Epilogue Pt. 1
Four Years Later
~ MELEK ~
I leaned on the frame of the doorway from our chamber in the Theynor Palace, out onto the covered balcony, grinning.
Jann leaned on the wall next to me, muttering about how the food was better here, but there was more of it in Ebonreach, as he stuffed another biscuit into his mouth and chewed noisily.
Except I only had half an ear for him.
This morning had been busy. Mael had woken us early, darting into our room chirping about how I’d promised to take him riding today, just as the sun was rising. His innocence and sheer joy for life was a blessing I never wanted to be without. But my son was the worst cock-blocker I’d ever met.
At almost five years old, he had little interest in having the Royal schedule explained to him.
To learn that he’d have to wait for the afternoon before we could ride.
He’d screamed his displeasure, until I’d been forced to carry him back to his room by his foot, and remind him that he wouldn’t be allowed to go riding at all if he didn’t learn to control his anger.
He’d swallowed his cries eventually, and we’d invited Jann and Diadre to bring Adiya for breakfast, in the hopes it would distract him. But he’d been sullen all morning. Now, he defied his mother.
“…as a prince, it is your God-given purpose to think of others, to be hospitable, and to offer assistance where you can.”
“I don’t want to!” he whined, stamping his foot.
Jann’s brows shot up, as I pushed away from the door and started towards my son, working hard to remain stern, but not frightening.
“Mael?” I said quietly as I reached them.
He stood with his arms folded and his jaw jutting forward, glowering at Adiya, who sat on the chair next to her mother, her eyes wide.
He turned towards me, but the glower just became a defiant scowl.
Dear Lord, help me with this one.
“Why are you being rude to your mother and our guests?” I asked him.
Yilan rolled her eyes. She insisted that at this age, we should be informing and explaining, not asking, to make the world understandable to him.
Whereas, I thought she used too many words, and sometimes he needed to own his own feelings, so we could inform that.
“Because I don’t want to help!”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s a girl!”
Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh. “What’s wrong with that? I quite like girls—especially one.” I glanced at Yilan and she smirked.
“Because she’s annoying.”
Neither of us smiled then.
Adiya’s little face pinched, and her golden curls swung as she turned her head and those big, blue eyes to look for her father. When she was certain he was watching, her head tipped back in a piercing shriek that heralded both tears and headaches for every adult within earshot.
“Oh, dear God,” Diadre sighed.
Jann rushed forward and swept her up, swinging her to his hip and shaking his head. “No, no. There’s no need for tears—”
“Oh, I could think of a few reasons,” Diadre said dryly, rolling her eyes.
Jann shot her a look, but turned Adiya away as she threw her arms around his neck and babbled through her tears. “Mae’ said I’s nannoying! That’s mean, Daddy!”
Jann continued to soothe and rock her, walking her around the balcony and trying to distract her with the birds in the trees while I shook my head, folded my arms and turned back to my son.
His glare faltered, but then he rolled his shoulders back and braced himself. “It’s just true!”
“Mael, there are many things that are true, that aren’t worth speaking out loud,” I muttered.
Diadre snorted and picked up her cup of kafk, cradling it. “Perhaps it’s worth speaking to your brother, about how utterly ball-less he is when it comes to speaking to his daughter?”
“You like it when I speak to you,” Jann purred, giving Diadre a look over their daughter’s shoulder.
“That’s because you aren’t ball-less, then,” Diadre quipped back with a grin.
I coughed and Mael looked at her, frowning. “What does no balls have to do with anything?”
“I’ll explain later,” Yilan said, hurriedly, turning Mael to look at her. “But for now, you must go apologize.”
“What for?!”
“For being unkind.”
“But—”
“Trust me, son. With women it’s preferable—and usually faster—to apologize, than to pay the price for your words,” I said on a sigh.
Both women gave me a flat look, but my son slapped both fists to his sides and growled.
“But you say always tell the truth, and I did!”
As I knelt down to meet his eyes for a serious talk, Diadre leaned across the table to squeeze Yilan’s hand. “I’ll pray for you. Girls are so much easier.”
Yilan snorted. “Wait until she’s a teenager and a Neph takes an interest in her.”
There was a strange, strangled noise, and a little shriek from Adiya as her father choked on his last mouthful of biscuit.
~ JANN ~
That evening, I lay on the couch in our chambers while Diadre put Adiya down for bed.
When the last of the tears were done, Dee walked into the room, exhausted, and flopped down next to me. I pulled her down to lay with me, as she sighed and shook her head.
“You’ve got to stop spoiling her, Jann. She’s impossible. She’s going to end up like one of those little noble bitches that used to turn their noses up at me.”
I pulled Diadre against me on the couch, and stroked her hair. “Maybe they wouldn’t have been bitches if their fathers loved them more?” I offered, but inwardly I winced.
My daughter lacked resilience. I knew that. It was one of the few things Dee and I consistently conflicted about anymore. She was so precious, and a girl in a man’s world.
Still… Yilan’s words, intended as a joke, had stuck with me today.
“I hadn’t… I hadn’t really thought about her future,” I said, uneasy. “All I could think about was being here and… I hadn’t given a lot of thought to what she’d face.”
Diadre caught my unrest, and lifted her head from my shoulder. “What, you mean the Neph comment? She’s going to be fine, Jann. None of the males would dare touch her, knowing who her father and uncle are, trust me,” she laughed.
I wasn’t so sure. “These efforts we’re making to change the Neph culture… we have to succeed, Dee. Not just for you. We have to succeed for her.”
“Of course. I’m surprised you hadn’t thought of that before.”
“I was so busy being present for her—I didn’t have my father, and I know how that hurts. I never thought of her as an adult or…”
“Hey… Don’t let the fear grip you again,” Dee said quietly, stroking my chest. “Change is already happening—and with you and Melek leading… even more will come.”
I sighed as I grinned. “I’d like to come.”
It took her a moment. Then she snorted. “So much for comforting you. I should have known.”
“Oh, I need comforting,” I said, nodding my head and pulling her to me. “I need a lot of comforting. I’m very scared. Very sad. Terrified. A fear only warm flesh and soft cries would help.”
Diadre snorted again, but when I kissed her, thoughts of our daughter and her future flitted away—and my mate’s body softened in the most delicious ways.
Minutes later, half-dressed and panting, I looked outside. The sky was darkening, but the sun still shone behind the mountains, turning them purple and pink, and the summer warmth hadn’t disappeared.
“Is Caelan here to help if she wakes?” I whispered hurriedly, sitting up and putting Diadre on her feet so I could remove her skirts.”
“Yes, but why—”
She squeaked when I stood and threw her over my shoulder, to carry her out to the balcony. “Because, tonight I want no chance of interruption… and I want to feel the air fluttering your hair against my chest… and other places.”
It took her a moment to realize what I meant—but when I placed her back on her feet on the balcony, her eyes and smile were wicked.
“You better hold me tight,” she said as I wrapped my arms around her and manifested my wings.
I grinned. “Tight is my favorite.”
She cackled as I launched us both into the air.