It was worth the cost, I knew, and yet, I watched Monqilcolnen grieve almost curiously. As much as I loved Jemtonkilsol and Dilvonsil, my grief for them was shallow and more tied into my worry of how their absences would affect Monqilcolnen, rather than how their deaths had injured me. There were very few people in my life I would truly grieve if they were suddenly not there. Monqilcolnen, first and foremost. I would not live without him. Seth, Bobbinvoxlyn, Urgg, and Edith were next. I couldn’t imagine not having one or all of them in my life.
But loving them had this cost attached to it, and like I’d told Monqilcolnen, you couldn’t spare yourself from grief or loss. It was simply part of life.
I gently stroked his hair, bending to place a kiss on his forehead. “I shall be with you, Mate. For now and until my last breath.”
Monqilcolnen tightened his hold on me, looking up. Tears slid down his cheeks, and I licked up the salty liquid. He whispered, “Stay beside me.”
“I will.”
It took some time, but I was eventually able to convince Monqilcolnen to get out of bed and put some clothes on. Slowly, we exited our bedroom.
Serlotminden, Bartholomew, Kalvoxrencol, and Seth immediately looked up.
Monqilcolnen gave them all a shaky smile. “Greetings.”
Instantly, Kalvoxrencol and Serlotminden surrounded him, pulling Monqilcolnen into a tight hug. The sight made me smile. Something about them connecting was absolutely marvelous. I adored that Monqilcolnen had such a close family. In part I was glad because I would be able to be a part of it, but mostly it was because Monqilcolnen needed them.
Seth came to my side and held out Bobbinvoxlyn, who was reaching for me. I instantly pulled him into my embrace, cuddling the kit close to my chest. He tugged on my braid, gurgling. I had missed him. Bartholomew bobbed his head at me, and I acknowledged him with a flick of my tail.
“So, Wyn and Monqilcolnen,” a voice said from behind me, and I turned to see Crown Prince Hallonnixmin staring at me. He was not alone. His mate Gilvaxtin was right beside him. On another section of the split screen were Vince and Dontilvynsan, and on the final third were Zoltilvoxfyn and Caleb.
“Hey, Wyn,” Caleb called, waving enthusiastically. “I totally knew you and Monty would get together from the first time you puked on him. It was inevitable. I mean, you took forever to get there, but I knew it would happen in the end. The two of you are perfect for each other. There isn’t any other possibility.”
I frowned at the reference to me vomiting on Monqilcolnen. I hated that story, and with Caleb it was more than a story. He had been on theAdmiral Venwhen we came back from Earth and had witnessed the entire ordeal. It was bad enough people hadheard the story from Monqilcolnen, but knowing someone had witnessed it was a different level of embarrassment.
I didn’t respond to Caleb, though. He didn’t mean it badly, and there was no use in damaging his feelings simply because I didn’t wish to be reminded of the defining moment in mine and Monqilcolnen’s relationship.
Zoltilvoxfyn smiled indulgently at his mate, but he refrained from speaking.
Dontilvynsan smiled slightly at me. “I am happy for you two.”
Vince bobbed his head, draped over his mate's lap. “I’m sure you’ll be happy.”
“Well, Captain,” Hallonnixmin said, “you are not as happy as I am. Finally, all of my brothers are mated.”
“Technically, I am not your brother,” Monqilcolnen commented as he came up behind me, his tail curling around mine. I glanced at him, a smile forming on my face. I loved that he was here with me now. I loved that he was speaking. I loved that he was trying.
I loved him.
“Close enough,” Hallonnixmin said. “So, Wyn, I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
I swallowed at the implication of the crown prince of the empire owing me anything. I had met Hallonnixmin before this moment, but I couldn’t claim any true relationship with him, nor did I know much about him.
“You don’t owe me anything,” I forced out. He truly didn’t.
“I do,” he replied. “Monqilcolnen is still here with us, and I do not think that would have been possible without you. Ask for anything, and I shall give it to you.”
My mouth dropped open. I could literally ask for anything, anything at all. That was too great of a responsibility. I didn’t want anything he had to offer, anyway. I didn’t want or need money, nor was there anything I truly treasured.
I was about to tell him I didn’t want anything, but then I stopped as a thought occurred to me.
“I have something I desire,” I said.
Gilvaxtin crossed her arms. “Choose wisely.”
Perhaps this was a test? No matter, I knew what I wanted. I pulled Monqilcolnen into my arms and held him tight. Looking around his much larger frame, I said, “I want Monqilcolnen.”
Dontilvynsan said, “I knew it.”
