Chapter 342: _You’d Be Amazing Fathers

Lucian’s POV

*****

He almost couldn’t believe what he was hearing right now. One second he was spiralling about the recent state of the Empire after they opened their borders to Arcadian refugees.

And now?

His mate... his Omega... his soon to be Luna King—

—Was talking about having a baby?

"Wait, wait..." Lucian grabbed Elian’s face, keeping his gaze steady on him. "Did the system like... tell you which of us would be the father? Kyren or me?"

The Rogue King, who’d been awfully quieter than usual since Elian let out the news, scoffed. "Asking the real questions, I guess."

"It is a valid question." Lucian barely spared him a side eye. "If the baby is going to be mine, I’ve... got a lot to plan. I mean, I’ve always imagined having children. But right now? While the whole continent is torn by war and—"

"Lucian, hey?" Elian jolted him with his tightening grip on his arms. That made his breath hitch as he focused on those violet eyes. "Relax, okay?"

The Alpha King shook his head. "Relax? Elian, we’re talking about the potential future of the Stormborn bloodline." A thought crossed his head and settled there before he could muster the will to chase it.

"Fuck. W–what if I’m not ready to be a father? The whole madness with my dad... what if I pass down this family’s shitty trauma and... and I—"

There was a hard slap on his waist just then, dangerously close to his ass. He flinched, his face reddening when he saw the hand belonged to Kyren.

"I believe everyone in this room has our own fair share of trauma," he barked an unenthusiastic laugh. "I guess what you have to ask yourself is... if you truly want this. Deep down. And if you can trust yourself enough not to make mistakes your parents made."

Silence.

Lucian cut Elian a look before both men brought their gazes to Kyren.

"What about you though?" The Alpha King found himself asking.

"... What about me?"

"Aren’t you curious to know if you could be the one to father our mate’s first born?" Lucian arched his brow with genuine curiosity. "I mean, you do have far more experience. And—"

The Rogue king snorted. "Experience?" He inched back a couple steps while shaking his head. "On what? Slaughtering armies? Manipulation? Blackmail—?"

"No need to list your credentials," Elian rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"But that’s just it, little flame." A pause. "My parents already take the crown of worst on Evaros. I barely had a childhood. All I’ve known is war, pain, suffering and death..."

"Kyren—"

"How am I supposed to be a ’good’ father?" There was a crack behind those strong words. Barely noticeable. But still there. "The idea is almost laughable. Pathetic, really."

Elian slowly withdrew his fingers from Lucian—and the latter allowed it.

He watched silently as the omega gently raised a hand to Kyren’s cheek. He rubbed a thumb across his face as a slow smile cracked his lips.

"Kyren Nochthane." Elian whispered. "You’re the scariest. Cunniest. Most mischievous—"

Kyren rolled his eyes. "If this is some kind of reverse psychology thing to get me to—"

"... Most protective of those he truly cares about." Elian added, warmth rich in his tone. "Most passionate and loving without words. You’re danger and beauty wrapped into someone who’s won my heart. Over and over again."

Lucian’s chest tightened with something annoyingly similar to jealousy. He attempted to divert his gaze when Elian stretched a hand to his wrist.

He froze, his face flushing when he saw that knowing light behind the sly omega’s eyes.

"And Lucian..." He cooed. "The most stubborn man I know. Even in the way he loves. You’re ready to use yourself as a shield even if it means facing death herself."

The Alpha King got flashbacks of their encounter against Amara. Back in the Arcadian capital.

Indeed, he’d almost been ripped to shreds because he refused to give up on Elian. And to think once upon a time he tried convincing himself he wouldn’t blink if the boy dropped dead.

Elian drew both men—arguably the most powerful on the continent—to himself. Then he brought his mouth between their faces.

"The love you two have shown me and your respective people is enough proof that you’d be awesome dads."

Lucian could’ve sworn he heard him sniffle. Frowning, he pulled back a bit to take a look at Elian’s face.

"... Are you crying?"

There were legit wet streaks trickling down the Omega’s face. But he flung his head to the side, shaking his head furiously. "Of course not," an obvious lie. "It’s just... if you blockheads are still hesitant after all those poetic lines I might have to kiss my mana core goodbye. And I literally just got it so..."

He chuckled dryly, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

Wait... what?

"Seriously?" Kyren gawked speechlessly. "Why?"

"Uh... because this crazy ass system gives me penalties if I fail a mission? It’s been a fucking running gag since day one."

Lucian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "And you didn’t see the need to lead with that from the beginning?"

Just before Elian could push out more words, Lucian lifted a finger.

"Never mind." He sighed. "Just... where do we even begin with this? We can’t let you lose your mana core. Right, Kyren?"

The Rogue King stared blankly, as if he were wondering if he’d just genuinely been asked that. When Lucian glared, the Rogue King brushed back his lush white hair. "We sure can’t."

A flicker of hope lit up Elian’s eyes. But then they dimmed for a beat. "Are you guys doing this because of the penalty or—"

"Elian, no." Lucian held his hand. "I... I’m willing to walk this path with you. With... both of you." He angled his head to the still reluctant king of the Dark Lands.

Kyren appeared to soften when Elian looked between the two of them.

"... I’m willing too." He nodded slowly, fingers tightening around Lucian and Elian’s hands. "We burn together. Remember?"

Gradually, Elian’s usual cocky grin stretched his teeth. "You two are the fucking best." Without warning, he kissed both men on the cheeks.

The back of Lucian’s ears heated wildly but he didn’t have the time to process as the love of his life cleared his throat.

"So..." Elian brought out a glass vial containing yellow pills with a dangerously playful grin. "Which one of you wants to ruin my life first?"