Page 75 of Fate of the Fallen
I released Nick and let myself take it all in. At first, I believed I’d have to accept not having total happiness. While family meant everything to me … friendship was incredibly high on that list, too.
And now, I really and truly had it all.
“Thank you,” I said, peering up at Nick, stating the same words I said to myself since returning home. Only, this time, I finally got to say it to his face. “I owe you my life.”
He responded with a brilliant smile and an offer.
“Well, once you’re able,” he said, glancing down at my stomach with only joy in his expression, “I think I know how you can repay me.”
I chuckled a bit. “Oh, yeah? How?”
He took a deep breath and turned to look out on the property of what I now guessed to be his grandfather’s estate.
“I’ve got a lot to learn about being a dragon,” he began. “I was wondering if there might be a queen with a little spare time to show me the ropes.”
My cheeks hurt with how hard I smiled at that. “Well, it just so happens I know a queen with her whole life ahead of her.”
His lips curved up with a nostalgic grin. “It’s a date?”
I reached for Liam, clutching his hand in my left as I felt beyond blessed to have it all. When I reached for Nick’s with my right, I confirmed with a promise.
“It’s a date.”
Epilog
Two Weeks Later …
Liam
I hadn’t taken my eyes off her since she came into the world three hours ago. I’d never seen anything more perfect in my entire life.
Figures, seeing as how she was the spitting image of her mother. From the dark curls framing her small face, to the flecks of green in her eyes like mine, she was one-hundred-percent us.
One-hundred-percent made from love.
Before this, it was hard to imagine myself as a father, but now that she had arrived, it felt like I finally found my purpose. A small yawn and tiny stretch brought a smile out of me like I’d just won the lottery. I suppose, in many ways, I had.
My gaze drifted to Evangeline where she lay sleeping. I marveled at the strength she showed today. I was by her side the entire time and there wasn’t anything in this world that could have pulled me away. I witnessed a miracle today.
The birth of our little girl.
With things being upside down before, there hadn’t been time to think of a name in advance, but the moment Evangeline laid eyes on her she knew.
In honor of her father Noah, the latest descendent of his legacy would be called … Noelle.
The sliver of space between the door and the frame widened as Hilda poked her head inside. Her gaze landed right on her new niece and her expression warmed. She stepped inside, quietly to avoid waking Evangeline. I stood from my seat beside the bed, already knowing why she’d come.
My arms immediately felt the loss when I handed Noelle over. I wanted to keep her there until she,herself,was old enough to tell me I had to let go. I’d been a protector for so long, and now I knew that feeling would only deepen as I watched her grow.
“You’re absolutely beautiful, little one,” Hilda whispered, running a hand down Noelle’s head. The motion smoothed her thick curls. “It was an honor to help bring you into the world,” she added, placing a kiss on her forehead.
Hilda had been at Evangeline’s side the whole time. She was skilled with this sort of thing—having helped deliver countless children within the kingdom in centuries past. It was that expertise that kept Evangeline comfortable and kept me from worrying myself to death. In the end, everything worked out exactly as it was supposed to.
Elise stayed close, too, insistent on witnessing the moment her first grandchild came into existence. And the second she did, there were so many tears.
In the recent past, none of us were certain we’d get here—to peace, to happiness—so to now have it all was a gift.
The most priceless gift I’d ever received.