83
Mira
Two months after that
Imade my way downstairs after taking an afternoon nap. The stairs creaked beneath my ever-growing belly and I had to rest a hand against my back to counteract the weight. In the living room, Jasper, Hu, and Calista all played Druids & Horseshoes.
The fire crackled in the hearth, though the sun still washed over the entirely green landscape outside, save for the bursts of colorful blooms. I often still paused to admire the restored view.
There was not a speck of dust left in this place, courtesy of Jasper, surprisingly. Ever since we moved back to our home, he’d been nesting. A gargoyle in shorts with a feather duster and broom became a daily sight. I couldn’t say I didn’t appreciate not having to worry about it, especially when it allowed me to fully enjoy time among our friends and family.
“Sorry Mira, did we wake you?” Hu asked when I emerged in all my waddling glory.
I waved him off, rubbing my rounded belly. “No, no. Nothing can wake me these days.” The fabric of my oversized white dress was luxuriously soft, my maternity wardrobe now overflowing as a gift from King Nicholas and Queen Nora.
“COME ON! You moved something!” Jasper flung accusations at Calista.
“I didn’t, I swear! Hu has been paying attention this whole time. Was anything moved, Hu?” She sought a lifeline, having lost all credibility in Jasper’s eyes months ago after one unfortunate moment.
“Don’t bring me into this,” Hu said, sitting up to kiss Jasper’s cheek before leaning back against the sofa. Once he did, he shook his head no in confirmation to Calista.
“See! He said no,” Calista said.
Jasper shot a look at Hu who only shrugged. “I didn’t say anything.”
I padded through the room, placing my hand on Calista’s shoulder. “Bet you never regretted anything more than moving that one piece.”
“It was one time! As a joke!” Calista threw her arms high in defeat, then swung her legs over the arm of her favorite sitting chair. “I’m never going to hear the end of it.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and hung her head off the side.
I smiled, shuffling to the dining room table where Dante, Dae, and Ro sat.
“Hey, green eyes.” Dante’s soft smile creased at the sides as he rose, pulling out a chair for me. “How’d you sleep?” He looked ever so handsome in Highcrest's updated fashion, his dark brown long-sleeve shirt fit snugly over his defined muscles.
I slowly lowered myself, cradling my bulging stomach, and huffing out a breath at the relief in my feet. “Good. What are you guys chatting about?”
“Oh, just that Ro insists on being a nomad still even though she has her choice of anywhere in four kingdoms to reside,” Dante teased as he returned to his seat, but kept his hand atop my thigh.
“We just returned some supplies that I borrowed from a house near Witches Pass,” Ro said, her raised elbow resting on Dae’s shoulder. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail that she braided, and it swayed when she stared at the man she loved, then back at us. They both wore matching nose hoops, Dae hosting an additional two on the same side.
“She’s still dragging you around the continent?” I joked with Dae, grateful I had nowhere else to be these days. I’d had my fill of travel lately, and now I wanted to settle in and prepare for our bundle of joy.
“She is.” Dae looked at Ro, his beard freshly trimmed and dark hair pulled back in a bun atop his head. “But I would follow her anywhere.” He crossed his rippling arms over his ever-growing pecs. He’d been filling out his physique ever since The Order had fallen.
Occasionally, I still had nightmares about the time Marvoe and his sadistic gang had captured me. When Dante first told me about Dae, I’d been nervous to be around the man. But after learning why Dae had infiltrated the atrocious organization, and that he never participated in missions to retrieve magic wielders, and especially after meeting lively Jai, I understood. I knew how protecting those you love could lead you to sacrifice. I moved my hand from my belly to hold Dante’s, still resting on my thigh.
Ro gave a flirty shoulder shrug and bounced her eyebrows up and down at Dae. “Aw. Plus, we travel pretty quickly. Tigers are faster than horses, you know.” She rolled her loose, dark purplesleeves up and reached toward the center of the table and picked up some orange slices from the platter that Hu had no doubt prepared. Since the land had been healed, there was ample space for gardens and fertile crops abound.
Ro’s neckline tapered into a V, and it drew my eye to her shoulder. “Where’s my little buddy?”
She worked the chunk of orange into her cheek to answer. “He and the little gang are making a trip back to the mountain. Some of them get home sick and like to visit every now and then. I’ll make sure he stops in next time.”
“So, where to next, then?” I asked, rubbing the spot where the baby stirred.
“I’d like to see my sister. She wants me to visit more often. Plus, I think Tio could probably use a visit, too. Last time we wrote, he and Melody had been having a three-day conversation about the color of pink she wanted the flowers to be. With no clear decision on the horizon, he said they might be occupied for a time. I think they both could use some fun nights out, and Dae here is a party animal.” She pointed her thumb at him, eyes locked on us. “Plus, he’s about to turn thirty years old, and I owe him some cake.”
They exchanged a knowing glance between them. He smiled deeply, bringing his hand to the back of her neck and massaged, a sweet gesture that had her scrunching her nose at him.
Alaina’s voice carried from the kitchen. “Not like that. Again.”
