The weeks seemed to carry on, as did our lives in the abandoned castle, with the Lycans keeping guard against any Death Dealers or signs of my father getting near to us. I spent my time mothering Lucan and being a wife, while regaining my strength as a warrior. While Lucan napped, Lucian and I would spar to make sure I was still able to hold my own in a sword fight. Miraculously, I had not lost any of my talent or training in the months I spent pregnant or after giving birth to our son. Lucian was pleased and it seemed to put his fears to rest that I still had my ability. I knew he worried so, not only for my sake but for the sake of our infant son, who was still so little in many ways. He was almost halfway through his first year of life and was sitting up on his own without help, which made Lucian proud. Lucan had also attempted crawling, causing Lucian to beam with as much pride a father could have for his son. I, too, was delighted by our son's growth and progress.
Isabel kept an even closer eye on Lucan as he began to crawl, making sure he never wandered too far before she'd nuzzle him on back to me or Lucian. It was as if she were a third pair of eyes to keep watch on the little one, which we appreciated and knew would come in handy as he grew older. I knew he would try and hide from me one day, as all little boys did and Isabel would have to help me find him. But most of all, I dreaded the day when he was too old to hug his mother for I loved my son so. For now I was content in cuddling with him and being a mother. I would worry of those things later when they were relevant and more pressing than the constant dangers that threatened our lives now, especially Lucan's life. My son was important above all things to me.
Lucian, on the other hand, was obccessed with making sure that the Death Dealers got no where near us this time. Many times he spent the nights out with the Lycans to make sure that every mile was covered between our previous home and our new one, leaving me alone with our son. I understood his concern, but at the same time I wanted my husband to be home with me and Lucan. It was difficult enough with a baby under the age of a year, but one that would probably change into some hybrid of a vampire and werewolf in the near future, well that just terrified me to no end. My son was something the world had never seen before, thus nothing was known about what he would become in the future or if he would take on more vampire or Lycan traits. For his own sake, I prayed that he would not transform during childhood. Growing up was hard enough, but changing into something else entirely was just adding grief to the pile.
Early one evening, after I'd put Lucan to bed, I felt someone grab me from behind and all but jumped. I usually was not one to be startled easily, but I had been caught off guard. The scent, however, was all to familiar to me. I turned around and faced my husband with a smile on my lips and a breath of relief from my chest.
"You startled me," I jokingly teased.
Lucian chuckled and kissed me. "I find that hard to believe love. You are even sneakier than I."
"Sometimes I get a bit...distracted," I murmured, nuzzling my face into his neck. It had been days since I'd last seen him. Missing him made it all the harder to be separated when he went out on patrol for days on end.
His hands crept up my back and found their way to cradling my face as he leaned in and kissed me again, his lips warm against mine. It was all too easy to remember how to lean into his arms and allow him to hold me. I knew that he was made for me just as I was made for him, regardless of what our "species" was. Love is what brought us together and gave us a son, so I would not forsake that priceless treasure.
"Stay with me?" I asked pleadingly, looking into his eyes for comfort, finding it there easily.
Lucian nodded and picked me up, cradling me in his arms as I laughed softly and held onto his neck. He carried me out of the baby's room and next door to our own, opening the door and shutting it behind us. His kiss became almost feverish as he set me down. My hands wandered up his shirt, pushing it past his shoulders and over his head before discarding it on the floor. His bare chest was perfect, toned and muscular like always. I pulled myself close to him and kissed his shoulder, feeling his hands push up the shirt I was wearing. My arms raised to allow him an easier way of getting my shirt off. Less than a second later, his lips were on mine and my back landed on our bed.
My hands ran across his chest and to his jaw, bringing him closer to me. Part of me yearned for this, needed it. Lucian and I had been so intimate throughout our relationship, even while I had been pregnant with Lucan, but after our son's arrival things had changed because of the constant fear of the Death Dealers hunting us down. But tonight was just about my husband and myself; one night of selfishness to ourselves. Living in reckless abandon, feeling my husband's kisses on my skin and the heat rising from my own body, made me feel alive. Rolling on top of him, I pushed down his trousers and kissed his chest, looking into his eyes. I could see the love and desire there, matched by my own. Lifting my hips, I allowed him to push down my own pants. Clothes forgotten and discarded, I felt no barrier between my husband and myself. It was bliss.
Days later, after a few more nights of happiness and bliss, Lucian went back out with the pack to patrol the northern border. It wasn't easy to watch him go, but I stood there with our son and knew that he would return in a few nights time to be with us again. Lucan seemed confused as to why his father was leaving again, but buried his face into my shoulder and found comfort. I knew that I would only do what I could for our son, but he wanted his father. I knew just how much he wanted him to stay and felt the same way as my son. Our family was not complete without Lucian there. Yet I knew he was only trying to keep us safe while my father still lurked in the darkness of all that surrounded us. I knew that if my father was as vengeful as he seemed, Markus and Amelia would already be risen and with him on the search.
