Page 77 of Triplets for the Barbarians

“Both of us ministers of defense, you mean?” Yossul gasps, genuinely surprised.

Cynthia can’t help but laugh. “What did you expect? Even Garza had to concede that you two were the best people to put in charge of the military.”

“Luka, too,” Helios says. You two gave the Sky Tribe so many headaches over the year that it was a no-brainer—a unanimous vote on their part.”

“Holy hell,” Yossul says, looking at me with stars in his crimson eyes. “You hear that, baby? We’re going to be ministers.”

“And the education ministry?” Alicia asks.

“Oh, that’s easy. Captain Eltin,” Binzen replies.

She nods in agreement. “Truly the most brilliant mind in the Sky Tribe. I’ll give that man all the credit he deserves.”

“True, but he wants you as his secretary,” Binzen says.

“Wait, what?” Alicia breathes, her eyes practically jumping out of their sockets.

That prompts a hearty chuckle from her mates, though neither Helios nor Kharo seem as surprised as she is. “We’ll be assuming under-secretary positions,” Helios adds. “They’re not tearing us apart, my love, not even in the new world.”

I’m glad things are settling and that all the right pieces are falling into place. We’re long overdue for this hefty reward.

“Come on, Jewel, out with it already,” Cynthia snaps, feigning irritation.

Shit, I’ve been fidgeting for the better part of a minute. Persistently tearing at my cuticles, one tiny piece at a time. I feel stuck under a giant spotlight as every set of eyes around the table is now fixed to my sweaty face.

“What do you mean?” I sheepishly ask.

“Oh, you’re going to play dumb?” She rolls her eyes at me.

“I’m getting a bit of a déjà vu here,” Amber mumbles, her gaze bouncing between us.

I can’t help but groan as I stand up and let a heavy breath roll from my chest. “I might as well,” I say, then look at Yossul and Fadai. “It’s no secret by now that the love we have for one another is more powerful than anything else I’ve ever experienced in this lifetime.”

“You’re pregnant,” Fadai guesses, his words barely a whisper.

All I can do is nod, heat spreading through my body as the truth of my situation finally and truly sinks in.

“Want to know the real kicker?” Cynthia chuckles.

“For God’s sake, woman, let Jewel say the rest,” Amber interjects, though she, too, is definitely struggling to keep a straight face at this point.

“No wonder you’ve been so exhausted lately,” Yossul replies, his gaze softening as he joins us and presses his lips to mine.

“Tell them the kicker!” Cynthia calls out.

“Will you just let me enjoy this for another second?” I yell, almost laughing as I let my men hold me and kiss me, and reaffirm their love for me with whispered, honey-like words. “Triplets,” I say, then brace myself for the reaction.

There are plenty of gasps coming from around the table, but Fadai and Yossul don’t immediately catch my words. They’re too busy turning my cheeks pink with sweet pecks while their arms coil tighter and tighter around my growing waist.

“Hold on, what did you just say?” Yossul murmurs, pausing so he can look at me.

“There it is,” Cynthia snorts a dry giggle.

“Triplets,” I say. “We’re having triplets.”

For the longest time, my men only stare at me, once again left speechless before their hearts explode and they both burst into the happiest laughter I’ve ever heard.

“Triplets?” Yossul repeats. “By the suns, I wasn’t sure we’d survive the war, let alone have a kid.”

---