Page 91 of Rose and Shadows
I shot a pointed look at Sylas, and he reached out and stroked her hair. “Speaking of feeding time, our unborn bundle of joy needs sustenance.”
I could see her resistance to handing the baby back already, but then Lazriel laid a hand on her belly and eased things by saying, “We have that special surprise to get to as well. Ketheron and Cassius are so excited about it.” He grinned at me, then looked back at her. “Cassiusis excited, love. That’s how big a deal it’s gotta be.”
“I resent the implication,wild one.”
Vorzyr whistled. “Loving that nickname. The filthy connotations are right there. Kai is hearing about it.”
“Better than him referring to me as afresh onewhen Sylas and I first… came together.”
Sylas smirked and ruffled his hair. “Pun most definitely intended.”
Nyx rolled his eyes, then gently took Torvek from Velra. “We’ll have him back here more often. Whenever you want to come by, just say the word, text me, whatever you want.”
“Okay, yeah. Thanks, Nyx.”
“Of course.”
Sylas led her away then, Ketheron talking with Vorzyr and Nyx animatedly, as he started telling them about his understanding of the physical development of infants, while asking Nyx to fill in the emotional aspect to give him the full picture.
Lazriel and I followed Sylas and Velra over to the fire pit, where Velra took a seat on one of them and Sylas knelt in front of her.
With a spark of his crimson magic, he called forth the solution that he’d created to allow our baby to feed from his necromantic energy without desiccating him.
And that solution came in the form of an ornate pewter baby rattle etched with roses—an amusing nod to those being his favorite flowers. The fact that his solution had taken the form of a rattle was an amusing nod in itself.
He held one end out to Velra as his magic flamed where he grasped the other.
She took it and placed it on her belly, and it flamed with Sylas’ magic at the point of contact. After an initial jolt, a peaceful sigh escaped her and her body relaxed, as Sylas fed the baby the sustenance it needed.
“Always right on the clock going forward, Sylas,” I spoke. “It hurts her if there’s a delay.”
Sylas frowned, looking between us. “Hurts?”
“Like kicking?” Lazriel asked.
“No, like a painful twinge that grows stronger the longer the child has to wait for you.”
“Cassius, it’s okay,” Velra assured me.
“It’s certainly not.” I eyed Sylas. “Even during your research lockdowns, understood?”
“Understood,” he said, easily. “Of course.”
He eased the rattle away when he’d finished and tucked it back away with his magic, then reached out and took Velra’s hands as he rose, bringing her with him. “I’m sorry.”
“No—you didn’t know.”
“I didn’t. But I need to. We all do, all right?”
She nodded. “I promise.”
“Good.” He looked out at me. “Now, I believe we have a special surprise to get to?”
I nodded.
“Keth!” Lazriel called over to him still immersed in conversation with Vorzyr and Nyx. “Let’s go!”
“Time to hit the bricks,” I added.
