Dinner continued in silence, and Seraphina sighed again, sensing the heaviness around her.
"Fine. I'll take over Dad's secondary business. But I have three conditions."
Dominic raised an eyebrow.
She blinked at him, teasing.
Then, two phoenixes burst into the room. Those are Asher's familiars.—one purple and gold, the other white and gold.
They dropped a glowing locket onto the table.
A swirling galaxy of purple stars shimmered at the core, encased in a golden frame engraved with tiny gears, glittering gems, crescent moons, and radiant stars.
Astral Whispers.
A legendary artifact that Queen Seranielle Noctasha Hallen once crafted for her beloved. A symbol of unity between the Hall and Nightshade bloodlines—now re-engineered with modern magical tech.
Essentially a magical private communicator.
Seraphina's eyes lit up.
"Asher's latest work, huh? So he didn't leave the lab after I came home..."
A rare, genuine smile bloomed on her face.
The room froze.
Daniel's eyes bulged.
Dimitry looked like he'd swallowed a lemon.
Dominic's brow twitched.
"This brat is showing off now?"
The locket clicked open.
Asher's voice echoed—smooth, amused:
"Baby, I already miss you. And before you snap—just know you look too damn good tonight. I wanna take a bite."
Seraphina clenched her jaw, cheeks glowing red.
"This man... so shameless..."
Dimitry looked personally betrayed.
Seraphina—blushing? Unthinkable.
"Wu, you won't believe what your father did!"
She blinked.
"...What did you do, Dad?"
Dominic suddenly found his plate extremely fascinating.
"He got me kicked out of the Magic Tower by stirring up my dad! I'm homeless now! Don't abandon me!"
Her jaw dropped.
He did what?!
Then the real bomb dropped:
"So now I'm in your bed, waiting. I'll make a few changes for us."
Master Nightshade choked on his wine.
Dominic exploded.
"You little—!"
He pointed furiously at the air, shaking with rage.
Dimitry looked murderous.
Everyone knew Asher had done it on purpose. It is his petty, ridiculous revenge.
And clearly, he was enjoying every second.
Forrest and Danial burst out laughing.
Forrest teased,
"Can't even last a day apart, huh?"
Seraphina snapped,
"Don't you dare change anything in my room, you bastard!"
Dominic stared at her.
She bit her lip.
"...Damn it. I focused on the wrong thing."
Dimitry looked crushed.
Asher had waltzed right past every wall she'd built.
And now... he was in her bed?
How was that fair?
Dominic tried blasting the locket.
It dodged mid-air, twirled, and transformed into a glass rose of purple crystal, edged in glowing pink.
It landed gently in front of Seraphina.
She picked it up and smiled.
Her Ash was always clever. Always sweet.
Dimitry watched her, heart sinking.
Seraphina whispered a spell.
The rose shimmered—then shifted again.
A stunning new ring emerged—five Promise of Love stones encircling a flawless array of gems.
The engraving glowed faintly:
Asher's Sera.
Their magic intertwined—his and hers, forged as one.
Togetherness. Crafted.
Dimitry's eyes locked onto the ring.
His lashes trembled.
At the far end, Dominic stabbed his stake with a snarl.
This stupid game of petty revenge had backfired spectacularly.
Now that purple brat was living under his daughter's roof?
Seraphina cleared her throat, shifting the conversation.
"So, Dad, three conditions."
"One—Asher lives with me. Non-negotiable."
Dominic snapped.
"No."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Natale muttered, "How sweet."
Dimitry gripped his fork, dark energy leaking from his aura.
But Seraphina didn't flinch.
"Dad, I'm informing you, not asking. You brought this on yourself."
Seeing his face falter like a scolded child, her voice softened.
"Honestly? I was going to plead for this. But now… You gave me the perfect excuse. I should be thanking you."
Dominic bristled—but the trap had closed.
"...Fine," he grumbled. "But regular birth control."
Seraphina froze, scandalized.
"Dad! We're not beasts!"
He snorted.
Dimitry stabbed his steak again. He did it rougher this time.
His glare could burn through the stone.
Forrest and Danial were wheezing with laughter.
And Seraphina?
Well... she looked like she was reconsidering ever speaking again.
She forged ahead.
"Second: No more alcohol or drugs. You'll enter therapy and get proper rest."
The room fell silent.
Dominic's eyes welled up.
She noticed. She still cared.
Dimitry muttered,
"...Why not care for me as well?"
She turned to her father, eyes unwavering.
"Dad... for me, you have to live. Before my daughter calls you Grandpa, you're not allowed to die."
Something stirred in Dominic —something buried since Selena's death.
A faint, flickering light.
"And third..." she said softly,
"I want to take Dimitry as my disciple."
A fork slipped from Dimitry's hand.
He blinked, stunned.
What did she say?
Dominic scoffed.
"Impossible."
He had never acknowledged Dimitry. Never even let him near Seraphina.
"Dad, he has your blood. More importantly… I see the potential."
Dimitry lowered his gaze.
Did she... acknowledge me?
Dimonic's jaw tightened.
Seraphina sighed.
"The Council requires me to take at least one disciple if I want the position of Arc-Mage of the South Tower."
She leaned forward, voice steady.
"It's the role Mom wanted me to take. But I won't let them breathe down my neck."
Dominic understood.
She wouldn't repeat Selena's mistakes.
She answered the unspoken question: Why Dimitry?
"Asher's already poised to become Tower Master. I need to step up."
She added coolly,
"Dimitry is obedient and loyal. He's the safest option."
Dominic saw the strategy.
Keeping Dimitry close meant protection for Sera. She was buying time.
She would play in the dark.
Dimitry's heart clenched.
So I'm just a pawn to her, too...?
Still... Dimitry was his son. His safety mattered.
Seraphina placed her hand gently over her father's.
A soft gaze.
Trust me, Dad.
He sighed.
"...One condition. You'll enroll in Calestra Astra Magna Academy."
She nodded. She'd expected it.
"Asher will come with me."
Danial slammed the table.
"Why him?! I'm your brother, too! Why not me?"
"You're not my type," Seraphina said flatly.
Danial's eyes flared with jealousy.
"What do I lack?!"
"You only control Light magic—like Uncle Michael. I control Dual and Void."
She stared him down.
"You can't handle Void. Dimitry can."
"Demiska was a Spirit Master. Weak or not, that gave his body Light potential. Combined with Dad's blood, Dimitry can develop Dual magic."
Forrest, as eldest son and first in line to the crown, heard all things silently. He saw that the web Sera was weaving.
If putting Dimitry in the spotlight means less responsibility for me, he thought, sipping wine, so be it.