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I thought about it. “Maybe since she didn’t have direct contact with you, it seemed like she was sucking your magic, when in fact she was not being very effective in blocking it? You know, like when you build a dam of rocks, but water still leaks through?”
“Possible.”
I laid my fingers on her forehead. “Try using magic on me.”
Valek stared at me, but his voice didn’t sound in my mind. “Now she’s pulling my magic.”
Unaffected by the magic around her, Liana remained asleep.
“What if you use magic, but don’t direct it at us?”
He glanced at the door. “Healer Hayes and Medic Mommy are having a celebratory drink in his office.” Valek laughed. “He’s wondering if she’d consider moving to Sitia.”
“I’d like that, especially if magic won’t work on Liana.”
“Do you think she’s immune?” he asked in concern.
A good question. “Can you build a null shield around us?”
“Probably not without difficulty.” He scanned the room. “I’ll put one around the bassinet. Then I won’t be able to lay her in there if she’s immune.”
The impulse to protect her surged through me—hot and fierce. I held her closer, “I don’t want to hurt her.”
His face softened. “Neither do I, love. But we need to know if she’ll be trapped by a null shield.”
True. He moved the bassinet to the farthest corner of the room. After a few moments, he returned to me. He lifted our daughter from my arms. Valek held her as if she’d break. “Wow, she’s pretty solid. No wonder you were—”
“Watch it.”
“—so uncomfortable.”
“Nice.”
But he wasn’t listening. Valek gazed at Liana as if he held a precious jewel in his arms. He cuddled her a little longer before heading to the bassinet. Slowly, and with great care, he lowered her to the small mattress. I held my breath.
Valek straightened with his arms empty. “She popped the null shield and didn’t even wake up.” He grinned.
Was she a void? Did that mean she had no soul and would never find peace in the sky? I projected my awareness toward her and was blocked, but I sensed the spark of life that was her soul. I sagged back on the bed in relief. Did it really matter what she was? Not at all. As long as she was happy and healthy and safe from harm. We could determine the extent of her abilities when she was older.
Valek rolled the bassinet back beside my bed, then kicked off his boots and slid under the covers with me. Wrapping his arms around me, he pulled me close. I snuggled against him, listening to his heartbeat while breathing in his unique musky scent.
We’d survived so much, and I would never take moments like this for granted. I savored the peace, knowing full well that once the rest of the herd learned of Liana’s arrival, we’d be inundated with visitors.
I was on the edge of sleep when Valek said, “I’m sorry I didn’t keep my promise sooner.”
I opened one eye. “What promise?”
“That we’d be together.”
“I know I just had a baby and might not be thinking clearly, but I’m pretty sure we’ve been together for nine years.”
“No. We’ve been living two different lives. I worked for the Commander while you were the Liaison. We were lucky to spend two weeks together at one time. If you add up all the days, it wouldn’t fill two years.”
He had a point. “And now?”
His arms tightened. “Now we’re truly together. Body, mind and soul.”
Liana hiccupped and started crying.
“And baby,” I added.
“And babies,” he amended. “She’s going to need a brother.”
EPILOGUE
VALEK
Valek watched as Yelena set Liana in the sling, securing the baby to her stomach before she mounted Kiki. Yelena’s bat flew over and grabbed the edge of her hood. It hung upside-down from the fabric as it settled in for the trip. Much to Yelena’s delight, the little creature had shown up mere hours after Liana was born. She hadn’t seen it since the baby was conceived.
He checked the sling’s straps, looking for weak or frayed spots. “Are you sure she’ll be warm enough?” Valek asked his wife. The warming season had just ended, but the air was crisp despite the morning sunshine. Plus Liana was only five months old.
“Yes, she’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure you want to ride? I can get a wagon,” he offered.
Kiki and Yelena stared at him. He didn’t need to use magic to know what they were thinking, but he thought he’d asked a legitimate question.
“All right,” he said. Valek checked through the saddle bags on Onyx. “Did you remember to pack—”
“Valek, get your butt in that saddle before we leave without you,” Yelena said in exasperation, but then she relented. “It’s my fault. I’ve spoiled you.”
Confused, he asked, “What do you mean?”
“You’ve gotten your wish for the last five months. Other than trips to the market and Council Hall, Liana and I have been safe in Irys’s tower while you’ve been learning about your magic. You’re out of practice.”
