“Before you say anything, I just want to explain—"
A massive hug crashed into Braxton’s chest, cutting off his words. Yet, to our surprise, it was Quinn who jumped on him, not Charlotte.
“Quinn!” Imogen scolded, making her step back. “Your cannot—”
“No, it’s okay,” I interjected. “Keeping our people from us only keeps us from our people… I know that as our guardians and mentors, your intention for making us unreachable is to keep us safe, but I’ve experienced first-hand how isolating that can be.”
Kingston and Imogen exchanged a meaningful glance, then nodded to the guard to proceed.
“I’m truly sorry the Warlock King took so much from you,” Quinn offered, hugging Braxton again while visibly affected by what he shared the yesterday.
Braxton hugged her back with relief, showing how much he’d needed to hear that.
“At first, we were upset you didn’t tell us,” Aaron admitted.
“It was too hard a truth to process,” Harvey added behind him.
“I never wanted to lie to you, but some truths are harder to share than others, especially when we struggle to accept them ourselves,” Braxton confessed.
“We understand now why you didn’t,” Louis was the next to reassure.
“We believe you, Brother.” Edward smiled.
“We know who you are.” Stepping forwards, Charlotte squeezed Braxton too, receiving a hug and a kiss on the top of her head.
“Thank you, that means a lot to me.” My mate shared a heartfelt hug with the guys too, who returned it supportively.
“Let’s go,” Harper motioned towards the stairs, and it was only then that my mate and I realized there was someone important missing.
“Where is Asher?” Braxton asked, seeing Imogen smile kindly at him.
“You’ll see.”
We all descended together, and the moment we made it to the main floor, a wealth of emotion flourished through me. People, my people, lined the hallway on both sides, waiting for us with offerings. Flowers, bread, leathers, fruits, and linens were all raised to us, arms reaching for me like they had done last night.
For the first time in my life, I welcomed them without hesitation. I hugged those who sought my comfort, kissing children’s cheeks, squeezing hands with affection, and accepting the gifts they brought just for us. Braxton followed my lead, hugging his people as they reached for him, caressing cute babes heads, and accepting their reverence while we made our way towards the feasting hall.
“Dragon Master,” Liam and Emma, a couple who weaved rugs at the market, called right before we reached the double doors.
Braxton and I turned to face them, watching them approach us with the most precious, chubby, sleeping babe in their arms.
“We want to respectfully ask permission to name our babe in honor of your father, our Harbinger of Justice…” Liam lifted their two-month-old looking child towards Braxton. “If you so grant it, of course.”
The look Braxton regarded me with was one I would never forget, filled with so much emotion, but above all, pride.
“It will be an honor, and I know my father would approve.” Accepting the babe offered to him, he placed a gentle kiss on its forehead. “Hi, Khayden. Aren’t you a handsome boy?”
“She’s a girl,” Emma corrected, lips twitching with amusement at his king’s mistake.
Braxton’s eyes widened, mortified. “Oh.”
Laughter escaped Emma, and we all chuckled, joining her and Liam in their mirth.
“Then you may want to nickname her Khay,” Braxton offered, returning the child to them.
“Khay, it is,” Emma agreed. “Thank you, my king.”
Taking my hand in his, Braxton escorted me into the feasting hall with Willow, Kingston, Imogen, and our Elevated Warrior’s in tow. The moment we finally entered the space we understood the urgency.
