Jesup and Rhett stepped out of the palace and into the front courtyard. In the midmorning light, they could see the damage that still remained from the fight several days ago—cracked walls, broken statues, and chunks of dried lava snaking across the scorched ground. Ruggeweyn’s soldiers, who were miners by trade, had been working not just at the palace, but around the city, helping to break down and clear out the debris.

  Alerted by the Sylvaris soldiers, servants had already begun hurrying into the courtyard. They bowed quickly to Jesup and Rhett before darting off with armfuls of curtains and poles. Rhett watched them, noting how quickly they constructed the shifting screens—temporary walls of cloth that created privacy for a dragon shifter to change behind.

  Though the servants remained obedient and eager to please, Rhett hadn’t forced them to stay. When the fighting ended and Arnav fell, he offered each one the chance to leave—to return to their villages and loved ones. However, most had declined. The steady coin and the hope that things would change under new rulers had been reason enough to stay.

  “There they are,” Jesup said beside him, pointing toward the northern horizon. “Three dragons.”

  Rhett followed his gaze, squinting against the sunlight. The first two dragons were immediately recognizable. Mathias flew ahead of the others with a fine smoke seeping from his dark blue scales. Just behind him was Kenna, with her golden body standing out against the blue sky.

  But the third dragon was smaller, and its colors not easily identifiable from a distance. Rhett tilted his head, confused by who it could be. He had assumed Matteo would return with Kenna and Mathias, but it looked as if he was wrong.

  “Aliyah!” Jesup gasped as a smile grew across his face.

  Rhett narrowed his eyes, finally able to spot the pastel colors of the female dragon’s scales—light green with streaks of pink and purple, like a meadow during spring.

  Rhett smirked, slapping a hand on Jesup’s shoulder.

  “Glad I’m not the only one whose wife could come out this way.”

  Jesup didn’t respond, but he kept his eyes fixed on Aliyah as she approached the palace.

  Mathias was the first to land, sending gusts of smoke and clouds through the courtyard with his wings. He set down a net full of heavy trunks before planting his paws on the ground. As he did, a pool of darkness spilled out around his feet, but it quickly faded away. Kenna followed, settling beside him as a wave of electricity hissed outward from her scales.

  Aliyah came down last, finding a small patch of dirt not covered by rubble. When her paws touched the ground, wildflowers and fresh grass suddenly grew around her.

  The servants, who had been momentarily fearful of the new dragons, rushed forward with the curtains before the guests started to shift.

  Jesup, however, was too impatient to wait for Aliyah. Instead, he pulled off his tunic as he hurried toward her, slipping between the curtains. There was a soft, surprised gasp from the other side, then silence. Moments later, he reemerged with his wife in his arms. She wore his shirt, and her long, dark hair partially covered her blushing face.

  Rhett smirked, watching as the prince went inside, without waiting to greet his parents. The young king chuckled to himself, crossing his arms as the other set of curtains parted. Mathias and Kenna stepped out, now clothed in their human forms.

  Kenna looked around the courtyard, her smile fading quickly.

  “Where did my son go?” She questioned, glancing toward Rhett.

  The young man lifted a brow, feigning innocence.

  “If I had to make an educated guess… his bedchamber. With Aliyah.”

  “I labored for three days to give birth to that man,” she frowned, narrowing her eyes. “And he has the gall to not greet me after returning from war?”

  “Now, little thorn,” Mathias said, slipping a hand around her waist as he tried to hold back a laugh. “We’re not going anywhere. I’m sure once they’ve… finished reuniting, Jesup will remember his mother exists.”

  Then he paused, glancing at Rhett.

  “But look—we still have one well-mannered son left to greet us.”

  Rhett grinned and dropped to one knee in front of Kenna, taking her hand in his. He kissed the back of it, then pressed her hand gently to his forehead—a gesture from Vespera, where a child greeted a parent with both respect and affection.

  At this, the empress’s expression softened immediately.

  Rhett wasn't their son by blood, nor had he been born in Vespera. But for all intents and purposes, Mathias and Kenna had been Rhett’s family from the day he was sent to live with them. Even after all these years, even when he returned to live in his father’s court in Sylvaris, the two of them held a special place in his heart.

