"For this reason, I offer you hospitality, Althika." Lith continued. "You’d be my honored guest at the Mansion until the baby is born. After that, we’ll have to find you a different arrangement.
"You have my word that whatever you decide, you’ll have my full support and I won’t let anyone interfere with your plans."
"You and me both, Hatchling." Leegaain snorted, releasing thick puffs of black smoke from his nose. "I won’t let a bunch of arrogant Fae and plant folk abuse the little miracle that Erkin is.
"If they snuff out his flame, I’ll snuff out theirs. I will not rest until everyone involved is reduced to a pile of ashes attached to just enough flesh to beg for a mercy they won’t receive!"
"Order and Chaos, you’re so sexy when you act all romantic." Salaark said, blushing like a maiden.
How Leegaain’s oath to bring searing death and agony to the Redleaf clan could be considered sweet talk was a mystery that no one wanted to solve.
"Also, you’d better not forget about me, you worthless pieces of rotten wood." The Overlord’s smile turned upside down as she stared right into the surveillance mirrors. "Touch that child, and I’ll make you sworn enemies of my Nest. This I vow.
"As for you, sweetie, you can come to the Desert with me, if you want." Salaark moved to Althika’s bedside and took her hand. "Don’t get me wrong. Lith is a perfect host and a great cook, but his life is messy and dangerous.
"Nobody would hurt you in my house, instead, and no harm can befall those who carry my blood under my roof."
"I offer my hospitality as well, but in your shoes, I’d accept Salaark’s proposal." Leegaain said. "You might feel lonely in my home since there’s only me most of the time, while despite all his power, Lith is just a Divine Beast.
"In the Desert, instead, you’d be surrounded by people and protected by the most powerful Guardian on Mogar."
"Stop it." Salaark giggled like a little girl. "You’re making me blush."
"I agree with Leg- Grandpa." Lith said. "Meln might try to target you if he learns of what happened here, and I can’t always be there to protect you. Moreover, you’d always be one Gate away from my Mansion and family."
"I accept your offer, Overlord Salaark. Please, protect my baby." Althika tried to stand up despite her exhaustion, but her legs failed her.
Baba Yaga had to support her and conjure a floating chair for her with Light Mastery.
"No need for formalities, child. Salaark is enough." The Overlord pointed her finger at the Dryad’s forehead and released a spark of light. "You’re under my aegis now, and any enemy of yours is mine until our agreement is rescinded."
"Excellent." Lith took a deep breath to test his strength, discovering it had fully recovered. "As for you, Lotho, and you members of the Redleaf clan, I have a message I want you to relay to the rest of your kin.
"I know Meln. He would never be content with just one woman. There must be at least a handful of other Althikas out there."
"You’re right." The Dryad nodded. "There were four more women with me, and they all got pregnant with Meln’s baby. Three of them were plant folk and Fae. I know their names, but not their clans. We consider each other rivals and didn’t talk much."
"This is my message." Lith said. "If you need my help saving the babies, call for me, and I’ll come. Keep the babies a secret, or let the Vurdalak’s curse take its course, and I’ll become your sworn enemy.
"I’ll find and kill anyone who has sacrificed the infants for their own gain, and I won’t have any mercy for their mothers if, unlike Althika, they gave in to their lowest impulses. The Vurdalak bloodline is a disease that must be cleansed.


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