Epilogue

                                    

                                          
*()* Five years later *()*
                          
My past self would simply not believe my own luck. A happy family, the blessing of two healthy children with the man I love the most. My brother in law is also contented with his wife and my niece and nephew.
                          
There are four new Calores in the family. 
                          
King Cal and Queen Atessa have two children. Freedom Calore, whose name represents the new freedom of the Reds. It also has the duality of the meaning of their own freedom from the prison. He goes by Dom to those who know him the best, and his mischievous habits seem to stem from Cal, even though he's only young. It's hard to tell whether Phoenix has his spirit, as she is only a year old. She has her mother's fiery hair, and I can only hope that her vivacious attitude is slightly dampened.
                          
Our own children are the light and joy of our world. Zita is our little girl, who is almost four. She is like a miniature version of Maven, with longer hair and a feminine face. Her name means adventurer, and we hope that she can adventure out into the world with no limits restraining her. Max Calore is too young to be judged, as he is only three months old. 
                          
Shailey and Shade are older now, and they love to try and take care of their new companions. With a helping hand, of course.
                          
News from the Lakelanders also brought silent cheers to our family. The unusual passing of King Terrell was reported, some strange illness induced by a wound that could not be healed by a Skin Healer. It appeared that his wife could not survive the time without him, as she passed away in her sleep a couple of weeks afterwards. Funny how people who lived such a corrupt life found their end sooner than those who righted theirs first.
                          
Although Maven still shields himself from the outside world, I think it's safe to say that he righted his life. There is not much gossip regarding Prince Maven any longer, as we are careful to keep our life within the palace walls. Even if we do keep our lives within the walls, we have to be cautious. There was one reporter who managed to disguise themselves and cause a scandal.
                          
I can only say that the Calores dealt with him in the way that only the Calores do.
                          
Today, I don't see anyone trying to pry into our business. Max is on my hip, dozy but too petulant to be put to sleep. We're close enough to the nursery in the play room. Maven and Cal are arguing over who has the best power out of the Calore cousins, while Atessa and I try to occupy Phoenix. She ought to be having a nap, but Atessa has different ideas about raising her child than I do.
                          
"It's harder than I thought it would be, being a mother," I say. "It has many more limits than I thought it would." Atessa nods, but she's paying more attention to our husbands.
                          
Zita holds Maven's hand, showing off her strange flame that can bend at her will - accompanied with a toothy grin painted on her face. She has more control than a normal Calore burner, and her flame contains beautiful shards that shine in the light. The doctors weren't sure what would come out of a newblood and Silver mix, but Zita was healthy and that was all that mattered. "See, her flame is different!" Maven exclaims, crouching beside our daughter and hugging her shoulders.
                          
His brother shakes his head, glancing at Dom. "C'mon, Dom, show your uncle just what you can do." They've both seen the powers many times before, but Dom and Zita get so excited at their bewildered expressions. Dom has a strange green flame, a one that General Calore is very proud of. Yet Dom has a fast instinct, something I believe came from his mother being an Eye. If one of his parents raise a reprimanding hand towards him, he reacts faster than the normal toddler.
                          
Phoenix is too busy tugging at her mother's dress to pay attention, and I kiss Max's head affectionately as I realize how well behaved he is.
                          
From the corner of my eye, I see Callista waving at the door for Max's nap. Considering how well Callista Skonos dealt with both Atessa and I's pregnancies and Maven's illness, I asked for her to look after Max. She was also Zita's nurse when she was younger. I stand eagerly, carefully maneuvering Max to my other hip so that I can open the door.