Daughter Trilogy Bundle (132 page)

I join his laughter while wiping away my tears, and then he leads me out to the brilliantly lit patio area sitting on the beach.  Everything is set up for a queen
’s arrival, and I can’t help but swoon when I see the beautiful man I love staring at me with a come-hither grin.

Faith rushes over to jump on Jace, and their lips intertwine with more affection than I
’ve seen him show her in the past.  I smile lightly when I see he’s been freed from the hold he thought I had on him, and then Devin slowly struts over to me with all of his smoldering dazzle.

“
Whoa,” Clara whispers.  “I think you two might spend an eternity in the bedroom.”

I smile a little and then shrug as her arms wrap around me from behind.

“Maybe after we’ve raised Aster,” I murmur lightly, and I can see Devin’s devious smirk growing.

“
He can hear us, can’t he?” she sardonically rolls out.

“
Yep,” I giggle, and she rolls her eyes while being unable to stifle a grin.

“
I suppose I should give you two a moment.  I’ll catch up with you later,” she says with a wink, and I just smile at her before returning my eyes to the smoky ones calling to me.

“
I love you, Mrs. Cole,” he murmurs with a seducing gush when he finally reaches me.

“
I love you, husband.”

His lips claim mine as the clinking of a glass brings everyone to attention.

Hale is standing on top of a table, and his glass breaks when he uses too much force to propose a toast.  Everyone giggles out, and then Ambora blushes while handing him another glass to replace his shattered one.

“
Anyways,” he grumbles.  “We’ve all been waiting on this day for more centuries than I can count.  It was never thought to be possible.  I was there the first time Safina and Rhea were brought down with a temporary solution.  I remember praying for someone to be strong enough to finish the job we weren’t strong enough to do so long ago, and those prayers were answered when Devin Cole fell in love for the first time- imagine that,” he scoffs playfully, and everyone giggles lightly at his mock frustration.

“
In all seriousness though, every one of us knew she was special, and she’s proven us right over and over again.  Now, we have a chance to do something we’ve never been able to do, and that’s live freely.  No one would be crazy enough to take on our Emperian, and I’d like to be the first to pledge my unwavering alliance,” he announces while raising his glass.

“
And I second,” Kry announces while adding his glass to the lifted position.

“
Third,” Camara proudly exclaims.

One by one the pledges continue, and Devin
’s arm tightens around my waist while he leans over to whisper into my ear.

“
I think it’s rather obvious where my alliance lies, but I’ll pledge or further prove it if you wish.  I happen to know a spot on the ocean floor that is perfect for proving such a thing,” he seduces, and I cover my grinning mouth.

“
I don’t think you need to prove anything, but I’ll let you do it anyhow… later that is,” I snicker out.

My eyes widen as the toasts finish, and then everyone starts kneeling to me just like they
’ve done before.

Crap.

“Don’t you dare,” I scold, and everyone stifles a laugh.  “Rule number one, no one bows… ever,” I growl, and then the suppressed chuckles roar free from the rising bodies.

Persia smiles as she brings back an awake Aster.

Her precious little lips bubble as she plays with a string on her dress.  Devin kisses her head and then mine.  The music starts playing, and the immortal show-offs capitalize on the chance to show off their dancing skills again.

I smile when I see the less grieving version of Gemma dancing with Ther.  Deacon and Camara cozy up on the dance floor despite the fast paced beat, and Devin
’s arms wrap around me.

“
I’d like to dance with both of my girls,” he smoothly requests.

“
It would be our honor,” I say with a mock proper tone, and he smirks as he pulls us to his body.

“
What now?” I ask softly while looking around at the joyous room devoid of the angst that has plagued some of them for centuries.

“
Anything we want, baby,” he coos, and his lips call to mine. 

Our daughter
’s life will be one of stability, peace, and more love than she’ll ever understand.  At long last, we can just breathe.

It
’s our eternity now.

Epilogue

Devin
’s lips still feel like heaven against mine, and I know that’s one thing that will never change no matter how much time passes by.  He grins as he pulls on his pants, and his perfect, defined, and eternally glorious body still puts me in awe.

