Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was the dead of winter, and I pulled my scarf tighter around my neck. The brightness of the snow reflected the glaring light into a prism that struck directly into my eyes, forcing me to squint as the icy wind mercilessly whipped my hair into a dark whirlwind around me.

I trudged forward, prepared to battle against the howling wind, when my foot suddenly sank into a deep snowdrift. Instantly, I lost my balance and was further pushed forward by the force of the wind.

My face collided straight into the cold jacket of the person in front of me, and my entire body shuddered as my cheek registered the freezing fabric. “Are you alright?” Xavier called back to me, having felt the impact. His gloved hand remained outstretched before him, a small, flickering orb of warm light hovering just above his palm to provide some orientation amidst the snowstorm. I barely managed to crack my eyes open to meet Xavier’s concerned gaze. I gave a small nod, though my neck cracked in protest, reminding me once again just how stiff and frozen my body must have become.

“E-everything’s fine! Let’s keep moving before the storm gets any worse!” I shouted to my fellow Hunter. The storm showed no signs of relenting, and judging by the blue hue of Xavier’s lips, he was already nearing the limits of his warmth reserves. He nodded and turned back around, leading us further through the deep snow while the wind roared behind us, sending flurries dancing wildly around our faces.

A part of me wished we had brought Zayne along. With his Evol, he would have been particularly useful in a situation like this. Unfortunately, we hadn’t been given the exact location of our target in time. Xavier and I had only learned our destination when we were already onboard a plane heading toward one of the highest mountains in our country.

“Finally! I was starting to think you two had frozen solid!”

A voice, warm enough to melt ice, rang out from behind me. I rolled my eyes as Rafayel appeared, conjuring a small flame that melted the snow around my trapped foot, allowing me to free myself. Fortunately, none of the freezing snow had seeped into my boots. “Thanks,” I called back, deliberately ignoring his comment.

Rafayel was impossible to ignore, though. A moment later, I heard a frustrated huff, and the small flame that had just aided me transformed into a large, crackling fireball. A wave of heat rolled over my back, sending a pleasant shiver through my frozen limbs. “What would you even do without me…” Rafayel murmured, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. I couldn’t see his expression, but I could easily hear the smirk in his tone.

Unfazed by our exchange, Xavier continued trudging through the frozen wasteland atop the mountain, raising his glowing light a little higher. I had to avert my gaze when the light in his hand intensified, before he turned back to us and pointed ahead, toward something only he could see.

“We made it! There’s the entrance!” he called over the howling wind before pushing forward toward the still-invisible opening. Rafayel and I trusted Xavier. Quickly, I adjusted my thick scarf again as another particularly icy gust sent more clumps of snow down the collar of my jacket.

But as we moved forward, the entrance Xavier had spotted became increasingly clear. A jagged crevice, barely wide enough for two outstretched arms, loomed in the icy wall ahead. The light in Xavier’s hand cast eerie shadows over the fractured rock as snowflakes gathered like glass beads upon its surface. “That’s where we’re supposed to go?” I asked skeptically, eyeing the dark abyss before us over the roaring wind.

Xavier nodded firmly. “According to the old Philos research databases, yes. The research station should be hidden deep inside the mountain.” His voice was steadier than the cold surrounding us.

Rafayel let out an amused laugh. “You do realize this looks like a death trap, right? A dark, gaping entrance into the depths of a frozen mountain? I don’t want to sound dramatic, but this screams ancient alien prophecy of doom.”

Xavier and I exchanged weary glances. Xavier, in particular, disliked being referred to as an alien—though, technically speaking, the description wasn’t entirely inaccurate. “Regardless, we have to go in if we want to find what we’re looking for,” he replied dryly to Rafayel’s remark.

Xavier stepped forward first, his Evol-light flickering in the darkness as he cautiously slipped through the gap. I followed closely behind, with Rafayel taking up the rear. With a casual snap of his fingers, he conjured a small ember in his palm, casting a reddish glow over the cavern’s interior.

The moment we stepped through the narrow passage, the space around us expanded into a vast underground chamber. Ice crystals coated the walls like a naturally grown mosaic, while the ceiling arched high above us. A thin layer of frozen mist clung to the floor, swirling around our boots as we walked.

Xavier had already moved ahead, inspecting the walls. “Here… take a look at this.”

