Epilogue
Mason
They ran back up the stairs, Reynard at his side. The generator in the basement was on, and they shut off the power to rest of the house but for the wing where Edward and Percy had their bedroom. Reynard had his gun out and up, in a ready position as they ran down the hall, sweeping the shadows.
There was no other sign of intruders, but for the dead man on the floor. Reynard believed it was a single assassin, sent to take out Edward as soon as he was vulnerable. Percy going into labor merely provided the assassin the distraction he need to get inside the mansion. The main fuse box was disabled, fuses torn out and missing, but they were able to get the generators up and running, bypassing the main panel.
Lucius was awake, leaning on the wall by Edward’s door. They ran down the hall, boots cracking over the shattered glass, broken from Edward’s fight with the assassin.
“Luke, is everyone alright? What’s happening?” Mason asked, as Reynard went to investigate the bedrooms on either side of Edward’s. “Where are the guards, dammit?”
“They’re securing the property, doing a sweep to see if there any more killers on their way. They’ve found a single unmarked SUV a mile away out near the main drive. There’s baby formula inside, and diapers. Medical supplies.” Luke met his eyes, and Mason was going to be sick.
“He was going to kill Eddie and Percy, and take the baby,” Mason breathed out, fighting back bile.
“I think so, yes,” Luke agreed, holding a hand to his head. He had a cut along his hairline, and spectacular bruising. “I poked my head in the room, but the beautiful doctor ordered me out. Said she’d call if she needed assistance.”
“What’s happening? Is Percy okay? You said he was shot,” Reynard came back, shrugging off his jacket so his holster under his left arm was more accessible. He put his gun in the holster, but left it unsnapped for easier drawing.
“I don’t know,” Mason replied, and he shook head to toe. They were almost too late. Any longer getting back from the capital with Dr. Rosen and it would have been a nightmare. Edward may have been able to defeat the assassin without Mason’s help, but none of them here had serious medical training, and helping a male breeder deliver after being shot was beyond them all.
They all went quiet, staring at the door.
Minutes passed. Eternity came and went.
Screams ripped apart the expectant silence.
The three of them jumped at the cry, and Lucius gripped Mason’s shoulder, trying to comfort him. He too tired to pace, and Mason winced when Percy cried out in pain again, thinner, less volume.
Weaker.
Mason let the tears come. For Edward, for Percy, for the baby in that room who hadn’t had a chance to live yet.
“Please, let them live,” Mason whispered, eyes drawn tight, sweat dripping down his face to blend with his tears of frustration and fear. “Please, by the grace of the Saints and the Blood of Our Line, let them live….”
A wail, thin and hopeless. Reynard swore viciously and spun, punching the wall, the sound of something breaking filling the empty quiet that fell just as suddenly. Lucius barely reacted, swallowing, and Mason grew taut as cable, and vibrated in horrific tension. Two of the three people he loved most in this world were in there now, fighting to bring a fourth into the world.
Mason spun away from the door, and went to the destroyed window, the moon fully risen now and shining her silver light down across the luxurious grounds. Reynard came to his side and embraced him, and they waited, tense and nervous.
The door behind them creaked open, a bare sliver of light spilling into the darkness where they waited. Mason spun, tottering as he almost fell over, and he anxiously approached the light, hoping even as he despaired. Luke watched impassively, accepting of whatever outcome. Reynard gripped his shoulder, keeping him upright.
“Are they…” he swallowed, and tried again, asking the form standing in the doorway, the light haloed behind the figure making features impossible to discern.
“Edward, is Percy…Is Percy alive? The baby?”
The door swung open, wider, revealing Edward. He was pale and bloody, eyes wide and pouring tears. They could see the bed behind him, sheets stained by blood, Dr. Rosen working at Percy’s side.
“Mason,” Edward said, and Mason tore his eyes away from Percy to see his little brother in front of him, holding a towel-wrapped bundle. “Mason, hold her while I go back to Percy. Dr. Rosen needs to stop the bleeding. Reynard, go in please, she needs someone with medical training.”
Reynard went, a single glance down at the squirming towel Edward held before slipping past into the room. Edward held out his arms, and Mason automatically responded, taking the tiny, wrinkled, whimpering babe from his brother. Edward backed away, and returned to Percy’s side.
Mason held her gently, his big arms feeling awkward and too hard as he cradled her as gently as he could to his chest. She stared back up at him, and he stepped forward just enough for the light in the room to illuminate her face.
A dark shock of ink black hair covered her head, and she was pretty, even for a babe minutes old. She stared up at him from a face that could only be Edward’s, but delicate and ethereal.
