Chapter 119 Three kittens
Maureen Laskovic:
“Maureen!! This is absolutely beautiful!!!”
Nyxara’s voice rang loudly through the grand hall, echoing off the tall stone walls as she spun slowly in place, her sharp eyes taking in every detail of the decorations. The rich fabrics, the silver-threaded banners, the glowing lanterns suspended carefully from the ceiling—it all shimmered under the warm lighting like something pulled straight from a dream.
I couldn’t help but laugh softly at her reaction.
“Awww, thank you!” I said warmly, stepping closer and taking her hands in mine. “I’ve been working on it for days now. I wanted everything to be perfect… absolutely perfect.”
Nyxara squeezed my fingers tightly before releasing them, her gaze still sweeping across the hall with open admiration.
“I can’t believe tomorrow is finally the day,” I continued, my voice softening as emotion crept in. “Tomorrow… I get to see my babies presented before everyone. I get to hold them proudly and never let anyone make me feel like I have to give them away again.”
Nyxara turned back toward me quickly, her expression softening.
“Ohh my… don’t say it like that,” she murmured dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. “You’ll make me cry before the ceremony even starts.”
I laughed again, wiping at the corner of my eye before tears could actually form.
“Honestly… I’m already emotional,” I admitted quietly. “It still feels unreal sometimes. Like I’m walking through someone else’s dream.”
Nyxara stepped closer and wrapped her arm around my shoulder, pulling me into a half hug.
“You earned this happiness,” she said firmly. “Every bit of it. After everything you’ve gone through… after the poison, the madness, the fear… you deserve a peaceful moment like this.”
Her words warmed something deep inside me.
I leaned into her slightly, breathing out slowly as the tension in my chest eased.
“Come,” I said after a moment, pulling away with a smile. “Let me show you the rest.”
We walked slowly across the hall together, my hand occasionally brushing across the long tables lined with carefully arranged trays. Dozens of freshly baked cookies sat neatly in rows—golden brown, perfectly shaped, decorated with tiny silver icing moons and stars.
Nyxara stopped immediately when she spotted them.
“Oh… my… goodness,” she whispered, eyes widening in exaggerated awe. “You baked all of this yourself?”
I lifted my chin proudly.
“Every single one.”
She grabbed one without hesitation, biting into it dramatically before letting out an exaggerated moan of delight.
“Maureen…” she groaned. “If this ceremony fails tomorrow, it will not be because of the decorations. It will be because I ate all the cookies before the guests arrive.”
I burst into laughter.
“Don’t you dare,” I warned playfully. “Those are for the nobles.”
“Well then,” she replied shamelessly, reaching for another one, “the nobles better hurry up and arrive early.”
I shook my head at her antics, but the laughter felt good—real, warm, grounding.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Peaceful.
Safe.
Then Nyxara’s expression slowly shifted.
The playful glow in her eyes faded slightly, replaced by something sharper. More alert.
She turned toward the guards stationed near the entrance, her posture straightening instantly.
“You,” she called firmly.
The nearest guard stepped forward immediately, bowing his head respectfully.
“Yes, Lady Nyxara.”
Her voice dropped into something colder—commanding.
“Double the checkpoints tonight,” she ordered. “No one enters this palace without direct invitation. No exceptions. No last-minute guests. No wandering visitors.”
The guard nodded sharply.
“Yes, my lady.”
Nyxara’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“And listen carefully,” she added. “If anyone suspicious appears… anyone unfamiliar… anyone claiming urgency—stop them immediately. I don’t care who they claim to be.”
Another guard stepped forward.
“We understand.”
She nodded once, satisfied.
“Good,” she said firmly. “Because I can promise you this—evil doesn’t disappear quietly. It returns when you least expect it.”
The tension in her words settled heavily in the air.
I watched her closely, understanding exactly what she meant.
Celeste.
Even without speaking her name… we both knew.
Once the guards confirmed their orders, Nyxara turned back toward me, her expression softening again as if switching masks.
“Alright,” she said lightly, clapping her hands once. “Enough serious talk. Let’s go inside before I scare your entire staff into fainting.”
I smiled faintly and nodded.
We walked together down the corridor toward my chambers, our footsteps echoing softly against the marble floor. Once inside, the warmth of the room wrapped around us like a quiet embrace.
Nyxara dropped onto one of the cushioned chairs without ceremony, stretching her legs out comfortably.
“You know,” she said casually, “I never imagined you’d become this… domestic.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Domestic?” I repeated suspiciously.
She grinned mischievously.
“Yes. Baking cookies. Planning decorations. Approving baby clothes. Who are you, and what have you done with the timid woman I first met?”
I rolled my eyes dramatically.
“She’s still here,” I replied. “Just… slightly sleep-deprived and emotionally attached to three tiny humans.”
Nyxara laughed softly.
“I like this version of you,” she admitted. “You’re softer… but stronger too.”
Her words lingered in the air.
Slowly, I reached into the small drawer beside my bed and pulled out a velvet box I had prepared earlier.
Nyxara tilted her head curiously.
“What’s that?” she asked.
I stepped toward her and placed the box into her hands.
“A thank you,” I said simply.
She blinked in surprise before opening it carefully.
Inside lay two delicate necklaces—matching pieces crafted from fine silver, each bearing a small crescent moon charm resting against a tiny star.
Nyxara’s breath caught slightly.
I smiled, warmth spreading through my chest, still feeling the comfort of Nyxara’s hug lingering around me like a shield. For a brief moment, everything felt light—almost playful—like the world had decided to grant me a rare moment of peace before throwing its next storm.
Soon, the door opened again.
