Archer blocked a punch from the Darkthorne Emperor, who was injured and bleeding from several lacerations decorating his body. While fighting, he looked into the man’s red eyes and spoke. ’’You’re a strong fighter, but it’s not enough.’’
He grabbed the Demon’s forearm and brought him forward as he landed a sickening headbutt that sent a shockwave shooting out, thanks to the overwhelming force that connected.
The emperor beca disoriented, but Archer moved forward and took out the man’s legs before holding him by the throat. ’’I’ll give you one chance, beco allies with and live or die?’’
’’Allies?’’ the Demon muttered, confused.
’’Yes,’’ he answered with a knowing smirk. ’’I’ll marry Nemuia to guarantee the safety of your family and lands. Call it a reassurance for you, as I don’t normally attack relatives unless they betrayed .’’
When the emperor heard this, his red eyes opened so wide they looked like saucers, making Archer laugh as he cast healing magic over the older man. Once the Demon was healed, he helped him up.
’’You idiot, Demons were lured into fighting ,’’ he revealed. ’’What’s the point when my empire can offer you everything you want?’’
The emperor glanced at him before shaking his head and answering. ’’And what is it that we want, White Dragon?’’
His smile grew wide as he responded. ’’No struggling winters where families perish in their cold hos. I’ll have my legions go into every village, town, and city to build apartnts.’’
’’Apartnts?’’ the man asked.
Archer nodded while waving his hand and creating a mana screen to show the current apartnts in Emberport City. ’’Yes, they are buildings I designed to house huge amounts of people while keeping them warm in the winter and cool in the sumr,’’ he revealed.
Just before the Demon could respond, he held out his hand. ’’I’m Archer Wyldheart, Emperor of Draconia.’’
The older man took it and introduced himself. ’’I’m Lucifer Darkthorne. Now, can you tell more about these buildings you speak of?’’
’’Of course,’’ he replied. ’’First, let’s get the ladies to stop fighting.’’
Archer’s gaze turned to Inara and Nemuia fighting before using his Mana Manipulation to drag both won toward him. This shocked Lucifer, as his daughter appeared before them, breathing heavily.
The two won looked at each other and went to fight as their auras flared, but that was instantly shut down. ’’Enough, both of you!’’ his voice cut through the tension. ’’I’m going to heal your wounds, and then we’ll sit down and resolve this like civilized beings, not beasts tearing at each other’s throats.’’
Inara’s red eyes narrowed, her gaze locking onto him with a mix of disbelief and defiance, as if she thought he’d lost his senses entirely. Her tail flicked irritably, betraying her skepticism as her anger wasn’t relenting.
’’What’s going on with you, Arch? Normally, we’d fight until their dead?’’ she questioned.
Archer, however, rely rolled his broad shoulders in a casual shrug, his expression softening.
’’Ever since Freya ca into this world,’’ Archer began. ’’Sothing’s shifted in . I don’t want to be the bloodthirsty brute I once was, love.’’
His eyes, usually sharp with the edge of a warrior, softened as they drifted to Inara. ’’I want to be better for her. A better man than my father ever was. I refuse to let her see that savage side of , the one that thrives on violence and chaos.’’
Inara’s expression faltered, her ears twitching as his words sank in. The older lioness, seasoned by years of survival and motherhood, felt a warmth kindle in her chest. Her lips curved into a radiant smile, one that softened the hard lines of her face and revealed a flicker of pride.
Archer’s gaze had a playful glint sparking in his eyes as he added, ’’You’d better be ready to look after our little one, my love. I know you’ve raised cubs before, and you’re a fierce mother; no one could doubt that. But this one?’’
He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that carried both affection and pride. ’’This one’s mine, too. She’s got my fire in her, and that’s a different kind of challenge altogether. We’ll all need to be a team to keep up with all the children coming.’’
The words struck like a thunderbolt. Inara froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes, wide and unblinking, locked onto his, searching for any hint of jest or mistake. ’’What did you just say?’’
Her voice was barely above a whisper, sharp and brittle, as if the words might shatter if spoken too loudly. Archer leaned closer, his hands still faintly glowing as he gestured toward her midsection. ’’A cub, Inara. I felt it, a strong pulse, new but vibrant. You’re pregnant. Not far along, but it’s there.’’
