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Mason

Ishould’ve been morenervous about meeting Christophe’s parents than I was, but I was too preoccupied with making sure that Kota was comfortable to think about anything else. I sat on the couch and cradled him in my arms as I murmured baby talk to him and tickled his chin. Mom had taken Jennifer and her school friends out to go swimming, so we had the house toourselves.

Christophe wasthe most nervous I’d ever seen him. He kept a serious face and insisted he was fine, but he kept pacing around the room, occasionally sitting in a chair only to move to the couch, and then back to another chairagain.

“What,are you testing all the furniture out?” I said. “Take it easy,huh?”

He nodded,and sat back on the couch. “Sorry.”

“It’ll be fine,”I said. “No matter what happens. We’ll befine.”

He answered with a distracted smile,and then chewed on afingernail.

Iwentover and sat next to him. “HoldKota?”

“Yeah.”He took Kota from me and bounced him gently. Kota gurgled and reached out towards his dad’s face. “Hello,” Christophe said. “Ready to meet Grandmother andGrandfather?”

Kota burped and giggled.Christophe laughed and kissed him on the head, and Kota reached up and patted hischeek.

The doorbell rang.Christophe straightened. “I’ll get it,” Isaid.

“No, I should greet them first,”he said. He passed Kota back to me, straightened his shirt, and went to the door and opened it. “Hi, Mother. Hi, Father,” Christophe said. “Welcome. Please comein.”

Now I was nervous.

Mrs. Luna gave Christophe a hug,and then came over to me. “Congratulations, Mason,” she said, and I was surprised when she moved in to kiss me on the cheek. Her eyes turned down to the little bundle I cradled in my arms, and widened with delight. “And this must beKota.”

“Wouldyou like to hold him, Stella?” I asked, and passed Kota to her. “Look, sweetheart. It’sGrandmother.”

Kota lookedup with wide eyes, and Mrs. Luna beamed down at him. “I’m proud of you both,” she said. “You’ve donewell.”

“Father,”Christophe said, and after a moment of hesitation, extended his hand. Mr. Luna took it and shook it. Mrs. Luna and I stared on,tensely.

“Christophe. You’ve been well?”

“Yes,Father. I have. Would you like to meet yourgrandson?”

Mrs. Luna walkedover to him with Kota, and as Mr. Luna’s gaze turned down to rest on his grandson’s tiny face, I saw his expressionchange.

“Oh,”he saidsoftly.

“Take him,”Mrs. Luna said. “HoldKota.”

Mr. Luna tookhim into his arms, and a smile slowly spread over his lips. “He reminds me of you, when you were a baby,” he said. “The same eyes. He’s going to be strong, I cantell.”

Christophe nodded,and with some hesitation, reached out and put his hand on his dad’s back. “I think so too,” he said. “I can feelit.”

“You’rethe future of our family, little one,” Mr. Luna said to Kota. “I hope you’re up for thejob.”

Icould seethe relief shimmering in Christophe’seyes.

“How precious,”Mrs. Luna said. “Look, he’slaughing.”

Kota giggledand reached up towards Mr.Luna.

“He’shappy to meet his grandfather,” Isaid.

Mr. Luna passedKota to Christophe, and came over to me. I straightened up and offered my hand. “Sir,” Isaid.

I’d never once before caredto give respect to anyone who hadn’t earned it from me—especially not someone highborn—but things had changed. I could never be highborn myself, even as Christophe’s mate. Being highborn was more than just money, it was a lifetime of upbringing that I didn’t have. But as someone who now lived on the edge of both worlds, I was going to do my best to learn, to be an ambassador. And that startedhere.

Mr. Luna lookedme up and down with an intense and penetrating gaze, as if he were looking right at my very character. I stared back firmly, resolved. I was no longer the same man who’d once tried to steal from hishome.

He reachedout and took my hand. His grip was firm. He didn’t say anything to me, just shook my hand, but I was fine with that. I could feel receptiveness in his greeting, an openness to see my worth. And I was ready to prove myself, to show that I was worthy of being a part of thisfamily.

Christophe came over to me,and I slipped my arm around his waist and gave him a kiss. Kota cooed and giggled, and I smiled down at him and kissed him on his tinyhands.

Christophe had toldme that everyone had a destiny, and I believed that now. Fate had brought us together, and now we’d move forward together as one. This was the beginning of our lives together, the beginning of our newfamily.

The beginning of a new destiny.