Mercer-ridden future.
Ari wouldn’t put him in that kind of danger.
This was what Nin meant when she insisted that Ari would have to take her deal. The future needed them now. The baby had to be protected from both time lines… and so did Merlin. She caught eyes with Gwen, who nodded while chewing on her lips. They both glanced at the mist, the veil that separated Avalon from a harsh past and corrupted future.
Lamarack approached Ari with an unflinching smile. “Not to change the subject from one bleak emotional nightmare to the next, but we’ve not been introduced.” Lam reached out, and Ari wasn’t ready for the pride that poured through her as she handed the bundle over.
“This is our Kairos,” Ari said.
Merlin gaped. “Kairos is my favorite word! It’s always been my favorite word.”
“Yes, that was how we thought of it.” Ari wrapped an arm around Gwen’s tired body.
Gwen held on to Ari’s waist. “Kai is our perfect moment.”
“Wrinkly little cutie.” Val peered at the baby with amusement. “Assigned?”
“Male,” Ari said.
“For now,” Gwen countered. “Kai will tell us when they’re ready.”
Lam tried to hand the sleeping bundle to Val, and Val squirmed and held his palms up. “I’m no good with tiny and breakable.”
Several of them laughed, and the circle of their impromptu joy felt as impossibly perfect as Kairos. Until Ari remembered Nin’s taunting.
“We have to go,” she said with certainty. “I have to take Nin’s deal.”
“What deal?” Val, Merlin, and Lam said together.
“A deal to buy us some time.” Ari stared at Gwen. Gwen nodded slowly. “And to get some of us home, until we’re ready to be together again.”
“Some of us,” Val repeated skeptically. “You’re planning to send the baby to Avalon?”
Ari and Gwen exchanged looks. “Trust us,” Ari said. “They have to be protected.”
“In this, we are agreed.” Morgause stepped into their circle with sudden authority. “The enchantresses of Avalon will keep the children safe.”
“Oh, where in the F did you come from?” Val yelled, grabbing his chest.
Morgause flicked a hand back toward a small boat docked on the shore. Her gaze swept them until she found Lamarack, giving them a heated smile. Lamarack leaned forward and grabbed her arm, stealing a stunningly potent open-mouthed kiss.
“Did she say ‘children’?” Val asked, eyes darting toward Merlin.
Ari cleared her throat. “The enchantresses are taking Kai… and Merlin. Until we’ve finished with Mercer.”
“But how will we get them back?” Val’s voice edged with anger, and when Merlin reached a small hand toward him, Val took it firmly, protectively.
“I don’t know yet,” Ari said, “but it’s safest if they’re together. Nin can’t see into Avalon, and Mercer can’t reach it. It’s the only place.” She expected more resistance—instead she found Merlin staring up at her with those big brown eyes. “You can help the baby, and if anyone can figure out your backward aging, it’s the enchantresses. Or who knows? Maybe Kai will finally be the one to do it, with whatever magic they’ve got.”
At least, she hoped so.
A hunting horn sounded through the dark woods behind them. Everyone jumped, and Kai began to cry.
“The king is coming,” Lam said. “He still believes Gwen has been kidnapped. No doubt they’re following our trail with the hounds.”
“Arthur!” Old Merlin yelled from where he turned circles by the shore. “Arthur! I’m here, my boy!”
“The baby has to be gone before he gets here,” Gwen whispered sharply. “I don’t want Kai to be part of the Arthurian cycle.”
“Will you do this for us, Merlin?” Ari asked in a rush. Merlin nodded, and Ari turned to Gwen, holding Kai against her chest as if she knew how much this was going to hurt. Ari felt bright stings in her eyes, and all she could think was to move faster. Do it before they both lost their nerve. “Close your eyes, baby girl.”
“I’m not baby girl. You are,” Gwen said, eyes already closed. Ari kissed Gwen’s cheek and then placed another kiss on Kai’s small face. She lifted the baby and handed them to Merlin without letting herself pull their little body to her chest. Tears only broke free when the baby was safely in Merlin’s arms.
“Don’t let Kai out of your sight. Make sure they know we love them.” Only Gwen would be able to say those words without breaking. She was turning fiercer, steady even though it had been a hundred-year-long night.
“Come back to us when you’re both ready,” Ari said.
“Promise,” Merlin said, big brown eyes taking in Val, Ari, Lam, and