Chapter Forty-Nine
Skylar Cathal
Idris collapsed into Adohan’s arms as Zola gently cradled the baby.
The ebony stare of the feared spymaster, typically filled with hardened shadows, softened at the sight of her godchild.
A giant weight lifted in the room, the vice grip loosening from our chests as the baby’s healthy cries continued to boom along the walls and into the halls.
Astro came bursting through the doors. “Mother?”
Zola smiled as she lay the baby on Idris’s chest, with Adohan’s arm draping over his mate and the newest addition to their family. “Looks like you’re an older brother now, Astro. Finn alone can’t claim the title any longer.”
“I am?” Astro asked with a beaming grin.
“You have a sister now,” Adohan said with a smile so wide and bright that even the mother’s light couldn’t outshine him.
Astro sprinted across the room and knelt at his mother’s side. His hand trembled as he laid it atop the dark, curling locks of red and black. “She’s got your nose, mother.”
“Thank the Gods.” Idris sighed.
In this one moment, joy flourished and sprang free from the grasp of dread and fear. The other woes plaguing our lives came to a swift halt as we basked in the miracle of this little girl’s presence. A treasure more valuable than any trinket shining in the eyes of the proud, adoring parents.
Hearing the three of them laugh together as Idris brought the infant to her breast to feed sent butterflies spinning in my stomach. I smiled, relaxing my shoulders as Daxton’s arm wrapped around my middle.
I immediately sank into his embrace, needing to feel his touch just as much as I knew he needed mine.
“You never cease to amaze me, Spitfire,” Daxton said. “Crimson City will be forever grateful for what you accomplished here today.”
I turned toward my mate, nuzzling into the nook of his neck as his arms wrapped securely around me. “Idris did most of the heavy lifting.”
“Still.” Daxton paused as he stroked my hair, sending tranquil waves of love and comfort through his gentle touch reserved just for me. “Without your aid, this realm would have been lost. If Adohan had lost Idris—”
“You don’t need to say any more.” I tilted to meet his gaze. “I understand.”
I didn’t dare allow my mind to venture down the path Daxton was suggesting. I couldn’t allow myself to step into that pool of dread that could so easily swallow me whole without even a second thought.
“Skylar,” Idris called out, stealing my attention. “You and Daxton need to meet her.” Idris cradled the infant in her arms, moving her to her shoulder to try and coax a burp after her first feeding.
“I’m guessing it’s Aunt Skylar now… Along with Uncle Dax,” Astro said with a wink, his gaze returning to his newest sibling, whom he couldn’t seem to get enough of.
“Fitting,” Adohan agreed, his gaze never leaving his mate or daughter. “Seeing as you saved my family not only once but twice in the short time we’ve known you.” Adohan finally tore his blazing stare from Idris and found mine. “Thank you will never be enough.”
I swallowed, bowing my head to acknowledge his words, speechless by the depth of emotion beaming in Adohan’s expression.
Daxton placed a hand on the small of my back, guiding me forward with him as we greeted the newest addition to the Ekon family together.
“Hello, little one,” I whispered.
Her tiny, scrunched-up face with rounded cheeks was downright the most adorable thing I had ever seen. That, paired with the curled locks of auburn and ebony hair atop her head, was enough to make my heart burst with love.
“What are you going to name her?” I asked.
Idris looked at Adohan before answering. “Ember,” Idris said with a wide smile. “Because she is our little light, our hope in this new world to come.”
“Fine name,” Daxton said, clasping Adohan on the shoulder. “I don’t think any other would suffice.”
“Would you like to hold her, Sky?” Idris asked me as she tucked the now-sleeping Ember into a soft blanket.
“Yes!” I answered, overjoyed to embrace the newest life in our world.
Idris handed me Ember, and right away, I became entranced in the sense of hope this tiny infant sparked.
I realized that this, right here, was the reason.
For every child born and those still to come, unlocking the Heart of Valdor and freeing our world would give Ember and countless others a new life.
A life free of fear, free of the wilt, and if the Gods willed it, free of Minaeve’s rule.
Ember cooed in my arms, making tiny noises and grunts as she nuzzled into my chest. I held her close, inhaling her scent and placing it in my memory so I could carry it with me.
To my dismay, however, she began crying. I tried to rock her back to sleep, but I wasn’t experienced with caring for younglings.
“Give her to me,” Dax said.
“Really?”
“Yes.” Daxton chuckled softly. “I have a gift. Besides, you should eat something to replenish your strength after healing me and Idris. I can hear your stomach growling.”
“A gift?” I repeated, placing Ember in his waiting hands.
One of the servants brought a tray of cold meats and cheeses, and I snagged a handful. I’d used a decent piece of my magic, but now that I was alpha, it was nothing a good meal couldn’t fix. I sat down and devoured the first few bites, already feeling my reserves fill.
“He does,” Idris scoffed. “I swear, when Finn was born, he wouldn’t stop crying. I thought we would lose our minds until Uncle Daxton came to our rescue.”
“We didn’t let him leave for a solid month,” Adohan added. “He has a special way with the young ones.”
“Babies like me,” Daxton whispered, followed by a soft shhhh to Ember. “Why is that so hard to believe?”
“You do own a mirror, right?” Astro asked. “Half the time your face says, ‘Look at me wrong and I’ll end you.’”
“Babies never look at me wrong.” Daxton smiled as he gently touched Ember’s nose with his finger before bouncing in place with her secured in his arms. Then, he began humming.
“Oh, that song.” Astro grinned. “I still remember it.”
“It was the only thing that silenced you and your brother’s wailings when you had nightmares,” Idris said, accepting a glass of water from Zola as we all tuned into Daxton’s baritone melody.