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 his

definitive answers,” Henry says on a

at him. “It’s more than we knew before. Besides – these kids,

shrugging and standing, hoisting Jesse up in her arms and smiling at

realizing that this honestly is probably the best method. I mean we’re moms, there’s definitely no way we’re not going to worry. But what can we do? Cora and Roger are right – we just have to raise them well, and trust

to his feet as well. “Don’t, stay!

nap, and so do you. And lil

in my arms and realize that Cora’s right – Ariel’s drifted off

shoot,” I mutter. “I wanted to

says, leaning down and kissing me on the cheek. “I’m just a phone call away anything

as well when he dips down to say goodbye to the baby. I wave to them as they pass out the door, Henry

at least, Henry?” I ask, leaning

to his feet and totters over him, reaching out his chubby arms and begging to be picked up. Henry laughs and obliges, lifting my little meatball into his lap. “That

just sits on you,” I say dryly, ” you’ll be too

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

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

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

mean?” I ask, tilting

never had a daughter,” he sighs, staring at my little girl with her little fuzz of golden-white hair. Then he flicks his eyes to Sinclair. “Your mother

that,” Sinclair says, his

fulfilment of a wish made long a go for

teeth against the pricking of tears against my eyes, not wanting Henry to think that I’m sad or that I pity him. It’s just – I never knew he wanted that,

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

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

raising his eyes 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… but she’s her mother

of me,” Sinclair murmurs, a little jealous, leaning forward to peer

back in 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

sentiment, thinking that the children are lucky

more able to play with them – could participate more in helping you raise them by getting down on the floor, running, walking. But,” he shrugs, ”

words spilling out of my mouth. “Oh my god,” I sit up straight, staring at Henry, my eyes flicking to his legs – because honestly, I

is able to do anything about

I hastily – but carefully pass Ariel into Sinclair’s arms, my