Greatwater Lake When that’s all behind us

The same way his own proposition had taken him aback did Asterr's response surprise him. In all honesty Damien would have never trusted himself to be a paternal figure, none the more when it was the righteous Asterr's own offspring they were talking about. He would corrupt them, pull them down a dangerous path and ultimately lead them to their own demise. But the possessive feeling both over Asterr herself and those he'd planted in her was growing strong, he wouldn't allow anyone else to raise them if they were his, and actually at this point, given her answer, there was no mortal power that could deny him the pups' claim.

"I do," he said, rid of stuttering and awkwardness. It was a promise, an oath he'd never break. That feeling of anguish, of uncertainty, dissipated as it became clearer what he would have to do differently from now on to secure his offspring's safety. "I don't want them any close to Blackfeather Woods," he spoke with full security of what he was saying, "It would not be safe for them, or for you," he explained. He didn't think Asterr would disagree knowing what she'd gone through herself. All Damien could think about was Potema finding out that he had brought children to the world and not offering them to Mephala, but he couldn't do that to Asterr, she didn't belong to that world, and he cared too much about her to risk her safety.