Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Rosalie

“Well, I wanted to name him Talon, of course. I was desperately in love with Talon back then, you know,” Georgia said with a little laugh, giving Talon a teasing glance.

“I told you what would happen if you did,” Talon cut in, bringing his glass of whiskey to his lips and smiling knowingly at his wife.

“I hate to admit that Talon was right,” she laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “But he was right. Every time I said Talon, they both looked right at me. It was rather confusing for both of them, honestly. We even tried calling him TJ for a while, for Talon Junior, but he refused to acknowledge that, even though he was just a toddler.”

Ernest rolled his eyes, his arm draped over the back of Gemma’s chair as Georgia continued.

“Well, Talon had given our son the middle name of Ernest, a beloved dead uncle on his side of the family,” she paused, looking over at Talon to confirm this was correct. He shrugged, nodding. “Anyway, I started calling him Ernie, just thinking it was the cutest name I had ever heard, and it stuck.”

“And now we call him Ernest,” Talon finished, smiling softly at his son. Ernest pinkened at his father’s loving gaze, and turned his head to Gemma.

“I will let you choose the name,” he smiled down at her, his hand resting on her stomach, “As long as it’s not Ernest.”

“Oh, please,” Georgia laughed, waving her hand to dismiss his comment. “Ernest is a fine name. We could have named you Bartholomew-”

“Or Cornelius,” Ethan said with a wry smile.

“Or Richard,” Rowan said, leaning into the conversation.

“What’s wrong with the name Richard?” Kacidra cut in from the other end of the table.

“Well, it might have actually been a fine choice for you, Ernest. The nickname for it is Dick,” Rowan grunted as Ernest, who was seated directly across from him, kicked him in the shin.

“Nothing has changed,” Georgia murmured as she took a sip of her wine, giving me a sideways glance. I smiled, shaking my head as conversation erupted around me, the dining room feeling small, but warm, as we sat shoulder to shoulder around the modest-sized dining room table.

“Are Vicky and Paul coming?” Rowan asked, looking expectantly at Ethan. Ethan shrugged, but Talon shook his head, leaning forward to accept a bowl of green beans from Hanna.

“Vicky wants to be here, but Paul doesn’t want to risk it,” Talon said.

“I think that’s wise,” Ethan said soberly, giving me a look as ! settled back against my chair.

They were right; we didn’t know what was going to happen here in the North. Vicky and Paul had settled in Finaldi, starting a family of their own. They had three daughters, none of them yet sixteen. I didn’t blame them for not wanting to bring their children to what could soon be considered a war zone if Damian made any further moves. We were, essentially, waiting for

war.

“What did they name their daughters again? I can never remember.” Gemma was picking at her plate, slightly green around the gills.

I pursed my lips as I watched her struggle for a moment, looking as though she was going to throw up before she was able to regain her composure. Gemma had been sick her entire pregnancy so far with little to no relief.

“Well, there’s Caroline, the eldest. And then Katerina is the middle… or is she the youngest?” Georgia looked over at me for help.

youngest,” I corrected. “Sarah is in

saw them they were talking about trying for a boy, if you can believe it,” Georgia said as she brought her wine glass to her lips, looking around to

that how Katerina came about? She’s worse than Maeve was. What is she

replied,

a glass of water, “How did you come up with

ask Ethan that. He was the one who named her,” I said with a

to look at Ethan, who blanched at the attention,

it sounded nice with Rowan,” he said simply, expecting that to be a good

said to Gemma, turning my head to

know, I always wondered about her name. She’s the only Maeve I’ve ever met,” said Georgia

my chest tightening painfully at the

I haven’t

little, uh, busy.” Ernest gave Gemma a reassuring smile, his eyes seeming to

a girl. I haven’t even thought of names for a

it,” Rowan said with a sly

nudged him with

had a dream a few weeks ago,” Gemma began. “I don’t really remember the dream, but I remember hearing someone say Tasia,

and bolting for the door. Rowan and Kacidra both began to rise, but I motioned for them to

down the hallway toward the den. I nearly tossed my plate on the counter as I

moving quickly through the backyard, her dress

jumping down the steps leading out of the

of the gate, however, and I almost tackled her to the ground by accident as I slid to a stop. “What is wrong,

away from me but stilled as Ethan came to my side. She cowered, looking down

Ethan said sharply, his tone biting enough to make me wince. “Whatever you’re seeing, whatever visions are plaguing

wrong,” she said,

to explain it to us, Hanna. We don’t understand.” I

collapse into the grass and have another one of her spells. “What do you see? We know you’ve seen Maeve.

she said

table so abruptly?” Ethan said, his tone

her eyes watering. “Everyone thinks I’m crazy,” she said,

first time the real, deep-rooted frustration that plagued her. She didn’t want these

at this moment. We had buried her near the Temple of the White Queens over a decade ago and planted white roses

don’t know where it is, or what’s inside. I only know that I’m being pulled toward it. But I always get stuck; someone always pulls me back under. But after I met Rowan, I… I’ve been pulled to another place, like meeting him has begun a chain

listening patiently, but I saw his face change at the mention of another

to Red Lakes. Usually, my dreams were meaningless. I couldn’t control or manipulate them like my mother

Dancer?” I asked, hoping she

deep water. She was dying. She

understand,” Ethan said, but I quickly

done for Maeve had allowed me to close in on it. But it was loud and chaotic. Before… I thought the building was the key to understanding