Knightqueen - Page 95

“Now, shall we dance?” she asked.

“If we have to.”

Her laughter sounded like gold. “It really is lucky that I know you’ll do anything for me.”

And he would.

He would be her king and consort. Her knightguard. He’d be her sword and shield, and always her devoted servant. But most of all, he would be the man who loved her for the rest of their lives.

EPILOGUE

Several years later

Carys stepped into the castle gardens.

The flowers were blooming, birds were chirping, and nearby, an ashlan tree was laden in red berries.

As she walked, the hem of her dress caught on the lush grass. Then the baby inside her kicked. Smiling, she rubbed a hand over her rather large belly. Her son was growing big, and he was already strong as evidenced by his fierce kicks. Strong, just like his father.

Giggles reached her. She looked across the garden and saw Sten with their daughter.

Everything inside Carys melted.

The little girl was the perfect blend of both of them. Callia had Carys’ white-blonde hair but her father’s green eyes. She was also stubborn, smart, and insatiably curious. She also adored her daddy.

Sten was an amazing father.

When they’d first discovered she was pregnant, he’d been terrified. Then he’d been terrified again when the knighthealers had revealed she was having a girl. He hadn’t been sure how to be a father to a little girl.

It turned out that he was brilliant. He doted on Callia, and, unsurprisingly, was a very protective father.

It reminded her that he’d once been worried about being king, too. But it turned out that he was brilliant at that as well.

They’d become partners. They backed each other, and their skills complemented each other. Carys always knew she could count on his strength and support, no matter what.

She looked past her husband and daughter, and smiled at the shining city beyond. Her parents would be proud.

She heard more laughter. An older boy ran across the grass to Sten and Callia.

Sten ruffled the boy’s hair. Eve and Davion’s son Kane was growing tall and strong. He tossed a ball at Callia. The little girl tried to catch it but missed, giggling wildly.

Patiently, Kane retrieved the ball and threw it again.

“He’s such a good boy.” Eve stepped up beside Carys. “He doesn’t get his patience from me.”

“I’m just wondering how long it will take him to work out that Callia can catch the ball just fine. She’s playing him.”

Eve laughed. “Clever girl. Keeping them on their toes already.”

Eve, Davion, and Kane were currently visiting Oron for several days. The ties between the Oronis and the Eon had only grown stronger with time.

As they had with Earth.

On a blanket under the trees, Kennedy sat eating some of the ashlan berries. Ashtin had married his Terran, and Kennedy had become one of Carys’ closest friends.

Kennedy’s pregnancy wasn’t showing yet, but that didn’t stop Ashtin from hovering. It was making him even more overprotective than usual. He stood talking with Davion, but Carys knew his full attention was on his wife.

He was driving Kennedy crazy, but Kennedy was managing him well.