“Let’s see if our neighbor can watch you while Mommy and I visit Uncle Lee, hmm?”
I stumbled into Lee’s condo, desperation guiding my movements. Jack trailed behind, clinging to me like a loyal—but—unwanted mongrel.
“Alina,” Lee greeted, stepping aside to let us in. His gaze flicked to Jack. “Jack.”
I shot Jack a sideways glance, then leaned toward Lee and murmured, “I need to speak to you. Alone.”
Lee didn’t hesitate. “Jack, would you mind giving us a moment?”
Jack’s eyes shifted between us before he gave a tight nod and wandered off.
Lee led me into the kitchen. He sank into a chair at the small table, where a half-eaten sandwich and a nearly empty beer bottle sat. “You look terrible. I heard you gave birth in Peru.”
He took a bite and gestured for me to sit.
“Who told you?”
“I have my sources.” He wiped his mouth, then softly asked, “How are you holding up? How’s the baby?”
I lowered myself onto the hard stool. “We have to leave,” I said quietly. “We need to time travel—just you and me. We have to get away from here.”
His brow lifted, but he didn’t speak. He just waited.
“A dagger appeared beside her at birth,” I continued. “Olivia’s a Timeborne. She has to be hidden from the darkness or Balthazar will find her. He’ll come for her. For all of us.”
I reached into my purse, pulled out the black dagger, and placed it gently on the table before him.
Lee inhaled sharply, staring at the blade’s shimmering, inscribed surface.
“You have to hide it,” I whispered, urgency bleeding into every word. “She can’t ever know what she is. She can’t know she’s a time traveler.”
Lee remained silent as he lifted the beer to his lips and drained it. His eyes locked onto mine, and he ran his tongue along his teeth in a mocking gesture.
“I’ll hide the dagger. No one will ever find it. No one will everknow what she is.” He jabbed a finger in my direction. “But—you’d better take care of that baby.”
His glare was steely, his words heavy as stone, pressing against my chest. The old wooden chair creaked as he leaned back, letting the front legs hover off the floor.
“Alina, you need to stay out of trouble. I’m disappearing for a while, taking the dagger with me. No more time travel. No chasing after the other blade. You stay put. Take care of her. And Jack. Keep your heads down until this all blows over.”
He dropped the chair forward again with a loud thunk, punctuating the command.
Jack appeared in the doorway, glowering. “What are you two whispering about?”
Lee gave him a broad, disarming smile. “We were just talking about your beautiful little Olivia. Did you know that if the dagger draws her blood during a full moon, she could time travel?”
Jack’s eyes lit up. “Iknewit! Iknewmy theories were true!”
Lee leaned in, voice low and grave. “It’s said that the right cut, paired with ancient words carved into the blade, can send a Timeborne to another era… but comes at a cost.”
Jack’s brows furrowed. “The Umbrum Void?”
“Never mind,” I said quickly, shooting Lee a warning look. “He’s just spinning another one of his stories. He’s going to hide the dagger, and that’s the end of it. We’re not discussing this nonsense anymore.”
“But—” Jack began.
“Not. A. Word,” I cut him off coldly. “I’m done with it.”
Lee took the dagger from my hands. We said our goodbyes, and I ushered Jack out before he could ask more questions.
