CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

"Hey there, beauty. You look a tad disheveled today." Dylan teased, a knowing look on his face.

Rory rolled his eyes, sliding his arms back into his shirt.

"I hope you have a good reason for interrupting, asshole." It always surprised me how differently he addressed his best friend. I giggled.

"I didn't hear any cries of passion, so you were either already done or you're not doing something right."

"Always an expert." Dylan grinned back, pleased with himself.

"Well, I just came by to deliver a message." He blew me a kiss and I growled back at him playfully.

"Stop hitting on my royal and do your job." Rory snarled, gracefully lowering himself in his chair and pulling me to sit on his lap.

"What's the message?" I followed, softer than Rory.

"Right. Uh, well, I heard word from the ARIA that you'll be needed there tomorrow, man." His hand shot to his neck, rubbing it apologetically, avoiding my look of disappointment.

"Not happening. We have a very important appointment for the twins tomorrow. I already told our board that I wouldn't be in," Rory stated sternly, running his hands over my belly.

"Yeah, about that. They said it's nonnegotiable."

"Excuse me?" Rory's voice took on a darkness that raised the hairs all over my body. It even made Dylan flinch.

"The Sire has called a meeting," he whispered beneath his breath, his eyes connecting with the King's to communicate the urgency.

"Why would the Sire be meeting with you?" I tried to turn to face him, but he held me still, drawing circles on my skin to calm me.

"I'm sure it's just another checkup. They don't take long. He doesn't like to waste time."

But even he didn't sound convinced.

"Rory, the appointment is at 10."

"I know, love. I'll be there. I promise." He gave me a soft kiss on my temple before turning to Dylan. "Schedule him for 9 if possible. He won't do earlier than that. But have them mark my absence for the rest of the day. I will be with my Queen."

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That night came and went quickly. Bastion, Rory, and I sat in tension throughout dinner, all a little worried about the following day, but all for different reasons.

I couldn't stop thinking about Lysander's urgent and ominous warning, thinking it could somehow be related to the Sire's sudden meeting. I had to trust Rory. He said that the Sire wouldn't hurt him, so as long as I stayed within palace gates, the twins and I would be safe. They had to be.

Around two in the morning I got out of bed to get a drink of water from the kitchen. Bastion's hot and heavy body wrapped around me was making my throat dry, and I was going to start coughing any second.

After an impressive performance of expert detangling, I slipped from the bottom and padded my way out the chamber door.

I was thankful that the mansion was newer and mostly quiet. It took the men until midnight to finally fall asleep themselves, and I didn't want to wake them.

As soon as I rounded the corner to the main corridor, hushed whispers tickled my ears.

"Something's not right."

"I know that, darling. Don't worry, I'm going to be at ARIA all day tomorrow."

"How is that supposed to make me feel better?" I heard the distinct sound of lips on skin.

"I'm our General for a reason. I'll ensure Rory's safety with all I have. You focus on the Queen."

There was a brief pause, making me wonder if they had left. I lifted my foot to walk, stopping when I heard more noise.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Kimberly."

My eyes widened and I had to cover my mouth to keep myself from gasping. Holy shit.

I didn't know how I was supposed to respond to that news drop.

I mean, damn. I knew they had some sort of physical relationship, but I didn't realize it was so serious. I was somewhere between cringing and smiling, really just wanting to interrupt this before I heard more lip action or confessions.

I stretched, letting out a not-so-subtle yawn as I dragged my way towards the kitchen.

By the time I arrived, they were pushed apart, my mom in the fridge pretending to look for something and Anthony sipping on a glass of blood at the bar.

I rubbed my eyes, acting surprised to see them.

"Mom? Anthony?"

My mom flinched at my voice, but Anthony only smiled.

"It's late, Queen. What are you doing out and about?"

I strolled to the fridge. "I needed a drink."

My mom popped out of the ice box holding a bottle for me in one hand and a carton of orange juice in the other.

"Looks like we were all thirsty," I mumbled, taking the water and eyeing my mother curiously.

I had never seen her so flushed. I made sure I was breathing through my mouth so I didn't smell something I really didn't want to and bid them goodnight.

They waved back at me, seemingly confused by my lack of questions.

It was their business. Besides, I had enough to worry about.

The cool water soothed my parched throat, and I had finished the bottle by the time I got back to the bedroom. I was surprised to see both Bas and Rory sitting up in the bed, staring at me with tired and confused expressions.

I dangled the bottle in my hands, and Rory collapsed back into the pillows with a sleepy smile, tucking his hands under his head and turning on his side.

Bastion, however, didn't lay back down until I was snuggled back into his arms.

I had to rearrange myself several times because he still wasn't quite used to the belly, but I eventually got comfortable enough to doze off for the last few hours of the night.

Tomorrow was the day. Tomorrow, our lives would change.

