Chapter 30

As soon as the ink dries on the peace treaty a month later, we hold a celebratory feast in Sapphire City. Most of our former Fire Tribe partners chose to stay here, and so did we—those left of the Kreek clan, at least, along with the Hadana, Tallas, and Mal families.

The others dispersed across the realm, building new homes and lives in Emerald City, Pearl City, Ruby City, and Diamond City. Opal City remains somewhat of an independent territory even though they’ve adopted the Sunnaites’ original flag.

More than half of their women moved away, choosing to work with our reproductive centers in all the major cities in order to help with the repopulation effort. It’s looking better than any of us had hoped.

We’re expecting quite the baby boom by spring and double that by next autumn. In less than a decade, Sunna will be thriving once more with young, fresh minds eager to be molded into the men and women of tomorrow. There is finally peace. Justice and common sense have prevailed.

I’m still getting used to it, though. Living in that state of fight or flight for almost six years took its toll on my nervous system, but it’s slowly subsiding. I no longer wake up sweaty and fearful that I might have to fight for my survival. I no longer dread Sky Tribe air raids. There isn’t a Sky Tribe anymore, and there isn’t a Fire Tribe anymore, either. We’re safe.

Of course, there are still skirmishes here and there—local warlords and barons who think we’ve grown weak, who have grown greedier than before. But the Sunnaite forces are stronger and greater in number. It only takes one visit from one of the law enforcement divisions for the violence to subside.

We show no mercy to the hostiles, either. It’s life in prison or an immediate death sentence if they refuse to comply with our demands. Said demands are rather simple, really. Adhere to the peace terms. That’s it.

The celebratory dinner is a feast for my senses. Amber went all out on the special dishes, well aware that I’m craving all sorts of spices these days. I stare at the dishes as they’re set on the sumptuous dinner table—roasted meats with steamed vegetables, spiced plum confit with a selection of fine cheeses, aruga eggs, and sweet pastries, fruit salads, and creamy desserts aplenty.

Everything is accompanied by flavorful wines and flower punch that fills my nostrils with wonderful scents. It’s a sensory overload and I enjoy every whiff of it as I look around at those present.

“Eat up,” Kai tells Cynthia as he loads her plate with cheese and biscuits. “That baby needs to grow strong.”

She’s pregnant with her second child, a boy. Kala, their daughter, is thrilled to welcome a baby brother before the hot season ends, and she constantly caresses her mother’s generous baby bump whenever she gets a chance.

“Mommy, what if the baby doesn’t like cheese?” Kala asks.

“Oh, honey, trust me, he loves it,” Cynthia replies, grinning as she practically inhales what’s on the plate and prompting Maur to laugh as he gingerly refills it.

“I don’t like it,” Kala crinkles her nose but lights up like a firebug when Kai presents her with a fruit salad. “Yay, meli melons!”

Amber is quite busy herding her family back to the table, but she’s been getting consistent help from Valen, too—now a strapping young man who gladly fills in for his fathers if they’re busy. Tonight, Izzo and Binzen are hosting this dinner, so they walk around the table, clinking glasses and catching up with each of us.

“I can’t believe we made it,” Alicia sighs, leaning back into her seat. Rey and Hyx, her twins, each sit in their fathers’ laps, eager to try whatever Helios and Kharo are having. They’re both clearly partial to the roasted meats, particularly if they come with that dark brown, heavily spiced glaze on top.

As if able to read my mind, Yossul presents me with a plate of my own. “Thanks, babe,” I tell him, planting a kiss on his cheek before I dig in.

“It was touch and go there for a while, wasn’t it?” Yossul tells Alicia, almost laughing.

“I didn’t think we’d survive the siege,” she says, lowering her gaze for a moment. “They managed to get into the city by the time the message came about the ceasefire. I feared I wouldn’t see my babies again.”

“But here we are,” Helios says, eager to put the whole thing behind them. “It was rough, I know. But we cannot dwell on the past.”

“We can, however, learn from it,” Kharo replies.

“It’s a good thing the law enforcement procedures are a joint effort,” I say.

“Commander Garza has been true to his word, I’ll give him that,” Izzo replies. “By the way, I hear he’s made Opal City his permanent residence.”

“The widows insist on taking a single mate, much like they did with Solomon,” Binzen chuckles.

The guys laugh wholeheartedly at jokes about Garza’s eagerness to repopulate Sunna all on his own dart across the table. It’s banter, mostly, and ever respectful toward the former queens themselves, however.

“I can’t blame Sarin, Neya, or Leela for their choice,” I say. “They built their own traditions in Opal City, and if they have the freedom to do as they please, why not? It’s a new world, a new day.”

“And I’m feeling good!” Cynthia quips with a melodious tune, a song from Earth we used to love so much.

I miss our music, our customs, our movies, and our old lives. Yet what we’ve built here is more than I ever would’ve gotten back home. It’s a strange realm, but I’ve found true love, true happiness. I wouldn’t trade any of this for a free ride to Earth. Hell, I could get paid and still say no. I’m home—right here.

