by Leia Stone
“Priscilla, I can’t even begin to understand what you have been through. I’m sure you are feeling lost and confused right now, but you are the rightful leader of the Winter Court. Do you still want to rule over these people, with the grace and goodness they should have had years ago?”
Every tired and weary muscle in her face lifted then. The light that had been hiding in the darkness shone so brightly that I could see it without even touching her soul. “I’d be … I’d be honored. I’d need some time to remember things and get myself together, but … I’d be honored.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I think you are exactly what this court needs. How about I keep things going here for a month or so, then you can take over when you’re rested and settled in?” I didn’t want to have to visit this place too often, I had my own people to worry about, but I could give her a little time.
She looked confused. “A month?”
Violet smiled. “Two fortnights? One moon cycle?”
Understanding replaced the confused expression, and she nodded a few times. “Oh, yes. I can do that. Thank you.”
I looked at the woman before me, captive for who knows how long. She didn’t look a day over thirty, but fae aging was akin to shifter aging — weird and unpredictable. I was sure she had thought her life was over. There was no chance of escaping while Isalinda lived. But, she could have a family now if she chose. A purpose and a future.
“Thank you for finding her,” I whispered to Shelley. The fae had tears in her eyes too. She was watching Priscilla closely — no doubt reacting to the return of her rightful queen.
“Let’s get you into the castle,” Violet said, her tone kind and understanding. “I can shroud you so that no one sees you.”
Priscilla let out a relieved breath. “Thank you. My mother always taught me that a queen needs to look put together at all times. I don’t want to start on the wrong foot.”
She cared about her people. About pleasing them. I was hoping she didn’t take it too far, though. There was a nice middle ground between crazy Isalinda and a pushover.
I better check on her periodically. I directed my worries to Kade, and he just slung an arm around me as we started to walk.
It will be fine, Ari. She will have others to help her.
He was right, but a part of me felt like I was foisting my responsibility off onto a broken fae, one who was not ready to be a leader.
Reassess in a month, he told me.
That was a good idea. I would give her this time to rest and heal. Then we would see. I had no idea what I would do if she wasn’t fit to rule, but that was another bridge I would cross when I came to it.
Inside the castle, Priscilla led us toward a wing on the east side. “These were my rooms,” she said. Surprisingly, they were still there, exactly as she left them, only covered now in a thick sheen of dust.
“No doubt Issie never stepped foot in here again.” She looked around, her eyes, which were a lovely lilac color, were shadowed.
I glanced around at the dusty wing, filled with ghosts of the past. “Why don’t we strip the former queen’s rooms,” I said. “Those are your rightful quarters now. I think it would be a fresh start.”
Her arms trembling, she nodded. “Yes, I think that would be a nice way to begin it all. Back in my parents’ wing.”
Handmaids were called in and everything happened in a hurry after that. Rooms were stripped; Priscilla was moved into the royal wing to begin her month of rest. Word was spreading fast through the castle about the return of the princess, and already flowers and gifts were arriving.
The fae were rejoicing.
By the time we all left the Winter Court, I was feeling pretty good about the way things had turned out. In one month I’d come back and make sure Priscilla was still the right person to rule the Winter Court. I had high hopes that she was. Even a short time out of the hut had seen a huge return of vitality to her. I would be present at her coronation ceremony. For now, I was going to send across some of my own shifter guards, just to keep an eye on things.
Upon returning to Manhattan, back in my mecca stone room, Shelley and I said at the same time: “Let’s go get our kids.”
Kade was already reaching for my hand. “Baladar and Nikoli already have a car waiting.” He must have planned this before we left.
Just the thought of having Winnie back by my side, of the three of us being a family together, was enough to have joy and happiness ricocheting between us. I almost couldn’t believe we had done it. We were going to be a proper family. No more absences. No more wars or fae or worry. This was finally the part where I could look back and say all of the sacrifice was worth it. We had done it, we had beaten the fae.
I started to run for the door, dragging my mate behind me. Kian and Shelley laughed as they hurried along too. We were going to get our kids. Our family.
EPILOGUE
Six Months Later
Happily Ever After.
“Where is the cake? It should have been here an hour ago!” I griped to Kade as he cut lemons for the water pitcher.
He chuckled. “Serves you right for ordering a four-tier cake for a six-year-old’s birthday.”
I pinned him with a mock glare. “Winnie had a rough year. She deserves the best.” I peered past him, out into the garden of our Staten Island home.
It was just starting to warm again after the winter months, so all of the shifters were enjoying the gardens. I could see Winnie and Nathanial, both dressed as pirates, chasing each other with plastic swords.
Annette entered the kitchen. “She’ll make a wonderful queen one day.”
I chuckled. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get her in a dress.”
I stripped off my sweater, suddenly feeling extra warm despite the end-of-winter chill still in the air.
“Cake is here!” Violet screamed from the entryway.
I bolted down the hall. “How does it look?”
I came to a halt beside my best friend, the sparkling diamond on her left finger still catching my eye. It was a massive rock. Nikoli had gone all out, knowing the way Violet loved shiny things. Their road together might have been a little rocky, but in the end he was perfect for her. I had no complaints. He’d been instrumental in her healing, and most days those shadows no longer touched her face. She was finally free.
