I nearly dissolve into a puddle before I make it to his side.
Papa kisses my cheek, and then places my hand in Aras’ waiting palm. “I love you,” he says before stepping back and taking his spot by Mother.
Weston calls us forward and begins to address the crowd. He speaks of love and loyalty—of a boy and a girl who were always meant to be. But I barely hear him, even as he stands right in front of us. I’m too caught up in the Orien guard before me… in the softness of his eyes, the playfulness of his smile… the very beat of his heart.
For this boy is mine, every last stinking piece of him, and I’ve never felt more alive.
“Bravest Penelope,” he purrs, teasing against my ear. “You look like you could eat me whole. I promise you’ll have a lifetime of staring at this fine specimen. I’m not going anywhere if it’s not with you.”
“Sorry,” I whisper, trying to hide my smile. “I forgot how gorgeous you look when you’re clean.”
“What did I tell you about stealing my lines, Princess? Now you’re in trouble.” He picks me up in one quick swoop, twirling me around before the vows are even set. The crowd breaks out into laughter, looking on as we seal our bond with a kiss that’s not just for today, but forever.
ↄ
We spend the evening with our family and friends, dancing through the night and smiling until our cheeks burn with the effort. When the party ends and everyone moves to make their way home, Aras and I find our way to my old chambers, blissfully aware of the quiet.
“This is the first time we’ve been alone since our time together in the woods.” Aras walks over to the balcony, looking up into the starry night. I follow him, wrapping my arms around his stomach and resting my cheek on his back.
He’s right, this is our first time alone, and much has changed since then. In the woods, there was the constant push and pull of want and denial. No matter how close we may have longed to be, there was always something holding us back. Knox. Ian. The magic that runs in my blood.
But now everything is different—now there is nothing that can stand in our way.
I turn him around to face me, tipping his chin down with my hand. “Perhaps I’ll be the good wife and let you have the bed while I make a pallet on the floor.”
He growls, causing me to squeal as he throws me over his shoulder. Spinning me around until I’m dizzy, he tosses me on the bed, falling beside me. Our laughter is muffled by the excessive number of pillows piled atop the covers, and this only serves to rile him more. One by one, he tosses the pillows in my face, making me giggle as I knock them away. When the last pillow remains, we dive for it at the same time, crashing together in a desperate attempt to win the final round.
“I don’t think so, Princess,” he says, swiping the square cushion from my hands and tossing it behind his back. He hovers above me, pinning my arms to my sides with his knees. “I wouldn’t be a very good husband if I let my wife beat me in our first pillow fight. Surrender, even if it is for just this once.”
I grab him by his tunic’s collar, pulling him down until our chests touch. The mirth in his eyes dissipates with the move, bringing on a fierce wave of longing that is mirrored in my gaze. Our hearts race, a delicate dance of their own, and I know without a doubt there is no one else in the world who I’d rather surrender to than him.
“I love you, Aras Renn—every irritatingly handsome piece of you. The stars did something right when they led me to you.”
He pulls back, running a gentle hand across my brow and down my cheek. Heat licks at my skin along the path of his touch, bringing a trill of excitement as he leans in close. “I love you, Bravest Penelope. I still don’t think I deserve you, but I’m ready to spend every day for the rest of my life proving that I do.”
This time when our lips meet, the kiss is different—meant only for the boy and girl whose love rocked the path of destiny and begged it to change its course. It’s the start of something new, a precious story meant for us to share. Every want, every desire, every need, we lay them out between us until, finally, the entire world dissolves away and only we remain.
Later, when the whispers of sleep beg to take us under, he smiles.
“What is it?” I ask, looking up at him from where my chin rests on his chest.
He picks up a piece of my unbound hair, twisting it between his fingers as he weighs his words. I fight to keep from squirming, my mind whirling at what he could possibly have to say. If he tries to ruin the moment by embarrassing me, I won’t forgive him.
At least not until tomorrow.
“I was just thinking…” he says, a touch of color rising on his cheeks. “One day, a very, very long time from now, our children will have hair as black as night. They won’t even have a chance.”
I release a breath, more proud of his comment than anything. Mainly because it seemed to embarrass him more than it did me. Sitting up, I slide my fingers through his ruffled hair, across his dark brows, over his kiss-bitten lips. Each touch reaffirms the same thing—you are mine, and we belong together.
“Little rascals.” I flash a grin, daring him to prove me wrong.
He tugs me forward, our words melting with a kiss. “Indeed,” he says.
