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Shiri

Abyssus

Liberation Day, Fifteen years later

F ifteen years ago to the day, my family and I had liberated Faedom from a demon invasion, sending all but one of the parasites back to hell and closing both portals from which they’d entered. Later that night, my sister wed King Helian, one of her three fated mates. But a shadow was cast over our celebration after our aunt killed herself. It was why we, as a country, chose to celebrate Liberation Day on the day after. Our family always had a small gathering, though, toasting my sister’s marriage and celebrating the closeness of our family.

We never found Megaera’s general, and I doubted we ever would in our lifetime. Even if we could find him, with his teleporting abilities, he could easily evade us. We had sent armies into the vast desolated human lands, only to come back empty-handed.

Human serfs from the Fae world had left us to repopulate the human lands, and I feared in a few centuries, they’d be back to mistrusting our kind, blaming us for the demon invasion.

Teddy had told us that it would take another two thousand years to rid our world of demons for good. Two thousand years. My immediate family would all be gone by then, though a blade of guilt twisted in my chest at the thought of our descendants having to go through this all over again. The Fae were ready to celebrate Tari and me, building temples in our honor and naming a holiday after us, but I didn’t want any such recognition, not after we’d failed to banish every last demon to hell.

So much had happened in the fifteen years since we’d defeated the demon army. After we buried the dragons and Fae that had perished in the demon war, we spent years rebuilding our cities and towns. Tari restored the forests and crops that the demonlings had destroyed. She’d also removed the concealment spells from Abyssus and the other towns. The centaurs elected Frida their queen and restored their stronghold after finding others that had been banished by their foolish king. The shifters rebuilt their town, making Adrean their king once more, while Ash served as King Helian’s right hand and emissary to all Terrae in Caldaria.

Drae and I had finally learned how to control the darkness in his soul brought on by being forced into the void by the demon king. There were days when the shadows would return, but I knew how to chase them away. He smiled more than he frowned, and he made a wonderful Duke of Abyssus.

Either out of guilt or obligation, my mother had reluctantly inherited the Delfian throne, allowing Marius to assume most of the monarch duties while she also worked on driving away Derrick’s darkness. Derrick hadn’t made as much progress as Drae, but he’d become proficient at hiding his depression, enjoying a short time with family before his eyes glossed over and his mind traveled back into the void.

After much deliberation, my mother named Ember and Aurora as her heirs. The girls didn’t mind the thought of one day assuming the throne, though I feared they didn’t know what having such power and responsibility entailed. They enjoyed visiting Thebes, though, especially Aurora, who would look for any excuse to see Teddy, who often visited his adoptive parents.

My parents named Teddy the heir to the Dukedom of Elisi. They also granted Drae the Dukedom of Abyssus, declaring our lands an independent country, like Windhaven and Elisi. They gave Windhaven to Lady Arabella, now Duchess Arabella, on the promise that she would be a fair ruler.

Windhaven prospered under her rule, returning to their former glory. Arabella never married, though she had a long line of lovers and four children from different fathers, all daughters, and all as devastatingly beautiful as their mother. I felt sorry for my oldest nephew, Liam, for Arabella frequently pressured Helian and Tari to arrange a marriage between Liam and one of her children. Luckily, Tari and Helian insisted their son would marry for love. That didn’t deter Arabella’s oldest daughter, Sasha, who relentlessly pursued Liam whenever they visited Peloponese.

My family and I gathered today to celebrate in the garden at Abyssus. Drae, Blaze, Ash, Finn, and Adrean played fire darts at the other end of the garden, a dangerous game that often resulted in burned bushes, but they were enjoying themselves, and Drae was laughing heartily, which was all that mattered.

Helian and Nikkos sat with Tari and me at the long dining table in the center of the garden. Helian bounced baby Isabeau on his knee while she sucked her thumb. How I adored my one-year-old niece with my sister’s dark hair and Helian’s alabaster skin and silver-blue eyes.

Tomorrow would be the official celebration at the Tribus Point, where all three capital cities and emissaries from the Fallax Islands, including my two favorite wyverns, Freya and Enso, would converge into one big parade and party.

