Part 33 (1/2)

”Theyare astonished at how quickly sheas healing, too.” Rurik brought a platter of bread, cheese, anchovies, and olives and placed it beside his father.

”Itas her healthy lifestyle,” Jackson said proudly.

”Itas the Varinski blood in her,” Warlord said.

”Itas another miracle.” Ann had been raised in a convent; she knew her miracles.

Karen said, ”Iave been thinking about what happened and why. I suppose your own death makes you do that.” Odd to speak of such weighty matters, but in this place and with these people it seemed natural. ”With the help of the icon, Adrik is the one who created the miracle. He suffered, he repented, and he was redeemed. There is power in redemption.”

”Thatas true.” Jasha laughed. ”But look at Adrik. Heas so uncomfortable, heas squirming. ”

He wasa”squirming like a little boy on a hot seat. ”It wasnat me,” he protested. ”It was the Madonna and Karenas mother.”

Jackson drank another gla.s.s of vodka. ”Abigail would want to do that for Karen.”

Karen knew she would never forget the way Jackson had treated her as a child, or that head taken Philas part against her, or that head so brutally informed her of her true parentage. But once he realized his mistake, head been sorry and come through for her. If not for him and his rifle, the Wilders probably wouldnat have won that battle. So Jackson would always be part of her past, and she would make him part of her future.

Warlord glanced at the clock on the mantel. ”Where is Firebird?” He was changing the subject, yes. But Karen knew that while he had longed for this reunion with his parents, head been worried, sure they could never forgive him.

Now he wanted to see his little sister. Firebird had been four when he left. She was twenty-three now, a mother, unwed, a college graduate who worked at the neighboras art studio and lived at home with her son.

What would she have to say to her long-lost brother? Would she even recognize him?

”Yes. Where is that girl?” Konstantine rumbled in his deep ba.s.s. ”I donat like when sheas out so late.”

Rurik laughed. ”Itas only eight oaclock.”

Konstantine pointed at the window. ”Itas dark.”

”She probably got caught in Seattle traffic,” Tasya said.

”She usually calls me.” Zorana shut the laptop and went to the window to look out.

”Call her,” Ann urged.

Zorana looked undecided. ”I donat like her to think I donat trust her.”

”She doesnat think that. She knows you worry, and who wouldnat?” Jasha sounded sensible, like an older brother should sound. ”City streets are dangerous, the freeways more so, and now that we have three icons we need only one more to break the pact. That means the Varinskis are a huge threat, anda””

Ann made an alarmed noise in her throat.

Jasha stopped, realizing that his good sense had raised his motheras anxiety level to code red.

Aleksandr looked up from his blocks. ”Mama?”

”Iall call her.” Zorana started toward the phone.

Konstantine held up one finger. ”Wait. She just turned onto the road.” The old gray wolfas hearing was keen.

”Mama?” Aleksandr stood up, a big, sparkling grin on his face.

Konstantine looked at his grandson. ”He will be a wolf, too. I can tell.”

”Not if we break the pact,” Ann reminded him.

Adrik stood up, too, paced across to the window, paced across the carpet.

Karen leaned against the couch, content to watch him forever.

She had brought him back from the brink of disaster.

He had brought her back from death.

He believed they were fated for each other.

She believed they were lucky to have met.

It didnat matter which of them was right. They were together for the battle against evil. They were together for eternity.

He was her husband. Her panther. Her love.

Now the car was close enough for her to hear it. It stopped. Parked. The door slammed.

”Mama?” Aleksandr danced across the room, his world right now that his mother had returned. ”Mama. Mama. Mama!”

Warlord knelt before him. ”Can I pick you up and weall wait for her together?”

Aleksandr opened his arms. ”Adrik. Up!”

Karenas eyes filled as Warlord lifted the st.u.r.dy boy. Maybe someday, when she was healed, when the icons were united and the danger had eased, they could have a boy like Aleksandr. At least . . . they could try.

Warlordas gaze met hers, and she knew he was thinking the same thing.

Firebirdas boots sounded on the steps, on the porch.

Adrik opened the door.

”Mama!” Aleksandr squealed, and launched himself into her arms.

She caught him, hugged him tightly, her eyes closed, her shoulders hunched.

Karen didnat know Firebird, had never met her, but it didnat take familiarity to see Firebird was distressed.

Zorana started toward her.

”Hey.” Warlord touched his sisteras face. ”Whatas wrong?”

She opened her eyes. Looked at him. Stepped back and looked again.

”Do you know me?” he asked.