Render Me Starless

♛ | Epilogue

The shrieks of laughter have me chuckling to myself as I finish setting up the candles on the cake. Once I have it ready, I join everyone outside to place the cake on the table before I drop it.

"I'm surprised you didn't drop it, Strae."

I turn to face Gray. I shrug, "honestly me too." He had his youngest in his arms; Ren. He had recently turned one. The boy shared his mother's flaming hair, albeit it wasn't as ruby as Rose's. I swing the gold necklace around. Over the years, I was able to carve the names of my loved ones onto it. I coo at Ren, before looking for my own mini me. She was running around with Stella's stick in her hand, making the puppy run after her.

Admittedly, she wasn't a puppy anymore. Orion's magic had allowed her to grow the size of an adult Labrador. "Davina!" I shout and she pauses in her run before changing directions to head my way. "Come on munchkin, it's time to cut your cake," I say and she grins, one that I knew was a mirror to my own. Davina had adopted the dark green hair of her grandmother, Orion's mum. Her pouty lips, my own and her eyes, her fathers. Speaking of her father- "Where's your dad?" I ask my spawn and she just shrugs, walking off to giggle with Naomi, Gray's eldest daughter who was five.

I shake my head. Where was this man? I look through the small crowd of people who have become family. Gray and Rose with their two kids. My parents and Ash who was finally married, and to his best friend, Aisha. I had honestly seen it coming and we gave her all the intel about the whole mage thing after they got married. She was seven months pregnant and rocked the pregnant look. I had to give props to her.

Seraphina had been able to make this year's birthday for Davina. My little me also loved Max which made the two of us. He had become a great friend over the years. Thorin and Ferrah had also made an appearance. After we had formed the alliance, we had met often and clicked. It had been difficult getting everyone here considering our different sleeping patterns but we had settled on doing it in the evening which had worked for everyone.

"A beautiful queen like you shouldn't be frowning."

I turn to find my mate. "And a gorgeous king like you shouldn't keep his queen waiting," I retort. Davina comes running and Orion scoops her into his arms. She was such a daddy's girl. I smile at the pair. So was I. "Alright, cake time people!" I rally everyone up and they gather around the table while Orion, Davina and I head to the otherside. "Hey, fire crew," I say to Thorin and Ferrah. "Help us out?" I point to the four candles on the cake. Thorin scowls but abides as Gray chokes on a laugh.

We sing the birthday song and Orion boosts Davina to help her blow out the candles. "Make a wish, baby girl," Rose hollers. My daughter grins and blows out the candle, no doubt getting her spit everywhere as everyone cheered. Oh well, spit cake for everyone. We got one photo in before she's off playing with Stella again.

"The cake will be back," I announce as my mate carries inside our home. We no longer lived in the castle but in a small house a bit away from it. I had bought the land for Orion's birthday the year after we got married. The land was technically owned by the kingdom and I could have totally just claimed it as queen, but I had wanted to have it under our name. I bought the land so we could build our dream home. That was five years ago.

We enter the kitchen and I get out a knife to cut the cake in pieces. "She's growing up so fast," Orion murmurs. "Time flies when you're living your best life," I wink at my mate and he chuckles. But it did feel like our daughter was growing up so fast. I still remember when I had found out about my little bean. I smile as I think back to it.

I had returned from the mall not long ago and Orion had just arrived home from the castle. I grinned as soon as his eyes met mine and he crossed his arms. "What?"
"I have a surprise for you," I had said. "But you have to close your eyes."
His eyebrows scrunched up slightly but he obliged. I quickly retrieve the surprise from the closet and return to him, holding it up in front of him. "Okay, open them."

He tilts his head to the side, scanning the pink Victoria's Secret bag. "If you bought me a bra, I will use it to tie you up later."
I roll my eyes. "Just look inside."
Orion gives me one last narrowed look before taking the bag from me and reaching inside... to hold up a baby jumpsuit. It was custom made. Purple with the symbol stitched on the back. On the front it read 'you have an heir now'.

His eyes flash gold as he throws the Victoria's Secret bag over his shoulder. "You're pregnant?"
I nod, grinning. "You're my baby daddy now."

I return back to my present day baby daddy as he gives me a peck on the forehead, reaching around to get plates and forks for the cake. "Hey Orion," I say, turning to face him. "I'm glad your fine ass is mine."

♚♔

That's it! That's the end. Thank you for everyone who has read this far and I really hope you enjoyed the book as much as I did. This book has been a roller coaster and a half and I'm honestly surprised I didn't abandon it half way. I guess I just couldn't do that to Astraea or Orion. Or Gray for that matter.
Who was your favourite character in the book and why?
If you have any further questions, don't be afraid to ask.

There are actually a few people that need special recognition. These cuties have been with me throughout the whole journey and they were one of the main reasons I kept pulling through and just kept writing. You ladies will forever be my inspiration and please know that I will always appreciate you. I love you guys!
berserkermadness
visionsghostly
_ariarose
ultraviolet_remarkey
DreamDust_x

All my love to you all x

-riona