Page 196 of Rose and Shadows
I broke off a piece and handed it to Sylas.
As he tasted it, his eyes damn near hooded. “Wow.”
“I know,” Kel said, alternating between the muffin and the cake. “Nothing else like these pastries.”
I swallowed another bite, then went to pass another piece to Sylas, when a brutal pain tore through my belly, way beyond all the others so far.
It had me dropping the piece of cake and clutching myself.
“Velra!” Kelsana cried, reaching for me as Sylas skidded in front of me, his haste destroying half of the castle in the process.
White light flashed in my vision and then Cassius was right there.
Ketheron was on my other side in a second with a burst of his gold power, Lazriel with him.
Lazriel pressed his hand to my belly, then smiled at me. “Baby’s coming, love.”
“Now? No, I thought the twinges were just false labor or something. It’s early.”
Lazriel eased his hand away for a moment so Sylas could get in there. His red magic emanated carefully and he concentrated for a few moments, then told me, “The baby is well and strong, unharmed.” He smiled. “He’s just… ready.”
Ketheron grasped Cassius’ arm excitedly. “A baby, I can’t wait.”
Cassius stroked my hair, then told me, “This child is part Sylas and Lazriel. No wonder he’s upturning expectations and bucking procedure.”
A chuckle escaped me, cutting through the panic.
Then I looked out at Kelsana and Ketheron, the care for me, the friendships I’d built in spite of everything.
Then my men all over me, loving me, warming me, making me feel both safe and so fully alive at the same time.
And now it was here—our family was expanding.
I couldn’t believe it.
I couldn’t believe any of it.
It was absolutely everything to me.
“I can’t wait to meet our son,” I breathed.
Epilogue 2
~Cassius~
Three Months Later
It was truly remarkable.
I was holding innocence in my hands.
A fresh new lifeforce.
One of a kind.
A product of our love and adoration.
A little baby.
