forward and offered her hand to Kerrigan. "Thank you for what you did."
"Anytime."
Smiling, Elaine left them and hurried after Merlin while the rest of the knights broke rank and followed suit. All but Agravain, who continued to glare at Kerrigan as he sat on the back of his white horse.
"I still don't trust you, demon. I'll be keeping my eye out for you."
As he turned to join the others, Kerrigan let fly a bolt from his hand to knock Agravain off his horse. Agravain shot up and pulled his sword out.
"What?" Kerrigan asked in feigned innocence.
"You attacked me," Agravain sputtered as he rose from the beach with sand coating his entire body and face.
"I didn't do anything. You said you were going to watch me. I can't be held accountable for what nature does."
"You lying—"
"Vain!" Elaine shouted. "Get over here with the rest of us, or I'm going to embarrass you by beating you before your friends."
If looks could kill, Kerrigan would have been sliced in twain by Agravain's glare.
For an instant, Seren thought he'd attack anyway. But after three heartbeats, he sheathed his sword, dusted the sand from his body, then remounted his horse.
Seren shook her head at Kerrigan. "I can't believe you did that."
"Me? I can't believe the lot of you came back for me."
"Why not?" Blaise asked. "After all, we're family."
Kerrigan couldn't speak as unnamed emotions tore through him.
Family. It was something he'd never thought to have.
"Yeah, well, while this is getting really mushy, the stone feels the deep need to cut out. I'm going to find Anir and return to our con. There's a full moon tonight, which means Mr. Rock here gets to be human for a couple of hours, and I've got a date with the newly crowned Miss Klingon Empire." He wagged his eyebrows at them.
Seren shook her head as Garafyn took flight. "I only understand about ten percent of what he says."
"You're not the only one," Kerrigan said as he offered her a charming grin.
Blaise held his arm out to Kerrigan. "Welcome back, my friend."
Kerrigan shook his arm. "Thank you, Blaise."
He inclined his head. "You two have some catching up to do. I'll see you later."
Seren watched as he faded away and left them alone.
Kerrigan kissed her gently. "I can't believe this is real. I keep expecting to wake up and find Morgen over me again."
"There's no Morgen here. But I…I have my own torture for you, my lord."
He looked baffled by her words. "What?"
"You, evil man, made me a promise that you have yet to fulfill."
He actually looked worried by that. "And that is?"
"To give my baby a name."
Relief spread across his face as Kerrigan took her hand into his and placed a gentle kiss to her palm. "That is one promise I fully intend to keep."
"Good, because I want to make an honest man of you."
He laughed at that. "I wouldn't go quite that far, Lady Mouse. There's only so much changing a man can do."
"We shall see, my lord. We shall see."
Epilogue
Four years later
Seren sat quietly in her room in front of her loom, nursing her infant son as he cooed and suckled. Her heart pounding with love for him, she gently brushed at his mop of dark hair. She so loved the quiet times alone with the baby. She treasured those as much as she treasured the quiet times alone with her husband.
A smile curled her lips as she thought about Kerrigan, and a thick warmness consumed her. Even after four years, she still loved him more than her own life.
"You look just like your father," she whispered as her baby suckled her. At two months in age, Liam held the same dark hair and light blue eyes. Aye, he would be a strong knight one day. She could just imagine how handsome he would be…
Suddenly, there was a flash in front of her.
Frowning, she looked up to see Kerrigan sitting on the floor with Alethea held in his lap. The two of them looked as if they were up to some great mischief. As was typical, Kerrigan had their daughter dressed as a squire in tunic and hose, while tendrils of her dark hair had come free of their braids.
Aggravation filled her as they laughed together. "What have you two done now?"
Sobering, they both gave her an innocent stare that she knew belied their actions.
Her daughter actually managed to look a tiny bit contrite. "Alethea did nothing, Mommy."
But by the gleam in Kerrigan's eyes, she knew he