Page 164 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
As she’d done at each of our appointments, Leah isolated one of our son’s heartbeats. It took a few tries, with her magic winking before it held steady.
I hated the way her expression grew frustrated with her magic when it didn’t respond right away.
I brought Teddy’s knuckles to my lips for a kiss while a smile spread across her face.
Leah let us listen to our son’s heartbeat for a while, and I took in the way Teddy listened with her eyes shining and a radiant smile on her pretty face. Then Leah searched for the second one. It didn’t take long for her to find it, but it didn’t sound as loud or fast as his brother’s had.
Drawing her brows together, Leah looked puzzled as she moved the wand across Teddy’s belly.
“Do you mind if Dela’s magic joins mine?” Leah asked.
Teddy’s fear spiked, making my chest ache, and I squeezed her hand again.
Everything’s fine,I tried to tell her through the threads of our soul.Our sons are fine.
Her worried gaze trapped me, and once she gave Leah permission, I dropped my head to press my forehead to hers. She gripped the back of my head, bringing me closer to her while Leah and Dela ran their magic through her.
She wrapped the threads of her soul with mine, squeezing as tightly as her hand held mine. Her fear reared up, ripping down the facade of normal we’d clung to since the attacks on our kingdom. We couldn’t hide from this, though. We couldn’t mask away her anxieties and concerns for our babes.
I ran the ribbons of my soul across hers in a gentle caress.Without using words, I reassured her I was here. Whatever was wrong, we’d face it together.
It took a few beats, but with Leah’s and Dela’s joined magic, our son’s heart rate eventually came louder although it remained slower than usual. They kept working on him, and with both their magics working together, his heartbeat strengthened.
I loosened a breath, kissing Teddy’s forehead before I drew away. A tear fell down Teddy’s cheek that I wiped away. I felt the relief that flooded her along with the terror that still clung to her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice low and filled with worry.
“Two of his heart valves aren’t working properly. Ill-functioning valves cause the heart to work harder,” Leah said. “I apologize for not having caught it earlier. I don’t know how I missed it, but the strain has weakened his heart. I’ll need to see you once a day to work on his valves and his heart until it grows stronger on its own. It would be helpful if Dela worked on him with me.”
“I can join you,” Dela said.
Leah nodded while dread gripped my chest.
This couldn’t be happening. After everything we’d been through, everything Teddy had endured, this couldn’t possibly be happening. Not when all we yearned for was some peace.
“I’d like to recheck him with our machine in three days,” Leah said.
“Shouldn’t you check him sooner?” Teddy asked.
“I’d prefer you to stay home and rest,” Leah said. She withdrew the wand and handed me a clean towel to wipeTeddy’s stomach. “There’s no reason to make you come out to Somnio every day when Dela and I can see you at your house.”
“We can stay in Somnio,” I said, certain George and Everly wouldn’t mind.
“There’s honestly no need, Your Majesty. Elias,” Leah amended. “You have all been through a lot, and the best thing for your mate and your sons is to rest. Have your family and friends go over and spoil her with love and attention, but don’t overdo it. Teddy, this is the perfect time to catch up on the romance novels you haven’t had time to read.”
Teddy’s laugh was forced, but she did her best to give Leah and me a smile.
“Should you notice a difference in their heartbeats, bring Teddy to me,” Leah told me. “Teddy, if you start feeling more tired than usual, feel any sort of pain in your abdomen, or really if you notice any differences at all, come see me. It doesn’t matter the time or if I’m occupied with another. My time is yours.”
“Of course,” I said, bringing Teddy’s shirt down when I finished wiping her stomach.
I helped her off the table and held her to my side when she stepped beside me. As if I could shield her from this when I knew I couldn’t. This was beyond anything I could do, even if I still had my magic.
“That doesn’t mean you’re going to listen to their heartbeats obsessively.” Teddy frowned up at me. “The boys need their father not to drive himself insane.”
I nodded, knowing it would be exactly what I’d do. How else would I be able to catch any changes?
But our boys, our sons would be fine. There wasn’t room for doubt, not when it was my turn to be strong for Teddy.
