Extra Chapter: Peaches
#41 of The Mating Season 7: The Last Shemale Queen
Extra Chapter
Peaches
King Eyrrothaz stood on the wide balcony of his bedroom, reading and rereading the tearstained letter in his paw. It had been scrawled hastily and the ink was smeared where Nizhoni's tears had hit. But he could get the gist of it: she was gone. And it was likely she wasn't coming back.
Eyrrothaz,
In the m--ths that I have been your queen, I ha--e come to care for you . . . more than I expected. Leaving you and leaving our child . . . until this m--ent, I th--ught leaving Estesi was difficult. Leaving you and Pe--hes was just as hard. I feel like my heart's being ripped out all over again. Two daughters abandoned by their mother, and I know I have hurt you.
You were my friend, Eyr. As I stepped through the gate and ar--ved at Iszel, I realized you were my only friend. My only friend . . . and I left you behind.
But I had to go. I have much to atone for. I have to go back to Miras Eii and face the consequences for what I have done. I have killed my own kind. I betrayed my ki--g and queen by working with her conspirators. And . . . I hurt my husband. My good and strong LiAnh. I believe I hurt him most of all.
Tala also told me of Aayan's pl--n to save my ki--dom. I must help him. I must return to Miras Eii and try to save everyone. I indulged myself a-d enjoyed being a queen, even for a little while. But I could never forgive myself if I sat in luxury with you, ignoring the suffering that is happ--ng in the outside world.
So I will go. And if I survive, I will return, and hopefully, Peaches will have a mother she can be proud of.
Take care of her.
Zhoni
Eyrrothaz sighed and finally dropped the letter. One of the mares in the room ran to catch it, and he saw her go to the bed, where she placed it on the bedside time - knowing he would want to read it again twenty times tomorrow.
Eyrrothaz turned to face the room. It hadn't changed in the months of Nizhoni's absence. The white canopied crib still stood at the end of the bed, and inside was his daughter, a small tawny foal named Peaches.
Eyrrothaz went to the crib and smiled at his baby. Peaches was golden as a peach but splotched with red - again like a peach. Her short curly mane was also red, and her eyes . . . they were sapphire blue.
Hearing her father, Peaches' ear flicked and she opened her eyes, arching her back and reaching with pudgy paws for him. Eyrrothaz smiled and gathered the foal lovingly in his arms. She giggled and kicked her tiny hooves at the air. Her eyes were always bright with joy.
Nizhoni had insisted on naming the foal Peaches: living in Vi'sune had influenced her in more ways than one. Eyrrothaz looked down at his daughter and smiled: Princess Peaches.
The unicorn king carried his baby to a rocking chair on the balcony, and after easing into it, he began to rock.
:Is Mommy coming back today?: Peaches said into her father's mind.
Eyrrothaz sighed, not wanting to answer. Unicorn children developed mental abilities at an incredible speed. They always spoke telepathically before they spoke out loud. It was a part of unicorn magic.
Eyrrothaz wrapped his daughter tighter in her white blanket and tickled her chin until she shrilled with giggles. :You miss breastfeeding with her.:
:Yes,: the foal answered sadly. :Apple's breasts have magic milk . . . not real milk.:
:Blast that you can tell the difference.:
The foal giggled. :I wanna be walking when Mommy comes back So I can run to her.:
:Your little hooves are tender.:
:Nuh uh.:
:I'll take you round the lake after lunch. Would you like that?:
:Yesss!: lisped the foal_._
A pause as they rocked contently.
:Daddy?:
:Yes?:
:Is Mommy coming tomorrow?:
Eyrrothaz sighed.