After our loving moment and comfort, I found the strength to peel myself off my demon and return to the books. Solas whined when I joined him back at our table.

"I'm okay." I sniffled, petting the little pup as Finn's eyes followed me the entire time.

Even though my emotions were still unstable, crying about it wouldn't do me any good. Since the morning began, I had been diving into the realm of the gods.

They're the reason this mess started in the first place. Allowing other world wanderers to come in and do as we please falls on those two buffoons. Though... that girl... She didn't seem like she had much of a choice.

Would I have done any differently if I had been in her position and my home had been on the line? Argh! There's no use in trying to sympathize! Focus!

"Are you sure you're okay?" The demon king asked, standing up from where we had our moment of affection.

"I'm fine now." I sighed, shifting my eyes towards him.

There, I saw that azure gaze of his entirely focused on me. If it were up to him, I'd still be in his grip while his heat was buried deep into me.

Crap, if you get any closer, I know I'll...

"F-Finn, I know I've asked you before, but is there no way to know why only the gods of Darkness and light are present while the others have been quiet?" I quickly asked, triggering him to sit before me rather than beside me.

"Hah, no, love. My father knew a lot about that, but he didn't get the chance to pass down that information." He answered, shifting his eyes towards one of the books.

"Hmm... I find it odd that there aren't many records about them." I mumbled, closing the book in front of me.

"Yeah, it seems his secrets went with him after he died." He breathed, tapping his fingers on the table.

"I see." I hummed, grabbing onto another book.

Rizak prided himself on his vast information collection, but I couldn't help but feel it was lacking.

How can there be no books of the past?

I knew the carnage within the castle could've destroyed ancient tomes, but...

Why does Traedan have zero information, too? It's impossible unless the gods themselves erased that information.

It made me wonder why the other gods were quiet. There hadn't been a saint of fire, water, earth, or wind for much longer than the curse existed.

Why are Serena and Xavier the only ones interacting with the world?

However, their involvement ended with me and Evelyn.

Is it that they can't touch this world or something else? Why create us at all when they can do it themselves?

The previous saint created all this chaos, ensuring me we didn't belong in this world. Yet there I was, flipping through books, hoping to find something to save it. I knew the key had to be the saint's and Finn's family's power, as their combination caused this mess.

So, perhaps the two had to come together to undo it, much like the child in my womb. The more I flipped through the books this world had to offer about the gods, the more I realized we knew little about them.

Only one person can answer my questions and come as she pleases. Damn it... Can I really do nothing else but see how everything turns out?

After spending weeks with my head dunked in books, it was apparent the answer I sought wasn't in any of them. It was something lost in time, and sadly...

"Finn, are there any spells to travel into the past?" I asked, triggering him to lean back into his chair.

"No, I wish. There's so much I would change if I could." He sighed, shifting his eyes towards the window he had been sitting by.

I narrowed my eyes, studying the demon in front of me.

You keep looking out like you're waiting for something to happen. What aren't you telling me?

"Hmm... So I guess I'll never know if I would've smitten you instead of Lillia." I smirked, triggering his gaze to land on me.

A soft smile curled up on his lips as his eyes appeared lighter, "Hah, she wouldn't have had a chance against you, love."

"Are you sure? When I arrived, I wasn't the nicest person, and you were a ray of sunshine." I patted Solas's hair, knowing I was nothing like what Lillia presented herself to him.

She was innocent, while I was a mess.

"Ah, see, that's where you're wrong, little light. I would've fallen for you either way." He chuckled, "The only difference is that I would've made a fool of myself over you back then."

"What a shame I missed that. An innocent Finn would've flaunted over me—oh, that would've been a sight to see." I giggled, prompting his cheeks to become rosy.

"Ah, now you're just making fun of me." His lips curled down as his eyes rolled.

"When this is over, and the world isn't on fire, can we go out on more dates?" I asked.

His eyes widened as he leaned into the table.

"Like the rose festival?" Finn asked, eyes shimmering.

