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The loud wail of an infant pierced the stillness of the castle, seeming to reverberate off the chamber walls. A weight settled in Sypha’s chest as she roused, tears building pressure behind her own eyes. She fought to open them, her eyelids heavy like opening one of the castle doors that had rusted on its hinges. Her vision struggled to focus as she blinked to clear the sleep from her vision, a moan escaping her lips, “Trevor. She’s crying again.”
“Mm.” The hunter stirred next to her, his eyes beginning to twitch open. The blankets rustled as he straightened his legs to untangle them from Sypha’s.
The bed frame creaked as Sypha sat up, leaning forward to rest her head on the palm of her hand. The magician feigned a chuckle, “All night. Four nights in a row.” Her hands ran through her tangled curls as she heaved a deep breath that left her lungs as another desperate chuckle.
“Mm.” Trevor let out a breathy sigh as he regained his ability to form words. He placed his warm palm on the small of Sypha’s back, “I know.”
“...m gonna go…” Sypha paused for a moment as her fatigued mind struggled to keep up with her mouth, “I’m gonna go check on her.”
Trevor moved his hand to her thigh to firmly keep her in place, “No, stay.” His other hand rubbed at his eyes, “I’ll go…You got up so many times last night.” He moved to lift the blankets, “It’s my turn.”
“No.”
They almost jumped at the sound of Adrian’s voice, the dhampir next to them had barely shown any signs of life before swiftly sitting up. Adrian’s hands were faster to move the blankets, piling them on Trevor’s lap, “I’ll go. You both need sleep.”
Trevor and Sypha looked at one another, their eyes slowly blinking. The hunter opened his mouth to protest, “But-”
“Stay. Put.” Adrian spoke sternly, pointing a long nail in their direction. Even in the darkness, his voice was enough for them to know his expression was serious, “Rest. I’ll take care of her.” He pressed his lips to Trevor’s before the man could disagree with him. Adrian’s lips parted in a soft smile as he felt Trevor’s body relax.
Sypha leaned on Trevor's shoulder, “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” A piece of Adrian’s golden hair drifted into his face as leaned over Trevor, the hunter’s eyes lazily followed, “You two go back to sleep.” He lifted Sypha’s chin for her kiss, “I’ll be back soon.” He slipped a finger under the strap of Sypha’s nightgown to place it back on her shoulder, spreading the blanket from Trevor’s lap back over the both of them.
Sypha continued to lean into Trevor as the hunter drew her into his bare chest, Adrian gently directing his lovers to lay back down. Easy breaths filled the dhampir’s ears, their expressions settling back into what peace they could find in one another’s arms. Adrian resisted the urge to press his lips to their cheeks as the baby’s wailing from the next room struck a higher pitch. He slowly exited the bed, careful not to jostle it.
The dhampir’s long sleep shirt fluttered behind him as he rushed to the nursery, immediately kneeling before the cradle. He almost could have laughed at how the baby’s little reddened nose squished as she cried, reminding him of Sypha when she pouted.
“What is it, little one?” Adrian whispered as he reached into the cradle, “Papa is here.” As soon as the infant was in his arms, her loud cries eased to whimpering, “That’s it. Papa is here.”
He cooed as he settled into the rocking chair next to the cradle, placing her in his lap to begin unswaddling her. “Mama has just fed you…You don’t seem to need to be changed just yet…”
More small whimpers came from the baby as her hands were freed, reaching for Adrian.
He smiled as he gave her his finger to hold, “Perhaps you were too warm?”
More tears began to roll down her round cheeks as she squeezed his finger.
Once fully unwrapped from the swaddle, he cradled the little girl to his chest, “Or perhaps you just wanted some company.” Adrian reclined to slowly rock, light humming starting deep in his throat. He closed his eyes to recall the lullaby his mother often sang to him in that very room, the same cradle at her feet.
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living,
My baby you'll be.
He sang the words his mother had taught him so well, losing count of how many times he had uttered the verse as he caressed the baby’s back. In the back of his mind, he could almost hear her voice joining him. He opened his eyes when his throat felt too strained to continue, finding that the little girl was fast asleep in his arms. He didn’t dare move now that she was finally resting, slowly sliding further into the chair to be more comfortable.
“Sleep well, little one.” His voice was hardly audible, his lips gently pressing to the wispy strawberry curls covering the little girl's head. He closed his eyes and laid his head back, the warmth of the bundle in his arms seeping into his heart.