Page 34 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

“You’re awake,” he greeted me, and I could not help smiling in spite of my aggravation that he had left me vulnerable with Ciaran.

“You are back just in time. Our breakfast is ready,” announced Ciaran, removing the coinín from the fire.

“I went to see Shay,” Sage advised me as he settled on the ground next to me again, and I could hardly stay upset with him for that. “She gave birth to a boy this morning. Both she and the baby are in good health. They named him Ronan for my mother’s father,” he boasted happily.

“Congratulations, Sage!” said Ciaran with a genuine smile as he clapped his brother rider on the shoulder.

“And she’s okay? She does not need—”

“She is healing well,” Sage assured me before I could offer my help again, and I nodded as he passed me some warm clothes.

We began to eat while he told us all that he had learned about the newest member of his family. He shared the babe’s birth weight, the time of his first breath, and how his sister’s labour had gone. He told us that Verin cried of happiness when he held his boy the first time. There was no talk of magical aptitude orhow the boy would further their family status. It was strangely refreshing to me.

“Shay also told me about what you did for her after you came through the portal,” Sage added, shocking me.

“I did nothing but talk sense into her. She was clearly in labour and still trying to help! Why are you and your family always so stubborn?” I demanded in an effort to deflect any impending compliments or gratitude.

“You sent for Raquela and then stayed with Shay until the midwife came. Ivie said you saved both of their lives. The baby was breech, Summer. If you hadn’t been there, it’s possible they both might have died,” Sage insisted.

I was as speechless as Ciaran who had hesitated while sharpening his blade, his hand drifting down to his knee.

“Well, I didn’t know that at the time,” I assured him, looking away from Sage who seemed confused by my flippant reaction.

“And Raquela said that you convinced the old forest to make room for us. Many aes sídhe would have been crushed when the Fuath arrived,” Sage persisted.

“Hmm,” I grunted, surprised that any of that would be discussed after the birth of a baby. “Does this mean you will stop underestimating me and let me help you fight?”

Ciaran had been taken off guard by Sage’s disclosures, but my snarky response made him instantly roll his eyes. Sage frowned at me in uncertainty.

“Stop deflecting. I am trying to say thank you.”

“There, you’ve said it,” I declared, forcing a smug smile to my face.

“You really can’t take a compliment,” muttered Ciaran with a shake of his head as he returned his attention to sharpening his blade.

“There is no need to thank me for doing what anyone else would have done in my place,” I dismissed.

“Someone in your place might have run the moment that I removed those bangles,” Sage pointed out evenly, drawing Ciaran’s attention again with this revelation.

“I almost forgot about that. Perhaps I’ll just go now so we can stop having this conversation,” I mused aloud.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Sage said immediately, surprising me with the force of his declaration. And I was not sure why, but the firmness in his voice seemed to ground me somehow. As if the choice to stay was easier when he had already made it for me.

“Oh? Because you’ll put those cuffs back on?” I asked, and I was shocked to realize that I hoped he would do it. Take my ability to choose Amira. Keep me with him.

“Because if you were going to leave, then you would have done it last night,” Sage retorted without hesitation, pushing the onus for my decision back onto me.

“You are starting to make me regret it,” I muttered as I turned my face away from him.

“I’m regretting it too!” Ciaran burst out, startling me. “It is exhausting just listening to the two of you!”

A heavy silence settled over our campfire while Ciaran returned to moodily sharpening his knife. Sage glanced at me occasionally but did not try to thank me again.

“Is your father back yet?” I asked after some time.

“No. Rian will bring him,” he said with a certainty that I was not so sure was warranted considering how our last interaction with the Autumn Prince had gone.

“Will he even know where to bring him once we move the villagers to the late season settlement?” I asked.

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