Chapter 65
Sixty-Five
VIVIENNE
The events of the last twenty-four hours were a whirlwind to me, and I haven’t shut my eyes since I returned to Salem. I can’t rest, and not because Nat—the nickname Lucca and I gave our daughter—kept me up. I’m afraid to close my eyes and discover this was all a dream.
Nat is next to me in my bed, making cooing sounds as she kicks her legs and moves her arms. We were quick to learn that she prefers breastmilk instead of blood, and she has the power of the wind as well.
We haven’t checked if she can go out during the daylight, but I’m sure she can.
I don’t think she inherited any of Lucca’s vampiric traits.
He enters the bedroom as if I summoned him with my mind, carrying a tray with breakfast. I smell coffee, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon. My stomach grumbles.
“Good morning, sunshine.” He kisses me, then sets the tray in front of me.
“Good morning, babe.”
He walks around the bed to slide into it from this side, then picks Nat up. My heart melts when she does the newborn-baby scrunch. “Hello, baby girl.”
She yawns in response, and Lucca laughs. “What? Am I boring you?”
“I just fed her. I guess it’s her nap time.” I break off a piece of pancake and load it with eggs and bacon.
He gives me a sideway glance. “You need to sleep too.”
“I know. Maybe I shouldn’t drink the coffee,” I say as I bring the cup to my mouth.
“Once Nat is asleep, I’ll give you a massage. You seem tense.”
I didn’t realize I was until he mentions it. “I guess.”
“What’s troubling you, love?”
“Everything. You heard what Queen Merissa and my father said. I need to return to Ellnesari sooner rather than later for the coronation. It’s not enough that the powers of the land transferred to me. The population of Aquila needs to know as well.”
His easygoing smile vanishes, and his eyes become troubled. “That’s the only part that I’m not happy about. There’s a war coming to Aquila’s doorstep. I hate to see you in the middle of it.”
“One more reason for me to get the coronation over with already. I hope I can avoid the war altogether.”
“Your father still controls the shadowbeasts. I don’t think any army is keen to go against him.”
“Cygnus is my biggest concern. King Titus wants to avenge the death of his daughter. He might be difficult to deal with.”
Lucca takes my hand. “No matter what happens, I’ll be there with you, my love. You have my full support, and my uncle’s too.”
I rest my head against his shoulder, drawing strength from him. “Thank you, Luc.”
My eyes close, and the last thing I hear before I fall asleep is “Sweet dreams, my love. All will be well.”
LUCCA
I take Nat with me and let Vivi sleep. I was beginning to worry that she wouldn’t rest. She’s been through a tremendous ordeal, after all, and she needs to recover.
I expect—and hope—she sleeps the whole day and night.
I can take care of Nat, and Vivi already pumped enough milk to last me through the day.
Since Nat is sleeping, I put her in the baby stroller and take her to the gym. I’ll get in a quick workout while she sleeps. I’m not surprised that Ronan is already there, breaking a sweat, and he brought an assistant with him—Ollie.
She’s attached to his back while he does push-ups, giggling the whole time. The sound is contagious, and it brings a smile to my lips.
“Hey there. Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all.” Ronan helps Ollie off his back before he stands up.
Noticing the stroller, the little girl runs to me and whispers, “Is that the baby?”
“Yes. Do you want to see her?”
She nods enthusiastically.
“She’s asleep now, so you have to be super quiet, okay?”
“Okay.”
I lift Ollie off the floor so she can see inside the stroller. Nat is sound asleep. I should have about an hour before she wakes up.
“She’s so pretty,” Ollie whispers.
“Yes, she is.”
“What does she eat?”
“She drinks milk from her mommy.”
“I drink blood, and so does Rio. Do you think she’ll like blood too?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
Ronan takes Ollie from me. “Come on, sweetie. I’d better get you back to Mama. She must be wondering where you are.”
I smile. “Fatherhood suits you, Ronan.”
He grins from ear to ear. “It suits you too, Luc.”
I glance at Nat. “Yeah, it does.”