Page 19 of Within the Veil

I gasp as my belly lets off a soft glow and I snatch my shirt up... "Can you, understand me?"

I feel silly for even asking but my eyes widen and I

stare in wonder as the glow turns brighter, as if they are responding to my words.

I tug my shirt back down as the glow fades as I feel an unfamiliar shift in my abdomen.

Goddess help me, my children can communicate before they were even born. The teenage years are going to suck.

Briefly closing my eyes, I let out all my angst and put it to the back of my mind as I prepare to go downstairs. I may not know how to really show up, but I was going to do it in the best way I knew how...by pretending that nothing happened and everything was okay.

With a determined mind, I throw on my favorite fluffy socks, because um, fluffy socks, and make my way down the dark wood stairs, holding the smooth banister for support, following the light voices.

* * *

"I'm just sayingthe people would probably not respond well if we just start making decisions without Hudson, power of invocation or not." Ryders, a voice floated up the stairs to me.

"First of all, her sexy ass is on Faerie life support and secondly we are her mates, we are the regency in her stead," mumbled Remi, talking with her mouthful of...I took a whiff...Pizza! Those fuckers are eating pizza.

"She is right and unless she wakes up soon we need to start taking action and gaining all the alliances we possibly can. We've waited long enough." Zane started.

"I thought we agreed to call it vine support?" Ryder tossed in, slamming his hands on the table.

Jensi laughed, "you decided to call it vine support. It doesn't even make sense. I thought we should go with the Naruto route and say she's on Life Support Hidden in the Leaves.

Luca and Ryder laughed outright, "fucking genius."

"Focus, assholes..." Zane sighed.

"It's not my fucking fault you don't want to be one with nature. You should really consider seeing a pixologist, they have been working wonders with helping me manage my grief," Ryder whisper shouted.

I hold back a laugh. Zane started to rub his temple, "I can't reach him, someone please just punch him please, the white-haired fuck."

"I know you are but what am I... ooppppmmm," Ryder grunted.

"Thank you," Zane sighed.

"No problem," replied Remi, laughing and dancing away from a growling Ryder.

"Maybe we should walk in there and wave pizza under her nose. It might wake her up," King tossed in.

Grayson's voice finally jumped in, "You want to wake up a woman, pregnant with four babies...on purpose bymakingher hungry. You want ahangryHudson. Is that right?"

"I want Hudson, period. If she has to be hungry and angry so be it," snapped Hunter, answering for King.

Grayson chuckles, "your funeral. You remember the time we didn't tell her there was pizza? Yeah, now you can literally feel the power pouring off of her. Fuck you bro, I read those dad books. They say to keep her fed, massaged and happy. If there is one thing I don't even need to exert my mind on, it's survival," the grin is clear in his voice, and Remi chuckles.

I smile, my heart dancing at their banter while I pause to consider my stomach. Iamhungry. I want that fucking pizza. And judging by the flips in my stomach, the kids wanted pizza too. And I will get us all the pizza from those fucks. I'd meet them in hell with an Elder Wand, dipped in spikes and would stick it... Well, you get the point.

"Queen Mommy, why are you hiding out here," a small voice whispered behind me. I looked back at Li'Ella as everyone in the kitchen continues their discussion.

I smile brightly as I look down at her curious face. "I'm not hiding, baby. I'm eavesdropping." I crouched down, giving her tiny body a hug as she throws her arms around my neck. Just like the first time I ever met her, except maybe an inch taller and a hell of a lot stronger. I lean back to take her in as she giggles, "My mommy said that's not polite. But you're the Queen Mommy, so it must be okay for you to do it," she smiles, her green eyes sparkling, her long white hair now a few inches longer, trailing on the floor behind her. She is just absolutely precious.

"Are we going to go in there? I saw," she tapped on the side of her head, "that they were having pizza and that you woke up. Can we go have pizza?" Her bright green eyes look at me and my heart melts. I nodded as she took my hand and pulled me into the kitchen. All conversation halts as Li'Ella announces, "Queen Mommy is awake, I told you!" She hopped up on the table and snagged a slice of pizza, and settles comfortably on Grayson's lap. Whose face goes slack, beyond shocked at my appearance.

Smiling tentatively, I breathe in their scents deeply. I took stock of the room and mentally paused as I process the conversation they were just having. I understand their desire to finally get in and finally take action and I could only hope that we can come back stronger and better because we have several things to unwind from this tangled web of fucking lies and deceit but Gaia said they were becoming unhinged, which probably meant they were emotionally losing their minds; sure sounded like it. Although physically, they looked amazing; I knew I would be just as mentally fragile if it were any of them who were in a coma.

I take a quick look at them sitting in the bright kitchen, hunched around the kitchen island or casually leaning against the walls and I feel it in my bones. I was home.

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