Page 85 of Ruined Kingdom

The forest was finally at peace once more, and I understood why Kaine wanted to tie all loose ends to ensure it stayed that way.

“I’m glad you decided to spend this time with us, darling,” my mother said as she scooped baked beans onto my plate for me. “We know you’re a very busy woman, with being Queen and all.”

Isadora and Peggy watched me in awe. They still couldn’t get enough of the fact that I was a queen now. They often asked me if that made them princesses.

Hydrangea, my eldest sister, narrowed her eyes at me from across the table. “You’re hiding something. I can tell. This isn’t just an impromptu visit, is it?”

Damn, how could she possibly tell?

I never imagined any of my siblings to be able to read me very well considering we’d only gotten closer to each other recently.

Tomas and Demitri turned to me inquisitively, food still rolling around in their mouths as they waited for me to spill it.

My mother stood next to my father, also gazing at me with interest.

With all eyes focused solely on me, I cleared my throat awkwardly and folded my hands over my belly. “Very well. I was going to wait until after breakfast, but I suppose I can tell you now. I've recently discovered that the King and I might be … expecting.”

All the air went out of the room at once.

Mother and Father were stark still.

Food fell out of Dimitri's mouth.

“What?” Isadora hollered across the table at me, shattering the silence.

That was when everyone else chimed in with joy.

Mother was the most excited. “I can’t believe it! We’ll finally have an heir to the Forest.”

“And a grandchild,” my father made sure to add.

“You’ll have to keep it a secret, though,” I implored. “Kaine doesn’t know yet.”

The room fell silent again.

“Honey, you haven’t told him?” My mother walked toward me, placing her hand on my shoulder.

“I want to wait until he doesn’t have to keep leaving on clean-up duty the whole time. Once the dust’s settled, I’ll tell him,” I promised, smiling down at my stomach.

Although I wasn't showing yet, I could feel the power of the little life growing inside me.

My mother smiled and opened her mouth to speak again, but her eyes flickered to the open front door behind me. “Everyone, quiet,” she hissed.

I could sense his presence before I heard the horses galloping up to the house. I turn to see Kaine jumping off of his horse.

He looked proud.

I jumped up out of my chair and rushed out of the house to him. “You’re back!”

His arms were quick to catch me and spun me around, my dress waving in the wind. “I am.”

“Did you do it? Did you find him?” I immediately began pushing for answers. I love spending time with my family, but I hated every moment he was away from me at the same time.

He gave me a gentle smile and a nod. “It's over. I've handed him over to the human authorities. They will see to it that justice is served.”

I was surprised that the truce between the forest creatures and the humans was going so well. It was still new and frail—and maybe it wouldn’t even last very long—but the fact that they’d been willing to fight alongside us showed that peace could be something attainable between the realms.

My family came out and greeted Kaine as well.

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