Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins

#Chapter 203 – The Note

I can’t help the little giggle that comes out of me then.

Honestly, it’s all so strange and ridiculous – and, really, really frightening – that all I can do is laugh and make a joke out of it. It’s a knee-jerk reaction, probably a poor one and a result of my exhaustion, but I’ve got nothing else.

“Don’t worry,” Rafe, I say with a clever little smirk. “We don’t use it to talk about you. At least. Not often.”

Victor looks at me closely then, making a face as if he’s saying something terrible and glancing at Rafe – but he doesn’t say anything at all. He’s just messing with his brother.

Rafe, of course, gets pissed and opens his mouth to say something nasty to Victor but Burton interrupts.

“Please,” he says, looking between us, worried. “You must listen closely.”

I bite my lip, my face falling then. It was a nice moment of levity but, deep down, I do know that something is very seriously wrong. The more I sit at the table and think of it, the more I realize the weakness in my limbs, my heart. The new difficulty I have drawing breath.

Victor takes my hand and looks at me with sorrow and apology in his eyes, but I shake my head at him. Whatever happened – whatever I did – I did it willingly. I’d do it again, a hundred times. A thousand.

“What you participated in,” Burton continues seriously, “what you created – it was a ceremony – honestly, you shouldn’t have been able to do it without guidance –“

He hangs his head for a moment, amazed, before continuing.

“But, you must understand, the exchange you made,” Burton shakes his head here. “It is temporary, at best, without the closure to the ceremony. Without the full consent.”

“Consent?” Victor asks, leaning forward. “What is that, the consent?”

Burton shakes his head again, looking down at the table in confusion. “I don’t – I don’t have another word for it, but that’s the best I can come up with. We grew up speaking of it in a whole other language – one in which even I, a grand master, am still a novice.”

“What,” I say, hesitating and squeezing Victor’s hand. “What will happen to us if we don’t…finish it? Close the ceremony?”

“You are ill now, yes?” Burton says, lifting his eyes and again looking between us. “He is better, much better than he was yesterday,” he says, nodding to Victor, “but you,” Burton turns his eyes to me here. “You are much, much worse.”

“I don’t feel much worse,” I say quietly.

Burton shakes his head. “It will get worse, for both of you. Right now, you are sharing the life force of one person, but in order to survive, you need two. On the energy of one, you will both, unfortunately, run through it, especially because in giving him half of your life you took on half his illness. And with that combination, you will both expire.”

We go still at the table then, Rafe putting his head in his hands. It’s silent for a long moment, the only sounds the laughter of our children in the next room. The sound that gives me strength, though. Energy, hope.

I will push through this, too. For them, if for no one else.

clenched teeth. “Is that they

hesitates, but then he nods. “In essence,

Victor asks, his face drawn. “How do we

eyes filled with sadness. “I don’t

laughter in the next room stops as the boys realize, finally, that something is wrong. Silently,

and I alone now. “But

Who was she, this woman who could help

shock, pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket. One

as he places the folded note on the table. “Where did you

it,” Burton says quietly, “amongst your things. A message from…one of

spits out, in full disbelief. “Edgar is

that Edgar gave us all those weeks

not involved,” Burton says, shaking his head. “Edgar was born as part of our tribe – but he left at a very

I take the note from Victor’s hands. Even Edgar knew more about

two really special kids, and now I’m part of some mystical secret cult, one that my

life right now? I fight the urge

can teach you what I cannot. She will show you how. She’s the only one who

refold the note, seeing the

seeing the boys, works to wrap up the

do we have,” Victor

Burton says, apologetic. “But, sir…it is not

at Victor, then, sadness

hoped that all of this was over – that

on my face. He raises my hand to his lips and presses a kiss to the back of it. “When this is done, we will rest. I promise you

We will see it through, I

at my side then, tugging on my

onto my face,

up into my lap and giving him a big hug. So much for someone to endure,

that Ian has climbed into his lap. The four of

at me seriously. “What is going

through more. But it looks like we don’t have a choice. “You are always so helpful

nods, believing me, and I’m grateful for that

do you boys think,” Victor says, “about taking a little trip?” He’s working hard to keep his voice cheerful, though I know, inside, he’s terribly worried. I also know that he feels