Chapter 12: Two Heartbeats

The next morning, I didn't wake up to sunlight. I woke up to the sound of low, hushed voices arguing in the living room.

"I don't care about your schedule, Vance. You come when I call."

It was Killian. He sounded annoyed.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up. The nausea was manageable today, thank Goddess. I threw on a silk robe Killian had left for me—black, obviously—and padded barefoot out of the bedroom.

In the living room, Killian was looming over a man who looked nothing like a doctor. He wore a leather jacket, combat boots, and had a shaved head with a tattoo of a serpent on his neck.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, my voice raspy.

Both men turned to look at me. Killian’s expression softened instantly. The stranger’s eyes widened, scanning me with curiosity.

"Elena," Killian said, walking over to wrap an arm around my waist, shielding me slightly from the other man. "This is Vance. He’s... an old friend. And the best doctor in the underground."

"Doctor?" I raised an eyebrow. "He looks like a hitman."

Vance laughed, a dry, raspy sound. "I can be both, sweetheart. Depends on who's paying. But today, the King is paying me to check on you."

He gestured to a portable ultrasound machine set up on the coffee table.

"Lie down on the sofa," Vance instructed, pulling a pair of latex gloves from his pocket.

I hesitated, looking at Killian. He gave me a reassuring nod.

"I trust him," Killian said quietly. "He hates the Council as much as I do. He won't talk."

I lay down, pulling my robe open just enough to expose my stomach. Killian sat on the edge of the sofa, his hand holding mine tight. His eyes were glued to Vance’s every move, watching him like a hawk.

When Vance squeezed the cold gel onto my belly, I flinched.

A low growl rumbled in Killian’s chest.

"Easy, big guy," Vance rolled his eyes, picking up the transducer wand. "I have to touch her to do the scan. Unless you want to use your x-ray vision?"

Killian glared but stayed silent.

Vance moved the wand over my skin. Static filled the room, followed by a rhythmic whoosh-whoosh sound.

My heart skipped a beat.

"There," Vance said, pointing to the grainy black and white screen. "That’s the heartbeat. Strong. Very strong for... what? Four weeks?"

"Almost five," I whispered, tears pricking my eyes. It was real. There was a life inside me.

Killian was mesmerized. He leaned in, staring at the screen as if it were a map to a hidden treasure. His thumb stroked the back of my hand, a silent comfort.

Suddenly, Vance frowned. He moved the wand to the left, then back to the right. He squinted at the screen.

"Wait a minute," Vance muttered.

"What?" Killian’s voice turned sharp instantly. "What is wrong? Is the pup okay?"

"The pup is fine," Vance said slowly, a grin spreading across his face. "In fact... both of them are fine."

The room went deadly silent.

"Both?" I choked out.

Vance pointed to two distinct blobs on the screen.

"Congratulations, your Majesty," Vance said, looking at Killian with amusement. "It’s twins."

I stopped breathing. Twins?

I looked at Killian. I expected him to look panicked. I expected him to look burdened. Two babies meant double the risk, double the danger.

But he didn't look panicked.

He looked... proud.

A slow, breathtaking smile broke across his face—a genuine smile that reached his eyes, making the blue look like a summer sky instead of ice.

"Twins," he repeated, the word rolling off his tongue like a prayer. He reached out and placed his large hand gently over my belly, covering both tiny lives.

"Two heirs," he murmured, looking at me with an intensity that made my toes curl. "You are incredible, Elena."

"I... I'm terrified," I admitted, my voice trembling. "Killian, how can we hide twins? It’s going to be impossible."

"We don't hide them," Killian said fiercely. "We protect them."

He stood up and looked at Vance.

"Is she healthy enough to carry them?"

"She's strong," Vance nodded, wiping the gel off my stomach with a towel. "But she needs rest. And she needs your energy. A lot of it. Twins will drain her twice as fast. You need to stay close to her. Bonding is mandatory."

"Understood," Killian said.

Vance packed up his gear. Before he left, he paused at the door.

"Oh, and Killian? The Council is sniffing around. They know you showed up at the party. Watch your back."

"Let them sniff," Killian said dismissively, not looking away from me. "If they come for my family now, they won't just be facing a King. They'll be facing a pack of three."

As the door closed, leaving us alone again, Killian pulled me into his lap, burying his face in my neck.

"Twins," he whispered again against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. "We are going to need a bigger nursery."