It was a few hours later when Imperius sensed that his offspring took form. He simply didn't say anything yet. He was enjoying his time with her. He didn't know when it would happen again these days. Anaurael was simply too exhausted to move. She had to recover first before he could even think about releasing her. She was simply floored at his intense stamina.
"How many...times...did you...?" she panted in his fiery arms against his core.
"Lost count..." he chuckled weakly. "And remember. We did this for a week before."
"Yes. But...both physical...and..." she started and shouted when he assaulted her with his Song. He knew his Valor was strong within her now, but he wanted to ensure that nothing would interfere with anything that was going to develop. Her mark was even at a full, glowing charge to show how intense his passion was for her. It also showed exactly how in tuned she was with him now.
As much as he knew that both her body and soul was his for the taking, he knew that Tyrael was going to need her. He didn't want Tyrael to touch her anymore, but even he knew that such a thing was inevitable. She did agree to play out as his wife. And he knew how much Tyrael cared for her. If he knew how many others needed to be with her, he would have been torn apart with the shock.
"Anaurael..." he whispered and cradled her tight after his Song ebbed away.
"Yes?" she whispered back.
"I love you," he said gently.
"I love you, too," she sighed and shivered from the spasms of pleasure that coursed over her skin.
"You've told no other?"
"No. I simply can't do that. Yes, I care greatly for everyone. But, only you will ever hear such words come from my lips unless it is family love. Love like this...that we share...I can only give to you..." she trembled and let him kiss her deeply. "I told you this before."
"I know. I just like hearing it," he chuckled.
"Do you?" she said and ran her mouth along his jaw. That got him to go still. Then she licked just under his jaw. A sensation unlike anything he ever felt before surged through him. "Oh? I found a weakness. Or did I?"
"This...should not be...!" he gasped. She gave a small nibble now, and he fell silent. His apparent soft spot with her was under his jawline. She had a faint idea before. Now it was cemented in full. I now know exactly how to keep him from going off into a tirade. She gave a touch of a wicked grin at the thought. He took in a deep breath and released it slowly.
"I'm not the only one that can cheat now," she chuckled.
"Impossible..." he muttered. I have to get her back. He landed and reformed in his armor. He moved right back to the reclining chair and removed his helmet. "Don't forget. You like this, too."
"Um..." she said with a hard blush. Now she went into her own stunned silence when he moved his invisible mouth along her jaw. Then he mimicked the lick she did to his neck.
"We have the same weakness. This is good to know," he mused. "It would make sense."
"Huh?" she panted out from the sensation she had to work with. He laughed softly and knew that this was going to be their secret, private game. No others would be able to get her to react like this. It proved how much she belonged to me. He sat up in the chair now and pulled her against his armored chest. A solid form of contentment unlike anything he would ever feel with another had taken root.
"Rest and recover. You may need to nurse our son when you are able to think again," he said gently and ran a finger under her jaw. Then he paused in shock when she nibbled it. "You...impossible..."
"We aren't...done with this...battle..." she chuckled and licked where she nibbled. "I just...have to prove...that I won't...give up...so easily..."
"Nor will I!" he managed to growl out, and he reclined again to get even with her. It took another hour before they both agreed to a truce. It was only to let their recovery finally kick in. They knew that Mal would be hungry again soon. He kissed her deeply one last time before placing his helmet back on. She dressed in a gown and got lifted into his arms. Carrying her back into the chamber, Izarius was quick to give over the baby.
"He just woke up," he chuckled. Imperius held her, as she nursed him.
"Was he any trouble?" Imperius asked.
"No. Malthael was keeping him asleep. And, he wanted me to tell you that your offspring formed. In both areas," Izarius said calmly. Imperius gave off a very pleased vibe now. Anaurael blushed softly and got kissed by him. "She may need to comfort Tyrael, though. He's sleeping."
"As long as my offspring is formed, then it's fine," Imperius nodded. "No others."
"I understand," Izarius said. Anaurael smiled softly and let Mal finish feeding. Izarius already had a burping cloth ready, but Imperius stopped him.
"Let me do that," he said.
"Um...well..." Izarius actually faltered. Now Imperius looked at him curiously. "You shouldn't be one to handle such chores as our leader."
