Epilogue
BAMBI
MANY ORBITAL ROTATIONS—EARTH YEARS—LATER.
“Mirabell, don’t yank your brother’s wings! You know he hates that.”
Morthag screeches again, and I have had enough for the day. Marching into the den, I grab my children by a pointed turquoise ear and drag them to the patio door, pushing them into the fenced yard.
“If the two of you are going to squabble like this and not mind your mother, you can damn well do it outside. I’ll be talking to your daddy about y’all’s behavior when he gets home.”
“Momma, no!”
“No, mam!”
Their dual cries don’t sway me, and their faces fall in dismay. They know if I’m irritated enough to talk to Bikar about their lack of manners, they’ll both be doing extra chores for a while. My mate doesn’t allow anyone to treat me with disrespect, especially not our children.
“Momma loves you both dearly, but neither of you have done a thing I’ve asked you to all day. So, you’ll have to talk to your daddy about it when he gets home.”
Pinning both with a stare, I wait. Morthag is more tenderhearted than his sister, and I’m not shocked when he starts talking first. “I am sorry, mam. I love you, tons and bunches.”
Mirabell rolls her eyes—she is definitely my child—at her brother but takes accountability for her wrongdoings as well.
“I’m sorry, momma.” Glaring at her brother, she wraps it up. “We should’ve listened to you and done as you asked when you told us to.”
“Thank you both for apologizing, but I’m still talking to your daddy when he gets home.”
One set of gold eyes and another of brown stare at me in resignation, and they turn towards the obstacle course Bikar built them.
Watching for a moment, love for my children—naughty or not—flows through me.
It’s a beautiful day outside; they’re contained, and I have no patience left for their bullshit.
Jokes on me. They’re carbon copies of my mate and me.
Shutting the screen door, I leave them to their own devices and head back into the kitchen that still needs cleaning after my two whirlwinds hit it today
Bikar left earlier than usual this morning, but he’s been working longer shifts until the space station Commander DaR commissioned is finally done.
It took years—with limited communication, even with SCOUT’s assistance—for them to figure out how to lift the Veil separating the Void from the rest of the known galaxy, but between Bikar, Vornek, and Falon they got it done.
Now the Void is just another section of space with new beings coming and going every day. It’s opened a new set of trading channels, while also rooting out most of the more troublesome species.
Like the Velgriddix and Aynar. Both of them are essentially extinct now.
During his time away from his family, Commander DaR adopted Falon, and as a result, Falon is now the representative for the House of Darverius in the Void.
He runs the space station with his mate Edie and was given the authority to act on behalf of his adoptive father.
Any being—or species—that chooses to prey on the weak is eradicated.
It’s made us humans feel a hell of a lot safer since we’re an endangered species, and a hot commodity on the flesh market.
The sound of the front door opening and closing makes me smile, and my heart quickens. My mate is home. Just as I finish wiping the counters down, strong arms wrap around my middle and turquoise wings shut out the rest of the world.
“Hello, little doe. Did you miss me?”
Turning in his arms, I wrap mine around him and hug him close. “Of course I did. I miss you the second you leave our home and until you return. How was your day?”
Lifting me, he carries me over the couch and sits, settling comfortably before answering. “It was good. Falon commed. He informed me that he and Edie are coming for a visit at the end of this lunar cycle.”
“Oh, that’ll be fun. I’ll comm Heather so she can put it on her calendar.
She’s always down for a party. I know how much your mom enjoys having these shindigs because it means everybody is in one place.
Falon’s stunt was hard on her after she had all y’all together for such a short time way back on Deapra. ”
“Yes, it was difficult for all of us, but things happen for reasons we may never understand. Falon’s leaving eventually brought about the space station, the lifting of the Veil, and many other wondrous things.
” Cocking his head, he smiles sheepishly.
“It is suspiciously quiet in here. Where are our younglings, and why were you the one tidying the kitchen? That is one of their responsibilities.”
His question makes me growl. “Your feral twins are outside in the yard, quite possibly plotting world domination. They were too busy fussing with one another to listen to anything I had to say today, and I lack the patience to deal with their shenanigans right now.”