  Kenna, unable to contain herself any longer, leaned down and took Rhett’s hands, gently pulling him to his feet. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace, but the moment he hissed in pain, she pulled back.

  “Wait—were you injured?” She questioned, searching his body for any signs of a wound.

  Rhett gently caught her hands, stopping her.

  “It’s nothing serious,” he muttered, avoiding her gaze and instead glancing at Mathias. “What… what did Matteo tell you?”

  “Not much,” Mathias replied, looking at the ruins around the palace. “Only that Arnav and his family were dead. And that Anwen was still alive, but under house arrest.”

  “But he refused to tell us any details,” Kenna added quickly, furrowing her brows. “And he wouldn’t say anything about the twins. Amara’s had the babies by now, right? Matteo mentioned escorting her into Drurus before coming to get us.”

  “Yes… Amara’s here,” Rhett nodded slowly. But then he paused, biting the inside of his cheek. “And… regarding our child, I wanted to discuss something with you—both of you.”

  At seeing the expression on Rhett’s face, Kenna exchanged a worried look with Mathias.

  “Alright,” she murmured. “Why don’t you take us inside so we can speak privately?”

  Rhett nodded again and stepped to the side, gesturing for them to follow. He led them through the front entrance of the palace and down a large corridor, finally stopping at a small office just off the main hall. He took a torch from its sconce in the hallway, bringing it into the dark room and setting it into a wall bracket. The lone torch illuminated the worn chairs, a cluttered desk, sagging bookshelves, and scattered papers.

  Rhett leaned back against the edge of the desk, facing them as they took their seats. He remained silent for a moment before glancing down at the floor. Then he exhaled softly and placed his hands on the desk.

  “Amara and I… have a daughter,” he finally said.

  Kenna instantly sat up excitedly in her chair at the mention of the girl.

  “A daughter!” She echoed with a wide smile. “Were they both girls? Or did you have a boy and a girl?”

  “We just have the one child,” Rhett shook his head, unable to look up from the ground.

  “I thought… I thought she was carrying twins,” Kenna frowned before her eyes widened in understanding. “Oh… did one of them not make it?”

  Rhett’s jaw tightened, and he took in a shaky breath. But he didn’t address her question. Instead, he looked up, meeting Mathias’s gaze.

  “There’s… something I need to ask of you,” he began, trying hard to keep his voice steady. "It concerns our agreement for you helping me during the war—specifically the arranged marriage between my child and one of your horde.”

  Mathias’s face darkened slightly. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

  “I see,” he said. “So, have you changed your mind? After everything—after all of the years we raised you, treated you as our own—you refuse to blend our houses together?”

  “No!” Rhett interjected quickly, standing up straight. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

  He ran a hand through his hair, forcing himself to take a deep breath.

  “I still want this marriage to go through. This alliance between us is very important to me. But…” He looked directly at Mathias, meeting the older man’s gaze. “Amara and I want to be the ones who decide who our daughter marries. Not you. Not Kenna. Us. Because whoever marries Lilibeth… they will be my heir.”

  “What do you mean they’ll be your heir?” Mathias questioned with furrowed brows. “Are you and Amara unable to have more children?”

  Rhett didn’t answer immediately. He simply shook his head and lowered his gaze back to the floor.

  “Are you sure?” Kenna inquired, trying to sound hopeful as she leaned forward. “I know a few skilled healers—some of the best for these situations. I could have them examine Amara and give you a second opinion. Perhaps the person who told you that was mistaken—”

  “They weren’t wrong,” Rhett interrupted with a whisper. “There’s nothing any healer can do… Her womb was removed.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Kenna’s body stiffened as she leaned back in her chair, blinking slowly. Her face softened into a confused, saddened expression.

  “Why? What happened?”

  Rhett’s lips quivered as he struggled to force the words past the lump in his throat.

  “It was my fault,” he choked out while tears slipped down his cheeks. “I sent Amara away… I didn’t make sure she was safe or guarded.”

  He covered his face with both hands as his shoulders began to shake.

  “She was attacked,” he continued, his voice muffled behind his palms. “Someone put a sword through her back… and it pierced all the way through her womb.”

