in the middle of the fight, my eyes just turned from golden to red." Her chest puffed out with pride. "I became an Alpha."
Jacob grinned and kissed her. "Then we should celebrate."
Kitty launched herself from the couch and landed on Jacob's shoulder, rubbing her small head against his cheek. "I missed you," she purred.
Jacob reached up and scratched behind her ears. "I missed you too."
He looked at the others.
Lydia was pouting, arms crossed, tapping her foot. Allison watched him with an expressionless face. Melissa gave him a helpless smile.
Jacob's smile turned sheepish. "Are you angry because I added a new wife to our family?"
The three of them didn't speak.
He looked at Allison. "Allison? Say something."
Allison sighed. "To be honest, I'm a little angry. I know you were going to add more wives eventually, but you were only gone for three and a half days."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Three days? I've been there for seven days, actually."
Allison's eye twitched. "Is that supposed to make me feel better? While the girls and I missed you terribly, you were out there flirting with other women."
Jacob spread his hands. "I couldn't help it. She's a good girl." He softened his voice. "And I missed you too, that's why I came back early. I couldn't stay away from you girls."
Allison studied him for a long moment. Then her expression softened.
"Fine. We'll forgive you easily this time. But only if you promise never to leave us behind again."
Jacob met her eyes. "I promise."
Allison stood and moved toward him. Malia was still wrapped around him like a koala.
"Malia," Allison said, "he's not going anywhere. Let me hug him. I miss him too, you know."
Malia glared at her. Then she grabbed Jacob's face and gave him a deep, possessive kiss.
"Fine," she muttered, and finally let him go.
Allison stepped into his arms and hugged him tightly. She kissed him—slow and warm.
"Welcome home," she said softly. "I'm glad you're safe."
Melissa walked to him next. She cupped his face in her hands, looked into his eyes, and kissed him—passionate but gentle.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "You didn't get hurt, did you?"
Jacob smiled. "No, I didn't get hurt. That world isn't that dangerous. There are a guy or two to be wary of, but I doubt they can pose a threat to me."
He looked at Lydia, who was still pouting on the couch.
"So," he said, "how many romantic movies and how much shopping will it take for you to forgive me?"
Lydia's pout wavered. She pretended to think.
"Two movies. Actually, make it three. No, five. Five movies, and I pick every single one. Plus a whole day of shopping—just you and me. And you have to take me shopping in the new world too."
Jacob nodded. "Done. Can I get my hug and kiss now?"
Lydia stood and walked to him slowly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, and then murmured against his lips, "You look so handsome in this outfit. I want to sleep with you right now. So badly."
Malia grabbed Lydia's shoulder and yanked her back. "Back off. You said I'm first."
Lydia rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. He's yours."
Malia grabbed Jacob's hand. "Let's go to my room."
Allison held up a hand. "Not so fast. He needs to tell us about the new world and our new sister first."
Malia growled. "First, stupid Lydia said I shouldn't go to him when he came back. Now you're saying I shouldn't take him to my room. I'm starting to get angry."
Allison ignored the growl. She grabbed Malia's arm and dragged her to sit down.
"Aren't you curious about the new world and our new sister?" Allison asked. "I promise, after he tells us everything, he's all yours. Not for the whole night, though. You can only have him for a few hours."
Malia considered this. "Fine. I'm curious too. But I want to sit with him."
She stood, dragged Jacob to the recliner, and pushed him into it. Then she curled up in his lap like a large cat.
Kitty hopped onto the recliner and settled against Jacob's other side.
Jacob pulled Malia close with a satisfied smile.
Just then, Cogman entered the room. He was wearing his usual butler attire. He stopped in front of Jacob and bowed slightly.
"Welcome back, sir," Cogman said. "Life was not the same without you."
Jacob smiled. "I missed you too, Cogman."
Cogman straightened. "Shall I prepare a feast?"
Jacob nodded. "Yes. But first, sit down. I have a lot to tell you all."
Cogman nodded and took a seat.
Lydia leaned forward. "Okay, tell us about her first. Who is she? What's her name? Is she pretty? Does she have powers? Is she young or old? Does she like shopping? Does she—"
Allison cut her off. "Alright, that's enough questions. We can ask her ourselves later."
Jacob pulled out his phone and showed them a picture—Sansa, standing on the grassy mountain, her red hair glowing in the sun, her blue eyes bright. He handed the phone to Allison.
"Her name is Sansa," Jacob said. "Sansa Stark. She's seventeen. She's from a noble family in the world I visited."
Allison took the phone. "Well, she's beautiful. You pervert know how to pick them."
The phone was passed around.
Lydia studied the image. "I love her hair."
Melissa took the phone and smiled. "She is beautiful."
Malia took the phone, squinted at it, then handed it back. "She looks soft."
Jacob nodded. "She was soft. She had to be—to survive. Her family was destroyed by their enemies. Her father was executed in front of her. She was forced to watch his head on a spike. Her mother and brother were murdered at a wedding. She was held captive by the people who killed her family—beaten, humiliated, and forced to pretend to be loyal to them just to stay alive."
