After making his promise to her, Damian sat up against the bed's headboard and looked at his angelic, intelligent, and bloodthirsty little sister. Lavinia adopted her nearly ten years ago now, and she'd been growing more beautiful by the year.
'She's still a little too young,' he thought to himself ponderously. 'But in a year or two, I'm sure I'll be interested… I can only hope she will be, too. Mom hasn't said anything, so I'm sure she'd approve.'
His thoughts would surely seem foreign to most other Eldkin, but to Damian, and most other Bloodkin, these thoughts were simply part of growing up.
Despite being one race, the Eldkin consisted of a great many sub-races, like Blood- or Moonkin, and every sub-race had one or more prevalent personality quirks that truly set them apart from the other Eldkin types. Beyond their specific powers and obvious physical differences, of course.
For Bloodkin, this meant they had an inkling for intrigue and manipulation while also being quick to give in to excess and desire. This made them perfect for the entertainment industry, and also meant some families got a little closer than those of most other Eldkin did.
To the majority of Bloodkin, familial bonds transcend conventional relationships, while pleasure and connections are valued without moralistic constraints. They see physical relationships as expressions of affection, loyalty, and sometimes control.
In other words, the Bloodkin as a whole, and Damian as a prime example, view love and attraction in three tiers: physical, emotional, and political. These tiers can blend together, but most people and relationships start off in one of these brackets.
This belief is then compounded by the fact that most Bloodkin families are political entities with plenty of internal fighting and scheming, where unions are as much about strategy as affection.
Moonkin, on the other hand, often love battle, hunting, and any activity in the woods. Their biggest difference with Bloodkin, however, and also the reason why these two Eldkin races often clash, is the Moonkin's strong focus and belief in monogamy, spontaneity, and wholesome family relations…
Other Kins, like the Sunkin, Amberkin, or Nightkin, all view the Bloodkin's strange take on family relations with uneasy tolerance. In the end, every Kin has their quirks, and if they start judging each other, it never ends. So, the Moonkin become the only ones who truly oppose the Bloodkin, because their beliefs are diametrically opposed.
As for Lilith, she and Damian had been inseparable since the day they met, so why wouldn't he develop such thoughts about his adopted sister one day? Assuming she wanted to, of course…
'Well, whatever,' he sighed in his mind. 'I still have a few years to make a decision here, assuming she doesn't find someone for herself in that time. Sex may just be sex, but I'm still a greedy man, and I don't share.'
Harems were no strange thing in Eryndor, and they went both ways, regardless of gender. The only requirement was the power to hold on to your lovers and give them no reason to stray. In this, Damian did not lack confidence.
That said, currently, the only women he considered as part of his harem, and thus refused to share with anyone else, were Luna and Lyra.
Suddenly, Damian's thoughts halted when their faces jumped in front of his mind's eye. Immediately, he turned to Lilith, who'd been looking at his thoughtful expression in curious silence. "Little Lili, you mentioned a guest. Did you mean Luna?"
Lilith nodded indifferently and shrugged. "I did, but I only saw her once. I think Mom is keeping her locked up for some reason. I've also heard rumours that she disappeared from the Lykos estate, so I'm pretty sure she's here."
Damian sighed in relief. "That's good…" He'd talk to his mother later, but it seemed like Luna and… possibly his unborn child were safe for now. As for the 'rumours' she mentioned, that was more like her burgeoning little spy network.
Despite her adorable looks and intelligence, Lilith wasn't half the manipulator Lavinia and Damian were. She was a little too emotional for that. But, since she still wanted an identity within the family, and a means to be useful, she'd engaged her intelligence to build a network of young rumour catchers.
Seeing his expression, Lilith looked at him curiously. An intense desire for knowledge reflected in her eyes. "So, what happened between you and her that Elias decided to do something so insane?"
Damian had no intention of keeping that from her, but he had another question first. "Before I tell you that," he frowned deeply, his tone grave and with just a hint of hesitance. "Do you… have any news about Lyra or Hans? They were in the car with me when Elias attacked."
Lilith parted her lips to answer, but then the door to his room suddenly flew open, and a frantic Lavinia stormed inside. "Damian?!"
Her already crimson eyes had become bloodshot, like shards of ruby in a lake of blood. A haggard gaze immediately focused on her upright son, and relief practically poured out of her, followed by tears of joy.
Without delay, she stormed over, and Damian received her with a loving smile and open arms. He had a lot of questions, but none of the revelations he'd heard diminished his love for her.
She didn't immediately embrace her son, however. Rather, she anxiously placed a hand on his forehead and filled his body with myst. "How are you feeling?! Does anything feel strange? Off? Painful?"
Smiling slightly at her, Damian dropped her arms and let her fuss over him. "I feel fine, Mom. Better and stronger than ever, in fact. I almost squished poor little Lili earlier."
Lilith pouted aggrievedly, but Lavinia was entirely focused on Damian right now, and a small glint of jealously sparked in Lilith's eyes. Although, whether she was jealous of Damian or Lavinia was uncertain.
"It— It seems you're awakening really was a success…" Lavinia muttered strangely as her inspection couldn't find anything wrong with his body.
She looked at him, her midnight hair fluttering, her crimson eyes filled with worry. "Do you… have any recollection of what happened?"
Damian looked back at her and nodded slowly, his gaze inscrutable. "I do… which suggests that I deserve an explanation, don't you think?"
Lavinia immediately went still as her hand dropped from his forehead. For several seconds, she remained silent as her expression filled with anxiety. Eyes twitching, fingers fidgeting. She was nervous.
Damian didn't hurry her, instead continuing to look at her gently, waiting for her to speak. A few steps away, still sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lilith's eyes were panning between them, filled with curiosity. Without even knowing the details yet, she was already enraptured by the revelations that were sure to follow.
"I—" Lavinia began, but she clearly had trouble controlling her trembling body, so Damian took her hand and pulled her onto the bed. Despite her immense strength, she offered no resistance and dropped into a seated position on the bed in between her two children. She still didn't dare look at her son, however.
"Just tell me, Mom," he encouraged her. "I'm a little hurt you didn't tell me before, but it doesn't have to change anything. No matter the truth, you're still my mother. At this point, knowing where I truly came from is just practical more than anything."
His words appeared to soothe her. Her face relaxed slightly, and a sad smile spread on her lips. Finally, she turned to him. "There were… so many times I wanted to tell you. Really. At first, you were too young, and then…. then when you got older, I—"
"You were afraid I wouldn't see you as my mother anymore," Damian nodded in understanding.
A blush appeared on her cheeks. Smirking anxiously, she shrugged. "Maybe… a little…" But then she shook her head, before looking at Damian intensely. "But mainly, I— I didn't want you to go searching for them…"