"Who is… them?" Damian asked sceptically, still holding his mother's hand soothingly.
Before she could answer, Lilith suddenly appeared on Damian's other side and snuggled up against him. Her large, curious eyes centred on their mother as she, too, wanted to know what this was all about.
Damian simply pulled her a little closer and nodded at his mother to continue. Neither mother nor son even considered kicking Lilith out for this, because why would they? In the cutthroat politics of Eryndor, and even within the Moroi family as a whole, these three were a united front, and they shared everything.
Lavinia, who was still sitting on the bed's side, looked at her two children with love, affection, and a small smile.
She looked as captivating as ever, her long, midnight hair cascading down her back and onto the sheets, a striking contrast to her fair skin. Her elegant black dress, with its high collar and daring cut, exuded both power and sensuality, revealing just enough of her beautiful skin to both entice and intimidate.
After a moment of silence, her expression fell again. First, she sighed and then made her first revelation: "Them is… your biological parents."
Damian heard her words and… was surprised to realize he didn't really care. Or, rather, he wasn't surprised.
Lavinia's worried eyes immediately flew towards Damian to gauge his reaction, and felt relieved when she found only wry acceptance.
"I figured as much," he sighed softly and shrugged slightly. "Even if I refused to believe Elias when he mentioned my mixed blood, it would be hard to deny at this point."
"But…" he muttered as he cocked his head to the side and kissed Lilith's forehead, before bringing Lavinia's hand closer to his lips and kissing that as well. A charming, slightly cunning smile spread on his lips. "…why would I care about that? Family is what you make of it, right?"
Lilith giggled from his kiss and snuggled a little closer, a content smile on her lips. Meanwhile, Lavinia looked at him with cautious optimism. "…Really?" she asked hesitantly.
Damian smiled slightly. The truth was that, while he really didn't feel particularly affected by this, he'd still need a little time to truly come to terms with it. But… he refused to show that doubt in front of his loving mother. No matter what, his mother she remained, and she didn't deserve his doubts.
So, he nodded, still smiling, and opened his other arm in a welcoming gesture. "Of course, Mom. I mean, I still need to hear the rest of the story, but if the worst you did was raise and love someone you didn't give birth to, then I'll be the last person to condemn you for that. Even if you could have told me a little earlier."
Lavinia's eyes shone with relief, but there was still something she needed to clear up: "I— I really was going to tell you before the awakening I'd planned, you know… I— I mean, I'd have been forced to anyway afterwards, but…"
Damian chuckled, "I know, Mom. I believe you. Now, come here."
Gladly, Lavinia sighed and lay down next to her son, who wrapped his arm around her. Now, Damian was sandwiched between his beautiful mother and sister, and he sighed contentedly. After surviving Elias' schemes, he couldn't be happier with where he ended up.
Perhaps a little too happy… His body started to heat up a little. He was actually surprised by that reaction. Usually, he had more control of himself.
Naturally, Lavinia noticed, and suddenly lost all her previous relief and anxiety to glare at him instead. "Damian… what are you thinking?"
Despite his surprise over his own reaction, Damian simply grinned and pulled the two women a little closer. "Nothing that any other healthy young man in my position wouldn't think, Mom…"
Lavinia's eyes widened at his frankness, and she pushed herself up again to glare at him from above. "You…! Since when have you had such thoughts?!"
Surprisingly, Lilith didn't have any strong reaction to his admission. Rather, she nuzzled her face deeper into his side as a small grin spread on her lips.
"Come now, Mom," Damian chuckled as he looked up at her mischievously, unintimidated by her glare. "It's not like it's a strange thing among Bloodkin, and, as it turns out, we're not even related by blood!"
Whatever his second bloodline was, it hadn't interfered with his Bloodkin mindset. As a Moroi through and through, he'd always been attracted to his beautiful, loving mother. He just hadn't acted on it before now…
'It's strange… for some reason, I'm feeling a lot more impulsive,' he thought curiously. 'Previously, I'd never have considered letting her know my intentions before having the power to be worthy of her, but now that doesn't seem so important anymore.'
For a moment after his admission, silence reigned as Lavinia glared down at him in an attempt to intimidate him. Yet, Damian's expression only got more daring, so she finally scoffed and decided to make a point.
Suddenly, from one moment to the other, things changed significantly. Moving faster than either Damian or Lilith could follow, Lavinia jumped on top of her son, grabbed both his hands, and forced them above his head. During the this, Lilith was unceremoniously pushed to the side so quickly, yet gently, that she barely noticed the moment.
With her dominance established, Lavinia leaned closer to Damian's face, growling softly as her fangs elongated slightly.
"You think you're the only one who wants me, boy…?" she growled softly as she slightly parted her luscious lips to show off her dangerous fangs. A hissing noise left her throat. "I've got a whole city lusting after me. You think you'll stand a chance just because I raised and love you?"
But, despite the apparent danger, Damian was unimpressed. His mother's power coiled around him, and he couldn't move a finger, even as one of the most powerful people in the city hung threateningly above him. Right now, she could do whatever she wanted. Kill him, rape him, but Damian knew she'd never do any of that.
Yet, he understood her point and grinned up at her. "Don't worry, Mom. I won't make a move on you before I'm worthy. But… if you expect me not to react when you snuggle up against me, then this will be the first time that I have to disappoint you."
Their situation lasted for a moment longer, during which Lavinia inched closer and closer to his throat with her long, terrifying fangs, and Damian looked at her mischievously as if daring her to go through with it.
Finally, she snorted, and nicked his throat with her fangs. Then, releasing his hands, she sat back up with a wry grin. "Cheeky brat. We'll see if you have what it takes when the day comes."
Damian grinned back at her. He couldn't wait for that day.