:: Syrath POV ::
"It's you and me, Quinn. They're ours…" My heart felt like it was seized by an invisible hand as I watched my brother gently wipe Quinn's tears away.
Why couldn't it be me? I loved Quinn far longer than Raziel has. I've been by her side through thick and thin. I never left her! I supported Quinn through all the madness she had to go through. All I ever wanted was for her to be happy. But does she have to be with my brother to have that?
Seeing them together made me question fate. Why did I fall in love with my brother's true mate? Do I have a masochistic streak on my spine? Do I have the need to suffer and feel pain? I knew this would not end well for the three of us. Why did I persist in clinging to these feelings? Why didn't I let go when I still could? Why do I have to be in love with the same woman as my brother?
"They're going to be alright because we're here to protect them."
That sealed my fate, didn't it? Quinn and Raziel, they're going to build a family. Create a life centered on each other and their children. Where would that leave me? Do I still have the right to love Quinn when I know it'd hurt my brother and possibly the children as well? Do I even have the right to call myself Raziel's brother when at one insane moment I thought of stealing everything from him?
I've always thought of myself as an honorable man but I'm as selfish and unscrupulous as everyone else. I have base desires and needs just like the rest of them. Maybe I am worse because I covet someone who belongs to my own brother!
"I don't understand…" I murmured not noticing I was thinking out loud.
"What don't you understand?" Orion urged gently.
"I-I that is…" I can't say it. For the first time in my life, I have no explanation or answer as to how and why this happened. Why me? What possessed me to do the things I did? Were my actions really governed by love or was I driven by jealousy?
I glanced at my brother standing close to Quinn, gently holding her hand and whispering soothing words to calm her down. And my heart broke a dozen different ways. I used to do that for her.
My intense feelings for Quinn… My unreasonable jealousy towards Raziel... Did I somehow get my intentions mixed up? In order to convince myself that what I was doing was right I willfully hurt both of them? How could I be so flawed, so cunning?
All this time I thought I was helping the two of them cope with the situation, of the occurrence of this unknown thing, when in truth I might have been the one keeping them apart!
What would have happened if I told Raziel about his trance? If I forced Quinn to tell Raziel the truth about the spells the moment we found out about it? Could it save Quinn from years of misery thinking about a rejection that lasted for no more than a few days? Save Raziel from the sense of betrayal he felt when he finally found out the truth?
If I nipped their relationship in the bud and didn't allow them to have stolen days and nights together, could I have had a better chance with Quinn? Did I do all these things in order to help because I wanted to delay the inevitable or was it something else?
Perhaps, deep inside, I knew this would happen. My brother would fall irrevocably in love with Quinn and Quinn would choose him because she loved Raziel more than anyone in the world from the moment they first met.
I suddenly felt vile. How could I have done this to both of them? To the people I love most in the world?
"I, ah…" I swallowed hard. In my current state, I'm incapable of making up a passable lie but at the same time, I dread admitting the truth. How could I when I still find it hard to swallow?
They were all staring at me, waiting for an answer. Only Orion seemed to guess what was going through my mind because he was looking at me knowingly, his eyes full of compassion and understanding.
"You must be wondering how Quinn could conceive when dragons are fertile only with other dragons." Nuri cut in, successfully saving me from damning myself. "I was wondering the same thing myself. I believe my father could enlighten us on that score."
Orion and I turned to Nuri. She didn't have to help me but that's what she did. Nuri took pity on me by making an excuse on my behalf. Why?
Nuri and Orion stared at each other. There was a hidden conversation behind those looks that only the two of them could understand. When Nuri looked away from her father and her steady gaze met mine, I had the sinking feeling as to what it could be.
Not her, no! I turned away hastily and prayed Nuri hadn't realized it yet. Orion caught my sudden change and I tried hard not to let anything show on my face. But he just arched a quizzical brow at me. Damnit, he already knows! I clenched my fists and cleared my throat, silently begging him not to say anything. Orion just shook his head and sighed.
