Aedan managed a small smile as he kissed her cheek. “They were the most amazing moments of my life, Rose. I’m going to miss fulfilling my earthly desires with you.”
“Me, too,” she whispered. “We gave new meaning to the words making love. We were perfect together.”
Aedan closed his eyes. It had been months since he’d made love to her, but he recalled the magnificent moments with perfect clarity.
“Okay,” she sighed, pulling him back to their grim present. “I’m ready.”
He kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger as he whispered. “Close your eyes and focus on what you want her to see, feel and hear of your memories. I’ll do the rest.”
Rhosewen closed her eyes and took her mind back to the day she met him—the love of her life, the father of her child, the perfect provider, protector and lover… her soul mate.
As she did, he began chanting next to her ear, so softly and quickly she couldn’t understand what he was saying. She wasn’t trying to understand. She’d immersed herself in a replay of the last nine months of her life, delving into the danger as well as the adoration.
They lay that way, Rhosewen remembering and Aedan chanting, for over an hour. When at last she reached the present, she opened her eyes and the ring grew hot. When Aedan’s murmuring ceased, the ring cooled. The spell had worked.
Rhosewen slid his hands to her protruding belly then held them there as she hummed a sweet and slow melody. Aedan raptly listened, savoring every last drop of the bittersweet moment. Then he added soft lyrics to her soulful serenade.
“Our sweet, precious child,
you’ll soon be in the world.
You’ll bring it so much joy,
our beautiful baby girl.
Mommy and daddy love you,
and wish you all the best.
Just be your precious self,
and your heart will do the rest.”
~ * * * ~
By that afternoon, it was clear invoking an early birth wouldn’t be necessary. Rhosewen progressed at a normal rate and had dilated to six centimeters by five o’clock. She didn’t notice the pains of labor. Her body had been in worse agony for too long. Only the tightening of her abdomen confirmed her contractions.
The family kept constant vigil at her bedside, knowing it might be their last chance to spend time with her, but a curtain of dread kept the room quiet and sober as time flew on supernatural wings.
When Aedan looked at the grandfather clock across the room, finding the short hand approaching the twelve, he shook his head and refocused. “Is that the right time?”
“Yeah,” Caitrin answered, checking the timepiece on his wrist. “It’s 11:17.”
As Serafin performed an examination, placing his hands on Rhosewen’s bare belly, the baby kicked and Rhosewen wailed. Aedan lurched into action, brushing swift kisses across Rhosewen’s tight jaw.
“She’s ready,” Serafin announced, and Rhosewen cried again, tightening her grip on Aedan.
“Mom…” she gasped, blindly reaching out with her right hand, “…dad… I love you…”
Her parents immediately responded by leaning closer, and Morrigan buried her face in golden spirals as Caitrin tenderly wiped away Rhosewen’s tears.
“We love you, too, sweetheart,” he rasped. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to your mom and me. And we’re so proud of you… for being so strong for your baby girl.” He touched his forehead to hers, squeezing his eyes shut on fat teardrops. “I love you, Rhosewen, with every beat of my heart. Always.” He kissed her wrinkled brow then backed away, literally choking on grief.
Morrigan stroked Rhosewen’s hair as she touched her lips to her ear, murmuring a gentle proclamation of devotion that only a mother could execute correctly. “You’ll be with us forever and always, my sweet child, in our hearts and on our minds. I love you with every ounce of my being, and until I see you again, I’ll miss everything about you every second of every day.” She pulled away, staring deep into Rhosewen’s eyes for a long, heartbreaking moment. Then she gave her a lingering kiss, whispering I love you over and over again. Instead of backing away, she fell away, landing in Caitrin’s open arms.
Rhosewen’s features twisted as she squeezed her eyes shut. Then her body cringed as her eyes popped open, frantically searching the room. When she found Daleen, she tried to speak, but screamed instead.
Daleen moved closer, touching her lips to Rhosewen’s clammy forehead. “You don’t need to say anything, darling. You’ve made our son the happiest he’s ever been, and you’ve done a wonderful job keeping our granddaughter safe and healthy. You’re an amazing daughter, wife and mother, and special things await a person like you, wherever you’re heading.”
