Archer stood nearby, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he watched the scene unfold. In the warm glow of the flickering hearth, Hecate, Kestria, and Dara sat on a thick woven rug, surrounding the three babies, Kela, Neoma, and Freya.
The air was filled with the sweet music of infant giggles and the gentle, playful murmurs of the won. Hecate dangled a colorful cloth toy above Kela, who swiped at it, her grey skin catching the firelight as she squealed in delight.
Kestria, her brown hair falling over her shoulder, was making silly faces at Neoma, who responded in a burst of indignant babbles, as if scolding her for the absurdity of it all, making him smile.
’Seems like it was a good idea to rescue them,’ he mused in amusent. ’I’ll give them mansions close to Dragonheart City so they can co visit the babies.’
Following that, Archer turned his attention back to Dara, who cradled Freya close, humming a soft lullaby that made the baby’s eyelids flutter. The sight ward his heart, grounding him in a mont of rare peace.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. He turned slightly to see Osywn, his older brother, leading Ryn and Jal. The man’s broad fra filled the doorway, his weathered face softened by a familiar grin.
Ryn, ever the joker, had a mischievous glint in his eyes as he started feeling comfortable in the Domain. While Jal, the quiet one, brought up the rear, his expression was calm but observant.
’’Arch,’’ Osywn said, his deep voice cutting through the babies’ chatter. ’’We’re turning in for the night. Jal’s already scoped out the beds, and he says they’re comfortable enough. A damn sight better than what we’re used to.’’
Jal nodded, his usually reserved deanor giving way to a small, satisfied smile. ’’Thick mattresses, clean linens,’’ he said, his voice low but clear. ’’They’ve even got proper pillows. Beats the hell out of huddling in the corner of a cell during the winter.’’
Ryn let out a chuckle, clapping a hand on his shoulder. ’’Yeah, no kidding. I’d take a soft bed over a cold stone floor any day,’’ he comnted. ’’Rember that ti we got stuck in that cave during the storm? Thought my back would never forgive .’’
Archer laughed, the rare mory of him spending ti together when he was younger flashing vividly in his mind, Ryn complaining loudly while trying to find a comfortable spot on the unforgiving rock, Osywn grumbling about the damp, and Jal silently enduring it all.
’’You whined for days after that,’’ he teased, earning a mock scowl from his younger brother.
’’Whined? ?’’ Ryn shot back, feigning offense. ’’I was providing morale, thank you very much.’’
He grinned, then glanced over at the won and babies, his expression softening. ’’Looks like the little ones are keeping everyone busy. They’re a handful, eh?’’
Archer’s gaze returned to the rug, where Kestria was now gently bouncing Neoma on her knee, the baby’s giggles filling the clearing like a lody. ’’More than a handful,’’ he said, his voice full of love. ’’But worth every second.’’
Oswyn followed his gaze, his gruff exterior lting as he watched Hecate playfully tickle Kela’s tummy. ’’They’ve got you wrapped around their tiny fingers, don’t they?’’ he said, a rare note of warmth in his tone.
’’Can’t deny it,’’ Archer admitted, his smile widening.
He looked back at his brothers, grateful for their presence. ’’Go get so rest. You’re safe here, and no one from the outside world can get in.’’
Jal gave a small nod of acknowledgnt, already turning toward the stairs, while Ryn lingered a mont longer, still chuckling. ’’Don’t let those babies tire you out too much, Arch,’’ he called over his shoulder as he followed Jal.
Osywn gave Archer a firm pat on the back, a silent gesture of camaraderie, before heading off. Once they were gone, Teuila’s panicked voice echoed in his mind. ’Arch! A plague has hit Pluoria and it’s bad!’
’What’s happened?’ he responded.
Following that, he turned to Hecate and warned. ’’Hec, I’m locking you and the babies in the Domain. The plague has hit Thrylos and will cause chaos across the world.’’
When the Moon Elf heard that, she jumped up while holding Kela. ’’Let help! My dicine and healing magic can help.’’
’’No!’’ he instantly rejected it. ’’You will stay with our daughters, and I’ll bring the others in here.’’
After seeing Hecate agree with a determined nod, Archer summoned over a dozen won who materialized around him, their forms shimring briefly as the magic settled thanks to the Dragon Tattoos that each of his won had.
