Chapter 28 – Aline
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Aline
“ I ’m going to murder Nadia when I see her,” Emerson grumbles.
She waddles over, tossing herself down on the couch in my office.
“I’m pregnant with four babies! Four!” She groans, rubbing at the sides of her stomach.
“My pregnancy with Ember lasted just shy of five months. I mean, I think. I never knew the exact day I got pregnant or anything, but it was short. I don’t think this pregnancy will last three months. ”
Studying her swollen stomach, I grimace. She definitely looks like she’s around four or five months pregnant. I’m going to guess that’s a combination of it being a supernatural pregnancy and the number of babies busy taking up space.
“You’re happy, though, right?” I ask to distract her. I’ve known since the night she was changed into a vampire, but Meena didn’t mention it would be a multiple birth, so I’ve kept my mouth shut too. You don’t fuck with the future when prophetic magic is involved.
Emerson’s face softens. “Ohmigod, I am so excited,” she beams, “and grateful. If I wasn’t pregnant when I was turned, then there’s almost no chance...”
“I completely understand,” I tell her, taking the seat on the opposite side of the couch. My hand runs over my own slightly distended stomach.
“How’s everything going with life?” she asks, studying me with a look I can’t decipher.
“I feel like I’ve said thank you, but I really need you to understand how much I appreciate you stepping in that night.
” She stretches a hand out to squeeze mine.
“You know, that’s what I popped in about in the first place.
Charity and Meena are over at the park with Veryn and Ember.
We thought you might want to take a little break and hang out with us for a while. ”
I didn’t know she and Charity were close enough to get the kids together, but my heart races as I give a timid nod.
I’ve got friendly relationships, but I spent the last two-plus decades keeping distance between myself and everyone else. It actually feels good that they extended the offer to invite me. It’s even better to realize I don’t have to keep everyone at arm’s length anymore.
“Okay,” I agree, pushing myself off the couch. I offer Emerson a hand and she grunts, wiggling her way up with her moderately sized belly. Damn, maybe she does look closer to five months pregnant than four.
She links our arms and aims for the door. “You’re important to my guys and,” she shrugs, “I’d love the opportunity to get to know you better. I can’t thank you enough for... Helping them bring me back? Keeping me alive? Hell, I don’t even know.”
“I’m carrying a clutch of four eggs,” I blurt out before I can stop myself. “They’re fertilized, but I’m so afraid something is going to go wrong.”
Emerson blinks, tilting her head like a confused puppy. “I’m so sorry. I feel clueless right now. I think you’re going to need to explain that one.”
I laugh. We make it to the door, and she holds it open. I fill her in on a little of my history as we wander the halls and head out the employee-only exit at Venom.
“Wow,” she says, blinking her huge blue eyes. “I’m...I had no idea.”
“Not many do.” I swipe a hand through the air. “Outside of Nadia, and that was only because of her attempt to heal the damage caused by my magic.”
“Well, I guess I can’t hurt her if she normally doesn’t screw up so monumentally.
” Emerson laughs, bumping her hip against mine.
Technically, it’s more of my thigh because I’m so tall, but it’s a very friendly gesture.
I find myself smiling back, despite the weight of my worries.
“It makes sense why you’re stressed, but if there’s anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to ask.
I know people say that but don’t really mean it.
That’s not the case here.” She smiles. “And congratulations, that’s huge. ”
“I appreciate it,” I say, laughing.
“Probably not as huge as we’re about to be,” she says with a snort.
“Okay, so that was bad.” I chuckle, shaking my head. “But honestly, I can’t wait to get as big as a house.”
“Will you deliver eggs?” she asks as we hit the sidewalk, taking the street that cuts over to the park.
“No. It’s not likely. Sometimes, a female incubates the clutch of eggs for a kraken, and in that case, they’re solely born male and would be delivered as eggs. According to Hex, my body accepted them.”
“I don’t know what that means either,” she says, grinning. The park comes into view, and we cross the road to head over into it.
“Since my body accepted them...” I frown. “You know, it’s confusing to me too. Basically, I think that to absorb the maternal DNA it weakens the egg. As they grow, they’ll use it as a placenta. I think.” I laugh, shaking my head. “I’m getting all this info secondhand from a man.”
“Got it, yeah, that makes perfect sense,” Emerson says, patting my arm.
“I’m so happy for you. I won’t lie. It’s a huge relief that everything turned out so well.
Otherwise, I told the guys we’d have to help you get out of town, but I think Dread’s worst nightmare is that you’ll leave The Den. ” She snorts.
“His greatest nightmare is something happening to you or your offspring,” Malice says from the shadows of an oak tree we walk past. “And that he would be incapable of stopping it.”
Emerson jolts, holding on to my arm for dear life.
“That’s Malice,” I say, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “He’s a nightmare, but he’s my nightmare.”
“That was very cute.” Malice bows at the waist. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Wait, holy shit. That’s actually really cool. You’re all shadowy and ominous.” Emerson laughs.
Malice bristles, but a wicked smile breaks out across his face. “You’re a vampire walking around in direct sunlight. I find that quite ominous.”
“Good point.” She extends a hand. “Emerson. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’ll join you over by the feral animals,” Malice says as they finish shaking. He chuckles. “Wait, I believe the word I was looking for is children. I think your daughter may give the future dragon alpha a run for his money one day.”
Emerson snorts. “She already wreaks pure havoc with my four mates. I’m a little afraid to find out what the future holds when she’s a teenager.”
Malice nods, siphoning away to the trees about twenty yards away.
“There are so many supernaturals I had no idea even existed,” she says with wide eyes.
I laugh, because she’s not alone. There are some I’ve come across over the years that I thought were purely myth too.
