In a walled-off garden, Damian sat on a blanket draped over soft green grass, his back leaning against a tree. His crimson eyes were half-lidded in comfort, his dark hair wavered in the wind, and his handsome face carried a lazy smile.
Luna sat in his arms, her back resting against his chest as her long silver hair flowed down both their bodies. She looked comfortable, but her expression was a little sullen.
"Just stop thinking about it," Damian suggested with a hint of amusement.
"Hmpf…" Luna snorted in frustration. "How can I? My father made sure you won't be there to see our child grow up; I have to miss you for several years, and to top it all off, you'll be in danger!"
"And that's just the personal stuff!" she continued, growing increasingly agitated as she turned around to half-glare at her lover. "I also can't believe how much the Council has been lying to us!"
Smiling gently, Damian leaned forward to pull her back against his chest. "All those things are true, and neither of us can do anything to solve those problems right now."
He leaned closer to whisper in her ear, fully intending to distract her from these things. "But those things will still be there tomorrow after I'm gone…" Suddenly, he licked her ear, causing Luna to shudder lightly. "So how about we do something that's only possible right now…? I don't feel like I've stocked up enough on memories of your naked body."
Damian had tried his best to enjoy as much time as possible with Lavinia, Luna, and Lilith, but… in the end, the woman he'd spent most time with was Ylva. The Amberkin needed his near-constant help to properly calibrate his catalyst.
Fortunately, everyone understood the importance of this, considering Damian would be on his own for a while. Yet, it meant he hadn't been able to spend as much time with them as he would have liked.
A blush spread on Luna's cheeks. Pouting, she reached behind her to pinch him indignantly. "Pervert…" she muttered, not very convincingly.
For a moment, her eyes shone with desire. It was not that she didn't want to feel his touch as much as he did hers, but instead of giving in, she shook her head. "Later! You promised we could talk!"
Wryly, Damian sighed dramatically and sagged back against the tree again. "Damn you, past Damian. Why do you always saddle me with your problems?"
"Gods, you're such a drama queen sometimes," Luna muttered, rolling her eyes despite the amused smile spreading on her lips.
"Don't you mean a mighty drama king?" Damian asked, while puffing out his chest in pride.
"Shut up and listen!" Luna growled, smacking his chest with her hand as she narrowed her eyes. "This won't be as bad as you imagine it."
Damian sighed again, unsure whether or not to believe her, but he still nodded. "Alright, Lunes. Lay it on me, but remember I'm leaving tomorrow, so let's try to part on good terms…"
Grinning, Luna decided to lift his spirits in one single sentence. "Don't worry, I've already decided that I can share you with Lilith and Lavinia…"
"Really, now?" Damian immediately exclaimed, raising an eyebrow as he leaned forward with an excited smile. Suddenly, he found himself far more interested in this conversation
Rolling her eyes again, Luna pushed him back against the tree and nodded with a smirk. "Yes. It didn't actually take me long to realize that I'd always have to share you with your family emotionally, regardless of whether you're having sex, and since I'm already willing to let you have casual sex with others…" she shrugged. "It really wasn't such a big leap to make."
Excited, Damian tried to respond, but Luna pressed her fingers against his lips with narrowed eyes. "Uhuh! I do have conditions!"
Unable to stop himself from grinning, Damian spoke against her finger, "Then speak, so I can quickly agree to them!"
"Hmpf, we'll see about that," Luna grumbled, before quickly raising a single finger. "First of all, I'm still uncomfortable with the fact they're your mother and sister, even if you're not related by blood, so… until I get used to it, please try not to confront me with it too much."
Damian immediately nodded. "That's easy! I won't be here for a while anyway, and even if I was, Lilith is still too young, and Mom too powerful."
Wryly, Luna nodded. "Yeah, I didn't think that one would be too difficult…" She raised an eyebrow, as well as a second finger, "But let's see if you can say the same about my second condition!"
Seeing that Erik was waiting patiently, she continued. "Secondly! I have veto rights if you ever want to start another true relationship with someone! Obviously, you can keep having sex with anyone you like, so long as you at least take pictures, but if anything else comes of it, I need to agree first!"
Damian hesitated slightly… but then quickly nodded. He didn't much care for getting restricted in such a way, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make in order to make things work out with Luna. It's not like he had his eye on anyone else right now, anyway.
Happy that he agreed, Luna decided it was time for the third and final condition. Damian could see some nervousness behind her eyes, but she hid it well. "I want to be your Firstbond…" she said, her grey eyes fixated on his with focus and determination as her hand pressed against his chest.
"W— What?" Damian exclaimed, eyes blinking rapidly in surprise. "You want to create a Kinclade?! Does that mean you also want to accept the offer I made on my birthday?"
A small smile spread on Luna's lips as she nodded. "Yeah… let's create a powerful family, Dames. A family to rule all others, and use it to make life better for all Eldkin… with me as the Firstbond, and you as the Primebond."
In Eldkin society, a Kinclade was essentially a marriage where multiple partners were married to a Primebond, who would designate one person as their primary spouse, the Firstbond, and all others taking the position of Lifebonds.
Damian opened and closed his mouth a few times, not really sure what to say. "I—"
"You don't want to?" Luna immediately interrupted with narrowed, threatening eyes. She didn't enjoy his hesitation.
But Damian immediately cleared that up when he vehemently shook his head. "No! I mean, yes! I do want to, it's just…" his expression became a little more difficult. "I don't really want to relegate my sister and mother to Lifebonds…"
Now understanding his hesitation, Luna sighed in relief. She'd hoped he would accept. She loved Damian, and after essentially cutting ties with the Lykos, as well as a child on the way, she desperately wanted to create her own family.
"I get that…" she nodded gently, smiling at him. "We'll figure something out, I promise. But for now, I want us to bond and establish our kinclade before you leave, alright?"
Yet, before Damian could agree, Nova warned him about a message from his mother.
"Dami, that boy Lex is here. Come to my study."