Epilogue

epilogue

ZAIN

SIX MONTHS LATER…

Y ou're kidding me," Luna whispered as she took in the nursery.

I leaned against the door frame. "It's not too much, is it?"

I'd been working on the room in secret, not letting her in here until I finished the entire thing. Everything down to the wallpaper had been done by me, carrying in piece by piece as it was delivered by carpenters and craftsmen from the villages nearby.

When she turned back to look at me, her smile lit up the room, those soft strands of icy blonde hair spilling down her back. She was wearing a thin, pale, pastel lavender shift dress, which exposed her large belly.

Carrying twins wasn't easy, especially on her small frame, and the healer expected it could be any day now.

I also really didn't want her on her feet. She'd had a hard time during the pregnancy, between horrible morning sickness in the first trimester to being unable to get comfortable now. Luna's human doctor insisted everything was fine and it was normal, but I still hated to see her discomfort. I wished I could take that away from her.

"Too much? How did you even…" Luna's eyes were watery as she shook her head. "You did all of this?"

Taking her hand, I kissed her knuckles.

A goddess. She was everything, and she was mine.

My queen. My wife. My mate.

"Yes." Urging her into the rocking chair, I helped her take a seat. "I didn't want you to have to worry about it."

I leaned down to kiss her belly before resting my hand over her bump and feeling them kick. "They're so active this morning."

"Tell me about it," she groaned, her hand settling on top of her belly. "And I think baby girl's sitting on my bladder. I've had to pee constantly. There's not enough room in there if they get any bigger."

I frowned. "Are you sure you don't want to be in Pleasant Grove for the next few weeks? Deliver at the hospital?"

"No," she said with a sigh, rocking slowly in the chair as she looked down at that belly. "I want to be here. In our home." She gave me a small smile.

We were at the one I'd taken her to on our honeymoon, our escape from the palace, and all that came with running a kingdom. Ruling over the demons was never easy, and sometimes, it was nice to just get away.

"This is beautiful." Her fingers traced over the white wood of the rocker. "All of it is."

The room wasn't as ornate at the palace, though I hadn't spared an effort in here. The wallpaper was a neutral striping, with gold detailing decorating the walls. Two gilded bassinets rested side by side in the corner, as well as a changing table and a large dresser .

That and the closet were both filled with gifts we'd gotten from everyone. There were hundreds of tiny baby outfits. I couldn't imagine how they could wear them all. But the demons had come out in droves, offering their well-wishes to us, and when we'd gone back to Pleasant Grove for Luna's baby shower—hosted by Willow, of course—her entire coven had brought even more gifts.

I'd been introduced to all of them, including Luna and Willow's cousin, Cait, whose gray cat followed her around everywhere, though I was surprised at how accepting they all were of me.

Especially for a demon who had kidnapped their youngest member, spiriting her away into the demon realm. Even if the rest of the town just thought we lived overseas. I wouldn't correct them.

Maybe it was because they all knew about Damien. Either way, I was grateful.

Thorn and Talon had insisted on coming along, both of them wearing a human glamor, and so, of course, Kairos, Lilith, and Asura hadn't wanted to stay behind either. They wanted to see where Luna had grown up. The place that turned her into the woman she is today.

Giving me her hand, I helped her out of the rocking chair, pulling her up as she wobbled on her feet.

"It's perfect." She sighed. "I can't believe they'll be here so soon."

"We built one in the palace, too. Though that one's much grander." I gave her a lopsided grin. "The girls insisted." Lilith, Asura, and Novalie had been thick as thieves, working around the clock while Luna had been on bed rest.

"I love it." She leaned up to kiss my cheek. "Thank you."

"Of course. Anything for you."

Placing my hand on her lower back, I guided her into the little living room and onto the couch. I sat down first, letting her slide in between my legs, resting her back against my chest as I cradled her in my arms.

"Have you thought of any names?" Luna whispered, tracing circles over her bump.

We'd been talking about them for weeks but hadn't settled on anything yet. Part of me felt like we wouldn't end up deciding on any until we met them. At one ultrasound in the human world, we'd found out the genders of the babies, though Luna had known we were having one of each from the beginning.

"A few. Maybe Estelle for the girl. It means star." I brushed a strand of hair off her face.

"I really like Orion for the boy. Or maybe Xander. Though Xaden is cute, too."

"Hm. Not Zain the II?" I asked, smirking.

She scrunched up her nose, tilting her head up to look at me. "You have a big enough head without us naming our son after you."

I laughed. "Fine. What about Iliana or Elena?"

"Hmm. I don't know. I'm not feeling it." She patted her belly. "Neither is she."

I rolled my eyes, covering the other side of her bump with my hand. "We'll know when they get here, right?"

"Hopefully. We can't call them baby boy and baby girl forever." She laughed. Little feet kicked at my hand as if in agreement with their mom.

Maybe they just liked hearing the sound of her laughter as much as I did.

I could have stayed there like that for hours, just holding my wife, our fingers interlocked over the miracles we'd created.

