by Ally Shields
“Outside!” Ari shouted. “He’s getting away.”
Andreas spared only a brief glance at mother and child before leaping over them and out the window. Ari gripped Rayne tightly to her chest and scooted until her back hit the wall. Steffan subdued Milla and dragged her into the front room.
Ari lifted the blanket and peeped at her daughter. The child was quieting now, and a fierce satisfaction swept through Ari.
Magical lightning crackled outside. With Rayne secured in her arms, Ari got to her knees and peered over the windowsill. But whatever was happening was beyond her field of vision. She levered herself off the floor with one hand.
“I didn’t do anything. I never would.” Kyra sobbed.
Ari turned toward the new disturbance. Kyra cowered in the corner of the bedroom, confronted by Jena. The angry she-wolf had partially shifted, and her fangs were planted near Kyra’s face. The nymph’s skin tone had paled, her eyes wide with shock.
“Jusst sshut up,” Jena’s speech was slurred by her enlarged, protruding teeth. “You vousshed for that woman.”
“I don’t understand any of this.” Kyra’s voice rose and her sobs increased.
The infant startled and began to fuss again, her sounds of distress growing in direct proportion to the confrontation.
Ari slumped onto the side of the bed. “Get out of here. Both of you. You’re making Rayne cry.” She kept her voice low, fighting to suppress her own growing anger. She rocked the baby, making soothing sounds.
Jena shoved Kyra into the living room and out of sight.
Ari started to sing softly to her daughter…and to ease her own hammering heart. The horror of a near miss was sinking in, and her terror was affecting Rayne. “Sleep, little baby, dry your tears…” Her voice broke, and she hummed the rest of the melody. She couldn’t remember the words anyway. She’d have to asked Claris how it went. Why didn’t she already know them? Shouldn’t a mother know these things?
The cabin door banged open. Ari jumped in alarm and turned to look. Dona raced in and leaped on the bed. Andreas dropped to his knees before her, wrapping his arms around mother and child. Ari leaned into him and clutched his shirt with her free hand. Tears slid down her face.
“Did you get him?”
Andreas shook his head. “I knocked him out of the air with a bolt of lightning.” His voice was tight. “Even had my hands on one of his wings. Then he just vanished, and I was left holding this in place of the broken wing.” He opened his fist to show her a small black fragment of a crystal shard.
“By the Goddess.” Ari pulled back. “Get it away from our child. It must be a piece of the Mahmo shard.”
Andreas tossed the black crystal onto a table across the room and rose to sit next to Ari. He slipped his arms around her again. “We’ll give it to the Magic Council. I wonder how Porbius will explain the missing piece to Luc.”
She relaxed against him. “Why can’t they leave us alone? Porbius…the others. We’ve tried to avoid them, to discourage them, but they’re never going to stop. I won’t let them hurt Rayne.”
He sighed into her hair.
Ari’s chest tightened, her shoulders stiff. What happened to her wasn’t important, but Rayne deserved a better life. She mumbled into Andreas’s shirt.
“I’m sorry, cara mia, I cannot hear you.”
She lifted her head. “I said it’s time to end this.”
Andreas’s eyes dilated a deeper black, and he drew her against his heart. She listened to its steady beat and felt him nod.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Loud voices from the front room made Ari and Andreas look toward the open doorway.
“I guess we better see what’s going on. I’d like some answers. I can’t believe Kyra was part of this.” Ari wiggled to get up.
Andreas reluctantly released her and stood. “Stay here with the baby. I can take care of it.”
“Oh no. I’m coming, but I’m a little unsteady, so you carry her.” She handed him the infant, and he cradled Rayne in one arm before helping Ari to her feet.
She gave him a half smile. “I can do this. Women used to have babies in the fields and keep right on working.” She urged him to go ahead.
“You first,” he said, “so I can catch you.”
“That won’t be necessary.” But Ari stopped in the doorway and supported herself with one hand on the door frame.
Milla lay on the front room floor, her hands and feet tied with sturdy rope. Kyra stood over her, waving a finger in her face.
