Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 498 – Family Lines

Ella

Henry takes a deep breath then, looking between the children. “I have been very intrigued,” he begins, “by the idea that the children have bonds with each other – bonds like that between siblings and cousins, it’s unusual. Indeed, I thought it was unique, but it is not.”

My brows go up as I listen with interest.

“The children have created between them…something of a triangle,” Henry murmurs, looking between the three of them. “There have been rare examples of individuals having multiple fated mating bonds – my son, interestingly amongst them – ”

I lean back against my mate, who wraps his arm more tightly around me.

“But this,” Henry says, gesturing between Ariel, Rafe, and Jesse, “three people bonded together naturally, each to the other two.” He shakes his head. ” I have not yet found any examples of it happening naturally. Though there are those who have…forged such connections.”

“Really?” Roger asks, his eyebrows going up.

“Usually in religious ceremonies,” Henry says, folding his hands in his lap and looking around at us, “in the wilds of the north. Two people already bonded – either by fate or by choice, usually through a mating – would each either willingly or by obligation magically forge a bond with a third.”

“For what reason,” Cora asks, shaking her head. “Like…plural marriage? Or something?”

“No,” Henry replies, shaking his head at her. “This is usually done in communities where those who undergo the ceremony have long taken vows of chastity. No, they do it for the power that results from the bond, which is said to be…unique.”

“This is so weird,” I murmur, looking down at my kids. I mean, I’m very aware that my children and my nephew are special, but…

“The magics of the north are strange,” Henry says on a sigh, shaking his head and giving a shrug. “They are also closed-mouthed regarding what the results of such bonding actually are. But I do imagine it’s closer to the kinds of powers wielded by the dark priests we spent so much of our time defying last year. Spells cast at a price, rather than goddess-given gifts freely used with little effort.”

“But since the bond between the kids was…natural,” Sinclair murmurs, speaking his thoughts aloud, “can we assume that whatever power results from them would…be easier to wield?”

“I have no idea,” Henry says on a sigh, smiling down at his grandsons and granddaughter again. “Though I hope for their sake that it is. Those forged bonds and the resulting magic – they didn’t come without a price.”

“Oh geeze,” I murmur, sighing and looking down at my precious new baby. She can barely stay awake, let alone wield great and powerful magics. ” What are you going to get up to, little girl?”

things,” Sinclair murmurs to me, though I can hear the worry on in

don’t have more definitive answers,” Henry says on a

more than we knew before. Besides – these

in her arms and smiling at

we’re moms, there’s definitely no way we’re not going to worry. But

his feet as well. “Don’t, stay! We can get food!” But I yawn even as I finish my

a nap, and

my arms and realize that Cora’s right – Ariel’s drifted off without

I mutter. “I wanted to feed

down and kissing me on the cheek. “I’m just a phone

Cor,” I murmur, smiling at her and giving Roger a hug as well when he dips down to say goodbye to the baby. I wave to them as they pass out the door,

stay at least, Henry?” I ask, leaning back

leave too,” he says as Rafe pushes to his feet and totters over him, reaching out his chubby arms

dryly, ” you’ll be too heavy to roll

close, pressing his cheek to Rafe’s dark hair. “He is so like his father at this age. It’s like having

talk about Rafe that way, and I feel Sinclair’s

in my arms. “She is very precious to me as well,

do you mean?” I ask, tilting my head

golden-white hair. Then he flicks his eyes to Sinclair. “Your mother and I tried for another – she wanted a little girl very badly, you

know that,” Sinclair says, his voice

this one is the fulfilment of a wish made long a go for a little girl Sinclair. I always

against my eyes, not wanting Henry to think that I’m sad or that I pity him. It’s

and I lean forward, listening intently. “I

the little tears that spill out from my eyes. ” Well, we don’t

is your daughter. She’ll have her mother’s beauty, which includes your unique hair. She’s a Sinclair in name… but

part of me,” Sinclair murmurs, a little

his chair. Rafe burbles something, looking up at his grandfather, who grins down at him and runs a hand over his head. “Either way, I am very glad to be their grandfather. I’m so pleased I’ll get to see them grow,

that the children are lucky to have such an eager

by getting down on the floor, running, walking. But,” he shrugs, ” when the children are big enough to stand on the back of the chair, at least they’ll

my eyes flicking to his legs – because honestly, I don’t even notice his chair

someone who is

surprise as I hastily – but carefully pass Ariel into Sinclair’s arms, my mate looking at me