Page 45 of Wanted By the Cartel

"We'll try," Zoren amended, still holding my hand.

Looking at our sons, seeing how they already balanced each other just as Zoren and I had learned to do, I knew we'd found our way. Not perfect, not easy, but right for us.

"What should we name them?" I asked softly.

Zoren looked at our firstborn, the calmer one. "Marcus," he suggested. "After your father."

The name felt right. I turned to our second son, the fighter. "And Alexander," I said. "For strength."

"Marcus and Alexander," Zoren repeated. "Welcome to the family, little ones. You're more protected than you'll ever know."

I added, "And more loved than we ever thought possible."

Mae shooed everyone but essential medical staff out soon after, insisting we all needed rest. But as I drifted off, our sons sleeping nearby, I felt complete. I felt that everything had finally come together in my life.

Zoren's Epilogue

10 years later...

Ten years. Sometimes it felt like yesterday when I held Marcus and Alexander for the first time, and other times it seemed like a lifetime ago. The boys had grown into remarkable ten-year-olds, each displaying unique combinations of Lyrian's empathic abilities and my... more practical strengths. They were the perfect representation of who we were.

A commotion from the training yard drew my attention. Alexander was sparring with one of our security teams, his movements already showing promise of the fighter he'd become. Nearby, Marcus sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in concentration as he practiced extending his empathic range under Lyrian's careful guidance. Both made me proud.

They were so different, yet perfectly complementary. Just like their fathers.

"The Rivera delegation is here," Chen announced, appearing at my office door. After all these years, she remained one of our most trusted lieutenants. Things certainly wouldn't be as smooth here as they were if she weren't here. "Lyrian's already sensing their intentions. He's a fast learner."

I nodded, no longer feeling the instinctive worry I once did when Lyrian used his abilities. We'd learned balance over the years, established protocols that kept him safe while allowing him to fully utilize his strengths. It had made all the difference.

"Their emotional signatures are genuine," Lyrian confirmed, entering with Marcus trailing behind him. "They really want this alliance."

Alexander bounded in moments later, still flushed from training. "Can I watch the negotiations? I want to learn how Dad reads people!"

"Only if you shower first," I said, earning a dramatic eye roll that reminded me so much of Lyrian at his most stubborn. "And remember—"

"I know, I know," Alexander interrupted. "Observation only. No trying to sense emotions without Dad's supervision." He darted off, Marcus following at a more sedate pace. It was hard to keep up with him.

Lyrian laughed, the sound still making my heart skip even after all these years. "He reminds me of someone else who had to learn patience."

"I wasn't that bad," I protested, but we both knew better. Then, we both burst out laughing, the sound filling the room.

The changes in our organization over the past decade proved that. Where once I'd tried to control everything—and everyone—myself, we now operated on a model of shared leadership. Lyrian's intelligence network complemented my security forces. His diplomatic skills balanced my more... direct approaches.

I hadn't wanted to admit it back then, worried sick about his well-being, but he was the perfect partner for me. I needed someone that could counterbalance me.

"The Rivera meeting will be interesting," Lyrian mused, reviewing reports on his tablet. That it was going to be interesting was putting it mildly, I thought. "Their youngest sonis showing signs of empathic ability. They're hoping we can help them understand it."

More and more empaths had emerged in the underworld over the years. Many sought us out, drawn by Lyrian's reputation and the safety we offered. Our territory had become a haven of sorts, protected by both my strength and Lyrian's understanding.

Who would have thought such a thing would happen? I hadn't anticipated it, but now I couldn’t help but feel grateful. Lyrian and our sons didn't have to be alone.

"Remember when you tried to keep me locked away from all this?" Lyrian teased, sensing my reflective mood. "Imagine what we would have missed."

"I was an idiot," I admitted freely. It had taken time, but I'd learned that protecting someone didn't mean controlling them. "Though you have to admit, you didn't make it easy on me."

"Nothing worth having comes easy." He set aside his tablet, moving closer. "But look what we built together. The boys growing up seeing true partnership. Our organization stronger than ever. All because we learned to trust each other's strengths."

And he was right about that. It was all because we changed.

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