Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Thirty-Four

The manor had rarely felt so alive. By the time the search parties returned, mud-stained boots echoing against marble, the great living room had been transformed into a sanctuary. The fire roared high, bright flames reflected in the gilded frames and dark wood paneling. Plush blankets, cushions and trays of steaming mugs were already waiting.

The girls were shepherded straight to the largest sofa, swallowed up in layers of warmth. Elara sank between Anastasia and Olivia, her body trembling from exhaustion, the forest's chill still clinging to her skin. Isabella bent to tuck the blanket under Elara's chin as if she were five years old again. "There, my darling girl," she whispered. "You're safe now."

Hot chocolate was pressed into the girls' hands – rich, thick and crowned with melting marshmallows. The sweet aroma mingled with cedar smoke until the whole room smelled of comfort. Anastasia nearly purred as she curled her fingers around her mug. "Finally. Back to civilization."

Around the girls, the heirs gathered like a living guardrail. Elias stood closest to Elara, arms crossed, his shadow stretching long in the firelight. Salvatore leaned against the mantel, his stance deceptively casual, eyes flicking to Elara with every movement she made. Theron, Adonis, and Orion Drakos had clustered nearby, silent but unwavering, their presence mirroring the Calvieros' protectiveness. The Vasiliev siblings lingered together, Nikolai sharp-eyed and Mikhail looming behind him. Thiago Moreira sprawled in an armchair with the easy calm of someone who rarely let his guard slip. Kai Wei lounged nearby, his sharp gaze missing absolutely nothing.

And then there were the heads – the quiet, commanding weight of authority filling every corner of any room they were in.

Alessandro Calviero sat in one of the high-backed chairs by the fire, his broad shoulders stiff beneath his suit jacket. Henrique Moreira occupied the seat opposite, their silence heavier than any words. Sergei Vasiliev leaned against the far wall, his usual relaxed smirk absent, replaced by something colder. Victor Wei remained standing, hands clasped behind his back, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp with calculation. And Leonidas Drakos, though outwardly at ease, had the restless energy of a man who had nearly lost what was most precious to him.

For a while, no one spoke. The only sounds were the crackle of the fire, the soft clink of mugs, and the girls' breathing as they tried to unwind. Finally, Elias broke the silence. "You should have stayed on the path," he said, his tone clipped, eyes fixed on the trio.

Anastasia wrinkled her nose at him over her cup. "Thanks, Captain Obvious. Next time I'll ask the trees for directions."

"That mouth of yours, Ana," Nikolai muttered from his place, "is the reason ghosts didn't eat you alive or something."

"Ghosts?!" Anastasia squeaked, whipping her head toward him.

Luca lifted a brow. "There are stories about the forest."

"Don't you dare say anything more," Olivia whispered, eyes wide.

"Relax," Theron said evenly. "It's wild boars you should have been worried about."

Anastasia groaned and pulled her blanket over her head. "Someone please carry me to Switzerland. Or some exotic island. I'm done."

Laughter rippled through the room, thin at first, then stronger, breaking the tension. Even Sergei's lips twitched. But Alessandro's deep voice cut through, steady and iron-strong as he spoke Elara. "From now on, you don't leave the grounds without an escort. Your escorts would be one of the boys. No exceptions."

Elara groaned and buried her face behind her mug, cheeks hot with guilt. For a moment she wished she could vanish into the cushions, instead of sitting at the center of so many watchful eyes. "I didn't mean to–"

"You don't need to explain yourself," Leonidas interrupted gently, his gaze locked on her. "At least not tonight." His eyes softened, though his tone carried steel. "But understand this – none of us can afford another scare like this."

Kai leaned forward, his usual smirk returning. "What Mr. Drakos means to say is… congratulations. You now have a twenty-four-hour bodyguard service, free of charge."

"Free?" Thiago drawled, chuckling. "I say we charge them rent for the trouble."

Elias perked up from where he'd sprawled on the rug. "We could attach bells to them. Like cats. You'd hear a jingle every time they left the house.”

Nico snapped his fingers. "Yes! With bright pink collars. And glitter. Lots and lots of glitter!"

"Try it," Anastasia said darkly from under her blanket. "And I will haunt you."

The room erupted into laughter again, this time richer, loosening something heavy in everyone's chest. Still, no matter the jokes, no one's gaze truly left the sofa. The girls were the quiet center of gravity, every eye flicking back to them as if tethered by invisible strings.

Isabella reappeared with a tray of buttery and golden biscuits. She pressed one into Elara's hand before smoothing her hair. "Eat. Then rest. The forest will seem much smaller in the morning."

Elara tried to smile, nibbling at the biscuit, though her eyes stung with tears she couldn't quite swallow. She leaned into Olivia's shoulder, the blanket slipping lower, and felt a weight she hadn't realized she'd been carrying begin to ease.

Around her, the heirs' voices rose again – Nico teasing Orion about muddy boots, Adonis arguing with Raffaele over who would've found the girls first, Anastasia, who was now fully resurfaced from her blanket cocoon, was recounting her "death-defying battle" with a stream of quite some colourful words until even Sergei pinched the bridge of his nose.

But Alessandro and Leonidas didn't laugh. They sat in their chairs by the fire, silent, both men's gazes locked across the flames to the most precious person to them in the world. Different histories, different lives – but the same unspoken thought.

This time it had been a spider. Next time, it might not be something so simple.

And neither man was willing to risk it.