When you hurt, I hurt

(Feyre POV ) :

"Did you know, Uncle Cass, I'm sleeping in my own room tonight," Nyx boasted, puffing his small chest out.

"Are you now?" Cassian entertained the idea as he and Nyx climbed up the stairs together, Nyx clinging on to Cassian's fingers. I followed behind, listening to their conversation in amusement.

"Yup," Nyx grinned happily, popping the 'p'.

"My nephew's growing up," Cass said dramatically, swiping a finger under his bottom eyelid.

"I'm only five, Uncle Cass," Nyx whined. "Seven is a big number," he pondered. "When I'm seven, then I'll be all grown up."

A lopsided grin tugged on the corner of the General's mouth as he surveyed Nyx. "You have it all figured out, huh?" He asked.

"Sure. I'm smart," Nyx said, swinging his arms before jumping the last step up.

Cassian nudged Nyx playfully. "Who told you that?"

Nyx shrugged. "Dadda."

Cassian snorted. "You might not want to believe everything that Rhysie tells you."

Nyx stopped in his steps, a confused expression pulling on his face. "Who's Rhysie?"

I hid my smile, placing a hand gently on my son's shoulder. "No one you need to worry yourself about," I cut in, shooting Cassian a warning glare over Nyx's head. If Nyx ever learned the nickname that his father's brothers and cousin teased him with, he would run around our home crowing it and never stop.

Cassian grinned rashly. "You don't know who he is, do you?" He asked in mock disbelief, purposefully riling Nyx up.

It worked, Nyx's cheeks darkening ever so slightly. "Sure, I do. He's... Um..." he trailed off, unsure.

I stepped in to save Nyx from his oncoming humiliation. Cassian mocked Nyx to no end, and there was a certain direction that this conversation was following.

"That's enough brain work for you today, kid. Say goodnight," I said with a smile.

"Night, Uncle Cass!" Nyx hollered at the top of his lungs, before sprinting off at full speed down the hallway to his bedroom.

"He is full of too much energy," I said fondly as I watched my son veer down the long hallway.

I looked at Cassian to find him already watching me, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Don't have too much fun without him," he said.

I knew exactly what he meant.

I rolled my eyes and threw him the finger as he smirked at me, turning around and sauntering off.

"Goodnight, idiot!" I yelled after him, a smile playing on my lips.

***

"Ready for bed?" I asked, sitting on the edge of Nyx's bed while I smoothed his dark locks back from his forehead.

"One more time?" He begged, blue eyes widening.

"I know that's your favourite story," I said gently. "But, three times in one night?"

Nyx fidgeted with my mating ring on my finger. He didn't respond, avoiding my gaze. He was stalling.

I tilted his chin towards me, stroking his cheek. "It's okay if you're not ready, yet," I said quietly.

"I'm five, Mama," Nyx protested.

I furrowed my brows. "So?" I pushed. "You can sleep with Dadda and I for as long as you need to, or want to."

"Why don't they get better?" Nyx mumbled.

I took his small, smooth hand in mine, kissing his fingers. "You're a very strong boy, Nyx. You're so strong, and you're so brave. You've been strong since the moment you were first in Mama's belly."

Nyx's eyes shuttered. "Too strong, Mama. I hurt you."

"You didn't hurt me," I breathed, my eyes burning, throat closing up.

Nyx reached his arms up, taking my face in his hands. He flashed me a toothy grin. "I'm okay," he said simply.

"Okay," I murmured with a smile. I leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead, and then one to his cheek, pulling the covers up over him. "I love you, sweet boy."

Nyx scrunched his nose up.

I lightly swiped at his nose. "You're such a big boy that you can't tell me you love me, now?" I asked, raising a brow.

"When I'm seven," Nyx corrected. "You have until then," he said cheekily.

I tapped his nose affectionately. "I'll take what I can get."

Nyx pulled my face down again to kiss my cheek. "Love you, Mama," he said with a yawn.

"Sweet dreams, love."

***

I entered our bedroom to find Rhys lounging on the bed, his wings sprawled out behind him.

He smiled warmly at me. "Tucked him in?"

"Mhm."

A smirk tugged on my mate's mouth. "Wanna tuck me in?"

I snorted. "Big baby."

I went to sit on the bed, loosing a long sigh as I sank into the soft, plush comforter.

"Whatever shall we do with all this room, mate?" Rhys pondered, gesturing to the space around us.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't act like it's not strange. Nyx has been sleeping in here with us for the past five years. He's never spent a night without us."

Rhys moved closer to me, noting the worry and concern lacing my voice. His knuckles brushed against my cheek. "He's going to be okay, Feyre."

I sighed, leaning into his touch. "Everyone keeps telling me that. But, I'm his mother. No matter how many times he's reassured me that he's ready, it just... Doesn't sit right with me."

Rhys didn't hesitate in pulling me into his arms, resting his chin atop my head. "Don't fret, darling. Our baby's a brave one. Warrior," he said, his breath warming my hair.

Something eased in my chest. "He got that from me," I teased.

"Apart from his stubbornness and terrible humour, he's all me," Rhys mused, his mouth trailing slowly down the centre of my throat.

