“Wait a moment…” Adam’s eyes fell across all the children, scanning across them all. “We’re missing at least two children, aren’t we?”

“Which children?” Elder Lykan asked, having thought to step away before he heard Adam’s troublesome words.

“Elder Lykan… where are Uwajin’s and Bavin’s younger siblings?”

“They were not to be brought.”

“That’s unfair.”

“I have kept my word.”

“You…” Adam felt Inakan’s breath tickle against his neck while her hands grabbed at his face, the girl giggling wildly.

“Kaza Ada,” she said, before pulling herself closer towards his head, climbing almost on top of it as she stared down at his hair, grabbing a tuft of his hair within her grip.

“Since Inakan is threatening me, I’ll drop the matter.”

Elder Lykan noted the way Adam’s eyes glanced towards Uwajin and Bavin. Uwajin held the twins in each arm, blinking away her sleepiness, while Bavin remained standing off to the side, his arms crossed.

‘I wanted them to have a good time too, but I guess I shouldn’t mess around too much.’ Adam winced every so often as Inakan pulled his hair, before he finally returned her back to her father.

Shikan wanted to tell his daughter off, but the innocent smile on her face, the utter joy within her eyes of seeing her father again, caused his heart to shudder. “Adam, will you forgive her, since she is so cute?”

“I don’t need to forgive her, since Inakan has done no wrong,” Adam said, swiping his hair back. ‘I really should cut it.’

“Is there anything else you require?” Elder Lykan asked.

Adam motioned with his head to the side, following the Front Iyr Elder to one side. “I’m planning on making something for Inakan.”

“What is it?”

“Glasses.”

“The Iyr is currently considering the matter.”

“I’m not considering it.”

Lykan switched to the Iyr’s tongue. “Are you going to enchant glasses for her?”

“Yes,” Adam replied in their tongue.

“When?”

“Soon.”

“Okay.”

Lykan watched as Adam stepped away after the awkward silence. His eyes then fell to the little girl, Inakan, who he rarely saw. She certainly took after his cousin, who held the girl close, allowing her to hold onto his hair, her eyes glued to his hair, squinting to catch all the details she could.

‘Since they’ve got their babo, it should be okay for me to slip away…’ Adam thought. “I’m just going to go do some work quickly.”

Jirot’s head snapped towards her father, her eyes almost blank as she glared towards him. “No!” She raised her finger towards him threateningly. “You cannot.”

“Just a little bit, my dear.” Adam reached over to ruffle her hair.

“You must allow your father to work,” Jarot said, forming a small smirk on his face. “Come, your babo will play with you.”

‘Damn it.’

Adam returned to the group a short while later, with the children all sitting and babbling away to the Iyrmen who had returned. Adam stopped, closing his eyes as he crossed his hands behind his back, causing a few to glance his way.

“You know…” Adam said, opening his eyes to see Konarot right before him, staring up at him expectantly. ‘I was going to be an idiot, but I can’t do it when you’re going to stop me so obviously.’

“It is time to eat, daddy,” Konarot said, reaching up with a hand. Adam took it, allowing his daughter to lead him to one side so he could sit beside her.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Adam’s eyes fell across the other children. He had yet to greet them all or spoil them. ‘I guess I’ll wait.’

As the food was passed, another group soon approached. Adam barely recognised two of the newcomers, but he knew the last, who was a slightly heavier set Iyrman, carrying a large boy within his arms.

‘Hold on,’ Adam thought. ‘That’s right!’

“You have come?” Sonarot asked.

“Yes,” Tonagek replied, though he gave nothing away. He placed his son down, who stood firmly beside his father, holding onto his trousers with a hand, sucking on his thumb as he looked all around the strange place.

“Danagek,” Lanarot called, rushing up to the boy to hug him. She kissed his forehead and brushed his hair tenderly. “You are okay?”

“Okay,” the boy replied, blinking up towards his cousin, hugging her back.

“Good boy,” Lanarot said, taking his hand to lead him to her mother.

“Baba,” Konarot called.

“Konarot,” Tonagek replied, reaching down to brush her hair. “Are you well?”

“Yes,” the girl replied, before pointing to her father. “Daddy is back.”

“You have returned,” Tonagek said, reaching out to clasp Adam’s forearm.

“I have,” Adam replied, his eyes firmly staring into Tonagek’s eyes, bowing his head respectfully for the man who had found and returned with his triplets. “I see Danagek is growing well.”

“Yes.”

“…”

“…”

“Baba,” Konarot called. “We can play dragon chess?”

“Dragon chess?” Adam asked.

