Kenna
“I’m going back to Crescent Falls at the end of the week,” Sydney says over the rim of his whiskey glass, his blue eyes a stark contrast to his all black suit. “To look for Sasha.”
“Ah,” I say, giving him a hard look. “You sure?”
“Am I sure I’m looking for her? Yes. It’s my mission.”
Ryan crosses his arms, rolling his eyes to the ceiling.
Evander leans against one of the enormous black marble columns in the ballroom, his eyes sliding to mine.
There’s barely anyone in here at this point. The musicians are being fed copious amounts of champagne in thanks for their near ceaseless playing over the past four or five hours, and the once riotous crowd has dispersed.
It’s 2:00 A.M. Everyone is going home. Even our family members have retreated to the numerous guest rooms.
So, it’s just me, Evander, Ryan, and Sydney.
And… Flynn. Our Beta, since Evander’s siblings are still too young to hold that position.
Flynn’s all right, I guess.
“I think she may have been adopted, but Ryan hasn’t found anything about that yet.” Sydney toys with his glass, looking at his twin.
Ryan nods. “All of that is public record in Crescent Falls. But so far, I’ve found nothing, and I have to say I’m looking forward to replacing you in Eastonia for a while.”
“What about group homes?” Evander cuts in. “Orphanages?”
“Not in Crescent Falls,” Sydney sighs. “We don’t have those. Celestoria has them, from what I know. But Atticus would have had to arrange for her to cross those borders, and I doubt he had the manpower and alliances in Crescent Falls to move her that far out of Eastonia.”
I hate talking about this. I don’t want Sasha to be found. I don’t think she should be. She’s not a threat, and sniffing around while Gabriel is still out there, covenless and hunting her, means we’re putting her in even more danger.
But this isn’t up to us anymore. She’s in Uncle Isaac’s kingdom, and it’s his decision.
He’s not okay with a rogue witch in his territory, especially one with enormous powers and a cousin hell bent on destruction in order to find her and take over the Allied Kingdoms by using her powers.
“I’m going to bed,” I say abruptly, giving my cousins a false smile. “This conversation is exceedingly boring.”
“Breakfast tomorrow?” Ryan asks me as Evander and I turn to make our leave.
“Lunch,” Evander says. “We’re sleeping in as late as we can.”
Ah, that sounds delicious.
I open my mouth to tell them goodnight, but Evander swoops me into his arms. I yelp in surprise as he practically runs out of the ballroom with me against his chest.
I clutch his dress shirt as he tears up the stairs in the foyer and down a darkened hallway. Sconces flare to life as we hurtle toward our bedroom.
“You’re insane!” I giggle.
“I’ve been going insane seeing you in that dress,” he growls, squeezing me. “I had to fight the urge to take you upstairs all night.”
Nice. I knew my after-party dress would have an effect on him. It’s silken and flows over my generous curves like a finely fitted glove, the silver fabric a perfect match to my eyes. I even let my hair down, and we spent the entire night dancing.
It’s truly been the best night of my life.
“Please tell me you didn’t wear gowns like this to all of the mating balls you went to last spring,” he says, turning on his heel and skirting through the door to our room, which the magic of the house graciously opened for us so Evander wouldn’t be tempted to kick it down.
Our bedroom is huge–a sweeping, wide room with a four poster bed and dark paint and fabric that bleeds into a domed ceiling with a mural of the stars overhead. The stars glow on their own accord, mimicking the night sky. In fact, the ceiling will eventually fade from a starry night to a stunning morning, if it’s sunny.
If it’s rainy tomorrow, well, there’s a chance we’ll wake up to dark storm clouds rolling across the ceiling.
I love it.
I almost say something about how bright the stars are tonight, but Evander tosses me onto the bed, and the thought is gone.
He’s on me in an instant, kissing me so deeply I can barely catch my breath.
“How much do you like this dress?” he asks, running his hands down my sides. “How upset would you be if I tore this dress to pieces getting it off you?”
“You’d be buying me a new one!”
He gives me a teasing pout. “Oh, no. How will we possibly afford that?”
I gasp out a laugh as he tears the dress down the middle, freeing my breasts.
His mouth is instantly on my skin–tasting, exploring, his tongue flicking over my nipple and teeth grazing the tender skin on my belly as he makes his way lower, and lower, hooking his thumbs around my panties and pulling them down my thighs.
“I have a surprise for you,” I whimper, closing my eyes against the rippling pleasure flooding my body as he kisses my inner thigh.
“What is it?” he growls, his voice low and full of need. He drags his tongue up my leg, stopping precariously close to my center.
I arch my hips involuntarily, desperate for his touch.
“I’ve been keeping a secret,” I pant, twinning my fingers in his hair as he dips his head to press his tongue through my folds. I jerk against the motion of his tongue, letting out my breath.
“Bad girl,” he rasps, his teeth grazing my clit.
