Asmodeus supposes he should be offended at the lack of warmth in her greeting, but he cannot blame her. He knows little of what goes in the minds of mares during autumn, but he suspected she had not fallen in love with him because they knew each other carnally. Still, he would have been foolish to pass up the opportunity. Tying the Desert to the Badlands by blood was certainly no surefire way to guarantee their support for the crown, but it was certainly a strong motivator.

Even if - by all current appearances - Arsinoe would rather forget he existed than speak with him.

"You never know," Asmodeus continued, keeping his tone conversational if only because it seemed to needle at her. "You have reason now to trade places with her if you wished."

Of course, Arsinoe - in their brief acquaintance - did not strike him as the sort to abandon her power unless forced to do so. Her fire and ability to make hard decisions had attracted him in the beginning once he'd finally heard of what happened in the Badlands when Rafe left. It was part of why he admired her so much and why he had stepped forward last season. "It is of course, more beneficial for me if you do not." He murmured, eyes still focused on the mother rather than the child for now. "But I appreciate the visit all the same."

Only then does his gaze go to the long-legged filly staring back at him, a gentler smile crossing onto his lips. He was not really father-of-the-year material, but he was not heartless either. She was cute, and strong, and healthy and that was all he really could have asked for. "Hello Aesara, welcome to your second home."

His gaze flicked back to Arsinoe as he spoke, trying to gauge her reaction before attempting to fall into step with them. In truth, they hadn't exactly hashed out all of the details given that they had been wholeheartedly occupied with other matters. "Perhaps your mother will allow you to come visit this winter. I have some traveling to do, but I intend to finish what I started last autumn before the year is over."

Salem would not see another Spring without a King.

Adult Stallion 16.0HClassic Champagne ChimeraSolomon x Xiomara