“
I love that stare, Mrs. Cole,” he seduces.

“
It’s a good thing, considering it’s the only one I can possess around you,” I smolder back.

He lies back down and pulls me to his body for a more passionate kiss.

“Round three?” I muse with playful seduction.

He laughs a little while shaking his head.

“Oh, how I wish, but the others are getting here right now.”

“
Well, hell,” I gripe with mock frustration, and his playful lips tease mine once more before standing back up.

“
I suppose I should wear clothes to our daughter’s birthday party,” I giggle out while pulling on my premeditated dress.

“
Definitely.  I’d prefer it if no one saw the full glory of the beautiful creature I get to spend eternity with.”

“
I hope they didn’t buy her a car,” I grumble while ignoring his blush-worthy comment.

Devin
’s laughter roars free.

“
I’m sure they all did, but she’s not driving until she’s immortal,” he counters with more seriousness etched in his protective tone.

“
She’s growing tired of hearing that,” I giggle out.

“
She’ll understand one day.  Let’s go greet our party guests,” he murmurs softly while pulling my hand in his.

We flash down the stairs, and I gasp when we walk out the door.  The yard is littered with brand new cars and smug immortals proudly tying bows to each one.

“Damn it,” I growl, and Devin laughs that much harder.

Aster is standing beside Hale and Ambora, and I smile as I see her long, dark hair swaying in the wind.

Another dark-haired Aphrodite.
 

Her deep blue dress emphasizes the eyes she got from her father, and her beauty astonishes me still.  I wipe a tear from my eye, and Devin kisses the back of my hand as we make our way over to them.

“Mom, Dad, they got me cars… plural,” she squeals, and I roll my eyes while wiping more tears from them.

“
I see that,” I almost choke out.

“
Please let me drive one.  I swear I’ll be super, extra careful.  I’ll wear my seatbelt and everything.  Please, please, please,” she begs, and I can’t help but let out a whimpering laugh.

“
You can,” I sigh reluctantly, and her squeals hit an even higher note as she violently throws her arms around me in an excited, jumping embrace.

She moves over to demonstrate the same excitement to Devin, and he laughs a little at her over-exaggeratedly, giddy reaction. 

“Only during the day,” he adds.

“
No problem,” she chirps.  “I’ll take what I can get.”

“
How does it feel to be eighteen?” Jace asks as he and Faith walk up.

“
Awesome!” she blares while stroking the steering wheel of one of the cars she’s already hopped into.

“
Any boyfriends?” Kry asks with a teasing smirk.

Her grin turns to a scowl, and I have to stifle my grin while Devin
’s jaw clenches.

“
I’ll take that as a no,” Kry says with a suppressed hint of laughter.

I cover my mouth again, and Devin
’s eyes glare at his best friend who knows Devin’s stance on the dating game.

“
Dad won’t let me,” Aster gripes from the driver’s seat.

Deacon walks up laughing and showing his love for the conflict in play.

“Let that girl date,” he teases.

“
Absolutely not.  Not until she’s immortal,” Devin growls, and now my laughter rings free.

“
Mom was mortal when you two started dating,” Aster counters with a surly teen’s tone.

“
Mom was twenty-five, not eighteen,” he retorts.

“
Mom dated mortals,” she grumbles, and this is an argument that has raged on for over a year.

“
Mom didn’t know of her destiny,” he says to repeat the same exact words he has repeated in mantra.

“
No, but you didn’t either, and you were willing to date a mortal,” she snips, and I see Devin’s jaw clenching tighter.

“
Does that mean she can date an immortal?” Deacon pokes, and Camara elbows him in the ribs to end his taunting chuckle.

“
Hell no,” Devin snarls.

“
There’re going to be mortal boys from her school here today, so play nice,” I tease, and Devin stifles a mischievous grin.

“
No water play, Dad,” Aster scolds.  “No fire either.”

“
I remember the last party,” Kry chuckles.

