Page 80 of The Storm
Renata felt the chill in her bones as Max gripped her hand. Barak? What did Kyra’s Fallen father have to do with this?
Azril continued as if he’d heard nothing.
She lay on the forest floor and I came to her. She was angry and afraid. “You cannot take them,” she told me when I took her hand. “They are not for you.”
“She hid us in the forest,” Leo said.
In a cradle made of grass.
“A basket cradle,” Kyra said. “Like Artis gave to me.”
She put a spell over the babies. You slept for many hours.
“And then my father found them,” Kyra said. “Didn’t he? Vasu said you called him.”
I always called Barak; he listened.
Kyra reached for Leo’s hand. “He and the wolves came; he’s the one who saved Max and Leo. The boy with the golden eyes.”
His true visage would have been too frightening.
“But why?” Leo asked.
I could not take the children. They were not for me.
Max spoke in a hoarse voice. “But why did he saveus? Hundreds of children died in the Rending. Maybe thousands. What were we to him?”
Vasu cocked his head and finally spoke. “The RendingoffendedBarak. He saw the world in a state of balance, and the massacre disrupted it. He withdrew from the world after it happened, killed any of his sons who had taken part. He let others take his territory. Eventually he even let his children think he was dead.” Vasu nodded at Max. “That was your doing. Both of you.”
“You think two Irin babies influenced the course of an archangel’s history?” Leo said. “You give us too much credit, Vasu.”
“Your blood mixed with his,” Vasu said. “It’s always the beginning of the end for us. Once we cross into the terrestrial realm in that way, we begin tofeelthings.” Vasu shivered. “That’s why I avoid Forgiven children as much as possible.”
Leo said, “What do you mean, our blood mixed?”
“You had a wound on your leg from one of the wolves,” Vasu said. “Barak kicked the wolf back and healed the cut with his blood because it had been his animal that harmed you.”
“And that was it?” Max asked. “Barak gave up his power on earth because Leo had a cut on his leg?”
Vasu frowned. “Blood has power, scribe. Barak gave his power to the powerless. He saved the children of his enemies. In doing that, he altered his history and your own. He tied your line together with his. If you think any of this is an accident, then you haven’t been paying attention.” And with that, Vasu blinked out of sight.
Leo, Kyra, Renata, and Max were left in the forest with Azril, whose eyes rested on Kyra.
She walked over and sat on the ground in front of Death, crossing her legs and putting her hands on her belly.
Leo started forward. “Kyra, don’t.” He reached out but let his hand fall when he saw the angel pass a hand over his mate’s head in a caress as maternal as any human or Irina mother.
Kyra smiled. “Hello, Azril.”
Daughter, you touch eternity.
“Do you know?” Kyra asked. “Can you see it?”
Yes. The joy in his voice was incandescent. The air around them shimmered with it.Your child will be blessed in this realm and the next.
“Thank you, Azril.”
It is good to see you so happy.
