Chapter 7*

Lucius blinked, disoriented, gripping the armrest beside him, which happened to be Rodolphus's arm. His vision swam, dark spots danced at the edges, and he could feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears. A wave of nausea rolled over him, making his stomach churn, and the room spun around him.

Rodolphus's voice was laced with concern as he leaned closer. "Lucius, are you okay?" he asked, his eyes searching Lucius's face for any signs of distress. Rodolphus noticed Lucius's skin had turned pale, almost translucent, and a sheen of sweat coated his forehead.

Lucius tried to take a deep breath, but his chest felt tight. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Instead, he felt his grip on consciousness slipping away. The last thing he heard was Rodolphus calling his name, a mix of fear and urgency in his voice.

"Lucius!" Rodolphus called out louder, his voice cracking. He slipped his arm around Lucius, trying to steady him, but Lucius's body went limp, his head falling back against the sofa. Panic surged through Rodolphus. "Help! Someone, please!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the halls.

Within moments, Harden burst into the room, his face stricken with worry. He had felt the disturbance in Lucius's magic, a ripple of unease that had drawn him immediately. "Lucius, what happened? Is he breathing?" Harden asked urgently, rushing to Lucius's side.

Rodolphus was already checking Lucius's pulse, his fingers trembling. "He's fainted, but his pulse is weak. I don't know what's wrong," Rodolphus replied, his voice shaky. He tried to keep his panic at bay, but the sight of Lucius so still and unresponsive made his heart pound harder. "He was just talking to me, and then… he just collapsed."

Harden knelt down, placing a hand on Lucius's chest to feel the rise and fall of his breathing, relieved to find it steady, though shallow. "We need to get him more comfortable. Help me get him to lie down," Harden instructed, his voice calm but firm. They carefully moved Lucius so he was lying on his side, ensuring he could breathe freely.

"Lucius," Harden called gently, rubbing his back. "Lucius, can you hear me?"

Abraxas entered the room, his expression a mixture of concern and frustration at the commotion. "What's going on?" he demanded, his eyes widening as he saw Lucius. "Is he okay?"

Harden quickly moved to Lucius's side, his eyes scanning his son's pale face. "Lucius fainted. I think the baby's drawing on his magic too much. He'll be okay, but we need to monitor him," Harden said, his voice calm but underlined with worry. "I felt the surge of energy. The baby's growing, and it's taking a toll on him."

Lucius's eyelids fluttered, and he let out a weak groan as he slowly came to. His vision was still blurry, but he could make out the familiar outlines of Rodolphus and Harden hovering over him. "What... happened?" he murmured, his voice weak.

Rodolphus exhaled in relief, brushing a strand of hair from Lucius's forehead. "You fainted, love. Probably from the baby drawing on your magic," he said softly, squeezing Lucius's hand. "You scared the hell out of me."

Lucius took a deep breath, trying to clear the lingering fog from his mind. "I felt dizzy… everything went black," he said, his voice still shaky. He looked up at Harden, who nodded reassuringly.

Harden's eyes softened as he spoke. "That's what happened. Your magic is feeding the baby, and it's draining your energy. It's normal, but it can be overwhelming," he explained gently. "You need to rest more, Lucius. Your body is working hard."

Lucius managed a weak smile, his hand instinctively going to his belly. "Our son," he whispered, a small, affectionate smile tugging at his lips.

Harden nodded, relief flooding his features as Lucius seemed to regain some color. "Yes, your son," he agreed, his voice warm. "Let's get you to bed, so you can rest. We don't want you fainting again."

Rodolphus nodded in agreement, still holding Lucius's hand. "I'll stay with you," he said firmly. "We'll take it easy. Maybe stay inside today," he suggested, his protective instincts kicking in.

Lucius nodded weakly, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him. "Okay… I think that's a good idea," he agreed, leaning into Rodolphus's touch, finding comfort in the familiar warmth.

Harden watched them, his heart aching with a mix of love and concern. He knew Lucius was strong, but the pregnancy was taking a toll on him. "You'll both be fine," he said reassuringly, more to himself than to anyone else. "We'll make sure of it."

As Rodolphus helped Lucius up, they made their way to the bedroom, Lucius leaning heavily on Rodolphus for support. Harden watched them go, his face etched with worry, hoping that his son would find the strength he needed in the days to come.