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“It doesn’t matter to me. I’ll aim to be the best father I can.”

“I know you will.”

“But if she’s a girl. I’m sure she’ll be as beautiful as you are,” he said.

“And if he’s a boy, I want him to be just like his father. We’ll name him after you. A junior, yes?”

“If we have a boy, I’d want him to be better than me. He’ll be independent. He’ll have the best tutors and best training. I know it. In our culture, we generally do not name our sons after us. It is only after the death of the father, that his son will bear his first name. But I will leave my son more than my name when I die. I will leave him a legacy.”

“A legacy. That’s how you became Hvit’zark Ruavu Braddlk. You’re the son of Braddlk.”

“Yes, love. My father was a builder and I am his son.”

I kissed him on the lips. “Ruavu means brave. I saw it in a book. Our children will be brave just like you.”

“They’ll also be smart like their mother,” he replied.

I cuddled against him and closed my eyes.

Zark kissed the top of my head and whispered,

“Our love is without end.

Our fates, forever intertwined.

Our bond, too solid to be broken. I’m looking forward to our future, sweet Freya.”