CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

Rory left the room with our screaming baby girl nestled safely in his arms. Just outside the door, I heard the sweet melody of his lullaby echoing down the hall.

How did I get blessed with such an amazing royal?

I sighed, curling into a ball in the center of the empty bed. I was exhausted. I hadn't had a good night's sleep in a month, and I wasn't confident that I would tonight either.

I just couldn't stop thinking about Bastion. This wasn't how things were supposed to go, but I guess that's just how life works sometimes. Lysander had warned me about this path, but I had no clue just how unpredictable and excruciating it could get.

I lost my mate. They took him from me.

First physically, then spiritually.

I could never forgive them for it, and I swore to myself at that moment that I would walk all nine layers of hell before letting them keep him from me. If only I were stronger, but I had just had two beautiful children. My body was spent. At that point, I just had to trust that Rory would keep his promise.

Then, I would avenge our family. I would avenge our kingdom. I would kill the devious Sire King and that whore of a wife he had.

Shit.

I had to stay calm. My body had to heal. So much had happened in the last several hours. I almost died, I went into labor, I had twins. Twins. One boy, one girl. No, one vampire spawn, one wolf pup. How?

I knew the answer to that. Biologically, it made no sense. But six months ago, a certain mischievous god promised me that he would find a way around destiny. He promised that I would have Rory's child. And that little blonde boy laying in the cradle beside the bed was him, my gift from the gods.

"You're welcome, darling." Lysander, once again clad in his white linen and blue trousers, padded to the bed, climbing in beside me on my right.

"He's beautiful." I mused, turning to my side so I could face the Lord. His warm smile brought me peace, and I stared into his glowing blue eyes.

"I told you to trust me, didn't I? I may not show it often, but I do care for you, Queen."

I giggled. "Yea, I guess so."

My mood turned sour when I remembered that I was still incomplete.

I shifted back to stare at the chandelier above the bed.

"Are you troubled over your mate?" He asked, moving his fingers to comb through my hair.

"He's not my mate anymore, remember?" I mumbled, fighting the tears in my eyes. Sella refused to talk to me or even reveal herself, which didn't help with my guilt.

"Do you not love him anymore?" His simple question irked me, and I growled in response.

"Of course I love him. I didn't just love him because of the bond, you asshole." To my surprise, he chuckled low and deep.

"And you doubt he would return the sentiment?"

I clamped my mouth shut. Everyone besides me seemed so confident in Bastion's love for me. My doubts were not because he ever showed otherwise, but because of what he had already gone through because of our bond.

If he had any sense, he would leave us be and salvage whatever was not yet broken in his life to protect it. All I seemed to have brought him was pain.

"I know he loves me, but maybe he shouldn't," I responded coldly.

Lysander sighed, kneeling beside me on the bed. "That's not up to you, Queen."

"But if I had gone to rescue him earlier—"

"You would have been killed, along with your children and Bastion, too. You would be leaving Rory alone. Would that have been a better alternative for you, Aria?" His harsh words stunned me, and I closed my eyes.

"Of course not," I said, annoyance heavy on my lips. "But if this Sire King is so powerful, how am I supposed to defeat him? He's clearly stronger than me. If he weren't, I would have been allowed into the city."

I was met with silence, and if it weren't for Lysander's sweet scent surrounding me, I would've thought he left.

"Aria, remember when I told you that everything has its time?"

I slowly raised my gaze to his serious expression. "Yeah. Wait, you aren't going to tell me that I have to wait to find out or give me a stupid riddle again, are you?" I groaned. He fought a smirk.

"No, darling. Not this time," he assured me, his voice deep and sultry. What was he up to?

"Okay. Then what is it? What did I have to wait for?"

"My gift," he stated simply with a shrug of his shoulders.

I glanced at James. "My son?"

He shook his head, smiling in amusement. "No. Well, sort of. I at least needed them out first. They wouldn't survive it."

"Survive what? The attack from the Sire?" He shook his head again, and it was really starting to frustrate me. I was starting to wonder if Lysander even possessed the ability to be straightforward. "Then what?" I growled.

"My power."

"What?" I raised a brow, eyeing him with disbelief. What on earth was that supposed to mean?

"Both my sister and I will need to gift you some of our power in order for you to defeat our father. However, my gift will need to come even sooner than that. My gift will be necessary for you to defeat the Sire."

"So... you're going to gift me some of your power?" He nodded proudly. "Okay. So give it to me now. I've given birth." I urged, but he only laughed.

