Evaline:
The fire crackled softly in front of , the golden glow chasing away the chill that lingered even through the heavy drapes.
I was curled up on the long couch with my laptop balanced across my thighs. My fingers were flying across the keyboard as I typed out the notes I had been compiling all evening.
The tablet lay beside , open to the PDF Kyros had sent earlier in the afternoon. It had summaries of everything covered in class from Tuesday through today. It wasn’t much, just the basics of the new term, but that didn’t matter.
I didn’t want to let things pile up until I felt buried. The last thing I needed was to return to the Academy and drown in half-finished assignnts.
So here I was, a Friday night, not at the Academy or bundled in bed, but hunched over my screen, tapping away like the model student everyone still expected to be.
An entire hour had slipped past without noticing. I only realized how long I had been sitting here when a gentle knock sounded on my door. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.
A second later, the door pushed open, and Oscar stepped inside.
I glanced at the clock on my laptop - it was a little past nine. We had all gone our separate ways after dinner, each retreating into our own rooms. After changing into pajamas, I had gotten straight to work and hadn’t moved since.
"You have been at it long enough, haven’t you?" His voice was smooth, with that quiet authority he carried everywhere, but softer now that it was just for .
I offered him a sheepish smile. "I wanted to get through these notes before the weekend."
He sat down beside on the couch, his shoulder brushing mine. His eyes flicked to the laptop screen before settling back on my face. "How much longer?"
I blinked at him, then laughed softly. "None." With a decisive snap, I shut the laptop closed and reached for the tablet. Both devices went onto the coffee table, their glowing screens replaced by the warmth of firelight.
I turned and burrowed against Oscar’s side, letting out a sigh I hadn’t realized I was holding.
His arm wrapped around instantly, pulling tight against his chest. The scent of him - fresh, crisp, faintly woodsy - seeped into my lungs and eased sothing inside .
For a long ti, neither of us spoke. We simply sat together, the steady rise and fall of his breathing syncing with mine. The baby gave a sudden kick, and I couldn’t help but giggle.
His lips curved in the faintest smile. "Soone’s restless tonight."
"Or maybe just excited," I teased, pressing his hand to the spot where the movent had been strongest.
Another kick followed, and both of us chuckled at the tiny life squirming inside . This had beco part of our routine... pausing each evening to feel our pup moving, to marvel at the miracle we were eagerly waiting to welco.
During the holidays, both Oscar and Draven had made it their mission to experience almost every flutter, every roll of the pup. It had grown into a ritual that none of us wanted to miss.
Oscar shifted suddenly, his arm sliding under my knees as he lifted with ease. I let out a startled squeak and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"You need to rest," he said simply, carrying the short distance to the bed.
The mattress dipped as he laid down, then joined , propping himself against the headboard with tucked against his chest.
Since it was the weekend, he had co straight ho from the Academy as soon as his last class ended that afternoon.
On the other side, Draven hadn’t been as lucky. His Lunar Energy and Moon Cycles class dragged on late into the night, and he wouldn’t return until morning. I missed him, but I knew better than to distrcat him from his studies.
For now, it was just Oscar and .
At least, until another knock sounded at the door.
This one was softer, more asured. I didn’t even need a bond to know who it was.
Sure enough, River entered after a pause. His damp hair was brushing his temples, black pajama shirt hanging loose against his lean, yet muscular fra. His gaze flicked briefly to Oscar, then settled on with quiet intent.
Oscar didn’t even look surprised, he just simply announced, "Ti for your nightly massage."
I smiled faintly. This too had beco routine. Every night, River ca to my room after dinner to ease the tension in my feet and legs with his skilled hands.
At first, I had protested, insisting he didn’t need to, but now... I couldn’t imagine going without it. My body had grown addicted to the relief he brought, the way he seed to know every knot, every ache before I could even complain about it.
Without a word, River crossed the room, picked up the small bottle of oil from the bedside table drawer, and sat at the edge of the bed. He lifted my feet into his lap, the warmth of his palms seeping into my skin as he began to work.
My head tilted back against Oscar’s chest, a soft sigh slipping past my lips as River’s fingers pressed expertly into the arches of my feet. He moved slowly, deliberately, each stroke designed to lt away the heaviness of the day.
Oscar reached for the book resting on the nightstand, the one he had been reading aloud to each night while River massaged . His voice flowed smoothly through the room, weaving the story’s words into the rhythm of River’s touch.
The combination was almost too much. My eyes fluttered closed, my body sinking deeper into comfort, drifting on the edge of sleep.
Until I felt the hem of my nightshirt being lifted.
My eyes snapped open, and I found myself staring into River’s deep green gaze. He held up a small bottle of stretch-mark oil in silent explanation before pushing the fabric higher, baring my bump to the soft glow of the firelight.
His hands moved with even more care now, spreading the oil across my skin in long, gentle motions. The touch was reverent, almost worshipful, as though he feared pressing too hard, feared causing even the smallest harm.
I watched him quietly, my breath catching in my throat at the tenderness in his eyes and the way he was touching .
Oscar was watching instead, a knowing smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. I didn’t need the bond to tell he felt the shift in my heartbeat, the way it skipped under River’s touch.
I spared him a quick glance and the smile on his lips only grew bigger. He was probably even more aware of my feelings for River than I myself was.
When River finished, he tugged my shirt back down with the sa precision, as though these past five or so minutes weren’t enough to make forgot how to breathe. He set the bottle aside and rose smoothly to his feet.
"Goodnight," he said softly, as he always did.
He turned to leave.
But my hand shot out before he could take a step, my fingers curling around his arm.
He stilled, and surprise flickered in his eyes as he turned back to .
Slowly, I shifted my gaze toward Oscar. My other mate was watching closely, silently. I gave him a small signal, a tilt of my head, the barest nod.
I didn’t need to speak the words out loud for him to understand what I wanted from him. But just because he understood didn’t an he was happy about it. His smile imdiately turned into a small pout for a second before he let out a sigh.
"Alright," he murmured and then leaned down to press a brief kiss to my cheek. The warmth lingered even as he pulled away, standing to his feet.
He let out another sigh that almost made chuckle. The sound was heavy with reluctance, with unspoken emotions he didn’t quite manage to hide. But he didn’t argue. He walked to the door, opened it, and left, closing it behind him with a quiet click.
The room fell into silence, broken only by the soft crackle of the fire.
River remained standing by the bed, his deep green eyes fixed on , sharp with questions he didn’t voice.
And I sat there, with my heart thundering in my chest and my hand still tingling from the feel of his arm.
* * *
Author’s Note:
Thank you everyone for your pick between a baby girl or a baby boy. I have made up my mind, and your comnts even gave ideas for future.
Also, sorry for just one Chapter today. I’m busy running so errands. But I’ll make it up to you guys soon!!
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