"Hmm... Katherine, didn’t you just come back from shopping?" Advika asked.
Katherine’s lips curved into a knowing smile. "Oh, those aren’t mine... Come on, you’ll know tomorrow."
Advika nodded, her attention drifting back to the food.
"Hey... It seems I underestimate this your mother."
Christopher’s head snapped towards Tiamat.
"Look how diligently she cut the meat? Come on, when have you ever showed her this much affection?" The spectral beauty’s smile widened.
Christopher’s gaze softened as he watched his mother, lost in her quiet contentment. Tiamat’s words resonated within him. This woman, his mother, loved him with a depth that surpassed even his siblings’ affection. She would move mountains for him, do anything. And what had he offered in return? A simple necklace, a token, nothing more.
A sigh escaped his lips.
"Okay, Mum... You’ve been feeding me all this while, let me feed you too."
Before Amara could register his intent, Christopher gently took the fork and knife from her hand. A hush fell over the table as everyone watched, intrigued. He carefully cut a tender piece of meat, his movements deliberate. Then, with a soft smile, he turned towards Amara, offering the morsel.
Amara’s eyes met his, a flicker of surprise, then a gentle warmth spreading across her face. She glanced at the offered meat, and with a small, loving smile, opened her mouth and accepted it.
A collective smile bloomed around the table. The peaceful rhythm of the meal resumed, punctuated only by the soft clinking of cutlery against plates.
[Thirty minutes later.]
The sound of light footsteps echoed down the stairs, as Advika and Sylvia descended, flanking Katherine, their faces bright with shared amusement.
"You see this little girl?" Katherine said, gesturing to the small, spider perched on her shoulder.
"I’m planning on following brother’s advice and trying to add a second bloodline to her."
Sylvia’s eyes widened. "Little girl... This is a legendary stage beast, with a Lv5 combat strength!"
"Yeah, Spidy just entered the legendary stage," Katherine confirmed with a small smile, "but her combat strength can’t be upgraded further in this stage. Maybe... Just maybe, after gaining another bloodline, it will increase."
"How will you achieve that?" Sylvia pressed, her curiosity piqued.
"Come on, Sylvia, stop asking so many questions," Advika gently chided, though a smile played on her lips.
"But... I’m just curious to know!" Sylvia protested, a hint of a pout forming.
"I know," Advika chuckled, ruffling Sylvia’s blonde hair. "Just stay still, your head can’t carry so much information at once."
Sylvia’s pout deepened, but Katherine’s light chuckle drew her attention.
"If I succeed, I’ll show you what it can do," Katherine whispered conspiratorially, instantly erasing Sylvia’s displeasure and replacing it with eager anticipation.
"Okay girls... It’s getting late, you guys should be on your way," Amara said warmly, approaching them with a genuine smile.
"Yes, aunty," Advika nodded respectfully.
"Thank you for the meal, it was delicious," Sylvia added sincerely.
"Ha! If you like it, you can come anytime," Amara replied, her smile widening.
Standing a few meters away, Christopher watched the exchange, a furrow in his brow.
’What is this woman planning?’ he wondered.
’Oh wow... Her thoughts are interesting,’ Tiamat murmured beside him, a mischievous glint in her violet eyes.
"Really? What is she planning?" Christopher turned to her quickly, his curiosity ignited.
"I don’t know... Something surprising," Tiamat said, her smirk enigmatic.
"Why did I even bother asking you?" He shook his head.
"Christopher! Protect the girls, okay!" Amara called out, turning to face him, her expression earnest.
"I will, Mum," Christopher assured her with a firm nod.
"Take care you two," she added, turning her attention back to Advika and Sylvia.
"Yes," they replied in unison, offering small nods.
The two girls walked towards Christopher, who turned and led the way towards the entrance.
Amara watched the three figures disappear from the villa, then turned to Layla, her voice low and serious.
"Keep an eye on him."
Layla nodded silently and walked away.
Adonis, Katherine, and Ethan exchanged confused glances but remained silent, sensing the undercurrent of unspoken intentions.
The sleek white Lexus glided onto the road, slicing through the twilight.
"Christopher, the manager called," Advika said from the passenger seat, turning to face him.
"Any news about the lands and companies?" he asked, his voice calm, though he already possessed the information from Tiamat.
"Yes, the bank manager said the owners are ready to finalize the deal, and the papers are also ready," she explained.
"Okay... We’ll go tomorrow to take care of it, then head to the mountain," he replied, his gaze steady on the road ahead.
Advika turned back to face the road. In the back seat, Sylvia watched the two in the front with a small, thoughtful frown, unaware of the spectral presence beside her.
"Someone is following us," Tiamat announced, folding her arms across her chest.
Christopher glanced at the rearview mirror but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"Fool... Not everyone attacks from below," Tiamat chided, shaking her head at his cursory check.
Christopher’s eyes scanned the sky above, but it remained empty.
’Are you playing with me?!’ he hissed inwardly, his frustration growing.
"Well... They are two now. They don’t have bad intentions, because I haven’t felt any killing intent, so they must be friendly... Why they’re following you, I don’t know," she mused, still with her arms crossed.
’Can you tell their identities?’ he asked mentally.
"Hmm... No, I just know one has a beast, the other doesn’t," she answered, her gaze thoughtful.
’Okay then, let’s drop the girls first...’ Christopher nodded to himself and pressed down on the accelerator.
’I will take care of them.’
The Lexus surged forward, a white blur against the darkening asphalt.
Advika and Sylvia exchanged puzzled glances, their brows furrowed at the sudden increase in speed.
One hundred meters above them, a figure stood atop a magnificent flaming phoenix, its fiery wings beating gently against the air.
Leyla’s gaze was fixed on the speeding car below, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
’Did he suspect something?’ she wondered, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach.
Layla and her phoenix reacted instantly, their heads snapping towards a luminous object hurtling towards them.