A pregnant woman's unwanted friends were swollen feet. Eli would usually help her massage them just as he was doing now. She was reading a book to him and he listened with rapt attention. His paintings adored the room, a piano at one corner, her sewing equipment at another corner with two studies joined to the room.
He chuckled at something she read and she rolled her eyes. She had become quite irritable lately, little things would get on her nerves. It was just an interesting change to watch, especially because food was usually the cure, all kinds of food in their weirdest combinations. He had tried one once, it was terrible.
She snapped the book shut.
“By Ignas, do go on. I take back my laughter.”
She seemed to have something else on her mind though. “Do you think I’m fat?”
He smiled, “Like I always say, you are not fat, you are just pregnant.”
“So you would want me like this?”
He chuckled, the sound throaty as he buried his face into the crook of her neck. He moved quickly, she could hardly catch up. “I want you all the time and you know it.”
“This is all your fault,” she cried.
“I am sorry, I am so sorry. I—-“
“You are the reason I am no longer sexy.”
“But you are sexy—-“
“I feel so bloated.”
“I am sorry—-“
“And I can’t even do anything about it.”
There was a knock at the door. Perfect. Food.
But even after the maids wheeled in the food, Belladonna’s worry did not cease, it might have end gotten worse.
“Oh, more food to get me fatter than I already am.”
“No.” He pushed his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Jnubderst it now,” with a signal to the maid she was gone, the door slammed shut. “I have committed such a grave sin, you must punish me. Do with me as you please.”
She rolled her eyes. “You don’t even like what I look like.”
Taking off his robe, he said, “Let me show you what I really think.”
Suddenly Eli froze and his eyes went completely black before they switched back to brown.
“You have to go,” she said with a bit of fear in her voice. The Thanatous took care of the small killings, so if Eli had been summoned, it had to be something more than the Thanatous could handle.
“I will be back.”
“I will be waiting.”
He paused, pressing a kiss against her lips before he pulled away. “If this is Alaris, I will him.”
She chuckled lightly. He grabbed his scythe and vanished.
——
——
It was Alaris, sitting under the moonlight on a stack of bodies, blood dripping from the pile.
“Someone came into my room and pressed a dagger to my neck. She tried to kill me then escaped when she realized I was awake. I recognize her red hair. Ian it fun that she is still alive?”
“You killed all these mortals to talk to me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, they’ve been a bone in my neck. You are lucky to have met me here.”
“I was doing something very important, couldn’t you have postponed this war?”
Alaris laughed. “You think just because you died you will escape my punishment.” He chuckled, flying down from the pile. “You are funny.”
Eli heaved a sigh of annoyance and while he assembled the souls, Alaris kept talking to him. He asked about Belladonna, if she had given birth yet, and if he could pay them a visit in their realm.
When Eli was done with the souls, he told him. “If you ever need me, all you have to do, brother, is call my name.”
Alaris scoffed. “I don’t need you. I just want to punish you.” He took off into the air with a smirk. “Till next time.”
——
——
Jyris had woken up in the hideout of a soldier who claimed to have found him bleeding on the ground of the forest. He had told him about the fall of the White and his House. Jyris was filled with hatred and a quest for vengeance, but without an army of weapons, he had to be patient.
Fate must be on his side though, because some days after, he found a maiden emerged from the waters with a gem in her hand, one that looked very much like a part of the Death gem.
She was a siren and had escaped from the war going on in her realm. She claimed that she was following a prophecy and prophecy had said that she had to find the owner of the gem she had in her possession. Jyris had promised to help her but that was certainly not what he was going to do.
He wanted to kill the Heir of the Lost Throne who had now become the King, he wanted to kill the dragon who had killed his Xinora. He wanted to kill everyone but he must be patient.
The siren wouldn’t give him the small gem she had in her possession though. He had to acquire her trust before it would be too late.
——
——
The cry of labor filled the air followed by the cries of children. Twins - a boy and a girl. They had been right.
Belladonna and Eli were parents now.
It was once again another celebration in the High Realms, everyone attended except the Fates.
There would indeed be enemies everywhere, but they had more High Beings on their side who were ready to do anything for them.
Eudaimonia and Eutykus, beautiful names for beautiful children.
—-
THE END
(Beli’s story lives beyond the pages but this is where our journey with them comes to an end.
I am ever grateful that you have come this far with me. This is officially my first completed novel. I have learnt a lot from this writing experience but what I learnt most importantly is that I will never write a novel as long as this again and if I do, I won’t get lost in my words to the point that I get lost in an arc. Quick, quick, should do it. Also, I intend to work on my consistency of giving updates which I unfortunately lacked during this writing experience.
You have been very patient, understanding, and kind to me, and for that, I am most grateful.
Thank you Ms_kay for your lovely comments that usually encourage me to write the next chapter. Thank you Playing_with_fire, I almost stopped writing this book at a time but for your lovely comments. I have so many people to thank but the list will be endless, so I say Thank You All.
I am rounding up another book with about 200 chapters. It is a werewolf and vampire romance, kind of enemies to lovers. If you are interested, you can find it here under the title “Mated To The King Of Darkness”.
Also, for Ikrus and Aniya’s story, you can find it here under the title, “ MoonBound: The Gamma’s Captive.” I will pick it up once I am done with mated to the King of Darkness, it is only like five chapters to the end and I have already started working on it. Honestly, MoonBound shouldn’t be long at all because I plan t
o write a book for WSA, and remember, quick, quick should do it.
Once again, thank you all so much.
Love,
AT.