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The doctor had warned me I might experience aches and headaches, so I’ve been expecting this. But now that it has hit, I’m not sure I can endure much more.
Pulling up, we’re greeted by May. She rushes and pulls me into her arms, tears filling her eyes. “I’d thought the worst. How is the baby?” Her hand flies to her mouth.
“It’s okay. He knows now.” I smile weakly.
Hunter comes to my side and pulls me against him.
I need sleep—a lot of it.
“There are people here to see you, Aelina. But I can tell them that you need to rest.”
My head comes off Hunter’s shoulder where I’d placed it moments ago. “Mom and Dad?”
She nods.
“I want to see them.”
“They’re inside waiting,” she responds.
My mouth dries up when I step into the house. My mother and father stand in the kitchen, and I pause, taking them in. My mother doesn’t look as bad as she did when I first laid eyes on her.
I watch as her hands come up to her mouth, her eyes glistening. They both come toward me, but Hunter doesn’t release me. It’s a good thing because I’m not sure I’d be able to stand upright, given how exhausted my body feels. It wants to shut down for several hours.
“Aelina?” My mother’s soft voice fills the room.
I nod.
She rushes toward me, and only then does Hunter release me, stepping aside. My mother envelops me in her arms and holds me while I cry. My father comes and wraps us both in his large arms.
After all the loneliness I’ve had in my life, my heart feels overwhelmed by love. I don’t know these two people, but what I do know is that they’re my family. They’re my blood, and I want them in my life just like I want Hunter in my life.
Things are coming together, and my world is slowly being pieced back together.
After I’ve found my sisters, I’ll marry Hunter.
For now, the people in this room are all that matter, and, of course, Landon. I’ll forever be in his debt. A debt I intend to make good on.
I love Hunter, and together, we’re going to rule the underworld and change how things are run.
EPILOGUE
ONE MONTH LATER
“Is there any more news on Landon?” May asks, coming through the door after being out and feeding the animals. She holds a bunch of mixed flowers from the garden surrounding the family burial plot.
“Not yet. Hunter hasn’t called this morning with an update. Which is unsettling,” I say, taking a small bite of my toast.
I’m really not feeling well this morning. The baby is healthy, and I will hopefully reach the end of this morning sickness soon. It should be called all-day, every-day sickness. It’s the worst.
“Still not feeling well, honey?”
I shake my head.
“Perhaps it’s the anxiety and stress over what happened, along with being pregnant.” She comes over and gently rubs my back.
She is most likely right. I’m so worried about Landon. He should be waking up at any moment now.
“Maybe. It’s been a crazy few months with everything going on. I can’t keep up, and I think I’m more of a hindrance than help most days. Because I’ve come in, in the middle of something that was already well-established, I don’t know what to do or how to help.” I sigh, rubbing my forehead. “Hunter has been great, though, running things, checking in on Landon, ensuring he spends time with me, and making our doctor appointments.”
