“Of course I’ll be there,” she said a minute later. “Are you sure?” he asked, though the answer was all he wanted. “I don’t want you to be—” “It’s to celebrate you and Jula,” Elian said, shaking her head at his worry. “No way I’d miss it.”

“Yes,” Neo grunted as he wrenched her fingers out of the fabric of his shirt. “I asked her when we were on holiday in Tartosa.” “So romantic, baby brother,” Elian crooned, giggling when Neo rolled his eyes.

Elian didn’t relax. Not even a fraction. “What’s it for?” she asked. “To announce Jula as my Intended.” “Really?!” Elian gasped, upright in an instant, shaking Neo around. “Really really?”

Elian hummed. “Alright.” “And I wanted to tell you that there’s a ball soon,” he said, feeling her tense immediately. “If you can, I’d really like it if you’d attend.”

“Jula would like your help finding a venue for a dinner party in the mortal world,” Neo recited, staring up at her ceiling. “How big of a dinner party?” “Um…maybe…I’m not sure. I’d say twenty people at the most.”

When she was all cleaned up, Elian laid back down, Neo settling beside her. “I came to ask for two favors.” Elian sighed, eyes closed once more. “Okay.”

“What the fu—Neo?” she said, blinking in surprise, cutting herself off mid-shriek. “You have drool all over you,” he informed her with a sweet smile. Elian flushed. “Shut up,” she muttered, wiping at her cheeks, frowning down at her hand in disgust.

“Elian~” he sang, sitting down on the end of her bed and scraping his fingernail up the sole of her foot, diving out of the way of the kick she tried to land in the center of his face.

“Elian,” he whispered, reaching down to give her arm a shake. “Wake up.” She grumbled and rolled over, static holding strands of blonde to her pillows as drool held it to her cheek. Neo smirked. He 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 needed a picture.

Thankfully, she was. Curled up in her bed, fast asleep, making the most unattractive face she was capable of. Neo wished he could have taken a picture.

Harlow let him into the house when he arrived, one finger over her lips as she inclined her head in the direction of Elian’s bedroom. Neo nodded and, praying she would be alone, tapped two knuckles against the door before pushing it open.

But, since Jula had already volunteered Elian for another task, Neo figured there was no harm in putting their ball on her calendar, too. He, Jula, and his mother had tentatively scheduled it three weeks out, hoping that would put enough time between it and the pregnancy announcement.

Neo firmly refused to steal the spotlight from Isa and Dima that day, and judging by the look he exchanged with Jula, she agreed. They weren’t 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 engaged yet—there was no reason to butt in. They could always tell the Vasilievs later.

spoiler wednesday because I can't help myself 🤠

“We should all do something together,” Jula said, scooting into the space behind Isa and Dima. “Neo’s dad can make a nice meal. Elian can find a venue somewhere in the mortal world so Isa’s family can comfortably come. My niece or nephew deserves a big celebration.”

Isa flushed and Dima laughed, though Neo couldn’t tell if it was genuine or nervous. “He’s…” “Unwell,” Isa finished for him. “But coming around. Trying to be supportive.”

“Thank you, Neo,” she whispered back, giving a little sniffle as she came down from her tiptoes and released him. “How’s your dad taking it?” Neo asked.

He could feel the lingering intention and question in the air between them, and since it was a special case, Neo relented. Let his walls down and opened his arms for the hug Isa was itching for. “Congratulations,” he told her once she’d danced into his embrace.

“How’s Isa, though?” Neo asked, closing the front door behind them. “Feeling okay?” “I’m good!” Isa said, appearing in the hallway before him, an ethereal glow about her that probably would have tipped Neo off if he hadn’t already been told.

“Let’s get the baby born before we start meal planning for it,” Neo reminded him in a chuckle. “𝘏𝘦𝘳,” Dima corrected. “I’m not so sold on your father’s intuition.”

Dima shrugged. “That’s what I figure. And if Isa doesn’t want to hunt for the baby then I can do it; I’ll do whatever she needs me to—”

Neo frowned, an unfamiliar feeling tightening his chest. “Like who?” Dima shrugged. “Just…higher ups. Fussing about a demon-god hybrid.” “Oh,” Neo murmured. “I mean, how different can they be, really? Just a god who drinks blood, basically, right?”

Neo snorted. “Sure. Congratulations, though—it’ll be great. You’ll both be great.” Dima beamed brighter than the sun. “Thanks, man. It means a lot for someone to be excited—not many people have been.”

Dima nodded so fast he was a blur. “We found out like two days after you left. I wanted to call but I also wanted to tell you in person,” he said, speaking so quickly that Neo could barely follow. “I think it’s a girl. Father’s intuition, you know?”

“Really?” Neo asked. Dima had no reason to lie, he knew that, but still… It was bizarre, how it seemed like they were both too young for it and like it had been a long time coming. But maybe that was just the way of things when it came to soulbound couples.

