Epilogue
EPILOGUE
VEIL
A pair of hands grabs me from behind and tugs me into their hard chest. I shriek in surprise, although I know that the person walking us back into a more secluded corner of Mercy’s garden is Gemini.
Now that spring is fully underway, she and Wolfgang invited the heirs to dine in her newly bloomed all-black garden. I still barely know Mercy, but even I was surprised by her sudden hospitality. But there’s an inherent understanding between the families now. Times are changing, and strengthening ties between the ruling families is in all our best interests.
Or at least, for the next nineteen years until the next Lottery.
“I missed you, my beloved,” he rasps into my ear as his hands rove over my summer dress, palming my stomach.
I’m only roughly ten weeks pregnant and still not showing, but Gemini doesn’t care. He’s always finding a reason to touch me, as if already sensing the growing life under his fingertips.
“I was gone for less than five minutes,” I tease as I turn around to face him, my arms effortlessly circling his neck.
His back rests against the tree trunk as he pulls me closer, kissing me with lips curled into a grin. “Again, your maddening obsession with time,” he says before pressing a kiss just under my jaw. “Time has no meaning in the affairs of the heart.”
My laugh is breezy and full of ease. “You’re the maddening one.” I feel his chuckle vibrate against my skin, and I smile into a happy sigh.
Since my birthday, Gemini has been nothing but supportive, and the trust that I so begrudgingly gave him that fateful night has only been growing in strength since.
His support was especially meaningful during my first Tithe Season on the spring equinox, four weeks ago. It was my first Season as an heir of the city of Pravitia. Luckily, it wasn’t as overwhelming as it could have been. For the servant to the god of thievery, collecting tithe is similar to Mercy’s way—personal and much less attention-seeking.
However, since I now ruled over half of Gemini’s territory, he insisted I attend his day of tithing and listen in on the countless secrets divulged to him that day.
“My secrets are your secrets, my beloved . ”
After all, trickery and thievery go hand in hand.
Just like us.
And thus, my walls continued to crumble brick by brick until there were no more stones to remove. I know Gemini would like to get married and that, ultimately, it will be expected from us. But I’m in no rush. I’m the one deciding our fate next, not Gemini.
“Come,” I say breathlessly after kissing him one more time. Taking his hand, I lead him back onto the stone path. “We’re missing the feast.”
“He can’t help himself, can he?” Belladonna sighs beside me while giving me a playful side-eye. Her red lips are pressed into a small pout, as if trying to conceal her mirth, but she can’t hide the twinkle in her green eyes.
We finished dining about an hour ago, now stuffed full of every dish imaginable—from perfectly cooked steaks to buttery pastries that melted on my tongue with every bite.
As the long black-draped table was slowly getting cleared away by servants, Gemini took the opportunity to jump up onto the table and make a toast. His speech has been going on for the last five minutes, and Constantine is the only one who seems to be completely riveted by his words, Aleksandr faithfully by her side. Mercy and Wolfgang seem mildly entertained but are distracted, sharing some private words at the other end of the table.
Gemini’s little performance can’t help but remind me of that other fateful night, with a feast just as decadent as this one. But tonight, the apprehension isn’t twisting my stomach into knots. Instead, I revel in being here among them.
I take a sip of water and smile at Belladonna, followed by a warm chuckle. “Any opportunity to put on a show.”
She nods, returning my smile. I don’t miss her eyes dipping down to my stomach before looking back up.
“Can you believe he’s the father of your two heirs?” Her tone is in jest, but her words are anything but.
My heart skips a beat as my mouth drops open. “Are you — are you saying that I’m having …”
Her gaze is twinkling as she nods, her smile growing even wider.
“Gemini!” I yelp across the table without thinking, cutting through the chatter.
He stops mid-speech, a coupe of half-drunk champagne lazily hanging from his fingers. “Yes, my beautiful future wife?”
Silence has fallen over the group and all eyes are now on me. I feel nothing but elation and am equally ecstatic to share the good news with the others.
“We’re having twins,” I say softly yet loud enough for everyone to hear.
The reactions are simultaneous as I jump up from my seat, eager for an embrace from Gemini. Constantine lets out a shriek and starts clapping with glee while Gemini’s eyes widen in shock. He takes a step back but fumbles over one of the centerpieces, loses his balance, and falls off the table, taking Wolfgang with him.
I hurry over to where he fell. Mercy and Aleksandr have already joined in to help both men off the ground.
“Mindless fool,” Wolfgang barks as he gets back on his feet. He brushes off his suit, glaring at Gemini as if he committed the highest offense.
But Gemini ignores him, his full attention on me, beaming as brightly as if he’d collected entire galaxies of stars just for this moment. I jump into his open arms, my hands circling his neck as he spins us around, his laugh just as giddy as mine. When he sets me back on my feet, he peers into my eyes, and the love I find in his gaze is enough to keep me warm for eons to come.
“Twins,” he whispers as if just for us. “How did I get so lucky?”
I kiss him before falling even deeper into his tender gaze. I know his question is rhetorical, but I still answer anyhow. My voice is just as low, keeping this small moment in time just for the two of us before we return to the festivities around us.
“Luck?” I tease. “Or fate?”