“… and it’s becoming clearer and clearer that we can’t continue on like this for too much longer,” Leon finished as he stared at his family around him, his golden eyes narrowed with intense seriousness. “The more power we accumulate, the less Heaven’s Eye can keep us covered and the more nervous those with Anastasios and the Grand Druid will grow.”

“I’m surprised,” Elise commented. “I thought we wouldn’t be having this conversation quite so soon. I would’ve thought we’d have more time to get our affairs in order.”

“We’ve gained power remarkably quickly, thanks to the Hesperidic Apples,” Leon said. “I suppose it isn’t the worst problem to have: people getting nervous at just how fast you’re growing. But it’s still a problem that we now have to deal with, and our quasi-resident tenth-tier mages are getting more demanding and less… accommodating. They’ve already levied subtle threats at me in private, though they’ve made it clear that they’re happy with the status quo. If that status quo changes, however, I’m not sure how accommodating they’ll be any more.”

Elise sighed, while Valeria scowled for just a moment before regaining her usual stoic expression. Maia, however, wore her anger more openly, while Anzu hardly flinched, seeming to stare at Leon with the expectation that he would already have an answer.

“What options do we have?” Valeria asked. “Fight our way out? Sneak away? Run to the Sky Devils?”

“None are particularly attractive options,” Elise said. “Heaven’s Eye is still good cover, Leon. No one can move against us without treating with the Director and all our economic might. If you remain peaceful and cooperative, then how can anyone justify moving against us when the cost would be so high?”

Leon shrugged. “Lost of reasons. Heaven’s Eye might not want to side with me, at least in their minds—and, I’ll admit, I don’t trust the Director to choose me over the Empires, too. The guild’s finances are too tied up in Imperial territory to just… cut.”

“The Director moved against the Sentinels for us,” Elise countered. “Admittedly, we didn’t have much business there, but the precedent was set. Aren’t you overthinking this, husband?”

Leon sighed and said, “Maybe. Maybe I just need a bit more perspective. Maybe I just don’t like being threatened.”

It was the arrogant ones that told you of their people getting nervous, wasn’t it? Maia suddenly asked. Leon could feel her anger through their connection, and it took some willpower not to let it feed his own at the situation they found themselves in.

“It was,” he confirmed, his eyes narrowing as he thought he landed upon what she was getting at.

Can we believe them? she asked.

“A reasonable point,” Valeria added. “They’re possibly trying to pressure you to give more than you have been with news of people in their Empires getting antsy.”

“A more believable scenario than such august beings as the Lord Protector and the Grand Druid being unable to properly control their sycophants,” Elise pointed out. “Have you asked the Director, Penelope, or Narses about this yet, Leon?”

“No. Aside from Nestor, the four of you are the first I’m speaking to.”

“Oh? How did that bastard ghost respond?” Valeria spat.

“I… may have floated the idea of going to the Grave Warden for support. Given that the Grave Warden’s responsible for our Clan’s current predicament—not that I blame him too much, though—Nestor didn’t… take my thoughts well. The rest of our discussion wasn’t particularly productive.”

“I should think not,” Elise said.

We’re not going to that one, Maia added, drawing a questioning look from Leon. With a haughty look, she continued, He wants us for some task, as you’ve said. He can do it himself. What service could we do that he can’t? And more, we owe him nothing.

“I agree,” Valeria whispered. “We don’t need another patron. Not yet, anyway. Let’s get a better idea of where we stand, and then we can start making alliances.”

“Speak with the Director, Leon,” Elise urged. “He’ll know what’s been said in the halls of power in Ilion and Evergold better than anyone else, and he’ll be more trustworthy than the Lord Protector or the Grand Druid.”

Elise then got a sly look in her eye.

