Hever nodded. “In part. Some is just his protective heart. He’s becoming aware of the need to watch out for those he loves,” Hever said carefully. “That is, I believe, what Istral sensed. Her son was alone in her womb, but his gift was already present. He was instinctively aware of the dark surrounding his mother at that time. It is a skill that will make him even more powerful and insightful as he grows. Especially once he has fought the battle with his own will.”
Hever followed Istral’s gaze towards the trees, and gestured towards them. “There is something among the Shadekin—something God-given. The Shadows of Shade are God’s physical manifestation of what I see in our people. A hedge of protection, if you will. While they exist, the enemies of our people will never overrun Theynor. There will always be a place of safety, and perhaps… Perhaps the giftings of our children will demonstrate more and more the rich nature of thewayswe are protected?”
I hoped he was right.
To my relief, Melek had been very, very careful about which Neph were selected to enter Theynor. Even so, Turo, and our other warriors, had taken months to relax. As had I.
None of us had left Ebonreach unscathed. None of us would be quick to trust, or open our arms to any former adversary.
However, there was no denying… the mingling of our peopleworked.The Neph who’d resisted the Fallen learned manners and chivalry from our Shadekin men, and the Shadekin were learning to…loosen up,as Jann liked to put it.
I still had questions about whetherthatwas a good thing or not, but Melek assured me that it was.
“Uncle Hever!” We all watched as Naran darted out of the trees and ran to Hever’s side, grasping his grayish hand deep in his bell-shaped sleeve and pulling him towards the trees. “Papa and Pappy are here, and the others don’t believe me about the magic! You have to show them!”
I’d always been half-shocked and half-delighted by Hever’s apparent inability to keep himself aloof from the children. Istral claimed he grew up alone, and now he likes to play as he never had the chance when he was a child, but Melek was the one who mused that perhaps he wished he’d been able to have his own.
“I love that man for all he’s done, but dearLordhe gives me the creeps,” Harris whispered under her breath.
I’d always been surprised by her response to Hever, since she was so embracing and understanding of everyone else.
As Naran dragged him towards the trees, and Hever pretended to protest, I smiled grimly. To my knowledge, Hever had never revealed his true face to anyone else. Initially, I’d forgotten in the stress of all that happened that he’d shown it to me. But later, since no one asked, it just hadn’t seemed right to tell others. It seemed it must be his choice.
I asked him about it once. He claimed he’d developed the façade as he grew into adulthood. It was an illusion he maintained using some Neph twisting of our Shadekin mind-gifts—he could make everyone else see it so that he appeared more Nephilim, and distract those who might question his lineage, but that it had now become a habit—and the way he was known. It had become second nature to him to maintain it.
He’d added, “It’s also an excellent test to identify those who judge by appearance.”
Then he’dwinkedat me!
Another shriek rose from the trees, and I was yanked back to the present, where Harris was still squirming with discomfort at Hever’s appearance.
“The children don’t seem to mind,” I offered.
“That’s because they know his heart is good, no matter how he looks,” Istral said with her simple honesty.
I nodded thoughtfully, and watched him disappear into the trees, where my mate and hers, and our children played.
I suddenly found myself very, very grateful that she was right.
~ MELEK ~
“Papa, look! Uncle Hever is here!”
It was instinct to turn at the sound of that voice sayingPapa,but once again, I was left scratching the back of my neck, as Gall turned to beam at his son, Naran, pulling an ever-patient Hever behind him by his sleeve.
I still chuckled to myself every time Hever shed hisenigmabecause the children refused to be afraid of him.
However it was Gall, hurrying forward to manage his son, that filled me with pride.
“No, no, Naran. That’s rude. You have to be polite andask.”
Naran stopped in his tracks, his little, gold eyes going wide. He looked up at Hever fearfully, then back to his father. “But… I did, only…”
“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Gall reassured him, crouching down so they were the same level. Naran was already several inches taller than Mael—a fact I tried hard not to worry about—so when Gall crouched, he could be eye-to-eye with his son. It was a picture I never tired of seeing. “You’re excited. And that’s good!” Gall encouraged. My heart squeezed knowing how many times Gall had been derided for his unbridled enthusiasm when hewas young. “But when you want to show someone something, you have to ask them if they’ll follow you, not just drag them along. You’re a big boy, Naran. If you don’t ask, you might hurt someone without meaning to.”
Naran’s eyes got very wide then and he turned to look up at Hever. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Uncle Hever.”
Hever’s face was far too straight to not be fighting laughter. “It’s okay, Naran. I wanted to come with you,” he said solemnly.
