Page 114 of Dueling the Suitors

“The magnification?” Emmett asked from behind. “But you told me it was just a myth.”

Astoria turned to him. “That’s what we thought too. Apparently, we lacked something important in our marriage.”

“What?” he asked.

“Love.”

It was Jasper who said it.

Astoria turned to him, surprised. Jasper merely smiled and said, “I am happy for you, Astoria.”

Guilt tugged at her heart, recalling her unfair actions towards him—even though they didn’t hold a candle to how she had been towards Cyrus—and that he still thought she’d bailed on him that night Cyrus interfered to sabotage their wedding.

She didn’t regret it. Heavens, she didn’t. But he deserved an explanation even if Emmett had cleared her part already. However, it would have to wait.

She nodded at him. “Thank you, Jasper.”

Astoria turned from him to Cyrus and found him and Joaquin embracing; Cyrus had his eyes squeezed shut. Her heart swelled. He had finally made peace with his older brother.

“Who is that?” Silas murmured to her.

“His older brother,” she said, smiling.

“I guess there’s a lot to learn about our brother-in-law then,” he murmured.

Astoria hummed in agreement.

“And who is that man staring at you?” Emmett asked, distaste in his voice.

Astoria looked at him and saw him glaring at someone. She followed his gaze and met the General’s intense grey eyes. He was now standing away from the embracing brothers. Astoria held his gaze for a moment before her feet moved towards him.

“Stor?”

She ignored her brother’s question and pressed on. Surprise and bafflement began to flicker across the General’s face, but nothing outweighed the relief and love in his eyes.

“Empress, I’m glad—”

“Astoria, Storie, Stor, or whatever you wish. But don’t call methator any other formality nonsense again.” Astoria stopped in front of him and crossed her arms.

“Is ‘daughter’ included?” he asked in a cautious tone, as though testing the waters.

Astoria’s faux-serious mask cracked. She smiled. “If you insist.”

He returned the smile widely. “Then Iinsist.” A watery sheen took over his eyes, and his smile turned solemn. “I am so relieved you are alright, honey. You have no idea; I nearly went out of my mind when I learned you were missing. That snake Rowan, I will hunt him down and make him pay.”

Astoria’s heart cracked at the endearment and the affection he poured into it—honey. No one besides Emmett had called her that, and she had long ago given up on hearing it from the man she had thought was her father.

But this man, hewasher father.

She accepted it now, and not even nearly nineteen years of not knowing him couldn’t stop her from closing the distance between them and hugging him. His arms came around her immediately, enveloping her in his embrace. Just like a father would.

“Does this mean we are forgiven?” he asked.

“You? Yes. Mother? I am debating that.” Astoria still felt betrayed by her mother’s selfish choice. “You have watched over me all these years and… I am thankful for that.”

He sighed. “You are my daughter, honey. Of course, I would watch over you.”

Astoria opened her mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by Cyrus’ voice. “General Sean, why are you hugging my wife?”

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