“Like what?” I asked wondering what the hell could be worse than to take away what had marked him a Demon. He looked at me for a few moments and nodded, as if accepting something.
“I’ll show you. Someone you should have met already, I think; it’s about time you do anyway.” He pulled my hand with purpose as he walked us down the long hallway in the direction of the pavilion.
We entered the woman’s pavilion and he didn’t stop until we stood in front of a door with no name on it or people around it. Inside, I could hear the faint moaning and cries from a woman. “Who is it?” I asked as a shiver ran up my spine.
“Kiera; she’s Ryder’s mother.”
I pulled my hand away from his. “I thought she was mental,” I mumbled as he ignored me and opened the door.
Kiera was on the bed, chained to it. She had golden eyes, and wild, midnight hair like Ryder’s. There was a wild look in her eyes, as if she’d been tortured and had endured unimaginable pain. I swallowed
“Kiera, this is Synthia Raine, the mother to your grandchildren,” Ristan said, and she turned those unseeing eyes to me. They lowered to my growing midsection with a look of disdain.
“Horde King’s bastards,” she mumbled. “Kill them,” she whimpered as a single tear slid from her eyes.
“She and Ryder are happy, and welcome their children,” Ristan said as he placed a hand on my swollen womb. “Twins, Kiera. She’s given him twins to heal the world. To undo what Alazander has done.”
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Ryder growled from the doorway.
“My son,” Kiera said with a vacant look as she turned to Ryder’s voice. “My beautiful, little boy,” she cried, a gentle sob escaping her lips.
I felt as if I was intruding as Ryder walked in and placed his hand in her outstretched one. “Mother,” he whispered as he lowered his mouth to kiss her palm—as he often did with mine.
“You made a life,” she accused. “To secure the line, one that will end us,” she whispered brokenly.
“I chose a mate, one who can help me to bring forth the prophecy to heal the lands,” he said in a calming tone as he went to his knees at the side of the bed. Her chains sounded as she turned to look at him. “The beast chose her and planted his seed in her womb, mother.”
Talk about medieval talk! Seed, womb, all we needed now was a knight to walk in, rattling his shield and chest plate.
“Beasts,” she whispered as her eyes looked over to me. “And she lived.”
“She’s his mate, in every way.”
Ryder and I both turned to look at Ristan, who had spoken softly behind us.
“Impossible,” she screeched, which caused the babes to move deep in my stomach. I felt a sharp pain and cried out, which sent Ryder into overdrive as he moved to me and lifted me in his arms.
“Get Eliran, and I swear, Ristan, if they come to harm for this…” He let his threat go unsaid.
Chapter Three