"Field trip!" Paisley shouted, her arms up in the air. "Field trip, field trip, field trip!" She ran in a circle around the kitchen and disappeared into the living room.

At the kitchen table, Kamree laughed. "I don't think she's distinguished yet the difference between a field trip and a vacation."

A light laugh escaped from Kamree's phone speaker. "Have you two been on a vacation yet?"

Kamree put her elbow on the dark wood table and rested her chin in her palm. "When we were younger, our family went on a vacation or two, but we haven't done a real trip since. Paisley was too small to remember."

"Daxton hasn't taken you two on a trip yet?" Lizzie said over the line.

"He wants to, but he's been busy and we haven't had an opportunity."

"I'm glad I get to be the one to push you to take a vacation."

From the living room, Paisley still shouted. "Field trip! Field trip! Field trip, Daxton! Fiel—" she broke off with a squeal.

Daxton walked in with Paisley slung over his shoulder. "I found a small child running through our living room again."

Kamree jokingly sighed. "Again? I thought we caught the last one."

Daxton tickled Paisley as he put her down. Kamree's little sister wiggled away from him, grinning. "This one keeps saying something about a field trip."

On the phone, Lizzie laughed. "Pais, if you want we can have two field trips and a sleepover. We'll call it a 'vacation'."

Daxton's cologne wafted over Kamree as he balanced his folded arms across the top of Kamree's chair and rested his chin on her head. "Lizzie, are you kidnapping us and calling it a vacation?"

"It's only kidnapping if you say no."

"Say yes!" Paisley said, "Ree, say yes!"

Kamree tried to look at her little sister, but Daxton's chin kept her from turning her head. "Let me get some more information first, Paisley." She paused a moment, noticing the time. "Did you brush your teeth? And is your homework done and ready for tomorrow?"

Paisley deflated. "No."

"Better get to it, baby girl."

"Okay," Paisley dragged out the word. "Lizzie, make sure she says yes."

"I will do my best," Lizzie said.

When Paisley left, Kamree couldn't help the laugh that burst out of her. "I love that girl."

"A vacation, Lizzie?" Daxton said behind her. "When are you thinking?"

"Jackson has a friend who lives in the north by the Heraik Mountains, somewhat off the grid. I thought it'd be fun to get a group up to visit for a couple of days."

"Off the grid?" Kamree reached up behind her to poke Daxton in the cheek. "Sounds like Daxton's kind of thing."

Daxton pressed a kiss under her ear, then sat in the chair next to her. "You make it sound as if I like to wrestle bears in my spare time."

Kamree's gaze wandered over him, analyzing.

"No," Daxton said. "Whatever you're thinking, no."

"Does Jackson's friend know what they're getting into?" Kamree asked. "I wouldn't want us to be an inconvenience."

"We can rent a hotel room somewhere nearby if needed," Daxton immediately offered.

"No, no, no," Lizzie said. "She's totally okay with it. She says she's had the place for a few years now and never had a housewarming party, so she needs an excuse to have people over. You met her and her Destined at Jackson's wedding. Remember Aria Lewis?"

How could Kamree forget the sassy spitfire? "Aria is letting us into her home? Us?"

Daxton smirked. "Some people do actually enjoy our company."

"Her house is pretty spacious and will comfortably fit us all. And if not, I've already volunteered Ethan to sleep in a tent out back."

Kamree pressed her lips together to smother a laugh. "Does Jackson know you've signed the Crown Prince up to sleep in a tent in the middle of nowhere?"

"Not yet," Lizzie said. "But I also signed myself up as well so he won't be alone."

Daxton wiggled his eyebrows.

Kamree pushed his shoulder. "It sounds like fun, Lizzie. Send me the dates and Daxton and I will make sure we're free."

"Great! Bring Paisley too. Aria has a small lake in the back and it'll be warm enough for us to swim and kayak when we go. There are also a couple of trails and plenty of room. It'll be an adventure."

She hadn't been on a vacation in who knew how long. And now that she had Daxton?

She glanced at her mate. It always surprised her how breathless it made her every time she realized he was truly hers. She beamed at Daxton. "We're always up for an adventure."

~

Avery bit her lip and frowned down at the test stick in front of her.

Positive. It was positive.

Her emotions rampaged in her chest as the combination of complete elation and worry wrecked her insides.

A soft tap sounded at the door behind her. "Av?"

She took a deep breath and cracked the door to poke her head out. "Yes?" She carefully kept her expression blank.

Jackson, her husband, looked back at her. His gaze weighed on every inch of her face, scrutinizing. Assessing. "Well?" he prompted.

Avery opened the door further and immediately cracked. Her smile took over her face. "You're going to need to learn how to drive a minivan and fast, dad."

"You're serious?" Jackson's eyes were bright as he cupped her cheeks. "For real?"

Her own face flushed. She couldn't resist running a hand through Jackson's short hair. "For real." She held up the positive test.

