Drake floated around to my side, placing his hand over mine. “The power of the Ancestors was able to do a lot of things. In their last moments, the magic changed so much.”
“What are you talking about?”
Drake frowned. “The Ancestors are gone, Sophie. The Mages used the Trials to close the gate. By using the power of the Ancestors, they destroyed it. At the same time, a lot of other things happened. The babies lived. Ethan lived. I was allowed to live in the afterlife instead of dying with the demon.”
My eyes widened. “My babies are alive? Ethan is alive?” I tried to sit up, but the pain made me slump back down. My body still needed to heal.
“I mentioned the babies and Ethan earlier. You must have been too out of it to hear.” He chuckled, sitting on the edge of my hospital bed.
I shook my head, refusing to believe any of this happened. It had to be some kind of dream. Everyone died. I was stabbed in the stomach. I saw Ethan’s lifeless eyes, felt his last heartbeats. I saw Drake’s body turn to ash. How was this possible?
The Ancestors... I couldn’t believe they were actually gone. Destroyed. I didn’t know if that made me happy or not. What did that mean for my power? They were my backup plan most of the time.
Drake cupped my cheek in his hand. “I couldn’t leave without talking to you. I wanted you to know you did the right thing by killing me. The demon had taken over my body. There was no other way to save me.”
I wanted to pull him close and tell him how much I loved him. But he was dead. I killed him. The guilt consumed me completely. Could he ever forgive me?
As if reading my expression, he pressed his ghostly lips to my forehead. “There is nothing to forgive. You saved many lives by killing the demon. You killed him to save our children.”
“But I couldn’t save the Ancestors! What if they hadn’t come back to me?”
“Sophie, had you not done what you did, the babies wouldn’t be alive now.”
“What about you? I killed you, Drake. I couldn’t save you. I tried so hard, but nothing worked! There was no defeating that demon.”
“Sophie, breathe. You did what any High Mistress would have. You tried to do what you could for me until there were no other options. I love you and always will.” He attempted to wipe away my tears, to no avail. Sighing, he dropped his hand. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother. I’m glad our child has you.”
“Come on, ghost husband,” someone said from behind Drake.
He scowled. “Your mother found me. Now she thinks we should be married.” He didn’t seem pleased with that at all.
“Merlin went from mother to daughter. Why can’t you go from daughter to mother?” My mother appeared next to him, cackling when he gave her a horrified expression.
Turning back to me, Drake sighed. “Just know I will be here for you and the children. If you ever need anything, let me know and I’ll tell Roark.” He smiled. “I will always love you Sophie. Please know that you and the baby are the world to me. I’m just happy I can at least be around in some form.”
My mother started humming the “Wedding March”. When Drake gave me a pleading look, I couldn’t help but laugh. As they began to disappear, I heard someone moving around in the room. I looked over to my right, finding Ethan’s hand searching for mine in his sleep. I hadn’t realized his head was lying on the bed.
Running my fingers through his hair, I sighed. Ethan blinked and lifted his head, eyes widening.
“Sophie, you’re awake.”
“You’re alive.” I ran my hand down the side of his face. “And you have a beard.”
Grinning, he nodded.
I gasped. Fangs! He had freaking fangs. “Ethan...” I pointed to his mouth.
He touched them. “After you attempted to save me, the Ancestors’ magic was strong enough to start my heart again. The venom started flowing through me, then the change happened.”
“Holy shit. I can’t believe this.” Shaking my head, I ran a finger down one of his fangs, tempted to let it prick my finger. “How long have I been unconscious?”
Ethan frowned. “Three weeks. It’s been touch and go. Nobody knew why you weren’t healing. The Mages said the Ancestors’ magic had been torn from you and caused a lot of internal damage that wasn’t repairable, despite your Vampire healing.”
“How did they do the ritual with Heather? I thought that had to be completed first?” I was confused.
“Some of your blood was left at the scene of the car accident. It was enough to revive Heather. She’s human, just like she wanted. I know it sucks that she lives, but she promises to stay out of your life.”
I laughed. “I doubt becoming human will redeem any of her wrongdoings, but whatever. I’m glad they were able to complete the Trials to destroy the gate.”
I looked around. “Where are the babies? I need to see them,” I said, eager to hold them in my arms.
Ethan stood and pulled over a baby bed where the twins slept quietly. I leaned over to look at them, smiling. Relief filled me at seeing they were completely fine. Shaking my head, tears fell down my cheeks. I failed them as a mother. I failed my people. Even worse, I failed Drake.
“You did what you had to, Sophie. Drake is still around...in a way. Just know you did all you could.”
One of the babies moved, revealing a scar on the side of his face. “What’s that?”
Ethan shrugged. “I have no idea. He was born that way.”
Then it dawned on me. “When Desmos stabbed me in the stomach...”
Shaking his head, Ethan brushed the baby’s cheek. “This is Drake’s son.”
“Did a lot of people die?” I asked.
Nodding, Ethan sat again. “We can talk about that later.”
“Tell me. I need to know.”
He scowled. “So
