The Omega nodded and hurried from the room.
I gently shook the baby’s fist. “How about a nap, little monster?”
Misty gave me a gummy smile.
“We have maybe two hours,”I said to Rowan when I got back to the house. “Moira is with Misty, but she won’t allow anyone but me near her right now.”
It took me a while to get her to sleep, but I had to admit, holding an innocent little baby for any amount of time was amazing for my dopamine receptors. Even with the threat of Barrett hanging over our heads, I felt more relaxed today than I had in weeks.
Poor Moira was a frazzled mess, though.
Rowan pushed a purplish drink toward me. He sat at the table nursing his own amber-colored drink. His hair was a little mussed and there were purple smudges under his eyes.
“Barrett hasn’t left.” His heavy sigh spoke volumes about how he felt about that. “He’s pacing outside the wards, demanding to be let back in.”
“Great.” I took a fortifying sip and blinked. “Damn. This is delicious.”
Rowan’s tired smile made my heart hurt. “Spiked lavender lemonade. Hope brought it over earlier and said to tell you there’s no time for arm-wrestling tonight.”
“I’ll never live that one down.”
“Nope,” Rowan said cheerfully.
We fell silent. “There’s more,” he said after a moment.
“Of course there is.” I took another drink.
Rowan refilled my lemonade from the pitcher. “Barrett is claiming the Chimera is his daughter.”
“Not unexpected,” I murmured. “Any way to prove it?”
“Unfortunately, the blueprints to build our DNA lab are delayed.” He softened his sarcasm with a smile. “I’m hopeful your parents can help. If Barrett is Misty’s father, we cannot legally hold her at the Keep without entangling us in complicated politics. Barrett has proclaimed you as the de facto Chimera leader in earshot more than once, and you are my mate…”
His voice trailed off.
“Conflict of interest,” I finished.
I pulled my phone out and texted Mom. She showed up, but she wasn’t alone. A tall woman with brilliant red hair appeared beside her. Rowan went still.
I sucked in a breath.
“Peace, Lord,” Mom said. “She has agreed to help with your…issue.”
Brigid, goddess of the home and hearth, smiled at me, the look not especially friendly. She was tall and beautiful, pale blue eyes like ice chips. My father considered her a friend.
I found it hard to believe this woman was anyone’s friend.
“Nice to see you again, Evie.”
I didn’t have to have any special abilities to know the woman was lying. “Likewise.”
My smile was all jagged edges.
Brigid gave me the first genuine smile I’d seen from her. “Well, then. Let us not delay. Bring me to the child.”
Misty was just rousingfrom her nap when she spied Brigid and went completely silent. Even the baby was awed by her beauty. The goddess swept her up and tucked her in the crook of her arm.
Brigid might look like an ice queen, but her demeanor thawed as soon as Misty was in her arms. She swayed gently back and forth and spoke nonsense, gently stroking the baby’s hair. Mom still stared at her like one would a poisonous viper.
