by Ivy Sparks
Everybody would know by my walk just how hard Ryker had been fucking me. But then again, I had a feeling the entire village knew about what happened here already. We weren’t exactly quiet.
But with the Xekis, that wasn’t something to be embarrassed about. In so many ways, they were more advanced than humans, even if they didn’t have spaceships, bureaucratic diplomacy, and global trade.
The Xekis had what mattered, and I would never second guess them—nor Ryker—again.
Epilogue
Claire
“God, I feel woozy again,” I groaned up at the sky, as if it were one of the sun’s fault.
Sophie and Demi walked beside me as we made our way through the village. Our plan was to pick out some traditional linen and pottery from the local artisans. Both Ryker and Kali’s quarters were so dire, with the only decorations being weaponry and armor, that Sophie and I had decided to get some colorful pieces to lighten up our living spaces.
Our men had both reluctantly agreed, so long as Demi provided us guidance on our choices. Apparently certain colors and textiles weren’t to be mixed in the Xeki tradition.
Demi took a few long steps then stood in front of me. “We must sit for a moment until your nausea passes. If something were to happen to you under my watch…”
“All right, all right,” I said, and we detoured into one of the many nearby gardens. I sat down on a bench, which made the memory of me and Ryker in the carnia garden flash through my mind. My cheeks heated up as I crossed my legs.
I looked up to see both Demi and Sophie staring at me. “Why don’t you two sit down?” I asked, though my tone was more demanding than I intended. I felt on display, as if they both could peek in on my lustful memory of the week before.
Sophie sat next to me, but she remained staring. I rolled my eyes. “We’re just concerned,” she said, watching me closely.
“My stomach’s probably still adjusting to the local food. I mean, even Chinese and Mexican food used to give me problems back on Earth.”
Sophie and Demi both shared a knowing glance. Knowing about what, I didn’t know.
“Would you like some water?” Demi asked. “Or maybe tea? Or some fruit?”
“You know what I’m really craving?” I started. “Chocolate and Cheetos. Even better, Cheetos dipped in melted chocolate. But I somehow doubt there’s any chance of me getting either of those, huh?”
Sophie put her arms together, looking like she just saw a cute baby panda. “Oh my God, I knew it!”
“Knew what?”
“The weird food cravings. The nausea. The glow on your skin. You’re going to have a baby!”
I blinked at Sophie, then turned my eyes to Demi. Happiness replaced her previously concerned expression. For the both of them, Sophie’s guess was a fact, but I was still having trouble processing it.
“I-I don’t think so. I think it’s just… um…” I couldn’t think of any other obvious reason I was feeling this way. The two were way ahead of me. “I’m pregnant,” I admitted, the words sounding so weird coming out of my mouth.
I was carrying his baby. I was carrying Ryker’s child. Our baby.
Tears filled the rim of my eyes, and Sophie looked away, as if seeing me cry would make her cry too.
“Wow.” Sophie sniffled, trying her best to control her emotions, but failing pretty hard. Even Demi, usually so poised, looked a bit watery-eyed.
Sophie continued, taking hold of my hand. “I swear this is the happiest day of my life.”
I laughed, wiping away my tears with my free hand. “Jeez. It’s not even your baby,” I joked.
“Well, would you believe this is the third bit of good news I got today? I was going to tell you later, after we were done shopping, but I can’t take it anymore!”
“What’s the other good news?” I asked, practically holding my breath.
Sophie left me in suspense for a few moments before saying, “I’ve gotten Kali to vow to me that Nora will be allowed to leave as soon as the sand storms subside. He even promised to lend her several warrior escorts to ensure she makes it to the star port safely.”
A weight was lifted off my shoulders. Finally I could rest assured, knowing Nora would be united with her family. “Have you told her yet?” I asked.
“I did. I told her first thing this morning, after Kali made his vow to me. She’s so relieved. She cried into my shoulder for about ten minutes, then asked if she’d be allowed to bring a few Xeki toys and jewelry back for her daughter. As if Kali would say no! I told her of course, then she cried some more. I think part of her is going to miss this village. I wonder if she’ll ever visit us in the future, with her family?”
I smiled at that thought, then I remembered something. “Hey, didn’t you say this was the third bit of good news you got today? What was the second?”
