‘Shit, shit, shit, shit . . .’

Jonas had to laugh at Llew’s whispered curses. Doing so gave him the balance of perspective he needed to think clearly. He needed his wits about him now. While Llew fell apart, he couldn’t afford to.

‘Open up!’ Aris bellowed and rattled the door with his fist again.

‘Shit, oh shit, oh shit . . .’

‘Shh. We got this.’ Jonas gripped Llew’s arms and held her so he could look at her properly. ‘I died, Llew. And you saved me. He can’t fault that. What’s done is done, and it’s good, right?’

She looked scared. But her breathing slowed even as the room echoed with another round of banging, and she nodded. ‘It’s good,’ she whispered, though Jonas couldn’t tell if it was to agree with him or reassure herself. Either worked as far as he was concerned.

‘Alright,’ he raised his voice and moved to the door, resting a hand on the handle and a shoulder into the wood. ‘I’m gonna unlock the door. Let’s all be civil, alright?’

‘Alright,’ came the grudging reply.

Jonas looked to Llew, seeking her go ahead. She looked like she was going to be sick, all goggly-eyed and choked up. She seemed about as ready as she’d ever be.

‘Here goes,’ Jonas murmured under his breath as he turned the lock.

Aris stepped into the room, throwing the door wide. He acknowledged Jonas with a glower before laying all his attention on Llew.

‘Apparently you did that. How?’ He flicked his head to indicate Karlani behind him.

The Syakaran woman’s face bloomed in shades of purple and red, with a couple of finger-shaped burns – a dead giveaway to who had caused the damage. Llew had done a real number on her. Jonas bit down on the pride threatening to lift his face in a grin. Llew did that! She had only had the use of the Syakaran power granted by her unborn child for a few weeks and already she knew how to use it to great effect.

Llew swallowed. Jonas scratched at his jaw. A silly nervous twitch.

There was only one explanation he could think of for what Llew had done, and that was the truth.

‘I, uh . . . I, uh—’ Llew began.

‘This ain’t no audition for Gaemil’s choir. Quit your singin’ and get to the point,’ Aris said.

‘All right.’ Jonas stepped between Aris and Llew. ‘But look, you gotta understand, if it weren’t for things bein’ as they are, I’d have died in Turhmos,’ he said. ‘Or, more truthfully, I’d have stayed dead.’

Silence settled like a rain-laden cloud while Jonas let his words settle and Aris’s lips shaped the words in miniature.

‘You died?’ Aris finally asked. His fury eased. He even paled slightly. Jonas dying was possibly Aris’s greatest fear. At least, that was what he was counting on. Hopefully, Aris would be so grateful that Jonas still lived that the how-so would be trifling.

Jonas gave a bashful nod.

‘How?’ Aris asked, eyes narrowed, but the heat had gone out of him some.

‘I fought Braph, and he won.’

Aris mulled things over for a moment, then his eyes narrowed to mere slits. ‘Just how dead were you?’

‘Dead dead.’

‘And she healed you?’

Jonas could nearly hear Aris’s thoughts. Aenuks could not heal Kara.

‘How?’

‘I think that would be best discussed in private.’ Jonas jerked his chin at Karlani.

Aris peered at their audience. ‘All right. Karlani, wait outside with Hisham.’

Jonas hadn’t noticed Hisham outside the door. So, Aris had brought a little back-up. Hisham was Aris’s man as much as Jonas was. Only now, it seemed, Jonas was on the out.

‘But—’ Karlani pointed to her bruises.

‘It’s alright.’ Aris waved her out.

She clamped her mouth down on further complaint and stepped back into the corridor, muttering.

The three of them waited while the room emptied and the door closed, then Jonas flicked Llew another look before turning back to Aris. She looked scared, but there was no way out of this. ‘Remember this is a good thing, right?’

Aris nodded slowly, apparently not entirely convinced. He folded his arms.

‘Well, it seems . . . It seems Llew might be . . .’ He couldn’t believe how hard this was. All his life, Aris had wanted nothing more than for Jonas to procreate. What was the difference in truth? For all they knew, Llew’s baby was exactly what they wanted . . . unless it was Aenuk. Aris would be furious at that.

‘I’m pregnant,’ Llew’s quiet voice came from behind.

Aris stood perfectly still, his expression in stone, staring at Jonas.

After a seemingly interminable silence, Aris spoke. ‘And you just assume it’s yours?’

‘What?’ Of course it was his.

‘Braph had her, what, a week? Ten days? You don’t think he didn’t feel he had needs that needed met? He’s your brother. What do you think happened?’

Jonas didn’t need to think. He knew. The rage settled in his gut. Not helpful. Not now.

‘But she saved my life.’

‘So? For all we know an uncle could be a close enough blood tie to break the barrier. How many Aenuks have you known to carry Karan children?’

‘None, but—’

‘Exactly.’

Jonas didn’t know what to say. He’d been so sure the baby was his. He still was sure, mostly. Of course it was his. He’d been with Llew first. And she had Syakaran power, not just Karan. It was his. It had to be. He’d already lost one child, to lose even the promise of another would be devastating. Llew’s child was his.

