Page 116 of Dueling the Suitors

Their enemies were still out there. Rowan might not come after them directly again, but whatever his next move, she andCyrus would face it together—side by side—until they stopped him completely.

They would protect their empire with the powers the Creator had bestowed upon them and build a brighter future together. Nothing would stand in their way or prevail against their love.

No enemy, no darkness, could stand against their light.

23

Epilogue

Astoria paced in their room after the royal physician left, confirming her suspicion.

She was pregnant.

Her grin was so big it nearly split her face. She couldn’t believe it. A new life was forming inside her, and it was the second-best thing ever happening to her. She couldn’t sit still. She had to find Cyrus and break the news to him as soon as possible.

But he was still in their monthly meeting with the governors, which wouldn’t be over for at least another hour. Astoria was meant to attend as well, but after experiencing dizziness that morning—a symptom she’d been dealing with for several days—Cyrus had insisted she stay behind to rest.

Princess, you should really sit down,Skylar said from the chair nearby.

No one addressed her by that title anymore, but coming from Skylar, it was more like a name than a title. He’d called her that since the day she rescued him from the rain and he realized she was a princess. Therefore, it would be strange if he called her anything but that.

Spyrah stood next to the chair, watching Astoria with anticipation mingled with joy. Only the three of them and the physician knew the news, but Astoria could barely refrain from marching into the meeting and stealing her husband from their midst. If she had to wait another minute, she’d burst. However, she did make it through the next half hour without bursting, brushing aside Skylar’s concern.

The door opened, and Cyrus burst in. Astoria stopped in her tracks and sighed with a smile. “Finally!”

And that’s our cue to leave.Skylar and Spyrah scrambled out of the room.

Cyrus reached her in long, hasty strides. “Are you alright?” he asked breathlessly, as though he had been running the entire way to her. The thought warmed her to the core. Since the day they confessed their love to each other, he had proven to be such a doting husband.

Astoria adored him and loved him even more for it.

“I adjourned the meeting as soon as possible. Spyrah told me I should hurry back.” He brushed a hand to the side of her face and tucked her hair behind her ear. “How are you feeling?”

Astoria was grinning the whole time. “Spectacular,” she said, grabbing his other hand and pressing it against her flat stomach. “Just spectacular…”

Cyrus’ eyes widened. He looked down at her stomach and then up at her twice before his disbelief gave way to fierce joy. “Really?”

Astoria’s eyes turned damp, seeing the unshed tears in his. “Yes, really.”

A contagious laugh escaped him, and the next moment, her feet left the floor. Astoria laughed with him, wrapping her legs around his torso and kissing him. He walked them to the bed and set her back on her feet, still kissing her.

“I bet it is a little Astoria,” Cyrus rasped as he broke apart and touched his forehead to hers.

“I hope so,” she breathed, a playful grin on her lips.

Cyrus leaned away and raised an eyebrow at her. “You do realize you’re supposed to say,‘I bet it’s going to be a little Cyrus,’right?”

She gave him a faux-confused look. “Oh, am I?”

Cyrus grinned deviously and tickled her side, eliciting a delightful squeal from her. “You know you are.”

“Maybe,” she choked out, clutching at his hands to stop him from tickling her further. “And who knows? Perhaps we are going to have a little Cyrusanda little Astoria.”

“Or two little Astorias, like Meg and Kez,” he said fondly.

Meg and Kez were Astoria’s little twin sisters, two of her five siblings in Windlewade. They were only fifteen. The oldest of the five was a year younger than Astoria, a boy. And the youngest was ten, another boy. The middle three were girls.

Astoria had only met them twice, but she adored them already. Unlike her and Emmett and Silas, their siblings were aware of their existence and had been looking forward to the day they’d meet.

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