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Chapter 17

The warmth of Edward wrapped around her was Isabella's favorite way to wake up. In the weeks since their confessions in the woods, they'd worked through their feelings of inadequacy and promised each other there would be no more secrets. They were closer than they'd ever been and she loved it.

"I don't want to get up yet, but we should—" Edward's words were interrupted by the ringing of the phone. "Hello? One minute, she's right here."

Edward held the phone out to Isabella and she took it. "Hello?"

"Isabella," Alice's voice came over the line. "I'll be there this afternoon. There's something we need to discuss."

"Is everything all right?"

"I had a vision, we'll talk in person. See you later."

The line went dead and Isabella sat the phone down on the nightstand.

"What was that about?" Edward asked.

"Alice had a vision and she said we need to talk, but it has to be in person."

"Should I go and practice in the woods?"

"After lunch. She won't be here until later."

Edward and Isabella began their day with a hearty breakfast, but not long after eating, Isabella felt her stomach turn. She ran for the bathroom and Edward followed her, wrapping her hair around his fist as she got sick.

His other hand rubbed soothing circles on her back as she retched until nothing else came.

"Is there something I can get you from the shop? Or maybe some tea to settle your stomach?"

"No, I'm just going to stay right here for a few more minutes."

A persistent knocking at the front door meant Edward had to leave Isabella, but soon Alice was moving into the small bathroom.

"Edward, you can go and work on your training, I'll take good care of your wife while you're gone."

"Bre?" he questioned.

"I'll be fine with Alice, and whatever we discuss, I'll tell you tonight."

He leaned down to kiss the top of her head and then left the women alone in the bathroom.

Once they both heard the door close, Alice turned to Isabella. "What do you know about the blood elves?"

"That they were the enemy that fought against the witches during the last great war and that they'll come back someday."

"Not someday, Isabella. They'll be here in less than a year."

Isabella looked at Alice, shocked. "You had a vision of them coming that soon? Are you sure?"

"Yes. There were three children in the vision, my son, and your twins."

"Twins? But, I'm not..."

"I'm sure you would have rather found out in a more traditional way, but I had to let you know as soon as I saw it. They're waiting until the birth to come for you."

"I'm pregnant?"

"Congratulations, Mama. You and Edward are going to be wonderful parents."

Isabella cried tears of joy. "Edward will be an amazing father. I can't wait to tell him."

"He'll want to put you in a bubble," she teased.

"And Jasper hasn't? I've heard from Emmett that you have enough guards traveling with you to trip over now."

"Yes, but it means that I'm allowed out of the castle. Our men certainly are hoverers."

"That they are."

"All right, now that I'm here, let me see some of your progress."

Alice helped Isabella clean up and then they went into the living room where she moved things around with flicks of her hands and even lifted herself a few inches off the ground.

"Edward must love that one," Alice teased.

"He doesn't like me doing it when he isn't around. When we were at odds over some things I wasn't focused and I hurt my wrist falling. It was the first time in my life I had ever more than stumbled. I've always caught myself."

"What I wouldn't give to sit here and watch you work on your skills. Have any other abilities become known?"

"The big one I've been working on now is incantations. Every witch is supposed to be able to do it, but how it works for them is the thing. Some think the words, others have to say them out loud. But the source of the magic is also elusive. My mother could only do it when she was happy. That emotion hasn't worked for me, so I'm going to keep trying."

"You'll find it. I'm sure now that you know there's more to protect and a timeline for when you need to be ready, it will come together for you."

Alice's hand resting on her rounded belly caught Isabella's eye. "You're nearly five months, am I right?"

"Yes, I cannot believe I'm halfway there. But this boy is starting to make his presence known."

"A little prince for the nation to celebrate."

"And for his godmother to spoil," Alice winked at her.

"You want me to be his godmother?" Isabella was shocked.

"And Edward will be his godfather. If anything were to happen to us, who better than you two to raise and protect him. I hope you'll say yes."

"Of course. And I know without even asking Edward he would offer you and Jasper the same honor."

"We would be so happy to stand up for your children. Now, I really must be going, or he'll send the rest of the guard in search of us." Alice embraced Isabella and kissed her cheek. "Keep doing what you're doing and I will let you know if I see anything that could be helpful in your preparation."

Isabella gripped Alice's shoulders before she could back away. "If you see the worst, and there is no way of avoiding it. I want you to tell me that too. I would want to know if it was my last day with Edward."

"I will."

Isabella walked Alice out to the guard, getting a hug from Emmett before they turned back towards the castle. With her newfound knowledge, Isabella called for Argus and together they walked into the forest in search of Edward.

She found him in the clearing by his parents home, but what she saw was shocking. As thin as velum, and blue-green in color, Edward had a pair of wings that were four feet long.

"Edward?"

He turned to her with a huge smile on his face. "Bre, look. I've been trying to do this for weeks."

"Grow wings?"

"Yes, when they aren't extended, they are actually quite compact." Edward shook his wings and they folded in on themselves and were small swatches against his skin.

"That's extraordinary."

"What was Alice's big news that needed to be told in person?"

"She had a vision of the blood elves arriving in Skyelynn."

Edward gripped her hands. "Did her vision give her a clue as to when?"

"In the late spring or early summer, after our babies are born."

Isabella smirked as the information filtered through his mind and realization hit.

"You're pregnant?"

"With twins, apparently," she said with a laugh.

Edward scooped her up in his arms and spun her around in a circle. "We're going to be parents. I swear that I will always put you and our children first."

"I know you will, Edward. I couldn't ask for a better partner in all this. This life, the fight we have to come. You are meant to be by my side."

"Always."