Cassian raised his hand, claws gleaming in the moonlight as he prepared to deliver the final blow. Adrian’s chest heaved beneath him, his crimson eyes locked onto Cassian’s, unflinching in the face of his imminent death.
The clearing was thick with tension, the shadows of the forest seeming to close in around them.
“Cassian, stop!” Lyra screamed, her voice ringing through the night. Her next words came tumbling out, frantic and raw. “I’m pregnant!”
The world seemed to freeze. The weight of her words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable, as if even the trees had stopped to listen. Cassian’s hand faltered, his claws halting mid-air as he turned his head sharply to look at her.
His golden eyes, still blazing with anger, softened instantly, his expression shifting from fury to disbelief.
“What did you say?” he asked, his voice quiet, almost tentative.
Lyra’s hands fell to her sides, trembling as she met his gaze. Her breath came in shallow, uneven bursts, but she forced herself to speak.
“I’m pregnant, Cassian,” she said, her voice breaking. Tears streamed down her face as she added, “It’s yours.”
Cassian’s expression melted into something unrecognizable—astonishment, reverence, joy. His hand dropped to his side as he took a step toward her, his gaze searching hers for confirmation.
Slowly, he reached out, his large hands gripping her shoulders with uncharacteristic tenderness.
“An heir,” he murmured, his voice trembling with awe. “My heir.” His golden eyes glistened, and for a moment, his usual ferocity was replaced by something softer, something vulnerable. “Lyra, I knew it,” he said, his voice filled with wonder. “I knew we were meant for this.”
Lyra said nothing, her chest heaving with the weight of the moment. The tension between them was thick with unspoken emotions—relief, fear, and something deeper that neither of them could name.
Behind them, Adrian staggered to his feet, blood seeping from the shallow wounds on his chest. His crimson eyes were shadowed with anguish as he watched the scene unfold. His jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists as he stepped back into the shadows of the clearing.
Cassian’s focus remained solely on Lyra, his hands still resting on her shoulders.
“You should have told me,” he said softly, his voice carrying a mix of reproach and understanding. “But it doesn’t matter now. We’ll protect you. We’ll protect the baby.”
Lyra nodded, though her eyes flicked briefly to Adrian, whose presence lingered like a ghost in the corner of her vision.