Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

“She’s pregnant?” I ask out loud, no one in particular.

“Twins,” Reggie says dully.

“Based on how big she is and comparing her to when Musu was pregnant, we think she’s due any day. Since she hasn't eaten, her babies are basically using her body for nutrition. For lack of a better term, they’re eating her alive,” Milo says, as he brushes his hand against her cheek. He sits back on his heels and looks at her with tears in his eyes, “We don't know what happened to Lex. She hasn't been able to heal her for over three weeks now.”

“What did the doctor say?” I gulp hard. I plant my feet to the ground, afraid to move.

“You said no fucking doctors,” Reggie hisses at me through gritted teeth, “or have you forgotten?” 7

“LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO HER YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Saint's first words in weeks are pure rage against me. He tries to claw his way forward to take control and get to Kas, still protective of her. I take a step forward. A small piece of me, a deep down part that has been hidden away until this moment, still wants her. Still wants to keep her safe and protect her.

I look at Reggie, then Milo, then to Kas. I broke our mate bond, so why do! feel this way? How could I have let this happen? Why didn’t! listen to the people around me? What have I done? As I take in the scene in front of me, the lights flicker and Kas seems to have a convulsion, what little muscle she has left contracts, and she pulls her limbs closer to her stomach before it stops and the lights brighten.

“What was that?” I look around the room.

any

we don't know how she is possibly going to give birth,” Milo wipes a tear

aside, “Give me privacy with my

Milo stands up and blocks

pushing him out of

run down the hallway, but can’t take my eyes off of Kas. Saint is pacing impatiently in my mind,

the ground next to the cot and look at Kas. She doesn't look real. It is like a gruesome caricature of who she used to be. I feel tears stinging the

I whisper softly, trying not to let the urgency I’m feeling come through in my voice but! still hear it waver, “Kas, I don’t expect you to forgive me. Hell, I don’t even expect you to want to

the voice of their father. I raise my shaking hands but stop an inch above her skin.

know,” I beg, “You left me. I-I thought you left me for them. And then I was mad because I thought you didn’t trust me. But I know now. I fucked up, Kas. Please. Please don’t make our babies pay for my mistakes. I will make sure they have the best care. Please.”

slowly opens her eyes and looks at me. The foreign, hollow gray of her irises shrinks as her pupils dilate. Her eyes close again and she gives one small nod. I take that as her permission and carefully lift her up by her back and knees into my lap. If it wasn't for her stomach, she

and concentrate all my energy. I imagine everything she has ever told me about what it feels like for her to meditate and what it feels like to heal someone. My mind thinks about my essence leaving my body and being absorbed into her skin and through her blood. I imagine Kas and our pups, and giving all three of them whatever it is they need to live. Ican

my eyes and look at her. The unfamiliar light gray eyes are barely open, trying to look at me. The purple aura I have tried to convince myself I hate surrounds us and brings a sense of