“Hey, now,” he said, tilting her chin. “No crying. We did it. We destroyed Malek.” Cody’s hand tightened on hers. “Everyone’s fine. Coira’s been letting them in here two at a time. I think the battle with Jamie probably weakened Malek, and Bree helped. She used Edward’s talisman to destroy Malek’s demons.”
“I didn’t think anyone could use another warrior’s talisman unless it had been reassigned.”
“They aren’t supposed to. At least that’s what we’ve been taught.”
“She can kill vampires too,” Shay said.
“I saw you both. I don’t understand it, but I saw it.”
Shay lay her head against Cody’s battle marks. She heard the faint whispers again, almost like music, soothing. “Malek said something strange. He said our child was destined to destroy him.”
Cody frowned. “Our child? So he was trying to kill you to stop you from having a child?”
“He even told me his name. Alexander. That’s what I named our baby.”
A look of sadness crossed Cody’s face. “Then he was assigned to kill Malek.”
“But Michael said it was me.”
“Malek must have been reassigned to you.”
Shay traced the battle marks with her finger. “How did Malek know who was assigned to kill him? That’s alarming.”
“It is, but the Book of Battles was missing for a long time. He must have seen it,” Cody said. “Let’s hope no one else did.”
“I think Alexander would have been a great warrior,” Shay said, her throat tight. “Like his father.”
Cody brushed a kiss over her hair. “And strong, like his mother.”
Shay blinked back tears and snuggled closer to Cody.
“I’d say they’re feeling better. What do you think?” Lachlan said from the doorway. Ronan stood behind him.
“I’d feel better if we had some privacy,” Cody joked as the warriors approached the bed. “Seriously, thank you. You saved our lives.”
Ronan looked at Shay and grinned. “Anytime she needs resuscitation, just let me know.”
“Jackass,” Cody said, lightly punching Ronan on the arm.
Voices sounded in the hallway. “The troupe descends,” Lachlan said. “Coira said everyone could come in for ten minutes.”
The room filled with people and the air swarmed with smiles and laughter and gratitude and a few jokes about Cody and Shay in the same hospital bed. When Shay grew tired, she closed her eyes, listening to the voices of her family and friends. She slid her hand into Cody’s and knew she had come home.
***
“Darling.” Nina hugged her as soon as Shay and Cody entered the library. Coira had made them rest for another day before releasing them, and a celebration had been planned. “He hasn’t left your side,” she whispered, glancing at Cody.
“I know.” Shay reached behind her, and Cody took her hand.
“I knew it would work out,” Matilda said. “I never doubted it once. When you’re feeling better, I’ll let you read my vampire book.”
“Don’t worry,” Cody whispered. “No one will believe it.”
They ate and talked, recounting the nightmare, Malek and vampires. They considered what to do with the blond vampire in the dungeon who wasn’t talking, and what it meant to the clan and the castle now that the demons and vampires knew of its location. There was hope that all who knew about the castle had been killed, but everyone was left with an uneasy feeling. They puzzled over how Cody and Shay managed to kill an ancient demon without being killed themselves, how Shay and Bree killed those vampires, and how Bree used Edward’s talisman. They all agreed that Shay and Bree must have acquired some kind of vampire-hunting skills from their father, although no one knew why he had them. Bree was going to look closer into Edward’s past, hoping to unravel the mystery. There was also supposition that Bree was both a warrior and a Watcher, something the clan had never seen before.
Faelan shook his head and frowned. “She can’t be a Watcher or a warrior. I won’t let her.”
“Yes, dear,” Bree had said, patting his cheek.
Plied with food and conversation, several of the warriors were throwing darts with some friendly gambling on the side. Duncan and Sorcha had disappeared, and Brodie was taking bets as to whether they would come back fighting or kissing. They arrived minutes later, and from their heated faces, it could have been either.
“You realize you took on a demon of old, unassigned, and lived to tell about it?” Ronan said as Cody took his place before the target. “I’d say you’ve used up your luck, my friend.”
“I don’t need luck to beat you,” Cody said, laughing. “It’s all skill.”
“He’s good,” Lachlan said, petting the cat. “I’ve been trying to beat him for years.”
Shay studied the cat. As if it knew it was being watched, it turned its head and stared at her with intelligent green eyes, just like the owl that had helped her kill Ellis. She hadn’t told anyone about that. She hadn’t seen the owl’s eyes at the lake, when the vampire marked her, but she suspected they were green, and she suspected that owl was the reason the vampire hadn’t done more than mark her. That was a puzzle for another day. She had enough to deal with for now.
After Cody won, he happily took Ronan’s money. Ronan searched out a new opponent. “Ah, Orla, there you are. Feel like throwing a few darts?”
“Goodness, no,” Orla said, shuddering. She had been upstairs sleeping after arriving in the middle of the night. Bree had confided that although things weren’t perfect, at least they were talking.
“I’ll take you on,” Bree said.
Ronan frowned. “No, you won’t. You need to rest.”
“Why are you so bloody worried about my wife?” Faelan asked Ronan. “Don’t you think I can take care of her?”
Ronan gave Bree a loaded look, and Sorcha gasped. “She’s pregnant.”
Faelan’s jaw dropped, and Orla let out a squeal. “Pregnant? Pregnant! I’m going to be a grandmother?”
“A bairn?” Faelan asked, dazed. “We’re having a bairn?” He stared dumbly at Bree, who was scowling at Sorcha.
“I’m going to have a grandchild,” Orla wailed and clutched for something to hold on to, which happened to be Ronan. She wobbled, and two perfect tears trickled down her face. Ronan steadied her and pressed a handkerchief into her hand.
“A bairn,” Faelan said in wonder, followed by a frown. “Damnation! You used the talis…” he glanced at Orla and stopped, his face ashen. Everyone looked at Bree, horror dawning on every face as they contemplated her battling vampires and demons, using another warrior’s talisman, while she was pregnant. “You need a doctor.”
“She needs an obstetrician,” Orla said. “Your gynecologist can recommend someone.”
Faelan pressed Bree’s hand, as if to convince himself she still had a pulse. “Who’s this gynecologist?” he asked.
“He’s the guy who gets to see as much of her as you—” Lachlan broke off when Marcas elbowed him.
Ronan scowled at Sorcha. “You just couldn’t keep your mouth shut, could you? Bree wanted to tell him herself.”
“You knew?” Faelan said to Ronan. He turned on Bree. “Ye told him before ye told me? Why would ye do such a thing?”
“I wanted you to be the first to know, but you rushed off from the reception,” she said.
“You knew about it at the reception?” Orla asked, her face crumpling.
“It’s my fault for pulling him away,” Cody said, his voice cutting through the others.
“I wanted to tell you,” Bree said to Faelan, “but I didn’t want you distracted.”
“Do we know the sex?” Orla asked.
“No, Mom. I’m not that far along.” Bree gave Shay a sympathetic glance.
“We’ll need a pediatrician and a nursery,” Orla said, having regained her composure. “Green, I think. It’s a neutral color.”