Epilogue

Epilogue
The grand ballroom of the Lycan Kingdom was wall-to-wall with every noble, dignitary, and hanger-on that the new alliance could scrape from the edges of the world.

I stood at the center of it all, holding my six-month-old daughter in my arms. Lyra was heavier than she looked, which was saying something, because she was already the size of a small badger and nearly as feral when she wanted to be. She slept now, jaw slack, a little bubble of drool catching the light on her lower lip.

Darren’s hand was glued to my waist, fingers splayed like he was afraid I’d be snatched away. Not that I minded. Honestly, it was better he was close, so I could keep the ogling eyes from staring at him. He looked better than he had any right to. Unlike me, who had these milk jugs attached to my chest where my perky breasts used to be.

I let my gaze drift over the crowd, picking out faces I recognized and cataloging their reactions to the baby. Most were polite, some envious, a few openly terrified. Lyra did that to people. Maybe it was the eyes. She had inherited Darren’s, but with a weird gold ring around the pupil that made her look like she was always on the verge of shifting.

I spotted my parents across the room, their heads together in a private joke. They had returned a month ago, and it was a crying reunion. My parents were glued together, like I always remembered them. They refused to live in the castle, choosing instead to rebuild the shambolic remains of their old pack. I respected their decision, and they visited all the time.

Milo and Evette’s reunion, when it happened, was the opposite of what anyone expected. No fireworks, just a long hug and a gentle, “You look well.” They both were more than happy with their mates, and I was glad there wouldn’t be any weirdness there.

Winifred was here with Milo. She was still in recovery but made her appearance often. Today was a major milestone, so of course she would be here. Today we were introducing Lyra to the world. We were having a huge celebration and had invited the leaders of the world to join us in peace.

“You look radiant,” Darren murmured against my ear.

“I look like a milk barge,” I muttered, sipping my iced tea.

He grinned, sliding his hand a little lower on my back. “You’re perfect.” He pulled my back against him and could feel his arousal.

“You’re only saying that because you want some later.”

He squeezed my waist, and I barely managed not to spill my drink on Lyra. “You could wear a sackcloth and I’d still want you.”

I laughed up at him as his eyes sparkled down at me. He was telling the truth and we both knew it.

I let my eyes wander again, this time looking for the familiar faces that made the madness bearable. Ivan was easy to spot, a full head taller than anyone else and dressed in a striking striped suit. I caught his eye, and he raised his glass and winked. Finn was harder to find, but I finally spotted him lurking near the bar, his blonde hair tamed into a sleek ponytail and his eyes scanning the room like he was looking for mischief.

Toril and Sven were together, as always, their pale and dark contrasts even more striking in the candlelight. They didn’t mingle, but instead stood to one side, watching everything with the air of professors judging a science fair. Every so often, Toril would murmur something in Sven’s ear, and he’d smile, just a little. I found out from Eira that the two of them were a couple. I wondered what it was like to have a relationship based on mutual respect and the shared hatred of everyone else.

Squall and Eira arrived late as usual, Eira’s hair braided with silver and blue ribbons that matched the dress I’d picked out for her. She beamed when she saw us, and Squall made a beeline for Darren, clapping him on the back with enough force to jostle the baby in my arms. Darren growled, but it was all show. The two of them were now the best of friends.

Eira reached for Lyra, and I handed her over with relief. “She’s gotten heavier,” Eira said, bouncing her gently.

“She eats like her father,” I said.

“Impossible,” Darren protested. “No one eats like me.”

“They’re starting to line up. They all want to pay their personal respects and give their blessing to Lyra.” Eira looked around. “Lyle and Dayanara still missing?”

We exchanged a knowing smile. Those two treated life like a precious gift and rarely went a moment without being intimate. Most likely, Lyle couldn’t resist her once she was all dressed up for the event. I looked up at the parade of faces forming in front of us.

First up was Finn, who used his speed to cut in front of everyone. He approached with a smile that was half genuine and half a private joke, and I braced for whatever stunt he’d prepared.

“Your Majesties,” he intoned, bowing so low his forehead nearly brushed Lyra’s foot. She woke instantly, catching the scent of vampire and responding with a coo that sounded suspiciously like a growl.

Finn straightened and glanced at me, then at Lyra. “May I?” he asked, and I almost laughed. It was the first time he’d ever asked for anything.

“Don’t drop her,” I said, and handed Lyra over.

He took her with the kind of reverence usually reserved for unexploded ordnance. His long fingers cradled her head, and for a second, the room went blurry, as if the two of them were in a world apart. Lyra peered up at him, unblinking, then reached out and grabbed a fistful of his sleeve. She didn’t let go, even as he lifted her higher, examining her like she was a rare gemstone.

“She’s extraordinary,” Finn said, and there was no irony in it. He bent close and whispered something in her ear, a string of words too soft for anyone else to hear. Lyra’s eyes went wide, then she giggled—a sharp, delighted sound. Finn grinned, showing just a hint of fang.

“What did you tell her?” I asked, but Finn only winked.

“I promised her that, when she’s older, I’ll teach her how to negotiate treaties with a knife hidden in her boot.”

“Absolutely not,” Darren scowled, and I knew poor Lyra was going to have quite the overprotective father.

“Think of it as a backup plan,” Finn replied, then handed Lyra back, prodding her nose gently.

Next was Ivan, who now lived here and was no stranger to Lyra. Even at her young age, her eyes brightened and she giggled when she saw him.

He bent down, close enough that Lyra could reach his face, and she did—immediately grabbing his nose and refusing to let go.