“An innocent baby?” Kyra snapped. “Aunt Thelma will be mortified. How dare you betray our family like this?”
Ari was confused. Steffan and Jena didn’t act angry with Kyra anymore. They were rapt observers, but clearly had no intention of intervening.
Milla’s eyes flashed with spite. “I told you, I’m not your family. We’re not a bunch of freakin’ pacifists. If I was closely related, I’d disown the whole lot of you. Spineless, gutless do-gooders.”
Relief washed over Ari. Kyra wasn’t involved.
“Do you know how sick I am of hearing all the boring things you do?” Milla continued. “Basket weaving? Makes me gag.”
Kyra’s hand covered her mouth. “You really meant it? You’re not family?”
Ari cocked her head. Then who…? Her gaze flew to the nymph’s hair, her face. So like Kyra’s and yet… The Jane Doe X. No wonder the body had seemed familiar. Ari stepped forward, her fingers sparking. “You’re not Milla. You killed her so you could steal my child. You’re a lowlife baby snatcher.”
“Arianna.” Andreas handed the baby to Jena and grabbed Ari’s shoulders.
But no one was restraining Kyra. “Is that true? Did you murder my cousin?” She grabbed Milla’s hair and pulled her to her knees so she was forced to look at her. “Answer me or I’ll have you cursed and dipped in spider venom!”
Ari’s eyes widened. Nasty. And this from their gentle nanny?
Milla seemed less impressed. “You really want to know, bitch? I’ll be happy to share every gory detail. I didn’t kill her, but I got to watch.”
Kyra slapped her then. At that point Steffan intervened and pulled Kyra away. “Whoa, back off. Let’s hear the rest of her story.” He looked at the woman kneeling on the floor. “If you’re so anxious to talk, tell us all of it. Who are you? A bounty hunter? Another of the elders’ paid assassins?”
“You don’t think I’d work for free, do you?” She lifted her head defiantly. “My name is Nara. I hated being called Milla, by the way. I was recruited because I looked enough like her cousin that distant relatives who hadn’t seen her in years would be fooled. And you were.” She smirked at Kyra.
Ari trembled under Andreas’s hands. “Porbius hired you, didn’t he?’
Milla’s smug gaze swung to her. “You’ll never be safe from him. He’s determined to destroy you. He wants the child…but if he can’t have her, he’ll kill her.”
* * *
Less than an hour later, Steffan and Jena escorted Milla and the crystal shard to the Magic Council.
Kyra was still crying, blaming herself for sharing so much with Milla. “I was the leak. That’s how she kept finding you. It never even occurred to me that I couldn’t trust her. I’m so sorry.” The tears kept flowing.
“We all trusted her,” Ari said.
“But only because you thought she was my cousin.”
Andreas eventually sent Kyra home, saying they’d call her and talk tomorrow. “Do you want me to go with you?”
“No, I’ll be fine. But I wouldn’t blame you if I never heard from you again.”
“We will call. I promise,” Andreas repeated, giving her a pat on the shoulder before he closed the cabin door.
Ari and Andreas were finally alone. She sat on the bed; he stood over the crib watching their daughter sleep.
“Milla…Nara…whoever she is…was right about one thing. Porbius won’t stop.” Ari got up and started packing her things.
; “Here, let me help. What are you doing?”
“I’m going home.” She turned to face her husband. “Where would you like me to hide now? We’ve run out of places, and he keeps finding us.”
“But the nymph was the problem.”
“Then it’ll be someone else next time. I can defend myself now. I want to be home, and that’s where I’m going. Rayne will be safer, where I can trust everyone around her.”
Andreas nodded. “Will that include Kyra?”
“Of course. This wasn’t her fault. And I doubt if she shares anything about us with anyone ever again.” She frowned. “Do you disagree?”
“No, I concur. But call her in the morning. She needs time to pull herself together. Tonight it will be my pleasure to get to know my daughter and play nanny.”