  Kenna gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

  “We lost them,” Rhett sobbed. “The babies… our sons…”

  Mathias was the first to move, standing quickly from his chair. He hugged Rhett tightly, wrapping his arms around the younger man like a father comforting his son.

  “I’m so sorry,” he murmured as Rhett buried his face against the older man’s shoulder and cried.

  Kenna stood next and joined them, wrapping her arms around Rhett from behind. She rested her head against his back, rubbing her hands up and down his arms.

  “I saw them,” Rhett whispered through shuddering breaths. “Before I buried them… They were so small, and they had my hair. But I couldn’t hold them… They were… too…”

  “It’s alright,” Mathias whispered, pressing his hand against the back of the young man’s head. “You don’t need to say any more, son.”

  Rhett nodded as he finally wrapped his arms around Mathias. After what felt like hours—though it was only several minutes—Rhett’s breathing began to even out. His shoulders no longer trembled, and the tears stopped falling. Gently, Mathias and Kenna pulled away, standing in front of him. Kenna reached up, standing on her tip toes slightly, to brush his hair away from his face.

  “So… your little girl?” She questioned carefully. “If the twins passed… then who is she?”

  Rhett blinked at the ground, then slowly looked up.

  “I found her in Trin,” he explained softly. “After Drurus’s army attacked, the city was left in ruins. I was helping search for survivors when I came across a home. The bodies of a young couple were inside, but as I turned to leave… I heard something.”

  “She was underneath the floorboards, hidden away to keep her safe. But she had been there for two days on her own, and if I hadn’t found her, she would have died. I can’t explain it, but the moment I held her, I just knew I couldn’t leave her there.”

  Mathias’s expression hardened—not in anger, but in thought.

  “So… she won’t have a dragon?”

  “No. She’s human,” Rhett shook his head. But then he hesitated before speaking again. “Is that… a deal breaker?”

  Kenna and Mathias stared at him momentarily, then slowly shook their heads.

  “No,” Kenna said softly. “If you and Amara see her as your child, then so do we.”

  “I agree,” Mathias added firmly. “If you raise her as your child, then that’s what she’ll be. She doesn’t need to have a dragon for us to honor our agreement.”

  Rhett’s shoulders sagged in relief, and he let out a deep exhale.

  “Thank you,” he whispered gratefully. “We are going to raise her like she’s ours. She already looks like Amara—the brown hair, fair skin, brown eyes. People will believe she’s ours by blood.”

  Kenna smiled, then reached out and took Rhett’s hand, gently squeezing it.

  “Can we meet them?” She questioned eagerly. “We’ve been dying to meet Amara ever since your engagement was announced. And now… It’s been so long that you’re married and parents already.”

  Rhett let out a soft chuckle, nodding as he wiped the last of the tears from his cheeks.

  “Of course. Come with me.”

  He turned, leading them out of the small office and into the main corridor. Though much of Dunstead’s palace had been damaged in some way during the battle, he led them to a wing that was still structurally sound. Tall windows faced the city, letting in natural sunlight.

  Eventually, they reached a large set of double doors. Rhett knocked gently and waited. A moment later, the doors opened, revealing Molly Rose. Given the pregnancy, she blinked at the group before managing a curtsy, or something close to it.

  “Your Majesties,” she greeted before stepping back. “Please, come in.”

  She opened the door wider, letting them in before quietly excusing herself.

  The room they entered was a sunlit sitting room, filled with soft cushions and warm colors. In the center, on one of the low couches, sat Amara. Her head turned at the sound of footsteps, and she smiled when she saw Rhett.

  She was holding a baby wrapped in a pale cream blanket, cradling the child in her lap. Rhett crossed the room and sat down beside her before leaning in to kiss her cheek.

  Kenna’s smile faltered, narrowing her eyes slightly as she stared at the two of them. Something shimmered around them—a light purple aura almost too faint to see. It pulsed lightly when they touched, but disappeared when he pulled back.

  The empress blinked again, as if confirming what she saw.

  “Rhett,” she said slowly. “Why didn’t you tell us you and Amara were mates?”

  “Mates?” He repeated, confused, glancing down at Amara, who looked equally startled. “What are you talking about?”

  Before anyone else could respond, another voice spoke up from the doorway.

