true.”
The healer looked at me. “All I’ve heard are second- or third-hand accounts. Will you tell me the story?”
Drace looked at me, her eyebrows raised. I waved her on. “Be my guest.” I was more than bored with it already.
“So we get back from the Valley. Merlin’s dead—less than dust. As soon as the last Fae stepped through the portal,” she clapped her hands together so loudly the healer jumped, “BAM! It closed.”
The healer chuckled nervously. “And then Chaos came to see you?” She looked at me.
I nodded.
“Oh did he ever!” Drace gets up from her chair. Puffs up her shoulders, deepens her voice. “Child, you’ve done well. As a gift from me, please consider keeping the power I gifted you.”
Drace made herself smaller. “Chaos, you thundering idiot, I didn’t want your power in the first place. Take it back. Right now.” She stomped her foot.
I snorted. “I didn’t call him a thundering idiot.”
Drace laughed. “No, but this is an elder in our community. I’m not repeating what you actually said.”
The healer’s eyes widened so much I could see white all around the iris.
Drace stood on her toes again, bulked out her arms. “If that is your wish, child. Perhaps you would like to gift it to someone else? A deserving warrior? Your best friend?”
“He didn’t say that last part!” I objected.
Drace shushed me. “I’m telling the story. Shut it.”
I rolled my eyes.
She lowered back down into what was supposed to be me. “Give it to Drace. She was literally the savior of everyone there. She basically took down Merlin all by herself. She was glorious. Seriously, you should have seen her.” She fluffed her hair.
I threw my pillow at her. “You’re worse than the gossips!”
Drace turned to me, a hurt look on her face. “You’re saying you didn’t say those things to Chaos?”
I shook my head. “Of course not!”
Drace’s eyes filled with tears. “Some best friend you are!”
I snorted.
Her tears dried up in moments. She turned back to the healer. “Okay fine, she didn’t say those things about me. But she did ask if I wanted the power.” She nodded. “I jumped on that shit like white on rice.” She pumped her fists into the air. “Damn right, I did. Now I get to play with big kids.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, sitting on Earth’s council is so exhilarating.”
Drace laughed. “Hey, I’ve only ever been a second tier citizen in our thunder. This is so sweet ass shit. I’m happy as a freaking lark.”
The healer’s gaze bounced between us like she was watching a tennis match. I finally knew what that was. The last month had been the best and worst of my life.
But the absolutely best of the best part? Finding out I was pregnant. Apparently, Drace had known before we went to battle. The guys were not happy with her when they found out that news. Ari had almost scalped Drace.
But everyone had made up and now we were the closest of family. The guys even renovated the penthouse. Now we all shared a gigantic bed—something called an Alaskan king. The sheets were a nightmare, but at least I didn’t have to decide which bed to sleep in on any given night.
And even better…Drace and Finn lived on the floor below us. Ari took up the other half of the floor. We were apparently the power base of North America.
Drace poked me in the side. “The healer wants to know what your plans are, corcra.”
I brought myself back to the room around me. “Hopefully live in peace. Any one who comes knocking on my door better have their manners in place and their intentions in line. I don’t suffer fools or rude people gladly.” I smiled. “And I know how to get rid of bodies these days.”
Someone thumped a fist against the door. “Stop threatening everyone, Cheeks. They’re going to think you’re serious.”
I smiled at the healer. Leaned forward. “I am,” I whispered.
Epilogue II
Eleven Months Later
“Give me my babies, Grumpy. I carried them. I get to hold them.” I held out my arms. My tired and noodley arms. I didn’t care if I could barely hold them up. I was going to snuggle with my three girls until we all fell asleep anyways.
He slid the one wrapped in purple into my arms. “So bossy, cheeks.” He kissed my sweaty brow. “I love it. But I’m still the boss.” My daughter’s blonde hair and dark purple eyes were a startling combination. Her dusky skin made her even more exotic looking.
I blew a raspberry at him. “That’s what you think. We’ve got you outnumbered now.”
Tove carried over the little girl snuggled in pink. “Yes, you do. We’re all going to wrapped around your fingers. Hell, I already am and I have no problem admitting it.” With her citrine eyes and black hair, she was just as pretty as her sister.
Thane smiled. He laid the little bundle of yellow on my chest. “I’m right there with you. They’re perfect, Stretch. Just like you.” Little Miss Sunshine had curls of light brown and eyes of topaz. A stunning combination that reminded me of her great-grandmother.
I sighed as I felt all of their little bodies against mine. It was odd to feel them against me instead of inside me. Dragon babies took longer than human babies. I’d been carrying these girls for the last year.
We’d had to sequester me in Ireland in the thunder’s castle near the end of my pregnancy so we didn’t start raising any alarms with the humans. I laughed mentally when I thought of the thunder getting their greedy gazes on my three triplet girls. Another anomaly in the world of dragons.
“We need names,” I said around a yawn. “Although, I’ve already got one picked out.”
My three men looked at me. Identical dark eyebrows raised.
“Charlotte.”
Their smiles were breathtaking. They nodded.
“I love that idea, Cheeks. Thank you.” Grumpy squeezed one of my toes.
“Charlotte Elaine Ladon,” Tove said. As if we’d all already known, we looked at the little girl swaddled in the purple blanket.
I smiled. Nodded. “That’s perfect.”
“Parker Elise Ladon?” Thane asked. He nodded to the lady wrapped in pink.
I rolled it around in my head. Nodded. “I love that, too!”
We all looked at Grumpy.
His face screwed up in frustration. “I’ve got one, and you’ll all probably hate it.”
I rolled my eyes, tried to fight back the sleep that was encroaching. “Tell me. Tell us.”
He cleared his throat. “Aryanna Ellen Ladon. We can call her Ary for short.” Red dusted his cheeks.
Tears filled my eyes. “Yes. To all three. I love them.” I swallowed around the lump in throat. “I love all of you. You’ve given me a home I never thought to wish for. Filled it with love, acceptance, laughter, and warmth.”
Tove smiled. “That’s what families do, Hols.”
I shook my head. They didn’t understand. Not really. But that was okay for now.
“That’s what families do.”
The End
**
Thank you so much for coming along on Hollyn’s journey with me! I’ve had a blast writing it. I hope you’ve had just as much fun reading it.
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Sadie J
About the Author
Born and raised in Tornado Alley, Sadie Jacks has experience with the BDSM community, reading way too many sexy-times books, and has an unhealthy addiction to Dr. Pepper. given up her beloved Dr. Pepper. She’s trying to get in shape for her 40th birthday…in four years. And yeah, it’s probably going to take that long to do it.
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