She’d held together well for her children since Mr. Fletcher died, but she couldn’t completely hide her grief. Sadness had replaced the twinkle in her brown eyes. She’d lost at least ten pounds and didn’t smile anywhere near as often.
I remembered those same details about my mother after my father died. She and Ruby kept going, but they’d lost a part of themselves and never fully recovered.
I glanced at Ryker as I used my knife to push the carrots aside on the cutting board. If I ever lost him, I’d also be forever broken, but we’d fought to make Tempest a lot safer, and I would ensure it remained that way.
Once dinner was ready, we gathered around the table. Tucker had left to retrieve Georgie from the orphanage, where he was visiting, but they’d returned in time for the meal.
Georgie and Billy engaged Mouse in conversation. While Mouse still refused to speak, they found other ways to communicate through gestures, laughter, and games. After we cleared the table and refilled our glasses, the boys chased each other around the manor playing tag and hide-and-seek until an exhausted Georgie collapsed on the sofa.
Billy settled into the chair next to his mom, rested his head on her lap, and fell asleep. He’d been a lot more affectionate since his father’s death. When Billy stirred, Scarlet placed her hand on her brother’s shoulder, and he settled again.
Once the other boys were asleep, Mouse came to me. It was good to see him clean and smelling of soap; I was sure he liked it too, as he beamed at me. I was just as sure he’d come to say goodbye.
“Won’t you stay?” I asked. “We’d love to have you here. You can pick out your room, and we’ll decorate it however you want. I used to have plants overflowing in mine, so it felt like a little indoor forest.”
He was still smiling when he leaned forward and kissed my cheek before slipping away. A second later, the front door opened and closed. My wild boy had returned to the forest.
Ryker rested his hand over mine. “You’ll see him again.”
“I know.”
And while I wished Mouse would live with us, I understood the untamed soul that drove him into the woods. He needed the trees as much as he needed us.
Once Mouse was gone, we resumed our conversation and drinks as candlelight played across the table’s wooden surface. After another half an hour passed, Luna, Callan, and Ianto joined us.
The children were all asleep at the orphanage and under the watch of Lawrence, who had started working there last week. Ianto was incredibly protective of the children and didn’t often leave them, so I was happy to see him as he lifted and crushed me against him.
As the night wore on, my face hurt from laughing. Tragedy and horrific circumstances had brought us all together, but we were meant to find each other.
Love had bound us together and made us a family in a way that genetics couldn’t. Together, we’d freed Tempest, grown stronger, and learned to weather our losses as well as our successes.
We were stronger together and would remain united. For that, no matter the circumstances that brought us together, I would forever be grateful to have these men and women in my life.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE
Ryker
Eight months later
Ellery sat on the bed with our daughter cradled in her arms. Her dark hair was still sweaty and stuck to her flushed face, but she glowed with love as she gazed down at Lillian Rose Marian and played with the tiny fingers poking above the pink blanket.
When we learned Ellery was pregnant, I was the one to suggest our child should bear the surname Marian. It was time to stop passing on the last name of Locke. It was one more way that Veni’s legacy would die.
Ellery had agreed and reverted to the use of her maiden name. I’d also accepted the last name of Marian. I was happy to shed the last remnant of my past life and to watch the Locke name die in Tempest.
Bearing my mother’s name as her middle name, I knew Lillian Rose would grow into a strong, formidable force. I already pitied anyone who tried to stand in her way.
Settling beside Ellery on the bed, I kissed my wife’s temple while I gazed at the wonder nestled securely in her arms. It had taken two days for Lillian to enter this world; I’d spent those two days pacing, holding Ellery’s hand, and trying to remain calm while pain and exhaustion battered her.
I’d failed while she triumphed.
I kissed her again. “You’re amazing.”
Ellery grinned at me. “Look at what we made.”
Love squeezed my heart as her bloodshot eyes twinkled with joy and love. Then she shifted her attention back to our child.
Lillian’s wispy brown hair stood up in patches around her head. She had the tiniest little nose and fingers; I’d spent some time admiring those digits before she was swaddled and handed to Ellery.
