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The child looked too young to have survived the prison ship.

They must have been part of the small group of villagers who'd been kept behind. Life in the camp had been hard for them, of course, but much less so than that of Kaiya and the others on the ship.

As the woman reached Kaiya's side, she threw her free arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug.

Kaiya chuckled and stiffly returned the embrace, but I could feel the worry pouring through the bond.

Had she foundanycorrupted yet?

If she didn't bring forward any names, Frexin would …

No. I'd scented wafts of corruption from the area. Kaiyawouldfind someone. We just had to keep looking.

The woman handed Kaiya her baby, and she awkwardly accepted the infant … who immediately started to cry.

Kaiya's eyes went wide for a moment, but she recovered quickly — lips curling into a warm smile as she pulled the little one to her chest. Then, as if she'd done it hundreds of times before, she began bouncing the baby softly as she whispered something into their downy hair.

Within a few seconds, the crying stopped and the child's little hands had tangled themselves in Kaiya's pale strands.

A tentative thrum of joy spread through the bond,muting the worry for a moment. My heart gave a painful thump as a new image filled my mind …

The Witch holding a different baby, one with wavy pale hair and hazel eyes — Kaiya looking from that baby to me with a proud smile —

"Damn. She's got you good."

Chapter 36

Tye

Ispun to Japhire, fists clenched. He leaned against the wall a few paces away, a smug smirk on his damn face.

Few people could sneak up on me, but in the last few weeks, he had proven himself as stealthy as his father was said to be strong.

"What the fuck do you want?" I growled.

"Well, I'm supposed to be working, but you keep distracting me with your idiotic mooning over that woman."

My hands curled into fists. "What did you say?!"

"Calm down." He held his hands up and tilted his head to the side, exposing his neck. "I'm not here to fight, pup."

The wolf insisted his yellow eyes held none of the fear it should, and it pushed at me to assert dominance.

I forced the urge away.I was here to watch Kaiya. Not teach that asshole a lesson.

"Get lost."

"Sure," he said. "But first, I need to thank you … for helping save my son."

I eyed the man. "What?"

"The night Frexin arrived …" He leaned closer. "I know Finn snuck back inside to help you all. I 'bout lost it when I learned he'd run off, but I should've known where he'd gone. That boy is too much like his mother. But you and the others got him out of there safely. So … thank you."

My ears buzzed as I studied the strange man. His sharp, scowling face was nearly unreadable, but I'd seen the way his eyes had tightened at the corners when he mentioned his son.

He might be a traitorous asshole, but he obviously cared for the boy.

"If I did anything," I admitted. "It wasn't for you, so you owe me nothing."