Earth & Sky (32 page)

I wrapped my arms around his neck and grinned.  “Oh, I
think I’ll manage somehow.  I’m sure you won’t let me get bored.”

One corner of his wide mouth lifted in a wicked smile.  “I’ll
do my best.”  His lips met mine and I molded my body to his while the drifting
snowflakes covered the world in a cloak of pure, clean white.

Five Years Later

I smiled a welcome at Iris as she made her way down the
hallway, a toddler on each side of her, their chubby hands clutched in hers. 
He pale wings and blonde hair made her look like an angel between two devils. 
My own children had a darker edge, with glossy black wings and flaming red
hair.  Satan’s spawn.  “You’ve gotten so big!” she said to the toddlers.

Henrik piped up.  “I’m the biggest, I’m gonna be tall as
Daddy!”

Win was quick to correct him as she danced along.  “I’m
gonna be taller.”

They raced down the hall toward Ville, arguing all the
way, then falling on him in a shrieking mass.  Iris followed with a wry smile
that said she would love to join in the roughhousing, but considered herself
too old for such things.

Ibbe and Logan wandered out of the guest room to see what
all the noise was about.  Ibbe waved at Cai as he and Bahati came to join us.  Bahati
held out her arms to take the little blanket wrapped bundle from Ibbe.  “Oh,”
she exclaimed, lost in baby lust.  “She has your eyes, Ibbe.”

They sat on the long sofa and engaged in baby talk.  Henrik
and Win had worn Ville out, and he sent them my way.  I scooped up one adorable
hellion under each arm and spun them around the big room, then set them on
their wobbly feet.  “Why don’t you go harass Grandma?”  I suggested.

Mom had just come from the back of the house with Dad,
matching his slow pace as he walked with his cane.  He had made a wonderful
recovery, but he was slower.  He had refused to take back his place as king,
citing his weakness as the cause, but I think he had other reasons.  The world
he had ruled didn’t exist anymore, wiped away by the world Ville and I had
created. 

Mom patted the children on the head and sent them back my
way.  I flopped onto the couch in defeat.  They climbed into my lap while Iris
sat cross-legged on the rug at my feet.  I leaned forward to ruffle her hair
and my locket dangled at my chest.  Win grasped it in her pudgy fingers.  “Tell
us about aunty,” she pleaded.

I sat back and flipped the locket open to reveal a
miniature of Winona.  Iris peered at the picture, captivated.  “Who is that?  She’s
beautiful.”

I smiled at her.  “Winona was a beautiful princess.  She
died so that we could all live together in peace.”  I slipped the necklace off
and handed it to Iris.  She took my place as the twins launched into a story
about Winona as if they had known her personally. 

I went to stand before the massive windows that took up
almost the entire back wall of our house in the trees.  My gaze swept out over
the wooded area where mayapples and trillium flourished in the lush green of
spring.  Ville quietly left our guests and came to join me. 

Our world had stumbled a bit after the revelation of the humans’
schemes.  However, our marriage had helped to ease the way and quell the worst
of the uproar, and slowly, the world righted itself.  Humans, Shifters, and
Fallen were represented in our new parliament, and the war was just an
unpleasant memory. 

I slipped my hand into Ville’s, marveling at the world we
had helped build.  And at the resilience of the kindred spirit within every
race, no matter if they were winged, or four-legged, or somewhere in between.  His
big hand squeezed mine.  “It’s a beautiful spring,” he said softly, still
gazing out at the forest. 

I nodded, my eyes watering.  “Yes, it is.”

We turned as one to glance back at the gathering of family
and friends behind us, knowing we would never be alone again.