Her Destined dipped his head down to kiss her, then swept her up in a tight hug. "Creator, what did I do to deserve you?"

Avery giggled as he flipped her glasses on the top of her head, only to pull her into a deeper kiss. "We're going to be parents, Av," he said between kisses. "Parents."

"I know," she told him.

Her vision blurred as Jackson's bright eyes shimmered. He may be more subdued in his outward expressions of emotion, but that didn't mean he didn't feel. One only had to know him well enough to recognize the signs. Other than at their wedding, this was, perhaps, the happiest she'd ever seen him. She traced the tiny white scar on his cheekbone with her thumb.

He stopped. Then swore low. "We need to set you up with an appointment. Get you a doctor. I'll speak with Haven and see if she has a reference. We'll—"

Avery put a hand over his mouth. "We'll figure it out."

He settled her glasses back on her face. Eventually, his shoulders relaxed. "Parents," he whispered.

Avery pulled her lips over her teeth and bit down. "Mhm."

"We have to tell your parents first," he said. "My family last. As soon as Lizzie knows, we're doomed."

The laugh burst out of her. "Lizzie is great with secrets."

"It's not the secret I'm worried about. She'll be unbearable. Buying things left and right, arranging parties—"

Avery didn't even try to smother the sunshine she felt radiating from her center. "I look forward to it."

Jackson gave her a look. "You say that now, but..."

Avery wrapped her arms around Jackson's waist and rested her head against his chest. "Creator, I love you."

Jackson tightened his arms around her. "I love you too, Av."

Avery pulled back and pushed her glasses up on her nose. "This is going to be a hard secret to keep for a while."

"I know," Jackson pressed the tips of his fingertips against her stomach, almost reverently. "We'll tell your parents this weekend."

"Let's give ourselves time to let it settle."

"And get you to a few appointments, just to make sure everything is good."

Avery nodded and pressed a kiss just under her mate's chin. "I hope you're good at acting."

Jackson raised an eyebrow, questioning.

She tried to smother her smile. "I told Lizzie we'd go on that vacation with her next month."

"When were you going to tell—"

"I already cleared your schedule," Avery said. "You're welcome."

"Av—"

Avery pressed her hand against Jackson's lips. "It's only for a few days. You haven't been on a vacation in years, and I knew you would not go unless I strong-armed you into it."

"I—"

"Sorry, Jack, you're going."

Jackson blew out a breath. "Fine. Someone needs to keep an eye on you."

"Me?" Avery balked. "I'll have you know, I'm an angel."

"You're a devil masquerading as an angel," he said. "How do you think we got into this situation?"

Avery laughed. Creator, she loved her mate.

~

"Eli Leonger, you get back here!"

Eli's laughter trailed behind him as he sprinted down the palace halls with Nora's leather song book.

Nora never moved so fast in her life. She booked it after him; her socked feet sliding along the marble tile flooring. "Eli!"

Her Destined rounded the corner and rushed for the doors to the palace garden. One of the guards opened the glass door for him before he ran into it.

"Don't help him!" Nora yelled at the guard. "He's a thief!"

The guards shared a look. By now they'd no doubt become used to Nora and Eli's activities throughout the palace. Most times, Nora liked to think she was well put together and well behaved in the palace.

But then Eli did something like steal her songbook.

"Eli!" She followed him out the doors and onto the grassy area before the palace gardens. "I need that!"

She'd just about caught up to him when he whirled around, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her down as he fell onto the grass. Nora collided him with a small oomph.

She'd landed on his chest, her hands on the grass under his armpits, and her legs tangled in his.

Eli grinned up at her. "Caught you."

"What?" Nora spluttered.

Eli laughed, curled his fingers around her hips and rolled them so that she was underneath him. "You weren't paying attention, so I had to make you pay attention."

Nora's head fell backward, the grass cushioning her neck. She looked over Eli's shoulder, up to the sky. Creator, help me.

"I'll give you the songbook back on one condition," he said. As he spoke, he seemed to press even closer to her.

Despite her frustration at him stealing her songbook, she still found herself breathless at his nearness.

Nora appreciated the gentle chilled breeze as it whispered across her flushed cheeks. Behind Eli's shoulder, the palace gardens were bright and welcoming, the trees and flowers budding for the season. From here, she could hear the gentle rush of the fountain at the garden entrance.

It was the running water that brought her senses back to her. Eli, she thought to him, we're on the back lawn! The tours come through here!

The corner of his mouth twitched. Then you should've listened when I was talking earlier.

Past the bubbling of the fountain, she heard the dull murmur of a guide leading a tour. She blushed harder.

Eli's gaze felt like a brand along her cheeks. Lizzie invited us on vacation.

That's it? Nora thought back to him. That's what you wanted to talk about while we're indecent on the palace grounds?

Yes.

"I love you, but you make me so mad sometimes," Nora said.

Eli touched his nose to hers. "Then I'm doing my job." He pushed off the ground and sat crossed legged next to her. "We need to go on this vacation—"

"Eli, I—"

"—because you need a break."