The firefly lamps cast a pleasing glow around us while the sun gradually set as we drank tea and ate tarts while enjoying the mild spring weather. We watched my two youngest nephews, Ronin and Kylar, who had recently turned ten summers, chase after their older brother. Liam, who had Helian’s long, silvery hair and penchant for mischief, was always getting frustrated with his younger brothers for shadowing him everywhere. He frequently tried to escape, but he wasn’t allowed to fly far with his dragon, a pretty girl named Neeva with shimmery blue scales that made her nearly impossible to spot in the sky on a cloudless day. Just last month, Liam had answered Neeva’s call, making his parents proud by becoming a dragon rider in the Caldarian army.

I squeezed Nikkos’s hand, whispering my thanks when he refilled my wineglass. When he answered with a wink, I knew he had an ulterior motive—to get me drunk, so he could take advantage of me tonight. Not that I minded.

Liam hurried past our table, stopping only to snatch a tart and stuff it in his pocket.

Kylar cornered his older brother, pointing the end of his wooden sword at Liam’s chest. “Surrender, demon, or we shall turn you to ash!”

Liam threw up his hands with a groan. “I told you I’m not playing demons with you!”

Ronin jumped from a nearby bush, letting out a very human-sounding howl. “You never want to play with us!”

“That’s because I’m not a child anymore!” Liam waved them away like he was shooing a fly. “Go back to your nursemaid!”

My youngest nephews’ stricken expressions were enough to make my heart falter. They were such sweet boys, just rambunctious—very rambunctious.

Kylar’s face flushed a deep crimson as he threw down his sword and balled his hands into fists. “You’ll regret treating us this way when we get our shifter powers.”

“I can’t wait.” Liam shook his head, snickering. “Maybe then you’ll be too busy howling at the moon to play nursery games.”

Kylar and Ronin howled again, their human wails like glasses shattering in my eardrums. Isabeau pulled her thumb out of her mouth and made a whimper of protest.

“Boys, boys!” Tari bent over, rubbing her temples. “Your fighting is giving me a headache.”

Liam clasped his hands in a prayer pose while nodding toward the four dragons who soared above us. “You wouldn’t have to worry about us fighting if you’d let me ride Neeva.”

“You can fly the perimeter of Abyssus,” Helian said to his son, “but no farther.”

Liam punched the air, then let out a sharp whistle to his dragon. “Thank you!”

“Helian,” Tari warned, “do you think that’s wise? He hasn’t had enough training.”

He gave her a reassuring smile. “I flew Radnor the first day.”

She arched a brow. “And how did that work out?”

I remembered Tari telling me Helian had spent months recovering from broken bones after his first flight with Radnor.

Helian’s cheeks colored. “He’ll be fine.” Then he handed Isabeau to her mother. “But Radnor and I will go flying with them just in case.”

Will you go flying with me, Goddess? Isa projected to me through thought.

I squinted up at the sky, the evening sun piercing my eyes. I will go with you tonight if you like.

My sister and her family had only just arrived, and I was anxious to spend time with Isabeau. My mates and I still hadn’t been blessed with our own children, so I relished every opportunity to hold Isabeau.

“Happy Liberation, Auntie!”

I gave a start when Ember and Aurora giggled behind me. I turned toward them as they walked into the garden with Cassandra and Gadea behind them. Aurora held her betrothed’s arm, a permanent smile etched into her features, and Ember carried a little black rabbit, Demon’s son Beau, in her arms. Demon and Angel had both passed peacefully a few years ago after a long, happy life together (not even Tari can heal old age), but not before giving us an accidental litter after Finn had mixed up their herbs to prevent pregnancy with the Sirenshade herb, the same herb Tari had accidentally given Helian when they’d first met.

Everyone had received a bunny from that litter—my parents, Aurora, Ember, and even me. My mother doted on her rabbit as if it was her child, letting him sleep in their bed and steal salad off her plate. Aurora had lost interest in her rabbit after falling in love with Teddy, so now I had two rabbits, both girls with soft, white fur. They lived in our garden during the day and slept in our sitting room at night. Sometimes Tari and Ember caught them playing with the spirits of Demon, Angel, and Wolfy in our garden.

“Happy Liberation, girls.” I sat up, warmth flooding my heart when the girls each kissed my cheek. “Good evening, Teddy,” I said to our cousin, a handsome duke now who was set to wed Aurora this summer.

