murmured. “You saved all three of us. No one else has touched my heart, and I do not have the words to tell you what it means to me that you took a risk on us to love us. I loved you before I even knew your face, and I will always love you. I will be by your side for the rest of my days.”
He leaned forward and wrapped his arms surround her, pulling her against his chest. Immediately, she felt her other two mates press in, their arms bringing Alis and Nik into the family hug as they shared love amongst each other.
“This has been the most wonderful Mother’s Night,” she said as she hugged her family close.
“Yeah,” Alis agreed thoughtfully. “But next year, I want a sister.”
The laughter that filled the room was one of love and joy, and a promise of a future filled with long years stretched out ahead of them, perhaps more babies, and many Mother’s Nights filled with the closeness of family.
She had truly received a miracle when the Mother gave her Yeril, Furis, and Bero. She could never have dreamed of a better Mother’s Night gift.
Epilogue
It was with complete contentment that Betani looked at her family where they were settled in the large wagon her mates had purchased, along with many other basic goods at her behest, with their remaining coins. When she expressed guilt over using the rest of the money, Bero had shrugged and explained that money meant nothing to Ragoru. When they needed more human goods, they would merely trade again. Just like that, he had silenced any protest she had and banished all guilt.
Her family would be well prepared for their new life in the north, and she was looking forward to it with equal measures of excitement and trepidation that she knew came from leaving Old Wayfairer Citadel. She had never gone beyond the northern farmlands that belonged to the Citadel. Nik and Alis of course were nothing but thrilled as they watched their fathers load the wagon. Neither of them had even complained when she roused them in the early hours to ready themselves to go. Now they were leaning forward, practically falling out of their seats with excitement.
Betani felt she should be down there, helping to pack the remaining things, but Yeril had set her in the wagon to watch the children and supervise as the last of her most cherished belongings were loaded into a cart alongside the trade goods her males had collected before they met. She couldn’t believe how much had been loaded, much of it new. She didn’t think she had ever owned so much at any point in her life, so it was difficult not to gawk as more and more was packed into the back of the wagon.
The horse snorted as Yeril climbed in beside her. The animal was nervous around the Ragoru but had calmed gradually as they packed the wagon throughout the morning and early afternoon. The sides rocked as Furis vaulted into the back.
“We are ready,” Bero informed them from where he stood beside the pony’s head.
He looked much better, far more at ease now that the Withering Days had passed. The males had slimmed down after so many nights of unrestrainable heat that had swamped them. It had taken a few days of generous meals to fill them back out again, but that was nothing compared to the satisfaction that filled their expressions. She knew that a good portion of it was the bonding that was such an important a part of the Withering Days, now that she understood it better.
Every night, after the kids went to bed, her mates unleashed their passions, demonstrating the depths of their devotion and passion upon her body, binding their family closer together with every joining. A small shiver licked through her as she recalled vividly the feel of their fur and tongues on her skin, and the sharp sting of teeth as they had practically worshipped her.
That warmth disappeared as a shadow passed over her, making her freeze.
Just off to the side of the wagon, Ava stood, arms folded over her chest. Betani wasn’t surprised that she was there. She would naturally have wanted to be present to make certain they left. The woman sneered in their direction but stepped away when Furis narrowed his eyes at her. Betani didn’t even give the woman the satisfaction of reacting. She turned away and lifted her children into the back of the wagon, where they could sit warmly wrapped in furs with their father. Pulling at the shawl draped over her fur-lined coat, she leaned into Yeril as he picked up the reins, growling as he gave Ava a look of warning, but nothing more. Bero, however, snarled at the warder, which had the consequence of frightening the woman enough that she backed up and tripped over her own feet, landing ass-first in the snow. He smirked with satisfaction, and his hand gently took the halter of a small pony who appeared used to their bluster and plodded forward faithfully down the street.
Betani didn’t even spare a backward glance as they made their way into the market and then to the outer wall. She paid little mind to the guard as the gate was opened to allow them passage. She kept her gaze forward, looking only to the future and their new life together.
They were going home.
“Farewell!” the guardswoman shouted from her post. “May the new year find you blessed now and for all the years to come. May the tidings of the season see you safe and may the Mother, or any divinity you keep in your heart, make the days unfold before you in joy and prosperity.”
Author’s Night
Happy Holidays! I know it has been a long wait since A Mother’s Night Gift appeared in the 2019 Anthology Stars; Snow and Mistletoe, but I hope it was worth it! When the Anthology released, I knew that I wanted to put it out again as a full novella and so I was thrilled to be able to do so for the holidays this year. I really enjoyed writing more of their family’s story and hope that everyone has also enjoyed revisiting them in this expanded version.
For those who are new to the Ragoru universe, A Mother’s Night Gift was written in response to all the readers who wanted a happy ever after for homeless mother and her children that appeared briefly in Red. In this expanded novella there is also a teaser for another much-requested heroine, a particularly scarred guardswoman. I had not planned on bringing her in but after much thought, I had the perfect story just unfold in my mind for her. What else could a guardswoman need in her life but three rowdy males she is duty driven to escort out of Citadel lands for their mischief. Consequently, that bumps her story just ahead of the origins story since I am still mulling over that one (but it is still on the schedule for 2021, so don’t worry!)
SJ Sanders
Other Works by S.J. Sanders
The Mate Index
First Contact
The VaDorok
Hearts of Indesh (Valentine Novella)
The Edoka’s Destiny
The Vori’s Mate
Eliza’s Miracle (Novella)
A Kiss on Kaidava
The Vori’s Secret
A Mate for Oigr (Halloween Novella)
Heart of the Agraak
A Gift for Medif
The Arobi’s Queen
Teril’s Fire
Monsterly Yours
The Orc Wife
The Troll Bride
The Accidental Werewolf’s Mate
The Pixie’s Queen
The Unicorn’s Mare (coming soon)
Sci-Fi Fairytales
Red: A Dystopian World Alien Romance
Sirein
Ragoru Beginnings Romance
White: Emala’s Story
Huntress
Ragoru Romance
A Mother’s Night Gift
Dark Spirits
Havoc of Souls
Forest of Spirits
Desert of the Vanished (coming soon)
Dark Spirits Fairytales
The Mirror (also part of Mischief Matchmakers)
Match Sticks (coming soon)
Shadowed Dreams Erotica
The Lantern
Serpent of the Abyss
The Mintars
Librarian and the Beast
The Atlavans
The Darvel Exploratory Systems
Classified Planet: Turongal
Serpents of the Abyss (coming soon)
Mist World: Asylum of Graelf (currently an ongoing serial in reader group)
Argurma Salvager
Broken Earth
Pirate’s Gold
Sands of Argurumal (Coming soon)
About the Author
S.J. Sanders is a writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy Romance. With a love of all things alien and monster she is fascinated with concepts of far-off worlds, as well as the lore and legends of various cultures. When not writing, she loves reading, sculpting, painting and travel (especially to exotic destinations). Although born and raised in Alaska, she currently as a resident of Florida with her family.
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