Chapter 32
Morning Light
Caspian woke slowly, the dream of the ball still lingering at the edges of his consciousness.
He'd watched her pursue Percival that night, eyes bright with longing for another man. Had felt that hollow ache as she looked past him to find someone else.
And now...
Caspian turned his head slightly, and his chest filled with warmth.
Now she was here. In his bed. Her honey-blonde hair spread across his pillow, her face peaceful in sleep, one hand resting on the small swell of her belly where their child grew.
She'd chosen him.
Not because of a spell. Not because of obligation or family pressure or political necessity.
She'd chosen him.
The difference between that memory and this moment was everything.
Caspian propped himself up on one elbow, content to simply watch her sleep. The morning light streaming through the windows caught the gold in her hair, made her skin seem to glow.
Beautiful.
His wife.
His choice.
Caroline stirred, her nose wrinkling slightly. Then her amber eyes fluttered open, still hazy with sleep.
"Caspian?" she murmured.
"Good morning," he said softly.
A slow smile spread across her face. "Good morning."
She stretched languidly, the sheet slipping slightly, and Caspian found his mouth going dry at the sight.
"How long have you been awake?" Caroline asked.
"Not long," Caspian said. "I was... thinking."
"About what?"
"About how different this is," Caspian said honestly. "From what I expected. From what it was."
Caroline's expression softened. She reached up to touch his face, her fingers tracing along his jaw. "Better or worse?"
"Infinitely better," Caspian said, catching her hand and pressing a kiss to her palm.
Caroline's smile widened. "I agree."
Caspian's hand moved to her belly, spreading across the gentle curve. Their child. Growing stronger every day.
"We never really talked about the baby," he said quietly. "Before. You were always... distant. And I didn't want to push."
"I was terrible," Caroline said, covering his hand with hers. "I'm sorry for that. For all of it."
"We're past that now," Caspian said. "But I'd like to talk about it now. About them. Our child."
"Our son," Caroline said with certainty.
Caspian's eyebrows rose. "You know it's a boy?"
"I just... have a feeling," Caroline said, her hand moving to her belly. "A very strong feeling. Mother's intuition, maybe?"
Caspian smiled, his own hand covering hers. "Then I'll trust your intuition." His hand moved gently on her belly. "A son. Our son."
"Are you disappointed?" Caroline asked. "That it's not a daughter?"
"No," Caspian said immediately. "I'm... I'm glad. Happy. Terrified, but happy."
"Terrified?" Caroline laughed softly. "You fight Blightspawn for a living."
"Fighting monsters is easier than being a father," Caspian admitted. "Monsters, I understand. Children..." He paused. "I don't want to fail him. Don't want him to grow up afraid of me like everyone else is."
Caroline's expression melted into tenderness. "Caspian. You won't. You're going to be a wonderful father."
"How do you know?"
"Because you care," Caroline said simply. "Because you're already worried about being good enough for him. That's exactly the kind of father he needs."
Caspian felt his throat tighten with emotion. He leaned down and kissed her gently. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For choosing this. For choosing us."
Caroline pulled him down for another kiss, deeper this time. "Always."
When they finally broke apart, Caroline's stomach rumbled loudly.
They both paused.
Then Caroline burst out laughing. "Well. That's embarrassing."
"You're eating for two," Caspian said, grinning. "I'll have breakfast brought up."
"In a bit," Caroline said, snuggling closer to him. "I'm comfortable right now."
Caspian wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. "We should pick a name."
"A name?"
"For our son," Caspian said. "We can't just call him 'the baby' forever."
"True," Caroline said thoughtfully. "Do you have any ideas?"
"Several extremely formal options my father would approve of," Caspian said dryly. "Cornelius Maximilian Vanthorn. Reginald Augustus Vanthorn. Thadeus—"
"Absolutely not," Caroline interrupted, laughing. "Those are awful."
"I'm aware," Caspian said. "Which is why I'm asking for your input."
Caroline was quiet for a moment, thinking. "What about... something that starts with C? Like our names?"
"Caspian, Caroline, and...?" Caspian considered this. "I like that. The alliteration."
"Exactly," Caroline said, starting to list options. "Callum? Cedric? Cyrus? Cameron?" Then she immediately caught herself. "No, wait, Cameron is too—I mean, it doesn't quite fit the—"
"Cameron is fine," Caspian said, amused by her sudden backtracking.
"No, it's too modern—I mean, too simple," Caroline corrected quickly. "What about Cassian?"
"Too close to Caspian," Caspian pointed out. "People would confuse us."
"Fair point," Caroline agreed. "Conrad? Corwin?"
"Too harsh," Caspian said. "I want something strong but not... severe. Something that doesn't sound like a military commander."
"Something gentle," Caroline said softly. "To balance out the 'Butcher' legacy."
Caspian felt warmth bloom in his chest. She understood. She always understood.
"What about Caelan?" Caroline suggested.
