Page 23 of A Fate of Blood and Magic (Fated #2)

I resisted curling into Elias when he ran his hand over my back in a delicious caress. This was the kind of touch my soul ached for.

“As your maid of honor and wedding coordinator, I’m insulted you don’t think I can pull this off in two weeks.”

I knew she could do it. For years, I’d seen her work last-minute magic on weddings. I’d also witnessed her tension because of that last-minute magic.

“I don’t want you stressing,” I told her.

She waved away my concern, and when one of the castle employees approached Elias to ask if he’d like to start dinner, Elias nodded and led me back to the table.

He held up his champagne flute, and everyone did the same, including the kids with their glasses of juice or cider.

Five of the castle staff went through the long table, holding the food that Chef had prepared, and piled it onto individual plates.

With his hand on my stomach, Elias cupped his arm around me and drew me closer to him.

“I wish blessings upon our unborn babes, to our younglings who we did not bear but are ours in our heart, and to my mate who is as beautiful as she is strong.” When I inched closer to him, he kissed my forehead. “You all are my present and my future. I could not be happier at this moment.”

“I wish blessings on my sister, who was gifted to me in both blood and magic,” Brenton said. “May the gods of our ancestors honor you with an easy pregnancy and birth. May the strength that lives inside you fill your babes as you nurture them until their arrival.”

“I wish blessings on the young princes, who will be Niev’s future,” Everly said. “May they be as wise and courageous as their parents and always lead our kingdom with their hearts.”

Around the table, each fae offered their blessings to our unborn babies and me. After Alastor spoke on behalf of himself and the lirio present, Ryenne followed, her tears making mine fall quicker. While Nate and Donnie murmured something quick, Javier’s friends made us laugh.

When Javier’s turn came, he spun the flute slowly by its stem.

Just as I went to offer him an out, he started.

“Being a big brother can sometimes be annoying.” He smiled at the girls.

“But it’s also my favorite role. I don’t know how this whole blessings thing works, but I know you’ll both be terrific parents to your babies.

” He cleared his throat. “You already are, although I think you spoil the girls too much.” He smiled while Elias shifted beside me, and George laughed.

“So I guess I wish blessings on all of us because those two boys will be little terrors.”

Holding a trembling hand to my mouth, I let out a watery laugh.

“When we first moved here, Brent and I were talking,” Javier continued.

“I can’t remember what I said, but he told me you never outgrow needing or wanting a family.

When my parents died, I tried really hard not to need anyone and to be all Jazz and Juanita needed.

Maybe I would’ve been enough, but I’m glad y’all stepped in.

” His eyes bounced to each of my friends before they settled on Elias and then me.

“You didn’t just help us survive but have given us a life worth living and a family I think our parents would want for us. ”

His eyes dropped to the table, where he continued to spin the flute in slow circles. I squeezed Elias’s hand once before I made my way to Javier. When I reached him, he turned to hug me tight while he dug his head against my shoulder.

“I love you,” I whispered, and he nodded against my shoulder. “I love you and your sisters so damn much.”

He said something I couldn’t make out while Elias wrapped his arms around us.

Moments later, I felt the tiny arms of Juanita, Jasmine, and Victoria wrapping around us as well.

These beautiful little people. How did we get so lucky to have this family and be able to add to it ?

During moments like these, I wished my mom was still here to see this.

All of it. Elias. Our makeshift family. Our babies yet to be born. God, I missed her.

I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that but I didn’t want to leave the moment.

“Enough of that already,” Brenton shouted, a tease in his voice and smile on his face.

The room broke out in loud chatter and laughter. Javier pulled away, his eyes glossy and red, and I wondered if mine looked the same. Elias gripped the back of Javier’s neck. While he didn’t say anything, I felt Elias’s emotions as if they were my own.

In my mind, I heard all his doubts and regrets, which reminded me I hadn’t yet told him how I’d spoken to Javier about his dad. It was something we’d have to talk about tonight.

Javier ducked his head, and after I patted his cheek, Elias and I returned to our seats.

Brenton shot me a smile that didn’t touch the rest of his features while Finley watched him from afar.

She pursed her lips together in a way that looked a lot like worry.

I ruffled his hair, and as he batted me away, I pinched his cheeks.

“Will you tell your mate to stop?” Brenton asked Elias.

“I can’t help it that your cheeks are so squishy,” I retorted.

Finley laughed. When Brenton stared at her, she diverted her attention to the table and the food now sitting in front of everyone.

“It seems you’ve finally met your match, Brenton.”

