Lovers of the Light (Cocooned in Love Book 2)

Part 3: Brood Daddy

Later that day, as the soft glow of the eggs continued to fill the room, Feydris sat beside Haleigh with their tiny firstborn cradled in his arms. Galadriel, still small and delicate, had begun to stir, her faint movements signaling that she needed nourishment. Haleigh watched with wide, curious eyes as Feydris carefully reached for a small jar filled with thick, golden syrup—nectar, the lifeblood that sustained Luminae young in their earliest days.

"Watch closely," Feydris murmured softly, his voice low and warm as he gently dipped one long, burnt sienna finger into the jar of nectar. The syrup was thick and fragrant, its sweet aroma filling the air as he lifted his finger, the nectar clinging to his skin in glistening droplets.

Haleigh leaned in, her gray eyes filled with awe as she observed Feydris's delicate movements. His wings fluttered slightly, the glow from his skin pulsing faintly as he brought his finger to Galadriel's tiny mouth. The newborn Luminae, still exhausted from hatching, opened her mouth instinctively, her small body trembling as she suckled weakly at the nectar.

"Just like this," Feydris whispered, his amber eyes glowing with pride as he watched his daughter feed. "She is still so small, so fragile. We must be gentle, patient."

Haleigh's heart swelled as she watched Feydris feed their child, his touch so tender, so full of love. She could see the care in his every movement, the way his wings fluttered protectively over Galadriel, the way his fingers trembled slightly as he held the tiny life in his hands. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered love, and Haleigh felt her chest tighten with emotion as she realized how much this meant to him.

Feydris dipped his finger into the nectar once more, offering it to Galadriel, who suckled eagerly, her tiny body pressing closer to her father's hand. Haleigh smiled, tears filling her eyes as she reached out, her fingers brushing against Feydris's arm in a gesture of silent support.

"You are doing beautifully," Haleigh whispered, her voice filled with admiration. "She's perfect."

Feydris smiled softly, his amber eyes flicking up to meet hers. "She is our cherished one," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "And we will care for her, as the Light intended."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Althar remained a silent observer, watching the rest of the eggs in the nest. His golden eyes flicked from the glowing shells to Feydris and Haleigh, his heart swelling with a mixture of joy and quiet longing. The love between Feydris and Haleigh, the way they cared for their brood, was beautiful to witness, but it stirred something deep within him.

As Feydris fed their firstborn, Althar's mind began to wander, drifting once again to the vision the Lightbringer tree had shown him. The image of his promised mate—so fragile, so human—hovered in his thoughts, and he couldn't help but wonder what their brood would look like one day. Would their children be as delicate as Galadriel, their tiny wings shimmering with a faint glow? Would they have her pale skin, her human softness? Or would they be more like him, with the glowing bioluminescent markings of a Luminae?

The questions tumbled through his mind, and Althar's wings fluttered softly as he imagined the life he had yet to find. The Light had promised him a mate, had shown him a glimpse of his future, but he couldn't help but wonder when that future would come. Would the Light bless her as it had blessed Haleigh? Would she, too, find strength in the Light, and would they, together, raise a brood as Feydris and Haleigh had?

Althar's antennae twitched, and his gaze returned to the eggs before him. The rest of Feydris and Haleigh's brood had yet to hatch, but he could feel the life pulsing within the shells, their faint glow a constant reminder of the miracle of life that surrounded him. He knew that one day, he, too, would experience this—this love, this joy, this sense of purpose. The Light had shown him the way, and though he still didn't know when or how, he trusted that his time would come.