Page 124 of The Powers of Nyx

She nodded silently before pressing kisses to the tops of each girl’s head. “Love you guys so much. I want you to go get ready for dinner and I’ll be back soon.”

There were moans of dissent, but Thea gathered them up and moved them out of the entryway. She spared me a knowing look, one I decided to ignore.

“And where will you be going, Angel?” Elias asked, crossing his arms. Though, rightfully so, he looked to me.

“I’m taking her out for a bit. No longer than a few hours, and we’ll be back for dinner,” I told him. “There’s just something Iwant to show her, while it’s quiet—and before the rest of my family shows up.”

Ivy’s brows furrowed, but she joined my side. “The rest of your family?”

I nodded and took her hand. “Yeah. My mother’s final goodbye, for the most part. Everyone is coming to see her. All my siblings. Their mates, too. The suites and Queen’s wing will be busy, and preparations for the ball are underway. I want to show you the wing.”

Her eyes softened, and she gripped my hand tightly. “Are you sure?”

I nodded sharply. “I want you to see it before it all…changes.”

“Okay,” she murmured. “I’d love to see it.”

Her gaze drifted from me to the others, and she offered them soft smiles. “Help them get ready for dinner?”

“Of course,a mhuirnín,” Maeve murmured. “Let us know if you’ll be longer.”

Ivy nodded. “I will.” Then she glanced back up at me. “Take me to the Queen’s wing.”

46

IVY

“SO, why do you really want to take me to your mother’s wing?” I asked carefully, tightening my grip on his hand. Despite the halls being busy when I’d returned from Oberon, they were now deserted, and the late afternoon sun barely illuminated the courtyards beyond the window.

Adrian sighed, slowing his pace as we turned towards the wing. “Mostly, what I said earlier was true,” he replied, glancing down at me, green eyes shining. “I want you to see it before everyone gets here. I want you to see it the way I see it.”

I had a feeling it was more than that. Our conversation before my last training session with Greer came to mind. “You want me to see it, so we don’t repeat it.”

He stiffened, but he nodded. “Pretty much.”

“What happened at lunch today?” I asked softly.

We walked for a long moment, before pausing at the long bridge between the palace and the Queen’s wing. The beauty of the space took my breath away; the open bridges looking over the palace grounds, the sparkling water from the lake below us. The little houses built into the mountainside glittered with their own light, illuminating the cliffs.

Adrian didn’t stop until we passed through the long row of guards, who bowed their heads to us. When we made it to the doors, my mate stopped and ran a hand through his hair.

“I realised how fucking thankful I am for you,” he replied finally, holding me tightly to his chest. “I know I don’t have toworry about my future with you, because there isn’t a chance what happened to me will happen to our children.”

My chest warmed, and I pressed up onto my toes to kiss the corner of his lips. “You never had to worry,” I said, pulling back. “And if you’re worried, we can revisit it in like a hundred years when we finally decide to start having those kids you keep worrying about.”

Adrian snorted, shaking his head as he tugged me towards the doors. “Pretty sure you’ll change your mind once Eloise, Ginny, and Maisie grow up.”

“Don’t make me think about that.” The idea that one day they’ll grow up and find their own mates and live their own lives made me feel both old and nostalgic. They were still babies in my mind; when I looked at them, I didn’t see a future where they were young adults doing their own thing. I saw them still as they were before everything changed.

When the doors opened, I sucked in a breath; the foyer was huge and open, with a grand double staircase and an elevator, with hallways branching off into more rooms. There was a shimmering chandelier hanging above our heads, and statues of Nyx standing sentry by the doors.

“I have a feeling you won’t like the empty nest,” he continued, pausing briefly so I could take everything in. “You’ll bethatmother.”

I frowned, though I couldn’t help but smile. “Hey. I went four years without living with kids.”

“You’d never survive.” He shook his head, and guided me towards the elevator, chuckling quietly under his breath.

My cheeks warmed and I ducked my head. I would never admit he might be right.

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