Before any of them could fully orient themselves, he whisked them away to the treehouse. Archer stood at the center of the room, his broad shoulders squared, his white hair catching the warm light as he faced the group.
Each woman, visibly pregnant and radiating a mix of strength and vulnerability, stood or sat on the plush, moss-colored cushions scattered across the polished wooden floor. Their expressions ranged from confusion to defiance.
Their eyes locked on Archer as he surveyed them, his normally warm deanor was replaced by a steely resolve. ’’None of you will leave this place until I say so,’’ he declared, cutting through the murmurs like a blade. ’’Do you understand?’’
A ripple of reactions passed through the group. So won nodded silently, their hands resting protectively over their rounded bellies, trusting his judgnt despite the suddenness of his actions.
Others exchanged wary glances, their unease palpable. The air grew thick with tension as Kassandra surged to her feet, dark eyes blazing. Her flowing, sea-green robes swirled around her like waves, and her voice carried the sharp edge of a storm at sea.
’’What’s the aning of this, Archer?’’ she demanded, her tone a mix of fury and disbelief.
Her tentacles, usually hidden beneath her human guise, flickered briefly into view, curling with agitation. ’’You can’t just summon us like chattel and lock us away without explanation! We deserve to know why!’’
Archer chuckled before suddenly grabbing her waist and kissing the angry woman, shocking her into silence as she returned the gesture. Once they separated, he whispered. ’’I’ll explain everything beautifully, let’s just say it’s extrely bad and might change things.’’
When the young woman heard this, she nodded and sat down as he began talking. ’’Teuila here, sent a ssage about a plague hitting Pluoria, which explains the Alliance troop movents I saw.’’
As the group heard this, Ella spoke up. ’’Why are you moving us in here? Wouldn’t the palace be enough?’’
’’Unfortunely not,’’ he revealed, grimacing. ’’It will be tough out there thanks to the incoming drought that will hit.’’
Just then, the won erupted into a panic as Nefertiti rubbed her belly and questioned. ’’What about our families?’’
Archer glanced at the pink-haired succubus and answered. ’’I’ll have extra food and water delivered to them from the empire’s stockpiles. We have enough to feed our realm one hundred tis over.’’
He motioned toward Hali and Llyniel, who had just appeared. This made him laugh as he continued. ’’My gorgeous Wood Elf here tripled our farrs’ yields so we were able to store more than ninety percent of our harvest.’’
Nala raised an eyebrow. ’’And we still have enough resources to feed everyone?’’
He gave a confident nod. ’’Absolutely. And before you ask about the others, they’re either leading a legion or deployed at sea. Once they’re free to return to the Domain, I’ll teleport them here.’’
The group nodded in agreent. Archer then moved among them, sharing a brief kiss with each and promising to carve out ti when his duties permitted. Monts later, he vanished, leaving them behind as a pair of eyes locked onto him.
***
Freya’s tiny body went rigid as her father vanished, the air growing heavy with his absence. A vision seared into her young mind: Archer, her invincible father, stood broken and blood-soaked, facing a grotesque, unfathomable monster that threatened their world.
His scales were shattered, his breath ragged, yet he turned to her, his eyes catching hers through the chaos. That familiar smile, tired, tender, and achingly warm, flickered across his face, a beacon in the storm.
’’I love you to the stars and back, my little lady,’’ he whispered, his voice trembling with a love so deep it broke her heart. ’’Promise you’ll look after your Mama.’’
’’No, Father, don’t go!’’ Freya’s scream tore from her chest, raw and desperate, her voice echoing in the void.
Archer’s smile wavered, his violet eyes glistening with tears. ’’My work here is done, my sweet girl,’’ he said softly, his voice cracking. ’’You and your siblings are safe now. This... this was always my journey’s end. But know this, Freya, my heart belongs to you all, forever.’’
His image flickered, fading into the darkness of her vision, leaving her clutching at the empty air, her sobs the only sound in the silence he left behind. She began crying her heart out as she rembered his words. ’I love you, my little lady.’
Her mother, Sia, rushed to her and scooped her up but she couldn’t talk but knew she had to push him even further so he wouldn’t die and leave them alone.
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