Isabella stood by her mother’s side while the remaining members of the Ironbound clan discussed a peace treaty. Several of the clanspeople died from Jasper, Tanja, and Irina’s arrows, leaving sixteen warriors behind. Renata was the one who asked for amnesty from the other side of the wall. Corin hadn't wanted peace, he wanted eternal life through the powers of the Ember Sword, and he wanted it at any cost.
“Corin never listened to anyone else’s opinion. It is good he’s dead,” Renata told Esme without remorse. “We couldn't convince him to put aside this crazy idea of attempting to break in and steal the sword.”
“Those who work for peace may have it. Do you wish to remain here and build new lives, or do you wish to return home?” Esme looked at the handful of people gathered in the war room.
“Many of us wish to remain here, chieftess, at your discretion.”
Esme studied the other woman’s face, then looked at those who nodded. “How many men and women?”
“Seven men and nine women. Some of them have children back home over the mountain, so you understand their wish to return.”
“Of course.” Esme turned to Isabella. “Do you think we have room for so many new warriors?”
Isabella crossed her arms over her chest, silently questioning her mother’s choices. They might have been friends with the Ironbound at one time, but friends did not betray one another. “We have five empty rooms in total, for couples or singles. Not all of them can stay.”
Esme nodded at her daughter and turned back to Renata. “There is your answer. Five couples or five individuals, whichever you decide. Are you in command now?”
Renata looked pensive, glancing at the others. “I do not know this for certain, so I will have to speak to the others. Afton was next in line, but he also perished. Those who died alongside him were Gustavo and Yvette.”
“Will you send them off to sea from our shores, or bring them back home for their final farewell?” Esme asked.
“I will also ask this question of my fellow clan members. I will get back to you when I know something.”
“In the meantime,” Isabella said, “you may join us in the dining hall.”
“My thanks, princess.”
Renata inclined her head; she and the others followed Esme from the room. Isabella went last, deciding that though she felt that she could trust Renata, it would be prudent to keep an eye on all of them. As they exited, Renee joined them from just outside the room.
Renata found the few who hadn't joined the discussion at one of the tables and headed in their direction, but the first thing Isabella noticed was one of the Ironbound women sitting beside Edward. If that had been all she was doing, Isabella would like to think she would have reacted differently to the sight. Instead, the redhead had a tight grip on Edward’s forearm, and he was shaking his head and pulling away.
Isabella marched over and snatched the woman up by a handful of hair. She came up hissing and grasping the back of her head.
“Mine,” Isabella snarled.
The other woman glared. “Let me go, bitch.”
“You will leave the citadel now and not come back, or I will show you what a bitch I can be.”
Renata hurried to Isabella’s side. “Makenna, what is the matter with you? These people are generously offering their home and their food. Leave the married men alone.”
Makenna spit in the general direction of Renata. “You will make a terrible leader.”
“Since you will not be staying, feel free to create your own hierarchy back home,” Renata said.
Isabella let the woman go, and Renee escorted her from the hall. Isabella noticed Makenna left the hall rubbing the back of her head and couldn't help being amused. When Isabella sat beside Edward, she stared directly into his troubled green eyes.
“I was telling her to leave me be, that I’m mated, but she refused to listen.”
“Aye, and you are too sweet to kick anyone out.” She kissed him. “I have to protect what’s mine.”
“That was amazing,” he said into her ear, pulling her closer to his side.
“I’m happy you thought so. I feel a little foolish.”
"Don't. I would have handled it, but it was more fun to watch you do it."
She leaned into him. "I'm so tired. The adrenaline rush of earlier has left us and we didn't even get to fight."
"Get to?"
"Aye, you know I enjoy a good tussle."
He hummed. "You tussled with me earlier this afternoon."
Isabella snickered.
“I apologize for Makenna’s behavior,” Renata said, sitting beside Isabella. “She prefers men who are already taken.”
“That seems like a bad idea.”
“Yes,” she replied. “She is constantly getting into fights.”
“Maybe I should have fought her instead of telling her to leave.”
“Renee might have beat you to it,” Edward said.
Isabella saw Renee come back inside alone. “Oh, she doesn't trust any of them in the slightest.”
“She is wise,” Renata said. “Some of the Ironbound are not trustworthy, and I won’t ask them to stay. I would recommend that Randall and Charlotte, Henri and Siobhan, Diego, and Heidi stay. They will make good assets to those who live here currently.”
“And yourself?” Isabella asked.
“Aye. I was not happy with my match, but I did not have a say in the matter. I prefer the way it works here, where women have a choice.” Renata accepted the plate a kitchen attendant handed to her.
“Not just a choice, but the choice. No man may make an offer of marriage, and parents may not set up arrangements for their children. In addition to that, the royal family cannot choose a mate unless he has shown valor.”
Renata looked between Edward and Isabella. “Then how did you come to be matched?”
“Edward and his brother saved the sword from traitors who tried to steal it. It was remarkable.”
“And now you are expecting a child?” Renata asked.
Isabella froze with her hand halfway to the ewer of water. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, I apologize. Is it a secret?”
Edward leaned forward to stare at Renata. “From everyone, including us. Of what do you speak?”
“Well, she has a certain aura surrounding her. ʼTis a gift of mine to see these things.”