“Strong grip,” he said, eyes shining. “She’s going to break hearts.”

“Or jaws,” I said, and Ivan laughed.

“Thank you,” he said, voice rough. “For letting me be here.”

I squeezed his arm, and smiled at him. “You’re family,” I said. “You always will be.”

“You might not need my protection when you’re older, Lyra, but you will always have it.” He nodded, moving aside as the next set of dignitaries approached.

Toril and Sven were a matched set coming to greet Lyra together. I noticed how Toril smiled at Eira before she looked back at Lyra.

“We offer blessings from the old courts,” Toril said, her voice even but not unkind. She extended one long-fingered hand and brushed Lyra’s cheek with a feather-light touch.

“In our tradition,” Sven said, “a child born of war is considered twice-blessed. First by survival, then by promise.”

Darren inclined his head. “Thank you.”

Toril smiled, and for once it wasn’t sharp. “She is beautiful, Allissa. May she never know fear.”

I almost teared up at that but managed to hold it together. “She’ll have you to teach her how to hide it,” I said, and Toril’s lips twitched.

“Perhaps,” she allowed.

“May your line continue unbroken,” Sven said, the words formal but the intent behind them real. I nodded, grateful.

Finally, Lyle and Dayanara made their appearance. Lyle strode forward with his usual swagger, but there was a new steadiness to him, a gravity that hadn’t been there before. Dayanara followed, her hand resting on the curve of her belly for a moment before she took Lyra in her arms.

“You’re going to have a cousin soon,” Dayanara said, her voice warm and low. She looked at Lyle, who stood beside her with his hand on her back.

Lyle leaned in, whispering to Lyra, “You’ll be the wildest pup in history, little one. Uncle Lyle loves you, princess.” He kissed her head as Lyra cooed at him. Dayanara handed Lyra back to me and met my gaze. “Raising our families together is—” She nodded her head with a smile. “For once, I’m really part of a family who values each other and not their strength.” I watched as Lyle pulled her to his side and kissed her temple.

“Thank you for giving me a chance.”

“You are my blessing.”

“No, Nara, you’re mine.”

They were so cute together. I was so happy that everything had turned out well for them.

Many more royals approached and gave their blessing. The last to approach were Alfred and Dara. Alfred was nervous, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve. Dara was radiant, her hair woven with tiny white flowers and her eyes shining.

They bowed, both of them.

“Thank you for inviting us,” Alfred said, his voice quiet. “It means more than I can say.”

“Thank you for coming,” Darren said politely as I adjusted Lyra so they could see her face better.

“She is beautiful. I’m happy for you.” Alfred looked over at Dara and smiled before they walked away.

“There they are!” I heard Squall’s excitement and followed his gaze to Gunnar and Ciera. “Better late than never.” He laughed. My gaze wandered to Ciera and the tiny bump of her stomach. She held Thorin’s hand as they walked to us. All of a sudden, he shook her hand loose and made a beeline to us. His eyes locked onto Lyra’s and glowed.

Lyra stared back, unblinking. For a second, nobody moved.

Thorin turned to Gunnar and, in a voice that carried through the entire ballroom, announced, “She’s my mate.”

Darren, who’d just taken a sip of wine, choked so hard he nearly blew it out his nose. He pounded his chest, glared at Thorin, then at Gunnar, and then at me, as if I was responsible for the mating habits of every baby in the kingdom.

Gunnar, to his credit, did not laugh. He knelt beside his son, the movement so smooth it barely ruffled his suit. “How can you know?” he asked, voice pitched low enough that only the people closest could hear, which, of course, included every gossipmonger in a twenty-foot radius.

“My beast stirs and claims her. I feel it.” He looked back at Lyra, who smiled. Well, this was about the type of chaos I would expect in my life. My baby already having a mate at her age. Sounded about right.

Darren’s hand tightened on my waist, the bones of his fingers digging in just enough to let me know that he was two seconds from going full beast mode. My overprotective mate was not happy.

He looked at Thorin, then at Lyra, and then at me, his expression equal parts “over my dead body” and “what fresh hell is this.”

“Not until she’s thirty,” Darren said, voice gruff.

Gunnar straightened, amusement flickering across his face. “The dragon tradition is sixteen. But we’re flexible.”

“Thirty,” Darren repeated.

Thorin shrugged, utterly unfazed. “I’ll wait.”

Lyra gurgled, then burped, as if agreeing.

Our friends burst into laughter at our amusing predicament.

Darren still held me tight, his body a wall of possessive heat. He bent down, whispered in my ear, “I mean it, Allissa. Thirty.”

I grinned, shifting Lyra to my other arm. “I’ll tell her. But I doubt she’ll listen.”

Ivan, who’d been lurking just behind Finn, leaned over and whispered, “Ten gold pieces says Darren’s temper is about to explode.” Loud enough to provoke Darren.

Finn, never one to miss a bet, or mischief, “I’ll double it if he shifts in front of the guests.”

A low chuckle rippled through our friends and family, which only made Darren’s jaw tick harder. I felt his arms tremble as he let out a tiny growl.

But then, instead of lunging for Gunnar or challenging Thorin to single combat—which, let’s be honest, was not off the table, even if he was a child—Darren did something else. He pulled me flush against his chest, bent his head, and latched onto my earlobe, sucking it between his teeth and using it as his pacifier.

Some things would never change, and you know what … I loved it. It was a circus, it was a madhouse, and best of all, it was my life, with the people I loved.