System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 279: Chapter 278: ”This is the real Empire.”

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---Philadelphia - The Kenway Mansion---

The morning sun filtered through the silk curtains, casting a soft, golden haze over the master bedroom of the mansion. It was Alaric’s third day back in this world.

He layed awake, staring at the canopy of the four-poster bed. The silence of the mansion was comforting, polar opposite to the chakra-saturated hum of the Elemental Nations. Here, the world felt... grounded... normal. Heavy in a good way.

He turned his head.

Beside him, Kassandra slept peacefully. The sheet had slipped down, revealing the curve of her shoulder and the faint, silvery scars that marked her millennia of combat. Her dark brunette hair was spread across the pillow like ink.

For a woman who had lived for thousands of years, who had seen empires rise and fall, she looked incredibly young. The Staff of Hermes kept her ageless, but in sleep, she looked even younger... free from the weight of her duty as the Keeper.

Alaric smiled, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from her cheek. She stirred, her eyelids fluttering.

”Good morning, sleepyhead,” Alaric whispered, shifting his position to offer his arm as a pillow.

Kassandra hummed, a low, contented sound. She didn’t open her eyes immediately. She shuffled closer, resting her head on his bicep, her skin warm against his.

”Good morning, Agápi Mou,” she murmured, her voice husky with sleep. She opened one golden eye, a playful glint shining through the drowsiness. ”You’re awake early. Old habits?”

”Something like that,” Alaric replied, pressing a kiss to her forehead. ”Hard to sleep when you’re the luckiest man alive.”

Kassandra chuckled, shifting up to capture his lips in a slow, lingering kiss. ”Flattery will get you everywhere, Crimson Coat.”

She sat up, stretching her arms above her head, the sheet pooling at her waist. She turned to look at Alaric and saw something below the sheets. She smirked and slid a hand under the sheet, making Alaric bite his lip. ”Speaking of early risers... I think I someone over here needs to be given some attention.”

---R18---

Kassandra’s hand wrapped around the thick base of Alaric’s cock, stroking slowly at first, savoring the heavy heat of him in her palm. She gave a lazy twist at the head on each upstroke, thumb brushing over the sensitive slit where a bead of precum had already gathered. Alaric’s hips twitched involuntarily, a low groan rumbling deep in his chest.

”Fuck... Kass,” he breathed, eyes half-lidded, watching her every move like she was the only thing that existed in the universe right now.

She caught that look... the quiet, hungry stare that said please without him ever needing to voice it. Her lips curved into a wicked, knowing smile.

Without breaking eye contact, she tugged the sheet down and off him completely. His cock sprang free, thick and flushed, veins standing out against the pale skin. She hooked her fingers into the waistband of his underwear next, dragging them down his powerful thighs until they were kicked somewhere off the bed.

Kassandra leaned in, pressing a soft, open-mouthed kiss to the underside of his shaft before dragging her tongue flat along the length, slow and deliberate. When she reached the head she swirled around it once, twice, then flicked the tip against the slit, tasting salt and him. Alaric’s abs tightened, a rough grunt escaping through clenched teeth.

”Shit...” he hissed, one hand fisting the sheets.

She didn’t answer with words. Instead she dipped lower, sucking one of his balls into her mouth, rolling her tongue over the sensitive skin while her hand kept stroking the shaft in long, firm pulls. Alaric’s breathing turned ragged, hips lifting slightly off the mattress like he couldn’t help it.

Then she moved back up, lips parting around the swollen head. She took him in inch by slow inch, cheeks hollowing as she sucked. The wet heat of her mouth made Alaric’s head fall back against the pillow with a choked curse.

”Goddamn, your mouth...”

Kassandra hummed around him in answer, the vibration shooting straight up his spine. She started bobbing her head, slow at first, letting spit slick him up until every glide was obscene and smooth. The wet schlurp sounds filled the quiet room each time she pulled back to the tip and sank down again, faster now, greedy.

Alaric’s hand found the back of her head, fingers threading through dark strands... not forcing, but guiding. She moaned approval around his cock, the sound muffled and filthy.

He pushed a little deeper. Then deeper still.

Kassandra’s throat opened for him as he pressed forward until her nose brushed the trimmed hair at his base. Her eyes watered instantly, tears gathering at the corners, but she didn’t pull away. She swallowed around him instead, throat fluttering, muscles rippling along his length.

