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“You look incredible.”
“I can’t believe we’re here.”
“Me either,” he said.
Vanya stepped up and smiled at us.
“Well, we’re here for a joyous occasion,” she said. “It’s not every day we get to celebrate the union of two people as precious as this. I want to—”
Before Vanya could say or do anything else, Terra appeared in a bright flash of light. The crowd gasped in reverence, and I stared as the goddess circled us.
She reached for us, and my hand was warm where she touched me. She put my hand into Dex’s, and our mate bond was cemented. Nothing could break us when Terra herself had just sealed it.
I burst with love for Dex. I looked at him, and he looked at me, and our love for each other flowed through our bond.
Terra disappeared again, the light fading.
Vanya’s face was revered, and the room was silent.
“I had a whole speech prepared,” she said, her voice filled with laughter. “I was excited to officiate this mating ceremony, but now…” She smiled. “It seems like Terra said everything that needs to be said. You’re mated before the goddess, and nothing remains to be done but to celebrate.”
The crowd erupted in cheers, and Dex grabbed me, a grin on his face.
“Well, then,” he said and kissed me so hard, my toes curled.
“Well, then,” I said with a laugh when he finally let go of me.
We turned toward the crowd, and I looked at all my friends. Hazel and Erol were in the crowd as honored guests. Zita had come with Vanya, and every one of the aristocrats invited were in our corner.
At the reception, food was laid out on long tables, music played, and couples danced. I sat down in a corner. My feet were sore, and I was exhausted. I sat with Ellie, Hazel, Vanya, and Zita, and we talked about what it meant to have babies, to be parents, to watch the future unfold.
“How do you feel?” Zita asked me. Her blond hair was longer than it had been while she’d worked here at the palace, and she’d pulled it back into a tight bun. She wore a green form fitting dress that showed off her muscular shoulders. She was all angles, a rough and rugged warrior…until she looked at Vanya. When the two of them were caught in their moment, Zita softened, and everything about her became loving and gentle.
They were a beautiful match, and I loved seeing them together, in love and happy. They both deserved so much.
Everyone around this table did—we had all fought so hard for what was right, offered ourselves up for Jasfin, for Palgia, for our people, that the slices of happiness we were given meant so much.
“What about you?” Ellie asked Hazel. “Are you and Erol talking about having children?”
Hazel’s cheeks colored, and she glanced around to find her husband. Erol and Ren stood together, talking and laughing.
“I’m not supposed to say anything yet,” she said, lowering her voice a little so passersby wouldn’t accidentally overhear. “But I’m with child.”
“What?!” Ellie cried out, her face riddled with shock before it broke into a broad grin. “Oh, Goddess, how wonderful! We can arrange play dates! Deron will just love having so many friends and cousins andfamily!”
Hazel giggled, blushing harder still. “It will still be a while, I’m not very far along.”
“Time goes so fast, you’ll be right here with us in no time,” Ellie said, beaming at the thought of our families all expanding.
I glanced at Vanya to see how she’d taken the news. Vanya had a proud smile on her face. I had a feeling she’d known already. Hazel would have confided in her mother.
“It’s going to be beautiful,” Ellie sighed, contented. “And you’re going to love being pregnant. I can’t wait for the next one. Ren and I are trying.”
Everyone erupted in the next round of surprise before Hazel looked at me.
“Are you enjoying being pregnant?” she asked.
I nodded. “I love it. It’s impossible to explain the pure joy that comes with it, but I’m ready for this to be over. I can’t wait for this one to come.” I patted my belly. “It’s still a while, though.”
