Page 93 of Adam's Rising

“Samuel Thomas,” Adam said instantly. “After my dad and older brother. I wasn’t sure before, but now I know.”

Claire touched his cheek. “What about the next one?”

“We’re having more?”

“Four, eventually,” she said. “I figured you should have your own team of Midnight Sons.”

Adam laughed. “Okay. Second one’s Alex. After your gramps.”

“And if it’s a girl?”

“Still Alex.”

“And… the last two.”

“Whatever you like, as long as the third name starts with aV. Fourth anE,” he said.

“And if we somehow end up with five? God help me.”

Adam kissed her. “Then the last child’s name will start with aD.” He kissed her belly. “S.A.V.E.D.”

* * *

Another year or so later…

Claire stoodon the back porch of their new home, hands wrapped around a mug of hot cocoa.

As a wedding present, Grams had released her entire trust, giving Claire and Adam enough money to build the home of their dreams and buy the equipment needed to start Search-and-Rescue Alaska, which Adam and Peter, the Midnight Sons, would run.

Claire helped, too, but keeping up with baby Sam had become a full-time job. She cherished these moments, when their son was sound asleep.

Snow had started falling again, light and soft. It was beautiful — the way it blanketed everything, like a fresh start.

Adam came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His chin rested on her shoulder.

“Storm’s holding off,” he said.

“Good. We’ve got feed coming in.”

They were learning how to be still again. Together.

But peace wasn’t easy. Not when shadows still crept in from the past.

“I keep thinking about what Thomas wrote,” Claire said quietly. “About the head of the snake.”

Adam nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it, too.”

She turned to face him. “Are you going to follow it?”

He hesitated. “No one has come around us for a few years, so maybe Thomas’s dedication, telling me about the letter, was his way of saying he’d finally cut off the head. But we’ll stay vigilant, as always. This house is the first step. We’ll see someone coming a mile away. I won’t let anyone come for us — or our children — ever again.”

Claire reached up, brushing his bangs back, he needed a cut. She’d never seen it so long.

“Wewon’t,” she said. “I’m part of the team, remember?”

“Wewon’t,” he agreed.

They didn’t know what the future would bring, but for the first time in a long while, they were no longer running. They were building something worth protecting.

And they would face it. Together.Always.