"Yes, like that and more." I bit my lip, fiddling with my legs.

His warmth still radiated from my core from when he filled me earlier.

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"More?" He hummed, leaning back onto his chair.

"Way more," I mumbled, feeling the same tickle that always led me to seek him.

Before my pregnancy, he held me constantly, but lately, he has ensured I rested before doing anything, even if it frustrated me.

"Hmm? Why don't you come onto me again? I'll give you the more you wish for." He smirked, tapping his lap as if calling for me.

In an instant, my chest pounded as I gripped Solas's hair, triggering him to gaze toward me, too.

Has it always been this hot here? No, it's winter, it's freezing. Why is it?!

"N-No! I need to—" I stopped when his eyes darted outside again.

A light hue of red came from them as he focused entirely on it. Even though he had held me a little while ago, his attention was elsewhere. It should've been a saving grace, yet my chest ached. I tried to focus back on the books, but my eyes always drifted onto him.

Everything about you catches my attention. Hey... How much longer until you tell me everything?

I could never understand why he called himself a monster. All of his features, including his feathery body, were alluring to me.

You're always so sure it bothers me. Everything about you... From your feathers to your scars is...

All the times I rode Finn so violently, looking for my release, and his pleasure hammered how I felt about him. Although he always caught my attention, his mind was elsewhere.

Probably, Brielle and the generals are filling your mind with reports. You can't disconnect when the world ends beyond these walls.

However, it wasn't long until his azure gaze met mine, prompting my cheeks to burn.

Crap!

I quickly glued my eyes onto the book in front of me.

I must look desperate for your attention. You just held me, and I still feel your love falling out of my core! God, when did I become this much of a pervert?

It wasn't long until I felt his presence behind me, triggering me to glance up to meet his gaze. I was trapped between him and the desk.

"Hm... Are you sure, okay?" Finn asked, touching my forehead.

God... why are you... so...

I nodded, shifting my eyes towards the side.

"Oh, your face is so red that I worry sometimes. Are you sure all you want is to read?" A soft smile rose on his lips.

Ah... You are...

"Argh, why are you so irritating at times?" I huffed, trying to put up a strong front.

"Oh, what's the matter, little light?" he chuckled.

Shaking my head, I sighed, "You're attention is never enough. I can never get enough of you, Finn, but your head seems to be in the clouds lately."

"Oh! I thought you said you had enough." He breathed, picking up my chin to meet with his eyes.

They were shimmering brightly, alerting me that he was enjoying our little encounter.

"How can I ever have enough of my air?" I sighed, glancing at him.

He winced, shaking his head, "Oh love, don't call me that. You have more to live for than for this beast."

Standing up from my chair, I grabbed his shirt, tugging him towards me.

"Hah... You are so dumb sometimes, Finn." I huffed, leaning closer to him. "You are my air. You alone are my reason for living. Demon or not, you'll always be my drive for a better future. Without you, I would be a shell without a reason to strive for."

"Sylvia..." I mumbled as I placed my fingertips on his lips.

"That's why I must find a way to save you and this world. For us and the future we can have." I faced him head-on.

For all my words, I was failing at every turn. I finally had Twilight at my disposal, but the answers eluded me.

How can I save... without...

"Sylvia, you don't need the world on your shoulders." Finn tugged me into a hug. "I'll bear it all with you."

It was the warmest embrace I had ever felt, yet I couldn't help but cling to him. Our sweet moment was cut short when someone suddenly entered the room—a presence I knew too well.

"M'lord, there's trouble brewing from Traedan. Rizak confirmed an attack is coming, but we don't know when. His source wouldn't give us that." The she-wolf announced, prompting the demon king to retreat away from me.

Although all the red features in his body had become blue, every time his anger flared, so would his red aura.

"So, they finally are deciding to attack." His voice ran cold, triggering my gaze to stick to him.

There was nothing I could do to soothe that rage within him.

