Page 95 of Within the Veil

"She wants to meet her sister as well. If we are to help her heal and have healthy coping mechanisms, we should retrieve her sister," Oberon says from his perch. It's amazing how he can make his voice carry as if he is right next to us. Sensitive hearing or not, throwing your voice is different.

Jensi laughs softly, " healthy for Hudson, anyway. If her sister is stabby, two stabby versions will certainly help her cope. If only to have another sparring partner. New dragon skin or not, I don't think any of the soldiers will want to risk harming her. Her sister may not have the same hesitations."

I scoff, "Queen aside, they just don't to get asses kicked by a pregnant woman. She was downright lethal before, but especially after her murderous display, they would avoid her like the plague."

Everyone chuckles, more than likely picturing her performance. A quicker, balanced Hudson that is indestructibleandhas increased powers? As it is, I'm looking forward to her kicking Oberon's ass.

Oberon laughs-- if you can call it that considering it sounds like a promise of the worst sort of torture imaginable-- and jumps down. His feet make no sound on the forest floor nor the marble of the patio as he moves to King's side. "I do so look forward to testing her new powers and speed. I have no qualms with sparring with my mate, I will not treat her as if she is any less worthy than my full skill set. Until then, I have to attend to another man who will have to suffer the wrath of all my frustrations made into corporeal form."

He puts a hand on King's shoulder, and I have to admire the fire that blazes in King's eyes. He relishes the pain as much as Oberon likes to dole it out. However, I think today, he may need the oblivion that comes from a half-murderous training session just as much as we all do. Except while we plan to head to the training grounds, King will be in the middle of the forest getting eviscerated. Literally.

"May the odds be ever in your favor King. I have a sweet little Faerie lady to warm my loins tonight while you are getting yours removed and stuffed down your throat," Jensi chuckles and leaps up to his feet.

Luca rolls his baby blue eyes, "when do you not?"

Jensi scoffs, "Like your ass isn't going off to do the same."

"Actually," he straightens his broad shoulders, "I'm going with Oberon and King."

We stare at him a little open-mouthed, and Oberon gives a low chuckle, placing another hand on Luca's shoulder and winking before faeding with both of them in tow.

Jensi groans and looks at all of us with a pained expression, "Fuck I'm going to have to go as well, aren't I?" He runs a hand through his hair and starts to braid his long hair with angry tugs, "I can't be the only sentinel not fucking going off to learn the fucking ways of the murderous Fae version of Phil Collins. Long live the Queen for the power boost. At least I enjoyed it while I could." He mutters.

"Don't be a pussy. Go learn to die so you can live and all that bullshit," Ryder says, standing up and stretching.

"Pussies get pounded, I'm going to get ripped apart," Jensi growls out.

"Well, if you want to get technical... childbirth..." I trail off, making a diamond with my hand, mimicking pulling my head through.

Jensi grimaces and I laugh, "Exactly. Go make us proud, Senti-wenti-sugar-puff- pie." Using the nickname Hudson has given them in her head, I wiggle my fingers in his direction, shooing him off.

"Dude. She hasn't even said it aloud yet, and it still makes me cringe. Fine, but when I die, I better be remembered as the Fae with the 'thrust-iest' of hips and great bone structure." With a thrust of his hips and quick pose, he faedes away with a slightly, okay,veryterrified expression.

Ryder laughs and shakes his head, "Thank Gaia, we have our memories back. I would hate to have to re-train with that fucker."

Hunter grunts, "Oberon can give my father a run for his gold, and that is saying something. I won't say I'm grateful because I'm not, but my skills are a testament to hard work." Considering the brutal nature of the Arallu, the comparison is terrifying but certainly warranted.

Grayson sighs, "Although not quite as barbaric, we trained with a similar fervor. There is value in passion and discipline."

"I agree. I see the merit in his techniques, even if theyarebarbaric. King has never fought with our people, and while he was an adept fighter, his skill now, just from what we've seen through Hunter's memories, is more than just a night and day comparison. Jensi, while being trained by Kalen, needs the extra discipline that will come from Oberon, though. He's strong and powerful, but with a little push, he will be formidable. Luca, I admit, is pretty solid, but if he needs the extra fire, I can't blame him. As the days go by, the sense of danger is growing stronger," Zane adds.

I nod, pausing to consider their words because, as the youngest of Hudson's mates, I feel the pressure to push myself more than the men do. I already fucked up once, and while Nici's manipulation of my sexuality is the reason for the fuck up, it is still a fuck up. My 300 years of training within the rebel camp doesn't amount to the millennia or so that the guys have. Their skills are incredible, especially now they have regained their memories as well as increased power from Hudson, and while I am a great warrior, I know there is still so fucking much to learn.

With that thought, I stand to my feet, "Well. Considering we may be down two sentinels come tomorrow and Xena is with Hudson, we might as well go beef up to make up for the loss." I say with a laugh.

We all faede out to the training grounds, no further words needed because Zane isn't wrong; Hudson's mental clock reverberates throughout all of our minds in different ways. When I close my eyes, I can almost hear the soft whooshing of sand as it drains into the hourglass, but instead of each grain counting down to death, every fucking granule is another second that we grow stronger. And when the bottom of the glass is full, and the final grain of sand slips through, Nici's dismembered body will be buried underneath. Her head? It will be our wall.

* * *

Hudson(5/6 weeks and 1 day left until birth, almost 14 weeks pregnant)

The next morning, considering Remi must have slipped some fae knock-out elixer in my tea, I wake up with a punch to the face. No, worse. Because not only do I have to pee like a fucking racehorse guzzling Gatorade, I am dying from a ravenous hunger that has the room glowing purple even with the bright ass sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I leap out of bed, grateful for my new magical dragon balance, and rush to the toilet only to make it as far as the stand-up shower where I hang my head in shame as my bladder betrays me. After all these years of friendship, my bladder has gone over to the Unseelie side and is sprinkling its displeasure on the goodness of my soul.

Tugging off my nightgown, I turn on the shower, for a quick soap and rinse down and when I look down, I yelp as my belly comes alive with the babies shifting and rolling around like savages. While I have been feeling them move often, this is on another level of movement. They are clearly practicing fighting techniques and if I seeing things correctly, someone defitely kicked their sibling and got an elbow in return. If this isn't the cherry on top, I can barely see the damn shower floor considering I definitely grew a few inches all the way around.

"Remi! What fucking faerie drugs did you put in my damn calming tea? You fucking fae-itch," I yell out and she faedes into the bathroom with a confused look on her face until she looks down at my belly and her lips pop into an 'o.'Yeah O bitch.

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