Everlasting Embrace (Embrace Series) (34 page)

“
Elijah, do you mind helping me set up everything for our trip
?
We have all the legalities associated with Nik. Now that we are married
,
we
would like to adopt him. I
’
ve already discussed this with Luke
,
and he agrees
,
since Nik has been with us since birth
,
for the most part.
”

“
Of course
;
I knew this was something you were thinking of
,
s
o the papers are already drawn up and shouldn
’
t take long. I think it will be better to have everything settled legally before your trip. It should only take a month or so to get everything in order.
”

Nik starts to fuss and lean
s
towards me with wide arms. I reach out and take him from Nathanial.
“
I think it
’
s nap time
.
I
’
m gonna go put him down.
”

Nathanial nods and leans down to give us both a
light kiss. Nik lets out a little giggle
,
and we all chuckle at the cuteness of the moment. As I walk away with the little baby
, who
I think of as my own
,
in my arms, his little head rests on my shoulder
,
a
nd I lean my head towards his.

In the nursery
,
I sit in the glider
-
rocker with Nik and his blanky, humming the song Nathanial and I danced to at our wedding,
and he
’
s
asleep within moments. Not ready to put him down
,
I continue to cuddle with the only other boy I could ever love as much as Nathanial. I
’
m happier than I ever thought was possible. I have a wonderful husband
, who
loves me as much as I love him. Never in all my years did I believe I would
find
my
soul mate
and raise a family with him
. Ye
t
,
here we are.


  

  


I join Florence in the kitchen as she prepares meals for the students and such.
“
Can I help with anything?
’

“
That would be lovely
,
Sophia. Would you mind preparing the vegetables for a veggie casserole?
”

“
Sure thing
. D
id Nate and Elijah go back to the office?
”

“
No, they are just in the home office. Elijah brought home all the paperwork for Nik
’
s adoption. Luke and Eliza are in town today and will be joining us for dinner. I think they may go over everything with Luke.
”

“
That would be great. The sooner we can get things done the better. I really want to speak to the Renata and get Nik away from here for awhile.
”

“
I know kiddo, but you know everyone here will protect him.
”

“
I just want to deal with those
…
t
hose
…
I
don
’
t even know what to call them.
”

“
I think we all do
. L
ife will be somewhat peaceful once they have been dealt with. There
’
s
still the demon issues with the Magnificent
O
nes, and the
angel
issues with Ben. Although
,
t
he sooner we can deal with one issue
,
then we can concentrate on the other issues.
”

“
Agreed.
”

Florence and I finish preparing dinner and take it down to the dining hall in the school. Nathanial got Nik from his nap before coming down, so he can have dinner with us
; plus
if he sleeps to
o
long, the little munchkin won
’
t sleep tonight. Everyone gathers for dinner
,
and we enjoy hearing about their studies for the day. It
’
s been wonderful
,
having Michael here to assist us, but we need to get that hunter dealt with. This magickal disguise isn
’
t going to hold forever.

Ebony seems to be feeling a little better after her incident earlier. I
’
m glad Dakota was nearby when she went unconscious. We haven
’
t had a chance to really talk about what happen
ed
, but I
’
m hoping we can have a little girl time later. Dakota must be very concerned about Ebony
; he
won
’
t leave her side and is helping her with everything. Maybe when I chat with her
tonight
, I should tell her about Matilda
’
s
confirmation
. I just don
’
t get why she didn
’
t notice it until now. M
aybe it was the fact that
Ebony and Matt were together
,
which caused her not to
search Dakota
’
s soul.

Looking around the large dining room, filled with friends, loved ones and family, I can
’
t help but smile. We are assisting to sculpt all these amazing minds, training them to do good during their time on this planet. Plus
,
we are all becoming like
a
family. From the corner of my eye
,
I catch Caspian and Siobhan
, looking
all googly
-
eyed at one another. I
’
m so glad that he
’
s found someone again, even happier that it
’
s Ashley
’
s reincarnated soul
,
and
his
soul mate
. When Caspian killed Ashley by mistake
,
and took off from our family
,
I thought we
’
d lost him forever. Now
,
not only do we have him back, we have the girl that was once like a sister to me
,
back again. I can
’
t wait till everyone else finds out.

