“Whose face?” Kalden asks, weaving through the smallcrowd
surrounding Faron to stand between me and my father.
“No one,” my mother and I reply in unison.
Kalden arches a single black brow, yet leaves it alone as Taurance spins me around into a tight hug.
I kiss the side of her head, then pull back. “You’re not wearing your vanilla-almond body oil.”
She huffs a breathy laugh, cheeks turning pink. “That’s what you’re worried about right now? Do I smell that bad?”
“Not at all, but you always wear that oil,” I say. “Even when you’re sick.”
“I guess I forgot to put it on. I haven’t really slept much since ...” Her jade irises look between Gem and I, brightening with tears as her words trail off.
Gem nudges her boot against her twin’s sandal. “You’ve gotta take care of yourself, T. No matter what happens.”
Lip quivering, Taur shakes her head. “Don’t talk like that. Don’t even think it. You’re coming back home. Both of you are. I can’t raisethis baby alone.”
“You’re pregnant?” my mother asks, her strained voice lifting a bit.
Taurance nods. “Seven weeks along.”
Kalden is the first to respond, offering a stiff hand. “Congratulations.”
Taur accepts it while my mother echoes the sentiment before asking, “Do you have any names picked out yet?”
Looking down at her stomach, Taur says, “I’m thinking Gemelle, after both her aunties.”
“Oh, how lovely!” My mother clasps a hand to her heart. “You already know it’s a girl?”
“Not officially. Only a hunch.”
I intertwine my fingers with Taur’s. “I love it.”
Gem turns to swipe at a few rebel tears. “What if it’s a boy?”
Frowning, Taur asks, “Gemelle is gender neutral, right?”
Gem and I exchange wide-eyed glances, neither of us certain if she’s joking.
“Maybe you could tinker with it a bit,” my mother suggests tactfully. “Something like Gemol, perhaps? Or you could go shorter with something like Gor?”
My father leans forward to chime in. “Darling, let the girl name her child whatever she wants to name it.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry, Taurance. Gemelle truly is a beautiful name. And if you need anything at all, especially while our girls are gone, our door is open.”
Taur gives her a soft smile. “Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Way.”
The oversized moon pendant flickers twice, signaling for the room to quiet down. Coraline announces we have one more minute to finish our goodbyes, though I swear we’re only given half that before the guards begin ushering our family and friends back through the doorway.
My father is the last to go, planting a kiss on my forehead and whispering, “You send those creatures straight to the fiery furnace of the sun, okay? Whatever it takes. Don’t stop fighting.”
A nameless guard puts a hand on my father’s arm. “Sir, it’s time for you to leave.”
He shoves the hand away. “I’ll take as long as I like saying goodbye to my daughter.”
“Sir, you cannot obstruct?—”
