Turning Night Read Free

have unlimited access to your child. It is up to you. I will return before dawn to hear your decision.”
    Hulorn inclined his head. “You are very wise, Abomination. Gregori was right to take you as his apprentice. It seems you have learned much.”
    Max moved with blurring speed and was back inside the house with the door locked before the shocking knowledge that he knew who she was seeped through.
    As shocked as she was, she still felt the tiny ripple of power when tiny, little Danlorn entered the world. She also heard Raven’s, “Holy crap!”
    Max was up the stairs in seconds. She saw a beaming Raila holding a squalling infant with pale skin and midnight hair. His ears were pointed, but his body was chubby and the pink and white of a newborn.
    “He is a shifter, like me.” Raila smiled happily.
    Max went over and sniffed near the child. There was a lot going on in the room, but it was the same scent that she had just been talking to outside. “He might be, but he is still Hulorn’s son.”
    As if to confirm her words, the infant opened his eyes in a squint and there were stars flowing in a sea of midnight blue.
    Max could smell both parents in the child, wilderness and ancient magic. “I think this was a natural and not a supernatural conception. I believe that those can and do happen.”
    Raven was still tidying up, but she agreed. “I have delivered more than a few freaky occurrences.”
    Hellebore was still staring at the spot where the baby had emerged, and she didn’t say anything. She was startlingly pale though.
    “Hells, sit down. You came into the world the same way; we all did. Deal with it.”
    Max took Hellebore by the hand and steered her to the chair that she had used earlier.
    Without being asked, Max fetched a glass of water and stayed there while she drank it. She kept her senses on high alert. This was a very vulnerable time for Raila and Raven.
    When Raven had finished the tidying, she gestured for Max to help her. “Lift her please.”
    Max carefully lifted the shifter and her infant and held them tightly while Raven changed the bedding with Hellebore’s help. Max looked down at Raila. “Huh. It really does take a village.”
    Hellebore grinned, “To make a bed?”
    “To have a baby. And make a bed, I suppose, I don’t know. I leave the bed and it is made again by the time I get back to it.”
    Raven laughed, “Eyleno is a neat freak as well. He is probably waxing the floor as I speak. He has been wanting to get to it for weeks.”
    Raila smiled sleepily. “Thank you for being here.”
    “Thank your brother for asking for help. If Rithak hadn’t negotiated with the Guild Master, I shudder to think what would have happened.” Max tried to be solemn, but the little guy was looking at her with those starry eyes. She puffed her cheeks and made a face.
    “I still can’t believe that you are the infamous Abomination.” Raila winced a little as Max tucked her into the crisp sheets and fluffy duvet.
    “I can’t believe that I came here as a bodyguard and happened to bring along a midwife.”
    Raven was sitting and rubbing lotion into her hands. “Me neither. That was freaky, Max.”
    Max finished tucking her charges in. “It was only prudent. She was pregnant and I had no experience with that. Well, that, and I have a project for my Turning Night that I want to complete before the party. For that, I needed you with me, so it was a logical turn of events to invite you along.”
    Hellebore winked, “What about me?”
    “Well, you are just fun to have around, and I love making the transporters send you.”
    Hellebore snorted and stroked the baby’s thick fuzz of black hair.
    “Well, I suppose we are to take shifts.” Hellebore raised her brows.
    Max shook her head. “We are all staying up until dawn. I have a negotiation to attend.”
    Raila blinked drowsily. “Negotiation?”
    “If he is the father, he has the right to visitation, but he will have to pay for it. Supporting