Page 9 of A Fate of Blood and Magic (Fated #2)

Chapter

Four

TEDDY

“Something’s up with you.” Ryenne pointed a greasy slice of pepperoni pizza at me in accusation.

I sank deeper into my seat at the pizzeria and took a big bite of my cheese pizza. The crust was dense, the sauce too runny, and the mountain of mozzarella cheese couldn’t quite hide the strange aftertaste. But at least it kept me from blurting out the truth.

From their table, the girls chatted with George, each vying for his attention. As usual, he was patient with them, letting them get away with whatever they threw his way.

He’d be just as wonderful with Elias’s and my babies.

“I agree,” Everly added, her expression sharpening. “You’ve been acting strange since you saw the healer. You even sobbed while carrying the babe at the orphanage.”

I pressed a napkin to my nose, hoping my emotions didn’t betray me again.

“A baby shouldn’t be living in an orphanage.

They should be with their parents, or aunts and uncles.

Someone who’ll hold them as often as they need to be held.

Instead, we walked in on that sweet baby girl wailing with no one having the time to pick her up to soothe her. ”

“You did a good job of picking her up,” Everly said. “And feeding her and cuddling her and feeding her again. Pretty sure we even heard you singing her to sleep a few times.”

I stuck my tongue out at her.

But she was right. While I’d meant to spend time with all the children, the tiny baby held me captive, and I stayed with her throughout the day, staring at her perfect little face and listening to her soft coos.

I only handed her to employees when she needed a diaper change or when I couldn’t figure out how to burp her.

“Why did you see a healer?” Ryenne asked. “You’re not sick, are you?”

Donnie looked up from his plate to watch me. From across the room, Aidas peered back at me from the table he shared with Javier and their friends. Concern etched his youthful face before he turned his attention back to his friends.

Damn fae and their super hearing.

I forced out a nervous laugh. “I’m fine.”

Donnie angled his head, his eyes soft. “It’s us, Ted. You can tell us anything.”

The laugh that escaped me was brittle—less nervous, more manic.

Of course, I could tell them anything. From the time I was in diapers, it’d always been Ryenne, Donnie, and me.

Ryenne and I had our own unbreakable tether.

But Donnie? He became my anchor when Mom died.

When my world tilted and everyone tiptoed around my grief, he didn’t.

He sat beside me in silence and offered comfort.

He became the quiet place I ran to when everything was too loud.

I didn’t want to keep this from them, but I wanted Elias to be the first to know. And, selfishly, I wanted to let this information settle a bit so it didn’t feel quite so insane.

Beside Ryenne, her boyfriend, Nate rested a hand on her lap that she clasped onto.

“I’m honestly fine,” I told my friends. “I went to see Leah because I hurt myself while training with Everly. I ruptured some ligaments in my ankle, but I’m mostly healed now. I can’t train for several days, and she strongly recommended I eat lots of chocolate for healing purposes.”

Everly chuckled.

From behind us, George pulled up a chair by Everly and she turned to tuck her hand in his.

“Was this your first time being examined by a healer?” he asked.

“Elias has healed me before, but other than that, yeah.”

He nodded, the worry lines on his forehead deepening when he lifted his brows. “The first time I saw a healer, it left me out of sorts.” His lips pressed together in a tight line as he gave another nod, his eyes briefly widening before his expression smoothed back into careful neutrality.

He knew. Dammit to hell, the seer knew.

Everly watched our exchange, and understanding bloomed across her face. Maybe she didn’t know what George had learned, but she knew enough to follow his lead.

“I forgot,” she said, smacking her forehead. “It’s been over a hundred years since my first healer visit, but I remember feeling off afterward.”

Not buying it, Donnie narrowed his eyes further.

“My mother accused me of acting strange afterward, too,” she continued.

“That must be it,” I said, holding on to that lifeline in the hopes Donnie and Ryenne wouldn’t continue prodding .

“You should rest,” George said, voice calm but meaningful. “Not just your foot but your . . . everything.” He coughed.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “My everything?”

“Yes,” Everly added, “until the lingering effects of your exam wear off.”

Except the remnants of my exam wouldn’t wear off for another eight months. And then I’d get to hold my baby boys.

“You’re acting strange again,” Ryenne said, not believing George’s lie. “What’s with that smile? You look drunk.”

I blinked at her, forcing the grin off my face even as it tugged stubbornly at the corners of my mouth. “I look strange because I’m happy?”

