Lilith broke the silence. "So tell me, what did our Majesty ask as a signature for her contract?"

Adrian froze, his posture stiffening. "You don't want to know," he replied flatly, standing up as if to dismiss the conversation entirely.

But Lilith wasn't having it. "Oh, come on, Adrian. You can't drop that and walk away."

"I can, and I will," he said firmly, taking a step toward the edge of the camp.

But Hera's melodic voice stopped him in his tracks. "Adrian," she called smoothly in a regal and commanding voice. "You should be proud of it."

Adrian groaned softly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He turned back around reluctantly.

Hera stepped closer to the group, her golden hair shimmering under the starlight as she addressed her sisters. "Since our dear Champion won't share, allow me to enlighten you."

A smirk tugged at her lips, and she lifted her chin slightly, her blue eyes glinting with amusement. "I asked him to allow me to dominate him in bed."

The fire crackled in the stunned silence that followed.

Lilith's jaw dropped, and she clutched her stomach, doubling over in laughter. "You—what?!" she gasped between giggles.

Ava blinked, her amber eyes wide. "Wait, you're serious?"

Eris snorted, shaking her head with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Of course she is. It's Hera. What else would she ask for?"

Medea crossed her arms, her crimson eyes narrowing as a slow smirk spread across her face. "Why are we even surprised? She's the literal Goddess of Pride. This checks out."

"Exactly," Hera said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "You understand perfectly. It's not just about dominance; it's about establishing the proper balance of respect. I refuse to settle for anything less."

Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Can we not make a big deal out of this?"

"Too late," Abyss murmured, her usually stoic tone laced with dry humor.

Hestia, reclining against a boulder, yawned. "I mean, it's bold, sure, but did anyone really expect her to ask for something boring like... a handshake?"

Selene shifted uncomfortably, her silver eyes darting between Hera and Adrian. "It's, um, certainly... unique."

Hestia opened one eye lazily from her reclining position, her marine-blue gaze fixed on Adrian. "Well, that's one way to keep him in line."

Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience visibly wearing thin. "Are you all done?"

"Not even close," Lilith said with a grin, leaning forward conspiratorially. "So, Adrian, how does it feel to know you've been claimed by the Queen of Pride?"

"I didn't say I agreed to anything yet," Adrian replied quickly, his tone defensive.

"Yet?" Hera arched an elegant brow, her smirk deepening. "Oh, don't pretend you won't succumb to me eventually, Champion. You know as well as I do that my terms are... generous."

Abyss, who had remained quiet until now, tilted her head, her violet eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Generous isn't the word I'd use," she said in a calm tone. "Specific, maybe. Fitting for Hera, definitely."

"As expected."

"Exactly," Hera said, her voice smooth as silk. She gestured gracefully toward Medea. "You understand. A contract should reflect its creator's essence. And mine? It must embody the respect and devotion I command."

Lilith smirked, her crimson eyes darting to Adrian. "Well, Adrian? Ready to sign, or are you hoping for a luxurious hotel to seal the deal?"

Adrian groaned, running a hand through his hair. "You're enjoying this far too much."

"Oh, absolutely," Lilith replied with a wink.

"And Hera should be the one answering that question. She might not enjoy receiving this," he gestured to his groin, "on a hard surface."

Selene, sitting quietly at the edge of the group, finally spoke up, her voice soft but steady. "Lord Adrian... if you feel this is necessary, then perhaps it's worth considering. Hera's power could be vital in our fight."

Adrian turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "It's not about the power, Selene. It's about—"

"Admitting that you like the idea?" Lilith interjected, her grin wicked.

Adrian shot her a look. "Not helping."

Hera's laughter filled the air, light and melodic. "Oh, don't fret, Champion. You'll come around eventually. Pride always wins in the end."

Eris leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she studied Adrian. "You know, this is the most entertaining conversation we've had in weeks. Can't we just get this over with and move on?"

Adrian sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. If it shuts all of you up, I'm doing it. Later. Right now, we have more pressing matters to deal with."

Medea raised an eyebrow. "Like what? You've already decided we're staying here to train."

"Yes, but we still need to figure out the best way to use our time," Adrian said firmly, regaining his composure. "And for that, I need all of you focused."

Ava chuckled, leaning on her staff. "Good luck with that. This group? Focused?"

"I'll settle for 'less chaotic,'" Adrian replied dryly.

The group exchanged amused glances, but the teasing subsided. Hera's smirk lingered, but she inclined her head slightly, a subtle acknowledgment of Adrian's leadership.

"Fine," Medea said finally. "We'll save the fun for later. For now, what's the plan?"

Adrian glanced around the circle, his gaze meeting each of theirs in turn. "The Shadow Court is out there, growing stronger every day. We need to be ready for whatever they throw at us. That means training—together."

"Together?" Eris echoed, her tone skeptical. "You really think we can pull that off without killing each other?"

"It's not optional," Adrian said firmly. "If we're going to win, we need to be a team. That means understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses, and how to work together."

Hestia yawned, stretching lazily. "Sounds exhausting."

"You'll survive," Adrian said, his tone sharp.

Abyss nodded, her expression serious. "He's right. We can't afford to be divided."

Selene's soft voice added, "Unity is our greatest strength. If we can overcome our differences, we can accomplish anything."

Lilith leaned back, her grin playful but her eyes thoughtful. "Fine. I'll behave. For now."

Adrian nodded, his determination unwavering. "Good. Because the Shadow Court isn't going to wait for us to get our act together. And neither will I."

Hera studied him for a long moment, her blue eyes gleaming with something between pride and approval. "You're learning, Champion. Perhaps there's hope for you yet."

Adrian met her gaze, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Don't get used to it."

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