Page 32

O ne month later…

Jessamin woke to find Ulric’s arm wrapped possessively around her waist, the hard press of his erection against her ass, and she smiled contentedly.

She was considering the best way to wake him up when she realized there was something different about the light this morning—a soft, luminous glow filled the room.

Ulric grumbled sleepily as she slipped out from under his arm and went to the window.

Snow! She gasped in delight at the soft cloud of white covering every surface.

“Have you ever seen snow before?” he asked, joining her at the window and wrapping his arms around her from behind.

“Never. I had no idea it would be so beautiful.”

“You may not feel that way after six months of it,” he teased. “But everyone loves the first snowfall of the season.”

In this case, there was another reason to appreciate the snow and she gave him a quick look over her shoulder.

“Does this mean we’re safe until spring?”

“I don’t know. It is difficult to wage war in the winter, especially in the mountains, but I don’t trust Lasseran. I have no intention of easing our vigilance, but I hope it gives us more time.”

“Good. Because there are other things I want to concentrate on for a while.”

“Other things?”

She took a deep breath, then took his hand and spread it over her stomach.

He looked down at her, confusion in his golden eyes, then dawning comprehension widened them.

“Jessamin… are you saying?—?”

She gave him a small, hopeful smile.

“The healer confirmed it yesterday, but the meetings ran so late last night…”

Her voice trailed off as he dropped to his knees before her, his face level with her still-flat stomach, his hands gently cradling her hips.

“A child,” he breathed, his voice thick with emotion. “Our child. I had hoped, of course, but I never expected it would happen so quickly.”

She threaded her fingers through his hair and smiled down at him. “A new beginning.”

He looked up at her, golden eyes glowing. “You have given me everything,” he said hoarsely. “A queen. A partner. And now, a child.”

“We’ve given each other these things,” she corrected gently. “And we will protect them together.”

He rose to his feet and kissed her, and she could feel his love, his gratitude, and his fierce protectiveness in the kiss. When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers.

“Lasseran seeks to bring an end to the orcs,” he said, his voice gaining strength. “Your child—our child—is the ultimate defiance of his plans.”

“More than that,” she said. “This child represents hope for all of Norhaven. A symbol that life continues, that love prevails, even in the darkest times.”

They stood together at the window, his hand still resting protectively over the new life growing within her. Below them, the blanket of white cast the illusion of peace on the fortress below, a brief respite from their endless preparations.

They had created life in the face of those who sought only death and domination. It was a small, precious flame to carry into the gathering darkness—but it was enough.

She looked up at her husband, at the determined set of his jaw and the love in his eyes, and knew with absolute certainty that they would prevail. Not just for themselves, not just for Norhaven, but for the child who would be born into a world they would make safe, no matter the cost.

In the distance, beyond the mountains, storm clouds gathered. Lasseran was coming, his rage a dark tide that would break against their shores. But here, in this moment, they had found something stronger than his hatred, more enduring than his dark magic.

They had found hope.

And for now, it was enough.