Konarot took her place opposite her baba, placing down each piece onto the board. Tonagek placed his own after she was done. Jirot also sat down beside her sister, with little Jarot settling himself beside her, while Kirot and Karot sat on Adam’s lap, pinning him down. Larot sat on his greatfather’s lap, staring down at the board, his face still as neutral as ever.

Adam’s beaming pride engulfed the area as Konarot began to play with her baba. She moved her pieces slowly, often mirroring the way Tonagek held a finger over his mouth in thought. Jurot stared at his brother, whose eyes were slightly narrowed, his lip trembling, the thoughts on his face so obvious.

‘How is this legal? Won’t she end up in jail? I need to stop her from being so cute! No, surely they’ll all forgive her for being so cute.’

“Knight,” Konarot said, moving her piece to claim the other knight, losing her own the next moment to a soldier, before she moved her priest, who was currently praying, and yet she gave up the chance to convert the figures ahead, instead taking the soldier.

Tonagek, who had never seen the girl make such a move, furrowed his brows. ‘When did she learn to give up the chance to convert the soldiers?’

“Is she doing good?” Adam whispered.

“My greatdaughter always does well,” Jarot whispered back. “She has moved the priest to the centre. It has opened up her flank, but the centre is more important. It is rare to see the priest move to such a position and for the soldiers to be free.”

“The knight,” Jirot said, pointing to her sister’s knight on the other side.

Konarot glanced towards the knight, which had yet to be activated. Typically, the knight needed to remain by the king piece, just in case.

Tonagek furrowed his brows. Jirot made mention of the knight, which caught his attention to the other side of the board, before realising the girl wanted her sister to activate the knight in order to shore up a weakness created by losing a knight and shifting the position of her priest by strengthening the centre.

‘…’

Though Konarot had managed to throw Tonagek off, she hadn’t ever been in such a position previously, and though she had managed to claim the centre, her pieces were not able to defend her against Tonagek’s rush towards her weakened flank.

“You did well,” Tonagek said, shaking the girl’s hand gently, the proper etiquette for the end of the match.

“Okay,” the girl replied, pouting slightly, her tail swaying behind her.

‘You punk! How can you beat my greatdaughter like this?’

‘How can you beat my daughter like this?’

“Lucy! You must pay with me now!” Jirot said, pointing towards the woman.

“You want to play dragon chess with me?”

“No. It is Demon Load chess.”

“Demon Lord chess?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, let’s play it.”

Tonagek surrendered the board to the young demon woman, while settling himself beside his sister. He felt the piercing gaze of the young half elf from nearby.

“What is it?”

“I want to spoil Danagek too,” Adam replied.

“…” Tonagek continued to stare into Adam’s eyes, which were filled with annoyance. “Okay.”

Adam’s lips shot up in delight before he settled himself beside Danagek. “Hello, my chonky Danagek. How are you?”

The boy looked to Adam, twitching as the near stranger appeared. He looked to his nana and began to pout, making to cry.

“Lanababy, tell him I’m your brother.”

“Danagek,” Lanarot called, reaching out to brush his face. “Is my papa.”

Danagek stopped pouting as he stared at Adam suspiciously. He narrowed his eyes, unable to see the tattoos against the half elf’s forehead.

“I’m your Cousin, you know, your Cousin. You can call me kaza Adam too, okay?”

The boy looked to his father, pouting once more, making to cry, but his father’s hand stopped him by covering his eyes, causing Danagek to freeze in place in the darkness. His father’s face appeared once more, the boy hoisted up onto his father’s lap.

“He must be hungry if he is crying so easily,” Tonagek stated simply.

“Of course. How can this Cousin of yours be so silly to not allow you to eat, my chonky boy.” Adam leaned back in his chair, feeling his children’s tails rub against the side of his leg. He pulled them closer to his chest, peppering them with kisses. ‘Even though you’re stopping me from cuddling your aunts and uncles, I’ll forgive you.’

‘He’s still not calling for Kavgak?’ Jaygak thought. ‘How long will you last?’

Morkarai watched the group from afar. ‘Should I go sit and speak with them?’ His eyes fell to Jirot, who was currently distracted by Lucy.

“No! I am go first!”

“I’m the Demon Lord,” Lucy replied. “You said the Demon Lord goes first.”

Jirot blinked. She looked to the side towards her greatfather. How could she do this? The sheer audacity of Lucy to use her own logic against her. Jirot pouted and her face contorted as she made to cry.

Lucy suddenly straightened up, a cold chill running through her spine, the guilt filling her. ‘Oh no!’