Page 37 of Fall of a Kingdom

I went to see the twins first. Two single beds were along opposite sides of the room. Noah’s wall showed the solar system and countless stars. Iain’s had a fire-breathing dragon swooping down on a knight with a scarred shield and broken sword in the fight for his life.

The lamps on the bedside tables next to their beds glowed warm amber. I pulled the covers up to Iain’s chin—he liked to pretend he was in a cocoon. I kissed his head and brushed a hand across his damp hair.

“Did you brush your teeth?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Prove it,” I commanded.

He opened his mouth and blew out a breath.

“Minty fresh.” I smiled down at him. I then went to Noah who was staring up at the ceiling.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked him, pulling up the covers but not tucking him in tightly. He slept with abandon and hated feeling trapped.

“I’m wondering what’s up there.”

“Up where?”

“Heaven.”

I sat down on the side of his bed. “All your wishes and dreams just waiting to come to you.”

“If I wish for something hard enough, will it come true?”

“Yes,” I said. Now was not the time for the truth. That sometimes, no matter how you wished, things didn’t always turn out the way you wanted.

Noah closed his eyes, like he was about to go to sleep. He breathed deeply for a few moments and then he opened his eyes to look at me.

I smiled. “What did you wish for, Noah?”

“I’m not telling or it won’t come true.”

“Sweet dreams.” I leaned over and kissed his forehead.

I rose and turned off their lights and then quietly crept from the room, closing the door behind me. I went to tuck in Hawk. He was in bed, his lamp dim, the covers pulled up to his chin. His eyes were closed like he was already asleep.

Frowning, I sniffed the air.

“Are you sure you took a bath?”

He didn’t open his eyes when he replied, “Aye.”

I held in a grin. He sounded just like Flynn. “Then why does it smell like a farm animal in here?”

In the low light, I saw a massive lump under the covers next to Hawk suddenly move, and then Betty’s face popped out. She bleated in my direction.

“Gavin Malcolm Campbell,” I began. “You know she’s not allowed upstairs, and certainly not in your bed.”

“I missed her.”

“How did you get her up here past your father?”

“I’m not telling.” His eyes were beseeching. “Please, Mam? She loves sleeping on my bed and I don’t have nightmares when she’s with me.”

I’d killed men and used my feminine wiles on others to get what I needed. I was cunning and ruthless when necessary, and completely immune to the emotions or manipulation of men. Except the ones I’d birthed, and the one I’d married.

“Okay, just for tonight,” I stated, knowing I was about to set a precedent and that Hawk’s room was going to smell like sheep for the foreseeable future. “But when she poops and pees in this room, you’re cleaning it up.”