Chapter 42 - Lilas

"General Asaroth has just begun his second month of sieging Mar but the castle is still holding strong. He reports that they must be smuggling food in through tunnels but he has yet to find the tunnels himself." Lord Hess informs us after reading through the latest report sent from Asaroth.

"Gods, if there's tunnels then who knows if it's just food coming in. They might be reinforcing troops using the tunnels and even if he launches an attack any important hostages could escape before he gets there." Kavarthon groans slumping back in his seat.

"I'm sure that he'll find them soon and knowing Asaroth he'll turn them to his advantage. Our soldiers could use the tunnels as well to enter the city unknown catching the enemy by surprise during the night." I reply trying to stay optimistic because the war has dragged on for longer than we thought it would.

It's been nearly three months since Nazeph was born and around a year since Bel and Kor left. The war hasn't made much progress though despite the army's recent efforts in sieging and capturing castles in the hopes of finding Rhistel. There had been great hope that he was in Mar but recent reports indicate that he isn't there, he's proven to be incredibly difficult to find.

"Perhaps the commanders of Mar, when captured, will be able to provide us with more information on where Rhistel is." Quillon our new vampire councillor suggests, "The reports we've been getting from our scouts and spies are conflicting as to where he's holed himself up."

I'd ended up dismissing Raziel as a councillor a few weeks after Nazeph was born. It had been discovered that he was stealing food and weapon supplies that were meant for the border, he'd then sold them privately for his own benefit. I suppose we'd been lucky that none of the stolen goods had ended up in enemy hands and that was the only reason I didn't have him executed. Not wanting to leave his seat empty for too long Quillon was appointed the next day to replace him and so far he's working out well.

"Should have known that Rhistel would prefer to hide like a coward rather than fight us properly. I just wonder what he could be up to while he's in hiding." Magor comments shifting through the reports in front of him.

"Whatever it is lets hope he doesn't get the opportunity to put what he's planned into motion. Now lets go over the armies proposed plan to retake Nerkise's capital city, they've begun making plans but don't want to act on them until we've given our opinions. Even then they will likely wait until Rhistel has been caught otherwise his influence will continue but he'll go back underground." I reply turning their attention to the report I mentioned.

We spend hours debating the report picking holes in their attack strategy and coming up with as many contingency plans as possible. The five of us work through lunch but eventually we come to stop after finally reaching a point where we'd gone over every possibility we could think of and developing a solid plan for each one.

"Let's call it a day, I'll see you all tomorrow. Have our plan sent to the scribes to copy and send to the army. They should also make copies for each of us here just in case we need to review it." I state standing and biding farewell to the rest of the Council.

"Good day your Majesty." The others call out as I leave the meeting hall. Having to attend all these Council meetings on my own makes me long for Kor and Bel's return even more. At least then we can split these meetings up or at least not attend on our own, sharing the pain of them might make things better. Sure I talk things over with Emmy but lately she's been tired out from caring for Nazeph all day and I don't want to make her more stressed.

Arriving back home I can immediately hear Emmy and her ladies talking in the drawing room which has become their habit ever since they first came over to meet Nazeph. True to Lady Nimel's words at the end of the first meeting they've been back every day since to spend time with him, taking almost as much delight in his progress as Kor, Bel, Emmy and I are. Having all of the ladies here everyday has proven very useful though as they help Emmy with the baby and Lady Pyzitt it turns out is a skilled artist so she's happily been providing drawings to be sent to Bel and Kor.

Not wanting to disturb them just yet I head down to my lab to work on some more runes. The protective series that I developed have proven very useful for the army so I try to spend some time whenever I can making more. At the moment the army is well supplied in healing potions which many magic labs around the kingdom have focused on since the war was declared. These runes on the other hand are only being made here in Hadlau by those Uncle and I trust, we don't want to risk the enemy getting their hands on this series and using it against us.

Finishing a fifth set I head back upstairs where I can still hear talking in the drawing room. Laughing quietly I knock on the door knowing that Emmy's ladies won't leave until they see that I'm back, trying to fit in as much time with Nazeph as they can.

"Good afternoon ladies." I greet entering the room to find them cooing as usual over my son. Some are sat holding books or working on embroidery while others are more focused on amusing Nazeph with Tiana and Holcene even sitting on the floor next to him. Like most half-dragons he's developing a bit faster than human babies would at his age and has recently started pushing himself up slightly when on his stomach plus he laughs and smiles now.

"Your Majesty." The ladies call out in greeting but making no move to leave just yet. From the floor Nazeph laughs reaching up as Lady Tiana shakes one of his toys in front of him and I can't help but smile knowing that he's happy.

"Welcome home Lilas." Emmy greets as I sit down next to her pressing a kiss to my cheek.

"I see Nazeph still has your ladies completely charmed." I whisper watching them continue fawning over our son.

"Yes, something tells me that won't change at all." She replies with a giggle leaning against me.

"Probably not." I reply in amusement knowing that our son is likely to have some very devoted aunts, "How are you feeling today?" When I left for the meeting this morning she'd still been asleep not having slept well lately.

"Much better. For the first time in a while I slept well and woke feeling well rested. Nazeph slept through the night for the first time so that helped." While we'd a wet nurse to look after him at night his nursery is close to our room so when he cries during the night it often wakes Emmy up, which then wakes me up, and she ends up feeding him and taking a while to get back to sleep. Between that and the longer Council meetings we haven't been able to spend much time with each other and even when we have the time we're too tired to do much other than get some sleep together.

Only sleep though as despite Emmy being cleared for sex for over a month now we've not had the energy for it even though we both want to. It's been around 5 months since we last had sex which is the longest I've gone without sex since the Stones were created and I was bonded with Kor.