“We will play nanny.” Ari laughed. “At least as long as I can keep my eyes open. Now can we go? I want my own bed, my own house, and so does Dona, our hero cat.” She beamed at the feline sitting at the foot of the crib and washing her front paws. Ari’s face clouded. “If she hadn’t been there…”
“But she was.” Andreas gave his wife a quick kiss. “From now on she will be the most spoiled cat in the universe.”
Dona regarded them with serious green eyes and blinked as if to say—about time.
* * *
Three weeks later, Andreas found Ari in the nursery, thumbing through the Valvano Book of Shadows. As far as he could tell, she didn’t mind that Rayne was missing the moon birthmark that designated a future guardian, but she was definitely intrigued by the small star on their daughter’s right shoulder. Ari insisted it meant something.
“Still searching for the significance of the star?” he asked as he crossed the room to sit beside her.
“Hmm, yes. It must be in here somewhere. If it was a Calin thing, I’d know about it, so it must be your family. A mark that distinct—almost like a tattoo—isn’t accidental. Everything OK at the club?”
“Under control. Marcus is doing such a good job I’m considering making him a part owner. What do you think?”
“That would be nice. He’s earned it. But what are you going to do? Just stay home and admire your daughter?” Her voice was teasing, but Andreas heard the underlying question.
“Perhaps. When other things are behind us, I may consider a hotel or another club.” Knowing she wasn’t ready to discuss the “other things,” he looked for a change of subject. “Did you give Kyra the night off again?”
“I’ll need her more later.”
Ari had jealously guarded her time with Rayne. In fact, she’d hardly left the room, and spent every waking hour holding and talking with her daughter. Almost as if she was storing up memories. Sometimes he’d seen a wistful look on her face.
She hadn’t mentioned the O-Seven since they’d left the wolves’ cabin. Not even when Daron called two days later to tell them Bastian had sent word that Porbius was back in Germany. She’d listened but said nothing. After the call, Andreas had tried to engage her in speculation about Bastian’s evolving relationship with his First Son. Ari still hadn’t commented.
Her focus on Rayne could be nothing more than a first-time mother’s attachment to her child, but he thought it went deeper than that. She was preparing herself for a separation, one that could be permanent. He understood. Wasn’t he doing some of the same? Tidying up business at the club, getting his affairs in order.
He slipped his arm around her shoulders. At least she hadn’t shut him out, or any of their friends. Gabriel, Steffan and Jena, Claris, and the Fosters had practically moved in. The Fosters had jumped on a plane as soon as the baby was born, before they even knew Porbius had left town. She and Claris had been planning tomorrow night’s naming/christening ceremony ever since. In fact, it was unusual for him to find his wife alone.
“Where is everyone?”
Ari looked up and smiled. “This has been rather a busy place, hasn’t it? But I sent them all home. I wanted the three of us to spend a little time together. She won’t be this little for long.”
Again, he heard that wistfulness in her voice. “Cara mia, talk to me. What is going on inside your head?”
She took his hand. “Have I been moody? I’m just overwhelmed by how lucky I am to have you and Rayne.”
She settled her head on his shoulder, and he let the topic drop. She’d tell him in her own good time.
* * *
Ari’s gaze ran over their gathered friends. She rocked the child who was peacefully sucking on two of her tiny fingers. Claris and Mrs. Foster had done well in organizing the naming/christening ceremony. It had been perfect. As the sun was setting, their closest friends, her witch coven, and a Catholic priest had gathered in the same clearing in Goshen Park where she and Andreas had met and where they’d later become engaged. The priest had been included to honor Andreas’s upbringing and for Ryan’s sake, as first godfather. Claris, Ryan, Steffan, and Gabriel were now Rayne’s official godparents and guide parents…and her protectors. She would need them all.
Kyra appeared at her side. “Do you want me to take her now? I think everyone is about ready to leave.”
She almost said no, tempted to steal a few more minutes, then sighed. “That would be great. Thank you.” She wanted to thank the priest before he got away. He wouldn’t be joining the private gathering at Club Dintero. At her request, Andreas had closed the establishment to invitation only, and the invitees had been carefully selected.
