CHAPTER 1228: CHAPTER 139 : THE COMING LIGHT

*Daphne*

My eyes snapped open, and I felt around on the bed.

“Rion, wake up!” I turned over and shook him.

“Wha--what’s wrong?” he grumbled. “Ugh, why is the bed soaked?”

“My water broke. I’m going into labor.”

“Okay, let me get the overnight bags!” he hollered.

“Finally! Let’s go!”

He helped me to the car and sent word to Eva to watch the twins. It wasn’t until I was in the car that the first contractions hit.

“Ooohhh! Owww!” I clutched my stomach.

“Go, go!” Rion shouted to the driver. “Don’t worry, Daphne. We’ll be at the hospital in less than ten minutes.

I groaned and nodded. He took my hands, and I squeezed as tightly as I could.

“Feel better?” he ground out.

I nodded and breathed heavily.

From the car to the hospital room, it was all a blur. All I could focus on was the pain as my contractions came faster and faster.

“This baby is coming now!” I cried.

Healers and their nurses swirled around.

“Hang on another few minutes, Daphne. You’re not dilated yet. I’ll tell you when to push,” the healer said, poking her head up over the sheet that covered my legs.

“I don’t want to wait. I want to get this baby out!” I groaned and threw my head back on the pillows.

“It’s okay, baby.” Rion held my hand and soothed me. “It’ll be okay.”

“Alright, Daphne, it’s time to push,” said the healer. “You can do this.”

The healer’s words were music to my ears. I sat up. Rion got behind me and I braced against him, pushing.

“Good, very good. Daphne, you’re doing great.”

All I could do was nod and push harder. It felt like it took forever but finally, the healer was telling me she could see the baby’s head. I felt a huge wave of relief. I was so exhausted that I was about ready to give up, but I knew it was almost over.

“You’ve got this Daphne. Just a little more,” Rion said. He rubbed my arms.

“Almost there... that’s it, he’s out.”

I collapsed on the bed, exhausted and sweaty. I couldn’t rest, though. I waited, counting off seconds in my head.

One... two... three... four... and then I heard it, the baby crying.

“You have a very healthy baby boy,” the healer said.

Rion helped me sit up, and I watched the nurses swaddle him and calm him down. They brought him to me and placed him in my arms.

“Oh my gosh, he is gorgeous,” I whispered.

“Is he healthy?” Rion asked. He was talking to the nurses, but he hadn’t taken his eyes off the baby.

“He’s perfectly healthy and has quite a set of lungs on him.”

I sighed in relief and tears streamed down my face. I rubbed his little chubby cheek with my finger and bopped his nose.

“He is perfect in every way,” I said. I kissed his forehead.

He gurgled in his sleep and squirmed a little in his blanket.

“What are you going to name him?” the healer asked.

I glanced at Rion. He grinned and hugged me and the baby.

“Well, we picked the name out a while ago. Do you think it is still fitting?”

I smiled and nodded. “Of course. He is the new ray of light in our lives, our new glow.”

“We’re going to name him Lucian, meaning ‘light,’” Rion told the healer.

“Great. I’m going to get the birth certificate printed up.” The healer left us alone and for the first time, Rion and I were together with our son.

“He’s going to bring so much hope and joy to Thorn Forest.” I kissed his mushy little forehead again.

Rion put his finger in Lucian’s hand. His little fingers closed around it. “He’s got quite a grip, already very strong.”

“We should have the pediatric healer examine him, too,” I suggested.

“Good idea.” Rion kissed my forehead. “For now, you should rest.”

“I don’t want to stop looking at him.”

Rion took Lucian from my arms. “He’ll still be here when you wake up.”

After I woke up, the pediatric healer came in and examined Lucian.

“Congratulations, Alpha, Luna, you have a healthy, robust, strong baby boy,” the healer told me as she placed Lucian back in my arms.

“That’s quite the relief,” Rion sighed. He kissed my forehead and then Lucian’s cheek.

After a couple of days of recovery, the healer was ready to send me home with Lucian and Rion.

Rion brought me to bed and set Lucian’s bassinet right next to the bed. Almost as soon as we settled in, Eva stopped by with the twins.

“I want to see the baby,” Ayla demanded.

“Oh.” I sighed and collapsed on my pillows. “I’m exhausted.”

“It’s okay, Daphne. Rest. I’ll introduce the twins to Lucian.”

“Thank you.” I grabbed his hand and squeezed.

I fell asleep listening to the twins talking about the baby and Rion’s deep voice murmuring softly.

***

Loud, piercing cries woke me out of a dream. I pried my eyes open and stared at the baby’s bassinet.

Lucian was hungry again.

