Taste of ecstasy

Chapter 52

"The nearer the moment of birth, the louder the world seems to sing."
⸻

Seven months into carrying the future heir of Idris, Magnus Bane was a walking constellation. His skin glowed with a soft, honey-silver radiance not magic burning, but life blooming. A quiet light beneath the skin, as though stars slept under his collarbones. His belly had rounded into a perfect, graceful swell, and every corridor he walked through felt brighter for his presence alone. Idris noticed Idris felt it Idris buzzed with joy.

Alec's soldiers trained harder with pride market vendors painted baby stars on their stalls nobles embroidered tiny booties in their house colours children whispered stories about the glowing consort who carried a future king or queen beneath his heart. The entire kingdom moved like a bird preparing its nest.

But with light came its shadows.

Magnus was moody Magnus was emotional Magnus was loudly opinionated about everything from the temperature of his tea to the way Alec breathed near him at night and the Silent Brothers said it was normal.

Alec, however, looked like a soldier walking through a minefield.

The day began with Magnus pacing the solar, half-dressed and barefoot, fingers twitching at the seam of his robe. His voice rose, sharp and irritated "Why are there horns on the practice yard? Why today of all days? Why must everyone in this palace blow every instrument ever made before dawn?" Alec, who had been silently reading at the table, immediately stood. "Love,... those are the city musicians rehearsing for the Heir's Moon Festival next month. I asked them to...."

"You asked them to wake me up with brass and war-drums?" Magnus glared.

Alec nearly choked. "No.... I asked them to....no, Magnus, please sit, you are overexerting yourself...."

Alec's brows frowned "I am pregnant, not dying!" Raphael, who had the misfortune of standing nearby with morning reports, muttered under his breath, "You are both dramatic." Magnus turned slowly Raphael regretted everything. "What was that, Commander?" Raphael straightened instantly. "I said... you are radiant." Magnus blinked Raphael blinked Alec stared at the floor to keep from laughing hysterically "...Fine," Magnus sniffed, settling into a cushioned chair like a frustrated but elegant storm cloud. "I am radiant. And deeply irritated."

Alec crossed the room and kneeling beside Magnus's chair, threaded gentle fingers through his hair. "It's the seventh month," Alec murmured softly. "Every healer warned us mood swings would peak now." Magnus huffed, leaning into Alec's touch despite himself. "I don't swing. I am constant. People simply annoy me more efficiently these days." Alec bit back a smile. "Of course."

Later that afternoon, Magnus tried to walk through the northern gardens.

Tried.

Because the birds were too loud the fountains splashed too aggressively a gardener coughed from thirty feet away and Magnus gasped, "Was that directed at me?" Ruelle, who accompanied him like a serene shadow, was unbothered. "It is normal for fairy gestation," she said, hands folded behind her back. "Your sensitivity is heightened. Your body is attuned to life, therefore to sound, scent, and emotion." Magnus winced at the rustle of a leaf. "Emotion, yes. The roses hate me. I feel it."

"The roses do not hate you."
"They wither to spite me."
"They are flourishing."

Magnus dramatically gestured at a perfectly healthy rosebush. "Look at them they are plotting."

Ruelle's expression did not change. "I will punish them later" Magnus blinked. "...thank you."

"You are welcome."