Heirot

"We do not 'curl up' together," Vlad puffed, even as he spooned his shoulders around Atul's chest to get closer to the man he was already smushing. He released her ankle slowly.

Tenele slid away. "Looks very curled to me," she commented before diving into the bathroom before her husband could seek any retribution with his magic.

Atul sighed heavily, strumming his fingertips against Vlad's skin. "I don't mind curling up with you," he whispered to Vlad. Atul through all of his weight, and a good bit of energy into wrestling the vampire back to where they rested against the pillows. "There," he sighed, curling his arms and legs around the vampire.

Vlad wrestled back, reflexively playful, before settling in against the king's chest with a contented smile. "..love you," he murmured. His elated body was tempted to fall asleep.

Atul smiled. "I love you," he mused. How odd. How odd that any of this had happened. Remembering how they first met, and how they'd tried to kill each other, who would have thought that their lives would weave together in such a way.

Tenele returned damp a few minutes later and climbed into bed with them, curling against Vlad's opposite side. "Good night," she whispered to he two drowsy men, and while she didn't feel the least bit tired, she was happy to lay with them in the quiet of the night and think about the future.

Despite his sleepy mood that evening, Vlad was the first one alert the next morning as the sun began peeking through the open balcony. The vampire wriggled quietly from between the two warm bodies that had heated his own throughout the night. He loved being in the middle. He threw on a robe and went to the balcony to survey the weather, which was unsurprisingly clear and warm. Then he turned and opened the door to Tenara's room. Stalker was waiting at the door as he opened it. The hound tended to know when he was coming, despite the soundproofing of Tenara's room. The vampire offered the barest of pats on the demon's head, not one to spoil his familiar.

His feelings on his daughter, however, were quite the opposite. Gleeful warmth filled his eyes as he walked to the sunlit bed at the side of the room and sat down next to his daughter's resting form.

Tenara blinked her eyes open, rubbing her small hands against them. "Elephant shoes chase me... Daddy," she muttered incoherently. The child sat up and stretched her arms out for her father before flopping over next to him. Silver hair spilled over in the light, blinding like diamonds.

Vlad squinted at his gleaming offspring proudly. "Elephant shoes are no match for you my daughter," he purred, cupping a large hand over the back of her head.

Tenara mumbled some other words before stretching. She flopped over onto her back and stared up at her father. "Morning time," she announced, as if she hadn't been awake a moment ago when she'd curled up against him speaking of elephant shoes.

Her head jerked towards the window and she jumped out of bed, running to it. She pressed her hands against the doorway glass and peered out at nothing in particular. The only thing she could see was the empty balcony.

"Daddy," Tenara called. "Am I the only one like me?"

"Like you how?" Vlad queried, watching her by the window.

Tenara looked back at her father sleepily. "I don't know," Tenara scowled as she tried to figure a way to ask such a complicated question. "I have three father's with magic."

Vlad smirked. "I suspect you are the only one of those." He tilted his head. "What makes you ask?"

Tenara pursed her lips together, looking back out the window. "I'm not supposed to say," she muttered very softly. "Its a surprise."

Vlad's interest piqued. "A surprise?" he narrowed his eyes. "Did another adult ask you to keep something a secret from me?"

Tenara thought about her answer. "Yes," she replied. "I hear him." She covered her ears. "Its very quiet. He's coming to visit."

Vlad went still as he looked at her. "Tenara, who is coming?"