“Take the gift,” I scowled at Zarian and he sighed, playing with the cloth bag that held the small bracelet I had gotten him to signify my intent to court him, “please… Zari, it's been a year. How long will you keep us waiting?”

“As long as I want,” he puffed his cheeks and I grumbled, bouncing Sidra on my lap as Celeste read on the floor with Antoni.

“He's jealous,” Antoni called and we both looked over, “about what we did just after we got him back. He refuses to accept anything because of that. He won't even take my gift.”

“Oh,” I hummed and set Sidra down, watching as she walked over to Antoni and climbed into his lap, “is that really it? Zari…”

“W-well you've been intimate together. I don't know how it feels,” Zarian sighed, fluffing his now short curls after begging me to help him cut them.

“But that was because we thought we would die. We shared our true feelings and it just sort of happened. It goes against Nouvellean custom to share intimacy outside of the pact bond. It was incredibly inappropriate of me and I had to make amends for that. For stealing Antoni’s innocence outside of marriage.”

“I know…”

“I promise,” I kneeled next to him, looking over my shoulder to ensure that Celeste was too engrossed in her book to pay attention to the conversation, “that as soon as we have our wedding ceremony the three of us will share that moment. We’ll be intimate all the time. I promise,” taking his hand, I gently kissed his knuckles, “are you having cold feet about accepting the courtship? The proposal follows quickly. I haven't proposed to Antoni due to your hesitation. I have a plan but you both have to be involved. I'd like the three of us to be married before the true war begins. Myran is getting more aggressive in his attacks. If we marry, we not only get to finally follow through with all those plans we had as children but it gives us more of a right to take over Serce. It brings us three together. Our daughters will truly have their fathers. Don't you want that?”

“Of course I do,” Zarian pressed his forehead to mine before taking the bracelet from the bag and gently sliding it on, “I accept your intent to marry me.”

“Thank God,” I laughed, kissing his forehead, “now I can start planning my super amazing proposal.”

“Wait!” Antoni set Sidra next to Celeste before taking off his own silver bracelet and gently caressing Zarian’s hand, “Zari? I want to begin a courtship with you as well with the intent to marry. I have already asked Red for her permission to pursue you as she's your older sister and the only person I can ask. She gave both me and Ezra her blessing. I have already confirmed this with King Chevalier as well regarding Ezra. That was terrifying,” he laughed, making both of us smile, “but he was thrilled. So, may I please give this to you as my token of love.”

“Is… this the bracelet that holds the last fae piece of you?” Zarian whispered, carefully taking the bracelet and holding it to the sunlight to admire it.

“Yes. I'll no longer be able to access my true form. I'll still have my gifts but I won't be as strong.”

“And you're sure you want to give that up for me?”

“I'd do anything for you, Zarian. You know that.”

“I accept,” Zarian smiled, placing Antoni's bracelet in front of the one I had given him, “of course I do.”

Antoni giggled and hugged Zarian tightly, nearly knocking him from his chair.

“Daddy?” Sidra called and I looked over at her with a nod, “I'm hungry.”

“Can I take sissy to the kitchen? Ms. Aneira should have snacks,” Celeste smiled, smoothing the front of her dress before doing the same to Sidra, always doting on her younger sister.

“Yes. But no running. Grandpa Chevalier has already warned you. It's almost Sidra’s birthday. Two days until she's 3. We'll just do something as a family. Nouvelle isn't ready to host balls for your birthdays yet.”

“Mhm come on,” Celeste stood up and took Sidra's hand and they left the sitting room we were spending time in, the room suddenly quiet.

“They're opposites color-wise. It's so sweet,” Antoni giggled as I sat in my seat again.

“Yeah. I'm pretty sure all of our babies will be.”

“Oh, we didn't exactly talk about that. Right now, Celeste is the next in line,” Zarian yawned pulling Antoni into his lap, “Sidra after her or the next Duchess of Serce. That makes more sense. But… boys generally have a better claim to the throne. That's how it's always been.”

“Plus you know the prophecy, Ezra,” Antoni rubbed my fingers and I sighed, “the son. He may be the next to take over. We can't know because he doesn't exist yet.”

“Honestly, thought he would after what we did,” I snorted before sighing, “No. We're changing that when I'm king. Firstborn has the right to the throne regardless of gender. They're allowed to step down should they be unfit or unwilling to run the kingdom. We'll then decide as the current rulers who we feel would be best to lead. Does that work?”

“Whatever you think is best. You're going to lead us after all,” Antoni shrugged and I shook my head.

