\u201cThom?\u201d<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head slightly, pressing myself against his side and sliding my arms around his waist.\u00a0 He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and held me close.\u00a0 My eyes stung.\u00a0 No more secrets.\u00a0 He has a right to know.\u00a0 We have to prepare for whatever might be coming\u2014is probably coming.<\/em>\u00a0 I pressed my lips tightly together.<\/p>\n \u201cCameron and I were talking,\u201d he said quietly, resting his chin against my forehead.\u00a0 \u201cWhen the weather breaks, we\u2019ll be the ones riding the first scouting runs for trading.\u00a0 Thordin\u2019s too unstable right now and I\u2019ve got no desire to let Phelan go anywhere anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n I choked on a laugh, nodding slightly as I pressed my face against his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I can agree with that.\u00a0 He\u2019s getting better, but I think that\u2019s mostly Jac\u2019s influence on him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re good together,\u201d Thom said.\u00a0 \u201cA little strange, but good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing strange about it,\u201d I said, then sighed.\u00a0 He drew back slightly and peered at me.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all taking more out of me than it should,\u201d I said softly.\u00a0 \u201cSetting the wards, maintaining them, the visions…all of it\u2019s taking so much more energy than it used to, then it should.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the baby,\u201d Thom said, his voice filling with doubt and concern.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s all.\u00a0 You need to show someone else how to work those wards.\u00a0 You can\u2019t keep shouldering that burden.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not our son, Thom,\u201d I said, looking up at him.\u00a0 \u201cAt least, I don\u2019t think it is.\u00a0 It\u2019s more than that.\u00a0 I\u2019ve…I\u2019ve seen things.\u00a0 This is the start of something.\u201d<\/p>\n He grew pale, looking away.\u00a0 His arm tightened around me.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to let anything happen to you,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n I wanted that to comfort me, but all the words did was leave me feeling hollow inside.<\/p>\n There wasn\u2019t anything he could do.\u00a0 Not now.\u00a0 Not yet.<\/p>\n I buried my face against his shoulder and let him hold me.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t anything else to do.<\/p>\n I love you, Thom.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget that.<\/em><\/p>\n I didn\u2019t think he ever could.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cThom?\u201d 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.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d I shook my head slightly, pressing myself against his … Continue reading