”Fuck... Kass... fuck...” Alaric’s voice cracked, control fraying. His hips rocked in shallow thrusts now, fucking her mouth while she took it like she was starving for it.

The pressure built fast and brutal. His balls drew up tight, thighs trembling.

”Ugh! Fuck!” he snarled, hips snapping forward one last time as he came hard down her throat.

Pulse after thick pulse flooded her mouth. Kassandra didn’t flinch and didn’t pull back an inch. She kept him buried to the hilt, swallowing greedily around every spurt until he was spent, shuddering beneath her.

Only when the last twitch faded did she slowly drag her lips back up his length, tongue cleaning every inch as she went. She popped off the head with a wet sound, a thin string of spit and cum connecting her lower lip to his glistening cock for a heartbeat before it broke.

Kassandra sat back on her heels, chest heaving, lips swollen and shiny.

”Haa... haa... that was hot,” she rasped, voice wrecked in the best way. Her amber eyes were dark with lust, pupils blown wide. She licked her lips once, tasting him still, then crawled up his body like a predator who’d only just begun to hunt.

She straddled his hips, knees sinking into the mattress on either side of him. His cock... still hard, still slick from her mouth.... lay heavy against his stomach. Kassandra reached down, wrapped her fingers around him again, and lined him up with her soaked entrance.

She didn’t tease this time.

She sank down in one long, slow glide.

Both of them groaned at the stretch... Alaric’s deep and guttural, Kassandra’s high and broken.

”Fuuuck,” she hissed, head tipping back as inch after thick inch filled her completely. Her walls fluttered around him, already dripping, gripping like she never wanted to let go. ”So fucking big... always so fucking big...”

Alaric’s hands found her hips, fingers digging into soft flesh hard enough to bruise. He didn’t thrust up yet... just held her there, letting her feel every pulsing inch buried inside her.

Kassandra rolled her hips once, grinding her clit against his pelvis, and shivered violently.

”Move,” she demanded, voice shaking with need. ”Fuck me, Alaric. Hurry the fuck up.”

He didn’t need to be told twice.

With a low growl he bucked up into her... hard, deep, deliberate. The wet slap of skin on skin echoed instantly. Kassandra cried out, nails raking down his chest, leaving red trails over muscle.

”Yes... Theé mou... yes... ” she chanted, riding him now, meeting every upward thrust with a downward grind. Her breasts bounced with the rhythm, nipples tight and flushed. Alaric leaned up, capturing one in his mouth, sucking hard while his hand slid between them to circle her clit with rough, practiced strokes.

Kassandra’s rhythm faltered, thighs trembling.

”Alaric... shit... right there.... yes, yes, yes, yes...!”

He didn’t. He fucked up into her faster, deeper, the bed creaking under them. Sweat slicked their skin, breaths coming in harsh pants.

She clenched around him suddenly, walls spasming.

”I’m... fuck... I’m cumming...” Her voice cracked into a sharp cry as she shattered, gushing around his cock, soaking his thighs and the sheets beneath them.

Alaric groaned against her breast at the feel of her pulsing, milking him. He thrust through her orgasm, prolonging it until she was shaking, whimpering, oversensitive.

Only then did he flip them.

Kassandra hit the mattress on her back with a surprised gasp. Alaric hooked her legs over his shoulders, folding her nearly in half, and drove back inside in one brutal stroke.

”Alaric...!” Her hands flew to his shoulders, nails biting in. ”Too deep... fuck... panagía mou...!”

He fucked her like that... hard, relentless, every thrust punching the air from her lungs. The wet slap-slap-slap of their bodies was obscene, mingled with her broken moans and his rough grunts.

”Cum again,” he rasped against her ear. ”Want to feel you soak me again.”

She did.

Her second orgasm hit like a storm... back arching, thighs clamping around his neck, a raw scream tearing from her throat as she clenched down so hard it dragged him over the edge with her.

”Fuck... Kass! ” Alaric buried himself to the hilt and came with a choked groan, flooding her with heat, pulse after pulse until it leaked out around his cock and dripped onto the sheets.

They stayed locked together for long moments, breathing hard, hearts hammering against each other.

Finally Alaric eased her legs down, staying buried inside her as he lowered himself to kiss her... slow, deep, tender now that the storm had passed.

Kassandra smiled against his mouth, lazy and sated, fingers threading through his platinum hair.

”Morning sex is...” she murmured, voice hoarse. ”...the best way to start the day.”

