I placed a hand on his shoulder. “But seriously, if we survive this thing, we’re doing the EarthSchool.”
His laughter faded and he looked at me with a thoughtful expression. “It would be my life’s greatest work, aside from mentoringyou.”
I grinned. “It gives me something positive to look forward to, and I’m grateful forthat.”
He squeezed my hand. “So amI.”
Sometimes a pep-talk from Isaac was just what I needed. We decided to join the camp party that was going on to welcome our new skyborn who’d come all the way from Mexico. Isaac and I strolled to the fire-pit party in perfect companionable silence. It was only just before we got there that I decided tospeak.
“Hey, thanks for taking me to see Rufus. I know that wasn’t exactly easy after everything you guys went through.” I wanted him to know how much it meant to me that he was able to go before his friend with all that oldbaggage.
A sad smile graced his face. “Yeah, and Rufus doesn’t even know the half of it. But I promised Laney I wouldn’t tell him, so Ihaven’t.”
I nodded. “Sounds like you guys were just trying to do what you thought wasright.”
Isaac shrugged. “I knew it was wrong, but I figured since neither of us had romantic feelings for each other that it was okay. It was nineteen fifty-four and fertility options weren’t exactly available. Plus, we weren’t sure if doctors would see anything … supernatural if they examined uscloser.”
Shit.That was so sad. All she wanted was a baby. “So what happened?” I didn’t want to pry but I really wanted toknow.
Isaac stopped walking. We’d reached the edge of the opening that would lead us to the party. I could already hear people talking. He was silent for a while, looking off into the trees as if reliving the memory. “There’s never been a report of an alchemist and skyborn having a child, but still … they tried. They tried for two years and Laney cried herself to sleep every time she got her monthlycycle.”
Oh God, how awfullysad.
“Rufus would tell me how frustrated he was that he couldn’t give her a baby.” Isaac went on. “And how he thought it was all his fault. So, when Laney came to me with the idea of impregnating her, I agreed. I told her he would find out eventually when the baby came out with darker skin and druid powers, but we agreed to tell him before then, if the pregnancytook.”
What a hard position to be put in. What if I couldn’t give Logan a baby? Would I ask Nadine to help? Obviously nowadays we had fertility treatments, but still … I could see how a woman could go down thisroad.
“But he caught you?” I was too wrapped up in the story not to hear the fullending.
Isaac sighed, looking suddenly sad and overcome with emotion. “Yes, he caught us before we even did it. It looked so bad. He wouldn’t let either of us explain. He kicked me out. I found out later that even after she told him everything he'd kicked her out too. She was so emotional, so scared of losing him that she couldn’t control herdragon.”
“No!” I gasped, grabbing my throat as chills broke out onto myarms.
Isaac nodded. “She shifted about ten miles from his house, in a motel. Druids came for her, and killed her. Now Rufus blames me for all ofit.”
“Oh, Isaac, I’m so sorry.” I reached out as tears filled my eyes, touching his shoulder. “I’ll bet he blames himself. He’s the one that kicked her out and wouldn’tlisten.”
Isaac just nodded. “You’re probably right. But the past is in the past, and I’ve learned from it. That’s all thatmatters.”
“Yeah,” I said. I regretted having asked him to tell me the story. I felt an awful sick feeling in my stomach, we’d been so happy just now. If any of us got too emotional or couldn’t control our dragon, it would bring the druids here, and sign our deathwarrants.
“Don’t dwell on the past, Sloane. It isn’t healthy. Especially when you’re immortal. There’s a lot of shit to dwell on,” he told me with asmile.
“Is that the first time you’ve ever cussed?” I asked him with agrin.
He chuckled and my old happy druid was back. “Maybe.” Hewinked.
Logan saw us approach and waved us over. He was speaking with who I assumed were the twins from Mexico. They looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Hemlock was lying at Logan’s feet with Mittens on his back. Those two were inseparable. As I neared, Hemlock rose and Mittens fell off, but somehow still landed on her feet. I gave my rescue dog a quick rubdown as Mitsy rubbed up against my ankles. A goat, a dog, and a cat. We might as well make this afarm.
“Sloane?” The girl twin approached me with her handoutstretched.
I stood fully to greet her. “Hey, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m sorry I was busy earlier,” I told her. “I just needed the alonetime.”
She nodded, giving me a genuine smile. Her long brown hair fell in thick waves to her elbows. “I’m Isabella, and this is my brother Marco.” Surprisingly, she didn’t have much of anaccent.
I shook Marco’s hand, introducing Isaac andmyself.
“We’re so happy you could come out to the land,” I toldher.
