Damon’s arms tightened around , holding so close that I could hear his heart pounding wildly against his chest. It was fast and uneven, nothing like the steady rhythm that usually cald . His breath was shaky against my hair, and for the first ti since I had known him, he felt fragile in my arms.
I stood there stiffly for a mont, my thoughts scattered and my chest aching with guilt. I slowly lifted my hands and wrapped them around his back, clutching onto him as if he were the only thing keeping upright. The warmth of his body seeped into mine, comforting even as my emotions threatened to spiral again.
"I’m not mad," he finally said, his voice muffled against my shoulder. "I’m scared."
Those two words hit harder than any accusation ever could.
My throat tightened painfully, and I buried my face deeper into his chest. "I was scared too," I admitted softly. "I still am."
He pulled back just enough to look at , his hands resting firmly on my arms as if he needed to make sure I was still there. His eyes searched my face with an intensity that made my heart ache. "Do you have any idea what it felt like hearing that," he asked quietly. "Finding out we’re going to have a child, and at the sa ti being told you’re going to die."
Tears welled up again, blurring my vision. "I didn’t want you to hear it like that," I whispered. "I wanted to find a solution first. I didn’t want to give you false hope."
His jaw clenched, and he let out a shaky breath. "You don’t get to carry that alone," he said firmly. "Not anymore, especially not when it concerns both of us."
I nodded weakly, knowing he was right. I had always been stubborn, always believing I had to shoulder everything by myself, but standing here in front of him, I realized how unfair that was. To him, and to myself.
"I went to Seraphina," I confessed. "She knows about it, and she promised not to tell anyone. She said she can help with the pain."
Damon’s hands tightened slightly on my arms, but he stayed silent, letting speak.
"I-I tried to remove the bracelet because I didn’t want you to feel my emotions... that was the main reason I went to her. She was the one who told I was pregnant." I bit my lower lip.
His eyes flickered down to my stomach, and sothing unreadable passed through his expression. Slowly and carefully, he placed his hand on my stomach, as if afraid he might hurt . His warmth seeping into my skin made my breath hitch.
"I can’t believe we are having a baby," he murmured, awe and pain mixing in his voice.
"We did it a lot of tis," I muttered under my breath, inwardly chiding myself for not using protection. It was not like there was one either... maybe magic protection.
"Yes, we did. And we are going to beco parents." He smiled faintly as he caressed my stomach.
I nodded, fresh tears slipping down my cheeks. "I don’t want to die," I admitted, my voice cracking. "I don’t want to leave you. And I don’t want our child to grow up without either of us."
Damon pulled back into his chest. "You won’t," he said, his tone low and deep. "I don’t care what fate says. I don’t care what the world demands... I won’t let it take you."
I shook my head weakly. "Damon, this isn’t sothing you can fight with strength alone. I’m the seed of the Sacred Tree. The world’s balance demands it."
He leaned back slightly and cupped my face, forcing to look at him. His eyes burned with determination, a fire I had never seen before. "Then we change the rules," he said without hesitation. "We find another way... There is always another way."
I wanted to believe him so badly that it hurt. "What if there isn’t," I whispered. "What if this is the only ending?"
"Then I will make one," he replied firmly. "I’ll do everything to protect our child and you. So you don’t have to worry about it. I won’t let history repeat itself."
His words sent a chill through , and I realized how deeply this fear ran for him, how old and raw the wound still was. I reached up and pressed my forehead against his. "I’m sorry," I whispered. "For hurting you, and for keeping this from you."
He closed his eyes briefly. "Just promise one thing," he said quietly.
"What," I asked.
"No more secrets between us," he said.
I nodded slowly. "I promise."
We stood there in silence for a while, holding onto each other as if letting go would make everything collapse. Eventually, Damon guided toward the bed, helping sit down before kneeling in front of . He rested his head against my lap, his arms wrapping around my waist.
I ran my fingers through his hair gently, the simple act soothing both of us. "You know," I said softly, trying to lighten the heavy air, "this child is probably going to be as stubborn as you."
A faint chuckle escaped his lips. "Or as reckless as you."
"Hey," I protested weakly, earning another small laugh from him.
The sound was short-lived, but it reminded that even in the darkest monts, we could still find fragnts of warmth together.
"Whatever happens," Damon said after a while, looking up at again, "we face it together. You, , and our child. I don’t care how impossible it seems."
I swallowed hard, my heart swelling with love and fear all at once. "Together," I repeated.
As he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my stomach, I closed my eyes, silently praying that fate would listen just this once, and give us the miracle we so desperately needed.
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