His Delilah, who would soon be the mother of his children.

Then he tipped his head back and did something he’d never done in his life.

And he’d never done it because he’d never had a reason to.

To the ceiling, Abel Jin howled his exaltation to the moon.

Those in the Johnson compound who heard and understood it, smiled happily at each other.

Those who didn’t understand it still couldn’t mistake it.

And they smiled happily too.

* * * * *

Retired Warriors

As the onlookers stood silent after the new president of the United States turned from the podium where he’d just made a stirring speech of gratitude and remembrance, they watched him move to the towering, veiled mass behind him.

Then they watched him tug on the red velvet cord.

The dark shroud fell away, revealing the statue of a woman set hauntingly in bronze, the wound in her shoulder gaping, her neck bent, each line of her body the picture of sorrow.

On a plaque at the base, it read:

“We are The Three!”

Delilah

Of The Three

In Memoriam of Gregor

Fallen

In the Battle of Goodwill, Missouri

The Beginning and End of the Noble War

“So that we all can be free.”

The First Lady set a large wreath of red roses at the base of the statue, then moved to her husband and held his hand, their heads bent to take in the plaque as silence kept the large crowd in its hold.

Eight figures stood looking down from the swell of a hill well beyond the onlookers.

They said not a word.

Until one of them did.

“I need a drink.”

That was Abel.

“Aurora’s and my suite?” Yuri suggested.

“See you there,” Lucien muttered, taking Leah’s hand and guiding her to the gleaming black Porsche parked on the street.

Callum lifted his chin in assent and slung his arm around Sonia, moving her to the green Range Rover parked behind the Jag.

“Hope you got Jack,” Abel said.

Aurora laughed.

Yuri replied, “We have everything.”

Abel nodded and hooked Delilah around the neck. “We’ll be there after we check on Jian-Li and Greg,” he said to Yuri before heading with his woman toward his bike.

“You ready, my sweet?” Yuri asked, looking down at his mate.

“Always, Yuri,” she replied, gazing up at him, her lips twitching.

He took her hand, and as was his habit whenever he did this (and he did it often), when he had her small hand in his, he rubbed his thumb over the large diamond nestled between bands of gold on her left ring finger.

It was a reminder that she was his.

It was a reminder of his love for her and the gift of her returning the same.

And it was a reminder of his father, who did much in his long life, including helping to make their union possible.