I shook my head. “Not since that little incident at the farm.”
“Six months with no rebel action?”
“I know, I keep expecting some kind of response from those that scattered, but so far, it’s been quiet.”
“Quiet’s good though,” he said. “Might as well enjoy it while you can. I doubt your life will be quiet for too long after your own vows.”
Calla dropped Lieke’s arm and spun on her heel to face us, a playful scowl gracing her expression. “Brennan,” she chided, “leave them alone.”
As Brennan and I caught up to them, Lieke wrapped her arm around my waist. “What did he say?” she asked.
I leaned down and whispered close to her ear, “I think he’s predicting an Emeryn heir within the year.”
Lieke’s face flushed a warm pink, and Brennan laughed heartily. “Still so quick to blush. Nice to know some things never change.”
“You still a cheater at cards?” Lieke teased back, and before he could answer, Calla’s brows shot up.
“Yes! He’s the worst!”
“Hey!” Brennan protested with mock offense, wrinkling his brow.
Calla’s dark eyes turned mischievous. “Well, the worst at cards anyway. He’s okay at other things.”
“Okay? Just okay?” Brennan said. “That’s not what you said last night…or should I say screamed last night?”
Calla swatted at my brother’s arm, playfully rolling her eyes before she dragged him to her, kissing him passionately as if Lieke and I weren’t standing right there.
Cringing, I turned to Lieke. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Brennan broke free of the kiss long enough to say, “Careful, Calla, my brother has a habit of waltzing in uninvited.” Then he lowered his voice to a loud whisper. “He likes to watch.”
I growled a warning, but there was no genuine anger behind it. With the rebels ceasing their attacks for the time being, Brennan securing this alliance with Arenysen, and my mate standing by my side, there was little to rile my rage these days. Even our father had softened toward us and was showing regular glimpses of the loving parent he’d been in our youth. I credited the change in him to Lieke’s presence in our family; she brought a ray of much-needed sunshine into our dreary lives.
Lieke laughed as she pulled my face down to hers and kissed me sweetly. Then she turned to look sidelong at my brother and his bride. “Who knew things would end up quite so perfectly?” she asked softly.
Reaching my hand up to her neck, I buried my fingers in her hair and trailed my thumb along her jaw, angling her chin up. As I breathed in her sweet scent that had become my whole world, I lost myself in her dark eyes and marveled at her—my love and my mate.
“The stars, Sapphire,” I whispered. “The stars knew.”
The End