Nora took a deep breath. Eli didn't understand. She didn't have time to take a break. Not when her scholarship deadline was so close. If she wanted to get into Sabine, her dream college, then she needed a scholarship. Because there was no way she'd let Lizzie pay for all of her college. And she couldn't access her inheritance for another year and a half. That left a semester of schooling that would have to come out of her pocket.

"I've got to work on my portfolio for the scholarship entry."

"Nora," Eli's tone was gentle as he helped her sit up. His hands were rough but warm as he clasped them around one of her own. "You've been working your butt off for the last few months. It will come together. Besides, a vacation will be good. It'll renew all that creativity... or something."

Nora raised an eyebrow, a smile curling her mouth. "'Or something'?"

Eli brought a knuckle up under her chin, his expression softening. Sobering. "You don't have to live your life in overdrive."

Nora's own smile dropped off her face. She'd been so busy lately working for Cavenaugh Productions, going to classes at Rayne, and working on her portfolio at home that she hadn't had time to stop and think about how busy she was.

"Does it bother you?" she asked him softly. At his confusion, she added, "how busy I've been?"

He carefully shook his head. "I know it won't always be like this. But I worry you're stretching yourself too thin. You don't have to work all the time, Nora. You can take a break. I want you to take a break."

She pressed her lips together. It was only one long weekend. Would that really kill her?

No. No, it wouldn't. Plus, she'd get to spend more time with her new family.

She loved that idea.

"Okay," she said. "I'll go. I hear the wilderness is great for creativity."

The grin that climbed Eli's face took her breath away. "Excellent."

Off in the distance there was a loud gasp. "Ohmycreator, is that Eli Leonger?"

"Nora Davis! Mom, look!"

Eli laughed and helped her back to her feet. Then he picked up her leather journal and passed it delicately over to her. "I believe this is yours, Miss."

"Why thank you, sir."

Her Destined threw an arm over her shoulder. "Let's get out of here before they want your autograph."

Nora's laughter danced across the cool spring breeze.

~

Lizzie huffed out a breath as she opened the doors to her and Ethan's quarters. She immediately kicked off her black heels, sighing in contentment as her sore feet met the cool marble flooring.

Despite the late hour, the lights in their suite were on, a gas lit fire in their fireplace. There was even a tray of finger foods on the coffee table in the sitting area. The staff always kept an eye on their room, making sure it was warm and ready whenever one of them finally stopped to rest for the night.

Lizzie poked her head back out the door and met the eye of the security detail a few feet down the hall. "Darien, can you tell Barbara I said thank you?"

Darien nodded.

Back in her room, Lizzie rubbed at a kink in her neck and rounded the corner into the bedroom. Beyond the bedroom, the lights in the office cast a glow into the main room. To her happy surprise, Ethan sat at the desk in the office, his laptop open and paperwork spread out before him. Her breath caught in her throat. His dark hair was mussed, the top two buttons of his white button up undone, and a pair of thin golden framed glasses balanced on his nose.

She stood there long enough that he flipped the page on whatever meeting summary he was reading. He'd even rolled the sleeves of his shirt up out of his way.

Something inside her thrummed.

The corner of his mouth curled as he put a sheet onto another pile. Without looking up, he said, "You're back late."

She blinked. "I usually get back around this time. You're here early."

He finally looked up at her, and Lizzie tried not to bite her lip as those grey-blue eyes locked onto her.

Creator, those glasses.

"Father wanted to dismiss early. He has an early morning outing with the Aeriannan Ambassador tomorrow."

"Lucky me," she said.

"Lucky you," Ethan agreed.

She couldn't help her slight disappointment when he took off the glasses. "I don't remember you wearing glasses this morning."

"I wasn't," he said. "Haven gave them to me after my appointment this week. They're supposed to help with the computer."

Ah. Lizzie pursed her lips.

"What?"

"Nothing," she sang.

Ethan just looked at her.

"You look sexy in glasses," she said innocently. She followed it up with a shrug.

The mischievousness in Ethan's eyes made heat swallow her entire frame. She'd seen that look a few times. And quite enjoyed everything that always came afterward.

Her stomach growled.

It was a testament to her level of hunger that Ethan heard it halfway across the room. The sound made his smile drop. "Did you eat?"

Lizzie started pulling pins from her hair, sighing in content as the locks were freed. Wow, that low-bun had been tight. "Not yet. I was going to snack before I went to bed."

She didn't like the seriousness that replaced the teasing lust on Ethan's face. He frowned at her. "What about the afternoon luncheon with the council that you had scheduled?"

She shrugged again. "It was light appetizers. I spent most of it greeting and catching up with the council members and their significant others. I never had time to eat." Or sit down, but she wouldn't tell Ethan that. Nor would she mention the blisters on her feet that screamed as they hit the air.

