Page 34 of Queen
"Bishop," he said, nodding to the other tom. He took the paper towels and carefully cleaned the spit up stain on Luna’s gown. "There," he said, lifting her up in front of him. "All fixed."
"You’re the baby whisperer," Ella teased, letting Bishop help her up off the bench. A moment later, Axel came through the doors to join them. Of course he was wearing a white tuxedo while everyone else was wearing black. Show off.
After kissing Ella breathless, Axel finally acknowledged the others. "Are you ready to get this show on the road?"
"I guess it's time," Ella agreed.
As they all walked toward the ballroom doors, Sterling couldn't help but feel like it was all surreal. He reached to hand Luna back to Ella at the door, so he could go in a different way.
She stopped to look up at him. "You're coming with us.”
Sterling hesitated. He was not accustomed to being told what to do, but Ella was the one notable exception. "Ella, people will—"
"I know," she interrupted. "Let them. Tonight is a special night, and I want my mates at my side."
It took him a moment to process that. When he had, he finally nodded. Ella smiled and stepped out into the ballroom, her head held high with grace and confidence. She was so different from the timid girl he had first seen on that evening so long ago. He couldn't have been prouder.
The chatter in the room died down as Tessa approached Ella, giving her a kiss on both cheeks. "Empress," she said with a knowing smile. "And her kings. Oh," she said, pausing as she looked at Sterling. "And the Empress's advisor."
"Mate," Ella corrected without a hint of doubt. "Sterling is my mate as well."
The room went from quiet to silent as everyone seemed to be waiting for Tessa's reaction. Sterling had been afraid of their relationship causing trouble, not because he cared for his own reputation, but Ella's. It was the first time he was actually beginning to realize she didn't need his protection in that regard. She would have it anyway, always, but she was no longer a scared little stray. She was the Empress, and she held the priestess's gaze fearlessly, daring anyone to challenge her.
"Well," Tessa finally said, giving them a surprised smile. "I suppose congratulations are in order then. And this little one..." Her tone softened as she looked at the newborn in Sterling's arms. "May I hold her? I promise I'll give her back."
Sterling realized he probably hadn’t done as good of a job hiding his overprotectiveness as he thought. He carefully passed the baby into Tessa's arms.
The priestess gazed down at her, smiling kindly. "Tonight, dear kindred, we are gathered to celebrate an incredibly important occasion in the future of this colony. We recognize little Luna as not only the newest member of our extended family, but our princess as well."
Luna's excited cooing as she looked up at Tessa earned a few chuckles from around the room. Sterling felt Ella’s fingers brush against his hand, and took hers in his, giving it a slight squeeze. It felt like his heart was going to explode with pride as he watched their daughter being welcomed into the colony he had happily served his entire life. As Tessa gave the blessing, Luna's eyes lit up the way Ella's had, and a few of the people closest to them gasped.
Tessa smiled, but the priestess didn't seem particularly surprised. "She's special," she said, giving Ella an adoring smile as she passed the infant back into her arms. "Just like her mother."
And they were. Sterling had known from the moment he had met Ella that she was destined to lead the colony into a new era. A better one. He’d just never imagined he would be part of it.
Chapter 20
Bishop
By the time Luna was four months old, Bishop had been fully accepted back into the fold--at least within the context of their little family. He knew it would take longer for the full colony to accept him, and there were some who never would, but that was fine. He had Ella’s love, by some miracle, and even Axel and Sterling seemed to be gradually coming to trust him.
Bishop, however, would never forgive himself. Every time he held Luna in his arms, every time he gazed into those beautiful, innocent blue eyes of hers, the guilt overwhelmed him. The realization of what he'd done, what he had almost done. The fact that he had changed his mind didn’t matter. His past didn't matter. All he could do was spend the rest of his life making it up to her. Tothem.
At the moment, Ella was the only one home with him, and when he saw her sitting on the couch, nursing their daughter, he couldn’t help but think she looked like some Renaissance painting, beautiful and too pure to be real.
"Hey. Are you hungry?" he asked, leaning in the doorway. "Since the others aren’t going to be home until late, I thought I could make something."
"You don’t have to do that. I'm sure you're tired from work."
"Not really," he said, sauntering over to her. After graduation, he had taken on some administrative responsibilities within the monarchy, and fortunately, he could do most of it from home in case Ella needed him. He didn't like the idea of her being alone.
"That would be nice, then," she said, tucking Luna back into her blankets. "She’s been fussing all day, and feeding only calms her down for a little while.”
“Maybe she has an ear infection?” he asked, unable to hide the concern in his tone. He went into the kitchen to gather the ingredients for Ella’s favorite pasta dish, and she followed him in with the baby on her hip.
“Maybe, but if it keeps up, I’ll call Dr. Whitmer.”
Bishop nodded. “Probably a good idea.”
