Chapter 31 Seven Years and Eleven Months Later
Seven Years and Eleven Months Later
“Fucking Fates, they’re here early,” Carus groaned as he spotted the small group of gods lingering in the courtyard below them.
“Carus,” Morgen said, shaking his head with a long-suffering sigh. “How many times do I need to remind you—”
Carus waved him off, rolling his eyes. “Yes, yes, no expletives around the tiny godlings.”
Nya snorted, accepting a flower petal from tiny, sticky hands. “And yet you never seem to remember.”
Carus’ eyes twinkled, and he knelt as Thia held out a petal to him. “Thia,” he said seriously. “What is my name?”
Her tiny brow creased. “What Cari want?”
Morgen barked out a laugh, and Carus tipped his head back before he patiently reminded her, “Carus, Thia. My name is Carus.”
She frowned but didn’t reply, returning to her pile of petals, raptly focused on selecting another.
“I don’t even know why I try,” Carus muttered, watching her with a rueful smile as she toddled over to Morgen.
“Thank you, darling,” Morgen said when Thia slapped an entire handful of petals into his hand. He glanced at Carus and added, “She isn’t even two, Carus. She’s actually speaking incredibly well for her—”
“Blah, blah, yes, proud parent speech,” Carus said, waving his hand just as Rhiann practically tripped over his own feet running into the room.
“Mama, they’re here!” he said, jumping up and down, faint streaks of gold sparking in his blue eyes.
While Thia was like a tiny replica of Nya, Rhiann was mostly his grandmother’s lookalike, with large blue eyes and a round nose.
His magic seemed mostly fire-based so far, though, which had proved to be a bit of a disaster; several temper tantrums had resulted in burns that healed quickly but always detoured into a long session of tears.
“Should you really be going to council meetings right now?” Carus asked Nya, brow raised.
She rolled her eyes as she started to push herself off the chair. “Right, of course. Because letting Morgen lead the council meetings is such a good idea.”
Morgen strode over, taking her hand and helping her up. “You’re so mean to me,” he said, though his tone was fond.
“I’m not mean, I’m just correct, and everyone here knows it.”
Rhiann snickered, and Carus flicked his nose. “You have no respect, tiny,” he said.
“I grew three inches this year!” Rhiann insisted, screeching as Carus ruffled his hair.
Morgen huffed, shaking his head, but said to Nya in a low voice, “He brings up a good point, Nya.”
“I will be fine,” she said, softening her tone and touching his cheek. “I’ll be downstairs, over the border.”
He took a breath, placing a hand over her rounded belly. “Sol will be there today.”
“I’m aware. I was the one who ordered him to come to this meeting, something you could have protested if you wanted to.”
“It is time he shows up,” he grumbled, absentmindedly swiping his thumb back and forth. “I just wish it was not necessary right now.”
“I would say you could just come with me if you’re that worried, but I’m afraid you might kill him for…
I don’t know, speaking? And as much as I’d love to let you, that would be a horrible diplomatic decision.
Not to mention, I’m not sure I trust Carus to keep Rhiann from burning the entire palace down. ”
He sighed, dropping to his knees and pressing a kiss to her belly. “You are right, as usual. Just…maybe sit far away from him. As far as possible.”
Thia shrieked suddenly, running past them with something in her hands, and Rhiann screamed, “Thia, that is my book!”
Morgen pressed his forehead against her for a moment, then stood and said calmly, “Thia, darling, please give your brother his book back. I’ll find you one with pictures instead.”
Thia paused mid-motion, her hands still outstretched towards the chair she was attempting to scale. “Big lizzas?”
“Yes, love, the one with dragons,” he said, scooping her up and subtly handing Rhiann the book. “Though, I’m afraid if you keep referring to Varax as a big lizard, her goodwill may soon run out.”
Nya smiled and took the opportunity to slip from the room. When she stepped into the hallway, Morgen said down the pathway, Promise to be alert and let me know right away if anything seems amiss?
I promise. Stop worrying.
No promises. I love you.
Her lips twitched, and she rested a hand on her belly. I love you.