“This is a different kind of happy,” she said slowly.

Leave it to Ryenne to notice a difference in my smile.

“Didn’t you bring a cake?” George asked, pointing his chin toward the booth Ryenne sat on.

I perked up. “Cake time,” I sang.

Ryenne glared at me while I took the cake out of its box, and George lit the candy-melt candle.

With another worried look in my direction, Donnie took the cake, and we all followed him to the older kids’ table.

Ryenne led us in a screech-filled rendition of “ Happy Birthday ” while the fae looked at us curiously.

Javier frowned at the cake, his fingers gripping the edge of the table like it might steady him.

I froze.

Had I done too much? Drawn too much attention? This was his first birthday without his parents. I didn’t know what their traditions were and maybe what he needed most today wasn’t candles or frosting or noise .

“You have an actual song you sing on someone’s birthday?” George asked.

I pulled my attention from Javier. “You don’t?”

George shook his head.

I snorted and forced some levity into my voice. “I guess it’d get old if you heard it every year for five hundred years.”

Javier took a deep breath, shoulders rising and falling as he blew out his candle.

Everyone cheered. Donnie clapped his back and Javier’s lips quirked up in reply.

I started cutting slices, and while the others drifted back to their table with cake in hand, Javier lingered beside me. His slice sat untouched on the table.

He cleared his throat. “Thanks,” he said quietly.

His attention moved slowly to me, and I had to brace myself not to pull him into a hug. His eyes were too sad, too full of things I couldn’t fix.

“Was this too much?” I whispered.

I remembered my first birthday without Mom.

I hadn’t wanted cake or balloons or anyone looking at me like I was supposed to be happy.

Ryenne and Donnie had dragged me out of the house anyway.

It’d been the same for the first Christmas and Thanksgiving without her.

Not that the second or third holidays without her were any easier.

Javier shook his head. “This was good. I just . . .”

“You miss your parents.” It came out slow and careful, unsure how he’d receive the words.

Nodding, he bit his bottom lip. “I wish they were here.” The words seemed to rip from his chest, and he sucked in a breath as he grabbed his slice. “But I’ve had a good time. I just wanted to say thank you.”

With a quiet nod, he went back to his table to sit beside Delaney while I sat at my own table.

My heart felt heavy, and from the look George gave me, I saw that he not only overheard our conversation but also felt the same despair.

When the girls rushed to George, he ushered everyone but Ryenne and me away with the promise of whooping their butts in the arcade games, or game pads as the fae called them.

His enthusiastic words didn’t match the frown he tried to hide.

Aidas and Kieren followed them while Javier and Delaney stayed behind to talk and drink their beverages, which tasted a lot like our sodas.

“You’re hiding something from me,” Ryenne said. With her lips pulled down in a frown, she leaned her elbows on the table.

I sighed. “I am, but it’s nothing bad, Ry. I just . . . I want to tell Elias first. I promise you’ll be the second person to know.”

“Third.” She tipped her chin up. “George and his voodoo-psychic magic already know.”

I stood from my chair and slipped into Ryenne’s booth to sit beside her. “You’re my best friend, Ry, and every part of me wants to tell you and Donnie, but it wouldn’t be fair to Elias.”

“He’s your soulmate or whatever.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “I forgive you, but only because I’ll be such a kick-ass auntie.”

I covered her mouth, and her eyes widened. She pointed an accusatory finger at me, and from behind my hand, she cackled.

When I removed my hand, I quietly warned, “Do not say anything.”

“I knew it,” she said between fits of laughter. When she calmed, she drew in a deep breath. “Is it a boy or girl?” she whispered.

I grinned. “I don’t know. ”

“Liar. Fae have superpowers. I’d bet my left tit Leah told you the gender.”

My grin grew.

“I hate you.”

I laughed.

“You’re the worst best friend ever.”

I rested my head on her shoulder.

“Okay, fine, I don’t hate you,” she whispered back. “But that’s only because you’re incubating my niece or nephew.”

Nephews.

I cupped my hand over my stomach and imagined my two little boys, who would grow up with this amazing group of friends who were more like family. They’d be loved beyond reason. Spoiled and cared for, never once having to wonder who or where home was.

The rest—the fears and worries that came with having babies—Elias and I would figure it out.

From the back of the restaurant, Jasmine’s laughter rang out the loudest, followed by a loud protest: “Not fair, Everly!”