But Llew was Syaenuk. Could what made her Sy boost what made Braph Karan? Would that be enough?

The rage cooled in his confusion. He wanted Llew’s baby to be his but wanting didn’t make things true.

‘So, what happened, Llew?’ Aris asked.

Jonas glared at Aris. How dare the old man ask? He should have said something, shut the questions down. But, he was ashamed to admit, some part of him wanted to hear the truth for himself. So far, they’d only spoken in insinuations. He wanted to hear the truth. It was only natural.

Was there a chance she was carrying Braph’s child instead of his?

‘See? Her silence speaks volumes.’ Aris smiled, like he’d won one of those team games he got the Karan soldiers playing to keep them fit. Never Jonas. That wouldn’t be fair.

‘But the—’ Llew began.

‘This changes nothing.’ Aris returned his attention to Jonas. ‘The future of the Syakaran line rests solely with you and Karlani. We don’t want Turhmos gaining Llew, so we will take her to Quaver. Assuming, of course, you do as you’re told. You know Quaver has no use for Llew, or her . . . child.’ Aris’s voice wavered on the last word, his attention shifting over Jonas’s shoulder to Llew for a moment, calculating, thinking. Perhaps only now realizing that a child of Llew and Jonas could be more powerful than either of its parents.

Jonas let the thought curl his lips. Yes. Their child.

‘This is why I told you to keep your hands to yourself,’ Aris hissed and Jonas’s triumph hot-footed it. ‘Nothing good will come of this. Quaver won’t accept it. I doubt even Turhmos would. You’ve complicated an already difficult situation.’

‘Aris. I’d be dead if it weren’t—’

‘You wouldn’t have been in Turhmos to be killed if it weren’t for your getting involved with her.’

‘Braph still would have come for me. He would’ve killed me, and there would be no comin’ back if Llew weren’t carryin’ my child!’

‘Every cloud, I suppose,’ Aris muttered. ‘This changes nothing,’ he said louder. ‘You have a duty to Quaver. We have fed you, clothed you, trained you, given you everything from the day you were born. Don’t go thinkin’ you can turn your back on that.’

Duty. Always duty.

‘What about what I want?’ Llew asked.

‘As far as Quaver is concerned, what you want don’t hold water. You’re Aenuk. You’re less than the mite ridin’ the ant that shovels shit.’ Jonas opened his mouth to object, but Aris silenced him with a raised hand. ‘But, for what it’s worth, I’ll listen. What is it that you want?’

‘I want my life.’

Aris broke out laughing. ‘I think you are going to have to come to terms with the fact that’s well past. Even if you weren’t Syaenuk, you’re about to have a child. You think you can just pop one out and carry on your way? Have another think, girl.’

‘That wasn’t what I meant,’ Llew said. Jonas turned so he could see her. ‘I want to live free of cages, or prisons, or—’ She glanced around her room. ‘Prisons . . .’

‘Which brings me back to the point that you are Syaenuk. I ain’t goin’ to sugar coat it for you. Face the facts, girl, and you, too, Jonas. Turhmos will cage you, Braph will cage you, Quaver would sooner kill you than keep you, but, for Jonas’s continued loyalty, I have managed to have them consider letting you live.’

‘For my loyalty?’

‘Is that blackmail?’ Jonas and Llew spoke in unison.

‘I simply speak fact. It’s the two of you against the world or with Quaver’s backing. Which is it to be?’

Jonas had to look away from Llew again. She thought Jonas could protect her. As if stronger muscles made all the difference.

She’d lived several years alone, but now that everyone and anyone it might matter to knew she existed, there was no returning to her seemingly safe, solitary life. He could sense her wanting him to join her in that life. A life on the run. Hiding when they could, fighting when they had to. Fighting the whole of Turhmos, maybe even Quaver if they took great umbrage at his disloyalty. And they would. But even Jonas, with all his advantages, couldn’t stand alone for long. And Aris was right. Jonas owed Quaver everything. He owed Aris everything.

‘Now that’s sorted,’—Aris, apparently satisfied, clapped his hands—’you still have training exercises to run.’

‘I need to talk to Llew.’

‘No,’ Aris said, his voice cool. ‘Between now and us leaving for Quaver, you are not to be seen anywhere near Llew. She is Aenuk. She is Quaver’s enemy, while you are Quaver’s son. I have been too lenient, and see where it’s got me. You want Llew safe? You’ll do as you’re told.’

Jonas’s fists balled, but he couldn’t lash out at Aris. The older man had always been there, the one steady, reliable feature in his life. The one person he could count on. The captain’s presence giving structure to every other aspect of his life; the steady head when Jonas was too fired up to think straight. Always right. Always solid. Jonas needed him.

‘Alright.’

Aris smiled. ‘Good. Prove you can behave yourselves and I might make concessions on our journey to Quaver. Now, Gaemil’s troops.’

‘It ain’t as if they’re ever gonna see a battlefield—’

‘Brurun shares a border with Quaver and Turhmos. We made a commitment to Gaemil and we are going to keep it! Now get!’

