Page 108 of The Anointed's Paladin

I nodded, guilt twisting in me as I lied to her. But I had to do this.

“Am I summoning them or not?” Kaine asked.

“Just let me do one thing first.”

51

Baby and blessings

Talon

Itook his arm and brought him close to me, pulling him up for a kiss. Our last one.

I rested my forehead on his. “Thank you. For helping me realise how to live. To figure out what truly matters.”

“And that’s me, of course.” He grinned. I smiled back, though my heart ached.

I turned to Nidori, kissing her as well. “Thank you. For reminding me what’s good in this world.”

“And that’s me,” she said, with a grin that matched Kaine’s.

Fuck, I didn’t want to leave them.

“All right. Let’s get that baby,” I said, turning to the pod, shoving down the grief that was threatening to ruin this moment.

We approached it, Nidori slipping her hand into Kaine’s.

I reached forward, my hands slipping through the outer layer, like it wasn’t there. My hands reached it, cupping the soft, warm form carefully. I gently guided the baby out of its suspension, into the cold, crisp air with us. As I did, my arm throbbed right where the nagai had grazed me. I adjusted my hold automatically, moving to cradle thesmall babe in my arm. It coughed and took in a deep breath of air. Its eyes were closed, its chubby cheek pressed against my chest plate.

As I gazed down at its soft face, I knew this was the right thing to do. I had cheated death once when I was ten, and again, two weeks ago. Yet it all brought me to this point. The final chapter of my old vow. I had been trying to right a terrible wrong, and now I could say I had.

The baby squirmed, a small cry escaping its lips. I rocked the infant, trying to soothe it, the motion coming back like second nature.

Percie had been fussy; I had helped rock her to sleep many times. She had only just started sleeping through the night when I had lost her. Lost all of them. The memory struck the old wound of grief, but I soothed it this time. I’d be with them again soon.

The baby blinked blearily and looked up at me. Its eyes were pure white. Its tiny fist had grabbed on to my sleeve and it wouldn’t let go.

I smiled down at it. “You’re free now.”

It cooed and pulled my sleeve into its mouth, trying to eat it. My heart swelled.

My arm was starting to burn. It seemed my borrowed time was coming to a close.

“Aww,” said Nidori, standing on her tiptoes to get a look. “It’s so squishy. I just want to eat you up. Yes, I do. Yes, I do,” she said, tickling its cheek and getting a delighted laugh.

“May I?” she asked, holding her hands out. I passed the baby to her, and she held it close with a sigh. “I never got to hold any of the podlings,” she said with a sniff. Her eyes were starting to tear up. “They were everyone else’s. Taken away from me as soon as they were big enough.” She rocked the baby, and it cooed at her, its chubby arm folding up so it could suck its hand. “I had to leave them all. But not you. Iget to save you.”

“Okay, little one,” I said, walking over to Kaine and helping Nidori slip the infant into his arms. I had to help him as he took it; he clearly had never held a baby before. I adjusted it upright, resting over his shoulder, but he still looked so stiff.

For a second, he didn’t move. The baby lifted its wobbly head, trying to get a look at this new person. It cooed again, smiling and bringing its chubby fingers up to Kaine’s face.

“I guess you are kind of cute,” he said, sniffing. “When you grow up to be a mighty deity, don’t forget who saved your life, hmm?”

The baby let out a string of babbles before pulling Kaine’s face down and sucking on his chin.

“Oh, Gods,” said Kaine, eyes wide. “What do I do?”

“I think you just have to let yourself be slobbered on,” I said, and Nidori laughed.

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