"Quinn has strong fae blood, as Titania's daughter it's only natural for her to inherit some of her mother's magic. This makes it easier for her to conceive with other races." Orion explained after some time.
"Still, it wouldn't be possible if she doesn't have a drop of dragon's blood in her." Nuri stated.
"And she doesn't," I answered firmly. "If Quinn has even a hint of dragon's blood, Raziel and I would have sensed it from her." Sensing another dragon is an ability exclusive to Dragon Lords. It allows us to recognize our kin no matter what guise they take.
"Have you ever wondered why Quinn could send the resonance of the mating call?" Orion countered.
Yes, I did wonder about that but I never dwelled on it or tried to find a reason for it. I simply thought Quinn was special and left it at that."There is a legend about young Maud of Mordiford and her precious wyvern..."
I unconsciously frowned. Where is Orion going with this? Every dragon knows of the story of Maud. It portrays us as mindless killers who attack the innocent and terrorize villages. Nothing more than a pest that needs to be eradicated. The story of Maud centers on building dragons as villains and knights mounted on horses, wielding lance and swords, as heroes. A preposterous tale, if you ask me. Those stories are too far removed from the truth.
"We all know how the legend goes." Orion continued. "But not many realize that Maud and her dear wyvern were more than just childhood playmates. They were intimate lovers. I know this for a fact because Uther Wycliffe, Maud's dragon, was a dear friend of mine."
My head snapped up at the name. Uther Wycliffe was a notorious Dragon Lord. There were whispers about him and how he associated with humans. During the dark times, it was forbidden for a dragon to consort with humans, or any species for that matter, so nobody gave credence to the stories.
"Besides, it's incorrect to state that dragons are only fertile with other dragons. There is a rare human bloodline that carries a complexity in their genes which allows their descendants to bear half dragon children. Maud hailed from that bloodline. She and Uther conceived a child, a son to be exact, a half-breed who inherited the blood of dragons and the rarity laced in his human genes. An abnormality, for lack of a better term. But this is a special attribute that he passed on to his lineal descendants."
This must have been a well-kept secret because Raziel and I inherited the scrolls of our forefathers. There was no mention of this rarity on any of the scrolls. This means only a select few are privy to this information.
"Maud kept her son hidden to keep him safe. He was later adopted as the youngest son of the house of Garston, the family who presumably slayed his father." Orion turned to Quinn. "Your real father, Peter Quince Garston, is the great, great, great grandson of Uther Wycliffe."
"But why didn't we sense dragon blood in Quinn?" I asked, still marveling at Quinn's legacy. She must be reeling from this new revelation because frankly, I am.
If Quinn has dragon's blood that means the dragonlings inside of her would be Dragon Lords. The possibility of them being females was miniscule due to Raziel's dragon bloodline. But if Quinn is part dragon then it's certain there would be two new Dragon Lords in the house of Rheinalt!
"Quinn's fae blood dominated all traces of the supernatural within her. I think it's because of the magic she inherited from Titania. But I reckon you would be able to sense the dragon in her now that she's not able to use fae magic."
"Why couldn't Quinn use magic?" Raziel asked. "If the twins are dragons then she should be able to utilize magic."
"Ah, about that." Orion scratched his chin like he didn't know how to fully explain it either. "Quinn is indeed carrying a dragon child but the other one is fae."
Raziel stiffened and I inwardly groaned. It just gets better and better! If the twins have different cycles, how could we expect this pregnancy to be safe for Quinn and the children?
"Before you lads flare up and lose your tempers." Orion held up a hand, cutting through everyone's dire thoughts. "Let me say that perhaps Quinn is carrying the dragonling to its full cycle by now."
It is possible, only if Raziel and Quinn conceived him from the first time they mated. All of us turned and focused our attention on Quinn, waiting for her to confirm or deny anything. But she just stood there, quietly, waiting for Orion to continue.
