GUESS WHO'S BACK!!! My upload schedule won't be consistent, but I'm here. I missed all of you and I appreciate all of the support you've given me even when I was gone. Enjoy <3
The quiet halls of Malleus Draconia's ancestral castle in Briar Valley had always been a place of shadow and serenity, but since Y/N entered his life, those halls seemed brighter warmer. For years now, she had been his wife, his most precious treasure. Though he had once been an aloof and enigmatic figure, Malleus had softened in her presence, allowing himself to indulge in love and affection that he had once feared might never be his to experience.
But lately, Y/N had been acting... peculiar. She tired more easily, her steps slower and more deliberate. And though her smile remained radiant, Malleus noticed a new tenderness in her demeanor a secret she seemed to carry in her heart. His sharp, emerald eyes never missed the way her hand often drifted to her stomach, resting there as though guarding something precious.
Malleus, however, said nothing, though the curiosity burned in him. He respected her silence, even if it left him restless. The only outlet for his thoughts was in the nights when she slept beside him, and he would wrap her in his arms, resting his forehead against hers and whispering quietly to her, as though she might answer in her dreams.
"My dearest," he murmured one night as she stirred in his embrace, "what secret is it that you hold so close? Do you not trust me to bear it with you?"
The next morning, Y/N awoke to find him staring at her with his usual intensity, his long fingers gently brushing through her hair. It was not the first time, of course. Malleus had always been affectionate, often clinging to her like a lovesick dragon who refused to let go of his most precious treasure. She had grown used to the way he would follow her through the castle or insist on holding her hand whenever they were together, his formal speech juxtaposed with his almost childlike need to be near her.
"Good morning, my starlight," he greeted, his deep voice tinged with adoration. "You are more radiant than the dawn itself. Did you sleep well?"
Y/N smiled at him, her heart fluttering as it always did. "I did. Did you?"
He tilted his head, his sharp horns casting shadows against the headboard. "I rested, but my mind has been troubled. I sense there is something you wish to tell me, yet you hesitate. Have I done something to make you doubt me?" His brows furrowed in concern, and he cupped her face gently, his thumbs brushing over her cheeks. "If so, I beg you, dispel my ignorance."
Y/N's heart squeezed at the worry in his voice. Malleus might be one of the most powerful beings in the world, but his vulnerability with her never failed to move her. She reached up, covering his hands with her own. "You haven't done anything wrong, Malleus," she assured him softly. "In fact, you're going to be very happy about what I'm about to tell you."
Malleus blinked, tilting his head ever so slightly in that endearing way he always did when he was trying to puzzle something out. "Am I?" he asked, his voice laced with hope. "Then pray, do not keep me in suspense any longer."
Taking his hand, Y/N guided it to rest over her stomach. Her smile grew, though her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke. "Malleus, I'm pregnant. We're going to have a baby."
For a moment, Malleus froze. His eyes widened, his usually stoic expression melting into one of pure astonishment. "A... child?" he repeated, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper.
Y/N nodded, tears shining in her eyes. "Yes. Our child."
Malleus's breath hitched, and then, to her surprise, he let out a soft, almost boyish laugh—a sound so rare and beautiful it made her chest ache. "A child," he said again, his voice trembling with wonder. "Our child."
Before Y/N could react, Malleus pulled her into his arms, holding her as though he never wanted to let go. His embrace was firm yet tender, his tall frame curling protectively around her. "Oh, my dearest," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You have made me the happiest being in all the realms. A child... our child. I scarcely dared to dream of such a blessing."
He pulled back just enough to gaze down at her, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. "Are you well? Have you been eating enough? Is the child healthy? You should have told me sooner! I would have summoned the court physicians immediately—no, I shall do so today!" His words spilled out in a rush, his usual composed demeanor utterly forgotten in his excitement.
Y/N laughed, reaching up to cup his face. "Malleus, calm down. I'm fine. The baby is fine. I just wanted to wait until I was sure before I told you."
"Even so," he said, his voice softening but no less intense. "I should have noticed sooner. I am your husband it is my duty to care for you." He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers, his hands never leaving her waist. "But I will make up for my ignorance. From this day forward, I shall not leave your side."
"Malleus," Y/N said with a playful smile, "you already follow me everywhere as it is."
He looked at her with such seriousness that it made her laugh again. "Then I shall follow you even closer," he declared. "No harm shall befall you or our child while I draw breath."
As if to prove his point, he knelt before her, his hands resting gently over her stomach. His expression was reverent as he spoke, his deep voice resonating through the quiet room. "Greetings, little one," he said softly. "I am your father. You do not yet know me, but I already love you more than words can express. You are the greatest gift your mother has ever given me, and I swear to you I shall protect you and cherish you for all eternity."
Y/N's tears fell freely now, her heart swelling with love as she reached down to run her fingers through his hair. "You're going to be an amazing father, Malleus," she whispered.
He looked up at her, his eyes shimmering with emotion. "And you, my love, will be the most wonderful mother. Our child shall inherit your strength and kindness of that, I am certain."
From that day forward, Malleus became even more devoted than ever, if such a thing were possible. He insisted on accompanying Y/N everywhere, often wrapping an arm around her waist or holding her hand as though afraid she might vanish. He spent hours poring over ancient tomes on fae and human pregnancies, ensuring he was prepared for any situation.
The once solemn halls of the castle were soon filled with excitement as word of the pregnancy spread. Malleus, ever the proud husband, told anyone who would listen about the child they were expecting. And though Y/N sometimes teased him for his clinginess, she couldn't deny how deeply loved she felt.
As the months passed, Malleus often found himself dreaming of their child a tiny being who would carry the best of both their worlds. But no matter what the future held, one thing was certain: their child would be surrounded by love, protected by a father who would give his very soul for them, and cherished by the bond that had brought their family together.
