All three men shout their rapture, and their seed shoots inside me. I’m not sure which one of them hits his peak first, or whether it happens all at the same time. My body is too busy cresting through my own peak and absorbing their seed into all three of the holes they’re still stuffing.
The details don’t matter. All that matters is how deeply I love these three men, and how strongly I know they love me. And Iknow that I’ll remember the ecstasy of this moment for the rest of our lives.
EPILOGUE
Rosomon
My belly flutters, and I press my hands gently against it. I’m not sure whether the flutters are nerves, or if they’re caused by what I’m nervous about.
Warmth and joy spread through me. I have no need to be nervous. My husbands are going to be happy at my news. I feel sure of it.
I pace across the main living area in our newly built home. We built it not far from the rider camp, so we have a short distance to travel each day. I couldn’t be more proud of the rider training program the four of us have created together. I’m also proud and awed at the bravery of all of our riders.
Over the past four years, several of the male riders have gone on scouting missions to the Darkness.
Three riders are in the Darkness right now, including Cristiara, the first female rider to venture there. The current group has been gone for five months now. It’s likely that only five days have passed for them, but I worry. I feel responsible, especiallyfor Cristiara, since she was one of the very first riders I recruited and trained.
At a horrifically young age, Cristiara was enslaved as a Wife of Othrix, and she’d already served the klericks in that capacity for years, before the klericy took full control of the Light.
In spite of the abuse she’s suffered, Cristiara is fierce and resilient, and her strength quickly built over her first months at camp. Access to better quality food and more comfortable lodgings did a world of good for her—as did her freedom from being trapped in sexual slavery.
Cristiara’s never shared her full story with me, and she’s only hinted at why she was taken as a Wife of Othrix in the first place. I hope that’s she’s opened up tosomeoneabout her past.
The door to our house opens, and my belly’s fluttering starts up anew. This time it’s definitely my nerves. I’ve spoken separately to each of my husbands about having children—they all want them, badly—but I didn’t tell any of them that I stopped drinking Courtesan’s Tea over four months ago. Nor have I told them that I haven’t had my courses for the last three months. That was harder to hide, but if any of them noticed my lack of bleeding, none has mentioned it.
I wanted to wait to share this news until I was certain, and when Surath and Xendus came here for the most recent Council of Sovereigns meeting, I had a long talk with her.
Surath’s first babe, my first niece, was born close to two years ago now, and my sister-by-marriage answered many questions for me, and assured me that now is a safe time to share my news with my husbands.
As they come into the house and kick off their heavy boots, the men are chatting amongst each other, but my mind is too busy to parse whatever it is they’re talking about.
“I’m in here,” I call out, and then take a seat on the large lounging chair Tynan had built to surprise me when we first moved into this home. The lounge, facing the fireplace, is big enough for all four of us to stretch out together, and I lean against its plush back, right in the center. Right where I always sit.
The men greet me and cross the room quickly. Tynan’s the fastest and he dives onto the lounge, claiming one of the spots beside me. Saxon shakes his head, mostly in amusement. He gestures for Zogar to sit at my other side, before he plants himself cross-legged in front of me.
“I’ve got news,” I say, as soon as they’re settled. Now that I’ve decided to tell them, I can barely contain it.
“We’ve got news, too, my love.” Zogar’s voice sounds more serious than normal. And he almost always sounds serious.
“What’s wrong?” I look up at him, then toward the others.
“It’s about the riders who went to the Darkness.”
My body tightens with alarm. “Did Cristiara return? Is she hurt?”
“Let’s hear your news first.” Tynan plants a kiss against the top of my head, and his fingers tangle into my hair. He lifts some of my pink locks, which are once again naturally long, and presses them against his nose to inhale.
“I…” As many times as I’ve thought through this moment, I suddenly don’t know what to say. I’ve deceived them.
“It’s been a while since we’ve talked about children.” My mouth goes dry, and I suck on my cheeks for moisture. I’ve fully captured their attention now, all three of them have moved perceptibly toward me.
“I’m ready. I very much want a child.”
“Oh, my love.”
“Ma chérie.”
“My beautiful Rose.”