You even warned me that I couldn't win against it, but...

"Yes, their last hope is to destroy the crystal and us. They've lost all faith in a peaceful solution." Brielle growled. "If they think they can come here again and take what's ours, I'll rip them apart!"

"The humans are coming to us?" I mumbled.

Their last stand is coming... Crap... I hoped I had more time. I still don't know how to save everyone.

The miasma was crawling at their doorsteps, leaving them little choice. Part of me understood this day would come, but I never thought it would happen. The chaos I wanted to prevent was coming, and nothing could stop it.

"Yes, probably led by that idiotic prince infatuated with his Saint." Finn scowled, glancing over to the window again.

So, that was why you were gazing outside all this time?

"So, they're coming here?" I continued as my body ran cold.

Brielle glanced at me, "Yes, they are, and they're coming for you too, Sylvia. It's why I came to say personally rather than to our king alone."

"These foolish humans think they can come here and fucking take what's mine!" Finn snarled, slamming his tail on the ground.

It startled me, yet that didn't stop the king's rage. No, it was surging much like the day I entered that dreadful room.

"Rizak is trying to find out more, but Sylvia, they know you're carrying a child," Brielle informed me as my heart dropped.

Again, I was the catalyst for everything that was going on.

"What? How?" I mumbled, reaching for my belly.

"One of our generals, no doubt, which one I didn't know," Finn growled.

"Astred?" I voiced, unable to tell who would've betrayed him like that.

"No, surprisingly, the succubus has been within her territory ever since you came back. She has been nothing but helpful too but is getting on Gael's nerves." The she-wolf answered, cackling at the thought.

"Then who? Sebastian?" I continued to name without a single clue of who it could've been, yet that orc if anything wanted the child for himself.

"No, if it's my guess. It was probably Vorex's loose mouth. He always is a little too friendly with the humans." Finn scoffed, walking back to me.

His aura was still so thick, much like that day in the forest and eyes were fridged.

Ah, so the flamboyant vampire is probably the one who let it slip? I guess Vabaru is always the one setting limits for him. There is also Levaira, but that half-snake woman is another mystery. I barely know anything about her, yet her presence always puts me off.

"So, the barbarians are coming to destroy the crystal and kill the saint?" Nyla suddenly asked, triggering me to jolt because of the sudden voice.

I didn't see her come in, but her eyes gave off a light hue, and her voice wasn't warm like usual.

"Yes, they are," Brielle answered.

I had seen the little goblin tap people before when she was annoyed at them, but before I knew it, her eyes showed none of the kindness I was used to.

"My lord, will we be awaiting these uninvited guests with open arms?" She smirked.

What? All of you are out of blood! None of them are thinking of a way to prevent this!

"We will be if they can manage to pass the hordes of demons that stand between us and them. This time, their teleportation magic won't work with the barrier I cast." Finn answered, walking towards the window.

This was all wrong! I want no one to die! Is this the only way for all of this to play out?

Grabbing Finn's shirt, I tugged on him, preventing him from going further.

"Wait, what if this is another trap to lure you away?" I mumbled.

Turning to me, he grabbed onto my cheeks, tugging me to meet with his gaze.

"I'm not going anywhere, little light. I'll be right here when they come knocking on our door." He assured me.

Even though he was surging with anger, he was still in control, much like when he found me after Astred's plot. Perhaps it was because I had become part of his hoard, as he once said I was in his castle.

"My liege, shall I gather the generals?" Brielle asked, lips curled upward.

Am I the only one who wants this to stop?

"Yes, gather them. It's time we finish this once and for all." Finn commanded, leaving me stunned where I stood.

Thoughts raced through my mind as I found no solutions and only created more problems.

Why am I useless? Is this the world I want my child to come to? No... it isn't! This isn't right! There has to be something I can do!

That was when I remembered my words to the generals the day I met them. I would stand in their way if they were headed towards destruction. No one was on my back as they all headed to mutual annihilation.

Can I do this?