Ancestral Lineage-Chapter 266: The Son of the Emperor
"Follow me," Ethan said abruptly, rising to his feet on the rooftop.
"Where?" Regnare asked, squinting up at him.
"Somewhere. Try to keep up, Reg."
"Uncle Trevor was right. I hate the name."
"You have no say in the matter. Haha!" Ethan's laughter rang out, sharp and teasing.
A faint shimmer of gold flickered around him, like sunlight piercing a tempest. With a sound like a celestial chime resonating through the air, a pair of radiant wings unfurled from his back, forged of molten gold, their edges shimmering with a vibrant, living light that pulsed with unspoken power.
Regnare snorted, his form shimmering as he shed his human guise. His body elongated, fur rippling into scales that gleamed like polished sapphire, reflecting the moonlight with an icy sheen. Claws dug into the roof tiles, and his eyes blazed with a piercing blue fire, cold and unyielding. A Draconic Wolf Spirit, Regnare's true form was a fusion of lupine grace and draconic might—massive wings of frost-wreathed shadow unfurled, and two tails tipped with crescent blades lashed the air, leaving trails of frost in its wake. "Don't call me that," he growled, his voice a chilling rumble that seemed to freeze the air itself.
Ethan smirked, then launched skyward. His wings beat once, twice, sending a gust that rattled the city below. Regnare followed, his powerful limbs propelling him into the air with a snarl, a faint mist of ice trailing from his scales. The night sky swallowed them, stars flickering like distant lanterns as they carved a path through the clouds.
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Their journey was no mere flight—it was a dance with the elements. Ethan soared ahead, his golden wings slicing through the wind, leaving trails of shimmering light that spiraled like comet tails. He wove between storm clouds, daring the lightning to strike. A bolt cracked, illuminating his form as he spun midair. He laughed as the electricity grazed his wings, absorbed into their radiant glow. "Come on, Reg! You're lagging!"
Regnare's response was a guttural roar that sent a wave of frost rippling through the heavens, flash-freezing clouds into glittering shards. His shadowy, frost-laced wings beat with primal force, stirring the air into a swirling blizzard. He surged forward, his massive form a dark silhouette against the moon, his blue scales glinting like frozen lakes. His claws raked the air, sending shards of ice cascading downward, dispersing the storm in a flurry of sparkling mist. "Keep talking, and I'll bury you in snow," he rumbled, his voice carrying the chill of ancient glaciers and forgotten tundras.
They crossed vast landscapes, each mile a testament to their power. Below, forests bowed under the pressure of their passing, treetops swaying as if in reverence. Rivers gleamed silver under the moonlight, their surfaces freezing into delicate patterns as Regnared skimmed low, his wings trailing a veil of frost that turned the water to ice. Ethan followed, his wings brushing the frozen surface, sending sprays of crystalline starlight skyward as the ice cracked beneath his warmth.
As they climbed higher, the air grew thin, the world below shrinking into a tapestry of shadow and light. The mountains loomed ahead, their jagged peaks clawing at the sky. Ethan banked sharply, threading through a narrow pass where the wind howled like a living beast. His wings pulsed, each beat a defiant challenge to the mountain's fury. Regnare barreled through, his massive form scattering loose rocks that froze midair, tumbling into the abyss below as glittering ice. His blue eyes gleamed with focus, every movement precise despite his size.
The secluded place lay beyond the range, hidden in a valley where no mortal dared tread. The air grew heavy with ancient magic as they descended, the stars above seeming to pulse in rhythm with their approach. Ethan's wings dimmed, their glow softening to a gentle ember as he landed on a cliff overlooking a crystalline lake. The water reflected the sky, its surface dusted with frost from Regnare's arrival.
Regnare touched down beside him, his form shifting back to human as his frost-wreathed wings folded into shadow and vanished. He stood tall, his grey hair dusted with snow, his blue eyes still glowing faintly with an icy intensity. "This better be worth it," he muttered, shaking frost from his jacket.
Ethan grinned, his wings dissolving into motes of golden light that drifted into the night. "Oh, it is. Welcome to the Haven, Reg. The real journey starts here."
...
"They're already bonding," Barki murmured, her voice soft with relief as she rested her head on Harley's lap. Her orange hair spilled over Harley's thighs, the faint shimmer of her horns catching the firelight.
"I told you Ethan would accept him," Harley replied, her tone warm. She gently brushed Barki's hair, her fingers tracing lightly over the smooth curve of her horns, a gesture both tender and familiar.
"Well…" Barki trailed off, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"How was it? How did you feel when he, you know…" Lisa interjected, her golden eyes glinting with mischief as she leaned forward, propping her chin on her hands.
Carmen's cheeks flushed, her gaze distant and dreamy. "It… it was more majestic than I imagined. A dragon in its full glory, untamed and radiant."
