Chapter 159 159

Chapter 159 159
THIRD POV

Down in the main hall, Nayara had returned to the library room where she’d left the other two. Seth sat at the small table provided for him, a heavy book open before him. His long finger slowly ran over the lines of words that formed sentences he couldn’t understand, but tried anyway. He repeated the words Aquila had been teaching him.

The demon who an hour prior had protested about being stuck with the responsibility of taking care of the almost mature tiger shifter soon found himself positively invested in his rapid skills at adapting to his guidance.

Like a proud father, Aquila leaned over his shoulder, watching him. He had expected the boy…no, man, to be restless, to be bored, or even itch to run. Instead, Seth sat there with great interest as he listened to the stories of Twilight, the Archgrim of death and the seven deadly sins of men. Though he struggled and stumbled, he remained patient, almost determined.

“W-R-A-T-H. Wrath,” Seth mumured, sounding out the words with care.

“Good. Now, read that one.” 
“...if…they want…a battle…” Seth spoke, pausing every few words as though he was tasting it at the tip of his tongue. “…I’ll give them…war.”

“Good boy, Seth.” Aquila smiled as he stood straight again. Seth’s tail, though a subtle move, thumped against the floor happily, causing Aquila to laugh.

“Feels good to be praised, no? Wait till you discover sex-”

“Aquila!” Nayar’s sharp voice hit him in the back, and Aquila spun. His green eyes were wide with that signature mischief. “Don’t corrupt the innocent,” she rebuked him.

“If I don’t corrupt the innocent, I wouldn’t be doing my job, now would I?” he grinned as he walked towards the infamous raven shifter, Nayara Vale.

Seth glanced back at them, looking at both of them curiously. “I want to know.”

“Know what, dear?” Nayara asked.

“Everything.” his eyes travelled to Aquila before going back to the numerous books that lined the walls. He pushed his seat back and stood on his feet. His pale green eyes were so earnest, it made Nayra’s chest ache until he said,

“What is sex?”

Her eyes twinkled delightfully as Aquila cackled in the background.

“He learns fast,” he laughed.

“Oh darling, sex is the fates' gift to our kind,” Nayara explained. “But for now, you don’t need to worry about things like that, unless--” she glanced at Aquila, who shot her a stern look for the first time.

“No, Nayara.”

“I’m just joking.” She rolled her eyes. “Actually, I’m more surprised that you haven’t corrupted him yet.”
“Please. I think I have more common Sense than that, madame.” Aquila huffed quietly as he folded his arms over his chest. Seeing as the both of them had nothing more to say to him, Seth walked towards the bookshelves again and reached out to pull another stack of books. Aquila watched him with quiet regard.
“He’s nothing like me…” Aquila said quietly. More to himself than anyone. Because that was what Crystal had said before.
“You would make a fine father, you know.”
The words hung in the air for a moment. Aquila looked away, out towards the dark windows, and for the first time in a long time he allowed himself to relive a past he fought so hard to keep buried, but somehow it always found a way to rear its ugly head up.
“No. I don’t think so,” he said quietly. “Not me.”
“You can’t let the past discourage you.”
“Perhaps. But no. You of all people know how it is with Incubus children. We were never programmed to be loved or have happy homes.” he paused, the memory of the past tugging at him. “I didn’t have anyone before the orphanage. Sure, my parents were still alive, but they might as well have been dead. So, no, I don’t think I’d make a fine father, as you’ve put it.”

He felt her arms wrap around his waist from behind as she pulled me closer to her before burying her forehead in between his shoulder blades.

“Then why did I just witness you teach Seth with patience?” she pressed a lingering kiss on his neck before pulling back. “I think…the one good thing about the past is that it gives way for the future,” she murmured against his skin.

Aquila turned in her hold, wrapping his tail around her hips, pulling her impossibly close to his body, like the space between them was still too much and all he wanted to do was make them as one. For a heartbeat he stared down into her crimson eyes, then used his right hand to brush a strand of raven hair from her face and kissed her forehead gently.

“You really are the wisest raven ever.”

“Of course I am.” She grinned, pressing herself even closer, her fingers trailing playfully down his chest. “And the most patient too. Which is why I’ve been waiting very, very patiently to use that gift you brought me.”

Her eyes darkened, bright with hungry desire, and he leaned down to kiss her--deep, slow, and all-consuming. But just as his hand came to cup her jaw, she bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood, and he hissed, pulling back with a smoldering gaze.

“I love you so much.”