“Kas, we can postpone the ceremony. Henri will understand. No one will be upset about it.” I wipe her tears away and kiss her cheek. “We can even go to Lune D’or when Lena goes to visit Francis and have Henri do the ceremony there if we want. Henri would be happy to do that. You know they love having us visit. Musu and Marco can go visit her parents with their twins. If we wait until Delilah has her pup, she and James can visit the Coven with their new little one and Xander. ”“No. Want to do it tomorrow like we planned.” She sniffs and shakes her head. “I don’t want to let Aphrodite think she’s beaten us.”“So you and the Doc really think she’s the reason you reacted like that earlier?” It still sounds farfetched, but does it really sound that crazy? It’s been three months since Kas agreed to be my chosen mate and Aphrodite has made our lives really uncomfortable.“Whether Psyche thinks so or not, I know it. When Klay cracked the whip, I heard that obnoxious buzzing sound, and I lost

Bronx’s POV“Happy Birthday, Princess. How is Daddy’s sweet girl?” I pick Maya up and tuck her into my arm when I see her waddle out of the bedroom. Her long mousy brown hair is tangled on top of her head and the sleep is still thick in her eyes. “Where’s Mommy and Dre?”“Dey snuggle in big bed.” She leans her head against me and yawns with a growl. “Maya hungry, Daddy.”“Oh, well, good news. I got your eggs with sausage bits and toast and strawberry jam.” I kiss her cheek.“No, Daddy.” She scowls and points at the plate. “Maya want birfday cake.”“Birthday cake is later, Princess. You have to have breakfast first, so you’ll grow big and strong.” I pick the plate up and take her to the table. Instead of making her sit in her booster seat, I let her sit on my lap and help her with the tiny fork. “We’re going to celebrate with your friends. Katie will be there and Inez, Mandie, and Codi. Does that sound good?”“Can’t we let her have cake now AND later?” Saint whines. If it were up to hi

“You ready to show Mommy your new haircut?” I set Maya down and smile at her.“Yeah. I show Dre too.” She hops on her toes. “He say Maya pretty. He like Uncle Milo haircut.”I pause before I open the door. The twins are deeply connected, but she says it like Dre already knows. “Maybe they are psychic?” Saint wonders out loud.“Maybe?” I hum. “It might be worth asking the Doc.”Maya rushes into the room. Only a few kids are there so far playing in the corner while Kas, Ashley, and Delilah finish setting up. Marybeth and Elisa are arranging platters of food. I stay close to the door in case I need to make a run for it. Maya runs up to Kas. She holds up her drawing, excited to share it. “MAMA!! Look at da picture! I maked it!”Kas looks down with a big grin, but when she sees Maya, her face drops. “M-Maya… your hair…”“Yeah, Mama. Maya pretty now. LOOK!” Maya holds the picture up. “I maked dis!”Ashley and Delilah stop what they’re doing. Ashley’s eyes grow wide and Delilah gasps at Ma

Kas’s POV“Lex, you didn’t have to growl at him.” I try to talk sense into her as she trots away from the training pavilion. “He’s trying to help.”“I tried my hardest, and it wasn’t good enough, Kas.” She sulks, moving deeper into the woods.“Okay, but like the trainers said, we have two and a half years to work up to where we need to be.” I try to console her, but her feelings are already hurt. Lex doesn’t get genuinely offended often, but Hephaestus reminding her that this is life and death plucked a nerve. “No one expects you to be perfect the first time out. What’s gotten into you?”“Life and death, Kas.” She murmurs. “That doesn’t just mean ours. It could be our mate and our pups, too. Just give me time to think, please. I need to clear my mind.”“Alright. I’m here when you’re ready to talk.” I mumble, trying to push away her anger. “Don’t go too far. That hip is going to get real sore, real quick.”I let myself fall back and give Lex privacy while she works through whatever she

“Mommy, I here.” A sweet little voice whispers loudly in my ear. “You wake up for snuggles?”I take a deep breath of that deep forest pine scent I love so much and open my eyes. Dre is laying across me, playing with the ends of my hair. His big green eyes are giving me a pleading look that brightens when he sees me smile at him.“Andreas, my sweet little wolf.” My voice is scratchy and dry. I swallow back tears and shut my eyes tight. Every inch of my body hurts, but I don’t want him to see me cry. That I’m not dead allows relief to flood me. My baby can smother my all he wants. I wrap my arms around him and kiss his forehead. “Yes, my darling, we can snuggle. How long was Mommy asleep?”“The doctor said bringing the kids would help when you woke up.” Bronx says from a loveseat next to the hospital bed. He looks tired and relieved. Maya is leaning on his shoulder, sound asleep, with half an orange slice in her hand. Bronx gets up and lays Maya on the chair, then comes over to the bed.