Armana's Gift

LIAM/ZEVAN

One more month and he would be a father. He looked at Vera, who could now barely move with the size of her pregnancy. He had something to handle and now seemed like the best time, while she was about to sleep and would hopefully not remember the talk until the morning.

"We need to talk," he finally whispered. They did. He avoided it for months but now was the time.

She looked to him from the bed, tired and sore from the weight she carried.

"Yes?"

"It's about us." He walked to and looked down on her from beside the bed. "Reshan has told me that you want... more from me, but I don't want to marry you. I can't. I care for you and I love the babe already but I won't marry you."

There. He'd said it. It was a total lie and he knew it, so did Reshan, who had told him to marry her to begin with.

"Ex-Excuse me?" She stuttered and he realized something he should have earlier. "You think I want you to marry me?" She roared. He winced.

She hadn't been asking Reshan to bring it it up. The owl was just being a nosy old male.

"I didn't thin-"

"You didn't think, you fucking ass!" She screamed, swinging slowly to stand. He tried to stop her gently but she stood up and shoved him. "You practically ignore me for this entire pregnancy and you think I would want to marry you! The arrogance!" She shoved him again, and he saw the tears in her eyes. He'd messed this up and she was right. He was an arrogant ass.

"I'm so-"

"GET OUT!" She roared louder and he stepped back to stop her from shoving him again. Then he watched her pale and look down.

When he looked down, he realized why she was pale. Her water broke and it was time. He lifted her as she breathed hard and placed her back on the bed.

"I'm getting Reshan. We've got everything we need for the birth already, so we just need him," Liam told her quickly and watched her nod frantically.

Then he out the door to fine the old man.

It was time. He was running from room to room, looking for Reshan.

"Reshan!" He roared through the slaves quarters. Others were scattering, running to find the owl before this angry male killed them all.

The owl was suddenly in front of him, eyes wide with fear.

"What-"

"Her water broke! The babe is going to be early!" He grabbed the owl and the both ran to back.

She was still on the bed, still in her open robe, red faced and terrified.

"You will set everything up while I check her progress," Reshan snapped. He also locked the door. No one could come in until the child was born and they could make a plan depending on the gender.

They both worked quickly while Vera screamed and pushed.

"This babe is coming now!" Reshan told them and Liam set everything Reshan needed where it was supposed to go. "Hold her hand, help her. Go."

He rushed to her side and grabbed her hand

"Love, just-"

"Don't tell me to breath, you fucking ass!" She screamed.

It would only take an hour. He felt his hand nearly break several times through it and he whispered sweet nothings in her ear, hoping to soothe her. Sadly, the only thing that she wanted to say was how she wanted his cock mounted on the wall.

Then they heard the babe scream in Reshan's hands.

"You're not done," Reshan snapped. "You're having twins! Liam, I need you here to clean the first one!"

Twins? Twins never happened among the Avium.

He left Vera to help Reshan. He took the first one and wanted sob in happiness. A boy with little peregrine wings like him. He cleaned the boy quickly, watching the son give a healthy wail as a second wail child entered the room.

Vera was breathing hard. She was nearly done but the worst was over. Two! Two healthy babies. He took the boy to her, showing her the little thing.

"He's lovely," he whispered in her ear. She nodded and saw her tears.

"So if your daughter," Reshan whispered, holding the second child.

Liam had foolishly hoped that one boy meant two boys. He was very wrong, it seemed. He turned to Reshan and Vera sobbed harder.

"This must be why Armana wouldn't tell us," Reshan whispered. He brought the girl to them and handed her to Vera. "Her wings are white. She's the heir and Trissande's line has failed. The Royal House now relies on someone finding us and freeing us."

Liam looked over both his children. They were blessed with full heads of hair and he hoped they would keep their colors. Their little son had his own hair and wings, but his mother's eyes, now staring up at him. Their little daughter was white winged, a Royal Avium female, with her mother's deep, dark, red and his gold eyes, inherited from the girl' grandmother, Queen Rianda.

"They are lovely," Vera sobbed. "Can I hold them both?" She searched his face and he only smiled, handing the boy to her. He fought back tears at the sight of them.

"I lied to you, Vera," he whispered in her ear.

"I know," she whispered back.

"I love you." His voice was hoarse. "I'm sorry for fighting it. I love you."

"I love you too, Liam" she cried, holding their babies close.

Reshan only chuckled at them. They would get through this, Liam knew it. Some how, some day, they would be free from this.

"Marry me," he commanded softly. "Marry me and make me the happiest man on earth."

"Yes, I will marry you." She smiled at him, dazzling and bright as she held their children. "I was just waiting on you, love."

"I know."

After a week, Nazani met the children. She adored them, which Lornak told his she would. Apparently Nazani really loved children. Two weeks later, he and Vera were wed in private. A week after that, they named their children.

For their son, Demitri Reshan Regis. Even Reshan couldn't hold back tears.

For their daughter, however, they went something more unique. Adelis Cosmina Regis.

They kept the last names secret for Lornak and every slave there knew to never tell anyone what those white wings meant. They would protect the girl. Most of them weren't even mad at him for never saying anything, understanding. Those who were just felt that he could have trusted them more. He still went by Zevan to everyone except Vera. And that was fine. They would be okay one day, he thought to himself. And for the first time, his heart was light enough and so full of love to believe it.