“Thank you…”
“No, Rhosewen. That’s our line. We love and appreciate everything about you. Please know that.”
Rhosewen managed a small nod, and Daleen soothingly smiled as she moved away. But as soon as she was out of Rhosewen’s sight, she quietly sobbed into her hands.
“It’s time,” Serafin insisted, holding a hand to Rhosewen’s lower abdomen. “Your body’s too weak to do it alone, so Daleen’s going to give you a magical hand, but I’ll need you to push during contractions.”
Rhosewen and Aedan found each other’s eyes and searched each other’s souls, trying to recall every detail of their journey, every second they’d spent together. But time was too short.
“I love you, my beautiful Rose,” he whispered. “More than my own life. We’ll be together again soon. I promise.”
“I love you, too…” she sobbed. “I won’t be complete without you.” She squeezed her eyes shut then forced them open, finding his gaze once more. “I’ll be looking for you every second until I find you… but please…” she pleaded, tightening her grip, “please make sure our daughter’s safe before you come to me. Please.”
“I swear, Rose. I’ll give our baby what she needs, but then I’m coming to find you.”
He touched his burning forehead to hers, fighting red hot tears. Then they kissed, so passionately their bonded lights reached their full potential for the first time in months, bursting from their trembling forms like a heavenly explosion. All too soon their lips broke apart, severed by Rhosewen’s bucking body, and the golden hazes retracted.
“We have to do it now,” Serafin advised.
Aedan glanced at his dad’s forlorn expression then looked to his wife’s sea blue eyes. “Ready, my love?”
“Yes,” she answered, squeezing his hand.
“Then let’s meet our baby.”
“Our baby,” she breathed, and Aedan inhaled the sweet sigh as he gave her another kiss.
Aedan held her hands, Morrigan braced her back, and Daleen placed her palms on her stomach, murmuring with her eyes closed. Serafin would deliver the baby with Caitrin’s assistance.
After thirty minutes of unbelievable effort on Rhosewen’s part, Serafin announced he could see the baby’s hair. “Just a few more pushes,” he encouraged. Then he lowered his voice as he glanced at Daleen. “Release her womb and check her pulse.”
Daleen obeyed, choking back an alarmed squeak as she touched Rhosewen’s chest.
Aedan heard his mom’s muted terror, but ignored it, keeping his eyes on Rhosewen as she pushed again.
The grandfather clock tolled midnight, echoing in Aedan’s ears like a death knell as Rhosewen’s emaciated shoulders lifted, shuddering over desperate gasps. The second bell chimed, and Rhosewen squeezed her eyes shut, giving her daughter all the strength she had left. As the clock’s third strike faded from the air, a tiny cry filled the room with miraculous music. Serafin worked quickly and had the baby on Rhosewen’s chest before the clock’s fifth signal.
Rhosewen and Aedan stared at their little miracle—tiny, red and raw, but healthy and so perfect. She had her daddy’s dark skin and onyx hair, her mommy’s curls, and a shiny white aura swimming with wispy rivers of pearlescent silver and soft pink. Clutch
ing her teeny fists to her chin, she stared at them with blurry, emerald green eyes, confusion creasing the features of her petite face.
“She’s beautiful,” Rhosewen breathed, running a quaking thumb across her daughter’s wrinkled forehead. “Our perfect… Layla.” She gripped Aedan’s hand like never before, pulling it to her cheek as she lowered her lips to Layla’s matted curls. “I love you guys.” she rasped, her aura swelling with proof. “So… much…”
Darkness suddenly washed over Aedan as the worst physical pain he’d ever experienced shot from Rhosewen’s hand, pulverizing his insides, stealing his breath and sanity. But as quickly as it came, the agony drained away, all of it, and he knew.
He opened his eyes, finding his baby girl lying on his wife’s idle chest, the heart inside no longer beating. It had burst with love.
Aedan slipped her wedding ring off her finger then folded her hands over her flat stomach. After carefully closing her lids, he whispered across her lips. “I love you, my perfect Rose. Forever.”
