The Gender Game 5 by Bella Forrest (uplifting novels .txt) 📕

tugging my cap down over my bald head. Cad seemed to realize it was me, and gave a little whoop, loping over toward us.

This time I did try to stand, using the tree and Viggo for help, and was on my feet by the time my cousin reached us. “Violet!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms open wide. I stepped gingerly into them, just relieved to see him, and he hugged me extra gently, his arms barely brushing my healing ribs. We held each other like that for a moment, and he pecked me on my forehead. “I’m so happy to see you up,” he whispered.

“Me too,” I whispered back, releasing him. He stepped away, and I saw his eyes were brimming with gratitude.

“Violet, seriously, words can’t even express how grateful I am to you for what you did for my family,” he gushed, and I looked away, embarrassed by the praise. “I mean, I don’t know if I ever could’ve done what you did for us. What you sacrificed for us.”

I frowned, thinking of my brother, and then shook my head. “That’s not true,” I reminded him softly. “You already did—you went back to the palace and went searching for Tim. I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate that.”

Cad rubbed the back of his head awkwardly and gave me a sad smile. “I just wish I had found him,” he replied.

I wanted to say “me too” again, but I didn’t. Cad already knew that—and, obviously, he didn’t need to be reminded of his failure. The two of us stood awkwardly, uncertain what to say next. The sound of gunfire punctuated the moment, and I looked over at the range, watching Ms. Dale marching up and down the line of trainees, before looking back to Cad.

“So… how’s training?” I asked, fumbling for a conversation topic.

“Eh. So-so. I’m not so good with a gun, but my wife…” He trailed off, his eyes going wide. He looked around for a second, and then held up a finger. “Hold that thought—I’ll be right back.”

I watched as he raced back toward the group on the range, and exchanged baffled looks with Viggo, who shrugged. Cad approached a woman in the firing line, and, when she put her gun down, tapped her shoulder and began speaking to her, his hands gesticulating wildly. After a moment, the woman smiled and nodded.

“Looks like you’re about to meet the family,” announced Viggo from beside me, and I felt my eyes growing wide.

“Right now?”

Viggo chuckled and nodded. “Right now,” he agreed.

I fidgeted, smoothing my hands over my clothes, suddenly stupidly self-conscious. I felt Viggo’s eyes on me. “They’re going to love you,” he said. “Especially after what you did for them.”

My expression soured. “Just because I saved their lives doesn’t mean they’re obligated to love me,” I muttered.

“Why not? It worked for me.”

I squinted at him. “Didn’t you save my life first?”

“Case in point,” he teased, nodding his head toward the unfolding scene. It took a few minutes for Cad and his wife to trudge around behind the house, out of our view. Then they reappeared and headed toward our little hill, now followed by two children and a shaggy brown dog.

“Is that Samuel?” I asked incredulously, glad that in all the chaos, the dog hadn’t been left behind.

“Yeah,” Viggo said, smiling a little at my astonishment. “It’s funny, actually. There’s kind of a little refugee daycare going on—especially with the parents training all the time at the firing range—and the kids all love Samuel, so now they’re looking after him, too.”

Come to think of it, it was odd seeing Cad’s children here; it was strange they were only a few minutes away while their parents trained for war. Knowing they were playing in the house’s backyard, being monitored by one of the refugees, comforted me.

“Violet,” Cad said when they reached us, while Samuel ran up to Viggo and attempted to jump on his knees, “I want you to meet my wife, Margot, and our children, Alice and Henry. Everyone, this is Violet, our cousin.”

I felt myself smiling naturally as I took in the taller woman. She was almost Cad’s exact height, statuesque, with warm brown skin and deep brown, almost black, eyes. The corners of her full mouth held smile lines. Her round face was framed by black, curly hair tied under a blue kerchief. I had seen her picture before, but it had barely been able to capture her radiant beauty.

“Hello,” I said softly. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Henry, the little boy hiding in Margot’s skirts, smiled shyly, then hid his face, while Alice peered at me from behind the small fist she held up against her mouth, sucking her thumb. I waved, and she blushed, looking away, absently putting a hand on Samuel as he pushed his nose into her shoulder.

“Violet!” Margot exclaimed, taking my left hand in hers and squeezing. “I’m so happy to see you doing well, all things considered. By the look of your face, you really went through the wringer for us, and I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful we are. That Princess Tabitha was a real piece of work, right? Can’t say I’m sorry to hear she died—served her right. What kind of a monster kidnaps an entire family—even two innocent children?” She paused only for a moment before continuing with the answer to her own question. “The evil kind, if you don’t mind me speaking out of turn. Ugh, if she were here, I’d claw out her bloody eyes for scaring my babies—God, and for hurting you.”

I smiled as Margot spoke, barely taking a moment to draw in a breath. Cad gazed at her while she talked, his eyes warm with affection, and I could feel the love radiating from him. He caught my gaze and winked. “Isn’t she wonderful?” he said.

“Absolutely,” I agreed with a smile, and Margot’s cheeks grew dark with a blush. I realized she had been nervous too, and that comforted me.