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Markane and Abacus shot up, smiles wide as Nadira’s. They looked so relieved.
“No, that’s not—” Markane began and stopped.
“Papa.” Nadira ran, her pink dress ruffling, and jumped into Victus’s arms.
It was the first time she’d acknowledged Victus as her father. He held her tight as he peppered kisses all over her face, then set her down.
“I was so worried about you.” Nadira smiled. “And I was so worried about … Mama?” She peered up at me, her eyebrows arched.
I shuddered a breath and my eyes stung. “How do you know? How?” I pulled her in my arms as I kneeled and sobbed. “Oh, baby. My baby. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you all these years. I love you so much.”
“It’s okay, Mama.” She pulled back and smeared her wet cheeks, her violet eyes like mine, twinkling. “I felt a connection when I first saw you at the market, but I knew you were my mother for sure when I drank your blood. I saw what you and Papa went through and what you did to protect me. I also dreamed of Grandmama, the drakon. I promised I would protect the children and grow up to be a great queen one day. I never believed you were dead. I always felt you near me.”
My heart broke into a thousand pieces, but all the shattered fragments found each other and made me whole again. I hugged my child and wept for all the years we lost, for all the moments she had been forced to be brave and be wise beyond her years.
Feet shuffled and I rose, Nadira stood by my side. Markane and Abacus fell to their knees, their heads touching the stone ground.
“A thousand apologies, Joleen.” Markane slightly lifted his head and peered up from one eye to see if I was watching him. “I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”
Victus raised his chin, proud, his voice resonating with quiet authority as he declared, “It’s Queen Joleen, to you.”
It didn’t dawn on me that Victus was now the king, and though I never imagined myself as a queen, the title he just announced meant he wanted me by his side forever. I met his gaze, my heart lighting up bright as the moon and grew bigger when he winked, that kind that said just wait until we’re alone.
Abacus kept his head down. “Yes, Queen Joleen, of course. Nadira wasn’t consoling us, well she was, but not for the reason Gorgo thought. We are so regretful, embarrassed, and sorry for how we treated you so we were apologizing to her.”
Nadira nodded. “They were so sorry. They were worried you would banish them.”
“Give me the word and I’ll cut off their heads.” Tank sauntered behind them, hiding his snickering.
“I think we should cut off their balls.” Dawn snorted.
The mice on Snow’s shoulder let out squeaks as their tails whipped each other. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought they were laughing.
Michael crossed his arms and chuckled. Otis beside him ruffled his feathers and an apple dropped. Markane and Abacus flinched.
“Did you mean it when you said you’ll do anything?” I paced between the two vampires.
They both nodded.
“Rise,” I said as I halted in front of Markane. “I want you to clean house in the tunnel.” I covered Nadira’s ears when I said, “No more orgies and no more feeding on humans. From now on, only animals.”
“Anything you say,” Markane said, but lines creased on his forehead from scowling.
“I like human food.” Abacus gave a nervous laugh.
“Oh, here.” Two apples fell into Otis’s hands when he ruffled his plumes. He kept one and tossed one to Abacus.
Abacus caught it, frowned, then smiled. He took a bite. “Not bad,” he said with a mouthful. “I think we’ll be friends.”
Victus’s eyes turned crimson, then a beautiful brown. “Nina told me at the battlefield that Kara brought on the vabies disease directed by Asmodeus, as we already knew. And Kara is dead, killed by the beast she helped create. We will do our best to cure others. And there will be no more entertainment with these creatures.”
Abacus shook his head as he chewed. “No more. I promise.”
“And …” Victus met everyone’s gazes. “It would be an honor for Queen Joleen and me if all of you would be in our court.”
Everyone lit up with a beaming smile, except for Michael.
Victus added, “We need to round up all the orphan children. Bring them to the castle. We are their parents now. Then we will announce the new royal family to our people. No more segregation. We will all live together in peace.”
