Storm's Rapture | Storms Series: Book 1 (This is a Co-Write)

Chapter 114: Cyris

AN: No Piarari Key needed this time. Be sure to drop some comments as you read. Enjoy!

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I noticed that Farryn was standing in a corner by a pillar, and approached her. She smiled when she saw me.

"Cyris...it's good to see you," she greeted me.

"Farryn!" I cheered.

I pulled her into a tight hug. I guess I missed her more than I realized. Where had she been? Still healing? Farryn hugged me back as she sighed in contentment.

"How are you?" I asked her. "You look...beautiful!"

"I'm good...I'm a lot better now..." she assured me. "Slater was born safely. But look at you, you've grown into your role as King so well."

Slater? Who was that? What was she going on about? Her words repeated over and over in my mind... I'm a lot better now... Slater was born safely.

"S-Slater was born...? Who's that?" I questioned.

Farryn bit her lip.

"My son," she clarified.

"Your son?!"

I felt my eyes glisten. I was more than proud, and so happy for my familiar. She had started a family of her own... She had...started a family of her...own?! It hit me all at once! Farryn had mated and given birth, and I knew nothing about it!

"Hang on, why didn't you tell me?!"

"It...it wasn't an easy pregnancy, Cyris...and you were already dealing with a lot," she admitted. "The last thing I wanted to do was add to your anguish by telling you that I almost lost my son..." She wrapped her arms around herself.

My eyes widened in shock and I bit my lip. Farryn had gone through her own time of suffering and I never knew... I could have been there for her. I should have! Farryn looked away from me as she tried to regain her composure. Seeing her like this was a bit jarring. Farryn was never one to display her emotions like that. She was usually so calm and composed, albeit a bit sarcastic when she had to be, but still...

"I stayed away because my mate, Idris, and I were scared. We were scared that we'd lose Slater...and I just... I couldn't bear it..." she expressed. "I'm sorry, Cyris... I shouldn't have stayed away for so long..."

"Farryn... I'm only sorry that you felt like you couldn't reach out to me. I would have been there for you," I told her. I wrapped my arms around my best friend slowly, squeezing her tenderly.

"I know...but I didn't want to add to your pain. It's my job to protect you, even if that means shielding you from my own anguish," she told me. She sighed. "Changeling pregnancies progress rather quickly compared to human ones," Farryn explained. "Slater's birth was difficult too and I struggled. There were a few moments where I thought I'd succumb to the pain...that I'd die in childbirth and there was a lot of blood. But Idris...he wouldn't let me go...he practically saved my life...and thankfully, Slater was born safely and he's healthy. It wasn't easy on me."

Despite the fact that I was hurt that she didn't tell me about her pregnancy, I understood. And besides, my joy for her new baby was stronger than the hurt I felt.

"I'm so happy that you're safe and that your son is safe! I would love to meet him, and his father," I said and smiled.

"I'll arrange for them to travel here at some point, maybe in a few weeks," Farryn assured me.

"Arrange for them to travel here? I'd hope you're planning to bring them to the bonding ceremony. It'd be a great honour if our children were bound..."

"Of course. Though I spoke to Polaris prior to your arrival in the ballroom, he seems convinced that his son will be bound to your child since your little one has Rosanna's ice powers." She laughed.