"Ha!" Kat said as soon as she saw Wulf. "I told you he'd arrive unhurt."
"Damn," Chris muttered before he handed her a twenty. "I just knew he'd been neutered after all that."
They both rushed toward the bedroom to see the baby, while Wulf talked to the doctor.
She gave him a sad smile. "I suppose it's somehow fitting."
"What is?"
"The last baby I help into this world is the one who is destined to keep it safe."
Wulf scowled. "What do you mean, the last baby?"
Dr. Lakis sighed as if the weight of Armageddon were upon her. "My birthday is Thursday."
Wulf went cold at her words and what they meant. "Your twenty-seventh?"
She nodded. "Dr. Cassus will take over monitoring their health. She'll be the one who gives Cassandra her four-week physical and makes sure everything is progressing as it should."
Dr. Lakis started for the door.
"Doctor, wait."
She turned toward him.
"I'm-"
"Don't say you're sorry. I'm just another Apollite to you."
"No," he said sincerely. "You're not. You're the woman who kept my wife safe and who helped to birth my son. I won't ever forget that."
She offered him a tremulous smile. "I wish you luck with your son. I hope he grows up to be the man his father is."
Wulf watched her leave, his heart heavy. He had tried so hard to stay detached from everyone here. To not care and not see how very human his enemies were. But it was impossible. Just like staying away from Cassandra was impossible.
Against his will and common sense, they had all invaded his heart.
How could he ever go back to his role as a Dark-Hunter after all this?
How could he kill another Daimon when he understood them so well? How?
Cassandra was exhausted by the time Wulf returned to her. Kat and the nurse had taken the baby to watch so that she could rest. Of course, they would have to wake her when it was time for his next feeding, but for a little while, Cassandra would be able to rest in comfort.
"Close your eyes," Wulf said.
Cassandra did as he asked without question and felt him place something around her neck. Opening her eyes, she saw an intricate, antique necklace. The design was obviously Norse. It had four square pieces of amber mounted on their sides in a diamond shape. In the center was a circular piece with another amber stone embedded in it, and dropping down from that was a tiny Viking ship that had its sail made of more amber.
"It's beautiful."
"Erik and I bought two of them from a Danish merchant in Byzantium. It reminded us of home. He gave his to his wife and I was going to give mine to my sister, Brynhild."
"Why didn't you give it to her?"
"She wouldn't take it. She was too angry at me for not being there when our father died, angry at me for raiding. She said she never wanted to see me again, so I left and have kept the necklace with me ever since. I pulled it out of my safe when Kat and I went back for my sword."
His sadness touched her. Over the past few months, she had learned just how much Wulf's siblings had meant to him. "I'm sorry, Wulf."
"Don't be. I like seeing it on you. It's as if it were meant to be there." He brushed his hand through her hair. "Do you want me to go sleep on the couch?"