We all turned at the sound of Elias’s mom’s voice to find her standing at the entrance of the banquet hall. Javier’s friends jumped to their feet to bow to the queen. She seemed timid and unsure, turning her head toward the stairs that would lead her back to her room.

Elias pushed his chair back and rushed to his mom’s side. “Mama,” he said, his tone surprised.

“I hope I’m not interrupting.” She rubbed the center of her chest. “I felt all these emotions coming from you all. So much happiness. I had to come investigate.”

“Of course, Mama,” Elias said, understanding her empath magic would’ve picked up on our emotions. “We’re glad you came.”

He didn’t bother mentioning how we’d gone to her room earlier that day and asked her to join us while her eyes remained vacant.

Elias had left her room with his shoulders slumped forward as if the weight of his mother’s sorrow was too much for him to bear.

A part of me resented her for neglecting him when he still needed her, but more than that, I wished I could carry some of that burden for him.

“Mama Renee.” Brenton stood from his chair and offered it to the queen.

She took a second to stare at the empty seat at the head of the table.

Hands clutched to her chest, I saw the moment her eyes took on that faraway look.

Her pain sliced into my chest like a shard of ice.

I took her cold hand in mine to lead her to Brenton’s seat while Brenton ran out of the room to grab himself a different chair.

“We have some news we’d like to share with you,” I said quietly, hoping she’d stay present long enough to offer Elias even the tiniest bit of support and encouragement.

Was I selfish in those desires? I wasn’t sure, yet honestly, I didn’t care. She was his mother, and for once, I’d like her to act like it. I understood grief, I truly did, but this went beyond that.

Maybe finding her a therapist would help—if therapists existed among the fae. It didn’t seem like something the fae would invest in, though.

Queen Renee blinked a few times before her attention settled on me. She forced out a smile as her eyes dimmed in color. While Elias sat beside her, Grandma Richter stood on her other side.

“The children have some good news they’d like to share with you,” Grandma Richter said, her tone taking on that no-nonsense lilt that had once made everyone in our congregation, including our pastor, listen.

“What is your news?” she asked Elias, her hands shaking on her lap.

Elias leaned forward, taking her hands in his. “Teddy and I are expecting our first babes.” He said it gently and held his breath as he waited for her to say something.

“You’re going to be a grandmother to two little boys,” Grandma Richter added.

At Grandma Richter’s words, Renee seemed to shrink further into herself. She ran her trembling fingers through the length of her dull black hair.

“You are to be a father?” she asked Elias.

“Yes.”

“You will make a fine father, dearest.” Her words came out dreary, matching the heavy smile she gave us.

“If I am a good father, it is only because of the example you and Father set before me.” There was so much hope lingering in every word he spoke.

Slowly, Renee turned her gaze to Grandma Richter, and Elias blew out a long string of breath.

“I think I need to rest,” the queen said.

Elias stood with her, offering his arm as he led her away with Grandma Richter striding behind them. His mother’s spine curved forward, and I couldn’t help but feel that she’d given up on living.

I swallowed the sorrow I felt from Elias and pushed it down while it tried to claw its way up my throat. It didn’t help, and with our family and friends around us, I felt Elias’s heart break so much harder and louder than before.

I reached for him with my magic, wanting to soothe what I wasn’t sure could heal.

Even from rooms apart, I felt it when the threads of his magic coiled around mine in desperation.

While I wasn’t sure what I was doing, I used my magic to send him love and calm.

His magic clasped onto it while his heart thrashed in pain.

When he returned, he smiled at everyone before he bent down to kiss my temple. With my hand in his, he sat beside me. We ate, talked, and laughed while I felt the edges of Elias’s soul stumble and shatter around me.

It made me wonder if, along with mind-speak magic, I also somehow had empathic magic, but it only seemed to work with Elias when his emotions were heightened. Maybe it was simply our soul-bond connection, something I cherished but was still learning about.

Not knowing what else to do, I stood to sit on his lap. His arms engulfed me, and when he ran his nose across the back of my neck and inhaled, his limbs began to relax.

“I love you.” I sent the words to him through my mind.

His thumb grazed over my stomach. “Mo elma. Love isn’t a large enough word for what I feel for you.”

His unspoken thoughts filtered through as well, with him wondering if our connection could somehow cross through the realms so that our souls could stay entwined.

I wasn’t sure if such a thing existed but for him, I’d try.

For him, to bring him even the slightest bit of peace, I’d sew myself into the very fabric of his soul.