"He is still my son. But, I do see your point. Fine. After he is properly tended to, I shall carry him normally. So, I shall follow where you go," Imperius nodded. Izarius nodded back and gave a hug to his sister. A chaste kiss was pressed to his mouth, and he took up Mal to help burp him and walk him around.
"We will likely be back in a couple hours," Izarius said. She nodded and watched her other brothers leave. They knew that she needed to comfort Tyrael now. Imperius could only nod to her and leave with Izarius. When she was alone with Tyrael sleeping in the bed, she undressed and slipped into the bed next to him. The moment her body pressed against his, he came alive and grabbed her.
"Missed me?" she smiled and gazed into his golden eyes with her topaz ones.
"You have no idea..." he whispered and kissed her in a desperate way. She let him claim her with everything he had first before pulling her hard against him. He was panting and trembling from everything he released, and she hugged him back just as tightly.
"What's wrong?" she asked and nuzzled into his neck.
"I love you so much. And I know you can't say it back..." he sighed. "And...Anarius said that, if you do say something, then Imperius would know. He said you do love me back in the same way, and that everything would be forgotten if something does happen to keep the knowledge safe. You simply can't say that you love me. But...I just want to know if you do...somehow..."
"Really? Well...here is what I can do. What I can't say back, I'll show in another way," she smiled with a form of loving warmth that had his jaw drop. She had him recline fully on the bed. Then she showed him what she did with Imperius. His mind was numb at the pleasuring heights she took him to. She Sang with him. She treated him just under equality with Imperius. She showed him exactly how much she cared about him with her body.
He was still a gasping mess of sensations when she finally reclined next to him to let him rest. When she traced a finger up his chest, he groaned with protest. "Never remind me to have you do that again! I can barely handle it!"
"Well, did I prove my point?" she chuckled. Now he moved to kiss her and hug her to him with a sigh and a heavy nod. "Good. Don't doubt it anymore. Or I will do it again when we are alone."
"Your words are noted," he smiled.
"But, I could use a bath," she said with a small grin. "Think you're up for it?"
"If it's just bathing..." he started. Then he cringed at how she got up to stretch. "I think my angelic blood is testing me. I know I'm built for constant fighting. This is something else!"
"Are you complaining?" she laughed softly and sent a mental message to Mithus and Azarius. Darius was helping the Horadrim on Sanctuary with bounty papers for Tyrael to sign. Once the tub was ready, she slipped into the hot water with a sigh and began to scrub herself clean. He was quick to help her and got a good scrubbing in return. She chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "So, what was Zayl here about? I sort of missed all of that."
"Ah. Yeah," he chuckled back and placed his arms around her to hold her. "Kulle's notes were deciphered. There is a way to make another Black Soulstone. But, Itherael confiscated the notes."
"Hmm. Something feels wrong," she frowned. Her necklace was shimmering frantically. Then he glanced over at El'druin to see his sword flaring out in response. She focused on her necklace to sense what was going on. "I see. My necklace...it feels that something isn't right. I believe that El'druin is agreeing. I have to call on Itherael for insight."
"Okay," he nodded and watched her focus. When Itherael appeared, he gave off the sensation that he was very upset at what she told him. Then he paused at how she was. It had been a while since he was last alone with her, but he pushed the sensation aside. At how she watched him, he realized that she had a sensation of the same thing. She would try to be with him to talk to him alone when she could. When he saw how Tyrael only nodded to him, he paused with surprise. Tyrael now fully knew of me.
"So..." Itherael started.
"Anarius told me everything. I understand," Tyrael said calmly. Itherael nodded and let out a deep breath. "I'm sure that Imperius may be back soon. Anyways, what do you think of this?"
"Anaurael's necklace feels that something may have been done to the notes. That copies could have been made. It is what she sent to me with her thoughts," he said. Now Tyrael was outraged. He looked over at El'druin and saw the soft glow it did. It was confirming what was discussed.
"I can have some of my followers from the Pools of Wisdom look into this. If there were copied notes, then they will have to be confiscated. And we will need to put the one that recorded such notes on a Horadric trial. Copies of any notes are not allowed unless agreed on by a Horadrim vote. Anaurael, what made your necklace think of this?" he asked.
"My necklace is a Keeper, Tyrael. It was a worry that was done. Apparently, such a thing was done before," she frowned. Now he was concerned. He didn't know this.
"What was done before?" he asked carefully.