"Don't be so impatient, dear. You're weak right now, but I promise, as soon as you are healed enough to accept it, I will gift it. And I'll do it through a loving kiss." He winked, making me glare.

"Why do I feel like that's a stylistic choice? What if I don't want to kiss you? You already stole a kiss last time." He feigned offense, scoffing.

"It happens to be perfectly necessary for the transfer of my power. Mine is released through my mouth, so what better way than a kiss?"

"I don't know, you could blow it at me or something."

"And risk it floating into the sky? Stop being so prudish. It's just a kiss." I growled at his accusation.

"I'm not prudish. I happen to be a taken woman, you pervert. I don't make a habit of kissing other men." He rolled his eyes, giving me that utterly adorable pout of his.

"Fine. Would it make you feel better if I gave you my gift in front of Rory?"

I thought on his suggestion. I guess if Rory knew about it and that it was completely necessary and nonsexual, I wouldn't feel like I was doing anything wrong. Besides, it was just Lysander. The bizarre deity had proven trustworthy so far.

"Fine. But just one." I caved, pushing his smirking form away from me.

"Aria? Are you okay?" My mom's voice sounded from the direction of the front door and I peered around Lysander to greet her.

"Oh, Mom! Yea, come in. I was just talking to-" I nodded towards him, but he was no longer there. "Never mind." Suddenly, I noticed that she was holding a small pink bundle in her arms. "You saw Rory? And got her to sleep?"

She smiled admiringly at my softly snoring baby girl, crossing to place her beside her brother. "Yes, but I can't take credit for her sleeping. That was him." I glanced back at the door, but I couldn't smell Rory anywhere nearby.

"Where is he?"

"He called me to take her back to the room. He said that he had an urgent matter to attend to."

I frowned. It wasn't like him to disappear without saying goodbye first. Especially since he hadn't left my side in weeks.

"So, how does it feel to be a mom?" My thoughts were interrupted by my mom's hushed but overjoyed voice.

I sat up, allowing her to take my hands in hers.

"Gross. I'm bleeding and my stomach is still huge. I'm also tired and have no idea what the hell I'm doing." She giggled, kissing my cheek.

"That's motherhood, alright. Don't worry, your stomach will shrink with time. As for the bleeding..." She opened up her bag, pulling out several blood pouches all marked 'King Rory.' "The King requested I bring these by. Apparently, vampire women heal quickly after birth because they drink their royal's blood."

"Really? How long does it normally take?" I asked. I admittedly hadn't done much research on the topic. She snorted.

"I didn't stop bleeding after you for a month, and that was considered quick. Normally, it's even longer."

I cringed. An entire month of bleeding and feeling gross sounded awful.

I grabbed a pouch with urgency, piercing it with the straw and sucking it down as fast as possible.

Gods, it tasted like heaven, and I had just realized how starving I was.

I finished the first pack and was reaching for the second when my mom laughed. "Slow down a little. Poor Rory will have to replenish whatever you drink. We don't want to drain the guy."

I blushed, sucking on the straw a teeny bit slower.

"Honestly, it's amazing. A vampire and a werewolf. A boy and a girl," she mused.

I smiled reverently at the bassinet. "I know. I can't wait for Bastion to meet them."

My mom's smile faded, and I knew she had been told.

"Honey..."

"It's okay, Mom. I'm okay. I've decided to have faith that he'll still choose us, even without the bond."

She didn't say anything, only smiled sadly.

It was crazy. I remembered the first time Sella had cried "mate" and the fear that flowed through me. I was so worried about how Rory would react and about who I would choose. I honestly thought I would lose them both.

But instead, I was blessed with two loves. Two men who had been divinely selected to love and cherish me. They both did an amazing job of it, too. They both sacrificed so much for me, especially Bas.

He had proven to be nothing like who I thought he was. He was the missing piece of me, and I believed that even if I didn't attend the Eclipse, I would've found my way to him because I needed him.

"The nurses will be in to take the babes in a few minutes. Try to get some sleep, sweetie. I'm sure when you wake up, Rory will be right back beside you." My mom gave me a tender kiss on the forehead before crossing to bestow two more on my daughter and son. James stirred at her contact, making her flinch before tiptoeing out of the room.

I had so much to think about, but for now, I had to surrender to the sleep that was calling to me.

Maybe my mom was right.

Maybe when I awoke, it would all be okay.