A Court of Heritance and Destiny

Chapter 9 Ikarad

The blow came and Ikarad didn't react, his brother's fist collided with his ribs and Ikarad took a step back. Steadying his breathing as he worked through the pain.

"What the fuck was that?" Nyx asked, lifting his hands in disbelief. "You? Allowing me to get a hit? Is the world coming down around us?"

"No." Ikarad launched forward, tackling his brother down. "Just me being lazy." and worried. A week had passed, and Etera was not doing well. That first day's energy had vanished completely, and she was struggling to keep food down. No more cramps, but he was debating calling Madja over anyway.

"You? Lazy? Yea, the world is collapsing." Nyx stated, pushing Ikarad off him. "What is going on?"

"Have you tried talking to this Nico?" Ikarad shot back, sure, Etera was not feeling well, but he had no interest in learning what she would do if she found out that he told someone without her consent. Something he was dangerously close to do if Nyx kept pressing on.

"I will not answer that." his brother crossed his arms. "See, it is kinda annoying to not get an answer."

"Life, that is what is going on." Ikarad said back. "Done for the day?" He started to clean the space up.

"Life as in that mate of yours?" Nyx asked, trying to be playful, not that it landed well.

"Just... Drop it." He placed the things back, "Dinner tonight?"

"Maybe..." Nyx sighed. "If mom doesn't start giving birth."

"That would be one hell of a dinner..." Ikarad shook his head. "I was asking because Etera is not feeling well."

"Realy?"

"I think the attack brought up some old stuff for her." A lie, but it worked now. Give them something, invite them to share something back. She was a master of manipulation if she wanted to, and over the years Ikarad had learned quite a lot.

"Well, I think you won't be the youngest for long now, we are talking hours, not days." Nyx clarified. "And... I may have a date with Nico tomorrow."

"No way?"

"Yea..." Nyx cheeks got a red tint to them. "As you said, why be scared of the future?"

"Way to go brother." Ikarad hugged him, the future was near now, a lot of things were changing rapidly.

"I said may, depending on if dad demands us to guard the house."

"Then we can hope that he will calm down." Ikarad grinned even more ."How does he look?"

"So Etera can go out and find out everything about him? No way!" Nyx laughed, and Ikarad held back a comment about Etera not being fit for missions right now.

"I was just asking!" He said instead, seeing how Nyx got even reder. "And Etera would have been out following him if she only knew the name. Which she doesn't because I have not told her."

"Thanks for that..."

"But I might if you don't give me an update later."

"I'll take that back."

The two brothers left the training area and Ikarad flew back to his home, finding Etera sitting on the couch with a cup of tea and a book in her hand.

"Hi love." He walked by her, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Feeling better?" She had left the bedroom, and was drinking tea. The cup was half empty so that was a good thing.

"A little... How was training?" She placed down her book and Ikarad noticed the title.

"Good, Magical creatures? Working on something new?"