Page 87 of Striking
“Being so confident in who you are and what you want. Leading people. I asked you once, and you told me to ask again in six months. Well now, it’s been six months.”
“It was never about the months, Bellamy. It was about you. Being confident in who I am and what I stand for gave me the strength to walk away from it all, if that’s what you needed. Being that confident has given me you, so I think it’s pretty amazing.”
I press her closer and hold her tighter. “Does that answer your question?”
“It does, but I have a new question.”
The song changes, and the lighting shifts with it, giving me a better look at my wife’s exhaustion. “What’s your next question, little bee?”
“When are we allowed to leave?” She yawns, and if it wouldn’t piss her off more than I’m willing to do, I’d pick her up and carry her to our room. But she’d kill me if I did that, and I’d like to live to see my child be born.
“Anytime you want, love. Who’s going to stop us?” I ask and quickly kiss her lips before guiding her off the floor.
“Don’t we have to tell someone?”
“I’ll text Devon once we’re upstairs.”
Relief shines in her eyes. “You are a god, my love,” she teases as she grips my hand tightly in hers.
I wait until the ballroom doors close behind us before I sweep her up in my arms. “Not a god, love. Just a king.”
“My king . . .” she whispers.
“Always.”
RHYS
And when it is all over, if I’m asked what good I did in my life, I will say I loved you.
—Rhys’s Secret Thoughts
The country waits with bated breath for the king and queen’s official birth announcement, but the hospital has been on lockdown since the queen’s admittance yesterday. Will we have a future king or queen soon? Sources are keeping tight-lipped, but the country is ready to celebrate, with the streets of the hospital lined with hundredswaiting to catch a glance of the newest Windsor on the same steps the world first met King Rhys thirty-four years ago.
The heir will join their cousins, Princess Lennon’s children, Brennan and Ophelia Beneventi, and this reporter looks forward to seeing this family united again soon, with the new generation together showing that the strength of the house of Windsor is the family that bears the name.
One can’t help but think of how proud Princess Gwendolyn and King Frederic would be.
Stay tuned, royal watchers.
“You don’t have to do this, you know.” I cradle our baby girl against my chest and watch as Joss buckles Bellamy’s high heel for her. “It’s barely been twenty-four hours since she was born.”
Bellamy’s smile is no-nonsense. My beautiful wife is exhausted and determined, and I’m not in a position to fight with either of those emotions without losing miserably. “You are holding the future queen of Mornea. If we don’t give them these pictures, they’ll hound us until we do, and you know it.” My warrior of a wife takes a quick look in the mirror, frowns, then holds her hands out for our daughter. “Now give me my baby.”
“I can carry her out.”Fuck. Judging by her face, that was not the right answer. “Or you can carry her.”
I carefully transfer Estella into her mother’s arms, then stand back for a moment and stare.
How did I ever get this lucky?
With a press of my lips to her temple, I wrap my arm around Bellamy’s waist. “I’ll follow your lead, my love.”
Joss mouths,Good job, as Atticus opens the door for us.
It takes more than a village to run the offices of the king and queen, and Atticus and Joss are our two most trusted allies.
My communications officer waits outside the hospital doors for us, and as we step out, he holds up a hand, quieting the crowd. “It is my honor to introduce Princess Estella Gwendoline Windsor, future queen of Mornea.”
Bellamy takes a step closer to me and smiles for the cameras for a moment. She might still feel new to this world and the traditions it’s steeped in, but she’s maneuvered them like she was born to do it. She understands how important certain things are for our family and our country, and when the time comes, she’s going to help lead our daughter into her future role with a grace and softness I’m not sure any queen regent before Estella will have ever had. Grandfather told me to pick a partner who will help carry the weight of the crown, and my wife is a warrior queen who will protect our family at all costs, and that weight doesn’t feel as heavy with her by my side.
