“Of course I do,” she said, rolling her eyes as tears filled them. “But I figured you needed some mate time.”
Behind me, Elias grunted. “Not just yet.”
“Yeah,” Adrian murmured. “You should hear them.”
Thea took a tentative step towards the bed and crossed her arms. “Now you’re scaring me.”
I released a shaky breath and held firm to both babies as I said, “I would like to name our little boy Theodore, after you.” I looked up and found tears running down her face. “For you and Adrian’s dad.”
My best friend covered her mouth, closing her eyes. Rowan wrapped an arm around her shoulders while she cried, and maybe for the first time since they became friends, she didn’t shove him away.
“I had to do some research for our girl,” I whispered, keeping my eyes on them. “Not knowing what we were having was tricky. But that’s why I like lists. And I would like to share that her name is Keira.”
There was a rumble of agreement from Elias behind me, and through the bonds, I sensed my mates liked the name a lot.
My half-Fae mate moved closer, arms crossed. “Where’d you find that one, Princess?” Hawk asked.
My throat thickened with emotion, making it difficult to speak. But Maeve could explain it for me—it was her idea. “Keira is for both Kerry and Sable,” my vampire stated.
Rowan made a strangled sound. “You want to name her for my mom?”
I nodded once. “She might have meddled a lot, but if it weren’t for her, it wouldn’t have been you guys who found me. It might have taken us longer to meet. It would have taken longer for us to fall in love.”
“You’re going to make us all cry,” Damon mumbled from the end of the bed as he swiped a hand beneath his eye.
The others laughed, but as I looked down at my settled babies, I knew it was the right call.
Teddy and Keira. My little charm and pup.
My hearts, my little fighters, here at last.
I’d never felt moreexhausted in my life. Not after fighting my way to escape Dante’s prison, running through tunnels with no shoes and carrying children while also dealing with a quickened pregnancy. Not even after the battle when I fought him and actually won, reclaiming my magic as well as my life.
No, giving birth hurt more and left me more drained, somehow. But I was also content as both Teddy and Keira were placed in my arms. They slept soundly, colour finally forming on their skin. And they were clean, not covered in mucus and blood.
I also had been given a quick bath. Super healing made sure most of my internal wounds and vagina were a lot better compared to six hours ago when I pushed baby girl out, so although I was sore, I wasn’t in as much pain as I would have been were I human. It also helped having an actual healer here, who ensured the worst of it was fixed, and gave my mates a balm to use over the next week while the rest went back to normal.
But now, babies were in my arms, and they were alive. They were safe.
And damn, they were beautiful.
Teddy yawned, little lips parting as he buried his face in my chest. Keira was still, though I could hear her soft little snores as she slept. Keira’s hair was soft and thin, but it otherwise coveredher whole head. Meanwhile, Teddy was so bald we had no idea if he’d inherit mine or Adrian’s hair. It was fun to wonder, though.
“So, they’re getting a little antsy,” Rowan stated, voice low as he and Damon reappeared in the bedroom. We’d moved from the temporary birthing room back to the main bedroom about an hour ago once we knew I was completely stable and okay. “We’ve reassured them you’re okay, and Thea is with them now. But they’re still worried and want to see you.”
I finally pulled my gaze from the twins and found everyone standing around me. All of my mates were anxious; the feeling flooded the bonds on all sides, no matter how badly they tried to hide it for my sake. And they were also fighting their possessive, protective natures right now, the sides of them that demanded they hide me away from everything and everyone for at least a month while I recovered.
“I want them to come up and meet the babies,” I replied, offering my mates reassuring smiles.
Rowan nodded once, and with Damon close behind him, they went to get my sisters.
Maeve sat gently on the edge of the bed, brow creased with worry. “Let us know if you get too overwhelmed. They are your sisters, but you also just went through something that will affect you for weeks. Not only do you have to worry about the human side of hormones, but you will also have your magic battling against you to protect them. You and I know the kids aren’t threats, but do not be afraid to say enough.”
I swallowed hard and bowed my head in a nod as the guys returned. Eloise appeared first in the doorway, her wide eyes taking everything in: my mates surrounding the bed, the piles of pillows keeping me upright, and then me with the twins bundled in my arms.
She stepped hesitantly into the room, holding the hands of the younger two, keeping them from jumping on the bed.“You’ve gotta be quiet,” she murmured, holding them tightly. “Okay? No loud sounds or jumping.”
Maisie, for the first time in a while, wasn’t a ball of energy. Concern bled into her blue eyes as they took me in. “Are they…” She lowered her voice. “Are they real?”
