Page 11 of Devotion

“I’m sorry to disappoint, but we were painting the sky and some flowers. Well, her abstract version of them anyway.” I flicked my gaze to where she was crawling through a tunnel and giggling. “As much as I love talking with you, I’m on solo Eden duty today. Is there something pressing we need to discuss?”

“They trusted you with her on your own?” Quinn teased. “Have they not heard the stories about the trouble you used to get into?”

“Have you met Kingston?” I asked. Truth be told, he wasprobably the best of us, taking to fatherhood like a duck to water. But with his reputation, no one who hadn’t seen him in action would believe it, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to make myself look superior.

“Touché.”

“Oh, Aunt Quinn, Sunday received the birthday gift you sent. She wanted me to thank you. She loves it.”

Quinn smiled softly, her cheeks going slightly pink. “It was the least I could do. I’m glad she likes it.”

I could tell my aunt would never quite feel as though she’d done enough to repair her relationship with Sunday after she’d taken my memories in order to save me from myself. She’d spend the rest of her days trying to make up for her actions, no matter how many times my Kærasta and I told her we’d forgiven her.

Fate was hard at work in our story. Who’s to say we’d be where we were today if things had played out differently? And watching my daughter, with her raven curls and mismatched eyes, squeal and smile, I knew I could never wish for anything else. Being with her and Sunny was everything I could have ever wanted. How we arrived here no longer mattered.

“Show her to us, Alek. It’s killing me to hear her little voice but not see her!” Mother pleaded, eagerness shining in her eyes.

I turned the spelled mirror toward where Eden was playing, and my godsdamned heart ached at the sounds both my aunt and mother made.

“She’s just like you and your brother. Climbing everything. I’m surprised she hasn’t made a jailbreak from that pen yet.”

“Not for lack of trying,” I admitted. “For the moment, she’s more content with what’s in the pen than without,but you’d better believe the second that changes, she’ll start rattling the walls. I’m going to have to reinforce it soon.”

“And then there’s the new baby coming soon. You’ll have your hands full,” Quinn murmured.

“New baby?” Mother asked with a shocked gasp.

“Yes, that’s what I was told this morning. Mom loves to gossip over coffee.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. Cora Satori had a reputation for breaking big news. She was the one who told my parents Tor and I were on the way.

“Surprise,” I said weakly. “Just pretend you don’t already know when Sunday calls you later. She was just complaining that she never gets to be the one to share.”

“This one is a wolf too. A boy this time,” Quinn whispered. “Alek gets the next one.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her to stop spoiling the surprises, but my protest died on my lips as the weight of her words hit me. “I do?”

Quinn’s eyes twinkled as she nodded. “Mmhmm.”

I couldn’t stop the wide smile if I’d tried. “I do. Excellent.”

“Speaking of Viking children,” Mom began. “Have you heard from your brother recently? Your father and I are getting concerned. He’s been away so long, it’s not like him.”

Guilt and worry gnawed at me. My parents didn’t know that Tor was missing. It was my fault. At first, I’d covered for him—as twins do. But then time went on and the reports I’d gotten about him being atIniquitystopped coming. That had been over six months ago. I was going to have to tell them. Soon.

“I’ll let him know the next time I speak to him.”

There. It wasn’t an outright lie, but it eased some of her concern. If things didn’t change, there would come a time when the Jarl of Novasgard would have to be told. But not just yet.

At first I’d avoided it because I knew that even though he wasn’t speaking to me, he was alive and well. Then I’d kept my mouth shut because getting my father involved was a bit like launching a nuclear missile. You didn’t push that button unless you were ready for an all-out war. But now...

Now it was becoming increasingly obvious that Tor was in trouble.

Was part of me hoping Tor showed up on his own and I never had to admit my little deception? Yes. Of course. No one enjoyed facing the joint wrath and disappointment of their parents. Especially when said parents were blessed by Odin himself.

“Papa! Nack! Nack!” Eden crowed from where she stood atop the mountain of cushions she’d created.

“You already had your snack, my little Valkyrie. Besides, it’s almost time for lunch. We don’t want to ruin your appetite, do we?”

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