“
That guy still doesn’t speak to me,” Aster huffs.

“
Did his eyebrows ever grow back?” Deacon teases.

“
In patches,” she gripes.

Devin can
’t hold back his laughter anymore, and the mortals begin pouring in by the multitudes, along with my older mortal parents.

Unlike Kahl and Persia, they actually look like a sweet couple of grandparents, and Clara rushes over to me with her beauty still intact.

“You still look good,” I quickly say.

“
So do you,” she sighs.  “I have to pay good money to look like this though,” she scolds.

I just laugh a little, and then a group of boys from Aster
’s school walks over to investigate the beautiful selection of birthday presents on wheels.

“
Holy badass cars,” one boy screeches, and I can tell he’s spent quite a big amount of time with our sneaky daughter. 

She has the
holy
habit the other immortals have, and I find it a little amusing to see Devin’s jaw back to the clenched position, proving it wasn’t lost on him either.

“
She’s an Aphrodite,” I whisper.  “Give her a break.”

“
The fact that she’s an Aphrodite is all the more reason to
not
give her a break,” he pouts.

“
Let her enjoy the party,” I giggle, and then my lips console his pouting ones. 

He grips me tighter while pulling me into a melding position, and I hear whistles erupting from all around.

“Aster’s mom is smoking hot,” one boy quips in a mortal whisper, and I see Devin’s eyes swirling with menace once he overhears it.

Drat.

“Don’t,” I caution, and I can hear several of our people starting to laugh when they feel the pressure under the ground promising to cause a soaking fiasco.

The sprinklers burst free and drench the group of teenage boys, and I can hear the instant huffs exploding from our disgruntled daughter.

The guys run away from the watery assault, and Devin shrugs off all the scrutiny as a cute smirk spreads on his perfect lips.

“
That should cool down their teenage hormones,” he says so casually.

“
I swear
you’re
the teenager,” I playfully scold.

He pulls me back to his lips, and everyone rushes up the hill to start the party, including the dripping wet boys.  Reluctantly we pull back to join the party as the pile of presents calls for our eager daughter
’s attention.

Aster opens each gift with eager anticipation even though she can see everything she
’s getting before unwrapping it.  Fortunately, she’s unable to see me, and just like her father, I can still surprise her.

“
This one is from us,” I gloat while handing her a small wrapped box.

She opens it up, and tears fill her eyes instantly as her mouth falls open in gaping disbelief.

“Really?” she beams.

“
Really,” I sigh, and Devin grumbles under his breath over the gift he fought me on.

She squeals and forgets all about her father
’s stubborn and childish behavior as she throws her arms around both of us, and then she turns to face her friends of the mortal variety.

“
We’re going to Paris after graduation!  They said yes, and I’ve got our tickets right here!” she screeches, and all of her friends start jumping and squealing in excitement.

“
I don’t see what’s so exciting about it,” Devin sulks.  “It’s not like she’s never been to Paris before.”

“
She’s never been without us,” I counter, and he rolls his eyes.

“
Who are you having spy on her?” I muse.

“
Some friends of mine Aster doesn’t know,” Kry pops in with a little smirk.  “I warned them to keep their distance, or the Emperian would deal with them.  They’ll keep an eye on her though,” he adds.

My lips press against Devin
’s shoulder through the thin sleeve that hides his tattoo that now has two doves in the protective circle of the ocean - one representing me and a smaller one for our daughter.

I grin a little, and then Devin pulls me into his arms as the music starts to play.  Our daughter doesn
’t just have the room of a princess; she has the title and the luxuries.  Life is amazing, and our little girl is safe from the burdens all other immortals had to bear.

I only hope she finds the love I was so blessed to discover.

Devin and I have found something I never knew could even exist, and our eternity proves to be better with each rapidly passing day.

Time is no longer a thing of fear or consequence; it
’s just a word describing the changing world we live in.  Our world continues to remain a secret, and hidden within it is love beyond belief, passion too surreal to put into words, and boundless hope - more now than what was left in the bottom of Pandora’s Box.