“I might be but so will you two. You do realize that yes? When we're married and I take the throne, you'll be kings too. King Antoni and King Zarian. Which is who you should have been the entire time,” I cupped Zarian's cheek and he gently kissed my palm, “I don't want to stop Myran because he wants to destroy Nouvelle. I want to stop him for what happened to you. I'm aware that's personal, but I put my love for you two and our children above anything else and I can't help that. So we will stop him, then rebuild to be prosperous. Now, I have a council meeting,” standing quickly, I kissed them both on the cheek, “so I won't see either of you until dinner.”

“But…” Antoni pouted and Zarian rubbed his face onto Antoni's neck making him giggle, “Fine. We'll be okay. We just miss you.”

“You both have work to do. Zarian needs to check on the trade agreements with Herrana and Yvero. Antoni, you need to meet with a few different people in town about establishing an actual schoolhouse for the citizens. They don't have one. It's not fair that the only children who get an education live in the castle. We agreed.”

“Yeah yeah,” Zarian pouted as Antoni climbed out of his lap and handed Zarian the cane I had made him, “my legs are okay today.”

“You have to climb to the second floor to go to your office. Take the cane just in case. You've done incredibly, you can run now, but the stairs are still an issue and I worry when we aren't with you,” Antoni grumbled and Zarian slowly kissed along his face, making Antoni melt.

“I know. Thank you, my love.*

“Always.”

We shared a group hug and I kissed them both on the forehead, watching as they left the parlor before poking my head into the kitchen to find Celeste and Sidra on one of the counters, both covered in flour and laughing.

“Oh girls,” I sighed, going over to them, “did Aneira let you bake again?”

“We make cookies,” Sidra giggled, wiggling, “sissy throw.”

“Celeste threw flour on you?”

“Mhm.”

“I did not!” Celeste huffed, crossing her arms, “Sidra did!”

“Hey now,” I shushed them both, rubbing their backs, “it's okay. Auntie Morgan will clean you up when you're done. Where is Aneira?”

“I'm here, Your Majesty,” Aneira called from the pantry, “I apologize. There was a strange sound and I found a mouse. The princesses were safe.”

“I know. Don't worry about cleaning them. Just have Morgan come down to bathe them when you're done. I hope they're being good for you.”

“Always. Even if they both don't understand their station.”

“We don't do that anymore. I help clean the stables regularly. The castle staff is our family. Where's your daughter?”

“Vena is helping Raul hang the laundry. She'll be in later.”

“Antoni bought her a birthday present, we left it in her chamber.”

“Thank you,” she nodded politely and I left the kitchen, heading through the castle to the throne room, yawning as I did.

“No!” Leon shouted from behind the doors and I threw them open to find him staring at our father, “That’s not fair!”

“Fairness doesn't matter, Leon. You know that!” Chevalier shouted back and I closed the door behind me.

“What did I miss?” I called, fixing my crown and flopping into my chair.

“Our Lord and Savior King Chevalier banned me from the training yard,” Leon growled and I flicked my gaze at Chevalier.

“Father?”

“He has a separated shoulder and dislocated most of his fingers on the right side. He can’t even lift a sword. So he is banned from training until it heals,” Chevalier shrugged.

“Leon. Go see your niece. She has phenomenal control over her gift now. She’ll fix it. But I agree with Father. We can’t have the Knight Commander broken down. Red would be fine leading the soldiers, but without your strength, they aren’t as powerful. Go to Celeste. I’m sure she would love to see you. She’s in the kitchen with Sidra. They’re making cookies with Aneira.”

“How is Sidra?” Leon smiled, “don’t worry. We won’t steal her. We’re meeting with healers and apothecaries to find a way for Red to carry a baby. Or we’ll adopt one from the orphanage. There are a few babies right now.”

“She’s great. Her speech has caught up to her age. She’s learning well. Being with Celeste has helped her.”

“Any signs on her gift?”

“Yeah, but it’s confusing for me.”

“Why?” Chevalier rubbed my back and I sighed.

“So, Zarian drains magic. Jothen is the other genetic material. What was his gift?”

“Telekinesis.”

“And do children normally have a gift that matches their biological parents?”

“No. Celeste is a healer. You’re a scout and gift giver. Why?”

“Because Sidra can control water. Antoni told me that’s more likely among the fae, not humans.”

“Was… Jothen fae?” Leon whispered, making Chevalier shrug.

“We don’t have records on Alanin. There’s no way for us to know. They’re so closely guarded. We can’t check their birth records.”

“Alright. That’s all I wanted to know. Leon, go see Celeste, I’m serious. Father and I can handle what needs to be done today.”

“Fine,” Leon groaned and walked out of the throne room and I yawned loudly, staring at the ceiling.