Nathanial and Ben are chatting it up tonight
.
I just happen to catch part of the conversation in the midst of my daydream.

“
How have you been adjusting to everything?
”
Nathanial questions.

“
Not bad
.
I miss my mom
,
a
nd feel real bad for leaving her. I only hope that this hunter
,
who is
after me
,
doesn
’
t go after her
,
”
Ben admits
,
sadness evident across his face.

“
Why don
’
t I go over and check on her for you? Maybe we can arrange a meeting somewhere. If a hunter were to see us, they would just think we
’
re looking for you. They still won
’
t recognize you.
”

“
Oh
,
that would be so amazing. I need to see her
,
m
ake sure she
’
s doing okay.
”

The boys continue to chat
.
Dakota keeps fawning over Ebony
,
and Caspian and Siobhan are oblivious to everyone else. Then Luke stands and gives a little
clink
of his glass.

“
Excuse me everyone
.
I just wanted to say a few things.
”

“
Of course
,
Luke
. P
lease go ahead,
”
Elijah encourages.

“
Well
,
all of you have done so much for my family
,
a
nd for Eliza
’
s family. I can
’
t imagine us going through the losses we have endured
over
the past year without you. I consider the Pierce family
to be
my family.
”

“
We also consider you both
as
family
. P
lease always remember that
,
Luke,
”
Florence smiles with pride and love.

“
Well
,
last fall
,
when my parents passed, they were coming to enjoy a family dinner at the Triggs Manor. As you all know
,
things haven
’
t been the same since that day. Well
,
I had something very special planned that night
;
something
that I haven
’
t been able to share yet. After months of healing
,
and becoming even closer to you all, I would like to share it with you today.
”
Luke takes Eliza by the hand, guiding her from her chair to stand with him.
“
Eliza
,
you have been my rock though all of this, and I hope I was yours when you lost your Grams.
”

“
Of course you were
,
Luke
.
I couldn
’
t have made it without you.
”

“
That
’
s my point. We belong together, helping one another through the hard times
,
and cheer
ing
each other on through the good times. I don
’
t ever
want
that to change.
”
Luke has his eyes locked on Eliza and begins to drop to one knee as he pulls out a small blue box.

All of us gasp
in
aw
e
as Eliza raises her hands to her mouth and tears swell in her eyes.

“
Eliza
,
when I met you here at that wonderful New
Year
’
s
party, I knew there was something special about you. I never knew
how special
though. Now
,
with all the knowledge I have
,
and the privilege of loving you ever since, I
’
m hoping you will make me the happiest man in the world. Eliza Triggs, will you marry me?
”
He opens the blue box presenting a beautiful and simple diamond held by a yellow
-
gold band.

She smiles with the tears flowing at full speed down her cheeks and opens her hand in front of Luke
,
allowing him to place the ring on her hand
.
“
Yes
!
Yes
,
of course
,
I
’
ll marry you!
”

We all stand and cheer congratulations to the couple. This family is really growing fast
,
after so many years of the same members. Danika joined our family
,
and I thought the world was over. Although we have had our share of tragedies and loss, what we have gain
ed
has been so much more. Bringing Danika to Wenham is the best decision our family has ever made. I think I may have to thank her one day.

Caspian
’
s New Love

Over the past few days
,
Siobhan has healed up back to top form. We even began her physical training again. I
’
m so proud of her. I still can
’
t get over the connection I have with her. With her
,
I feel alive again, like my existence has meaning. I can
’
t let this girl get away. Maybe it
’
s time to take her out on a real date. Yeah, it
’
s time. I walk down to her room and rap on her door. Through the door
,
her gentle footsteps come closer, and then the door opens.