After the luncheon she'd gotten a call from her little brother Ian. He couldn't join them on vacation. He and his mate Havana were in the middle of prepping for an album recording for Havana. After Ian, her best friend Josh called to tell her that he and his mate Danika just purchased their own house not too far from the palace. They'd be spending the next few weeks closing on the house and moving in.

She'd blinked, and then it was almost ten at night. Her days always passed too quick lately. As she'd gotten busier and busier with albums, Queen prep, interviews, meetings, luncheons, and charity events, it was hard to find time to settle down and take a break.

Ethan closed his laptop and pulled the array of paperwork into a single organized pile. The bottom hem of his black slacks brushed along the top of his dark socked feet as he rounded the desk.

In just two of his long strides, he was there in front of her and pulling her into a tight hug.

All of her tension drained.

Ethan curled a lean arm around her waist. His other hand reached behind and started pulling out more of the hidden pins in her hair until it unraveled itself down her back. "I don't like the idea of you not eating, Liz."

She almost sighed in content as his fingers massaged the back of her scalp. "Look who's talking," she said in a breathless murmur. "Most days you're not here until midnight. All the late nights and early mornings are not good for you either, Ethan."

"I'm not stupid enough to tell you it's part of the job," Ethan murmured, his warm breath fanning over the top of her hair, "but..."

Lizzie's hands wrapped around his waist. She settled in, basking in the comfort, the rightness, of having him near. "This vacation will be good for the both of us." The more she and Ethan settled into their future and their roles—not only in their relationship but also in the kingdom—the more she realized the importance of the two of them making time for themselves. As it was, Ethan barely had time to see her, other than these brief moments at night. And his music? He hadn't worked on anything in months.

She knew it was a taxing job—possibly the most demanding in the kingdom—but demanding or not, the two of them needed to find balance.

Ethan pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. "I'm looking forward to it."

She pulled back to grin at him. "I told Aria if we need to share a tent in the backyard, we absolutely could."

Ethan chuckled and tugged slowly at the zipper on the back of her simple lavender dress. Goosebumps pebbled along her skin and she shivered. She'd seen that look in her Destined's eyes before.

She dotted a delicate kiss on the skin under his open collar. Then stood on tiptoes to press one just under his ear. "You're dangerous, Prince Ethan Alexander," she murmured against his skin.

"You make me dangerous, Lizzie Leonger."

Lizzie laughed into the night, delighted at this world and the mate destiny had chosen for her.

~

"Wes, pardon my language but what the fuck are you doing?"

Wes glanced up from the piles of bolts, screws, and discarded wood around him. He still had the power drill in one hand and a screw in the other. He snorted and went back to the project in front of him. "Since when have you ever pardoned your language?"

Aria crossed her arms over her chest. "Since the future queen and king of our kingdom will be in our living room tomorrow."

Wes shook his head and set a wooden piece against another. The power drill gave a high-pitched whirl and buzz as the screw fitted into its predisposed spot.

Aria frowned as she took in the mess of their living room. A discarded box and white packing foam rested near the huge bay windows. Some foam had broken into tiny pieces and embedded itself into their large beige area rug.

The smell of toasting bread and cheese permeated the entire first floor—she'd smelled it the moment she stepped into the house. No doubt that was one of the pizzas she'd saved for when Lizzie and the crew got here. "You ate one of the pizzas from the garage freezer, didn't you?"

Wes only whistled to himself as he glanced at the open instruction booklet next to him.

Aria sighed, took her bag of groceries to their kitchen, and set them on the dark granite countertops. She'd tried to grab anything else they might need from the store this morning before everyone arrived. The nearest store was at least 40 minutes away. They needed to be well-stocked before everyone arrived so that no one had to make the trip over the weekend. And by "no one," she meant Wes.

The security crew for the prince would arrive later today to scope out the place and make sure it was safe before His Highness arrived. She'd already cleaned all the rooms and made sure they were stocked and ready to go.

And then she'd gotten home to find Wes eating their pizza and putting together.... whatever that was.

Creator, she'd never been this stressed before. She knew everything would work out, but all this buying and cleaning and stocking left her exhausted.

"What is that and where did you get it?" She called over to Wes. Their floor plan was open, which meant she could watch Wes from the kitchen as he slid another board into a slot.

"It's a bookshelf for the second guest room," he said, "I picked it up last week but left it in the garage. Now seemed like a good time to put it together."

Aria frowned. "Why does the second guest bedroom need a bookshelf?"

Wes only shrugged again.

Aria blew out a breath. You love him, she reminded herself. You really do.

"I needed something to keep me busy." The drill buzzed again.

"At least its productive," she muttered. Neither she nor Wes were the type to turn the TV on and watch mindless Sarian drama shows. They spent a lot of their free time outdoors or doing odd projects when Wes wasn't working. She fully understood Wes' need to stay busy, at least until everyone got there.

She'd never been a worrier. But she's also never had a home to host people at before. Neither had Wes—which was why he'd picked up assembling furniture, apparently.

Aria opened their fridge and plucked two beers out from the door. Then she sat on the floor, back to the bottom of the couch, and handed one over.