Inara’s ears flattened against her head, and her tail lashed once, twice, before stilling. Her claws appeared and flexed instinctively as she grabbed his shoulders, digging into his skin, drawing blood.
’’No,’’ she said, shaking her head, her voice rising with shock. ’’That’s impossible. I’d know. I’ve been a mother before, Archer, I’d feel it. I’d know!’’
Her words tumbled out faster, edged with panic, as her mind raced to catch up with the revelation. Archer’s expression softened, but he held her gaze. ’’I know it’s a shock. I didn’t expect it either. But my magic doesn’t lie. There’s a life growing inside you. Our cub.’’
Inara’s breath hitched, and she pressed a hand to her abdon, as if trying to feel what he had sensed. Her eyes glistened with disbelief, and she shook her head again, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. ’’I’ve been hunting and fighting. I haven’t been sick, haven’t felt... anything. How could I not know?’’
Archer slid closer, his hand reaching for hers. This ti, she didn’t pull away. His touch was warm, grounding, and his voice carried a quiet intensity. ’’Inara, I didn’t know either. But... a cub. Our cub.’’
He quickly continued and reassured the lioness. ’’She’s fine, and you think a baby of mine will be easily injured?’’
The older woman giggled when hearing this, but soon enough, Nemuia interrupted. ’’I’m sorry to both of you, I would have never fought you if I knew you were with child.’’
Archer waved her away. ’’You won have to trust , the cub is fine and healthy thanks to being shielded by a layer of my mana,’’ he revealed.
When Inara and Nemuia heard this, they sighed in relief as Lucifer stepped forward, smiling. ’’Congratulations, Dragon, a child is a blessing regardless of our past.’’
’’Thank you,’’ he answered before creating so tables and chairs. ’’Sit down and get comfortable.’’
Following that, Archer pulled out so pizza, which shocked the Demons as Nemuia curiously questioned. ’’What is this strange-looking food?’’
’’It’s one of my creations,’’ he revealed. ’’I love to cook for the won, and these are sothing I ca up with a couple of years ago.’’
Their shock was even greater as the older man spoke. ’’Don’t you have servants for that?’’
Archer chuckled at their reaction before explaining. ’’What’s wrong with cooking? It relaxes and my won love it.’’
As those words left his lips, he motioned for Inara, who bead as she took a slice. ’’It’s delicious, you both should try so.’’
Monts later, Nemuia shrugged. ’’Seems like she’s eating, so it’s safe,’’ she said.
The Demoness took a bite for herself and ate a mouthful, only to go stiff as her red eyes widened in utter shock. She quickly swallowed it before looking at her father. ’’It’s amazing! You should try so.’’
When the older man heard this, he nodded and tried so, just as Inara spoke up. ’’I’m going to tell Nala and the others. They should be in the palace.’’
Archer smiled as she kissed him on the cheek and vanished into thin air, shocking the Demons, making him laugh. ’’She just returned to my palace back on Draconia, it helps if we can teleport everywhere.’’
Lucifer started chuckling after finishing a mouthful of pizza. ’’You’re making jealous, but enough of all this. You say you want to marry my daughter? Did you an that?’’
’’Yes,’’ he answered honestly. ’’I know you Demons are a wary bunch and won’t take the word of a dragon who’s the world’s number one enemy at the mont, so that was to show I’m serious.’’
When Nemuia heard this, she choked on the pizza she was eating before exclaiming. ’’What are you two planning? You do realize I am a full-grown woman, Father!’’
Archer chuckled at her reaction and decided to jump in. ’’I was the one who suggested it. We clicked on our first eting, and you haven’t stopped looking at ,’’ he said, smirking.
The Demoness’s cheeks went a dark shade of red, making Lucifer laugh as he revealed. ’’I’ve never seen her so flustered. She hasn’t shut up about you, Dragon.’’
His words only made things worse as Nemuia’s head snapped toward the older man as she refuted his comnt. ’’No, I never! Stop lying or I’ll tell mother!’’
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