I approached cautiously, mindful of the slick ground. The rock surface was unnaturally smooth, crisscrossed with fine silver lines that pulsed in an almost imperceptible pattern.

“This isn’t ordinary stone,” I murmured, realizing we had indeed found what we were searching for.

“Of course not,” Rafayel interjected, running his fingertips over one of the glowing lines. “It’s obviously alien stone.”

Xavier and I shot him identical exasperated looks.

But Xavier quickly refocused on the stone before him. “I think I can open something here if I just—” He didn’t finish his sentence, but I saw from behind as he unsheathed his knife and sliced his palm open. A startled gasp escaped my lips. I wasn’t unfamiliar with the sight of blood—I had fought countless battles against Wanderers, sustaining more than my fair share of injuries. But it was different when someone I loved deliberately harmed himself before my eyes.

Compelled by the urge to help, I instinctively stepped forward, but Xavier raised his bloody hand before I could reach him. A few drops of his blood fell onto the stone.

A low hum filled the air, making me freeze in place. Suddenly, the rock before us shifted in a symmetrical motion, sliding aside with an eerie smoothness, as if recognized the blood of a fellow member of Philos. Ice crystals shattered and crashed to the ground, revealing a hidden entrance—a door we hadn’t even known existed. Rafayel stepped up beside me, his fire warming my cheek as he narrowed his eyes at the newly revealed passageway.

“Mhm… and this is exactly why I hate creepy places.” Normally, I would have laughed, but under these circumstances, I silently agreed with him.

Together, we approached Xavier, who had straightened up and was now clutching his wounded hand. My gaze drifted to his injury, and before I could stop myself, I let my head rest lightly against his arm. “I don’t like it when you hurt yourself,” I murmured, my cheeks heating against the cold fabric of his jacket.

Xavier’s amused chuckle lifted my spirits like a row of freshly lit candles. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. I promise.”

I felt the softest brush of a kiss against my hat and decided to accept his promise.

“If you two are done,” Rafayel interjected from beside me, “I’d really like to know what exactly is down there.”

I giggled, hoping to lighten the ominous mood, before tugging Rafayel closer and pressing a quick kiss to his warm cheek. “Don’t worry, you won’t be left out,” I murmured against his soft skin. I was grateful that his fire Evol kept him warm from within—at least one of us wasn’t freezing.

Xavier took a deep breath, as if bracing himself for what lay ahead. “Down there… that’s where the Philos relic is.”

A shiver ran down my spine, leaving an unsettling weight in my chest. This relic was the sole reason we had come all this way. And now, we were about to uncover its truth.

Not too long ago, Tara had received a clue that an object far more powerful than an Aether Core existed. Namely, the so-called Genesis Core. A relic from an abandoned era, a messenger from another world, and the possible solution to the Wanderer problem. 

I could hardly believe that such a relic existed, but when I prepared for the mission together with Xavier, he had been able to see and sense the connection to Philos immediately. Rafayel was also interested in this relic, as he was convinced, he had dreamed of it before! He had drawn a sketch, which Xavier had studied thoroughly.

In the end, we had decided to take Rafayel with us. After all, he wouldn’t be entirely helpless if we encountered Wanderers or other dangers. 

At that moment, Rafayel crossed his arms over his chest, snapping me out of my thoughts. 

"I knew it. This feels just like an ancient prophecy. Very well, then we shall play the heroes." 

I couldn’t suppress a grin, even though my heart was racing. Without another word, Xavier placed his foot on the first step. I followed, and Rafayel closed the door behind us as we descended into the shadows. 

The staircase led us deeper into the old research lab, hidden within this mountain for centuries. At some point, our boots met solid metal instead of rock, and the temperature noticeably increased. Old consoles with dead screens lined the walls, while ghostly blue lights shimmered faintly in the darkness. 

I looked at Xavier hopefully, slowly unwrapping my scarf from my neck. 

"Can you activate anything here?" 

He nodded, pulled a small device from his pocket, and pressed it against one of the ancient consoles. I couldn’t identify the device—perhaps it was something from Philos. Suddenly, a bright electrical spark jumped across, and several monitors flickered to life. An AI voice spoke in a foreign language before the words translated into Universal Text. 

Research Project: Genesis Core

Status: Deep Sleep Mode

My breath caught. This was it. 

Xavier ran his fingers over the interface. 