Wes grabbed it, twisted the lid off, and took a big swig. Only then did he move to sit next to her, his strong shoulder brushing against hers.

She went for her second pull from the bottle when he glanced her way, a smirk on his lips. "Underage drinking again, Lewis?"

"Bite me," she barked back. But a small smile creeped out. "I can't believe you ate one of my pizzas," she bumped his shoulder with hers.

"I can't believe you left them out in the open and didn't hide them anywhere."

Aria narrowed her eyes at him.

The look made Wes laugh, and her own bubbling lightness filled her as she took in the relaxed sound. There would never be a day where she didn't appreciate his laugh. After the years they'd worked for the Sarian government, joy had almost become a foreign feeling for the two of them. However, they were in a place now where not only was joy something they were intimately familiar with, but they had it each day.

Thank Creator for that.

Aria set her beer down on the hardwood floor next to her, just off the area rug, and took Wes' free hand. She pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "If we make it through this weekend, we've officially done it all."

Wes settled back into the couch and extended one leg. "Agreed."

She picked up her beer and tilted the top towards her Destined's. Wes clinked his against it before they both took a sip.

"How's the painting coming along?"

Aria glanced out the bay windows at the empty easel out on the back porch. She'd stored her piece and supplies away, but had left the easel and chair out in the same spot from yesterday evening. She didn't want to move it for fear she'd lose her exact positioning of the lake she'd been trying to capture. "It's not great, but not terrible. Not sure painting will be my hobby."

While Wes still had a job working as an advisor to Commander Jackson Leonger as needed, Aria was left mostly at the house. After the first few months, she'd started to go crazy with nothing to do. So she'd started searching for a hobby. So far it would not be knitting, sketching, cooking, pottery, or painting.

She'd keep trying.

"You haven't attempted gardening yet," Wes said.

Aria pursed her lips. "Not sure I can be trusted to keep little plants alive."

"You can if you try."

She snorted. "Yeah, right."

Wes leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You'll figure it out."

She quite liked her mate's confidence in her. And she knew he was right. But that didn't make the journey of finding a hobby any less frustrating.

Couldn't annoying Wes be considered a hobby? That sounded fun.

Wes' cell rang. He leaned over to pull it from his back pocket, glanced at the screen, and picked up. "This is Brooks."

He listened to the other end for a few moments. Aria would bet all the pizzas in their outside freezer that it was Jackson Leonger.

Wes' lip twitched. "No, there is plenty of room in the house. We have three guest rooms and a small office. I've got a blow-up mattress in the office for Nora and Eli. Paisley is welcome to the couch, or I have an extra blow-up mattress that can fit on the floor if she wants to room with Daxton and Kamree."

He paused again, then chuckled. "No, I won't be sticking Elizabeth and Prince Ethan Alexander in a tent."

Aria grinned. She'd told Lizzie she had a tent, but Lizzie was the one who'd locked onto that information and ran with the idea.

If anything, she and Wes would've used the tent if they'd needed more room. They'd used the tent before and were used to the weather out here in their tiny mountain town.

"There's plenty of room," Wes said. "If security needs a space, we have a few cots we can set up."

Aria had been wondering why Wes kept buying air mattresses and cots. She'd teased him for it, saying they'd never used them, just like they'd never use the guest bedrooms unless Eva came to visit. Little did she know they'd eventually be hosting this many people.

"We're ready for security when they arrive," Wes told Jackson.

Aria stared out the bay windows, watching as the wind cast small ripples along the lakes' glittering surface. Spring always turned the land outside their home beautiful—filling trees, renewing the grass, and melting away the ice that blanketed over the water. Now, as they moved into the end of spring, everything seemed to brighten, becoming vibrant with life.

Staring at their land out back, Aria listened as Wes and Commander Leonger discussed their action plan for sneaking Lizzie, Prince Ethan Alexander, Nora Davis, and Little Leonger out of the palace.

The last thing they needed was the paparazzi to catch on and follow them all the way to their home.

"Great. Alright, thanks. See you then."

Wes hung up. "Security will be here in two hours."

Aria took a sip of her beer. "Guess you have two hours to finish this bookshelf and clean up."

Instead, Wes tackled her.

~

"It's like a fairytale!" Little Paisley said as they came upon the mountain house.

Jackson had said that their hosts Aria and Wes (which she distinctly remembered meeting at Jackson and Avery's wedding) lived in a mountain home. When she heard the word mountain, she pictured a small cottage nestled precariously on a mountainside.

Instead, Aria and Wes had a somewhat large home nestled near the mountain.

And it was gorgeous.

Aria Lewis and Wesley Brooks lived in a house on a single gravel road lined with evergreens that was gently tucked away from civilization. The house was a U-shaped one level that balanced modern and rustic ranch styles. Although one level, the house itself was a lot larger than Nora expected.

"Do you think they worry about landslides?" Kamree asked from the passenger seat as Daxton maneuvered the large SUV further down the gravel road.