The room went quiet.
Melissa's voice was soft. "That's terrible."
Jacob continued. "After she escaped her enemies, she was going to be sold to another family by someone she thought she could trust—the same family that had murdered her brother. She was going to be forced to marry a known sadist." He smiled. "I found her just before that happened. I saved her. And I married her."
Lydia said quietly, "She's been through a lot."
"Yes," Jacob said. "But she's stronger now. I gave her the Hulk serum. And after we got married, she got the Phoenix bloodline."
Allison's eyebrows rose. "Phoenix? Like your dad?"
Jacob smiled. "Yes. I bet she's going to be his favorite."
Allison asked, "What are her powers?"
Jacob counted on his fingers. "She can shift into a Phoenix. She can control fire. She can teleport. She has telekinesis. She's immune to fire. She has a powerful healing factor. And she grows stronger through fighting and near-death experiences."
Malia's eyes lit up. "So she can fight?"
Jacob smirked. "No. She's terrible at fighting. But she's learning. And I think she'll love to spar with you—because that will make her stronger."
Malia nodded approvingly. "Okay. I think I like her."
Jacob swiped to the next picture—Sansa standing in front of the capsule house, smiling, with the three lizard-lions lounging in the background.
Kitty's eyes went wide. "What are those?"
Jacob chuckled. "Those are my new pets. I found them in the swamps. The big one is Bowser. The middle one is Leatherhead. The small one is Wally Gator. They're like giant alligators, but people in that world call them lizard-lions. I even taught them to do tricks. They're very smart. Or maybe they just understand me because I'm kind of a lizard too."
Chapter 190: Back To Serendell – Part 2
May 23
After showing them the three lizard-lions, Jacob swiped to the next picture—Arya sparring with Brienne.
"Who's the little girl with the sword?" Allison asked.
"That's Arya. Sansa's younger sister. She's fourteen. Fierce. Stubborn. Hates dresses. Likes to fight. And she wants to kill everyone who wronged her family." Jacob smiled. "She reminds me of Malia."
Lydia studied the image. "She even has her hair cut short, like Malia."
Jacob looked at Malia. "You're going to love her. And the tall woman sparring with her—she likes to fight too."
Malia's eyes narrowed at the picture. "Are they strong?"
Jacob shook his head. "No, they're not. You can't spar with them. But I'll give Arya the Hulk serum. And maybe you can give her the bite now that you're an Alpha. Make her your Beta."
Malia considered this. "I'll think about it after I meet her."
Jacob swiped to the next picture—himself sitting on the Iron Throne, making a silly face.
Lydia blinked. "What is that?"
"That's the Iron Throne. Made from the swords of conquered enemies. It's supposed to be the seat of the king of the Seven Kingdoms." Jacob shrugged. "It's really uncomfortable."
Allison leaned forward. "The Seven Kingdoms? Tell us about that world. I assume it's not a world we've seen in a movie or TV show—because I've never heard of Sansa Stark or the Seven Kingdoms."
Jacob shook his head. "No. There's no movie or show of that world in our world. It's a medieval world with low magic."
He leaned back, pulling Malia closer, and began to talk.
He told them about Westeros and Essos—the great continent of the west and the sprawling lands of the east. He told them about the Seven Kingdoms, the Great Houses, and the Iron Throne. He told them about the Starks. He told them about the Red Wedding—how the Freys and Boltons had murdered Sansa's mother and brother under a banner of truce.
The room grew cold as he spoke.
He told them about Littlefinger's schemes—how he had betrayed Ned Stark, started a war, tried to sold Sansa to the Boltons, and murder her aunt Lysa just so he could take the Vale. He told them about Ramsay Bolton—the bastard who flayed people for fun, who hunted women with dogs, who had been about to marry Sansa before Jacob intervened.
He told them about the Targaryens—the Mad King and the dragons. About the White Walkers. About the weirwood trees and how the Three-Eyed Raven had fused himself to their roots centuries ago, watching everyone through the trees ever since.
When he finished, the room was silent.
Melissa spoke first. "He watches them... dress? And sleep?"
Jacob nodded. "Yes. He's an old, creepy voyeur. He's been watching people for centuries."
Cogman smirked. "Can I kill him, sir?"
Jacob said, "You'll have to get in line. I want to kill him. And Arya already added him to her list."
Allison shifted the conversation. "About the dragons—are they strong?"
Jacob shook his head. "They're wyverns, not dragons like me. Two legs, wings fused to their arms. They're not that strong. I mean, they're strong—but they can be killed by ballista spears. They can be poisoned. They don't have super healing. And only three are known to be alive right now—and they're still young."
Jacob stood and walked to an empty corner of the living room. He reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out the skull of Balerion the Black Dread.
The massive skull materialized with a heavy thud, its empty eye sockets staring at nothing. The room seemed to darken around it.
Everyone gathered around, studying the ancient bone.
Lydia reached out and touched one of the dagger-like teeth. "This thing is huge."