"It says here that this was an experiment in genetic fusion—a kind of evolutionary key for compatible lifeforms." 

Rafayel furrowed his brows, crossing his arms skeptically over his chest, his body visibly tensing. 

"That sounds… intriguing." 

"It’s definitely Philos technology," Xavier murmured, ignoring Rafayel. "Our scientists often studied the origins of life and reproduction. They sought a way to create life—beyond species boundaries." 

I stepped closer, letting Xavier’s words echo inside me. Such technology could undoubtedly alter life in unimaginable ways. Maybe… even turn Wanderers human. 

A painful lump formed in my throat as I suddenly thought of the people who could use such a weapon to help themselves—or to commit even more terrible acts. No, the Genesis Core must never fall into the wrong hands. 

I kept walking and looked up when I noticed a faint shimmer at my feet. I followed it to the end of the room, where a glass chamber stood, coated in frost. Behind the thick layer of ice, something shimmered—a glowing, deep-blue crystal, embedded in a floating energy source. 

The Genesis Core.

I felt my heart skip a beat. 

"There it is," I whispered in awe. 

I could feel its energy from here, sense that life itself slumbered within it, and that my body was yearning to resonate with it. Everything inside me ached to free this small, floating object from its icy prison. 

"And we have no idea what will happen if we touch it," Rafayel remarked, raising an eyebrow as if he had read my thoughts. 

Xavier studied the relic with a serious expression. 

"I think we’re about to find out." 

I nodded, entirely in agreement, ready to break the ice—literally. Slowly, I lifted my hand and touched the ice surrounding the chamber. A faint hum echoed, vibrating deeply like the awakening of a star. At that moment, I knew—nothing would ever be the same. 

Under my touch, the ice began to tremble. I reached for Rafayel’s hand, seeking resonance with him. He allowed the contact. His violet hair cascaded in soft waves over his eyes as he lowered his head, focusing on breaking the ice with me. I felt our powers intertwining, merging and unleashing a fiery storm that pressed against the frozen barrier with unyielding force. 

A second later, I heard the ice crack. Fractures spread like veins through the luminous frost until it could no longer hold and shattered completely. Rafayel and Xavier, both shielded me as we turned away to avoid the flying shards. I heard a faint tearing sound and knew that at least one sleeve of my jacket had fallen victim to the ice. But as the sound of breaking ice faded, we straightened simultaneously to admire our achievement. 

The Genesis Core still hovered in the air, spinning slowly. The energy it radiated was overwhelming. Without thinking, I raised a hand to touch it. 

Rafayel and Xavier realized too late what I was about to do, both reaching out to stop me. But they were too slow—my fingers met the Genesis Core’s smooth surface. A second later, their fingertips touched it as well. 

A powerful surge of energy exploded outward. The force flung me and the two men across the room. We landed dazed, watching as the Genesis Core spun faster and faster before releasing its energy in a blinding white-blue light that ruptured the mountain above us. 

The last thing I saw before everything went dark was the falling debris. A dull pain struck my head, and I slipped into a deep unconsciousness.

Chapter Text

Our mission was over faster than expected. Angrily, I threw a stone at the car tire and watched as it bounced off the rubber. Since my current rage wasn’t easy to contain, I kicked the next stone at the same wheel and once again watched as it shot off in a different direction.

After our discovery of the Genesis Core, the cave had collapsed. The energy of the Genesis Core had surged out of the protocore-like stone and even caused the mountain peak to explode. However, small sparks of that energy had entered me, Rafayel, and Xavier. I could feel the resonance inside me and also that something deeper now connected the three of us beyond just our feelings for each other. Yet, I found it incredibly difficult to describe this sensation precisely. It was as if I could feel life itself within them, but I had no idea how to interpret this thought further.

“Would you please stop abusing my poor car?” I shot a sharp glance in the direction of the newly spoken voice and clenched my hands into fists, ready for a fight. I probably looked incredibly childish at that moment, but I didn’t care. No, I was still angry. Because the Genesis Core was lost, its energy was gone, and the few sparks that flickered inside me, Rafayel, and Xavier weren’t enough to permanently humanize Wanderers or do anything significant with them.

