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“I will, esiasch.”

Lux smiled. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. It’s selfish. I’d miss you too.” Lux laughed, and Nix gave the faintest smirk that vanished as quickly as it’d come. “As much as it pains me, I love you. Even if you are the biggest pain my ass has ever encountered.”

Lux couldn’t fight his smile. “I love you too, esiasch.”

CHAPTERTWENTY

NIX

They looked so beautiful here.

Véa sat in the grass just outside our home, lilac gown flowing in the wind. The sun shined in her emerald eyes, red lips spread into the most radiant smile as she chased after Vanna through the field of wildflowers. Her long curls that I’d adored since the moment I met her bounced with each step, framing those gorgeous, freckled cheeks.

Mirobhail was throwing a stick for Sadie and Sany simultaneously—one for each. Opposite directions, of course, because if Sadie tried to grab the one he’d thrown for Sany, Sany would snarl and snap and tear Sadie’s face off, despite the fact that Sadie was three times her size.

Aein and Friel toddled close behind their mum, squealing with laughter when she lapsed behind them, scooped them off the ground, and spun them in a circle. That bubbly giggle from my babies’ lips was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.

An ache of grief crept through me when I pictured Matriaza and Morduaine. The twins had never seen it. I doubted Vanna even remembered the trip we’d taken there when she was their age. If Mirobhail remembered either of them, his memories were fleeting at best.

My children wouldn’t wed in the castle where I’d met their mother. They wouldn’t see the culture of Morduaine as it’d been before it was destroyed. I’d never play hide and seek with them in that castle of ice where I’d played with their cousins.

But they’d always know this land. They’d always know that inviting yellow sun and the vast oceans. We’d teach them about our worlds from what we remembered. We’d take them to the Land of Light to see the drakens, and we’d visit Matriax for the dose of Matriaza they may be curious about.

They were replicas. They weren’t the same as the lands they were formed from. But they weren’t too different either.

One way or the other, we’d created our own way of life on this world. Some part of me may’ve always resented losing those lands, but there was no changing it now. Our only choice was to move forward.

“Papa!” Vanna called, only just realizing I’d returned. She appeared at my feet, peering up at me with a big smile. “Where’ve you been?”

“Just had some business.” I kneeled and tucked a curl behind her pointed ear. “How was your day with Mum?”

“We had so much fun,” she said, still smiling so wide that her eyes were almost absorbed by her cheeks.

Mirobhail appeared beside her a moment later, bouncing with excitement. “Mum said we’re staying here for good now. Are we? Are we, are we, are we?!”

I laughed. “Mum wouldn’t lie, would she?”

He shook his head, smiling wide, still bouncing. “I just wanted to check.”

“I don’t know why he trusts your opinion more than mine,” Véa said, landing behind them with each of the twins on her hips. As I scooped Aein to my arms, Véa said, “I’m just as reliable is he is, you know.”

“More so.” I kissed Aein’s cheek, leaned in to rough up Friel’s hair, then poked Mirobhail in the nose. “Listen to Mum before you listen to me. She knows what’s going on far more often than I do.”

He laughed, agreeing in a teasing manner, and pointed to the stable in the distance, gesturing for me to follow him. As he and Vanna scampered off, leading the way, Véa said, “You saw him yourself? He’s in chains?”

“He is. So are the others.” I adjusted Aein on my hip. “All’s safe, and all’s well. Lux is ready to accept his imprisonment, the boys will be locked away for a long time, and… And we can get back to enjoying our lives for a while.”

A long moment of silence, only the quiet chirps of birds in the treetops sounding. “Maybe that ‘a while’ part is what my bad feeling’s about.”

I frowned at her, and she shrugged. “I allowed the maalaichte cnihme to leave my mind for a while. I didn’t think about their return. But now that we know they knew our plan… They could come at any time, Nix.”

Aein and Friel weren’t paying much attention, not that they’d understand without context regardless. But she made a valid point, the same one Michael had, and that we’d discussed in our meetings.

“It’s a real possibility,” I said. “But if they do, we bring our babies to the Land of Light, and we have your mum care for them in our absence. Then we fight. Until that day, though, we have time. Let’s enjoy it.”

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