Marcellious would be raised with love, even in my absence.
As silence settled around us, broken only by the gentle gurgling of the nearby creek, I felt the last vestiges of resistance crumble within me.We were fated to walk this path—not one of choice, but of necessity—each of us bearing our own burden of sacrifice.The future loomed uncertain, cloaked in shadow, but one truth remained immovable?—
I would guard them all.From the shadows, if I must.Until fate deemed otherwise.
Marcellious’ cry pierced the stillness, a plaintive sound that shattered the numbness in my chest.I shifted him gently in my arms, soothing him with murmurs.His weight a comfort and a searing reminder of what I had lost… and what I was about to lose.
“Amir,” Dancing Fire said, drawing my gaze to his solemn face, filled with the same sorrow I felt.“Your duty is clear.If you cannot stand beside her, you must still protect her.Elizabeth must never want protection—even if it comes from the shadows.”
I nodded, the muscles in my jaw tightening as I swallowed the anguish rising in my throat.“I will watch over them,” I said, the words grinding like gravel.“As if I were a ghost… haunting the periphery of their lives.A silent guardian, warding off invisible threats.”
A pang twisted inside me—a jealous, aching thing—as I looked at the man who would raise my son in my stead.“You will raise him,” I murmured, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice.“Teach him to fight.To stand strong against the storms that await him.”
“I will,” Dancing Fire replied, his voice unwavering.“And I will honor your name in doing so.”
I stared at him, knowing my trust in him had to be absolute.There was no other choice.“Do well by him,” I said, my voice steady despite the ache threatening to splinter my chest.“Marcellious will grow to be a warrior under your guidance.And one day… one day, the brothers will stand united.”
“Until then,” Dancing Fire agreed, his gaze fierce with conviction, “we keep them apart.For their safety.For the future.”
“Until then,” I echoed, the words like a stone in my mouth.I looked down at my son, his innocent eyes wide and unburdened, untouched by sorrow or the weight of our choices.His tiny fingers curled around my thumb, gripping with quiet strength.
And my heart shattered anew.
“Until the full moon.I will watch over him.After, I will protect him… even if it’s only from the shadows.”
Dancing Fire nodded, his eyes softening.“I know it’s hard, Amir.Be with him while you can.But when the moon is full, you must let him go.For his safety… and the future we fight for.”
I said nothing.There were no words for this—only the fierce, aching need to hold on.I cradled my son closer, memorizing him—the softness of his cheek, the rise and fall of his breath, the warmth of his body pressed to mine.I would stay for as long as the moon allowed.
As long as I draw breath, you, your brother, and your mother will know peace,I vowed in silence.
And until the moon demanded our parting, I would remain—watching, waiting, protecting.
ChapterThirty
ELIZABETH
The chill of early morning bit at my cheeks as I cradled the tiny bundle of warmth against my chest.Roman.My son.His soft breaths rose and fell in sync with mine, grounding me in a world that had begun to feel foreign.
It had been several weeks since his birth, and with each passing day, the weight in my heart grew heavier.This land—once a refuge—now felt distant, unfamiliar.The open skies and endless plains could not soothe the gnawing anxiety inside me.
England was calling me home.
I stood still, watching the Sioux tribe move through their morning routines.The scent of burning wood and damp earth filled the air, mingling with the rhythmic hum of life around me.Despite their warmth and acceptance, I remained an outsider, tethered to a place—and people—that no longer existed in the way I’d known them.
My gaze drifted to Mary, her laughter lifting on the breeze as she bantered playfully with a group of children.She was light incarnate, a contrast to the storm I carried within.
“Mary,” I called softly, stepping forward, my voice brittle with unspoken ache.
She turned, her smile open and easy, as vast as the prairie sky.“Elizabeth!What brings you this way with little Roman?”
Her eyes shone affectionately as they fell on the baby in my arms.
“I wanted to ask…” I hesitated, clutching Roman closer, seeking courage in his gaze.“Are you coming with me?To England?”
Mary’s smile faltered, shifting to gentle empathy.“England?”she echoed, her voice softening with understanding.“No, Elizabeth.I’m staying.There’s a man here… someone who’s brought joy back into my life.”
I swallowed the lump rising in my throat, managing a faint smile.“You deserve that happiness.Truly.”