Caspian tested the name silently. "Caelan."
"It means powerful, but it sounds gentle," Caroline explained. "Strong without being harsh. Like..." She paused, her cheeks coloring slightly. "Like his father."
"Caelan," Caspian repeated, and felt something settle into place. "Caelan Vanthorn."
"Caelan Holloway Vanthorn," Caroline corrected.
Caspian looked at her questioningly.
"Holloway for the middle name," Caroline explained. "My maiden name. So he has connection to both families."
Caspian's chest tightened again. She wanted their son to carry her family name. To honor the Holloways as much as the Vanthorns.
"Caelan Holloway Vanthorn," Caspian said slowly. "I like it. It suits him."
"Really?" Caroline's face lit up. "You're sure? We don't have to—"
"I'm sure," Caspian said firmly. "Caelan Holloway Vanthorn. Our son."
He moved his hand lower on her belly, speaking directly to the life growing there. "Hello, Caelan. We're your parents. I know you can't hear me yet, but..." He paused, emotion catching in his throat. "We're very excited to meet you."
Caroline's eyes were suspiciously bright. "That was adorable."
"I'm not adorable," Caspian protested.
"You absolutely are," Caroline said, running her fingers through his silver hair. "Especially when you talk to our son like that."
"Caelan," Caspian corrected. "We have a name now. We should use it."
"Caelan," Caroline agreed softly. Then she smiled mischievously. "You know what this means, right?"
"What?"
"If we have more children, they'll all need C names," Caroline said. "We're setting a precedent. Caspian, Caroline, Caelan..."
"We'll have plenty of options," Caspian said.
"Will we?" Caroline challenged. "Name three more good C names right now."
Caspian thought for a moment. "Celeste. Cordelia. Callum."
"Those are actually good," Caroline admitted, sounding disappointed that she couldn't tease him further.
"I'm full of surprises," Caspian said, leaning down to kiss her neck.
Caroline made a soft sound of pleasure. "Caspian..."
"Mmm?"
"We should probably get up," Caroline said, though she tilted her head to give him better access. "Have breakfast. Be responsible adults."
"We could," Caspian agreed, his lips trailing lower. "Or..."
"Or?" Caroline's voice was breathless now.
"Or I could make love to my wife again," Caspian murmured against her skin. "Properly. In the morning light. So I can see every expression on your face."
Caroline's breath hitched. "Again? Already?"
"I have three months of celibate marriage to make up for," Caspian said, his hand sliding along her thigh. "And you're in my bed, warm and willing and beautiful. Why would I want to leave?"
"That's... a fair point," Caroline managed.
"Besides," Caspian continued, moving over her, bracketing her body with his arms. "I'm discovering I very much enjoy this aspect of marriage."
Caroline laughed, the sound turning into a soft gasp as his mouth found the sensitive spot below her ear. "I've noticed."
"Are you complaining?" Caspian asked, pulling back to look at her.
"Absolutely not," Caroline said, pulling him down for a kiss. "Though I reserve the right to tease you about your... enthusiasm."
"Tease all you want," Caspian said, his voice dropping lower. "I'll just have to find ways to make you too breathless for words."
"That sounds like a challenge," Caroline said, her amber eyes sparkling with mischief and desire.
"Consider it a promise," Caspian said, and kissed her deeply.
What followed was slow and tender and thorough. Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, painting everything in gold. There was no urgency this time, no desperate need driving them forward.
Just two people choosing to be together. Choosing this intimacy. This connection.
This love.
◆◆◆
Much later, they lay tangled together in the sheets, both thoroughly satisfied and completely disheveled.
Caroline's stomach rumbled again, loudly.
"Now we definitely need breakfast," she said, laughing.
"I'll ring for the servants," Caspian said, but made no move to actually get up. He was sprawled half on top of her, careful to keep his weight off her belly, his face buried contentedly against her neck.
"Caspian."
"Mmm?"
"You're still on top of me."
"I'm aware."
"The servants can't bring breakfast if you don't actually ring for them," Caroline pointed out.
"Also aware," Caspian said, but finally, reluctantly, rolled to the side. "Fine. Breakfast."
He got up and pulled the bell cord, then returned to bed, gathering Caroline against his side.
"You're insatiable," Caroline teased.
"You're irresistible," Caspian countered. "There's a difference."
"Such flattery."
"You like it."
"I do," Caroline admitted, pressing a kiss to his chest. "I really, really do."
They stayed like that, wrapped in each other's warmth, until a discreet knock announced the servants' arrival with breakfast.
And as Caspian watched Caroline enthusiastically attack a plate of honey cakes with the same passion she'd brought to their lovemaking, he thought:
This. This was everything he'd never dared to hope for.
A wife who chose him. A son on the way. A future filled with warmth instead of cold isolation.
Caelan Holloway Vanthorn.
His family.
His choice.
His life.
And it was perfect.