Sophie’s eyes darted between me and Demi. She was a pressure cooker of good news, just about to explode. “Okay, I wanted to save this for later, especially after your baby announcement. But if you insist…” She paused dramatically. “Kali and I are getting married.”
I gasped and flung my arms around her shoulder. “That’s so great, Sophie!”
“It’s going to be this huge traditional Xeki wedding! I mean, I’m sure that goes without saying, considering he’s the king and all, but I still can’t believe it. Here I thought I was doomed to one day have a shotgun wedding in Vegas.”
I squeezed her even more then pulled back. “Does this mean I should start calling you ‘my queen’?”
Sophie laughed hysterically, and for a second, I worried she was going to pull a muscle. “Me, a queen? But I guess I will be, huh?” She put on a haughty accent, continuing, “I mean, yes, my loyal subject. Henceforth, you must call me your queen. Anyway, you need to tell Ryker the news. Can I be there, please? I want to see the look on his face.”
“Sure,” I said with a sly smile, then I turned to Demi. “Would you like to be there too?”
She had been so quiet that I hadn’t noticed she was still holding back tears. “I would be so pleased,” she said, her voice choked up, trying to maintain a strong posture.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m just so happy for the future of our village. Don’t mind me.”
Sophie and I stood, both of us taking her hands in each of ours, and we made our way out of the garden.
This morning, as he did most mornings, Ryker was training the next generation of warriors. Though he took this duty very seriously, I had a feeling he wouldn’t mind the interruption.
I made my way to the castle grounds with Sophie and Demi trailing behind me. To the west of the castle, past the carnia garden, was a flattened training ground for Xeki warriors. As I stepped into the grounds, I saw Ryker with his back to me, nodding in approval as his young warriors in training practiced their spear throwing.
He would step in every minute or so to correct a young warrior’s posture, but otherwise he was encouraging and proud, patting his trainees’ backs or pointing out good technique.
I turned to Sophie and Demi, who stood near the entrance of the training grounds. They nodded and waved at me to move forward, wide smiles on their faces.
I paused a moment as a wave of nausea came over me, then I headed into the training field. Once I reached Ryker, I put a hand on his shoulder.
He spun to see me, his face lighting up. “My beautiful mate. I thought I felt you near. One moment.” He shouted out to the trainees to take a short break, then turned all his attention to me as they dispersed.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, cupping my face.
“About that… I was out in the village with Demi and Sophie, and I kept feeling dizzy and light headed…”
Ryker’s eyes widened. “You’re ill? You should be seen by a healer at once.”
“It’s not that, though. I’m not sick, necessarily…” I was having trouble saying the words. A little bit of my old feelings of doubt crept up, and for a moment I ho
nestly wondered if he would be happy to hear the news.
With me not saying anything, Ryker pressed, “Whatever it is, you must be examined. I’ll have a healer fetched straight away.”
As he was turning to order someone to do just that, I said, “Ryker, we’re going to have a child.”
That shut him up.
“You’re serious?” he asked, his face mostly blank, except for a slight upturn in his eyebrows.
“Yes,” I said with a little laugh.
He pulled me in for a deep kiss, picking me up as he spun us around in the field. “We’re having a child!” he shouted, first to me, then to the sky, then to the trainees out in the field. He finally set me down, whispering, “You’ve made me so happy, Claire.” He kissed my forehead. “I can’t wait to raise a family with you.”
Tears fell from my eyes, and I smiled like an idiot. I couldn’t hold back any of my emotions. Maybe it was the pregnancy. Maybe it was just that I was so damn happy.
“I love you, Claire. You’re the most beautiful, amazing woman I’ve ever known.”
“I love you, Ryker, with all my heart. You’ve changed my life.” I buried my face into his chest, and he held me tight, rocking me slightly. To think I thought I had reached peak happiness only a week ago, just for life, and Ryker, to surprise me again.
Three moons had passed since then. Three days ago, Sophie had the most beautiful wedding in the castle, with every Xeki attending. She was officially a queen—somebody I was proud to call my queen. And like me, she was sporting quite the baby bump, though mine was further along.
Sophie had invited me, Ryker, and Nora over for a carnia tea ceremony. Though the tea was usually saved for the sick and injured, the carnias were especially bountiful this season, allowing for ceremonial use.
