Epilogue

Natasha

Natasha soon discovered she was with child. Ragnar, who at times could be gruff and demanding, instantly became gentle and even more protective of her. In the mornings, when she felt ill, he brought her a tea that Birgitta brewed herself. He insisted Natasha rest every afternoon. When she ignored his wishes, he made a point of returning to the palace, and taking her to bed himself.

Ragnar was impossible, but he was nothing in comparison to Birgitta. When Natasha had first met Birgitta, the woman had been on her deathbed, at least that’s what everyone assumed. Since then, she’d transformed into a whirlwind of energy.

“My recovery is a medical miracle,” Birgitta murmured as she studied several swaths of material. She was trying to decide between colors for the drapes in the baby’s nursery.

Natasha smiled, but her sister furrowed her brow and looked like she wanted to say something sassy in response. Natasha and Birgitta got along well enough, but Elise liked to tease people anytime she got a chance. She especially liked to give Birgitta a bad time about her claims of feeling unwell. Several times, Elise had come close to calling the Jaegarian matriarch a hypochondriac.

Elise had arrived that morning unannounced to lend a hand with the nursery. This was her third visit since she’d escaped the Fargian prison. Her stay at the famed prison lasted less than an afternoon. Elise liked to gloat that she stayed for lunch and then left so she wouldn’t have to do the dishes or spend the night on a flea-infested cot. Escaping Fargian was child’s play, she liked to tell anyone who would listen.

Elise might be cocky, but there was one person who intimidated her. Gunnar. She only came to visit when she was certain Gunnar was away. She liked to pretend no one scared her and enjoyed teasing Birgitta about her lengthy spans of bedrest.

“You seem to be feeling rather well,” Elise said pointedly.

Natasha narrowed her eyes, but Elise ignored her.

“I am feeling rather well, you saucy girl. Bring me the stack of linens on the table so I can compare thread count. Go on,” Birgitta commanded. “Make yourself useful.”

Natasha stifled her laughter. Since Elise had staked a claim to Cresenta and led a movement to offer asylum to vulnerable Maidens and Nymphs, she’d become even more domineering. She wasn’t used to taking orders. Natasha waited for her sister’s sharp reply, but instead Elise did as she was told. Birgitta winked at Natasha.

Elise retrieved the linens and brought them to Birgitta, setting them on the table.

“Tell me you’ll stay for supper, Elise,” Birgitta said.

Her sister’s usual smirk faded. She pressed her lips together and averted her eyes. “I don’t think so. I’ve heard Gunnar will return to Jaegar soon.”

“Exactly. You two need to make amends. Family is the most important thing to me. I want my grandchildren to know their Aunty Elise. How can they spend time with you if you come and go like a thief in the night?”

Elise’s jaw dropped. “I’m not a thief.”

Natasha sighed. This again. Elise maintained that she hadn’t done anything wrong or should be absolved from her transgressions since she’d given her stolen riches to support a noble cause.

Birgitta arched a brow and searched the stack of linens, scrutinizing the various colors. “I’ve absolved you from any wrongdoing against Jaegar, but if you continue to steal from Gunnar, I can’t help or give much protection. You’ll have to offer him penance.”

Natasha blinked and looked from Birgitta to Elise and back to Birgitta. “What? You’re stealing from Gunnar?”

Elise’s face colored.

“You’re blushing…” Natasha said. “I’ve never seen you blush before.”

Elise’s eyes widened, and she set her hands on her flaming cheeks. “I just took a few things from him. I didn’t think he’d miss them.”

Natasha could hardly believe what she heard. Elise might be reckless, but she was brave and noble and more idealistic than anyone she knew. What on earth was wrong with her? “You stole? Again? From Gunnar?”

Elise squeezed her eyes shut, then drew a slow shuddering breath and when she opened her eyes again, she’d recovered her composure. She gave Natasha a haughty look and folded her arms across her chest.

“Even though Birgitta has forgiven me, Gunnar hasn’t. He’s put a bounty on my head.” To make her point clear, Elise pointed to her temple. Her eyes flashed with indignation. “My head!”

Natasha threw her hands in the air. “Well, that makes all the sense in the world. He put a bounty on you, so you had to steal from him. What did you take?”

“Two shirts and his shaving brush,” Birgitta said.

Natasha gaped, waiting for Elise to deny the accusations.

Elise tapped her chin. “The shaving brush was a mistake. I realized later that any man would notice that his shaving brush was missing.”

“Why did you take his things?” Natasha demanded. “Why, Elise?”

Elise shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s sent me a few messages and he’s always taunting me. Telling me how when he finds me, he’ll make sure I’m very sorry I ever took anything from him. For some reason, that made me want to steal a few other personal items. Just to show him.”

“To show him what, exactly?” Natasha asked.

“That he couldn’t say those things to me. He said I needed a good spanking.”

Elise shuddered and hugged her arms tighter around her chest. Natasha’s gaze drifted down her sister’s face, past her shoulders to her shirt. The drab, Cresenta shirt stretched across her sister’s chest. The material straining at the buttons.