"Quinn, have we been intimate for two years?" Raziel asked with his usual lack of tact. But who could blame my brother? Quinn's answer could spell a breath of fresh air for all of us or a wind of another disaster. "I'm sorry for bringing this up in front of other people but I need to know. Now."
Quinn blushed, deep crimson, and replied. "Yes, after the first year we well… you know. It's been almost two years since then. But I don't see how knowing that could be pertinent to anything we're discussing..."
Quinn looked put out but that's because she doesn't understand the relevance of what she just revealed to us. Quinn grew up as a human. There are things about the supernatural that she doesn't understand. And this answer just gave us all a cause for relief.
"A dragon's pregnancy is a bit complicated and the gestation takes a long time. Almost two years, to be exact. But a fae takes only a few weeks to develop, sometimes even a few days." Raziel explained patiently. "I had to ask you because if the timing is right then we wouldn't have to worry about the twins being ready for birth at the same time."
"Oh my god! I didn't know." Quinn grabbed Raziel's arm in panic. "Will they be alright? I thought this would be a regular pregnancy, it never occurred to me that…"
"It's alright. If our guess is correct there won't be a problem." Raziel said, pulling her close. "You don't need to worry about anything right now."
"We'll know for sure within the week." Orion chimed in. "Nuri would be able to feel the twins properly before the week ends. She'd be able to confirm the time and inform you when it's safe to deliver the babies. I have connections on the medical board of Saints' Isle. I can have a team on standby when it's time."
"I want everyone's background to be double checked. I'm not taking any chances. Puck is still out there on the hunt for Quinn." Raziel said keeping a protective arm around Quinn. Shit! Because of all these revelations I forgot about Puck and his solemn intention to spill Quinn's blood. "I'll convert one of the rooms and have everything ready to ensure the safe delivery of the twins. Ask the team what they need and I will provide everything."
Orion nodded in understanding before turning to address Nuri. "I think you should stay here."
"What! Why?" I exclaimed in panic before I could stop myself. "I mean, I'd be here. Between Raziel and I, we could take care of Quinn by ourselves."
Nuri turned to me, her face a mask of question and suspicion. But I refused to acknowledge her questioning look. Orion only smirked knowingly. Damn him!
"Nuri could keep track of Quinn's pregnancy and help look after her. I would have offered to stay instead but I don't like leaving Nile alone." Orion sounded logical and very convincing. If I didn't know he's plotting something, I would have believed him. But right now, having Nuri in the same house would be a big problem for me!
"There's really no reason for…" I started to protest but Nuri stepped forward.
"I'll stay." She said glaring daggers at me.
"I was going to ask Nuri to stay, Sy. Even if Orion didn't bring it up." Raziel confessed. "We need her to monitor Quinn and the twins. Unless there's another reason why you don't want her to stay."
Raziel was also looking at me strangely. He knows that something is bothering me and he's giving me a chance to come clean. I'm thankful he's not pushing too hard for answers. But I'd have to tell him the truth when he asks again. I wouldn't be able to hide this from him, not this time.
I gritted my teeth and shook my head in defeat. "No, there's nothing." I choked out. "I was just thinking there's no need to trouble them."
Raziel shrugged and led Quinn to the other side of the room to talk to her. Orion went back to drinking his tea and eating biscuits and I couldn't move fast enough. Before I could leave the room Nuri was in front of me, fuming.
"What are you plotting?" She grounded out.
"Nothing," I answered tightly, trying to move past her.
But she didn't let me off that easily. "You're hiding something, I can feel it!"
I made the mistake of looking at her and I had to force myself to turn away. "I'm not hiding anything!" I snapped trying to keep the trembling from my voice. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to be alone."
I walked past Nuri, taking care not to touch or brush against her. I could pretend and hide it for now but with Nuri's empathic abilities, it would be a matter of time before she discovers the truth. And I have to get away from her before that happens.
Gad! Why is my life so messed up?