T hey drove home in silence, wearing black gowns that the guys had provided for them. It was nice they had offered something to wear because the drakes had shredded Rex s clothing.

Reggie murmured, So, uh, did they...

Rex held up a hand. Nope. We are not discussing it. Not at all. Not ever.

You have a braid.

Yeah.

I am sorry. I had no idea that they would do that.

It s fine. They didn t get to penetration, but it was more than I was expecting.

Reggie was still limp and marked from Sirrush s mouth and hands. Oh. I am so sorry.

I am okay. They dumped enough fire into me to light the salt flats up. Rex grimaced.

Well, at least they made clothing for us.

One step ahead of the Elite coming back. Twelve hours. We were there for twelve hours and then had to go down a rock wall without being able to feel our thighs.

Reggie smiled softly. A few more days and I will know if she s with us again.

You sound more blended than you were before.

I am. She s settling into me now. She was supposed to find a host when they were born, but I had my little accident, and she jumped into a three-year-old. She smiled. Reggie was already firmly attached to this body.

The day you died.

And came back with two souls. Neat, huh? Reggie chuckled. She was exhausted, and her whole body throbbed.

So, what is the plan? You have the property and the mortgage on it. So what now? We put tiny houses on it and make a hobbit town?

Sirrush said what I needed would come to me.

She smiled. I am also covered with jewellery under this dress.

He was always good with that sort of thing.

He is pissed about waiting to meet his daughter and not being able to spoil me this time, but I am not letting the Elite near us this time.

It is going to be friends and family and no one else.

So, big delivery party.

Uh, maybe just me and a midwife for that.

You have time.

From my memories, it goes faster than you think. She caressed the twisted lock with her blood and his.

Rex laughed. That s what Mom said, too. It is the longest blink of an eye that you can have.

Can I nap?

Yup. We are on the way home, and your hubby is locked behind those doors for another decade. I can t decide if it is a time-out or a bad-dragon box.

Reggie laughed and snorted as she curled up in her seat. Bad dragon. Beware the tails.

Yeah. No shit about the tails, Rex muttered and got them off the desert track and onto the main road.

Reggie smiled and relaxed. Four hours to home.

* * * *

R eggie watched the progress from her camera array. The workers didn t mind. They didn t want her waddling all over unless they were ready to help her over the stone and debris. I wish I could have her there.

Kay was a doula, and she folded bedding and arranged toys in the nursery. Why can t you be?

They haven t finished a room, let alone a nursery. Reggie chuckled.

May I? Kay gestured to the belly.

Sure.

Kay touched Reggie s belly and smiled. You still have a few days. She s patient. I will see what I can do.

Reggie touched her hand. What can you do?

She smiled. What I need to for an up-and-coming mom.

* * * *

K ay walked to the site and looked at the blueprints. The architect was there, as was the contractor and stone mason. So, what is needed for the main habitation?

They explained the plumbing and electrical systems that were needed. She smiled. She could work with that. She just had to call her uncle. She grinned. That s what djinn were for.

* * * *

R eggie smiled sleepily . I don t know how you did it, but thank you. Little Amiraith is very thankful that you could make this happen. I don t know how you got this done, but thank you.

It is fine for a few days, but then we need to get you back to a fully formed home. Kay fluffed the pillows around Reggie. This place is safe and sound, but the guys are trying to work on tippy-toe with whispers.

Rex was sitting next to the door, and Luna was watching out the window. Amiraith was snuffling in her mother s arms, and all the women were tense. Kay finished fussing and murmured to Reggie, Play with your twist, Regis.

Why?

It will help you heal.

How?

It will make your mate pull his own weight. Kay chuckled. Have you given any thought to the idea of a shop?

Really?

Sure. You can have your baby in the office and go to her when it s needed.

Limit your hours until you can do more. I have recipes and a list of restaurants that need high-grade desserts.

You can apply to them and see who sticks.

Then, you just have to bake for orders and go home unless you want to maintain a storefront.

How do you know that? Reggie chuckled.

I have been around. Now, slide the baby into the bassinet, and get some sleep. You are protected.

Rex said softly, You are protected.

