"Can we afford some of the guards? I don't want to lose any of them because what if the demon dragons find a way back in? But even I can tell those poor warriors are bored out of their minds on babysitting duty."
Ninsy came in with a baby in each arm and handed their little girl to Azy, time for a feeding. "I assure you, my lord and lady, the Gold Wyr bond you have created to the land and the people is more than enough to keep demon dragons out."
Cage lifted their son to his shoulder and patted him softly on his back. They’d continued growing and no longer looked like tiny newborns. "But we don't know thefull extent of the Black Witch's power and the Black Dragon may be nursing his wounds, but he too will be back."
The little boy started to cry, not wanting to wait his turn to eat. "Ooh, sorry there, little man. Don't cry. Everything will be just fine. Save those wails for your mommy."
"What? No. I don't think so." If she didn't have a baby trying hard to latch on, she'd flip him off.
Cage continued to croon to the child. "Oh, yes. You tell your mama you're so mad because she can't decide on a name. That's right. It's all her fault you’re a poor nameless slob."
"Oh my God. Not this again. I'm not calling your daughter Goldie and her brother Locks."
"What's that, Locks? You think your mama's being stubborn. Oh, yes. Me too. But if you have a better suggestion for a name worthy of the future Wyvern of the Gold Dragons, you'd better tell her."
The little boy wailed again, clearly not having half as much fun as his father. "Yes, little boy, yes. I think that's a great idea. See if you can convince her that your name should be Apollo."
Names and their meanings or history were very important to Cage and his ancestors. Being named after the sun god was exactly the right kind of name for his first-born son. Plus, it was absolutely adorable. No brainer.
She gave Cage a big grin."Does Apollo have any suggestions for his sister?"
Apollo screeched, which in the next breath turned to hiccups."I don't think he does. Babe, I'm going to take him for a little flight. Have some guy bonding time while he's waiting for his turn."
In a flash Cage was in his dragon form flying out the skylight with Apollo cupped in his great talons. Their baby girl fell asleep while eating her fill and Azy got up to set her in the bassinet. Azy twirled the little sun and moon mobile hanging over the top. A shimmer of light flashed up on the ceiling and danced around the room. She spun around. Her magic mirror was glowing like it did when she and Cage used it to transport themselves through but in conjunction with the sword.
Crap. Could Cage and Apollo be in trouble?
The next instant Fallyn, dressed like a biker chick in leather pants and vest, appeared from through the reflection. She didn't even look at Azy. Without saying a word, she crossed the room and stood next to the sleeping baby looking down at her adoringly.
As soon as Azy's heart crawled back in her chest she slowly approached her long lost friend. The last time they were together, Fallyn had been very ill. Mentally unstable. Being raised in hell by the Black Dragon would do that to a person. But Ninsy had said she was better, implied Fallyn was ready to be on her own. Then there was the whole Match seeking his revenge thing. She had stabbed him in the heart with a poisoned dagger.
It probably wasn't safe for her to be here, yet Azy's gut told her she and the baby weren't in any danger. Even in her darkest days, Fallyn had a moral compass, had sacrificed to save Azy from being horribly whipped. They were tied together by a bond having come from saving each other that others would never understand. And Azy had felt connected to this woman since the day they'd come across each other in hell. She still held a deep responsibility for her that was almost as strong as the one she felt for her children. "Fallyn? Where did you come from?"
What she really wanted to ask was where she'd been. Ninsy assured them she was taking care of Fallyn, helping her to get healthy, but they had disappeared, and no one had heard from them or had even been able to find them in months.
Fallyn pulled something shiny from her pocket and hung it from the mobile on a red satin ribbon. “Hello, Izzy.”
Uh-oh. This had happened when they were in hell too. At first Azy had thought Fallyn was mispronouncing her name. Turned out she was talking to someone in her head.So Ninsy hadn't been a hundred percent right about her recovery. Fallyn was still hearing voices.
Azy approached slowly and cautiously until she stood right next to the bassinet."Izzy's not here, Fallyn. It's me your friend, Azynsa, and this is my daughter."
Fallyn ignored her all together. She picked up the baby and cradled her so gently, rocking her sweetly and cooing to her. “I wondered where you’d gone. It’s quiet without you, and there are so many others lost to the dragons, I can hear my own thoughts now. How will I get by without you guiding me?”
The baby awoke and stared up at Fallyn. She didn't cry or wriggle, simply stared. The two of them were quiet for a long moment, the room still as if time had stopped. It started again when the little girl yawned and closed her eyes, making adorable sucking motions with her lips.
"You haven't named her, and she wants you to now that her brother has his." Fallyn kept her voice very quiet.
Azy swallowed. "She talked to you?"
"Not exactly. I can't hear her anymore. That was more like a thought she wanted me to have. Even this new to the world again, she is very powerful." Fallyn laid the baby back in the bassinet and pulled the blanket up to her chin. "Her name is Izzy, in case you didn't already know."
"Umm, okay." Conversations with Fallyn were always so strange. "I've always liked names like Isabelle andIsolde.”
She carefully touched the gift hanging over her daughter's head, examining it. It was a gold etched star that read - Baby's First Christmas. "I'll run that one by Cage."
Fallyn stepped away from the bassinet and back over to the mirror. She touched the red necklace at her throat. "I have to go. He's looking for me. I won't be captured by him."
Why were Match and Fallyn such dire enemies?"Please stay. I'll talk to Match, make him understand. I won't let him hurt you."
