“It's amazing here,” Kolvar said as he stifled a yawn.
“It's the place, but it's also the people,” I explained before tilting my head in thought. “Well, most of them…Did we ever get answers from the lord we suspected of treason?”
Dakath chuckled darkly. “The bastard admitted to being the traitor in the same breath that he asked for mercy.”
I put my head down in thought, staring at the bed sheets. “Well, that’s something, I suppose.” After another moment of quiet thought, I asked, “What do you think we should do?”
Elijah offered me a pensive look as I considered him. With a heavy sigh, he answered, “I would say we show him the mercy of allowing him to retain his head, but we should remove him from his lands and title. Perhaps we should place him in a small village. It would do him some good to be humbled. If he raises any cause for concern beyond that, we can reevaluate then. I just know I want him far away from our life here in the capital.”
I nodded in agreement. “It is more than he deserves, but I do think that’s a good idea. Mercy is not an easy thing to grant to him, but a person who cannot forgive, even the most egregious sins, is nothing more than a tyrant. We will keep him far, far away from our life and any seat of power.”
“Our life,” Dakath drew out, looking amused as he chewed over Elijah’s words. “A life that seems to include children now.”
I sat up, drawing the blankets with me to keep me warm. “It does, doesn’t it?”
Kolvar let out a small, amused sound. “I think it's incredible. I’ve always wanted children, so the idea of helping so many find homes…I think that's great.”
And I knew he was hoping—and I was hoping as well—that some would perhaps decide to stay with us.
“You know,” I started, brow dipping as I considered each man in turn. “It's possible that when Tristan and Bailey go back to the Thaician Empire, they will find even more children, especially now that things will be slightly more settled. We could offer for those children to come here if they wanted to. Offer them a fresh start.”
“I think that's a great idea,” Elijah agreed. “Though, we need to ensure that we are diligent when finding them homes.”
“Or they could stay here,” I pointed out.
We’d give them a home full of warmth, happiness, and support, always.
Elijah offered me a smile. “Yes, or they could stay here with us. Either way, I think we need to really recognize first if they want to stay or go, and then if we are the right fit for them. I want to ensure we are as supportive as possible through this entire process. Our very first priority is finding welcoming and loving homes for them, whether that's ours or someone else's.”
“Of course,” Dakath agreed.
“As much as I would love to adopt all of them,” Kolvar offered a small grin, “I know that some of them are going to find amazing families elsewhere. Families that can give them each what they need, especially since we don’t know what they’ve been through.”
“We should invite families and couples to the castle to meet the kids,” I suggested.
“It will give them a good chance of finding the right fit,” Dakath agreed. “Maybe if they hit it off the first time, we can have a few meet ups like that to ensure they are really going to the right place.”
I loved how thoughtful they were being about all of this.
“And if they fit best with us…Well, I think they should stay. Are all of you okay with that idea?”
Elijah grunted, running a hand through his hair looking amused. “Little ones running around? We will never have quiet time again.”
Dakath chuckled at his words.
“Oh yeah, you seemed to really dislike all the laughter and fun they had during all the games you kept organizing for them,” Kolvar drew out, looking amused.
“Plus,” Dakath added. “Who knows, maybe one of them will be as serious as you, then we will have a little Elijah running around.”
“Oh no,” I murmured.
The man in question flashed me a narrowed gaze as I gave him a sassy smile. When I saw Dakath suddenly deflate, looking somewhat confused, I turned my attention to him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked softly.
“I just…I never really allowed myself to even think about becoming a dad before. I didn’t think it was in the cards for me until now, and I’m worried I won’t be a good one. What if I fuck it up?”
I couldn’t deny that the thought of not being a good mother to these children had run through my mind countless times. I’d never had the opportunity to grow up with mine, to know what exactly I was supposed to do in that position.