"Zain?" Luna whispered the words, nudging at me with her elbow .

"Mm?"

"I love you."

I rested my head against the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet smell. That floral citrus with just a hint of sugar. Like no matter how long it had been since she left the kitchen, she always smelled a bit like the bakery.

"I love you too, Moonbeam."

My little ray of light. No matter what, I knew that with her by my side, I'd make it through anything life threw at us.

She winced slightly. "Also… I think my water just broke."

"Are you sure?" My eyes widened.

"I'd like to retain some dignity because if not, I definitely just peed myself, and that's embarrassing. Gods ."

I sat up, the reality of the situation sinking in. "You're in labor."

"Yeah. I've been having small contractions all day, but they were pretty far apart, so I didn't want to worry you?—"

She looked so small. So breakable, even as she cupped her stomach. Blew out a breath through her mouth.

"Fuck. Okay." I was terrified of something happening to her. "I'll go grab the healer," I said, already ready to teleport back to the palace.

She was on standby, but I should have been more prepared. What had I been thinking, bringing her here when she was so close to delivering?

"Wait." Luna grabbed my hand, squeezing lightly. "Can you help me into bed first? And I think I'd like to change." She wrinkled her nose at the damp spot between her legs. "Maybe take a shower. It'll probably be a while till I'm in active labor, anyway."

I nodded, holding her hand and helping her to our bedroom. And when the contractions got worse, coming even closer together, I didn't stop holding her hand—even when I thought she was going to break mine.

Orion Zayden was the first to enter this world, fifteen minutes before his sister, Raelynn Elena—the newest prince and princess of the demon realm.

"Your mom is a warrior," I whispered to the two sleeping babies, wrapped up in blankets as I held them both in my lap.

They were so beautiful. It was amazing to think that just an hour ago, they'd both been inside of her and now they were in the world, fully formed beings.

"You're going to be so loved," I promised. "We already love you so much."

I'd worried a lot—about whether I'd be a good dad, especially with a role model like mine. But the second they'd been placed in my arms, I knew I'd do anything to protect them. That seeing harm done to them would cause me pain.

It was love at first sight. Just like with their mom.

Luna's eyes fluttered open, yawning after her quick nap. "Hi."

"Hello." I looked down at our babies' sweet faces. "Do you want to hold one?"

"Uh-huh." She nodded, extending out her arms.

I placed the little blue bundle there, and she softly stroked down his nose with her finger.

"They're so small," Luna whispered the words like she was afraid to wake them up. "But so precious."

I cleared my throat. "The healer said you could try nursing now if you wanted."

Luna nodded, unlacing the top of her gown, the movement causing a small cry to slip from Orion's lips .

"Shhh," she murmured, bringing him to her breast, trying to get him to latch on like she'd been shown. She gave a small grunt of frustration.

"You want to try with her?"

"No, I—" she gave a little gasp. "I got this." Her eyes closed, and I watched our son's mouth work.

"Look at my boy. He's a natural. So strong."

Luna adjusted him into the crook of her arm, and I settled our daughter on her other arm, her mouth widening in a tiny yawn.

"Hi, sweet girl," she cooed, repeating the motion until both of them were feeding from her breasts.

"You're a miracle," I said, standing over her and watching in awe as she fed our children.

Luna looked down, unable to take her eyes off of them. "Do you remember what you felt the first time you saw me?"

"Yes." Of course. I did. Like nothing would ever be the same again. I nodded, resting my forehead against hers. "That I'd never seen anyone so beautiful in my entire life. You lit up the room, melting my heart."

Happy tears streaked down her face as she murmured. "It's the same with them. One look and I knew everything was better . Like it wasn't possible for something more perfect in the universe to exist. My heart is just overflowing with love for them."

She adjusted the pillows on the bed so I could slide in behind her, letting her rest against my chest, helping her hold them, staring at the wonder of life that we'd created.

"Do you know what Raelynn means?" I asked, tracing a finger over her little, tiny fingers.

"No."

"It means beam of light. That's what she is. " A little dusting of blonde hair coated her tiny head—just like her mother's. And when her eyes blinked open, I knew what color would be shining back at me. Violet, just like my mother's. "Just like you are."

A smile curled over her lips. "Orion means heaven's light." She brushed a finger over Rion's cheek. "It's fitting, really."

"That we both picked names that meant light?" I chuckled.

Luna nodded, a dreamy sigh escaping her lips. "It's perfect. They're perfect."

"You're perfect," I said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I love you, Moonbeam."

"Till eternity do us part," she whispered.

I chuckled. "Till eternity do us part."

I hoped I never had to see a day without her, but I knew that even forever wouldn't be long enough to be with her. To love her. To love the lives we were creating together. The little bundles of us that rested in front of us.

Our future was as vast as the night sky, unfurling in front of us. All we had to do was reach out and take it.

Between her light and my dark, we were a match made in the stars. Two beings, perfectly balanced. Harmony.

And now, there wasn't just one light in my life anymore—there were three.