Page 40 of Blood and Hexes

Chloe lowered her eyes. "Well, maybe, but we have other things to worry about at the moment."

Ah, yes, their warring and issues no one was talking to Diana about. "I'll make you something. I'm sure there are other suitable trees."

Chloe giggled. "Don't, honestly. I was just being spoiled. Levi woke me up with Champagne and gave me a parure." She winced. "I probably butchered that word. That's a box with pretty things inside. A necklace, earrings, a tiara. Where would I even wear a tiara? Anyway, I like it. Tons. It's so shiny."

The tiara wasn't the only shiny thing: so were Chloe's eyes. Mikar frowned as he noticed it. Diana could see him trying to understand why she seemed so emotional all of a sudden. She was fairly certain that if the woman started crying, he was going to lose it.

Diana decided to intervene. If Chloe hadn't yet told anyone she was pregnant, it was her business."Well, I don't have any present to give you, and I like celebrating birthdays. I'll make you a chair or two. It's no bother.” To Mikar, she said, "Can you find another tree?"

He hesitated a moment, his concern etched in his frown, but stalked away.

"He's very protective," Diana stated, without intonation.

Protective didn't cut it. Mikar's entire life seemed to be dedicated to being Chloe's shield. One of the reasons why it was a good thing that he and she hadn't gotten into anymore dalliances after that…

Diana wouldn't have taken well to being relegated to second place by a man she liked. Not that she liked him. At all.

Feeling her cheeks flush, she refocused her attention on Chloe, who nodded, wiping a tear away.

"Too much, sometimes. I think it has to do with what happened when I was first turned. He hasn't said anything, but Levi told me he was off duty—Ruby was watching me—when a bunch of ferals and some ancients came to Oldcrest to kill me. I had to be turned in a hurry, and I almost didn't make it. I wouldn't have, if it hadn't been for Eirikr."

Hereyes flew open. "Eirikr? Isn't he in his cave?" That was the most surprising thing out of the lot, to her.

Chloe smiled. "Yes, on Cosnoc. I went there to hide. Something was telling me that place was…that it could be safer than anywhere else. And I was right. He protected me, gave me his blood so I could transition. He even told me my blood could cure ferals. I was able to save one of my friends that way."

All of that was news to Diana. She took it in, fairly confused. "But isn't he…you know. Insane?"

Chloe didn't seem offended. "A little, maybe. But so would I be, if I spent all these years in a cave. For what it's worth, Eirikr is family. He's been good to me. Better than my own father, for sure. And well…I think he's a lot more complicated than what the rumors suggest."

Diana took a moment to think things through. "Like you," she said, finally.

Chloe looked up at her, questioning.

"Outside of Oldcrest, the rumors aren't exactly to your favor.” Diana remembered Juniper’s account of what was going on here. “And well, it's true. You are strong and faster than any vampire your age should be. You'll only grow in power as times goes by. You could grow to become everything they fear—a tyrant who seeks to rule over vampirekind. People aren't completely wrong to fear you." She swallowed. "But it's not that simple. You're not a monster. You're just…a woman. Protective of your friends, your family."

Chloe would make a good mother, too, Diana thought. She didn't say so out loud, as there were several witches and vampires around them, setting candles on all the tables and around the pyre. At least half of them had a sense of hearing acute enough to distinguish everything they were saying, if they were paying attention.

"I like you, Chloe Eirikrson," Diana stated. "I didn't think I would at all, but I do."

"Good. I like you right back." She grinned broadly. "And I want you to know...I appreciate your discretion." Her voice dropped to a whisper that some would still catch. "I'm going to tell him. Levi. Tonight. I needed time to wrap my mind around...everything. But I'm happy."

Diana could see that.

Mikar soon arrived with Chloe's tree—an ash that looked sturdy. It had a slight reddish tone. Diana didn't need to think this time. A rocking chair, and a baby’s cot.

"Where do you want it?"

"Here, give it to me," she said. "It's almost twilight. I'd better bathe and get changed. I'll work on it tomorrow."

She left the valley, carrying the tree to her home, smiling on her way up the hill.

It had been too long since her last Samhain bonfire. Tonight was going to be fun.

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