“It looks nicer than your wedding cake,” she told me, peeking in the box.
I chuckled. Kade and I had gotten married three months ago. A small affair, just as we had wanted, with only close family and friends on the rooftop terrace of our Manhattan home. The following day, we’d had a large ball for the entire shifter community, and the fae came as well. King Samson and Prince Caspien had both visited for a short time, offering their congratulations and reinforcing our alliance. So had Queen Priscilla. One month had been more than enough time for the rightful heir of the Winter Court to regain her strength and mental composure. All reports confirmed she was a fair and just queen. For the first time in a long time, the winter fae were at peace. Prosperous. Building relationships with the other courts.
The biggest surprise wedding guest had been Zandu. He’d presented both Kade and I with an elven blade, made just for us. A priceless gift.
Gently shoving Violet to the side, I peeked in the box at the rich buttercream frosting and the large golden edible pirate chest, chocolate coins spilling out onto the base of the cake. “It is nicer than my wedding cake,” I agreed.
For once, looking at a delicious, multi-tiered cake didn’t make me want to shove my face right into it and eat until I couldn’t stand. The smell of all the sugar was actually making me a bit nauseous. My wolf even grumbled, and we loved cake.
Probably the six plates of fondue you had last night. Finn’s voice was a husky laugh in my head. Last night had been our weekly fondue family gathering, and I had been starving. Yep, my stomach has been off since then. Probably got a bad piece of cheese or something.
I disconnected from my
familiar when I realized Violet was staring at me with concern. “Are you okay?” she asked.
I waved her off. “I’m fine. Just feel blah today. Ate some bad cheese. Stress from party planning. I just want today to be perfect for Winnie.”
She peered a little closer at me, her eyes narrowing. She gave a small cough and shook her head. “Uh … what did you get Winnie for her birthday?” she asked.
I almost squealed in excitement. Winnie was going to be so thrilled when she saw her present. “A huge rock wall. Kade had it installed in her room.”
Violet raised one eyebrow. “And...?”
“And some smaller stuff like a drawing pad and a new teddy bear.”
“And…?” Violet pressed.
I put one hand on my hip. “You’re saying I didn’t get her enough? I don’t want to completely spoil her! Between Kade, Annette, Shelley, and Kian … well, she does not lack for attention or presents.” The entire family had embraced us as their own, and it was the most wonderful thing I had ever known.
Violet leaned in closely. “You got her a baby sibling to play with too…” Her gaze dropped to my belly, and on cue the nausea hit me again. I let out a little shocked gasp, my hands falling to press against my flat stomach. “Are you serio—how do you know?” It wasn’t like Kade and I had been trying. I mean, we weren’t actively not trying, but…
Violet reached out and poked my left boob hard.
“OW!” I smacked her hand, shouting, “Take this one to the torture chamber!”
A few guards waved from their position across the yard. I glared at each of them, turning my annoyance on Violet. “I don’t understand why no one will lock you up.”
Violet grinned. “They know better than to mess with me. And, p.s. … you’re totally prego.”
Excitement bubbled up inside of me. “Seriously?”
Violet gave me that look that said she knew everything and not to question her.
“Okay, take the cake to the party, I’ll be right out.” I turned tail and raced up the stairs.
Kade and I had just talked last week about wanting to try to have a baby. Calista had been the one to bring it up with her not-too-subtle way of giving me a basketful of ovulation predictor kits and pregnancy tests. She was always trying to continue to secure my position as queen, and with an heir it made me look stronger. Our line struggled to conceive and carry to term, but something told me Kade’s child would be one strong little fighter.
I yanked one of the tests out of the basket and ran into the bathroom to pee on it, almost tripping over Finn as he raced in the door.
Pregnant? he asked me, his soulful yellow eyes dancing.
“I don’t know! Violet says yes, so I’m going to take the test.”
I’ll wait out here.
I shut the bathroom door and peed on a stick — a stick, which could possibly change my entire life. I sat it on the sink, washed my hands, and opened the door to step out and stand by an anxious Finn. He had been waiting right on the other side, and I could feel his energy thrumming across our bond. We didn’t talk. Neither of us could. Would the baby be a bear or wolf? Would it be healthy? I’d had a ton of chocolate last night — was that okay?
It will be fine, Ari, Finn finally said, trying to calm me down.
I forced myself to calm down, and reinforced my shield between Kade and me. With my emotional overload, I was struggling to keep him out of my head, but I didn’t want to get his hopes up.
He should be here, though.
Waiting with me.
We were a team. We celebrated and comforted each other, no matter what the results.
I had just decided to run and get him — this was not something I should see without my mate — when the second hand on the clock ticked over to two minutes.
I froze to the spot.
Do you want me to look? Finn asked.
“Yes … no … I don’t know.”
He gave me a second and I finally sucked up the guts to walk forward and pick up the little stick. I held my breath and lifted it up. I then looked between the box and the test three times to make sure I was reading it right.
