Page 87 of A Blightress of Wrath
Butnow was the time for dancing.Nowwas the time for holding her close to me, relinquishing my dark despair into joy, for she was there, andIwould never let her go.
Ipressed my forehead to hers as we swayed to the music, produced from somethingPompeiihad delivered from theSpirein honor of our first child.Acylindrical turner, he’d called it, explaining how the long gold tubes were inserted and the handle was wound to play music.
“Achild of summer,”Isaid, before kissing her lips and pressing my hand to her belly. “We’llnever getSaelynout of that forest to go to bed.”
Karuslaughed again, adding, “I’dimagine not.Justthink of all the trouble she andThevinwill get into over the years.”
Ichuckled at that.
Ithad quite the impact on me to finally holdTalonandIlyenna’schild.Thefirst one born inFelgrenin hundreds of years.Hewas beautiful with long legs and a mass of yellow curls on top of his head, looking just like his mother.
Iscooped my hands underneathKarus’sfull belly, easing the weight of everything she grew inside her.
Shestopped and tilted her head back in relief, letting a long breath flow loose into the air. “Inever expected motherhood to be so heavy.”
Ikissed her forehead, lingering in her hair. “Ican’t wait to hold her,Karus.”Iadjusted my grip, lifting our daughter higher. “Ican’t wait to see her beautiful face.Tosing to her the song of my mother.Ihope she looks just like you.”
“That’sfunny becauseIwas hoping she looks like you.”Hereyes, a vibrant green, sparkled and she bit her lip in a smile. “Ihope she has this hair.”Shetucked my black waves behind my ear, pulled haphazardly back into a ribbon at the top of my head. “Ihope she has this nose.”Herfinger slid the straight downward slide of my nose andIlaughed. “Butmost of all,” she continued, her fingers drifting, “Ihope she has these eyes so thatIcan see you in her every time she’s in my arms.EverytimeIhold her close,I’llbe reminded of where she comes from and who loves her just as much asIdo.”
Ishook my head, my face crumbling asIattempted to hold back my tears of happiness there with her, on the cusp of becoming a father.
“Ilove you,” she whispered, her hands trailing over the rough hair on my face that she’d insistedIkeep for a little while longer.
Imet her lips with mine in a soft kiss. “Andyou’ll love me still.”
Shegave a snort, agreeing, “AndI’lllove you still.”
* * *
“Abouttwo months,give or take a week, andSaelynwill be here,”Clairanniaall but squealed, her hands glowing a soft red overKarus’sbelly.Ihad gone to retrieve the medicus conduit the day afterKarushealed.Ipicked upFiguerahto join us as well.
ClairanniapulledKarus’sshirt back over her belly. “Tellme more about this fae healingMoiraput you through.”
Karusgrunted in our bed, reaching out a hand for me to help pull her up fromClairannia’sexamination. “Idon’t understand it myself.”
“Butit worked,”Iadded.
Karusnodded. “Whateverfae healing that was,Ineeded it without knowingIdid.”
Clairanniaplaced a hand overKarus’sheart, murmuring “Vennae,” checking the pulse of two heartbeats within her. “Anddo you feel any different?Anynoticeable changes?Violeteyes?Vinesgrowing from your hair?Therelentless need to stick petals to yourself?”
Karushuffed a laugh. “Nothinglike that.Icould tell whenIwas healed, though.Andit didn’t take long.WhenRevpulled me from the earth,Iwas hungry.”
Clairanniabrought her hand back to her lap, satisfied. “Well, all we have to do now is wait.”Sheshrugged. “Itcould be eight weeks, it could be six.Yourbody will decide.”
Karusbit her lip and glanced to me. “Butnot longer than that?Youwon’t let me go too long?”
Clairanniatook her hand. “No,Karus.Don’tthink on that for one moment.Whathappened to…herwill not happen to you.Ipromise.”
Shenodded, giving a small smile.Aknock came at the door, andIrose to letFiguerahinto the room.
Sheheld up a vase of golden sunflowers. “Ithought this room could use some color,” she said, placing them onKarus’sbedside table and leaning down to give her a quick hug. “Iseverything going well?” she askedClairannia.
“Perfectlywell.”
“So, she can come with us toTheSunWhichDoesNotSleep?”
“Yes, but nothing too wild.”
