Page 50 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
“I don’t know if that’s a compliment,”I added, watching Ryenne jump as high as she could to reach the paper Everly held over her head.
“Okay.” Donnie’s voice boomed over the chaos. “I’ll go first.”
“No,” I shouted, making everyone turn to me. “Ryenne has to go first.”
With that, Everly handed Ryenne her piece of paper back, threatening to take it back if she dallied. I bit the inside of my cheek, not bothering to point out that the whole fiasco went on much longer because of Everly’s interference.
“Can I just tell them?” Jasmine asked.
“I’m opening it. I’m opening it.” Ryenne busied her fingers, unfolding the paper. When she read it, she held the paper to her chest. “We’re having a boy.” The look she gave me spoke of years of friendship and of the same joy I felt deep in my chest.
“Donnie.” Elias nodded his head in encouragement.
Donnie tore through the paper. Eyes wide, he chuckled when he read it. “You’re not serious.”
“What?” Ryenne snatched the paper from her brother. “No.” Excited, she jumped in place.
“What is it?” Brenton asked.
I waved at Donnie to tell them.
He ran a hand over his clean-shaven chin and let out a bewildered breath. “They’re having twins.”
“We’re having twins!” Ryenne rushed to me, folding me in her arms with another laugh.
“Pretty sure I’m the only one who’s pregnant,” I said.
With me in her arms, she jumped in place again. “Twins, Ted. We’re having two little boys.”
I squeezed my best friend hard. “Except you’re not pregnant,” I teased.
“Oh no.” She stepped away and bit the side of her thumb. “Your dress. We need to move your wedding up before you don’t fit in your dress anymore.”
I looked at Elias, who worked his jaw back and forth.
“We have a checkup with Leah in two weeks,” he said. “Set the date for the same day.”
He pressed his hand to my lower back, and I went to him, hugging his waist.
“Two weeks.” Ryenne pulled out her phone to tap on the screen. “I can make that work.”
“We have another checkup in four weeks.” I leaned the side of my face against Elias’s firm chest, where I heard the rhythmic thump of his heart. “Wouldn’t that be better? You’ll have more time to get everything ready.”
I resisted curling into Elias when he ran his hand over my back in a delicious caress. This was the kind of touch my soul ached for.
“As your maid of honorandwedding coordinator, I’m insulted you don’t think I can pull this off in two weeks.”
I knew she could do it. For years, I’d seen her work last-minute magic on weddings. I’d also witnessed her tension because of that last-minute magic.
“I don’t want you stressing,” I told her.
She waved away my concern, and when one of the castle employees approached Elias to ask if he’d like to start dinner, Elias nodded and led me back to the table.
He held up his champagne flute, and everyone did the same, including the kids with theirglasses of juice or cider. Five of the castle staff went through the long table, holding the food that Chef had prepared, and piled it onto individual plates. With his hand on my stomach, Elias cupped his arm around me and drew me closer to him.
“I wish blessings upon our unborn babes, to our younglings who we did not bear but are ours in our heart, and to my mate who is as beautiful as she is strong.” When I inched closer to him, he kissed my forehead. “You all are my present and my future. I could not be happier at this moment.”
“I wish blessings on my sister, who was gifted to me in both blood and magic,” Brenton said. “May the gods of our ancestors honor you with an easy pregnancy and birth. May the strength that lives inside you fill your babes as you nurture them until their arrival.”