Luna turned with her eyes lit with cold fire. You are protected.

Reggie smiled. Kay eased the baby into the bedside bassinet and smoothed Reggie s hair. Rest easy, little Mom.

Kay looked to Rex. I will be right back.

She walked down the stairs and out the door, where the contractor asked her, Is the baby here?

She s here. Healthy and bright.

The whispers filled the job site, and Kay walked to the edge of the property. She softly sang a lullaby, and the words wrapped around the edge of the property and created defenses for mother and daughter, just as she had for the shop she had gifted to Reggie.

You just can t stop dancing, can you?

She glanced at him and ended her song but continued the slow dance. No, I can t stop. So, Uncle, I have another favour to ask of you.

Well, you have not abused it yet, but what do you need?

Protection for Reggie and Amiriath. Prosperity for everyone here, and I want you to help any beta who gets trapped in the dark mage dimension.

Is that an order, Mistress?

No, Uncle, it is a request. I fear someone will soon be trapped in the darkness.

What are you doing?

I am letting myself fade so that I can become a companion to another.

Won t this hurt?

I am a good memory for them, and they will feel I am familiar to them. It s enough. It s more than I would have had if I hadn t...

You have done well. The imperial house will be appalled, but you have done well.

She grinned, and then her expression sobered. I wish things had turned out differently, but things unravelled the way they were meant to, and now, Reggie and her daughter are firmly tied to this time. They are good, and I can go for a while.

You are coming back to them?

Absolutely. She laughed. I have sung myself out of their consciousness, and now, it is on to the next thing. I think a clothing store is in my future. The omegas are going to get taller in the next few years. Oh, and assisting at Regis s bakeshop.

They don t know who you are?

No, and they won t. Not until the imperial house comes to reclaim me. That could be forever.

Do you ever wonder about it?

The emperor was ill, so I wonder if he is all right, but that s about it. He was kind, if too generous, with his staff.

He chuckled. Yes, well, that is how we got here, isn t it?

You didn t have to come.

He asked us to. He knew you wouldn t listen to anyone else.

She smiled. He looked smart.

Her uncle laughed, and they left the new palace for new projects to keep Kay close to persons of interest. Her other uncle usually had something to say about things, but he was focused on his own eventual partner. There was a thick column of events that had to be carefully tended.

* * * *

T en years later.

Regis delivered to Denith s restaurant and noticed something strange as he looked over the desserts they had ordered for their new menu. Denith, are you doing all right?

He nodded. Yeah, just feeling a little weak lately. Shit, why did I tell you that?

Mom vibes. Everybody tells me when they are feeling gross. She put two fingers on his wrist and felt a surge of energy leaving her. Ah. Well. I hope you are feeling better. The new menu is going to be a stressor over the next few weeks.

Denith nodded. Yeah. Thanks. I feel a bit better. The desserts look great.

Here s the invoice. The cake for the special order is in that small box. It s a glossy finish, so watch your fingers.

Yes, Regis. He smiled, and his eyes looked bright.

She nodded, took her delivery rack with her, and headed to the van. She had just enough time to pick Ira up from school.

The balance of being a mom and a business owner had been tricky, but no matter what happened, there was always someone to keep her from going mad and give her a break. Ira was a blessing. She was so sweet, so smart, and very intelligent. Regis knew she had gotten lucky.

She was going through dessert options in her head for the three weddings she was going to be providing for on the weekend. Having the shop was great, but having the bakery attached to the new palace was a delight. The whole group of them could get in on it.

Regis got to the school as the doors opened and grinned as Ira walked slowly past Miss Penny and headed for the company van. Regis got out and walked around to hold her daughter s door. Hey, little bit. How was school today?

Pretty good. Only two people left in my class have a problem with my age.

Girls or boys?

One of each. One from Lady Olyna s family and one from Lady Fen s.

Ah. Well, if they bully you, I will have a chat with the ladies and get them to rein their family in.

Thanks, Mom. I can handle the boy, but it looks like Lady Fen s granddaughter is going to be an alpha. She s hitting puberty hard.

Regis patted her shoulder. Keep me posted.

Ira nodded. Any leftovers?

