Page 45 of Soren

It’s because he’s there with me. Even when I’m on another planet. I felt him. He watched over me. And I know that no matter what happens from here on out, I’ll never be alone again.

“Soren!” I giggle, pushing him away long enough to take a breath. “I’m all right! I’m fine!”

He draws back and takes me in all over again, his eyes glistening. “I’m just so glad to see you again. I thought…” Soren doesn’t finish his sentence. He drops to his knees and lays his head against my rounded belly. His big hand can nearly cover my entire stomach, even swollen as it is. But with his arms around me, I feel safer than I have in years.

“Hey there, little one,” Soren mutters, rubbing the taut skin with reverence belying his size. “Daddy’s here. Right here. I can’t wait to see you.”

I’m about to get choked up all over again. Hearing him call himself Daddy. The softness of his words. The intensity and pure awe that he showers upon us both. I slip my fingers under his chin and tilt it upward so that he’s facing me. I want to make sure he’s paying attention for this part.

I look into those beautiful dark eyes and say the words that have been stuck in my heart for the last three months:

“And Soren? My answer is yes. I would love nothing more than to be your bride.”

His face absolutely crumbles in shock and happiness. Soren springs to his feet and lets out a whoop, hoisting me into his arms before I even see him moving. He’s peppering my forehead with kisses again, all the way down to my neck, my shoulders, my breasts…

“Wait!” I sputter amidst the rising heat between us. “Soren — ahh! Put me down!”

His eyes clear immediately and he sets me gently back on the ground. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you? Did I hurt the baby? I’m sorry, I was just so excited, and…”

“No, it’s nothing like that!” I assure him, taking his hands in my own. There’s still one more thing I need to do. The final piece of the puzzle. I point toward the shuttle doors, and his eyes widen.

Janie, slow but moving, hobbles out of the ship with Iris on her hip. Her leg’s been fitted with a high-tech support cast, but she’s still not one hundred percent. If I had it my way, she would have waited until she was fully healed, but she insisted we leave the planet at once.

I’ll never tell, but I couldn’t wait another second to see my Soren either.

As the Aesir sun catches the braid hanging over her shoulder, I realize just how much she looks like me.

Her face is just as awe-stricken as mine was the first time I arrived on Aesir, and sweet little Iris is awake and pawing at the air, shrieking with excitement.

My family. Together, here at last.

My heart swells so strongly I think it might burst, and in response, a subtle fluttering in my stomach awakens as well.

“Soren, I would like you to meet my sister, Janie. And my niece, Iris.”

When Janie arrives at my side, she cranes her neck upward to meet Soren’s gaze. I forgot, she’s even shorter than I am. Soren is practically a giant next to her. Janie sticks out her free hand for a shake, but the golden warlord ignores it. Instead, he goes to one knee, fist pressed against his chest.

“It is an honor to meet you, Janie and Iris of Earth.” He bows his head. “You will receive the utmost hospitality and respect here on Aesirheim, and no harm shall come to you. I swear it on the bones of my ancestors, as the stars glitter in the sky.”

Even I’m moved by the formal display. Janie gapes, looking to me and then back to him. Oh, right. She doesn’t have a translator yet, even though we already had to do paperwork and some medical inspections in order to get Janie and Iris to Aesirheim.

“He’s welcoming you,” I tell her. But it’s so much more than that. “He says it’s an honor to meet you and that you’ll receive only the best here on Aesir.”

“Oh!” Janie glows. She shoots me a knowing look. “You said he was a gentleman, but I didn’t expect…”

I simply grin. “Nothing like the men back on Earth, huh?”

She snorts. “Don’t get me started.”

After Soren straightens, I look up at him. “I have one condition, you know. For marrying you.”

“And what’s that?” He raises an amused eyebrow, as if he already knows what I’m going to say.

“When I left Aesir to take care of my sister, it was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. I never want to have to choose between you and her ever again. So if we’re going to make this work, she’s staying here. With us. Her and Iris both.”

“But of course!” Soren claps his hands together. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. My people — my family — will be honored to greet you.” He squeezes my hand. “To greet you both.” He extends a hand to Janie. “And to you, Janie of Earth, I am blessed to receive a new sister.”

Janie takes his hand, intending to shake it, but Soren takes her small palm and presses a kiss to it instead. Her ears turn red first, then the rest of her face. Iris babbles and reaches out to him, her stubby fingers grasping at air.

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