“And, if even the Director can’t do anything, you can always marry Cassandra… That’s what the Grand Druid wants most of all, isn’t it? And aligning ourselves more with her would go a long towards buying her continued support…”

Leon just gave her a withering stare, but she endured it with such poise and grace that he could tell his tacit reply was ineffectual. He momentarily looked to Anzu, but his griffin-in-human-form just smiled at him and said, “I’m with you, big brother! No matter what!”

Leon smiled and clapped Anzu on the shoulder. “All right. When I head to Headquarters tomorrow, I’ll stop in at the Hexagon and have a few words with the Director. We’ll see if I’ve been too hasty…”

Elise smiled and hugged him, while Valeria lightly smiled, and Maia radiated approval through their connection.

—

Leon spent his night as he usually did: in his workshop. His ladies were now strong enough to not need sleep either, so while they all still got plenty of bedroom time, hours were freed up for them all, which went a long way toward relieving some of Leon’s lingering guilt for not spending quite enough time with them. Since they were all awake pretty much all the time, there wasn’t any pressure to catch someone before bed.

Likewise, almost all of Leon’s retainers, save pretty much for Helen, didn’t need sleep, either. So, they frequently had long training sessions that stretched well into the night. But after that, everyone would always separate for their individual training—Helen would usually continue her work, Anna would train her war beasts, and Leon had sent his retainers from the Bull Kingdom off to run some of the results of his research teams’ efforts through field tests.

Of all of them, only Red continued to regularly sleep, as she would frequently return to wyvern form and curl up on the roof of Leon’s villa, which he’d had to reinforce after she started doing that. Anna’s own wyverns weren’t too happy with her presence, but after some early ugliness, Red seemed content enough to ignore them, even if they were a little nervous with her around.

But Leon’s favorite place was in his workshop, and he had plenty of work to do. However, his mind was more concerned with the sword he had to make to aid his attempts to control the Iron Needle than any of his other myriad projects, many of which were also being worked on by his research teams. He hadn’t gotten too far in the sword’s design since he had barely begun to learn how to sky forge from the Thunderbird, but he was still sketching out designs for the weapon and working out its precise measurements.

As he was working, Nestor was taking a break from his golem modifications—and steadily ignoring Leon—by cooing over his new pet. Leon was happy enough to immerse himself in his work, but he soon found himself interrupted when Valeria waltzed in.

“Hey,” she said as she slid her arms around his neck from behind. He’d been so focused on his sketches that he hadn’t heard her enter the room and damn near leaped out of his chair.

“Ah!” he whispered as he realized whose arms were around him. In but a moment, he relaxed into her embrace. “Hey,” he repeated back.

Valeria leaned against him for a moment before asking, “Something for Sid?”

“No,” he replied. “Something for me.”

“For you?” she asked in confusion. “I didn’t think you needed a sword…”

“I don’t. Kind of. I need one made from my blood to use with the Iron Needle.”

Leon could almost hear Valeria frown. “Why?”

Leon sighed. “I needed some way to better control the Iron Needle.”

“And you went with a sword?” she asked as her head turned slightly in the direction of the gold tube. “Why not just practice with it? Or study it?”

“That’s… those are valid, I will admit. I just need something to help, and my Ancestor did so by creating an Adamant sword.”

“And you want to make one of your own?” Valeria asked. When Leon nodded, she added, “And the sword she made isn’t good enough?”

“Her sword is perfect in every way,” Leon bitterly replied. “Almost every way, actually. It responds to me as a bearer of her power. I don’t think anyone could even wield it, let alone harm me with it, but in the end, it’s her sword, made from her blood. It responds to her will.”

“Didn’t your more recent Ancestors use that sword to control the Iron Needle too?”

“Yes, but they were all Storm Kings. Their power compared to mine was the whole storm next to a drop of rain. The Iron Needle responds to me, has submitted to me, but for me to use its power without killing myself is another thing entirely. Even studying it safely is problematic given the practically unlimited power it contains. I need something to channel it through, something more durable than my own skin and bones. Adamant is the answer. If I encase the Iron Needle in Adamant, then its power will be that much easier to use and control.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it,” Valeria whispered. “You just need a sword of your own, then? Because you’re only ninth-tier?”

