“What about shifters, enchanters, fairies?” asked Joseph.
Gabriel contemplated that. “We’ll ask but I doubt we’ll get any help from enchanters. They don’t like to mingle in our politics. We might have better luck with the shifters, some Eagles would be helpful.”
“Well,” Patrick clapped his hands together. “We better get to work.”
Chapter Fifteen: Reunion
The vampires in the house began to bustle about. I wanted to help but I didn’t know how. They all dispersed, leaving Jonathon and me with the babies. He looked at me and I knew he wanted to be helping the others.
“Go ahead,” I waved him away. “I know you want to help.”
“You know me so well,” he kissed me. “I won’t be gone long,” he added, kissing each of the babies on their head.
He was gone in an instant and I was alone for the first time with my babies. I was amazed that they trusted me to be alone with them. I lovingly stroked both of their pink cheeks. Somehow, I felt like they grounded me. I was scared that if I left them I would turn into a monster. Right now, I still felt human, and I didn’t want to lose that feeling. I didn’t want to be overcome with my thirst…
I stopped that train of thought in its tracks and the burning in my throat relaxed. I held my breath for several minutes until I was sure I was in control of myself. Once I was sure of myself I let the air whoosh out of my lungs.
I smiled down at my two angels as they identically wiggled their noses in their sleep. I knew there had never been two more beautiful children. They were so flawless, so perfect, they didn’t seem real. So, long I had desired a child of Jonathon’s that having them didn’t seem real. I thought I had to be dreaming. How could I have such perfect little babies? I had begun to believe that I was destined to have only bad in my life, only darkness, with Jonathon being the only bright spot, my star. But I had been wrong. I had Byren and Makenna now too. My life was no longer dully lit, now it shone with a light akin to the sun.
Makenna sneezed in her sleep and her green eyes peeked at me for a moment before closing again. The noise however, startled Ren, and his lower lip began to tremble. Suddenly his brown eyes burst open and he started crying. I picked him up and rubbed his back.
He sniffed my hair, holding a piece in his tiny little fist, a look of serenity passed over his face and he drifted back to sleep. I rubbed his tiny neck and inhaled his new baby smell. He was tiny, much smaller than Makenna, who was the size of a normal newborn.
I sang softly to Ren and gazed between him and my daughter. I couldn’t believe th
at I had carried her for nine months and hadn’t even known it. Her presence was so potent now. They both were potent. It was as if they gave off some kind of aura that just sucked everyone in.
I knew looking at my babies that I would do anything for them. I would be the best mom I could be and if it came to a battle then I would die for them. I would do whatever it took to make them safe. They were my life now. Not only mine, but Jonathon’s as well. I knew he felt the same way about them that I did. They were everything that was good in the two of us, the best of us. They deserved a chance at life.
I sat down on the couch and fingered Ren’s dark, downy soft, hair. It was light as a feather, wispy, and oh so soft. He puckered his lips and let out a contented sigh. I smiled at him.
Jonathon appeared in front of me. “Why are you smiling?” he asked grinning.
I looked up at him and away from my son. “They’re perfect. Just like you,” I murmured.
He sat down beside me and stroked Ren’s small skull. “Like you too. The luckiest babies in the world,” he smiled, “they have two perfect parents.”
I laughed. “Okay, maybe we’re not perfect,” I conceded.
“You think?” he asked jokingly.
I bumped my shoulder against him and easily moved him. It was strange having the same strength as Jonathon. I would have to be careful though. Even though our babies were dhampirs they were still breakable. I would never forgive myself if I were to accidently hurt one of them.
Byren yawned, opened his eyes, and promptly began to cry.
“Oh, my sweet boy, what’s wrong?” I asked, rocking him. “It’s okay mommy’s here,” I cooed the crying bundle. But he continued to wail. His cry only increased in pitch. I looked at Jonathon in a panic.
He chuckled and looked at the clock. “I think Ren’s hungry. Aren’t you my man?” Jonathon clucked, looking gooey eyed at his son. Ren grabbed Jonathon’s pinky finger in his tiny grasp and held on. Jonathon turned to me. “I’ll go get him a bottle,” he promptly disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of formula. Jonathon leaned down and kissed Ren on his small hairy head. “Papà, brought your bottle little man.”
Ren’s lip quivered once more while I took the bottle from Jonathon. I promptly stuck the nipple in his mouth before he could increase his screams. Immediately the water works stopped and he slurped greedily at the formula.
Jonathon patted Ren’s stomach.
“He eats like a pig,” I laughed. Ren had hardly been sucking on the bottle a minute and it was a quarter empty.
“That’s my boy,” he grinned. Jonathon’s lips quirked. “Maybe he’s Danny and Mason’s kid?”
I laughed. “And maybe it’s a dhampir thing.”