She snorted. “True that.”
“Isn’t Razor and his Faction coming to visit y’all for Christmas?”
"Yes, they’re excited to experience snow for the first time," Chloe smirked. “Deshawn has a snowball maker and plans to welcome Razor vigorously.”
I laughed. “Ohio is beautiful this time of year. Wait till I bring them to Texas and introduce them to Bluebell ice cream and Tex-Mex.”
She groaned, rubbing her rounded stomach. “Don’t even start with that ice cream. I’ve made Oliver portal twice this month alone to pick up a half-gallon of butter pecan. I can’t get enough of the stuff.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “And we know whose fault that is.”
I guiltily changed the subject. “I love to hear Deshawn tell the story of how Oliver’s ability made itself known.”
“Don’t remind me. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be sexted up against the shower door one minute, then fall butt naked into Bellona’s market square the next?”
I threw my head back and laughed so hard I snorted. “Stop… you’ll make me pee!”
“Youstop with that stupid laugh, or I’ll pee!”
We clutched each other, our legs crossed, gasping for air. After we stopped cackling, we finally noticed Deshawn signaling to Chloe.
She scowled. (The mood swings were nojoke.) “I swear, if he’s calling me over to rub my belly, I’m going to kick his ass. He goes at it like he expects a genie to pop out.”
I giggled as she stomped off, glancing in Oren’s direction when I heard him barking orders to a line of older students, looking annoyed as usual.
I admired his body in the tight leather pants he wore. The man was even sexier than when I first saw him walking across the gym floor all of those years ago.
“I despise this job.” He muttered to me when I joined him.
“Butyou’re so excellent at it,” I smirked as I sent one of my shadows out and copped a feel of his ass.
He raised an eyebrow, his face set in his usual haughty expression, which softened when he pulled me into his arms. “That isn’t behavior befitting a queen.”
I waggled my brows. “I have a new decree concerning that very thing.”
“Is that so?” He grinned.
“Yes, it is. Every queen from this day forth is allowed to grab the amazing asses of each of her Faction at her discretion.” I spoke in my most queenly voice. Although I was pretty sure the Texas twang I had ruined the tone I was going for.
He grinned, “I like it.”
“I was sure you would.” I stood on tiptoes and kissed his beautiful lips.
Oren couldn’t fool me. I knew he loved torturing the students at Emberhold as he ran them through their paces. The man had a bit of a cruel streak… but who didn’t like a bad boy?
Nathan, lounging nearby, with Dale resting on his shoulder, grinned. “Give it up, Shitstorm. We know you love lording it over the students. It’s the lesson plans you hate.”
Now, the instructors at Emberhold rotated. All of my men took a turn and spent part of the year as instructors. Jet assisted Instructor Lee in battle strategy. Nathan helped Oren. Zeke and Zane handled draxon studies and controlled shifting. (It was now more common since our Factions were able to form without the ritual due to the curse being broken.)
I taught a legacy course. I kept the classes small but thought it important to remember our past queens as the wonderfulrulers they’d been. The crap the council had taught generations of Aurathions was a massive pile of steaming bullshit.
Nathan waved me over, and I snuggled into his lap. He gently rubbed my belly, and I smirked, thinking of what Chloe had said earlier. Zeke appeared beside us and sat, pulling my feet into his lap, rubbing them firmly, making me moan. Jet and Zane made their way over, each of them touching me in some way.
I was more than content.
The council had been disbanded, and Oren’s father stripped of his abilities. We hadn’t known it was possible, but with Rue’s help, it had been done. He hadn’t been imprisoned per se, but Tanya had bound him to his estates. Mira and Pantar popped in and out to make sure he was behaving himself.
Mom and all of my fathers thrived here. She was head of Faction restoration and ensured that the Factions formed through the ritual were strong and healthy.
It took a long time for Poppa (Rue) to recover, but with time and patience from Mom and my other fathers, he improved. I credited his granddaughters with most of his recovery. He worshiped the ground they walked on. I believed that my mom killing Selene the way she did also helped put all of their demons to rest.
