And then he took her back to the rooms they would share whenever staying at the palace for the years to come and made tender, night-long love to her, using those words and so many others to tell Chanel that this man truly loved her and always would.
Later she snuggled into his body and yawned as she said, “I guess it’s a good thing you’ve got a sneaky, underhanded side.”
“Is it?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“We never would have gotten together otherwise. You snuck past all my barriers.”
“It is only fair, since you destroyed mine.”
Two broken people who had not even realized they were broken had been made whole by love.
Yes, Chanel thought, that was exactly right and fair.
“Love you, Demyan.”
“I love you.”
“Always.”
“For the rest of our lives.”
“And beyond.” Eternity would not end a love so strong.
“And beyond.”
EPILOGUE
OXANA CUDDLED HER latest grandchild. The tiny infant was only three days old, but he was so alert that the queen could not help smiling into soft gray eyes so like his mother’s.
Little Damon was her fourth grandchild and she had no doubts he would bring her every bit as much joy as the other three she’d been gifted by her sons and their wives.
The oldest, Mikael, was five and the only child Gillian and Maksim had conceived. Their youngest was adopted, a beautiful little girl who had both her besotted parents wrapped around her dainty little fingers.
Demyan and Chanel’s oldest had turned two, four months before the birth of her little brother. Both children were cosseted and adored by parents who showed a decided ruthlessness when it came to putting their family first.
Oxana could not be more pleased. She’d given up a lifetime of love and found little personal happiness in order to give her sons the best chance at a better life. One would be king, the other would continue to oversee their business interests, but both were blissfully happy.
And Oxana thought that a more-than-fair compensation for the sacrifices she’d made. After all, she had her grandchildren around her now. They called her Nana, not Your Majesty, and didn’t hesitate to muss her designer couture with messy fingers.
How incredibly blessed she was, but her sons had received the true gift beyond measure.
A lifetime love with women who not only knew but accepted both men for who and what they were.
Fedir often didn’t know what to make of his independent-minded daughters by marriage, but he loved being a grandfather and already had grand plans for the children.
Oxana didn’t tell him, but she had plans, too, and she knew exactly what each grandchild needed for the future. Love.
Just as she had done her best to make sure both her sons realized their loves, she would do whatever it took to ensure each of her grandchildren knew true love, as well.
Fedir could plan all the machinations he wanted, but in the end? Love would triumph.
Just as it had for her children.