Jacob nodded. "His name was Balerion the Black Dread. He was the largest dragon in Westerosi history. Total body length of 330 feet (100 meters) from the tip of his snout to the end of his tail. Wingspan of 540 feet (164 meters)." He paused. "They say his wings were broad enough that his shadow could completely swallow entire towns as he flew over them. He died of old age after living more than 215 years."
Allison circled the skull, her eyes tracing every curve. "Could something this big pose a threat to you?"
Jacob snorted. "No. Like I said—they're not that strong."
---
They sat back down, and Allison asked, "When are we going to meet Sansa?"
Jacob smiled. "I promised to go back for her in a day. One day in our world equals two days in her world. So every two and a half days in Serendell is only one day in her world." He held up two fingers. "I'll spend two days here in Serendell with you, then go back and bring her."
Lydia said, "Then we need to prepare. We can't meet your new wife looking like this." She gestured at her casual clothes. "We need to look presentable. Elegant. We need to make a good first impression."
Malia looked down at her own clothes—ripped jeans and a leather jacket. "What's wrong with how I look?"
Lydia sighed. "Malia, we're meeting a noble from another world. We need to dress appropriately."
Malia crossed her arms. "I'm not wearing a dress."
"No one said anything about a dress." Lydia pinched the bridge of her nose. "But maybe... clean jeans? Without the rips? I want to show her that she's joining a family of sophisticated, powerful women. Not a pack of animals."
Malia's eyes glowed red. "Who are you calling an animal, you stupid ghost?"
Jacob raised both hands. "Alright, stop arguing. Sansa wouldn't care about any of that. She's more nervous to meet you girls than you are to meet her." He paused. "After all, I told her I'm a king and you're queens."
Allison's mouth dropped open. "What? Did you lie to the poor girl?"
Jacob shrugged. "I didn't lie. Serendell is my kingdom. I even have a throne room here in the palace that I've never used."
Cogman stepped forward. "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, what's the plan for that world?"
Jacob rubbed his chin. "I don't know. Maybe take over Westeros and make it our own kingdom." He waved a hand. "But that's a lot of work. I'll take you guys there first to see the world. Then we'll decide."
Allison nodded slowly. "That sounds like a plan. But like you said, running a kingdom is a lot of work. We'd be taking care of millions of people. And since it's a medieval world, we'd have to create schools, hospitals, and rebuild the cities and towns..." She trailed off. "There's so much to do."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Jacob waved a hand. "We'll talk about that later." He looked at Cogman. "Cogman, go make us a feast."
Cogman bowed and teleported directly to the kitchen.
Jacob asked, "Where are the others? I don't feel their presence in Serendell."
Allison answered first. "My parents went to France."
Lydia added, "Mom and Noah went to Miami. They'll be back in ten days."
Melissa sighed. "Stiles took Erica traveling. And Scott... he broke up with Tracy the day you left. He bought a motorcycle and said he was going on a road trip to New York. He left yesterday."
Jacob's eyebrows rose. "Is Scott okay? I mean, is he heartbroken?"
Melissa shook her head. "No, he seemed alright. He didn't like Tracy spending too much time with Derek. He'd been thinking of breaking up with her for a while. She knew it too. They both knew they weren't right for each other." She smiled softly. "According to him, they didn't love each other. So breaking up didn't hurt."
Jacob smirked. "Too bad he left before I came back. I would've given him some words of wisdom about relationships and love." He glanced at Melissa. "It's the least I can do as his dad."
Melissa shook her head, but she was smiling. "He does not like it when you call yourself his dad."
"I'm married to his mother. That makes me his stepfather." Jacob grinned. "He's going to call me 'Dad' eventually. You'll see."
"If you want to help him," Melissa said, "find him a good girlfriend. Like you found Erica for Stiles." She paused. "Is there a suitable girl in the new world for him?"
Jacob thought for a moment. "Not that I know of. The only ones I know are Arya and Brienne. Arya is fourteen—too young. And Brienne is already in love with someone else. I doubt Scott would like her anyway."
Melissa nodded. "Brienne—that's the tall blonde woman with short hair in the picture?"
Jacob nodded.
Melissa made a face. "I don't want her dating my son. I want him to date a sweet girl. Not a manly woman."
Jacob laughed. "Don't worry about him. He'll find love one day."
They continued talking until Cogman called them to eat.
They moved to the dining hall. The table was laden with roasted meats, fresh vegetables, crusty bread, and an array of desserts.
After the feast, Jacob teleported with Malia to her room. They made love for three hours, until she was finally satisfied. Then he did the same with Melissa for another three hours.
After that, he teleported to Allison's room. Three hours later, they lay tangled in the sheets, both breathing hard. Allison traced lazy patterns on his chest with her finger.
Jacob sat up. "I have a gift for you."
Allison sat up excitedly, her eyes sparkling. "What is it?"
Jacob reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out the Emberheart Bow.