A slight ache spread up her back as she walked to the small room where she typically held council meetings, but she ignored it. It was probably just one of the many daily reminders from the embers of their presence.
Despite telling Morgen not to worry, her pulse sped up, and cold fear washed over her when she entered the room to see Sol sitting at the table next to Bella and across from Janis.
It was nearing eight years since the last time she had been this close to him, but Vulcan had recently informed her Sol had been pushing his luck when it came to his network of spies and personal guards.
The last thing she needed was for him to feel like he could get away with any sort of insubordination.
The council usually ran more like a democracy, but that courtesy did not extend to him after what he’d done.
“Hello, Nya,” he said in that same deep, smooth voice she remembered as soon as he saw her. “You’ve made quite the name for yourself, all while producing a whole brood of heirs, it seems.”
Bella slapped a hand over her face and muttered, “Great start, Sol.”
Nya merely smiled and replied coolly, “It’s amazing, isn’t it?
Although, I must say, being a capable, level-headed ruler has been surprisingly easy for me.
Perhaps it’s because I don’t have bull-headed gods like you breathing threats down my neck all the time, or maybe it’s even just my lack of a cock.
Unfortunately, the world may never know. ”
Thanatos grinned—a rather terrifying expression—and both Vulcan and Janis choked as they tried to suppress laughs. Nyx and Juno merely sat down, as if she had commented on the weather or the choice of wine at the table, and Bella still hadn’t removed her hands from her face.
Sol, on the other hand, looked furious. Nya ignored him, settling with minor difficulty at the head of the table.
“On that note, Sol, I called you here to remind you—” She cleared her throat but plowed on despite the sudden telltale start of labor pains.
“To remind you staying in line is not optional. You still have a place on this council and your life, both of which I am sure Morgen and I would be happy to rescind if you cannot manage to keep from meddling and sending your spies here.”
Sol sneered at her. “And where is Morgen? Playing house, as usual, I imagine. Bella informed me he’s often absent from these meetings.”
“Some of us have a better head for diplomacy,” she said, subtly pressing a hand to her belly beneath the table. “But I would be happy to ask him here if you’d like, though I will warn you, he’s still quite angry about your prior actions, and I can’t guarantee he won’t harm you.”
“Are you insinuating he could not even keep himself from, say, ripping my heart out? And you all say he isn’t like Kronos.”
“Spine,” Vulcan supplied.
Sol balked. “What?”
Vulcan smirked. “I said, ‘spine’, which is probably more likely to be the body part you’d be missing if Morgen came down here and saw you insulting Nya.”
“Alright, enough,” Nya cut in. “Does anything have any pressing issues they would like to bring forward?”
Janis rested his chin on steepled fingers. “Don’t we usually end with that?”
“Yes,” Nya said, swallowing a groan. “But this meeting will be rather short, so I want to make sure no one has any immediate concerns.”
Bella scowled. “The last time we had a ‘short’ meeting, it was a complete waste of time. Could you perhaps just reschedule it next time if that’s going to be the case?”
“I was not planning on…” She gripped the edge of the table, hissing through her teeth. “Planning on cutting it—short.”
“Nya, are you alright?” Juno asked, her brow creased.
“Fine,” she bit out. “Any concerns?”
Thanatos raised a hand. “Just one question: shall I kick Sol out now, or would you prefer I wait?”
Sol gaped. “I haven’t even been here for five minutes!”
Morgen.
Less than ten seconds passed before he replied. What’s wrong?
I need you to come here right now, and I need you to stay calm.
“I demand an explanation!” Sol shouted, standing in his chair at the same moment Morgen materialized through a portal next to her.
She grabbed his arm and hissed, “Calm,” before he could move towards Sol.
He realized what was happening before she even needed to say it and barked, “The meeting is over, everyone out. Now!”
She was fairly certain most of the principals understood the reason for the sudden end to the meeting, but Sol, unsurprisingly, did not.
