Page 6 of Thief of Hearts

Zalira nodded. “Just one, though.”

The group cheered and celebrated, kissing and hugging.

I’d never met women who knew the sex of their babies before they were born but Lia had mentioned once that she felt Kyra and her son as soon as they’d been conceived, and it seemed as if her adelphia sisters had that same gift.

“They could be an adelphia,” Lia said. “Kyra, Minha, your girls. They can go to the temple and Io and Suri can train them when they’re older!”

I walked away from them, finding a bench to sit on. The group suddenly felt like too much, and as if they were experiencing something private that I wasn’t part of.

Minha came and sat next to me quietly. She put her small hand on my arm and started tracing my woad tattoos. “Daddy has,” she said in a soft voice.

“Yes, he does. But I have more.”

“Why?”

How could I answer that question? I had a blue tattoo for every person I’d killed in combat. It didn’t seem appropriate to share that information with a toddler.

“I like how it looks.”

She nodded solemnly. “Pretty. Like kkot.” After a moment she translated the word for me. “Flowers.”

I wore death on my skin. It amazed me that she could see them as something beautiful.

Lia called out that the food was ready and Minha asked me, “Eat?”

I swallowed the lump that had inexplicably formed in my throat. “Not yet.” I needed a moment.

She nodded and put her hand in mine and we sat together in silence.

Minha was so sweet, so kind. My heart felt heavy that I wouldn’t be able to help raise her.

The next morning, my mother and I had just finished saying our farewells when Lia pulled me aside.

“This is a lot to ask, but I’m wondering if you could do me a favor.”

“Of course,” I immediately responded. “Anything. What do you need?”

“The town of Calydon reached out and asked that Xander and I come and meet with them. Their letter didn’t say why, but it was such an unusual request that I feel like someone should see what it is they want. I would go myself but . . .” She gestured down to her stomach.

Calydon was northeast of us, close to the border of Epirius. “I will go and find out what they want and send you a message.”

“We would send Rokh, but with Ahyana being pregnant, he doesn’t want to go very far. She said he’s been hovering over her constantly,” she said with a soft smile.

I nodded.

“Or I’d have Luna transport us there, but she’s been hunting for weeks and I’m not actually sure where she is.”

Part of me was very relieved that Lia’s aether dragon was somewhere far away from us. Luna had grown monstrously large, and although I’d never admit it to another living soul, I felt a bit uneasy around her.

Most likely because I knew I would definitely lose if Luna decided one day to eat me.

Lia hesitated for a moment, looking indecisive. It was very unlike her. There was something she was worried about telling me.

“Spit it out,” I said.

“Be open.”

“Open to what?”