Chapter 230 Epilogue Two
Chapter 230 Epilogue Two
Kira’s POV
The palace had descended into glorious, unfiltered chaos, and somehow, I wasn’t even surprised anymore.
I stormed down the long corridor, my heart hammering with that familiar mix of maternal panic and pure exasperation.
Leah was practically vibrating inside my head, her voice a whirlwind of accusation and dramatic flair.
‘This is all your fault, Kira! You and your wandering gene! Why did you have to pass it on to Kael? He can’t even walk properly yet and he’s already plotting escapes like a tiny criminal mastermind!’
“Adrian!” I yelled, gripping the front of his shirt the moment I spotted him rushing out of the royal study.
I yanked him close, eyes blazing. “How could you lose our son again? How? He’s a toddler!”
Adrian’s gray eyes…exactly like Kael’s…widened in defensive innocence.
“I was just with him in the study! I only looked away for five minutes, Princess, I swear. He was playing with those wooden blocks right beside my desk—”
“Five minutes?” I growled, tightening my grip until the fabric creaked. “You’ve been trying to get me pregnant again for months…practically every night like it’s your divine mission…but you can’t even watch our first child for five whole minutes? How dare you look away!”
He winced, hands coming up in surrender. “Kira, my love, breathe. We’ll find him. The entire palace is looking.”
And they were. Victoria and her mate had joined the hunt, combing through the east wing with determined expressions. Levi and Caroline joined too…their son was actively looking for his cousin like a grownup.
Thomas and Jasmine were checking the nursery wing, Thomas dramatically calling out “Prince Kael! Where are you?” Like he could answer him, while Jasmine rolled her eyes and muttered something about men being useless in crises.
Servants darted in every direction, peering under tables and behind tapestries. The palace, usually a picture of regal composure, had turned into a frantic game of hide-and-seek.
We searched the gardens where I always spend the cool evenings with him. We checked the kitchens, where the cooks swore they hadn’t seen a crawling royal terror.
Leah kept piping up with unhelpful commentary… ‘He’s probably plotting world domination under a couch somewhere. Your bloodline, Kira. Your chaotic bloodline!’
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of my growing panic, a servant burst into the main hall. “He’s in the ballroom! Under the grand staircase!”
Adrian and I took off on a run. I reached the ballroom first, skirts hiked up, heart in my throat.
There, tucked beneath the sweeping marble stairs like it was the most natural hiding spot in the world, sat our son.
Little Kael, barely over a year old, was happily banging a shiny silver spoon against a discarded wooden toy horse.
His dark hair was tousled, and those big gray eyes…carbon copies of his father’s…sparkled with pure mischievous delight as he looked up at us and let out the most infectious giggle.
Relief crashed over me so hard I nearly stumbled. Adrian scooped him up instantly, but Kael just kept giggling, waving the spoon like a tiny scepter.
Adrian muttered under his breath, “Just like his mother. Does he want to give me a heart attack too?”
“I heard that!” I growled.
Adrian laughed awkwardly, bouncing Kael in his arms. “I was joking, my love. Mostly.”
“This is the fourth time this week,” Adrian said, his tone shifting to exasperated fondness as he held our chaotic son close. “Which is why I made this.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the most beautiful little anklet…a delicate chain of gold and silver links, interspersed with tiny bells and protective runes etched into each charm.
It jingled softly with the slightest movement, a melodic warning sound that was somehow both elegant and ridiculous.
Adrian cleared his throat and raised his voice to address the gathered staff and pack members who had trickled in.
“Listen up! Whenever you hear this sound, you’ll know the prince is attempting another great escape. Report it immediately and raise an alarm!”
Raise an alarm? Really? Why is he making it sound so serious?!
Laughter rippled through the room among everyone that had gathered at how ridiculous the command was.
Leah snorted in my head. ‘I can’t believe I’m babysitting two people now…both mother and son. You’re both hopeless wanderers.’
Adrian handed Kael over to Victoria, who cooed at him immediately. As he did, another anklet slipped from his pocket and clattered onto the marble floor.
Adrian bent down immediately to pick it up but I was faster. I straightened, holding the larger one in my palm, confusion etched across my face.
The chain was similar but noticeably bigger, with the same jingling bells. “Why did you make two? And why does this one look bigger? Do you think our son will keep wandering off even when he’s older and—”
I paused. My eyes widened as realization hit. A low growl built in my throat and everyone in the room froze.
“Adrian Draven!” I yelled.
The room erupted into motion. Everyone backed away and bolted for the exits like rats fleeing a sinking ship.
Adrian’s eyes sparkled with guilty amusement as he started running in wide circles around the ballroom, dodging my attempts to grab him.
“How could you make one for me too?” I shouted, lunging after him. “Am I a child? Do I look like I need a damn bell on my ankle?”
“It’s just a matching accessory for mother and son!” he called back, laughing as he evaded me. “Purely aesthetic!”
I growled louder and finally caught him, latching onto his back like a furious monkey. I sank my teeth into the side of his neck in playful punishment.
Adrian laughed even harder, the sound rich and warm. “Bite harder! It won’t be the first time!”
“Why do I need to alert the entire kingdom whenever I take a step? Do I look like a menace?”
Fury and affection warred inside me. He spun around suddenly, turning me in his arms and pinching my cheek gently. “I won’t need to do one for you if you weren’t so adventurous too, my love. Remember how you got missing last week?”
“I wasn’t missing! I just took a wrong turn, Adrian!”
“Exactly. You’re too adventurous,” he argued playfully.
“And what’s wrong with being adventurous?” I demanded, still half-glaring.
“Nothing,” he said softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear as he set me down. “As long as you don’t lose your way again. Which was why I made an extra anklet for you.”
“I’m trained now,” I shot back. “I can find trails blindfolded. I’m not that Kira anymore!”
Adrian smiled, that devastating, loving smile that still made my knees weak. “You’re beautiful.”
I huffed, trying to stay mad but failing miserably. “Yeah, well, you’re lucky you’re hot, or I’d have fed you to the wild animals by now…literally.”
He threw his head back and laughed, the sound filling the ballroom.
From the doorway, Victoria called out, “The new sets of supplies for the kindergarten have arrived! You should come inspect them, your highness.”
“I’ll be right there!” I replied, then turned to glare at Adrian. “You’re sleeping on the floor tonight.”
“But we’re trying for another baby!” he protested, looking genuinely wounded.
“No. I’m not about to be pregnant again when you can’t even watch the first one,” I scoffed as I took a dramatic step away…and froze. A soft jingling sound came from my ankle. Then another.
I looked down. The larger anklet was now fastened around my leg somehow.
“Adrian!” I yelled.
He was already sprinting out of the room, his laughter trailing behind him like a mischievous echo.
I stood there for a moment, the jingling bell on my ankle mixing with Kael’s delighted giggles as Victoria bounced him.
The palace felt alive…chaotic, loud, and utterly mine. Leah hummed contentedly in my head, her earlier scolding replaced by warm satisfaction.
In that whirlwind of absurdity, I felt a deep, fulfilling rush of joy settle into my bones.
This is my life now. No more running. No more hiding. Just this…messy, hilarious, and beautifully complete reality.
And I wouldn’t trade a single second of it for anything else.