Mated To The Vikens (Interstellar Brides Book 8)(56)

And speaking of mine, where were my other mates? “Where are Erik and Rolf? They’ve been gone a long time.”

“Ten minutes is not a long time.”

I sighed. “It feels like longer.” I leaned against my mate, pressing my back to his chest and he held me, as I’d known he would, while the caterers, or cooks, or whatever the hell they called them on this planet rolled out a huge, pink-and-white birthday cake. The cake was as fancy and elaborate as any wedding cake I’d ever seen back home, with multiple layers, tiered dividers separating the entire confection into about twenty different sections.

At the front was a small, round cake with bright pink flowers and one candle, for the birthday girl.

“Setting fire to a candle and blowing it out is an odd birthing day tradition.”

I smiled then, knowing Leah was the reason behind the solitary candle. “You don’t just blow out the candle. You blow it out and make a wish.”

“And what do you wish for, my mate?”

I had to think about that one for a minute. “I don’t know. I have everything I ever wanted.”

Gunnar’s hold tightened in response as Leah and her three mates stepped out from behind a doorway that must lead to the royal quarters.

The little princess was dressed in a fluffy pink dress. She had ribbons in her red hair and her cheeks were rosy to match her outfit. Her big blue eyes were glassy, as if she’d just woken from a long nap. She sat in her mother’s arms content and smiled at every new face as the Queen walked past.

Little Princess Allayna was absolutely adorable. It was no wonder the people of Viken had united behind her claim to the throne.

Her pudgy little baby hand reached up to one of her fathers, I couldn’t tell them apart yet, and he smiled at her but did not lift her from her mother’s arms.

Leah looked small surrounded by her men. But she practically glowed with happiness and I knew every single one of her mates would die for her, kill for her, was completely and irrevocably committed to her.

Just like mine were to me.

Somehow, I’d gone from a shit life on Earth to the most amazing, fulfilling life I could have dreamed.

I wrapped my arms around my stomach as I watched Leah wait for one of the Kings to light that little birthday candle. The Vikens around us broke out in their version of a birthday song and when it was over, Leah looked at me and nodded as she began singing the familiar Happy Birthday tune. Delighted to be part of merging old traditions with new, I sang along with her and cheered when Leah bent low and helped her little princess blow out the solitary candle.

Cheers broke out and little Allayna clapped her hands and reached for her daddy. She didn’t care about birthday cake or presents. I doubted she'd even understand how to use the pencils and paper I got for her to start her off as a budding artist. She just wanted to be loved. Cuddled. Protected.

Held.

I wanted soft skin and baby giggles. I wanted to be a mother, so damn much. I wanted to watch a little one scramble and crawl all over a stoic Gunnar, laugh at Rolf’s teasing, and tug on Erik’s long hair, forcing him to play.

Tears gathered in my eyes as I watched the happy family and my hands drifted low, over my abdomen, where I hoped to one day create a special, precious someone. Like Leah, it would not matter to me which of my mates was the biological father, for I loved them all.

Gunnar noticed the position of my hands, of course, and his large ones shifted to wrap around me and cover mine, holding them in place when I would have dropped or moved them away. He always noticed everything I did, every move I made, every expression. Sometimes, I wondered if he could somehow sense my very heart beating.

His breath was hot in my ear as he bent over me. “Do you want a child, Sophia?”

I couldn’t lie. There was no reason to. “Yes.”

Gunnar’s hands tightened convulsively over mine and a faint tremble passed through him where he pressed to my back. I turned around and wrapped my arms around him as the celebration resumed. The cake was cut, the sugary treat new to the people gathered. Judging from the delighted sounds of surprise around the room, Leah had just corrupted an entire planet.

I wanted a piece of that cake. Badly. But I really wanted to know where the hell my other two mates were.

When Gunnar tried to lead me back onto the dance floor, I pulled back. “No, Gunnar. Where are Rolf and Erik?”

“They will return soon.”

“So you said, but where did they go?” My patience was wearing thin. I was starting to feel like they were keeping something from me, something bad.

Had the VSS made a new threat? Was one of them injured?

My heart raced and I tugged free of Gunnar’s hold. Turning on my heel, I took three steps before Gunnar’s hand wrapped around my waist, and the Queen’s voice carried over some kind of speaker system.