Vuk stepped inside, his presence filling the room immediately. He carried a small wooden box in one hand, its polished surface catching the light. His eyes swept across the room, briefly landing on Nyxara before settling on me.
“Alpha… I’m sorry, I didn’t know you would—” Nyxara began, already straightening herself from the chair.
“It’s okay, Nyxara,” Vuk replied calmly, lifting the box slightly. “I just came to drop this off.”
He walked toward the table and placed the box down carefully, his movements relaxed but purposeful. I tilted my head slightly, curiosity sparking in my chest.
“Hey, babe!” I called suddenly, just as he turned to leave.
He paused mid-step and looked back at me, one brow lifting slightly.
“What do you think about camping?” I asked brightly. “The four of us. Me, you, Nyxara, and Eryx.”
“Huh?” he muttered, clearly caught off guard.
“Huh? Camping? Why?” Nyxara added immediately, narrowing her eyes at me like I had just suggested something completely absurd.
“Yeah… why?” Vuk echoed, folding his arms across his chest.
I rolled my eyes dramatically.
“Gods, you all are boring,” I muttered. “To celebrate, obviously. Come on… family, friends. You and I, Nyxara and Eryx… something simple. Something fun.”
Nyxara exchanged a quick glance with Vuk before slowly nodding.
“Ahh… I think I know what you’re saying,” she murmured thoughtfully.
“My love,” I added sweetly, turning my attention fully toward Vuk, “you are to decide.”
He stared at me for a moment, clearly weighing whether this was another one of my spontaneous ideas or something I would relentlessly insist upon until he gave in.
Then finally—
“Well…” he sighed. “Yes. Camping it is… the four of us.”
“Yes!” I clapped happily.
Nyxara snorted softly under her breath.
“Uhhmm… you do know I have two husbands, right?” she added casually, crossing her arms.
I slowly nodded, giving her a teasing glare.
“Yes, you greedy incubus,” I shot back.
She burst into laughter instantly.
Vuk chuckled softly under his breath, shaking his head as he turned toward the door again.
“You two are impossible,” he muttered before stepping out.
The door closed behind him with a quiet click, leaving Nyxara and me still smiling.
But before either of us could continue our teasing—
A maid rushed into the room, breath slightly uneven from running.
“My Luna!” she exclaimed urgently.
I turned immediately.
“What is it?”
Her face lit up with excitement.
“Gold has given birth!”
For a second—
I blinked.
“Gold?” I repeated slowly.
Nyxara’s lips twitched in amusement.
“Your rebellious cat?” she asked with obvious interest.
“Oh, for the love of the Moon…” I groaned, already moving toward the door. “I told that shameless creature to stay inside.”
Nyxara followed closely behind me as we hurried down the corridor toward the small servants’ quarters where Gold had been staying.
For weeks now, that troublesome black cat had been sneaking out at night—running off to meet some filthy stray male cat from outside the palace walls. No matter how many times I scolded her… no matter how many times the maids tried to keep her inside… she always found a way.
And now—
She had returned pregnant.
With the stray male bold enough to follow her home.
Unbelievable.
We stepped into the small room where several maids had gathered around a makeshift bedding area. The air was warm, filled with soft murmurs and faint squeaking sounds.
Gold lay curled protectively around her newborn kittens, her large black body shielding them carefully. Her golden eyes lifted the moment she saw me, watching me calmly as if daring me to complain.
Beside her—
That shameless stray male cat lounged comfortably nearby, chewing lazily on food like he owned the place.
My eye twitched.
“Oh, absolutely not,” I muttered under my breath.
Nyxara burst into laughter.
“Oh, look at him,” she said, pointing at the male cat. “He looks proud.”
“Proud?” I snapped. “He should be running for his life.”
The stray didn’t even react—just kept eating as if my presence meant nothing.
Unbelievable audacity.
I stepped closer carefully, crouching down slightly to get a better look at the kittens.
Three of them.
Tiny.
Fragile.
Squeaking softly as they shifted beneath Gold’s protective body.
My irritation faded slightly at the sight.
One was small and delicate—clearly female.
The other two were slightly larger males, both wriggling restlessly as they nudged against their mother.
Three kittens.
Just like my babies.
One girl.
Two boys.
My chest tightened slightly at the similarity.
Nyxara noticed it too.
“Well… would you look at that,” she murmured softly.
I exhaled slowly, staring down at the tiny creatures.
“Three of them…” I whispered.
The resemblance wasn’t just coincidence.
It felt symbolic.
Meaningful.
Carefully, I reached out and touched Gold’s head gently. She didn’t resist—just watched me with calm, steady eyes.
“You troublesome creature,” I muttered softly. “You really had to bring your stray boyfriend home too.”
Nyxara laughed again.
“So… what are you going to name them?” she asked.
I paused.
Thinking.
If they mirrored my children… then their names should too.
It only felt right.
Slowly, a small smile formed on my lips.
“The girl,” I said softly, pointing to the smallest kitten, “will be called Laurelle.”
Nyxara tilted her head.
“Like Lauren?”
I nodded.
“Yes. A softer echo of her name.”
Then I pointed toward the first male kitten.
“This one…” I murmured, watching the way he kicked his tiny legs stubbornly, “will be Lucen.”
Nyxara grinned.
“Lucian’s shadow.”
“And the last one,” I continued, pointing at the quietest kitten resting calmly near Gold’s side, “will be Adriel.”
Nyxara smiled warmly.
“Adrian’s twin in spirit.”
I exhaled softly, feeling something warm bloom inside my chest.
Three kittens.
Three babies.
Three futures.
And somehow… seeing them there, small and alive and safe beneath their mother’s protection, made my heart feel just a little lighter.
Even if—
Deep down—
I knew peace never lasted long in my world.