Page 4 of Snapped
“Trinities, Rigston, three groups of three. Seven are here, one is elsewhere—most likely wreaking havoc—and the ninth is yet to be born.” The room came to life, a chorus ofoohsandahhsandwhos?circling the room. But Aiya knew, as did her partners Maeve and Sawyer, who moved closer to her almost unconsciously.
“House Brasilia represents the past; they are meant to teach.” Aiya watched Gabry turn to look toward the spot where Mateo and his spouses stood. “Mateo, your love and acceptance which you share freely makes you, Thyago, and Alessandra the obvious choice to teach the other Houses how to fully embrace the freedom you share with your people. As well, you are all skilled and accomplished warriors and those skills must be taught to others.”
“It would be our honor, Lady Gabry.” It was the first time Aiya had heard Mateo speak. His voice was foreign and raspy, the hints of his Spanish accent rounding out every word. The same tone could be heard in her mother Amelia’s voice on the rare occasion she was angry or frustrated.
Gabry inhaled sharply, and Aiya could see a hint of sadness in the beautiful French woman’s eyes as they sought out her father once more. “Rian of House Gaeland, your family has definitely paid its dues to our society—your ancestor was our creator. I would like to say your job is done, but sadly, it is not. Your children are our present; they are the leaders of our society. As well, your House is now entwined with House Devi and House Orion; it is the children of these Houses that will lead us to a new era or perish in the flames of our fall.”
Gabry’s violet eyes found Aiya easily, and the sad smile she was afforded worried the young daughter of House Gaeland. “Aiya, you are very much like Mateo—kindred spirits, so to speak. While he has both married and loved his partners the same, you give your heart to one and your soul to another, but your loyalty and trust are all encompassing and unwavering to them both, so much so that it transcends death itself.” Gabry paused briefly, perhaps collecting her thoughts. It was long enough that Aiya could hear soft whispers behind her. She didn’t like the reminder of how she’d almost lost Maeve a year past.
Gabry coughed softly, bringing Aiya’s attention back to Raven’s mother. “You, along with your wife, the daughter of House Orion, and your partner, the son of House Devi, are our present.” Aiya didn’t know how to respond; she nodded, taking Maeve’s and Sawyer’s hands and squeezing them tight.
“Our future,” Gabry’s eyes grew misty. “Our future is not yet complete. The ones that will follow your teachings, your lead, see to it our society continues to evolve and move forward. This trinity is meant to be my grandson, Apollo, the child of the Outkast not yet born, and the child that will be born of three.”
Hushed whispers gave way to confused murmurs, several people in the room addressing their confusion with words conveyed as questions. Aiya glanced over at Maeve when she felt her body tense, stiff as a board beside her. “Maeve, what’s wro—?”
“Nothing,” Maeve interrupted her.
Gabry laughed, just a small chuckle, the sound melodic and almost enchanting. “Maeve, darling, it is not a bad thing, what you wish to do.”
Where everyone in the room had been focused on Gabry, all the attention was now directed at Maeve, and she squirmed. “Maeve, what is it you wish to do?” Taryn asked, he and Theresa only just making their presence known. They’d been uncharacteristically quiet, hiding out in the corner, listening.
“It’s nothing, really. And I changed my mind after Marcus was killed.” Raven flinched. “Oh shit! Raven, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” Maeve stammered.
Raven waved his hand, “It’s okay Maeve, it’s just…it’s still hard to think about…remembering.”
“Maeve.” Taryn’s voice had deepened.
“Fine!” she shouted, glaring at her father. “I was talking to Richard a while back about splicing both Aiyan’s and Kaden’s DNA for the child I’m supposed to carry. Then our baby can truly be ours, all three of ours. But then Marcus flipped shit and everything we found after he died—Apollo, Cillian, the DNA splicing and manipulation…” Maeve turned to look at Aiyan and Kaden. “I don’t want any child we would have to be born under that stigma, so I told Richard I decided to go the traditional route.” Richard was the current Geneticist within The Order.
Taryn, Theresa, Tanis, and Cirian were all talking over each other; peppering Maeve with questions. Aiyan and Kaden sat, staring at her, completely dumbfounded. Gabry got up from her chair and moved over to sit on the table, between the couches, right in front of Maeve. Aiya shook her head, smiling. The woman was blind and yet she walked across the room, between a couch, people’s legs, and a table without bumping into a damn thing.
She took Maeve’s hand in hers. “Listen to me, Maeve. You, Aiyan, and Kaden are not Marcus. Your three hearts are in this for the right reasons, so I would urge you to reconsider your decision. The significance of the trinity cannot be overlooked here, three groups of three, and then the three of you having a child together would complete the third trinity. It seems like a sign to me, Maeve.”
Kaden moved from where he sat in Aiyan’s lap on the couch, joining Gabry at the table facing Maeve. He grabbed her hand in his. “Maeve, you were thinking of this and did not share it with us?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise. I thought, well…” Maeve was squirming and it made Aiya want to laugh. She had never seen Maeve so unnerved. “I know how much both of you want a child, and I told you I only wanted one. I was trying to figure out a way we could all get what we wanted.”
Aiyan scooted to the edge of his seat. “And why can’t we move forward with this, Maeve?”
Maeve gasped, eyes wide. “Aiyan! You saw what Marcus did, and you want me to do the same thing he did? I can’t, I won’t hurt any of you like that, ever.” She was adamant.
Rian leaned down, speaking as quietly as possible. “Guys, we can talk about this later; can we let Gabry finish?”
“Oui.” Gabry stood, and everyone piped down. “I know this is a lot to take in, what I’ve shared with you here today. We will all be staying here at the palace for a few days thanks to Cirian, Rian, Amaya, and Amelia’s hospitality. Let’s take a break for now, and then we can talk more later, as I’m sure you will have more questions.”
Aiya thought to linger for a few minutes so she’d be able to speak directly with the Triad from her mother’s home House, but Rian and Gabry approached them first, so she shrugged it off and followed Sawyer to the kitchen for some lunch instead. There would be time to speak to them later, she was certain. Besides, little Ian was hungry apparently and using his mother’s kidneys as a punching bag to remind her he was there.
