Chapter 364 Chapter 364
Konner glanced at Malachi, he was watching his mate and his expression said he wasn’t sure what she was thinking either.
“We’re family?” Terah sat forward on the chair and looked from Raelyn back to him.
“Distant cousins, but yes you are.”
Terah turned to Raelyn, “I don’t know what that is. Cousins.”
The shocked look on Rae’s face faded and was replaced with a smile, “the details don’t really matter.” She took a deep breath and then blew it out and changed positions so breathing would be easier in her condition, “any family is important right now.” She looked at Konner and nodded as if asking him for clarification.
“That’s true.” There were so few blood connections in their clan. “From the other side of Terah’s family tree, her great, great grandparents on her father’s side we from two different Alpha lines.”
Malachi’s head jerked around to look at him. “I read something in one of the journals that they were discussing doing that to strengthen the lines, hoping to hold onto more of our natural traits.” He looked at Terah, his eyebrows raised, “I guess that worked.” He smirked, “your song,” he shook his head slowly, “some of us have never heard it out of the water.”
Confusion filled Terah’s expression; Konner could see her trying to puzzle out what everyone was saying. She looked away from Malachi and back to him, “I don’t know what that means.” Her brows puckered, “to be from two Alpha lines.” She said slowly, tasting the words as she spoke to them.
Konner leaned back in the chair, now that Rae’s reaction had settled, he didn’t feel the need he may have to spring into action. “Well, at this point, it means you hold stock in the assets that have been held in reserve for those two clans.” He gave Malachi a quick look, “as there are no others here from them.”
“Assets?” Terah was gripping her own hands tightly as if she was wringing them dry.
Konner nodded, “I took all of the clan’s properties and sold them, then put the money from the sale into trusts and,” he shrugged, “invested most of it in companies that we’ve started. You have a lot of money.”
“I don’t know what I would need money for.”
His heart was breaking, watching the lost look on her face. She had no knowledge of money or any dealings that were normal outside of captivity. He gave her a brief understanding smile, “you don’t need to worry about it right now. Later, we’ll get into it, and I can explain.”
Her gaze locked on his face for a moment and then she nodded. “When I can read.” She glanced to Raelyn, then Malachi, “Lucus and Paxton are going to teach me.” She looked quite pleased with her announcement.
“That’s wonderful.” Raelyn smiled, “it will also give them something to do.” She looked up at her mate that sat on the arm of the chair, watching her, “maybe talk to Nolyn,” she turned back to Terah, “she’ll have good books to start with.”
“Okay. I will.”
Konner cleared his throat, “I haven’t read all the journals yet,” he rubbed his eyes, which felt gritty, he’d barely managed a quick shower before bringing Terah to Malachi and Rae’s house, “but I have a general idea of how old you are as well, Terah.”
She looked at him so quickly, he had to wonder if it hurt her neck doing it. “We would have birthday parties for the children.” She smiled, “sometimes the men that kept us would sneak in cakes and treats for them.”
Konner grinned, “well, I’m sure we can come up with a cake if you want.” He paused and watched her face; she was trying to sit there patiently and not look too excited. “You’re twenty-five.”
She held his look for a second, no more, then lowered her gaze to the floor. She sighed audibly, “I understand ten.” She lifted her gaze back to him, “is that old? Twenty-five?”
Konner couldn’t help the laugh that almost choked him, “no.” He looked at Malachi, then back to her, “in fact it makes me feel like an old man.”
Raelyn’s sob had them all turn to look at her, she was struggling to get to the edge of the chair, Malachi stood up took her hand, and helped her to her feet. Tears were running down her face now. Konner’s back stiffened, he didn’t know what was wrong.
She shook off her mate’s hand and went over to the couch and awkwardly dropped down onto it beside Terah. Knowing she was carrying two babies made sense now, how big she had gotten. he remembered when she was pregnant with Lillee, and she’d still been running around at the end of it.
“I can’t believe you were there that long,” she sobbed again, “your whole life,” she reached out and touch Terah’s face, “it’s not right.”
Terah leaned over and wrapped her arms around Rae’s shoulders, “I’m here now and I’m not going back.” She said in a soothing tone.
“We’ll have a birthday party for you,” Rae swatted at the tears on her face, “with cake and presents and anything you want.” The tears started flowing again.
“Shh,” Terah shifted so Rae’s head could rest on her shoulder, “you’re going to upset the babies.” She began to hum. The sound echoed from her to fill the room around them.
“You have to teach me how to do that,” Raelyn said in a rasping voice.
Terah only nodded closed her eyes and continued to sing.
A shiver went down Konner’s spine as the notes hit him. He watched Terah as she held Raelyn, encouraging her to lay back and relax. Her song was light, and it felt like it gripped his heart in its hand as she continued. A motion beside him forced him to look away from her. Malachi stood there pointing to the door.
With a jerk of his chin, Konner got up and walked out of the room. Once out the door, he turned to see a stressed-out man behind him. He was shaking his head as he walked out.
“When are you going to get the healer,” he waved a hand at the room they’d just left, “the emotional outbursts are getting bad,” he rubbed his hand over his head in a jerky motion, “the babies are coming soon.”
“I’m going first thing in the morning. Make sure the chopper is fueled and ready.”
Malachi nodded, “I won’t survive it if something...”
Konner put his hand on his shoulder and gripped it hard, “it’s going to be fine.”
He could see the pain in Malachi’s eyes and knew he was remembering the baby they’d lost five years ago. “With Terah here and Shaelan coming, it’s going to be fine.”
Nodding, Malachi turned and looked back into the room. “I don’t care what lines she’s from, Konner, but if there are more like her out there,” he snapped his head back to look at them, “we have to find them.”