Wings, Beasts and Claws: Violet Embers

Ch. 3 : Endless Welcome

The next few days were followed by the growing rush and pressure to have everything present and ready for Cal’s birthday banquet. I was running around with Morina who acted as my Aide and Lady-in-Waiting and finalized every last piece of décor, food and music that would be a part of the banquet. Even the type of silverware and napkins took me hours to finalize thanks to the hundreds of different options that matched the color scheme of the party.

Soon after every last thing was checked off, I was dragged back and forth with the duty to greet the arriving members of Nobility that were beginning to arrive at the Capital.

Dozens of families had sent a representative to the City if they didn’t live close by and were staying in one of the high quality Inns around the center of the Capital. And because they were guests that would attend my son's banquet, it was expected of me to welcome each arriving family as they checked into their Inn. So the following days after that were spent going back and forth between the three large Inns in the city. Greeting and making small-talk with the Nobles that arrived exhausted me quickly and when I had to deal with Nobles that followed Duke Zenan, I would nearly collapse and be completely drained.

Then came the Delegates that were sent by the other Kingdoms.

Thankfully, they were staying within Palace grounds so I didn’t need to rush around as much to welcome them and guide them to the Palace that they would be staying at. And they arrived calmly as well, spaced out and in small clusters that helped make everything flow perfectly. There was no fanfare or large mass of Knights guarding the carriage. No large flag or ornately decorated carriage either to signify who had arrived. It was all humble and peaceful, with just the right amount of pride for their own Kingdoms to allow those paying attention the ability to see who had arrived. So far only two of the three had made it through our gates and I was anxiously awaiting the last to get to our Palace. Then my sister Rosanna and her family granted me a moment of peace just days before the big event.

“We greet the Dragon Mother.”

I smiled as Rosanna, her husband and daughter bowed before me after entering the Central Palace.

“Please rise, Lord and Lady Du Pleasant.” They beamed at me and took turns approaching me for a quick hug as I spoke. “I hope you had a peaceful time traveling all the way up here.” I looked down at my little niece and patted her head when she rushed forward to hug me. “Would you like to see your cousins?” She nodded happily and I turned, motioning for them to follow me as I made my way deeper into the Palace.

We entered the first floor's east wing and went all the way to the end of the hallway, stopping in front of some large double doors and pushing them open.

Inside was a mass of toys for both boys and girls that had been joined together by both Arden's kids and my own. It was quickly decided to make this room into their play room and had been furnished as such so all the children could stay comfortable while inside.

I took a moment to look at all the children playing and smiled, not even a bit surprised by what I saw.

Rhoda was sitting at a little tea table set with Ivy beside her and my little Thea on Ivy’s lap, teething on a toy. Pallas, Melina and Teris were chasing each other around with toy swords and stuffed animals, shouting about being attacked and having to fight off the enemy. And Reya and Cal were in a corner with their backs against each other reading different books and sharing a bowl of berries.

“Freesia!” The twins called out in unison, spotting their cousin first and making the others look up.

“Go ahead little one.” I told her, smiling down at the little girl that had her fathers sandy brown hair and her mothers pale blue eyes.

Once she was inside I closed the doors and motioned to a pair of Knights to resume guarding the children, taking up positions on either side of the doors. I then guided my sister and her husband into the room right next door and we sat across from each other beside the warm flames of the fireplace.

“I’m surprised that Edwin didn’t come along with you.” I said, nodding to one of the servants who showed me which tea they had planned to prepare for us. “Teris and Melina would’ve loved to see him.”

Edwin was their second born that had been named after our father who still runs the Du Pleasant Duchy. He was born a month before the twins and had his mothers golden blonde hair and his father’s hazel eyes.

“He was meant to join us and had been fully packed a week before we were set to leave, but he caught a cold.” Leonel, Rosanna’s husband, explained, shaking his head while he smiled. “So he had to stay behind with his grandfather to get better.”

“I can imagine how upset he is.” I said, chuckling as I pictured that energetic little boy being stuck in bed. “He’s as high spirited as the twins are, so being confined to his bed must be difficult for him.”

Rosanna nodded as she laughed, reaching out to take a sip of her tea before speaking.

“It’s been quite a struggle, getting him to sit still for his lessons.” She turned and beamed a bright smile to her husband who took her hand in his. “Especially now that we’re close to completing our family.”

My eyes widened as I glanced at their Mate Mark, a smile breaking out as I realized what this meant.

Rosanna had found her Mate Leonel a month after I gave birth to my first born, he was a traveling lion Shifter at the time that had worked as a shipmate delivering goods. He chose to make his way to Du Pleasant city looking for a different line of work after spending years at sea and ran into Rosanna while she was out with our father. They were inspecting their lands in anticipation for Rosanna inheriting the Duchy once our father reached the age to retire. And, just like every other Shifter that had found their Mate, they felt drawn to each other at first sight.

