Two baskets. For how large Musso had been in the last few weeks, Vlad would have thought there were three in her. He wasn't disappointed with only two. He had been one of two born, though his sibling had been a stillbirth. All of his father's other children had been born in twos. It was practically a Draculesti tradition. Two baskets wasn't why dark clouds stormed in his mind right now. Musso was that reason. He needed to get rid of her.
He realized now he never should have let it go this far. None of his other couplings since Brooke died had resulted in foals. He had even been with Musso herself for a long time before she began to grow round. After so long childless, he had long considered himself infertile. This was the obvious proof against that. If Musso had been with another stallion he would have known. These were his children.
If he had known this would happen he would have turned her away that first night he met her. He had never had children with Brooke, his beloved. It sickened his heart to think of the foals he never had then. Those two baskets contained his children, but not Brooke's. Musso was as fascinating as she was lovely... but she was nothing compared to what he had lost. Nothing.
He turned mutely to where he knew she rested. It was time. His heart was already hardened and needed no further strengthening. He took one step and then another, chains clinking softly. Tonight would be the night that she left him and his children behind.
