The Shadow Howlers

One Year Later

Gunnar and Bianca smiled as they watched Trisha and Polly talking with their brother as though he could respond. Ashton was a little over six months old. He had Gunnar’s black hair and Bianca’s hazel eyes. His sisters already spoiled him rotten.

“Are you girls ready to go?” Bianca asked them. They were going to the palace. It was the first time that everyone who had been involved in the fight would all be together again with their little ones.

“Yes. We can’t wait to see all the babies,” Polly said excitedly. Bianca picked up Ashton, changed his diaper, and put him in his car seat.

“Knock, knock,” Alani said as she walked into the room, followed by Omar carrying their son Phoenix.

“Hi, little guy,” Trisha said when Omar squatted down so she and Polly could kiss his cheeks. They had become the big sisters to everyone’s little ones. Even though the entire group hadn’t been all together, they had all met each other’s children.

A few minutes later, they were heading outside to get into the SUV. It was big enough to fit all eight of them. When they pulled up to the palace, Trisha and Polly could hardly contain their excitement. Selena and Zaiden were waiting for them as soon as the vehicle came to a stop. Zaiden was holding their daughter, Chloe.

“Hey, girls, how are you doing?” Zaiden asked them as he held Chloe down so they could kiss her. It was a given that Polly and Trisha were the first to greet every child.

“We’re okay. Is anyone else here?” Polly asked while tickling Chloe until she giggled.

“Not yet, but I think a few are coming now,” Selena said, pointing toward the gates. When they looked, Hermes and Daphne were coming toward them with their daughter Abigail. Nyx and Lachlan were with them with their son Cecil. Behind them were Eris and Sabnac. They had twin daughters named Kamilah and Talyana. Polly and Trisha ran to them to greet all the babies.

“I’m glad everyone could make it. I thought it was time we all got together again.” Zaiden said as they walked into the palace.

“We should do this more often. Something tells me that our children are going to be close.” Nyx said as they all laid their babies on a blanket that was placed on the carpeted floor of the sitting room. Trisha and Polly sat with them while the adults watched. The seven babies responded to the two girls more than they did anyone else. Everyone knew that something bigger was at play, but they weren’t clear what. Whatever it was, it was clear that Polly and Trisha were the leaders.

The future was uncertain for everyone, but they would all stick together. All the babies were given special abilities, but no one knew what they were yet as they all had been goddess-marked. They all knew another much bigger battle was coming, but in the meantime, they would enjoy spending as much time as possible with their children.

Author Note - Thank you for reading this story. There will be another book about all the kids, but it won't be right away. Happy Reading.