Sehun stared at his reflection in the mirror. Beside the greenish cast to his cheeks and the dark circles under his eyes, he looked more collected than he had in months. Sehun and Kai had been so busy the past few days and barely slept properly, it was only natural his tiredness showed. The lack of proper rest wasn't enough to dim his state of mind. He could finally have real peace now, something he'd lacked even before and after his rebirth. With everything finally falling in place, Sehun felt like he could breath freely without any weighing on him. It had been a few weeks since the war. And thing had changed significantly. With the spirit animals back, the emperor of Varal had become the most powerful monarch in the nearby continents, no one would dare to think of attacking his empire. Hence even those that had once posed a threat to Varal now all wanted to form an alliance. It didn't matter how far away they were form Varal, they all wished to sign a treaty.  So Sehun, Kai and their advisors were busy accepting and declining offers. Everything was falling in place. The demigod had became an infamous history, that would at some point be forgotten. The goddess was taken to the heavenly court to answer for her crimes. According to Blink, the goddess of mischief (her original role before taking over the Yin mother's body)had pled guilty when all deities voted against her. Even with the evidence of her crimes, it was still customary for the gods to vote in favor or against before the sentence was decided. She would be strip of her godhood, which would result in her becoming a mare human with limited lifespan, she was also banned from the cycle of reincarnation. The first punishment was due putting the mortals in harm, when she was supposed to do the opposite. The second was for the crime of taking another deity's body and soul. Something clearly unforgivable. She had begged to be killed, so that she could reunite with her lover. But of course she was denied, an easy death was showing mercy, and she didn't deserve it. Besides, the demigod had been erased from existence, completely. His soul had been obliterated by Kai's magic. The knowledge of never existing anywhere, was why he was scared of dying by Kai's hand.There was no soul to travel to the afterlife for her to meet, and that had broken her completely. Sehun have complicated feelings regarding the goddess and he'd asked the High Mother if it was possible to revive the real Yin goddess. Unfortunately, it wasn't possible because surprisingly a deity's soul was more fragile than a mortal's. All they were able to do was extract a tiny wisp of soul that remain of the goddess. Fusing their souls even before the Yin mother was born, was one of the reasons even the High Mother was unable to detect something was off. Quite efficient. Another aspect that played a role in her deception, was High Mother's negligence. After being separated from her mate, she had closed herself in solitude, due being in a state of extreme distraught. Something she blamed herself for up to this day. She believed, she would have at least picked up something, no matter how little– even though it was the first time something like that happened– had she paid attention to her daughters when they were in the incubation process for a century. It turned out despite being naturally born goddesses, they had to be incubated for that long due to the sudden premature birth caused by distress. They broke out on their own fully grown. It was then the High Mother realized she had daughters to take care of. The High Mother wasn't the only one in distress though. The babies had sensed the absence of their father, which had caused a fluctuations in their connection to each other. Of course it was another opportunity to the goddess of mischief to hide her tracks, before any of her sisters were old enough to notice. Not even her other half the Yang mother, that shared an incubator with her. But what gave Sehun a glimmer of hope was the possibility of the tiny soul getting reincarnated, even though it might not likely work, or might take a while to reshape the soul. That chapter was closed. The next was Seung-Wan's. Seung-Wan was no longer in this universe. The demon had taken her along, with Sehun's consent and had vowed Sehun would never have to see her ever again unless he demanded it. Though the demon didn't say what he wanted with her, but Sehun knew she wouldn't live a peaceful and idle life in the demon's world. Just before they depart, Rue had requested to see Seung-Wan one last time to have a moment alone. Sehun had granted her request. He didn't know what they talked about, but he was glad when the flower guard existed with a different expression than the one on her face when she entered the room. She seemed to have found her closure, which was good. Rue deserved her happiness. She would meet someone new, someone deserving of her affection. And he had a feeling whom that might be, despite the other party's attempts in hiding it. With his sister universe away, Sehun wouldn't have to live in constant fear of living in the same world with Seung-Wan and what trouble she might cause in the future.Though the High Mother promised to intervene if he were to allow her to remain in Varal and