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“Kentarch could come get us when the guys arrive at the fort. We could go in as backup.” Not that I’d be a lot of help. My powers remained haphazard. While I might manage a body vine or two, I hadn’t been able to spread vines for sentries or even revive the thorn forest outside the castle.
Aric’s frown made me feel ridiculous. “You can’t jeopardize Tee.”
Frustration bubbled, because Aric was right, but that didn’t make this situation fair. “Fine. Then you can go with them.”
“And leave you alone here with Lark? Not a chance.” He didn’t say this in French, didn’t care if she heard or not.
I’d stopped arguing with him about her. With Aric working on the translations and the weather preventing surveillance, I’d spent more time with her, rebuilding our friendship. But the forced downtime gave her too much time to think about Finn, and she’d sunk into a depression again. . . .
A stronger gust of wind buffeted the castle. The snow was so thick on the roof, the structure groaned from strain. I crossed to the window and peered out. The lights from the grounds twinkled feverishly from the extreme cold.
Aric’s gaze followed me. “I had multiple engineers certify this castle against all threats. It will hold.”
This mothership was immune to electrical storms, sealed against drafts (and Empress spores), and strong enough to withstand a quake—if we avoided a direct hit. Under normal circumstances, we had fifty years’ worth of fuel, but not when never-ending night had teamed up with Snowmageddon.
The plan for Circe to win the game, giving me and Aric some time with Tee, was a distant dream. But I still clung to it. “I wish I knew Circe and Matthew were safe out there.”
I talked to water in the sink, to no avail, and I always called to Matthew right before I drifted off to sleep: Does Tee have a greater purpose? What sacrifice were you talking about? Where are you?
He never answered me. Though I had reason to be angry with him (he’d murdered me after all), when I pictured his big brown eyes, I felt only worry for my friend.
Aric said, “The Fool is the best equipped of all Arcana to survive our new conditions.” Matthew couldn’t read his own future, but he could travel with others, reading them to protect himself. “And Circe will surface sooner or later. It’s inevitable.” Aric rose and joined me by the window. “Please don’t be unsettled. All will be well in time.” He laid his warm hand over my belly, and my anxiety lessened.
At seven months along, I felt as big as a house, but kind of glorious too. Especially with the way Aric continued to worship my changing body. After we made love each night, I would lie with my head on his chest while he stroked my hair and I traced his rune tattoos. For hours, we would talk about memories from our childhoods, our parents, and our hopes for Tee.
Aric gently massaged my bump and was rewarded with a solid kick, delighting him.
Which reminded me . . . “I have something I want you to see. A surprise.” Despite my fritzing powers, I’d managed to complete a project.
He blinked to attention. “For me?” Aric wasn’t a fan of surprises, since I’d given him more poisonous ones than good ones in the past.
“Well, really it’s for Tee.”
Taking Aric’s hand, I led him to our bedroom. At the door, I made him close his eyes as I guided him to the rocking crib I’d created. “Okay, you can look.”
He opened his eyes, and his lips parted.
Granted, it was unique.
I’d fashioned it out of lignum vitae, carving vines all around it that I could call to life in an emergency. Defensive thorns jutted from the rockers.
Engravings decorated the sides—roses and symbols associated with our alliance. Death’s scythe. Jack’s crossbow. Circe’s trident. One of Lark’s wolves. Finn’s ouroboros. Lightning bolts, a chariot, wings, and sunlight. The little dog from Matthew’s card.
At least, I hoped Matthew was still allied with us.
The crib looked like it couldn’t decide if it was Goth or a horror film prop, and I couldn’t stop grinning at it.
When I dragged my gaze away, I noticed Aric’s neutral expression. He ran his finger along one of the vines that dropped down into a thorn mobile. “It demonstrates a . . . consummate mastery over wood.”
“Thanks?”
He returned to my side. “It’s a work of unnerving art,” he said, but pride lit his starry eyes. “I assume the red witch had a hand in this.”
“A little.” Our thoughts had actually been in sync as I’d worked on it.
“How does she feel about the baby?”
“Very protective. She’s even started feeling that way about you. She doesn’t want to kill you anymore.” But other cards were still fair game in her bloodthirsty mind.