Epilogue
Aras
“Come on, Dad! I think I’ve found her.”
I watch as his raven hair disappears into the tall grass, his green eyes flashing with excitement. I take the long way around the pond, careful to keep my feet light and my shoulders low.
If my wife can be called anything, it’s tricky… and cute.
Across the field, Pax makes his way toward the trees near the right of the house. Although he tries to step with care, I can hear him as he giggles and tears at the grass, creating a path so big he could be spotted from the stars. At six years, his grace is right on par with his mother’s.
It’s one of the many qualities I love about him.
Finally nearing the trees, I watch as Pax makes a show of hooting and searching about for his prey. The branches creak above him, his target almost within reach. A ghost of a smile dances on his lips, but he doesn’t give his knowledge away. A good hunter keeps his emotions in check.
I taught him that.
On silent feet, I edge behind the trees, watching for her to make her move. I don’t have to wait long. Flipping around the branch, she lands not far from Pax’s side. Fully expecting her arrival, Pax dives forward, missing her arm by inches. She laughs, wild and untamed. My heartbeat quickens—I’ll never tire of the sound.
“Too slow,” she teases, backing toward the trees.
Unfortunately for her, I’m not.
“Is that so?” I grab onto her waist, twisting her around and tossing her over my shoulder. She gasps, wrapping her arms around my back as I spin us in circles, moving to the tune of our son’s laughter. “Careful, Bravest. I might say the same thing about you.”
“We got you!” Pax chants, pumping his arms in the air.
I flash him a smile and lower Bravest to the ground. Her hands slide across my chest, sending chills along my skin. She looks up at me in that knowing way of hers, completely and utterly aware of the power of her touch.
Skies above, she’s evil. I love her more every day.
“I think you cheated,” she says, reaching up to ruffle my hair.
I catch her hand, pulling it to my lips. “True, but I also think you liked it.”
She beams, and I have to catch my breath. There’s a reason why she’ll always be my reigning star.
“Oh, no. Not this again.” Pax grabs our hands, pulling us toward the blanket laid out by the pond. The soft edges of dark have begun to creep across the field, opening the sky for what is sure to be a beautiful show. It’s our nightly routine during the warm months—to lay out under the stars. Tonight is no different, even if we did get a little sidetracked.
Bravest wraps her arm over his shoulders, nudging him with her hip. “Not this again, huh?”
I scrub my hand across
his wild curls. He looks up at me, dimple shining bright. “Sorry, buddy. I promise not to stare at your mother anymore. Sometimes she’s so strange, I can’t help myself.”
Pax laughs and shakes my hand away. The three of us settle onto the blanket, getting ready for the night. It’s the first time we’ve been together in a full week, and it’s the longest we’ve ever been apart. This afternoon, Pax arrived back home from his visit to Theron with his aunt Vivi. As Orien’s official ambassador to the neighboring kingdom, Vivi travels there quite often. This trip was the first Pax has ever taken without us by his side.
“Did you have fun with Aunt Vivi?” Bravest asks, stretching out on the blanket’s corner to make room for us all.
Pax tilts his head, considering his answer more than usual. My eyes dart to Bravest, but her gaze is already narrowed, more aware of his actions than me. “I always have fun with Aunt Vivi. She’s the best.”
“But?” I prod.
“But I wish she would hurry up and marry Sam. She says she never wants to marry, but I see how she looks at him.”
Bravest’s eyes widen. She cuts me a glance. “And how’s that?”
“Like you look at Dad.”
Her expression softens, and she reaches for my hand. “And you think she should marry Sam?”
Pax crosses his arms, determined to prove his point. The action makes him look like a miniature version of Vivi. We should probably start limiting their time together. “Of course. They’re a lot like you and Dad—growling one minute and kissing the next.”
Well, that does sound rather accurate.
I spare Bravest another glance, knowing she’s probably thinking the same. Sure enough, her adorable button nose wrinkles with thought. I have the strongest urge to tap it with my finger until the wrinkles disappear, but for now, there are more important matters to attend to. Like how my wily sister-in-law might be finally growing up.
“They kiss?” I ask.
Pax lowers his head, a rush of crimson flooding his olive cheeks. “Only when they think no one is looking, but I like to look. A lot.”
Great skies above! Will this child ever stop making me proud?
“Pax!” Bravest scolds, hardly loud enough to cover his giggle. He leans forward, molding into her side while keeping his head low.
I pat his arm, ignoring her protests if only to get a rise. “We’ve taught you well.”
