“Am I?” He lies next to me and takes my left hand in his.
“Yes,” I say, my voice soft in the dim light of the room. “But I love even that about you. Your stubbornness. Your pride. Your unwillingness to back down. It has made you who you are, a fierce, courageous leader.”
His fingers tighten around mine. “Do you know what I love the most about you, Sol?” He doesn’t give me a chance to reply. “Your drive. Your focus. You don’t let anything deter you from your course. But I especially love these.” He cups my breast.
I bat his hand away. “Hector!”
His laughter echoes in the room and brings a smile to my face. A genuine smile. One born of happiness, of love, of adoration.
He was always meant for me, and I was meant for him. The high gods willed it before we were born.
He is the rising sun, and I’m the spark igniting a revolution that will spread to every tribe.
Hector and I are only the beginning. Soon the ember will ignite inside more people, and they will help bring peace to Tarrobane.
Epilogue
Afire burns brightly in the fireplace as I pace the room, allowing the waves of pain to roll over me—one-by-one. I breathe through them, practicing the techniques Wrenley taught me.
As I prepared myself over the last few days for this moment, I thought about all the births I had attended, and I thought about Averill. I even invited her and Everly to be with me.
They murmur soothing words, wipe sweat from my brow, and rub my lower back—right where it hurts the most.
I made Hector promise to wait until we call for him, but I know he paces on the other side of the door. I feel his presence, that connection, that bond that threads deeper and deeper into my soul every day.
Now, I will give him children, as he predicted when we first met. Twins. He predicted that too.
Dreadful man.
I smile and wince when another wave crashes over me, drowning me, consuming me. “It’s getting closer,” I pant out when it ends.
Gently, Averill runs her hand up and down my arm. “Stay relaxed. It hurts less.”
I try to remember those words as the pains keep coming, and the moon soars higher in the windows. It hovers near the top when I finally have the powerful urge to push.
“Hector.” I rise enough to look at the door. “Get Hector.”
Everly rushes to the door, but before she can touch the handle, it opens, and Hector steps into the room, worry glimmering in his eyes. He hurries to where I lie and grabs my hand, curling his strong fingers around mine.
“Don’t let go,” I order as I bear down, groaning.
My body convulses with effort as sweat beads on my forehead. Averill’s grip tightens as she whispers words of encouragement in my ear. I push again, harder this time, and a strangled cry tears from my throat. Averill moves quickly, adjusting the blankets and pillows beneath me. Then, she’s urging me to push again.
So, I do over and over and over again.
I push with all my might, and my son slips from my body. I hold my breath until a cry fills the room. Averill catches the baby, and I collapse back onto the bed, exhausted but overjoyed.
The baby is perfect, with a mop of dark hair and tiny fingers that grasp at the air. I smile as Averill places him in my waiting arms. As I hold him close, a wave of love washes over me. This little bundle of joy is mine, and I will do everything in my power to protect him.
Hector leans down and kisses my forehead and as he straightens, he stares down at the baby that I cradle against my chest.
“He’s perfect,” he says, his voice heavy with emotion.
Unfortunately, I don’t get much time to rest before the urge to push again hits me. I go with it, allowing my body to do the work. Over and over again, I bear down, grunting and pushing until my daughter eases from me, and Averill catches her.
Everly brings cloth and lends a hand in cleaning her. Then, she gives her to me. Joy soars through me as I hold both babies while Averill helps with the afterbirth. My arms are too full to care about that part.
I grin up at Hector. “Take your son, Hector.”
