Lyrians Epilogue
Another 10 years later…
Watching Marcus negotiate with the Korean delegation reminded me so much of myself at his age. At twenty, he'd grown into his empathic abilities with a grace that still amazed me, and almost surpassed me, too. His quiet confidence and diplomatic skills had already earned him respect throughout the underworld. I couldn't be prouder of him.
"They're going to accept," I murmured to Zoren, monitoring the emotional signatures from our observation point. He was worried for a good reason, but I knew it was going to be okay. "Though the second-in-command is planning to request additional concessions."
Zoren nodded, his presence beside me as reassuring as ever. "Alexander's team is in position if anything goes wrong."
Our younger son had inherited Zoren's tactical brilliance along with my empathic abilities, choosing to focus on security operations. At twenty, he already commanded his own elite unit, combining traditional enforcement with empathic intelligence. The perfect blend of both his fathers. He was as feared as he was revered.
"Speaking of Alexander," I said, sensing a familiar burst of satisfaction from across the compound. "I believe he just broke up another attempt to infiltrate our eastern border."
"Third one this month." Zoren's pride was evident. "The Colombians are getting desperate."
A subtle shift in the negotiation room's emotional atmosphere caught my attention. Marcus had sensed the Korean delegate's hidden agenda and was smoothly redirecting the conversation. His technique had surpassed even mine—where I still sometimes pushed too hard, he moved with subtle precision. He learned from the best.
"Remember when we worried about them growing up in this life?" I asked, thinking back to those early years of parenthood. We'd wanted them to have a different life, but it didn't happen.
Zoren's hand found mine, squeezing gently. "They've exceeded every expectation. Though I still wish—"
"That they could have had normal lives?" I finished. "They are normal. There's nothing wrong with them."
A mental touch brushed my consciousness—Alexander, reporting in. "Dad, we found something interesting in the infiltrators' equipment. New tech, military-grade. Someone's backing them."
I relayed the information to Zoren, our years of partnership making the exchange effortless. This was how we'd built our empire: his strength and my insight, now multiplied through our sons.
Other groups didn't have what we had. That was our advantage.
"Marcus needs to know," Zoren said. "It could affect the negotiations."
I was already reaching out mentally to our older son, careful not to interrupt his concentration. Just a gentle warning about potential complications. His acknowledgment came with a touch of his own insight—he'd sensed something off about the Koreans' recent arms purchases.
"Sometimes I wonder," I mused, "what would have happened if we hadn't learned to trust each other's strengths back then. If we'd stayed locked in that cycle of protection versus independence."
"We would have lost everything," Zoren answered. "Including each other."
He was right. Our success, our sons, our entire empire—it all stemmed from that fundamental lesson. We would be nothing without it.
A commotion from the negotiation room drew our attention. Marcus had smoothly exposed the Korean delegation's hidden connections to the Colombian cartel, turning potential betrayal into a new opportunity.
Alexander's voice touched my mind again. "Permission to bring in my prisoner? He's got interesting things to say about who's funding these attacks."
I glanced at Zoren, who nodded with confidence. After twenty years, we barely needed words anymore.
"Our sons have grown into remarkable men," I said proudly.
"They learned from the best." Zoren's voice held equal measures of pride and love. "Though Mae still says they're both as stubborn as you."
"As both of us," I corrected, laughing. "Speaking of which..."
A new wave of emotional signatures approached—complex, powerful, threatening. Something big was about to happen. I could feel it in my bones.
"Dad?" Both twins reached out mentally at once, sensing the same thing I did.
"I feel it," I confirmed. "Zoren—"
"Already moving," he assured me. "Command center?"
I nodded, already sorting through the incoming emotional data. Whatever this new threat was, we would face it without fear.
End of Book 7