“Pupus?” he asks.
Reaching for his free hand, I bring it to my belly, placing his palm against me there. “Yes, Tiberius,” I exhale. “Pupus.”
“I thought it not possible,” he says, though mostly to himself.
Tiberius is unable to hide the shock from his voice. He had wished for a child as much as me, but with the doubts that were planted in our heads, neither of us thought it possible, but it seems as it had already been done, we had already conceived.
“Apparently, the gods had other plans,” I whisper.
He shifts closer to me, his forehead pressing against my own. “I did not think this kind of happiness, completeness existed,” I breathe.
And this. This is what makes me fall even more in love with my husband. I did not know it was possible. I had never planned on falling in love, but here I am—head over heels.
Epilogue
TEN YEARS LATER
TIBERIUS
“They’re going to be here soon,” Titus calls out as he runs into my office.
“Slow,” I grumble when he finally comes to a stop.
He’s dirty from playing outside, no doubt starting trouble wherever he can. My son is an adventurer and soon he will train to be a warrior as well.
“They’re going to start arriving soon,” he says, repeating his words.
I know of whom he speaks, but I search his face and ask him for clarification. “Answer me in Bunafidian. Who is going to be here?” I ask.
Never will my child meet his fated and not be able to understand her. I have ensured that he knows more languages than his own. Unlike my father, who only sent Marcellus to become educated and for me, he only focused on my physical strength and prowess. My children will be well-rounded in all aspects of life, at least, I hope.
“Uncle Elias, Aunt Sybilla, Cousin Elias, Eva, and Hugh. Their ship was seen on the horizon.”
“You’re sure it was theirs?” I ask, trying to hide my smile.
In truth, I know that it is theirs. They wrote before they left Bunafi saying they would arrive a few days early as they had some news to share with us. I’m unsure of what the news could be.
Drucilla thinks that they have secured a match for Elias. Though he is only twelve, he is the heir to the throne. I don’t think that is why they are early. I have a feeling it is something else entirely.
“Shall we go down to the beach to welcome them?” I ask.
Titus nods, his head moving rapidly up and down. “Go and gather your sisters and I will find your mother.”
Without having to be told twice, he turns and runs from me, on a mission to find his sisters. Chuckling, I stand from my desk with a groan. Moving around isn’t quite as easy as it used to be.
In the past few years, I have noticed a stiffening in my body that I know comes with age, but I am not ready to admit that I am growing older quite yet, so I ignore it.
It doesn’t take me long to find my Drucilla. She is sitting in the garden with Cassia and Laurentia. The smaller children playing at their feet.
I smile at the sight of her, the sun shining on her golden hair, and her bronze skin. She is a sight, an achingly beautiful sight to see and has been since the moment I first laid eyes on her.
Slowly, she turns her head, her violet eyes connecting to my own. Grinning, I lift my hand and silently beckon her over to me. Without a word of protest, she stands and floats toward me. Drucilla doesn’t walk, she floats, always has.
When she stops, she’s directly in front of me, her head tipped back and her gaze focused on my own as if I am the only person on this earth. She always looks at me this way, unless the children are present, then she gazes around in amazement, as do I, at them.
Lifting my hand, I cup her cheek as I gaze into her eyes. Those violet eyes own my soul, they have for years. Dipping my chin, I touch my mouth to hers, unable to keep from tasting her.
“Your sister and brother are here, their ship was spotted in the distance, shall we greet them?” I ask, my lips held against hers the entire time.
She hums, her lips still pressed against my own. She licks the seam of my lips before she lifts her head. “What do you think they are going to tell us? What is the big secret?” she asks.
Shrugging a shoulder, I take a step back and offer her my hand. Drucilla slips her fingers in mine and I squeeze her. She turns to look at Laurentia and Cassia, lifting her free hand before she wriggles her fingers in a wave.
“We shall return with Elias and Sybilla,” she calls.
“We’ll tell the cooks, prepare some food and ready their rooms,” they say in unison before they giggle.
Shaking my head, I chuckle at the sisters. There are no in-laws here. We are all family, nothing more, nothing less. Tugging Drucilla behind me, I make my way toward the front steps of the domum.
I am not surprised to see that Titus has already gathered his sisters and they are all bouncing on their toes with anticipation of seeing their cousins.
“Julia, Mila, Livia, are you ready to see your aunt and uncle? Your cousins?” I ask as I watch them squirm in their places.
They eagerly nod their heads, then turn to face the shore. It isn’t a terribly long walk, but I decide that we will not be walking. Lifting my hand, I signal for the riders to come toward us. We’ll take the chariots to the beach today, enough that Elias and Sybilla will have them to use after their long journey by sea.
After we’ve loaded in the chariots, it doesn’t take us long to approach the beach. The ship
