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?”

Sinclair murmurs to me, though I can

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

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

Cora says, shrugging and standing, hoisting Jesse up in her arms and smiling at him. “So, I’m just going

going to worry.

sitting up straight as I see Roger get to his feet as well. “Don’t,

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

arms and realize that Cora’s right – Ariel’s

mutter. “I wanted

me on the cheek. “I’m just a

down to say goodbye to the baby. I wave to them as they pass out the door, Henry looking after

least, Henry?” I

arms and begging to be picked up. Henry laughs and obliges, lifting my little meatball into his lap. “That is, if this

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

I will happily accept,” Henry murmurs, turning Rafe on his lap and hugging him close, pressing his cheek to Rafe’s dark hair. “He is so like his father at this

hear Henry talk about Rafe that way, and I feel Sinclair’s own swell of emotion

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

mean?” I ask, tilting

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

know that,” Sinclair says, his

fulfilment of a wish made long a go for a

clench my 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, never knew my sweet daughter would mean so much

and I lean forward, listening intently. “I never thought she’d be a

so does my mate, and I wipe away 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

to have some part of me,” Sinclair murmurs, a little jealous,

a hand

nod, agreeing to the sentiment, thinking that the children are

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

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

who is

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