Oracle's Moon (Elder Races #4)(92)

“I know, sweetie.” Grace snatched her close, and Khalil’s arms closed over them both tightly, while Grace kissed and rocked Chloe. So fragile, so precious. A spasm of shaking rattled Grace.

Gram, I don’t deserve your pride, she thought, because even with the dream and all the ghosts yelling at me, I almost didn’t figure it out.

“Do you think you could give me some big-girl help?” she said in Chloe’s hair.

Chloe said timidly, “I dunno. It might be too big for me.”

Oh, ouch. Grace’s throat closed up, and for a few moments she couldn’t talk. She felt torn in two.

Khalil put a hand to her back. I’m right here. Tell me what you need.

Her two pieces aligned, and she grew calm and clearheaded. She said to him, The children need to be with someone they feel safe with tonight, and it can’t be me because I have things I need to do. Normally that would mean Katherine, except right now I want them out of Kentucky altogether.

Why is that? Khalil asked. He looked sharp, and for the first time since she had met him, truly predatory.

She met his gaze. Because the trucker that caused the car accident in the spring didn’t fall asleep at the wheel.

Arrangements for the children happened much quicker than she thought they could. Two of the Djinn took Dr. Lopez, the EMTs and their equipment back to Boston. Khalil sent a third spearing into the air to find Katherine and John and explain what had happened, and what was needed from them. Grace hated for Katherine to find out everything that had happened that way, but she needed to focus all her attention on the children. The fourth Djinn made travel arrangements for a suite to be made available for Katherine, John, their children, and Chloe and Max at the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston, in the heart of the Demonkind demesne.

That caused Grace to pause as she tried to figure out how to finance the trip for all six. The check from Carling and Rune hadn’t cleared the bank, and she didn’t have a credit card. While she knew Katherine and John would do anything to help, she certainly couldn’t expect them to foot the hotel bill. Sitting with her back against a shade tree while cuddling Chloe on her lap, she brought the question of financing up with Khalil.

Khalil held the exhausted baby against his shoulder. He paced slowly, so he didn’t wake Max up. He had chosen, of all things, to wear jeans and a T-shirt again. The outfit brought to mind their date, which seemed like it had happened ages ago, except now the clothes looked shockingly exotic against his more inhuman physical form. He held his energy under such tight control, it made Grace’s bones ache just to look at him.

Max wasn’t aware of any of that. The baby had begun to snore. He sounded like a squeaky toy. Khalil put his cheek against Max’s head, rubbing his small back.

“Do not trouble yourself in the slightest over paying for the trip,” Khalil told Grace quietly. “It will all be taken care of.”

Grace jerked as suddenly the ebony-skinned Djinn appeared and knelt beside her, diamond eyes intent. The strange Djinn said, “I will pay for all of it.”

If anything, Khalil grew even quieter, yet this time a thread of steel ran through his voice. “Now is not the time, Ebrahim.”

“I understand,” the other Djinn said, just as quietly, while pain flared in his expression. “Just know I will pay for everything.” He looked into Grace’s eyes and whispered, “Anything you need.”

“Thank you?” Grace kissed Chloe’s temple and tilted her head sideways to see the little girl’s face. Chloe was sleepy but still awake, and sucking her thumb. Grace said to the Djinn in a gentle, perky voice, “You need to back up and give us some space now. Actually, if you really want to help, you could get the children something to eat since our kitchen blew up.” Grace murmured to Chloe, “Are you hungry?” Chloe nodded. “What would you like to eat?”

Chloe slipped her thumb out of her mouth. “Cheese.”

Ebrahim looked at Max.

Khalil said promptly, “Similac formula. Not the powder. Ready to feed bottles with ni**les. A package of Pampers disposable diapers, a dozen jars of stage two baby food—get a variety of things, and remember, he loves applesauce—and a small spoon, some baby wipes, and a diaper bag. A soft stuffed toy suitable for a nine-month-old and a cotton blanket. That should meet his immediate needs.”

Grace stared at Khalil, her mouth open. If she hadn’t fallen in love with him already, that would have done it. Twice.

Ebrahim’s intensity had splintered into confusion. Khalil told him, “Ask a store attendant to help you pick it all out. And hurry.”

The other Djinn dematerialized and blew away. Grace asked, He was a bit intense. What was that all about?

Khalil told her, His mate is damaged. He saw Phaedra and heard us talking. He is hoping you can help his mate. I didn’t remember that when I called on him to pay his debt.

She pushed the heel of one hand against her temple. Oh, criminy. I can’t promise anything to anyone. Khalil, what I did was a fluke. Honestly, Phaedra did most of the work.

He squatted in front of her. Max looked so tiny nestled against his chest. I know. And now really isn’t the time. But when the time does come, would you at least be willing to try—for him or any of the others? He gripped her shoulder. No matter how you answer, I will support your decision.

And if she hadn’t already fallen in love with him, that would have made the third time today. Of course I’ll try, she said. I couldn’t say no.