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Zara glows as she takes her spot. We’ve seen so little of her since she took her place among the Fates. On the rare times we’ve been able to meet, she says it’s because she has so much to learn, but I’m doubtful. I expect the Fates will fall into the roles we always thought they had, watchers who don’t interfere. It didn’t stop Sybil and Estelle from dropping by with food one day to watch the baby for a few hours so Essos and I could get some shuteye.
Cat is the next to stride down the aisle. Her head is held high, her blonde hair hanging in loose waves down her back. She is the radiant queen we all know and expected her to be. Her dress is a soft petal pink, and with a twist of my wrist, an actual cape of petals drapes down her back from her shoulders. When she notices, she twists to give me a wink.
Xavier kept his word, not lying to the people of Solarem. They held a sparsely attended funeral for Posey and told them of the Fates and the Titans. Gisella is hard at work rewriting our history books with the truth, or something close to it.
Octavia is the first to speak, droning on about what it means to serve Solarem and what Cat’s role will seek to achieve. Titus follows up with a brief history of Solarem, the old version of it, anyway.
“Do you agree to uphold the laws of Solarem and lead with grace and dignity?” Xavier asks, watching Cat and only Cat.
“I do,” she confirms in a booming voice.
The corner of Xavier’s mouth ticks up as she lowers herself first to one knee then bends her head forward.
“Do you agree to put the people of Solarem before all other souls?” Pleasure is slipping into his voice, and I can’t help but notice how bright his eyes are as he gazes at my friend.
I squeeze Essos’s knee and he gives me a small smile. If Xavier will make Cat happy, I’ll be happy for them.
“I do,” she practically shouts.
Xavier places the crown on her head. “Rise,” he orders, and she does. “Turn and face your people.”
Cat turns and looks to the crowd, who all hoot and holler at their new queen. There is still some confusion on how they are ruling but not married, but slowly the people are coming to accept and understand that this is her rightful place and Xavier won’t push her into anything she doesn’t want. Rumor has it, he hasn’t been sleeping around since Cat moved into his house.
The crown on her head sparkles, and she slips her hand into Xavier’s. There is a hesitation, a moment where he looks at their joined hands and then her lips, and I will him not to kiss her. This moment belongs to Cat, and a kiss, while romantic, will make it about them and not her and her new role. It seems to work because he guides her forward and out of the fray.
As much as I want to wait for everyone else to leave first, Essos and I are a king and queen in our own right. Essos takes a now-sleeping Penelope into his arms before walking out by my side. Helene and Kai follow us as we go to the after-party.
* * *
I hideas long as I can, fussing over Penelope.
“I promise if she wakes up, I can handle it,” Esmaray swears.
My mouth forms a hard line. “But you don’t have any actual experience with a baby. And you know we’re trying to avoid using our powers with her as much as possible. We want to encourage her to do things for herself.”
“Why would you do that? She uses hers on you all the time,” Esmaray says with a snort after pulling a blanket over the baby’s sleeping form.
Essos looks up from where he’s digging in the diaper bag. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed? Oh gods.” Esmaray starts laughing to herself.
“Well, spit it out,” I order impatiently.
“She’s the Goddess of Dreams and Nightmares. She’s been forcing dreams on you since you were pregnant.” Esmaray continues to laugh. “Go, enjoy the party. I’ve got her. If she wakes, I’ll come to you immediately.”
Most infants have their powers announced on their first birthday, it gives them more time to grow into their powers, but I can’t remember the last time a tiny godling was born. I have to think that it’s because she’s a third generation Titan, the first one to be born since Kai isn’t the child of a Titan, at least not that we know of. We still haven’t been told more about the two Titans who stopped existing.
Of course, Penelope’s bright blue eyes open, and she lets out a bloodcurdling scream. We change her, and when that doesn’t work, Esmaray excuses herself so I can try to nurse. Once Penelope latches, Essos pushes a hair from my face.
“When I was out for a month, I had a dream about Nelly.”
“Nope,” I reject the nickname. We’ve been trying out different nicknames to see if one sticks. Nothing but Pom has stuck so far.
“I had a dream that she was maybe two or three and was chasing a—”
“Butterfly. I think she gave me the same one.”
Essos cups her head before pressing a kiss to my temple.
