?


    The moon cast a gentle glow over Ashton''s quarters, its silver light filtering through the curtains. It had been a day of endless meetings and introductions, his mind buzzing with ns and strategies for the future of the Earth and beyond.


    "Man... it''s a great thing I don''t live here anymore," he mumbled as his head hit the pillow. "All this management and work... I''m not cut out for this!"


    [I agree! Things involving your brain have never been your strong point. You should primarily focus on fighting and things along those lines.]


    "Do you really want me to roast you at this hour?"


    [...]


    "That''s what I thought. Now if you don''t mind, I would like to sleep."


    With a sigh, he finally allowed himself to sink onto the soft mattress, the day''s fatigue weighing heavily on his shoulders.


    Just as he was about to drift into a well-deserved slumber, a soft knock echoed through the room. Blinking, Ashton sat up, rubbing his eyes. Who could be visiting at this hour?


    With another sigh, he padded over to the door and pulled it open, his brows furrowing in surprise. Before him stood the twins, their expressions a mix of anticipation and something else he couldn''t quite decipher.


    "Hey, what are you two doing here?" Ashton asked, intrigued by what possibly caused them to visit him sote.


    Verina nudged her sister with an elbow, and they exchanged an amused nce before focusing back on Ashton. Irina cleared her throat, her voice gentle yet resolute.


    "We know we should be resting, but we wanted to talk to you," she began, her gaze fixed on Ashton.


    Ashton arched an eyebrow, leaning against the doorway. "At this hour? What''s so urgent?"


    Verina bit her lip, her eyes darting to her sister before returning to Ashton. "It''s about what you did for us, saving our lives and all."


    "Ah, it''s nothing. That''s what friends are for, right?" Ashton''s expression softened, and he waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, I own Drac for a lot of things; saving you helped me ease that debt."


    "It might be part of the job for you, but it means the world to us." Irina''s lips twitched into a grateful smile.


    Verina nodded in agreement. "Exactly. And we wanted to properly thank you. But first... do you mind if wee inside?"


    It was then Ashton noticed the flimsy gowns they were wearing and rolled his eyes. He never understood the need for girls to wear such clothes before sleeping.


    [Not everyone can gomando like you, can they?]


    ''For fuck''s sake, just go to sleep or wherever you go!''


    [Tsk tsk, the youth these days... have no respect for the elders.]


    With that, Ashton returned to the conversation before stepping aside, allowing the twins to enter his room in his ''mansion''.


    "You don''t have to thank me. I''m just d you two are safe." Ashton continued once they were inside.


    But rather than replying to Ashton, the twins shared another nce, and then, as if mustering their courage, they exchanged a nod and stepped closer to Ashton. Irina cleared her throat once more, her voice a touch shaky.


    "Ashton, there''s something we want to ask you." She paused, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.


    "Go ahead, ask away." Ashton tilted his head, intrigued.


    However, he never expected them to do what they did next. They dropped their gowns, revealing their intentions. Despite the scene before him, he could only shake his head. But even his reaction didn''t stop the twins from moving forward.


    Verina took a deep breath, her eyes meeting his with determination. "We were wondering… if you''d be willing to… give us your genes."


    Suddenly Ashton''s eyes widened, and he blinked in surprise. Although he expected something along those lines, he never expected Verina to be so straightforward. A stunned silence hung in the air before he burst intoughter, his deep chuckles filling the room.


    "Oh,e on now," he managed to say betweenughs, "that''s a new one!"


    Irina''s cheeks turned a deeper shade of red, and Verina yfully elbowed her sister. "I told you he''d react like this!"


    Ashton wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, hisughter subsiding. He fixed the twins with an amused grin.


    "Look, I appreciate the sentiment, really. But I think we''ve established that my view on romance is… well, non-existent. Not that you two aren''t attractive, but I''m kind of a one-woman man, so... thanks but no thanks."


    "Hey, we''re not talking about romance here. Just, you know, some DNA-sharing business." Verina shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    Ashton chuckled, shaking his head. "DNA-sharing business, huh? That''s a new way to put it."


    Irina joined in the light-hearted banter. "We''re just thinking ahead, you know? In case we ever need it."


    Ashton''sughter faded, and he regarded the twins with genuine warmth. "I''m touched, I really am. But trust me, you two don''t need any of my genes to be strong and capable. You''re already remarkable on your own."


    Verina grinned, her yful tone returning. "Well, it was worth a shot, right?"


    "Definitely worth a shot. But for now, let''s get you two back to your own rooms." Ashtonughed. "Also, don''t tell Anna about any of this, or else she might not be as understanding as I was."


    The twins exchanged a knowing nce before nodding in agreement.


    "Alright, Ashton," Irina said, her expression turned serious. "This time, I''m being serious. We would like you to... give you some of your genes, but not in the way you''re thinking."


    "Yes... we have seen Anna''s growth, and after what happened," Verina mumbled, remembering about the Xyrans. "We... would like to get stronger. No matter the cost."


    "So... your robes?" Ashton mumbled, confused.


    "We didn''t want our blood to ruin the clothes... that''s why," Irina replied, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red, quite uncharacteristic for a vampire.


    [They were talking about converting them... like you did with Anna and Beelzebub! Stop thinking everything with your second head!]


    ''You''re the one saying that? Besides, aren''t you, my second head?''


    [Ahem... when they dropped their robes, I didn''t think they did so because they didn''t want their blood all over the silk.]


    ''Be as it may... do you think-''


    [Go ahead if you like. Besides, you still need toplete your ascension tasks. So it''ll be like killing a Xyran fleet with one shot of ze Cannon.]