SONG VIBE: Seoul - RM

  ________

  SAPHIRA

  Smuggler’s Way, Horrocks Pass

  Saphira stirred beneath the weight of fur and warmth. Moonlight spilled faintly across the forest floor, dappled by the leaves and branches. The fire had dwindled to embers, casting only the softest glow on her cheeks—yet she was warm.

  She felt his arms wrapped around her, her back pressed to the solid wall of his chest. One of his hands rested just above her heart, steady and protective. His breathing was slow and deep, his body a barrier against the cold forest.

  She did not move; she listened to his slow heartbeat, his steady breathing. Nothing can hurt me, she exhaled, Not while he's here.

  She let out a slow breath. “How long was I asleep?”

  “A while." He shifted behind her, stretching—but he did not let her go.

  “You must be tired." She suppressed a yawn. "It's your turn to sleep."

  "I'm more concerned about you," Nocturne murmured.

  “I’ll keep watch. If I hear so much as a leaf fall, I’ll wake you.” She added with a shrug, "Maybe my shadowcat will keep me company."

  He went still. Then, his grip on her loosened slowly. He stood, piled more dry branches onto the fire and lay down beside it.

  “If you sense any change in your earrings, you wake me.” He closed his eyes, and within a minute, he was asleep.

  Saphira shivered, pulling the woollen cloak closer to her body. She collected the eggshells and held them out towards the bush where the shadowcat hid. The creature creeped out from under the bushes and slinked forward. With its cold, wet nose, it sniffed the shells, licked them, and then held up its nose.

  Saphira sat by the tree and purposefully ignored Dusty. With an indignant meow, the shadowcat crept over and shoved its head under her hand, headbutting her insistently. She scratched the creature between the ears. With a swift jump, it found Saphira’s lap and curled up.

  She ran her fingernails through Dusty’s dark fur, combing out the lumps of mud matted in his fur. As she did, she revealed delightful dark brown spots dotted throughout Dusty’s black fur.

  “Poor thing,” Saphira muttered, “No one has been looking after you.”

  The shadowcat let out a knowing purr, closing its eyes. Soon, its breathing slowed as it fell asleep against the small swell of Saphira’s belly.

  Saphira’s own eyes drooped. She pinched her cheeks, forcing herself to stay awake. Her eyes drooped again.

  “Don’t move,” Nocturne whispered, holding the tip of his dagger out to the shadowcat.

  Above: "Don't move."

  Saphira’s fingers froze in Dusty’s fur. She said, “It’s the shadowcat I told you about.”

  “That’s a hell-leopard cub. I knew it would come out if I closed my eyes.”

  “You pretended to be asleep!”

  Nocturne did not lower his blade. “If the mother comes, we could both be dead.”

  “His name is Dusty Mittens," she murmured, continuing her slow scratch over the cub's back.

  “You named a hell-leopard Dusty Mittens?”

  “You named your horse Gin!” Saphira held the creature close to her belly, and then, she felt a small but unmistakable movement coming from inside her. Even though her stomach was bound tightly, the kick was undeniable. Her eyes widened, and a delighted squeal escaped her lips.

  “—what’s wrong?!”

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  “I felt the baby kick me!”

  “Are you hurt?!"

  “Of course not!" Saphira laughed with delight, her hands instinctively cradling her belly, "Oh, Nocturne, you don’t know how long I’ve waited for this.”

  Nocturne froze.

  “Come,” Saphira invited, her gaze softening as she indicated to her belly. “Touch.”

  Above: Nocturne feels her belly for the first time.

  He crouched before her, his gloved hand flexed, almost reaching out to her. In the depths of his umber eyes, something unreadable flickered, and though his lips parted, no sound came. His gaze dropped briefly to her hands resting protectively over her belly, then shifted back to her face. He said, “Perhaps our baby likes Dusty.”

  “So we can’t get rid of him.” She smirked.

  “Dusty is a she,” Nocturne said, “And she’s bonded with you. She must have bitten you, didn’t she? I knew a smuggler who bonded with a hell leopard. Their bite gives temporary night vision. That's why you could see in the dark."

  Saphira let out a little squeak and scratched Dusty’s head. The hell leopard opened one eye, revealing deep brown eyes, yawned, and then went back to sleep.

  “She’s so cute.”

  “She won’t be cute when she’s the size of a warhorse.”

  “Maybe I can ride her. Do you think she could outrun Gin?”

