Erin dropped to one knee so fast the surrounding mana quivered. Her black hair spilled across her shoulders, eyes shining with reverence and unmistakable zeal.
"As you command, my lord," she said, voice trembling with excitement. "I will guard them with my life. Anyone who dares approach without your permission shall be reduced to ash."
Damon nodded. Before he could say anything further, Lola ran over to him and jumped onto him like she always did. "Uncle! Papa told me that this castle came from your tummy? Wow! You are so awesome!"
Damon laughed. "Dude, what the hell?"
Lola clung to him like a koala, tiny arms wrapped around his neck, eyes sparkling with unfiltered hero-worship. Damon bounced her lightly on his arm, trying and failing to look stern.
"I swear, John," Damon said, pointing an accusing finger at his brother, "one more ’uncle’s tummy is magical’ story and I’m feeding you to a hydra."
John raised both hands in surrender. "She is not ready, Damon. I’m not explaining soul constructs to a child."
Lola gasped dramatically. "Hydra?! Can I see one, Uncle?! Does it also come from your tummy?!"
Damon froze. Kate snorted. Aurora covered her laugh with both hands.
"No," Damon said slowly, "hydras do not come from my tummy."
Lola pouted. "But the castle did."
"It’s... different."
"How?"
Damon opened his mouth. Nothing came out. Aurora leaned in and whispered, "Hubby, you’re losing to a child." Kate added helpfully, "Just say it’s a secret technique. Kids love secrets." Damon shot them both a betrayed look.
Finally, he sighed and tapped Lola’s nose. "Alright, fine. It’s a super secret thing Uncle can do. But you can’t tell anyone, okay?"
Lola gasped again, eyes huge. "A Secret Tummy Power?!"
"...Close enough."
Kate laughed out loud this time. Aurora was giggling. Only Erin looked stiff as she was not used to seeing Damon behave like this.
Damon placed Lola back on the ground gently. "Alright, little monkey. Go play with Aurora and Kate. I need to talk to some grown-ups."
Lola ran off toward Aurora, who immediately scooped her up and flew into the air, Lola shrieking with delighted terror.
Damon turned back to John, squinting. "Next time, tell her the castle came from a spell. Or a pocket dimension. Or the Easter Bunny. Anything but my tummy."
John raised an eyebrow. "Would she believe those?"

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