SPOV
It's been three months since my mates and I found out we're expecting Valkyrie twins, the girls who's lives will inevitably shape the Supernatural world. The pregnancy is progressing normally and Dr. Ludwig assures us the girls are healthy and strong. The reactions to the pregnancy were a mix of excitement and shock. Jason is ecstatic to become an uncle and Amelia is already buying up pink, frilly dresses and teddy bears by the armful.
Hadley, who has since moved back to her home in Red Ditch to reunite with her husband and son, is looking forward to setting up play dates with the girls and my nephew, Hunter. Pam, who has taken over the running of Fangtasia, wasn't exactly thrilled, but has finally come to terms with having little sisters, claiming they will give her a chance to train badass fashionistas just like her.
My husbands have been busy running the state, settling Sophie Anne's massive debts, while dealing with an abundance of vampire drainers in the area. We still take time out each evening to spend with one another and they are more than excited about watching my growing belly and listening to the soft heartbeats of our daughters, although they're both a bit overprotective and fearful for my health. I can't so much as lift a book without them checking mine and the girls' vitals, but I just grin and bear it, knowing they're just looking out for their girls.
Living in the palace has taken some getting used to. I've never had maids or a personal chef before and I was incredibly uncomfortable having someone cater to my every whim at first, but with my husbands fretting over the pregnancy, along with my growing belly, I've finally learned to accept the help graciously. The guards and staff have taken to calling me your majesty, and that's a habit I just can't seem to break them of, but I suppose I'll have to get used to this as well now that Eric is king.
So now, as my mates are deep in their day slumber, I sit in the palace library, by far my favorite room in the entire palace, and the place I come to relax and enjoy the massive collection of books of every variety. I prop my book on my now expanded tummy and take a sip of my hot cocoa, sighing in comfort when I hear a loud "pop" beside me. I drop the book and tense, taking in the man who has just appeared before me out of thin air.
He's a tall, slim man with long, golden hair and light blue eyes. He's very handsome, with slight wrinkles on his face that only manage to enhance his attractive features. He wears a long, flowing robe and is holding a cane in his hands, giving me a soft smile that instinctively makes me feel comforted by his sudden presence. "Who are you?" I ask him softly.
He bows his head slightly saying, "I am Niall Brigant, Prince of the Sky Fae, and your great grandfather, My Dear," he tells me as he sits in the leather chair across from me. What?!
"How are you my great grandfather? I've never heard of you before," I ask curiously. Surely if we had fae royalty in the family tree somewhere, someone might have mentioned it, then again, no one informed me of the Valkyrie blood either.
He gives me a soft smile, "My Dear, your grandmother, Adele, had two children with my son, Fintan Brigant. I'm afraid your grandfather, Earl, is not in fact your biological grandfather at all," he explains with a sympathetic look. Grandpa Earl isn't my real grandfather? Why wouldn't Gran have mentioned this to me? I suppose given her high morals, she would be ashamed to admit to an extramarital affair, especially to her own grandchildren. Niall is studying me carefully as I'm thinking this over and I finally nod and clear my throat.
"Alright, if you're my kin then why have I not seen you before now? You've obviously known about me for some time now," I ask rather tartly. It might have been nice knowing I had more family than just my brother all this time.
He sighs and looks to me with concern etched over his handsome face. "Granddaughter, I had hoped to keep you as far from the world of the fae as possible. Ours is a world of violent fighting and constant discord, and if you had remained mostly human, I may very well have been able to keep you safe from the feuding," he says dejectedly.
"What does me being made Valkyrie have to do with any of this?" I ask in confusion.
"It is the fact that you are now immortal that has caused this current problem to arise," he tells me miserably as I give him a questioning look. "You were born with the essential spark of the fae, My Dear, and now that you are truly immortal, your fae abilities will have a chance to develop fully." I nod my understanding, still not sure where this is going.
"If you were born fully fae, as a member of the royal line, you would have been betrothed to my nephew, Breandan, the leader of the Water Fae, and my greatest foe. He has somehow discovered your transformation to immortal status and is aware of your bonded husbands and of your pregnancy. It is he who now seeks to destroy that which he feels was unjustly stolen from him," he tells me gravely.
My anger boils and I hear thunder rumbling outside, I know my eyes are shining silver with my rage as I cry, "No! He can't take me from my mates, I won't let him! I will use my shriek against him or fry his ass with lightning if I have to!" He gives me a small smile and nods.
"I know you are a true warrior, Granddaughter, and I am proud to claim you as mine," I nod my gratitude as his face sobers and he continues, "But our enemies are immensely powerful, and you must learn to defend yourself against them efficiently. I will be sending trusted allies of mine to train and develop your fae traits; I would train you myself if my presence was not required on the battlefront, My Dear." I sigh. Just when I thought things were looking up for us. My anxiety rises as I run my hand over my belly.
