EPILOGUE
Taking Vischer’s hand as they strolled along the sandy streets of the village market, Janelle cast a sideways glance at her mate and sighed.
Since she was still biologically human, she wouldn’t go into heat four times a year like the Vor females, not unless Vischer bit her. Surprisingly, he’d managed to wait an entire three weeks before that had happened. Her heat had lasted only three days this time, and while it hadn’t been as painful as the first time, it had still been just as intense. Her sweet, loving mate had been as attentive as ever, and she’d enjoyed the time they’d spent secluded in their room, but she still wasn’t pregnant.
All day, she’d wanted to ask, but she’d held back, not wanting to draw attention to her deficiency. If she was carrying his child, Vischer would have told her. Hell, she imagined he would have told the entire planet. Maybe something really was wrong with her. Maybe the Wraiths had neglected to mend some vital part of her.
She choked back another sigh and offered her best smile when Vischer looked down at her. “So, why are we here today, love?”
Two warriors walked ahead of them, their bodies tense and alert, while Nyko and another guard strode behind them with watchful eyes. It hadn’t been easy having someone shadow her every move, but she was slowly getting used to it. With the planet being mostly at peace, there hadn’t been much for her to do in her new role as Lady of Roak Palace, but she found ways to keep herself busy.
Her first order of business had been to find a way for the Vor females to interact with the warriors without giving them free reign of the palace. Though everyone in Black Winds now knew their chieftain was mated, she didn’t think she’d be able to withstand wistful, sidelong looks directed at her male.
Remembering Kaysa, her hand tightened around Vischer’s. No, she definitely wouldn’t be able to handle that. Her mate was just too damn sexy for his own good.
She wasn’t, however, heartless. Having endured the mating heat twice now, she knew how painful it could be, and she wouldn’t wish any female to bear that alone. So, while she didn’t want lusty females filling the palace, she’d resigned herself to allowing them access to the gardens and courtyards that surrounded the stone castle.
There, they could mingle with the warriors and flirt to their hearts’ content until they found a male who suited them, while she kept her mate far away from their longing gazes. Of course, there were no shortage of warriors willing to offer their services, so she figured it was a win-win for everyone.
“Are you sure you’re well?” Vischer asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Janelle patted the top of his forearm and nodded. “I’m just fine, but you still haven’t told me why we’re in the market.”
“There is something I need, and I wanted to make the exchange personally.”
Well, that didn’t tell her anything, but she bit her lip, figuring she’d find out soon enough. “Soon enough” turned out to be the next merchant stall, and she had to laugh when Vischer wiggled his dark eyebrows at her.
A canopy of maroon fabric stretched tightly over the tables laden with merchandise, and black tassels hung from the edges, swaying in the breeze that blew in from the ocean. For days now, the air had been saturated with the scent of ozone, but the rains had been slow in coming.
While Vischer spoke with the merchant, Janelle tilted her head back, grinning at the indigo clouds that gathered to blot out the sun. She loved the rain. There was just something peaceful and comforting about the sound as it plinked against the windows. She wondered if rain on Vor would be the same was it had been back on Earth. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to wait much longer to find out, because the clouds looked as though they’d unleash at any moment.
Something soft and silky brushed over her right hand, and she ceased her contemplation of the sky to investigate what had touched her.
“For you,” Vischer said, his grin so wide it crinkled the corners of his eyes.
Taking the gift, Janelle ran her fingers over the ash-gray fabric, luxuriating in its softness. Unfolding it, she held it up in front of her, tilting her to one side and then the other. The gray was interlaced with specks of gold that sparkled in the thin rays of sunlight that managed to escape the cloud cover, and gold stitching wove in intricate swirls around the edges.
She thought it might be a blanket, and while it was absolutely gorgeous, it was far too small to cover anything more than her legs—from the knees down.
“Thank you,” she said, because while it was an odd gift, she would still treasure it. “This is a blanket, right?”
Vischer nodded, watching her more intently than the situation really warranted. “It is.”
“I love it.” She held the blanket to her face and rubbed her cheek against fabric. “It’s so soft.” Because she could never hide anything from him, she admitted, “It is a little small, though, more like a baby blanket.”
Janelle stopped breathing and stilled when her brain caught up with her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes, and the hand not clutching the blanket fell to cover her stomach. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t ask the question so desperately trying to break through her numb lips.
Taking her face between his palms, Vischer brought his mouth to hers and kissed her sweetly. “It has killed me to keep this secret, but I wanted to surprise you.”
Sobbing in earnest, she threw her arms around his neck, clinging to him with every ounce of strength she possessed. “I love you, Vischer.”
“As I love you, my beautiful rikka.”
She’d been given a second chance, the opportunity to make every moment count, and she intended to do just that. Releasing her mate, she dried the tears and sniffled a few times before offering her hand.
“Let’s go home, love.”
Together, they made their way back to the palace, reaching the front doors just as the first drops of rain began to fall.
THE END