Fire and Ice: Bedtime Stories
The twins stared up at him with wide, mismatched eyes—one burning gold like fire, the other a sharp, wintry silver.
Five months old and already dangerous, if the way they kept setting the curtains on fire and freezing the bedposts was anything to go by.
Rhydir Velgrave, slayer of kings, destroyer of armies, first of his name (and occasionally first to change a diaper), lounged on the absurdly oversized bed, propped up against a mountain of furs.
Two babies—one kicking with unholy energy, the other glaring with suspicious, judgmental silence—sat on either side of him, nestled against his chest.
"And then," Rhydir drawled, voice low and dramatic, "your mother—being the terrifying, beautiful, bloodthirsty queen that she is—walked into the capital city all by herself."
He paused for effect.
The kicking twin (Fire, he had secretly nicknamed her) squealed and kicked him in the ribs.
"Exactly, little flame," Rhydir said solemnly, adjusting her wriggling body. "One woman. No army. No backup. No mercy. Just…you know, pure, undiluted vengeance wrapped up in blood-red armor and ten tons of smoking hot rage."
The quieter twin (Ice, obviously) gave a tiny, skeptical grunt.
Rhydir grinned. "Don't give me that look. I was there. And I'll have you know, I was also very intimidating and helpful. Mostly by staying out of her way."
He leaned in conspiratorially, like telling them a grand secret.
"See, your mother's got this thing about people who stab her in the back and try to erase her existence. She doesn't really go in for speeches or sad little exile plans like normal royals. No, no—she prefers the 'storm in, set things on fire, and personally rip the enemy king's heart out through his ribcage' approach."
Fire clapped her tiny hands.
Ice blinked slowly, unimpressed.
Rhydir pretended to wipe away a tear. "Proudest damn day of my life. Watching her yeet a thousand-year-old throne down the palace steps like it owed her money? Beautiful. 10/10. Would kneel again."
The door creaked open.
Vex leaned against the frame, arms crossed, wearing nothing but a midnight-black robe and an expression that suggested she'd heard every word.
"Teaching them about murder again, darling?" she drawled, raising a sleek brow.
"Not murder," Rhydir corrected, flashing his most winning smile. "Heroic character building."
She shook her head, but the corner of her mouth twitched. "You are a menace."
He scooped Fire and Ice into his arms, pretending to shield them. "You hear that, tiny terrors? Your mother thinks I'm dangerous. That's why she married me. Mutual destruction and hot people problems."
Vex crossed the room, fluid and dangerous, and sank onto the bed beside him.
The babies immediately reached for her, Fire yanking on her hair and Ice stuffing a chubby fist in her robe.
Vex sighed, plucking Fire free with the grace of a queen who had incinerated kingdoms before breakfast and still had time for snack duty.
"Finish your story," she said, arching a brow. "I want to hear how you paint yourself as the hero again."
Rhydir clutched his chest theatrically. "My love wounds me."
"You'll live," she said sweetly, kissing his forehead.
He smirked and turned back to the twins.
"So. After your mother personally vaporized King Alaric's chest cavity—and honestly, he had it coming—she walked out like a damn goddess, set the whole political system on fire, and then, when the nobles finally crawled out of the rubble to beg her to be their queen—"
He paused dramatically.
Fire squealed.
Ice yawned.
"—she said no," Rhydir finished triumphantly. "Because titles are for the weak. Crowns are for fools. Your mother knew she didn't need a throne to rule."
Vex looked down at him, her fire-red eyes soft.
He winked lazily. "She had something better."
"Which was?" Vex prompted dryly, smoothing Fire's messy hair.
"Me," Rhydir said shamelessly.
"Obviously."
Vex laughed—a low, wicked sound that still made his heart stumble—and leaned in to steal a real kiss this time.
The twins made outraged noises at being ignored.
"I see," Vex murmured against his mouth. "So you're the prize."
"The ultimate reward," Rhydir agreed, voice roughening. "Loyalty, snark, stunning cheekbones. Who could resist?"
She kissed him again, harder.
The twins immediately took this as a signal to launch a rebellion, shrieking at the top of their lungs.
Vex pulled back with a sigh. "Your fan club is getting restless."
Rhydir gathered both babies against his chest, grinning like the smug bastard he was.
"My little monsters. One day you'll understand. Love…is war."
Fire grabbed his hair and yanked.
Ice tried to freeze the furs.
And Rhydir, king of chaos, couldn't have been happier.