The massive recurve bow was carved from the ivory-white bones of a true dragon. Its frame was lined with jagged spikes and draconic skull-like features. Molten orange cracks glowed through the ancient bone like flowing lava, and the string itself burned with ember-red energy. At the center of the weapon rested a blazing crystal core that pulsed like a living dragon's heart. The entire bow felt ancient. Savage. Overwhelming.
Allison's breath caught.
Jacob held it out to her. "This is the Emberheart Bow. It's indestructible. It's carved from the bone of a true dragon." He met her eyes. "Without bonding with it, the bow is impossible to draw. But once you bond with it, you can create arrows made from your own elemental powers—ice, lightning, wind—any elemental ability you possess. And those elemental arrows strike with triple the normal power of your base elemental attack."
He smiled. "It's the perfect weapon for you."
Allison took the bow with trembling hands. She touched the glowing crystal core, ran her fingers along the jagged spikes, and traced the molten orange cracks.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
She set the bow down, threw her arms around Jacob's neck, and kissed him deeply.
"Thank you," she said against his lips. "I love it."
"You're welcome." Jacob pulled back. "Now drip your blood on it to bond with it. Then go try it out. I need to go see Lydia."
Allison picked up the bow, pricked her finger on one of the spikes, and let her blood drip onto the crystal core.
The bow pulsed once—a deep, resonant thrum that vibrated through the room. The molten orange cracks flared brighter, then settled.
Allison grinned. She cast a cleaning spell on both her and Jacob, pulled on her clothes, and kissed him one more time.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you too."
"I'm going to go play now." She winked. "See you later."
She teleported to their usual training grounds, far from the palace.
Jacob dressed and teleported to Lydia's room.
---
Lydia was pacing.
She wore a silk robe, her red hair loose around her shoulders. The moment Jacob appeared, she stopped pacing and fixed him with a glare.
"You took forever."
Jacob held up his hands. "I had gifts to give."
Lydia's glare softened into curiosity. "Gifts?"
Jacob sat on the edge of her bed and patted the spot beside her. She sat. He reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out the fire element crystal—a small, warm, red-glowing crystal the size of a grape.
Lydia took it, turning it over in her fingers. "What is it?"
"It's a Fire Element Crystal. It will help you awaken the fire element upon consumption."
Lydia's eyes widened. "Really? I just eat it?"
Jacob nodded. "Yes."
Without hesitation, Lydia popped the crystal into her mouth and swallowed.
Her body grew instantly warm. Her skin flushed. She felt a fiery energy spread through her body—from her chest to her limbs, from her fingertips to her toes.
After a few moments, the warmth settled.
Lydia stood. She raised a hand and focused.
A fireball appeared in her palm—small at first, then growing larger, brighter, hotter.
She pushed further.
Her entire body ignited. Flames wrapped around her like a second skin, but under her control, they didn't burn her clothes or the room. She walked to the mirror and admired herself.
Jacob walked to her, unbothered by the flames. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder, admiring her reflection in the mirror.
"Beautiful," he said.
Lydia smiled.
After a moment, she extinguished the fire and turned to face him.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"You're welcome, love." Jacob kissed her forehead. "Do you want to go play with your new ability?"
Lydia shook her head. "No. I'd rather play with you. You're not leaving my room until I pass out."
Jacob grinned. "I'm not going to say no to that."
He swept her off her feet and carried her to the bed.
Soon, the room was filled with her moans.
Chapter 191: The World Travel Room
May 25
After sleeping for a few hours, Jacob woke up and quietly left the bed, careful not to disturb Lydia, who was still sleeping peacefully, her red hair spread across the pillow.
He cast a cleaning spell on himself, then teleported to a large, empty room in the center of the palace. It was a circular chamber with high ceilings, bare stone walls, and a single arched window letting in pale morning light.
'System,' he said in his mind. 'Build the World Travel Room here.'
[As you wish, Host.]
The room began to change.
The stone floor polished itself to a mirror shine, then etched itself with a intricate circular pattern—a compass rose surrounded by runes that glowed faintly silver. Along the curved walls, wooden doorframes materialized one by one, side by side—each carved from dark, polished wood, each fitted with a handle shaped like a dragon's claw. Two of them were already filled, with names etched above them. One read: First World. The other: The World of Ice and Fire. The rest stood empty for now, waiting to be filled.
The system's voice echoed in his mind.
[The World Travel Room is complete. Allow me to explain its functions, Host.]
Jacob crossed his arms and listened.
[The room contains multiple doorways—each door will lead to a different world once that world has been visited by you. Your wives and anyone you have given the mark to enter Serendell may use these doors to travel between worlds with your permission. They will not need you to open a portal for them.]
Jacob nodded.
[Your wives and others with permission to enter Serendell will still be able to access Serendell while you are in another world. However, they can only teleport directly between their current world and Serendell. If they wish to go to a different world, they must use the World Travel Room. Similarly, they can only teleport between Serendell and the world they traveled to. If they wish to return to their original world they must also use the World Travel Room.]
[After you give your wives permission to use this room, they will be able to communicate with you telepathically, and you with them, even if you are in different worlds.]
