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Kassia
“Whew,” I said when we’d finished dinner, eaten the dessert I’d also prepared—something vaguely resembling cookies—and retreated to our room upstairs with Diesel in tow.
My little dog scooted across the room and hopped up onto the bed.
I leaned against the back of the bedroom door.
“What a relief.” I was still amazed it had worked out. My monster-in-law might be an orcish monster, but she’d reached out her hand in welcome—finally. I’d taken it. How could I do anything else? I’d never make Jarum choose between us.
Jarum strode over and lifted me off my feet, giving me a big kiss. “I had no doubts.”
“Would you really have left your mother forever?”
“You stole my heart when we met. While it would hurt to leave, I’d do it this second. I love you, Kassia, and my life, my heart, and my future are solely with you.”
I wrapped my legs around him and snuggled into his embrace. “Does this mean we’re officially married in the orc way?”
“It does,” he said solemnly.
“Then we better get working on those orclings, don’t you think?”
With a bellow of happiness, he spun and rushed to the bed, lowering me gently onto the enormous surface. He followed me down, bracing himself over me. “We discussed eight orclings, correct?”
I grinned and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. “Actually, I was thinking we should aim for ten.”
Chapter 22
Epilogue 1
JARUM
“You promise you’ll return to visit again soon?” my father asked as we stood in the foyer the next morning.
“We promise,” Kassia said.
Dad swept her up and spun her around while she laughed. “Now this is a good daughter.”
I just grinned.
Mom looked a little forlorn, so I put my arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze.
“I was thinking we could come home for the Hostedeer Festival,” I said. “It takes place in a month.” Well before our wedding, which we needed to plan.
Mom’s breath caught. “Truly?”
“Truly. We’d love to.”
“Oh my. I would love to show off a new daughter. Jellymare’s new orc daughter-in-law is a terrible cook. We could invite them over for pizza and impress her. She’ll be so jealous!”
Jellymare and my mother had been rivals from the moment I and Jellymare’s son were born. He was about my age, and he’d savored trying to best me every chance he got, behaving just like his mother with mine.
“It sounds wonderful,” I said. “We’ll bring all the ingredients for pizza.”
After lots of hugs, we left, taking a vestaloon carriage back to the transport station.
I helped Kassia climb inside the first available vehicle and sat, patting my lap. Diesel had already taken his place in the upper compartment with Kassia’s bag.
Kassia clambered onto me, wrapping her legs around my waist, her hands seeking beneath my shirt already.