I had spent most of the afternoon before reading to the girls and playing with them. They definitely missed me now that I was spending so much time taking care of Lucian.

“Daphne, are you okay?” Rion rolled over and took me into his arms. “You usually spring out of bed to feed Lucian.”

“I’m tired,” I whispered.

“Alright, well, if there are some bottles ready, I can take over nightly feedings. How’s that?”

“You are a god among wolves,” I muttered sleepily.

Rion chuckled and I felt him get out of bed as I drifted back to sleep. Within seconds, I heard Lucian stop crying and I was able to fall asleep again.

Having Rion take over the nighttime feedings and changings really helped out. I got to sleep through the nights and still have plenty of energy during the day for my girls.

One night while Lucian was crying, I rolled over and saw Rion taking care of him. He had Lucian cradled in his arm like a little football, a bottle to his lips. The baby made pleased little sucking sounds, and his little fingers grasped at his blanket in pleasure.

Ayla and Serene were there, too. Sometimes the twins woke up in the middle of the night and helped Rion with feedings and changings.

Taking care of Lucian had become a family affair.

I propped my head up with my arm and watched as Rion walked around the room, the girls following him, all three of them talking and cooing to the baby.

This was my family and I loved them so much. I was so grateful to have them all here together, safe, healthy, and happy.

Finally, I pushed the covers off and sat up.

“Let me see that boy.” I held my arms up.

“Daphne, you don’t have to be up right now if you want to sleep,” Rion said.

“I want to be part of this,” I insisted.

Rion placed the baby in my arms and the twins climbed onto the bed to sit on either side of me.

“This is perfection.” I looked up at Rion.

He smiled and nodded in agreement. “Yes, it is.”

A few days later, Eva stopped by for a visit. She bounced Lucian in her arms and swayed back and forth.

“You know, I love the twins so much, but I can’t help it. I’m partial to little boys and their chubby little cheeks,” she gushed and rubbed her nose against the baby’s.

“There is something special about a son.”

Eva passed him off to me. I was in a rocking chair, avoiding moving as much as I could to speed up my recovery. Rion sat on the end of the bed. It was unusual for Eva to insist on both of us being here when she came by for a baby visit.

“I know you’re still recovering, Daphne, but I wanted to talk to you two about something. Well, about Varge.”

“We haven’t heard anything about his movements,” Rion cut in.

I pushed off the floor and rocked back and forth with Lucian on my lap.

“I know that.” Eva held her hands up. “But we all know that Varge is going to come here because it is where all our kids are. That’s the only thing he cares about.”

I looked at Rion and he rubbed his hands on his thighs.

“What do you suggest, Eva? We could head back to Thorn Forest. It is a lot more secluded.”

“And a lot more vulnerable,” Eva pointed out. “We need to come up with a way to protect ourselves here.”

“We already have Oliver’s men helping,” I said.

“I think we’ll need more. I’m suggesting that we create a protective bubble around Celestial City. It will guard against Varge’s attack.”

Rion sighed heavily. “That sounds like a lot of magic.”

“It would be a lot of magic, but I can handle it,” Eva assured.

I moved Lucian to my shoulder and patted his back slightly. “I don’t know, Eva. You only just recovered from the last big use of magic.”

“We need some kind of defense. Magic is the best way.”

“No.” Rion stood up and threw his hand out to the side. “No. Too much spellcasting is too risky.”

“I know it is risky but—”

“Eva, we don’t need a constant shield around the city. It might attract more attention from Varge and his men. Besides, it would drain you completely.”

Eva groaned and threw her arms in the air. “We have to do something!”

“And we will,” I assured her. I rubbed Rion’s back. “If and when the attack from Varge comes, you should only use your powers in an emergency, only to protect yourself and your children.”

“Your children, too,” Eva argued.

I hugged Lucian a little closer and nuzzled my cheek against his. “I appreciate that, Eva. I think it is better to be conservative with magic, especially with how dangerous it can be for you.”

Eva looked down and nodded. I could tell she wasn’t happy with what I had said.

“She’s right, Eva. You’re more valuable to us alive.” Rion reached out and grabbed Eva’s hand. “We need you. Your sons need you... alive. So, stay alive.”

Eva smiled lightly and nodded. “Alright, I’ll stay alive. I won’t use my magic unless it is absolutely necessary.”

“That’s what I want to hear.” Rion hugged Eva and kissed her forehead.

Eva leaned against Rion, but there wasn’t as much emotion in her hug. I saw the way her arms hung around him loosely.

I knew that Eva wasn’t the type to sit around and wait for danger to come to her. She wanted to be proactive, and I worried that it was only a matter of time before she took things into her own hands... despite our warnings.