Page 42 of The Eternal Choice

“No,” Ernestino growls and takes a protective step in front our daughter. “This is not happening.”

Shit. I hoped a day would come where both our daughters would find their fated mate, but to have it happen today, with the clan leader of Marshgloom? Talk about twisted ties. We only recently managed to successfully create a healthy relationship between clans.

Once again, my palm touches my mate’s cheek to draw his attention.

His gaze instantly collides with mine. “Remember the first word I whispered when I saw you?”

His face softens and the corner of his lips twitch as he remembers. “The same word I just threw out at the thought of our daughter recognizing her fated mate.”

I nod, and we both glance back at Glenn and Grazia who are still gawking at one another from a distance.

Glenn breaks the connection and turns his attention to us. “Ernestino, I would like to have a word with you in private.”

“Mind if Grazia, Ivano, and I join you?” I ask and Glenn instantly nods.

“Follow me,” Ivano rumbles, automatically taking lead as Ernestino’s second in command.

We all follow Ivano, and I grab Ernestino’s wrist to let us fall slightly back to have a word with him before we join the others.

“I know,” Ernestino grumbles before I can so much as open my mouth. “She’s old enough and can make her own decisions. And I damn well know there is no such thing as picking your fated mate due to chemistry and perfect alignments concluding the perfect other half to complete you. Everything makes perfect sense and yet it’s a fucked-up twist of fate, don’t you think?”

I slide my hand up his chest and glide until I cup the back of his neck. “I’d like to think of it as an opportunity for everyone involved. We’re all still healing, even after three decades it still feels like an open wound due to the loss and events in the past.We have to start trusting an alliance at some point, and we already made the foundation before today.”

“A mating would forge a solid alliance,” Ernestino mutters. “If they manage to seal the deal the way we did…”

“She is our daughter,” I agree, knowing his train of thought.

Ernestino nods. “Their clan will celebrate their first mating and pregnancy in decades.”

“New life, new love, a new era.” I smile and he gives me a brilliant one in return.

Leaning in, he gives me a quick kiss. “We should have more daughters.”

I pull back and feel my eyes widen. “How the hell did we go from discussing the future of another clan to knocking me up again? And need I remind you of the fact that you cannot impregnate someone with your choice of gender?”

A sexy smirk slides across his face. “Did I fail to mention the fact I could sense you were fertile today?”

It feels as if my eyes could pop out at any time. “No shit?”

Joy courses through me. After our first pregnancy with the twins I didn’t have another fertility moment again. Over the years it was something I came to peace with due to us already having two children and seeing the number of newborns in our clan climb from other mates.

Tears of happiness sting my eyes when I hear a door slam shut followed by Ivano’s voice. “I think it’s best we save the chat until they are finished…talking.”

We glance his way and see Ivano covering his ears. “Maybe we can wait down the hall. I don’t want to hear my little brother having sex.”

Or daughters. Ernestino and I wince simultaneously, and it’s my mate who grumbles, “You can say that again.”

The three of us speedwalk down the hall and come to a stop in front of the open doors of the ballroom. People are cheerfully chatting, dancing, and there’s a cheerful vibe hanging in the air.

“The gathering is off to a huge success,” Ivano remarks.

A scream of pleasure bursts from down the hall and we all wince once again.

“Sounds like something else is a huge success as well,” Cleo states as she joins us.

“Glenn and Grazia,” I whisper, and her eyes widen.

I feel the need to change the subject and place a hand on my belly when I say, “There’s another success to celebrate.”

“Yes!” she squeals and pulls me into a hug.

Ivano congratulates Ernestino and there are smiles on all our faces. We might not know what the future holds and are still dealing with the harsh reminders of the past, but living in the present allows us to move forward. Bright promises to fight for what we want is a goal to walk this path of life one step at a time.

Standing strong side-by-side is enough to know we can handle a life of eternity. I lace my fingers with Ernestino, and he gives our joined hands a squeeze. Fated mates might not be a partner by choice, but it does guarantee a perfect match which for us leads to eternal love.

Something I hope our children will also experience…and, as it turns out…Grazia is the first to tumble down the path of eternal love.