"Wait, wait, wait! Are we just gonna ignore the fact that this mysterious husband of yours is a god!?"
Elizabeth's expression was incredulous. Her mind struggled to comprehend what was being said around her.
Selunara raised an eyebrow, "What about it?"
Elizabeth's expression crumpled, her tone growing more strained with each word she spoke.
"You slept with him. A god. A member of a species that finds sick pleasure from toying with mortals and those they believe beneath them. And you let him impregnate you?"
Selunara's eyes narrowed by a fraction, "Get to the point Elizabeth."
Elizabeth didn't falter for a moment. Meeting her sharp gaze, she asked, word by word.
"Did you love him?"
By this point, those uninvolved in the conversation could see that something was off with the direction of this conversation.
"Yes."
Selunara's voice was firm and direct. Not a shred of shame or hint of doubt.
"Even when he has proved to be just the same as others of his ilk? A man–-a thing, that sates its immortal weary with hedonistic pleasure and leaves us 'lessers', to suffer the consequences."
"Elizabeth."
"Am I wrong?? Is that not what he did to you!?"
Selunara stared at her in silence before shaking her head, " You don't know him like I do."
"BUT I KNOW GODS! AND HE IS JUST LIKE THEM!"
"ELIZABETH!" Selunara raised her voice for the first time.
Elizabeth stood up sharply, the chair behind her crashing to the ground with a harsh sound as she began to shout, "YOU–"
But her voice faltered when she saw the hurt and pleading in her friend's eyes.
"Madam, you called for…uhh, am I interrupting?"
Garren walked into the room with impeccable timing. His expression was slightly awkward as he surveyed the tense atmosphere in the room.
Elizabeth glared at Selunara, her fists clenched so tightly blood seeped through her fingers. Gritting her teeth, she whipped around. Her pace hurried as she walked toward the door as though escaping.
Just as she reached the threshold, Selunara's voice echoed from behind her, "I had hoped you, of all people, would support me."
Elizabeth trembled, but didn't turn to face her. She couldn't.
"I can't support this. Not even for you Selly."
With that, she walked past Garren and disappeared down the hall.
Selunara stayed seated, her gaze locked on where her back had been for a long time. But the sudden warmth that enveloped her hands brought her back to reality.
Beside her, both Ana and Lilith were crouched, holding her hands tightly as if trying to transfer their strength to her.
Seeing their perpetually teary eyes, she laughed softly, brushing the dry streaks and unshed tears away as she said, "You two are really a bunch of crybabies. There were no notes about overactive tear ducts in the reports my spies sent me."
Whether they were too emotional or simply chose to ignore the disturbing side-comment, the two girls shook their heads. They found that they couldn't speak, so they transformed their words and feelings into warmth through this childish action.
"Alright, Alright girls. I'm fine!" she said, her voice laced with amusement.
"Ma…" Nevaris called her, his voice thick with worry.
Seeing his expression, Selunara answered with a small smile, "I'm fine, Nevi."
Nevaris frowned, "But–"
"Honestly! If I say I'm fine, then I'm fine! You are five hundred years too young to be questioning me boy!" Selunara exclaimed in exasperation, "And look at these two beautiful faces! Who could possibly be sad next to them?"
Selunara then proceeded to smush both Ana and Lilith's faces to hers on either side. Painting a comical yet oddly visibly pleasing picture of monochromatic harmony.
From Ana's earth-toned bronze skin, to Lilith's soft coffee, and ending with Selunara's pale, moonlit ivory, the contrast between them was as striking as it was beautiful.
Noticing Nevaris' enraptured expression, their faces blushed a furious red as Ana scratched behind her ear while turning away in embarrassment, and Lilith, shameless as always (according to Nevaris), met his burning gaze head on.
Her own pupils beginning to form familiar, ominous shapes.
"Hahaha, jeez you guys are acting like you haven't slept with each other yet. Don't tell me you're waiting for the wedding or something?'" Selunara laughed.
Her laughter was met by silence and rigid postures.
Not seeing the expected responses, her laughter died as she looked at her petrified daughters and sweating son.
"...Seriously?"
She turned her scrutinizing gaze to Ana first.
"W-Well…"
Then to Lilith.
"In my defense Ana knocked me out before I could rip his pants off," she shrugged. Completely unbothered by her predatory behavior.
Selunara held back her words of approval, not wanting to make Ana feel bad. Instead she shot a sharper glare at her handsome son.
"Are you impotent?"