  “Aye. Just…” he sighed, rubbing his forehead, “Don’t let anyone see her. Her pelt is worth its weight in gold.” He sniffed the air, saying, “Dawn is near.” He looked at her belly and said, “And you need some real rest." He paused, almost smiling." Especially if you're being...kicked about."

  Dusty stirred in Saphira’s arms, hissing softly at Nocturne before disappearing into a swirl of black smoke.

  Saphira stared at the dissipating mist, a hint of sadness in her eyes. She felt Nocturne’s steady hand on her shoulder.

  “She’ll be back,” he assured her. “Especially if you have food.”

  They drank deeply from the stream and continued their walk down the mountainside. Dawn broke through the sky, brilliant tendrils of red pierced through the clouds, reflecting hues of orange and yellow. As the trees thinned, Saphira saw a large valley stretching out.

  As the sun hit her face, for the first time, Saphira felt the warmth of a sunrise in the wild on her bare face. The lands of Firestone had a rugged, wild beauty to them. She stopped and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she saw Nocturne watching her with a smirk. He said, “Done?”

  “If I weren’t tired, hungry, sick, filthy, or sore,” she laughed, “I could stand here forever.”

  He said quietly, “In the cave, when I asked you if the baby was mine—I intimidated you on purpose. Fear makes it easier to tell when someone is lying. I wanted to know the truth beyond doubt, because I’ve been lied to—” his umber eyes narrowed with pain. “Betrayed—in the past.”

  His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, and he watched the sunrise, his upper lip rising. “It’s not easy, being here after a spawnpit.” He paused, swallowing. “But I would never hurt you, even if you had betrayed me—but you didn’t know that.” He looked her in the eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry for…scaring me?” Saphira repeated, tilting her head with confusion. Father said that the only way a man could rule was with fear. So why is he apologising to me?

  “Aye. It wasn’t right,” Nocturne said, his expression flat. “You’re Crassus’ blood, but I can see now, you’re not his daughter—far from it. You’re nothing like him.”

  “People always said that I was more like my mother.” She smiled faintly at the compliment, her hands lowering to touch the small swell of her belly.

  She whispered, “I wouldn’t lie to you. I know what it is like to be tricked—” Saphira’s words caught in her throat, as she remembered the daisies in her wedding bouquet. “—to be trapped.”

  She steadied her voice and murmured, “I hope that—in time—you can see that you can really trust me.” Her hands cradled the warm life growing under her skin. “We didn’t plan this. But something beautiful is coming from it.”

  “Just between us—" Nocturne studied her for a moment, his intense gaze softening. “—I prefer you without the veil. I like seeing those eyes of yours.” He extended his hand. “Come. Let’s go.”

  She slipped her hand into his, her fingers small against the roughness of his palm. His grip was firm but not demanding, as though he were still getting used to holding something fragile without breaking it.

  They walked in silence for a while, the wind tugging gently at her fur cloak, carrying with it the wild scent of pine and rain. The trail ahead was uneven, littered with rocks and half-frozen mud, but she did not stumble. Nocturne adjusted his pace to match hers without a word, his hand never leaving hers.

  After a while, he spoke again. “You said you were more like your mother. What was she like?”

  “Kind—” she said instantly, with a breath of laughter. “—Too kind, maybe. She gave away her combs and pins to the maids who dressed her hair—purple, just like mine. She was clever, just… quiet.”

  “And Crassus?” Nocturne asked, though his voice made it clear he already knew.

  “He loves control more than people." Her gaze shifted to the horizon, hardening. "But he lost control of me. Said I'm useless now, for choosing you. That’s why he pushed me—trying to turn a 'ruined' daughter into a useful tragedy.”

  Nocturne stopped walking. His jaw worked, and his eyes flicked over her face, searching. Finally, he said, “I’d kill him for that,” he said, low. “I still might.”

  She stepped closer, her chin lifting. “I’d rather forget he exists. Never see him again.”

  “I can’t promise that,” he murmured. His gaze dropped to the soft curve of her belly, then returned to her face. “But I can promise I’ll keep you safe.”

  The sun crested fully, flooding the trees and frostbitten hills with gold. It glinted off the buckles on his belt, the crystalith in her necklace, the stray threads of silver in her hair.

  They stood for a moment in silence, the warmth on their skin a fragile peace.

  Then Nocturne gave her hand a firm squeeze. “Let’s keep moving. We’ve got a long way to go.”

  She followed without hesitation, lighter than she had felt in years.