And I’m working up the courage to say something. Something I’ve known for a while and haven’t found the appropriate moment to say. We’ve been so busy, our days heavily loaded with logistical issues.

“New ministers will be appointed this fall,” Izzo declares as he returns to the table.

“Dad will be prime minister,” Valen says, beaming with pride.

“Which one?” I ask, raising a skeptical eyebrow as I look at the Mal brothers.

“Not me,” Izzo chuckles.

Of the two, Binzen has always been more balanced, calmer, quicker to focus on a solution, and smoother at bringing people together. “I’ll be working closely with Garza,” he says. He has already agreed to be my secretary of state.”

“Good. It sounds like a match made in heaven,” Fadai replies, one arm around my shoulders. His body heat ripples outward, filling me with a familiar warmth.

I can’t wait to lose myself between our silken sheets tonight. We’ve been at it like rabbits and still can’t get enough of one another. I’m surprised they haven’t noticed yet.

“Garza’s will be stricter. You’ll be the pacifist. It should work out all right,” Fadai adds.

“What about the military?” I wonder aloud.

Izzo and Binzen exchange lightly amused glances before they look back at us. “Would the Kreek brothers be interested in a joint leadership position for that ministry?” Izzo asks.

“Both of us ministers of defense, you mean?” Yossul gasps, genuinely surprised.

Cynthia can’t help but laugh. “What did you expect? Even Garza had to concede that you two were the best people to put in charge of the military.”

“Luka, too,” Helios says. You two gave the Sky Tribe so many headaches over the year that it was a no-brainer—a unanimous vote on their part.”

“Holy hell,” Yossul says, looking at me with stars in his crimson eyes. “You hear that, baby? We’re going to be ministers.”

“And the education ministry?” Alicia asks.

“Oh, that’s easy. Captain Eltin,” Binzen replies.

She nods in agreement. “Truly the most brilliant mind in the Sky Tribe. I’ll give that man all the credit he deserves.”

“True, but he wants you as his secretary,” Binzen says.

“Wait, what?” Alicia breathes, her eyes practically jumping out of their sockets.

That prompts a hearty chuckle from her mates, though neither Helios nor Kharo seem as surprised as she is. “We’ll be assuming under-secretary positions,” Helios adds. “They’re not tearing us apart, my love, not even in the new world.”

I’m glad things are settling and that all the right pieces are falling into place. We’re long overdue for this hefty reward.

“Come on, Jewel, out with it already,” Cynthia snaps, feigning irritation.

Shit, I’ve been fidgeting for the better part of a minute. Persistently tearing at my cuticles, one tiny piece at a time. I feel stuck under a giant spotlight as every set of eyes around the table is now fixed to my sweaty face.

“What do you mean?” I sheepishly ask.

“Oh, you’re going to play dumb?” She rolls her eyes at me.

“I’m getting a bit of a déjà vu here,” Amber mumbles, her gaze bouncing between us.

I can’t help but groan as I stand up and let a heavy breath roll from my chest. “I might as well,” I say, then look at Yossul and Fadai. “It’s no secret by now that the love we have for one another is more powerful than anything else I’ve ever experienced in this lifetime.”

“You’re pregnant,” Fadai guesses, his words barely a whisper.

All I can do is nod, heat spreading through my body as the truth of my situation finally and truly sinks in.

“Want to know the real kicker?” Cynthia chuckles.

“For God’s sake, woman, let Jewel say the rest,” Amber interjects, though she, too, is definitely struggling to keep a straight face at this point.

“No wonder you’ve been so exhausted lately,” Yossul replies, his gaze softening as he joins us and presses his lips to mine.

“Tell them the kicker!” Cynthia calls out.

“Will you just let me enjoy this for another second?” I yell, almost laughing as I let my men hold me and kiss me, and reaffirm their love for me with whispered, honey-like words. “Triplets,” I say, then brace myself for the reaction.

There are plenty of gasps coming from around the table, but Fadai and Yossul don’t immediately catch my words. They’re too busy turning my cheeks pink with sweet pecks while their arms coil tighter and tighter around my growing waist.

“Hold on, what did you just say?” Yossul murmurs, pausing so he can look at me.

“There it is,” Cynthia snorts a dry giggle.

“Triplets,” I say. “We’re having triplets.”

For the longest time, my men only stare at me, once again left speechless before their hearts explode and they both burst into the happiest laughter I’ve ever heard.

“Triplets?” Yossul repeats. “By the suns, I wasn’t sure we’d survive the war, let alone have a kid.”

“And now, we’re having three at once,” Fadai exclaims.

“We’re catching up with the rest of these fools,” I giggle, nodding at my friends.

“You’re going to pull ahead,” Amber replies.

“I cannot express how much I love you, Jewel,” Yossul says. “How happy you’ve made me.”

“How happy you’ve made us,” Fadai says. “We didn’t think such wondrous things were on the table for us, to be honest. We figured we’d just fight our asses off and die taking one for the team.”

“I thought the same,” I reply.

“But no, we’re doing this,” Fadai assures me. “We’re in this together, and we will both take good care of you, my darling. You’ve been fighting solo for too long. Not anymore. You hear me?”

“I hear you.”