"Good." I wrap my arms around myself. "Because I carried the pain of it every single day. Through pregnancy. Through labor. Through every milestone Asher hit while I wondered if his father would even care. Your guilt is the least you can carry."
Kade moves closer, carefully, like approaching a wild animal. "Can I meet him? Someday, when this is over, when you feel safe—can I meet Asher?"
The question I've been dreading since the moment I realized he'd figure it out.
"I don't know." Honest answer. "Right now, I can't think past surviving Morganna. Ask me again when we're not under threat of magical attack."
He nods slowly. "Fair. But Isla, I need you to know—whatever happens, however this ends, I will protect that boy. He's my son. I may not have been there for him before, but I'll spen