So…?
Finn was getting impatient, so I spun around and let my absolute joy spread across my face. My cheeks were hurting I was smiling so broadly. “I’m pregnant!”
He tipped back his head and let out a long howl, strong and filled with happiness. He then butted against me, and I dropped down and wrapped my hands around him, careful not to tangle the pee stick in his fur.
We’re adding to our pack. And finding out on Winnie’s birthday … another blessing in our lives.
I buried my face in his fur, letting the tears drip down my cheeks. They were happy tears, but also a few sad ones. The battle might be over, but we had lost too many. I had lost too many. Ben and Derek. My … mother. I had made my peace with the Red Queen, which actually made it so much harder now. She was gone. But at least she wasn’t trapped in the mecca. Thankfully, Luca had made no difference to the energy of the stones. I checked regularly, and he was nothing more than a ghost trapped in a purple world.
After I pulled myself together, wiped away the tears, I stood and lovingly stroked Finn. “Let’s go celebrate,” I said to him.
I didn’t realize until I was down the stairs and halfway across the huge landscaped lawn that I was still holding the stick in my hand. I also realized something else.
I think Kade might already suspect.
Finn paused and looked up at me.
He mentioned last night that my scent was slightly different.
I chuckled. Finn tilted his huge head, leaning in closer and pressing his nose to my stomach. It’s subtle, he said after a few beats, but there is a change.
“Ari!” Blaine’s call distracted me and I turned to wave. He was standing near the huge white silk party tent, his long arms wrapped around Bianca. Seeing my old friend so happy, in love, settled … it was another perfect piece in our puzzle. They had just bought a house down the road from the Staten Island estate, and the way they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, my babies were soon going to have some “cousins” to add to their pack.
I hurried, needing to tell Kade and Winnie our good news. Finn remained close behind but still gave me some space. I found my loves together, wrestling in the grass. Winnie was a competitive little thing, and even though Kade let her win, he still had to keep his wits about him. She was not only competitive, but hugely sneaky.
“Hey there, birthday girl,” I sang as I closed in on them.
She let out a little shriek and jumped up to throw herself into my arms. “This is the best birthday ever. Thank you! Thank you!”
I hugged her so tightly I was afraid her little ribs would crack, but I couldn’t help myself. Kade also jumped to his feet. A dozen feet away, Kian was play-wrestling with his son, while Shelley looked on at her two boys with a combination of love and exasperation.
Keeping Winnie in my arms, I tried to find where the test went. It had been knocked out of my hands when I caught the little wolf. Kade noticed what I was doing, and before I could say anything, reached down and snagged the white stick up.
He looked at it for a second, a very long second, and then those swirling bronze eyes lifted to stare at me. The intensity of that look, it knocked all air from me. “Is this … are we…?” He seemed unable to finish a sentence, so I took pity on him.
“We’re pregnant.” My words were low, soft, meant only for Winnie and Kade’s ears. This was a private moment. Our moment.
Before I could suck in another breath, his hands were on my cheeks, his lips crashing into mine. All rational thought disappeared, and I forgot everything in the world except the taste and scent of my mate.
“I’m going to be a big sister?” Those whispered words finally broke through my Kade haze.
Winnie sounded so happy, her excitement spilling over in one rushed sentence. I was still holding her. Kade wrapped his arms around us both, and we turned to
her. “Yes, sweetheart, you’re going to be a big sister.” I kissed her cheek, and she sobbed a few times, even though she had the hugest smile I’d ever seen on her face.
“I’m so happy.” She sobbed some more.
Kade let out a chuckle, and even his eyes looked a little shiny. “I love you both so much,” he said with a fierce intensity. “I promise I will protect and love you three until the end of my days.”
Gods he was perfect. I hadn’t been completely sure what his reaction would be to this news, but the absolute love and happiness he was exuding told me everything. He was already an amazing father, and he would be for every single child we added to our family.
“Let’s go celebrate,” I whispered to them both. “Let’s keep the baby a secret for a little longer,” I added to Winnie. “Today is your birthday. This is all for you, my little one.”
She kissed me on the cheek, wiggling down. “I’m going to get some cake.” She was already moving toward the party food. Violet had the huge cake set up at center stage.
As soon as she was gone, Kade swept me up in his arms and he was kissing me again. As he pulled away, I said, “You have to stop carrying me around, love.”
“Better get used to it.” His voice was husky. “For the next nine months, I am not letting you lift a finger.” There were slivers of worry creeping into his words, and I understood. Shifter pregnancies were dangerous. The fetus could shift, and that could cause massive blood loss. It was hard to carry a shifter pup to term, but I wasn’t too worried. I had all of my magic to help with that.
I patted Kade on the shoulder and he reluctantly let me down. “I’m fine, mate. You don’t need to stress over anything. Maybe when I’m huge and waddling I’ll let you do some of the heavy lifting. Until then, I am perfectly capable.”
He dropped his forehead onto mine. “Thank you for making me the luckiest bear in the world. Thank you for my life.”
“I love you, Kade.” I didn’t even have the words to really express how much he meant to me.