This was how everyone first knew that they had found their Mate.

It was a feeling that struck you deep in your chest and urged you to get closer to that person. Their image would then appear to you in dreams until you saw them again. Then, after your first interaction with that person, the All Mother would connect you both in a dream and help you confirm that you had found your Mate. It's during this dream that you are able to accept or reject your Mate. And like most other Shifters, Rosanna and Leonel accepted their Bond.

They married after courting for six months and had their little girl not long after Cal and Reya’s first birthdays.

And now, looking at their necks, I could see that the star at the center of their Mate Mark had three points. Meaning they would have three kids together.

“How far along are you?” I asked, my eyes flicking down to notice that she had worn a flowing dress that didn’t hug her torso.

“I should be nearing two months in a little over a week.” She said, smiling as her free hand came down to her stomach. “We have names already picked out and many of our Knights and servants had started to place bets to see if we have another boy or another girl.”

Leonel laughed and pulled her close to him, the tender loving look in his eyes making me smile.

“My little Rose thinks we’ll end up with another son, but I have high hopes for another little girl.”

“You’re just hoping to have another little princess to spoil.” Rosanna countered, shaking her head at him. “Freesia’s already Papa’s Princess, and I don’t think she’ll like sharing your attention.”

“I don’t think she’ll be the one struggling for his attention, Rosanna.” I added, giggling as my sister started blushing brightly and her husband belted out in joyful laughter.

“Of course, my Rose will always be my first and most special lady.” He said between chuckles, wrapping his arm around Rosanna who was pouting and trying to hide her bright pink face.

“You’re cruel, the both of you.” She huffed, making me laugh some more.

We spent the rest of the evening catching up and talking about our families and friends as well as any old gossip we had heard. It felt good to see my sister in this new light as a wife and mother, having grown up seeing a much darker and selfish side that had been brought out by her mother. We were half sisters that shared the same father, and my twin brother Arden and I had been the illegitimate children of our father, the Duke of Du Pleasant. But after a lot of suffering and eventually joining forces after I had been kidn*pped, Rosanna and I grew closer and time had given us the chance to heal our old wounds.

Our peaceful time passed on and we were later joined by our kids during dinner. After that I walked them towards the first floor guest rooms that had been prepared for them as the night grew darker.

As my sister and her family were settled into their new space, I gathered my children and took them to our floor. Ivy and Morina helped me in getting all the children bathed and into their night clothes, taking that opportunity to get myself cleaned up while holding my baby girl. Once the older kids were ready for bed we walked down the hallway that held all of their rooms and tucked them in. Arden joined us and helped his wife kiss their own kids goodnight before they made their way to their own room.

Dorian soon appeared as I was tucking in the twins who shared a room a little further away from us and Cal. We then moved to Cal’s room and had to repeat ourselves about him needing to sleep and not wake his cousin for any night time adventures. He apologized and promised to only stay up late if he had gotten permission to do so before we left his room.

“How is your sister and her family?” Dorian asked after returning from bathing.

“She’s doing good. They’re expecting their third now so their little family will be complete soon.” He hummed and nodded as he rocked our little Thea who only liked sleeping in her fathers arms.

Dorian had stayed firm in keeping his distance from Rosanna after the whole incident that occurred when we were both Queeness Candidates. He still held some distrust and doubts against my sister who had lied many times to him and to many other Nobles. Slandering my name and contributing to some of the abuse that Arden and I had suffered through at the hands of Rosanna’s mother. I had tried over the years to get him to let go of his resentment towards her, but he still refused to go near her unless absolutely necessary. He was perfectly friendly and cordial with her husband and their kids, but once she stepped into the same room, he would tense up and pointedly avoid speaking to her.

I did understand why he was reacting this way, especially after my brother Arden and I had opened up about what had happened to us while we lived in the Du Pleasant estate. He had been fully enraged at what we had gone through and nearly snapped at my father when he had come to visit his grandkids. And I knew that a part of him didn’t fully trust my father or Rosanna to be alone with our kids at all, always making sure that either Ivy, Morina or I were around to keep watch. But he was trying to move past it in his own way, so I stopped trying to get him to forgive and forget like Arden and I had.

It was too much of a struggle for him to just let go.

I watched as my husband carefully got up from the cushioned rocking chair and moved slowly towards our little girl's cradle. A smile grew on my lips as I saw how he gingerly lowered her sleeping form onto the soft surface, tucking her in before turning to join me in bed.

“Since we’re speaking of guests… ” I whispered, snuggling in close under the covers as he smiled at me. “When will your friend and his wife get here?”

“I received a message that they’re due to arrive either late tomorrow, or early the next day.” He wrapped his arms around me and sighed once we had found a comfortable position. “They’ll both be wearing glamour charms to hide who they really are, so we’ll need to get them into our office soon after they get here so they can remove them without anyone knowing their identity.”

I nodded, yawning as I felt the pull of sleep begin to drag me under.