Page 348 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Nyktos said youwanted to see me,” Aios said as she crossed thefourth-floor antechamber, the hem of her sky-blue gown whispering over thestone floors.

She sat beside me on the couch while I sipped the juice Ashhad insisted I finish. “You’ve made your choice?” she asked.

My heart fluttered. “We’ve made our choice. We’regoing to do…the parent thing.”

Aios was quiet for a heartbeat andthen squealed, causing me to jump. “I knew it!” She made another noise thatsort of reminded me of a kitten, and then threw her arms around me. “Sorry! I’mso happy to hear this.”

“I can tell.” I only managed to hold on to my cup by sheerluck. “How did you know?”

“Nyktos sent Rhain to summon Kye,”she explained, squeezing me until I was the one close to squeaking. “He toldRhain he wanted Kye to check you over to ensure you were healing, but…”

“But you knew better.”

“I did.” Sitting back, she clasped her hands and tucked themunder her chin. “I would’ve supported you either way. Truly. But I am soexcited and happy for you—for both of you. For all of us. Do you even know thelast time a Primal had children?”

“When Nyktos was born?”

Aios laughed. “Of course, youknow.” She drew back. “When will you tell everyone? Please say soon because nottelling Bele will drive me mad.”

I laughed, setting my cup on the side table. “I’m not surewhen, but with everything going on, we want to keep it quiet. Can you help withthat?”

“Of course. I won’t say a word, even though it willdrive me mad.” Her cheeks were flushed. “How did he take the news?”

“I think he almost passed out,” I shared.

Aios giggled. “Fates, what I wouldhave given to see that.”

I grinned. “It was something else, but other than that, hewas…he was perfect.” Recalling his reaction once he got over his shock had mysmile growing. “He’s actually very excited.”

Her smile faltered a bit as her gaze swept over my features.“Are you not excited? Now that you’ve talked to Nyktos?”

“I am,” I was quick to say. “I’m also a little terrified.”

“Understandable,” she said, patting my knee. “Did you guystalk about how this does and doesn’t affect things?”

“We talked about feeding and stuff,” I told her. “That’ssomething we have to ask Kye, but we haven’t gotten to the part where I tellhim that I won’t be backing down from anything yet.”

“How do you think he’ll respond?”

I laughed. “Not at all well.”

Aios nodded. “At least you’reexpecting him to put up a fight.”

“I am. And I understand why he won’t likely agree with mefighting. I get it. But if something happened to him and I wasn’t there?”Pressing my lips together, I shook my head. “I can’t even think about it.” Iblew out a breath. “Anyway, I know he will be an amazing father.”

“And I believe you will make an incredible mother,” shesaid, her voice unwavering.

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “I don’t know.”

Her delicate brows furrowed. “I do.”

“I’m going to try. I want to because I…I love them already.”A nervous laugh left me as Aios’s features softened.My face warmed. “I do. And that makes me even more terrified,” I admitted, myfears rising then. I couldn’t put a lid on them. “I will do everything to be agood mother, even though I am possibly the worst and most undeserving person tohave a child, let alone two of them.” I frowned. “I don’t even know how toswaddle one.” I looked at her. “Do you?”

“Yes.” Her lips twitched. “I can show you, but parenting issomething you sort of learn along the way.”

That sounded chaotic and unpredictable, especially when Iwas involved in learning along the way.

I swallowed hard. “Yeah, but it’s more than that. I’m ananxious mess most days, and I can only imagine that will be, like, amplified,but…I guess being a nervous mess is normal when it comes to having children.”

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