After one last kiss, he left her lips and wrapped his hands around his daughter, gently pulling her into a warm, cradle hold. His Rose was gone, but a piece of her lived in their baby, their beautiful, perfect Layla. He bowed his head over her, closed his eyes, and cried like never before.
Chapter 28
Aedan wasn’t able to sit beside Rhosewen’s empty body for long. Morrigan and Caitrin had already left the room, and as soon as he was composed enough to safely carry his baby, Aedan left as well.
He walked dazedly down the hallway, finding Rhosewen’s parents sitting on the couch in the living room, crying in each other’s arms, and Katherine sitting in an easy chair by the fireplace, looking lost and helpless as she twisted a tear-soaked tissue.
When Aedan tried to speak, his voice failed him, so he cleared his achy throat and tried again. “She needs a blanket.”
Katherine jumped up and disappeared down the hall, returning in a flash with a pink blanket. “May I?” she asked, motioning to the baby.
Aedan drifted the tip of his nose across his daughter’s soft cheek then gently handed her over.
Katherine cooed and whispered as she wrapped the baby in a cozy cocoon. “Hello there, you precious, little girl. It’s so good to finally meet you.” She kissed her tiny forehead then passed her back to Aedan. “What did you name her?”
“Layla,” he answered, watching his baby’s eyes. “It means dark beauty.”
“Layla,” Katherine whispered. “It’s beautiful. Does she have a middle name?”
He and Rhosewen hadn’t discussed middle names, but for him there was only one. “Love,” he answered. “Layla Love. Do you like it?”
“I love it,” Katherine approved, eyes shiny like melted chocolate. “I think it’s perfect.”
“Good. Your approval’s important to me.”
Katherine’s eyebrows furrowed, displaying her surprise and confusion. Then she sobered and bowed her head. “I’m sorry about Sarah, Chris. She was… such a beautiful person, in every way. She’ll be missed.”
“Yes,” Aedan rasped. “Do you mind fixing Layla a bottle?”
“Of course not,” Katherine agreed. “Did we decide on a brand?”
“Whatever you think is best,” Aedan replied, knowing absolutely nothing about baby formula.
“Okay,” Katherine replied. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Aedan watched her leave the room then walked to Morrigan and Caitrin, sitting between them so they had a clear view of their granddaughter.
“She’s beautiful,” Morrigan whispered, struggling with continued sobs. “I can see Rhosewen so clearly.”
“Yes,” Caitrin croaked. “She holds a striking resemblance to both her parents.”
“Would you like to hold her?” Aedan asked, turning toward Morrigan.
“Yes,” she answered, jarring tears loose with an avid nod. “Very much.”
Aedan passed Layla over, and Morrigan stifled a sob as she pulled the newborn’s cheek to her bosom, squeezing her eyes shut and tucking her chin in. “I can smell Rhosewen,” she breathed.
Aedan’s heart squeezed as he looked at his empty hands and flexed his idle fingers. “Why don’t you take Layla to your bedroom, Morrigan? I’ll have Katherine meet you there with the bottle. I need to speak with Caitrin and my parents.”
Morrigan’s tears paused as she looked at him. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I need to deal with a few things. Then I’ll be able to hold her the way I want to.”
“Okay,” Morrigan agreed, lips curving into a small smile. “She’ll be yours when you’re ready.”
“Thanks. Caitrin will join you soon.”
Katherine entered the room as Morrigan was leaving and was thrilled with the invitation to watch the newborn drink her bottle, so both women set off down the corridor.
Aedan’s eyes stayed on the doorway for a moment then turned to his father-in-law. “I’m sorry for your loss, Caitrin. Our loss.”
“Our loss,” Caitrin repeated. “I’m sorry, too.”
“Will you take her home? She would want to be laid to rest at home.”
“Yes, if that’s what you wish… what she wished.”
“Will the four of you be able to get her there without being seen?”
“Yes.”
“Nobody outside the coven can know the details of what happened here,” Aedan stressed. “For Layla’s safety.”
“Of course,” Caitrin agreed. “Layla’s safety comes first. Rhosewen died for her. We’re willing to do the same.”
