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?”

sorts of good things,” Sinclair murmurs to me, though I can hear the worry

have more definitive answers,” Henry says on a sigh, his face

knew before. Besides – these

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

my sister, 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?

see Roger get to his feet as well. “Don’t, stay! We can

with a gentle smile, “because Jesse needs a nap, and so do you. And lil miss Princess over

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

I mutter. “I

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

down to say goodbye to the baby. I wave

Henry?” I ask, leaning

my leave too,” he says as Rafe pushes 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

on you,” I say dryly, ” you’ll be

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

heart fills to hear Henry talk about Rafe that way, and I feel

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

do you mean?” I ask,

he 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

that,” Sinclair says, his

again falls to Ariel. “So, this one is the fulfilment of a wish made long a go

eyes, not wanting Henry to think that I’m sad or that I pity him. It’s just – I never knew he wanted that, never knew my sweet daughter

cocking his head, and I lean forward, listening intently. “I never thought she’d

my eyes. ” Well, we don’t know if she’s going to stay blonde,” I say, grinning and shaking

is clear that this one is your daughter. She’ll have her mother’s beauty, which

of me,” Sinclair murmurs, a little

leaning back in his chair. Rafe burbles something, looking up at his grandfather, who grins down at him and runs a hand over

to the sentiment, thinking that the children are

them 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

“Oh my god,” I sit up straight, staring at Henry, my eyes flicking to his legs – because honestly, I don’t even notice his chair anymore, or

of me as someone who is able

I hastily – but carefully pass Ariel into