by Ruby Dixon
Epilogue
MATHIOR
“He has your eyes,” I tell Halla, watching with fascination as my son grips my finger with a tiny hand. “And my sword-arm, I think.”
“Better your sword-arm than mine,” my lovely wife says. She doesn’t lift her head from the pillow but gives me a blissfully happy look. “Are you glad it’s a son?”
I gaze down at the baby in my arms. Am I? A son is fine, but I would be happy with a daughter that looked like her mother, too. That will be next, I decide. Halla thinks she is old, but we still have many good years between us, and she’s as eager for bedplay as I am. Perhaps more so. My innocent, sheltered wife loves to torture me with her mouth in all the best ways. Just thinking about it makes my cock harden, and I push such thoughts aside. It will be weeks or months before Halla is ready to join me in bed again, and I will wait.
I will always wait for her.
“I am glad our child is happy and healthy,” I tell her, tucking our son into the crook of my arm and moving closer to the bed so I can kiss her brow. She’s tired and disheveled after the birth but smiling. “I want nothing more than that.”
Halla’s sleepy chuckle is beautiful to hear.
“You feel well enough?” I rock the baby in my arms and watch her closely. I am very aware of the fact that her mother died in childbirth. It is a worry that has consumed me for weeks on end. But Halla has been inspected by every healer and clerist I can find and determined to be very healthy after the birth of our child a few short hours ago.
She waves a hand at me and yawns. “Merely sleepy. Quit worrying. You try having a baby and see how energetic you are.”
“I shall have the next one,” I promise her, and I’m delighted when she giggles. I live for her laughter. “Have you decided on a name, then?”
“Alistair,” my lovely wife tells me with an adoring smile.
My heart clenches and I’m filled with a rush of love. I look down at the boy in my arms, with his small, perfect face. He’s reddish from the birth and wrinkly, but to me he’s as wondrous as his mother. She knows how much I loved my father, even if we didn’t agree on many things. “Alistair, then,” I say softly.
She reaches a hand out to me and squeezes mine. “Now, we should go and show our people our son.”
“I will,” I tell her, and lean over the bed to give her another kiss first. “Have I told you that I love you, my beautiful Queen Halla?”
“Only twice today,” she tells me with a yawn. “You’re slipping.”
“I love you,” I say fervently, and I mean it. My hunger for my Halla hasn’t lessened in the slightest over the last year of our marriage. If anything, it’s only grown deeper, like my love for her. “You are everything to me.”
“I love you, too,” my wife says, and offers her palm for a kiss. I take it and press my mouth against it. A second later, I’m surprised when she starts to get out of bed.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re going to present our son, are we not?” She wraps the furs around her body, grimacing at the aches she must feel. “Give me the baby and you can carry us both out onto the balcony.”
She wants to go with me? I laugh, but I’m not surprised. My wife is as fierce as any cyclops warrior in her way, and she always gets what she wants. I carefully transfer the baby—Alistair—to her arms—and then pick her up in mine. I grunt a little at that. “It feels like you’ve still got a baby in you.”
Halla snorts and gives me a wry look. “Not what you want to tell your wife after she’s just had your child.”
“My wife knows she’s beautiful beyond words.”
She looks up at my face and smiles. “She does.”
And I take my wife and child out onto the balcony of Castle Yshrem and show the people—Cyclopae and Yshremi and Adassian alike—my family.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
You’re invited to the wedding of the century…times four!
When the Club ladies heard about the upcoming royal wedding, we immediately knew we wanted to do our own spin on it. We’re romantics at heart, and a royal wedding is pretty much the pinnacle of happy ever after. Each story’s going to be different (despite the fun matching covers) with one overarching theme – a king and his bride. I’m so excited for everyone to read all four stories!
Also, a total shout out to Kati Wilde for her magnificent cover art. I love every aspect of it, right down to the wedding invitation look. You guys know (if you follow me on Facebook) that Kati does all my covers, and I love each one more and more. I feel truly blessed that I get to work with her. Kati, a million thank yous once again for being a friend and collaborator! Let’s be honest, though – the Ruby end of the collaboration is usually “He looks hot and he’s blue! What can you do with that?” and Kati always somehow makes it magic.
As for this particular story…every author out there has a few story ideas saved up on her hard drive that she’s dying to get to but doesn’t have the time. This particular one was on my hard drive as ‘The Cyclops Bride’ for at least the last two or three years. I’d pick it up, read my outline and get ready to write…and then something else would land on my plate and on a back-burner it’d go. So when we talked royal weddings, I immediately pulled this one out of the pile. I’m so thrilled to get the chance to write Mathior and Halla FINALLY. I’ve never written a ‘cougar’ story and damn, that was fun. I’ll have to do that again. ;)
On the 9th of May, Kati Wilde’s The King’s Horrible Bride will be releasing! May 10th, Alexa Riley’s The King’s Innocent Bride and on May 11th, Ella Goode’s The King’s Reluctant Bride hits. These will ALL be in Kindle Unlimited, so you can borrow all of them to your heart’s content. It’ll be like prepping for the big day.
