Born of Blood and Ash

But the visit with Kye wasn’t the only thing that had to happen tomorrow.

I’d told Veses I’d see her soon, and I would.

“Twins,” Ash murmured, and I glanced up at him again. The hollows of his cheeks pinkened. Another laugh greeted me. “For some reason, it just hit me that we will have twins. I know. I should’ve figured that out hours ago.”

I smiled. “Don’t feel bad. I actually hadn’t considered that either, to be honest. Twins do run in the family.”

“I suppose.” His finger trailed a circle around what I knew was a freckle. “My father and his brother were the first, but they weren’t identical.”

They had shockingly similar features, but they weren’t exactly the same like Kyn and Attes. Their hair color was different, and Kolis’s cheekbones were broader, but his mouth wasn’t as full as Eythos’s.

“I guess that means we could have something similar,” I said, ru

“Or they could be identical.” He paused. “Or possibly a boy and a girl—fraternal twins.” His hand stopped moving suddenly. “The first and second daughter…”

“The prophecy.” I knew what he was thinking about. “I wondered the same thing myself, but I…don’t think we’re having daughters or even one of each.”

His brows knitted. “Has your vadentia told you something?”

“No.” I thought about the brief moment when I saw the two children who were the same but different in the smallest ways. Two mahogany-haired boys with rich, bronze skin. One with silver eyes and the other with golden-silver. “It’s just a feeling.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Either way, they will…they will want for nothing.”

My lips curved up. “You’re right.”

He returned my smile. “I was thinking that, other than telling Nektas, we should probably keep the news of this quiet. This isn’t information we want getting out.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Aios won’t say anything until I tell her it’s okay.”

The quiet came again, and his fingers made those soothing circles and lines across my belly. Our children, be they sons or not, would want for nothing. Even though the idea of parenting still freaked me out, I would do everything in my power to be a good one. And I would do everything to become deserving of this…blessing.

Because it still seemed unfair that I got to have this. Like fate had messed up somehow, rewarding instead of punishing me.

“Ash,” I said, my voice cracking under the weight of the emotions welling up inside me. “I’m so grateful for this, for us. For everything.”

“Me, too, liessa.” His head dipped, and he kissed me. “Me, too.”