Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12) (35 page)

They were left sitting there while their bodies did all of the work and Ruby, Jinx and I waited a distance away with the chest of the potions.

“All we can do is wait now.” I said.

“And hope we’re not too late.” Ruby added.

“We may as well already be. We know what would happen if they didn’t wake up. We just didn’t want to say it.”

“It’s not Fate’s intent for them to end that way, I just know it isn’t.” Jinx said. “Naomi’s future has always been written to be with Bryce. It wouldn’t end this quickly. Not now. Not while she’s pregnant.”

“I hope you’re right.”

It’s all any of us could do; hope.

Chapter 72

Seth

Sitting here made me feel tired. Am I asleep right now or did this just feel like sleeping? I couldn’t fully know what was going on since I had to stay here like this but hours had to have passed before I felt something pull at my skin.

My eyes popped open and my mother had removed the bottle from my stomach. It was empty. “How do you feel?”

“Tired.” I answered, looking around to see Dirk and Rory in the same state as me. “Did it work?”

“Only you can tell us that.” Ruby replied. “Test it and find out.”

I got up out of my chair and moved myself to the other side of the cave.

“I guess it worked.” Jinx said.

“Much better.” I was smiling now and went back to them. “Shall we go now?”

“Yes, and we must hurry.” My mother went over to the chest and closed it up. “Take this topside then come and get us.”

I nodded and picked up the chest. “I’ll be right back.” I approached the water with it and jumped in. It was so much better to swim with my speed. It didn’t make me tired at all and I brought the chest to the surface then dove in again to get them. “Ready? Keep your eyes closed and it will be quick.”

My mother took my hand and she looked back at the others.

“Oh no.” Rory said. “Please don’t let it be quick.”

I had to laugh. “Just keep your eyes closed. It won’t be as long as last time.”

He sighed but approached with the others and completed the chain. We jumped into the water and I quickly took them back to the island surface.

“Well, I guess there’s only one thing left to do.” Ruby said as she looked north.

“In a second.” My mother walked back to Madam Carla’s cottage and kneeled down in front of the door. None of us were quite sure what she was doing until she had a little fire going and stood up with it in her hands. “For everything you’ve done.” She threw it up on the roof and it immediately caught fire on the dried straw. “Now there’s only one thing left to do. We have to make this quick. Dirk, you take the chest.”

“Yeah, got it.” He picked it up with no problem.

“Hang on everyone and keep your eyes closed.”

They all nodded as they held on to each other with Dirk last, holding the chest but Rory did so with the longest sigh. I ignored him and I made sure they all had their eyes closed so we could head to shore for our horses. Once we got them, I began the long trip back north towards Randal. We would be there in about twelve hours or so but I wouldn’t stop for breaks. Sorry, Rory. Our priority was to get back before it was too late.

Chapter 73

Naomi

I was sitting in our room next to Bryce as he slept but was getting worried because even though he was conscious now, he didn’t seem to be doing any better. The longer I sat here the more I started to think about it and tears formed in my eyes. I held them back for as long as I could until finally I just broke down and cried over him.

When I felt his hand on me, I quickly backed away and wiped my eyes.

“Were you crying again?” His voice was still very weak and he could barely keep his eyes open enough to look at me.

“Maybe.”

“I don’t want you to cry for me. You need to stay strong for what’s to come.”

I was worried and began to shake my head for what he was saying. “No. Don’t say that.”

“Someone has to. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here.” I broke down in tears again. I couldn’t help it. “You still have much to live for and if I go, I need to know that you’ll be all right.”

“But I won’t be. I can’t lose you. I love you too much.”

“Then promise me one thing.” I wiped my eyes again and he took my hand. “You take that love and share it with our child. I want him to know who I was.”

“He will know you because you’ll still be here to show him. I won’t have to tell him.”

“Naomi. Just promise me, in case the worst should happen.”

“All right. I promise if you promise to stay with me.”

“You know I can’t do that. It’s not up to me.”

Another tear fell down my face and Bryce started coughing. When it finally settled, he took a few slow breaths with his hand on his head.

“You need to rest. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“I know. Stay with me?” I nodded as I laid next to him and he quickly fell asleep.

I couldn’t leave him. I haven’t in a while. He was awake now but I was still worried. Even he thought he wasn’t going to make it. That tore at my heart and it took me much longer to get to sleep. Trying to think of something happy so I could find peace was the nightmare.

