"They are very united," Alina sighed dramatically, though the fond curve of her lips completely ruined the complaint. "I’m clearly outnumbered."
For a heartbeat, Dante looked at her as if processing that statent, and then a deep, unrestrained laugh broke from him. It surprised even himself, rolling out warm and loud against the howl of the wind behind him. "Now you understand my pain," he said, still laughing, his voice rich and relaxed in a way it rarely was. "Being outnumbered every day by those two little tyrants."
Alina didn’t comnt on the laughter. She simply watched him, her gaze soft and lingering, as if committing the sight to mory. Even through the screen, even with the storm dark sky and jagged cliffs behind him, he looked devastatingly handso. Faint flashes of light skimd along the curve of his horns, and his crimson eyes glowed with a dangerous, restrained warmth.
"Mom," Sable said suddenly, wriggling, his voice full of importance, "Extra Aunt Lyla let us eat bread with honey this morning."
Lucien nodded, eager to add details. "And fruit. She said it’s good for energy. I think it worked because Sable ran for a very long ti."
"I ran faster than you," Sable protested, puffing up slightly.
"You tripped," Lucien replied calmly.
"I didn’t trip," Sable insisted. "The floor moved."
Dante’s laughter faded into a quiet chuckle as he listened, his eyes softening. "Did you eat properly?" he asked, his tone shifting naturally into sothing more gentle.
"Yes," Lucien answered imdiately. "Mom makes sure."
Sable nodded hard in agreent. "She gives us water and tells us not to play too rough inside. But we still play a little rough."
"A little?" Alina echoed, raising a brow.
Sable smiled innocently.
Lucien leaned closer to the screen. "Dad, the city is very loud," he said thoughtfully. "But it’s interesting. There are many cars, and people don’t use magic at all. They wait for lights to change before crossing roads."
Dante humd, amused. "And what do you think about that?"
"I think it takes patience," Lucien replied seriously. "But Mom holds our hands, so it’s fine."
Sable chid in, eyes bright. "And there are ice cream trucks. Mom says we can’t eat it every day, but she lets us sll it."
Alina laughed softly. "That’s called self control," she said, ruffling his hair.
Dante watched them all quietly.
"That’s good," he said at last, his voice low and sincere. "Play well. Eat properly. Listen to her."
"We do," both boys answered at once.
"Since everyone had so ti off, I thought it would be nice to take them on a short holiday," Alina said, angling the screen so he could see the boys leaning against her. "We’re going by train. I really wish you were here."
For a mont, Dante didn’t answer. His gaze stayed on the three of them together. "I wish I was there too," he said finally, the words coming out quieter than he intended. The need he felt was sudden and deep, like sothing tugging at him from the inside.
Longing.
"We’re even going to have a sleepover on the train," Alina continued, her excitent impossible to miss. "Two days. I thought of taking a plane at first, but then I watched a few videos. The train passes through mountains, rivers, long stretches of green. It looked so beautiful. Slow, but beautiful."
Lucien nodded earnestly. "Mom let us watch the videos too," he said, leaning forward so his face filled more of the screen. "The scenery changes slowly. I liked that. You can think properly while watching it."
Sable bounced where he sat, unable to stay still. "There are tunnels," he added excitedly. "And bridges. Big ones. Mom said we can sleep and wake up in a new place."
Dante’s lips curved into a soft smile. "You’re sleeping on the train?" he asked, pretending calm even as the thought made his chest tighten.
"Yes," Alina replied. "Little beds, little blankets. I already packed snacks because I know how these two get when they’re hungry."
"We don’t get like that," Lucien objected mildly.
"You do," Sable said imdiately. "You get quiet angry."
Lucien frowned. "I do not get angry."
"You do," Sable insisted. "Your eyebrows do this." He scrunched his face into a very serious imitation.
Alina laughed, turning her head away for a second. "See?" she said fondly.
Even Dante chuckled at that, the sound brief but genuine. "Listen to your mother," he told them. "Stay close to her. Don’t wander off."
"We won’t," Lucien promised. "I will count the stops."
"And I will count snacks," Sable added proudly.
Dante shook his head slowly, affection softening every sharp edge of his face. "Of course you will."
Alina looked at him then, her smile gentler now. "I’ll send you pictures. And videos. You’ll see everything."
"I’ll be waiting," he said, aning far more than just ssages.
The boys leaned closer to the screen, almost climbing into it.
After the long call finally ended, the screen going dark in his palm, Dante stayed exactly where he was for a few seconds, his hand still lifted as if she might reappear if he waited long enough. Then he lowered it slowly and closed his eyes. The wind around the cliff howled low and deep, carrying the scent of ash and heat, but none of it reached him the way her voice had.
"Lord, we’ve prepared the sleeping arrangents in the cave," one of his shadow soldiers said from behind, respectful and steady. "You can co inside."
"Got it," Dante replied, his voice calm as ever, even though sothing in his chest still felt unsettled.
He turned and walked into the cave, its entrance wide and jagged like the mouth of so ancient beast.
Inside, the space opened into branching paths, each corridor carved naturally into the stone and claid as a temporary room for his soldiers. Torch charms glowed softly along the walls, casting a muted amber light that chased away the worst of the darkness without fully banishing it.
He didn’t hesitate. He walked straight down the first passage, which led to his room.
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