Thankfully, before he could say or do anything else that might stoke Morgen’s temper, Bella said, “You really want to leave now, Sol, unless you’d like to learn what happens when you try to push Morgen’s buttons while his wife is in labor. ”
Sol’s nostrils flared, and he shot a glare at Nya, scowled, then promptly disappeared through a portal. As soon as he was gone, the tension in the room eased, and Nyx asked, “Do you need anything?”
Nya shook her head, gritting out, “We have very capable midwives.”
“Whom we are going to request come to the palace right now,” Morgen said, glancing pointedly at Vulcan, who muttered, “Fine, yes, I’m on it,” and hurried out of the room.
Bella and Janis disappeared without Nya noticing, and Juno touched Nyx’s arm. “We should go. Send word later.”
Morgen nodded distractedly, and they disappeared with Thanatos.
“Alright,” Morgen said once they were gone. “Let’s have this baby.”
She blew out a shaky breath. “A sentence I never thought I’d hear you say ten years ago.”
He chuckled, slowly easing her up. “Yet, here I am, saying it for the third time.”
She let out a breathy laugh that ended in a wince.
Do try to keep the pathway closed my way until the babe has arrived, Varax said. Someone opened it up last time for a few hours, and I cannot communicate the level of anxiety it created in me.
Morgen kissed Nya’s hand. How do you think I feel, Varax?
I would prefer not to consider it.
A short three hours later, Nya stared at the tiny, mewling baby in her arms. Morgen was positioned behind her on the bed, and he let out a breathy laugh as the baby grabbed at his pinky.
“She has long fingers,” he murmured.
Nya nodded. “They aren’t small and stubby like Rhiann or Thia’s were when they were born. She has your hands, I think. And your eyes and mouth. Really, she doesn’t look like me much at all.”
“She has your nose,” he said softly. “But everything else…I think you’re right.”
“I know I’m right.”
The baby had fallen asleep, hand curled around his finger. Nya took a deep breath and said quietly, “Morgen, I think it’s time.”
He stiffened slightly. “I don’t know.”
“It won’t hurt her. You know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. But she is who I saw in the dream. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on her, and I promised I wouldn’t forget her name.”
“You haven’t. Isn’t that enough?”
Nya took a deep breath. She had known this was going to be hard for Morgen, when the time came to give one of their children the name the void had given her in a dream.
He still feared the creature who had tried to take her and their world with it.
She didn’t blame him; she would fear it too if she was anyone else, if she hadn’t experienced what she had.
But she meant it when she told him it wouldn’t hurt her or their baby.
Naming her daughter for the void was simply a reminder it was not alone, a way for its name to forever be remembered in this world.
“Ithesoa,” she whispered, gently adjusting the soft baby blanket. “Your name is Ithesoa.”
She had never said it aloud, never even told Morgen the exact name she had been given in the dream, but as he heard it, he sucked in a surprised breath.
“See?” she said, glancing back at him. “It’s her.”
His throat worked as he said hoarsely, “Yeah, it is.”
She leaned against him, and Varax let out an audible breath down the pathway.
I am proud of you both, you know, she said.
I was told by many of my kind that choosing your soul was a mistake, that Fate had already made its choice, and I was damning myself along with you.
I always hoped to prove them wrong, and you know how vain I am.
It would have been too bad had they been right.
Nya glanced at Morgen, who was smiling faintly and shaking his head slightly so as to not wake the sleeping baby in her arms. His eyes were still on Nya when he replied, I’m glad you were so hellbent on being right, Varax. I suppose you were wise enough to see what we could not before.
And what is that? Varax asked, sounding vaguely amused.
That we cannot choose where Fate makes our beginning, but we can certainly push against its hand in the end.
Nya nodded, and Morgen kissed her head as she added, There are some things stronger than Fate.
It was a while later, when Morgen was carefully handing Rhiann the baby and Thia sat on Carus’ lap, that Varax replied.
My kind all told me your reign would be the harbinger of the end. Now, they say it is the beginning of something new. Something better.
Nya’s lips twitched, and she met Morgen’s eyes from across the room. He smiled too, before Rhiann tugged at his sleeve.
She had felt the doom of her fate as long as she could remember. Now, she only felt peace at the thought of the years stretched far ahead.