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?”

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

definitive answers,” Henry says on a sigh, his face truly

more than we knew before. Besides – these kids, they’re going to have to lean how to figure

in her arms and smiling at him. “So, I’m

we’re moms, there’s definitely no way we’re not going to worry. But what can we do? Cora

sitting up straight as I see Roger get to his feet as well. “Don’t, stay! We can get food!”

“because Jesse needs a nap, and so do you.

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

shoot,” I mutter. “I wanted

leave you to it,” Cora says, leaning down and kissing me on the cheek. “I’m just a

at her and giving Roger a hug as well when he dips down to say goodbye

at least, Henry?” I ask, leaning back

to his feet and totters over him, reaching out his chubby arms and begging to be

on you,” I say dryly, ”

Rafe on his lap and hugging him close, pressing his cheek to Rafe’s dark hair. “He is so like his father at this age.

way, and

arms. “She is very precious to me as well, because she is

you mean?” I ask, tilting my head

sighs, staring at my little girl with her little fuzz of 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. But the Goddess decided that two

says, his voice

to Ariel. “So, this one is the fulfilment of a wish made long a go for a little girl

that I’m sad or that I pity him. It’s just – I never knew

know,” Henry says, cocking his head, and I lean forward, listening intently.

and I wipe away the little tears that spill out from my eyes. ” Well, we don’t know if she’s going to stay blonde,” I say, grinning

to me. “It is clear that this one is your daughter. She’ll have her mother’s beauty, which includes your unique hair. She’s a Sinclair in name…

murmurs, a little

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

sentiment, thinking that the children are lucky to have such an eager and

in his thoughts now, “that I were more able to play with them – could participate more in helping you raise them by getting down on the floor,

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

who is

as I hastily – but carefully