Page 138

Gods, we still have the tests gripped tightly in our hands, and I can feel the tears still staining our cheeks.

“Yeah,” I begin, my voice cracking. Ayden stands up, worry clear on his face.

“It’s good,” Silla says, tears starting to well again. We hold up the tests as Silla tearfully continues. “We’re pregnant!”

The roars of excitement scare the staff, making Kenzo’s people rush in as well. Imagine their surprise as we hug and cry.

We may not be as crazy as Cinder, but we’re our own special brand of insanity.

KENZO

ONE YEAR LATER

I’m hiding behind the wall, watching everything that’s happening. It’s a memory I well know, but can’t ever wake up from.

Cinder is talking, but my eyes are on my brother’s face. His eyes stare at the wall I’m behind, making me wonder if he knows I’m here. I want to give myself up, beg Cinder to let him go, but the decision is taken from me.

Cinder wrenches Kal’s head back until he’s gritting his teeth as he looks at her.

“Do you have anything to tell me before you die?” she asks, canting her head to the side.

I beg my brother silently to say nothing, even as my feet stick to the floor in dread.

“No. Long live the Underground and the new queen.”

There’s a bated breath before Silla breathes, “No…”

My sweet, beautiful, Mistress knows what my brother means to me. Kal is everything.

Cinder swipes the incredibly sharp knife across Kal’s throat, his blood flowing as she gives him a second smile. His eyes never waver, brave to his last breath.

“Kenzo!” my mistress whispers. “Wake up, my love.”

My chest is heaving as my eyes open, tears streaming down my face.

“I know, Darling. I’m so sorry,” she says softly, wrapping her arms around my waist.

My nose buried into her soft hair, the scent of jasmine and sunshine wrapping around me, grounding me in the present. It’s been almost two years since Kal died, but I still have nightmares that wake me up.

“Come with me,” she tells me, as she sits up. “Let’s find something that’ll help.”

There’s only one thing that helps now after a nightmare, so I follow her. The others settle back to sleep, well used to me by now. They know Silla’s got it.

Padding through to one of the rooms that was previously used as a giant closet, it’s now a nursery so the babies will be close to us at all times. A night light is on, lighting up the room with constellations. There are two windows that Silla had made, and Kallista and Garrick are two of the happiest babies I’ve ever seen. Looking down into their cribs, my lips curl into a small smile. These two are thick as thieves.

Silla and Andrya had remarkably easy pregnancies, which surprised me with how hard her periods are. It makes me want to keep her pregnant at all times. When I suggested the name Kallista, Andrya’s eyes lit up and she immediately wanted it.

We’ve all become a family, and it really has helped heal my spiral into depression. I never want to be in a place again where I feel as if stepping off a cliff is a better option than fighting to live. I could have missed out on so much.

“I love you, Mistress,” I whisper. Kallista turns to her side, her arm thrown out dramatically. Her antics make me chuckle. We didn’t bother with paternity tests, since there’s no need when we are the wedded consorts to the queen. All children Silla will have by us are legitimate and will be recognized by the crown.

“I love you,” she says, leaning into me. “You are my light. Everything is perfect, and I love our life together.”

Kissing her forehead, I agree. The kingdom is light years from where it used to be, and Silla has relieved all dignitaries of their positions who are shady fuckers. The rest will be taken care of by the spies she’s sending out to infiltrate different towns, cities, and offices. Between them and Isaac and his hackers, I don’t think corrupt people have a chance to continue to flourish for long.

I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, and to think my relationship with Silla all started over a misunderstanding at a masked ball. As I kiss her I watch over our babies with her, I’m so grateful she allowed me to crawl for her.