As soon as Father Banyon left, Ari and Andreas ushered the last lingering guests to Club Dintero, where a lively five-piece band, a full buffet, and an open bar kept them entertained. At nine o’clock Ari decided she couldn’t delay any longer. She looked for her husband and wiggled her way through the crowd.
She stopped beside him and touched his shoulder. “I need to talk with you. Privately.”
He lifted a brow. “Now?”
“Yes.”
“My office.”
As soon as the door closed, she revealed what she’d been thinking about and planning for days. He stood stoically, his arms crossed over his chest, and she had no idea what he was thinking.
“You might have discussed it with me before tonight.”
“Yeah, I know. I should have, but I just couldn’t talk about it. I wasn’t positive I could go through with it. Then I looked at our friends crowded around our daughter at the ceremony, and I couldn’t risk having her life ruined.”
“If it matters, I agree with you.”
“Of course it matters. That’s why we’re talking now.” Her gaze lifted to his face. “You’re really annoyed with me, aren’t you? Andreas, I thought you’d already agreed.”
“I told you, I do agree. It is your secrecy that I find objectionable. I don’t like being asked to endorse a done deal…and under this kind of last-minute pressure.”
“I haven’t done anything yet. I’m asking for your approval, and I’m sure you’ll handle the pressure just fine.”
“I shouldn’t have to if my wife would talk to me.”
She dropped her eyes. She’d been so focused on Rayne… “I’m sorry, but I can’t go back and start over. If you won’t accept my apology, then you’ll just have to get over it.”
She turned toward the door, but Andreas caught her arm. “Get over it?” His voice was soft. Too soft.
The warning sent a chill across her neck. “I didn’t quite mean it that way. Andreas, I am sorry. I’m so scared for Rayne, and I’m not good at sharing my fears.”
“You should get better.”
He wasn’t letting her off the hook.
“Yeah. I know, and I will, but we don’t have time to discuss it now. Can we tell the others?”
He let go of her arm. “Do as you please.”
She looked at him for a moment, tempted to leave it there. Then her lips curved in a wry smile. “If I really did as I pleased, I’d drag you and Rayne off to some exotic, uncharted island, where we’d live on coconuts and run around naked.”<
br />
He unbent then. “I like the naked part.” He looked down at her, his eyes still serious. “No more secrets or brooding alone, madam wife.”
She drew a cross over his heart and kissed him on the mouth.
“Are you trying to make up with me?” he asked.
“Hmm, yes.” She blew lightly against his lips.
“I might consider it.” He tightened his arms for a moment before he set her away. “But we have guests to attend to first.”
When they returned to the party, Andreas stayed in the back while Ari gathered Kyra and the baby and made her way toward the club stage. She tapped on a goblet with a spoon, and the crowd quieted.
“Thank you all for sharing Rayne’s special event with us.” She smiled at her daughter, sleeping in Kyra’s arms. “Someday she’ll thank you herself, but tonight she’s worn out, and it’s time for her to go home to bed.” Ari kissed her daughter, and Kyra left with Rayne.
Ari raised her voice again. “Andreas and I have something else to say, and it can’t wait for a better time.” She sought his eyes for reassurance. “As all of you know, the O-Seven has harassed us for years. They’ve sent spies and traitors and assassins. They’ve killed people we loved, and they’ve kidnapped others. A local seer has foreseen the destruction of Riverdale by their hand.” Her voice grew cold. “And they tried to steal our child the very day she was born.”
Ari paused, and the room waited. “They’ve backed us into a corner so there’s really only one way for this to end.” She lifted her chin, her fingers sparking. “We’re going to Castle Doom…and we’re taking them down.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Their friends seemed thunderstruck. Then everyone spoke at once. Andreas hadn’t moved from the back of the room. Despite that last kiss, was he still angry with her? Had he changed his mind, decided this was a bad idea?
“Are you serious?” Ryan’s voice rose above the others. “It’s a suicide mission.”