Enjoy! <3
Ruby
PS – Since we’re only human and sometimes publishing doesn’t go the way it should with glitches and all, the dates are MOSTLY PRETTY MUCH FINGERS CROSSED in stone but if there’s a burp, one might be late in going up. Just keep watching or sign up on Facebook to follow The Club and we’ll let you know when each one hits!
The Royal Wedding series
May 9th
The King’s Horrible Bride
Kati Wilde
After inheriting Kapria’s throne, Maximilian’s only objective was to erase his father’s corrupt legacy–a task that might have been impossible if a dying billionaire hadn’t given Maximilian his fortune…and his daughter, Victoria. Twelve years later, Maximilian has finally secured his kingdom’s future, and he’s ready to claim his bride–even if his advisors insist that she’s a horrible choice.
They aren’t the only ones who need persuading. Because after waiting for so long, finally marrying Maximilian should have been a dream come true for Victoria. Instead she’s caught in a nightmare of duty and obligation, betrothed to a king who pretends to love her in front of the cameras. She always wanted to be the perfect bride…but when she’s not fantasizing about Maximilian’s big hands, she’s dreaming about running away.
But Maximilian will never let Victoria escape him. Because the king isn’t pretending, and he’s waited long enough to claim his queen…
May 10th
The King’s Innocent Bride
Alexa Riley
Kate was forced to live with her uncle when she was little and was kept locked away. Then one night she found out her uncle was going to use her as collateral in a bet, and she knew she had to break free. But when she did, she never imagined she’d run straight into trouble with the king.
James is ruler of all that’s around him, and he has to keep the peace in his kingdom. When a trespasser is brought before him, he isn’t prepared for what happens next. He’s ready to stake his claim and take what he wants. He’s the king, after all.
Warning: This obsessive ruler is just what the palace ordered! Grab your tiara and get ready to celebrate the Royal Wedding with some fluffy, fun insta-love.
May 11th
The King’s Reluctant Bri
de
Ella Goode
As the illegitimate daughter of a chambermaid, Penelope Lloyd knows firsthand the heartbreak of loving above your station and a royal is as far out of reach as the stars. But that was before she fell for Prince Thomas and his dreams of happy ever after. She’s made her peace with being his secret lover but even that humble fantasy is placed in jeopardy when Thom is forced to don the King’s robes and wear the crown. For the sake of Matlavia, Pen knows she must give up Thom.
Prince Thomas has always had a plan. Pretend to be scandalous so that when he announces his plans to marry Pen, the people of Matlavia will be relieved rather than shocked. But his carefully constructed future is turned upside down when his older brother, King Stephen abdicates the throne and runs off with his mistress, leaving behind a furious jilted fiancée and a mountain of debt. With the country on the brink of bankruptcy, Prince Thomas will have to convince his love that they can have it all–their country and their love.
Ruby Dixon Reading List
FIREBLOOD DRAGONS
Fire in His Blood
Fire in His Kiss
Fire in His Embrace
Fire in His Fury
ICE PLANET BARBARIANS
Ice Planet Barbarians
Barbarian Alien
Barbarian Lover
Barbarian Mine
Ice Planet Holiday (novella)
Barbarian’s Prize
Barbarian’s Mate
Having the Barbarian’s Baby (short story)
Ice Ice Babies (short story)
Barbarian’s Touch
Calm(short story)
Barbarian’s Taming
Aftershocks (short story)
Barbarian’s Heart
Barbarian’s Hope
Barbarian’s Choice
Barbarian’s Redemption
Barbarian’s Lady
Barbarian’s Rescue
Barbarian’s Tease
The Barbarian Before Christmas (novella)
Barbarian’s Beloved
CORSAIRS
THE CORSAIR’S CAPTIVE
IN THE CORSAIR’S BED
ENTICED BY THE CORSAIR
STAND ALONE
PRISON PLANET BARBARIAN
THE ALIEN’S MAIL-ORDER BRIDE
BEAUTY IN AUTUMN
BEDLAM BUTCHERS
Bedlam Butchers, Volumes 1-3: Off Limits, Packing Double, Double Trouble
Bedlam Butchers, Volumes 4-6: Double Down, Double or Nothing, Slow Ride
Double Dare You
BEAR BITES
Shift Out of Luck
Get Your Shift Together
Shift Just Got Real
Does A Bear Shift in the Woods
SHIFT: Five Complete Novellas
Want More?
For more information about upcoming books in the Ice Planet Barbarians, Fireblood Dragons, or any other books by Ruby Dixon, ‘like’ me on Facebook or subscribe to my new release newsletter. If you want to chat about the books, why not also check out the Blue Barbarian Babes fan group?
Thanks for reading!
<3 Ruby