Alaric chuckled low, pressing one last kiss to the corner of her mouth.

Then, without warning, he slid his arms beneath her... one under her knees, the other cradling her back... and lifted her effortlessly in a princess carry. Kassandra let out a surprised, delighted laugh, legs dangling, arms looping around his neck as he carried her across the bedroom.

”Agapi Mou... what the fuck are you doing?” she teased, nipping at his earlobe.

”Shower’s calling,” he murmured against her temple, voice rough with renewed hunger. ”And I’m not done with you yet.”

He shouldered open the bathroom door. The master bath was all marble and gold-veined white, steam already rising from the half-filled tub he’d started earlier while she slept. Morning light poured through the tall frosted window, turning droplets on the fixtures into tiny prisms.

Alaric set her down on the wide marble sink counter, cool stone kissing the overheated skin of her ass. Kassandra hissed at the contrast, thighs parting instinctively as he stepped between them.

He didn’t waste time.

His mouth found the side of her neck... hot, open kisses trailing down the column of her throat, teeth grazing just enough to make her shiver. She tilted her head back, giving him more, fingers sliding into his platinum hair.

”Fuck... yes...” she breathed.

He worked lower, lips brushing the swell of her breasts. When his tongue flicked over one tight nipple she giggled... half ticklish, half wrecked... arching into his mouth.

”That... shit... that tickles so good,” she gasped, laughing turning into a moan as he sucked the peak between his lips, hard and wet. He rolled the other nipple between his fingers, pinching just enough to make her hips jerk.

His cock... still rock-hard, still slick from being inside her... nudged against her soaked folds. Kassandra’s breath hitched.

”Do it,” she ordered, voice hoarse. ”Fuck me right here.”

Alaric gripped her hips and slammed in... deep, brutal, no preamble.

Kassandra’s head snapped back against the mirror with a cracked moan.

”Fuuuuck... yes... harder!”

Her hands flew to the back of his head, fingers knotting in his hair, yanking him closer to her chest as he pounded into her. The wet slap of their bodies echoed off the tiles, obscene and loud. Every thrust punched a curse out of her.

”Shit... Alaric... ugh, right there... fuck my pussy... don’t stop... !”

He sped up, hips snapping faster, cock dragging against every sensitive ridge inside her. Her walls clamped down like a vice.

She came with a scream... back bowing, thighs quaking around his waist, gushing around his shaft so hard it dripped down the front of the sink.

Alaric didn’t slow. Didn’t cum. Just kept fucking her through it until she was whimpering, oversensitive and trembling.

Then he scooped her up again... hands under her thighs, lifting her so her legs hooked around his waist. She clung to him, arms tight around his neck, mouth on his in messy, desperate kisses as he carried her to the deep bathtub.

He set her on her feet in the warm water, spun her around, and bent her forward. Kassandra braced both hands on the tiled wall behind the tub, ass arched back, legs spread.

Alaric lined up and slammed back inside her from behind.

”God... yes... fuck me like that...” she moaned, voice breaking.

He fucked her hard... fast and relentless. Water sloshed around their thighs with every brutal thrust. Kassandra’s eyes rolled back, mouth open in a constant stream of filthy pleas and curses.

”Fuck... shit... you’re wrecking me...!”

Her legs started shaking, knees threatening to buckle.

Alaric spat onto the tight pucker of her asshole, watching it glisten. His thumb circled the rim once, twice... then pressed inside, slow but firm.

Kassandra’s whole body jolted.

”Fuck... Agapi mou... you’re killing meee!” Pain and pleasure crashed together in her voice. She shouted, raw and broken, as her second orgasm ripped through her. Her walls spasmed violently around his cock, milking him, and her knees gave out completely.

She dropped forward into the water with a splash... waves surging over the edge, soaking the floor tiles.

Alaric caught her instantly, hauling her back up by the thighs. He pinned her against the cool tiled wall, her back to his chest, legs hooked over his forearms so she was spread wide and helpless.

He drove back into her soaked cunt... faster now, punishing, hips pistoning like he was trying to fuck her soul out through her body.

Kassandra was gone... pure ecstasy, body twitching and jerking with every thrust, incoherent moans and whimpers spilling from her lips.

”Cum inside... fuck... let’s make another baby!”

Alaric buried his face in her neck, teeth sinking into skin as the pressure finally snapped.

