Epilogue
Kim’s thoughts returned to the present as Destiny released her breast. Looking down , she found her daughter asleep with the faintest dribble running down her chin.
“Finally got your fill there did you little one?” Kim whispered, leaning down to nuzzle the top of her head as she fixed her top. Reaching for the cloth on her shoulder, she wiped Destiny’s chin.
“She asleep?” the deep voice had her lifting her head to find Wray stepping onto the patio.
“Just.” She said, tipping her face up as he leaned down to kiss her.
“I was hoping I’d get back before she was.”
“Then she never would have gone down.” Kim told him smiling. “She’s a manno’s girl.”
“She is, isn’t she.” Wray said and Kim just rolled her eyes as a huge grin broke across his face.
“As if there were ever any doubt, the way you spoil her.”
“She is mine. Of course, I’m going to spoil her.”
“Remember that when she becomes a teenager and starts looking at young males.”
“ That is never going to happen!” Wray roared and his denial had Destiny jerking in Kim’s arms, her little lips pursing before she snuggled deeper, into the safety of her mother’s arms and went back to her dreams.
“You have a few years to prepare, I’m just warning you, if all she has to do is cry and you give her what she wants she’s going to expect it.”
“There is nothing that she could possibly want that I won’t give her.”
Kim just shook her head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She then changed the subject. “So what did Callen have to tell you?” Her gaze sharpened when instead of replying Wray sat down next to her. “Wray.”
“I don’t want to upset you my Kim but I know you are going to want to know.”
“Know what?”
“ Lord Callen and Tora have been working on solving all the problems on Vesta caused by Reeve.”
“Yes. What have they found ?” Kim knew Callen was carefully screening the warriors that Reeve had left behind when he came to Tornian for the Joining Ceremony for the females from Earth. Several, Callen had deemed unworthy of his new House, House Nizer.
“Curador.” Wray said, watching her intently.
“Curador?” Kim frowned at him, then looked down at Destiny. She still missed that male, even though she’d only known him for a few days. She knew her pregnancy would have been less stressful for both of them if he had been with her and he would have loved Destiny.
“After comments made by several warriors that Callen deemed worthy, he began to doubt that Curador passed naturally in his sleep as Reeve informed us.”
“What?” Kim whispered .
Wray ’s silently watched his Kim process what he was saying. What it meant and before his eyes, she turned from the soft, caring female he knew she was, into the Empress who would want answers.
Ever since the arrival of the other females Kim had come into her own. Having the support of those females, being able to interact with them, had given her the confidence she needed to be the Empress.
“Tell me!” She demanded.
“Several males made comments about how they overheard Reeve and Yakar speaking of how they couldn’t allow Curador to be your Healer.”
“They ended him because of me.” Kim whispered.
“No Kim.” Wray leaned forward, taking her hand. “They ended him because they were unworthy.”
“But…”
“No!” Wray refused to let her think that. “Curador would never want you to think that. He was a truly fit and worthy male. A Healer that touched many lives. We will honor that and make sure everyone else knows it too.”
“He would have loved Destiny….” She said, returning the soft, caring female he knew.
“He would have and we will tell her about him.”
“Yes.” Kim whispered, looking down at her daughter saw she was awake. “Well hello there my beautiful girl.” She said smiling.
Destiny cooed at her then her eyes went to her manno and she started wiggling in Kim’s arms , reaching out for her manno.
Wray immediately l eaned over, answering his daughter’s demand to lift her high above his head. He gently tickled her and was rewarded with bubbly laughter.
“Remember what happened last time you did that after she just ate. ” Kim warned, smiling.
Wray did and quickly lowered Destiny into his arms. He had no desire to find his face covered with his daughter’s meal again. “You wouldn’t do that to you r manno now would you Destiny.” He cooed at her.
Destiny answered him with a happy baby bur p filled with bubbles and Wray realized he had just missed a repeat performance. Taking the cloth from Kim, he wiped Destiny’s mouth.
“Do you have to go back soon?” Kim asked, watching him tend their daughter.
“No. General Rayner will be arriving after last meal, remember? Until then, I’m all yours.”
“Really?” Kim’s eyes began to shine at the thought of what they could do with that time.
“Really.” Wray said his eyes full of promise.
Rising Kim held out her hand. “Let’s take our daughter for a walk in the gardens,” she said. “After that she’ll be ready for her nap and we can take one too.”
Looking at his Kim, Wray knew that unlike Destiny, their ‘nap’ would involve little to no sleeping. Rising, he tucked Destiny securely in one arm, wrapped his other around his Kim, and led them into the garden.
Far above, the Goddess looked down on the Emperor and Empress and smiled. She had chosen well. Soon the great infection will be no more and her mistake would be corrected.
“Come…”
Looking away from the scene below the Goddess turned to her mate, the only being she had ever loved.
“Come.” He said again holding out his hand. “Let us also go ‘nap.'”
The Goddess’ lips twitched at the promise in her mate's eyes and took his hand. She was really going to enjoy this ‘nap.'