Dawn Study (Soulfinders #3)(136)

“Relax, Mom,” Hayes said with a grin. “She’s healthy.” He weighed her. “Almost eight pounds. What’s her name?”

“Liana Zaltana Icefaren,” Valek said, leaning over and kissing my forehead.

Our gazes met and his eyes shone with unshed tears. Even with her hair a mess, Yelena’s still beautiful.

Wait. I blinked at him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Give me a minute.” I reached for the blanket of power and concentrated. Magic flowed through me like a fresh, cool breeze. My magical senses awakened, and the world came alive around me. One of the best days of my life just became better. I met Valek’s questioning gaze, then projected my thoughts toward him. I hit a solid barrier. Hard. Irys wasn’t kidding when she’d said he was strong.

Valek straightened in surprise, but then he grinned. The wall disappeared.

Hi there, handsome, I thought.

Welcome back, love.

I smiled. Reaching out further, despite my low energy, I sought another.

Kiki?

Lavender Lady had foal. Approval flowed over our connection. Better?

Yes, I can hear you again!

She snorted as if she knew this would happen all along. Bring foal.

We’ll visit soon.

Bring apples.

I promised to bring an entire bushel.

Healer Hayes cleaned Liana, wrapped her up so all that showed was her round pink face and handed her to me. Long black eyelashes arched from blue-green eyes, and dark hair covered her head. It was long enough to curl slightly. She was perfect. Liana stared at me for a moment, gazed at Valek for a few seconds, then promptly fell asleep. Unimpressed? Bored already? Or was it a sign that she’d be a good sleeper?

“We’ll leave you alone now,” Hayes said. “When she starts to fuss, that means she’s hungry. Let us know if she has trouble latching on, and we’ll come back and help.”

Latching on sounded painful, but I nodded as if confident it would work. We marveled over our daughter for a while. It was love at first sight for both of us.

Valek touched her cheek with his finger. “She’s so soft.” His voice held awe. Then he crinkled his brow. “She’s also blocking my magic.” He pulled his hand back. “Is she blocking yours?”

I focused. “No.” Then I placed my thumb on her chin. Her skin was soft, and my connection to the power blanket severed. “Yes, when I touch her.”

“What happened to her sucking power?”

I thought about it. “Maybe since she didn’t have direct contact with you, it seemed like she was sucking your magic, when in fact she was not being very effective in blocking it? You know, like when you build a dam of rocks, but water still leaks through?”

“Possible.”

I laid my fingers on her forehead. “Try using magic on me.”

Valek stared at me, but his voice didn’t sound in my mind. “Now she’s pulling my magic.”

Unaffected by the magic around her, Liana remained asleep.

“What if you use magic, but don’t direct it at us?”

He glanced at the door. “Healer Hayes and Medic Mommy are having a celebratory drink in his office.” Valek laughed. “He’s wondering if she’d consider moving to Sitia.”

“I’d like that, especially if magic won’t work on Liana.”

“Do you think she’s immune?” he asked in concern.

A good question. “Can you build a null shield around us?”

“Probably not without difficulty.” He scanned the room. “I’ll put one around the bassinet. Then I won’t be able to lay her in there if she’s immune.”

The impulse to protect her surged through me—hot and fierce. I held her closer, “I don’t want to hurt her.”

His face softened. “Neither do I, love. But we need to know if she’ll be trapped by a null shield.”

True. He moved the bassinet to the farthest corner of the room. After a few moments, he returned to me. He lifted our daughter from my arms. Valek held her as if she’d break. “Wow, she’s pretty solid. No wonder you were—”

“Watch it.”

“—so uncomfortable.”

“Nice.”

But he wasn’t listening. Valek gazed at Liana as if he held a precious jewel in his arms. He cuddled her a little longer before heading to the bassinet. Slowly, and with great care, he lowered her to the small mattress. I held my breath.

Valek straightened with his arms empty. “She popped the null shield and didn’t even wake up.” He grinned.

Was she a void? Did that mean she had no soul and would never find peace in the sky? I projected my awareness toward her and was blocked, but I sensed the spark of life that was her soul. I sagged back on the bed in relief. Did it really matter what she was? Not at all. As long as she was happy and healthy and safe from harm. We could determine the extent of her abilities when she was older.

Valek rolled the bassinet back beside my bed, then kicked off his boots and slid under the covers with me. Wrapping his arms around me, he pulled me close. I snuggled against him, listening to his heartbeat while breathing in his unique musky scent.

We’d survived so much, and I would never take moments like this for granted. I savored the peace, knowing full well that once the rest of the herd learned of Liana’s arrival, we’d be inundated with visitors.