Chapter 123
The packhouse was unusually quiet as I sat on the plush carpet in the twins’ nursery. The sun streamed through the wide windows, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Elias and Elara were sprawled out on their tummies, giggling at the ridiculous faces I was making to entertain them.
“Come on, you two,” I cooed, lifting a soft toy in the air and shaking it playfully. “Are you going to crawl for me today? Or are you just going to laugh at my efforts, hmm?”
Elias responded with a squeal, his tiny hand smacking the floor enthusiastically, while Elara’s green eyes sparkled with mischief. My heart swelled as I watched them. They were growing so quickly, and every moment spent with them felt like a gift.
The sound of the door opening made me glance up. Sophie walked in, her ever-present warmth lighting up the room. “There you are,” she said with a smile. “I was wondering where you’d gone off to. What’s happening here?”
“Just the usual,” I said with a grin. “Trying to convince these two to crawl, but I think they’re enjoying watching me make a fool of myself more than anything.”
Sophie chuckled and knelt beside me, her auburn hair catching the sunlight. “That sounds about right. They’ve got their father’s stubbornness, no doubt about it.”
I laughed, though the mention of Jake sent a flicker of tension through me. The mark on my neck still burned faintly, a constant reminder of the complicated bond between us. But I pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the twins.
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Later that afternoon, Sophie and I were in the kitchen with Fatima. The three of us had somehow fallen into a rhythm, despite the rocky start. Sophie’s kindness and humor were contagious, and even Fatima, with her sharp tongue, had softened over the past few weeks.
“Are you sure you’re chopping those right?” Fatima teased, raising an eyebrow as I diced onions.
“I think I’m doing just fine,” I shot back, sticking out my tongue.
“She’s learning,” Sophie said, defending me with a wink. “Give her some credit, Fatima. Not everyone can be as perfect as you.”
Fatima huffed, but there was a faint smile on her lips as she stirred a pot of stew on the stove.
As the room filled with the rich aroma of simmering vegetables and spices, I decided it was time to share something I’d been holding back.
“There’s something I need to tell you both,” I said, setting down my knife and glancing between them.
Sophie looked at me with curiosity, while Fatima crossed her arms, her expression skeptical.
“It’s about the twins,” I said carefully. “Something... unusual happened a few days ago.”
Sophie leaned forward, her interest piqued. “What kind of unusual?”
Fatima, however, narrowed her eyes. “If this is some kind of joke—”
“It’s not,” I interrupted firmly. “Just listen.”
I took a deep breath and recounted the incident in the library—the way the chair had tipped over, the terror I’d felt as I thought I was about to fall, and the impossible moment when I’d floated back to safety.
“And then,” I said, my voice soft but steady, “I saw their eyes. They were glowing green. It was like... they were the ones who saved me.”
Sophie’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide. “The twins? Are you saying they... used magic?”
“I don’t know what else it could have been,” I admitted. “But it was them. I’m sure of it.”
Fatima let out a skeptical snort. “Do you even hear yourself? They’re just babies. How could they possibly—”
“I know how it sounds,” I said, meeting her gaze. “But it happened. I’m not making this up.”
Sophie, ever the peacemaker, placed a gentle hand on Fatima’s arm. “Maybe we shouldn’t dismiss it so quickly. The twins are special. We’ve all felt it, haven’t we?”
Fatima hesitated, her skepticism wavering. “Even if that’s true, it doesn’t mean they have magic. It could have been something else—a fluke, a coincidence.”
“It wasn’t a coincidence,” I said firmly. “I felt it, Fatima. Their energy, their power. It was real.”
The kitchen fell silent, the weight of my words settling over us. Sophie looked thoughtful, her brows furrowed in concentration, while Fatima’s expression remained guarded.
Finally, Sophie spoke. “If what you’re saying is true, it means the twins are even more extraordinary than we thought. And it means we need to protect them at all costs.”
Fatima sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “Fine. Maybe there’s something to it. But until we know more, we can’t jump to conclusions.”
I nodded, grateful for the tentative truce. “Thank you. That’s all I’m asking.”
Later that evening, the three of us were back in the nursery, playing with the twins. The tension from earlier had eased, replaced by a sense of camaraderie that I hadn’t expected.
Sophie was sitting cross-legged on the floor, making silly faces at Elias, while Fatima held Elara in her lap, gently bouncing her up and down.
“You’ve got a knack for this,” I said to Fatima, watching as Elara giggled and clapped her tiny hands.
Fatima glanced at me, her expression softening. “I used to help Priscilla with them all the time. She was amazing with kids—so patient and loving.”
“She sounds incredible,” I said, my voice tinged with sadness.
“She was,” Fatima said, her eyes distant. “She would have been so proud of them.”
A lump formed in my throat as I watched her, the pain of loss still evident in her features. “I wish I could have met her,” I said softly.
Fatima looked at me then, her gaze searching. “She would have liked you,” she said finally.
The unexpected compliment made my chest tighten, and I offered her a small smile. “That means a lot. Thank you.”
Sophie, ever the optimist, clapped her hands together. “Well, I think we’re doing a pretty good job keeping her legacy alive. Don’t you think?”
Fatima’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Maybe.”
It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
As the night wore on, the three of us continued to bond over shared stories and laughter. Sophie’s cheerful energy was infectious, and even Fatima’s sharp edges seemed to soften as we talked and played with the twins.
For the first time since arriving at the packhouse, I felt like I was part of something bigger—like I belonged.
And for the first time, I dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, we could build something beautiful together.
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