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I checked the clock for the umpteenth time, kicking my feet anxiously back and forth against the vinyl clinic table. 9:45 and still no sign or word from Rory.

I could tell Bastion was getting angrier with every second that ticked by, his brow furrowing and his lips twitching in frustration. I leaned back, releasing a sigh.

The Dr. would be here in fifteen minutes.

I was waiting patiently in my gown, eyeing the fancy ultrasound equipment beside me. There were several types of wands, but I had only ever seen one used. I wondered what the others were for. The large blue trackball in the center of the panel kept catching my eye, and I debated rolling my hand over it just to see what would happen.

Before I knew it, I had begun humming along to Rory's lullaby, letting it calm the nerves I was pretending didn't exist. It didn't have the same effect on Bas.

He jumped from his seat, pacing the room.

"This is bullshit." He growled, whipping out his phone and angrily dialing the number to ARIA.

He was connected with Heidi, who apologetically explained that Rory's special guest had yet to arrive. He argued with her, telling her to tell him to get his ass back here, but she said that she couldn't do that and hung up.

"Fucking vampire. I don't know why he can't just tell that dick to shove it. You're more important than the Sire's ego being stroked."

I sat up, clasping my hands between my legs.

"It's okay, Bastion. He'll be here. We will just wait for him."

He shrugged off my words, grabbing his coat from the chair and slipping it over his broad shoulders.

"Wait, where are you going?" I asked, my heart racing.

"To drag his ass here myself. Don't worry, baby. I'll be back in thirty." He softened for just enough time to give me a heart-melting kiss before lightly jogging out the clinic wing door.

Great. Now I had no one.

"What's going on, Rory?" I whispered, laying back down so I could trace the tiles above me with my eyes.

I fought my tears, because I didn't have the energy to cry yet. It was so quiet without my kings.

Ten minutes later, a soft knock was heard on the door, followed by Dr. Michaels entering. She stopped, clipboard in hand, glancing around the nearly empty room. Then, she furrowed her brow in disapproval.

"Bastion just left to get Rory," I explained, as if it made my solitude any less embarrassing.

She hmphed, setting up the equipment and prepping the wand.

"Wait, can't we wait?" I asked, panicked. She cocked her head.

"I'm terribly sorry, Queen, but I have other patients today. They are high risk or at term, and I really can't cancel. Maybe if you want, we could reschedule to later next week?"

I smiled sadly at her. I couldn't wait a whole other week to find out. That would be hell. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if I found out alone. It wasn't like I was making any decisions concerning the children. They didn't technically have to be there.

I huffed, pulling up my gown so she could continue the appointment. As soon as the cool gel hit my stomach, I gasped.

On the little black screen were my two beans, squirming around with one another in their tiny shared space.

She moved her cursor around, typing in numbers and taking pictures, but I was too focused on my babies. Our babies. They were beautiful.

I wished I could see more detail so I could see whose they were, but it was too blurry.

I finally blinked, letting the tears that had pooled in my eyes wet my lashes and cascade down my cheeks.

"Are you ready to know the genders, Queen?" she asked, seemingly in awe herself. I nodded, beaming back at her.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Did I miss it?" Rory rushed out, panting. Dr. Michaels responded before I could.

"You arrived just in time, King Rory. I was just about to tell her the gender of your children."

He flashed me a relieved smile, turning his eyes to the screen and immediately becoming entranced.

"Woah. They look... like little babies."

I snorted, grasping his hand as soon as he got near enough. "They are little babies."

I turned to the Dr. expectantly. Her eyes wrinkled with her smile and she hovered the wand south.

"Fetus A. Gender... Male." I gasped, making Rory wince with my grip. A little boy. Was Bastion right?

Then, she moved slightly to the right, pushing the wand in harder.

"Fetus B. Gender... Female. Congratulations, Queen. One of each. That's very lucky."

One of each. A little boy. And a little girl.

Rory pulled my lips to his, and I couldn't tell if the salty taste came from him or me.

We were having both. One of each. Bastion was only half right.

Shit. Bastion!

"Rory!" He smiled against my lips.

"Yes, love?"

I pushed him back a few inches, meeting his soft blues.

"Where's Bastion? Didn't he come with you?"

As if just realizing he wasn't there, Rory glanced around the room.

"No? Why would he come with me? Wasn't he here with you?"

Oh God.

"Rory, he went to ARIA to bring you here."

I watched as his expression went from perplexed to knowing to horrified.

"When?" He rushed out.

"He left over thirty minutes ago."

He ran his hand through his hair, leaning back to stand upright.

"Fuck." He gritted, pulling out his phone.

Dr. Michaels took one look at us before handing me a towel and our pictures and giving us privacy.

"Rory, what's going on? Where is he?" Panic was building fast, turning my moment of joy into my greatest nightmare.

"He's not at ARIA."