She’d already tamed the wild beast with only looking into his golden eyes with a matching pair. I held the boys, who had done the same to me, and I watched with wonder as they lifted their hands to touch the multi-colored brands that pulsed on my arms.
They were alert and active, unlike their sister who was content to just wrinkle her brow line as she watched her father’s every move. I listened as Ristan called off the news of the triplets, and the assembly stood as they moved to form a reception line.
Apprehension filled me as they moved toward us. I wasn’t ready for them to be close to my children, and my power emitted from my entire body as I grew worried. It didn’t go unnoticed by those closest to us, but it was Ryder who calmed me.
“You have my best soldiers surrounding us, ready to kill to protect them. You have your own guard; now calm down. If I can feel your discomfort and powers, so too can everyone else in this room.” His mental voice rumbled reassuringly across my mind.
I turned to look at him and smiled softly, replying the same way. “Easier said than done; I have no idea how to stop it,” I warned. I felt Danu’s presence, and then her hand as she touched my shoulder.
“Breathe daughter, before you give everything away,” Danu said, and I knew I alone could see her.
One by one, the members of the Castes came forward to bless our children and then returned to their seats. It wasn’t until Madisyn reached us that I smiled and relaxed a bit. She had tears in her eyes as she touched the babes, and then stood before Ryder. I had been informed beforehand that customarily during this ceremony, she as my mother could hold them, but she only moved to my daughter and touched her hair.
“She’s so beautiful, and these boys, so active for being born early,” she whispered and kissed each babe’s head before she touched my cheek. Lasair stood behind her, watching me. I smiled at him and about fell off my chair when he smiled back. His eyes filled with pride, and then he shouted.
“My daughter birthed triplets! Long live the Horde King and soon to be Queen!” I jumped as his voice boomed through the room, and then smiled at his out of character reaction to my children. He was proud of me, and it felt foreign. I’d only known one father figure, and that had been Alden, since I’d been too young to really know my adopted father.
“Long live the King and Queen!” someone else shouted and then a chorus of it sang out through the room.
Ryder’s hand caressed mine and I looked over at him. “You’re going to have marry me now, Pet,” he smiled roguishly. “The people have decreed it.”
“The people have decreed it?” I lifted a blonde brow and smiled.
“They have,” he assured me.
“I told you my answer, for now,” I whispered and narrowed my eyes on him.
“We’ll just have to see about that, for I plan to change your mind,” he growled and Lasair hooted as Madisyn smiled.
“I love weddings, especially royal ones,” she said, not bothering to hide her wide grin.
“I’ll let you know when he actually asks me and I accept,” I said.
Adam was behind them with his family. He smiled, and I smiled back. Our familiar bond had been broken, but our bond formed of love and loss would never be touched. He stepped up and placed his hand on my cheek and I smiled.
“You are so going to have your hands full,” he said softly.
“So is Uncle Adam,” I teased.
“Is that so?” Adrian’s voice sounded from not far behind Adam. I smiled and turned to look for him.
Vlad was with him; both smiled knowingly and, as Adam moved back to his seat, they stepped up.
“Pretty girl went and gave birth to another pretty girl,” Vlad said with a wink. “Go figure.”
“She’s as gorgeous as her mother is,” Adrian said as he looked down at my daughter.
“Is she now?” I asked as I looking lovingly at my daughter. “Good thing she’s got two brothers to protect her then.”
Adrian laughed, but Ryder wasn’t.
“Keep your hands off my wife and my daughter, kid,” he growled, but as I turned to glare at him, it was to find him smiling with his eyes, which Adrian couldn’t see.
“Hey, I won’t touch your wife, because I don’t see one here,” Adrian teased. “But this little beauty? I can wait for her to get old enough to date.”
“The hell you say,” I sputtered. “You cannot date my daughter!” That was just wrong on so many levels that I couldn’t even begin to count them.
“And how about me?” Vlad asked. “Oh, not the baby; but I did tell you to go Vamp before you went Fairy, or after. You know, for comparison’s sake.” I smiled as his silver eyes took in my sons. “Who knew the beast planted an entire litter of little beasties in that belly?” he asked and turned to Ryder with a gentle nod.
“Indeed,” Ryder growled proudly.