Chapter 82: The Two Stones

Maeve

Mom patted the bed, inviting me to lay next to her.

I wiped the tears from my face before turning down the thick covers, sliding into bed beside her. She was in a sitting position, holding the cup of tea in her lap as she looked over at me, taking me in.

“You’ve changed a lot,” she said with a smile, reaching out to tuck my hair behind my ears. “You’re very tan. And I’ve never seen your hair quite this light-”

“You can mention I weigh a million pounds now. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings.”

She rolled her eyes and sipped her tea. “You look beautiful, Maeve. Healthy.”

“I don’t want to be pregnant anymore,” I whimpered as I buried my face in the pillow.

“Well, by the looks of it, it could be over any day now,”

“Five more weeks…” I grimaced as one of the babies kicked me firmly in the ribs.

“Five? But-”

I pulled the covers over my head. “I’m having twins.”

“Oh,” Mom said, unable to hide the joy in her voice. “Well,

sometimes twins come early. We’ve had a few sets born in the village. Remember when the triplets were born a few years ago? That was quite a feat-”

“Mrs. Abrams was miserable, Mom. I’m sure she still is-”

“I saw her a few days ago at the market, sweetheart. She seemed happy, just… a little frazzled.” She set her teacup down on the bedside table with a clang, and then reached over to stroke my side. “You’re going to suffocate under there.”

I pushed the covers away, my face twisted in hurt. “Dad hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you!”

“I’m pregnant with his arch nemesis’s grandchild, Mom!”

“Arch nemesis?”

“Maddalyn! He’s so, so mad at me. I’m surprised he hasn’t killed Troy.”

“We definitely discussed it,” she laughed, her eyes creasing with mirth.

Tarched my brow. “Last night? I figured Troy told him who he was this morning,”

Weve known for a while, honey. Ernest brought Troy’s sketchbook back from the castle. The one of Maddalyn is… impossible to deny. Dad told me he looks like her, too. He must be beautiful.” There was pain in her voice when she said the last part.

“What did Maddalyn do, exactly?”

Mom exhaled, then laughed softly, shaking her head. “I don’t know where to begin!”

“The beginning would be fine.”

“Hmm… well, Maddalyn came into my life before… I was still a breeder then. She was unhappy with the arraignment. Your father and Maddalyn were betrothed; at least that’s what Romero and King James had wanted. She was cruel to me in those days, before the war. Just… a mean girl, not yet a villain.”

“Does it bother you that Troy looks like her?”

“Well, I haven’t met him yet, Maeve. But no, from what Ernest and Gemma have told us, it sounds like Troy is nothing like his parents. I won’t deny that Maddalyn was beautiful. She was. She truly was. Just not on the inside.”

“He wasn’t raised by her. He doesn’t know her at all.”

“I gathered that from what Ernest knew about Troy’s relationship with Romero.”

Thank the Goddess for Ernest. He had saved me from having to explain everything that had happened before the invasion.

“Your dad isn’t going to kill Troy. But he will be asking questions. I heard Rowan tried to fight him,”

out of one another,” I said bluntly. “Rowan hates me too, Mom. He didn’t

something very complicated right now,

it?” I asked

into a smile, but then she looked away. “He found his mate, and…

has… powers.”

Red Lakes? Is

“Yes.”

Hanna is like…

“No…”

what can

dreams. I don’t really know how to

to my feet without struggling to get

know

my back. “This is going to be a

***

felt it when I… when

the moment I met Troy to the second I stepped off the boat in Winter Forest,

had brought up for me on the swell of my stomach. “And… the moonstone

of… Dianny? Is that what that pack

city, The Sisters of

They think… bringing the stones

wasn’t sure what would happen.” I swallowed, looking down at the sandwich. “But I think we’re supposed to

wants to end the White Queens; at least that’s what Hanna and I think.” Mom had told me what happened to her and Hanna, how Tasia had come

made it

door

the end

apology,” he said, looking up at

I said with a smartass

in a warning

glared at me, then cleared his throat.

“For what, exactly?”

glare, then glanced at Mom, a silent plea for help in his

missed our

outside of your control.” He ran his tongue along his lower lip,

said, sitting up a little straighter. “One

“No,” he said shortly.

to sleep in

“Absolutely not.”

can get

bright red. Mom’s eyes widened as she looked down at

said, just as Troy knocked on

Mom gave him a beaming smile, which I don’t think he was expecting.

it looked like someone had given him a haircut. Georgia likely got her hands on him, I thought. She always gave Rowan a haircut whenever

eyes on him. He was rested and at ease, a glimmer of mischief in his eye. I smiled at him, hoping at least one of our children grew to look exactly

a slight bow, who was watching

of our

near impossible task-Dad said, but then stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him. “Thank you,” he

welcome.” Troy shifted his weight

in surprise, and Dad flexed his jaw, reaching up to scratch his beard as I exhaled deeply, rolling my eyes. I set the sandwich on the nightstand, attempting to swing my legs out of the bed but struggling. Troy came to my side, glancing at Dad before he took my hand and

able to talk to you since we got here.” Troy looked

You don’t have to sleep in the garage

back from Mirage; they will arrive in the morning. Troy, we will have a lot to discuss with the two of them regarding your title,” Dad said over

froze, his fingers clasping down

as Alpha of

and I said

his

course,” Troy said,

for taking care of our daughter,” she said, sounding every bit like

stopped when Mom’s gaze locked on him. “Thank you,” he

his weight uncomfortably. “I’m sorry for

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