I elbowed him in the ribs, but his hard, toned stomach barely moved an inch. He continued his journey, nudging his head into my neck as he sucked on the skin of my collarbone.

A small sound escaped me when Rhys growled, "That hurt."

I laughed a bit breathlessly, arching my back as I felt his smooth fingers crawl, so slowly, beneath the hem of my sweater.

"Illyrian baby. Want me to kiss it better?" I crooned.

Rhys lifted his head finally to look at me, his dark hair ruffled. He looked dazed as he watched me through half-lidded eyes, wearing a purely male smile, almost sleepy. But I knew he was anything but.

"Please," Rhys breathed, and my eyes dropped to his open mouth.

I made to shift closer to do just that, but he held me in place, observing me.

His eyes darkened. "So impatient," he tutted. "Allow me."

Rhys pulled my sweater over my head in one smooth motion, his gaze hardening as he drank in my bare skin.

The tips of his fingers skittered over the surface of my stomach, leaving gooseflesh in their wake. And then, his tongue was on me.

Rhys licked down my chest, his soft hair tickling my skin. Every inch of my body that his hot tongue touched seemed to burn at the sensation, and I slid backwards onto the bed, unable to keep upright.

A soft sigh left my lips as Rhys moved his body above mine, his palms resting on my breasts as his tongue roved lower.

"Rhys," I breathed, his name a plea on my lips. His tongue swirled in the dip of my bellybutton, and then he stopped. He raised his head to look at me. His eyes were dark and filled with lust, and he held my gaze as his fingers curled into the band of my leggings and he roughly shoved them down my thighs.

"What do you want, Feyre Darling?" My mate purred.

I didn't answer him. Instead, I guided my hands to fold into his hair and I pulled hard enough to provoke a feral sound deep from within his throat.

Rhys made quick work of pulling my leggings and underwear down the rest of my legs, and he discarded them somewhere. I didn't care.

I jolted as I suddenly felt his mouth on my ankle. Rhys only chuckled, his hands trailing down my stomach, while his mouth moved up my calf. Getting closer and closer to where I wanted him. Needed him.

He was teasing me. He was going to take his time with me.

Just as Rhys's mouth and tongue met my inner thigh, his hands gripping my hips, the door creaked on its hinges.

"Shit," Rhys hissed, and then my clothes were back on and I scrambled to sit up.

Nyx stood there in the doorway in his pajamas, looking small and nervous, wringing his hands together.

"You said a bad word," he mumbled finally.

I smoothed my hair as Rhys said, "Yeah, I did. Don't say that, okay?"

All signs of his previous lust was gone, and now only concern laced his tone.

"Couldn't sleep, huh?" Rhys asked softly.

Nyx shook his head. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

My heart strained and I opened my arms in the direction of my son. "Come here, baby."

He shuffled over, and as soon as he was in reaching distance I pulled him off his feet and coddled him into my chest.

"Nightmare?" Rhys asked, gently stroking Nyx's hair.

"The same one," Nyx confirmed, his voice muffled.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Rhys asked carefully, his voice gentle.

"No," Nyx said almost immediately.

My mate's eyes met my own, the flecks of starlight in them dimming.

"You know, buddy-" he began, when Nyx bristled in my arms.

"I said, no." His voice was more clear and firm than it had been before.

Rhys stayed silent, but I grabbed his hand to comfort him. I tilted Nyx's head up to force him to look at me.

"Nyx," I murmured. "Dadda's only trying to help."

Nyx's eyes began to fill. "I'm sorry," he sniffed.

Rhys cradled Nyx's face between his hands, placing his thumbs under his eyelids to catch his tears.

"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. Nobody is going to force you. We'll wait until you're ready," Rhys soothed. "But, did you know that I have nightmares, even now?"

Nyx sniffed again. "Really?"

Rhys nodded. "It helps me to talk about them. Because no matter how terrible it may be, once I've gotten it all out, it clears my head. It stops me worrying. It makes me feel a little better."

The raw honesty in his words pulled at my heartstrings. Nyx was listening intently to his father's words, his attention focused on him.

Rhys continued, his eyes filled with pain. And love. So much love.

"I want to help you, because I don't want you to hurt. Because when you hurt, I hurt. You mean everything to me, and I'm so sorry that you can't get a peaceful night without being disturbed." His voice wavered.

Nyx crawled into Rhys's lap, burying his head in his chest. "It's not your fault, Dadda," he assured.

Rhys held Nyx in his arms until he seemed content, and slipped under the covers in his usual position in the middle of the bed. I propped a pillow under his head, and made sure he was comfortable.

"Sorry if I woke you," Nyx mumbled, his eyelids fluttering, fighting to stay open.

"We weren't asleep," I whispered, but Nyx had already passed out.

Weren't we? Rhys said innocently down the bond.

Prick, I replied fondly, curling my arms around my son to keep the nightmares at bay for as long as I could.

***

I am sincerely sorry that I keep giving our Nyx baby nightmares but I can't help it lol. I also feel like it's realistic, you know? Considering how messy his birth was, that's bound to plague him, even if he can't remember it.

Guess I have a thing for angst :>

Hope everyone's Tuesday is going great so far :)) bleugh don't worry only three more days until the weekend!

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I love y'all and I'll see you soon!

Ayesha xoxox