  “They didn't know they were mates…”

  Kenna and Mathias turned quickly. A middle-aged woman stood just inside the room, holding a small wooden tray with a single cup of tea on top. Kenna took in a sharp breath before quickly lowering her head.

  “Gwendolyn,” she greeted in a respectful tone.

  The witch smiled and stepped forward, reaching up to stroke Kenna’s cheek. She lifted her face gently so their eyes could meet.

  “It’s good to see you again, little one,” she said fondly. “You look more beautiful than when I last saw you.”

  Then Gwendolyn turned her attention to Amara, walking toward her with the tea.

  “Here, dear. Drink up while it’s hot.”

  Amara shifted, carefully passing the baby to Rhett so she could take the cup with both hands.

  Rhett looked from the witch to Amara, then back again.

  “Wait,” he said. “We’re really… mates?”

  “Yes,” Gwendolyn nodded. “When Eena brought Amara back to life as a newborn, she connected your souls. The mate bond was sealed at that moment.”

  “But how?” Rhett questioned, glancing at Amara. “She doesn’t have a dragon. How could we be fated for one another?”

  “Mate bonds don’t require a dragon,” the witch explained. “They can be created between any two souls—though it is rare for it to happen to humans. Without an animal spirit, the bond is difficult to sense. And since Amara had no dragon for Silas to connect with, you couldn’t feel it.”

  “Unlike Mathias,” she smiled, glancing at the emperor. “Whose dragon could feel the connection to Kenna even when Elyssia was dormant.”

  Amara furrowed her brows in thought. But then she looked at Rhett with wide eyes as something dawned on her.

  “That’s why I got pregnant so quickly. It was because we were mates.”

  “Yes,” Gwendolyn confirmed. “You conceived on your third night in Apathle…”

  Rhett’s hand went to his chest, gently touching the fabric of his shirt.

  “That must be why… when I had my Heart Scale removed, it didn’t hurt. I expected it to be painful, but there was… barely a sting.”

  “When did you have a scale removed?” Amara questioned as she snapped her head to him.

  Rhett hesitated, caught off guard. He opened his mouth, then rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

  “I, uh… I had it pulled while we were in Apathle. I wanted to give it to you as a gift—a symbol of my love for you. I… I was supposed to give it to you after the New Dawn.”

  Amara looked down at the cup of tea in her hands.

  “Oh,” she whispered.

  “I’m sorry,” he said softly, feeling guilty for not giving her the necklace.

  “No. It’s alright,” she shook her head. “I understand.”

  Sensing the growing tension and awkwardness, Kenna stepped forward with a smile.

  “Alright, enough of all that,” she said warmly, extending her arms. “Let me see my granddaughter.”

  Rhett stood with a grateful smile and gently handed Lilibeth to her.

  Kenna sat beside Amara, holding the baby carefully in her arms. She looked down at the tiny girl with a warm expression.

  “Well, hello there, princess Lilibeth,” she murmured, stroking her cheek with a finger. “I’m your grandmother.”

  The empress looked over at Amara before leaning over and gently squeezing the young woman’s hand.

  “It’s truly a pleasure to finally meet the woman who stole our bonus son’s heart,” she said warmly.

  Amara blushed at the words, offering a shy smile as she lifted her gaze. It was the first time she had seen Kenna up close, and the first thing she noticed was her bright violet eyes—like Gwendolyn’s.

  “You’re a witch?” She whispered.

  “Only half,” Kenna chuckled. “My father was a dragon shifter, and my mother is a storm witch.”

  Amara continued to stare at her curiously. Then she glanced over at Mathias, who stood beside Rhett with his hands clasped behind his back. The contrast between the emperor and empress was drastic—almost jarring.

  Kenna appeared to be young, her brown skin smooth and glowing, while her thick curls were a glossy black. Mathias, however, looked like an older man. His light brown hair faded into gray, and wrinkles spread across his face. If Amara hadn’t known better, she would have thought Kenna was barely older than her.

  But there was more—their size difference was hard to ignore. Amara had met several of the Vesperan princes, and each one was built like a towering warrior. Mathias, though, looked like a mountain in human form. Kenna, on the other hand, looked delicate and petite. Like a flower that might wilt if you look at it wrong.