When she scrunched up her cupid’s bow lips and sucked in a great gust of air, letting loose a shrill cry, Mason laughed. Her ice-blue eyes were angry, and she appeared so fussed about being born in such an improper manner as during an assassination attempt. He fell in love with his newborn niece as she screamed bloody murder at the top of her lungs.
“Hello, niece of mine,” Mason whispered to the tiny babe in his arms, gently touching her button nose with a fingertip. “Looks like I was right.”
***
Percy
She was perfect. Ten toes, ten fingers, thick head of hair that Dr. Rosen said would fall out then grow back in. She was perfect, and beautiful, and she felt amazing in his arms. She looked just like Edward, but for one tiny detail.
She had his eyes. Ice-blue and crystalline pure.
“Percy!” Edward scolded as he came in the room, carrying a tray with their breakfast on it. Percy had eggs and toast, and the baby had formula. “Dr. Rosen said you could only hold her if you had someone with you, so you didn’t tear your stitches.”
Percy chuckled and shook his head. He was fine. He saw the bottle, and waited for Edward to get closer.
For one horrible moment Percy’s heart broke that he could not nurse his babe, but his body didn’t produce milk. Breeders were never designed to rear their young; they were separated immediately at birth, and so a breeder had no need for functional mammary glands. He rallied though as he sat up, holding her securely in the crook of his arm. She fit there perfectly as well, tiny and adorable.
His heart hurt just looking at her. Never in all his dreams did he ever truly dare to hope for this day. The day that he could hold his babe, his child, and never fear that her father would steal her away, leaving him broken and destroyed. Percy thanked Fate and the Universe again for bringing him Edward. Without his prince, none of this would be possible.
Edward settled the tray over his legs, and sat beside him on the bed. It was two days since he delivered, and he was feeling better every hour. His body was recovering from the birthing faster than the bullet wound, and Edward was amazed at his progress. Percy took the bottle from the tray, testing the temperature as the good doctor showed him, and held it up to his daughter’s lips. She latched on, and began suckling with impressive strength. She was Edward’s daughter all right.
Edward help a small piece of toast up, and Percy nibbled on it as he fed his baby. She had taken to the bottle instantly, without any trouble, impressing the doctor.
Percy was gazing down at her as Mason and Reynard came in, walking to where Edward sat and staring down at him and the baby. Mason winked at Percy, and grinned. Reynard gave him an awed smile, and went back to staring at his daughter, and Percy could tell the captain was as swayed as they all were by her charms.
“Is the car ready?” Edward asked, and Mason nodded.
“We’ll be able to head out to the capital once everyone is done eating,” Mason said, his smile disappearing.
It was time. Edward and Mason were heading back to the capital. Mason had posted video of Percy shortly after he gave birth, the wound in his side covered in blood-stained bandages, the bed beneath him soaked. Percy had been unconscious, and looked to be near death in the video. Mason had then shown the dead assassin, and the short message at the end made it clear who was responsible.
“...My father sent a killer to murder myself and my consort, and then steal our babe from Percy’s womb. I am Edward, Prince of the Blood. I am coming for you, Father. It’s time you answered for your crimes against our family.”
Reynard would be taking Percy and the baby to safety. It was decided that Mason would fight for Edward as proxy depending on what choice the king came to once Edward delivered his no faith challenge. The whole country was going wild, crowds around the palace by the thousands, all waiting to catch a glimpse of Edward as he returned to the capital to challenge his father.
“Percy?” Edward asked him, and he looked up from his child, realizing he’d fallen into a daze just watching her eat.
“Hmm?”
“Have you settled on a name?” Edward asked him, and Percy smiled as the others perked up, paying attention.
“I have.” Percy smiled at his lover, and Edward nodded at him with encouragement.
Percy waited, and Mason shifted with impatience. Reynard merely smiled at him.
“It is my pleasure to present to you, father and gentlemen, Her Royal Highness Princess Penelope of Cassia. To her family though, I think she’ll just be Penny.”
Edward smiled, dark eyes full of love and promise. His mate leaned over, and pressed a kiss to his forehead, before pulling back and pressing a kiss to his lips.
Percy kissed Edward back, happy and content. He had his child, his mate, and his friends. The future was still uncertain, and full of danger, but there was hope in every beginning, and Percy’s heart was full of love.
***
The adventures of Percy, Edward and their family will continue in BOOK FOUR of the Bred For Love Series.
Look for it in Spring of 2016.
Thank you for reading! And don’t forget to leave a review for the author!
Bred For Love Book One
The Prince’s Consort
Amazon US Store:
Bred For Love Book Two
The King’s Command
Amazon US Store:
Revella Hawthorne is the pen name for paranormal romance author SJ Himes.
Check out her author page at:
Uploaded by [RAL] [BЯ]