“Yes,” Diarvet said simply, pressing a tender kiss on her chubby cheek. “These are my friends.” He pointed to the older male and female. “That is King Vysar and his mate Marcia.”
“Good,” Lilibet said with a satisfied nod and a wave. “Can we go home now?”
I met my mate’s gaze over our daughter’s curls, his eyes holding so much love, promise, and hope for our future that it made my heart feel like it might burst from sheer happiness.
“Yes, my princess,” he said softly, his voice thick. “We can go home.”
Epilogue
Diarvet
I awoke from a deep sleep, smiling at the feel of soft, warm flesh pressing to my side. It was still early. The morning sun barely filtered through the curtains covering the tall arched windows in our chamber, casting gentle golden rays across the polished stone floor. We were staying in the east wing of the palace. Vraxxan had given us a suite of rooms, complete with a cozy sitting area, a small dining nook, and our own private balcony overlooking the lush gardens below. We could avail ourselves of the palace kitchens or, as we were more apt to do, stay to ourselves, enjoying family time, cooking together in the small kitchen.
It was something I’d never thought to enjoy, the quiet times with my mate and youngling. But now I couldn’t imagine my life without it.
The patter of little feet coming down the hallway, accompanied by the soft rustle of a nightgown and the occasional sleepy yawn heralded my favorite part of the day.
Morning cuddles.
I waited, closing my eyes and biting back a grin as I heard the door to the bedroom push open with a familiar soft creak. Lilibet slipped inside, her small hands clutching her teddy bear as she padded across the room, dark pink curls tousled from sleep.
She climbed onto the bed, hauling herself upward with determined little grunts of effort, her small face scrunched in concentration. When she finally settled herself squarely on my stomach, I offered an exaggerated huff of surprise, slowly opening my eyes to find her bright emerald gaze fixed on my face.
“Good morning, DeDe,” she whispered in a careful, hushed tone, mindful not to disturb her mother, who still slept peacefully beside us.
A couple of months had passed since we returned to Zarpazia. Lilibet was thriving in ways that made my heart swell, her laughter echoing through the corridors as she explored every nook and cranny of the palace with boundless curiosity. She had quickly wormed her way into the hearts of everyone, but none more so than her Uncle Vraxxan, who melted completely whenever she toddled into his presence, and Aunt Lucy, who spoiled her daily with treats and stories from distant worlds.
Former King Vysar had gladly settled into his new role as Pop Pop, his face lighting up with pure joy whenever Lilibet joined him for one of their daily adventures. His mate Marcia had accepted the honorary title of GeGe with tears streaming down her cheeks, overwhelmed by the unexpected gift of grandparenthood that had come with our family’s arrival. Princess Lilibet had utterly charmed the entirety of Zarpazia, from the kitchen staff who made her special treats to the guards who would pause their patrols to wave at her as she played on the balcony.
There had been a few shadows cast over our newfound peace. As Ambassador Khaion suspected, the Kwado king and queen demanded my head in payment for their son’s blood. But his mate Emmy upheld her ruling. Backed by Binwee’s testimony, not to mention the wealth of intel she’d discovered from her time aboard the Kwado royal barge, showing theKwado royal family to be completely corrupt. The Alliance Prime herself had delivered a ruling on the debacle, absolving me of any wrongdoing. The matter was sealed, closed like Qurbaga’s tomb, wherever that might be.
The Prime also formally recognized the Peecha as a free, sentient species under Alliance law and granted the planet Eden sovereign status under Zarpazia’s protective wing. This gave our furry friends not only the right to self-govern, but the full military might of our kingdom to repel any who would dare threaten their peaceful existence.
“DeDe,” Lilibet’s whisper brought me out of my thoughts, her voice soft in the morning stillness. Her cherubic face scrunched up adorably, tiny brows furrowed with the seriousness only a youngling could muster. She leaned closer, pressing her warm, pudgy hands against my cheeks, turning my head slightly. “I think MeMe’s belly is bigger.”
I cast a glance at Jolie, taking in the peaceful curve of her form beneath the soft linens. “You think so?”
She nodded exuberantly, her curls bouncing with the motion. Ever since discovering she was going to be a big sister, Lilibet had appointed herself official guardian of all changes to Jolie’s body, monitoring every subtle shift, even if her observations sometimes mistook a hearty meal for pregnancy progress.
“I think you’re right,” I whispered conspiratorially, my hands finding her tiny waist as I pulled her close for a flurry of gentle kisses across her giggling face.
Moments like this were my salvation. The healing had come slowly. I still had nightmares, but they visited less frequently, the sharp edges dulled by time and love of my two females. When the darkness did creep in, waking up wrapped in Jolie’s embrace was like stepping from shadow into sunlight, her presence a balm that soothed even the deepest wound. Iknew my mate carried her own demons. How could she not after all those years trapped in Qurbaga’s harem? But with our daughter’s laughter filling our days and another youngling growing beneath Jolie’s heart, the shadows that touched us were finally beginning to fade.
Jolie stirred beside me, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks before she slowly opened her eyes. A sleepy smile curved her lips as she took in the sight of Lilibet perched on my chest.
“Good morning, my loves,” Jolie murmured, her voice husky as she shifted closer to us.
Lilibet immediately abandoned her post on my stomach, scrambling over to drape herself across both of us. “MeMe! Your belly is definitely bigger,” she announced with the authority of someone who had made a groundbreaking scientific discovery.
Jolie laughed. “Is that so, little nurse?” She pulled Lilibet against her side, pressing a gentle kiss to the crown of our daughter’s head.
“Tell me a story, MeMe,” Lilibet pleaded, nestling deeper between us, her small hands fisting in the fabric of Jolie’s nightgown with the contentment of a child who knew she was exactly where she belonged.
Jolie’s eyes sparkled as she began weaving a tale of a brave prince named Frodo and mysterious forests in a place called Middle Earth. When the story called for the rumbling growl of a fierce beast, I obliged, making Lilibet giggle and squirm with delighted terror. For the gentle woodland creatures, I softened my voice to whispered squeaks and chirps, while Jolie provided the voice of the wise fairy queen who guided the prince to safety.
Our daughter hung on every word, her bright eyes darting between us as we brought the story to life, each voice and sound effect drawing her deeper into the magical, fantasy world.
“Lilibet!” Numa’s voice drifted through the corridors, her accent thick as she navigated the human language she’d been diligently studying since deciding to return with us to Zarpazia for a time, to act as Lilibet’s nanny. “Bath time, little princess!”