“Be glad it’s just stones. I also have a sword and two pistols on offer,” I snapped back, narrowing my eyes, even though I knew it was unfair. Caleb wasn’t to blame for us completely messing up the mission. We owed it primarily to him that we had made it back to Linkon City in one piece. Caleb just laughed behind his hand and ignored my comment. Instead, he took my hand and shook his head. “Don’t forget your claymore and the magical staff!” he added before opening the trunk and handing me one of the two brown grocery bags a second later.

Caleb’s words managed to make me smile, but I was still dissatisfied with the situation, and I made sure to show it. My mood hadn’t improved since Xavier, and I had to explain to Tara that the Genesis Core was untraceable and that we had failed to retrieve it. In the weeks that followed, search operations had been launched. All available Hunters had spread out to the farthest corners of the known world, hoping to find a clue. In vain. It was as if the Genesis Core had been erased from existence.

“Thanks for coming with me today.” I shook my head, pushing aside the memories of a few weeks ago. After Caleb’s fleet had been dispatched in cooperation with the Hunters to rescue me, Rafayel, and Xavier, we had been examined and immediately put on medical leave. My injuries had been only superficial—a small head wound that occasionally throbbed to remind me of its presence and some scratches. In other words, nothing that wouldn’t heal.

Rafayel and Xavier, however, had experienced much stranger symptoms. Ever since they had touched the Genesis Core at the same time, they had been more tired. Xavier had already slept for three days straight since the incident, and even for him, that was an impressive stretch. Rafayel had also been less active than usual. He drank more and had ordered absurd amounts of expensive fish.

Zayne had repeatedly pointed out that he should take care of himself, but the mountains of fresh fish had been devoured immediately each time, and Rafayel had even eaten the bones without issue. The memory of the dull cracking sound when Rafayel had crunched through the fish sent an uneasy shiver down my spine.

“No problem. Even if it’s just something simple like grocery shopping, it’s good for you to leave the house. And as you know, I enjoy spending time with you, no matter what we’re doing.” Caleb winked at me with a grin as he fished the house key from his dark pants pocket, while I rolled my eyes beside him. Still, my lips remained curled into a smile.

Together, we entered the large house and walked down the long entrance hall to the kitchen. Because of my relationships with Zayne, Caleb, Sylus, Rafayel, and Xavier, I had eventually suggested that we all just move in together. The men had debated the idea for a long time, especially Sylus and Zayne, but after I introduced everyone to each other and made it clear that I wouldn’t give up on any of them, even the most stubborn ones had agreed.

By now, I was convinced that my loved ones also got along well with each other, even if they would never openly admit it.

“Hey, we’re back!” Caleb’s voice echoed through the house, and I immediately heard multiple doors opening. Creaking footsteps on the expensive parquet floor followed, and a moment later, Zayne and Sylus appeared around the corner.

“I hope you brought about three dozen fish. Rafayel seems to be in a special phase right now. This morning, he seriously asked me if I could fly to the Mariana Trench to bring him a Pseudoliparis swirei.” Sylus pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand, shaking his head in utter exasperation.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Rafayel had always had a slight flair for the dramatic, but this statement topped everything. “And?” Caleb’s voice snapped me out of my grin. I watched as he carefully stored the purchased fruit in the refrigerator before turning to Sylus with a questioning look, rolling an orange in his hand.

“And what?” The white-haired man raised an eyebrow.

“And… will you, do it? Fly to the Mariana Trench for Rafayel’s cravings?”

A flying tablecloth landed directly in Caleb’s face in response. While Sylus walked off, shaking his head, Caleb merely laughed and picked up the innocent piece of fabric that had fluttered to the ground.

“Thank you both for doing the shopping.” Zayne, always the calm and composed one, gave Caleb and me a small smile. It was unusual to see him smile, but I cherished these rare moments of visible affection.

Internally, I was grateful that Caleb was there for Zayne. The two had known each other before my life as a Hunter, and the three of us had once been the original trio, one might say. Occasionally, they clashed, but Caleb usually enjoyed clashing heads with Sylus or Rafayel.

“No problem!” Caleb and I responded in unison. Zayne crossed his strong but well-defined arms over his black shirt and nodded in my direction. “Can I check your wounds again? Just a final checkup. I want to make sure everything has healed.”

Ah, so that’s where this was going. I nodded and briefly squeezed Caleb’s arm before following Zayne into his section of the massive estate.

