A cacophony of voices filled the room, but I had eyes only for Arim. To my relief, he steadied on his own. His energy seemed as strong as it had been before, if a few degrees dimmer than its normal intensity.
“Arim, what happened?” Aerolus shot me a wild look, and I realized he’d seen Ravyn. Uh-oh. Hopefully, he hadn’t heard everything she’d said.
Arim rasped, “I was kneeling by your mother when everything went black. I couldn’t see you anymore,” he said to me, his eyes narrowed.
The others glanced at us, quiet, until Darius groaned.
“What the fuck is going on?” He glared at Arim. “Mother’s…passed. You’re as white as a sheet, and you’ve brought the Dark squad with you.” He glared at Jonas, Sava and me, and I wished I’d taken the time before to work on Darius and his smart mouth. “Are you okay or what?”
I ignored Darius and nudged Arim toward a chair. “Sit down before you fall down.”
To my satisfaction, he grunted his displeasure but walked with his usual arrogance toward a nearby chair while the others peppered us with questions and angered looks.
Once Arim sat, I turned to address the others. “All of you just shut up for a minute.” I deliberately glared at Darius, pleased when his vocal cords seized under my enchantment. The spell worked to silence the others in the room as well. “Your uncle is feeling the effects of Tanselm’s draining energy.”
Not the entire truth, but one that will suffice until I can have a good heart-to-heart with Arim. “Sin Garu has somehow bridged the demon world to Tanselm. As we speak, the demons are stuffing themselves with Tanselm’s energy.”
I released my mute spell, waved away their angry protestations, and added, “I’m going to take care of Sin Garu just as soon as I can locate his whereabouts.”
Sava nodded. “I found him. He’s holed up in the Between. I can show you where.”
“Perfect.” Arim’s menacing growl underscored his newfound health.
The others grinned with relief that their Guardian of Storm seemed both hale and hearty.
“We’ll come too,” Aerolus pledged and took a step forward, only to find Alandra under his arm and once again seething with temper.
The Shadren amused me, and I found I liked her spark. And the fact she didn’t allow powerful Aerolus to tell her what to do.
“Not without me,” she asserted.
“And me.” Tessa crossed her arms over her chest, daring Marcus to contradict her.
“Actually, none of you will be going,” I said before Arim could. I waited for everyone’s protests to die down before I explained. “Light Bringers are generally foolish, but not foolish enough to take pregnant women into battle. No, your most royal highnesses.” Was it wrong to revel in the princes’ irritation? “Your place is here, defending your land and your expecting affai.”
Cadmus frowned. “Pregnant women?”
Darius frowned as well. “Expecting affai?” He paled in understanding.
“Mother of Shadow,” Alandra gasped and faced Aerolus. “That’s why I’ve been so emotional lately. I feel such extremes, and I’m always so tired. I just thought it was the stress of all this.” She sadly glanced at Ravyn before looking away.
But I saw tears of joy in her eyes as she looked into Aerolus’ face. “We’re going to be parents.”
Aerolus blinked down at his wife. “What?”
Marcus and Tessa stared at each other in shock.
“Nicely done,” Sava murmured in my ear before joining his niece. He gave Alandra a gentle hug. “I’m so happy for you. And for you as well, Aerolus.” He glanced around with a smile. “Congratulations to all of you.”
“I don’t understand.” Darius still looked confused, but Samantha grinned from ear to ear as the realization of my words settled.
“Your. Wife. Is. Pregnant.” Jonas spelled out. “You’re right, Sava. Light Bringers are slow.” He gave Ellie a thumbs up. “So long as the baby looks like Ellie, Cadmus, I think you’ll be okay.”
As understanding filled the room, a sense of grand happiness mingled with the melancholy still lingering over the group, giving me a tender buzz.
“I wonder if Ravyn knows.” Arim startled me. I’d been so focused on the others I hadn’t heard him rise. He gathered me in his arms and hugged me from behind, his chin on top of my head. “I think she’d be pleased.”
“She knows. This is just what she wanted,” Aerolus said, his gaze resting curiously on Arim and me. Then he turned and nodded at something Sava said.
