He could hear the love in her voice. It was stark and very real. She knew her fate and was doing her best to prepare her daughter.
“Do you plan to transition again?” If he could help Silke to accept what was happening with Fenja, he would do so.
“I would very much like to have grandchildren of my own,” Fenja said. “To do so, I must transition.”
Silke gasped and leaned toward her mother, pulling the shawl closer around her. “Are you certain?”
“I have repeated this cycle several times, Silke. I knew my body was wearing out, but I was determined to see you settled before I went. I want to know you’re safe and happy. I wanted to see it for myself.”
Benedek felt Silke’s sorrow. It weighed on him, a pressure in hischest. His every instinct was to go to her, gather her close and hold her in his arms to give her as much comfort as possible. Merged as he was in her mind, he could feel her silently weeping. That was worse to him than if she had sobbed aloud. She held herself rigid, putting on a brave face for her mother yet feeling as if she were breaking apart inside.
Sivamet.He whispered the endearment into her mind, calling her his heart because he realized she was fast becoming just that. He might not have known what love was, but he’d found it in a woman.I am with you.He surrounded her with his strength. Sent her waves of the emotion he felt for her. Love? Who knew? He didn’t. He only knew she would always be his first priority. He knew that with every fiber and cell of his being.
This is shattering me,she admitted, the little sob catching in the voice merging in his mind.I’m breaking into little pieces and I’ll never be whole again.
You will, Silke. I will find every single piece and put you back together. Hold you close to me. Keep you safe. She will return. Fenja has a will of iron, a trait she has given to you. Be happy knowing she will leave this world and shed the painful physical body she has and return to you and our children without that burden. She’ll be free to enjoy her grandchildren.
Silke turned her head to look at him, letting him see the heavy sorrow she kept from her mother. She didn’t want to add her grief to Fenja’s burden.Will we have children for her to enjoy? Will we be where she can easily find us? I don’t know the Carpathian ways.
He felt the anxiety in her and he couldn’t take it. He did the unthinkable, his body moving of its own volition. He rose and went to her, crouching down in front of her, framing her face with his large hands.
“O jelä sielamak, we will prearrange a place to meet your mother again. Have no fears. She is a traveler, a spirit walker. She has done this numerous times and will have left herself markers. Wherever she needs us to be, we will be. And we can give her dozens of grandchildren.”
Fenja laughed aloud, and immediately Silke swung her gaze to her mother, clearly astonished by the laughter breaking up the tension.
“Well, really, Silke,” Fenja said. “Dozens? I think your man might need to rein his ambitions in just a little bit.”
“Multiple births are common in my family,” Benedek announced with a straight face.
Silke’s gaze swung back to him and then she laughed, dispelling the last of the tension in the room. Filling it with her magic. Her sunshine. Her moonlight.
“You don’t remember your birth family. That is a blatant and very outrageous lie.”
He found himself smirking. “Tomas, Lojos and Mataias are triplets. Multiple births. They may not be related to me, but I do know a few twins and triplets. It could happen with my rather astounding prowess.”
Silke turned bright red. “You did not just brag in front of my mother.”
“She said she wanted to ensure you were in good hands. Well taken care of.” He did his best to sound saintly and pious as he returned to his chair.
“I did say that,” Fenja admitted.
“Don’t encourage him,” Silke said. “He’s already thinking he’s all that.”
Deliberately he leaned back in the chair, sliding one arm in a casual drape over the wide armrest. “Iamall that. It’s good for you to know your lifemate is capable of providing anything you want or need.”
“Providing dozens of children might just be over the top,” Fenja said.
“Don’t saydozens,” Silke protested. “He might fixate on that number.”
“We will have centuries to produce many children,” Benedek pointed out with total confidence, teasing her. He’d never teased anyone in his life, and he found he was enjoying himself despite the situation. “Although we’ll need to have a few for Fenja to dote on right away.”
“I’m about to fight off demons. Hordes of them. I don’t think getting pregnant will be helpful.”
Benedek raised his eyebrow, looking to Fenja for confirmation. “Wasn’t it just a few centuries ago when women strapped their babies to their front and went to war? I am certain it was a common practice.”
“I’m armed,” Silke reminded him.
Fenja laughed again. Benedek could see where Silke got that magical quality in her voice. He’d thought she’d been born with it, but she had Fenja’s laugh. Silke’s tone was more compelling, but the lightness and invitation to join in was there in her mother’s voice. He hoped their children would have that same laughter.