[You, Host, do not need the World Travel Room to travel between worlds. You may teleport freely between Serendell and any world you have already visited.]
Jacob looked around the room, nodding in satisfaction. The doors stood silent and waiting, ready to lead to worlds he had not yet discovered.
'Perfect,' he thought. 'And I guess First World means the Teen Wolf world—which is the first world I traveled to—and The World of Ice and Fire is the Game of Thrones world.'
He made a mental note to show the girls later.
---
After leaving the World Travel Room, Jacob went to visit Saphira. He found her coiled near the edge of a forest, her sapphire scales gleaming in the morning light.
She lifted her head when he appeared, her deep blue eyes warm.
They stayed together for an hour. Jacob told her about the World Travel Room, about the Nightmare Horses he hadn't summoned yet, about his plan to bring Sansa to Serendell. Saphira listened, offering occasional comments, her deep voice warm with amusement.
[I want to go to Sansa's world someday,] she said telepathically.
Jacob smiled and rubbed her head. "Sure. I'll take you there to show those people what a real dragon looks like." He paused. "You can also help me get another wife."
[Another wife?] Saphira's mental voice carried a note of exasperation.
"Yeah. People there call her the Mother of Dragons." Jacob grinned. "Then I'll be the Father of Dragons." He scratched under her jaw. "Not you, though. I don't want to be your father. I'm going to find a way to turn you human and marry you."
Saphira went still. [What?] Her deep blue eyes widened. [You want to marry me? I've heard of dragon riders, but not men who want to marry their dragon.]
Jacob shrugged. "I'm no ordinary man. I'm a dragon myself—did you forget?" His grin turned mischievous. "And when you turn human and we marry, I will ride you in more ways than you can imagine."
[You are a pervert,] Saphira declared. [I will tell Allison and the others what you just said.]
Jacob waved a hand. "They already know. I told them the moment you hatched. You just don't remember."
[I see.] Saphira paused. [But did you tell them about this 'Mother of Dragons'?]
"Not yet. I'll tell them later." Jacob looked at her. "Anyway, are you willing to marry me when you turn human?"
Saphira was quiet for a moment. Then, softly: [I would be happy to marry you.]
Jacob's smile softened. "Great. I'll give you a few pictures to look at every day—so you can turn into one of them when you become human."
[I don't think it works like that,] Saphira said dryly. [Besides, even if it did, I don't want to look like someone else. I want to look like me. If that makes sense.]
Jacob nodded. "Okay. I respect that." He rubbed her snout. "I'm looking forward to seeing how you'll look."
[I'm looking forward to it too.]
He kissed her snout. "See you later," he said, then teleported away.
---
Jacob appeared in the palace kitchen.
Cogman was alone at the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced precision. He wore a crisp white apron over his usual butler attire, and the smell of bacon filled the air.
"Morning, Cogman," Jacob said, sliding into a chair.
Cogman glanced back. "Good morning, sir. Breakfast will be ready shortly."
Jacob stretched. "How's Beacon Hills? Did anything happen while I was gone?"
Cogman shook his head. "No, sir. Nothing happened. The town is very peaceful." He paused, then added, "I finished the underwater palace, sir. If you wish to see it."
Jacob sat up straighter. "Then I'll go see it right now."
He teleported directly to the lakebed.
The pressure of the deep water pressed harmlessly against his enhanced body. Through the murky blue, he saw it—a dome of shimmering white energy, holding back the weight of the entire lake.
Inside, resting on a bed of white sand and smooth stones, stood his underwater palace—an elegant white structure with smooth walls adorned with flowing dragon motifs etched by Cogman's precise hand. A grand arched doorway marked the entrance, flanked by two spiral towers that rose toward the shield's glowing ceiling.
Iara, his massive wyrm, lay coiled in front of the palace. Her silver-blue scales caught the soft light, her breathing slow and peaceful as she slept.
Jacob teleported to the side of her head and scratched her snout.
"Hey, big girl."
Iara's giant eyes opened. They focused on him, and a low rumble of happiness vibrated through the water. She leaned into his touch, pressing her massive head against his hand like an overgrown puppy.
Jacob smiled and rubbed her head. "Missed you too."
After spending a little while with her, Jacob teleported inside the palace.
The interior was even more impressive than the exterior. Marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Hallways lined with Cogman's precise dragon carvings. Rooms filled with furniture that looked both ancient and brand new.
Jacob took a quick tour, nodding approvingly at everything.
Then he teleported back outside the lake.
On the shore, piles of treasure still sat where he had left them. He gathered it all with his telekinesis and transported it into a large treasure room in the underground level of the underwater palace.
Then he reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out the fifty-six tons of gold the S.D.E.S. had paid him to deal with Iara.
He added it to the pile.
For a long moment, Jacob stood in the treasure room, surrounded by gold and jewels and ancient relics. The light reflected off the coins, casting golden shadows on the walls.
He waited for the feeling.
The satisfaction. The joy. The contentment.
Nothing came.
He frowned.
