He blinked at her, but didn’t bother speaking. For days it had been like this. It had gone on so long, that she thought she’d have to share the only thing that may wake him from his despondency before she was ready. Maybe if he knew her secret suspicions, his mood would brighten and he would return to her.
Kyla walked to the outdoor hallway, connecting one tree to another as she passed her father’s former apartments and went down a spiraling stairway to Avery and Savine’s small suite. It was odd to have a king and queen occupy such modest accommodations, but they didn’t seem to mind.
Avery was waiting for her in the hallway, Rue beside her, as they had done the last several days.
“I’ve been thinking. We need to get serious about finding the Divine Five,” Avery said as a greeting. The thought had already been haunting her. If Garnel was going to be reunited with hisbear form, they would need to make finding the Divine Five a priority.”
“I agree, and now that we know what they are, we need to start looking for clues. I’ll write to Susan and ask if she’s found any descriptions of the relics.”
Avery nodded. “Savine was trying to keep it quiet, but Darby found documents that show your father was able to open a portal outside of Orofine. He sent fae through it. That, plus the dark magic that was used at the final battle in the Middens makes us think he might have had access to one of the Divine Five, and he learned how to use it. Have you ever seen him with a bone shard?”
Kyla racked her mind for a memory of a bone her father might have kept close. “No, I never saw anything like that. Does Savine remember one?”
Avery shook her head. “Nothing.”
Kyla could sense Avery’s honesty in the answer. Since she and Savine had accepted the soulmate’s bond, Kyla had noticed a lightness between the two of them that made Kyla feel at ease about her brother and his well-being. He’d always had so much hurt buried within him, but had masked it around others. Kyla was the only one who could sense the cataclysmic pain that her brother carried within him. It was still there, that sort of thing would never fully heal, but it felt more manageable.
“We’ll figure it out. What’s the plan for today?” Avery asked, turning to Rue and Kyla as they stepped outside the comfort of the warmed King's Residence and into the icy morning air. With the city behind them and the forest stretched in front of them, Kyla noticed the frost lacing dead leaves on the forest floor.
Kyla had learned to appreciate this time with Avery. Her eagerness to continue to learn combat surprised Kyla, but it was the growth in her magic, especially as a healer, that made Kyla look forward to their daily training sessions together.
Rue smiled, her breath puffed out from between her teeth. “I think we need some more of the cardio you humans enjoy, then let’s practice with your battle axe.”
Avery nodded as she pulled her fleece jacket tightly to her. “After that I’d like to go into the city and check on a girl I healed yesterday. Kyla, would you join me?”
“Of course. I’d be happy to.”
The run up the mountain wore on Kyla more than she expected. She didn’t know if she could possibly feel this tired. She leaned against an aspen and slid down to the ground, letting her head hang between her knees.
A wave of nausea hit her, and Kyla asked for a sip out of Avery’s human water bottle. The durable material made it an excellent choice for their daily hikes and runs through the woods, and Avery was always happy to share.
“Are you okay, Kyla?” Avery asked, sitting down beside her.
Despite the chill in the air, Kyla could feel the perspiration clinging to her forehead.
“I think so. Just tired and a bit queasy.”
Rue asked, “Would you like a bit of food? I have some here.”
Kyla wrinkled her nose at the thought of food. “No thank you. I think I just need some rest and a bit of water.”
But Avery looked at Kyla with slit eyes, brows wrinkled. “Can I assess you? I just want to make sure you’re safe to go down the mountain on your own.”
“If it makes you feel better,” Kyla said. Avery’s question was honest, curiosity and concern coursed through her touch as she gently placed her hands on Kyla’s shoulders. Avery closed her eyes, concentrating, and Kyla felt the stirring of her magic across her shoulders.
Kyla’s essence shuddered under her skin as Avery’s magic wrapped around her. Green strands of light danced across her skin, working their way down to her abdomen.
Avery’s eyes snapped open and Kyla nearly jumped up in fear from the expression on her face.
“Holy shit! Did you feel that?” Avery asked
Kyla shook her head, suspecting that Avery noticed what she had hoped for.
“There’s a second heartbeat inside you. Kyla, I think you’re pregnant!” Avery wrapped her in a tight hug, and Kyla could feel her excitement skim off her. “I’m going to be Auntie Avery!”
Rue joined in, hugging Kyla from the other direction. “Congratulations! Your child is a blessing from the Mother Goddess!”
Kyla shivered at the name of the Premier Goddess. She had been experiencing some sort of crisis in her faith in the deity over the last few months, and she didn’t want to mention the Goddess when speaking about her unborn child. What if it drew attention to her child, making them a target just like her soulmate had become? The loss of Garnel’s ability to shift was crushing him, and she still couldn’t reach him to bring him back to her. She wouldn’t allow the Goddess to harm her child. She’d protect this precious gift to the Abyss and back if Althea dared come after her child.
