Chapter 54
Fifty-Four
Elora
Three Years Later
“And the crops in Wickersham and Copenspire have been more than fruitful, Your Majesty. We’ve had to extend the fields twice over to accommodate.” Councilwoman Maeve sits across from me, her dark hair only slightly longer than it was when we met three years ago.
After the coronation, Sorin and I let the rest of the council go, replacing it with those we seemed more fit.
Agnes and Ulric were the first obvious choices as well as Evren and Tallulah.
But there was something about Maeve, something that told me I could trust her. And luckily, three years later, I still do.
My heart swells hearing that the crops we replanted several years ago are not just surviving, but thriving. It’s been a straining few years repairing the damage from the blight, but finally, it feels as though we’ve made it through to the other side.
“And the rations?” I ask, swirling my finger along the rim of my teacup. “Have they continued to increase?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, just as you asked.” She smiles, her long, jade earrings catching in the light. “But with the towns growing their own food again, there hasn’t been much need for them.”
“Make sure they’re sent anyway.”
Maeve nods as she jots a few notes down.
“There is one more thing,” she starts, “about the Wicked Wood.”
My body tenses, nails digging into my palms. “What about it?” A shiver runs down my spine, remembering the last time I was there. Remembering how close I was to not returning.
Maeve eyes me over her notebook before setting it down. “There’s been no new growth.” She shrugs. “It seems whatever you did that day, was enough to?—”
“They’re here!” Sorin bursts into our room, startling Hati and Skoll who are dozing by the fire.
Maeve and I both turn, and neither of us has to ask to know who he’s talking about.
“They’re here?” I stand from behind my desk. He grins, nodding and gesturing me forward. “Maeve we’ll?—”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” she says. “We’ll pick this up another time.”
I weave around her, making sure the wolves know to stay behind this time.
We race through the castle halls, my stomach swirling and fingers tingling. Once we reach the large oak doors, Sorin doesn’t wait to knock before he swings them wide open.
Sam and Jarek both glance our way, matching grins on their faces. I hardly have time to take in the scene before me when a cry pierces the air. I jump slightly at the sound and Sorin laughs.
“Can run with a pack of wolves, cannot handle a baby crying. Noted.” He pinches my sides, and I scowl at his back as we join Samaria and Jarek at the table.
“Aunt Elora and Uncle Sorin,” she says through a smile, “meet Satori, Princess of Scandavi and your new niece.”
I glance down at the now quiet babe and my breath catches. Her skin matches Sam, but her hair is Jarek’s, blonde and curly. Her full cheeks puff out as she wiggles in Sam’s arms.
“She’s beautiful,” I whisper, stroking a finger down her velvety cheek.
“Looks just like her mother,” Jarek says. He straightens his shoulders, his eyes glued to Samaria.
“My sister, a mother,” Sorin says, a joke lingering in his tone. He cocks his head to the side and grins when I frown at him. “I’m proud of you.”
My brows raise and when I glance at Sam and Jarek, their faces are morphed into surprise just as mine is.
“That’s it?” Sam laughs. “No jokes? Nothing about how I can hardly?—”
“No,” Sorin says. He kisses the babe’s forehead, then Sam’s.
“Is Calix joining us?” Jarek asks, brushing Satori’s hair from her forehead.
“Not tonight,” I say. “He’ll arrive in two days, however. I’m sure he’ll be excited to see you.” I pinch Jarek’s arm. Calix and I have not only maintained our relationship the past few years, but it’s blossomed just as well as the crops. He’s become one of my most trusted allies and even someone I can confidently say I love.
“Before I forget,” Sorin says, “I have a gift for Satori.” He leaves the room for a moment, and when he comes back I bite my tongue to keep from laughing.
“A bow?” Sam says, her eyes going wide. “You got my three month old daughter a bow?”
“And arrows.” Sorin’s smile widens as he sets the ivory bow and quiver on the table between us. “Never too early to learn,” he says. “And besides, she may be a princess but deep in her blood she’s a thieving Trednik.”
Sam’s face softens. She leans forward, running a finger along the curved lines of the tiny bowstring. “It’s beautiful. And you’re right, she is my daughter. Which means she’ll be shooting better than you in no time.”
“Must we have this argument again.” Sorin sighs, dropping back into the chair next to me. “I could out shoot you?—”
“You two never stop, do you?” I cut Sorin short and Sam laughs, startling Satori in her arms.
“Siblings,” Jarek grumbles, but there’s humor in his tone.
“Speaking of,” Sorin says, “is Cora here?”
“Of course.” Jarek runs a hand through his beard. “Can’t keep that woman from the sea if I tried.”
After Cora came to our aid in Valebridge, Scandavi and Teravie have mended the wound caused by Roman and Galen. Having Cora here in our home feels as natural as the tides.
Satori stirs, soft cries filling the space. “That’s my cue,” Sam says. “I’ll see you for dinner?” We nod as she leaves, her hips swaying, soft coos whispered in the air.
“I should go with them,” Jarek says. He extends his hand, but Sorin stands and brushes it to the side. He grasps him in a hug and then they turn to me and gesture me forward. The three of us hug and laugh, and when we break apart, I pull Jarek’s arm back around my shoulders.
“What is it, susi?”
“Sorin had a gift for Satori, but I have a gift for you.” I smile and wait for him to do as I say. Sorin’s brows pinch together but he remains silent, to my surprise. “Hold out your hand.”
Jarek holds out his hand, and I place the crumbled card face up in his palm.
