Chapter 8: Coma

Ten days later, planet Balthazar was a chaotic scene. Large, dark aircraft constantly hovered, covering the sky to the obvious annoyance of Aslan. It seemed the entire galaxy, married or not, had flocked to every corner of the planet. Every blade of grass there had been carefully examined numerous times, a search carried out day and night, as if another child was hiding somewhere or would suddenly appear. If not for the strict security of Aetheria's palace, the area would have been breached long ago.

The chaos proved one simple truth: children were the future of this era.

A constant stream of noble visitors attempted entry, using every possible excuse, but Aslan personally denied them all. He used the same simple denial for every request, utterly unconcerned with the frustrated reactions of the high-ranking nobles.

Inside the palace, Lev was beside the child, guarding this hard-earned treasure and refusing to leave her side.

"Langga, aren't you tired?"

As soon as he came in, Aslan saw Lev carefully tucking in the child for the millionth time. The child had not stirred once in the ten days she’d been in a coma. Aslan felt a familiar pang of jealousy over Lev's intense focus. Since decorating the children's room, Lev had been rooted to the couch next to the child's bed. It had been ten days since Aslan had hugged his husband to sleep.

Now, Lev didn't even glance at him, only intently looking at the child with obvious fatherly love.

"I'm not tired, Aslan," Lev sighed.

"Why isn't she awake yet?" His voice overflowed with concern.

"She received fatal wounds, Lev. She doesn't have gene modification to help her health. She needs all the rest she can to recover."

"But it's been ten days!"

"I know, Lev. Don't worry, she will wake up. We just need to wait."

The worry shifted quickly to cold anger.

"Do you have any news about her family?" Lev switched the topic. He was angry but also profoundly curious. How could anyone hurt a child to the point of death? If they didn't want her, they could have easily given up their rights. What could prompt such a crime against a small, helpless life?

"No, Langga. Captain Kael has searched all residential areas in the galaxy, and no one has reported a missing child. No records were found about her at all.

However, many families have come to claim the little girl." Aslan's voice was tight with disdain.

"Unfortunately for them, we discovered their lies and chased them away. They are banned from this galaxy as well."

The audacity for those people to lie to him! Their genetic fragments did not in any way match the child.

"She's ours," Lev snarled. Those impostors must be families desperate for a child, just like him and Aslan. The ever-gracious Fenrir had dropped his treasure right in front of them, though he wished she wasn't covered in wounds and blood.

Lev looked back at the baby on the large bed. She was placed right in the center with a vast space around her. He carefully sat down at the edge and continued to stare. She was so tender, pale, and tiny. The more he looked, the more he wanted her. He turned back to his lover and acted playfully.

"Aslan, let's adopt her now, okay?"

Aslan almost immediately agreed but had to muster every ounce of his will to deny the request for now.

"Langga, let's wait for her to wake up, okay? I want to adopt her immediately as well, but we really need to ask for her opinion first." Aslan planted small kisses on his lover's head while patting his hand assuringly. The fact the real family had not shown up meant they were afraid of punishment.

'They better be', Aslan thought. 'They won't get their baby back now that my lover wants her. If they have the guts to show up, I'll make sure to bury them alive.'

It was also good news that no other genes matched the child in the entire Royal Fenrir Empire, meaning they had a great chance to win the adoption.

"Okay," Lev excitedly replied, kissing him on the cheek as if assured that Aslan had already agreed. This scene had been staged for the last ten days, as if Lev was afraid Aslan would back out. Not at all, Aslan was as determined as Lev to keep the child, since she was theirs.

But he didn't mind Lev's constant nagging, as he was enjoying his playful acting, which Lev had stopped doing a long time ago. It was like he was seeing the same old Lev, full of confidence and vitality.

Aslan was about to deepen the affection when Lev removed himself from his hug and quickly turned his attention back to the little bundle of joy.

Aslan chuckled helplessly, looking at both his treasures adoringly.