Page 338 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Fates, Sera.” Her throat worked on a swallow, and hershoulders squared. “I can tell you if you are. I would just need to place myhand on your stomach,” she explained, her silver eyes wide. “You really thinkyou’re with child?”

A rather huge part of me screamed no. If I didn’t know forsure, then I could continue on with, well, everything until I foundout for myself one way or another. I wouldn’t have to think about how I wouldaccomplish everything while with child…or two. I wouldn’t have toworry about how Ash would respond or—oh, gods—the fact that I could beresponsible for another human being. Like really responsible, and not in somevague, Primal of Life and Queen of the Gods sort of way. I could have weeks,maybe even a month of not having to deal with what would be a fairly largecomplication. I could just pretend. I was really good at that.

But that was irresponsible. And while I was that on mostdays, I wasn’t actively, idiotically irresponsible. Mostly. I cringed, thinkingof what I’d done.

Aios opened her mouth and thenclosed it.

She rose. Her gown whispered over the stone as she quietlyapproached me. Coming to stand beside me, she smiled. “It will be easier if youstraighten,” she said. “You can still hold on to the couch if you’d like.”

For a moment, I had utterly no idea what she was talkingabout. Then I realized I was still hunched over, clasping the back of thecouch.

Gods.

Prying my fingers loose and straightening, I saw I’d leftdents in the backing. “I’m not acting like a…a badass Primal right now.”

Her smile softened. “You’re acting like someone whose entirelife may change in a matter of moments.”

A whooshing motion swept through my chest, almost as if myheart decided it wanted nothing to do with this and had exited my body. “Thatdidn’t help.”

“But that’s the reality.” Aiostook my hand, and I jumped. I actually jumped. Her chin dipped. “Mostpeople would be this nervous, Sera. Even if they were hoping for a yes.”

Throat drying, I swallowed hard. “Okay.”

“I need to touch your stomach—your bare stomach,” sheinformed me.

“All right.” Knees feeling weak, I grasped the skirt of thegown and lifted it above my waist. “Aios—” I stoppedmyself.

“What?”

Pressing my lips together, I shook my head. What I wasthinking… “What if I am?” My voice cracked as those knots in my stomach doubledin size. “We have many fights ahead—”

“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it,” she cut in.

“We’re crossing that bridge right now,” I countered.“Everything will change.”

“It could.” Her steady gaze held mine. “But it doesn’t haveto.”

Air wheezed from my lungs. I knew what she meant.

“We just need to get to that point first,” she continued,her voice gentle. “Okay?”

Unable to speak, I nodded.

“It will only take a few seconds.” Her gaze loweredslightly.

The touch of her hand was surprisingly cool, and I jerked alittle. She murmured an apology, her hand flattening just below my navel. Iheld my breath, counting as the glow of eather pulsedbehind her pupils. Thin streaks radiated out, crisscrossing her irises. Herexpression didn’t change. There wasn’t even a flicker of a muscle when shewithdrew her hand.

The aura faded from behind her pupils, and she lifted hergaze to mine. What felt like a small eternity passed, but in reality, it couldhave only been a heartbeat or two.

She took a breath, and I could no longer breathe. “You’rewith child. Two of them.”

CHAPTERFIFTY-ONE

I didn’t remember walking around the couchand sitting, but I was. I was sitting with my hands limp in my lap and my heartbeating slowly, steadily. There was a buzzing in my ears, but I wasn’t runningaround screaming.

I was calm.

Aios sat beside me. She’d beenquiet since she’d confirmed what I realized at some point I’d already known. Atleast, I think she had been. There was that buzzing.

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