He had the money to build himself a small private practice in the house and had used it well. He still worked at Asko Hospital, but at home, he had become our private doctor. And even though the five men often argued, Zayne treated all of them equally whenever they needed medical attention. The doctor in him simply couldn’t help it, and I chuckled at the thought.

Zayne led me into his practice—a spacious, minimalist room equipped with the latest medical technology. I sat on the examination table, already knowing the routine, as he slipped on gloves and efficiently began inspecting my injuries.

“Looks good. The wound on your temple is almost fully healed, and your other injuries show no signs of infection.” Zayne smiled reassuringly at me as he placed a small bandage over the wound after disinfecting it. I nodded with a wide smile, not expecting any other outcome.

However, my childhood friend seemed to have a different opinion.

Zayne leaned forward slightly, fixing me with an intense gaze. “But your energy levels… that’s a different story.”

I felt my muscles tense. “What do you mean by that?” My thumbs rubbed against each other nervously as I tried to stay calm. After all, my life had already seen enough unexplained events. Not to mention my modified heart. If my energy levels were now turning into another unsolvable mystery… I had no idea how to process that information.

“Wait a moment, I want to take a closer look.” Zayne’s voice suddenly became colder than any ice he could summon, sending a chill down my spine. I simply nodded, keeping my head lowered.

Zayne activated a holographic interface that appeared in the air above us. Then, he gestured for me to stand directly in front of it with my arms outstretched. I took a deep breath, brushed a long strand of hair from my face, and followed his instructions.

The visualization of my energy body looked different than usual—a pulsating light that not only surrounded my core but also extended into fine, barely perceptible threads connecting to two other sources outside my body. Instinctively, I knew who those two other points were. Because this energy… I had only ever felt it once before. And that was the day Xavier, Rafayel, and I touched the Genesis Core.

At first, I hadn’t noticed. Or rather, I hadn’t wanted to notice. But now that I saw it displayed right in front of me…

My jaw must have dropped because it was Zayne who voiced my thoughts out loud.

“Since you touched the Genesis Core, you seem to be connected to Xavier and Rafayel. I noticed very similar readings in both of them, and now everything makes sense… You’re connected, and not just on an emotional level, but, so it seems…physically as well. Your body is reacting to their conditions.”

Zayne turned to face me; his expression serious. Clearly, he already had a theory, knowing full well what the Genesis Core was capable of.

“Have you noticed anything unusual lately? Unexplained fatigue? Mood swings?”

I opened my mouth to protest, then closed it again, probably looking like a fish gasping for air. Because yes… I had felt different in the past few days. My heartbeat had stumbled into irregular intervals as if it was adjusting to another rhythm. More than once, I had woken up in the middle of the night with the unsettling sensation of not being alone in my own body.

“Maybe…” I swallowed hard, rubbing my temple. My mind was struggling to keep up with all these revelations. “But what does it mean?”

Before Zayne could explain his own theory, the door suddenly burst open, as if the answer had been waiting for the perfect dramatic moment to reveal itself.

Xavier stood in the doorway, his face pale, the light strands of his usually immaculate hair disheveled. His otherwise impeccable appearance was neglected, his shirt only half-buttoned. But that wasn’t the shocking part! It was the gentle glow emanating from his skin. A radiant, golden aura pulsed around him as he clutched a scanning device in his trembling hands.

“Zayne…” he began, but his voice broke.

I jumped off the examination table, suddenly unconcerned about my own well-being.

“Xavier, what’s wrong?” I asked in panic, stepping closer to him while my eyes darted to the device he was holding. I knew what it was. I had once watched Xavier and Zayne as the blond had introduced the doctor to special medical devices from Philos.

He turned to me and wordlessly handed me the device. I took it and stared at the data.

My brain refused to process the information displayed on it. My gaze flickered between the moving diagrams, then back to Xavier, and then back to the scan. A deafening silence filled the room, and all I could hear was Xavier’s soft, uneven breathing echoing in my head.

“This… this can’t be right.” I felt my legs give out, and Zayne barely managed to catch me in time. I looked up at him, feeling smaller than ever. His face was like stone, his expression frozen, and deep furrows formed on his forehead. Clearly, the situation was even more serious than I had thought.

Xavier ran a shaky hand through his hair. “I checked it five times. And Sylus ran the analysis again afterward.” His eyes met mine. His lips pressed into a firm line as his hand instinctively rested on his lower abdomen, as if protecting that specific area.

