Epilogue
Siralaine
Do you think they’ll be surprised to see us?” I whisper, clinging to Kai’s shoulders as he flies us to the small village of Ridvern. We have finally got the chance to visit Dorene and Alfren.
It has been five months since our coronation, since we both swore to govern Varindor and its people.
Five months of gruelling effort to have food sent to every area of the kingdom.
For watch towers to be built and security to be stationed throughout all areas.
Many bandits were caught, with many being offered a chance to start anew and work honest jobs.
Those who agreed were better off. Those who didn’t were thrown into the sea.
Three thousand and seventy of Kai’s trusted men came from Alvazakh as well.
Some with family, some alone, all pledging their allegiance to Kai and me.
“They will be, I never ended up sending a letter to them, so it should definitely be a surprise,” he answers.
I nod. I’ve been busy, too, making sure the rivers were not bled dry and making sure water flowed freely, allowing all areas of the land to receive water fairly. Things were already looking better with crops improving and a promise of a better harvest this year.
Kai barely sleeps, although he makes the time to make love to me every single day, if not twice. We are addicted to one another, and every single day, I fall a little harder for him.
I swallow, trying to ease my queasy stomach as he dives for the ground.
We land in the front yard of Alfren’s home, and I’m happy to see there’s a large pile of straw and wheat that needs sorting.
They’ve fixed the walls and created a fence around the property, using the money Kai had sent them a month after we had taken the throne.
I hear a child’s shrill scream and smile, recognising that voice.
Alfrea!
“It’s Kai and Sira! It’s the King and Queen!” she shrieks, making Kai grimace.
“She’s loud.”
“Kids can be.” I giggle, taking his hand and tugging him towards the door. It bursts open before we reach it as Sarena and Alfrea run out to us, hugging us around the waist as Alfren and Dorene appear in the doorway, eyes wide before they both bow low.
“Don’t,” Kai says firmly.
“Your Majesty. You-you-” Alfren begins, his eyes glittering with tears.
“It’s just Kai, Alfren,” Kai says as I hug and kiss the girls, and Kai pats their heads.
“Sira! Sira! Daddy said you’re the Queen now!” Sarena exclaims.
“I am.” I smile before I stand tall and hug Dorene. She begins crying, hugging me.
“We heard you both became our sovereigns, and we received your gift. What did we ever do to deserve such kindness?” Dorene sobs as she moves back and bows again.
“You opened your home to us and showed us hospitality when you didn’t need to,” I say softly, taking her hands and kissing them gently. “And nothing can ever repay that favour.”
Alfren says nothing, fighting back his tears as he hugs me. “I apologise if I’m out of line,” he says before joining his hands in front of Kai. “I am happy to see you both.”
“We are, too,” I say. Kai has a slight smile on his stoic face. He may not show emotions openly, but he cares.
“Let’s go inside. We were just about to start on lunch!” Dorene suggests with a smile as she ushers us all in.
I smile nostalgically when we enter. “We are honoured you remembered us,” Alfren says, as the girls sit by my side, forcing Kai to take another seat. The slight purse of his lips makes me amused.
He’s cute when he’s like that. Over the months, I’ve picked up on his quirks. They’re subtle but there.
“Your dress is so pretty,” Sarena says, brushing her hands over my skirt.
“Girls, wash your hands, we don’t want to dirty the Queen’s dress,” Dorene says firmly.
“It’s just Sira, Dorene, please,” I say gently. “And it’s just a dress.”
The girls giggle, hugging me. “You spoil them,” Alfren says, smiling as he still struggles to get his emotions under control.
“Speaking of dresses, I got you both some dresses,” I whisper, making them gasp.
“Really?!” Alfrea asks. I nod.
“Yes,” I say, making them even more excited.
“Ok, girls, now go play outside. Let us talk,” Alfren orders gruffly.
“Ok, Daddy!” they say simultaneously before they rush out.
“I wonder what colour my dress is,” Sarena says excitedly before the door shuts behind them.
“I apologise,” Alfren says. “What brings you to Ridven?”
“Well, we’ve been travelling around the entire kingdom due to work, but like Sira said earlier, we consider you friends and wanted to visit. I do apologise for not letting you know in advance. Sira wanted it to be a surprise,” Kai says. By the tides, he is so handsome.
He smirks arrogantly, clearly knowing I’m watching him, and he sits back, stretching one of his long legs and placing his hand loosely right beside his crotch. He’s teasing me.
I roll my eyes, trying not to think of how I want to climb onto his lap and ride him.
