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“Because they came early?”

“You became ill before they were born. Delivering them was part of your treatment.”

I tried to remember what had happened, thinking back to the garden, where Eira and the female Alpha had helped me walk on my swollen ankles. Then I remembered the noise and the room shaking.

“There was an attack.”

“Yes.”

I looked towards the windows. The glass was still in place. “They were firing at us.”

Leon squeezed my calf. “The attack has ended, sweetheart. They attacked House Vaelor and our residence.”

“So they did come for us?”

“Yes, sweetheart. But they never reached you or the girls.”

I let out a breath of relief, then looked up at Alaric. “Is Magnus okay? What about Astrid?”

“They are both well, my heart. The House guard and Caius’s Legion stopped the attackers swiftly. They never had a chance.”

I looked at Caius and smiled, so proud of him. “I’m so glad you were there.”

Then I remembered the guards filling our home, weapons drawn, and my smile faded.

“There were so many guards inside.” I looked around the nest. “They were even in here.”

“A safety precaution, my love,” Caius replied.

I nodded, remembering their boots beside the nest and strangers’ scents on everything. Two of them had come out of the nursery while I was trying to make Eira let go of me.

“I asked Eira to get a gun.” I looked up at Alaric, whose arm remained steady behind me. “I thought they were here to take the girls.”

“You were terrified, my heart.”

“They were here to protect me.” My voice broke. “They weren’t going to hurt the babies.”

“No.”

I looked down at Seren, horrified by how certain I remembered being. “I tried to hurt Eira too.”

“You struggled when she held you,” Lucien said. “She understood that you were frightened. She is well.”

“Where is she?”

“Resting nearby. We’ll tell her you’re awake.”

“I need to say sorry.”

“You may speak to her when you’ve rested,” Alaric said. “She will be glad to see you.”

“I don’t understand.” I swallowed against my sore throat. “How could I have thought those things?”

“Fear, pain and the changes in your body affected how you understood what was happening,” Lucien said. “You were trying to protect the girls from a danger that felt real to you.”

Seren moved against me. I wanted to pull her closer, but remembered the tubing and kept my hands where they were.

“Should we settle her back with her sister?” Lucien asked.