Twenty-eight – 07

“Thom?”

He was standing at the center of the open gateway and glanced over his shoulder at me as I came up behind him, his brows knitting slightly.  “What’s the matter?”

I shook my head slightly, pressing myself against his side and sliding my arms around his waist.  He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and held me close.  My eyes stung.  No more secrets.  He has a right to know.  We have to prepare for whatever might be coming—is probably coming.  I pressed my lips tightly together.

“Cameron and I were talking,” he said quietly, resting his chin against my forehead.  “When the weather breaks, we’ll be the ones riding the first scouting runs for trading.  Thordin’s too unstable right now and I’ve got no desire to let Phelan go anywhere anytime soon.”

I choked on a laugh, nodding slightly as I pressed my face against his shoulder.  “Yeah, I can agree with that.  He’s getting better, but I think that’s mostly Jac’s influence on him.”

“They’re good together,” Thom said.  “A little strange, but good.”

“There’s nothing strange about it,” I said, then sighed.  He drew back slightly and peered at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s all taking more out of me than it should,” I said softly.  “Setting the wards, maintaining them, the visions…all of it’s taking so much more energy than it used to, then it should.”

“It’s the baby,” Thom said, his voice filling with doubt and concern.  “That’s all.  You need to show someone else how to work those wards.  You can’t keep shouldering that burden.”

“It’s not our son, Thom,” I said, looking up at him.  “At least, I don’t think it is.  It’s more than that.  I’ve…I’ve seen things.  This is the start of something.”

He grew pale, looking away.  His arm tightened around me.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he whispered.  “I promise.”

I wanted that to comfort me, but all the words did was leave me feeling hollow inside.

There wasn’t anything he could do.  Not now.  Not yet.

I buried my face against his shoulder and let him hold me.  There wasn’t anything else to do.

I love you, Thom.  Don’t forget that.

I didn’t think he ever could.

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