I woke up suddenly to Cadence and Lana entering the room with odd smiles. “What’s going on?”

“We have something for you.” Lana said.

I was still tired and rubbed my eyes. “What is it?”

“Hope.” Cadence stepped away from the door and Adele came in holding the Healing Heart potion in both hands.

I gasped in shock and quickly got out of bed and went over, hugging her. “You’re back!”

“Yes and it’s time.” I nodded and led Adele over to Bryce’s side. “He’s so pale. How long has he been conscious?”

“Six days but he’s been getting worse. Even he believes that he won’t make it through this.”

“Then let us fix that.”

I stood by as Adele placed the bottle upside down over his stomach and the spikes popped open, attaching to his skin around his bellybutton. He flinched in his sleep and there was an immediate light glow to his skin as his body started to take in the liquid. It was a good sign and I couldn’t hide my smile for seeing it. Even tears of joy started to shed from my eyes. I was just so relieved and sat in the chair next to him until the liquid was completely absorbed into his body.

That’s when he woke with a deep breath in and sat up. I was stunned to see him looking so much better and quickly hugged him. “Bryce!”

“Twins.”

“What?”

“It’s twins.” Bryce put his hand on my stomach while I backed away. “We’re going to have twins.”

I couldn’t believe it but smiled back and hugged him again. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

I had a tight hold around him and began to think of everything that has happened. It basically meant that I was still crying. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I know but I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.”

I was happy to finally hear it from him and pulled away to kiss him.

“We should tell the others the news and so they can know you’re okay.”

“Wait.” Bryce took my arm and stopped me from turning away. “First we should celebrate our own way.”

I smiled and stepped into him. “It has been a long time but only if you think you can.”

Bryce just smiled as he lifted me up by my thighs and turned to the bed. We started kissing as he lowered me down. I was so overwhelmed to see him healthy again and we expressed our love for each other with an afternoon of long-awaited lovemaking. I couldn’t want anything else. It has always been Bryce. He knew how to treat me and seeing his strength again worked out quite well. I wish we could have stayed with each other in this state of ecstasy forever but we still had something else to do.

Twins. I was still trying to imagine what that would be like. Knowing I was having one was one thing but two? This made everything change but I was happy Bryce was going to be with me through it all.

Chapter 74

Jaylyn

“I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Naomi and Bryce turned their head and smiled when they saw me enter.

“Mother!” Bryce got up and walked to me. “You’re all right!”

We hugged and I was happy to see him better as well. “I’ve brought you something. Are you ready for it?”

“In a minute, mother but first I want you to check something.”

“Okay, what?” He led me over towards the bed where Naomi was sitting but I didn’t have a clue to what this was about.

“Do you feel what I feel?”

I paused for a moment. When I realized what he was asking me, I locked into my senses and immediately smiled and looked at Naomi. “I don’t believe it. You’re having twins!”

We hugged. “I know. It was the first thing he said to me.”

“You should be proud. It’s seen as a wonder to have twins in the first place but to have one of each sex is even rarer.”

“You mean like a boy and a girl?” Bryce wondered.

“Yeah, didn’t you feel it?”

“No. I guess I was still in shock to know it was twins.”

“Well, here.” I took his hand and put it over Naomi’s stomach. “Visualize it.”

Bryce closed his eyes for a moment and slowly started to smile. “I can feel it. It’s true.”

“The others will be happy to hear the news.”

“Don’t tell them yet.” Bryce said. “We want to be the ones to do it.”

“All right. Are you ready for this now?” I held up the Remote Gaze potion so he could see it. “If you start now, you should be ready by dinner and you can tell everyone then. I promise, I won’t say a word, not even to your father.”

“I guess.” Bryce walked around the bed and laid on it. “I’ll have to get it out of the way sometime.”

I smiled as I walked over and Bryce lifted up the front of his shirt. “Try to stay relaxed. Take a nap if you’d like.”

“I will as long as you don’t tell anyone without me.”

“I won’t.” Naomi smiled.

Bryce laid his head back down on the pillow and looked up at me. “I’m ready. Go ahead.”

I smiled when Bryce closed his eyes and I placed the bottle upside down over his stomach and the spikes popped open, attaching to his skin around his bellybutton. He did rather well not to move from the pinch and his body started to absorb the liquid.

