Chapter 496

First Night My mate listens carefully as I tell him, in full detail, everything that happened when the Dark God took me outside of time and gave our little daughter our gift.

I mostly look down at her while I tell the story, wondering how this perfect, tiny little angel being could have an ounce of darkness in her.

But even as I wonder that, I consider what the Dark God told me that not everything that is in darkness is bad.

But is that just something he said to distract me, to make me more compliant to accept his “gift?” Was it, as I suspected, a curse?

“And then I was back,” I say, looking up into Sinclair’s face as he listens closely.

“And, obviously, distracted by the insane pain of childbirth.” A smirk pulls at his lips then, but I can tell that my attempt at humor didn’t go very far towards distracting him. He’s quiet for a long moment, looking towards Rafe but really staring into space as he sorts through his thoughts.

I give him a second to work through it, but I interrupt when I can’t stand it any longer. “So?” I ask quietly. “What do you...think?”

“Well,” Sinclair sighs, turning his attention back to me and to our little girl, who eats hungrily, clearly not having lost her appetite after such a dramatic early encounter. “I certainly wish that the Dark God had simply sent a flower arrangement or a toy. But...I honestly don’t know. We need much more information before we can plan any sort of action.” “Action?” I ask, a little confused.”

What on earth can we do? It’s done, Dominic.

Whatever the gift is,” I say, gesturing down at her, “she’s got it.” “Yes,” Sinclair says, nodding as he sighs and lays himself down a bit on the bed so that he can rest his head against my knee, looking up at my face. “But there’s certainly more we can know.

We can ask dad to do some research, see if there’s any precedent for this, if you’re all right with him knowing? And ask Cora to contact your mother, see if she has any insights?” “Of course Henry can know,” I reply quietly. “And that’s a good idea, with Cora.” I sigh, frustrated with myself for not thinking it first, but Sinclair just sends a pulse of peace down the bond, encouraging me to forgive myself for being scatterbrained on this of all days. I’ve been through a lot, and even though I’m already healed thanks to mom’s gift, I’m still exhausted.

“We’ll work it through, though, Ella,” Sinclair says quietly, reaching his long arm up to tuck my hair behind my ear.

“My instinct still does tell me it’s not all wicked, Dominic,” I say sincerely, looking down into his face. “And with these gods, gut feelings...they tend to be important.” “I believe you,” he says, his eyebrows going up. “I’d just like all the intel we can get.” “Me too,” I say, giving him a little smile. But then, even despite my desire to keep pushing on this, my eyelids start to flutter. I blink hard, shaking my head, working to stay up.

“Oh, baby,” Sinclair murmurs, sitting up and leaning in to kiss me on my forehead. “You’re asleep on your feet. Or, well, your ass – but what’s the difference.” I laugh and shake my head at him. “I need to stay awake till she’s done feeding,” I say with a yawn.

“But then, yes, after that...we’re both going to need a nap. Right baby girl?” Ariel ignores me, of course, continuing to eat. But I grin at her, stroking a hand over her perfect tiny head, loving the way her little fuzz of blonde hair tickles my palm.

“Well, you concentrate on that,” Sinclair says, moving a plate with a simple panini and a bottle of water to the bedside table next to me. “And eat if you can, yes? While you do that, I’ll get Rafe settled.” I nod, finally starting to feel completely drained as the adrenaline of the day starts to slip from me. I take a lazy bite of my sandwich, barely tasting it as I switch breasts and let Ariel finish up. I’m hardly able to keep my eyes open about fifteen minutes later after Sinclair’s done moving around the room, getting Rafe settled in his playpen with some quiet toys and books and pulling Ariel’s basinet closet to my side.

I give a little squeak of protest when he takes her from my arms, not wanting to let her go, but Sinclair just laughs softly at me and murmurs that she’ll be right here at my side. I take one last peek at Ariel’s face and see that she, like me, is already basically asleep.

And then I yawn, and settle down, and finally completely pass out.

Of course, I barely sleep, because the baby gets me up every couple of hours needing to be fed again. The next day passes pretty much in a blur, with me catching sleep when I can and attending to Ariel when she needs it. I’m not in a total fog the whole time – I still spend time with my son and talk to my mate and admire my baby – but most of the time? Most of the time Ariel and I sleep.

Sinclair is a dream throughout that first crucial night, taking complete charge of my baby boy and allowing Ariel and I the space we need to get used to our new patterns. He spends time with her as well, of course, holding and talking to her while she’s awake and not eating, but I can tell that he’s exhausted too.

Not as exhausted as me – I definitely get to keep that title. But that first night – it’s not precisely easy on dads either, is it?

Especially when you’ve got another little one, barely over a year old.

Which is why I’m surprised, frankly, when Cora, and Roger, and Jesse, and Henry all come trooping in the evening after Ariel was born.

“Oh!” I say, blinking at them and laughing, pleased. “Did – did I know you were coming?” “Oh my god,” Sinclair says, turning to me and cocking his head to the side. ” Did I did I seriously forget to tell you?” I burst into laughter as he slaps a hand to his face, and Roger and Henry join in.

“Always a rare pleasure to see you mess up, brother,” Roger says, wrapping an arm around his brother’s shoulders and giving him a squeeze. 66 Though I guess you’re forgiven for this one that first night is...a lot.” “It certainly is,” Henry says, accepting a hug from his son as Cora comes over to give me a kiss, a perky Jesse sitting up in her arms and babbling with excitement as he looks around the room.

“Hey Cora,” I say, grinning at her. ” Hey, chatty!” I laugh, poking Jesse in the belly, Ariel in my arms. Rafe totters over and wraps an arm around her leg, smiling and reaching up for her or for Jesse – it’s not precisely clear which.

The greetings finished, I look around curiously at my family. “So, what did I miss?” I ask. “Why are we all here?” “To talk about your new weird God encounter,” Roger says, grinning at me. “And our kids’ weird bond. Life’s been so fun since you joined the family, Ella – seriously, I don’t think I express my gratitude enough.” “Always happy to keep it spicy, precisely for you, Roger,” I say, giving him a wink as I pull the covers of my nest aside, getting to my feet with Ariel cozy in my arms. Roger grins and gives me a nod. “Do we have...new information or something?” I ask, pushing my hair back over my shoulders.

“We do,” Henry says, nodding to me. ” Shall we go into the living room, where there’s room for us all to sit? It’s none of it bad news, but I think it would be best for us to have a chat.” Anxiety rolls in me as I nod and gesture towards the door to the living room, looking to Sinclair with my apprehension pulsing down our bond.

“He’s not placating you,” Sinclair says, coming close to kiss me on the cheek and grab Rafe off of Cora’s leg, tossing him into the air as we make our way to the living room with our family. Rafe squeals with joy and I can’t help grinning at him. My little boy –

already such a thrill seeker.

“All right,” I sigh, holding baby Ariel close to my chest as I follow my family through the door and shut it behind me. Then I curl up on my favorite place on the couch, Dominic in the corner behind me, and turn my attention to Henry.

Because he, I’m coming to realize, has been up all night as well gathering information. And he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t ready to share.