"Wh–"
"Do you like men?"
"MA!"
She crossed her arms with a suspicious look, " You have two beautiful, sexy young fiancees. Both of whom clearly have interest in you–"
""We love him.""
"--who love you. And somehow they have stayed in this house for more than 24 hours, untouched," Selunara shook her head, "I'm disappointed in you Nevi. To think my darling baby was somehow infected with that human illness they call morality."
Somehow, the genuine disappointment in her eyes stung him more than the crucifying roast session she had just put him through.
"I-I just didn't want to rush anything and come off like some kind of horny beast! Is that so wrong??"
Selunara looked at him with undisguised contempt, "When I first met your father, he pinned me down and plowed my fields for three days and three nights before he even spoke words of love to me. As his son, how can you act so prudish! You are tarnishing his reputation!"
Nevaris' dark skin started shifting colors faster than a chameleon. The disgust and horror of what he had just heard caused his face to turn the same grayish color as his hair.
Ignoring the trauma she had just inflicted on her child, Selunara pulled the two bashful maidens in front of her and spoke solemnly.
"Listen here girls! Clearly this pathetic son of mine still holds some of his old cowardice. Mom is counting on you two to pin him down and get the job done. I want to see my grandbabies before you all are married!"
Ana's already red face turned brighter as heat flared across her cheeks, but she still nodded to appease the wolf before her.
Lilith scratched her cheek awkwardly as she stuttered, "U-Umm actually, I already gave darling an a-animas mark…"
Selunara blinked a few times before tilting her head in confusion, "I don't sense the presence of one in his soul. Are you mistaken dear?"
Lilith froze, her standing form resembling a stone statue.
"A-Anyway!" Nevaris rushed to change the subject, "Do you have anything else to say Ma? I have things to do!"
Rolling her eyes, she snorted and said, "The Draconic Synod is in two weeks. And this time, your grandfather has made it clear that you must attend."
Garren, who had been forgotten about after Elizabeth's tantrum, visibly tensed as his old eyes turned sharp. Even Selunara herself had been more solemn.
Confused by the shift in atmosphere, Ana and Lilith both stayed silent. Well, Lilith had been unresponsive to any sort of stimulus since Selunara's earlier words, much to Ana's worry.
Contrary to the reaction both Garren and Selunara expected, a wide, manic smile etched itself onto Nevaris' face.
The violet glow in his eyes pulsed with a dark intensity, as if a spark of chaos itself had ignited.
"Perfect, saves me the trouble. I think our "loving" family is in need of a reintroduction. Don't you agree, Ma?"
Garren's body trembled, his blood circulating rapidly as his gaze brightened toward this "new" young master of his.
Selunara watched her son with a look of pride and relief.
'Finally. Are you seeing this husband? Our son is growing up.'
Selunara closed her surging emotions away behind her eyelids before opening them, her own face sporting a smile just as menacing as his.
"Good! I'm looking forward to this gathering for the first time in awhile~"
Parent and child both laughed, the moment seeming genial and warm, but if others could read their minds at this moment, the terror they would feel would suck the thought of warmth right out of their soul.
"Alright I need to catch up with that psycho bloodsucker," Nevaris said as he stood up.
Selunara raised an eyebrow, "Elizabeth? What for?"
Nevaris thought for a second before replying, "I need a favor from her."
Though she had questions about what this favor was, Selunara just nodded before tossing something toward him.
"Here."
He caught it and was immediately shocked by its weight. Feeling a small strain just by holding it with one hand.
When he got a look at it he was surprised.
"An ankh? Is this…"
"Your father's," Selunara smiled longingly, "He left it for you a few days before he disappeared. He said you would need it."
The ankh gleamed with a deep, obsidian sheen, its smooth surface absorbing light rather than reflecting it. The loop and cross stood sharp and precise, yet there was something forbidding in its simplicity.
"What…is it?" Nevaris asked as he observed it.
"I don't know," she said with a shrug, "That bastard left it for you so you figure it out."
Nevaris looked at her open pout with a blank expression.
With a sigh he turned and headed for the door but stopped and quickly ran toward Ana.
Giving her face a quick kiss, he smiled broadly and said, "I will leave Lilith in your capable hands my love!" Before bolting out the door with a snicker.
Dazed by the kiss, it took Ana a moment before she realized she had been duped as she yelled, "NEVARIS!"
But he had already disappeared.
Selunara chuckled as she thought, "Like father, like son."