Seung-Wan happened to caused him trouble. It was a testament of how fond the High Mother was of Sehun. Speaking of the gods. The males and females were finally reunited, co-existing together like how it once was, with no boundaries separating them as well as managing the mortals, the way they had been doing for the past millennials. The females governing Varal, while the males the side of the world. The children infiltrated with heavenly energy were assembled and offered a choice to remain in the mortal realm or enter the heavenly realm, where their powers would be enhanced in order to train and become gods if they wished. It turned out the heavenly energy had made them lesser deities and could either live as mortal or gods. Most of the kids had found their chosen parents, like Jay, Jimin and Jungkook's son and the  bond was strong. Thus they chose to remain. Sehun had feared the kids were too young to comprehend what it meant and would presumably end up choosing wrongly. But the High Mother and Father had enhanced their brains capability to think like adults. There was nothing like choosing wrong. The few that chose to enter the heavenly realm were those without attachments. Sehun couldn't understand why Seung-Wan and the goddess would go to great length to make them in the first place without a purpose . It turned out they had intended to use them as meal for the demigod to fuel his energy. But the High Mother had personally protected them secretly. Which was why they couldn't, but apparently they had a plan b, the several souls that they took, using the soul eater. Yet without the kids with heavenly energy, those poor souls barely sustained the demigod.Learning about it explained the demigod's hungry gaze when he looked at Mina. Mina. A rare phenomenal. The book of hearts clearly described the birth of a new goddess, one different from the others, and more powerful, that could rival the High Mother when she matured and her powers fully manifest. What made Mina possible was the pureness in her that was rare even in natural born goddesses, mixed with the high dose of heavenly energy that might have killed her, but instead her soul harnessed the power in a different way. When the high mother spoke of Mina, Sehun noted the enthusiasm in her tone. Turned out in almost forever,only the High Mother had achieved such level of pureness, which differentiate her from the others and ultimately gave her power/right to rule the deities. It was decided Mina would be her successor. Though it was clear the High Mother would love nothing more than to take Mina with her and train her to properly harness her powers, but she respected Mina's decision to remain in the mortal realm for as long the girl desired. To think Mina would one day become the High goddess was quite astounding. Even now her powers were magnificent and the nature itself recognized Mina as the future Mistress. As long as the girl was in the mortal realm, Varal and her surrounding neighbors would never experience famine, plague or any other natural disaster. Other goddesses had began showing respect to her, which made the girl uncomfortable. Thus the High Mother had prevented them from bowing to Mina, until she herself truly understood what she really was and accepted her role. Mina could easily travel between realms at will. It was how she sneaked to bring back Kai's dragon. Somehow, just like the High Mother, Mina knew the dragon was the only hope to defeat the demigod.  The spirit animals had prayed and called out to the dragon desperately. Contrary to what Sehun assumed, Griffs weren't the first creation of mortals or the High Mother's favorite. They were the second in both categories. The first were the spirit animals, which had its perks. They were the purest made out of life essence like her children. Being the first mortals earned them the absolute favor of the gods, thus spirit animals were the only race that would always have their prayers answered. With their revival it was natural they would ask for the dragon's revival as well. High Mother had been prepared. But when Mina decided to take matters into her hands, the High Mother indulged her. To make the little goddess think the mission was according to her expectations, the High Mother had set up the breaking out in a way Mina would find it a little challenging, and excitedly explore her newly found abilities. For additional convenience, the High Mother even let, the vial and the scroll – on how Kai was to remerge with his dragon –for Mina to find. Sehun had laughed when he thought of Mina sneaking into the heavenly realm for her mission impossible like some mini version of Tom Cruise. He was glad everything had worked out well. Not just for Varal but everyone involved. The Griffs were allowed to remain autonomous after signing multiple treaties– which involved considering the witches, harpies as equals or the deal was off– they had offered Sehun a place in their court. But of course Sehun declined. Ruling Varal with his husband was already a tremendous effort on his part. If he would have his way, Sehun would rather live  leisurely with his kids ,family and friends without any matter of the nation to attend to. With Kai's harem disbanded, and Sehun being the sole spouse, his