Zephirion’s POV

The words echoed in my mind, but I couldn’t process them.

"I’m pregnant."

I stood there, unmoving, as if the world had stopped spinning. My mind refused to function. My body felt frozen in place.

Aeris’ voice had been soft, hesitant, yet firm when she said it. But now, she was looking at me with a confused expression, her brows furrowed.

"Zephirion…?" she called my name, her voice laced with uncertainty.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t answer.

My gaze drifted to where my hand rested against her stomach. My fingers were touching the place where our child—the life we created—was growing.

Our child…

I could feel my heart hammering inside my chest.

Aeris shifted slightly, pulling her hand away. "Are you… not happy?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

My eyes snapped back to hers.

She looked… vulnerable.

Doubt crept into her expression, and I hated it.

She thought I wasn’t happy. That I didn’t want this.

And yet, I still couldn’t find my voice.

Damn it. Why was I acting like this? Why couldn’t I say anything?

I, the feared Dragon King, who had faced countless enemies without hesitation—why was I standing here, completely speechless, just because of two simple words?

Aeris’ POV

Silence.

Zephirion just stood there, completely frozen, his hand still resting lightly on my stomach. He wasn’t moving. He wasn’t speaking. He wasn’t even breathing properly.

My heart clenched.

Is he not happy?

I shifted slightly, pulling my hand back. "Are you… not happy?" I asked hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Still, no response.

I had never seen Zephirion like this before. He always had a response for everything—whether it was teasing, threatening, or commanding. But now, he just stood there, looking at me like he had lost all ability to function.

I was about to say something else when an excited gasp filled the air.

“OH. MY. GODS.”

I turned my head just in time to see Valerion—the ever-dramatic Red Dragon—clutching his chest like he was about to faint. His bright red eyes were wide with excitement.

Caelum, the White Dragon, stood beside him, looking equally shocked before a slow grin spread across his lips.

“We’re going to be uncles?” Valerion practically screamed, grabbing Caelum’s shoulders and shaking him violently.

Caelum chuckled. “It seems so.”

“HAH! I KNEW IT!” Valerion cheered before turning to look at me, his excitement doubling. “Aeris, you—” He pointed at me dramatically. “—are going to be a mother!”

I blinked at them, still overwhelmed by Zephirion’s lack of reaction.

“I… guess?” I answered awkwardly.

Before I could react, Valerion suddenly lunged forward, wrapping me in a tight hug, spinning me around. “I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! I’M GOING TO BE THE COOLEST UNCLE EVER!”

“Valerion—put—me—down!” I gasped.

Caelum smirked, watching the chaos unfold before turning his attention to Zephirion. “Oi, Black Lizard.”

Zephirion still wasn’t moving.

Caelum rolled his eyes before sighing and walking up to him. Then, without warning—

SMACK!

Caelum slapped Zephirion on the back of the head.

“Snap out of it, you idiot.”

Zephirion blinked.

“…Huh?” was the only sound that left his lips.

Valerion burst out laughing. “Oh, now you decide to speak?” He let me down and turned to Zephirion, dramatically gesturing at me. “Your wife just told you that she’s carrying your child, and you’re standing there like a brain-dead fool!”

Zephirion’s gaze snapped to mine, his golden-red eyes still unreadable.

I suddenly felt nervous under his intense stare.

And then, finally, he moved.

In the next second, Zephirion was in front of me, gripping my waist, pulling me against him.

His voice was low and rough when he finally spoke.

“…Say it again,” he demanded.

I blinked, flustered. “W-What?”

“Say it again,” he repeated, his grip tightening ever so slightly. “I need to hear it one more time.”

I hesitated, but seeing the raw emotion in his eyes, I took a deep breath.

“I’m pregnant.”

Zephirion inhaled sharply. His arms wrapped around me, crushing me against his chest.

And then, I heard it—

A deep, shuddering breath.

Zephirion was trembling.

Zephirion’s POV

She said it again.

I’m pregnant.

Those words echoed in my mind, sending a rush of emotions crashing into me all at once.

My arms instinctively tightened around Aeris, pulling her flush against me. My heart—my dragon heart that had endured years of cold isolation and bloodshed—was now hammering inside my chest like a war drum.

I was going to be a father.

A deep breath left me, but it wasn’t enough. My body trembled slightly, trying to process this overwhelming feeling. I buried my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent, as if grounding myself in reality.

Aeris shifted slightly in my hold. “Z-Zephirion, you’re squeezing me too tight.”

I immediately loosened my grip, but I didn’t let go. I couldn’t let go. Not now.

My wife—my mate—was carrying our child.

For the first time in my life, I felt something I had never known before. Something even greater than rage, greater than power, greater than vengeance.

Pure, unfiltered joy.

And I didn’t care if I looked like a fool right now.

I pulled back slightly to look at her face. “You’re… really carrying my child?” I asked again, my voice quieter now, almost in disbelief.

Aeris nodded, smiling softly. “Yes, you idiot.”

My breath hitched.

I couldn’t stop myself.

I lifted her off the ground, spinning her in the air before holding her against my chest again.

Valerion whistled. “Wow. I’ve never seen Zephirion act like this before. It’s kinda adorable.”

Caelum chuckled. “Well, it’s not every day that the feared Dragon King finds out he’s going to be a father.”

I ignored them.

My focus was on Aeris, my queen, my everything.

I cupped her face gently, my thumbs brushing against her soft skin. “Aeris…” I murmured.

Her violet eyes blinked up at me. “What?”

I let out a deep, shuddering breath.

“…Thank you.”

She tilted her head. “For what?”

“For this.” I moved one of my hands to rest on her stomach. “For giving me something I never thought I’d have.”

Aeris’ expression softened, and she placed her hand over mine.

I leaned forward, resting my forehead against hers. “I swear on my life, I will protect you and our child.” My voice was steady, full of resolve. “No harm will ever come to either of you. Not while I live.”

Aeris chuckled. “Well, that’s good to hear. Because if you didn’t say that, I would have made your life hell.”

I smirked. “You already do, little troublemaker.”

She stuck her tongue out at me, and I let out a rare, genuine laugh.

Valerion clapped his hands together. “Alright! Enough of this heartwarming moment—I need to celebrate!” He turned to Caelum. “I say we get the entire castle drunk tonight.”

Caelum sighed. “You just want an excuse to drink.”

“And?”

I shook my head at their antics before turning back to Aeris.

She was still looking at me, her face glowing with warmth.

I placed a kiss on her forehead, whispering against her skin,

“I’m going to be a father.”

And I had never been happier.