The Dark Beast's Love

This summer had been warmer than the last, and we made sure to enjoy every piece of it, from the burning sun to the great variety of blossoming fruits and vegetables that were used for dinner. Riven particularly thrived in the sun, and whether it was because of how much larger the glade seemed when it was summer or because he just enjoyed the liberty of it was still a mystery to the world. I had once tried to pry an answer out of him. But all I got as a response was a silly metaphor about how he only danced when the flowers danced.

And Nathan was just like his father.

Only a year old and he was already running around on his tiny leg while he tried to grasp anything he could get his hands on. The colourfull flowers had been his favourites the first summer. He had held onto every single one of them until we had to pry them out of his grasp when he was asleep. Now, I would always find him running amongst the field of flowers, and sometimes even amongst the more colourful vegetables.

His birth had been difficult. Mainly because we were alone but also because the nine months leading up to his birth had been a restricted life of adjustments and carefulness that I hadn't been prepared for. Not when I'd just gotten the freedom to do whatever I wanted. But now, with Nathan in front of me healthy and strong, I knew that there wouldn't be a single thing I wouldn't go through just to have him safe by my side. He was a miracle, and a reminder that there was love for everyone.

His full name is Nathan Theo Xavier Devalia, and it took us months to agree on the name. Mainly because we had only intended for him to have two names, but when the arguments got ridiculously heated (a part of it because of my pregnancy and another part because we are both stubborn souls), we settled with having all three names included. We had already decided that if we were going to have another boy, then he would be named after Riven's father, whose name apparently was Rijon, and then after my brother. If a girl was born, I will try to name her after my mother, but that discussion hasn't been brought up yet. All we knew was that we wanted another child, not only for our sake but for Nathan as well, and that with the way we were going, we would probably start trying sometime soon.

When we first found out that I was pregnant, Riven had gone on a rampage in the woods. Not because he didn't want a child. Only the gods knew how much he had craved for a family to care about, and a family that could care for him back. But Riven had always had an ounce of fear for himself, despite how many times I told him that I wouldn't let him hurt me or our child. Riven had only started to believe me when we made it through the first full moon after finding out about my pregnancy, when the beast not only had kept his hands to himself, but spent the entire night hovering around me to keep me safe and warm. As if it knew that I needed the extra attention. It was a relief and an opening point for both of us when Riven transformed back with no new blood on his hands (except for a poor deer that became the prey for the night).

The rope and the way out of the mountains still hung where Varius had left it. We had only used it once or twice since Nathan's birth but I looked at it with hope. Because despite what my brother had said, he'd still left a way out for me. And with the hatred that had burned in his eyes that day, it had been more than what I could ask for.

"Mama, Mama," Nathan cradled my leg when he finally reached me, and I looked down to see the crown of flowers that Riven made cover half his face.

"Hello, love," I said as I lifted him into my embrace. "Where did your dad run off?"

Nathan started waving his arms around in the air, as if to gesture where Riven had gone. But I didn't need his directions when I felt a body press against my back and arms snake around my waist. The feeling of soft lips on my cheek caused my lips to quirk and when I turned to face him, he placed another kiss on my lips instead.

"Hello, darlin"" Riven purred, using the nickname that had started as a joke but I've now grown fond of. "Here to get some sun?"

I kissed him again for good measure and leaned into his embrace. Nathan was giggling from where he was in my arms and started grabbing for the flowers in Riven's hair.

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"I'm here to say that dinner is ready," I informed just as Nathan yanked in my hair. "But you both seemed so occupied so I let you be."

"Next time, you can join us," Riven said as he carefully pried Nathan's fingers out of my hair. "It'll be more fun that way."

"Oh..." I cooed and looked at Nathan. "My boys can't survive without me?"

In a swift movement, Riven turned me around and placed Nathan between us. The child only seemed delighted to be between his parents, and giggled brightly when Riven tickled him under his ear. It was a sound I wanted to bottle up and save forever.

"You know we can't," Riven said after a heartbeat. "How would we survive?"

At the softness of his voice, I peeked another kiss on his lips, and then one on Nathan's forehead before he started sensing that the attention was shifting away from him.

"As if I would let any of you two go on without me," I said as I looked down at Nathan's bright green eyes. "You are unfortunately stuck with me forever."

"Forever?" Riven echoed with a fond smile on his face.

"Forever." I promised before we all headed towards our home.

I had been able to look past the ugly and fallen in love with the beast. And in return, I had gotten a future. I sent a prayer to the gods, and echoed the promise I had made to the people in my heart. A promise of forever.