responsibility to manage things was lot more heavier. Trades would be established between the two sides to help each other grow and recover. Any Griff or a person belonging to Varal had the right to live in any side they wished. The decision was stemmed from the unexpected event that occured following the curse breaking. Surprisingly a lot of people from different races had found their mates in Griffs and spirit animals. It seemed the Griffs had been affected by the curse –in terms of fated mates– as well, despite already being separated when it happened. It proved the Republic of Korea had always been a part of Varal. Even a couple of Kai's former concubines were among those to find their mates in Griffs. At first it was kinda awkward feeling the pull and trying to suppress it, but they worked it out and the ex concubines decided to travel with them to the other side. It was fortunate the Griffs didn't have spouses back at home. Kai walked into the bathroom snapping Sehun out of his thoughts. He must have been wondering what took Sehun long. Coming to rest his head on Sehun's shoulder, Kai peered at him through the mirror, smiling. His lips found Sehun's neck, kissing and and Sehun had to bite back a moan. It had became like an obsession of Kai's to shower his neck with kisses. Sehun knew Kai's dragon was itching to put his claim on him. It wasn't just Kai's dragon but Sehun's beast had been restless as well. "My love"Kai mumbled, resting one hand in what had become his favorite spot on Sehun's lower belly. It was the dragon again. Like he couldn't wait to feel his seed in Sehun womb. It was understandable considering the dragon had missed the twins growth. But Sehun couldn't have another child now when his kids were barely a month old. The dragon had to wait at least a couple of years for Sehun to have another child. "Our guests are waiting" Kai inhaled deeply. The guests were from the different universes, which Sehun had invited over for a meal, to thank those that had helped as well meet new Sehuns that hadn't. The demon had declined, something Sehun had expected. With the device elfin Jimin made, it was so easy to communicate with the Sehuns as though they were a part of his universe, through which he sent the invitations. "Hyunjin?" Sehun asked, twisting to face his husband. "With the other kids, competing to see who is much stronger." Kai told him, stealing a kiss. "But Jungkook and Yuri are there to make sure nothing goes south." "The twins?" "Zia volunteered to keep an eye on them until Blink returns from the heavenly realm." "Is Rue present? I mean with the twins?" Sehun asked, suspicious of Zia's sudden interest in the twins. Though she would die for them, but coddling them wasn't her way. If it were Lyla, Sehun wouldn't find it suspicious, because more than any of the hellacats, she was the most motherly to the twins. "How do you know?" Kai raised an eyebrow. Sehun laughed. He was right. He didn't need to wonder why Zia volunteered. "Just guessing." He shrugged and Kai narrowed his eyes, skeptically. "Later" he promised, kissing his husband, glad when Kai nodded. "Let me quickly get dressed, we shouldn't keep our guests waiting." Sehun made an attempt to pull away, but Kai grabbed him, kissing him deeply, and for a moment Sehun feared their guests would have to wait a little longer. But then he let go, taking a few steps back as if to force himself to keep his hands to himself.
  *** "Your home is quite lovely." The elfin king waved at the grand dinning hall, with servants coming in and out to make certain nothing was lacking as the guests filled their bellies with delicacies unique to Varal. The meal had been going on for almost an hour. Kai's family and Sehun's were all present. "Not as lovely as yours." Sehun smiled, thinking of Lyfe and all the wonders in it. "I can spend a decade just exploring it." He took a sip of his wine. "And I will make sure to be by your side and feed you while you explore, I wouldn't want you going hungry." His mate said thoughtfully, bringing a cookie to Sehun's lips as if to prove how serious he was. Kai nodded approvingly when Sehun accepted the piece into his mouth. The elfin king threw his head back and laughed, his blue hair flowing behind him as his own Kai looked at him with lovestruck expression. "I bet you will." Feeling mate's gaze, he briefly glanced at his Kai with a smile. "My Hayrik always says he's never seen anyone as devoted to another as how Kai is devoted to Sehun." He wiggled his tattooed hand around, indicating it applied to every pair. Sehun totally agree. "Hayrik?" A Sehun with platinum hair asked slightly confused. He was the white fox, mated to his wolf Kai. Said Kai was busy with his plate full of meat that his husband had been cutting into small pieces. Sehun understood as a wolf, meat was necessary in his diet. What moved him was the affection between the two, especially when the fox wiped his mate's mouth with a napkin. "My birth father." The elf supplied, reaching to his special flask containing a red liquid that looked suspiciously like blood. "Just like I am Hayrik to my kids, in my language it means the one that gives you life." "That sounds cool" fox Sehun smiled, placing more cut meat in his Kai's plate. Sehun didn't know