Page 105 of Dark Prince's Mate

“Thanks.”I tame my short hair by combing it through with my fingers.“She’s doing so well with her letters too.”

When Prislia is gone, I utter a happy laugh.“Zinnia really is a handful.”

Affection glows in Aruan’s eyes.“She takes after you.”

“Oh, I was never that busy.”

“Only because circumstances didn’t allow you to be.”As always, when he talks about my history on Earth, an unsettling darkness seeps into our bond.“I’m sure you would’ve tired your parents.”

I hardly think about those sickly days.I have so much to be grateful for right here, and I prefer to live in the present.

“It’s sweet of you to spend so much time with her.”My chest expands with a warm, fuzzy feeling.“I know you’re too busy for a picnic.”

The council is voting on new laws in a week, and Aruan has done a lot to advocate for those laws in political circles, not to mention all the diplomatic visits he’s made to the other kingdoms.

“You and Zinnia come first.”He pushes up onto one elbow.“The rest will happen when it happens.”

He’s so good with our baby girl, who, at six, is not such a baby anymore.We waited two years for Zinnia, which are twenty-four moon cycles in Zerran time.The only sadness that comes with that thought is that she’s never met my parents.

Since I was appointed as ambassador for all human and Earth-related matters, I’ve fought hard for contact between our worlds.Yet the king and queen still believe bringing Earth technology to Zerra and vice versa isn’t what nature intended for the natural development of our planets, and they prefer to leave things as they are.

For that reason, I can’t bring my parents here, not even for a brief visit, and I won’t risk taking Zinnia through an interworld portal until she’s an adult.If a visit will ever be granted.

Maybe one day, when Aruan is king, things may change.The queen did, however, approve my application for books to be created and for children to learn to read and write.You never know.If, one day, our civilization goes the way of the ancients, at least we’ll leave records of our history behind.

Aruan and I go through our morning routine but skip the breakfast we habitually have with Zinnia in our quarters.Instead, Aruan requests a picnic basket.When we walk into Zinnia’s room next to ours, she’s dressed in her favorite pink dress and matching shoes.

She giggles when Aruan lifts her into the air.Her skirt billows out as he puts her on her feet.

“Ready, princess?”

She slips her small hand in his, staring up at him with an adoring smile.The picture of the two of them together makes me all teary-eyed and mushy inside.

A squadron of guards go ahead inconspicuously.I understand why Aruan never takes any risks.Zerra has only known peace since the nasty business with Tarix.He’s long gone now.He escaped trial by changing himself into the king and overpowering the bewildered guard who delivered his meal in his cell.He profited from the open archway to escape with the Phaelix we intercepted in the portal on our way back from Earth.

Karma must be a bitch, though, because Tarix only got as far as the lake before a dinosaur got to him.He accidentally ran between a quetzalcoatlus and her nest, unknowingly cutting her off from her eggs.The mangled bodies of Tarix and the Phaelix were found on the shore.There’ve been no threats or unrest since.Still, my mate is always careful.Zinnia has the same necklace as me to eliminate any possibility of poisoning.Aruan sports a ring with the stone, one I gave him as a mating gift.

Pip pushes off a windowsill in the Great Hall and follows us onto the Sky Bridge.We stop on the circular platform in the center to take in the sunrise, which is Zinnia’s favorite moment of the day.Pip lands on the rail next to me, eyeing the basket in Aruan’s hands longingly.Betty arrives with a swoop of her giant wings to welcome us.

I breathe in the fresh air, enjoying how it immediately invigorates me.I never grow tired of not being tired.

Zinnia grabs the rope and swings herself over the platform like a little monkey.

Aruan drops the basket, grabs her around the waist, and hoists her back to safety.“What did I say about swinging on the ropes?”

I stifle a laugh.“She definitely takes after you.”

He straightens the ribbon on her dress before letting her go.“I never told you about that.”

My smile is smug.“You didn’t have to.”I can feel the excitement of swinging over the sheer drop in his childhood memories.

Betty dives down and turns toward the lake.

“Can I fly, Daddy?”

Aruan’s voice is stern.“Not until you’re older.”

Zinnia’s power made itself known early.She used to levitate as a baby, which is why we had to keep the windows in her room closed.Sometimes, when she gets excited, she floats a few steps above the ground instead of walking.

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