“Yes,” Aedan mumbled, glancing at the hallway.
Caitrin looked, too. “When will we take her?”
“Soon,” Aedan answered. “I need to talk to my parents, and I want you guys to spend some time with Layla.” His throat tightened, cutting off his air supply. “There’s no guarantee you’ll see her again.”
Caitrin swallowed as he looked at his fisted hands. “I figured you’d choose this route—the safest… the hardest.” He raised his knuckles, choking into them. “It’s what my baby girl wanted, yes?”
Aedan closed his eyes, clearly picturing Rhosewen’s face. “She knew of my intentions.”
“Then yes,” Caitrin sighed, running flexed fingers down his face, “we’ll want to spend some time with our grandbaby. We’ll leave an hour before sunrise.”
“Thanks, Caitrin. Will you tell my mom and dad to meet me in the apartment when they’re done in there?”
“Sure,” Caitrin agreed, rising with much less energy than usual. “I’ll let them know on my way to hold my granddaughter.”
~ * * * ~
After sitting in the apartment for ten minutes, simultaneously mourning and planning, Aedan looked up to find his parents in the doorway. He lethargically stood, and they rushed forward, pulling him into a familiar family hug.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” Daleen whispered.
“Words can’t convey,” Serafin added. “I can’t imagine the pain you’re in. I wish I knew a way to help you bear it.”
“The pain’s there to stay,” Aedan countered, “but there’s something else I need your help with.”
“Name it.”
“I’m leaving here, sometime soon, and I’m certain I won’t be coming back. Not here or anywhere else.”
Daleen’s arm tightened around his waist, but she didn’t object.
“I’ll make the necessary arrangements for Layla to hide in the non-magical world,” Aedan continued, pushing the words through an achingly tight throat. “But if all the pieces fall into place like I want them to, she’ll eventually receive information that could lead her to our coven in Oregon.”
“Eventually?” Serafin asked.
“Once she’s grown,” Aedan explained. “Children need stability, which she won’t get if she’s chasing down her family or running from magicians who want to use her. She needs time to mature and explore her heart with clear understanding before being told the circumstances of
her birth, which would pollute anyone’s sense of self, especially a child. Nothing about this situation should be thrust onto a child, so I’m not going to give her the truth until she’s had time to be a kid and graduate high school. Besides, the longer she stays out of our world, the longer Agro has to forget about her.”
He paused, retrieving the homemade jewelry box from the coffee table. “Which brings me to the favor I need to ask. I’m leaving this box with you. Should Layla find her way home, I want her to have it. At the moment it’s empty, but I’ve enchanted Rose’s wedding ring to hold our memories of each other.” He raised his right hand, displaying the ring halfway down his pinky. “Rose imprinted hers yesterday, but I’m not done with mine yet. I need you to perform a spell that will transfer this ring from my finger straight into this box the moment I die, not a second later, and it has to work. Otherwise Agro will get his hands on a treasure map that will lead him straight to Layla. Once the ring reaches the box, it will stay secure. Only Layla can open it, and the wood won’t bust or burn.”
His parents looked at each other then back to their son. “It doesn’t have to be this way,” Serafin insisted. “I know you’ll miss Rhosewen. I know every second without her will decrease your quality of life, but you can find her in your child. Layla will help fill the hole in your heart. At least give it a chance.”
“I can’t,” Aedan refused. “If I sit around and do nothing, Layla may not make it past her first birthday. But if I can find Agro, I can make it safe for her. I promised Rose I would give our baby the best chance I possibly can, and this is it. If I could kill Agro and his army, I would. Then I’d take my baby home, where she belongs, and I’d stay with her as long as my broken heart would allow. But it’s a dream. I can’t dispose of an army, so I’ll settle for filling their heads with lies. This is the last thing I can do for my wife and daughter, and I’m going to do it. Preferably with your help.”
Daleen burst into sobs, burying her face in Aedan’s bicep, and Serafin ran a shaky hand down her long mane, his own sadness clear in his watery, green eyes, down-turned mouth, and sagging shoulders. “You’re very brave,” he whispered. “I expect nothing less. Of course we’ll help.”
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