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Valen closed his eyes when I traced the curve of his lips, his jaw, as though memorizing my husband all over again. From the lower pit of my belly, nerves took hold. We’d only settled into our new world. We were adjusting and finding peace. There were so many wonderful new things—like nearness to our neighboring kingdoms. We saw Alvers, a raven, and the mouthy king who came with her, more than we ever had before. We’d already visited Calista and Silas twice since leaving Raven Row.
I think both the fate king and queen found a great deal of solace in their own walls. They didn’t make many plans to leave them. For now, we’d visit them.
Life was settling, and it felt like for the first time since I collided with the handsome dowry negotiator outside of that game hall that life was truly calm.
Now, I was going to rock everything all over again.
“I will miss these easy nights,” I said, threading my fingers through his hair.
Valen cracked an eye. “Are they going somewhere?”
“Well, I suspect we’ll be rather tired again.”
He nuzzled the side of my throat. “Because of this.” His tricky fingers brushed over one breast again. “We get Liv’s nightmares under control, and I plan to love this body frequently. Make up for all those tense turns with battles and such.”
I snickered and kissed his temple. “No, I’m afraid even you might be too tired, my love. Well, perhaps not. I am irresistible.”
Valen lifted his head. “That you are, but what are you talking about?”
I bit down on my bottom lip and guided his hand over my belly. “Confirmed it with the healer yesterday.”
It took a breath or two, but soon Valen’s eyes went wide with a bit of stun. “Elise, are you certain?”
I nodded, grinning and clinging to his hand on my stomach.
“Another . . . another child?” Valen’s voice grew rough. He tugged me against his chest, legs, arms, his body swallowed me. “Really?”
I nodded, stroking my fingers through his hair. I didn’t know if it was Night Folk and Timoran blood, but like Lilianna fought for turns to have her half-fae littles, the same could be said for me and Valen.
It seemed Halvar and Kari were the only fae and mortal pair that could breed without trouble, but after Livia it had seemed like there would only be one child in our household.
Valen kissed me sweetly, resting his head against mine. “I love you, Elise Ferus. You’ve given me . . .everything. My freedom, my home, my life. But your heart, this family you’ve given me, it is the greatest gift I could ever want.”
From the Negotiator to the Blood Wraith, to My King, to my husband, Valen Ferus had been mine. In all his forms, I loved him. The darker pieces, the soft, tender moments such as this. I’d take him all.
There were no threats at our gates. No threats at the gates of others.
For the first time, we could simply . . . live.
Epilogue
EASTERN KINGDOM: THE MEMORY THIEF
Kase was convincedthere were too many people within our gates. There were a great many people, but there were vows to be had.
What did he expect?
Even Silas and Calista ventured from their comfortable knolls to join us at the new Black Palace. Less dreary than it once was, we’d built gardens where the courtyards once were. Not that they’d survived the shift of worlds. Almost like Calista’s and Silas’s song had known what horrid memories lived in the remnants of the old masquerade halls.
Now, moonvane stretched from the Northern realms and burst in our lands, connecting us to the Night Folk clans. Lavender toppled over vines, and silky petals of vibrant sea flowers spilled in from the Southern realms. A true show of how united our lands were.
Although, I missed the Howl. The constant flow of sea air was less prominent at the palace. Still there in small bursts of wind that carried from the fort where we’d fought against the sea folk, but I missed looking out on the expanse of the dark sea.
“I hate this tunic.” Jonas flopped back on a fur coated chaise, tugging at the high collar of the blue tunic. Sander scratched his neck beside his brother but didn’t complain. Merely added a kick to Jonas’s shin.
“It’s your good tunic, and you’ll wear it without complaining,” I said, adjusting the black circlet in my braids.
“Damn the hells, I hate this tunic.” Kase shoved in from the washroom, tugging at his own collar.