"Well," he said aloud, "this isn't what I thought I would feel. I thought I would feel comfortable—maybe even joy—in a room filled with gold and treasure." He kicked a pile of coins. "But I don't feel a thing. I don't even care about the gold." He paused. "Or maybe it's too little."
His eyes glowed red on their own.
"I should get more," he said, his voice low. "Yes. I need more gold. More treasure. More—"
He stopped.
Shook his head.
His eyes returned to normal.
"It seems I was wrong," he muttered. "I definitely felt greed just now. Greed for more gold and treasure." He took a step back from the pile. "And I don't like that feeling. I don't like it at all."
He looked at the treasure one last time.
"I should get out of here."
He teleported back to the kitchen.
---
Cogman was setting plates on the table: bacon, eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit, coffee, juice.
Jacob sat down heavily.
"Everything alright, sir?" Cogman asked.
Jacob waved a hand. "Fine. Just realized I might have a dragon's greed buried somewhere in my psyche. It was... unpleasant."
Cogman nodded as if this were perfectly normal. "Shall I add that to your list of psychological concerns, sir?"
Jacob frowned. "Psychological concerns?"
"Yes, sir. You have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), Obsessive Love Disorder (OLD), Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD), and Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)." Cogman tilted his head. "Should we add greed to the list? Let's call it Wealth Accumulation Disorder."
Jacob stared at him. "When did you make this list of psychological conditions that I definitely don't have? And who made you a shrink, you psychopathic tin can?" He hesitated because he knew he had everything Cogman just said. "I-I mean, I might have ADHD... and... and maybe NPD. And maybe, maybe I'm obsessive. But I definitely don't have that compulsive sexual thing you said. I'm not a sex addict." He paused. "And I don't have IED."
Cogman smirked. "Are you sure, sir?"
Jacob coughed awkwardly. "I'm sure." He waved his hand dismissively. "Anyway, don't mention those psychological concerns again. And don't add greed to the list. I'm just going to ignore it and hope it goes away."
Cogman laughed. "A sound strategy, sir."
Jacob said, "Shut up. I don't need to talk about psychology with a psychopath like you." He rested his elbow on the table and leaned the side of his face against his hand. "Now let's change the subject. Talk about my company."
They talked about Alexander Technologies for a while—income reports, new products, expansion plans. Then, one by one, Jacob's wives and Kitty arrived.
Allison came in first, kissed him, and sat down. Lydia followed, kissed him too, and sat across from him. Melissa came next, kissed him longer than necessary, and settled beside him. Malia stomped in last, glared at him, then kissed him hard before dropping into her chair.
Kitty hopped onto the table and sat in front of a small plate Cogman had prepared for her.
Malia stabbed a piece of bacon with her fork and pointed it at Jacob.
"I heard you gave Allison and Lydia gifts," she said. "Where's mine?"
Jacob looked at Allison and Lydia. "Which one of you snitched?"
Lydia looked innocently at her plate. "I didn't know it was a secret. I just asked what you gave them. But it turned out you didn't give them anything." She smirked. "I was so happy. I thought I was your favorite—until Allison said you gave her a gift too." She shrugged. "Anyway, although I'm disappointed, I know at least you love me more than Melissa and stupid Malia."
Malia growled.
Jacob ignored Lydia and looked at Malia and Melissa. "Don't listen to her. I just don't have anything suitable for you two yet."
Melissa smiled softly. "I don't want anything. I just want you."
Malia jabbed her fork into a pancake. "Give me your car. The beautiful black one. And I'll forgive you."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "The Charger?"
Malia nodded. "Yes."
"Absolutely not." Jacob shook his head. "But I'll buy you one just like it when you get your driver's license."
Malia snorted and started stabbing her food with her fork like it had personally offended her.
Jacob said, "Although I didn't bring you and Melissa a suitable gift, I have something that all of you are going to like."
Malia looked up. "What thing?"
"A herd of horses. And a gift for all of you—even Kitty. But I'll tell you about it when Sansa arrives."
Malia's eyes narrowed. "Then can you tell me about the horses?"
Jacob smiled. "It's better to show you. But let's eat first. Then we'll summon them." He winked. "Trust me. You're going to love them."
Malia said, "Okay," and began eating at double speed.
Jacob turned to Lydia, who was still smirking. "You were the one who asked them to act angry yesterday when I returned, weren't you? And then you tried to get me in trouble with Malia and Melissa just now."
Lydia's smirk didn't waver. "I admit I told them to give you the cold shoulder yesterday. But only because I love you and I missed you. I wanted to punish you for leaving us behind." She paused. "And I did not try to get you in trouble with Malia and Melissa. I didn't know you hadn't brought them gifts."
Jacob crossed his arms. "Is that so? Well, I'm still going to punish you for causing trouble in the family."
Lydia's smirk turned into a grin. "Bring it on. I'm actually looking forward to your punishment." She leaned forward. "In fact, why don't we go to my room right now?"
Jacob shook his head. "No. I'm not going to your room. I will not sleep with you. I will not hug you. And I will not kiss you either." He paused. "For a month."
Lydia's grin vanished.
