Tasting Darkness

My baby bump had grown so large in the matter of weeks. It was obvious to most that it was more than one inside there. Yet it was no surprise to me and Kalen, we could tell by the changes in my aura. I was having a boy and a girl. Reluctantly, we found a reliable source within the Harmony-Fae that was an OBGYN before my mother had imprisoned him.

“Well, we definitely have more than one.” He observed, the cold gel on my belly making me shiver. He rolled the handle down, pressing harder to show everyone the two heartbeats.

I was excited for twins.

“So definitely twins?” Darius. asked to be sure.

“More than one?” Lycus stared at the screen, his jaw slack. “Are you sure it isn’t one?” he demanded.

A heavy thud hit the ground, and we looked over to see Lycus passed out on the floor from the news. To be a Were-Fae he was so dramatic. If anyone was going to be doing any passing out around here, it would be me.

Hell, I was the one carrying them. Only thing he would have to do was help with diapers and feedings. Though it wouldn’t surprise me if he slacked off. He

always tried to weasel his way out of helping with the baby phoenixes.

The phoenixes had grown up, and we had more than I had before the day we were attacked by power hunters on the training fields. They liked terrorizing some of the new recruits just for the hell of it.

Ryze learned to talk more and be able to say everyone’s names clearly. She constantly pestered

Tobias and Darius for belly rubs. She was now too big to fit on my lap with my growing bump.

“Depending on how your pregnancy goes, you should be okay with the delivery, but if anything comes up, don’t hesitate to call me. We owe you a great debt for saving us from our prison.” the doctor bowed his head to me.

I had moved Astrid’s safe haven.

We didn’t need any more intrusions in our lives. We had all

lost so much, but gained so much more through our bond.

The Harmony-Fae were reintegrated with the rest of the Fae.

They’d recovered all the files they’d needed from my mother’s old base. It implicated my parents as the source of both waves of the plague.

Well before any of us had been born, a long-standing war between the demons and Seraphim boiled over, killing the entire Seraphim population with only a handful remaining.

My mother, over time, filled my father’s head with the desire to rule and bring down the demon king. Bringing back the Seraphim population and keeping the ultimate weapon at their control, their own daughter. I was never meant to live as a child in their eyes, only a tool for their agenda.

If it weren’t for Darius and Tobias, I would have died in that fire, and the most painful part? My mother wouldn’t have shed one single tear at my loss. It didn’t matter to Lidia who died by the plague she released. All those lives lost, so she could parade around like the queen she clearly wasn’t.

My mother’s plan was decades in the making, making everyone believe the Harmony – Fae died off, all the while she collected them one by one. There were moles everywhere within the Fae authority, seduced to believe they would be given control. Lidia planned to release a third wave of the plague, which is what she injected Porter with, killing him. Who did she think there would be to rule with the dark Fae gone?

No rhyme or reason to make her plan make sense. After Porter went on the run for killing his wife, my mother made him a deal, help her find me and kill Xandrius along with Darius. She knew Darius and Tobias were my mates and saw Lycus and Kalen’s names on Darius’ infinity symbol, connecting the dots.

Lidia knew they would come for me, being their keeper, destroying her plans. She convinced my father that it was better that I die than be mated to the son of their enemy. In her mind, it was better to kill me than Xandrius having access to all the power and the cure that I contained.

I wonder now did she ever have one ounce of love in her heart for me? Or my father for that matter. It was so much to process and take in. On a brighter note, Tobias’ parents made the effort to accept Tobias and his choice to be involved with not just me, but our other mates.

Ryze came swooping in and perched on the windowsill, she was able to finally say my name properly, “Aleera, outside.” Her sharp eyes pleaded for me to go. I pushed up off my seat standing up, while she followed down the stairs. She had gotten too big to sit on my shoulders.

I waddled down the last landing, exiting out the door only to be shocked, “Surprise!” The recruits and my mates had thrown a surprise baby shower. I never knew demons even celebrated like this. They are usually dark and glum.

Well, since most of them helped raise the phoenixes, a lot has changed with them. Still but with a …. demons, of course, but with a lighter side. And to think over a year ago I despised them, wishing they were all dead.

Darius came over, helping me to my seat. He cuddled me every chance he got, roping my feet up, kicking Lycus out of the bed for fear he would smush me and my growing belly. I definitely don’t miss the old Darius, this version of him was growing on me.

Tobias’ parents were also here to celebrate their grandchildren, our son would be named Thomas, after Tobias’ brother. He had saved me from Lidia, sacrificing himself in the process to keep me safe. I will forever be grateful to him. demons, of course, but with a lighter side. And to think over a year ago I despised them, wishing they were all dead.

Darius came over, helping me to my seat. He cuddled me every chance he got, roping my feet up, kicking Lycus out of the bed for fear he would smush me and my growing belly. I definitely don’t miss the old Darius, this version of him was growing on me.

Tobias’ parents were also here to celebrate their grandchildren, our son would be named Thomas, after Tobias’ brother. He had saved me from Lidia, sacrificing himself in the process to keep me safe. I will forever be grateful to him.

Darius seated next to me and Kalen on the other side smoothed over my bump, making my stomach ripple, and now one of them needed to get me up to use the bath from one of our babies sitting on my bladder. “Since you both made one of them stomp on my bladder, you both need to help me up to use the bathroom.” I scolded.

Lycus rushed over, “I’ll do it, you two are always trying to hog her.” Lycus lifted me up with no effort, stuck his tongue out at our mates and helped me back inside before I wet my pants. But I had a surprise for our daughter’s name. It was the one name we couldn’t agree on. They wanted to name her after me, I suggest Lycus’s mother name, but he didn’t want his daughter’s name to represent such a horrid memory for him and mine was not an option.