Page 347 of Born of Blood and Ash

My heart twisted. I couldn’t tell Ezra. Or my mother. Sorrowrose as I pressed my lips together. Ezra would’ve been happy—shocked butthrilled for me. My mother? I didn’t know how she would’ve responded, but Iwould’ve liked to have the chance to learn.

I had to think of something else because I didn’t think thatkind of pain was good for the babes or me. Gods, a lot of things wouldn’t begood.

It was quiet, but Ash knew my mind wasn’t. “What are youthinking?”

I dragged my fangs over my lower lip. “Random stuff.”

His thumb swept back and forth, just below my navel. “Like?”

“I was just wondering if shifting into my nota willaffect them,” I admitted. “I mean, I assume not since it hasn’t yet, andinstinct tells me no.”

“But you’re still worried?”

“Me? Never.”

He laughed again, and gods, it was so rare to hear him laughso deeply and freely. “Well, we’re adding that to the list of things to askKye.”

“It’s going to be a long list,” I murmured, thinking abouttomorrow. I had no idea what would be involved when it came to that kind ofcheckup, and I wasn’t even going to think about it because it would probablystress me out.

But the visit with Kye wasn’t the only thing that had tohappen tomorrow.

I’d told Veses I’d see her soon,and I would.

“Twins,” Ash murmured, and I glanced up at him again. Thehollows of his cheeks pinkened. Another laugh greeted me. “For some reason, itjust hit me that we will have twins. I know. I should’ve figured that out hoursago.”

I smiled. “Don’t feel bad. I actually hadn’t considered thateither, to be honest. Twins do run in the family.”

“I suppose.” His finger trailed a circle around what I knewwas a freckle. “My father and his brother were the first, but they weren’tidentical.”

They had shockingly similar features, but they weren’texactly the same like Kyn and Attes. Their hair colorwas different, and Kolis’s cheekbones were broader, but his mouth wasn’t asfull as Eythos’s.

“I guess that means we could have something similar,” Isaid, running my fingers back and forth over his forearm.

“Or they could be identical.” He paused. “Or possibly a boyand a girl—fraternal twins.” His hand stopped moving suddenly. “The first andsecond daughter…”

“The prophecy.” I knew what he was thinking about. “Iwondered the same thing myself, but I…don’t think we’re having daughters oreven one of each.”

His brows knitted. “Has your vadentiatold you something?”

“No.” I thought about the brief moment when I saw the twochildren who were the same but different in the smallest ways. Twomahogany-haired boys with rich, bronze skin. One with silver eyes and the otherwith golden-silver. “It’s just a feeling.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Either way, they will…they willwant for nothing.”

My lips curved up. “You’re right.”

He returned my smile. “I was thinking that, other thantelling Nektas, we should probably keep the news ofthis quiet. This isn’t information we want getting out.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Aios won’t sayanything until I tell her it’s okay.”

The quiet came again, and his fingers made those soothingcircles and lines across my belly. Our children, be they sons or not, wouldwant for nothing. Even though the idea of parenting still freaked me out, Iwould do everything in my power to be a good one. And I would do everythingto become deserving of this…blessing.

Because it still seemed unfair that I got to have this. Likefate had messed up somehow, rewarding instead of punishing me.

“Ash,” I said, my voice cracking under the weight of theemotions welling up inside me. “I’m so grateful for this, for us. Foreverything.”

“Me, too, liessa.” Hishead dipped, and he kissed me. “Me, too.”

CHAPTERFIFTY-THREE

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