Helian pulled out chairs for Cassandra and Gadea opposite us. I licked my lips when I saw they brought three bottles of spiced wine from Elisi. Adrean sat at the far end of the table, careful to look anywhere but in Cassandra’s direction. After all this time, I would’ve thought they could talk amicably. They shared two brave shifter sons and four shifter grandchildren, after all. I supposed ignoring each other was better than acknowledging that one night of passion they’d spent together, which had resulted in Ash and Finn being born and then Fachnan launching a deadly attack against the shifter kingdom.

Helian followed his son, and they quickly mounted their dragons at the edge of the garden before launching into the sky.

A gleeful roar sounded above us, and Triss landed clumsily nearby, squashing a row of potted plants in the process. She was almost as big as her mother now and considered in her teen years, though she was still as clumsy as a hatchling. She bound up to Ember and Aurora like a playful puppy, licking each of their faces with a long, forked tongue.

“Ugh,” Aurora grumbled, making a face while wiping off dragon spit.

Triss pouted, but Ember rubbed her dragon’s scales. “It’s okay.” She rolled her eyes at Aurora. “I’ve seen Teddy leave just as much spit on my sister’s face before.”

Teddy flushed and Aurora stuck her tongue out at her sister.

Ember handed her rabbit to Aurora and adjusted the saddle on Triss’s back. “Are you coming?” she asked her sister.

Aurora gave Ember an apologetic look, holding up the rabbit. “I’ve got to watch Beau.”

We all knew the truth of the matter was she didn’t want to leave Teddy’s side. They had fought most of their childhood like cats and gnomes, but once Aurora had come into womanhood, something changed. Oh, she still played with slingshots and had even become proficient at the bow and arrow and sword, but she also began dressing more feminine and plaited her hair and wore light face paints. It hadn’t taken long for Teddy to court my niece. They were fated mates, after all. Now they were inseparable, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

Ember and Triss launched into the air, the dragon’s wings beating down on us and blowing napkins off the table. Aurora ducked, shielding her head. She yelled up at them. “You’re messing up my hair!”

Ember laughed as they flew away.

Teddy pulled out a chair for Aurora. She thanked him with a kiss before sitting down and piling tarts on her plate.

Tari spun in her seat, handing Isabeau to me. I gladly took the baby. I’d been looking forward to holding her all day. She blinked up at me with wide eyes, then turned toward Tari, confused, no doubt to be seeing her mother’s mirror image. Tari had filled out a bit more after birthing six babies, and her hair had a few more white streaks than mine, but we still looked the same.

“Where are your other grandparents?” Tari asked the girls.

“They refuse to attend unless you put a tau stone on baby Isabeau,” Aurora drawled, then shared a sly look with Teddy.

“What?” Tari lifted her eyebrows at her daughter. “Why?”

Teddy loudly cleared his throat, his auburn wings twitching. “I had a dream last night that she will grow up to be a powerful fertility witch.”

“A fertility witch,” Nikkos blurted. “Like our mother was?”

Teddy smiled. “Indeed.”

I clung to my niece, gasping at a strange buzzing sensation that traveled from my hands to my womb. I gaped at Teddy like a gnome caught in a hawk’s gaze while summoning the nerve to speak. “Did you see any children in our future?”

He took a long sip of wine while eyeing me from over the rim of his goblet. “Three sons who all look like their fathers.”

I swear my heart fell out of my chest as my eyes filled with tears. Blaze and Drae must’ve heard, because they stopped their game and strode over to my chair, their hands resting on my shoulders.

“What about daughters?” Tari tilted her head, her eyes scrunched in confusion. “The Avias women always give birth to twin daughters first.”

Teddy shook his head. “No daughters. Only sons.”

Tari clucked her tongue. “That can’t be right.”

Aurora scowled at her mother. “Teddy’s visions are never wrong.”

“Perhaps the Elements decided Shiri didn’t need daughters,” Drae said, “since she already has twin girls that she loves as her own.”

Aurora and I shared a smile before she blew me a kiss. I captured the air kiss in my hand, holding it against my heart.

“I think you’re right.” Nikkos’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “When will Isabeau come into her powers?”

Teddy nodded toward the babe, who sucked her entire fist while snuggling against my chest. “Her magic is strong even now.”

“B-but she’s not old enough,” Blaze blurted.