“Practice?”
“Yes. You haven’t had to squelch your overprotectiveness during that time.”
“It’s not...” Well, that was part of it. “Sorry, love.” He secured the bag’s flap, then swung into the saddle.
Setting off at a walk, Onyx followed Kiki to the Keep’s main entrance. The guards waved them through the gate. The horses navigated the busy Citadel’s streets. A few Helper’s Guild members waved to them as they hurried on their various errands. Fisk had rebuilt his guild, but he was also helping the Sitian Council. After regaining control of Sitia from the Cartel, the Councilors had realized their security measures were woefully inadequate. They hired Fisk to develop and implement new protocols. Fisk, in turn, hired Valek as his primary consultant. He’d enjoyed working with the young man. Plus it kept his skills sharp. Their first task had been to apprehend and arrest the members of the Problem Gang—a task Fisk had relished.
Valek and Yelena exited the Citadel through the northern gate. “Do you think we should keep this pace?” Valek asked her. “Trotting or galloping might jar the baby too much.”
She peered at him as if he had two heads. Then her expression smoothed. “Why are you so nervous? I’m the one meeting them for the first time.”
And there was the other part. “I...don’t know.” Which was the heart of the problem. He had no idea what to expect. The last time he saw his parents, he’d been blindsided by the existence of his three younger siblings. With a storm of emotions raging inside him, Valek had stood next to his three older brothers’ tombstones and finally come to terms with their deaths. That released his immunity and freed his ability to use magic. What might happen this time?
“Then again,” she said, “they did spend a few days with Ari and Janco when they moved down to Sitia. Who knows what stories Janco told them about you?” She grinned.
“About us, love. Janco has just as many Yelena stories.”
“Oh.”
“Not so funny now, is it?”
“Maybe we should stay at a walk. It’s such a lovely morning.”
Kiki flicked her tail and broke into a smooth gallop. So much for that idea. At this pace, they’d be at his parents’ new tannery by the afternoon. Wishing to be near their children, they had decided to move to Sitia without visiting first, as they’d originally planned. Valek had located a small complex that had been for sale. It was just outside Owl’s Hill. It had a four-bedroom house, a storage shed and a building big enough to be used for his father’s business. The Commander had approved the move, but it had taken a few months to transport the equipment, their furniture and dozens of crates
full of their belongings. They’d lived in that house in Ixia for over forty-five years.
Valek could commiserate. The Commander had sent all of Valek’s things, including his carving tools, soon after Liana was born. The boxes filled two entire floors of Irys’s tower. Once Valek had completed his magical training, they would purchase a home somewhere in northern Sitia. It didn’t matter where, as long as it was quiet and hidden. The Commander had given him a very generous retirement bonus, so they would be able to keep the apartment above Alethea’s bookshop as their public address and for when they had business in town. Plus the Council planned to pay Yelena to resume her Soulfinder duties once he finished his training at the Keep.
His parents’ tannery was on the northwest side of Owl’s Hill. The path from the main road wove through the budding trees before it ended at a white picket fence that surrounded the complex. The house dominated the clearing. Valek’s mother had insisted on at least four bedrooms so there would be plenty of room for her children and grandchildren to visit.
Kiki hopped the fence with ease, and Valek heard giggles. When Onyx cleared the barrier, he joined Yelena. She smiled at him. “Liana likes jumping.”
Sure enough, his daughter’s happy face peered from the sling, her blue-green eyes alight with glee. Figured. So far, she’d been a joy, easy to put to sleep and entertain. But Valek suspected that might change when she was older. He wondered if Liana would develop magical powers, or if her blocking skill was the extent of her abilities. Time would tell.
They stopped outside the main door of the house. Valek dismounted and helped Yelena down from Kiki. The squeal of a screen door alerted him. Yelena squeezed his arm. He drew in a deep breath and faced his parents.
His father strode toward them with a welcoming grin, while his mother hung back, uncertain. They both still wore their Ixian uniforms.
“About time you came to visit,” Kalen said, slapping Valek on the back. “The twins were here two weeks ago. And you must be Yelena. Nice to finally meet you.” He shook her hand with both of his. “Valek didn’t exaggerate when he said you were beautiful. Ahh! There she is. Can I hold her?”
