Accidental Surrogate

King and Queen Ella “I’m glad we did that,” I say later that afternoon as Sinclair pulls our car around to the front entrance of the palace.

“I couldn’t stand to say goodbye to that house if it was to a stranger.

Too many memories there.” ” I agree,” Sinclair says, parking directly out front in what feels…well, feels too informal for the future King’s first entrance to the palace, his new home.

” Doesn’t this place have like, a garage?” I murmur, looking into the back seat to check on little Rafe, who is happily chewing on the sleeve of his little baby hoodie and staring at himself in a mirror attached to his car seat.

“I… think so…” Sinclair says, and I look up in surprise to see him grimacing at me a little.

“I’ve only really been here for state occasions,” he says, shrugging.” And the birth of our child,” I point out.

“Well for that,” he says, “wealsojust parked out front.” “True true,” I say, turning away to my door.

“I guess we’ll figure it all out.

Yes, we will,” he murmurs, getting out of the car and opening the back seat to lift out Rafe’s carrier.

While I wait for them to come around to my side, I stare up at the gorgeous palace in front of me.

“I can’t believe this is going to be my home,” I murmur.

“I can’t believe I’m going to be a King,” he sighs.

I look up at him, studying the lines of his handsome face.

“Yeah,” I agree.

“Me neither.” Sinclair laughs and shakes his head down at me.

“Well, I would hope thatyouwould try to chuff me up a little bit there.” I laugh and take his arm, squeezing it.

“Well, you know I think you cando it,” I say, grinning, “and that I don’t think anyone else could do it any better.

I just,” I consider it for a moment, shaking my head.

“I don’t know.

I’m not going to be able to get used to people calling you King.” “Will you be able to get used to people calling you Queen?” he asks, brow arched.

I laugh up into his face at the ridiculousness of it.

“Absolutely not,” I reply.

“They’ll all just have to call me Ella, or I’ll walk right past them without realizing that they’re talking to me.” “You don’t do so poorly responding to Luna,” he says, pulling his arm from my grip and wrapping it around my shoulder to pull me close.

Yes, but that feels more real,” I say quietly.

“I…know what a Luna’s supposed to do.

I want to protect my pack, help them in all things.” “I imagine Queen is much the same,” he says softly.

“You’ll get used to it.

a crown?” I ask grinning up at him, but then my face falls

say, my eyes going

technically not yours,” he replies,

belongs to the nation to

the throne,” he grins widely at me, seeing the excitement on my face, “you get a crown.” “Well then let’s go!” I shout,

To my extreme disappointment, Sinclair does not take me immediately to the vault with the crown jewels and let me wear my tiara while I

a box cutter to cut the tape on probably my fortieth box and start to unload all of Rafe’s

from me in his little playpen, Rafe lets out a little squeal that

Rafe,” I call

“I agree.

the room with a little tray of food for

“I’m just following the.

rules.

precisely anymore the jewels belong to

right to wear them until the people

down on the bed, “onlyon state occasions.” “Again,” I sigh, pausing to look up at him, “this is a rule that I will choose, in my wisdom as Queen, not to follow.” And then I send him a mental image down the bond of when, precisely, I

just how good I’ll look wearing

huffs

“Fine,” he says.

exception can be

I say primly,

and eat,” he says, taking the fancy lids off of our plates of sandwiches, like we’re in

that Sinclair, in starting to hire people to refill the palace with workers and get it

the kitchens are and it feels strange already to be

I’m pregnant again? Just… wander the halls, starving, searching for the kitchens? “I’m not hungry yet,” I say to Sinclair, laying out Rafe’s clothes on the floor in

I do take a moment, though, to look around the

the last time we were here?” I ask quietly, taking in the tall windows, the

furniture replaced with that which suits our taste a bit better, but still…I’ll never forget the day we brought our baby into the

Sinclair murmurs, biting into his sandwich and watching

be our bedroom? We have options.” ” Yes,” I say with a

“I’m sure.

fitting.” I smile at

is a King’s bedroom for sure – and you are

keep saying that,” I reply, frowning at

coronation will go through or

just…want everything to be

and his father…” he shakes his head, a little angry, “they took liberties with the privileges of this position

wasn’t right.” ” I know,” I say quietly, watching

hope

then he looks

I can convince him to be as well, when his turn comes.” “Rafe?” I say, turning to my baby

my face

wonderful King!” And then I laugh, crawling over to his little

so sweet!” Sinclair smiles at

Yes,” I sigh, standing and reaching down to pick up my baby and carry him over to his poor worried

right.” I kiss my baby on his head, sending a little love down the bond

our very best, Rafe,” Sinclair says to our boy, smiling

that.” “So,” I say, after a moment as I raise my baby to my shoulder