don't make this a living nightmare

Maverick had not been privy to the worry taking root in his beloved's heart. Outwardly, she showed no signs of anything troubling her. She was as she always had been to him: the beautiful, confident, and assured leader of Ashen, matriarch of the Abraxas family, and the woman who very much held his heart. Their days were filled with love and adventure, exploring new islands whilst also enjoying the fruits of their romance together, many, many times over. In the back of his mind, Maverick knew what their attempts were for. Venom desired children with him, and he desired to sire them with her, so their matings did have purpose, but with the shadow and snow fae out of her season, the dire brute simply assumed they were having fun together and preparing for the eventuality of what would come. He had not known Venom's first litter was sired and birthed out of her season, or that she was worrying herself over those same expectations not coming true.

It was another warm summer's night across southern Boreas. After enjoying another evening tangled up in one another, the prince consort had fallen into an easy sleep with his love wrapped up in his arms. It was a deep, restful sleep that was only disturbed by the need for a late-night drink following their physical activities. With a soft grumble, Mav stirred, slipped carefully away from Venom so as not to disturb her, and exited their bedchambers to the pool of water in their common area. He drank his fill from the cool spring with gusto, and once satiated, he returned to bed. Except when he climbed back into the bed of plush furs, he found Venom shifting and tossing about in her sleep, whining softly to herself. Concern overtook his expression, and he swiftly settled in beside her again, large paws jostling her side gently while he tried to free her from her night terror. "Venom? Venom. Hey, wake up, Ven," he spoke in hushed toned, giving her a it of a firmer shake to snap her out of her prison of sleep.

"Venom & Maverick"