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"Three." He deadpanned, and then let his hand fall from the hair he had been pushing back to rub it down his face instead. Three, and one of them hadn't even lasted long enough to be named! But as daunting as it seemed, there was an idea there, one that niggled away in the pit of his stomach, and that all too familiar feeling, a mixture of both pride and arrogance.

Grendel could do better than Caine. He would always do better.

But again, how would it work? They could not just create a city that any mortal could wander into. It had to be in its own space, secure and secluded.

Even the thought of allowing any mortals access at all did not sit well with the God. Even if they were willing participants in feeding, what would stop them from leaving one day and spreading the word?

There was a lot to ponder. But nothing needed to be done immediately anyways. There was always time. He moved closer to Ravnos then, and lowering his hand, grasped ahold of his, threading their fingers together as he stared out at the vast expanse of water.

"It would be nice." He agreed, "But I would need to consider the logistics of it."

Another short pause.

"I do not want to be a failure like he was."

Ravnos knew him better than anyone. He had seen him at his best and at his worst. He knew what thoughts ate away at him, what could trigger his anger, the difficulties he'd faced, and the burdens he shouldered. He also knew the tender side that nobody else got to see. The part that was full of nothing but love for the Disciple and the family they were building together. He had insight to every facet of the God, and because of that, when Ravnos gave his opinion on something, Grendel listened.

He smiled at the words. They were sweet. Encouraging. They bolstered his wavering confidence and filled him with a new purpose.

The Fourth City. If Ravnos believed it was achievable, then the God believed it too.

He turned his head slightly, pressing his lips to the top of the Disciples head as it rested against his shoulders.

"So what do you suggest for this new city?" He asked, genuinely wishing for Ravnos's input.

"And what of the mortals?" He asked because that was the part that he was stuck on. Without mortals, they would have nothing to hunt, to feed off of. But if they allowed them, what then? Did they stay in the city, unable to ever leave lest they spill the secret to the rest of the world?

His own head had fallen to the side, resting against Ravnos's as he thought.

"Hemlock is not just a city, it is an entire realm." He said, frowning to himself.

Faetasia was a world always changing, always expanding, and always providing as necessary. But a new realm? Was it even possible?

He shifted, lifting his head up so that he could look at Ravnos when he spoke next, his voice quiet, but still deep.

"A new realm." He said the words out loud, "One that is not already in use, of course, and the temple could sit at its very center."

But did a such a place even exist?

"I am a God, yes, but there are many Gods. If I presume too much or step beyond my station, I could face consequences similar to Caine." And that is what he did not want. For some higher-up God to view his aspirations and ambitions as some kind of threat. If he were to do this, it would surely draw attention to himself, and to the vampires.

And while they might be easier to protect, all in one place where he could keep a more watchful eye, he wondered if it might also put a larger target on their backs.

He raised the hand that was holding Ravnos's in his own and brushed his lips across the Disciple's knuckles with a smile. Ah yes, their family. Thinking about them brought a certain kind of joy to the vampire God's heart, a joy that had been absent through most of his existence.

"I want to do this." He said, lowering the hand again. "It just needs to be handled very carefully. The first step would be finding the right place. The island that would become...well, whatever we decide to call it. For now, I suppose, the Fourth City will do."

It became more and more difficult to even concentrate on any of the questions or ideas he had, especially when Ravnos began placing kisses along his jaw, his lips finding those places that without fail always sent a little shiver down his spine, and goosebumps breaking out along his arms. He may have even tilted his head a little to give him better access, encouraging him to keep going as he let out a soft, appreciative sound, eyes half-lidded.

Wait. s**t. Fourth City.

...It could wait.

Turning so that he was facing Ravnos, he brought his free hand to his chin, and tilted it up gently with the edge of his knuckle, before leaning down to place a soft kiss on those lips that so often drove him wild, and then another, and then a third that was far more hungry, lips parting to deepen it. It did not seem to matter how much time they spent together. Ravnos still managed to light a fire inside of him every single evening, every time he was near, with just a look, a touch, or softly spoken words.

He pulled away just enough to look into the vampire's eyes, his hand moving now to glide his knuckles along Ravnos's cheekbone, and brushed his hair to the side as his red gaze softened.

"Ești dragostea vieții mele" He said, smiling, "And we will do this together."

and then he kissed him again.

Now that he understood. The words filled him with a warmth that glowed in his eyes when he looked at the vampire in his arms. His feelings for Ravnos were so strong they seemed to defy reason, and he knew those feelings would never die.

When they kissed again he swallowed the Disciple's moans as if he needed them to survive, tongue swirling against his.

The kiss broke and he let out a low hum as if musing over the question, a small smirk coming to his lips.

In the next moment, they were back in the Vardo, just as Ravnos had suggested.

"And wasn't that much easier than walking through the sand?"

The God's smirk widened behind that index finger that was pressed to his lips, but he did not say anything more. He was only too happy to be led away to the room beyond the beaded curtain, toward the bed where they had spent their first night together what felt like so long ago now.

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Sometimes he wondered how hard Ravnos really tried to stay awake when the sun rose. It was an idle thought and one that amused him as he watched the vampire sleep next to him. He had managed to slip one arm beneath him before he had drifted off, and wrapped that arm around the Disciple's shoulders and upper back, holding him close.

As the day wore on he did not move from this place. He either watched Ravnos sleep or drifted in and out of deep thought until nighttime settled again, and still the Disciple slept.

Yep. He knew it was just laziness. Probably had something to do with those cigars he was always smoking. They made him too relaxed.

Well, Grendel could wait. Time meant much less to a God than it did to a mortal, and it always seemed to slip by quite quickly. When finally Ravnos did begin to stir, he shifted his hold on him, drawing him in close while burying his face against this neck to place several, soft kisses there.

"Good morning." He rumbled against his skin, giving the flesh beneath his lips a delicate little n**.

"You slept for a long time."