Jonas didn’t look back at Llew before he left. He was doing the right thing. If he kept his head down, did as he was told, life would be more comfortable for them all.

He was barely through the door when Karlani stepped in front of him.

‘Your boys did what they ought to, huh?’ she said, reaching for his balls.

He gripped her wrist and twisted, forcing her to spin and pulled her into him.

‘What my boys do and don’t do ain’t none o’ your business.’

‘Aris might beg to differ.’

‘Then Aris can beg.’

‘Jonas!’ Aris roared from Llew’s room.

He released Karlani, giving her a shove for good measure. He stalked down the corridor, Hisham following silently behind. He might have to appease Aris when it came to fraternizing with Llew, but Quaver could be damned if it wanted kids out of him with that woman, or any others.

Aris waited for Jonas to go before turning back to Llew. ‘This don’t change the fact that Jonas is Jonas.’ He kept his voice low, so only she would hear, despite the open door. ‘He’s a Quaven hero, the only one for his generation, and you’re Quaver’s enemy. You have no place in his life. Whatever claim you think you have, you don’t. Best you get used to it.’ Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the room.

For a moment, Llew couldn’t tell if the heavy feeling in her belly was her growing child, or a physical ghost of the metaphorical kick she’d received. Tears burned her eyes. She was trapped in more ways than one and could see no way out.

Anya stepped timidly through the door, closing it behind her.

‘I heard. Just a little . . .’ Anya said as she crossed the room. ‘Is it true? You were able to bring Jonas back to life?’

Llew nodded. She had a feeling that that fact should have been the one to cling to, but right now she couldn’t see past the fact she was alone.

‘Don’t let him upset you, Llew.’

Llew looked up at Anya’s reassuring tone. How could she not let him upset her? Jonas had wanted to talk to her, probably about Aris’s suggestion the baby could be Braph’s, and Aris had shut him down. She needed to reassure him. She was sure.

Llew hadn’t recognized them at the time, but the signs had definitely been there before Braph took her that way. She had broken the leather straps he’d used to tie her so his mechanical spiders could drain her. That must have been her baby’s Syakaran strength manifesting.

And Braph had insisted she compare a red crystal he made from her blood on the first day he’d drained her against the purple of the crystal she’d supplied the second day. She didn’t know how, but somehow, despite it being at least a week since she’d been with Jonas, one day she hadn’t been pregnant, and the next she had.

‘Your mother produced these for a while. Not quite as dark . . .’ Oh no. The significance of that statement had been lost on her at the time. If her mother had created darker crystals, then . . .

Llew didn’t even want to think it.

‘He just never expected you to become a part of Jonas’s life, that’s all,’ Anya continued. ‘I think he had it largely mapped out, and he could never have anticipated you turning up, never mind Jonas liking you. Give him time. He’ll come around. I really don’t think it’s as bad as he is making out.’ Anya watched Llew, a smile spreading her lips. ‘Did Karlani guess right? You’re pregnant?’

Llew shrugged and nodded.

‘Are you not happy?’

‘I don’t know what I should feel.’

Anya eased herself beside Llew on the bed. ‘To be perfectly honest, neither do I. I mean, I suppose I should be scandalized, you not being married, but . . .’ She sidled closer to Llew, head down, a sly smile lifting her cheek. ‘My cousin Dayna, from Ryaen, was supposed to marry Gaemil, but she couldn’t ignore a local lad she fancied, especially when he returned her interest. And do you know what?’

‘What?’

‘They went on to marry. And they’re very happy. And she’s expecting another child, in wedlock, soon.’ Anya lifted her head, pleased with her announcement.

‘Okay . . .?’ Llew had no idea what that had to do with her.

Anya’s smile dropped. ‘What I mean is, I know life isn’t like the Aghacian highway. In Phyos, the highways branch in all sorts of directions. And sometimes, you can take a dozen turns and make several stops along the way and still end up in the same place you could’ve got to if you’d taken the straight line, just maybe not as fast.’ Anya’s smile returned and she slipped her hands around one of Llew’s. ‘I guess what I’m trying to say is that I understand. It feels like I was always meant to be here. Maybe that wasn’t my parents’, or even Gaemil’s original plan, but it’s working out. Now, maybe you should have made Jonas court you, or maybe he would never have been allowed to. Either way, you now carry his child, and that child saved his life, and there can be no greater outcome than that.’

There was one positive in the horrible, horrible thought that her mother could have carried Braph’s child. Llew and her mother were Syaenuk. If her mother had created paler crystals, it must have been because she had carried the child of a Karan, while Llew carried the child of a Syakaran. She carried Jonas’s child. Not Braph’s.

Her body relaxed. In her heart she’d known the baby was Jonas’s. Now her head was sure, too. Now she needed to make sure Jonas knew it.

Anya gripped Llew’s shoulders, recalling her to reality. Then Anya stood and, grabbing Llew’s hands, pulled her up from the bed. ‘You’re going to have a baby!’ Her eyes sparkled.

Llew rewarded Anya’s enthusiasm with a tentative smile.

Anya pulled Llew into a full embrace.

‘It’ll be all right, Llew. You’ll see.’