Chapter 161 Double Joy

Chapter 161 Double Joy
Beatrice POV

Liora arrived after Darius returned, her bags packed for what she called an extended visit. I met her in the courtyard and pulled her into a tight hug.

"I missed you," I said.

"I missed you too." She pulled back and studied my face. "You look different. Glowing."

"I'm just happy Darius is home," I said.

We spent the afternoon in my chambers catching up. Liora sprawled across my bed while I sat in the window seat, watching the grounds below.

"So Theron's been writing me," Liora said casually.

I turned to face her. "Oh?"

"Actual letters. Long ones." She was trying not to smile. "He's surprisingly romantic when he puts effort into it."

"He really cares about you," I said.

"I know." Liora sat up. "It's terrifying and wonderful at the same time."

I opened my mouth to respond but a wave of nausea hit me. I pressed my hand to my stomach and breathed slowly through my nose.

"Bea?" Liora was off the bed instantly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just felt weird for a second." I forced a smile. "I'm fine now."

But Liora was studying me with narrowed eyes. "How long have you been feeling weird?"

"I don't know. A few days? Maybe a week?" I shrugged. "Just some nausea in the mornings. And I've been really emotional lately. Everything makes me cry."

Liora's eyes went wide. "Bea, when was your last heat cycle?"

I blinked at her. "I don't... I haven't really been tracking..." My voice trailed off as realization crashed over me. "Oh."

"Oh is right." Liora grabbed my hands. "You need to see Corin. Now."

My heart was racing as we hurried through the Keep to Corin's healing rooms. He looked up from his work when we burst in.

"What's wrong?" He was already moving toward us, concern written across his face.

"Nothing's wrong," Liora said. "But Bea needs you to check something."

Corin's healing senses were already assessing me. He went very still and his eyes widened. "Beatrice. Come sit down."

I perched on the examination table while Corin placed his hands gently on my stomach. His healing magic flowed warm and golden, searching, confirming.

"You're pregnant," he said softly. "About six weeks along."

The world tilted. Liora squeezed my hand hard enough to hurt. Corin was smiling at me with tears in his eyes.

"I'm going to be an uncle," he said. "Our family continues."

I burst into tears. Happy tears, overwhelmed tears, terrified tears all at once. Corin pulled me into a gentle hug while Liora rubbed my back.

"Does Darius know?" Corin asked.

I shook my head. "I didn't know until just now."

"He's going to lose his mind," Liora said, laughing through her own tears.

After Corin finished his examination and assured me everything looked healthy, I made Liora and him both promise not to say anything until I could tell Darius myself. They agreed reluctantly.

That evening, I found Darius in the moonlit gardens. He was sitting on our favorite bench, looking up at the stars.

"There you are," he said when I approached. "I was wondering where you disappeared to."

I sat beside him and took his hand. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst. "I have something to tell you," I said.

He turned to face me fully, concern creasing his forehead. "What is it? Are you okay?"

"I'm more than okay." I placed his hand on my stomach. "We're going to have a baby."

For a long moment, Darius just stared at me. Then his face transformed with pure joy. He let out a sound that was half laugh, half sob and lifted me into his arms, spinning me in a circle.

"A baby," he kept saying. "We're having a baby."

When he set me down, he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me deeply. I could feel everything through our bond—his overwhelming happiness and love and wonder all tangled together.

Then suddenly, his expression shifted. He pulled back slightly, searching my eyes with concern. "Wait. Bea... are you" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I remember what you said before. About not being ready. About needing time to process everything." His hands were gentle on my shoulders. "Are you truly okay with this? Because if you're not, if you're scared, we can"

"Darius." I placed my hand over his heart, feeling it racing beneath my palm. "I'm more than ready now. That was months. So much has changed since then."

"But your powers—you were worried about hurting"

"Remember the Moon Goddess stabilized them," I interrupted softly. " I'm in control now. Completely. And I've had time. Time to heal, to understand who I am, to prepare for this." I smiled up at him, letting him feel absolute certainty through our bond. "I'm not that frightened girl anymore. I'm ready to be a mother. Ready to start our family."

His eyes glistened with unshed tears. "You're sure? Absolutely sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," I whispered. "Except maybe how much I love you."

The tension melted from his shoulders. He pulled me close again, this time more gently, reverently. "I love you," he said against my lips. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," I whispered back.

He knelt in front of me and pressed his forehead gently to my still-flat stomach. "Hello, little one. I'm your father. I can't wait to meet you."

I ran my fingers through his hair, crying again because apparently that's all I did now. When he stood, he pulled me close and we just held each other under the stars.

Later that night, back in our chambers, the fire had dwindled to soft embers, painting everything in warm, flickering gold. Darius closed the heavy door behind us with a quiet click, then turned to me without a word. His eyes—those deep forest-green eyes—held mine as he crossed the room, slow, deliberate, like he was memorizing every step.

He didn’t rush. He never did when he wanted to savor me. His hands found my face first, thumbs brushing my cheekbones, then sliding down to cup my jaw. He kissed me gently—once, twice, soft presses of lips that made my chest ache. When I parted my mouth he deepened it slowly, tongue stroking mine in lazy, unhurried sweeps, tasting me like I was something rare and fragile.

I felt the tears start again before I could stop them.

He pulled back just enough to see them glisten on my lashes. Instead of wiping them away he kissed them—soft, warm presses at the corners of my eyes—then trailed his mouth down my cheek, along my jaw, to the sensitive place beneath my ear.

“You’re crying again,” he murmured, voice low and rough with emotion.

“I can’t help it,” I whispered. “You look at me like that and I just… break open.”

His hands moved to the ties of my robe. He loosened them with careful fingers, letting the silk slide off my shoulders and pool at my feet. When I stood bare before him he didn’t speak. He simply looked—eyes tracing my collarbone, my breasts, my still flat stomach as his breath caught.

He dropped to his knees. My hands flew to his shoulders for balance as he pressed his forehead to my belly, palms spreading wide over. He kissed the skin there—once, twice, three times—each one slow and reverent.

“You’re carrying our child,” he said against me, voice thick. “Our pup. Beatrice… you’re the most amazing woman in the world.”

Fresh tears slipped down my cheeks. I threaded my fingers through his hair, holding him there while he worshiped the place where our baby grew.