Leon nodded again.

Valeria’s lips turned upward in a smile. “If you figure out this ‘sky forging’, would you…?”

“Make something for you?”

It was Valeria’s turn to nod.

“You’ll have to be involved in its forging,” Leon said as he turned to face her. She had to loosen her hold of him to allow it, but allow it she did. “Creating such a weapon, made from your blood, isn’t something that can be done by someone else. I can guide you through it, but it’ll be your project.”

Valeria smiled a little bitterly. “Later, then.” Her smile then turned a little more mischievous. “What are you going to do with your family’s sword when all this is done?”

“Looking to use it for yourself?” Leon asked with a chuckle. Valeria shrugged, her smile not wavering at all. “You need the Thunderbird’s blood to use it, I’m afraid. But… passing it on to someone else isn’t a bad idea…”

Leon lowered his gaze to her stomach and reached out, grabbing her waist. Then, he moved his right hand in, lightly stroking her abdomen. Looking up, he gave her a meaningful look.

For a moment, she looked a bit confused, but then her smile vanished, replaced with a look of abject astonishment.

“You’re not serious?” she exclaimed, pulling back slightly.

“Not particularly, no,” Leon replied, his expression turning more serious. “However, I can’t help but… keep my legacy in mind. I’m all the remains of my Clan—as so many people are quick to point out…” He cast a look in Nestor’s direction, who he was about ninety percent sure was listening in. “I’m not ready for that step, but…”

Valeria relaxed and leaned back into him, gently pressing his head into her well-endowed chest as she pushed the rest of him back enough to take a seat on one of his thighs. Leon saw no reason to fight back.

“I love you,” she said. “Are we ready for this?”

“No,” Leon said, his voice muffled by shirt and chest. “But we will be, one day. Just as, one day, I’ll have to set my Ancestor’s sword aside for one of my own. If I want to wield the Iron Needle before achieving Apotheosis, that is. And I do.”

“But… children…” Valeria whispered apprehensively.

After a brief moment of silence, Leon hesitantly asked, “Do you… not want any?”

Valeria let him pull back a bit so they could make eye contact. When his golden eyes met hers, sparkling like perfectly cut sapphires in the light of his workshop, they both smiled, their whole worlds shrinking down to the two of them for just a moment. In that moment, Valeria took one of Leon’s hands—the one that he had placed against her abdomen just a couple seconds before—and brought it right back.

“This,” she whispered, “is yours. Any and all children that come from me will be yours.”

Leon smiled, though his lips weren’t the only thing rising in response. “I… can’t exactly promise the same, but you, Elise…” he shot Nestor a quick look before leaning in to whisper even softer to Valeria, “… Naiad… You three are the only ones for me.”

Valeria smiled back, warmth and affection shining from her expression like light from the sun. “And Cassandra, I think.”

Leon’s smile froze, and after a moment, faded slightly. “I keep getting that. Mostly from the Grand Druid, but—”

“It’s because it’s clear you like her,” Valeria playfully shot back. “I like her too. Not like that, but… I like her. She could fit in well here. Could.”

“Elise would be happy about it,” Leon murmured.

“She would be,” Valeria agreed.

“Naiad?”

“Her, too, I think. Maybe not vocally, but if Cassandra were willing to… participate in… group activities, I think our local river nymph would be up for one more. Maybe even without that incentive…”

Leon smiled, a little red coming to his cheeks. “And… you? Would one more be something you’re interested in? I seem to recall you having some strong opinions regarding that particular Princess.”

“They haven’t changed much,” she admitted. “But I want you to be happy.”

“And I want you to be happy. Would you be happier having to share me with even just one more woman?”

Valeria jovially scoffed. “Depends on the woman. ‘No’, would be my answer for most. It takes a special kind of bitch to make me make an exception.”