  The empress had noticed Amara’s lingering stare and lifted a brow.

  “What are you thinking, little queen?”

  Amara blinked, startled by the question. Before she could stop herself, words came tumbling out of her mouth.

  “Does the size difference between you two ever cause problems?”

  There was a moment of silence before Mathias and Rhett burst out laughing. Amara’s eyes widened in horror. She quickly downed the rest of her tea and leaned back into the couch, wishing the cushions could swallow her up. Kenna let out a soft chuckle, patting Amara’s arm gently.

  “Oh, you’re adorable. Honestly? It is difficult to scold a man properly when you only come up to his chest. Sometimes I think he doesn’t take me seriously.”

  “She says that,” Mathias smirked. “But that woman’s never let her size—or anything else—stop her from voicing her opinions. She’s been a thorn in my side since the day I found her.”

  Kenna grinned, giving her husband a sideways look.

  “But you’ve loved every second of it.”

  Mathias rolled his eyes, then stepped forward, holding out his arms.

  “Yeah, yeah. Now hand over the princess—it’s my turn to hold Lilibeth.”

  Kenna gave an exaggerated sigh before reluctantly passing the baby to him.

  “Fine,” she muttered, pouting as she leaned back into the couch. “But don’t hog her. I want her back in five minutes.”

  Mathias cradled the princess, and his stern features softened immediately as the baby cooed in his arms. Kenna watched her husband for a moment before turning her attention back to Amara.

  “You should come visit Vespera now that the war’s over,” she said. “You are even welcome to stay a while if Rhett is being insufferable. We’d be happy to host you and the baby.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Amara chuckled slightly, finally relaxing again.

  “You’ll spoil my girls too much,” Rhett scowled playfully. “That’s my job.”

  Amara blushed slightly at his remark, at how easy it was for him to say his girls. She looked away, hiding her smile just as Gwendolyn approached. The witch picked up the empty teacup from the table before glancing at Kenna.

  “By the way, Eena has called a gathering for later this spring,” she said with a smile. “You and your mother have been invited.”

  Kenna raised a brow, leaning forward slightly.

  “Both of us?” She questioned in disbelief. “My mother serves Avion, not Eena. And I serve none of the Creators.”

  “Nor do I,” Gwendolyn shrugged. “But the goddess still invited me.”

  “Still… why my mother?” Kenna pressed. “She hasn’t been invited to a gathering since I was born. Most of the witches don’t want anything to do with her. Or me, for that matter.”

  “I couldn’t say,” Gwendolyn replied with a shrug. “It’s not my place to question Eena’s reasons. Only to listen when she calls.”

  Rhett, who had been quietly watching, suddenly stepped forward.

  “Is… is Alivia in trouble?”

  “Why would my mother be in trouble?” Kenna demanded as her posture stiffened.

  “A few weeks ago…” he began, fidgeting with his hands. “Cerys flew over our camp and dropped Blaise’s head right in the middle. I chased after her. I knew it was likely a trap, but I couldn’t let her go. We flew into a storm, but then… something strange happened. Every time I tried to get close to her, lightning struck in front of me—again and again. Like something was warning me not to go further.”

  “Is that why my mother was invited?” Kenna’s eyes snapped to Gwendolyn. “Because she interfered with fate?”

  The witch tilted her head as she thought for a moment, then slowly shook it.

  “If Alivia were in trouble, Eena wouldn’t wait for a gathering. She and the other Creators would act immediately. But… I suspect she may give a gentle scolding to placate Otarr. After all, your mother did prevent Rhett from meeting whatever fate had in store for him. But, who’s to say it was her? Storms tend to have a mind of their own.”

  Kenna looked at the witch for a moment before finally nodding.

  “Thank you,” she said quietly.

  Gwendolyn bowed her head, then turned to the others.

  “I’ll take my leave now.”

  She stepped over to Mathias, who still held Lilibeth, and gently touched the baby’s cheek with the tips of her fingers. Lilibeth twitched at the touch and curled her hands around one of the witch’s fingers before letting go. Gwendolyn smiled and walked toward the door.

  “May your days be blessed,” she said softly. With a bow of her head, she stepped out of the room.