Chapter 497: Bonded Power

I kissed Ariel one last time for luck, exhaled deeply, and focused on Henry as I leaned back against my mate. He wrapped a supportive arm around me.

"Actually, Ella," Cora said, drawing my gaze. She smiled from across the couch, her arms wrapped around her baby. "I have news first."

"Oh," I said, my eyes widening as I shifted to face her. "I'm sorry, I didn't know—"

She shook her head, dismissing my apology as Roger perched on the arm of the couch behind her. She reached up, and he took her hand, giving it a squeeze.

"Um, we contacted Mom this morning," she said quietly, her face etched with apology. "To… to ask about the Dark God's activities. I'm sorry we did it without you—I know you would have wanted to be there."

"No," I breathed, though I was a little disappointed. "I wouldn't have been able to see her anyway, right?"

"Yeah," she said, tilting her head. "Unless we go to the temple; it's sort of a one-on-one experience, isn't it?"

"But we can go," Sinclair murmured behind me supportively, "if you don't get the answers you need—"

"It's okay," I said, nodding to everyone. "I get it—you don't need to be so gentle with me. I was knocked out from childbirth, and we needed information fast. It's okay. So…" I flicked my fingers at my sister, smiling. "Please, divulge. I'm dying to know."

"Well," Cora said, laughing softly and glancing at Roger, "Mom wasn't happy to hear that her boyfriend visited you."

"Really?" I gasped, delighted by the immortal gossip.

"Really," Cora confirmed, her eyes widening as a grin spread across her face. "She figured he knew about you, but she had no idea he'd go so far as to bestow a gift on the baby behind her back."

"Behind her back," I repeated, shaking my head. "Wow. So? Did she say it was dangerous?"

"She said he didn't have the balls to go that far," Cora said, laughing and shrugging. "Or, well, those weren't her exact words, but that was the sentiment. That he's just trying to get her attention and let her know he's angry—but that he knows better than to truly mess with her lineage."

"So," I said, looking down at Ariel, who lay cuddled in my arms, drowsy but idly kicking her feet, "it really was a gift?"

"Mom doesn't know what it was," Cora said, shaking her head. "But she… she said she can't make him take it back, Ella. Immortal gifts aren't like… presents you can return or regift. They become part of us."

"That makes sense," I sighed, hoisting my baby closer. "Well, at least we know it's not bad."

"Which doesn't mean it's good," Sinclair grumbled behind me. Clearly, he wanted better news.

Henry leaned forward, studying the baby. "There's some precedence," he said. "The texts are old, but some report on gifts given by both the Goddess and the Dark Lord. Interestingly, they seem reliable—one text describes a Goddess-given gift of healing that sounds quite a bit like yours, Ella," he said, raising his eyebrows.

"Oh," I said, perking up. "Well, that's interesting. Would I be able to read that?"

"I'll have it translated," Henry said, nodding, "and sent to you as soon as possible."

"And what were some of the 'gifts' the Dark God has given?" Sinclair asked, his voice dubious.

"He doesn't give everyday gifts like the Goddess does—her interests have always been more domestic, for lack of a better word. She deals with the heart and the home—assigning mates, healing the body, changing the weather to ensure good crops." He nodded to Cora and me. He was right; while Cora and I had used our gifts differently, they seemed designed to build and protect a family.

"And the Dark God?" Sinclair pressed, his voice anxious.

"He," Henry said, shifting his gaze to his son, "prefers… more sweeping magics. Not things that can or should be used every day. Things that… change the world."

A shiver ran through me, and I held my breath, looking down at my daughter.

"Change the world?" Sinclair asked, tensing.

"The text reports that he once gave a man the gift of eclipse, allowing him to hold the moon's shadow before the sun for days, relenting only when his enemies yielded to his demands."

Silence fell.

After a long moment, Roger broke the quiet. "What the hell, Ariel," he breathed, leaning forward to stare at his niece.

I burst out laughing, and Cora, Sinclair, and Henry followed suit. I shook my head at my brother-in-law, grateful for his strange, late-blooming sense of humor.

"Seriously," Roger said, sitting up and running a hand through his hair, looking at his niece with wide eyes. "She's the littlest of us all, but it sounds like she's going to have some serious power."

"Well, we don't know it'll be like that," I sighed, rolling my eyes and trying to relax. "It could be something smaller. Maybe he's just trying to get under Mom's skin."

"Or up her skirt," Roger murmured, and I grinned as Cora smacked him for his blasphemy. Roger just grinned and rubbed his arm, pretending to be hurt.

"So, Ariel is clearly the most powerful wolf among us," I said, propping her up so she could look around. "So, she's the Alpha now." Ariel, betraying my confidence, gave a sleepy mew and snuggled back into my arm.

Cora laughed, and I felt a surge of pride and pleasure through my bond with Sinclair.

"At least it means she'll be able to stand up to her brother and cousin," Roger said, looking at Rafe and Jesse. "Though… none of them are very impressive just yet."

"Do you think?" I asked, looking around. "Does it… I mean, they all have gifts from Mom, right? But will her strength make the boys stronger—through their bonds or something?"

"I don't know," Henry said, tilting his head, considering his grandchildren.

"But," Sinclair said thoughtfully, "that's not how bonds work, right? Cora and Ella have Goddess gifts, but Roger and I aren't any stronger for it."

I clicked my tongue, offended, and glared at my mate. "Excuse me, Dominic, but you've benefited many times from my gift—"

"Yes, darling," he said, rolling his eyes, "but you know what I mean. We aren't physically stronger or gifted ourselves."

"True," Cora said, looking between them. "But… both of us bonded to extremely powerful Alpha wolves who happen to be brothers."

"Baby," Roger interrupted, beaming and pressing a hand to his heart. "That's… the nicest thing you've ever said to me—"

"It's just a fact, Roger," she sighed, rolling her eyes, making me laugh.

"You think I'm powerful and tough," he whispered, sliding closer to her, wrapping his arms around her and Jesse. Jesse squeaked with laughter as Cora tried to stifle hers. "You're amazed by me."

"Oh god," she sighed, grinning. "I take it back—"

"Never! I'll treasure this moment my whole life—"

I was shaking with laughter when Sinclair raised his voice.

"As amazing as this breakthrough is for the two of you," he said, with humor, "what's your point, Cora?"

"I don't know," she sighed, leaning against Roger, who kissed her neck. "Just that perhaps there's more to these bonds than just raw power. I mean, I don't think it's a coincidence that Ella and I are sisters and ended up with brothers. We're… kind of a powerful foursome when we put our minds to it."

I nodded, considering that Cora might be right. Perhaps it wasn't about the bonds themselves, but what they created together.

"And those three," Cora continued, gesturing to the children, "they're already bonded to each other, each with a Goddess gift. And then Ariel with a Dark gift as well?" She shrugged. "I think, in combination, they could be… formidable."

"The future of our nation, right here," I said quietly, kissing my daughter and reaching for my son. "Whatever gifts they have, I hope they can be convinced to use them to protect themselves first, and then our people."

My family nodded. Our family came first, but our nation… these children would play a huge role. I held my breath, praying we could raise them to use their gifts for good.

"Actually," Henry said, surprising us all. "There's some precedence there as well."

My eyebrows shot up. More news?

I settled back against my mate, ready to listen.