It would only be a matter time before they slinked out of their holes and came marching on this Kingdom. I, however, wanted to use the time of peace for something I could handle, and to start bonding with my children.
Faolán was still out there, and I worried for the lives of my children, but not as much. Now that they had a chance at survival, I knew they’d be okay and I would eventually kill Faolán. He’d taken it too far, and now he would become the prey while I became the hunter. I was done waiting for him to come to me. It was time to go get him and end the sickness that grew within him.
Some people cannot be reached, but I’d like to believe that people could be saved from the evil that festered in their souls. Even if Faolán sought forgiveness, I’d probably kill him. He’d almost stolen this from me, my children and the love of a beast that still made me weak in knees.
I smiled and thanked the powers that be that I was here to watch my gentle beast as he loved our children. If this was Destiny’s plan, I was willing to concede that she’d been correct in her designs. This was right where I wanted to be, with them. My family.
Ryder held Kahleena; she made little noises and he made them back to her. It was almost surreal, watching my beast as he cooed back to our precious daughter. “You know she’s going to give us hell, right?” I asked as I moved to our bed and lay next to the boys, who watched their father silently.
“She’s your daughter, Pet. You actually think she’d give me anything less than hell?”
“No, I plan to teach her just how to do it,” I admitted. And I planned on it.
“My sister wants us to hurry with the wedding,” he said offhandedly. “I am anxious as well, since you seem to be bipolar,” he laughed.
“You did not just call me bipolar.”
“I did, and if you’d like me to give you an example…I have many to choose from.”
“Suck it, Fairy. I’m not the only bipolar headache in this room,” I said as I picked up Zander. “I’m actually hoping they plan the whole thing and that we only have to show up.”
“You won’t get that lucky. Ciara is a diva, as your people call women who are over-the-top. She will make your head spin.”
“Maybe, but I’m more worried about Ristan. I think Olivia was trying to tell us some of the truth, and I can’t shake this feeling. I know I said I wouldn’t interfere, but…”
“Stay out of it, or I will spank you.”
“Shit, that’s incentive!” I joked with a smile on my lips. “You hear that little man? Daddy is going to spank to mommy!”
I paused as my throat grew tight with an emotion I hadn’t felt in a while. Pride at something I had done—in this case, created. “Shit,” I said and then paused. “Crap! Don’t say that,” I watched as a small smile played on Zander’s tiny lips.
“I’m not sure you should be speaking of spankings with our children,” he whispered as he leaned over to kiss my cheek softly.
“We’re parents,” I whispered. “Like, we made little people,” I sat up with Zander held against my chest. “Three of them,” I mumbled.
“Motherhood just hitting you?” he asked with a seductive smile.
“No, it’s the reality of it. How are we ever going to have sex again?”
He threw his head back and laughed.
“Like this,” he whispered as he placed Kahleena on the bed, and clapped his hands.
I watched silently as the handmaidens I no longer needed for myself walked in and started picking up my children. Darynda paused in front of me and smiled. “Can I have the little one? I promise to protect him,” she said and I noticed she had a smile on her lips that I hadn’t seen on them before. It looked nice, and I wondered if she’d settled whatever was going on between her and Zahruk.
“Here,” I said as I stood and kissed Zander’s cheek before doing the same with his brother and sister. When they’d left the room, I smiled. “Well shit, that was actually pretty easy. I’ve heard horror stories about no alone time with babies, and yet you seemed to accomplish the impossible with a simple clap of your hands,” I said as I turned and looked down at him.
“We will need the time to start on the next batch,” he said as he sifted to stand behind me, and his lips nibbled at the sensitive flesh below my ear.
“I swear to everything that is holy, Ryder, if you get me pregnant and make me sit out this war, I’ll neuter you and the beast!”
“I wouldn’t imagine it any other way my sexy, blood thirsty pet,” he growled.
“I love you,” I whispered.