“Look.” Teddy pulled a small flower from the vase, its pink buds still closed while its head drooped. He held the flower up to Isabeau. I expected her to rip it to shreds like every other curious babe. Instead, she held it in a chubby fist, cooing while the flower expanded and bloomed.

The color drained from Tari’s face. “Oh, no.”

“You should be fine,” Finn said, a slight tremor in his voice. “I made you herbs to prevent pregnancy.”

“Let’s hope they are stronger than Isabeau’s magic.” Tari slouched in her seat. My poor sister already had six children.

“We should probably put a stone on her,” Tari said as she stroked her daughter’s soft tufts of dark hair, “so our parents can visit.”

“Not yet,” Drae rumbled. “Let Shiri hold her a little while longer.”

I held my niece close while kissing the top of her head. My breath hitched when she placed a hand on my stomach, mumbling incoherent baby jabber. I wouldn’t have thought much of it, except for the tingling, warm sensation in my stomach. I gaped at Drae. “I can feel her magic pouring into me.”

We should tell your parents now.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard Teddy’s thought project into my mind.

Aurora squeezed Teddy’s arm, giving him a sharp look. No, not now.

We can’t keep putting it off. They’ll find out soon enough.

She nibbled on a tart, her eyes frozen. After the celebrations.

I pretended like I hadn’t heard their private conversation, though it was hard, very hard, not to say anything. Tari and her mates had prided themselves on keeping a close eye on their daughters, but it was clear Aurora and Teddy had mated. Fated mates could only speak through thought after they’d had sex and taken each other’s blood. I could easily imagine my niece teleporting to her mate each night. And since they’d mated, and Aurora was exposed to her baby sister on a daily basis, it was safe to assume that Aurora was pregnant.

I wanted to be angry with them, but Aurora’s own mother had snuck away to mate with Ash and Finn at just seventeen. Aurora was nineteen and would probably be twenty by the time she gave birth. Maybe I’d fall pregnant, too, and our children could play together. I smiled to myself, realizing that summer wedding would need to be rescheduled for this spring, so long as Ash and Finn didn’t shred Teddy to pieces before then.

After the celebration , Teddy argued, and not a moment longer.

Okay, but make sure my aunt and uncles are there, so they stop my fathers from killing you.

I loudly cleared my throat, and Aurora caught my eye, her cheeks flushing as realization dawned in her eyes. She’d obviously forgotten that I could hear the thoughts of fated mates.

I gave her a wink and pressed a finger to my lips.

She mouthed her thanks , then turned her head. Was that a tear I saw in her eye? She whispered to Teddy, and they quickly pushed away from the table.

“Excuse us,” Teddy said, bowing while holding an arm out to Aurora. “We would like to take a turn in the garden.”

Tari gave them a curious look, and I wondered if she suspected anything.

“They’re a lovely couple,” I said aloud.

“He doesn’t deserve her,” Ash grumbled while leaning over Tari and stealing a biscuit off her plate.

Tari elbowed him in the leg. “My father said the same about you.”

He chuckled. “He was right.”

Baby Isabeau chose that moment to start fussing in my arms, amplifying that strange buzzing in my veins, and I swear I felt my uterus pulse and expand.

Tari reached for her daughter. “I think she’s hungry.”

Isabeau crawled into her mother’s lap and reached for her breast.

“I’ll go to the sitting room,” Tari said.

“No, no.” Drae held out a staying hand. “Please stay seated.” He leaned next to me, whispering hot and heavy in my ear. “Shiri, there’s an urgent matter that we need to discuss.”

“Oh, yes, that’s right.” I quickly pushed back my chair and took Drae’s hand, getting lost in the dark clouds of desire fogging his eyes. “If you’d excuse us for a moment.”

“We’re coming too,” Blaze blurted.

“We have much to discuss,” Nikkos added.

“We’re hungry.” Ash laughed aloud. “We might start the feast without you.”

“That’s fine,” I drawled, distracted by Drae’s touch when he gripped my waist. “We shall join you for dessert.”

“You won’t make it to dessert,” Drae rumbled, tightening his hold on me.

The breath expelled from my lungs. “Oh!”

Blaze’s eyes gleamed with wickedness incarnate and the promise of a wild and passionate evening as he leaned into me, his voice hot and heavy in my ear. “Not with them, anyway.”

The End.