100

Speaking of the young king, he cannot be more than five years of age, and ever since he and Finn met, Alexander has been following my son around, besotted. Finn is being oddly tolerant, and during this three-week visit, he and the boy have become inseparable.

“I almost feel that it is unfair for us to leave this child here,” I murmur when two days are left before our visit ends.

Cedric is playing with my hair while I lie on my back against him, between his legs. He snorts. “We are not adopting him.”

“I’m not saying we have to adopt him,” I argue. “But he lost his mother and all his relatives. He’s so isolated. What if he comes to visit us every couple of months? It will be good for him, and he’ll be able to build bonds with our kingdom, as well. Plus, it would be great for the future if he and Finn can become close friends.”

My mate is silent, his fingers still toying with my hair. “I’ll think about it.”

I pat his knee. “Great. I’ll tell Rothan to make arrangements. We’ll have Alexander visit us in two months.”

Cedric touches my belly, annoyed. “How are you going to look after Finn and the young king when you’re eight months pregnant? That kid barely leaves you alone now.”

My heart tightens as I look toward the two young boys crouched by the stream with sticks in their hands, trying to catch fish. Cedric is right. Young Alexander has also gravitated toward me in my three weeks here. He must miss his mother.

I know it’s probably the hormones, but my eyes get teary as I look at the small child. “It was necessary to wipe out his family. I understand that. But I feel so sorry for him. I don’t want him to have to live without a mother.”

Cedric’s voice is tense. “His mother was deeply involved in the organization. And I didn’t kill her, Leanna. She took her own life. And she would’ve taken her son’s, too, if Rothan hadn’t stopped her.”

“I know.” I wipe my eyes and hear him growl in frustration.

“Fine! He can come live with us. But he has to spend four months per year in his own kingdom so Rothan can teach him! It’s important that he learn his own culture. After all, this is going to be his kingdom.”

I lean back against Cedric and give him a bright smile. “Thank you.”

He mutters under his breath but accepts my kiss, turning it into something deeper and unrestrained.

“Ew!”

Finn’s words are echoed by his new friend, who wants to copy everything he does. “Ew!”

Both of them are looking our way, and Cedric snaps, “Go back to the palace!”

My son looks down at Alexander and says gravely, “Adults do this all the time. It’s gross.”

“Gross!” Alexander exclaims proudly.

“Come on,” Finn sighs. “Let’s go get something to eat. Derrick! We want to go back to the palace! Mom and Dad are being gross again!”

Shouting, he hurries down the field to where Derrick is waiting for us.

My face is red. “You have to teach him to stop saying that!”

Cedric shrugs. “Why? When he does, nobody bothers us.”

“Because they think we’re having sex!” I hiss, smacking him in the chest.

“And?” He gives me a confused look. “They know when we’re doing it anyway. You’re quite loud.”

Mortified, I push away from him. “I am not!”

He pulls me back easily. “I like that you’re loud.”

“Cedric!”

“Why do you care?” He kisses me. “You’re the queen. Be as loud as you want. Let the whole kingdom hear. They should know that you are beloved by the king.”

I sigh into his kisses. “We’ll discuss this later. But talk to your son.”

“Alright.” His lips are on my neck. “Tell me, why did you want to come sit out here today?”

His arms are wrapped around my waist, and I smile softly. “I used to come here to escape it all. Mostly at night. This was always an abandoned field. No crops grow here, just wildflowers. When the world was too much for me, I’d come out here and just sit. It was my secret place. I wanted to share it with you.”

“You just sat here?” Cedric murmurs. “Doing what?”

“Thinking, wishing,” I answer quietly, recalling the days when my heart was so wounded that it felt like it would burst. “I wished for freedom, for someone to come and take me away from all of it.”

“You got your freedom in the human world,” Cedric says quietly. “Do you miss it?”

I ponder his question before shaking my head. “No. That was a different kind of freedom. I enjoyed it, sure, but I would miss you terribly if I went back now. Love is also a kind of freedom.” I look over my shoulder at him. “I don’t miss my life in the human world, if you are worried about that. I’m happy.”

His arms tighten around me, and he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to.

In these months back on this side of the Veil, I have begun to understand this man. Cedric doesn’t want to lose me again. And I don’t want to lose him again, either.

I have my mate. I have my son.

I have my family, and I intend to cherish them.