Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 436

Talia’s POV

‘Talia!’ Leslie’s voice came through so brightly it made my eyes sting. ‘Finally. Have you missed me?’

I couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Desperately,’ I said. ‘How are you? How’s my niece?’

‘Enormous. Loud. She’s found my ribs, and she’s decided she lives there now,’ Leslie complained. ‘I haven’t slept properly in three weeks, and your brother has taken to sleeping in the chair because I keep kicking him.’

‘He’s sleeping in a chair? By choice?’

‘He says it’s safer that way.’

‘That’s the baby's fault, not yours.’

‘That’s exactly what I keep telling him,’ Leslie laughed, her voice softening. ‘How are your twins? Is everything okay?’

‘They’re healthy.’ I made myself keep my voice level. ‘Both of them are perfectly healthy. But I’ve got a problem, Leslie.’

She went quiet right away. ‘That’s why you called.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Then quit stalling and tell me what happened,’ Leslie said.

I stared at the wall and tried to find the right words.

‘Have you ever heard of Twin Bloodline Resonance?’

The silence dragged on so long I wondered if Leslie had closed the mind link.

‘Why are you asking me that?’ Leslie asked. Her whole tone had changed.

‘Do you know what it is?’ I asked again.

'Talia, why are you asking me that question?’

‘My doctor examined me this afternoon, and told me that the twins have it,’ I explained.

There was a sharp intake of breath before she said, ‘Tell me exactly what the doctor said.’

‘She told me they’re growing two or three times faster than normal. She thinks they’ll be born in three months, not seven,’ I said. I put my hand on my belly. ‘She said when they’re born, they’ll take everything from my wolf, and I won’t survive.’

Leslie stayed silent.

‘Please say something. Is there anything you can do?’

‘I’m thinking,’ Leslie said, and then she sighed. ‘Talia, I have to ask you something, and I need you not to be angry with me for asking it.’

‘Go ahead.’

‘Have you thought about ending the pregnancy?’ Leslie asked.

‘What? No.’

‘You haven’t even considered it.’

‘I don’t need to consider it,’ I told her. ‘They’re mine. They’re moving, Leslie. I felt one of them an hour ago. I’m not giving up my babies to save myself and I never will. So, don’t ask me again.’

She sighed. I could tell she expected this.

‘I knew you’d say that. I knew it before I even asked,’ Leslie said, and then she paused. 'I've read about this condition. There aren't many cases on record, maybe a dozen in two hundred years, and every one of them was a Luna from a strong bloodline carrying twins.'

‘Today,’ I promised. ‘Thank you, Leslie.’

‘Don’t thank me yet.’

The link closed. I stood there for a moment, my hand on my belly.

I turned around. Nolan and Della both stared at me, worry written all over their faces.

"What did she say?" Nolan asked, his voice tense.

I smiled and lied to my mate for the first time since we met. If Nolan knew how bad this was, he would never forgive himself if something happened to me.

‘He will be angry with you for lying to him,’ my wolf warned.

‘I'd rather he be angry than worry himself to death when we haven’t tried all options yet,’ I argued.

"She’s seen this before,” I told them. "There was a Luna a few years back who had the same thing. Leslie treated her herself. She knows what she’s up against, Nolan. She’s not guessing."

Della looked relieved and asked, “Can she fix it?”

"Of course. She wants me at Silverfang so she can do things right."

Nolan’s face softened with relief. The weight he had been carrying finally seemed to lift all at once. He crossed the corridor and pulled me into a tight hug, one hand gently cradling the back of my head.

"Thank Goddess," he whispered into my hair. "I knew it."

I held him close and stared at the wall over his shoulder. My heart ached for lying to him, but I couldn’t tell him the truth. It would break him. Deep down, I was afraid he would try to make me give up the twins to save me.

"Della." He kept his arms around me. "Get the cars ready and let the border patrol know we’re leaving in the morning. Pack everything we’ll need for the trip."