”Shit...!” he groaned, low and guttural.

He came hard... deep... flooding her with thick, hot spurts that overflowed, dripping down her thighs and mixing with the bathwater. Pulse after pulse until he was shuddering, hips stuttering, emptying every last drop inside her clenching heat.

They stayed like that... panting, trembling, pressed against the wall... until the aftershocks faded.

Alaric eased her legs down slowly, turning her in his arms so she could slump against his chest. Water lapped gently around them now, warm and soothing.

Kassandra lifted her head just enough to kiss him... slow, sloppy, sated.

”Bedroom and bathroom sex,” she rasped, lips curving against his. ”Please let’s take a break, you’re really going to kill me.”

Alaric smirked, brushing wet strands of dark hair from her face.

”You’re immortal, we can go for another couple rounds.”

Kassandra’s eyes lost focus, imagining the scenes for the next rounds, she then looks at Alaric. ”Agapi mou...”

”...Go easy on me... will you?”

Alaric smiled and kissed her cheek softly.

”No.”

---An hour later after ’a couple rounds’---

Alaric and Kassandra, now dressed in comfortable morning robes, walked down the hallway to the nursery.

Baby Hunter had his own room. It wasn’t because his parents didn’t want him close; it was because both Alaric and Kassandra were lighter sleepers than a cat on a hot tin roof. They didn’t sleep because they needed to; they slept because they wanted to. Whenever Hunter cried, they would be there in a heartbeat, often beating the maids to the cradle.

Kassandra, in particular, had a maternal instinct that bordered on telepathic.

They pushed the door open.

The nursery was a wonderland. Toys from every corner of the known world littered the floor... wooden horses from Germany, silk kites from China, intricate clockwork birds that Alaric himself had crafted.

Hunter was sitting up in his crib, clutching the bars with chubby hands. He was two years old now, his hair a shock of dark brown like his mother’s, but his eyes were the startling, electric blue of his father.

He looked at them as they entered. He didn’t cry. He didn’t babble. He just watched with an intensity that seemed too focused for a toddler.

Alaric walked over, leaning on the rail. ”Hey there, little man. Sleep well?”

Hunter blinked. He looked at Alaric. Then he looked at Kassandra.

He opened his mouth.

”Mama... Papa... Hungry...”

”!!!”

The room went dead silent.

Alaric froze. Kassandra’s hand flew to her mouth.

Yesterday, Hunter had said ”Dada”. It was a single, simple sound. A milestone, yes, but expected.

But this? ”Mama”? ”Papa”? ”Hungry?” Clear, distinct, and contextual?

”What did I just...” Kassandra whispered, her eyes wide. She looked at Alaric. ”Did he just...?”

Alaric was staring at his son, his mind racing through possibilities.

’Wait... Hunter is two years old. It’s normal for a baby to start speaking limited words around this age. But ”Dada” was yesterday. Today it’s full nouns? And the clarity...’

He thought back to the purchases he had made from the System Shop years ago. The Otsutsuki Clan’s Lifespan. The genetic enhancements. The sheer density of his own chakra and Kassandra’s Isu DNA.

’Is he a genius? A prodigy? Or is his biology just... slow at first but suddenly accelerated?’

”Agápi Mou!”

Alaric blinked, snapping back to reality. Kassandra was looking at him, her expression a mix of joy and mild concern.

”Ah? I...” Alaric stammered, then chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. ”Sorry. I was just... processing. That was fast.”

He looked back at Hunter, who was now chewing on the ear of a stuffed bear, looking completely innocent.

”It seems our little Hunter here is quite the genius,” Alaric grinned, pride swelling in his chest. ”I wonder if he inherited chakra... most likely. If he inherited both our genes, our little Hunter must be one heck of a monster.”

”Calling our little baby a monster? How dare you,” Kassandra raised a brow, feigning offense, though she leaned over the crib to stroke Hunter’s cheek. ”But you’re right. I’m quite excited to see the future of our child. Maybe he’ll be a Spartan.”

”Or a Seal Master,” Alaric countered.

”Or a King,” Kassandra added.

Alaric laughed. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. He kissed her temple. ”Let’s just settle for ’happy’ for now.”

---The Dining Hall---

A few minutes later, the small family descended the stairs.

Alaric carried Hunter in one arm, the toddler happily gripping his father’s collar. Kassandra walked beside them, looking radiant.

They entered the dining hall. It was quiet, the morning sun streaming through the tall windows.

