AN: No Piarari Key needed this time. Be sure to drop some comments as you read. Enjoy!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cyris and I had spent a lot more time in the shower than we probably should have, but it had been needed I suppose. We hadn't had the chance to be together in that way since we'd left Silverport and I'd missed his touch. But now we were sitting down at the table with Felix, getting ready to eat dinner. He put the remaining dishes onto the table, then sat down to join us. The food smelled surprisingly delicious, and my stomach growled.
"Did you two enjoy your time in the shower?" Felix smiled.
I choked on a sip of water and my cheeks turned pink. That was embarrassing. In my desperation to be with Cyris, I'd forgotten that we weren't alone in the house and we'd been a bit loud. Cyris cleared his throat and gulped down some water before giving Felix an awkward grin.
"It's alright... I suppose it isn't everyday that I get to host the Princess of Riofalt and her lover," Felix stated. "It took me a few moments, but of Marco and Ilaria's children, only one had his green eyes and her blonde hair, their youngest daughter, Rosanna. The locket around your neck is the one Ilaria and Marco gave you to celebrate your birth. They hadn't announced your name to the rest of the world, but a few trusted members of the household knew."
Cyris and I exchanged glances, then looked back at Felix, but we didn't say a word. He started putting food on our plates for us, then served himself once he was done.
"I was your father's advisor, Your Highness," he told me. "I've spent a little over twenty years thinking that the Asters had all been murdered. So when I saw you in the bar, I'm sure you can understand why I looked like I'd seen a ghost."
I finally found my voice. "No, I understand," I assured him. "My mother left me on a couple's doorstep to protect me."
"I'm so sorry, Rosanna...that you grew up not knowing about your true heritage. I feel partly responsible for not being able to do more."
I bit my lip. I needed to know the whole story. I needed to know what happened that day. "What happened that day, Felix? What...What happened to them?"
Felix looked down at the table sadly. "I don't know the specifics of what happened to them, My Princess, but I discovered their bodies during my escape from Wintervale," he explained. "Your father...he fought valiantly judging by the number of dead Trillium warlocks I saw. But he paid the ultimate price for Riofalt. Your sister, Crown Princess Mirella, was left bleeding in the woods and your brother, Prince Kian, was nowhere to be found. Your mother...your mother's body was left at the edge of the woods. Almost as if the Trillium wanted to make some kind of statement. I couldn't find any signs of you or your brother. I just assumed you were both dead."
"I...don't know if Kian is alive," I said quietly.
Cyris got up out of his chair and wrapped his arms around me, trying to soothe me. I leaned into the hug, and he kissed my cheek. I couldn't find words at that moment. Hearing about that day always seemed to shatter my heart.
"I didn't mean to upset you, Princess, I'm very sorry..." Felix apologized, his blue eyes glistened with emotion.
"It's not your fault, Felix," I assured him softly as Cyris held me tighter.
Felix nodded. "I suppose we should return to the matter at hand. What are you two doing in Glacier Point?"
"Honestly, it's a long story," Cyris replied.
"I see...well I'm here to assist you in any way that I can," Felix told us.
I managed to pull myself together and spoke. "We need to get to Wintervale."
"I'll gladly guide you there if you wish," Felix told us.
"Y-You would do that?" I asked him.
"I was a humble servant of your father, Princess. It would be an honour to serve someone with Aster blood once more."
Cyris and I looked at each and he nodded.
"We'll accept your offer," I stated eagerly.
Felix smiled. "Wonderful, we'll leave after the Festival then if that's alright?"
"Perfect."
Cyris and I finished dinner and went to our room. It had been an exhausting day and Cyris crawled into bed and fell asleep right away. But my mind was too wired. And so I decided to go outside and try and gather my thoughts. A sea of stars greeted me and twinkled, welcoming me into the night as I stood on the deck. I placed a hand on my stomach, feeling my child's aura. It was a perfect blend of mine and Cyris' and it was getting stronger. I wasn't sure how much longer I'd be able to keep this a secret. Not only was the unique aura getting stronger, but I'd be starting to show soon as well. I bit my lip in anxiety and felt a familiar icy aura appear beside me.
"Polaris," I greeted him.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "I sensed your anxiety."
"I...I'm pregnant, Polaris. I'm carrying Cyris' child," I admitted. "I'm at least six weeks along now."
"You're what?!" Polaris' eyes grew big with surprise but his expression quickly changed. He gave me a warm smile. "I...had my suspicions, Rose. I sensed your aura change, I just didn't understand why... Until now... Does Cyris know?"
"No and you can't tell him either."
"Rosanna—"
"No Polaris. He can't know, not yet. Taking back Espor...that's important to him."
"So is the life of his child I'm sure."
"He needs to draw from me, Polaris, and he won't take any magic from me if he realizes I'm pregnant. I'll be sidelined and he'll die at Circe's hands. The two of us have come so far. I don't want to jeopardize our chances of taking control over Espor."
"Rose, you know you can't hide this forever..." Polaris reminded me.
"I know...I just...I need time..." I admitted. "Gods he's going to freak out."
"The only thing he's going to freak out over is your safety when he realizes that you've been fighting battles and walking into dangerous territory while you're pregnant."
"I'm pregnant, not incapable, Polaris."
"I know that, but Rose...he loves you...and he worries about you."
"I know...I love him too, Polaris," I admitted.
"And how do you feel about it all?"
"I already love this baby, Polaris, because it's a symbol of the love I have for Cyris, but I wish that I wasn't risking so much. I want this baby... I just wish we weren't in the middle of a war. But I also know that the only way to ensure our baby's future is for Cyris and me to win this war."
"I know these circumstances are...well, I'll be honest, they're terrible," he laughed softly. Polaris placed his hand on my stomach, and flashed me a broad smile. "You're strong, and your child takes after both parents. I have a good feeling, Rose."
"Thanks Polaris," I told him softly.
He kissed the top of my head, then looked up to the sky, and we viewed the beauty of the night together. Polaris had always been there for me. He'd always watched over me and protected me. He was my best friend. And I knew that now would be no different. I knew that Polaris had my back, and he'd have it forever.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: Be sure to drop some comments and vote!
YOU ARE READING
Storm's Rapture | Storms Series: Book 1 (This is a Co-Write)
Romance"The past haunts you, flowing through your veins like water..." Cyris Castellan is a young man with water magic and royal blood. When he was a child, his home was attacked and destroyed by gruesome magic users. They killed his family, orphaning Cyri...
