Lyssandra was sitting on her bed. Her book next to her and Corvus in her lap. She was reading about breastfeeding. With Valerica she didn't want to be involved in the nurturing part of parenthood. But this one was different.
"Corvi, come on," she pleaded as she pushed her nipple against his face.
He wasn't budging. The view was amazing but he wasn't going to give in to it. Of course his little spider body gave his desires away. It was staring.
"I know you're hungry little Corvi."
Corvus was hungry but he was a grown man.
Lyssandra's spider crawled onto Corvus's forehead.
"Please?"
She had the face of a sad puppy. His heart melted just a little and he gave in.
A few seconds later she started to pet his head gently.
"Good boy," she whispered.
The milk was heavenly. Addicting. It was perfect. Corvus forgot about his situation and decided to enjoy it wholeheartedly. His cheeks turned red.
"Huh?" Lyssandra tilted her head.
She hurriedly flipped through the book.
"I'm not supposed to mix poison magic in there."
She rubbed her forehead, "Well his body should naturally break down such weak poison magic."
Corvus' little spider body started to twitch then its legs went limp. Lyssandra panicked.
"Corvi?!"
She could hear both of his heartbeats slowing down. Like his body was shutting itself down, a classic sign of poisoning.
"This isn't possible. You're a black widow."
Lyssandra shook her head. Her spider's eye glowed pink and sigils formed inside of its eyes. She created a poison to counteract the one she gave him. She sighed and caressed him.
"You can't use poison magic?"
It was unheard of for a black widow to be born without this ability. She held Corvus tight to her body and tears began to fall.
"I want to save you but you are too weak," she said.
Her face turned dark, "She'll have to eat you like I ate..."
Corvus woke up shortly. Lyssandra's magic control over poison was outstanding. He was confused. Why was the matriarch crying? Did he do something wrong? Then he heard a knock on the door.
His mother's face went back to a neutral expression. She talked to a maid who informed her of the rescheduling of her meetings. Corvus wanted to remember every single detail. He needed to know everything to survive in this new world. But the milk was sucking all his attention. He needed more. He opened his mouth and bit down on Lyssandra's nipple. His non-existent baby teeth didn't hurt her. Sucking and sucking until he heard her name.
"Ambassador Cassian and Aurelia ran into Ilyana with your child," the maid said.
Lyssandra's face contorted, "What?"
"They were just walking by. They didn't do anything but look," the maid said as fast as she could.
Corvus felt a webs all around him as he was examined by his mother. Even his butt.
"That man and his foolish obsession with revenge," Lyssandra muttered under her breath.
Her spider hissed and clicked its teeth. After talking for a few more minutes, the maid left Lyssandra and Corvus alone again. Lyssandra looked at Corvus and her expression softened.
"You have to be careful around Oleanders, especially if you don't have poison magic."
Corvus froze. His spider froze like they were caught stealing cookies from a cookie jar. He didn't want anyone to find out before he managed to bond with Aurelia. He didn't have to see a fight to know magic is power. And letting people know his weakness is never smart.
A knock on the door stopped his overthinking. Another maid, another report about something going on.
"Let her in."
Lyssandra removed Corvus from her breast and began to wipe any trace of milk from him. Silk began to cover her body, turning into a nightgown. She was in matriarch mode. The maid opened the door.
Aurelia stepped in. She was wearing a cute dress. The pink flower on her head had its petals closed up now. She was fidgeting.
"Lady Lyssandra," she curtsied.
Her feet got stuck on the web again. Corvus had a flashback of how she came running to him. He waited for a system notification. He hoped for a guide, an advice. A mission to show him the right direction.
[Current bonded: 0]
"What is it?" Lyssandra's stern voice made both Aurelia and Corvus flinch.
"I wanted to."
The words caught in her mouth. Corvus remembered her father saying not to bother the baby black widows. So was she here against his wishes? Aurelia clenched her fists.
"Meet the new heir."
Lyssandra narrowed her eyes. Her mouth was slightly agape, "Heir?"
The maid that escorted Aurelia took a step back and left the room. The matriarch put corvus on the bed and instantly appeared before Aurelia. With her hand she lifted Aurelia's face.
"You are in Aracnia. You are speaking to the matriarch of Aracnia and you say a male is an heir?"
Aurelia tried to take a step backward but the webs kept her in place. The webs that come from the matriarch.
"I'm sorry my lady."
Aurelia avoided eye contact as if her life depended on it.
"You are two years older than him yet you act like such a child."
Lyssandra grabbed Aurelia by the neck. She was choking. Tears formed in her eyes.
"Please don't," she said.
"Did your father send you?"
Aurelia shook her head violently. Lyssandra looked at the pink flower on her head. It was shriveled up like a raisin. A clear sign of a lie.
"You insult my culture and then lie to me."
Lyssandra squeezed tighter.
"I should kill you and your father right here."
Corvus felt nauseous. He wanted this to stop. Not because his mother was killing a girl that looked like a 9 year old to him, but because he needed her to get poison magic. It made him sick. But it is what it is.
Corvus began crying. One of the few communication methods for babies.
Aurelia fell to the floor. The matriarch went to her son.
"What's wrong?" She picked up Corvus.
He tried to point to Aurelia but his little arm didn't move much. His small spider however was having a grand old time pointing with two legs.
Lyssandra looked at her boy and then back at Aurelia.
"You don't want me to kill the girl?"
Corvus cried again.
Her mouth fell open. Then she narrowed her eyes. Aurelia was wrapped in a cocoon of web and she was dragged outside the room. Lyssandra's pink web barricaded the door.
"Corvi, do you understand me?"
Corvus gulped. He messed up.