Accidental Surrogate

The crowds go absolutely wild as we walk into the sunlight and a huge smile bursts onto my face. Honestly, it was a little touch-and-go for a few months there, with the media continually debating if I was a good or a bad Queen after the murder on the front steps. But I laid low, and continued doing my best, and things have continually turned towards the people seeing that I only have their best interests at heart, and that I really do want to fight for the little guy.

Plus, I don’t think it hurts that I’m the mother of a super adorable little Prince, and that I’ve just given our nation its first Princess.

The crowd calls her name and I smile out at them, pleased and baffled about how they already know it. I look up at Sinclair, confused, but he just shrugs and smiles down at me.

Together, my little family and I step forward to the edge of the terrace and I boost the baby a little in my arms so that the crowd can see her. They go mad the moment their Princess’s face comes into sight, shouting that she’s beautiful and how glad they are to meet her.

I can’t help but laugh, a few tears coming to my eyes as I see my entire nation feeling precisely the way I do about my little girl. Just so, so thrilled that she’s finally here.

“And you thought Ariel wasn’t going to get as much as a fuss as Rafe,” Cora murmurs with a smirk, coming to my side. The crowd shouts when they see Jesse come forward too – the Little Duke is also a favorite.

“I know,” I laugh, turning to smile at my sister. “Poor Rafe got none of this.”

“But look at him now,” Cora says, leaning forward and pointing to my son. I turn to see my mate smiling down at Rafe, who is actually waving out at the people. I burst into laughter, because it’s so very Rafe. He loves to wave and say hello – he just has no idea that he’s saying hello to the thousands of people gathered on the streets.

Sinclair raise his hand and waves too, but I just smile and hold my baby close, peering down into her face. She scrunches and frowns for a moment before opening her eyes just a little bit, turning towards the noise of her people.

I laugh in delight, because even though I know she can’t see anything, it looks for all things like she’s trying to look and catch sight of them as much as they are of her. I hold her a little higher, murmuring into her ear all the things she could see if her eye were a little bit more developed, but she just gives a little baby sigh and closes her eyes again, pressing her face against me.

I grin but look up at my husband, because I know baby needs to get inside now. Her Princess duties are done and she’s hungry and needs some sleep. Sinclair nods to me, leaning forward to kiss me on the forehead, and then we give one last wave to the people before we turn inside.

“Come on, Roger,” Cora laughs, and I look over my shoulder to see her tugging him inside.

“No, this is fun,” he replies, his voice cheerful. “Give Jesse to me, we’re staying out – ”

I can tell she thinks he’s funny. “Did you not get enough attention as a

me when he

look up into Sinclair’s face in time to see him roll his eyes, but

Henry sighs as we head back to our living quarters. “Your mother couldn’t get enough of you – thought

of you,” I murmur to our sweet little Ariel, “Or you!” I say, reaching out to ruffle

our door, smiling at me as he pushes

say, looking

to his side with his

says, coming to my side and pressing a kiss to my

While I don’t anticipate that I’ll need Cora tonight, it’s good to know I’ve got a

goodbye to the rest of the Sinclairs and step into the room with my mate and my children. My children. Plural! I laugh in wonder for

at me as he presses

exhausted. And busy. Do you think you can get Rafe down, or at least distracted, while I get ready

smiles at me, taking a step closer and cupping my chin in his hand. “Did

“What?” I ask, confused.

sentence in the world,” he laughs, shaking his head down at me. “Asking me to take care of our son while you got ready to feed our daughter. Our family, Ella – not

my lip as I look up into

that I sink into it, losing myself a little. So long that Rafe squeaks in

say, wrinkling my nose at him as

a set of newborn pajamas and a sleep sack for Ariel, who I know is going to want a snooze very soon. She gives a few little fussy cries now, clearly hungry and

I can and then laying her down into Rafe’s old wheeled bassinet as I quickly change

when I see that Sinclair is thanking

mate and my son as I move to