"I'm sure it's a possibility," Daxton replied as the car came to a halt. Cobblestone lined the front steps of the house. Heavy-duty dark patio furniture rested in front of the brick outdoor fireplace. Even from her spot in the back of the SUV, Nora spotted a bit of the lake tucked away in back.

A lake glittering at the bottom of a mountain.

Paisley was right. It was like a fairytale.

And perfect for song writing.

We're here, Nora told Eli.

I didn't know Daxton was such a slow driver, Eli said. I'll let them know you're here. See you out front.

Paisley bounced in the seat across from Nora. "Ree, there's a lake! Can we go swimming?"

Kamree chuckled. "Let's get settled in first. Then we'll go swimming or take a hike. Whatever you want to do."

Daxton leaned over the center console and pressed a kiss to Kamree's cheek, murmuring something Nora didn't quite catch.

Her heart melted. Although she'd known the two of them personally for a while now, the fangirl in her rushed to the surface. Creator, they're so cute.

I hope that's what other Aces say about us, Eli said back.

Her mouth twitched. She still hadn't quite gotten the hang of keeping all her thoughts to herself. Not that that was necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it benefitted her to cast her thoughts to him. And sometimes...

A flush rose in her cheeks.

As the four of them got out of the car, Eli came out of the house. He, Lizzie, Jackson, and Avery had left as the sun was rising this morning, as according to Jackson they all needed to arrive in shifts and not together. Daxton had picked up Nora around mid-morning so that he, Kamree, Paisley, and she could arrive mid day. Prince Ethan Alexander would arrive later today, after his mid-day meetings.

And then the party would really start.

Nora beamed at Eli as she dragged her overnight bag from Daxton's trunk. The excitement bubbled like fizz under her skin. Despite all the hesitation she'd had regarding this trip, and the amount of work that waited for her back home, it thrilled her to be here.

A vacation. She hadn't been on one since her mother passed.

Not only that, it was with her favorite people in the world.

Once again, she thanked the Creator for sending her Eli.

Especially now as he beamed right back at her and snagged her overnight bag off her shoulder. He gave her a one-armed hug, his clean, woodsy cologne washing over her.

"Eli!" Paisley tackled them, hugging them both around the waist.

Nora settled a steady hand on Paisley's upper back. Adorable.

When they split apart, Nora told Paisley, "after we settle in, I'll race you to the lake."

"Deal!"

Backpack bouncing, Paisley ran for the house.

"Paisley!" Kamree shouted after her. "No running!"

Daxton only laughed. "We should've taken a vacation a lot sooner. Vacation Paisley is an entirely new experience."

"You say that now," Kamree said, "just wait until it's late at night and all you want is for her to fall asleep."

"Eli," Daxton greeted Nora's mate as he and Kamree strolled over to them. Daxton had a rolling travel bag that was big enough for him, Kamree, and Paisley. "How was your drive over?"

"Not bad," Eli said. "Most of it was Lizzie and Avery singing whatever was on the radio."

Nora bit her lip to fight back a smile. She imagined it was just as nice for Lizzie, Jackson, and Avery to have a vacation. She had a lot of stress in her life, but Lizzie and Jackson took stress to an entirely new level.

"Come on," Eli led them back to the house, "everyone's already out back enjoying the sun, but I'll show you the rooms."

Inside, Nora's breath caught. The house may have seemed smallish on the outside, but inside, with the vaulted ceilings and large, open windows, the entire space was bright, and—with the warm brown tones—very comforting. The kind that screamed mountain resort.

They'd barely stepped through the doorway when Aria rounded the corner, a tray of chips and dip in her hands. "I thought I would have to send a rescue team out to find you all."

Kamree squeezed Daxton's hip. "Daxton made us stop for snacks."

Aria winked. "What's a road trip without some snacks?" She lifted the tray. "Let me drop this off outside and I can show you your rooms."

"I can show them," Eli offered. I got the full tour earlier, he told Nora silently. This place is insane.

Not quite like the palace, is it?

Not at all, he said. Wait until you see the backyard.

Aria nodded. "Great. Thanks, Eli." Aria glanced at Daxton and Kamree. "If you get lost while you're here, it's Little Leonger's fault."

The giggle burst out from Nora. She'd completely forgotten Aria's nickname for Eli.

"'Little'?" Eli frowned. "I'm not little!"

Aria hummed as she headed back outside.

Eli looked to Daxton and Kamree. "I'm not little."

Nora, grinning, set a hand on her mate's shoulder. "Show us to our rooms, Mr. Tour Guide."

~

Lizzie settled back into the cushion covered patio furniture and tilted her head to the sky. They'd been gifted with beautiful weather this whole weekend, according to the forecasts. Although not yet summer, the sun was bright and hot in the sky, foretelling of a hot season to come. Even now, as the sun whispered of its setting, the air was warm, the sun's rays casting over the ground even here in the Heraik Mountains.

