Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Hugging onto Lilith's tummy, both Ty and Arkanos were all smiles as they snuggled against the little bun-to-be. I was a little envious they were touching my wife more than me, my lips pursed, and my gaze shifted to Mia, sitting with her arms bound with a sliver of Abyssal Night against a large bloodstone stalagmite piercing up from the floor.

"Was it necessary to bound her?" Rey Nala asked.

"I could run my spear through her skull and be done with the issue," I lightly replied, eyeing the abyssal child. " Personally, I would have loved to kill her, especially with Lilith being so weak right now. I don't like taking chances. Not when the odds aren't in my favor right now."

Lilith flintched at my words, and she lowered her head. Noticing the disappointment, I sighed, realizing I had just called her useless. My hands passed through the waterfall of silver hair, and to her sublime cheeks, a faint flush of pink.

"Want to help me with something? You were always a good teacher." I lightly said, watching Lilith's amethyst eyes gradually rise to meet mine, shimmering with a spark. Her ruby red lips blossomed into a smile.

"I would like that," Seemingly more alert, as if she had woken with tons of energy, Lilith leaned into my palm, "your warm."

My lips lifted, "I always am."

"No! Mama! Stay with Arkanos and Ty!" The Little dragons shouted, glaring at me.

My brow twitched, but I brandished two chops to their tiny heads, causing their eyes to turn to water; I snorted. " Lilith is my wife, and I am the badass to put my seed in her. I—"

Tackling me down, I swore my two little girls began stomping on me.

"My baby! Mine!" They cried the bodies flushed with qi.

These little bastards are actually trying to hurt me!

"Lilith, stop them!" I cried, ready to shadow step away. "This is a betrayal!"

"Ty needs a baby brother!"

"Arkanos needs his hugs!"

"Now. Now," Lilith interjected, wrapping her hands around the two traitorous dragons. "That's no way to treat your father. Your inherent knowledge isn't always correct, Ok."

"He was asking for it," Ren said, with a contemptuous smirk," Everyone knows that Female Dragons will protect their young from just about anyone, even their mate. It's ingrained in their blood." His gaze warmed as he stared upon the two children huddled together, "From what I knew, Male Dragons will go as far as eating other the eggs of a female if they don't belong to him, simply to mark his territory and mate. Dragons are pretty territorial."

"Recorded," Avar added.

Rising to my feet, dusting myself off, I glared a the two dragons glaring back at me and sighed. That would make a lot of sense, but I am their father. Did they really think I was going to harm Lilith? Swatting down beside them, the two continued to glare with heavy vigilance—alarm written over their teary eyes.

Maybe it was their age, or perhaps it's just too much to resist one deepest instinct. How many years, cycles, and possibly Dao Cycles were needed to develop such an innate response?

"Papa forgives you," I said, patting their little heads as large pearly tears slipped down their cheeks. The vigilance within them didn't diminish, but I could feel the love.

"Protect Lilith from everyone, even from me, Ok?"

Bobbling their heads, the two little dragon girls wrapped their arms around me. The voices were faint, but I could still hear there. 'I love you," spoken deep into my ear.

"My God, I can't wait for the little one to be born," Lilith muttered, holding onto the little bun cooking in the oven. Eyes brimming with longing, she lifted the two dragons form out of my arms and onto her shoulders.

"Come with me," I said, leading Lilith deeper into the cave. That had been emptied, according to Avar.

Revealing a few things that had happened during this time, Lilith seemed to nod as I showed her the effects of my tarnishing upon the Flames of Hellfire.

"Sene, I think you are starting too big." She said with a knowing frown. Her eyes filled with noble wisdom, "You are trying to Tarnish a tool older than possibly Asmodeus or Iluthtath. Why not master the Tarnishing first."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"From what I can see, there are many ways to tarnish something, correct?"

I nodded, "Yes, Darkness, Hell, the Abyss. All of these great powers I have can tarnish."

"Then, choose a field. I suggest your Path of Abyssal Night. That way, you can get closer to the Path and The abyss. Try tarnishing spells, artes, or even the Spear of Pestilence. All these things are Tarnishable."

A bitter smile slipped over my lips, " Could it be that I had been blinded by greed, that such an obvious solution was right before me?"I muttered softly, shaking my head, already knowing the answer.

"Maybe," She said, " But who knows. But I do know that this ability to tarnish is downright scary—used by all of the Fallen since ancient times. But they cannot Tarnish as you can. It seems like Zariel gave you an unexpected gift. I'm not even sure he knew this would happen."

"You think so? Well, I guess it doesn't matter. Not really, anyway. Not when we have a much bigger problem." I uttered rather coldly, touching in between Lilith's brow, relaying all that I had seen in that vision.

"What do you know about Ouroboros." Lilith's expression dimmed. But I continued. "Did you see the Serpent eating its tail, or was that just me, imagining things?"

"I'll speak to your brother." Lilith calmly uttered, her tone so cold that I felt a shiver dance along my spine.

Releasing a grim breath, I shook my head, pushing those thoughts away for now. "Anyway, what else can I do regarding the Tarnishing. A fresh perspective is always welcomed. Especially from my lovely wife."

"You trying to butter me up? Are you expecting something tonight? Sex perhaps?" She mused, glancing at the confused stares of Arkanos and Ty.

"Sex? What's that? I'm talking about a good fucking."

Lilith's cheeks flushed, and I came close enough to smell the lavender emanating from her skin with a step forward. I continued, "Unless you aren't stressed. I have quite the surprise—"

"MIA!!!!!!"