"Grandfather, what about my girls? Will I be able to use my powers without causing harm to them?" I have been careful to keep my stress levels low and now it seems I have to begin training once more. I just can't risk anything bringing harm to them.
"Of course, My Dear, in fact, learning to use your light will only help to keep both you and your offspring safe. I would not ask this of you if I thought it would harm my future grandchildren," he says with a small smile as he approaches me and hovers his hand over my stomach. I nod to give him permission before he lays his hand over my abdomen and closes his eyes as if listening to something I cannot hear.
"They will be strong warriors indeed, just like their parents," he says with a tender smile. "I will be sending someone shortly to begin your training, Granddaughter. I have every confidence in your abilities, I know you will make me proud," he says before he "pops" from the room.
I sit, lost in my thoughts before Godric enters the library, scenting the air and giving me a curious look. I sigh. "I had a visitor this afternoon," I tell him as he lifts me and sits with me tucked against him, wrapped in his arms.
GPOV
I sit with my pregnant love in my arms with the heavenly scent of the fae thick in the air, waiting for her to explain what has taken place this morning. "My great grandfather came to speak to me today," she says anxiously. I run my fingers through her hair as I wait for her to explain. "Apparently I'm a faerie princess," she says with a small giggle.
"What do you mean, My Love?" I ask as my own anxiety rises. I had no idea she was of royal descent. What could this mean for our future?
"My great grandpa is Niall Brigant, the Prince of the Sky Fae," she says as my fangs shoot down. I have heard stories of Niall. He is a vicious and powerful warrior; many vampires have fallen by his sword. I will not let him take our mate from us; I will kill him first.
"What was the purpose of this unexpected visit, My Love?" I ask as I am trying to calm my nerves, grateful she was not snatched away while we were in our rest this day. I feel her anxiety rising as she looks to me with worry.
"He told me he has enemies that are plotting against us," she says nervously as she continues to explain the situation we have now found ourselves in. My fangs shoot down in anger when she tells me of this Breandan and his plans. I guess I don't need to worry about her own family kidnapping her; this is even worse. Then she tells me she will be training to use her fae abilities and I look down to her with concern as I run my hand over her swollen abdomen.
"Niall says using my powers won't harm the girls, he explained I'll be able to protect them by learning to use my light," she says softly as I nod and place a kiss atop her golden hair.
"I am not happy to know you must be put in this dangerous situation, but Eric and I will work to keep you and our daughters protected, My Wife. We will keep you guarded at all times," I tell her as she looks at me like she wants to argue. "I know how fiercely powerful you are, My Love, but I will not risk harm coming to you or our offspring," I tell her solemnly as she reluctantly nods her agreement.
"I'm supposed to go shopping with Pam and Amelia tomorrow to find a coronation gown," she tells me nervously and I smile down to her. I know she has been looking forward to the coronation ball for some time now and don't want this threat to take away from her excitement over this momentous occasion.
"And you will go, I do not want to keep you trapped here, Sookie, but I will be sending guards along with you," I tell her sternly as she sighs and nods. "I love you, we will work through this together, My Love," I tell her as I stroke her hair and kiss her tenderly.
I feel Eric rise through our shared bond and sigh, knowing we will have to inform him of this new threat. We are already dealing with an increase of drainers throughout the state and have only just settled ourselves into the new monarch; this is not an opportune time to be facing a new enemy. We watch him enter the room with concern clear on his face as he feels our troubling emotions through the bond.
He gives us each a kiss and then sits across from us. "Well, what has happened now?" he asks as he runs his hand through his hair in agitation. We tell him of the visit and our new adversary as his rage builds through the bond. The stress of running the kingdom has been weighing heavily upon my child and this is certainly not helping to settle his racking nerves.
"Godric is right, Lover, you will be assigned guards to be with you at all times. I will inform Rasul tonight that he is to remain at your side indefinitely until these faeries are dealt with," he tells her with a raised brow. His face softens as he stands and kneels before us, taking our mate's small hand into his and placing his other hand over her protruding stomach.
"Do not worry, My Valkyrie, we will defeat these enemies, just as we did before. Nothing will ever take you away from us," he says softly as he kisses her hand and lifts her dress to place a kiss upon her stomach and rub his face over her golden skin.
"Niall tells me our girls will be great warriors just like their parents," she tells us with a soft smile. I chuckle as Eric grins up at her.
"Of course they will, My Love, I have never doubted this," I tell her with a kiss, pulling her tightly against me. We've been through too much together to allow this enemy to separate us now and we will fight with all that we are to defend our family against these new adversaries.