“I have yours as well, Naomi.”

“Okay. Might as well.”

She got in on the other side and I went around to her and attached the potion to her.

It was better to get it all out of the way at the same time and I headed to the door next to let them have this time to rest. I looked back once more before fully leaving and watched them take each other’s hand.

They were so sweet. I was happy to finally see them this way again and I left quietly.

“How is he?” Troy whispered it just as I closed the door.

“Fine, of course. Everything is fine.”

He smiled and took me in his arms. “I’m glad you’re fully back. I wouldn’t have lived if you―”

“Don’t worry about me, Troy. We still have a very long time to be together. We’re not old yet.”

“We’re not? I’m glad you think so.”

I laughed and looked at him as we walked through the hall. “Why do you? You’re not that old.”

“Our son is grown up, married and about to have a baby. That doesn’t make you feel old? We’re going to be grandparents.”

“No. It makes me feel blessed. We’re just adding to the already amazing family we have. I wouldn’t want anything else.”

He finally smiled and met my eyes. “As long as you’re here, I wouldn’t either.”

He was still just as sweet as the day I met him and I leaned closer to give him a kiss but I was pulled away in an unexpected embrace, even being lifted off the ground.

“You’re alive!”

“Darius, put me down!”

He set me down gently with a laugh. “What? I just missed you.”

“You couldn’t have been less subtle?” Zayden asked humorously. He stepped passed him and hugged me next. “Though we did miss you.”

“Thank you. I’d say I missed you too but I don’t really remember what it was like when I slept most of the time.”

“Did you even dream?” Darius asked.

I heard a familiar laugh come from behind him. “Please don’t share any of those with us.”

It was Trever and Darius rolled his eyes.

“Be nice.” I said before he let out a sound to dispute Trever’s presence. “He’s family too.”

“Yes I am.” Trever agreed, getting Darius to move so he could hug me next. “And I’m glad you didn’t join father just yet.”

“You say that like it’s going to be horrible.”

“It is.”

I hit his shoulder. “You be nice too. It will be awhile before that.”

“I know. We get to be grandparents first. Yay!”

I looked at him a little oddly and then at those around me. “What do you mean we?”

“Oh, I didn’t tell you? Vera is pregnant too.”

My eyes widened as much as they possibly could. “What?!”

“When did you find that out?” Troy asked.

“Long before you. Apparently, it happened the first time they were together which happened to be the very first day they met.”

Zayden laughed a little. “Really? I did notice some looks between them then but I didn’t think it would have been anything like that.”

“Yeah, it’s not that big of a deal, I guess. Oren is happy for them. We just want to get them married before she starts showing in about a month or so.”

“We’ll definitely be there.” I said. “Just tell us when.”

“We sure will. Just don’t say anything. I don’t think Rory told your boys yet. He wants to make it special for Vera’s sake and not brag about how awesome he is.”

I laughed this time. “Awesome? Is that what you call it?”

“It was their first time together.” Trever explained again.

“So?” Darius snatched. “Forgetting that happened to me? I didn’t brag.”

“Actually, it didn’t happen to you. It happened your first time with Red but that wasn’t you’re actual first time.”

I took a breath. This was all becoming a bit much. “Really? His first time ever and he gets her pregnant?”

“Come on, Jay. Relax. At least he loves her, right? It might be hard for you to believe but he could have turned out a lot worse. None of you knew what it was like to grow up with Kole at that age.”

“Thankfully.” I said, turning away to be done with this conversation.

“Just remember not to say anything.” Trever followed and so did the other three.

I sighed. “Fine. I’ll add it to the list then.”

“What list?” Troy asked.

I smiled and looked back at him. “Of things I’m not supposed to talk about.”

Troy looked at me in an even more curious way. “You know something about them, don’t you?”

“About who?” Zayden asked.

“She just came from Bryce’s room.”

“Oh, shit. What do you know?” Darius asked.

It was cute how they were trying to get me to tell them but my lips were sealed as I promised and it ate at them―pretty much the rest of the evening.

I went back alone to Bryce’s room several hours later when I could get away from the constant questioning and checked on them just as their bodies completed the transformation. It was the perfect timing. I don’t think I could have held back the news for much longer. They needed to come downstairs to share the news for themselves.

