Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“You know …” She lowers her head and looks at me through her lashes now. “I quite like seeing you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Soft, vulnerable, quiet, peaceful.”
“Aren’t I that way with you?”
She nods. “But it’s different to watch you be that way with someone else. It’s … making me reconsider things I thought I was very much decided on.”
I arch a brow and she laughs.
“Such as?” I push. I think I know, but I’ve learned it’s better to never assume with Luna.
“Are you going to make me say it, Halun?”
“Yes, I am.”
“It’s making me think maybe the whole no baby thing isn’t so definite. Seeing you like this with Fate makes me imagine you holding our child. How much more beautiful it would be to watch you speak to our baby as the sky bathed her in pink through the window.”
I have to swallow to think of words that won’t sound too pushy. Because, with the hope and excitement rising in me, I very much want to push. But I know this is definitely not the subject to do that on.
“Well, you think about it as much as you need. If you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
She smiles. “I know that took a lot for you.”
“It did,” I admit with a laugh that begins to wake up Fate.
I begin to rock her, and see Luna take a deep breath beside me.
“Yes, I’ll think about it.”
“Thank you,” I say softly.
Fate’s cry is anything but soft, though. She is clearly no longer content being rocked and held.
“I think she’s hungry,” I suggest.
“I’ll go get the nurse maid.”
“I’ll go. You haven’t held her yet. You hold her and I’ll go get the nurse maid.”
Luna nods and sits in the seat beside mine. I stand and place a crying Fate in her arms.
“Oh, it’s okay, beautiful,” she immediately cooes.
“I’ll hurry.”
I rush to the door, but before I leave, I feel compelled to stop and look at Luna one more time. She’s radiant, with that smile on her face as she speaks sweet words to Fate.
She’s only thinking about it. I remind myself as I leave the room, trying to remind my hope to stay in its place. I fear it’s too late for that, though.
ELEVEN
“I can’t believe how big she’s gotten,” I say as I hand Fate back to Selina’s waiting arms.
She’s sitting up on her own now and does not want to be in any position but that, perched on her mother’s lap like a big girl who’s part of the conversation. Selina, Zarah, and I are in the garden where we’ve spent so much time. Well, here and by the river that runs nearest to the mountain. With the houses being built along the base of the mountain, the riverbank is where most of the children come to play, and they love to make silly faces at their little princess, Fate. But in the garden, we can go back and forth between here and the room Bothaki had remodeled to be Selina’s library with all the books Halun brought back from Earth.
“I can’t believe it either and I see her every single day,” Selina agrees. “I only wish Jozay and Vabila could see her. By the time they get back, she’ll probably be walking, running maybe.”
We’d gotten the message that Jozay and Vabila had safely made it to Earth some time ago, but nothing since then. Every time I saw Nowas, it was like each new day without his mate weighed on him more and more. When I asked if he was okay, though, he said each day was also bringing him closer to having his mate and daughter back on Hallalah. Because the message had also said there was a meeting set up between Hallans and the leaders of The Opposition and The New Order, we all had hope. They were hoping the The New Order would surrender but making plans on ways to make sure none of their leaders left the meeting alive if they stupidly chose not to. Halun had once again petitioned his father to go to Earth, even if he wouldn’t make it in time for the meeting, but his father had denied him, reminding him that he had duties here.
“I told you, childhood just flashes by,” Zarah adds, bringing me back to the conversation. Good thing, too, since she pointedly looks at me with her next words. “You’ll know all about that soon enough.”
I choke and damn near spit out the sip of fruit juice I’ve just taken. They both burst out laughing, and even Fate smiles.
“Oh, have you changed your mind about that?” Selina asks.
I carefully swallow while shaking my head. “No, I just wasn’t expecting you to direct that towards me. Even though I’ve decided I want kids, it seems so surreal to think of myself as a mother. A baby of my own.”