Alyssa

I lean back in the armchair as a warm breeze scented with herbs and flowers kisses my cheek. Peace fills me. Joy flutters inside me as orange as a mandarin.

The baby in my swollen stomach kicks me. I laugh and stroke my belly with my palm. Kohar said it would be a boy, and she’s always right so I’m busy sewing blue clothes for him.

Vahan loves our three daughters like mad, but he wants a boy. He wants an heir.

The sound of footsteps diverts my attention, and I see my oldest daughter, Isabella, walking towards me. She turned nineteen ten lunar triads ago.

She loops her arm through Arnau’s as he glides his palm over his shaved head. A thought hits me—he hasn’t aged at all, but a few grey hairs appeared in his hair after Kendy had died in an accident. Arnau took her to the city and a stallion kicked her, killing her at once.

She left him a son. Isabella has been his son’s babysitter since I remember and Vahan is like a grandfather to the boy.

Isabella and Arnau are moving closer and closer to me.

Strange. I’ve never seen them together like this. They barely speak to each other—if they do, it’ll be only about Arnau’s son’s care and only during our family dinners.

“Math’ca,” Isabella says and kisses my cheek.

She stands in front of me with her hands clenched against her stomach as Arnau stands behind her. Isabella’s naked feet move as though she has the desert’s hot sand beneath her soles.

“Sit down, you two,” I say.

“Mom,” Isabella says as her voice falters.

Right. She’s in trouble. Only does she call me Mom when she is in trouble.

I put in a lot of effort in order to make an Earth girl out of her, but she belongs in Zaria. My stories about the life on Earth always sound like fairy tales to her and she scrunches up her nose at my nostalgia.

“We need to talk, Alyssa,” Arnau says in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Have a cup of tea, Arnau, and you, Isabella, you’d better tell me what’s going on.”

Isabella kneels in front of me. “Mom, I’m pregnant.”

I stiffen. “What?”

“I’m pregnant,” she says.

My heart races like mad. “You are the fuck what? And who is the father?” I look at Arnau. “One of your soldiers? I’m gonna fucking kill him.” I rise to my feet and sway as he grabs my elbow so I won’t fall down.

“Mom, calm down. The baby—“

“Your father will ground you,” I yell. “No he’ll ground me. Fucking hell. What are we going to do?” I huff out. “Okay. Don’t panic, Isabella. I’ll sort it out.” I fix my eyes on Arnau. “Who is the father? Mati? Jergen?”

Arnau is here with her so it must have been one of his soldiers. There’s at least five soldiers her age in his troop, and I saw them devour her with their eyes.

“Me,” Arnau says. “I am the father, and I want to marry Isabella as soon as possible. I’ve decided to speak to you first so you won’t be too shocked when I speak to Vahan. I’m taking my son and my wife to my tribe after the ceremony.”

My hands itch to crush something or twist someone’s neck. My daughter’s or Arnau’s, I’m not sure.

I flick my eyes over them. A thought hits me and it fills me with amazement.

I see love in my daughter’s eyes that’s as fresh and joyful as spring on Earth. I see love in Arnau’s eyes that’s as mature and strong as an oak tree hardened by bad storms.

Pain and beauty squeeze my heart. I haven’t noticed anything and there’s been an affair in my house.

Arnau deserves to be loved as hell.

I remember that boy who once was in love with me.

He is a man now. A man loving fiercely. A man loving eternally.

“Fuck,” I say through tears. “Everything is as it should be, right?” I nod several times. “I will be a grandma. My old man will be a granddad.”

Arnau leans towards me and kisses my forehead. “Thank you for Isabella. I will respect her and love her. I give you my word.”

“I know,” I say. “You are a good man, Arnau.”

My daughter clings to me. “I love you, Mom.”

I kiss the top of her head and they walk off, holding hands.

I drop into the armchair and freeze. Thoughts bombard my head. Arnau is a free man now and my daughter is an adult. I knew she’d leave me one day. I’m happy that she decided to love Arnau. He’ll carry her in his arms her whole life, and he’ll smother her with his love for her.

I rise to my feet and saunter towards the house. On my way, I visit the catacombs and wipe the dust away from Yasen’s tablet with my hand. He died some time ago in his sleep. He was drunk as hell but apparently very happy because I found him dead yet with a wide grin on his face.

I breathe in the cold damp air and walk out of the catacombs. My naked feet touch the path leading to the front door of Nassara.  Tania, my other daughter, catches up with me.

She’s eighteen now and looks like Vahan—a true beauty, but she’s as tiny as me.

We enter the house and go to the living area. Chills go down my spine when I see Vahan in the company of a god.

I’ve seen a few before. That was when my husband brought me to the Scarlet City.

I hate them. They frighten me and repulse me.

Vahan waves his hand to me. “Come here, you two. This is Wuylir.”

I feel like a hammer has struck against my brain. “Wuylir?” I put my hands on my hips.

Wuylir—the dick who takes my husband away from us every five moon cycles so they can attend the senate’s meetings. Wuylir—the god who also saved my life.

I step forward and extend my arm.

We shake hands like we’re on Earth. Wuylir’s palm is enormous, as hot as fire, covered with calluses like he’s a builder.

“This is Tania,” Vahan says. “My daughter.”

Wuylir bows his head and stares at my daughter like he wants to kill her.

Goose bumps pop up all over my skin. My heart pounds in my chest. Subtle creepiness brushes against the back of my neck.

“Tania,” Wuylir says like he’s tasting the sound of her name on his tongue. He raises his hand and gestures for her to come closer. His fingers close around her wrist. “Tania. Tania. A little goddess.” He looks at Vahan. “It’s time for you, my friend, to pay your debts. I need a wife.”

An electric blue mist envelops Tania and him.

Vahan growls. I blink. The mist dissipates and I can see neither Wuylir nor Tania.

“Vahan,” I shriek. “What does that mean?” My heart thumps in my ears. “What is happening?”

Vahan steps towards me and encloses me in his embrace. “He’ll be good to her.”

I stiffen. “No.” A stifled cry leaves my mouth. “No. It can’t be.”

“I didn’t know, I swear.”

“No.”

“He’s not like the others.”

“No.”

“I didn’t know. I would never—“

I curl up into his chest and sob.

“It’ll be alright, Alyssa, I promise.” He kisses my head. “I promise.”

“All of this is because of me,” I say as my voice breaks. “He saved my life. The gods don’t do this. They never do this.” They never interfere. Wuylir broke the rules his race had established a long time ago. “We knew he’d demand something in return one day. We knew that, Vahan.”

I can’t even blame my husband—he did what he could to save my life. I’d kill for him if needed.

My daughter is a tough young woman.

My daughter will survive.

My daughter will come back to me.

I look at Vahan. “Wuylir will regret this. He doesn’t know Tania.”

Vahan nods as one corner of his lips crooks up. “No, he doesn’t know our Tania.”

We’re together. We’re strong. Nothing and nobody can break us.

***

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Tania and Wuylir’s story coming soon—Tania: Scarlet Empires Book 2

Check out my other books:

The Shadow Wolves MC series.

The Shadow Immortals MC series.

The Devil’s Tears MC series.