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“I am sorry,” he said softly and set the dagger down. The bump in his throat bobbed. “It’s my fault this happened.”

She shook her head. “No, you never told him to kill my parents. It was Tenebris’s doing. It was his own greed for more power and magic that caused this.”

He sat on one of the window ledges and crossed his ankles, looking around the meager beginnings of her father with… sadness. Even if he hadn’t lifted the blade or ordered her father’s execution, Tenebris did it to take her for the Black Mage. For him. “Do you remember how to work a forge?”

“I think it will come back to me once I start. I planned to get the forge running first, then I’ll wait for Katana to return.We decided she should imbue her magic in the blade along with mine.” She took the end of the bellow and gave it a push, sending ash fluttering about. “Thane said they’d only be gone for a few days. We can get everything ready for when she returns. This place could use a good dusting and sweeping. The bellow is broken. And the forge stone has a crack in it.”

“Not that I’m opposed to your idea, but waiting could be a mistake. They could be here tomorrow… tonight even. An army could be on the way at this very moment.”

“If I want this shield to work for certain during the day, I need her.”

“Then she should have stayed. I promised Thane I’d do my best to protect his city. Although I don’t care all that much what happens to it, I gave him my word.”

“Well, she’s not. And I don’t even know if I have the power to create a shield anymore. Prepare not to have one when they come.”

“I’m prepared.” He stood and walked over to the forge and touched the crack with his fingertip. It lit up like a candle at first, then the light traveled across the split and repaired the damage.

“I wish I had that talent,” she muttered.

“You have many talents. Combat, leadership, seduction… even blacksmithing.”

“Well, when you live thousands of years, you learn things just to pass the time. I wanted to make my own sword and so I learned from the dwarves. They were all too happy to teach me.” She winked at him. “Theseductioncomes naturally.”

He chuckled. “Ah, of course, who wouldn’t want a beautiful goddess around? I bet you had their bushy beards in a tizzy.”

“Back then I could get pretty much whatever I wanted.”

He laughed again, his grin wrinkling the corners of his eyes. She loved seeing him happy. “I think you could now.I’llgive you anything you want.”

She started around the room, her boots lightly tapping on the stone. “Anything?”

“Anything.”

“I want a castle of our own again. With a flower garden, so Katana will want to come over often.”

“I’m working on it.”

“And I want Starborn and Night back, if…” if her winged horses were still alive. They were born of the same stardust she was and had been with her for thousands of years.

“I’ll find them.”

She paused, touching the handle of a dusty sword sticking out from the barrel. Nervous butterflies and a flush worked up her body. She glanced over her shoulder at him. Two nights ago, she had a dream, and it had stuck in her head ever since. Two tiny, beautiful faces. “I want… two babies. A boy and a girl.”

His smile slowly fell away, and he stared as if she’d said something sinister. He looked almost afraid. Maybe he no longer wanted children. His throat bobbed and his gaze fell to his boots. “Two? I wasn’t aware you even wanted one.”

This subject no doubt brought back old… feelings. Shedidleave him after Varlett’s illusion of him saying he only wanted to be with Valeen for a powerful heir. “I do with you. I mean that. I had a dream... I have this feeling they’re waiting.”

Through thick, dark lashes, he peered at her. The intensity grew between them with each passing moment. A crease formed between his brows. All Mother, was he going to say anything?

She wished she could feel what he was feeling or hear his thoughts. Had he changed his mind about wanting children? She always assumed he did want them, but he never brought it up, not after he found out Synick desired to use her for a baby and killed Katana when she turned him down. She felt like she might vomit waiting for his response. She hadn’t realized her hands were balled into fists until the ache set in.

If you don’t want children?—

“I would love to give you as many babies as you want, Val.” His voice was husky and raw. “If it’s truly what you want, and not because you feel you need to for any other reason.”

That nervous energy slowly faded, and she smiled. “It was fear that stopped us from having children before. I’m not afraid anymore. It’s what I want.”

“The process is quite enjoyable. We can start practicing right now. Although I won’t remove the prevention rune on me until the war is over. Pregnancy would make you too vulnerable and a child of ours would be hunted mercilessly. I won’t do that to you or our child.”