Sera's Gift
Page 10
Alexander responded calmly. “So I didn’t have any enhanced abilities afterward. I don’t mind. I consider I got the best out of the deal as it is anyway. I’m not complaining.”
Mia curled her hand over his forearm.
Sera could see that Diego was starting to enjoy himself now. “But the forces that arrange these trinities don’t miss anything. They’ve found Blake, the human race’s new hero, they found Seaveth, out of all the people in the world, to lead the trinities. They waited until Sera arrived to form the third trinity, because that’s the only way it would work. They wanted Sera only, not just any elf woman. They’re unerringly accurate about everything so far. Wouldn’t you agree? So why deprive Alexander of changes and enhanced abilities?”
Alexander shifted in his seat, finally showing a sign of discomfort.
“Make your point, vampire,” Wyatt muttered.
“Yes, I think you’ve lingered on this one long enough,” Lindál added.
Diego nodded. “Very well. Séreméla had a natural ability before the bonding. She was a healer. She was forbidden from practicing her art on her home world, because on the elven world, in elven culture, being able to feel and see inside another person’s body was considered an invasion of privacy. So the practice was outlawed. As elves are basically immortal anyway and rarely fall ill, her abilities were little needed and so Sera shut that part of her personality down and agreed that she would not use her abilities.”
Diego stood up, his energy crackling, making him unable to stay in the chair. Sera could feel it from where she sat, although she knew none of the others could sense it. It was a result of the bonding but she could see that he was feeling a dull fury over the stunted half-life she had lived before coming to Earth and she smiled at his championship of her, even in hindsight.
Blake spoke up. “Humans, though, would consider this ability a miracle. They spend millions of dollars on equipment and facilities, trying to peer into the human body, to analyze diseases, to identify them at earlier and earlier stages. What takes a roomful of equipment for humans, Sera can do by simply laying her hand on your chest, or your arm.”
“We’re still waiting for your point, Diego,” Lindál said.
Diego looked at her, giving Sera her cue. Sera cleared her throat. “Mia is pregnant. I felt and saw it when I was with her the first day I landed on Earth.”
Mia’s hand on Alexander’s arm slowly slid away, as she stared at Sera. Her eyes got very large. She looked at Wyatt.
Wyatt was shaking his head. “That’s not possible,” he said slowly. “After Sarah, my first wife died, I had a vasectomy. And vampires can’t breed.”
Sera shook her head. “You’re not the father, Wyatt, I’m sorry. Alexander is.”
This time, the shock on Alexander’s face was plain for all to see. He seemed to grow even paler than usual. And the shock travelled around the table, gripping all of them. Sera tabulated the results. Wyatt, looking fiercely happy, overwhelmed, sad and proud all at once. Mia, looking utterly stunned and the first signs of quiet joy. Zack showing worry mixed with happy exuberance. Lindál’s flesh displaying the first signs of a returning glow and his face one of contented peace. And Seaveth, who was staring at the tabletop, her mind ferociously chewing over this piece of news and what it really meant.
And abruptly, everyone began to speak at once.
Blake, Diego and she had the benefit of time to think it out beforehand, so Sera let the roar of emotions and talk bubble over her instead, soaking them in.
Blake leaned into her. “I think if Alexander could shed tears, he would.”
“Do you blame him?” Sera whispered back.
“Not one little bit,” Blake returned.
“Silence!” Seaveth called. “Silence, a moment, please!”
The talk stuttered to a reluctant stop.
Seaveth was smiling. “This is the very best of news. Not because it’s babies and I’m baby mad, or anything close to that.”
She stood up. “This is the timetable that Amrod has been asking us for. Now we can give it to him. Diego said it best. The forces that arranged the trinities don’t miss anything. They wouldn’t arrange to bring a newborn into the middle of a war with the Grimoré. They’ve proved, so far, to be anything but unfeeling. No, this is their way of signaling the end of the war. They have arranged Shamira’s pregnancy because they know that by the time she delivers, it will be safe. It puts a term on the length of the war. Sera, when will the baby be born? Could you tell that much?”
“If human gestation is the same as elven, then I would say eight months.”
Diego moved around the table to stand behind their chairs and she felt his hand on her shoulder. She glanced over at Blake and saw that Diego’s hand was on his shoulder too. Warm happiness spilled through her. How could she have denied herself this for so long? She looked up and saw that Lindál was watching her. He smiled when she glanced at him and she couldn’t help smiling back. Finally, she understood what he had been trying to tell her all these years.
Seaveth considered for moment. “We’ll use eight months for now but human analysis will have to serve as confirmation later. Eight months, ladies and gentlemen. In eight months time, we will win against the Grimoré and it will be time to start rebuilding the races. That’s what the forces that built the trinities are signaling with Mia’s pregnancy. They intend us to begin again. Humans, vampires and elves together.”
About the Author
Teal Ceagh is a multi–published, award-winning author who still finds it a deep privilege that she’s allowed to spend all day telling stories, and that readers are willing to listen. Romance stories are her favorite. She lives in northern America with her husband and several hundred “keeper” books.
The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Teal Ceagh
Destiny’s Trinities 1: Beth’s Acceptance
Destiny’s Trinities 2: Mia’s Return
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