“I’m pregnant.”

My heart stopped.

The words felt surreal, as if they had fallen from another universe into our reality. Xavier? Pregnant?

Zayne cursed quietly as he stepped forward to look at the data himself. Apparently, his theory had been confirmed. A revelation that filled me with dread.

“This is biologically impossible, but… what do we humans really know about the physiology of a person from Philos?” Zayne looked at Xavier, who slumped against the doorframe.

The usually calm and composed doctor stepped closer and gently took Xavier’s wrist. Using an old Chinese method, he checked Xavier’s pulse, then withdrew with his lips pressed even tighter together.

“Men from Philos can… alter their reproductive systems in extreme cases. Normally, they aren’t genetically designed for reproduction, but the Genesis Core’s energy can completely restructure cells—even with just a single touch,” Xavier explained, his voice dull.

I listened to his explanation while still sitting on the floor, my legs bent on either side of me, and suddenly, I understood why the Genesis Core was so important. If it could alter cellular structures… then maybe it could be used to turn Wanderers into humans and not just by theory! Just as we had thought when searching for it originally.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips, but I had no time to dwell on my thoughts.

“It’s still… how could it have…” Zayne gestured toward me and turned red. My cheeks darkened slightly as I realized what he was implying.

To be honest, I had no idea how conception had occurred without physical contact, but at this point, very little in this world surprised me anymore.

Xavier shook his head. “It happened. I touched the Genesis Core at the same time as her. That’s all it took. Her body would have been better suited for carrying human life, but because we touched a stone that can alter physical structures… I think we have our explanation. Plus… unlike a human, my body can adapt… Oh, and Rafayel—”

He was interrupted as the mentioned man entered the room, wearing a nearly ridiculous, elegant outfit of flowing fabric that made his ethereal presence even more pronounced. In his hands, he held a steaming cup of tea, which he sipped with an infuriatingly calm expression. He looked at our horrified faces and raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, so you finally know,” he mused. “Good. Then I can reassure you and say that I, too, will soon be a mother~.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his choice of words, but this news hit me just as hard as a brick to the face.

Zayne sucked in a sharp breath beside me.

“You have got to be kidding.”

Rafayel shook his head, completely unbothered. “It’s the truth. After all, I’m not human either, and my body was capable of pregnancy from the beginning. Think of it like… a seahorse situation.” He took another serene sip of tea, while my jaw was probably on the floor.

Honestly, I had never bothered to research the reproductive biology of Lemuria’s inhabitants. But thinking about it now… it did make sense. As bizarre as it sounded.

“Oh, by the way, I hope you don’t mind a midnight delivery of live octopuses. I just ordered an aquarium. I must satisfy my pregnancy cravings,” Rafayel added with a wink.

Zayne pinched the bridge of his nose, looking more exhausted than I had seen him in a long time.

I blinked at him, my brain still struggling to fully grasp the situation. “You did… WHAT?”

Rafayel merely chuckled contentedly and drained the rest of his cup in one gulp. Meanwhile, Xavier had started pacing the room frantically. “This is a disaster. I need a plan. We have to increase security. Our quarters are not well enough protected. I’ll install a shield generator system… No, an entire defense network!”

Rafayel, on the other hand, sighed with pleasure. “I really do hope that Zayne will agree to fulfill my deep-sea-specific cravings. Otherwise, I will be forced to venture into the ocean myself, and that would be highly inconvenient.”

Zayne raised both hands, completely at his wit’s end. “Hold on. Stop. First: No live kraken deliveries to the house. Second: No panic.” He rubbed his temples. “Sylus needs to confirm your conditions again to me. If this is really true, then we need to figure out the best way to handle the situation and what exactly the Genesis Core has done to you. And most importantly…”

His gaze shifted to me. “What this means for you.”

I met Zayne’s eyes and nodded uncertainly. However, I managed a small smile and pushed myself up from the floor.

“I think for me, it means that my family is about to grow,” I said, trying to sound optimistic. I threw Rafayel and Xavier a reassuring smile and felt relieved to see them both return it, even if just slightly.

Sure, the situation couldn’t be any more bizarre, but I was certain that the Genesis Core had a reason for this outcome. If it was my cells that had impregnated two of the men, I loved most in this and every universe, then I knew exactly where I stood and I would do everything in my power to protect my family. My present and my future.