Chapter 390: Saiph’s Final Secret
(Amaia)
I sense Alnilam’s arrival and all my fears evaporate after that. Every bit of strength and energy has been depleted from my body after pushing three babies out. Queen Adrnia stays by my side, guiding me through, wiping the sweat off my forehead with a soft cloth. She holds my hand, knowing my mates are not here.
The joy on her face when she sees her grandchildren is precious. She shows them to me one by one: two girls and a boy.
My heart expands like an ocean filled with endless love for these tiny creatures. I want to cry and smile at the same time. These are such complex feelings, unexplainable in words.
The girls belong to Rigel and Alnilam. I know it from a single look. The two of my mates who truly deserve little princesses to pour their hearts into raising them. They will complete and heal the broken parts of them.
The helpers clean me up, change the bedding and dress me in clean clothes. TJ and Larissa give me advice on what I need to do as a new mother.
Mintaka comes first, worries clouding his face. His desperate eyes find me. I smile, wholeheartedly and extend my hand.
"Amaia." He rushes forward and holds me in his warm and safe arms.
His lips land in my soaked hair, kissing me fervently. "You are so brave. Our children are beautiful."
I hold onto him. "I appreciate you being here."
The door opens and my other mates enter with slight concerns. Saiph is carrying our son while Alnitak is carrying one of our daughters, the other must be with either Queen Adrnia or Meissa.
"Hey!" Saiph comes to hold me from the other side while Min gets up letting his brothers embrace me one by one.
"We are so proud of you." Alnilam kisses my forehead.
"Our queen!" Rigel possessively whispers.
"I love you and our children," Alnitak excitedly says.
My heart eases with endless love for them. I forget every pain I had gone through, they are worth it.
"Did you meet our children?" I ask, basking in their warmth.
"They are precious." Saiph shows me, our son. He is fast asleep, unaware of the world around him.
With trembling hands, I touch his small forehead. Alnitak is rocking our daughter and cooing to her.
The door opens and Meissa enters carrying our other daughter who is screaming at the top of her lungs.
Their heads simultaneously turn towards her in worry. "Sorry to interrupt but she is crying."
Min moves forward and carefully takes her from Meissa’s arms.
"Hey, little princess, what’s wrong?" He brings her towards me.
"She already has strong lungs," Alnitak giggles, making others laugh too.
"She is hungry," TJ wisely says. "Give her to Amaia."
He gestures towards Larissa and both of them leave my chamber, giving us privacy. Meissa gently says to me. "I am going to inform your brother and father. Will return later." With a hearty smile, she also exits.
My mates help me comfortably sit with pillows and cushions, while Min lays out the wailing baby into my arms. Her cries pierce my heart and I want to do everything in my power to ease her.
Rigel gently opens the front of my gown. With her tiny fists raised, her eyes are squeezed shut and her face turned bright red.
"Hungry princess." Saiph smiles down at our tiny tot.
"Easy there, little one. Just a few more seconds." I gently rub her forehead. Her little pointed ears jut out.
Alnilam grabs a hand towel and dips it into the bowl of hot water, squeezing out the water, he cleans my breasts, massaging them, to ease the flow of milk.
I guide her towards my breast and she hungrily latches onto it with her eyes still closed and fists raised as if in protest that her milk was late.
"She is going to be a trouble-maker," Alnilam proudly says, making all of us laugh.
"How am I going to feed all three of them together?" I worryingly ask, weaving my fingers through her silvery hair.
Her tiny mouth swiftly moves on my nipple.
Glock! Glock!
"We will use the bottle too. You don’t have to be overwhelmed," Rigel kindly tells me.
"What if they don’t want the bottle?" My worries deepen and it feeds into the bond.
"It’s going to be alright, Amaia. Together we will figure it out." Mintaka gently rubs my shoulder. His assuring smile, eases me down.
They settle on the bed alongside me. Handing me our babies turn by turn so I can feed and bond with them. It’s a different feeling when their tiny mouths latch onto me. A motherly bond develops and I know I can lay my life for them.
"What are we naming them?" Min asks.
"Alcyone for our son. Merope, for our silver-haired daughter and Maia, the golden-haired daughter. The three stars Orion’s Constellation points towards," I proudly say, watching my babies sleep beside me. These three stars lay in the constellation called the Seven Sisters.
"Perfect names." Mintaka touches his head with mine.
"They are going to be our pride and of the supernatural world too. I have a feeling," Rigel wistfully watches them, his fingers gently rubbing their heads.
"Yes." I relax on the pillows, slumber slowly takes over and I fall asleep in the arms of my mates and beside my children.
***
Our families and friends arrive as we hold a special ceremony to celebrate their birth. They are overjoyed at the arrival of the babies.
King Orion holds Merope. "I can’t believe I am a proud grandfather now." His eyes wrinkle at the sides from the joy he is experiencing.
"Look at their tiny hands." King Hathial points while holding his granddaughter, Maia.
"And the intelligent eyes." My father observes with a proud smile, holding my son.
The three of them sit together, carrying the children in the royal grounds and appearing overjoyed.
A celebration throughout the Supernatural world is being held and everyone is invited to the grand feast.
My mates are busy receiving guests and gifts they are bringing along.
Kacir, Rahria, Meissa and my brother are strolling beside me.
"Babies are so cute. Tiny little versions of you combined with your mates," Rahria joyfully says.
"Indeed, we all are going to spoil them." Aziel squeezes my shoulders making me smile.
"Soon they are going to be running around on their tiny legs." Kacir adds.
"Life feels so complete and satisfied," Meissa hums, enjoying the nearness of my brother.
My mates walk over and join us. Alnitak slips his arms over my shoulders.
"I wonder where that grumpy bird of yours went. Haven’t seen him around. Kacir, does he come to visit you?" Alnitak thoughtfully asks, seeing that everyone we love is here except Zille.
Kacir sadly shakes his head. "No, ever since Amaia left, Zille never came back."
My naughty eyes slide towards Saiph and I cough. Saiph bites his lower lip.
"Something you wanna add?" I teasingly say to my mate and all curious eyes turn towards him.
Saiph sheepishly smiles. "Yeah, I also have a bird spirit so Zille is me."
"What?" Alnitak almost screams behind me.
Rigel narrows his eyes at his brother while everyone else bursts out laughing.
"You were always fighting with Alnitak and me," Rigel accusingly says.
"Well, both of you were always clinging to Amaia. I saw you as competition." He shrugged his broad shoulders, making Alnilam pat him.
"Well played, big brother."
"No wonder he stayed when we kissed you. Watching." Mintaka added and we guffawed. Embarrassment coated me like a second skin.
"You sneaked into the room, didn’t you, as Zille before our marking ceremony?" I asked with a smile and he wholeheartedly nodded.
"Cheater," Alnitak accused with a huff, making laughter ring out.
"As if you didn’t try the same," Saiph countered.
"I always knew that bird was cunning." Alnitak narrowed his eyes.
Their jabbering continued amidst laughter from others and my heart brimmed with nothing but love.
