CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER : 59 : HIS FAMILY!

The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on. Luna’s arms were crossed tightly under her chest, lips pressed together in a pout as her blue eyes burned with jealousy. On the other side, Lysandra stood just as rigid, though her pride tried to mask the way her voice trembled whenever she snapped at Luna.

"Don’t act like you own him," Lysandra hissed, her fists clenched at her sides.

Luna’s tail flicked in annoyance. "And don’t act like you can take him away from me, Princess."

Aiden groaned softly, running a hand through his hair. It was like watching two storms crash together, and if he didn’t step in now, the whole damn place was going to explode.

"Alright, enough," he muttered, moving between them. His arms slid around both of their waists before either could argue, pulling them flush against his body. "You two are driving me crazy."

They both froze at the sudden contact. Luna blinked up at him, her anger melting into something softer, while Lysandra stiffened in shock, cheeks dusting pink.

"Luna," Aiden whispered, tilting her chin up before pressing his lips against hers. She melted instantly, tail curling tight around his leg as her pout dissolved into a soft moan against his mouth. When he finally pulled back, she looked dazed, her anger gone.

Then he turned, catching Lysandra before she could retreat. "And you, Princess... stop overthinking." His lips crashed against hers, rougher this time, silencing her before she could protest. Her body trembled, but her arms slid up around his neck, pulling him closer, surrendering to the kiss.

When he finally broke away, both women were flushed, breathing uneven. He grinned, pulling them both in tighter against him.

"See? No fighting. I’m not leaving either of you. You’re both mine," he said, voice low but steady.

Luna buried her face in his chest, whispering, "Master... you can’t just kiss me into calming down."

But her tail wrapped tighter around him.

Lysandra scoffed, trying to look composed, though her lips were still swollen from the kiss. "Reckless... shameless man."

Yet her hand clutched the fabric of his shirt, refusing to let go.

Aiden chuckled, kissing the top of both their heads. "Yeah, yeah. Call me whatever you want. As long as you’re both here with me."

Aiden let out a slow breath, resting his chin lightly against Lysandra’s hair while his other hand rubbed the small of Luna’s back.

And then—

"KYAAA!"

Something slammed into them from behind, nearly knocking Aiden off his balance.

"Wha—Thristle?!" Lysandra squeaked as the hobgoblin princess all but wrapped herself around the three of them like a second skin.

Thristle’s laughter bubbled out, her voice shameless and bright. "Ohhh, this is perfect! All three of you together, and now me too!" Her strong arms hugged around Aiden, Luna, and Lysandra at once, like she’d been waiting her whole life for this ridiculous group embrace.

Luna’s ears twitched violently. "Wh-What are you—get off!" she hissed, tail whipping in irritation.

Lysandra was even redder than before, caught between outrage and mortification. "T-Thristle! This isn’t—! You can’t just—!"

"Yes I can!" Thristle cut her off with a giggle, squeezing tighter, pressing her cheek against Aiden’s shoulder as if staking her claim. "Because we’re going to be together now! All of us!"

Aiden blinked, caught off guard by how genuine her tone sounded. He’d expected more teasing, more play. Instead, Thristle’s smile held a strange warmth, a hint of relief that softened the wild mischief in her eyes.

"You’re insane," Lysandra muttered, her voice cracking. "You can’t just decide that—"

"Not going back," Thristle interrupted firmly, her arms loosening only enough so she could glance sideways at Lysandra. "I’m not going back to that damned palace. Not to my stupid father. Not to my brother. They can choke on their titles for all I care."

Her playful grin faded, her voice dropping into something more raw. "I’ll live here. With you. With him. With everyone. I’ll fight at your side in this war. And I’ll stay by his side—our side."

Lysandra froze. She had heard Thristle throw tantrums as a child, curse at teachers, pick fights with boys twice her size. But never once had she heard her sound this certain.

"You... you’re serious," she whispered.

Thristle’s violet eyes gleamed with the kind of stubbornness only a hobgoblin could muster. "Dead serious."

Luna clicked her tongue. "Hmph. You talk big. What if Master doesn’t want you here?"

Thristle smirked, tilting her head up to look at him. "Then he can tell me himself. Right, My King?"

"Don’t call him that!" Lysandra and Luna shouted at the same time, faces burning.

Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand, the other still trapped around two fuming women clinging to him. "I already accepted her as my wife. She can live."

Lysandra and Luna pouted at the same time but gave in due to Aiden’s earlier kisses.

---

Leona tugged on Ivy’s sleeve, her little wings fluttering. "Auntie Ivy... take me to Daddy."