What the occasion was, I didn’t know. We both already had our baby announcements, and she had her wedding. There was the matter of Nora finally being able to safely leave, so I had my suspicions that was what we were celebrating.
In our bedroom, now more colorful and inviting after Ryker let me decorate it, I turned away from my dresser and asked Ryker, “Just how fancy do I need to dress for a carnia tea ceremony?”
Ryker wore his armor, as he did not just for war but for all ceremonial occasions. He merely shrugged at me. “You look beautiful even in the most plain slip.”
“Ryker! I’m not going to Sophie’s special… whatever it is… in a slip!”
“All right, all right.” Ryker, thankfully, caught on that I was having decision paralysis, and he had me step aside as he picked out a dress from my wardrobe. He chose a white one with purple accents in a common Xeki pattern. “This dress will be perfect. Its colors match the carnias.” He laid it in my arms then brushed a stray lock of hair out of my eyes. “Let’s not leave the queen and king waiting, shall we?”
I blinked. “Lord Kali will be there too?”
He hesitated, as if he had meant to keep that secret. “Yes… He loves carnia tea.”
I wasn’t buying it, but regardless, it made me want to get to this ceremony even sooner to see just what the occasion was. With that, I sat on the bed and put on my dress.
The carnia tea ceremony was held outside in the garden itself. A table and chairs were set up in the center, with an elaborate tea set on the tabletop. The carnias were in full bloom, the sweet and succulent smell of them almost intoxicating.
Everybody was already there: Sophie, Lord Kali, and Nora. Ryker and I greeted everyone as we took our seats. “Sorry we’re late,” I said. “I think all the hormones have made it so I can’t make simple decisions anymore.”
Sophie waved it off and poured me and Ryker a cup of tea. “Nora has an announcement,” Sophie said, a barely suppressed smile on her face.
Ah, just as I thought. I smiled too.
Nora cleared her throat, saying, “I’ve spoken with the village’s best seers, and they say I’ll be safe to leave in two weeks.”
Sophie clapped her hands, and I joined in, saying, “I’m happy for you, Nora. I’m sure it’s felt like forever.”
Nora nodded, a bittersweet look on her face. “It’s started to not feel so long anymore. The days have been flying by, and I’ve been actually enjoying myself.”
Sophie gave Ryker an expectant look, as if the two of them had agreed to something beforehand. I turned my attention to him, unsure what could be going on.
Ryker sipped at his tea to buy himself some time before saying, “I know, Claire, that you wanted to hold off our wedding for a little bit, so that we don’t steal any of the excitement away from Sophie and Lord Kali’s marriage, but she and I have been talking and…”
I set my cup of tea down, afraid that I might drop it. Was this really happening?
Ryker continued, “And with Nora about to leave so soon, she had told me she didn’t want to be left out, so…” He stood up, setting his chair aside as he bent down on one knee, taking my hand. “Will you marry me, Claire? And I mean, marry me in the next couple of weeks?”
I looked around the table in shock, my eyes settling back on Ryker’s. I knew we’d get married—that was never in question—but so soon? I hadn’t realized how much I wanted it, how little I wanted to postpone it, until now.
“Yes,” I said, laughing. “Yes, Ryker. I’ll marry you.” We both kissed, forgetting about everyone around us, the garden, the planet. For a moment, it was just us.
Then the table cheered, with Sophie in particular clapping and whooping like a maniac. “We’re going all out on your wedding,” she declared once Ryker sat back down. “It’s going to be even bigger than mine!”
I laughed again, having laughed more in the time I’ve been here than I did my entire life on Earth. “I don’t want to show up the king, Sophie!”
Sophie waved me off, nudging her husband. “As the queen, I’ll allow it. Right, Kali?”
“As you wish, my mate,” Lord Kali said stoically.
Nora reached across the table to squeeze my hand, a person once so against the Xekis, now in full support of them. I squeezed her hand back, so happy that she had not only come around, but wanted to be there for my wedding too.
The rest of the afternoon went by in a blur as I sat there, my head leaning against Ryker’s shoulder, the rest of my life playing out in my mind. A loyal husband, a close and loving community, and beautiful children to raise. I couldn’t wish for a better future.
THE END
Thanks for reading my debut novel! I hope you enjoyed it.
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