Chapter One Hundred And Seventy Three

Chapter One Hundred And Seventy Three
Lucian's Pov

Years had elapsed since Deluna’s fall, and despite the wounds of war, the world had begun healing. What once had been a country full of tyranny and fright lived with hope in its heart. Vampires, living under Deluna’s tyranny, were free at long, long last. And I, with Naomi, had sworn ourselves to seeing freedom stretch to each and every soul yet living in shackles. 

We fought together, forging alliances, destroying whatever of Deluna’s corrupt empire lay in its path, and providing refuge and protection to souls that lived for too long in misery and agony. 

And yet, even with all that we accomplished, the greatest transformation hadn’t been in the world at all—it had been in me. 

Naomi tamed my rougher corners, taught me in virtue of love, in hope, and most of all, in the fact that redemption existed. 

And I, seeing her sit out on our balcony, in sunlight and in gold, bathing in sunlight, I saw that my greatest purpose no longer lay in commanding a people, but in protecting her, and our life together, that we shared. 

Naomi, my wife. My heart. My redemption.

She sat in quiet dignity, dressed in a flowing gown that highlighted the burgeoning bulge of her belly. She idly stroked the folds of cloth over her tummy, lost in thought. But for all the serenity surrounding me, I couldn't help but notice that she'd hardly touched the fruit on the plate before her.

I let out a soft sigh, moving towards her. "Naomi," I began, my voice soft but commanding, "you must eat. We don't want our baby to come all lifeless for lack of its mother's nourishment."

Her face turned to me, its expression one of annoyance but fondness. "Lucian, I love eating, but I simply don't have an appetite for it."

I glared, sitting down beside her. "You must have your strength, my love. Not for yourself, but for our baby."

Her fingers extended out, brushing over my cheek. "I know that you're worried, but I'm perfectly fine, I assure you."

I could not argue any further when a voice I'd heard many times cut me off.

"Leave it, Master. I will make her have it."

I turned, seeing Emma, her auburn hair drawn back, holding a bowl in one hand with a dish in it that was filled with a warm, sweet scent.

"Please, for your sake, do," I said, in frustration. "She's become obstinate to my commands."

Naomi shot me a mocking look. "I'm not obstinate."

Emma snickered, moving in to sit down beside her. "You're obstinate, but that's why we loved you." She balanced a spoon in her fingers. "Now, then, little future mother, and have a bite."

Naomi grumbled but opened her mouth, and let Emma feed her.

Satisfied that my wife was in safe hands, I placed a tender kiss onto Naomi’s brow and moved aside, allowing them a moment alone together.

I wandered through the corridors of my grand estate, one I'd built out of shadows, but one full of hope. 

My mind wandered through years, thinking about the past. 

How life twisted and curved, and fate intertwined my life with that of Naomi’s in a manner I could not have foreseen. 

I'd been a beast in my past life. 

A bloodthirsty vampire, filled with fury and vengeance. I'd lived but to destroy, to dominate. 

And yet, Naomi saw in me a part I'd long ago lost. 

She'd fought with me, taken a chance for me, saved not me, but humanity, for a future I'd doomed myself to. 

And yet, she was offering me a present I'd not ever considered I'd deserve. 

A family. 

I reached my study and sat at my desk, staring at the map outspread in my presence. A map of new worlds in which humans and vampires no longer clash, but together, fought for peace and a future for both species. 

I touched my fingers over its face, mapping out in my mind’s eye the land in which we'd begun to make headway, in which peace and hope took root. 

"Thank you, Naomi," I whispered, my voice little more than a whisper. 

Thank you for choosing me. 

Thank you for offering me a reason to survive. 

I breathed out, closing my eyes, a slow, peaceful breath.

“Our child,” I mused, will see that humans and vampires can coexist in peace.

The thinking filled me with a dreamlike but warm feeling—hope. 

And for centuries, I hadn’t even allowed myself to hope for a future not painted in blood. 

The peace was shattered when the door crashed in. 

Emma hung in the doorway, face white, eyes bulging with horror. 

My heart clamped down in a spasm of horror. 

"What? What’s wrong, Emma?" I snarled, my pulse thudding in my head. 

"It’s Naomi!" panted Emma, out of breath. "Her water’s broken!"

The room began to tip and sway. 

For an eternity, I seemed immobile, my head reeling at the words. 

And then—

Alarm. 

Pure, unbridled alarm. 

"Where is she?" I snarled, my voice rougher than I'd ever meant for it to sound. 

"She’s in the chamber," exclaimed Emma in a breathless rush. "We have to go!"

I did not stand for permission. 

I took off at a dash. 

The corridors flashed in a blur in my face as I thundered through them, my breath shattering in my mouth. I hardly saw the shocked glances of the servants I whizzed past. 

By the time I reached the chamber, I could make out her screams. 

The sound shot a shiver down my backbone. 

I flung the doors apace, my eyes focused onto her at once. 

She lay on the grand four-poster, face twisted in agony, sweat droplets glinting in her hairline. 

"Lucian," she wheezed, outreaching for me

I was at her side in seconds, my fingers locked in a tight grasp in her hands. "I'm here, my love. I'm here."

Her fingers locked down over my fingers, surprisingly strong in a clasp. "It…hurts," she confessed, shaking voice.

"I know," I whispered, brushing the wet hair out of her face.
"But you're strong, Naomi. Stronger even than anyone I've ever met."

The midwife, a wise, sharp-eyed older woman, moved with a quiet efficiency, issuing quiet orders to her attendants clustering about her.

"Breathe, my lady," she instructed, "you're getting on beautifully."

Naomi took a shuddering breath, nodding.
The hours crawled out into an eternity. I never moved, relaxed my fingers' grasp.
She screamed, cried, almost mangled my fingers in her clasp—but I took it in, took all of it, for I'd take anything to ease her pain.

And then—

A new sound.

A cry.

A high, shrill wailing that filled out the room with sound.

For a frozen, staring moment, no one moved.
And then, with a warm, radiant smile, the midwife lifted a tiny, squirming form aloft in her hands.
"A boy," she announced.

A boy!

My heart constricts at seeing the little form, my heart and my brain locked in a freeze. 

A frozen wonder at seeing, at holding in my hands, my eyes, my heart, our baby boy!

Naomi relaxed, a feeble laugh spilling out, streaming tears down her face. "Lucian…we did it."

I cleared my constricting throat, could not speak, could not make a single, coherent sound, and simply placed a soft, wet kiss on her head.
"You did it," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

The midwife placed the baby in Naomi's arms. So little, so fragile. But when he opened his eyes, I saw in my reflection—

I knew.

He was a strong one.

Naomi looked at me, a smile even in exhaustion creasing her face. "What will we name him?"

I looked at my son, and my heart in a deep, profound way changed.

"Call him Travis," I whispered. "Call him Travis Lucian."

Naomi shone, holding our baby to heart. "Travis," she breathed softly.

I hugged them both, my whole life in my arms.

This—this was our beginning.

A new beginning.

A new hope.

And I saw my wife and my son, and I knew—

The shadows were over at last.

—THE END—