my absence. However, I’d have to deal with the fairy ring first. No more would die if I could help it. If all that was left to the Ascendance was evil, then it was time to put that demon to rest.
Chapter 12
T
HE phone rang several times before a female voice answered, “Hello?”
“Hi, Hanna.” I felt like crap for just calling her now. Was she mad? I should have been there when there was an issue with the babies. I wasn’t just a sperm donor. I wanted to be their daddy.
“Hey, Seiran. How are you? We were all a little worried.” Her voice was warm and soft as always, no hints of hidden anger.
“I’m fine. It’s nice and warm here in California. How are you? How are the babies? Is everything okay?”
“We’re all fine.” I could almost hear the smile in her voice. “It happens sometimes in the early stages of pregnancy. It’s more troublesome if it’s later. Ally and I think the stress got to me. But I’m rested now, and the babies seem back to normal. I can feel them moving. Just occasional twinges, but it’s enough to know it’s not gas.”
I laughed, trying to imagine what that would be like. “Should I come home? Do you need me there?”
“Oh, sweetie, no. I know you’re searching for stuff about your dad. I’m fine. I promise. The babies are fine. We just needed some rest. The new house will have to come together a little slower, is all. There’s time. The twins won’t be here until April at least.”
“House?” As far as I knew, Ally and Hanna lived in a condo much like mine.
“I didn’t tell you? We bought a house. Well, it’s a very large house, lots of land. We closed on Wednesday. Your mom helped us find it and get a great deal on it. Jamie helped us with the down payment. Ally and I figured we’d need the space for the twins. And she’s been talking about having a baby too, once the twins are a few years old. I know she’s always wanted a big family.”
Her comment made me realize how little I knew about Hanna’s mate, Ally. Was she a witch? If so, what kind of witch? How did she feel about Hanna having my babies? “I can’t wait to see it. I can help clean and move stuff when I get home. Don’t push yourself.”
“I won’t. Jamie’s been following me around and making me sit and rest all the time. I’d forgotten how overprotective he can get.”
No kidding. I was glad he had someone else to be protective of for once. We talked a little longer about the babies and the house. When I finally let her go, I felt better, but still a little sad I wasn’t home to see more ultrasound pictures and help get the nursery ready. Maybe coming here for the holidays hadn’t been such a great idea.
The call to Jamie was much the same. The sound of his deep voice made me relax a bit, even when he went off on some medical tangent about the babies. Just as Kelly got on the line and started talking away about some football game the Vikings had lost, I felt a prickle of pain down my spine, much like the first twinge from my previous back injury when I strained it.
“Hold on, Kelly.”
“Huh? Okay.”
I waited another moment. When the pain didn’t come again, I turned back to the conversation. “What about the football players?”
“The tight end left the quarterback wide open. It was like a nightmare in professional football—”
Pain sliced through me so hard I fell from the stool to the kitchen floor. My gut convulsed, my spine spasmed, and my head filled with piercing white light. I lay there blinking and trying to breathe for a moment, then it happened again. Kelly’s voice shouted through the phone, which lay inches from my fingertips. I couldn’t function through the pain.
Then I heard it—the sound of a chainsaw. Each spurt of noise was followed by a burst of agony slicing through my limbs. I dragged myself to the back door, finally pried it open, and stared into the mostly trimmed backyard. The chainsaw whirred again. I lost my lunch this time, though at least it
Chapter 12
T
HE phone rang several times before a female voice answered, “Hello?”
“Hi, Hanna.” I felt like crap for just calling her now. Was she mad? I should have been there when there was an issue with the babies. I wasn’t just a sperm donor. I wanted to be their daddy.
“Hey, Seiran. How are you? We were all a little worried.” Her voice was warm and soft as always, no hints of hidden anger.
“I’m fine. It’s nice and warm here in California. How are you? How are the babies? Is everything okay?”
“We’re all fine.” I could almost hear the smile in her voice. “It happens sometimes in the early stages of pregnancy. It’s more troublesome if it’s later. Ally and I think the stress got to me. But I’m rested now, and the babies seem back to normal. I can feel them moving. Just occasional twinges, but it’s enough to know it’s not gas.”
I laughed, trying to imagine what that would be like. “Should I come home? Do you need me there?”
“Oh, sweetie, no. I know you’re searching for stuff about your dad. I’m fine. I promise. The babies are fine. We just needed some rest. The new house will have to come together a little slower, is all. There’s time. The twins won’t be here until April at least.”
“House?” As far as I knew, Ally and Hanna lived in a condo much like mine.
“I didn’t tell you? We bought a house. Well, it’s a very large house, lots of land. We closed on Wednesday. Your mom helped us find it and get a great deal on it. Jamie helped us with the down payment. Ally and I figured we’d need the space for the twins. And she’s been talking about having a baby too, once the twins are a few years old. I know she’s always wanted a big family.”
Her comment made me realize how little I knew about Hanna’s mate, Ally. Was she a witch? If so, what kind of witch? How did she feel about Hanna having my babies? “I can’t wait to see it. I can help clean and move stuff when I get home. Don’t push yourself.”
“I won’t. Jamie’s been following me around and making me sit and rest all the time. I’d forgotten how overprotective he can get.”
No kidding. I was glad he had someone else to be protective of for once. We talked a little longer about the babies and the house. When I finally let her go, I felt better, but still a little sad I wasn’t home to see more ultrasound pictures and help get the nursery ready. Maybe coming here for the holidays hadn’t been such a great idea.
The call to Jamie was much the same. The sound of his deep voice made me relax a bit, even when he went off on some medical tangent about the babies. Just as Kelly got on the line and started talking away about some football game the Vikings had lost, I felt a prickle of pain down my spine, much like the first twinge from my previous back injury when I strained it.
“Hold on, Kelly.”
“Huh? Okay.”
I waited another moment. When the pain didn’t come again, I turned back to the conversation. “What about the football players?”
“The tight end left the quarterback wide open. It was like a nightmare in professional football—”
Pain sliced through me so hard I fell from the stool to the kitchen floor. My gut convulsed, my spine spasmed, and my head filled with piercing white light. I lay there blinking and trying to breathe for a moment, then it happened again. Kelly’s voice shouted through the phone, which lay inches from my fingertips. I couldn’t function through the pain.
Then I heard it—the sound of a chainsaw. Each spurt of noise was followed by a burst of agony slicing through my limbs. I dragged myself to the back door, finally pried it open, and stared into the mostly trimmed backyard. The chainsaw whirred again. I lost my lunch this time, though at least it
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