Page 126 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
Epilogue
One year later…
“Oh good, you’re up.” Malaikah ducked under the awning and took a seat in the customer’s chair, looking as though she was about to receive a reading from the great “Seer Who Survived,” as Salizar had dubbed Harrow. Not that the Seer was even doing readings today—the circus was en route at present, stopped for a rest day outside a small village.
“Barely.” Harrow yawned from the lounge. She was “up,” but her hair was an unbrushed tangle of frizz, and she still wore her nightgown. Other than her mother’s locket, she hadn’t opened her jewelry box in months, and any dresses that didn’t have easy breastfeeding access were collecting dust in the wardrobe. “I don’t know how human women can handle having more than one child.”
Malaikah chuckled. “You told me you guys conceived on your first night back together. Human or not, you’re definitely having more than one.”
Harrow winced. “Let’s not think about that just yet.” Baby Mellora’s birth had been about as easy as giving birth could be on a woman, but that wasn’t saying much. Three months later, Harrow’s poor body was still recovering.
Excruciating agony aside, it had been by far the most wonderful, beautiful experience of her life. Her loving mate had held her hand throughout the hours of labor, despite his nearly fainting a dozen times, and he had endured without complaint all the threats she hurled at him amid contractions. The result had been a gorgeous baby daughter passed into their arms, her cries filling the air while their tears of happiness fell onto her perfect, tiny body.
They’d named her Mellora, after Harrow’s mother. Her skin was light brown, her hair dark, her tiny ears pointed, and her eyes like Raith’s—the outer edges as black as her pupils. Instead of fire-wreathed irises, however, hers were a luminescent silver that identified her as a Seer.
The moment she saw her, Harrow knew she would be just like her father. A father who was going to spoil her rotten, if his behavior thus far was anything to go by. Harrow expected nothing less, for they were both heartily in agreement:
Mellora was obviously the most perfect child ever born.
“Where is the miracle baby, anyway?” Mal asked.
“She’s inside with Raith. She just woke up and will want to nurse soon, but Raith’s taking care of her until then so I could nap.”
“Good man.”
“I know.” Harrow sighed.
Before meeting up with Salizar’s circus in the Western Territory, Raith and Harrow had traveled together for five months, Harrow offering readings as they went to keep them afloat. It had been Raith’s suggestion to rejoin the circus. Though Harrow had protested for his sake—she never wanted him to feel obligated to return to the place he’d been treated so horribly—Raith had argued that Harrow would want Malaikah close when Mellora was born, and that having Salizar taking care of the business aspect of her Seer duties would give her more time to focus on being a mother. He was right, and his selflessness meant everything to her.
Contrary to what Harrow had once feared, Salizar had not been the least bit hesitant to have the last surviving Seer under his protection. On the contrary, he saw her presence as an investment in his enterprise and a way to draw even more clientele to the circus.
In order to secure her reemployment, however, Harrow had demanded Salizar offer Raith a sincere apology and a promise to behave respectfully in the future. She needn’t have bothered. Raith seemed to have gotten over his hatred of Salizar after learning he’d been protecting Harrow since her childhood. And Salizar had begun to respect Raith after their fight at the tavern. The two might never be friends, but they tolerated each other, and it was enough.
Though Salizar charged customers an arm and a leg for a reading with Harrow, her popularity had only continued to grow. The “Seer Who Survived” drew crowds of humans and Elementals alike wherever they traveled. Salizar had even commissioned a new advertisement banner for the circus with both Malaikah’s and Harrow’s faces on it.
Raith took care of Mellora while Harrow did readings, lingering nearby in case of trouble. Sometimes he helped the laborers with odd jobs around the circus, but mostly, he was content to be a father to Mellora.
Harrow thought that was perfect. After everything he’d been through, he deserved a little peace and quiet, and who wouldn’t want to spend every available moment looking into the tiny, angelic face of their daughter?
And Raith truly could have peace now. Several months ago, Darya had sent word that for the first time in centuries, she, Audra, and Nashira had gotten together and merged their magics to bind Furie’s powers. They had also surrounded her castle with an impenetrable barrier to imprison her within. No one could come or go.
The Fire Queen had fallen but was still protected from any who might wish to take advantage of her defenseless state. Despite everything she’d done, her sisters didn’t want her dead. As long as Furie remained trapped and powerless, Harrow supposed she could accept this.
She hoped them banding together meant the Queens were working toward solving their differences. While there was a part of her that would never forgive them for what they’d done, she could only hope all that was behind them now.
As for the ninety-nine other wraiths that Raith had liberated, they had vanished completely, likely from the physical world altogether. Considering what they were capable of, however, Darya hadn’t been thrilled to learn they were loose and had been searching for them. So far, she’d found nothing. Harrow figured that since no rumors were abounding of powerful, shadowy creatures wreaking untold havoc, there was no harm leaving them be.
A baby cried from inside the caravan. Though she quieted again instantly—Raith was truly a miracle—Harrow’s breasts had begun to ache. “I should go feed Melly. Do you want to hold her first?”
“Nah, I’ll come back this afternoon. Let you guys have your family time.”
“You’re family too, Mal.”
Malaikah smiled. “Oh, I know. I plan to take full advantage of my role as the eccentric aunt.”
“Goddess forbid.”
She chuckled. “You have any new advice for me?”
