Epilogue
Five years later—Sadat Sur Mer, The Palace
CASSIE HAD WORKED hard to dissolve a lot of the old structures standing between the royal family and the people of Sadat and now the palace was regularly humming with community activities, visiting tourists, and the family were involved in day-to-day life in a way that no other royal family had ever been.
But here in this wing, their private wing, there were no intrusions.
Cassie walked from her office across the hall to where Ares’s office was.
He’d moved Drakos Security to Sadat over the past few years and it had now become a hub for the latest security technology and best defence systems in the world.
His new office building was in the centre of the town, an architecturally cutting-edge structure, but Ares liked to use his office at the palace because his main priority was as the king consort. And husband. And now, father.
Cassie stopped in the doorway and chuckled at the sight. Ares was lying back on a soft couch, with two smaller bodies sprawled on top of him, all of them snoring gently. A book was strewn to the side.
They’d had twins three years ago. Isabella and Calliope.
Bella and Calli. Bella was the firstborn, and a reference to Belle, Cassie’s beloved lost sister.
They were identical twins, taking after both parents.
They had blonde hair but Cassie could see it was already turning darker, and they had the dark eyes of their father.
She put a hand to her distended belly. Their little boy was due in a couple of months. The girls’ suggestions for names so far had ranged from Calli’s favourite thing in the world—Unicorn! To Bella’s suggestion—Baby Brotha!
Since the arrival of the children, Ares had reached out to his own siblings and they’d finally connected.
It had been a happy reunion. It had been easier with his sisters, but Ares had also met his brother, Axel, and was making plans to work with him, providing security for Drakos Shipping, and so he was returning to the fold on his terms.
As often as they could, Cassie and Ares went back to the villa on Spetses and revelled in a few days of isolation and freedom. Sometimes alone when they could manage it, sometimes with the girls.
They updated their wish lists all the time and Ares was extremely assiduous in making sure they ticked off all the items. On their honeymoon to the south of Spain, Ares had taken Cassie horse-riding on Adalucian horses on the beach at dawn.
Motorcycling along Route 66 still had to be done but Cassie was sure they’d get around to it, some day.
Caius had gone on his own journey to find happiness but that was not Cassie’s story to tell.
Much later, when the girls had been put to bed and their nanny was on the night shift, Cassie moved against Ares. His heat and strength and love surrounded her as they moved together in a dance as old as time.
His hand was splayed on her belly and another hand cupped her breast as he took her from behind, thrusting deep inside and taking them both on a languorous sensual dance.
He put his mouth close to her ear. ‘Remind me when we have to stop having sex?’
Cassie huffed a laugh. ‘Never…never stop.’
And then she cried out as her climax broke over her, and Ares gripped her tight as he followed her. They lay in sated bliss for long moments and then Ares pulled the sheet up and curled himself around Cassie’s body, arms stretching around her, to her belly, a hand over their son.
‘Thank you,’ he said into her ear, sleepily.
Cassie smiled and lifted his hand, pressing a kiss to it. ‘Thank you, for coming back to me.’
‘Always and for ever,’ promised Ares.