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Theo’s eyes went flinty. “We can’t let that happen.”
“No,” I said softly. “We can’t.”
“I can think of a worse scenario,” Theo said.
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“I lose you.” He took a deep breath. “When you get down there, don’t be a hero, all right?”
“Me a hero?” I snorted. “I’ve never done anything heroic in my life. You know I’m a huge fuck up.”
Theo didn’t crack a smile. “I’m serious. Come back, Blake.”
“My priority is Pendragon. She’s not allowed to die.” I tried to lighten my tone. “If she did, I’d be unbearable to live with.”
My cousin snorted. “You’re already unbearable.”
I smiled. We sat another moment, listening to the fire crackling nearby. “We’re quite the pair, aren’t we? Wonder what your mother would say if she could see us now,” Theo said, a little too lightly. “You’ve got a murderous bear in your room, a consort who likes collecting revolutions like jewelry, and an ex who’s about to be the best headmistress this fucked-up school’s ever seen. Meanwhile, I have a cousin who’s a killer dragon, a boyfriend who keeps nearly getting killed because he has awful taste in men, and a surprise father who’s the harbinger of the apocalypse.”
I chuckled. “Sounds about right.”
“If that’s our generation, what the fuck is the next one going to be like?”
I blinked. “The next one?”
“Yeah. Our kids. You haven’t thought about it?”
I shook my head, feeling stunned. “You have?”
“Sure. Vaughn and I have talked about the future. We want kids. There are a lot of orphans in Veilmar right now.”
I stared at my cousin. Then I realized how right it was. “Shit. You’re going to make a great dad, Theo.”
He laughed. “I mean, not anytime soon. Let’s try to make it through the world not ending first.”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” I said slowly. I suddenly wondered if Pendragon had.
“Talk to Medra,” Theo said, like he’d read my mind. “Find out what her dreams are. When this is all over, you don’t have to be trapped in someone else’s expectations anymore. Neither does she.”
“Right.” When this was all over.
Theo glanced over my shoulder. Someone was coming down the stairs. Someone with very loud, heavy footsteps.
I stood up quickly. “Get over here, cuz.”
Theo looked surprised but did as I said. I grabbed him and pulled him into a tight embrace. “I fucking love you, Theo.”
“I love you, too,” he mumbled, sounding like he might be crying.
I punched him lightly in the shoulder. “All right. Time to check on my girl.”
I turned to face the stairs where I knew Hawl would be standing.
Chapter 42
BLAKE
The murderous bear was planted at the foot of the stairs like a giant brown boulder—a boulder with an ax. They lifted their head as I approached and for a moment, with the lamplight catching their dark eyes, they looked almost … gentle. “How is she?” I demanded.
