Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

that she was definitely thicker around the waist and he found himself smiling in spite of the pain.

    She gasped and hit Gregori's shoulder with her clenched fist. "You weren't supposed to tell. I was going to tell them."
    "What is wrong?" Gregori demanded, catching her fist and opening it, to place a kiss in the center of her palm. He cast a swift glance at Mikhail. "I can always remove your father's memories."
    "Oh, I'd like to see you try that," Mikhail scoffed. "And if you're making my baby girl cry, you're going to see what a prince can do when he's angry."
    "I'm having twins," Savannah announced. "Girls."
    "We only heard one heartbeat, felt one life," Gregori objected, giving her a narrow-eyed glance. "She's having a baby. A boy."
    "The other was there, hiding behind her sister. There are two of them, both girls and I'm going to be as big as a house. And you re going to be just awful, ordering me around. If you think he's bad about giving you orders, Papa, trust me, he's way worse with me."
    Gregori shook his head. "Not girls, Savannah. We need sons. Warriors. Daratrazanoffs guard the prince."
    "Well I'm sorry to tell you this, but they are definitely girls. Not sons. Daughters. I connected with both of them. There's no doubt."
    Mikhail leaned back with a satisfied smirk on his face. "And you so deserve this, Gregori. You cannot imagine how much I'm going to enjoy watching you survive, not one, but two little daughters."
    Gregori simply stood there looking as shocked as he was capable of looking. "How could I not know? I examined you myself." He shook his head again. "You must be mistaken. I cannot be wrong."
    "She hid."
    His brows drew together. "That is unacceptable."
    Mikhail laughed. "I'm certain your infant daughter will do exactly as you command, Gregori. And as toddlers, they will really listen to you."
    "Savannah, I am serious. You talk to them," Gregori commanded. "I cannot have one hiding from me when I make certain they are healthy."
    "Your manner was gruff and you frightened her."
    "I'm her father and I shouldn't frighten her."

    Mikhail sighed. "I'm bleeding and I have to be up and running in good form in a few minutes, so I suggest you get over your shock that the world doesn't do everything you dictate and get on with healing me."
    Gregori swung around, all cool elegance and danger. "You put her up to this, didn't you, Mikhail?"
    "Put her up to giving you twin girls? If I had thought of it, I would have, but my imagination doesn't stretch quite that far." Mikhail shifted his leg and tried not to wince.
    At once Gregori was all business. "Savannah, stay away from the blood just in case it is as poisonous as I believe it to be." He shed his body fast, becoming pure white light, a glowing energy that entered Mikhail's body and moved quickly to the wound. As expected, the poison was a problem. He was thorough, making certain to chase down every drop, push it out of Mikhail's body and heal his ankle from the inside out.
    "It is done, but it will be weak for a while. Stay off it as much as possible until you can go to ground and allow the soil to rejuvenate you."
    "Of course."
    "I don't suppose you'd agree to lie down for an hour or two now and skip a small part of the festivities."
    Mikhail felt Raven's light touch brushing in his mind. Perhaps you should do as he says .
    She sounded anxious.
    "No." I am fine, Raven, just a little tired. I want to come home and hold you for a while.
    That will do me more good than going to ground .
    Then come home.
    Did you hear the news? Did Savannah tell you? She carries twin girls.
    I heard. She is very excited . Raven didn't add anything more and he knew she was trying to sound happy and brave for her daughter. Carrying twins would be much more difficult than a single child and Raven was fully aware of that. She didn't want the sorrow of losing children for her daughter.
    "I need to get home to Raven," Mikhail said. "Savannah, sweetheart, as always you are so beautiful. I think pregnancy agrees with you. Have you kept this secret for long? To know if they are girls or boys you must be several months along."
    "We didn't want to say anything until we were certain I had a good chance of carrying."
    She smiled up at Gregori and once again he leaned down to kiss her.
    "Son," Mikhail said softly, putting a hand on Gregori's back.

    The Dark One stiffened and spun around, his silver eyes going molten. "Son?" he echoed. "Since when does my prince address his second in