Epilogue

They were married thirty-six hours later, first by a Justice of the Peace on Earth, and then in a Dazon bonding ceremony, where they were bound with the traditional kursti that tied their wrists together for the next thirty-one hours.

The triplets were present, one held in each of their arms, while Lily babbled from Jordan Saunders’ embrace. After the ceremony, she came over to them and held out the child they wanted to make their daughter. Orix took her easily, holding Carmen and Lily together in one arm.

Jordan smiled at both of them. “We’ve started the paperwork so you can officially adopt these three. We’ve decided not to worry about the Dazon home world and allowing their rights to influence the adoption. If anyone had wanted to claim the children from their father’s side, they’ve had ample time to do so. It’ll take a little time and a lot of red tape, but my mother assures me the babies will be yours within the next few months. She’s also going to start an adoption program for the other babies, because it’s clear they all need a home.”

A shadow passed across Mac’s face for a moment. “It’s important that whoever adopts them understands these babies are part of Ha’s great experiment, and it’s likely he’ll continue to try to acquire them. There are special security issues that need to be addressed.”

The president’s daughter nodded, sounding faintly exasperated. “I haven’t forgotten our previous conversation, Ms. Jones.”

Mac gritted her teeth, looking like she wanted to argue or make an impolite retort, but in the end, she just nodded and turned away from the other woman. When she looked up at him, his heart melted, and he drew her into his embrace as they cuddled the three babies between them.

The war was nowhere near over, but Orix had good reasons to keep fighting, and though they were still outnumbered, he was optimistic about the outcome. There would be peace one way or another, and he would ensure it happened sooner rather than later if at all possible, both for his immediate future with his wife, and for their children’s future. He didn’t want them to grow up fighting the Dazon home world, or torn between both halves of their legacies.

There had to be a way to secure the peace. They just had to find it.