“You’re less than ten minutes from the border now.” General Fieldsis’ voice was back. “Just keep driving straight, and you’re there. We’re going to intercept the kidnappers.”
Holy crap, this was a bona fide international incident.
“Wow,” Penelope breathed as the helicopters flew over us in a blur. In the mirror, I watched them zoom toward our kidnappers.
Boom! Boom!
I felt the explosions and jumped as a ball of fire appeared where the vans once were.
Very slowly, Penelope turned back around and sat flat on her butt in the seat. “Can you believe that just happened?”
I made a sort of choking laughing sound. “No, I can’t.”
A moment later, both helicopters were back, one flying on each side of us, and for the first time, real hope filled me. We were really going to make it.
Nine minutes later, I saw buildings ahead, and a long, chain-link fence spread out in both directions.
“Is that the border?” Penelope asked.
“It looks like it.” Pushing the pedal down even closer to the floor, the car jerked in response and sped up. “Almost there,” I whispered.
Penelope reached over and placed her little hand on my arm. I smiled but kept both my hands firmly on the steering wheel.
“A tank will become visible a quarter mile ahead of you. Stop behind it.”
Doing as I was told, I nearly cried when I recognized the Cassian uniforms. When I put the vehicle in park my hands began to tremble so badly they blurred in front of my face.
“We made it, Iliana!”
Penelope was crying. In response, I burst into tears.
We both jumped as her door flew open and Nate appeared, grinning at us both.
Then my door opened, and before I could even turn, big strong hands were on me.
“Are you okay? Please tell me you’re okay.”
Still crying, I pulled his face to mine and kissed him. He kissed me back with an urgency that took my breath. After fumbling with my seatbelt, he pulled me out of the car and into his arms, his lips never leaving mine.
People started clapping and after a moment, I smiled against his lips. He opened his eyes and smiled back.
“I love you, Iliana. I love you, and I love our child.”
Fresh tears blurred my vision. “I love you too. We love you too.”
He exhaled. He looked exhausted.
“Let’s go home.”
I smiled.
“Yes. Home.”
***
Well, it turned out that home wouldn’t be our first stop. The hospital was our first stop upon orders from the king. And even though I protested vehemently, I found myself changing into one of those terrible hospital gowns.
Since I was dehydrated, an IV was hooked up and fluids went pouring through my system. But I already had the best medicine.
Him.
I had him.
Seb never left my side, almost never stopped kissing me. He was actually kissing me again when the doctor strode through the door.
Behind him, a woman wearing blue scrubs wheeled in an ultrasound machine. “Let’s take a peek,” Dr. Anagnos said and went through the process of explaining what she was doing as she put a big blob of gel on my stomach.
Please be okay. Please be okay.
Seb must have read my worry because he squeezed my hand harder as the doctor placed the wand on my skin and began moving it around.
“There we go,” Dr. Anagnos said with a smile.
I blinked at the monitor, trying to decipher the sea of black, white, and gray.
There was a flicker. A heartbeat.
There was a heartbeat.
Wait… there were two heartbeats. “Does the baby have two hearts?”
Before I could panic, Dr. Anagnos smiled over at me. “No, you have two babies.”
Beside me, Seb sank into a chair, his face ashen. “Excuse me?”
“Twins,” the doctor confirmed. “Congratulations.”
Seb’s eyes rolled around his head a couple of times, and I grabbed at his shoulders, thinking he was about to pass out.
He rallied, and although it was a good thing he was seated, he managed not to pass out.
Then he smiled, dimples and all. Tears rose into his eyes and slowly trailed down his cheeks.
“Twins.”
I grinned, wiping at my own tears as I processed the word. “Small but mighty.”
He lifted my hand to his lips. “Small but mighty indeed.”
EPILOGUE
Sebastianos
She was perfect.
Her hair. A dress that made my knees weak the moment I saw her. The smile. Her lips when she kissed me as my wife.
The whole fucking thing was perfect, and she was all mine now.
Mine.
And since the whole entire world was watching us pledge our lives together, I had plenty of witnesses.
I had a hard time believing that just a few months ago I’d been a confirmed bachelor, set in my ways and ready to spend the rest of my days alone doing just what I damn well pleased — which was probably working myself into an early grave as I railed against the responsibility my birth had created for me.
I was so thankful for my trip to the United States and even the Green Dragon. Thankful to Nate for dragging me to that dive and to Jenn for pushing Iliana toward me.
Grateful for so damn much. And I’d never take any of it for granted.
After the televised ceremony, we kissed on the cathedral steps, the roar of the crowds making us both smile.
Beside us, Penelope beamed, looking very beautiful in her bridesmaid dress. Next to her, my uncle winked at me. I could only wink back and shake his hand.
Next were Iliana’s parents, who were both beaming with pride. I’d gotten to know them over the past week. They, along with Aunt Hermione, immediately began treating me like a member of their family.
Family.
I had one of those now. And it would soon be growing.
Twins. I still couldn’t believe it. After nearly passing out in the exam room, I’d grown to like the idea of twins very much. Two girls? Two boys? One of each? I didn’t care.