The loud sizzling of the grill and the sound of Paisley's cute giggles and shrieks mixed like perfect, carefree music in the air. From her spot on the back patio, she watched Eli as he scooped Paisley up and threw her further into the water. Nora lounged on the dock in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, scribbling at a notebook nearby.

"You'd be surprised at how much a townhome in the city costs," Daxton told Jackson. He and Kamree had their chairs pushed close together. Daxton had a hand on Kamree's knee, his thumb subconsciously moving back and forth. "Kamree and I were looking at places just outside the city because of the reduced rates."

"I didn't know you both were thinking of moving," Lizzie said.

Kamree's hand settled on top of Daxton's. "Daxton's apartment is too big for the three of us. We'd like to move somewhere smaller and more manageable."

Lizzie understood that. Daxton's apartment was really more of its own building. Taking up the top two floors, it was as if the designer had mashed the penthouse and an additional apartment together. Although nice and opulent, Lizzie didn't see Kamree living there forever. She hoped they'd eventually find a place that better suited the two of them.

"What about the areas near Medloy village?" Jackson asked.

"That's a nice area," Aria said as she brought out a plate of meat and vegetables for Wes to grill.

"Are you sure we can't help with anything?" Avery asked Aria.

Aria waved away the question. "The day I ask for help is the day the kingdom is ending."

Wes, who was now scraping the bars on the grill with a grill brush, shook his head. Lizzie took that to mean the statement was, in fact, true.

No matter. After they were done eating, they'd have plenty of dishes to clean. Lizzie wasn't above bullying her way into helping. Especially not when Aria opened her home to them. She shared a look with Avery.

"The apartment is nice," Kamree said, "but Paisley's coming up in age, and I want her to be able to play with other kids in a yard and ride bikes down a neighborhood drive."

Lizzie smiled at the image and glanced around at her friends and family. Other than Avery, she didn't think any of them had ever had that type of childhood.

Lizzie's phone vibrated loudly on the glass patio tabletop. She winced and snatched it up.

Her heart gave a solid thump at the name on the screen. She grinned and got up. "Excuse me."

Back in the house, she hit the answer button. "Hey."

"Hey yourself," Ethan's smooth greeting was like honey to her ears. "I'm about 5 minutes out."

She knew that already, because not only was Jackson giving her any info he had when she bugged him for it every fifteen minutes, but also in the slow but steady number of security roaming the place.

"Great," Lizzie said. "You'll love the house. Wes did amazing with its design."

"I'm sure he did," Ethan responded. "Wes doesn't seem like the type to do anything without the utmost effort." He paused a moment, then softer, continued. "I'm happy you convinced me to go on this trip. The moment we left the palace, I felt more relaxed."

Lizzie wandered through Aria and Wes' home, stopping at a small dark table off the entry room that had a small porcelain statue of a young woman. Somehow, the woman seemed familiar. As Ethan spoke in her ear, she trailed a feather-light finger down the statue's side.

Ethan's relief and relaxation became her own. Her heart warmed as she said, "Even princes need to take vacations sometimes." She paused, then quietly, "I'm glad you chose me to accompany you."

His smile appeared in his tone as he said, "I wouldn't vacation with anyone else."

Lizzie beamed. "Except my family and friends."

"They're mine too, no?"

His simple acceptance of her family had her limbs feeling lighter. "Absolutely," Lizzie said. "I'll meet you out front when you get here."

"Perfect," Ethan replied. "I love you."

Her heart soared. "I love you too."

She ended the call and, frowning, glanced at the small engraving at the base of the small statue.

Marlee Jacobs, it read.

Lizzie set a hand carefully on top of the statue, instantly recognizing the name. How could she not? She was at the Musetunes Festival that day when it all went downhill. And though she had already been halfway out of the city when Marlee saved many people, she knew now that Aria had been there too. She'd found out later from Jackson that Aria had been close with Marlee.

She gave the statue a small private smile. "She's doing alright, Marlee. I promise." Then, tucking her phone into her back pocket, she went out front to wait for her Destined.

~

That night, the group of them sat around a large outdoor fire pit that extended out from the patio. Aria and Wes had numerous treated wooden chairs in a half-circle around the pit. Although there wasn't enough for everyone, they made quick work of dragging a few of the patio chairs over by the fire.

Although the night was warm, the breeze, when it whistled by in sporadic bursts, brought the low temperatures with it.

Nora sat on a folded blanket on the cobblestone, Eli in a chair behind her. His legs caged her shoulders, surrounding her back with warmth while the heavy heat of the crackling flames in front of her brightened the faces of the others sitting around the fire.

Inside her was a different heat. The kind that came with contentedness. Happiness. This here was her family.

And she wouldn't trade them for the entire kingdom.

Paisley stuck a stick into the fire, her face carefully attentive as she toasted a marshmallow.

"Careful, Pais," Daxton gently nudged her a step back from the blaze.

"So if you put your hand in the fire," Eli was saying, "how long until it heals?"