Birgitta scoffed. “He doesn’t want you to come to any harm. My son isn’t a monster. He simply wants to discuss a few things with you.”

Natasha, too stunned to add to Birgitta’s comments, let her gaze drift down Elise’s body. Her sister’s pants, normally a little too long, stopped at her ankles. Elise held her gaze and shook her head.

“What do you do with his shirts?” Natasha asked slowly.

Elise shrugged. “They happen to be very warm. I’ve slept in them. Once. Maybe twice.”

Natasha understood immediately. Elise liked Gunnar’s scent. One of the first things Natasha had noticed about Ragnar was his addicting scent. There was something about it that made her usually ordered thoughts fall into complete turmoil.

“And you like the way Gunnar’s scent clings to the fabric, don’t you?”

Elise grimaced. “Don’t be disgusting.”

Birgitta tossed the fabrics down, giving up any pretense of selecting something for the drapes. “I don’t know why you and Gunnar are squabbling, but it’s unbecoming, Elise. He’s the leader of my military and you’re the leader of Cresenta.”

“And I’ve been avoiding my responsibilities on Cresenta, because I never know when Gunnar might appear and interrogate me. Or whatever he wants to do to me. I only return when I think it’s safe and I never stay long. I’m practically a fugitive.”

Natasha shook her head. “I’d take out the word practically.”

Elise narrowed her eyes.

Birgitta waved a dismissive hand. “You only have yourself to blame. The more you tease Gunnar with your ridiculous antics, the more difficult it will be for the two of you to make peace.”

Elise gave an air of complete indifference. “I’m not trying to make peace with Gunnar. I don’t need to. I’ll come to visit Natasha and the baby when he’s away.”

“You should meet and talk. Face to face,” Birgitta said. “Ragnar can mediate.”

Natasha frowned at Birgitta. “What do you mean by that?”

“Gunnar has a little bit of a temper. He wouldn’t harm a woman, of course. That’s against our code, but still… it wouldn’t hurt to have a third party present.”

“I could mediate,” Natasha said.

Elise stomped her foot. “I don’t need a mediator.”

“You can’t mediate,” Birgitta said. “Not in your condition.”

Natasha set her hand over her stomach. The response was reflexive, a protective gesture she’d made even before she’d confirmed her pregnancy. During the day, or even when she slept, her hand would drift to her stomach. At night, Ragnar lay behind her, sheltering her with his powerful frame. He liked to hold her and cover her hand with his. She showed no signs of pregnancy and wouldn’t for several Lunaria, but she liked to imagine their child, growing inside her.

“If Ragnar is there, he can maintain order and keep Gunnar from…” Birgitta’s words drifted off.

Without asking, Natasha knew what concerned Birgitta. She worried Gunnar might become so incensed he’d shift and frighten Elise. Her sister didn’t know the men had wolves and often shifted when angered.

“Let me ask you this, Elise.” Birgitta lowered her voice. “Do you steal from others, or is it just Gunnar?”

“Just Gunnar,” Elise smirked. “No one’s ever made me as angry as Gunnar Helmsgaard.”

Natasha shook her head with disbelief. Elise couldn’t be smitten with Gunnar. Natasha could hardly imagine Elise and Gunnar in the same room, much less talking amiably with each other. They were like oil and water. A romance between the two wasn’t possible, but something had her Maiden’s build growing more curved. Fuller breasts. Rounder hips and lush thighs. Maybe it was being around all the children on Cresenta. Maybe it was because of Natasha’s pregnancy. Twins had eerie connections. Perhaps Elise underwent some of the same changes.

Ragnar loved the way pregnancy had transformed Natasha. Elise probably hated carrying any extra weight. She would consider it unmaidenly and unbecoming. Maidens prided themselves on many thing, especially their slim, athletic builds. And Elise prided herself on more things than most Maidens.

“I should go,” Elise said. “Gunnar might return to Jaegar earlier.”

“Promise me,” Birgitta said. “The next time you come, you’ll sit down with Gunnar and Ragnar.”

Elise’s expression remained impassive. “If you want me to I will.”

Birgitta beamed and gathered Elise into her arms. “Oh darling, I’m so glad you’ve agreed. I can’t stand family strife. It makes me feel positively ill.”

Elise glanced at Natasha, looking over Birgitta’s shoulder and rolled her eyes. She mouthed the word faker.

Natasha responded by mouthing liar.

Birgitta stepped back, cupped Elise’s shoulders and gave her a stern look. “You already missed your sister’s bonding ceremony. I’m planning a grand celebration for the baby announcement. Everyone’s coming. And when the baby arrives, your sister will want you near. Sisters need each other when their time is near, during birth and after, too.”

Elise’s smug expression faltered. Her eyes filled with unease. The silence hung heavily in the room until finally, Elise nodded. “All right, Birgitta. That gives me a little time.” Her voice cracked with a hint of emotion, something Natasha had never heard from her sister. Elise laughed breathlessly. “A little time to gather my courage…”

 

THE END

 

Thank you for reading my story. If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving me a review on Amazon.com and other book review sites. And sign up for my mailing list at where I will notify you of future releases, exclusive offers and bonus material. – Sasha