And neither did all of Cassia, it seemed.
After the terrifying night of the kidnapping, and after the world held its breath as Iliana rescued herself and the crown princess, it seemed that nothing Iliana did was wrong.
My people loved her. Hell, the world loved her.
God, I loved her.
As horrible as the experience was, my country had surrounded my future wife in a cloak of support, and when we announced the babies, everyone cheered. Well, maybe not everyone. There were a few trolls and old hens who took jabs at the situation, but we overwhelmingly had support from most everyone.
“Congratulations,” Nate said, clapping me on the back as the carriage with four white horses pulled up to the base of the steps.
I took pointed note of how closely he was keeping Jennifer at his side. They’d finally hooked up and seemed to be getting along fantastically.
“When are you going to put a ring on that one?” I asked and was surprised when he only shrugged and didn’t punch me in the face.
But before I could razzle him more, it was time for us to go.
The crowds cheered as we clip-clopped through the streets, and while I normally hated to smile and wave, I didn’t seem to have any trouble doing so today.
My wedding day.
With my beautiful wife beside me.
Another good thing came from the kidnapping. I learned how much I loved her, and I hadn’t stopped letting her know just how much since that day.
Reina and Anjou Alaine were caught attempting to cross over the border of Turkey only a few days ago, after a manhunt of epic proportion had forced them to keep running.
Reina’s father was begging for her life to be spared, and now Cassia and Amur were in peace negotiations that I was hopeful would begin to heal the rift the two women h
ad created.
We shall see if the truce holds or if more intense measures would need to be implemented. Because those measures would be implemented. As Prince Sebastianos Xenakis, Duke of Becktonas, I pledged to make it so.
“Happy, my love?” I asked Iliana as she waved at a little girl holding a sign that read, “Small but Mighty.”
She smiled at me. “Happier than I ever knew was possible.”
We made it through the reception and ate our lemon cake in front of our guests. We posed for the official portraits that Thierry took, and finally, after what felt like a lifetime, we were shown to our car and allowed to go to the hotel I’d reserved. We’d leave tomorrow for our two-week honeymoon, but it was the penthouse suite tonight.
Alone in our suite, I actually took my time helping my wife out of her complicated gown and handed her the llama shirt once she was free from the dress and her hair had been unpinned.
She looked more than disappointed, although she seemed very pleased to see the shirt that had been in hiding since I woke to find only it and no Iliana in my room.
“No wedding night sex?”
“Oh, plenty of that,” I said with a wink. “I just wanted another opportunity to strip you out of that shirt.”
She blushed, and she dimpled, and she absolutely glowed as she pulled the shirt over her head, hiding the smallest hint of a baby bump from my sight.
I carried her into the bedroom of the suite and sat her in the center of the soft, white comforter. Candles had been lit all around the room ahead of our arrival, and there were even rose petals on the floor.
“I’m very happy to be your wife,” she whispered as I leaned over her to kiss her.
“I’m incredibly lucky to be your husband,” I replied as I crawled up her body, careful to keep my weight off her midsection. “Shall we make this official?”
“Yes. Please. Make love to me, husband.”
After taking my time kissing her for many long moments, I moved away from the bed, watching her watch me strip out of my army uniform. Other than royal business, this would be the last time I’d wear it. And I knew that I wouldn’t miss it anymore.
I had a new mission now.
“Take off your panties but leave the shirt.”
She smiled as she lifted her hips, taking her time sliding the white lace down her legs. She kicked them aside, giving me a glimpse of heaven between her legs.
“Come to the edge of the bed.”
She did as I asked, not stopping until her ass was on the very edge. Her pupils dilated when I thrusted her legs apart. “I’m not in the mood for slow tonight.”
She spread her legs wide and met my eyes. “Good.”
She tasted so sweet, smelled so naughty, and I inhaled deeply, imprinting the familiar scent on my brain. I knelt in front of her, my face between her legs. I’d bow down to this glorious creature for all eternity. I licked, and she cried out my name.
Especially when that was my reward.
Although I wanted her badly, I took my time stroking and sucking, using my teeth until she began chanting my name. I feasted on her, circling her clit, teasing her entrance as I pulled the sensitive folds into my mouth. I loved the little sound she made as I sank my tongue as deep as it would go. Loved the way her fingers dug into my hair, pulling my scalp, which only made me eat her harder. Faster.
When she cried out, coming on my tongue, her body spasming with pure pleasure, I knew I’d found everything I didn’t know I wanted.
Her.
And when our bodies connected for the first time as man and wife, I claimed her as mine for all of time.
My duchess.
Iliana
When the first pain hit, I ignored it. I’d been having contractions off and on, but my doctors told me it was perfectly normal. Besides, I was still three weeks from my due date, so I didn’t want to alarm anyone when this one lasted a bit longer than usual.
Creeping from bed, I went into the bathroom and ran a warm bath, thinking that might help soothe me. My back was aching too, so I turned on the jets, letting the water hit me on both sides of my spine.