Charity stands near Meena. They’re just under the extended branches of the oak tree. Veryn chases Ember in a circle around the playground. It’s quite adorable hearing the wolf pup’s giggles as she pivots, changing direction to follow the dragonling instead.
“Hey,” Charity says, waving when she spots us. “I have to say, this is the best idea we’ve ever had. They’ve got supernatural levels of energy; letting them wear each other out is brilliant.”
“Agreed.” Emerson releases my arm, heading for the picnic table.
My eyes dance over the kids as they run. My jaw falls as Ember tackles Veryn. He might only be two or three years older than she is, but he’s so much larger, it’s difficult to believe it’s possible. It would be like me successfully tackling Atlas.
“Ohmigod, I’m so sorry,” Emerson says, moving to push herself off the picnic table.
“No, don’t worry. Please don’t get up. He’s fine.” Charity laughs, turning toward Veryn, she cups her hands around her mouth. “Get up and dust yourself off.”
Meena starts meandering closer to the kids as something strange prickles at my skin. The hairs on my arms stand up. My magic rises, and I shove it back down. We’re in the middle of Haven, in the damn park, in the afternoon.
I’m not sure why my feet propel me closer to Meena and the fledglings, but the children are all my magic can seem to focus on.
“Kitten,” Malice growls from behind me.
I don’t stop. Something in the air doesn’t feel right.
“I’m going for backup,” Malice says.
“Aline,” Bane growls from the same direction as Malice. I didn’t know he was lingering around, but I’m not shocked.
“Is something wrong?” Emerson calls out.
My hands glow light pink, signaling my magic. I sweep my gaze over the playground equipment and eventually spread out farther.
I can’t see anything, but that doesn’t change the fact I can feel it.
“Veryn.” I catch his attention. “Pick her up and come here.”
His head tilts like he’s listening to something and his wings sprout. His small body spins around as he hisses at something. He turns back, grabbing the wiggly Ember and bolts in our direction. His wings flutter under his T-shirt, but they aren’t powerful enough to break through the material.
I pick up my pace, nearly reaching Meena’s frozen form.
“For the love of God, woman,” Bane growls. “Can’t you tell they’re luring you?”
I pause, stumbling a step, because that logic makes sense.
The mirage falls away, and Davick, the High Chancellor of the Unseelie, appears, along with four fae flanking him, two on each side.
The farthest on each edge have bows with drawn arrows pointed at me.
The two closest to the pathetic man, who will die today, have double short swords. They truly do fear me.
Davick wraps a forearm around Veryn’s middle, plucking up the child as he attempts to break for us. Meena still stands frozen to my right, but Bane jogs up, appearing on my left.
“Banyan, how convenient.” Davick gives a cool smile. “There’s a mandate for your apprehension.”
Veryn still kicks, holding Ember. Her back is to us, but she doesn’t fight the dragonling’s hold.
“It’s clear you’re here for me,” I say, clearing my throat. “Return the children to the ground unharmed, and I’ll come with you.”
“I don’t know,” Davick says, laughing darkly. “The she wolf is rare. From what I’ve heard, they’re a dying breed. The dragon smells of the royal line. I think I could fetch a fair number of favors in trade for the pair.”
Veryn hisses.
Bane goes stiff beside me.
“I know you’ve got a soft spot for children and animals.” Davick sighs. “Unfortunately, good help is hard to find these days.” He looks at Bane with disdain. “If you want something done right and all that. Stop fucking fighting me,” he growls at Veryn.
Maybe my brain is slow, because only pieces of that little speech made sense.
“If you hurt either one of those kids, I’ll slaughter all of you. The streets of Winter will run red with your blood as I massacre everyone you’ve ever loved,” Bane says, his eyes glowing. “You know what she can do, but she’s relatively peaceful. Are you sure you want to start a war with me?”
“Open the portal,” Davick commands.
The two fae with short swords step back, preparing to do just that.
There’s commotion behind us, but Meena speaks to comfort the hysterical mothers. “No, trust me. It’s best if we don’t interfere.”
“Now would be a good time to do the thing,” Bane hisses.
“What thing?” I ask, but I’m strangely numb again. I’m sure some beings are excellent in a crisis. Unfortunately, that’s not me.
“The thing where you kill them all,” Bane says, his tone lined with exasperation.
“I don’t trust that my magic wouldn’t pull from them.” I hope he knows I mean Veryn and Ember.
“Fuck,” Bane groans.
“You know this breaks the treaty with the human realm’s paranormal council,” Silence says coolly from somewhere behind me. “I’m here, love. We have faith in you. We follow your lead.”
My heart pounds as my vision goes spotty. No one should trust me to make decisions, especially in a crisis. I always manage to make the wrong call.
“Back up,” Davick commands. “The princess and the assassin only.”
“You’ll be finished after this,” Hex says, his deep, growly tone echoing around the air.
My head swivels.
Atlas stands maybe five feet behind me, with Hex and Silence at his sides. Malice isn’t visible, but I can feel him. I know he’s here somewhere too.
The pop of the portal being open makes Ember screech. She finally starts to fight against Veryn and, ultimately, Davick’s hold.
“I was going to ask you to go first, but I actually think this will be more effective.” Davick chuckles, stepping backward into the open portal.
Emerson and Charity scream behind me, but my magic pulls me forward. Or maybe that’s basic decency. Those kids wouldn’t be at risk if it weren’t for my mess.
“Guess we’re popping through a portal today,” Bane says, jogging at my side. “I fucking hate portals.”
The glow radiating off the large oval is so bright, it burns my eyes, but I don’t think it through.
I jump.
I guess it’s true what they say about never being able to escape your past. I sure hope my sister and her people are ready to be reunited, because I’m officially tired of these games.