Bravest shoots me a daggered glare.
I love it when she looks at me like that; I also love it when we agree.
Pax reaches out, picking up his worn stuffed panther where it rests on the blanket. He tosses it between his hands, holding it close as he has since he was born. “But I was mostly upset that I didn’t get to spend more time with Grandmother and Grandpapa. She said they are coming to visit in a few days, but that’s too long to wait. I wish they were with us right now.”
Bravest tugs him into a hug, planting a kiss on his cheek. She takes his hand, holding it up in the air until they both point to the bright lights forming above. “I know, my heart. Sometimes it’s hard to wait to see the ones you love. But what does Grandmother say to do whenever you miss her?”
Pax leans back against his mother, content to spend the night in her arms. Quietly, I drink them in, wondering how it is that I ever came to be so blessed.
“She says, ‘Look to the stars, for you’ll find me there.’”
The End
Acknowledgements
Wow. I cannot believe Brave’s story has come to an end. This journey has been filled with happiness, a little dash of stress, and more late nights than I can count. I wouldn’t change a moment of it, and I certainly could not have done it without the continuous support of my family and friends.
Thank you to my parents, Tom and Nancy Pinion, for continuing to be a shining example of the power of love. When I created Emory’s character, I always envisioned the two of you. With your sage advice, unending support, and firm, yet understanding guidance, I couldn’t have chosen a better life for myself than belonging to you. Thanks for pushing me to climb the highest trees. I love you.
Thank you to my siblings, niece, nephews, aunts, uncles, grandparents, in-laws, and friends for your support over the last two years. This has been an amazing experience, and I couldn’t have pushed myself to finish Brave’s story if you didn’t love her so. I’m blessed to have you all in my life.
Thank you to my aunt, Dee Elliot, for being my second set of eagle eyes. I cannot express how much your help means to me. I love you!
Thank you to Jennifer Cox for the awesome author shots, and of course, for your sweetest, meanest quote. See, I told you it would make it in there one more time! Your excitement kept me writing, and your t-shirt idea was the bomb. #teamArasforever
Thank you to the Cornelia Library for your continued support of The Orien Trilogy. I never get tired of walking into the library and seeing my books on the shelves. It means the world to me, and I don’t think there’s a better library on the planet than ours. You guys rock!
Thank you to the Fab Four: Myra Hill, Shona Purcell, Salena McKay, and Stephanie Williams. You were with me every step and chapter of the way. Your encouraging texts and emails always made my day. I couldn’t have done this without you, and I’m lucky to call you my friends. I hope you are ready for the next round of books! I love you!
Thank you to Tiffany Brown for reading my messy first draft and giving me great feedback on the ending. I kept it the same because of you. Thank you for loving this story and helping me along the way!
Thank you to Kim Stephens for coming along with me on this journey and for loving Brave just as much as me. You didn’t know what you were getting yourself into when Jody randomly told you I was writing a book and you should read it, but I sure am glad you said yes. Your excitement kept me writing, and I’m so thankful for your support!
Thank you to Reece and Lily Hill, who agreed to do a last minute photo shoot for their mom’s crazy friend. The picture turned out awesome, and I’m super proud of the cover.
Thank you to Cynthia Shepp for your sharp editing skills. You’ve been with me since the beginning, and I’ve learned so much from your guidance. Maybe one of these days I’ll learn to stop using the word that so much. Ha! I swear I’m trying!
Thank you to Jane Dixon Smith for the wonderful cover design. You’ve also been with me every step of the way, and you made this process so much easier for a newbie like me. I’m forever grateful for your help.
Thank you to my CES family for your continued love and support. You make my real-life job just as fun as my pretend one. I love you guys!
Thank you to you, the reader. Without your support, Brave and Aras wouldn’t exist. Thank you for loving them just as much as me!
Thank you to Jack and Rowan, the wild men in my life who keep me on my toes and push me to give my best. You’re inquisitive, smart, and creative beyond belief. One day I do believe you will out-write your mommy. Every word, every second, every breath—I do for you. Always.
Thank you to my husband, Jody, for never once complaining when I had to spend another late night on the computer. You are my teammate in all things, and I’d be lost in this big world if I didn’t have you. With your teasing ways and deadpan humor, you’ve always been the inspiration for Aras’ wiles. I love you to pieces, and just in case you didn’t know, Aras is my favorite character.
Finally, thank you Lord for continuing to guide my path, even when it’s hard for me to listen. As always, it is my greatest wish to make You proud.
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The Reigning Star Page 23