Part 117 (1/2)

Then he brushed his mouth to mine before he moved away and I watched him mount his horse.

I stood on the steps of our country house in Fleuridia, the first place I'd known in this world, and waved as the carriage rolled away, Apollo riding at its side.

My husband didn't wave back but he bowed his head to me.

elan, however, hung out the carriage window and waved frantically.

I stood where I was until they were out of sight.

Since the view was long, this took some time.

But I had hours to kill before my man returned, so I took it. And I enjoyed the vision before me. The colors so vivid they hurt the eyes. The memory that here was where I left a life not worth living behind and was given a life that was worth dying for.

When they were gone, I moved back into the house thinking I should write Finnie a letter. Or Cora. Or Circe.

However, I didn't go to my writing desk.

I went to the stairs, thinking it would be nice when Loretta returned from her honeymoon with Hans. I missed her. I was happy for her, but I missed her.

I then turned to thinking it would be nice when Meeta returned from her vacation s.e.x-a-thon with Ruben.

He'd asked for her hand.

She said she didn't want to leave me.

He said he couldn't leave Frey.

They were at a stalemate, working it out at Ruben's house in Houllebec in Lunwyn. This meant, even if she left to journey to me in Fleuridia, I wouldn't see her for months.

And I hoped in those months she'd decide to give in to Ruben.

Her friends.h.i.+p and loyalty meant a lot to me (not to mention, she was a master at doing good hair).

But love.

Love was everything.

On this thought, I entered the room and made my quiet way to the exceptionally girlie crib with its frilly green bedclothes, the mobile hanging low over it made of padded gray wolves.

I looked down into the crib and blinked.

In it was Valentine, my daughter, with her little frizz of auburn hair and tiny nose across which danced freckles.

Though, if she opened her sleepy eyes, I would see their pure translucent jade green.

That was not what surprised me.

What surprised me was at the end of her crib was a bag of scoop-shaped Fritos, a box of ballpoint pens, a pouch made of emerald green satin, and an envelope with my name written it.

I reached in and grabbed the envelope.

Tearing it open, I slid out the letter, the words written in green ink.

Ma Colombe, Your wolf wished you to have these so here they are.

What's in the pouch, however, is a gift from me.

I dash this to you for things don't ever stay boring, fortunately. Love is in the air, and with it comes its tribulations.

This time, we shall see if a woman from there can settle into life with a man from here.

I do believe our Noctorno of this world will have his work cut out for him.

But in the end, I've no doubt he'll succeed.

With a little bit of meddling.

My namesake is, of course, beautiful, cherie.

As ever, I wish you happiness, Valentine.

Smiling to myself, I slid the letter back into the envelope, removed the goodies from Valentine's crib and set them aside. Then I touched the soft pink skin of my baby girl's cheek.

The pregnancy was not without its normal dramas. The delivery wasn't short. It thankfully wasn't long. And it happened in this world by my choice.

And my choice was, this was my world and I didn't want to leave it.

And there she was.

Proof that the future beamed bright.

In fact, I was standing by the crib of my sleeping daughter, and I was blinded by it.

Even so, I could stand there for days.

But I didn't.

I moved to the green pouch Valentine had left. I nabbed it, shoved my fingers in the opening and pulled it wide.

Instantly, a glow emanated from the bag.

I stared at the glow a moment before I dipped my nose close and took in a breath.