“All this time, Elora?” Sorin shouts. “You’ve had it all this time?” He’s laughing now and I join him, but Jarek doesn’t. His eyes stay fixated on the Queen of Spades, perhaps remembering the last time he gave it to me.
He squeezes my shoulders and plants a kiss to the top of my head. “Thank you, little wolf.”
The walk to our room is mostly silent, save for the scuff and tap of our boots upon the stone floor.
“Do you ever think of having one of those?” Sorin slides his hand in mine.
“A child?” I ask. My hand tightens around his out of instinct and he laughs.
“Yes, a child.”
I replay Satori’s chubby cheeks and sleepy yawns in my head. How easy Sam moved with her and knew exactly what she needed.
A natural.
I slide my hand from Sorin’s and wrap it around my necklace. The gift from Mother Gaia I never take off. We round the last corner to our chambers. “Would you think me less of a woman if I say no?”
My arm yanks backward as Sorin comes to a stop. He pulls me closer and grips my chin. “Never.” He kisses me softly on the lips and there’s something so tender about this moment, my stomach dips in response. The necklace pulses lightly, the Dyrsjel magick within it ready to be gifted when I deem fit.
I’ve never told anyone of the gift from the Mother.
Not even Sorin.
It’s like She knew something about me that I had yet to discover. And when I am ready, my lineage will be passed along, and with it, the ability to control the Awakening Stones.
“What about you?” We resume our walk, the buttery light of afternoon seeping through the windows. “Do you want to start a family?”
Scoffing, he pulls me into his arms again before backing me against the wall. “I already have a family.” He kisses me again, this time on my pulse.
Opening the door to our room, he scoops me up and takes me straight to our bed.
Wicked man.
“You’re my family.” He places me gently on my back and brackets his arms above either side of my head. There’s mischief in his dark eyes but before he can make good on it, several growls fill the space.
Stifling a laugh, I bite my bottom lip.
“Yes.” Sorin rolls his eyes before glancing at the wolves. “You’re my family too. Though”—he leans in closer so his lips brush mine—“I wouldn’t mind if they could busy themselves elsewhere for a while.”
“We’re supposed to be changing for dinner.”
“Then we’ll need to take our clothes off first.”
“By the Mother, do you ever stop talking.”
“If you’d like, I can find something better to do with my ton?—”
I clamp my hand over his mouth. “You’re infuriating,” I say through a smile, moving my hand away.
“Yet, you love me.” Sorin smiles.
I take the opportunity to kiss him. “That I do.”
His lips are on my throat, my jaw. Laughing, I kiss him again before turning to the pups. Though, pups isn’t really appropriate now seeing as how they’re just as large as Ruse and Alaric.
You heard him.
Reluctantly, the six wolves stretch and peel themselves away from the fire before exiting through the large door that leads to the veranda.
“It’s the law to bear an heir,” I say between kisses.
Sorin scoffs before pulling back so I can see his face. “So we’ll change the law.” His next kiss takes my breath away while his hands find all the places he knows I need them most. “It’s not like we haven’t done that before.” His smile melts the last of the tension between my shoulders.
Having a child isn’t something I’ve ever considered though the thought of needing an heir had crossed my mind a time or two.
For so long, I thought not wanting a child was because I’m too broken, but maybe it’s because I’m already whole.
Just as I am.
Just as we are.
And with the gift from Mother Gaia, I won’t need a direct bloodline to continue the Dyrsjel magick.
Sorin’s teeth grate against my throat, and my back arches in response.
It’s euphoric, this feeling. Loving someone unconditionally, and having them love you back.
His lips are on my neck, and I bring my legs around his waist.
I have nothing but love for Sam and Jarek and their beautiful Satori. I couldn’t name two better people to raise a child.
But Sorin and I have our own family. Our own way of doing things.
Sorin fists my hair and kisses me deeper than before. He moans against my mouth as I push my hips forward. He pulls away to discard his clothes.
His eyes connect with mine and every single moment leading up to this flashes through my mind.
Valebridge and the mountain. My mother and the cabin in the woods. Sorin in the river and our tumultuous journey that brought us to this very moment. He watches me for a moment, unmoving, as if he’s also recalling the same thing. Our life before this one. The deal made with the Fates. A promise to Mother Gaia to always protect Teravie. Every single moment, choice, mistake has led to this and I would do it again. Over and over, I’d relive it if it meant finding him. And perhaps one day I will, should Mother Gaia ever need our souls again.
He drops to his knees and pulls off my pants. He kisses my ankles, then my calves, and continues upward until his teeth are around my undergarments and then, they’re off as well.
I close my eyes, and let the memories from earlier fade away. My fingers clench around the sheets.
I arch into Sorin’s touch but he pins me down with his free hand, continuing his movements with his mouth. I wish I could go back in time just to show that girl on the mountain just what life had in store for her. I’d tell her that through all the turmoil, life finds a way of showing you the beauty in it. And despite what she thinks, despite what her mind tells her, she is worth living to see that beauty.
On a shaky breath, I whisper a goodbye to that lost girl on the mountain. I wish her well on her way. I’ll miss her, that broken version of myself.
Because without her, I wouldn’t be here.
Sorin’s body frames mine again, and before he has a chance to go anywhere, I pull him into me for a long, slow kiss.
I sigh against his mouth, and my body relaxes under his touch.
He’s the home I sought for so long.
The family I craved.
The family I didn’t think I deserved .
And what a family it turned out to be.
Just me and Sorin, and a pack of wolves.