Ella “Ella!” Cora shouts from the closet, her voice a little frantic. “Ella, help! Please!” I turn quickly towards the closet, a biscuit and a cup of coffee in each of my hands and Rafe strapped to my chest in his little carrier. “What’s wrong?” I call as I hurry towards her. But I see the pro
Because this day? I have a feeling it’s going to be a really good one. We’re holding the wedding in the great hall, where we had the coronation yesterday, but it has been satisfyingly transformed. I was a little hesitant about the choice because I didn’t want everything to look the same, and like
Ella Even though Cora got ready in my room at the palace, we did a great deal of work to make this wedding as public as possible – as public as our coronation, if not more so. In order to do that, once Cora was dressed we escorted her down to the garage-level of the palace to where a beautiful ope
“If you think this is her first time crying,” Sinclair says, smirking and reaching for Rafe, “then you’re woefully mistaken, sister-in-law.” Cora laughs then as I pass Rafe off to his father and she loops her arm through mine. “Ready?” I say, sniffing the rest of my tears back and smiling. “Su
Ella Cora and Roger’s reception goes late into the night, which is just fine by me – because for the first time this week? Sinclair and I haven’t been the focus of the attention, and we just get to party. I mean, that’s not completely true. We’re still the King and the Queen of our nation and we
But I immediately see the problem, and I am not at all surprised that my uncle is at the center of it. My eyes dart around at the people – several Atalaxian men, looking chic if rigid in their tuxedos, bristle as they frown at a human woman with her twin daughters pressed tight against her side. T
Ella I feel the poor human woman’s shoulders shake and I take a deep breath, remembering my duty to her as well. “Come on,” I say, trying to keep my voice light as I turn her and her daughters away. “I’m so sorry about this – let’s get somewhere more peaceful.” And as we begin to walk away, I le
“Clever,” I say, stepping closer to him and likewise looking towards the door. “Bringing someone who they knew would force you to show your cards.” “And it may not be done,” he sighs. I look up at Sinclair to ask why, but we’re both distracted when the bride and groom come to our sides. “Is ev
He shakes his head at me as tears fill his own eyes and he leans forward, pulling me against him while somehow miraculously managing not to crush our children between us as he holds me tight in his arms. “So, I guess it wouldn’t matter,” he murmurs against my hair as I sniff back my tears and nod.
“Even more than the kids!?” I gasp, my mouth falling open a bit. “I mean, the kids,” he says, shrugging as if they’re not much, which makes me laugh. But then he goes a little rigid as he realizes something, raising his eyes to glare at me a bit. “Wait, are you saying you like the kids more than m
Ella “Nope,” Sinclair says, heaving himself out of bed and grabbing his phone off the bedside table as he does. “I can’t live like this, Ella – I’m calling Roger, I’ve got to know –“ “Dominic!” I say, laughing and grabbing for him, trying to catch the edge of his pajamas and failing because I’v
She laughs and I look first at Sinclair, who shrugs, and then back at my sister. “Come on,” Roger says, nodding at the crowds of people waiting to congratulate us and at the small table of refreshments. “Let’s decide this over some champagne.” Sinclair nods at me and I sigh, moving with my famil
The last image, though, lingers. Ariel, with Rafe and Jesse on either side – as they always are – and her two mates behind her. All standing together on a battlefield with Ariel at the center, magic welling between her hands and passing to her brother, to her cousin. Their faces are serious as t
Cora The images of Ariel’s future come in quick flashes, and somehow I get the impression that the Goddess is eager to share these glimpses of her life. The ones that come first are what I sort of expected, especially after seeing some images of Rafe’s childhood and hearing about the ones that
“We are not,” Cora scoffs, gently taking Ariel into her arms as Sinclair and I laugh. Roger grins, leaning forward to kiss me on the cheek before passing Jesse to me. “You know I’m kidding, right, Ells?” he whispers. I smile at my brother-in-law and gently pat his cheek. “When in doubt, Roger,”
Ella Three weeks later – Ariel was born under a waning quarter moon, not a new moon like her brother and her cousin – I stand anxiously in the woods, my little girl held tight in my arms. “I’m sensing some anxiety,” Cora says, grinning at me with a little too much glee as she comes up to my sid
“Oh my god,” I say, the words spilling out of my mouth. “Oh my god,” I sit up straight, staring at Henry, my eyes flicking to his legs – because honestly, I don’t even notice his chair anymore, or think of him at all as someone whose abilities are hindered. Or of me as someone who is able to do an