“She’s asleep now, so you have to be super quiet, okay?”
“Okay.”
I lift Ollie off the floor so she can see inside the stroller. Nat is sound asleep. I should have about an hour before she wakes up.
“She’s so pretty,” Ollie whispers.
“Yes, she is.”
“What does she eat?”
“She drinks milk from her mommy.”
“I drink blood, and so does Rio. Do you think she’ll like blood too?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
Ronan takes Ollie from me. “Come on, sweetie. I’d better get you back to Mama. She must be wondering where you are.”
I smile. “Fatherhood suits you, Ronan.”
He grins from ear to ear. “It suits you too, Luc.”
I glance at Nat. “Yeah, it does.”
Sixty-Six
VIVIENNE
A WEEK LATER
Because time in Ellnesari moves differently—and at a slower pace than in the human world—we don’t return to Aquila until a week later. When I say we, I mean everyone in our inner circle, and a few members of the Red Guard.
The portals to Ellnesari remain officially shut, but with my new powers, I can open one in the heart of the palace without needing a Nightingale relic or a complicated spell.
My father is waiting for us in the throne room, accompanied by Queen Merissa and her consort, King Galan, and Prince Castiel of Lynx and his parents, King Koran and Queen Endaya.
Castiel is the first to break from the group, sporting the biggest smile. “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
I haven’t seen him since the quick confrontation with King Titus’s forces. I know his relationship with Rikkon has become tense thanks to Castiel’s involvement in the shadowbeasts project, but my heart still warms up to him. He was Rikkon’s best friend for years, and I came to view him as my brother too.
“Thank you, Cas.”
He steps closer and peers at Nat, who’s sleeping in my arms. “Wow, look at that. She’s stunning, Vivi. You did well.”
Lucca clears his throat, and Castiel adds quickly, “You too, Lucca.”
Castiel steps back and turns to Rikkon. “Good to see you too, Rik.”
In a surprising move, Rikkon walks over to his friend and pulls him into a hug. Castiel’s eyes widen a fraction before he hugs my brother back. After a moment, they break apart, and Castiel says, “What was that all about?”
“I heard what you did to help my friends, and what happened to your brother.”
A shadow crosses Castiel’s eyes. “Yes, that was not the best of days, but I’m glad I could save Cheryl and Ronan from Indigo’s clutches.”
“I don’t want to stay angry with you anymore, Cas. Let’s let bygones be bygones.”
Castiel smiles. “I’d like that very much.”
