“We’re in a lot of danger,” I whispered, the truth settling over me like a shroud.
“I know. Lazarus—Gaius, as he once was to me—warned us in the caves. I’ve been vigilant ever since.” His voice dropped, a note of something akin to fear lacing his usual confidence. “When Marcellious was lost to the Belladonna’s grip and foretold of Lazarus’ intent, Mathias gripped my arm so tightly it left marks. As if the very thought of Salvatore’s destruction terrified him.”
My heart pounded in my chest as I processed his words. If Mathias had feared Lazarus, the threat would have been graver than we had realized.
“Then it’s true. No one can be trusted.” I glanced at Malik, who watched us with wary eyes. “Except for you, Malik.”
“Exactly,” Roman said. He stood resolute, a fortress against the uncertain storm brewing beyond these walls. “We stand alone, Olivia. The three of us. But we stand together.”
A silent vow passed between us, unspoken yet as binding as the ancient spells that once wove destinies and bloodlines together. Whatever darkness loomed ahead, we would protect our family, our Luna. The room seemed to hold its breath as if acknowledging the weight of our commitment.
Outside, the fading dusk stretched long shadows across the ground, twisting them into shifting shapes that seemed to conspire in silence.
“What about Reyna?” I asked hesitantly, doubt creeping into my voice. “Can we truly trust her and Osman? Yes, they’ve helped us—Reyna during my contractions, Osman at the tavern—but they suddenly entered our lives. How can we be certain of their true intentions? Their true identities?”
The fear of betrayal lingered, its roots entwined with the memory of my mother’s whispered conspiracy with Mathias. Their treachery had painted the world in shades of suspicion and unease.
“What if they’re plotting against us too?” I continued, my doubts clouding every thread of thought.
Malik shifted uncomfortably. His eyes flickered with something inscrutable before returning to their usual stoic glint. I watched him closely, trying to decipher the secrets lurking beneath the surface.
“Olivia, my love,” Roman said gently.
My attention snapped to Roman.
“I believe we can place our trust in Reyna and Osman,” he said, his voice carrying a sense of conviction. “While you were unconscious, I carried you out of the cave. It was treacherous—Raul and his men had surrounded us. But Reyna… she dealt with them all, Olivia. Swiftly and with precision. She fought as though she were born for battle.”
“No!” My voice rose in disbelief. “She looks so slight, so fragile. Like a bookworm. Angelic, even.”
“Angel or not, she’s far from being a mere bookworm,” Roman replied firmly, a hint of respect edging his tone. “I asked her who taught her to fight, and she said it was her father.”
“We don’t know if she’s telling the truth,” I said. “She might be an ally, but we can’t be sure. What if everyone is trying to kill us?”
Gently, I placed Luna in her crib, smoothing a hand over her tiny form before stepping back. The weight of exhaustion pressed against me, but I forced herself to focus on Roman.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Olivia,” Roman said. “Let’s take this one day at a time. I’ll tell Mathias that I intend to step away from the search for the blades, at least for now.”
His gaze drifted to the crib where Luna lay peacefully asleep, her tiny chest rising and falling in rhythm. Oblivious to the chaos surrounding her existence, she seemed like a beacon of serenity amidst the storm.
“I’m a new father,” he said, “and I don’t want to leave your side or baby Luna’s.”
I looked into Roman’s eyes, finding solace in their depths.
“Maybe you should go to the future, Olivia,” Roman said. “You’d be safe there.”
“Not without you, Roman. I would never leave you behind.”
“Even if that were an option,” Malik interjected, his tone solemn, “you can’t time travel. Not with Luna. She’s Timeborne and the risks...”
A chill crept over my skin as I brushed my fingers against the smooth surface of the armoire.
“You’re right, Malik,” I muttered. “If we time travel, it could awaken her darkness. Only we three know of Luna’s gift, which must stay that way.”
My gaze drifted to the cradle. “But staying here isn’t safe either. We can’t keep hiding within these walls.”
Malik leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Then what do you propose?”
“Let’s tell them we’re taking a hiatus from searching for the blades,” I said, facing him. “We need space to breathe, to plan our next move without prying eyes on us.”