"It refers to Kulle," Itherael said, when he studied what she was thinking.
"How are you able to tell?" he asked.
"As Lore Keeper for the High Heavens, it is natural for me to obtain information easily. On being locked to Anaurael's mind, I can learn things through her. It's...complicated to explain. It seems to be a natural thing now," Itherael admitted. "But, if it helps us learn more, then I will not complain."
"Good to know. But, now I am concerned. There needs to be a primary angel for other angels to go to that is related to the Pools of Wisdom. Yes, Izual is there for Tyrael, but he is from the Courts. Tyrael needs a lieutenant for the Pools," Anaurael said. Tyrael blinked at this and helped her get out of the tub to dry off and dress. Malthael had appeared, as Tyrael dressed, and even he was agreeing with it.
"I suggest you use Agrius," Malthael said. "He is one of your primary guards now. Let him touch Anaurael's mark. He will be able to see me for further guidance, if it is needed."
"It would make sense," Itherael nodded. When Imperius and Izarius appeared with Mal, Anaurael went straight to her son to cradle him with lilting croon. Mal let out a soft baby laugh and started to nurse. Tyrael was just amazed at how puffy his cheeks looked. It seemed to add to the cuteness factor he already had. The baby was soon clinging to her after feeding and had no plans to let her go. He gave out happy little baby sounds, as he looked around with his mismatched eyes. Imperius moved to sit in her rocking chair to hold her in his lap.
"He's my son, too," Tyrael chuckled.
"Yes, but he won't leave her side," Imperius replied calmly, as he rocked them. "And neither will I. I sensed distress. Anaurael, what was it about?"
"I can explain," Itherael said. He relayed everything in full, and Anarius soon flew into the chamber. He was not happy.
"IF THERE IS TO BE A JUDGMENT DONE ON THE ONE AT FAULT, I WISH TO BE PRESENT!" he demanded. "ANYTHING THREATENING THE SANCTITY OF HEAVEN IS SOMETHING I MUST ADDRESS! IT ALSO INVOLVES MY MOTHER. THAT ALONE IS ENOUGH."
"Agreed," Imperius nodded.
"Anarius, you don't need to worry so much over me," she smiled.
"I MUST. YOU ARE NOW WITH OFFSPRING FROM IMPERIUS. IN BOTH YOUR BODY AND SOUL ONCE MORE. IN A FEW DAYS, THEY WILL TAKE. I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE BURDENED WITH MORTAL STRESS."
"I do find it odd that she is to be expecting again so soon," Izarius said. "It should have taken her a few months to heal. Then again, she did get healed with a potent salve."
"EXACTLY. HER HEALING HAS SPED UP CONSIDERABLY. IT IS AS THOUGH SHE NEVER GAVE BIRTH, AS THAT HUMAN FEMALE REVEALED. I SHOULD SPEAK WITH HER AGAIN. SHE MAY HAVE SOME INSIGHT," Anarius mused. "HOWEVER, I WISH TO WITNESS AGRIUS BECOMING IN TUNE WITH MOTHER'S MARK."
"Of course," Tyrael chuckled and summoned his guard.
"Yes, Wise Tyrael?" Agrius asked, as he hovered. He was now gestured to see to Anaurael.
"Agrius, can you do me a favor and touch my mark?" Anaurael asked. Now the hovering guard looked at her with surprise and a touch of hesitation. She smiled warmly and reached out her hand to gently take his gloved one. Then she pressed it to her mark. A heavy sigh escaped him now as a form of relief. She pressed her cheek into his palm as an act of trust. "You can see Malthael now, and he will help guide you. He felt that this was needed to help Tyrael, too."
"I understand," he nodded and gently squeezed her chin with a form of brotherly affection. As he was now being informed of their concerns with the possibility of Kulle's notes being copied, a rather different situation was happening below in the Greed Goblin realms. One of the scouts was running haphazardly up to Greed's throne with shock.
"My Greatness of Greats!" the scout said and seemed to fall at his feet panting.
"Yes?" Greed asked with boredom.
"I have received word...that our...Baroness...is returning...!" it panted out. Now Greed went still. Then, for the first time that any goblin could remember since he sat down, he rose up from the throne made of treasures. This was bad. Very bad. If she found out what I was doing to help the girl by giving things away freely in exchange for other things, I may as well be dead. Getting things was one thing. Giving them away was another. Nothing should be given away. And he was giving away quite a bit just to ensure the girl's survival.
