Elijah’s arms wrapped around me from behind, and I sank back into them, needing his strength at the moment.
“Why did I promise that?” I softly asked him.
“Because you meant it,” he answered easily, tightening his embrace as he whispered in my ear. “We will all do everything we can to ensure they are reunited. That is our promise.”
Dakath moved to my side and grabbed my hand, pulling it up to press a kiss to it. “Rina needed that hope to hold onto. You did what was needed, Ky.”
Kolvar approached us, bouncing Rina in his arms and making her giggle.
The words tumbled out of me as I felt all of their strength and support during such an emotional moment for our little family.
“I love you all,” I admitted, looking between Kolvar and Dakath while squeezing Elijah’s arm with my one free hand. “I love you so much it takes my breath away.”
Elijah’s breath tickled my ear as he nuzzled in and whispered, “I love you too.”
Kolvar beamed at me and mouthed, “I love you more,” to which Elijah let out a playful growl in response.
A squeeze came from Dakath, who was still holding my hand. “Love you, Ky.”
Rina giggled again and gave me a toothy grin, “I love you too, Ky!”
Despite this being a serious moment with my men, her added sentiment made it that much sweeter.
Her smile was infectious, lifting my spirits in an instant. She was such a sweet and adorable little girl. I hadn’t had the opportunity to be around children much in my life, but I found myself loving her presence each time she was there. Watching Kolvar with her was one of the most adorable things I’d ever seen, since he was such a mountain of a man with such a tiny little thing in his arms. I couldn’t deny that it made me wonder if he wanted kids, with the way he was with her.
Was that something I wanted? Was it something all of them wanted?
These were thoughts for a later date when the war was done and we had more time to deepen our relationship.
Glancing up to her parents, I found them sharing a kiss before Tristan rested his forehead against Bailey’s. “We’ve got this,” he quietly assured her before they linked hands and walked over to us.
“Thank you,” Bailey said as she smiled softly at me, her eyes slightly puffy from crying.
“Don’t mention it,” I responded and shrugged my shoulders. “We’ve been through so much together that I consider you all a part of the family.”
Rina clapped her hands together excitedly as her eyes widened. “Does that mean you are my sister now, Ky?”
We all shared a laugh at her innocent question before Bailey corrected her. “No, honey. She’d be your aunt.”
Rina’s nose scrunched up as she pondered that. “Auntie Ky and my three uncles!” she finally exclaimed, seemingly satisfied with that.
This was what we were fighting for: family and freedom.
“You’ve grown so much since I met you, Kyella,” Tristan offered as he grabbed Rina from Kolvar, settling her on his hip. “I’m proud of you, and I’m honored to fight at your side.”
I was instantly transported to the times in the Thaician Empire that Tristan protected me as much as he could, at the risk of his own family. Hearing him say that meant so much to me. I wanted to be his equal, to help him just as much as he had me in my time of need.
Dipping my head in thanks, I answered, “I’m the one who feels honored to stand amongst such incredible men and women. I still have much to learn, and I couldn’t ask for better people to be surrounded by.”
“Shall we go hear our ruler’s blessing then?” Elijah questioned, and I glanced around our little bubble, noting that the halls had mostly cleared now.
We needed to get into the main room before we missed it. I was curious how Myrin would do this without revealing her identity, but a part of me already knew this would be an inspiring moment I would never forget.
“Let’s do it.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Kyella
