She seemed to relax which was something else he did not like.

"Alas, this puts a pall on a happy day," she murmured.

It b.l.o.o.d.y well did.

He didn't reply.

She tipped her head to the side, a small smile playing about her mouth. "Do you wish to know what she carries?"

Apollo felt his chest get tight.

"You know?"

"Of course, cheri."

"Do you know if our child will come to us healthy and strong?"

She shook her head. "I can sense what the s.e.x is of the child she carries, but I do not have the sight, Apollo." Another small smile. "You could ask Meeta."

He would do this.

Later.

After they had prevailed against their foes.

He held her eyes and declared, "I wish a daughter."

Her eyes went half-mast before she whispered, "Then luck shines on you, mon loup."

He felt his chest tighten.

Maddie carried his daughter.

Their daughter.

G.o.ds, he hoped she had red hair and freckles.

But he'd take her as she came, just as long as she came, leaving her mother well and happy, arriving on this earth the same way.

Valentine took him out of his thoughts when she asked, "Is that all you needed?"

"Yes," he replied.

She dipped her chin, her eyes never leaving him, and said, "Then I will leave you. Sleep well, cheri."

He inclined his head and watched as she glided to the door and out of it.

He stared at the door for some time.

Then he left the room and moved through the Palace, three destinations to achieve before he joined Maddie in her chambers.

The first took him to the door of servants' quarters.

The first maid he saw, he asked her to bring him Meeta.

"Of course, Lord Apollo," she muttered and moved quickly away.

Apollo stood at the door, still impatient.

But unlike Valentine, Meeta didn't make him wait.

"My lord," she greeted, still fully dressed and this was likely due to the fact she intended to traverse the halls to find Ruben's room. Indeed, he was lucky she wasn't already there.

"Meeta," he replied. "I call on you only briefly then I'll leave you to the rest of your evening."

She didn't wait for him to ask.

She answered. "I do not see her."

Apollo felt his brows draw together. "At all?"

"No," she answered.

"You explained you could lock on her," he reminded her.

"I explained I can pinpoint it if I sense something." She shook her head. "However, I sense nothing."

"So all is well," he remarked.

"All is never well, wolf," she said softly. "And I must admit, I am not privy to your plans but it is not lost on me we all journey here together under heavy guard with the protection of powerful witches so I knew before you mentioned it that something was stirring. In knowing this, I was concerned that I could see nothing at all. But Miss Maddie seems most content. Perhaps it's is simply that there is nothing to see."

By the G.o.ds, he hoped she was right.

"You'll notify me if that changes," he ordered.

"Most definitely," she returned.

"Then I'll bid goodnight to you then, Meeta."

"And to you," she replied on an inclination of her head.

He turned away, moved back into the house and up the steps.

His second destination was his daughter's room. He made certain there was fresh fuel on the fire, the covers were high and she was tucked in before he brushed a kiss on her temple and left her.

His third destination was his son's room. He went through the same motions as with elan and exited his room.

This took him to his final destination.

He entered Maddie's room and found her curled in a chair by the fire, a soft cream throw on her lap, her shawl on her shoulders, her body tipped to the side toward a lit lamp. She had a large sheaf of papers in her hands and her head was bent to them, her attention so acute on what she was reading, she didn't look his way. Not even after the sound of the door catching could be heard.

"Dove?" he called, moving her way, and her body gave a soft jerk before her head came up.

When she saw him and her expression changed, he stopped dead.

"I came into my room," she whispered then lifted the papers in her hands. "And this was on my pillow."

Apollo didn't look at the papers when the tears wet her eyes as the pink of emotion tinged her cheeks.

He was about to go to her when she declared, "Chris left me the story he's writing."

And again, his chest tightened.

By the G.o.ds.

"It's not done," she went on then visibly swallowed. "As it wouldn't be since it's about Loretta and Hans."

"He left it for you?" Apollo asked.

"On my pillow," she answered. "You have your own room, honey," she reminded him. "I don't think he's aware you sleep with me."

He did have his own room.

This meant his son left Madeleine a story.

Christophe would not let just anyone read his stories.

And he would never go out of his way to share one with someone unless that someone meant something to him.

No.

Unless that someone meant a great deal to him.

Maddie knew this and this was why her voice was croaky when she noted, "I think this is some serious progress."

Her understatement made him grin and finally move to her.

When he arrived, he plucked her out of her chair and sat in it, arranging her and her throw on his lap and curling his arms around her.

"Is it good?" he asked, but he knew the answer.

His son was a very talented writer.

He watched her draw in a deep breath, getting control of her emotions, before she nodded.

"Yes. Actually, it's great. He drew me in right away." She looked down to the papers she held in her hand. "Though, it's clear he wants Loretta to fall for Hans so I'm hoping he doesn't get disappointed."

"I hope so too," he murmured.

Her eyes came to him and they were filled with wonder.

"He left it for me, baby."

Apollo pulled her closer. "He did, poppy."

Her smile was shaky but she pushed through it and it finally lit in her eyes.

"Today is the best...day...ever," she whispered.

He'd had many better days than she, marrying a woman he loved, that woman bringing their two children into the world, Maddie sharing he had her love.

But he decided this day was definitely in the top five.

"I'm glad you think so, poppy," he replied gently.

This made what he had to tell her all the more frustrating.

But he had to tell her.

She would not only wish to know, she needed to know.

Preparing her and himself, Apollo gathered her ever closer and shared, "Alas, I have something to share that will bring darkness to this day."

Her eyes moved over his face as her lips muttered, "Great."

"First," he began, keeping her close, "I will preface what I have to say with reminding you of the fact that all efforts have been made to make you safe here, poppy. And you are."

"Okay," she said slowly when he stopped speaking.

"However, some weeks ago, Valentine reported that she has been keeping an eye on the me of the other world."

He felt her body tighten, therefore he swiftly gave her the rest.

"She is no longer able to see him. She does not understand why this is but has concluded that it is because he is in this world, protected by our foes, brought here to do ill."

After he gave her this news, her gaze drifted to his throat.

He opened his mouth to rea.s.sure her but didn't get a word out before she looked to him again.

"Figures," she stated calmly. "He's such a d.i.c.k."

Apollo stared at her.

She continued speaking.

"So, I blew it with the other Cora, they're probably thinking that they can get to me through him since he's, like, a normal human being and can probably get through enchantments and the like. They figure I'll mistake him for you and then they'll get their wicked hands on me."

"I do not know their plans, dove. It is simply that you should know that he might be here and if he is, they have plans to use him. Thus you must be alert."