"Do we know when she will fully return?!" he asked now. Almost all of the goblins there were in complete surprise. She was gone for almost a whole millennia to search for an 'ultimate' treasure. Greed was appointed to be in charge while she was gone. It was an intense honor to be called Greed in her stead. Now he knew she was going to take back her mantle and kill him.
"Within the next month. One of her personal guards found me to tell you. This place must be made presentable. She will kill all of us, my Greatness of Greats! What are we to do? I don't want to become a mindless drone again! I like being able to think for myself!" the scout whimpered.
"I know. I gave almost all their own freedom in exchange for my acceptance. It has worked beautifully. But, she values her slaves as much as the treasure. I will call Gurzick," he decided. Gurzick was one of the most clever of his goblins. It was proven when he found the girl. When his personal lieutenant appeared, Greed regarded him seriously. Gurzick knew the need was urgent if his god was standing up. "She is returning to us. The one that appointed me in her stead. She will strip you of what I granted you. She may even kill me, as well as any that oppose her. What do you think?"
"No! That can't happen!" Gurzick stomped up and down. "She left us! She gave us you! You are much better than her!"
"It won't matter, if she comes back. What do we do?" he asked now. Gurzick thought hard. Then he vanished to Anaurael's chamber. At how upset he looked, Anaurael took instant concern.
"Gurzick? What is it?" she frowned. Imperius looked over now. All of the room's attention was now focused on the Greed Goblin.
"She come! Bad! Kill all!" Gurzick panicked.
"She? Who is she?" Izarius asked.
"He speaks of the Baroness Greed," Greed said calmly from the crown. "You see, I am not the 'true' Greed, per say. I am only one that holds the mantle of the title. The Baroness gave me such a thing before announcing that she was going to scour for more luxurious places to bring back as ways of conquest. This was done about as long as your war with each other. That far back in time. Maybe not as far back, but it could come close. She had taken trips away before. Multiple, even. But none for as long as this. She must have found something of exceptional wealth to take this long. Anyways, she is finally on her way back, and she will kill me and remove all of my influence from the realm I call home."
"What?!" Anaurael gasped. "That shouldn't happen!"
"I thought demons were a bit different in this approach," Itherael said.
"You see, that's the thing. We goblins aren't exactly true demons," Greed admitted. "We are a bit of an anomaly. But, because of our love for treasure, we were classified as such."
"So...you're not actually demons..." Imperius thought.
"No. We are not. Greed, itself, is a sin for humans. But, we goblins are nothing like that at all. We have a structure that is most unlike demons. You see, we are much like, oh, insects in a nest. You have the workers that do the tasks of collecting, sorting, and odd chores. Then you have the scouts and higher scouts, like Gurzick. They find more stuff for the workers, of course. Higher scouts tend to look for places for the more basic scouts to take a closer inspection into. Then they alert the workers to extract what was found. Then you have the guards. The sentinels. They protect the treasure from being stolen from invasions. Then you get the nobles. Like me.
"If there is an emergency, we nobles take over to handle it. We, oh, supervise everything. The form of lieutenants to you, as a closer comparison. I was given the full title and command over this realm when our Baroness was pleased at what I was giving to her. My scouts always found the best things. So, naturally, she decided that I was the best for the job to take her place. There are not that many of my ranking in the realm. I was a lowly worker at one point, oh, so long ago. Then I simply rose up in the ranks with the things I found. Much of what I have given over were things that I found, but the Baroness lists everything as hers. Even as a sentinel, I kept finding things. Anyways, as I said, she is on her way back. She will remove me in full and take down everything that I have done," Greed sighed sadly.
"Well, I won't allow it," Anaurael frowned. "I have come to value you. You have done so much for me and so many others. Yes, you are Greed. To me, you are the true Greed. Imperius, we have to help them. They do so much for us!"
"I know they do," Imperius said. "If what he says is true about not being a true demon, then I may be able to work something out. Then again, I wonder. You always teleport to the most bizarre places. Couldn't you make another pocket dimension?"
"I am not that powerful. But, hmm. I actually do have enough power while still holding the title. I could attempt something. What are you suggesting?" Greed asked.
