And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

"Okay, you two... whose ready for a bath-"

James stepped into the room with a stack of towels in his hand, and as his eyes latched onto mine, he froze in his step. The only sound was Castor laughing and clapping her hands at the reaction before her. "Hey, James." "You're awake," he mumbled as he glanced from the twins to me, and then back to the twins. "How-"

"Do you really wanna know how, or are you going to give me a kiss?"

He didn't waste a second before he was across the room, pulling me into his arms, pressing his lips to mine in a slow, deep, passionate kiss. To me, it was only yesterday I had kissed him, but to them... it had been much longer. Pulling away, I smiled softly, wincing at the pain in my side. "How long have I been out?"

"It's been a year, Ivy," he whispered, his eyes falling to my lap as he seemed to try and hold back the tears. "No one thought you would wake up... but I didn't give up. I couldn't."

Running my hand over the side of his cheek, I kissed him again with a smile.

"Well, why don't I surprise the others?"

Furrowing his brow, he smiled at me. "What do you mean?"

"Hand me my children, and I will show you," I laughed.

"Oh, shit... sorry, sweetie," he said, jumping to his feet and striding towards the twins. They were both eager at this point to get out, and were trying their hardest to escape him as approached the bed.

against my breasts. They had missed me just as much as I missed them, and

home.' I said through the link,

the thundering footsteps of the men racing up the stairs, heading down

brightened my own, and as they rushed to me, kissing the side of my head while they held me,

seen him, he died in front of

his body laid lifeless upon the ground. A sob left my throat as my

ever seen Damian show so much emotion as he did in those two seconds after my words left his lips. He nodded his head in silence as he approached me. Almost as if he was waiting for me to disappear again. "Ivy-" he whispered. "I'm so

laughed through my tears. "It

my fault. I should have done things differently from the beginning, but for so long, I kept

to Hale and Talon,

He came close, sitting on the edge of the bed so I could wrap my arm's around him the best ly could with the twins still stuck to me. You don't have to apologize to me. I'm your mate forever and always. I love you, no matter

happiness. The time ticked on as the men told me about everything that had happened since I was asleep, including the twins' first birthday I

do anything big for them," James said softly. "Maybe

The guys

all

each other

before looking