Ivy smiled softly, nodding. "Of course, little one." Fluffynugget followed behind like he wasn’t going to be left out of anything.

They approached the messy group hug pile. Ivy tilted her head. "Leona insists."

Leona stretched her tiny arms toward Aiden. "Daddy. Hold me!"

Aiden didn’t even hesitate. He freed an arm, taking her gently and settling her against his chest. "There we go, kiddo. My little princess." He kissed her forehead, voice softer than anyone ever heard it. "Daddy missed you."

Leona giggled, planting a big sloppy kiss on his cheek. "Love you, Daddy!"

That single line melted every hardened heart in the circle.

But then, her bright eyes shifted toward Thristle. "Another mummy?"

Thristle’s entire face lit up like fireworks. "Ooooh!" She wriggled in excitement, practically bouncing on her toes. "That’s right, little flame! Another mummy!" She leaned close, pinching Leona’s cheek gently. "Look at you, cutie. Those wings! So shiny! You’re the prettiest little dragon I’ve ever seen."

Leona giggled, flapping them proudly. "Really?"

"Really!" Thristle beamed, exaggerated like she was telling the grandest truth in the world.

Lysandra’s eyes narrowed innocently as she jabbed a finger at herself. "Wait. Hold on. Then what about me? Am I not your mummy?"

Luna stomped her foot, ears flicking. "Yeah! Don’t skip me either! What am I then, huh?"

Leona tilted her head at both of them, blinking her big red eyes. She pointed at Lysandra first. "Mummy."

Lysandra froze. Then slowly, her lip quivered before she turned her face away, pretending she wasn’t grinning like an idiot.

Leona turned toward Luna. "Mummy Luna!"

"W-wha—" Luna’s face went crimson, her tail shooting straight. "She—she called me mummy too!" She puffed out her chest proudly, nearly tearing up. "Master, did you hear that? She acknowledged me! She actually did!"

Aiden chuckled, holding Leona closer. "Yeah, I heard it. Loud and clear. Looks like our daughter’s smarter than all of us."

"Damn right she is," Thristle added, smirking like she’d just won some kind of invisible game.

Lysandra shot her a glare. "Don’t you act like you planned this."

"Oh, but I did," Thristle teased, wagging her brows. "Kid loves me already. Sorry, Lyse."

Leona clapped her hands happily. "I have many mummies now! Mummy, Mummy Luna, Mummy Thris!"

Thristle let out a laugh at her nickname, swooping forward to ruffle Leona’s hair. "That’s my girl!"

Luna looked like she was about to pop a vein. "Don’t ’my girl’ her!"

Lysandra massaged her temple, whispering something like, this is chaos, but the faintest smile tugged her lips.

Aiden let them bicker, instead pressing another kiss to Leona’s head. "You know, a lot happened today." His voice was quieter, for his family more than the world. "And I didn’t even get to buy you all anything."

Luna whipped her head toward him. "Master... are you seriously worrying about shopping right now?!"

Aiden shrugged. "Well yeah. You think I don’t notice you girls staring at stalls when we pass them? Or how Leona’s eyes sparkle when she sees toys? Or how Ivy always circles the sweets stand before walking away?"

Ivy flushed, caught in the middle of fussing with Leona’s hair. "You... noticed that?"

"Of course I did." Aiden smiled faintly, rubbing Leona’s back as she snuggled against him. "I notice everything about my family."

For once, everyone went quiet. Even Thristle, who was usually a storm of words, blinked like she didn’t know what to say.

Luna bit her lip, cheeks glowing. "Master..."

Lysandra turned away again, her pride barely holding as her voice shook. "You’re insufferable."

Thristle laughed softly, softer than before. "Guess I really did pick the right man to crash into, huh?"

Fluffynugget finally barked, breaking the silence, his tail wagging as he nudged Aiden’s cheek like, don’t forget me too.

Aiden reached down, ruffling the pup’s fur. "Don’t worry, buddy. I didn’t forget you."

Leona lifted her head, her tiny arms still hugging his neck. "Daddy... can we go shop now?"

Aiden kissed her cheek. "Yeah, kiddo. I’ll spoil all of you."

The girls blinked, each reacting differently—Luna clutched her tail, Lysandra hid her flushed face, Ivy covered her smile, and Thristle outright grinned like a thief about to get away with a crown.

And Leona? She just giggled, wrapping her little wings around him like she wanted to protect him instead.

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END OF Chapter : 59 : HIS FAMILY!

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