"Can you make another dimension between Heaven, the Burning Hells, and Sanctuary?" Imperius asked. Greed paused in thought about this. "Such as a teleport within a teleport?"
"Now that...does sound interesting..." Greed mused. "I'll need to test this."
"If it does not work, then I may be able to help you scout around Sanctuary for other places to inhabit. Or you may not have to scout anywhere, if your pocket dimension could sustain you. Could you defect from the Baroness?" Imperius asked now. "Is it possible?"
"To defect?! Well...I could. I know a very good number of my following would easily leave with me. I have gained their respect. Something that should have never happened. I released them from being simple, mindless drones. It got boring watching them do what I told them to do without any form of thought. At least, if I tell them to do something now and they don't do it, I have a reason to punish them. But, as much as I love my Bopping Stick, the Baroness has a much bigger one that has a smashing effect. It's not pleasant," Greed snorted with disgust. "There is only one thing that I worry about."
"What would that be?" Auriel asked.
"If I managed to create this dimensional teleport realm, the one I call home here may be at risk. A goblin could be interrupted, and the portal could be left open for infiltration. It wouldn't go to mine, though. I'd take various safety measures to ensure that. But, this one could become breached," he said.
"And, why should this affect you? You will not be living there. Correct?" Itherael asked. Greed was about to argue his point, but then he paused. Then he started laughing.
"Ah! The instinct to protect this place is so strong! No, it would not matter. The Baroness will always get her just desserts, then. I'm sure she may find herself defeated, but she has plenty of daughters that will take up her mantle to replace her. It's what has always happened. Anyways, let me test and see if this dimensional way will work. Give me a bit," he chuckled. Back in his domain, Greed now called together any goblins that wished to remain drone-free. And it was nearly all of them. "If we left here and made our own place of safety, what do you all think? We will need to take precautions when scouting for treasures, but it can be done. There may be a way to make a teleport realm within a teleport. If it works, we should start leaving immediately. What do you all think?"
"I follow you!" a training goblin said. Several guard sentinels were already making plans to take what the needed from the armory. Gold, treasures, and valuables were now being loaded into sacks. Any goblins that didn't want to leave were now told what would happen if the Baroness came back. Greed now had all of the goblins under him. The Baroness could easily summon more. She did have her whole goblin force, anyways. What he had was a mere fraction compared to her.
"I test new home," a higher scout said. A teleport warp was now made to Sanctuary, but then it did a second teleport within it. With a brave look, it leapt into it. Then it stuck out a hand to make a gesture that it worked. Greed grinned and made his own teleport to where the higher scout was. On looking at the empty surrounding, he took in a deep breath and focused.
A new cave system appeared here. It was almost a near-exact mirror copy from the main home. The only difference was that it was his. And, now that he was defecting from the Baroness, his title was permanent. In this new realm, he got stronger. His powers expanded. And now he realized that the Baroness did the same exact thing and kept this secret from everyone. He was now a Baron. A true leader. He was going to have his goblins raid her place whenever he had the chance.
Up in Heaven, Gurzick showed a rather pleased look. Then Greed spoke out from the crown. "It was successful! You have my vow that I will not remove anything from your Heavens from this point forward. I have discovered a very closely guarded secret. On successfully defecting, I have gained a Baron title. I am now my own sect. She did the same thing. She was likely a daughter that took the chance and became her own form of power. With me doing this, she will know that I know the secret. But, I can handle myself against her easily. I know where she is. She does not know where I am. Please, keep the secret guarded. As an act of trust, I am letting you all know."
"You have our vow that we will not tell any of this secret," Imperius nodded. They all agreed. The rest of the day was spent tending to Anaurael in Heaven. As for Greed, he was moving every last coin, gem, and treasure from the old realm to his. The Baroness wanted the place fit for her return. He was going to ensure that and then some by letting her redecorate it in a fit of rage.
Greed did want to have Anaurael come by and visit his new home. He felt that she earned the right to do so. He was even having a personal chamber set up for her in case something happened. He even mused at the idea that she could have a personal warp to his domain within her chamber in the form of a mirror. He knew it was possible. As for now, though, he had to set up a whole new regime. Gurzick was going to have a special spot right underneath him. No other Baron or Baroness had a personal adviser. Gurzick was going to be the first. And it would be a whole new class above noble ranking.