Chapter 128

Tears slid down Amelia's cheeks, mixing with the sweat and grime of childbirth. But they weren't tears of pain anymore. They were tears of wonder, of relief, of a love so fierce it made her ache. Her tiny son, mewling softly in her arms, was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She cradled him closer, his warm weight an anchor against the storm she had just weathered. His skin, wrinkled and pink,was dusted with a soft down of fine dark hair. His tiny fingers, curled into fists, were already searching for purchase, a primal instinct as old as time. "Look at him, Amelia," Rebecca's voice, hoarse but filled with awe, broke the silence. "He's perfect. Just like I imagined." Amelia could only nod, her voice swallowed by the lump in her throat. She traced the delicate line of his jaw, marveling at the tiny features that were all Lucius, all her. But it was his eyes that held her captive. Those green eyes, pools of ancient magic reflecting the love he already shared with her, with