“Did you miss me that much?” Neo joked, clapping a hand against Dima’s back. “I’m gonna be a dad!” Dima said—no lead up, no hinting—just fact. “Can you believe that? Isa—she’s pregnant, she really—”

Neo didn’t make it within ten feet of the door before Dima was running out to meet him, eyes bright, lips split in a grin so wide it looked like it hurt. As soon as he was within reach, Dima threw his arms around Neo and squeezed.

“Maybe you and Dima could go for a babymoon. Unless by tradition you have to go to Komorebi again.” Isa smiled guiltily. “Given the choice…” “I know, I know. Cherry blossoms are in your blood, sister. But variety is the spice of life.”

“How was your holiday with Neo?” Isa asked. “Tartosa, right? My parents got engaged there.” “Really?” Jula said. “I would’ve asked them for stuff to do if I’d known that. It was good, though. Very sunny.”

Jula pressed her lips together. She wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. She also wasn’t entirely sure that Isa understood that when Jula said she would punch anyone she needed to, she meant 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦.

Isa laughed and Jula relaxed a little when she did. There was nothing more unnatural than a frowning, pensive Isa. “I’m sure. He’s trying his best to play mediator, but the worry comes from both sides, so he can only do so much.”

Isa shrugged. “They want a plan of action, I guess.” “Dima is being supportive of 𝘺𝘰𝘶, right?” “He is.” “Are you 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, Isa? ‘Cause you know I’ll punch whoever I need to.”

“I mean, does it really matter?” Jula asked. “If it wasn’t meant to happen it wouldn’t have, and we don’t know anything about what the baby will be like, so why is anybody fussing?”

Jula gave her a look and Isa sighed, rubbing one hand over her stomach absentmindedly. “The baby—it’ll be a hybrid, you know?” she murmured. “Oh,” Jula blurted. “I…guess I didn’t think about that.” Isa smiled ruefully. “Neither did we.”

“I am!” Isa said, seeming surprised at Jula’s reaction—her happiness. “Only seven weeks or so, but I really am. But it…doesn’t seem like everyone is.” “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵? My dad didn’t scream and do a backflip?” Isa cocked her head. “How’d you know about the backflip?”

Jula allowed herself two seconds to be disgusted by her brother’s sex life, then threw her arms around her sister-in-law, careful not to squeeze too hard. “Congratulations, Isa!” she cheered. “Are you excited? How far along?”

Isa looked up with watery eyes. Which wasn’t necessarily anything terribly surprising, but still made Jula’s chest tighten. “I’m pregnant.”

Isa opened and closed her mouth a couple times, toying with her wedding rings as she looked for the words she wanted. “Hey,” Jula said gently. “You’re my only sister—I’m on your side for anything and everything. I’m not gonna let them run you off.”

Nobody said anything. But Isa looked sad, so on her way to her room, Jula grabbed her hand and tugged her along, shutting the door behind them and throwing her suitcase down on her bed. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

Jula arrived home to find her entire family, including Isa, standing in the kitchen, appearing to be in the middle of a brood-a-thon. “Wow,” she said, “what a cheery gathering.”

There was nothing that could’ve taken that happiness away from them, nothing except one tiny little detail they had forgotten about.

another peaceful afternoon of listening to @dellsiming.bsky.social punch her keyboard 😌

His mother reached out to cup his face in her hands, pulling him down to kiss his forehead, bringing instant peace. Peace that she immediately shattered when she said, “You should go to the Vasiliev house. Something crazy might have come up.”

Sine smiled. “How did he take it?” “He cried. But eventually said if it had to be someone it may as well be me, so you know, high praise.” “Will he come for the ball?” “He said he would, as long as nothing crazy comes up.”

Sine and Neo stared at each other a few minutes more before he gave in. “I guess I’ll talk to him.” “Good boy.” “I told Dima a while ago, though.”

“Would you want to find out like that if it were your daughter?” “I have a daughter now?” “Maybe one day!” his mother chirped. “Maybe not.”

Neo recoiled. “No. She’s not his to give away—” “No, but she is his baby. And you know how he is. It would just be…considerate. You really want him and Larissa to find out with everyone else?” “I—”

Sine pushed Neo away and slapped the side of his head, staring into his grin with a sour face. “You’re not funny.” “Yes I am.” “Did you talk to Zak yet?”

“My baby,” she whimpered into his shoulder. “You’re getting so big.” “I’m twenty-one, Mama—” “Don’t remind me.” “Why? Because then you’ll have to remember that your firstborn is pushing thirty?”

There were tears in her eyes when she looked up. “Did you talk to Jula already?” “Yeah. She said as long as it was just…the intent and not a real engagement, she was ready.” Her bottom lip wobbled, but curved into a smile all the same, disappearing as she threw her arms around him.