“You don't want whatyou hadfor her. But perhaps she will make her own way.” We shrugged. “And perhaps that way will have nothing to do with Heaven.” We looked down at my daughter again. “It could have nothing to do with Fairy too, but I will not begrudge her that if it is the choice she makes.”
What does that mean?I demanded inside my mind.Is she destined for Hell?
She will make her own destiny, Seren. You will make sure of that. I am only saying that to allow her true freedom, you must give her the option of everything, including Anu's worlds.
Relief washed through me.I understand.
“Yes, very well,” Sever said at the same time. “She will be free to choose.”
“Take heart. You will guide her. You have many years to prepare your daughter for her choice.”
“What's her name?” Shazy demanded.
“We haven't decided yet,” Sever said. “We wanted to meet her first.”
“You haven't decided? Really?” We grinned at him.
Sever flushed.
“I'll leave you to the naming and the loving of your daughter. Congratulations to you all.” Danu laid our hand on my daughter's chest and light flowed out from us into her. It resembled the light that had encased her earlier, but this one felt distinctly different. And through the glow, my baby smiled up at me. At Danu.
Thank you, Danu,I said.
You're welcome, Daughter. I may not be interfering in your love life anymore, but I am always here to help and guide you.Then, aloud, she said, “I am always with you. Speak, and I listen.”
With that, the Goddess left my body.
Chapter Three
I took a deep breath, lifted my head, and looked at Sever. “You have a name in mind?”
“What about Delilah?” Killian asked.
Sever and I both grimaced at him.
“Why is that funny?” Rowan asked.
“Delilah is the name of a woman who caused a lot of trouble in the biblical stories,” Falcas said.
“How do you know that?” I asked Fal.
“I read the book when you took a piece of Uncle Star's soul,” Falcas said. “I thought it might provide some insight.” He frowned. “Mostly, it confused me.”
Sever snorted a laugh. “It has that effect on everyone. People have been trying to explain that books ever since it was first compiled. And no one gets it completely correct.”
“What about Serenity?” Daxon suggested. “Then she'd be named after you, in a way, Seren.”
“We'd end up calling her Seren for short.” I made a face. “And that would get confusing. Plus, I don't want to be like those humans who name their children after themselves.” I lookedback at Sever. “But I think her father is about to name her.” I set our daughter in Sever's arms. “Go on then. Tell her what name you've chosen.”
“You're giving me that honor?” Sever asked, his tone one of wonder. “You don't want to hear it first? What if you don't like it?”
“I trust you. Go ahead.”
Eyes glossy, Sever looked down at our daughter and said, “My daughter, you are all races in one. The magic of Heaven, Hell, and Fairy made flesh. I call your mother my miracle, but you are the miracle of all the worlds. So you shall be called Mirielle.”
“That's beautiful,” I whispered.
“I thought he'd want a name without ‘el’ on the end,” Kill mused. “You know, because of that whole 'of God' thing.”
