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EPILOGUE

Visla

In the future

“Krel, sit down so we can have supper,” I exclaimed, ushering Krel toward the table while carrying baby Khavuu on my hips.

Krel ran toward the window and peeked out. “Father is coming. I see him.”

“Yes, child. That’s why you need to sit. It’s father’s birthday.”

“Ooooh, will there be cake?” Krel asked, taking his seat at the table.

“Yes, Krel. There will be cake. Chocolate. I made it.”

He clapped his hands and his aqua blue scales illuminated with excitement.

I fussed with the linen napkins on the table but one of the maids came in and shooed me away.

“Sit, darling. You’re with child. Let us do the work. You’ve been in the kitchen with us all day trying to put together the best meal. You’ve done your duty. Let us do ours. You will make me lose my job,” Yoshiri scalded me. She reminded me of my mother and I grinned. However, she had most certainly been a saving grace throughout every pregnancy and I was on my third.

“If you say so, Yoshiri,” I sighed.

Before taking my seat, I placed a one-year-old Khavuu in his booster stool. Because he was fussing, Yoshiri snuck him a piece of vegetable to nibble on while we waited for Khol.

Just as I was about to get up to go downstairs to see what was keeping in, he sauntered right in wearing full horde gear. I bit my lip and blushed. This would never get old. I loved seeing my mate like this. I was a little anxious either way, as we had not seen each other since this morning when he left me in bed to take care something at the dock.

“I smell food!” he exclaimed.

Krel jumped up and raced over to Khol. Khol scooped him up with one arm and hauled him on his back and then proceeded to give him a piggy ride over to his little brother, Khavuu, who was giggling at the beast noises his father was making.

All the while, he eyed me hungrily.

Finally, he came to greet me, leaning down to kiss me and lingering in the kiss longer than I anticipated.

“Ewww,”Krel blurted out loud.

I blushed.

“Queen,” he said, giving my lips a soft peck.

“King.”

So no one else could hear, he whispered in my ear, “The food looks delicious, but I wish we were alone, and then I’d have you as the main course.”

I coaxed his hand under my tunic so he could feel how wet I already was for him, anticipating some more celebratory sex, and then whispered back, “Then leave room for dessert. You can have all you want.”

He cleared his throat. “I have a gift for you.”

I smiled. “But it’s your birthday.”

“I know. And I love seeing you smile.” He presented a long box to me and placed it in my hand.

As the children and some of the maids looked on, I opened my gift to find the prettiest necklace I’d ever seen. It was adorned with majestic blue gems that I’d never seen in my life—not on this side of the galaxy anyway.

“Thank you,” I said, admiring it.

He lifted it from the box, placed it around my neck, and helped me fasten it. “Beautiful.”