Leon blinked rapidly, unable to fully believe his ears. “I’ll, uh… keep that in mind, I suppose. You three are already more than enough for any one man, and that’s before taking you as a group…”

“You haven’t taken us as a group, yet, though,” Valeria teased.

“You know what I mean,” Leon riposted, eliciting a rare giggle from his silver-haired lover. “I just… I love all of you, and I don’t want to introduce anything… potentially unstable to what we have. I’m happy with the three of you, I don’t need any more. Maybe I like Cassandra, but that doesn’t matter. She’s beautiful and attractive in more ways than just the physical. But that doesn’t matter. I already have you three.”

Valeria shrugged, then stood up. For a moment, she stood above Leon rather imperiously, him seated in his chair with his eyes level with her collar. Then, she leaned down, lightly brushing her lips against his. When he began to respond, she laid a hand on his shoulder, then moved her lips to his ear.

She whispered so softly that even with his power, Leon had to strain a bit to hear her.

“I don’t want just anyone coming into our home and your bed. I want no one but me, Elise, or Naiad in your bed… with one exception…” She pulled back to look him directly in the eye. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you nail that bitch to the mattress, without a hammer. Or nails. Maybe I’d even help.”

She shot him such a sultry look that he completely failed to respond, his brain locking up with the visions she’d just put in his head and with the shock of Valeria of all people saying these things.

She didn’t wait for him to recover from that mental shock, simply shooting him a smile that told him she knew exactly what she’d said and that promised quite a bit more besides, and then turned around and sashayed out of the workshop, leaving him alone to contemplate her words.

“Is it over?” Nestor quipped. “I hope so, that was painful to listen to.”

Indeed, Xaphan crackled, throwing further fuel onto the fires of Leon’s embarrassment.

Just take them all, the Thunderbird added, proving to Leon that his embarrassment could, in fact, grow even more. You are my blood. Take many mates, make many children. Such is how a powerful mage ought to be. My Clan must spread from bounteous loins, gracing hundreds of women with seed!

Leon groaned and did his best to tune her out and made a valiant effort to get back to work over the next few minutes, but especially with the Thunderbird ranting about wanting more descendants and demanding, seemingly without even taking a breath, that he get on with making babies with every available woman in his immediate orbit—and as many as he could that were further afield—he couldn’t concentrate. All he could think about now was Valeria. A quick pulse of his magic senses showed that she was in her room already, lying back on her bed.

Her eyes turned in his direction; his wards let his magic senses through, but his magic wasn’t undetectable. She smiled, and most of her clothes vanished into her soul realm, leaving her lying back with only her socks and underwear to cover herself with, though covering herself seemed the last thing on her mind as she put herself on display just for him.

He didn’t even hesitate to rocket to his feet and move as quickly as he could without abandoning all decorum toward his workshop’s door.

“Leaving so soon?” Nestor asked. “I still have words for you.”

Leon stopped a moment. His eyes didn’t waver from Valeria. She couldn’t see him, his wards only allowing his magic senses through, but she knew he could see her.

“What words?” he growled.

“Words for you, about the Grave Warden,” Nestor said in response, advancing menacingly upon Leon.

“We’re not allying with him,” Leon said. Monotonously, he stated further, “Not until we’ve explored all other avenues. Apologies for floating that idea without thought. Please continue studying the Iron Needle. Goodbye.”

He didn’t even wait for Nestor’s response, the dead man seemingly freezing in place in what Leon thought was shock, and swiftly left. He admitted that he was thoughtless and careless for bringing up the Grave Warden with Nestor, especially right after discussing Jason Keraunos’ ark with the man and picking at some old wounds, and while he wasn’t taking the possibility off the table completely, he at least wasn’t going to just jump into it now.

He could apologize later, though. While her words about Cassandra had been enticing, all Leon could think about now was Valeria, and the things he could do with her on that bed.