“I’ve been hunting them. At Doran’s orders. There is no saving those possessed, so we’re killing them. That’s what your friends are doing while you’re off on your vacation.”

Jaw tight, I struggled against the words that swelled my throat. And then I surprised us both.

“Thank you. Tell Doran I’m doing what I can to speed things up, and I’ll be back as soon as I’m able.” I turned away from him and put a hand on the door. Sending out a thread, I Tracked demons and got a few pings outside the door. Four to be exact. I could handle that many.

I slid a blade loose and opened the door while Faris stood behind me, speechless.

The first two demons just stared up at me as I took their heads, their mouths hanging open. I wasn’t angry, all I felt was the love I had for my friends and family. For my unborn baby and all she represented.

Hope.

Love.

Life.

The demons broke apart, spraying into the pre-dawn air with a burst of light. Still Tracking demons, I made my way through the house, taking them out as I came across them, working on a level of instinct I’d never felt before.

It was as if I were Tracking not only the demons, but everything around me. I knew where to slash and thrust, killing the demons before they ever had a chance. And through it all, I felt nothing but all I held dear. There was no more fear, no more anger, just a surety of what I was doing, I did for the right reasons. That no matter what Faris or anyone said, I was where I was supposed to be and in the end, no matter how hard or ugly it might be, everything would be all right.

As the first hint of the rising sun peeked over the watery horizon, the last of the demons fled. In the recesses of my head, their threads beckoned me. It would be easy enough to hunt them during the day and finish them off, but then . . .

“I would kill them all, but I’d hate for you to get sloppy.” I slid my blade into its sheath, then looked over my shoulder at Faris. He stood in the shadows of the building, his eyes bright but unreadable. Golden. And then blue once more.

“I think that’s the longest you’ve gone without saying ‘fuck’ in the entire time I’ve known you,” he said.

“Maybe I’m growing up, like you said,” I answered, and he laughed.

“Oh, I doubt that, Tracker. I think, though, maybe you are changing. The last battle comes, and you need to be at your best. Go and take care of yourself.” He gave me a smile and I nodded at him, unable to do more.

Whenever I fought demons, I was always exhausted after, as if I’d been drained to the point of nothing left.

I barely recalled making it to Blaz, slipping my winter coat on, Peta shifting into her small form and slipping inside my coat giving me an instant heater. I managed to get myself tied onto his back and then we were in the air, and I remembered nothing until we landed at Tian Shan.

Chapter 10

My dreams consisted of blood and pain, of seeing a young Faris, holding his dead mother and that merged into him holding me as I fought to give birth to a monster. I jerked away with a gasp and Peta gave a soft meow from inside my jacket. I rubbed my face and looked around. We were in the courtyard in the monastery and the light had shifted.

Before you ask, we’ve been back for a few hours, but you were sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you. He paused, his hesitation coming through loud and clear.

“Say what you’ve got to say.”

Until the baby comes, no more adventures. You can’t take chances anymore.

I didn’t argue with him. Slowly, my limbs stiff, I undid the leather straps and slid from his back. “I don’t think I have it in me. I need to rest.”

Finally, you speak some sense. Now, go find your uncle, he is . . . not pleased with you. And I have something I need to do. Promise me you will not go anywhere until I’m back. Swear it, on your life.

“A bit melodramatic, but I swear I will not go anywhere until you’re back. Unless my life will depend on it.”

Good enough. And in a whoosh of leathery wings and a downdraft that made me stumble, he was in the air and winging away.

The stiffness in me faded as I walked. I kept an arm around my middle where Peta slept and then I looked down, really looked. With my jacket on, I looked . . . pregnant, Peta filling out the space where a child would grow.

“Whoa,” I whispered, my hands holding the curve.

“Not whoa, why the hell didn’t you take me with you?” Erik said, crushing me in a hug before I realized what he was doing. Peta squirmed and I pushed him away so she could slip out of my coat. Her hair was all roughed up and she glared up at us.

I smiled and gave her a wink. Her face softened and she winked back, then trotted off in the direction of my room, the white tip of her tail a tiny flag.

“I don’t know,” I finally answered, hugging him back, laying my head on his broad chest. “I think I just needed one last time out on my own. Or maybe I thought you’d hold me back, old man.”

He snorted and tightened his grip on me. “You’re the only family I have, Rylee. As much as I know it’s your job to stop Orion, to save the world, to me you are the niece I love with all my heart.”

A thick, tightness wrapped itself around my throat and I closed my eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I know you have to do what you have to do. Doesn’t mean I like it.”

He led me to the dining room, a spread of food laid out. I sat and tucked in, hunger flaring in me. From across the room, Daisy headed my way, Zane in her arms.

“I think he’s missed you,” she said, giving the little boy to me before I could protest.

He lay in my arms, green eyes staring up at me, little hands reaching for my face. He let out a coo and his fingers touched my cheek. “It seems he’s growing so fast.”

“He is, but then, all babies grow fast when you haven’t seen them for a day or two.” She laughed. “With your own, you won’t see it until you look back.”

I held him, rocking, until his eyes drooped and his hands dropped to his blankets. Milly’s boy.

My girl.

I wondered if they would be friends as they grew up, or would they fight like cats and dogs? I handed Zane back to Daisy. “I have a little more to do and then I can help you more with him.”

She laughed again, her eyes crinkling up. “Oh, he’s an easy baby. I don’t mind at all.”