“So I’m a broodmare now?”Anger flares through the bond, hot and righteous.“My only value is popping out kids to maintain a seal?”
“No.”Prophet’s voice is firm.“Your value is in being you.In the choice you made.In the love you share with Vex.But the practical reality is that bloodlines matter in magic this old.I’m not saying you need to have children tomorrow, or next year, or even in the next decade.But at some point—”
“At some point, we’ll discuss it.”I cut him off, putting myself between him and Tessa.“When we’re ready.On our terms.Not because heaven demands it or prophecy requires it.”
Prophet nods, backing down.“Fair enough.”
The meeting continues, logistics about territory patrols, repairs to equipment, plans for Kyler’s memorial, but I’m barely listening.Through the bond, I feel Tessa’s turmoil.Anger at being reduced to her reproductive potential.Fear about the responsibility of maintaining the seal.Wondering if vampires can even have children.And underneath it all, bone-deep exhaustion.
Finally, blessedly, Blade dismisses us.
“Get some rest,” he orders.“Both of you.That’s not a suggestion.”
We escape to our room, since there’s no question of Tessa sleeping anywhere else, and the moment the door closes behind us, she breaks.
Not with tears.With rage.
“Children.”She paces, energy born of fury keeping exhaustion at bay.“Like I’m some kind of—some kind of—”
“I know.”
“And I love how everyone just assumes I’ll be able to have children.What if I can’t?What if we try and nothing happens?Can you even have children?What if—”
“Tessa.”I catch her mid-pace, hands on her shoulders.“Breathe.”
She does, shakily.
“Prophet was being practical, not personal.The magic tied to bloodlines is real, I’ve seen it in action over centuries.But he’s also right that we have time.Years, probably.To decide what we want.To see if children are even part of our future.”
“And if they’re not?”
“Then we’ll deal with that when we come to it.”I pull her closer, until her forehead rests against mine.“We rewrote an ancient prophecy.I think we can handle family planning.”
That gets a watery laugh out of her.
“I’m tired,” she admits.
“I know.”
“And scared.”
“Me too.”
“And I want—” She stops, swallows hard.“I want to feel something other than terror and responsibility and the weight of the entire world on my shoulders.Even for a few hours.”
“What do you want to feel?”
“You.”Her hands slide up my chest.“Just you.No prophecies, no seals, no guardians or wardens or any of it.Just Vex and Tessa.”
“I can do that.”
We kiss, not desperate or claiming or world-altering.Just soft and slow and full of relief we’re both still here, still alive, stillus.
I lift her effortlessly and drop her onto the bed.She lands with a breathless laugh, hair a wild halo around her head.I strip as I prowl toward her, my gaze never leaving hers.She scrambles to do the same, fumbling with buttons, tugging fabric over flushed skin, kicking her clothes away in a frantic pile.
“Slow down,” I murmur, though my voice is anything but calm.“I’m not going anywhere.”
I crawl over her, caging her in with my body, letting my weight sink into the mattress rather than onto her, close enough that she can feel how hard my cock is.My hands trace up her sides, deliberately slow, savoring the shiver that ripples through her.I kiss the soft curve of her stomach, the line of her ribs, the hollow of her throat, taking my time, letting her feel every intention I have for her.
