Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

Rena and Lyrah giggled together while looking at the wares being sold among the clothing vendors at the market. Natali desperately desired to join them but remained at attention. She could feel a number of eyes on them. Some of them were likely Lucius's fellow King's Shadow members, but more people were watching them than just Lucius's men.

Natali was not skilled enough in espionage to identify where they were watching from, but she could still feel eyes on her nonetheless. She knew she could probably relax a little since they had allies among the crowd, but it did not feel right to do so. After all, she promised Lucius she would watch over Rena and the baby.

A dragon would not be able to wrench Natali's eyes off Rena when they were out in public. That was how seriously she took her promise.

"I think this would be just adorable," Rena said while holding up a small blue outfit. Draped over her shoulder were a few more outfits she had picked up to inspect. Since she only had two hands, some of the baby clothes had to hang out on her shoulder and wait their turn.

"Oh, that is just so cute!" Lyrah said while clapping her hands together. "Oh, but this one is just so wonderful."

Natali looked at the outfit Lyrah had picked up. It was a onesie with extra patches and bits of fabric sewn onto it to resemble armor. The tag attached to it claimed it was from the 'Little Adventurers Collection' and only cost a few coins.

"I cannot handle how cute that is…" Rena said with tears in her eyes. "Oh my…"

The next outfit in her hands was another onesie with a ruffled skirt and puffy shoulders. Its tag claimed it was from the 'My Little Princess Collection.' Natali felt her heart wrench. She was not immune to the pure adorable nature of the clothes and imagined a tiny Lucius in the outfits, which made her cheeks flush.

"Look at our resident ice queen," Lyrah teased, "looks like we broke through that shell of hers… you know it's been so much easier to get a reaction out of her since Lucius came around."

Rena giggled, "It has, hasn't it? I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that she is lusting after my husband. What a shameful young woman you are to be lusting after a married man."

"But Rena, you…" Natali protested weakly.

She and Rena had already discussed their situations many times. A few nights after their wedding night, Rena came to Natali to discuss her feelings toward Lucius. Natali had come clean about her feelings for the young man when they were first told he was dead.

Neither of them found an issue with it at the time because nothing could have been done about it. What did it matter if they were both in love with the same man if they would never be able to see him? Things became many times more complex when the same man they harbored feelings for announced that he was still alive before an audience of thousands.

Natali was content to let things stay as they were. She would watch from the side as Rena lived her happiness, but then Lyrah went and said something while Rena was getting prepared for the banquet.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Because of that and of Rena's promise to talk about it afterward, Natali spent hours wondering about the possibilities. When Lucius then proclaimed his position as a beastman noble, those possibilities opened up to something greater.

At first, she thought that Rena was thinking that Natali could be a concubine or simply hire her as a maid who could service her lord. Either of those things was enough for her, but knowing Lucius was from a country and culture where he could have multiple wives, she began to hope for more.

In their discussion, Rena said that she would not mind allowing Lucius more than one wife. According to her, she expected that Lucius harbored feelings for his Gray Wolf ally. Since Rena had grown accustomed to the idea of sharing Natali, it became no issue for her to be okay with sharing him with Kalliope.

Lucius admitted to Rena that he loved Kalliope, and the redhead agreed to allow her to be his wife. She also added the condition that Lucius look at Natali in a friendly manner rather than as a stranger. Rena was setting the stages for Natali to hopefully claim what she wanted.

"Relax, Natali," Rena said warmly, "I was only joking. I am rooting for you two, of that I can assure you. I can think of no other woman who I could trust more with Lucius."

"Hey, what about me?" Lyrah pouted.

"You don't count. Besides, you're his sister… that would never work." Rena laughed, "Unless you are into that kind of thing?"

Lyrah made a mock retching noise, "No, thank you. I love my brother dearest, but I assure you my bonds are familial in nature."

"Speaking of, is there anyone that catches your eye at the moment Lyrah? What kind of man interests you? Or woman, if that's what you're into." Rena continued to tease.

"No."

Natali was surprised at the curt response. Thankfully, Lyrah continued after taking a small breath.

"While I love people in love, and I am so happy that my brother is starting a family… the concept is not a pleasant one for me. Allow me to remind you that oracles like myself are told to breed with people so I can simply continue my mark.

"Every Oracle was made to breed, never granted the opportunity to love, to have a true family. The thought of all that… leaves a series of very complex feelings in my heart." Lyrah then smiled and placed a hand on Rena's belly, "I am content to watch your love grow. For me, that will be enough."

Lyrah then looked at Natali, "Your's too by the way. I will do what I can to give you what you deserve. It is the least I can do for everything you have done for me."

Natali felt tears form at the corner of her eyes. Lyrah and Rena pulled her into a group hug. Both of her friends gently pat the back of her head, helping her remember how much she loved and respected her friends… no, more like her sisters.