“It’s good you did and don’t apologise. We would always love to have you here whenever you want to come. You are always welcome.”
“Thank you,” I say.
“And to think you became the King and Queen,” Dorene adds. “We heard the rumours of a sky siren king and a sea siren queen, and I said to Alfren, ‘Could it be?’ But he wouldn’t believe it. I was saying it’s possible you were a sea siren!”
Alfren chuckles. “And I didn’t believe it.
I’m sorry. But meeting you two just proves there’s good in all species.
But I have to say, you have both done incredible things already.
The water is clean and plentiful. There are guards that patrol the villages daily, and double during the night.
You know several of the young lads have enrolled in the programme you set up.
They don’t need to be noble to get training thanks to you. ”
Kai nods, and I smile, so proud of him.
We continue chatting as Dorene cooks, and I walk over to her, offering to help.
“Let me. I want to learn,” I insist. She smiles, not arguing as she teaches me gently.
Once dinner is ready, she calls the girls in.
“Sira, where is your baby?” Alfrea asks, looking at my stomach.
“That lie…” Kai mutters, remembering the lie he told them, taking a gulp of his water.
I smile, caressing my belly, my eyes fixed on him. “Well… the baby is just taking a long time to come, but my doctor said before the harvest ends.”
Kai chokes as he looks at me, and I nod. “I thought it was only fair to share the news here, since last time you shared it right here before I even knew I was pregnant!” I say playfully with a little laugh.
Alfren chortles as Dorene touches my arm gently. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you,” I say before turning to Kai, who is staring at my stomach, pale.
“Now that, that is the face of a first-time father!” Alfren says, making the rest of us burst into laughter.
“It sure is,” I agree.
We left the family home that evening, after I had given them the small gifts that I had purchased for them and a pouch full of coins, insisting they visit us at our castle, which is still a work in progress.
We’ve decided to build a castle on the hills beside the Elmerian Ocean, with parts of the castle built directly over the ocean.
We will have a second bedroom that will lead directly out to the water, too.
Although we didn’t want it to be too extravagant, with everything that needs doing in the kingdom, the nobles insisted that security, powerful walls, and enough space for meetings and banquets were vital.
Kai agreed, but it is taking time as he does not want to spend needlessly on it right now, not when there’s an entire kingdom to restore balance to first.
“Your face when I told you was one to see.” I giggle as we walk over the hills, the setting sun casting a beautiful glow across the valleys below.
“I’m sure it was. So are you really pregnant?” he asks doubtfully.
“Doubt your seed?” I ask playfully.
He looks at me cockily. “No, I know it’s good.”
“It tastes incredible, too,” I say seductively. He squeezes my ass, smirking before kissing me. “But yes, the doctor confirmed it yesterday.”
“I guess we’ll be alright,” he says, not sounding so sure.
“We will be. I know it,” I answer confidently as I wrap my arms around his and rest my head on his shoulder. “We’re lucky, aren’t we, Kai? We made it despite all our obstacles.”
“Yeah, we sure are. And despite all your secrets,” he teases.
I smile. “A love that was forbidden and unheard of will now carry to every inch of land beneath the sky,” I declare.
“And maybe beyond,” he adds.
“Beyond?” I ask.
“We should visit Earth occasionally. I mean, I’m fancying a McDonald’s Big Mac.”
I giggle. “Oh, and ice cream! We really need to bring that stuff here. It would be a lovely business… I could be the one to introduce ice cream to all the kids here…” I begin thoughtfully.
He chuckles. “Easy there, darling, you’re pregnant.”
I turn, locking my arms around his neck. “Being pregnant doesn’t mean I can’t do anything. And right now, I want you to fuck me,” I order, my tone soft.
He smirks. “Now that I can do,” he murmurs, his hand tangling in the back of my hair, the other wrapping around my waist. “Congratulations, my queen, on the start of motherhood.”
I smile softly. Not once did I doubt that he would not be happy, but hearing him speak about it makes me happier than ever.
“Thank you, and congratulations to you, my king. You will be the father to our child that neither of us had.”
His eyes soften, frowning slightly, and he nods. “I will,” he says with determination. The sun dips to its lowest point on the horizon, a vivid glow bathing us in warmth just as his lips meet mine.
THE END!
They say some love stories are eternal, and others are swept away with the passage of time.
Yet the sea remembers every sorrow and happiness, and the sky bears witness to every act of love and betrayal.
And so, together, they will remember our love story, our every sacrifice, our every hope, our every dream that we dared to live.
A love that shaped a new world. A love that endured beyond the tides.
~ Siralaine Stormborn