(CORRINE)
I didn’t think I would ever have to set foot in the Eastern Kingdom again, but I want to look into the matter of Locke’s parents’ deaths. So, half a year later, we finally made the trip. The changes within the kingdom are huge. With Rothan as the delegate and the young king, who is nad Alexander and is the only remaining royal, there is a somber aura to the environnt.
The townspeople—who had once prided themselves on being better than the brutes of the North—are now our subjects, in a way. Trade between the two kingdoms has opened, and Rothan is ruling with an iron fist.
Not to say that he is being unfair to either kingdom, but now that the noble families who were involved with the Silver Ring Organization have been wiped out, there are only two noble families remaining. Rothan has recruited people from the North to be stationed within each town and village to make sure no unscrupulous actions are being carried out. After all, he’s protecting this kingdom for when Alexander can finally take charge.
Speaking of the young king, he cannot be more than five years of age, and ever since he and Finn t, Alexander has been following my son around, besotted. Finn is being oddly tolerant, and during this three-week visit, he and the boy have beco inseparable.
"I almost feel that it is unfair for us to leave this child here," I murmur when two days are left before our visit ends.
Locke is playing with my hair while I lie on my back against him, between his legs. He snorts. "We are not adopting him."
"I’m not saying we have to adopt him," I argue. "But he lost his mother and all his relatives. He’s so isolated. What if he cos to visit us every couple of months? It will be good for him, and he’ll be able to build bonds with our kingdom, as well. Plus, it would be great for the future if he and Finn could beco close friends."
My mate is silent, his fingers still toying with my hair. "I’ll think about it."
I pat his knee. "Great. I’ll tell Rothan to make arrangents. We’ll have Alexander visit us in two months."
Locke touches my belly, annoyed. "How are you going to look after Finn and the young king when you’re eight months pregnant? That kid barely leaves you alone now."
My heart tightens as I look toward the two young boys crouched by the stream with sticks in their hands, trying to catch fish. Locke is right. Young Alexander has also gravitated toward in my three weeks here. He must miss his mother.
I know it’s probably the hormones, but my eyes get teary as I look at the small child. "It was necessary to wipe out his family. I understand that. But I feel so sorry for him. I don’t want him to have to live without a mother."
Locke’s voice is tense. "His mother was deeply involved in the organization. And I didn’t kill her, Corrine. She took her own life. And she would’ve taken her son’s, too, if Rothan hadn’t stopped her."
"I know." I wipe my eyes and hear him growl in frustration.
"Fine! He can co live with us. But he has to spend four months per year in his own kingdom so Rothan can teach him! It’s important that he learn his own culture. After all, this is going to be his kingdom."
I lean back against Locke and give him a bright smile. "Thank you."
He mutters under his breath but accepts my kiss, turning it into sothing deeper and unrestrained.
"Ew!"
Finn’s words are echoed by his new friend, who wants to copy everything he does. "Ew!"
Both of them are looking our way, and Locke snaps, "Go back to the palace!"
My son looks down at Alexander and says gravely, "Adults do this all the ti. It’s gross."
"Gross!" Alexander exclaims proudly.
"Co on," Finn sighs. "Let’s go get sothing to eat. Derrick! We want to go back to the palace! Mom and Dad are being gross again!"
Shouting, he hurries down the field to where Derrick is waiting for us. My face is red. "You have to teach him to stop saying that!"
Locke shrugs. "Why? When he does, nobody bothers us."
"Because they think we’re having sex!" I hiss, smacking him in the chest.
"And?" He gives a confused look. "They know when we’re doing it anyway. You’re quite loud."
Mortified, I push away from him. "I am not!"
He pulls back easily. "I like that you’re loud." "Locke!"
"Why do you care?" He kisses . "You’re the queen. Be as loud as you want. Let the whole kingdom hear. They should know that you are beloved by the king."
I sigh into his kisses. "We’ll discuss this later. But talk to your son."
"Alright." His lips are on my neck. "Tell , why did you want to co sit out here today?"
His arms are wrapped around my waist, and I smile softly. "I used to co here to escape it all. Mostly at night. This was always an abandoned field. No crops grow here, just wildflowers. When the world was too much for , I’d co out here and just sit. It was my secret place. I wanted to share it with you."
"You just sat here?" Locke murmurs. "Doing what?"
"Thinking, wishing," I answer quietly, recalling the days when my heart was so wounded that it felt like it would burst. "I wished for freedom, for soone to co and take away from all of it."
"You got your freedom in the human world," Locke says quietly. "Do you miss it?"
I ponder his question before shaking my head. "No. That was a different kind of freedom. I enjoyed it, sure, but I would miss you terribly if I went back now. Love is also a kind of freedom." I look over my shoulder at him. "I don’t miss my life in the human world, if you are worried about that. I’m happy."
His arms tighten around , and he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to.
In these months back on this side of the Veil, I have begun to understand this man. Locke doesn’t want to lose again. And I don’t want to lose him again, either.
I have my mate. I have my son.
I have my family, and I intend to cherish them.
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