“Well. How goes the courtships?” Chevalier patted my shoulder and I nodded.

“Zarian accepted. Finally. Now to plan the proposals and wedding.”

“Is the plan to have them before we siege Alanin?”

“Yes. So that they can take over if I fall in battle. Well… So Zarian can. If I die, Antoni will. So Zarian will take the throne. As he should have for Serce if none of this had happened.”

“Hm. I don’t want you involved.”

“Too bad,” I laughed softly, making Chevalier smile, “you won’t keep me from being there. We’re just capturing Myran. That way Zarian can siphon off his power then we’ll toss him through a portal back to the overworld. I’ve been tracking a few.”

“Have we found a way to capture him yet? We can’t tie him up or put him into one of our cells. He’ll simply disintegrate them and escape.”

“The apothecaries are developing a poison that will put him to sleep based on the wand that Leon stole from Jothen. The one they would use to put people to sleep. We think they can synthesize something.”

“That concerns me. Jothen was his child. I guarantee that Myran will be immune."

“I mean I can shoot him with arrows. Hit nonvital points to weaken him. But that won’t stop him from being able to use his gifts.”

“Then that means we bring Zarian to the battle.”

“No.”

“Ezra,” Chevalier sighed, “I understand you love him. But he wants to be part of it. To be the entire reason Myran falls.”

“I-I know that. But I’ll never forgive myself if I lose him. I waited years to have Zarian at my side. I love him, Father. Same with Antoni. I can’t emotionally handle losing either of them. So I have no idea how to handle this.”

“But you never had to be involved. I know that Myran hurt Zarian. He’s the entire reason that Zarian lost everything. But losing you will kill all of us. I would rather keep you here, guarding our castle.”

“What if… we bait Myran into Nouvelle. He clearly wants Zari and Sidra. We know that she was taken once again by one of his agents. It’s why I won’t allow her to leave the castle. We can keep her safe here. But there has to be a way to get him here. We can stop him on our land.”

“Hm,” Chevalier thought for a moment before smiling, “yes. There should be a way. But I will have to contact him. I’ll offer him Zarian and Sidra. Not truly, but I’ll say that he can have them for the safety of Nouvelle. That he has to come here to get them. We’ll ambush him at the border near Wickersham Forest. We’ll have our soldiers wait in the forest and as soon as he’s on our land, we attack. I think we can sneak a few into Alanin and have them come from behind. Myran is cocky. I know he will come alone and rely on his gifts. We can make it seem as though you, me, Leon, Zarian, and Sidra are the only ones there.”

“Zarian will never agree to put Sidra in danger that way.”

“Which is why Antoni will wait in the tree line above us. He can use his gift of teleportation. One he never really uses as it’s draining. But we can have him take Sidra to Robin’s home. We keep Celeste here with Peregrin.”

“Chevalier!” Red shouted, running into the throne room and we both jumped up, “Serce!”

“What about it?”

“The loyalists have revolted against Alanin. They’re attacking the soldiers. What shall we do?”

“Rally the troops,” Chevalier smiled, a look on his face I was entirely unfamiliar with and I truly understood why he was called the vengeful for the first time in my life, “Nouvelle shall lend aid.”

“Thank you,” she crossed her right arm and bowed before running from the throne room once again.

“Father?”

“You can ride a horse yes?”

“Better than Leon and Red.”

“Then get on your house after armoring. You’ll help lead the charge.”

“I’m an archer.”

“Can you fire from the back of your horse?”

“Of course I can.”

“Then go.”

Without another word I ran to the armory where I found Antoni and Zarian, looking over weaponry, “guys?”

“Yes? We’re taking inventory,” Antoni smiled, fixing his braid.

“Where is my armor and bow?”

“Same place as always love. Why?”

“The citizens and part of the military that are loyal to Zarian and Red are rising up and attacking the Alanin soldiers in Serce. Nouvelle is lending aid. Father wants me on the front line with Red and Leon. So that’s where I will be."

“B-but…” Zarian rushed over, laying his hands on my chest.

“I will return to you,” I whispered and cradled his face, “nothing will take me away from either of you. I promise,” gently, I pressed my lips to his, my heart rate shooting through the roof, “I have wanted to do that since we were children,” I laughed softly as Zarian tried to catch his breath, “don’t you believe in me?”

“Always. Come home to us.”

“I will,” I kissed Zarian again before grabbing Antoni by the waist and pulling him over, kissing him as deeply as I could, “take care of each other and our daughters. I’ll be home soon.”

“We love you,” Antoni called softly as I pulled my armor on and I smiled, turning to look at them.

“As I love you both.”