Chapter199:Aftermath

|| Lilac’s POV || The fire crackled in Alaric's study, casting flickering shadows over the faces gathered around me. Mom perched on the arm of my chair, her fingers absently braiding a strand of my hair like she used to when I was a pup. Across from us, Elara, Astrid, and Madeline lounged on the oversized couch, their champagne glasses half-empty. "So you two are actual soulmates," Madeline drawled, swirling her drink. "Not just some magical blip." Alaric's silhouette tensed by the window where he stood with Dad, Alexander, Ezra, and Alpha Darius. Moonlight gilded the sharp angles of his face, his stormy grey eyes flashing when they met mine. "I told you," Elara crowed, kicking her feet onto Astrid's lap. "But no, 'Oh Elara, you read too many romance novels—'" "Yeah, yeah," I laughed, rubbing my stomach. "That's on me." Mom's hand settled over mine. "How are you really feeling, Sweetpea?" "Better," I said honestly. "Endora's tonics taste like bog water but work like magic." Ezra practi