“Princess Kaylen may have my eyes and your hair, but she has her Uncle Matthew’s ability to escape,” King Caleb said, watching his daughter lithely climb over the top of a wooden gate he’d constructed in an attempt to keep her somewhat confined. She teetered across the floor on wobbly legs, chasing her older cousin who giggled and dodged out of her way.
Katherine laughed and scooped her daughter into her arms. “I’m so glad she has her cousin Marcus to play with. He will look after her, the way that James took care of me.”
“We will continue to visit as often as we can,” Margaret assured her as Marcus ran to his mother and buried his face in her skirts.
“Between that and your frequent visits to Ringley, they will always be close,” Matthew noted from his spot on the settee. He had healed nicely from his wounds, though he did walk with a slight limp as Russell had predicted. Katherine smiled at him, thinking of how overjoyed they’d both been when they were reunited after the fall of Gradenia. He’d held her loosely in his sore arms and wept, thanking her for all she’d done to get him back to Margaret. He continued to be a wonderful friend, and she was thankful he had led her to Caleb.
Kaylen wiggled in her arms, so the queen set her down, and the princess took off for her father who was sitting on the floor near a pile of her toys. He tickled her belly, and the toddler laughed with glee, falling into his lap.
Katherine caught his eyes over the top of their daughter’s head. The past two years since she’d returned from Gradenia had been the best of her life. Caleb had been the most loving husband she could’ve ever imagined, and she thanked God every day she’d been blessed with a marriage full of love. There was no greater force in the universe. It could make the mute speak, bring the dead back to life, and repair the most broken of hearts, those who thought they had nothing worth beating for.
James had been established as King of Clovington, and Eleanora had incorporated Gradenia into Nadoria, a process that was still ongoing but seemed fair since her trickery had led to the fall of Castle Graden. Caleb was content to let them claim the spoils of war. He’d said so long as he had Katherine, he didn’t need anything else.
Zurconia was flourishing now that their enemies had been vanquished and the king and queen were well and able to rule. All was right with the world, and Katherine prayed that it stayed that way. She envisioned a world where her daughter would always feel safe and be able to do whatever she pleased in her life. One thing was for certain, there would be no bartering over her daughter’s hand.
Somewhere out there, Katherine knew Leopold lingered. Occasionally, a report would come in of a sighting, usually from somewhere in the frozen northlands of what used to be Gradenia. Caleb had wanted to go after him, but Katherine convinced him to wait. She was tired of war and in need of a rest. Now that he could’ve gone looking for the tyrant without worrying over her safety, it seemed unnecessary. Leopold had no army, no kingdom, no weapons, and was no threat. So long as it stayed that way, Katherine determined not to let thoughts of him eat up any more of her time.
Kaylen’s laughter filled Katherine’s heart with glee. As her daughter took off after Marcus again, his giggles joining hers, Katherine dropped to the floor at her husband’s side. Slipping a finger beneath her chin, he lifted her face to his and lowered his lips, brushing hers softly. Katherine rested her head on his shoulder, knowing that meant he loved her. The message was loud and clear without any words at all.
The End