Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
“Beautiful, aren’t they?”
Dravic groaned before turning his head.
Fiora hovered beside his shoulder, staring down at the twins.
“They are,” he agreed with pride.
Fiora grinned. “Something we finally agree upon.”
“Do not get accustomed to it,” he cautioned in his usual authoritarian tone.
She laughed lightly and turned her attention back to the cradle.
After a moment, she said, “Don’t worry. I’ll be around to help you with them.”
“I—”
“And don’t bother telling me you won’t need the help.”
Dravic looked down at his son and daughter, then he looked at Fiora. “I will need the help.”
Fiora’s mouth fell open. “Did the King of Scotara just admit he needs a fairy?”
“I admitted nothing of the sort.”
“You just said—”
“I said I will need help. I did not say it had to come from you.”
Fiora laughed. “Too late. I heard you.”
“So did I,” Adira called from the bed.
Dravic turned toward her to see her smiling, then she yawned. That was enough.
“Everyone out,” he ordered.
Tharne looked at him. “You do remember she is my daughter.”
“And you remember she is my wife who just gave birth to twins. She needs rest.”
“I am fine,” Adira said, though another yawn provided proof of her husband’s words.
Dravic turned a smug smile on her.
Bria tugged at her husband’s hand to follow her. “He’s right. You should sleep.”
Kaelan followed, though not before congratulating the new parents one more time. “Much luck and joy.”
Faith kissed her daughter and then went to the cradle, bending to kiss each of her grandchildren.
Tharne followed her, pausing beside Dravic. “You best take good care of them.”
“I don’t need to be cautioned about keeping my family safe. I will always make sure of that.”
Tharne looked like he was about to say more, but a warning glare from Dravic had the warlord simply nodding.
Fiora was the only one who remained and Dravic sent that same glare on her.
“I’m going. I’m going.” She flew over to the cradle, hovered above the sleeping twins, and whispered, “Don’t worry. I will teach you both how to annoy your da.”
“Out!” Dravic ordered.
Her laughter followed her through the door.
Finally, there was silence.
Dravic closed the door and returned to the cradle. He checked both bairns once more before approaching the bed.
Adira smiled as he sat beside her. “You chased everyone away.”
“You are tired.”
“You must be as well. The night grows late.”
“I did not give birth to twins,” he said, doubting she needed a reminder.
“Nay. You merely behaved as though you might not survive it.”
Dravic winced. “You were in pain. I could not stand it. And you failed to mention there were two.”
Adira’s smile widened. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“You succeeded.”
She laughed softly.
Dravic slipped his arm around her and carefully drew her against him so she could rest her head on his chest.
For a while, neither spoke.
Dravic held his wife close and cast a glance at the cradle where his bairns slept peacefully… his family.
There had been a time when the word meant little more than memories of people taken from him far too young. He had believed the crown and Scotara were all that remained for him.
He had been wrong.
Adira’s hand patted his chest. “Happy, my king?”
Dravic looked down at her. “More than I ever knew I could be.”
Her eyes softened.
He brushed a strand of her blond hair away from her face. “You changed everything.”
“Nay,” she said softly. “We changed everything.”
He smiled. “Aye. We did.”
Adira’s eyes began to drift closed.
Dravic kissed her brow. “Sleep. You need it.”
“You are ordering me again.”
“I am your king.”
Her eyes opened enough for him to see the amusement in them. “And I am your wife.”
“A far more troublesome position.”
She smiled and settled comfortably against him.
Dravic held her as sleep slipped over her. His gaze returned once more to the cradle.
He was a king with a kingdom to protect. A husband with a wife to love. And now a father with a son and daughter who both would know from their first breath what he had learned far too late—that neither duty nor power made a life worth living.
The only thing that did was… the magic of love.
The End