Those intrusive thoughts had led to a lot of soul searching about my past. I’d had some time alone to mull over everything Lazarus revealed about killing my motherandmy biological father—that alone was enough to send me reeling. Knowing that he’d allowed me to live with my mother’s best friends, whom I’d thought were my father an aunt, felt like it should have been a lot to wrap my head around. I’d thought it would take time to process and come to terms with the information, but if anything, it only made me feel more love for my dad and aunt for stepping up to care for a child that truly wasn’t theirs by blood.
“You will be an amazing dad, and you won’t be in it alone; but if you need more time to think about it, that’s okay too,” I promised sincerely. “However, if you’re worried that you won’t be a good dad because they aren’t our own and that you didn’t have a father figure to teach you what to do, know that I completely understand how you feel. With everything I know now, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that we have all of the traits that it takes to be good parents. My dad and aunt were the perfect examples of that.”
These men had so many strengths that I knew without a doubt that any children we raised would be amazing, but I didn’t want them to feel rushed into making such an important decision.
“You and I will just be the fun ones,” Kolvar flashed him a smile. “Seriously, Dakath, don’t overthink it, those kids already think you’re super cool.”
“I can be fun,” Elijah mumbled as his brow furrowed in deep concentration, making me snort. “Remember, I did plan all the games.”
I blinked, swallowing around the nauseous feeling of butterflies swirling in my stomach. “Are we really considering doing this?”
“Becoming parents?” Kolvar yawned again before flashing me a smile.
“I think we are,” Dakath murmured with a hint of awe in his tone.
Whatever we decided, I knew we’d be in it together—forever.
Looking out the window, I couldn’t help the smile that lit up my face. When I’d been a prisoner in Malakai’s castle, I’d never given up my hope for freedom, but never had I dared to picture a life such as this. I hadn’t even known it was possible to experience a love like ours.
I was ready to expand that love to all those within our empire as well as any little ones who might choose us.
Closing my eyes, I exhaled deeply, sending my thoughts to the universe.
Fate, you work in mysterious ways. While I won’t ever understand or agree with why we had to lose so many incredible souls to get to this point, thank you. I’ll never take a single day for granted.
Epilogue One
Kyella, 15 years in the future…
“Mom!” Landon’s voice echoed through our private quarters, ones that we had expanded over time to make room for our family. Dakath, who was sitting next to me on one of two balcony chairs, chuckled quietly while continuing to read over the plans for today's journey.
I offered my husband a knowing look before bringing my tea cup to my lips, trying to hide a smile.We knew this was coming.Weeks ago, we’d placed bets on how long it would take for Landon to say that he didn’t want to come with us this year—he’d held out until the morning of our travels, which was far longer than any of us expected.
Normally, our son was much more outspoken about what he wanted, which led me to believe he was truly conflicted about what to do, especially since he knew how much we wanted him to come with us this year. Either that or he had spent his time trying to come up with a reason that would go over well with all four of us.
Landon was as stubborn as Elijah, though with more than a hint of Dakath’s broody nature, so I suppose that made a bit more sense.
“We need to at least hear his reasoning,” Dakath mused, and I nodded my agreement.
We did need to listen to him, even if I planned on him coming with us regardless. I didn’t fully understandwhyhe didn’t want to go. I understood the thought behind the reason he always gave us, but I just had a feeling that there was more to it that I could see.
“Out here!” I called out to our son, though I was sure he already knew that.
We sat out here most mornings, enjoying the view of the harbor and the city coming alive in the bright sunlight. This morning was no different, although with our travel plans in place, it was a bit more relaxing than most. The morning had even included some much-needed alone time with Kolvar until he decided to trek to the harbor to triple check our family’s quarters on the ship we would be sailing over the Cursed Divide on.
I hadn’t seen Elijah since very early when he had woken up to go talk to a few of the naval captains who would be traveling with us. While we didn’t require many soldiers, we always took some with us and the small fleet that sailed alongside our ship. The Cursed Divide may have been familiar, but I certainly wouldn’t call it friendly.
“I can’t go.”
I turned in my seat and offered my son a perplexed look as I realized he was far more worked up than I thought, frustration filling his gaze. The boy who had come to us as an orphan in the ruins of war was no more. Our son had grown into a man nearly as intense as his fathers. More than any of his siblings, he had also taken an interest in military strategy and leadership. At only twenty-two, he was already working his way up through the ranks. He hadn’t needed to, after all he was a prince, but he had told us that he wanted to start from the bottom like everyone else. He wanted to earn his station.
I swear Elijah had nearly cried at his words.
Landon was an amazing young man, but he could stand to lighten up. Which is why he needed to come with us!
“Why?” I asked sincerely.
Once a year, we traveled to the Thaician Empire to celebrate our peace and unity with a feast and ball. It was something all our kids looked forward to, until about five years ago when Landon had stopped attending, saying that he wanted to focus on learning about leading and ruling and locking himself away for hours with his tutors.
