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“Terrick will be okay,” I said, mostly to fill the silence.
“I know he will. He’s my child, stubborn to a fault,” she nodded. “Salta too. I thought perhaps that had skipped her, but then she stole my sword.”
“At least she knew enough to believe that she might have to defend herself,” I shrugged. “And she could lift it.”
“It’s a ceremonial sword. Sharp, but lighter than a battle sword,” Arrakia explained.
“Just the right weight for her apparently,” I chuckled.
“We will likely be gone before Terrick awakes. I understand this might upset you, but he needs time to process what Salta will never have to. She processes a bit every day that she doesn’t know her biological father, but she has dads. My mates are her dads even if Terrick doesn’t see it that way.”
“He might someday. I can’t imagine what he’s going through,” I admitted.
“I think his is the fate of all of us who live long enough. It’s the right of passage not spoken about nearly often enough. My own parents died in battle – the very battle where I fled, gathering up everyone I could to bring them to Earthside. Others had come before, but they had already gone somewhere else. They left behind their stronghold and because the guards wouldn’t let the enemies pass without a fight, it was enough for us to start over. No one in their right mind fights the gateway guards. Some of them tried, but they were defeated. I’ve spared my children that much. Their home has been as stable as anyone could expect a home to be. Death lurks in every corner and with our long life spans we often forget that.”
“Not Terrick. Not with his sight,” I said.
“Perhaps that is the sharp side of his gifts. He cannot forget that death is out there – always out there.” Arrakia nodded.
Salta came out yawning and wearing the clothes she had worn the day before. Someone, probably her mother, had washed and dried them overnight. She padded over and hugged her mom’s neck before climbing into her lap. Salta buried her face in the crook of her mother’s neck, but Arrakia’s expression told me they were talking over their own shared link. I sipped my coffee as mother and daughter hopefully made up.
“We shall leave now,” Arrakia stood up. “One more thing, son-in-law,” she looked down at me. “Your video was spectacular. So much has been lost to our kind. Don’t let one pair of self-loathing siblings take that from you. Don’t let their insecurities drive you away from what you are blessed with. The universe can only bless us. It cannot make us make the best use of our gifts. That is up to each of us. Oh, and congratulations. I’d start the morning sickness gummies sooner rather than later. Start taking them every morning first thing. You may chase off those symptoms before they even arrive.”
I opened my mouth to ask what she meant, but it was obvious. How did she know? I wasn’t sure, but in a world full of people who saw the dead it wasn’t that surprising that someone saw the living too – even the tiniest of the living.
Chapter Twenty
Terrick
The night before, I had fallen asleep determined to talk to Dad first thing this morning. Only now that morning had arrived, I wasn’t so sure I could go through with my plans.
“You’re not going to,” Dad’s familiar voice flooded into my ears even before I opened my eyes. “Not yet. I will not go when your fate hangs so precariously above your head. What sort of father would I be if I left while you were in danger of being ripped from your life by an overgrown lizard?”
“I’m glad I’m the only one who can hear you,” I turned over, refusing to look across the room at him this morning, “there are lots of dragons here.”
“I’ve seen that. Your mother discussed that at length over dinner last night,” he said.
“You’re driving her crazy, apparently,” I huffed.
“That wasn’t a very far drive, kid,” he laughed and I smirked despite the sinking feeling in my stomach. “You’d be surprised I’m not the only dead dad hanging around waiting on something. There’s this guy who comes in and out – Desi. He’s waiting for that giant egg to hatch.”
“What are you waiting on? Surely by now, you know that Salta doesn’t have the sight.”
“Salta isn’t the child I’m worried about. She’s feisty like your mom. She’s actually a happy kid. None of your broodiness, thankfully. Your mother and I made a deal last night.”
“What’s that?” I rolled over on my back and finally looked at him where he leaned against the wall.
“I will stay until whatever magic Frost put upon you plays out. Do not take that as I want you to fail and come with me. You belong here with your mate and sister. You have a long life ahead of you. I will wait until the full moon passes and then hopefully say my goodbyes. If something happens and the magic fails you, we shall go together because I will not leave you to walk that path alone so young. Your mother believes that Scott is pregnant. So for all of our sakes I hope that overgrown lizard knew what he was doing.”
“I’d be dead without him,” I said.
“I know. It was I who told your mother where to find you. Only by the time we all arrived back at the scene you’d already been kidnapped,” he winked at me. “Now, I’m not going to hang around here all day. You should spend time with Scott and there are places I want to see before I keep my promise to your mother.”
“Will I see you again?” I asked him, sitting up.
“Of course. I’d never leave without saying goodbye. I promised you that the first time you slept in your own bedroom and I’m promising it again now.”
“Hope you find whatever you’re looking for,” I said.
