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“We’ll visit, of course. Someone has to teach the kid how to get away with stuff that you won’t let him or her do.”
I glanced at Valek. “Remind me to never leave Janco alone with our child.”
“Hey!”
We all ignored him.
“And we’ll drop everything and come if you need us,” Ari said.
“Unless you need us to change diapers. Then forget it.” Janco waved a hand under his nose.
“Just remember, we also can offer aid if you need it,” Valek said to them.
“Will do.” Janco saluted. “Our herd may roam, but we all know where is home.”
* * *
The students returned to the Magician’s Keep on the first day of the cooling season. The New Beginnings feast was a highly anticipated affair. I hadn’t been to one in years. But this year’s feast represented so much more than the start of a new school year. Everyone needed a night of celebration and fun after being under the Cartel’s influence.
Before the party, Valek stood in front of the mirror in our rooms in Irys’s tower. He wore a silver silk tunic with black piping, black pants and a silver belt—formal Sitian dress clothes—and they showed off his athletic physique. He’d regained weight and muscle tone since he’d recovered from the Harman sap. And I’d gained about a hundred pounds in baby weight...or so it seemed. He was sleek and sexy, and I was the size of a heifer.
“I feel ridiculous,” he said, yanking at his high collar. “I’m the oldest student ever to attend the Keep. Can we skip the feast?”
“No. It’ll be fun. Don’t worry, you’ll be working with Irys and Teegan and won’t have to attend classes with the first-years.”
“Thank fate.”
We entered the dining room and wove through the clumps of people, stopping and talking as we headed for the buffet. Food first, dancing second. After we ate, Valek pulled me to the dance floor. He twirled me around as the music vibrated through the air.
Zethan mingled among the students and faculty with ease, but Zohav stayed on the edges of the room, frowning at anyone who approached her. Valek coaxed her onto the dance floor, while I partnered with Zethan.
“Don’t worry about Zo,” he said when he noticed the direction of my gaze. “She’ll thaw eventually. It always takes her a while to adjust.” Then he laughed. “And this has been the craziest year in our entire lives.”
“I’d say. You’ve experienced a lot of changes. But you seem to have made friends already.”
“Compared to being captured by pirates and then arrested by the scariest man in Ixia, who ends up being your older brother and involved in a dangerous plot to overthrow an evil Cartel? This is easy.”
I laughed. “When you put it that way, I see your point.”
“And it all worked out. I’m learning about my magic. I have a sister-in-law, and I’m gonna be an uncle!” He beamed at me.
His resemblance to Valek was unmistakable, and I hoped it didn’t cause him trouble in the future. Many Sitians still feared Valek, despite all he’d done to save us. At the end of the song, I said, “Just remember, we are here if you and Zohav need anything.”
“I know. There’s only one thing I’m worried about.”
Concerned, I put my hand on his arm. “What is that?”
“That after all the excitement of the past couple seasons, school will be boring in comparison.”
I swatted him. “You’re just like your brother.”
“Thank you.”
Boys.
* * *
After the feast, life slowly returned to normal. Valek kept busy attending sessions with Irys, and with helping to teach the students self-defense and fighting techniques in the training yard. I spent my time reading through Bain’s history books. I hoped to find some mention of another magician who might have had the same magic-sucking power as the baby.
I was propped up in bed scanning a book on the clans that traced the lines of magic in families when pain ringed my stomach. My first thought was that I’d been poisoned by White Fright again. Memories flashed of being locked in General Brazell’s dungeon while it felt as if someone shredded my insides with a rusty knife. But that was nine years ago. My confusion cleared when another contraction hit, stronger than the last. It was the middle of the cooling season, and the baby was coming. Now.
Terror and panic mixed with relief—I’d gotten to the point where I couldn’t stay in one position for long before something on my body hurt. Lumbering from bed, I put on my robe. Valek worked at a table in the living area. He concentrated on a wooden stick.
“Valek.”
“Hmm?” He scowled at the thin branch. “Looks like lighting fires is truly beyond me. Pity. That would be a really useful skill to have.”
Another contraction rolled through me. I sucked in deep breaths like Healer Hayes had instructed. Medic Mommy had arrived yesterday morning, but she hadn’t thought I’d go into labor for another week. When I could speak again, I said, “Valek.”
The strain in my voice caught his attention, and he was beside me in a heartbeat. “Is it time, love?” He remained calm. Typical.
“Yes.”
* * *
“Almost there, Yelena, one more push. You can do it,” Medic Mommy said.
She and Healer Hayes had taken turns soothing me while I clung to Valek’s hand as the contractions grew in frequency and severity.
“That’s it. Breathe.”
I grunted instead. After all these hours—I had no idea how many, except it was a lot—I thought I’d earned the right to grunt.
“Another push for the shoulders,” she instructed. “The rest is easy.”
And it was.
“The baby’s a girl,” she said, holding up a squirming little worm covered in goo.
Relief and joy pulsed through my tired body. Valek cut the cord, and I collapsed back on the bed, sweaty and achy. But all my woes disappeared when the baby cried. I lifted my head in concern. Was something wrong?
“Relax, Mom,” Hayes said with a grin. “She’s healthy.” He weighed her. “Almost eight pounds. What’s her name?”
“Liana Zaltana Icefaren,” Valek said, leaning over and kissing my forehead.
Our gazes met and his eyes shone with unshed tears. Even with her hair a mess, Yelena’s still beautiful.
Wait. I blinked at h
im.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Give me a minute.” I reached for the blanket of power and concentrated. Magic flowed through me like a fresh, cool breeze. My magical senses awakened, and the world came alive around me. One of the best days of my life just became better. I met Valek’s questioning gaze, then projected my thoughts toward him. I hit a solid barrier. Hard. Irys wasn’t kidding when she’d said he was strong.
Valek straightened in surprise, but then he grinned. The wall disappeared.
Hi there, handsome, I thought.
Welcome back, love.
I smiled. Reaching out further, despite my low energy, I sought another.
Kiki?
Lavender Lady had foal. Approval flowed over our connection. Better?
Yes, I can hear you again!
She snorted as if she knew this would happen all along. Bring foal.
We’ll visit soon.
Bring apples.
I promised to bring an entire bushel.
Healer Hayes cleaned Liana, wrapped her up so all that showed was her round pink face and handed her to me. Long black eyelashes arched from blue-green eyes, and dark hair covered her head. It was long enough to curl slightly. She was perfect. Liana stared at me for a moment, gazed at Valek for a few seconds, then promptly fell asleep. Unimpressed? Bored already? Or was it a sign that she’d be a good sleeper?
“We’ll leave you alone now,” Hayes said. “When she starts to fuss, that means she’s hungry. Let us know if she has trouble latching on, and we’ll come back and help.”
Latching on sounded painful, but I nodded as if confident it would work. We marveled over our daughter for a while. It was love at first sight for both of us.
Valek touched her cheek with his finger. “She’s so soft.” His voice held awe. Then he crinkled his brow. “She’s also blocking my magic.” He pulled his hand back. “Is she blocking yours?”
I focused. “No.” Then I placed my thumb on her chin. Her skin was soft, and my connection to the power blanket severed. “Yes, when I touch her.”
“What happened to her sucking power?”
