The Crown's Entrapment

"No worries. We're all like a family now, so it's just natural to help each other out," Xenia reassuringly smiled. "Besides, Lena is human now, so like Mineah said before, we aren't sure if her body can take that kind of essence and what it can do to her body, unlike Queen Mother Mona who is a mermaid, thus allowing her body to easily adjust to it. They're only a few remnants that were fortunately stored inside her body, so we all believe that its purpose was truly for your mother. It's definitely heaven's will."

Xenia then grabbed Jayra's hand and said, "Come now, you all. Let's join the others. Darius and I are about to announce another piece of good news as well." 

One thing came to another, and Darius and Xenia soon announced her second pregnancy. As expected, everyone congratulated the couple and rejoiced with them for this good news. The celebrations then continued, and the sun was about to set when slow and live music started playing in the courtyard. Seeing the mood shift, every couple took the opportunity to have a sweet and slow dance at the center of the party.

Xenia was watching from the sidelines with her sister Mineah when Darius approached her. With a smile, he asked, "Can I have this dance with my beautiful and endearing wife?"

Eagerly nodding, she extended her hand to him, and Darius lovingly kissed it before pulling her with him to the dance floor. Pulled her closer, he possessively wrapped his arms around her waist. Likewise, Xenia raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck. For a while, they simply stared at each other, taking in the sight before them. 

"I love you so much," Darius murmured before leaning in to kiss her forehead. 

"And I love you so much too," Xenia smiled back before tiptoeing up a bit and kissing his lips.

Gently, they swayed along with the slow music as they embraced each other lovingly, not minding their surroundings at all. Smiling, Xenia rested her head on her husband's chest, feeling the erratic beating of his heart as they held each other close.

"You know, we are also indebted to Mineah," Xenia absently said, slightly holding her head back to face Darius. "My sister confessed to me, and she apologized for using her ability on me a few days before my supposedly intended marriage to King Nikolai…" 

He furrowed his eyebrow at her words, so she smiled and continued, "Apparently she also has the ability to compel using her right eye. She compelled me to follow my heart, so I ended up running away despite the hesitation I was having because of the consequences it could bring to my family and kingdom…"

"Oh, I should thank her because our paths wouldn't have crossed like that if not for her then," Darius burst out. "By arriving late at the wedding back then, you might have ended up marrying Nikolai before I even met you, my mate. Imagine how complicated things would've gotten if that was what happened!" 

"What if that truly happened then?" she chuckled. "What if I'm already married to Nikolai and you found out that I'm your mate?"

"That won't happen! You are meant for no one but me, Xen. You're my mate, and you only belong to me in the same way that I belong to you," Darius firmly declared. "I'm sure it's all heaven's will for us to be together like this."

Smiling, Xenia stopped teasing her husband knowing that he wouldn't budge on those what-ifs anymore. Still, for some reason, she wanted to annoy him even more, and she was ready to fire another round of teasing. But then…

"Mamamamama…"

Mineah and Darius quickly turned to the sound of their twins' small voices. Truly, her husband was saved from her mood swings by then.

"Oh, these twins are already looking for their parents," Queen Mother Savannah grinned. "I'm sorry if we're interrupting."

"Mama mamamama," Dinara kept on calling as she extended her small arms towards Xenia. 

"Mamamamama," Arden, who Elder Handi carried, also called out to her. He too had extended his arms toward her. And while they couldn't say the word Mother to her yet in full, they were still more than eager to try and learn more.

"Ugh, how come you two can't learn the word "papapapapapapa" instead?" Darius complained with a pout. Shaking his head, he then murmured, "Come here to Papa, my little princess. Mama can't carry you both, alright?" 

With a smile, he coaxed Dinara to come to him, to which their baby girl quickly abided and instantly hugged him as he grabbed her from her mother-in-law.

Suddenly, Arden then turned to his father and extended his arms out toward him.

"Hmm… Say papa first, Arden," Darius hummed with a pout. "Come on, call me papa and I'll carry you in my right arm."

Meanwhile, Xenia simply grinned as she watched her husband coax their little boy while he carried Dinara in his left arm. "Say papa," she told her son. 

Ardern pursed his lips, and Darius's expression was priceless as he waited for him to say the words. However, as Arden opened his mouth, what came out was something else. 

"Mama."

Xenia chuckled, while Darius could only shrug as he scoffed. "Is this what I get for cleaning your poop, guys?" he sighed. "How come it's always mama?"

"Try breastfeeding them then," Xenia teased.

Shaking his head, Darius relented and picked up Arden, carrying him with his right arm. He then looked at both of his twins and said, "Will you call me papa if I started breastfeeding you two, huh? Well too bad, Papa doesn't have any milk in his breasts! How about I just rain down kisses on you two?"

From there Darius, played with the twins in his arms as he kissed them both alternately. The twins giggled in response, clearly having a lot of fun with their father.

All the while, Xenia's content smiles remained on her face as she watched her husband and her twins. Looking back, she was truly grateful that she ran away and crossed paths with Darius, or else she wouldn't have experienced the fulfilling life she now had with him and the family they were building. Truly, she was blessed to have a husband in him, and she couldn't ask for anything more. 

*************THE END**************

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January 3, 2024 A/N: This is it... we're now closing this book with this last chapter *SIGH* Thank you so much to all of you who have been with me throughout this wonderful journey. I really enjoyed writing this book and I do hope that you have fun reading it. I am so grateful that I have you all as my readers who were the reason for me to keep on writing. It would be nice to also see you guys in my still ongoing book The Crown's Seduction and soon to be published book, The Crown's Fire.

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024 to you all and your loved ones. I hope and pray that this new year be more prosperous and wonderful to all of you. Health is wealth and stay strong no matter what your circumstances are! We all have different beliefs but hold onto that faith/hope you have in yourself. For me... prayer can move mountains because it's God who always gives and sustains me with hope and strength in this life. *BrightSmiles*

Keep safe and God bless everyone...