Edward shifted his gaze to Isabella. “This must be the feeling I had about you.”
She felt immovable. Stunned wasn’t even an adequate description for her feelings. “But, we can't have children. It’s impossible.”
“I don't know what to say to that. I have no knowledge of your ways, but I can see that you are, indeed, carrying a child.”
“I need to speak with my sister.” On numb legs, Isabella stood, unsure how she would walk when she couldn't feel her body.
“Sweetheart, sit down. I’ll find her.”
“Rosalie,” she clarified. “I need to speak with her.”
“I’ll bring them both.” Edward walked away, his heart in his throat. How could something like this happen?
He found Alise and Rosalie at a table with a few of the sentinels. He cleared his throat, clasping his hands in front of him. “Pardon me, Alise, Rosalie, but, um, Isabella needs you.”
Rising immediately, Alise asked, “Is something the matter?”
“I’m not certain.”
Rosalie stood quickly as well, and the three of them headed for Isabella.
“Sister, what’s wrong?” Rosalie asked, standing beside Isabella and taking her hand.
Isabella didn't move. “Renata says I’m pregnant.”
“What?”
Alise sat down. “That isn’t possible.”
“That’s what I said.”
Rosalie frowned deeply. “You’re not moving; are you okay?”
“Nay, I don't think I am.”
“How did this happen?” Edward asked.
“My necklace.”
“What?” Rosalie asked again.
“My necklace broke. I went without it for days.”
Alise popped her hand over her mouth. “So if we want children, we just have to take off our amulets?”
“I have no idea." Rosalie sat beside her sisters and contemplated the consequences of what they were saying. "I have thought for a very long time of what it would be like to have children."
"Technically, we represent the end of the royal line," Alise said.
"Or so we thought." Isabella brought her head around to look at Edward. "How do you feel about this?"
"Does it matter how I feel? You're more affected than I."
"But you married me thinking we couldn't have children."
"I'm not unhappy, if that's what you're asking. I was content for it to be only the two of us when I thought that was all it could ever be. Now, I'll be happy for it to be the three of us."
Isabella gripped his shoulders. "You're an amazing husband."
“I am what you made me.”
Rosalie waved her hands. “Please, stop before you make me ill.”
“Rosalie,” Alise admonished. “Be nice.” She turned to Isabella. “There is a midwife in town. We will fetch her if you wish.”
Isabella was already shaking her head. “There’s no need for it right now. As soon as Renata said the words, I felt the truth of it. Edward has sensed a change, I have felt more tired, and a few other things.” She didn't need to tell them of her encounter with Edward earlier in the day and the way every nerve ending vibrated with pleasure more intense than she’d ever experienced.
“Have you felt any sickness?” Alise asked.
“Nay.”
“She is not very far along,” Renata interjected. “Or she would be showing.”
“She’s right,” Isabella mumbled. “It was what, a month ago that my necklace broke?”
Rosalie ran a hand down her sister’s hair. “Give or take. Are you positive you’re okay with this?”
“I don't have a choice but to be okay with it.” She sucked in a breath and blew it out slowly. “I’m merely stunned because I never thought it was possible to be a mother. Now I have to consider the idea, and it’s overwhelming.”
“We’ll be with you every step of the way,” Alise said.
“You need to tell your parents,” Edward said.
“Can I wait for just a few more minutes?” The idea of telling them they would be grandparents after all was almost as overwhelming as the idea of being a mother.
“I’m going to tell Jasper now. I want to see what he says about trying it.”
Rosalie said, “But don't play around with your amulet. I have no clue how long you can go without it before your immortality will begin to reverse itself.”
“How long did you go without it?” Alise asked Isabella.
“Overnight, and then I carried the charm in my pocket as a precaution.”
Alise nodded and stood, hurrying off to tell her husband.
“I will also tell Emmett. It’s been a dream of mine for a very long time to have children.”
Isabella gave Rosalie a sympathetic look. “I remember.”
She walked away, too, and Edward and Isabella were left sitting beside Renata.
“This is joyous news, princess. Treat it as such. You carry a royal heir, something you thought could not happen.”
“Mm. I’m sure I will see it that way in time.”
Edward kissed his wife’s temple. “How do you feel?”
“Still in shock, but I’m beginning to see what we’ve been given.”
“A wonderful future with our child.”
“Aye.” She turned into his embrace and let the tears she’d fought escape. “I can't believe it.”
“Neither can I, but I’m very excited about it. I didn't want you to feel that you had to appease me, but I have to tell you now that I’m ecstatic. I assumed I could only be an uncle to any kids Garrett and Katrina would have until they had to wear amulets too.”
“Oh, that means you can tell them about it.”
“I will tell them later.”
She sniffled. “This is a miracle.”
“It is.”
“Now we have to think of where a baby can sleep, what to name it, and so many other things.”
He squeezed her in a tight hug. “But for now, can we go back to our rooms and celebrate our joyous occasion?”
She laughed. “I don't know if I have the energy for what you’re imagining.”
“I’m not imagining anything, I promise. A nap will be fine. Or we can relax in front of the fire in the sitting room and discuss our new future.”
She rubbed her temples. “There’s so much that will change.”
“I believe we’re up for the challenge.”
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