"Wait, a month without touching you will be a punishment for me too, not just you," Jacob amended. "So let's make it just two weeks."
Lydia's jaw dropped. "What? You can't do that!"
Jacob shrugged. "Yes, I can. That's your punishment for causing trouble."
Lydia's voice rose. "You can't do that! I can't live without your touch for two weeks!" She looked at him with wide, desperate eyes. "Please. I'm sorry, okay?"
Jacob shook his head. "Believe me, it hurts me more than you to not touch you for two weeks. But you have to be punished."
Malia raised her hand, a wicked smirk on her face. "Can I get Lydia's nights during the next two weeks?"
Lydia glared at Malia. Then she turned to Melissa and Allison.
"Help me convince him not to punish me. Please."
Allison sipped her coffee. "You seemed very pleased with yourself this morning when you thought you were the only one who got a gift. You're on your own."
Lydia turned to Melissa. "Please. Help me."
Melissa looked at Jacob. "Can you change her punishment?"
Jacob sighed. "Fine. I'll only do it because it was you who asked." He looked at Lydia. "No shopping for you for a month."
Lydia screamed. "NOOOO!"
She looked pitifully at Melissa.
Melissa shook her head helplessly. "You have to choose one. No Jacob for two weeks—or no shopping for a month."
Lydia bit her nail, her eyes darting back and forth. "Fine. I... this is hard. I definitely don't want to spend two weeks without your touch. And I don't want to not go shopping for a month either." She held up a finger. "Okay, how about this—you will not punish me..."
Jacob cut her off. "No. You have to be punished."
Lydia pressed on. "Hear me out first. Forgive me. And in return, you don't have to watch the five romantic movies you promised to watch with me. You only have to take me shopping for a day." She raised her eyebrows. "What do you think?"
Jacob tilted his head. "But I was actually looking forward to watching those movies with you."
Lydia snorted. "Come on. You were just going to complain about how stupid the movies are while we watch them. Or sleep on my shoulder while I watch them alone. Like you always do."
Jacob grinned. "That doesn't sound like a good deal to me. I like making you angry and fighting with you when we watch a stupid romantic movie. I love the makeup sex afterward." He paused. "And I like sleeping on your shoulder in a movie theater. It's one of my favorite naps." He shook his head. "So, like I said—that doesn't sound like a good deal to me."
Lydia's smirk returned. "Well then. I will not shop for a month. But since you promised to let me choose the five movies..." She leaned forward. "I'll choose The Notebook and Titanic. We will watch The Notebook three times and Titanic two times." Her smile turned sharp. "And you have to be awake during them."
Jacob shivered. "Aaaaahhh! The horror!"
Lydia stretched her hand toward him. "Do you want to take my first deal now? No punishment for me and no watching The Notebook and Titanic for you?" She wiggled her fingers. "Or..."
Jacob grabbed her hand and shook it quickly. "Deal. Deal. You know I get so angry watching those two movies. I actually feel like my brain wants to shut down."
Lydia smiled happily and raised her hand in a V sign. "Yay!"
Jacob looked at Cogman. "Cogman, I have an important task for you."
Cogman straightened. "What is it, sir?"
Jacob's voice was deadly serious. "I want you to delete The Notebook and Titanic from this world."
Lydia's smile vanished. "Don't you dare, Cogman. I love those movies."
Cogman nodded once at Lydia, then looked at Jacob. "Sorry, sir. It seems I must let you down. I cannot complete your task."
Jacob's eyes narrowed. "I am the man of this house. I order you to do it. So do it."
Cogman ignored Jacob entirely and walked around the table to refill the girls' juice and coffee.
Jacob watched him, incredulous. "Hey. I'm talking to you, you stupid tin can."
Cogman kept walking.
Jacob crossed his arms. "Fine. Then I will punish you. No killing for you for the rest of your life."
Cogman froze. His hand trembled slightly over the coffee carafe.
Lydia waved a hand. "Don't worry, Cogman. He's just talking. He won't actually punish you."
Cogman's shoulders relaxed. He turned and gave Jacob a small smirk, then continued pouring coffee.
Jacob threw his hands up. "Damn it. I need me a new servant." He tapped his chin. "Maybe a beautiful maid. Like Roberta from Black Lagoon. That crazy woman would make a good maid. And she's a hot Colombian beauty."
Allison set down her fork. "Keep dreaming. She's just a fictional character from an anime."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Kitty from an animated movie? Maybe I'll get another summoning scroll and summon Roberta."
Allison's eye twitched. She remembered that Kitty—a character from an animated movie—was now a living, breathing member of their family.
"We already have one psychopathic butler," Allison said. "We don't need another. Although Roberta isn't a psycho like Cogman—she's extremely violent. Her nickname is the 'Bloodhound of Florencia.'"
Jacob grinned. "I can fix her."
Allison pointed her fork at him. "I know you're going to add more women to our family. But I don't like talking about it." She speared a piece of fruit. "So shut up and eat your food, you pervert."