I was ready to go in the dining hall and announce their presence but Bryce stopped us from entering. “Wait. Mother, do you feel that?”

I paused and took a moment to realize what he was asking me again but I felt it just as strong as he did and gasped. “I don’t believe it. Is that even possible?”

“It has to be.”

“What?” Naomi wondered, having no idea what was going on.

Bryce looked over at her and smiled. “We’re not the only ones having twins.”

“What?! Who else?”

“Both of them.” I whispered.

“No way. We all are? Do you think they know?”

I laughed. “No. Would you have known without one of us telling you?”

“I guess not but can you tell what they are?”

“They’re too far away. We’ll have to get closer. I’ll give you a signal to let you know as soon as I do.”

Naomi smiled and nodded. “Okay!”

“Wait, mother. There’s something else.”

“What?” I peeked in and saw Vera sitting next to Rory, smiling brightly through conversation. It was coming from her.

“It couldn’t be.” Bryce said. “Could it?”

“Don’t say anything, Bryce. They already know.”

“Why haven’t they told us?”

“I’m sure they’re going to on their own time. So let it be them that shares it. You have something else to share.”

“Right. Shall we join them now?” Bryce held his arm out to Naomi like the gentleman he is. “If they’re like you than I guess we already know where the future Kalu Assassins and Great Seni Fighters will come from.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

We all walked in together and everyone was gathered at the table.

“Bryce!” Cadence smiled, seeing him for the first time on his feet since he’s been better.

“Nice to see you up and about.” Zayden said.

“It’s good to be back. I guess I have you to thank for that.”

Dirk smiled as Bryce sat next to him. “Yes, well, we’ve come a custom to having to save your ass.”

“Then I guess I’m grateful to have an ass worth saving.”

Everyone at the table laughed.

“It runs in the family.” Rory said. “And it was worth it to save the rest of us. I mean, I was beginning to hate the silence which, by the way, I know you know.”

Bryce smiled and shared a look with me. “When were you going to tell us?”

“Eventually, I’d hoped you would have noticed.”

“What are we talking about?” Seth asked.

“Go ahead.” Bryce said.

Rory smiled proudly like this was something he truly did want and took Vera’s hand. “We’re going to be parents too.”

“What?!” Dirk laughed loudly like it had to have been a joke or something but no one else was laughing. “You’re not kidding? When did this happen?”

“We don’t need to get into the details.” Rory said. “But it will be before you.”

Seth laughed this time. “Nice! You’re first time with her or something?”

“Or something.”

“Do you know what it is yet?” Adele asked.

“I’m voting for girl.” The men looked around at each other oddly from his response.

“Why?” Zayden asked.

“Because. Kaluian women are awesome. I thought you would have figured that out already.”

“Would you like me to tell you if you’re right?” Bryce asked.

“You don’t have to. I am.”

“How do you know?”

“I can hear her in there. You can’t? Oh, that’s right. You can’t. You do something else that’s not nearly as brilliant.”

“All right. Cool it.” Trever said. “I hear Bryce has some news of his own that he’s going to share with us.

Now, everyone’s focus was one Bryce and he looked right at me. I was doing my own research while they talked and all I had to do was flash him a quick smile.

“Really?”

I nodded.

“What, really?” Lana asked.

Bryce and I shared another look.

“All right. What’s going on?” Cadence wondered.

“Can’t you feel it?” I asked.

Cadence paused while putting her head down and concentrated for a moment. It took longer for her since it was probably a side of the gift she doesn’t often use but she got something because she gasped and looked across the table at Seth.

“What?” He asked.

“That can’t be right.” Cadence said as she looked back at me. “I know I’m one but I mean, the rarity of that happening at all is like—”

“The way it was intended?” I suggested.

She still couldn’t seem to believe it and sat back in her chair, taking slow breaths.

“Um, hello?” Seth wondered. “What’s going on?”

“Yes. Please tell us now.” Troy said.

I just smiled and looked at Cadence. “You want to tell them?” She quickly pressed her lips together and shook her head. I then looked to Naomi and she pretended she didn’t notice. “Bryce?”

“I don’t think I’m really the one to. Why don’t you do it for us?”

I sighed and looked around the table.

“Jaylyn, what is it?” Adele asked. “You’ve been hanging this over us for a few hours. What do you know?”