The room was heavy with silence as the group regrouped. The tension from the battle still clung to the air, thick with uncertainty. The men had started formulating a plan for their next move, but Mae couldn't focus on the details. The only thing on her mind was the weight of the moment that had almost been. She had felt it, the pull. Not just the force of her power, but the magnetic, undeniable connection between her and Lucien. The moments they had shared, the almost kiss, the heat that still simmered between them, it was more than just a fleeting desire. It was something darker, something deeper.
As the others scattered to prepare, Ashar stepped toward Mae, his expression intense, unreadable. He didn't speak at first, his gaze flicking to Lucien in the corner, then back to her. His jaw tightened as he closed the distance between them. "Mae," his voice was low, his tone not quite harsh, but there was something underlying it, something unspoken. "We need to talk." Mae's heart skipped a beat, she stepped back instinctively, as if she could somehow distance herself. "What about?" she asked, though she already knew.
Ashar's eyes locked onto hers, his brow furrowed. "That moment back there, with Lucien. What the hell was that?" Her stomach dropped, the words she had been avoiding. She swallowed hard. "I don't know," Mae admitted quietly. Her voice was small, hesitant, but there was a clarity in her words. "It's like something pulled me toward him. Like the world faded away and it was just us." Ashar stepped closer, his gaze intense. "What's going on between you two? Is there another connection?" Mae took a deep breath, her chest tightening at the question. She glanced back at Lucien, who was standing across the room, his back to her, as if he could sense their conversation. He didn't turn, but Mae felt his presence like a shadow over her, drawing her in.
"I don't understand it," Mae finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I feel it. There's a pull. It's like something deep inside me is connected to him, and it's not just physical. I can't explain it, but I know, it's like we're tied together." Ashar's face darkened, his jaw clenched. "Tied together how?" Mae hesitated, the weight of her words pressing down on her. She felt exposed, like she was revealing something she hadn't fully accepted yet. "We heard them," Mae said quietly, her voice trembling slightly. "The Unseen. They weren't just speaking to me. They were speaking to both of us. It's like they knew we were connected. And the way I feel when I'm near him, it's like I can't fight it. I don't want to fight it. It's not just about us anymore. It's bigger."
Ashar's expression shifted, concern deepening. He stepped back slightly, running a hand through his hair. "You're saying you and Lucien are somehow linked? You both heard the Unseen? What does that mean?"
"I don't know," Mae answered truthfully. "But I can't deny what I feel. The way my power surged, when we were together, I felt like we were more than just allies. I felt like we were meant to be. Like us, me you and Riven." Ashar stared at her for a long moment, his gaze searching. He was silent, his mind clearly working through the implications of what she had just said. Finally, he spoke, his voice low.
"You're playing with fire, Mae," he said, his words carrying a weight of warning. "Lucien, he's dangerous. And you're not just dealing with your own power. You're dealing with whatever that connection is. And if the Unseen felt it, what could that mean for us?" Mae's chest tightened at his words, but she couldn't deny the truth in them. Lucien was dangerous. His power, his past, everything about him was dark, unpredictable. But it didn't change what she felt.
"I'm not afraid of him," Mae replied softly, meeting Ashar's gaze. "I'm afraid of what's happening to me. What it might mean for all of us. But I can't stop it." Ashar's eyes softened, a brief flicker of concern passing through them. He stepped back, letting out a heavy sigh. "I just need you to be careful," he said, his voice quieter now. "I'm not sure what this is, Mae. But we're in this together, no matter what happens. Just don't lose yourself in whatever it is with him." Mae nodded slowly, though doubt still swirled inside her. She wasn't sure what this connection meant. She didn't even understand it fully. But she couldn't deny it.
As Ashar turned to rejoin the others, Mae stood there for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. Her gaze drifted back to Lucien, standing at the other end of the room, his eyes now locked on hers. She felt it again, the pull. The undeniable force drawing her toward him. The tension in the air was suffocating, the weight of their unspoken words still hanging heavy between them. Mae could feel the pull of the connection between her and Lucien, but it was interrupted by an unsettling tightness in her stomach, an ache that was different from anything she had felt before. Her breath caught, and she winced, clutching her abdomen.
"Mae?" Lucien's voice was sharp with concern as he immediately stepped toward her, his eyes scanning her face. "What's wrong?" "I- I don't know," Mae gasped, her hands instinctively pressing against her belly. "It feels, tight. Like I'm being pulled from the inside." Before anyone could respond, another pain gripped her, sharper, more intense. Mae stumbled slightly, and the room seemed to tilt. Riven was at her side in an instant, steadying her, his wings fluttering as if trying to create space around her. "Mae," Kaine's voice was urgent as he rushed forward, his eyes wide with realization. "You're going into labor. Now."
"Labor?" Ashar echoed, stepping forward with a look of shock. "What the hell is happening?" But there was no time for answers. The pain intensified, Mae's body trembling with each wave that tore through her. Riven's hand found hers, firm and grounding, and she squeezed it with all her strength. He leaned in close, his forehead almost touching hers, his voice low but filled with raw emotion. "We're with you," he whispered, his hand cradling the back of her head. "You're not alone, Mae. We're here." Sethis and Kaine quickly moved to her side, lifting her between them with practiced urgency. She was too weak to stand on her own, her breath shallow as they guided her to the nearest room, each step causing another wave of pain. She barely registered the others' movements as Riven and Ashar helped to position her, their hands grasping hers tightly. Mae's head swam, her world narrowing to the sharp pain, her chest tight as though she couldn't take another breath.
"Riven," Mae gasped, "I-"
"You're going to be fine," Riven said firmly, though his own voice held a trace of fear. His hand never leaving hers, and he stood beside her as the others settled around them, forming a protective circle. And then, with one final scream of effort, Mae felt the pressure surge. The first baby came and the room fell into stunned silence. But Mae wasn't done. Another wave of pain swept through her body, more intense than before. She cried out again, her hands gripping Riven and Ashar's tightly as another baby emerged. The room was still, save for Mae's labored breathing, as two healthy, fully developed babies lay in the arms of those around her.
Lucien stood frozen beside her, his breath coming in short, uneven bursts. His eyes were wide as he looked from Mae to the babies. "Mae. You-, they're perfect."