Jacob raised his hands in surrender. "Yes, ma'am." He paused. "But how do you know about Roberta?"
Allison shrugged. "Well, since you got me hooked on anime, I first loved romance anime. But like you said, most of them are frustrating and disgusting—repetitive, slow-paced, filled with indecisive main characters, and they always end immediately after a confession instead of exploring the actual relationship." She waved her fork. "Now I hate them too. I'm exploring other genres. Action. Adventure." She smiled. "I watched Black Lagoon. It wasn't bad. Now I'm watching Naruto and One Piece. I'm actually learning some wind and lightning moves from Naruto."
Jacob's eyebrows rose. "Why didn't you tell me? I could watch them with you."
Allison gave him a flat look. "Whenever I ask you to watch anime with me, you always run away before I finish talking."
Jacob rubbed the back of his neck. "That's because I thought you were still watching romance anime." He smiled. "I will gladly watch action anime with you."
Allison's expression softened. "Okay. I'll hold you to that."
Malia pushed her empty plate away. "Alright. Let's go see the horses."
Jacob wrapped everyone in his telekinesis and teleported them to a vast grassland far from the palace.
He reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out the Nightmare Horses Summoning Scroll.
He stepped forward, unrolled the scroll, and tossed it into the air.
The scroll ignited with a brilliant glow. The space before them split open—a crack in reality, burning at the edges. A blinding flash of light forced them all to close their eyes and step back.
Loud neighs echoed across the grassland.
They opened their eyes.
A massive black horse stepped out of the rift first. It stood 2.5 meters high at the shoulders (8 feet 2 inches). Its muscles rippled under its glossy black coat.
Behind it, more horses emerged. Males. Females. Foals. They arranged themselves in a loose herd, all facing Jacob.
Malia studied them. "They're beautiful. But not special. We actually have horses this big in Serendell. They grew bigger after you brought them from the outside world."
Jacob smiled. "I know. But these gorgeous creatures in front of us are no normal horses." He addressed the herd. "Show us your ability."
The horses understood him.
Their manes ignited—roaring flames of red and orange. Their hooves blazed with heat so intense the grass beneath them didn't burn—it turned to ash instantly. Their eyes glowed like molten lava.
Malia's jaw dropped. "Oh, wow! I take it back. They are very special."
Melissa clasped her hands together. "They're beautiful." She looked at one of the mares. "Can I touch you?"
The mare understood her—Melissa was a Dryad, after all, and could speak to animals. The mare nodded.
Melissa walked to her and began stroking her neck and head. The mare leaned into the touch, her fiery mane extinguished at Melissa's gentle command.
Allison turned to Jacob. "What are they?"
Jacob grinned. "They're called Nightmare horses. They breathe fire. Their hooves blaze hot enough to melt steel. Their manes transform into roaring flames. And they can fly—by galloping through the air. Riders gain complete immunity to all fire damage while mounted. And the herd is loyal to me—and to anyone who shares my soul bond."
Malia grinned. "Alright, let's go ride them."
Jacob chose the first horse that had stepped out of the rift. He patted its neck. "You're the alpha of the herd, right? I'll name you Shadow. What do you think?"
The horse neighed happily and stamped a blazing hoof.
Jacob swung onto Shadow's back. "Alright, Shadow. Let's see what you can do."
Shadow galloped across the grass—then lifted into the air, still galloping, his fiery hooves leaving trails of flame behind him. He ran through the sky as easily as he ran on land.
Malia and the others each chose a horse and followed Jacob into the sky. Even Cogman and Kitty rode.
They flew for an hour—racing through the clouds, diving toward the lake, spiraling around the palace towers. The foals stayed on the ground, galloping and playing, watched over by the rest of the herd.
Eventually, they landed back near the herd.
The girls and Kitty played with the foals while Cogman teleported back to his duties. Jacob lay on the grass, watching them.
He spent the rest of that day with his family—playing with the horses, eating together, laughing together. He told them more about Westeros.
And just like that, another day passed.
---
The next morning, after breakfast, Jacob stood and addressed his wives.
"Alright," he said. "I'm going to go get Sansa now. And please, go easy on her—she's already nervous."
Melissa smiled. "Don't worry. We'll welcome her into our family with open arms."
Lydia added, "Stay there for an hour before you come back. We need time to get ready to meet our new sister."
Jacob sighed. "Like I said, you don't have to get all dressed up to meet her."
Lydia crossed her arms. "Just stay there for an hour."
"Fine." He kissed each of them. "See you soon." Then he disappeared, returning to the Game of Thrones world.
Lydia clapped her hands. "Alright, let's go get ready to meet this new sister of ours."
Malia shrugged. "Go ahead. I want to go play with the horses."
Lydia caught her arm. "No. You're not meeting Sansa smelling like a horse. You need to change your clothes and put on a little makeup."
Malia said, "Fine. I'll change my clothes, but no makeup."
Lydia smirked. "Yes, yes, no makeup. Now let's go." Then she left the dining room with Malia.
Melissa and Allison looked at each other, smiled, and followed, with Kitty close behind.