NOVPUBLucius woke with a shout. Silk sheets fell to the floor at his side. Memories of his past flooded his mind. Memories of pain and hunger, greater than anything else.
Richard's face, his jaw flapping silently as Lucius's blade twisted within his throat, stared at him from his dreams. Thomas and Brienne's charred corpses laying in the background. King Arcadios pleading for his life before his entire being was consumed by Lucius's [Devour].
World leaders came and knelt before him. Ranks meant nothing to him. He moved beyond it. Even the Empyreans were like insects beneath him. None of them moved him, but he allowed them to live. Lucius had no desire to rule, wishing only for a place of his own. To live and be left alone. Finally.
"Dad!"
"Papa!"
The pitter patter of little feet quickly rushed down the hall. Lucius panicked and threw covers over the naked form of Corva next to him. Based on the weight of the footfalls, the twins, Lana and Liam were about to break down the door.
Sure enough, the two little beastmen children of Kalliope rushed through the door, leaping into the air. In a burst of speed, he caught them both by the scruffs before they landed onto Corva.
"Now, now. Mommy Corva is in a sensitive state right now. You cannot roughhouse around her right now."
"That's right Liam. You will hurt the baby. Jeez. Boys."
"Lana." Lucius chuckled. "I do believe I snagged two little beasts out of the air."
"Well that's cus… we were running from Momma Fay-fay. She thought we gave sis Lareis a red crayon." Liam said.
"Did you?"
"Yes!" Penny stomped to the doorway, holding out a book covered in red scribbles. Because they gave her a crayon, my book is all messed up.
Lucius walked out of the room, holding the twin problem children under his arms. They giggled all the while, uncaring about the punishment they were going to receive. Their laughter slowly died down the closer they got to Jade's room. Inside she was with her daughter, Josie. They were reading a story together. Of all his children, Penny and Josie were the best behaved.
Jade had become quite the strict motherly figure. Her noble upbringing was the most strict of his wives. Lefae never spent time with her family, Corva lived in the forge basically since birth, and Rena got into trouble with him her whole life. While Lucius loathed to call himself nobility, he was a Kane. Though family matters were handled by his father and Mother Adellia.
Lucius simply lived. Fought monsters when he needed exercise. Ran through the forest when he needed a moment to himself. And basked in the love of his partners and children when he needed.
"Ah, I see my favorite rabble-rousers are at it again." Jade clipped the book close with a single hand, making Lana and Liam both flinch. "What shall we have you do today for punishment. Perhaps you should clean up after Penny's tames. Or maybe we have you pick up the training grounds after your father spars with Grandpa Kalivas."
"No! Please don't make us pick up after Papa and Pop-pop. They always make such a mess when they spar!" Lana whined.
"Father." Castelle's small voice squeaked from the hall. She was followed closely by a very pregnant Natali. Castelle shared in her mother's white hair, but had silver eyes. "I wanted to let you know that I saw Lana and Liam giving Lareis a red crayon a bit ago."
"And did you not think to warn someone about this?" Lefae walked up with a toddler Lareis chewing on her fist. She cooed at her own hand as she slobbered down it. Lefae still struggled with her expressions, but Lucius caught the faintest hint of a smile at the edge of her lips as she watched their child trying to swallow a whole fist.
"My hands were full of the laundry." Castelle said with a slight bow.
"Natali…" Lucius warned.
The former maid glanced around guiltily. "I can't help it love! Its so hard to fight back against years and years of training. I just see the maid staff working so hard and my instincts take over, and then…" Lucius placed the children down and pulled his wife into a hug.
"I know, love."
"Lucius! Lucius!" Rena's red hair fluttered chaotically in the air as she rushed him. "Its your parents. Adellia, she's"
"What's wrong?" Immediately him and all his wives bristled, prepared to fight. Jade pulled the children inside the room, ready to watch them and summon her brother. He and Snow would be able to protect them. While Lyrah and her daughter would be with Snow's child gathered with Jade.
"She's pregnant! You're going to be a big brother!" Rena said through excited gasps. The group of adults exhaled, releasing hold of the mana in the air.
"Dammit, don't scare us like that." Jade said.
"Sorry, its just so exciting! Kalivas is an Empyrean! Do you know how hard it is for them to have children!"
"I seem to do just fine." Lucius chuckled while looking around the hall. Corva stepped up from behind and slugged him in the back.
"Down 'Titan'. You live outside the norm. Congrats on big brother status. Maybe Rubellia will finally settle down."
Lucius smiled fondly. "No. She's too dedicated to father's memory. She's enjoying the part of grandmother and nanny."
"Nanny, my ass." Jade huffed. "She sugars them up with sweets and juices before returning them to us."
"I did say grandmother first, to be fair." Lucius laughed despite the angry glares. He had no intention of changing his mother's behavior. Nor did he intend to tell his wives that he did the same whenever he took the kids to visit her at her estate.
"Anything on the agenda?" Lefae asked.
"Kick my father's ass in a fight."
"Didn't you just hear he's a new father. Aren't you going to celebrate with him?"
"Sure. By giving him a celebratory ass-kicking."