As an extra precaution, Raze was left behind to stay with us at the castle, meaning I had some company. It was nice to have other people to talk to from time to time, especially those I considered family. Raze was like a brother to us and a godfather for Lucan, who adored him entirely. Seeing my son comfortable with others made me happy because it meant that he knew how to trust those in his life, which was not something all children learned so easily. I knew that I was one of those children. Having lost my mother at birth, I never knew the love of a mother, so trust was not something I had picked up on very easily. Lucian changed all of that.
Within a fortnight, Lucian and the pack returned. His arrival was well welcomed by myself and Lucan, who was excited to see his father. As I watched my husband and son, I knew how fortunate I was to see this. It was a blessing and a miracle that Lucian and I were even parents, but to have a healthy son who was vivacious and so joyful was just an added blessing. Lucian and Lucan played for hours after the return until Lucan was worn out and finally fell into a deep slumber. We put our son in his bed, watching him sleep so peacefully with his hand curled by his face, just as he'd done since birth. Lucian leaned in and kissed our son's forehead gently.
"Goodnight my son," he whispered, caressing his head. A smile spread across my face as I watched him be so tender and loving with our child. Even a man as hard and tough as my husband could show love and gentleness. It would be a moment I would forever remember.
We walked out of the room and over to our own. I sat on the end of the bed and smiled, watching Lucian pull off his shirt from traveling. When he looked over at me, I stood from the bed and walked over to him, kissing him and resting my forehead against his. His scent hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew how much I had missed that. I placed my hands on his jaw on either side and smiled. Half of my heart, soul, and life was right there in front of me. I remembered all of the moments we had spent together before we'd escaped, before we knew I was going to have Lucan, and before anyone knew of our affair. I had known long before my father ever found out that I loved Lucian. At first, I believed I was wrong and that something was not right within myself, but the longer it went on the more I realized that love truly knew no bounds. And after revealing my pregnancy, I honestly believed that our son was the miracle sent to prove that Lycans and Vampires could co-exist without one being slave to another.
I kissed Lucian again and smiled, feeling his warm embrace as his stomach touched mine. His lips on mine were like liquid fire spreading all over my cold body. Lucian was the only one who had this effect on me, which I enjoyed and craved in his absence. His lips moved down to my neck as I moaned and turned my head to give him access. Less than five seconds later, both of us stopped cold in our tracks and heard a knock at the door. Lucian walked over and answered it, revealing Raze and a few of our Lycan family.
"The Death Dealers...they've found us," he said, looking from Lucian to myself. "Just to the west of here, about twenty miles."
My heart sank into the pit of my stomach. They had found us and we had no where to run now. My mind was immediately filled with thoughts of what to do next. If we should stay and fight, try to talk to my father to make him see reason, or to flea for the safety of our son. I couldn't process everything at once as my mothering instincts overran my warrior mind. Looking to my husband, I wondered if he was thinking all of the things I was thinking or more.
"Get the pack ready," Lucian ordered, nodding to Raze and the few standing at our door. Raze nodded and walked away with the others, leaving Lucian and I to ourselves.
I immediately ran next door to our son's room, picking him up out of his cradle and holding him close to me before going back to our room. Lucan remained asleep and unaware of what was happening around him. I needed my son close to me, to protect him. Lucian walked over to me as I came back in, pulling me close to him. I buried my face into his shoulder, taking deep breaths to calm myself. I was a warrior, but I was also a mother.
"No matter what happens, we will protect our son," Lucian promised. "Even if I have to send you away with him and fend off the Death Dealers here, I will do whatever it takes."
Looking up at my husband, I shook my head. "I won't leave you here to die. My father and the other elders will kill you and then hunt me down to kill our son. Lucian, I will not walk away from this knowing it means certain death for all of us."
"I want to know that you and our son are safe, regardless of what happens to me," he replied, holding me tighter.
"I can't just leave," I said adamantly. "Not like that. We will figure out something..." My mind was weaving in circles around death, knowing that it was almost certain.
"We can try," he conceeded. "But promise me something. Promise me that if it turns bad, that you will leave. You will take our son and get away from here as fast as you can, because I could not bare to watch either of you die. Promise me."
I nodded, knowing that it was a grave promise I was making. We only had a little time to figure out what to do. It was now or never.
A/N: Cliffie...I know! I'm sorry I've been away so long, but I'm on summer vacay now, so more updates to come! Like this story? Leave a review and let me know!