Rubbing my belly, I felt the babies move, watched my stomach undulate as they shifted around.
They.
A boy and a girl would be coming soon.
“But not too soon,” I told them.
I was freaking enormous. Being so short, my belly jutted out from me. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t see my toes. Had stretch marks for days.
But it was all okay because I’d get two wonderful rewards for surviving such misery.
Another pain hit. Misery was an understatement.
I inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my mouth. I focused on a damn picture on the wall but still wanted to moan and curse.
Then the vise let me go, and I could breathe again. I relaxed back into the water, wishing I’d brought my phone with me to mark the time.
It felt like only a couple minutes had passed before the vise tightened again, even more strongly this time.
“You okay?”
I couldn’t say a word, only look up at my sleepy husband standing in the doorway.
His eyes grew wide. “Shit. You’re not okay.” He ran his hands through his hair, turned in one circle, then another.
The vice let go, and I slumped into the water, needing to catch my breath. “Get your phone.” He was gone, then he was back, tapping at the screen. “No, don’t call.” He looked confused, so I explained more calmly, trying very hard not to yell at him, “We need to time the contractions.”
He nodded and sat on the edge of the tub just staring at me, his eyes round as saucers while his hair stood in every direction.
In spite of it all, I smiled. “Hey, Daddy.”
He took my hand. “Hey, Mommy.”
Then I felt it, another one, coming on quick and hard. “Time it.”
While I thrashed in the tub, he was counting seconds, making me once again want to lose my shit on him.
“That was thirty-two seconds?”
That was it?
“Are you sure?” I snapped.
His eyes widened, and he showed me the screen of his phone in confirmation. The contraction had felt an hour long. At least. And before I knew it, another was rearing its ugly head.
“That was four minutes apart,” he told me when I was breathing normally again.
“Are you sure?” I demanded.
He looked frazzled. “I can still tell time.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and he backed off, hands up in surrender. “Should I call the doctor?”
I shook my head. “Let’s see if the next one is about the same.”
It was. And so was the next. And the next.
“Call the doctor.”
The phone was plastered to his ear before I could get the words completely out.
“Yes, every four minutes.” He paused, looking at me. “Yes, great deal of pain.” He paused again. “Has your water broken?”
I stared at him like he was crazy. “I’m in a tub!”
He slapped a hand over his face. “She’s in a tub so we don’t know.” Another pause. “Yes, right away.”
“What did she say?”
Seb took a deep breath. “She said to get to the hospital and let’s have a couple babies.”
I scrabbled for the edge of the tub, but another contraction hit before I could get my bloated body into a sitting position.
Seb waited until it was over, then scooped me up like I weighed nothing even though I was fifty pounds heavier than when he first met me. With urgent hands, he dried me off and helped me put my damp hair into a knot on my head.
Finally dressed, he carried me down the hall to the elevator where the guard snapped to attention, nearly having his own panic attack as he saw what was happening.
“I’ll have the car brought to the front,” he said, followed by, “Good luck and best wishes.”
The door slid closed on our thank yous.
“I c
an walk,” I told him just before another contraction hit, then I was clinging to him, glad to have something strong to hold on to. I was still contracting when the door opened, and he rushed us into the lower hall.
I was glad it was nighttime because I couldn’t imagine the scene we’d cause if the palace was open for business. As it was, I knew our trek throughout the enormous place was being captured on video camera. So I did my best not to scream and curse too loudly when another contraction hit.
In the car was when my water broke, of course. I knew I’d ruined the entire back seat, and even Seb seemed surprised by the amount of it. “Well, at least that answers that question,” I said as the driver barreled us through the city.
One privilege I was beginning to enjoy about being in the royal family was the ability to skip lines and bypass pesky things like registration. I was soon in a room and changing into another ugly gown when the doctor came sweeping in.
The news wasn’t good.
One of the babies was breech, and when they tried to turn him or her, the heartbeat decreased. And then stayed decreased. I knew it because the physician and nurses were all staring at the computer monitor with dread. Another doctor and a midwife arrived, and they all huddled in a conference.
When Dr. Anagnos explained we’d need to do an emergency c-section, I burst into tears, but Seb held my hand, nodding. “Do whatever you need to do to keep all of them safe.”
The next moments were a blur as I was prepped for surgery. The only bonus was the epidural placed in my back. The instant relief was beautiful, but I was still close to the edge of terrified.
Cloaked in scrubs and a blue hat, Seb was beside me again, taking my hand as the doctor said, “Can you feel this?”
“Feel what?” I answered.
“It’s baby time, Iliana,” she said. “You’ll feel pressure and tugging but not pain. If you do, let me know immediately.”
Pressure and tugging was right.
At one point, Seb peeked around the corner then came right back to my head. “Is it bad?” I whispered.
“Not at all,” he whispered back, but his face told the truth. It was bad.
Then the smallest of cries sounded, and the world was all right again.
Dr. Anagnos came around the screen holding the bloodiest little alien creature I’d ever seen. “You have a princess.”
Claiming My Duchess Page 27