Sniggering at how put out I sound, he rubs one hand across the growing swell of my belly. “You are the one who suggested I stop taking the preventative shot Einar created.”
“Don’t freaking remind me.” Slumping against him, he huffs at my drama. “I need a damn nap.”
His eyes flare, and I quirk a brow. “What did you just do?”
An evil grin creeps across his face. “I told Mirabelle and Morthag to go over to Mam and Atasha’s dwelling.
That I would come to fetch them later and that we would be discussing their behavior today.
” Feathering his thumb across my cheek in a gentle caress, he tightens his arms around me, standing in one smooth motion.
“My mate is growing our next youngling and needs to rest.”
“Oh, I’m resting, am I?” Being carried like a pretty princess still makes me giddy as a schoolgirl, even after almost a decade of being mated.
“Eventually.”
Throwing my head back, I can’t help but laugh at his attempt to waggle his eyebrows at me. “I love you, sugar. Now take me to bed and let’s see if you can remember to count this time.”
“You are my hearts, little doe… and I would never lose track of your releases if your slit was not so distracting.”
Laying my head against his shoulder, the last thing I see before he carries me into our bedroom is the vibrant bouquet he gave me on our first date, safely tucked away on a shelf.
I’m so glad I said yes.
THE GRAY BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH
Matuk Ramuguk watches his mate laugh as two of their grand-younglings rush through the front door, slamming it closed behind them in their haste. The dwelling is full to bursting with their offspring and grand-younglings.
Fierce Murgul has his tail wrapped protectively around his precious Gwendolyn while their four daughters, Genevieve, Gianna, Gabrielle, and Gustine, play with a combination of dolls and wooden weapons.
Patient, understanding Kallen kisses the underside of her belligerent Ruarc’s jaw as he replies to something Slavic said. Their wee son Droviq is perched on his hip and keeps trying to grab one of his sire’s tusks.
Gentle giant Einar reclines into the divan, holding his beloved Rowan in his lap, their swaddled infant daughter, Juniper, safely nestled in the crook of an arm. His temperate little mate leans over and tickles their impressively sized toddling son, Rynar, where he plays with blocks on the floor.
Feisty Ruby throws her head back, boldly laughing when her cantankerous Slavic swats her arse in a display of mischievous affection. Their two sons, Aksel and Haldor, are wrestling on the ground, rolling over one another as they tussle back and forth.
Time passes, and the door opens again, revealing another couple.
Impertinent Bikar walks in, large wings folded against his back, carrying his cherished Bambi the way she adores, her growing belly on full display. Mirabelle and Morthag, their twins, run over and slam into their sire’s legs, faces wreathed in placating smiles as his eyes narrow reproachfully.
It makes his hearts happy that most of his younglings live so close.
He knows Shagar thrives on having her family so near.
The only one of their sons who does not live on Rembz is their impetuous Falon and his much-loved, managing Edie.
This is no great tragedy—any longer—since they now live at the edge of the Void in a state-of-the-art space station and visit regularly.
To his surprise, the front door crashes open, and Heather—Shagar’s adopted melodramatic daughter—saunters in, her titan of a mate patiently following behind, carrying their younglings.
For orbital rotations, Matuk observed his beloved struggle, afraid that if he left and severed the final tether between their souls, she would not survive that final loss. In reality, it was he who was unable to let her go. Their bond was severed when his hearts beat their last.
His treasured mate and their progeny suffered deeply for his own shortsightedness and wish for a better life for all of them. Love and guilt kept him tied to this world when his spirit should have ascended orbital rotations ago.
But, now…
Now his Shagar is happy and fulfilled with a life of laughter, love, and serenity.
She will never be alone again.
Their children and grand-younglings ensure that.
At least one or two of them are always popping in and out of the home she shares with Atasha, much to Atasha’s dismay.
It is hard being the only female with six older brothers.
Shaking his head ruefully at how prolific his sons are, he observes the little ones as they enthusiastically start building a fort in the common room, while his mate watches from her spot in her favorite cushioned chair.
Gazing at her one last time, tracing the beautiful lines of her face, he smiles as a radiant light from above beckons him. Following its call, he is at peace because he knows in his hearts she will join him one rotation long from now, and they will be together again.
THE END.