Leonard and Eleanor Kenway were already seated, enjoying a quiet breakfast. Jonathan Hugh, the loyal butler and assassin, stood by the sideboard, pouring tea. He was thirty years old now, a handsome brunette with sharp eyes and an even sharper mind. He nodded respectfully as they entered.

”Good morning,” Alaric greeted.

”Alaric! Kassandra!” Eleanor beamed, setting her cup down. Her eyes immediately went to the baby. ”And my grandson! Give him here, give him here to us!”

Alaric handed Hunter to his father. Leonard took the boy with practiced ease, settling him onto his lap.

”Look at you,” Leonard cooed, bouncing Hunter slightly. ”Getting big, aren’t you? Gonna be taller than your grandpa and father soon.”

’Taller than me?’ Alaric raised a brow before chuckling silently. ’Old man, you want your grandchild to be seven foot?’

Hunter giggled, grabbing Leonard’s thumb while Eleanor, who was beside Leonard, pinched Hunter’s cheeks a little bit, earning her a narrowed eyes and glare from the baby. However, this made every one giggle.

Alaric and Kassandra took their seats. Servers materialized from the kitchen, placing plates of toast, eggs, crisp bacon, and fresh vegetables before them.

It was a simple meal, but perfect.

Leonard proceeded to feed Hunter small pieces of soft egg, the boy eating with gusto.

”So,” Alaric started, buttering a piece of toast. ”What’s the plan for today? You guys have anything to do... or to be?”

Eleanor, who was watching Leonard and Hunter with a soft smile, turned her attention to her son. She wiped her mouth with a napkin.

”Actually, yes. But the good kind,” Eleanor said, her business persona slipping into place. ”I landed a... somewhat substantial contract yesterday. With multiple ambassadors.”

”Oh?” Alaric raised a brow, taking a bite of bacon. ”From where? More Europeans?”

”New France and New Spain, as usual,” Eleanor replied, ticking them off on her fingers. ”But the new ones are interesting. Ambassadors from Dahomey, Kongo, the Cape Colony, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Goa. All from the African Continent and the Indian Ocean trade routes.”

Kassandra paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. She swallowed. ”Hmm... Kongo and Ethiopia... those are old lands. Powerful lands with rich history...”

She looked at Alaric. ”Nice places. I visited Ethiopia once... a long, long time ago. The coffee was excellent.”

Alaric chuckled. ”Everything is ’a long time ago’ for you, dear.”

Before anyone could ask for details on Kassandra’s ’travels’, the double doors opened again.

Bernard Kenway walked in, yawning loudly, his cravat slightly askew. Linette followed, looking fresh and elegant as always.

Then came the rest of the clan.

Edward and Caroline, holding hands. Little Jennifer ran ahead of them, climbing onto her chair.

Elizabeth Scott and her daughter Aveline entered, chatting about schedules of business meetings for the Celestial Tea.

Flavia and Matteo Auditore, the Italian assassins gave nodded greetings and warm smiles.

And finally, Deganawida, Shakoka’s younger brother, who was treated as family within the Mansion.

The room filled with noise and life.

Jonathan Hugh signaled the kitchen staff, who brought out more platters. He then moved to the side station, where a large, ornate samovar sat. He brewed fresh pots of Celestial Tea, the exotic aroma of mystery and mint that exuded a very calming effect filling the air.

He moved around the table, pouring cups with the grace of a dancer.

”Tea, Uncle Bernard?” Jonathan asked.

”Please, lad. And maybe a splash of something stronger if Linette isn’t looking,” Bernard whispered loudly. ”Ale... or whiskey.”

”I heard that,” Linette said without looking up from her plate.

Laughter rippled around the table.

They ate. They talked. They discussed everything from the weather to the price of new exotic items in other countries.

Alaric sat back, watching them.

He remembered the beginning. Just him, his parents, his uncle, aunt, and Edward, struggling on a small farm in Swansea, worried about the next harvest.

Now?

They were a dynasty. They had wealth beyond measuring. They had power that terrified kings. Their products controlling the market of the leading countries of the world.

But looking at Leonard feeding Hunter, at Eleanor laughing with Linette, at Edward stealing bacon from Caroline’s plate with a laugh...

Alaric smiled, a deep, genuine expression of peace.

’This,’ Alaric thought, taking a sip of his tea. ’This is the real empire.’

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