I've never been as interested in sex as Kor and Bel but I've missed the intimacy that comes with being so close with my mates. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if they've been having sex all the way from here to the border and beyond it, a little thing like exhaustion is not something Bel would let get in his way of sex and he's very good at seducing Kor. Perhaps tonight we might have better luck in both feeling up to it but if not then there is always tomorrow I don't mind waiting for us both to be ready.

"That's great." I reply smiling standing to retrieve my son from the ladies who are holding him hostage, "Excuse me ladies I'd like my son back."

"Come on ladies we should leave their majesties to spend time with the prince." Lady Hess states making some of the other ladies sigh but they listen to her and begin filing out of the room.

"You know at some point I think one of them will try to sneak Nazeph out with them." I tell Emmy as I sit back down next to her with Nazeph secure in my arms finally getting to spend some time with him, "Not that I can blame them after all our wonderful son slept through the night."

For the next few minutes I lavish praise on my son who doesn't understand at all more interested in drooling over his own fist. But it makes Emmy giggle as she listens to me until she can barely catch her breath and her face is bright red.

"Lilas.. please… stop. I can't… breathe." She gasps out making me stop with a laugh of my own letting her calm down. Nazeph has even joined in with her thinking that it's a game as he somehow manages to let out a laugh from around his fist which he refuses to remove from his mouth.

"Better now my love?" I ask as her breathing evens out and her face turns back to normal.

"Yes, I needed that. It feels like we haven't done this since you returned to the Council meetings. We've been too tired to just sit and laugh like this."

"True but if he manages to keep sleeping through the night then things should get better. And even if he doesn't all the time we should still be able to get more sleep than we have been and start feeling better."

"We should hand him back over to the nurse and have some dinner." She suggests but we stay sitting for a while longer before making our way to the dining room. On our way there I hand Nazeph over to his nurse to take care of while we're eating.

"I was thinking that we could have an early night tonight. Leave Nazeph with the nurse and hopefully catch up on some sleep." I suggest later on as we're finishing off our dessert. Since we first met her Emmy has come a long way in how much she can eat without feeling sick so now, after over a year with us, she can manage not just dinner but dessert as well. I think having Nazeph has helped as her appetite increased while she was pregnant and has only decreased slightly since giving birth so she's eating the same amount as me now.

"That sounds perfect." She replies after finishing off her last bite of cake, "It's been too long since we had an early night with the chance of proper sleep."

"Well then why don't we head upstairs and just relax in bed until we fall asleep." I offer her my arm which she gladly takes and I escort her upstairs. As we exit the dining room Emmy asks a maid to pass a message on to Talindra telling her to take the night off, much like us she hasn't had much time to herself lately so she deserves to the night to herself.

Once we're upstairs the two of us get changed and with Emmy needing to feed Nazeph throughout the day she's switched to dresses that lace up in the front so she's able to get out of the dress without any help. Neither of us take long to change wanting nothing more than to settle down for the night even though it's not that late. Lately we've been falling asleep nearly as soon as our heads have hit the pillows but tonight even though we're tired neither of us really want to fall straight to sleep.

I'm ready slightly before Emmy so I get in bed first with her joining me not long after cuddling into my side contently. Just lying there I feel more relaxed than I have in months as though there is nothing to worry about at all. Right at this moment, in this room, the war doesn't exist and all that matters is me and Emmy. As much as I love being a father having a night alone with my mate without having to worry about Nazeph is just what I need.

"This is nice." Emmy whispers but it still breaks the strange silence hovering over the room.

"Yeah, I think we needed this." I whisper back, "We've barely had any quiet time together since Nazeph was born. As much as I love him, he is very time and energy consuming."

"That he is and you didn't have him living inside of you for nine months." She retorts smiling at me in amusement.

"Okay you win my love." I laugh kissing her gently. We don't stop there though; I'd only intended a brief kiss but as I pull away she follows after me wanting more. More than happy to continue I meet her for another kiss just as gentle and sweet as the first but deeper at the same time and more intimate.

We get lost in the kiss and each other yet wanting to be closer so I'm soon pushing Emmy's nightdress down giving me access to more of her to touch and kiss. Slowly I kiss my way down her neck then further until I reach her breasts kissing and touching them carefully, she's been very sensitive here since getting pregnant and now breast feeding Nazeph. Aware of how sensitive she is I don't spend long there before sitting up to remove my own night clothes and kissing her again.

Slipping a hand between Emmy's legs I find her wet and ready, she lets out a soft moan as I touch her letting her legs fall apart giving me more access. Needing to be closer to her after not being able to do this for so long I move my hand out of the way in favour of positioning my cock at her entrance and slowly thrusting inside not wanting to cause her any pain.

"Gods I've missed this. Missed you Emmy." I whisper stilling inside her giving her time to adjust. To be honest I need it too, she's so tight I could come from just being inside her after nearly half a year of no sex.

"Me too, Lilas please move." She asks wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me down for a kiss. Obeying I begin moving keeping a gentle and slow pace not wanting to rush and end things too quickly.

I don't know how long we keep going it could have been hours for all I know but eventually I can feel myself getting close to coming. Emmy is close as well I can feel her beginning to tighten around me so to push her over the edge, no doubt taking me with her, I drop a hand to where we're joined gently stroking her clit. That little touch is enough to send Emmy over the edge with a breathy moan and just one, two thrusts later I follow her.

Rolling to the side I gather Emmy to my side holding her close as we come down from the high. It's still strange having sex, or making love like we just did, without Kor and Bel being here yet I'm becoming used to it. And that's not something I'm sure that I like but for now there is no way for us all to be together. With those thoughts of my mates I drift off to sleep with Emmy's head resting on my chest already asleep herself.