Turning Night Read Online Free Page A

doing?”
    “Hellebore is singing lullabies and honing her targeting on midnight elves. Raila isn’t pleased, but Danlorn doesn’t mind. He is napping and gurgling away.”
    The tray sitting on the dresser had a stack of ten sandwiches. “I will take those out to Tonho.”
    “Thanks. Though I have delivered their babies, trolls still make me uncomfortable.” Raven sighed. “They are just so damned big.”
    Max didn’t comment on it, she merely took the tray and headed down the stairs. Gregori was nearly as tall as Tonho, though not as broad. She supposed it was a matter of taste.
    She knocked on the shed door, and Tonho opened it. “You shouldn’t have refused the food.”
    “You need to eat too, Max. If you are not feeding from the Guild Master, you need to take in food.” He stuffed a sandwich in and kept talking. “How will you deal with him when you return?”
    “For stealing you? I don’t know. I suspect that lingerie will be involved for a few minutes.” Max smiled. “Once Rithak is back, we can both return home. Gregori’s revenge will have to wait a while. We are going to get back just in time to prep for my anniversary.”
    “It is going to be quite a gala. Even my people have been invited. My mother is excited to meet you.”
    Max smiled. “Gregori has been very secretive about his plans. I know my part in it and that is why I wanted Raven and Hellebore with me. I can’t have you, but they can pass for human.”
    He continued eating until there was nothing left on the tray. “Two hours to sunset.”
    “I can feel it. They are going to be here in force. If Hulorn wants to come in, let him pass.”
    “I will be ready, now go brush your hair.”
    She laughed, picked up the tray and headed back to the house. She washed her face, brushed her hair and held the baby for a few minutes, watching his serious little face take her in.
    The moment his teeny fist grabbed her hair and yanked, she was smitten.
    Raila laughed and paused as she got dressed. “Just pull your hair away.”
    Max wrinkled her nose and played tug of war, gently, with the infant.
    When she felt the heartbeats of the crowd gathering in the woods, she let Raila take the baby back. “It’s show time. Let’s see what he does.”
    En masse, they went to the main floor and sat around the butcher-block table. Hellebore made tea, and they waited for the knock on the door.
    Danlorn was in a bassinet next to his mom, and the ladies simply waited.
    Max smiled when the knock came. She got to her feet and answered the door. “Come in.”
    Hulorn came in with a rainbow bouquet of wildflowers.
    Raila got to her feet and smiled. “Are those for me?”
    “Yes. It is good to see you looking so beautiful.”
    Max blinked at the awkward compliment but kept her mouth shut. This was no longer her operation. Raila was in charge of what happened next.
    “Would you like to meet your son?”
    The three guardians moved aside so that Hulorn could meet the little one with his eyes. The baby didn’t cry, didn’t squawk, nothing. Danlorn merely looked up at his father and sucked on his fist.
    “He really is mine.” The wonder in his voice was apparent.
    Raila laughed. “He really is. Don’t worry, he surprised me too.”
    They smiled, and he held his son with one arm and took her hand with his. It was a private moment, but Max had to take care of the door.
    The couple spoke quietly and two hours passed. When they were sitting with their hands twined and silence between them, Max stepped up. “Why so many of your people?”
    He jerked. “They did not believe your report or the description of the photo. They want to see him.”
    Raila suddenly became nervous. “How many are there?”
    Max did a quick count. “Thirty-one heartbeats. We can take them.”
    Hellebore nodded. “Not an issue. They won’t do anything to your baby, Raila.”
    Hulorn agreed. “They will not hurt you or Danlorn. I swear it. I will not take him; they will not take