As I strolled back to the house, I found Rosalia finishing up her chores in the garden. She looked up as I approached, her eyes lighting up with that familiar warmth. Her hair was still a little tousled from the day's work, but it only added to her natural beauty, making her look effortlessly captivating. I walked over and wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, leaning down to kiss her neck lightly.
"You seem pleased with yourself," she remarked, a playful glint in her eyes. "Is it because of your little... *Elantra* session with Elara yesterday?"
I chuckled at her teasing tone but didn't let go of her. "I didn't think you'd bring it up like that."
"Oh, how could I not?" Rosalia smirked, turning around in my arms to face me. "You were both so loud that the entire house probably heard it. The walls might as well have come down with how much energy you two were radiating."
I could feel my face heat up slightly at her words. "I wouldn't say it was *that* loud."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying herself. "Oh, really? Elara was screaming your name so loudly that even Hestia and Eldara were blushing in the hall room. Honestly, I'm surprised the rest of the village didn't come knocking on the door out of curiosity."
I laughed despite myself, pulling her closer and resting my forehead against hers. "Well, it was... intense, to say the least. But I didn't hear you complaining yesterday when you were teasing me about it."
She grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Of course, I wasn't complaining. In fact, I was quite proud of my son. It seems you've fully awakened to the potential of the Elantra." Her voice softened a bit as she continued. "But you know, seeing you finally connect with us—seeing you share something that intimate with Elara... it made me happy, even if I have to tease you about it."
I kissed her forehead lightly, the teasing atmosphere lingering in the air between us. "You're relentless."
Rosalia laughed, a soft melodic sound, then whispered, "I have to be. Who else is going to keep you on your toes?"
We stood there in silence for a moment, her head resting against my chest, both of us savoring the peace of the moment. But she wasn't done with her teasing just yet. Pulling back slightly, she looked up at me with a smirk and said, "You know, if that's how intense you were with Elara, I can't imagine how things will go when it's my turn."
I stared at her for a moment, trying to gauge whether she was serious or just teasing me again. The look in her eyes told me it was a little of both.
"Is that so?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mmhmm," she hummed, her eyes still full of mischief. "I'm sure your other sisters are curious too. After all, you've set quite the... example." She laughed softly at the end, obviously enjoying the awkwardness she was causing.
I smirked. "Oh, I'm sure they'll all be just as satisfied when the time comes."
Rosalia's eyes darkened slightly at my words, but the playful atmosphere remained between us. She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered, "Just make sure you can handle us all, my dear. We Nightfalls can be quite... demanding."
Before I could respond, she stepped back, a teasing smile on her lips, and returned to tending her plants.
"Don't worry, Mother," I said, a sly smile tugging at my lips. "I'll be ready for whatever comes next."
Rosalia laughed softly as I made my confident remark, but I could see the affection in her eyes, the pride that I was finally embracing my place among them. She wiped her hands on her apron, moving towards the door of the house, the sunlight casting a soft glow around her as she turned back to me.
"You better be ready, my son. Because once we get started, there's no turning back." She winked before disappearing into the house, leaving me standing there, a mix of anticipation and amusement filling the air.
As Rosalia went inside, I lingered by the garden for a moment, reflecting on the bond that had grown between us.
Meanwhile, inside the grand house, the atmosphere was much different in the women's quarters. Elara sat with her sisters, Liora, Selene, and Aurora, along with their aunts, Nadia and Mira. They were gathered in a circle, giggling and gossiping in hushed tones, their Voran-clad figures lounging comfortably on the soft, woven couches of grass and nature that made up their cozy little sitting area.
Elara, still flushed from the morning's activities, couldn't contain the gleeful grin on her face as she shared the details of the previous night's Elantra session.
"You wouldn't believe it," Elara started, her voice low but filled with excitement. "It was… it was beyond anything I expected."
Aurora, always eager for details, leaned forward, eyes wide. "Come on, tell us more, Elara! How was it? Was it really that intense?"
Elara bit her lip, her cheeks turning a shade of pink, her hands waving animatedly as she tried to find the right words. "Intense doesn't even begin to describe it. It was... mind-boggling. The energy, the connection... everything about it was perfect. I've never felt anything like it in my life."
Mira chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I heard you, you know. We all did. You were screaming so loud that I'm surprised the walls didn't collapse."
Elara's blush deepened as the others burst into laughter. "I couldn't help it!" she admitted, throwing her hands up in mock surrender. "I didn't expect him to be so... so *good* at it! It was like he knew exactly how to push me to the edge every single time. I thought I was going to pass out from how intense it was."
Liora raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. "Our brother, the dark, brooding, distant one? And here we thought he didn't have it in him."
"Oh, he has it in him, alright," Elara replied, her voice dropping suggestively. "And I mean... *really* has it in him."
Aurora giggled uncontrollably at that, while Nadia leaned back, crossing her arms as she watched the younger ones gossip. "Well, I suppose that means we'll all have something to look forward to, won't we?"
Elara's eyes sparkled mischievously as she glanced between her sisters and aunts. "Oh, you're going to love it. He's changed so much. He's so... present now, so much more in tune with us. The connection between us during the Elantra was unlike anything I've ever experienced."
Selene, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, chimed in with a soft smile. "It sounds like our brother has truly embraced his role in the family. It's good to hear. For a long time, I wasn't sure he ever would."
Nadia grinned, her sharp eyes flickering with amusement. "We'll see how long that lasts once it's our turn. I have a feeling he's going to be more than a little overwhelmed by the time we're done with him."
"Overwhelmed?" Mira laughed. "He'll be lucky if he can even *walk* after dealing with all of us."
The group erupted in laughter again, their voices light and teasing, but there was a sense of camaraderie between them, an unspoken understanding that their bond was only growing stronger now that their brother had finally come around. It was clear that Elara's experience had opened the door for the others, and the excitement was palpable.
"I don't know," Elara mused, a sly grin on her face. "I think he's stronger than we give him credit for. After all, if he could handle me, he can handle anything."
The room fell into another fit of laughter, the sound echoing through the house, as they continued to gossip and tease, sharing in their sisterly bond. The anticipation of what was to come lingered in the air, but for now, they reveled in the joy of the moment, knowing that their family was stronger and more united than ever.
And as Rosalia entered the room, hearing the echoes of their conversation, she smiled to herself, glad to see her daughters and sisters so happy. There was a time when this house had been quiet, weighed down by my absence and cold demeanor. But now, everything had changed. The laughter, the joy, the teasing—it was all a sign that the Nightfall family was truly whole again.