Our queen.
EPILOGUE
MY MATES WASHED ME, then fed me. And eventually, they tucked me into bed between them.
Zakkai had helped initially but remained in his suit the whole time.
When I tried to drag him into the sheets to play after my earlier two orgasms, he’d merely cupped my face between his hands and kissed me. Then he’d suggested a warm bath to ease my tightening muscles.
Don’t you need to…? I’d voiced the question into his mind, unable to complete the full sentence without blushing.
Our first time won’t be in a group situation, he’d replied. And no, the dreams don’t count. He’d kissed me again, the gesture sweetly intimate.
But then he’d disappeared after our meal.
I searched for him now, his mind awake as he wandered the paradigm, reinforcing the boundaries. Zeph, Kols, and Shade were all passed out around me.
Are you coming to bed? I asked Zakkai.
Not today, little star. But perhaps I’ll nap when you all are awake later.
I frowned. You’re guarding.
I am.
Why?
Because the war has just begun, he replied. And while this paradigm is beautifully built, I can’t help but feel a sense of looming dread. Something’s coming.
I considered his words, then stretched my senses to the paradigm and beyond, searching for what he said and finding a similar disturbance in the source. Constantine.
Yes, Zakkai replied. His aura is all over the place. But I haven’t figured out what he’s done. I’m not sure it’s complete yet.
I shivered. Do you think he knows we brought back Kols?
Likely, yes. He’ll use it to increase the urgency of hunting us.
They would hunt us either way, I pointed out.
True, he agreed. But now my people will hunt us, too. I saved a Nacht. They won’t take kindly to that.
He’s not Constantine.
I understand that now, Zakkai admitted softly. But my father… I don’t think he’ll ever understand.
What about Zenaida? I wondered.
Zakkai fell silent, considering. I think we’ll need to ask Shade about that. But wait until nightfall. You all need your rest.
You need to rest, too.
I will. Just later, he promised, his voice a kiss against my mind. Go to sleep, Aflora.
Okay, I agreed, snuggling deeper into Kols’s chest. I also had my leg draped over his. Shade spooned me from behind, while Zeph rested on the other side of Kols with his arm stretched out and his palm on my thigh.
It was a bit of a pretzel, but it warmed my heart.
Sweet dreams, darling star, Zakkai whispered.