Accidental Surrogate

Family Lines Ella Henry takes a deep breath then, looking between the children. “I have been very intrigued,” he begins, “by the idea that the children have bonds with each other – bonds like that between siblings and cousins, it’s unusual. Indeed, I thought it was unique, but it is not.” My brows go up as I listen with interest.

“The children have created between them…something of a triangle,” Henry murmurs, looking between the three of them. “There have been rare examples of individuals having multiple fated mating bonds – my son, interestingly amongst them – ” I lean back against my mate, who wraps his arm more tightly around me.

“But this,” Henry says, gesturing between Ariel, Rafe, and Jesse, “three people bonded together naturally, each to the other two.” He shakes his head. ” I have not yet found any examples of it happening naturally. Though there are those who have…forged such connections.” “Really?” Roger asks, his eyebrows going up.

“Usually in religious ceremonies,” Henry says, folding his hands in his lap and looking around at us, “in the wilds of the north. Two people already bonded – either by fate or by choice, usually through a mating – would each either willingly or by obligation magically forge a bond with a third.” “For what reason,” Cora asks, shaking her head. “Like…plural marriage? Or something?” “No,” Henry replies, shaking his head at her. “This is usually done in communities where those who undergo the ceremony have long taken vows of chastity. No, they do it for the power that results from the bond, which is said to be…unique.” “This is so weird,” I murmur, looking down at my kids. I mean, I’m very aware that my children and my nephew are special, but… “The magics of the north are strange,” Henry says on a sigh, shaking his head and giving a shrug. “They are also closed-mouthed regarding what the results of such bonding actually are. But I do imagine it’s closer to the kinds of powers wielded by the dark priests we spent so much of our time defying last year.

hope for their sake that it is. Those forged bonds and the resulting magic – they didn’t come without a price.” “Oh geeze,” I murmur, sighing and looking down at my precious new baby. She can barely stay awake, let alone wield great and powerful magics. ” What are

I don’t have more definitive answers,” Henry says on a sigh, his

“It’s more than we knew before. Besides – these kids, they’re going to have to lean how to figure it out.” “And the Goddess said to trust them,” Cora says, shrugging and standing, hoisting Jesse up in her arms and smiling at him. “So, I’m just going to let them worry about it.” I grin at my sister, realizing that this honestly is probably the

sitting up straight as I see Roger get to his feet as well. “Don’t, stay! We can get food!” But I

a gentle smile, “because Jesse needs a nap, and so do you. And lil miss Princess over

her…” “We’ll leave you to it,” Cora says,