"Miss Carmen?" Andriel gasped, her voice laced with playful shock, a hand dramatically pressed to her chest.
"D-Don't call me that!" Carmen stammered, her face reddening further.
"Aww, our sweet CarCar!" the others chimed in unison, their laughter filling the cozy room.
"Ugh!" Carmen groaned, burying her face in Clara's lap, her embarrassment muffled against the soft fabric of Clara's skirt.
"I guess Carmen answered that one," Barki said with a smirk, her eyes twinkling as she glanced at the group.
"I'm pregnant," Harley announced suddenly, her voice calm but carrying a weight that silenced the room.
"Okay… wait, what?!" Seraphis blurted, her blue eyes wide with shock as she nearly spilled her drink.
"For real?" Pisces leaned forward, her blue hair catching the light, her expression a mix of awe and excitement.
"Does Darling know about this?" Christel asked, her voice steady but her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.
"A new son or daughter?" Elaine's soft voice carried a note of wonder, her gentle smile radiant.
"You're all just… getting pregnant now?" Athelia teased, her sharp grin revealing a hint of her fangs as she lounged back, one leg crossed over the other.
Harley chuckled, her hand resting instinctively on her stomach. "Yes, it's real. And no, Ethan doesn't know yet. I wanted to tell him when he and Regnare return from their little adventure. It feels… right to wait for the moment."
The room buzzed with a mix of excitement and playful chaos. Clara gently stroked Carmen's hair, coaxing her out of her embarrassed hiding. "Come on, CarCar, you can't stay buried forever. This is big news!"
Carmen peeked up, her face still flushed, but her eyes softening. "Fine, but you're all terrible. And… congratulations, Harley. That's… wow."
Barki sat up, her horns glinting as she turned to Harley. "A little one, huh? Ethan's going to be insufferable when he finds out. All that golden-winged pride swelling up."
"Don't remind me," Harley said with a mock groan, though her smile betrayed her affection. "He'll probably insist on naming the baby something absurd like 'Aurion' or 'Luminos.'"
"Or Regnare Junior!" Lisa quipped, dodging a playful swat from Barki.
"Absolutely not," Harley laughed. "One Reg is enough for this family."
The fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the group as their laughter and chatter filled the space. Outside, the night was still, the stars above the Haven valley pulsing faintly, as if echoing the life and bonds growing within the room.
But beyond the warmth of their gathering, a subtle shift stirred in the air. The ancient magic of the Haven, so potent in the valley, seemed to hum with a new intensity. The women felt it—a faint prickle on their skin, a whisper in their minds. Something was coming, tied to Ethan and Regnare's journey, and now to the new life Harley carried. The Haven was no mere sanctuary; it was a crucible, and their arrival here marked the beginning of something far greater.
As the group continued their teasing and planning, Harley's gaze drifted to the window, where the crystalline lake reflected the starlit sky. She tightened her grip on Barki's hand, a quiet resolve settling in her heart. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together—Ethan, Regnare, Delphina, their unborn child, and this fierce, unbreakable family.
...
"I suddenly feel… lighter," Ethan blurted, his grin stretching wide as he gazed out over the crystalline lake, the starlight dancing on its surface.
"Bet it's not because of me," Regnare quipped, his blue eyes narrowing playfully, though his voice carried a mock edge.
"Wish it wasn't," Ethan shot back, his golden eyes glinting with mischief.
"Damn old man," Regnare muttered, crossing his arms, his sapphire scales catching the moonlight as he leaned against a jagged rock.
"Hey, I'm still in my prime!" Ethan protested, flexing his shoulders as if to prove it, his wings flickering briefly into existence before dissolving into motes of golden light.
"You were hibernating for two decades. What were you, 18 back then?" Regnare raised an eyebrow, his tails flicking, leaving faint trails of frost on the ground.
Ethan shrugged, unfazed. "Guess that makes me seasoned, not old. Besides, I'm not exactly human, you know."
"Seasoned like ancient ice," Regnare snorted, his breath forming a faint mist in the cool night air.
"Keep talking, and I'll make sure you fail the test," Ethan teased, his voice carrying a mock threat as he pointed a finger at Regnare.
"Already planning my funeral, Father?" Regnare smirked, emphasizing the last word with a dramatic flourish, his wings twitching slightly.
Ethan laughed, a deep, resonant sound that echoed across the valley. "Didn't expect you to pull the 'Father' card so soon, you little brat."
"Tch!" Regnare scoffed, turning his head away, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.
The air around them pulsed with the Haven's ancient magic, the valley's secrets humming beneath their banter. The stars above seemed to brighten, as if approving of their bond, forged through sharp words and shared challenges. Ethan's grin softened as he glanced at Regnare, sensing the unspoken trust growing between them. Whatever the test ahead entailed, they'd face it as father and son—ice and gold, bound by something stronger than blood.
