Page 119 of The Dragon Queen

Watchingmyserious,restrainedmateletgoofanysemblanceofdecorumaroundourdaughterhasbeenanunexpectedkindofjoy.Hecanbeseriouswhenheneedstobe,ofcourse,andheholdshertoahighstandard,muchashemusthavebeenasachild.Buthealsounderpinsitallwithloveandawillingnesstobesillythatsurprisedme--inthebestpossibleway.

Confidentthatthingsarewellinhandoutthere,Irolloverontomybackandtakeaminutetogathermyself.Afteraveryenthusiastic,athleticnightwithmymates,Isleptlikethedead.Truetotheirword,Alina'sdadshandledanyproblemsthatmayhavearisenwhileIwaspassedout,andconsideringI'mwakingupaloneat--Iliftmyheadtochecktheclock--nearly8a.m.,they'veclearlytakentheearlymorningshift,too.

Istretchoutlong,relishinginthedelicioussorenessinmyhipsandthighs--andeverywhereelse,forthatmatter.

Onceuponatime,IthoughtIwasbasicallycursed.Adefective,rejected,friendlessnobody.Amazinghowmuchcanchangeinjustafewshortyears.

Ireallyamtheluckiestgirlintheworld.

Forbetterorworse,though,myparticularbrandofgoodfortunecomeswithgreatresponsibility.MystomachdoesalittleflipasIthinkaboutwhatthedayhasinstore.Itakeadeepbreath,though.I'mnervous,butI'vegotthis.Exhaling,Ipushthecoversoffandrollmyselfoutofbed.

It'sprobablyabouttimethatIgotstartedwithmyday.

Itakeaquickshower,bothmissingmymatesandgratefulforthelackofdistraction,thentugonarobeandwrapatowelaroundmyhair.ThesecondImakemywayintothemainlivingarea,Alinashriekswithdelight.

Heartfull,Icrouchdowntocatchherasshehurlsherselfatme.

"Wereallyarechoppedliver,"Stormlaments,butthesparkofwarmthinhiseyesprovesthathe'snotactuallyputoutaboutit.

"Justwait."Pickingourdaughterup,Irisetomyfeet.Irubmynoseagainsthers. "Somedaythismunchkinwillwantnothingtodowithme,andshe'lljustwantherdaddiestotakeheroffonadventures."

Alinashakesherheadfiercely,tooserious. "Mommy,youcome,too."

"Asiftheycouldkeepmeaway."

"Asifwewouldwantto,"Raferumbles,steppingupbehindmeandcoppingaquickfeelofmyass.

LaughingItipmyheadtowardhisforaquickgoodmorningkiss.

"Breakfast?"Malikoffers,headingforthefridge.

"Coffee?"Jianyuasksatthesametime.

"Yesandyes."IsitdownwithAlinainmylap,acceptingmymates'offeringswithtradedkissesandgentletouches.AsIdigin--pretendingnottonoticeAlinastealingberriesoffmyplate--Isneakapeekatthetime. "Cavalryshouldbearrivingsoon."

"Oh,goodie,"Rafemuttersdryly.

Nottenminuteslater,there'saknockonthedoor.

"DoIletthemin?"Stormasks.

Shovingthelastfewbitesofbreakfastinmymouth,Inod.IsqueezeAlinacloseasStormopensthedoor,andinpouraveritablearmyofaides,stylists,consultants,and--mostimportantly--Alina'sfavoriteaunties.

"AuntAmy!!!"Alinatossesherselfoutofmylap,justbarelymanagingnottogetrunoverbythestampede.It'sadamngoodthingeveryoneonmystaffiscarefultoafault.

Also,thisisn'texactlytheirfirstrodeo.

"Hey,cutie."AmyducksdowntoscoopupAlina.

Graceisrightbesideher,andassoonasAlina'sgottenagoodhugfromAmy,she'sclamberingforherAuntGrace.

Ismile,evenasI'msweptupinthestormofpreparationsfortheday.

AmyandGracemayhavestruggledtofindtheirbalanceinthosedarkdaysbeforeourattackontheShadowKing,butwithtime,GraceacceptedthatAmymaybeadragon,butshe'sstillaperson,too.Amyalsogotalotbetteratactuallytalkingaboutherfeelingsandnotjustdeflectingandavoiding.Intheend,they'veemergedstrongerthanever,andIwasproudtostandupattheirweddingjustthispastspring.

"Youreadyforanawesomeday?"GraceasksAlina.

Alinaclapswildly,andAmymakeseyecontactwithme. "Youknowwe'regoingtofeedhernothingbuticecream,right?"

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