"That depends on how long. Are we just burning the hand or flaying it to a crisp?" Wes asked.

"A crisp."

Aria glanced at Wes' arm. "Two hours."

Kamree snorted. "That's a lie."

Aria flashed her teeth at Kamree. "Dam—" She glanced at Paisley, then corrected. "Darn it. I thought for sure that one would get past you."

For the last few hours, Aria had been trying to sneak a lie past Kamree. Ever since she'd found out what the singer's ability was.

No such luck yet.

"Maybe 30 minutes," Wes surmised.

"So cool," Eli breathed.

"You've got to let me copy your ability before you leave," Aria told Kamree.

Kamree bit her lip, "I don't know..."

"It doesn't hurt," Aria said. "Also, I promise you I won't use it to take over the kingdom."

"I hope not," Prince Ethan drawled. "I'll be out of a job."

Aria wiggled her eyebrows. "I'm sure I can find something for you, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome."

Nora and Avery giggled.

"I'm right here, Lewis," Wes barked.

That sent Lizzie into peels of laughter. Next to her, Prince Ethan smothered a grin and pressed a kiss to their tangled fingers.

Aria got up from her spot between Wes and Lizzie. "I'm going to grab another beer. Anyone else? Wes?"

Wes nodded.

"Jackson? Avery?"

Jackson glanced at Avery and shook his head. Avery rolled her eyes, "have a beer if you want one, Jackson."

Jackson's lips thinned.

"Just because I can't drink doesn't mean that you can't."

Something about the words seemed weird to Nora. She'd seen Avery drink before. Avery wasn't a big drinker, but Nora had definitely seen her have a glass of wine occasionally during family meals.

"'Can't'?" Lizzie asked, apparently getting the same vibe Nora did. "What do you mean?"

"I brought a case of wine," Daxton told Avery, "there's plenty."

Even in the fire's glow, Nora spotted Avery's blush as everyone gave her their attention. Avery and Nora were kindred spirits in certain ways—one being their unease with attention. And though attention didn't make Nora completely uncomfortable like it did Avery, she found herself wanting to pull it away from her, if only to make her more at ease. "Aria, I'll come with you," Nora broke the silence and stood. "I'd like to get another soda. Eli? Want anything?"

Eli lifted his own soda and shook the can.

"Got it," Nora glanced at Paisley. "Paisley, do you want another juice­—"

Lizzie shot out of her chair with a gasp. "Oh my creator, Avery."

Jackson's eyes narrowed on his little sister. "Lizzie—"

"Are you—" Lizzie started to ask.

Avery patted Jackson's shoulder. "It's okay."

"—pregnant?" There was a pause, as the group of them processed the word. When Avery said nothing, Lizzie squealed. "Oh my Creator, you are!"

Avery hid her face behind her hands.

Jackson's smile spoke loudly as he, in a double seat with Avery, tucked her in tighter at his side.

"Looks like we'll need to run to the store and get a cake before the weekend's over," Wes told Aria.

"Congratulations," Daxton told Jackson and Avery.

"That's momentous," Kamree said, "I'm so happy for you both!"

Lizzie bounced on the balls of her feet. "An aunt! I'm going to be an aunt!" She beamed at Ethan, then turned to Jackson. "I can't believe you'd try to keep this from me."

Jackson pressed a kiss to Avery's shoulder and muttered, "gee, wonder why."

Only Avery, Nora, and Eli were close enough to hear it. Nora hid her smile behind her hair. "Congratulations you two."

"I need a hug!" Lizzie launched herself over to Avery and scooped her into a tight hug. "How long did you know?"

Jackson scratched the back of his head and stood to receive Lizzie's embrace. "It's only been a month. We told Avery's parents' last weekend."

"Okay," Lizzie curled her arms around Jackson's waist then pulled back. "No alcohol for Avery. In fact, Avery, sit down. You're not doing anything this weekend but relaxing."

Avery laughed.

You're going to be an uncle, Nora told Eli silently as she settled back into her chair, soda abandoned.

Eli rubbed small circles on her back. I think it's going to take a while to grasp the concept.

Nora rested her head against Eli's leg as she half turned to look at him. You'll be great.

Features softening, Eli squeezed her shoulder.

"We'll need to have a baby shower," Lizzie prattled to Jackson and Avery. "I can get you registered with a few places. Then we can talk to Barbara about setting up a nursery—"

Ethan laughed, grabbed Lizzie by the wrist and sat her back down in her chair.

"I want to go to the appointments," Lizzie said.

"You're not going to the appointments," Jackson said.

"Jack—"

Ethan put a hand over Lizzie's mouth and grinned at Jackson and Avery. "My gift to you will be corralling her."

Lizzie rolled her eyes, mumbling something behind the prince's hand.

Nora relaxed into Eli, looking at the surrounding group. These were her people. Her family. As she grew, so would they. Their relationships, their experiences, their connections. They would have a full life ahead of them. One filled with laughter and love.

She couldn't wait.