Shadows of the Keeper (58 page)

Emily couldn’t keep her tears from
spilling over. 

“You’ll continue to be their second
father, Forest Lord,” Dezenial’s voice baritoned.  The laird nodded, moved
beyond words. 

“So now, I’ll ‘ave two of ye’ ta’
battle fer’ her hand, is tha’ it?” Aedan whined.  “A conspiracy!”

Emily laughed.

Men gasped. 

“That’s what we’ve been missing,
lass,” Broc’s gaze swept over her shoulder, nodding and smiling.  “It will
be good to ‘ave strong allies.”  Obsidian eyes narrowed.  “Doona ever
leave Emily again.”

Words evaded her.  A perfect
moment.  Her children’s father returned.  And Broc’s inner turmoil
he’d carried for several millennia dissolved.  Even his face looked
younger.  Rested. 

“My son,” Dezenial whispered. 
Emily wasn’t sure if he called to Denzyr or said the phrase out loud, awed that
he was a father.  It had been much the same when she’d first given
birth.  All she could do was stare down at her newborns, mesmerized.

“Zyr,” she called.  She made
to step away from Dezenial, but his hold tightened.  “I have not gone to
them for a reason.”

“He doesn’t speak yet, and he
doesn’t crawl.  He was firstborn, but Kendara seems to have this need to
be first for everything and, I swear, he intentionally holds back, allowing her
the glory.”  Emily sniffed.  “He’s so much like you; content to
observe, more aware than any of us realizes.”

“He will come to me.  He must
be given the chance.”

Emily looked over her
shoulder.  Her breathing hitched, still unable to believe this moment was
really happening.  “You don’t understand.  He only speaks to
Kendara.”

Dezenial looked down at her and
something in Emily squeezed tightly.  His smile was gentle, unabashedly
showing his love for her.

I have much lost time to make up
for, Keer’dra.  And to remind you of who dominates you.
 He
scowled when her answer was to laugh.

“Watch,” he commanded.  “If
you do not allow the butterfly to spread its wings, forever it will remain
hidden in its cocoon.”

Emily frowned, returning her
attention to her small son.  Reignsfeugh and Aedan moved further into the
nursery, pushed from behind until Inzyr came to stand at the foot of Kendara’s
bed. 

Denzyr pat his sister’s head. 
She silenced, mid babble.  Contradictory to his character, he crawled off
his toddler bed.  He used the bed for support and took miniscule steps
towards the footboard.  Arm outstretched, just the bare tips of fingers
kept him in contact with his little bed.  For long breath-held-moments, he
studied his feet.  When at long last he gazed upward, azure eyes glowed
brilliant red.

“Oh . . .
my
.”  Emily’s
hand splayed her throat.  “He’s never done this.”  It took strong
will not to laugh, feeling Dezenial’s chest puff out, his son having inherited
Daemon eyes.

Dezenial’s hold tightened. 
“Desire to take first steps as warrior, confronting one daring liberties with
his mother.”

“Aye, as he should,” Reignsfeugh
announced, he and Aedan shoulder wrestling for a better view.  “Been
teachin’ all I ken.”

Dezenial’s snowy brow arched.

“Much will have to be undone,”
Inzyr muttered.  “They’ve been ruining perfectly good little Lumynaries.”

Emily giggled.  The Celt
scowled.

Denzyr tentatively stepped without
aid of his footboard.  Little fists rising for balance.

Kendara babbled loudly, her eyes
blazing.  Denzyr halted and shouted what sounded like one word. 
Kendara silenced, eyes wide.  Inzyr and Dezenial laughed.

“Do I want to know?” Emily asked.

“He commanded silence,” Inzyr said.

Emily covered her mouth.  “Oh,
God, he’s gonna pay when Kendara gets her hands on him.”

Fists raised, Denzyr toddled a
succession of little steps, coming to a stop in front of his mother.

“Broc!  Did you see? 
Those were . . . those were his first . . .” Emily couldn’t finish.

“Steps. Aye, lass, strong lad.
Though, I think his eyes will cause the lasses ta—“

“Indonin,” Denzyr stated very
clearly, staring up at Dezenial.

Emily squeaked and freed herself
from a suddenly slack male hold.  Flopping down, she gingerly touched her
son’s face, nodding.  His eyes extinguished.

“What did he say?” Broc whispered.

Emily laughed through more
tears.  “He . . . he said
father
in Balkorian.”