I whimper as he squeezes my thighs while he works me into a frenzy. It’s like he’s been starving for me, waiting for this moment all night.
But just when the incredible, body-numbing pleasure starts to build, he pulls away and leans over me, covering my body with his own.
Still dressed, he kisses me deeply, his tongue swirling over mine as I quickly unbutton his shirt and start yanking on his belt.
“Are you going to tell me this secret of yours, mate?”
He reaches down and pulls his belt from the loops, tossing it across the bed. He shoves his pants down just far enough to free his cock from his boxers and sinks into my pussy without ceremony.
We both let out a breath. He groans, slowly pumping into me a few times while I adjust to his size.
“Gods, Kenna–” he rasps, burying his face in the side of my neck.
I wrap my legs around his waist and close my eyes, sinking my teeth into his shoulder.
It’s slow and tender despite the buildup of dancing all night, our bodies writhing against each other when the party took on a new, darker vibe.
But my body is thrumming. Pleasure builds and bursts, coursing through my thighs and belly. I cry out, my voice echoing off the walls, and I’m exceedingly thankful for this old castle with its thick, impenetrable walls.
Evander comes undone shortly thereafter, his hands squeezing my hips as he thrusts me into the mattress. I ride out my orgasm with his.
Only when we’re sweating and untangling ourselves from each other does he ask again, while I settle myself in his arms, “What was your secret surprise?”
“Oh, that,” I smile, blushing as I prop myself up on my elbow to look down at him.
I memorize the planes of his face. His regal nose. His bright, emerald eyes fanned by lashes a few shades darker than his golden hair.
He’s handsome. Beautiful. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
“Evander,” I whisper. “I’m pregnant.”
Evander’s eyes go wide briefly, but he’s still. His face undergoes a great change as my words settle in.
I’m not sure what I expected. I didn’t think he’d jump up and down with glee. I also didn’t think he’d be upset or say it’s too soon. We have a two-month-old, for Goddess’ sake, who we adopted two days after the Rite.
His hand brushes down the slope of my hip and back up, resting over my belly.
“Really?”
I nod, tears stinging my eyes. “Really.”
“How long have you known?” There's so much emotion in his voice.
A sob works its way up my throat, tightening around my words as I say, “Two weeks. Almost three. I wanted it to be a surprise, I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
“That's why you’ve been sick. I thought it was nerves. I thought your new scent had something to do with you ascending to the throne….” He tapers off, his eyes going wide again. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes, Evander,” I laugh. “We’re having another baby next spring.”
He looks at me, searching my eyes. As if it finally clicks, he crushes me to his chest, wrapping his strong arms around me and holding me there.
He whispers a nearly silent prayer to the Goddess, choking on the words as I start to cry the happiest tears that have ever rolled down my cheeks.
We lay like that for a long time, talking in whispers about our future, about Brie’s future, and the future of our newest addition.
And when the sun starts to rise, and we haven’t slept, we get out of bed anyway, too excited to sleep.
I dress in comfy pajamas and a robe to fight the fall chill in the air. Evander and I walk hand and hand downstairs to the informal dining room where our family is slowly gathering for breakfast.
So much for sleeping in as long as we can.
Evander fixes me a plate while I feed Brie a bottle and listen to my mom and Aunt Maddy talk about the success of the ball last night. Grandma Isla and Grandma Cressendra discuss the upcoming move to Maatua where she and Grandpa Westfall have decided to retire. They’ll be living next door to Grandma Isla and Grandpa Maddox. My grandfathers discuss how good the fishing is as they sip their coffee.
Ryan and Sydney trickle in, hungover, but happy to see everyone gathered around a table together.
I have a flash of memory of a trip to Maatua as a child. We always ate outside in the morning when the weather was fine, filling up a picnic table while Grandpa Maddox divvied out his famous pancakes.
The table is fuller now.
I pass Brie to my mom, who holds her against her shoulder, gently patting her back as she continues her conversation with Aunt Maddy.
Evander leans over to whisper in my ear. “Should we tell them?”
Part of me wants to, just to see their reactions to our news, but it’s early, and outside of this room, beyond the misty veil of this precious gem at the very end of Eastonia, war is still on the horizon.
I look around, taking in the faces of my family, noticing the dark circles and new fine lines created by strife, grief, and uncertainty.
I have no idea what the next year will look like. I don’t know when Gabriel will make his next move. I don’t know who at this table might not be here in the end.
But the sun shines today. There isn’t a single cloud in the sky.
And right now, it’s peaceful.
“Let’s wait for a rainy day,” I tell him.
He rests his hand on my lower belly, leaning over to press a kiss to my temple.
“A rainy day,” he agrees.
We’ll share the news on a day when everything seems hopeless. Because, in Brie and our future child, I see and feel nothing but hope.
That’s enough to carry me through whatever comes next.