"I think she'd like that," Satou said, relief flooding through him. He'd been worried this conversation would go much worse. "Thank you. Both of you. For being willing to give her a chance."

"Don't thank us yet," Lyra said with a slight smile. "If she tries to use her manipulation spells on you and I also noticed that you had been manipulated by her , I will shut her down so fast. I don't care if she's a three-hundred-year-old demon lord. No one manipulates my partner."

"Our partner," Jessica corrected gently.

"Our partner," Lyra agreed, reaching over to squeeze Jessica's hand.

Satou felt warmth spreading through his chest. This was his family. These two incredible women who accepted him despite his chaotic life, his dangerous decisions, his tendency to form connections wherever he went.

"I love you both," he said quietly. "You know that, right?"

"We know," Jessica replied, her smile radiant. "And we love you too. Even when you're an idiot who fights legendary heroes."

"Especially when you're an idiot who fights legendary heroes," Lyra added with a smirk. "Someone has to keep you alive long enough to see your grand plans come to fruition."

The tension in the room had eased, and now Urgak cleared his throat. "So, strategic implications. We're now allied with the Fallen Spires. That's a significant political development. Seraphine is fourth-seat, which means we have connections to the higher echelons of demon lord power."

"And it means we'll be drawn into demon lord politics more directly," Grimnir added. "Other demon lords will notice this alliance. Some might see it as an opportunity. Others might see it as a threat."

"Chronus already hates us," Satou pointed out. "Can't get much worse there. And Loki is our sponsor. Having Seraphine as an additional ally just strengthens our position."

"What about the human kingdoms?" Lyra asked. "The Reaper was sent by them to kill Seraphine. How will they react to learning he failed and that she's now allied with another demon lord?"

"Badly, probably," Satou admitted. "But that's a problem for future us. Right now, we need to focus on continuing to build our settlement, integrating the people we've rescued, and preparing for whatever comes next."

"Always preparing for whatever comes next," Lyra said with a sigh. "That's our life now, isn't it?"

"Afraid so," Satou replied. "But hey, at least it's never boring."

"I could use some boring," Jessica muttered. "Just a few weeks of peaceful development where you don't nearly die. Is that too much to ask?"

"Probably," Satou joked, then added more seriously: "But I'll try. No more fighting someone far stronger than me for at least a month. Promise."

"I'm holding you to that," Jessica said firmly.

The meeting continued for another hour, discussing practical matters—trade agreements with the Fallen Spires, potential cultural exchanges, defensive pacts, and resource sharing. By the end, they had the framework of a solid alliance that would benefit both territories.

When the meeting finally concluded, Urgak and Grimnir left to handle various administrative tasks. Cassius excused himself to rest—vampire or not, he'd been through a lot in the past few days.

That left Satou alone with Lyra and Jessica.

The three of them walked to Satou's private quarters—a modest building with a bedroom, small sitting area, and attached bath. Nothing fancy, but comfortable.

Once inside, Lyra immediately turned to face Satou, her expression serious. "Okay. Council meeting is over. Now tell me what really happened between you and Seraphine."

Satou had been expecting this. Lyra was too perceptive to accept the sanitized version he'd given in the meeting.

"We slept together," he said directly. No point being coy about it. "After the battle, after I woke up, we talked. Really talked. She was vulnerable in ways she hasn't been in three centuries. And we connected. Then, last night, we... became intimate."

Jessica's face flushed slightly. "Oh. That's... that's fast."

"Very fast," Lyra agreed, but her tone wasn't judgmental. Just observant. "Was it genuine? Or did her seduction instincts take over?

"

"It was genuine," Satou said with certainty. "She was terrified of falling back into manipulation patterns. We checked in constantly, made sure every moment was real and consensual. It was probably the most emotionally vulnerable intimacy I've ever experienced."

He sat down on the edge of the bed, suddenly feeling the exhaustion of the past few days. "She's spent three hundred years using intimacy as a weapon. Last night was the first time she'd ever been intimate with someone without any ulterior motive. Just... connection. Affection. Love, maybe. It was scary for both of us."

Jessica sat down beside him, taking his hand. "And you definitely have feelings for her? This isn't just physical?"

"I definitely have feelings," Satou confirmed. "I told her I loved her this morning. Surprised myself saying it, but it was true. She's complex and damaged and trying so hard to be better than what three centuries of survival instincts taught her to be. How could I not fall for that?"

Lyra remained standing, her arms crossed, but her expression had softened. "You fall for broken things, you know that? People who are trying to be better. Me, Jessica, now Seraphine. You see potential in damaged people and can't help but want to help them grow."

"Is that a bad thing?" Satou asked.

"No," Lyra replied softly. "It's one of the things I love about you. But it also means you take on a lot of emotional responsibility. You're not just dating these people—you're helping them heal. That's exhausting work."

"I know," Satou admitted. "But it's worth it. All of you are worth it."

Jessica leaned her head on his shoulder. "We're going to be a complicated family, aren't we? Three partners, multiple territories to manage, demon lord politics, and who knows what else."

"Probably," Satou agreed. "But I wouldn't want it any other way. This is our life now. Chaotic, dangerous, complicated, but full of people we care about and purpose that matters."

"When do we meet her?" Lyra asked. "Seraphine. When does she visit, or when do we go there?"

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