Regis slid the rear door open and pulled out a slice of cherry-topped cheesecake in a takeaway container with a wooden fork taped to it. There you go. Pandora s making dinner.

Yay! Ira was already opening the cake.

Regis closed the doors and got back behind the wheel. You just like it when she cooks because she forgets vegetables.

She makes a salad.

Fruit salad isn t a salad. Regis buckled up and grinned as her daughter munched her way through the dessert.

She carefully eased out of the lane and got back into traffic.

The school was bustling with young alphas, betas, and omegas getting on buses or being picked up.

They lived outside the catchment area, so someone always needed to be available to pick her up.

It wasn t difficult. Their little community always had time to get their little princess.

Regis wondered who was joining them for dinner. Pandora only cooked if they were having guests.

Ira smiled. I wonder if she s frying tonight.

Regis snorted as she drove them home. Homework before deep-fried anything.

Ira mumbled, Yes, Mom.

During the drive, she heard about the science fair project that Ira had planned. Pandora was going to have to help because it was a project on the spread of gases and the environmental impact of contaminants in the standard atmosphere.

Regis sighed. Ira was scary smart. She must get it from her dad.

Ira said, You are thinking about my dad.

How can you tell?

You get a soft, silly smile at the corner of your mouth. How much longer now?

Months. We just have to get through a few hurdles, and the Stronghold comes down.

Is it going to be dangerous?

Regis turned onto their drive. I am setting Pandora loose on the Stronghold. What do you think?

Oh, dangerous for them. Got it. Ira closed the dessert container with the fork inside.

The scent of a feast hit them when they entered the main doors, and Regis grinned. We are having company.

Ira had her backpack and sprinted into the kitchen, where Pandora had woks, fryers, and noodles ready to go. The counter was covered with precisely made snacks, and Pandora grinned. Do your homework at the table, Ira.

Regis popped a dumpling into her mouth. Who are we expecting?

Four of the necessary twelve.

Ira looked up, Twelve?

Regis nodded. Twelve women have to enter the Stronghold and walk out intact. If we take less, the ladies get hurt.

Ira smiled. So, you have four to start with.

More, but they haven t activated yet. Regis sighed. And I can t help them. So, we have another two that will be with us, so six at full power. If Pandora says she has four, she has four.

Pandora continued finely slicing carrots. I have four, previously unintroduced.

Regis groaned and reached for another dumpling. Where did you learn to make these?

I hung out in a fog bank in Chinatown on the coast. Lots of nice restaurants there. She smiled and kept chopping. Have as many as you like. I made more. Freezer is full.

Regis smirked. Shop was slow today?

No, my assistant is amazeballs. She had it all under control, so I played hooky and made dinner.

You can t rely on her forever.

Ira nodded as she got her homework out. Just like Mom couldn t keep you working for her forever, so you had to go and open your clothing shop.

Pandora chuckled. Exactly like that.

Regis sighed. Do you know when Rex is coming home?

She s in on a planning meeting for a new movie. She will give us details when she gets back. Pandora smiled.

Why are you cooking up a storm?

Well, first, it is nice to make a good impression, but mainly, it is because one of the ladies has been injured and is homeless, so I want to give her a nice boost for her biology.

Regis paused. Homeless?

Yes. She s been hiding from the Elite for a while, so she has no place to live, and she said she loves Chinese food, so I am doing my best. Pandora smiled. Can she stay here?

Regis blinked. I will have to meet her. I don t just let anyone into proximity with Ira.

I know. I want you to meet her so you can tell. Pandora nodded. But I watched her, and she will be helpful.

Regis asked, You didn t help her?

She didn t ask for help. Oh, and she s wounded. She needs medical assistance.

Regis paused. Pandora, where is she?

In my room. She s getting a bath, some rest, and changing clothes. Pandora smiled. I guessed that you wouldn t mind. I am vouching for her behaviour.

Regis looked toward the wing that housed Pandora. You sure?

Yup. I have a gas cloud on standby. She smiled brightly and kept chopping. The ladies will be here in two hours. Ira, if you want to sit in, you will be done with your homework.

Regis watched her daughter scramble to get her homework done. Nothing motivated her more than gossip.